California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Assembly Bill 316, which aimed to prevent heavy-duty driverless trucks from operating in the state. The bill had passed in both houses of the state legislature but was deemed unnecessary by Newsom, who cited existing regulatory frameworks governing autonomous technology. Currently, California prohibits the use of autonomous trucks weighing over 10,001 pounds, although the Department of Motor Vehicles has been working towards lifting this restriction.

Companies developing autonomous technology for trucking, such as Aurora, Daimler Truck, Kodiak Robotics, and Gatik, have expressed relief at the veto. On the other hand, labor unions have argued that autonomous trucks could lead to job losses and have called for the bill’s approval. In response, Newsom directed the labor and workforce development agency to develop recommendations to address potential job impacts.

The US Department of Energy has announced a $325 million investment in new battery technologies to enable the storage of solar and wind energy for continuous power supply. The funding will be allocated to 15 projects across 17 states and the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota. These projects aim to enhance grid reliability, affordability, and resilience while reducing the reliance on fossil fuel-based power plants. The funding will support the development of long-term storage options that can provide power for extended periods, surpassing the four-hour capacity of lithium-ion batteries. These investments mark a significant step toward addressing climate change and advancing clean energy solutions.

The U.S. Federal Reserve system is set to reduce its workforce by about 300 employees this year, marking a rare decrease in headcount. The cuts will primarily affect information technology roles and positions related to payment processing, as the Fed consolidates its systems. The reduction in staff is a combination of attrition, retirements, and layoffs. This reduction comes as the number of staff budgeted for the system is expected to decrease by over 500 positions from 2022 to 2023, the first such decline since 2010. The staff cuts occur amidst the central bank’s financial losses and scrutiny from Congress.

Workers at Apple stores in France have initiated a nationwide strike in protest of pay and working conditions, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 15. The strike comes after Apple was forced to stop selling its iPhone 12 model in France due to radiation levels exceeding thresholds set by the French watchdog.

The strike, organized by unions including CGT, Unsa, CFDT, and Cidre-CFTC, is demanding a 7% wage increase to compensate for inflation and an end to a hiring freeze. Apple stores in France remained open during the strike, albeit with reduced staff levels. Similar protests were staged by Apple workers in Barcelona, Spain, highlighting poor working conditions.

Intel has been fined €376 million ($400 million) in an EU antitrust case for its anti-competitive practices dating back nearly two decades. The initial fine of €1.06 billion in 2009 was invalidated last year, but the court agreed that Intel illegally excluded rivals from the market, leading to the reopening of the case. The chipmaker had reportedly paid HP, Acer, and Lenovo to halt or delay products from rival company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Intel is currently reviewing its options regarding an appeal to the European Courts while awaiting approval for German state subsidies worth nearly €10 billion.

New York City’s tech startup scene has experienced significant growth in recent years, attracting investors and fostering a thriving ecosystem. The success of companies like Datadog, UiPath, and MongoDB, with their initial public offerings and market caps ranging from $9 billion to just under $30 billion, has created wealth and turned early employees into angel investors. The city has seen a sevenfold increase in annual capital deployed over the past nine years.

Furthermore, established tech firms like Google and Salesforce have bolstered their presence in New York, making it easier for startups to find skilled talent. Venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital, have expanded their city presence, further fueling growth. Entrepreneurs and investors exhibit confidence in New York’s potential to build successful businesses as the city’s startup scene matures.

General Motors (GM) and Stellantis have announced further layoffs as a consequence of the ongoing United Auto Workers (UAW) strike. GM has paused production at its assembly plant in Fairfax, Kansas, citing a shortage of critical stampings that would have been supplied by its factory in Wentzville, Missouri, where workers went on strike last week. Approximately 2,000 workers have been affected by this decision. Stellantis, on the other hand, is laying off around 370 employees at three parts factories in Ohio and Indiana due to storage constraints related to the strike at its Toledo Assembly Complex. The plants manufacture parts for Jeep vehicles.

The UAW-represented workers initiated strikes at the Wentzville and Toledo plants, along with a Ford Motor factory in Wayne, Michigan, after failing to reach a new contract agreement with the three automakers. The ongoing strikes have impacted nearly 13,000 GM, Ford, and Stellantis workers. GM has stated that the Fairfax workers will not be eligible for supplemental unemployment benefits as a result of the strike, and both companies are urging for serious progress in negotiations to avoid further strikes.

Amazon has announced plans to hire 250,000 employees in the United States to handle the holiday rush and meet the surge in demand. This number is a significant increase from the 150,000 workers hired last year. The company will be recruiting full-time, part-time, and seasonal warehouse and delivery employees, offering hourly wages ranging from $17 to $28. In addition, Amazon is providing sign-on bonuses worth $1,000 to $3,000 in select locations.

The average hourly pay for warehouse and delivery workers will now be $20.50, up from $19. This move follows Amazon’s efforts to address labor tensions and criticisms over its warehouse injury record. The e-commerce giant, which currently has approximately 1.46 million global employees, aims to attract and retain talent by improving compensation packages.

Walmart is opening a dedicated pet services center in Dallas, Georgia, as it seeks to tap into the lucrative pet industry. The center will offer veterinary visits, grooming services, and a range of pet products. Walmart aims to capitalize on the growing trend of treating pets as family members, with pet health care and services accounting for a significant portion of the industry’s revenue. As consumers become more price-sensitive, Walmart’s low-price reputation may provide a competitive advantage. The retailer plans to open more pet services centers in the future and is also introducing automated ordering for pet supplies.