BlackRock quits climate group in Wall Street’s latest environmental step-back

By Ross Kerber (Reuters) – BlackRock, the world’s biggest asset manager, said on Thursday it will leave the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, Wall Street’s latest environmental step-back amid antitrust concerns raised by Republican politicians. BlackRock, which manages some $11.5 trillion, said that with two-thirds of its global clients committed to cutting emissions to net zero, it had made sense to join groups like the organization known as NZAMI. “However, our memberships in some of … Read more…

Meta knew it used pirated books to train AI, authors say

By Blake Brittain (Reuters) – Meta Platforms used pirated versions of copyrighted books to train its artificial intelligence systems with approval from its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a group of authors alleged in newly disclosed court papers. Ta-Nehisi Coates, comedian Sarah Silverman and other authors suing Meta for copyright infringement made the accusations in filings made public on Wednesday in California federal court. They said internal documents produced by Meta during the discovery process showed the … Read more…

Exclusive-Warburg Pincus explores $5 billion-plus sale of Modernizing Medicine, sources say

By Milana Vinn and Anirban Sen NEW YORK (Reuters) – Private equity firm Warburg Pincus is weighing options, including a sale, for Modernizing Medicine (ModMed) that could value the medical software provider at more than $5 billion, including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. Boca Raton, Florida-based ModMed is working with a financial adviser to solicit interest in the coming weeks from potential buyers, which include other private equity firms, the sources said, … Read more…

Google must face mobile phone privacy class action, possible trial

By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) – Google failed to persuade a federal judge to dismiss a privacy class action claiming it collected personal data from people’s cellphones after they switched off a button to stop the tracking, paving the way for a possible August trial. Chief Judge Richard Seeborg of the federal court in San Francisco rejected arguments that the search engine company adequately disclosed how its Web & App Activity settings worked, and that users … Read more…

NATO membership only credible security guarantee for Ukraine, Finnish foreign minister says

By Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) – Membership in NATO is the only credible long-term security guarantee Ukraine can receive against future Russian aggression, Finland’s top diplomat said on Wednesday. Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Jan. 20 has sparked hope of a diplomatic resolution to end Moscow’s invasion but also fears in Kyiv that a quick peace could come at a high price. Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have called for strong … Read more…

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Judge approves Tesla directors’ deal to end excess pay case

By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) – Tesla directors including Chair Robyn Denholm and James Murdoch got court approval on Wednesday for a settlement worth up to $919 million that requires they return compensation to the carmaker to resolve allegations they overpaid themselves. The settlement requires Tesla board members including Denholm and Murdoch to return roughly $277 million in cash, $459 million in stock options and to forgo stock options for 2021-23 worth $184 million. … Read more…

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NFL Super Bowl 2025: All the facts you need to know

(Reuters) -The NFL regular season has concluded and the teams that qualified for the playoffs are set to begin competing for a chance to make it to the Super Bowl, arguably the biggest single event in U.S. sports with a huge global audience. Here’s everything you need to know about Super Bowl LIX, including who is performing at halftime.   WHERE WILL THE 59th SUPER BOWL BE HELD? The NFL championship game will take place in … Read more…

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Trump says he sympathizes with Russia’s opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine

By Gram Slattery and Helen Reid WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he sympathized with the Russian position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO, and he lamented that he will not meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before his inauguration. Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump also blamed outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden for allegedly changing the U.S. position on NATO membership for … Read more…

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Suspect in Gaudreau deaths pleads not guilty, rejects plea deal

The New Jersey man suspected of driving drunk in the crash that killed Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother pleaded not guilty to six charges on Tuesday. Sean Higgins, 44, entered the plea at a hearing in Salem County, N.J., where the brothers were riding bikes on the evening of Aug. 29 when they were struck and killed. Higgins, who has been in custody since his arrest, also rejected a plea … Read more…

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Factbox-What Trump said about Canada, Mexico, NATO and Gaza hostages at news conference

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. President-elect Donald Trump held a press conference on Tuesday and spoke about a range of issues including NATO, Israeli hostages in Gaza, his wish for the U.S. to buy Greenland and take control of the Panama Canal. He also discussed Elon Musk and speculation about Canada becoming a U.S. state. Here are some of his key quotes, ahead of his Jan. 20 inauguration. CANADA Asked about his idea that Canada … Read more…

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