Walgreens Boots Alliance will become one of the 30 companies in the Dow Jones industrial average next week, replacing General Electric, which has been part of the Dow for more than a century. "Today's change to the DJIA will make the index a better measure of the economy and the stock market," said David Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Tesla has filed a lawsuit that accuses a former Gigafactory employee of stealing company secrets and of giving false information to the media. The employee, who calls himself a whistleblower, says he was exposing problems at the company, but CEO Elon Musk has emailed employees warning of saboteurs planted by competitors.
Working on school newspapers and yearbooks provide students with project-based learning experiences, according to Jeannette Acton, director of the Interscholastic League Press Conference Director. Educators say that besides teaching students about journalism, communication, collaboration and workplace skills, school publications also show students that their voices matter.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to put aside differences and work together to integrate Europe more thoroughly. Establishing a common eurozone budget is their biggest objective, but they will also work to coordinate refugee, security and economic policies.
Trader Joe's has been ranked first for customer experience in a survey of multichannel retailers conducted by Forrester Research. The study looked at how consumers' experiences build loyalty at 42 different retailers, including No. 2 Costco and No. 5 BJ's Wholesale.
A judge upheld an HHS order for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to pay a penalty of $4.3 million for HIPAA violations stemming from three data breach incidents in 2012 and 2013 and the center's failure to encrypt its electronic devices. "We are pleased that the judge upheld our imposition of penalties because it underscores the risks entities take if they fail to implement effective safeguards, such as data encryption, when required to protect sensitive patient information," said Roger Severino, director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
American adults will spend almost three hours and 50 minutes per day watching TV this year, a drop from 2012's four hours and 37 minutes, eMarketer reports. Time spent on mobile will increase to three hours and 35 minutes per day in 2018 and will rise to three hours and 43 minutes next year, surpassing TV's three hours and 42 minutes, the company forecasts.
Walmart has raised $16 billion in a bond issue to help pay for its acquisition of a 77% stake in India's Flipkart Group. The US-based retailer announced the acquisition shortly after revealing plans to sell its stake in UK-based ASDA, as part of a strategy to focus on markets with strong growth potential including India and China.
⋅ CNET
Microsoft has determined that the Xbox One will not receive virtual reality support, despite earlier comments that the feature would be supported. When asked about the possibility of VR in the future, Microsoft Chief Marketing Officer Mike Nichols said, "Our perspective on it has been and continues to be that the PC is probably the best platform for more immersive VR and MR."
A salmonella outbreak related to precut melons has spread to two more states and sickened 10 more people, bringing the number of cases to 70 across seven states. The FDA and CDC recently warned the public of the precut cantaloupe, watermelon and fruit salad mix linked to the outbreak that have been distributed to 22 states.
⋅ Variety
AT&T has unveiled its Watch TV service, a streaming TV offering that will feature a lineup of 31 TV networks and a library of 15,000 on-demand TV show episodes and movies. The service costs $15 per month, but it will be available at no cost to qualifying wireless subscribers.
Construction has started on a $6.8 billion expansion at the Vancouver International Airport in Canada, and plans call for one of the largest geothermal heating and cooling systems in the country. The work also includes new parking, terminal renovations and upgrades to the car rental facility.
Oil production likely won't begin in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska until after 2030. The Energy Information Administration said companies will need time to acquire leases, look for oil and build infrastructure in the refuge, which may offer 5.7 billion to 16 billion barrels of oil in the coastal plain.
The Transportation Security Administration will ask foreign airports with nonstop flights to the US to closely examine powders in travelers' bags, starting June 30. The substances could be items like cosmetics, protein powders or baby powder and the focus is on containers of 12 ounces or more.
Royal Caribbean International will debut WOD on the Waves, a fitness-focused cruise, on its Mariner of the Seas in January. The Miami-to-the-Bahamas cruise will feature customized fitness classes, shore excursions and workshops on training and nutrition strategies.