Did You Know? Chicago-based technology company launched the first fully virtual mediation and arbitration platform that resolves business disputes in under 100 days and saves businesses of all sizes up to 90% in time and expenses. New Era brings long-needed efficiencies to a litigation market that currently drains over $225B from organizations ranging from small businesses to the Fortune 50. (Reuters)
Did You Know? The current COVID-19 surge is predicted to last another 2 weeks, then flatten as vaccinations take hold.....we are soon approaching ONE BILLION vaccine shots given!
Did You Know? Middle-age adults who sleep six or fewer hours a night may be at higher risk of developing dementia in later life, a new study suggests. (WSJ)
Did You Know? China fined internet giant Alibaba a record $2.8 billion this month for anticompetitive practices, ordered an overhaul of its sister financial company, and warned other technology firms to obey Beijing’s rules. Now the European Commission plans to unveil far-reaching regulations to limit technologies powered by artificial intelligence. And in the US, bipartisan politicians have taken aim at Amazon, Facebook and Google......are other tech entities that attempt to dominate industries like real estate susceptible to new regulation?
Did You Know? Uber has a goal of operating as a zero-emission platform in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. by 2030, and Henkel plans to source 100% of the electricity from renewable sources. Amazon is aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2025, 5 years ahead of their initial 2030 target. Amazon is the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world with 62 utility-scale wind and solar projects and 125 solar rooftops on fulfillment and sort centers around the globe with the capacity to generate over 6.9 gigawatts and deliver more than 20 million megawatt-hours of energy annually.
Did You Know? California, Arizona, and Nevada may experience cuts to the water supply as the Federal Government may issue its first water shortage declaration in the US West due to low levels in Lake Mead (at 40% capacity). Several states including Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah experienced their most intense period of drought since the Drought Monitor began back in 2000. As a result, the soil moisture content is at its lowest levels in at least 120 years. Over the past 40 years, snowpack has declined by about 25% over the Western states. Only 8% of Texas is drought-free, with 8.5% in the exceptional drought category, mostly in West Texas. Around 25% of Texas is seeing extreme drought conditions. (NBC)
Did You Know? thinking about building a home? Lumber futures traded at CME Group have climbed 47% this year to $1,286 per thousand board feet. Prices are up 395% from their April 2020 pandemic low of below $260. Interrupted supply chains are a big driver of this: (unsold) Ford F-150 trucks sit in lots unfinished due to a semiconductor shortage. OPEC cut oil production in 2020 causing oil prices to soar as the economy re-awakens now....
