DETROIT >> Uber has followed through on threats to fire a star autonomous-car researcher whose hiring touched off a bitter legal fight with Waymo, the former self-driving car arm of Google. Waymo has alleged that Anthony Levandowski downloaded 14,000 documents containing its trade secrets before he left the company to found a startup that was purchased by Uber.
Wal-Mart strives to vie with Amazon
HOBOKEN, N.J. >> Wal-Mart’s acquisition of Jet.com is accelerating its progress in e-commerce as it works to narrow the gap between itself and online leader Amazon. Wal-Mart is betting its online future on essentials like produce and groceries and has adjusted its shipping strategy. But Amazon keeps innovating, too.
Fed fines Deutsche Bank $41 million
WASHINGTON >> The Federal Reserve has fined Germany’s largest bank $41 million for failure to maintain controls against money laundering in its U.S. operations. The U.S. regulators announced the penalty against Deutsche Bank on Tuesday, citing “unsafe and unsound practices.” The action follows $629 million in penalties levied against Deutsche Bank in January by New York state and British regulators for lapses in controls that allowed wealthy Russians to allegedly launder about $10 billion in illicit funds.
CBS names new entertainment president
NEW YORK >> CBS on Tuesday announced a new leadership team for its entertainment division. It is promoting veteran CBS executive Kelly Kahl to president and bringing Thom Sherman from the CW network as senior executive vice president of programming. Kahl, who joined CBS in 1996, assumes leadership of the entertainment division, reporting directly to Leslie Moonves, chairman and CEO of CBS Corp.
ON THE MOVE
International Market Place has promoted Breana Grosz to assistant marketing and sponsorship director. Her responsibilities include marketing to the local community, community relations, event management, public relations, sponsorships and merchant communications. Grosz was previously the marketing specialist for the shopping center and managed aspects of redevelopment and construction for the new International Market Place.
Blanche Yarnell has been hired as director of admissions for Pacific Buddhist Academy. She will oversee student recruitment and admissions. Yarnell was previously an access management specialist at Hawaii Pacific Health.
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i has named Melissa Fisher its Kauai program director. She has been with the Conservancy for nine years, currently overseeing the organization’s forest conservation programs for the island. Fisher also serves as coordinator for the Kauai Watershed Alliance and as a Kauai representative with the Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships.
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