Amazon CEO briefly the world’s richest man

NEW YORK >> Forbes magazine says Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos briefly became the world’s richest man Thursday, as stock in his e-commerce company hit an all-time high. But Microsoft founder Bill Gates reclaimed the lead by afternoon, as Amazon’s stock fell below the day’s opening price.

Air bag inflater ruptures, killing Floridian

DETROIT >> A Florida driver has died in a crash near Tampa that involved an exploding Takata air bag inflater. According to Honda, the crash happened July 19. Authorities have yet to release the cause of death. If the driver was killed by the inflater, it would be the 19th death worldwide and 13th death in the U.S. blamed on the inflaters.

Demand overseas keeps Mustang on top

DETROIT >> Mustang sales have dipped in the U.S. so far this year, where industry sales are softening and consumers increasingly prefer SUVs. But the world remains captivated by the quintessential American car, and Ford has been rapidly expanding the markets where the Mustang is sold to meet that demand. According to IHS Markit, Ford’s growling pony car became the best-selling sports car in the world last year, with more than 150,000 sold.

Why you still can’t ditch your cable box

NEW YORK >> Not that long ago the clunky cable box looked like it was on its way out. The federal government was pressuring cable companies to open up their near monopoly on boxes to more competition, and industry leader Comcast promised apps that could render some boxes obsolete. But today the vast majority of customers still need to rent a box to get full service from cable providers, and those box- replacing apps remain elusive.

Businesses cashing in on total solar eclipse

BARTLETT, Tenn. >> Millions of eyes will be fixed on the sky when a total solar eclipse crosses the U.S. in August. It’s likely many of those eyes will be safely behind special eclipse glasses churned out by a Tennessee company. American Paper Optics is one of the many businesses including hotels, campgrounds and retail stores taking advantage of the crowds drawn by the coast-to-coast eclipse.

ON THE MOVE

Kaiser Permanente has hired the following:

>> Dr. Vona Diener practices family medicine at Kaiser Permanente Maui Lani Medical Office. Prior to joining Kaiser, Diener was a family physician with Sutter West Medical Group in California.

>> Dr. Leslie Garay has joined the ophthalmology department at Kaiser Permanente Waipio Medical Office. Garay previously served as a cataract, cornea and refractive surgeon at Aloha Laser Vision in Honolulu.

>> Dr. John Meisel practices family medicine at Kaiser Permanente Maui Lani Medical Office and Kaiser Permanente Kihei Clinic. Meisel previously served as a physician and board member with Middlesex Hospital Primary Care in Connecticut.

>> Stephanie Murata is a certified physician assistant at the department of orthopedic surgery at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center. Murata worked at the Hawaii Pacific Health Bone and Joint Clinic before joining Kaiser.