If there were medals for the overall level of public interest in the Olympic games, Paris 2024 would be a strong contender for the podium.
Why it matters: Combined TV and streaming viewership across live and recorded highlights from the roughly 17 days of competition have exceeded NBC's expectations at a time when traditional broadcasts continue to be upended by the dynamics of digital media.
Business and tech leaders this weekend paid tribute to former YouTube CEO and longtime Google exec Susan Wojcicki, who died at 56 after living with lung cancer for two years.
What they're saying: "She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it's hard to imagine the world without her," Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote on X early Saturday morning.
"As one of the most important women leaders in tech — the first to lead a major company — she was committed to expanding opportunities for women throughout Silicon Valley," former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg wrote on social media.
Wojcicki was Google's16th employee, but had first rented out her garage to founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin when she was at Intel.
She was a crucial driver of decisions that formed two of Google's core businesses — the development of the AdSense product and the acquisition of YouTube in 2006.
The unemployment rate has shot up. The reasons could ease recession fears.
Why it matters: The worse-than-expected jobs report helped spark a sharp (though short-lived) sell-off in global financial markets. But idiosyncratic factors might overstate the labor market's weakness.
"Deadpool & Wolverine," which broke through $1 billion in global box office sales this weekend, is on track to surpass "Joker" as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
Why it matters: "Once thought of as a sure-fire way to limit potential box office, the R rating, when properly applied, can be the key to unlocking massive box office, and this has proven to be the secret sauce for the 'Deadpool' franchise," chief Comscore box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian told The Hollywood Reporter recently.
A first-in-the-nation bike-sharing program specifically offering cargo e-bikes recently launched in the Boston area.
Why it matters: Bike-share services — like Bluebikes in Boston, Citi Bike in New York City and Divvy Bikes in Chicago — have proven remarkably popular, offering people an alternative transportation option in big cities without the hassles of bike ownership.
FRESNO, Calif. — Two Central California races for U.S. House seats are suddenly getting increased attention from the national parties because they could help determine control of the chamber — and represent hot new battlegrouands for Latino voters.
Why it matters: The fights for the seats held by Republican Reps. David Valadao and John Duarte reflect Democrats' push to take over two majority-Latino districts that have never been represented by anyone of Mexican or Central American descent.
Locking up merchandise at drugstores and discount retailers hasn't curbed retail theft but is driving frustrated consumers to shop online more, retail experts tell Axios.
Why it matters: Retail crime is eating into retailers' profits and high theft rates are also leading to a rise in store closures.
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