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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Cards Against Humanity filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's SpaceX for trespassing on its Texas land.</li><li>The company says Musk and SpaceX are getting rich from property they didn't get permission to use.</li></ul>The maker of one of the world's most offensive card games says <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> and his company, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-elon-musk">Space X</a>, have offended it.Cards Against Humanity, the company behind the humorous and often inappropriate card game with the same name, is suing Musk's SpaceX for trespassing on its land in Texas, according to a lawsuit filed in Cameron County.The company initially purchased "a pristine parcel of land" along the border to protect it from "Donald Trump's very stupid wall," Cards Against Humanity said in an announcement on Instagram on Friday. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment."Unfortunately, an even richer, more racist billionaire—Elon Musk—snuck up on us from behind and completely fucked that land with gravel, tractors, and space garbage," Cards Against Humanity said in its Instagram post, noting it is suing for $15 million and would split the winnings among the 150,000 original donors who facilitated the purchase.The company, which is referred to as CAH in the lawsuit, accused SpaceX of trespassing on its property, creating a nuisance, and unjust enrichment off of the property, which "SpaceX has never asked for permission to use," the lawsuit said.Cards Against Humanity added in the suit that SpaceX began constructing "large modern-looking buildings" on adjacent lots and accused Space X of ignoring the property line, depositing gravel on CAH's property, and storing construction vehicles on the property, too."Musk, by allowing his company to wrongfully operate on CAH's Property, casts the shadow of possible association between him and CAH. Nothing could be more offensive to CAH nor more harmful to its reputation with its supporters," the card game company said in the lawsuit.SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Cards Against Humanity obtained the land in a "stunt" to draw attention to billionaires who "ignore the rights and problems of regular people," according to the lawsuit. While then-President Donald Trump campaigned for a US-Mexico border wall in 2017, Cards Against Humanity purchased a plot of land near the border with the help of donations from its supporters.The goal was to create an obstacle for Trump's border wall effort and to highlight the "hubris on the part of a high-profile billionaire who was more interested in his own aggrandizement than in the good of the people," the card game company said in the lawsuit.A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How Cards Against Humanity is trolling Elon Musk and Donald Trump in a Texas lawsuit

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Big tech companies have pulled back on PERM applications, often the first step to a green card.</li><li>Huge layoffs by Google, Amazon, Meta and other tech companies have made the process harder. </li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/big-tech">Big tech</a> companies have backed off <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-immigration-needs-reform-losing-workers-2023-3">green card</a> applications in a big way because the process has become tougher and there's less competition for talent.This situation is making it harder for foreign tech workers to stay in the US, and it may mean overseas candidates have to search far beyond Silicon Valley and New York City for jobs in the industry.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-requests-update-immigration-rules-hire-top-ai-talent-2024-5">Google</a> stopped so-called PERM applications in January 2023, the same month it laid off 12,000 employees. PERM is a certification process run by the Department of Labor. It aims to ensure that admitting foreign workers into the country doesn't impact US workers' job opportunities, wages, or working conditions. It's often the first step toward a green card.Earlier this year, Googlers were told the company wouldn't restart the PERM process until at least Q1 2025, according to a current employee with direct knowledge of the matter. A Google spokesperson declined to comment."Tech companies have been following Google's lead and taking their foot off the pedal in terms of green card applications," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benachcollopy.com/ava-benach/">Ava Benach</a>, founding partner of Benach Collopy, a leading immigration law firm in Washington DC. "Google has an outsized influence here," she added. "It has a reputation for treating workers well and leading on these things, so if Google stepped back, then this gives other tech companies cover to step back, too."<h2>Amazon and Meta moves</h2>Earlier this year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-suspended-us-green-card-applications-foreign-workers-2024-4">Amazon</a> told employees it would continue to pause all new PERM filings through 2024, according to an internal announcement seen by Business Insider.Amazon said in the memo it had initially paused PERM applications in 2023 and decided to keep these suspended until the end of this year after reviewing "labor market conditions and immigrant requirements."While <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-plan-meta-make-money-from-ai-2024-4">Meta</a> continues to undertake green card sponsorships for international hires, the process has become painfully slow. Getting a green card through Meta is now taking "a year or more," a current employee with knowledge of Meta's hiring processes said.<h2>PERM is a lot harder now</h2>A wave of <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-layoffs">job cuts</a> by Google, Amazon, Meta, and other tech companies has made the PERM process more complicated.Companies now have to demonstrate that laid-off employees are not qualified for the jobs intended for foreign workers. They also <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://bashyamglobal.com/blog/the-impact-of-layoffs-on-the-perm-process/">have to notify people</a> who were laid off in the past six months about job openings before filing PERM applications for foreign workers."With more US workers available for open positions, the labor market test fails and so the process becomes a waste of time and money for these tech companies," Benach explained. "If tech companies have done layoffs relatively recently, they also have to notify laid off workers of new positions that may be going to foreign workers," she added. "If some of these people say 'yes, I'm interested,' then you're out of luck with the green card application."Meta's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoff-angst-meta-employees-face-tough-reviews-reorgs-2024-3">multiple rounds</a> of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-vps-leave-ahead-of-thousands-more-layoffs-2023-5">mass layoffs</a> reduced the company's headcount by over 20%. The company is now <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-rehiring-workers-from-layoffs-2023-8">hiring again</a>, but it is having to work harder to explain to US Citizenship and Immigration Services why international workers are needed."It's hard to justify PERM after laying off people," the Meta employee told BI.<h2>Supply and demand</h2>Big tech companies may also be less willing to pursue green cards because of changes in supply and demand across the tech labor market.The industry went on a record hiring spree in the previous decade, and this only intensified during the pandemic boom. When big tech companies were fighting over a limited supply of tech talent, the PERM process was a useful weapon to wield."This is a cumbersome, arduous process that no one likes. It often happens when companies are competing intensely for talent," Benach explained. "Saying 'we'll do your green card for you,' is a great perk to attract the best tech employees.""So when, like now, there are more tech workers on the market, these companies don't have to do this as much," she added. "They are not all scrambling for talent anymore, or at least not as much."<h2>Alternatives for foreign tech workers</h2>What should foreign tech workers do if their current employer is taking too long with PERM applications, or has stopped the process entirely?Benach advises candidates to look outside of the Bay Area and New York City for tech jobs in the US. Many other employers across the country need people with science, technology, engineering, and math qualifications, she noted."It's not just Google and the other big Silicon Valley companies," Benach said. "Other companies in other parts of the country are in desperate need of tech workers."Labor market tests for the PERM process are by their nature local. And there are fewer tech workers in other parts of the country, with some people unwilling to move far for jobs. So this makes the green card process potentially easier outside of places like the Bay Area and NYC, she explained.<h2>Big Tech is trying alternatives, too</h2>In an email to BI, an Amazon spokesperson said the company is working with affected employees to find "alternative immigration pathways" to extend their stay in the US.To get around PERM hurdles, some companies are opting to classify international hires as applicants for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-guidance-on-national-interest-waivers">National Interest Waiver</a>, the Meta employee noted.An NIW application can be done without corporate sponsorship, so an employee can "self-petition" without a specific job offer in hand. This process classifies foreign candidates as people with specific skills and experience that would benefit the US if they became permanent residents.NIW applications jumped in 2023, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/reports/stem_related_petition_trends_eb2_and_o1a_categories_factsheet_fy23.pdf">data</a> from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.<h2>Google wants to change the roles</h2>Google is trying to fix PERM bottlenecks. On Wednesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-requests-update-immigration-rules-hire-top-ai-talent-2024-5">it filed a letter with the Department of Labor</a> arguing for changes that broaden the list of roles that can be fast-tracked to a green card.This "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/21/2023-27938/labor-certification-for-permanent-employment-of-foreign-workers-in-the-united-states-modernizing">Schedule A</a>" list focuses on jobs the Labor Department considers to be poorly supplied with talent. It hasn't been updated in 20 years, and Google argues the list hasn't evolved to meet the needs of the modern labor market.Google is in particular need of AI experts and the company says it will be hard to hire them all."We project that our need for AI Engineer roles, including Software Engineer, Research Engineer, and Research Scientist roles, will increase significantly in the coming years," Google wrote in the letter. "AI advancements offer incredible promise, but the lack of skilled professionals threatens to hinder their full potential."Are you a foreign tech worker struggling with a green card application? Get in touch:Contact Hugh Langley through the encrypted messaging apps <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://signal.org/download/">Signal</a> and <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://telegram.org/">Telegram</a> (<a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow">628-228-1836</a>) or via <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="mailto:hlangley@businessinsider.com">email</a>.Contact Kali Hays at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:khays@businessinsider.com">khays@businessinsider.com</a> or on <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://signal.org/download/">Signal</a> at 949-280-0267.Contact Eugene Kim, via Signal or Telegram (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link">+1-650-942-3061</a>) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">ekim@businessinsider.com</a>).Reach out using a nonwork device. Check out Business Insider's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-guide-to-securely-sharing-whistleblower-information-about-powerful-institutions-2021-10">source guide</a> for other tips on sharing information securely.

Big Tech's big green card problem

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Andres Pico, a software engineer from Ecuador, navigated the US education system to land a job at Microsoft.</li><li>Pico faced challenges adapting to US standardized tests and sought scholarships to fund his education.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andres Pico, a 29-year-old software engineer in Seattle. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I grew up in a small beach town called Manta in Ecuador with my dad, mom, and two sisters. My dad always taught me that there was nothing I couldn't do.I became interested in computers and technology because of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/playstation-plus">PlayStation</a>. Sometimes, I couldn't finish a game because the dialogue and options were in English, so I became very motivated to learn computers and English.<h2 id="aea16f41-f4aa-4e6e-926f-62684543751d">After graduating from high school, I decided I wanted to pursue my education in the US</h2>To apply to a university in the US, you must pass either the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/do-colleges-require-standardized-testing-sat-admissions-what-it-means-2024-3">SAT or ACT</a>. I bought an ACT book and prepared for many months to ensure I could get a good score.I knew I couldn't attend college in the US without a scholarship, so I began investigating scholarships and programs. I found the University of South Florida in Tampa offered a scholarship for students from Latin American countries that would get me a student visa.I was awarded the scholarship, which allowed me to receive a stipend of $1,000 a year to cover textbooks and resident status for tuition purposes.<h2 id="1ea4606f-8ed1-484d-bf1a-b39e05b12a66">I began a bachelor's degree in computer engineering in 2012</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-and-uk-life-biggest-differences-after-moving-home-space-2024-7">Coming to the US</a> at 17 was very challenging. It was my first time leaving home, and there was a lot I didn't understand about the US. I had no close friends or family here for support or guidance.It was also very exciting, as it was an opportunity to push myself. It took some time to get used to classes in English. I studied hard from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.<h2 id="d640f046-61e6-4e77-9c39-669f1b3f751d">In my second semester, I found the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers</h2>The SHPE is a national organization that empowers Hispanics and offers mentorship programs in STEM. Classmates told me they offered free pizza. I'm really glad I was feeling hungry that day.They were welcoming and taught me the basics of the school system, how to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-this-is-an-excellent-resume-2013-11">create a résumé</a>, conduct interviews, and apply to grad school. It was a blessing to find them — suddenly, I had a community of people who wanted to help me succeed.<h2 id="e2632ea8-177e-49a0-b62a-e961cc3cb10a">A fellow student advised me to get as many internships as possible</h2>That was the best advice I received for navigating the US system. If I had just focused on the school material and not gained practical experience, I'm not sure I would've been able to find a job after graduating.I had multiple internships as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recruiter-how-filter-applications-software-engineering-job-post-atl-interview-2024-5">software engineer</a> with local companies in data centers and startups via student work permits. These internships allowed me to gain experience and earn some money.I was extremely fortunate to count on my dad's support to cover any difference between my earnings and expenses.<h2 id="f9d3935c-b09d-48b2-9bb8-dfcaa291a51f">I went on to pursue a master's degree in computer science at Virginia Tech</h2>I sought universities with good computer science programs and scholarships or assistantships. Virginia Tech had an amazing program and great tenured professors, and it offered me an opportunity as a TA, so the decision was obvious.My teaching assistantship paid for all my tuition and also paid me around $20,000 each semester.<h2 id="c9fdec8c-c770-4f06-a7af-8a6bb5f26c51">I started applying for jobs in 2017</h2>I must've applied for over 100 of them. When you apply, employers ask you if they'll need to sponsor you at some point in the future, as not every employer can cover the financial costs associated with the process when the time comes.I received four offers from Microsoft, Verizon, Deutsche Bank, and Disney. Microsoft had the best offer and was willing to sponsor my visa.<h2 id="a93721cf-c9e0-46f2-bd96-3071c98b4800">I started as a software engineer with Microsoft in 2018</h2>When I started my job at Microsoft in Seattle, I could work thanks to a student work permit that lasts one year after graduation and is granted to all F-1 visa students. While working on the student permit, your employer helps you apply for an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/h1b-visa-lottery-changes-benefit-startups-hiring-immigrants-2024-2">H-1B</a> visa.I applied for a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-green-card-applications-pause-2024-5">green card</a> after working on my H-1B visa for a year. By this point, I had lived in the US for about six years and created a whole life here, but the green card process was very painful.<h2 id="a2b4001a-c572-41e4-89cb-053b4e3c883a">The process makes life pretty horrible</h2>Having a work visa and going through the green card process are privileges, but it is very hard to separate the emotional component.There's no guarantee that you'll get to stay. If something goes wrong at any given time, you have to be ready to pack your bags and leave everything behind. I know some people who tried to get it three times and ran out of chances and had to return home.The first few years working were also difficult because I wasn't around anyone who looked like me. I wanted to grow and challenge myself, but at the same time, it made me wonder if I belonged, and doubt and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/managing-imposter-syndrome-when-you-are-the-boss-2021-10">imposter syndrome</a> crept in.Luckily, Microsoft paid for the attorneys in the green card process, and no cost came out of my pocket.<h2 id="1eb526a5-91be-4063-bec1-58a529e97297">I had to constantly review what they were putting on the application forms</h2>My key takeaway is that, even if you're working with lawyers, you still have to assume complete ownership of the application process and remember the lawyers supporting you, being human, can make mistakes.I was audited because some of the information that had been submitted was incorrect. It took me six to eight months to provide supplemental information and pass the audit.In 2022, I finally received my green card after three years.<h2 id="bd375841-9305-458d-bfb3-92ac255d1675">Last year, I decided to move into product management and took a new job at Starbucks</h2>In software engineering, you work on problems created by engineers for engineers. I wanted to learn how to build products that our customers actually love, so I ended up becoming a technical product manager.I love the US, I love the city I live in, and I love its people. I try to make it a better place by providing value through my career and volunteering in my local community.I even recently <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-couple-left-nyc-bought-vermont-house-slow-life-2024-9">bought a house</a> here — I don't have plans to move anywhere else.Want to share your story? Email Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com.

I got my green card after working at Microsoft on an H-1B visa. The process was very painful, but I love the US and don't plan to leave.

Climate Action 15: 2024's top global innovators powering green solutions

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Job seekers are bulking up their résumés with extra details to stand out in a competitive market.</li><li>Experts warn that overly detailed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/resume-gap-how-to-explain-why-job-search-career-linkedin-2024-8">résumés</a> can be hard to navigate and may hinder job prospects.</li></ul>It might be time to put your <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/this-method-may-help-resume-stand-out-recruiter-job-search-2024-5">résumé</a> on a diet.In recent years, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-hard-to-find-job-us-though-unemployment-low-2024-2">competitive job market</a> has ramped up the temptation to trick out résumés with added details about our skills and professional accomplishments, several career experts told Business Insider.Yet a swole document can also be harder to navigate."You want to make your résumé a sales page, not a Wikipedia page," Madeline Mann, a career coach and CEO of Self Made Millennial, told BI.Many job seekers believe that including extra detail will help show off their qualifications to employers. But, Mann said, employers have specifics they're seeking on a résumé — often what's outlined in the job description."You do not want it to be a treasure hunt for them to find those things," she said.As word counts on our CVs creep higher, more employers might have to search for what they need.A review by LiveCareer of some 50,000 résumés in its database found that, on average, they had nearly doubled in length from 2018 to 2023 as more job seekers did things like adding a section highlighting their skills.LiveCareer also found that the number of people devoting résumé real estate to certificates, languages, and other accomplishments had about doubled.James Neave, the head of data science at the job site Adzuna, told BI that he'd also seen CVs balloon. On average, the word count of the US résumés in its database has increased by about 40% since August 2021, he said.<h2 id="363b073c-bc15-41a5-aed7-b4c27f96cb18">Stay relevant</h2>Neave said one culprit behind résumé creep could be the inclination to inject our professional calling cards with all of the keywords from a job description.So-called keyword stuffing, where you add the operative words or phrases that appear in a job posting to your résumé, is nothing new. Yet more people hunting down jobs might be focusing on that in an attempt to shoulder their way past the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-your-resume-gets-rejected-job-search-bots-people-ats-2024-5">applicant-tracking systems</a> that most large employers use to sort résumés.Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with LiveCareer, told BI that many job seekers feel the need to include more keywords, skills, and components like accomplishments in their résumés simply to stay afloat in a competitive job market.That landscape appears to be growing a wee bit less forgiving. The US government's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unemployment-rate-job-growth-interest-rate-cuts-federal-reserve-recession-2024-9">August jobs figures</a>, released Friday, showed hiring came in below analysts' expectations. Downward revisions to June and July's payroll numbers also signaled that summertime job growth was weaker than previously reported.Escalera said many job seekers want to add to their résumé to ensure someone reading it can understand the value, contributions, and accomplishments that would make them a good fit for a role.But it's easy to overdo it, Escalera said. Adding too much risks having a recruiter overlook what's most important.She recommends job seekers use distinct sections to help make their résumé easy to read. Escalera suggests working from the top down by starting with a professional summary. Unlike the "objective" that once took the top spot, the professional summary should focus on how the candidate can contribute to what the employer is seeking, she said.But, unlike an objective that once might have been a sentence or two, professional summaries often get loaded up with how long we've worked, various skills, and the value we'd bring to a job, Escalera said. "There's much more going into this thing to be able to stand out," she said.Next up is a skills section. For people applying for roles with quantifiable results — like sales or marketing — it can be wise to then include a section on career accomplishments. Following that would be experience and, last, education.<h2 id="083907c5-9547-43eb-9b6e-ce18ba15e706">AI doesn't always help</h2>While using AI to write or revamp résumés hasn't been a thing for very long, Mann said that the technology could explain at least some CVs' newfound heft. That's because while the tech can help draft and proof résumés, AI can also bring its own risks, she said."It's the average of all the resources that are out there, so it creates these incredibly generic résumés," Mann said.The reason, she said, is because many people have been writing résumés in rather generic ways for a long time so that's the bulk of what AI has been trained on.<h2 id="9159c2a8-0f66-4e18-aa54-ebc7ed8fe770">Stick to two pages — maximum</h2>For years, the advice has broadly been that newbie workers should keep their résumé to about a page. More seasoned workers, the thinking often goes, should cap their CVs around two pages and not go beyond three.That advice still holds, Adzuna's Neave said."If I get a CV and it's like four or five pages, I'm inwardly groaning already," he said. That's because it's just harder to work with, Neave said.He recommends people with five years or less of work experience cap a résumé at a page. For longer-tenure workers, two pages should suffice in most cases.<h2 id="92318f3b-d65d-4c72-8306-8d5dff5634e1">Focus on your most recent experience</h2>Mann, from Self Made Millennial, said that because employers tend to care about your most recent work, it's best to focus the experience section on the past decade or about the last four roles.For most experience beyond that, she said, it's often sufficient to drop in a bullet for that role or just name the jobs. It's still important that the résumé be an accurate portrayal of your career path, Mann said, but going into detail on the old stuff often isn't useful for employers."If a company is interviewing you and you're constantly going back 10-plus years to answer their questions, that is going to probably hurt you," she said. "They are more interested in what have you been up to lately."

Your résumé is probably getting too long. Here's how to fix it.

<ul><li><keyword id="23134822" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Great-Indian-Festival" source="keywords">Amazon Great Indian Festival</keyword> begins on September 27 for all</li><li>Prime users get early access to the sale</li><li>Apple's <keyword id="21240170" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="MacBook-Air-M1" source="keywords">MacBook Air M1</keyword> will be available at a special discount</li></ul> Amazon's Great Indian Festival begins this Friday and as we get closer to the shopping fiesta, people are eager to know about the deals that will be available. For Prime members, the sale begins a day early, on September 26. Several gadgets including smartphones, laptops, TWS earbuds etc will be available at attractive prices during the deal. If you are thinking of buying a laptop during the <keyword id="20586627" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-sale" source="keywords">Amazon sale</keyword>, here's some good news. The website recently teased a deal on the MacBook Air M1. <h2>MacBook Air 1 to get discounted during Amazon Great Indian Festival</h2>The MacBook Air M1 will be available at a huge discount during the Amazon sale. The laptop, which originally launched in India at a price of ₹92,990, is set to become much more affordable during the upcoming festive sales. Currently listed on Amazon at ₹62,990, the laptop will see a significant price drop to ₹55,990 during the sale period. Moreover, shoppers using select bank cards will benefit from an instant discount of ₹3,000, bringing the price further down. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113214171" title="iPhone 16 Pro with A18 Pro chip launched: Should you upgrade if you own an iPhone 15 Pro?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> For those who are Amazon Prime members, there's an additional perk. Prime members who act quickly during the first few hours of the sale can enjoy an extra ₹3,000 off as part of an early bird offer. This means the price of the MacBook Air M1 could drop as low as ₹49,990 for some customers, making it one of the most enticing offers in the market for a high-end <keyword id="23291511" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple-laptop" source="keywords">Apple laptop</keyword>. <h2>Reasons to buy the MacBook Air M1 in 2024</h2>The MacBook Air M1 may not be Apple's latest model, but it remains a popular choice for both students and professionals due to its solid performance and long-lasting support from Apple. Powered by Apple's M1 chipset, the laptop features an 8-core CPU, with four performance cores and four efficiency cores. This combination allows the device to handle daily tasks with ease, while using far less power than traditional laptops, making it energy-efficient as well. The MacBook Air M1 has a 13.3-inch Retina display, boasting a 2560x1600 resolution. This crisp display makes it ideal for watching videos, editing photos, or simply browsing the web. Despite being launched a few years ago, it still packs enough power to meet the demands of everyday tasks, whether that’s work, study, or entertainment. One of the standout features of this laptop is its battery life. Apple claims that the MacBook Air M1 can last up to 18 hours on a single charge, which is more than enough for a full day of use without needing to reach for the charger. This makes it an excellent choice for people on the go, as it offers portability alongside top-tier performance. In terms of its build, the MacBook Air M1 has a sleek, minimalistic design, in line with Apple’s aesthetic standards. It features an aluminium finish that gives it a premium look and feel, while remaining lightweight at just under 1.3kg. This makes it easy to carry, whether you’re heading to the office, travelling, or attending classes. Apple is known for offering long-term support for its devices, and the MacBook Air M1 is no exception. This means that buyers can expect software updates and security patches for several years, extending the usability and lifespan of the laptop. For anyone considering investing in a laptop, this is an important factor, as it ensures that the device will not become obsolete anytime soon. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/article/from-firewire-in-macs-to-type-c-in-iphones-the-apple-connect/articleshow/112734982.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">From FireWire in Macs to Type-C in iPhones - the Apple Connect</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/article/elon-musk-to-tim-cook-a-morning-in-the-lives-of-big-tech-ceos/articleshow/113599807.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Elon Musk to Tim Cook: A morning in the lives of big tech CEOs</a>

Apple MacBook Air M1 to be available under ₹50,000 on Amazon, how to get the deal

<ul><li><keyword id="19899647" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iPhone-16" source="keywords">iPhone 16</keyword> can be delivered to your doorstep in under 10 minutes</li><li>The phone is available on Blinkit, <keyword id="19939136" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BigBasket" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BigBasket" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BigBasket">BigBasket</keyword> and <keyword id="19939134" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zepto" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zepto" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zepto">Zepto</keyword></li><li>The iPhone 16 was made available for sale in India today</li></ul> Earlier this morning, <keyword id="19894961" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Apple" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Apple">Apple</keyword> stores in Mumbai and Delhi witnessed huge lines of iPhone buyers, ready to get their hands on the next-gen models. Apple’s iPhone 16 series went for sale in India today and the excitement around the new phones is palpable. However, what if we tell you that you can order an iPhone within the comfort of your home? Blinkit is selling the iPhone 16 promising to deliver it to your doorstep in a few minutes. The phone is also being sold at BigBasket. However, it is to be noted that Blinkit and Big Basket are not selling the pro variants of the iPhone 16. If you are looking for the higher-end variants, you will have to either buy from a store or order it online. In India, the iPhone 16 is priced at ₹79,900, while the iPhone 16 Plus is available for ₹89,900. The <keyword id="20656465" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iPhone-16-Pro" source="keywords">iPhone 16 Pro</keyword> starts at ₹1,19,900, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at ₹1,44,900. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113214171" title="iPhone 16 Pro with A18 Pro chip launched: Should you upgrade if you own an iPhone 15 Pro?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Let us take a look at where you can buy all variants of the iPhone 16 and what are the bank offers available. <h2>iPhone 16 available in under 10 minutes</h2>Blinkit is currently selling the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, though only the 128GB variant is available for purchase. The higher storage options are currently unavailable on Blinkit, and BigBasket. It's still unclear if the Pro models will be added to their listings in the coming week. In addition to Blinkit and Big Basket, the iPhone 16 is also available at Zepto. Blinkit and BigBasket, meanwhile, promise to deliver the phone in under 10 minutes. On the other hand, Zepto is promising to deliver the device in about 30 minutes. <h2>Customer orders iPhone 16 via BigBasket</h2> In a press release, BigBasket shared that a customer from Koramangala, Bengaluru had ordered an iPhone 16 at 8:00 AM and received the product in just seven minutes, at 8:07 am. The customer, upon receiving the product, said as per the press release, “I’ve always trusted bigbasket for my daily needs and groceries. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they are also delivering the new iPhone 16. What topped the excitement was getting the iPhone 16 within minutes of ordering! It’s a game-changer in quick delivery.” <h2>Bank offers on the iPhone 16</h2>Shoppers can enjoy savings of up to ₹5000 when purchasing an iPhone 16 using eligible credit cards from Kotak Mahindra, SBI, and ICICI Bank credit cards on Amazon. To make the purchase even more convenient, no-cost EMI options are available for 3 to 6 months through most major banks. Meanwhile, Vijay Sales is offering various deals to select card holders of ICICI bank, SBI, HDFC bank, Kotak Mahindra bank, YES Bank, IDFC FIRST Bank and Federal Bank. EMI options are also available on the website. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113448967" title="You can get free Apple Airpods 4 and Apple Pencil with this limited-time deal in India, details here" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> In addition to this, Apple is also offering its popular Trade-In program, which allows buyers to exchange their old devices for a discount. Depending on the condition and model of the device being traded in, customers can receive anywhere from ₹4000 to ₹67,500 off their new iPhone. In addition to these savings, those purchasing an iPhone 16 will receive a complimentary three-month subscription to Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade, adding even more value to their purchase. <h2>About the iPhone 16 lineup </h2> Apple has introduced some new features in the new iPhone 16 series, aiming to make both the standard and Pro models more advanced and user-friendly. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus now boast a new Camera Control button, giving users quicker access to key functions. Both phones are powered by the upgraded Apple A18 chip and come with an improved dual-camera system that includes a new spatial capture feature for enhanced photography. Running on iOS 18 right out of the box, these models are set to receive further smart updates with upcoming software enhancements. The vanilla iPhone 16 features a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus offers a larger 6.7-inch screen. Both displays are protected by Ceramic Shield technology and reach a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, though they continue to use 60Hz OLED panels. On the camera front, these models come with a 48MP main sensor capable of 2x zoom and a 12MP ultrawide camera that can now take macro shots. For selfies, a 12MP TrueDepth camera is included on both models. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max take things a step further, with bigger screens and narrower bezels. The Pro comes with a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max offers a 6.9-inch one. Both feature Retina XDR OLED screens with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,000 nits of brightness. Both phones are powered by the advanced A18 Pro chip and run on iOS 18. For photography enthusiasts, the Pro models pack a triple-lens setup, including a 48MP main camera, a new 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP periscope camera offering 5x optical zoom. The front-facing camera remains a 12MP TrueDepth unit, and both Pro models now support 4K video recording at 120fps. Like the standard versions, they also come equipped with the new Camera Control button, making it easier than ever to snap photos and capture moments.

You can get the iPhone 16 in under 10 minutes while sitting at home, here is how

Lana Linge has $42,000 in credit-card debt, but it's not the giant tab that has her most frustrated.The 29-year-old says she takes full responsibility for her debt. After getting her first credit card in her early 20s, Linge accumulated small amounts of debt but was always able to pay it off. That changed in 2020: Linge struggled with managing her spending on necessities and other items, like clothes, while in isolation, causing her bills to grow. Things got worse after she lost her job this past October, and she eventually depleted her savings to keep up with the payments on her card."I know for a lot of people, they're in debt because of these freak things that are outside of their control," Linge tells me. "The reason that I'm in debt primarily is from overspending, and I don't try and negate that in any way."Overwhelmed, Linge is going through the painful bankruptcy process to discharge the debt. Looking back, she regrets not paying more attention to the details of her card's interest rate. Wooed by the rewards and perks the companies were offering, Linge signed up for a card with an interest rate she says ballooned to over 20%. The growing interest payments meant that even as she worked to get her spending under control, the bills kept growing.Linge's experience may be on the extreme end of America's personal finance journeys, but she isn't alone in her interest-rate woes. Consumers are always looking for deals, and it's easy to be swayed by credit-card companies offering glitzy rewards and points. As Adam Rust, the director of financial services at the Consumer Federation of America, told me, issuers are "putting the sizzle before the steak." But many of these cards come with high rates and hidden fees, and by the time consumers realize just what they signed up for, credit-card companies have raked in the profits."Credit-card companies can get away with charging high rates of interest because consumers aren't necessarily paying attention and marketing doesn't focus on that," he said.The average credit-card interest rate is now just over 21%, up from about 15% a decade ago. More importantly, the gap between the interest rate that credit-card companies pay banks that oversee their business and the one they charge you is the widest it has been in nearly 30 years. Even with existing regulations and the recent interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, credit-card companies have the power to exploit consumers, and people with growing debt piles have few avenues for relief. Additionally, as credit-card companies continue to charge high interest rates, more cardholders in debt become delinquent — and that could push the US economy closer to recession."What we're seeing from the data shows a rapidly deteriorating financial landscape for Americans," Bruce McClary, a senior vice president at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, tells me, "with a lot of people teetering on the brink of severe financial crisis."<h2 id="ddbac9bc-8e83-4317-902e-7a4e1408e665">The squeeze is on</h2>Americans have a lot of debt piled up on their little pieces of plastic. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in August that Americans owed a record $1.14 trillion on their credit cards in the second quarter and that balances increased by $27 billion from the same period a year ago, a 5.8% jump. TransUnion says the average credit-card balance per debtor stands at $6,329, up by 4.8% from a year ago. Most worryingly, according to the New York Fed, the percentage of people who had fallen more than 90 days behind on their payments climbed to 6.4% by the end of 2023, up from 4% at the end of 2022. Austan Goolsbee, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, described those rising delinquencies as "uncomfortably high" and a "warning sign" for the economy.This may be worrying news for average households and the US economy, but it is wonderful news for the credit-card companies. Credit-card issuers make money in a few ways, but one of the most important is interest payments. When a customer doesn't pay off their full balance each month, they pay interest that the credit-card company collects, so increasing interest rates is an easy way to bring in more profit. To better understand the strength of the credit-card industry, look at the split between the federal funds rate — the interest rate at which banks make very short-term loans to each other, which is also used as the benchmark for almost every other type of loan — and the average credit-card interest rate. Data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve indicates the difference between the rates is at a nearly three-decade high, suggesting credit-card companies feel free to charge high interest rates regardless of what the Federal Reserve does with the federal funds rate."We should never lose sight of just how profitable credit cards are," Rust says. "You've got interest, you've got interchange, you've got late fees; credit-card companies are making so much money."The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimated in February that major credit-card companies earned about $25 billion in additional interest revenue in 2023 by raising their annual-percentage-rate margins, or the difference between the APR and the interest rate set by banks, known as the prime rate. It also found that major issuers raised the average margin by 4.3 percentage points over the past decade, to an all-time high. Using data on how Americans deploy their cards to paint a representative picture, the CFPB estimated that the margin increase cost the average consumer with a balance of $5,300 more than $250 in 2023. On top of that, the bureau's 2023 report to Congress on the credit-card market said companies charged consumers over $105 billion in interest in 2022, helping boost the profit margin for these companies to 5.9% from 4.5% in 2019.These staggering numbers are made possible by the tactics that credit-card companies use to lure in new customers. Antoinette Schoar, an economist at MIT who coauthored a paper examining credit-card companies' use of behavioral biases to acquire customers, says companies use data to determine a prospective customer's education and income levels and will tend to offer products with hidden fees and high rates to people with lower educational attainment and income. For example, a company might advertise a 0% APR, but the consumer might not realize that that rate can't last forever, leading them to take on balances higher than they can afford to pay off. She says that while the tactics companies use to appeal to certain consumers can lead to high balances and credit-card debt, the companies aren't the only ones to blame — government regulations to prevent this kind of misleading marketing by credit-card companies could force the companies to compete by offering customers a better deal."We need better regulation so that the card companies are competing on the right dimensions and not on increasing convolution or increasing confusion to their customers," Schoar says.<h2 id="a19bffcc-ffc0-46bd-9211-4a8e68d3409d">'The highest credit-card rates we've ever seen'</h2>Until 1978, most states had laws capping interest rates for credit cards and consumer products. But a Supreme Court decision that year allowed banks to charge whatever interest rate they wanted if they were headquartered in a state without a usury law. This inspired a race to the bottom, with states like South Dakota and Delaware doing away with their laws in order to attract more business from banks. The industry ended up with, as David Silberman, a senior fellow for the Center for Responsible Lending, put it, virtually "no legal constraints on the interest rate they charge." Lawmakers have tried to rein in the industry — for instance, the CARD Act, enacted in 2009, required card issuers to notify consumers of interest-rate increases at least 45 days in advance and put restrictions on things like late fees and withdrawal fees. The legislation, however, didn't cap interest rates or rate increases. Lowering the current high interest rates, and the profits that come with them, has become a priority across the aisle. GOP Sen. Josh Hawley introduced a bill in 2023 that would cap interest rates at 18% and impose penalties on companies that violate the cap. "Americans are being crushed under the weight of record credit card debt—and the biggest banks are just getting richer," Hawley said in a statement, adding that "capping the maximum credit card interest rate is fair, common-sense, and gives the working class a chance." Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren brought up the issue during a Senate hearing in May, saying credit-card companies had "grown their profits through interest and fees."The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate in September after holding it steady for over a year, but credit-card holders with high interest rates won't feel any relief off the bat. Michele Raneri, a vice president and head of US research and consulting at TransUnion, told me that's because consumers have to pay off their balances at the interest rate in place when they accumulated the debt, so the lower rate wouldn't apply."It'll take a while for the consumer to realize the benefit of it," Ranieri says.The high inflation of the past few years has also made it easier for consumers to fall into credit-card debt. Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate, described the feedback loop of high prices and high interest rates as "a tough cycle to break." Credit-card companies know what they need to do to maximize profit: If they offer rewards and bonuses up front, they can snag new customers before they realize the high rates they're signing up for. Profits keep rolling in for issuers, while consumers fall further behind.<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/ayelet-sheffey">Ayelet Sheffey</a> is a senior economic policy reporter on Business Insider's economy team.

Credit card companies are ripping you off like never before

<div type="image" title="One Planet Banner Test" height="138" width="1100" msid="108470190" hostid="261" sizebytes="5076"></div>When Robert Howey joined the US Navy right after high school, he didn't expect to return home anytime soon.Howey, now 30, grew up in northwestern Georgia near Dalton, a small city known as the "carpet capital of the world." If he'd stayed in the area, he likely would have pursued a career in the carpet industry."That's one of the reasons why I wanted to leave," Howey told Business Insider.Howey spent four years as an aerographer's mate analyzing the conditions above and below the ocean. But after being stationed in Japan during the Fukushima earthquake in 2016, he realized the military wasn't his long-term career.He missed home and moved back to Dalton, where a job in carpet manufacturing was indeed the best-paying option. That was until 2018, when Howey heard about a new company moving into Dalton. A local staffing agency was recruiting for Qcells, a solar-panel manufacturing company owned by the South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group."I didn't even know what a solar panel was," Howey, now a master training coordinator at Qcells, said. "In the beginning, it was just about getting a job where I could grow. Now I believe in the mission of completely clean energy."Howey is among the 1,800 employees Qcells has hired since opening a solar assembly plant in 2019. The company finished an expansion in October, and it plans to open another factory in Cartersville, about an hour south of Dalton, to make smaller parts of solar panels, including ingots, wafers, and cells. Those parts are currently being imported from South Korea and Malaysia.<div type="image" title="An employee at Qcells inspects a solar panel on the factory floor." height="3024" width="4032" msid="108470191" hostid="261" sizebytes="1120990"></div>Qcells is part of a broader transformation of Georgia's economy into a renewable-energy manufacturing hub, accelerated by tax breaks in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/read-heres-whats-in-the-manchin-deal-for-bidens-agenda-2022-7">Inflation Reduction Act</a> that President Joe Biden signed in August 2022. Since then, more than $15 billion worth of investment has been announced in the state – the second-largest amount behind North Carolina, <a target="_blank" href="https://e2.org/announcements/">according to E2</a>, a nonpartisan business group that advocates climate policy. Most of the money is for new battery plants to supply Georgia's growing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-vehicles-ev-industry-only-sector-meet-climate-goals-2023-11">electric-vehicle sector</a>, while about $2.6 billion is set to go toward solar manufacturing, led by Qcells. E2 has estimated the projects could create 15,400 jobs statewide.All the activity has made Georgia a key testing ground for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-laws-us-infrastructure-invest-funding-2024-3">Biden administration's promise</a> that tackling the climate crisis would create <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-jobs-career-grow-pay-well-high-salary-2024">good-paying jobs</a> and help reshore American manufacturing. Though companies have announced billions of dollars' worth of investments, efforts to build a domestic supply chain of solar panels and electric vehicles are still in their infancy and face stiff competition from China.<h2>Aggressive recruitment</h2>Experts in economic and workforce development say it's no accident this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-climate-manufacturing-work-best-places-georgia-carolinas-2024-1">manufacturing is taking off in Georgia</a>.Bob Keefe, the executive director of E2, said southeastern states view economic development as "a blood sport." Attracting new companies is a priority for leaders in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and the states typically offer generous tax breaks.Keefe added that land and labor in the Southeast tend to be more affordable, in part because few workers are unionized. Many workers are also already skilled in manufacturing.Beyond Qcells, the German auto-parts maker Gedia opened a factory in Dalton to supply the burgeoning EV industry in Georgia and the broader Southeast. In nearby Cartersville, two South Korean conglomerates, SK On and Hyundai, are building a battery plant to supply the electric vehicles Hyundai plans to assemble at a massive new complex in Savannah; both sites are expected to open in 2025. India's Rayzon Solar, which makes solar panels, chose Atlanta for its first US factory. SolarCycle, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-action-30-global-leaders-climate-solutions-2023-11#pablo-ribeiro-dias-cofounder-and-cto-solarcycle-19">which reclaims old solar panels</a> to make new ones, in February announced plans for a glass factory.<div type="image" title="SK On and Hyundai's battery factory under construction in Cartersville, Georgia." height="1660" width="3590" msid="108470192" hostid="261" sizebytes="324146"></div>Pat Wilson, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, told BI that recruiting solar and electric-vehicle companies was strategic. Wilson said that on a trip to Germany his department organized with Gov. Brian Kemp shortly after he took office in 2019, executives they met with at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porsche-unveils-mission-x-new-electric-hypercar-ev-electric-vehicle-2023-6">Porsche</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-benz-ev-2030-electric-car-market-trends-2024-2">Mercedes-Benz</a> talked at length about electric vehicles.Qcells had already selected Dalton for its new solar-panel factory by the time Kemp was elected. Wilson said that was partly because of Georgia's decadeslong business relationship with South Korea, where the state established an office in 1985.Wilson said he met with SK On's officials several times before it looked to open a battery factory in the Southeast. SK On opened two battery plants in Commerce, Georgia, in 2018 and hired some 3,000 workers, though it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/9453dc6b-be15-4a54-8e26-fffdc7a3c9eb">recently laid off</a> more than 100 employees as automakers slowed EV investments, the Financial Times reported.Beyond the ties to South Korean conglomerates, Georgia invests more than $100 million dollars a year in workforce training, budget documents show. A state-funded program known as Quick Start can be tailored to the technical skills companies are looking for and offered for free to workers. Georgia's network of 22 technical colleges also partners with local companies to prepare students for work.Heidi Popham, the president of Georgia Northwestern Technical College, said the state agency that oversees that network of technical colleges developed an electric-vehicle-technician certificate, given the massive growth of that industry. She expects her college will offer that certification soon."The students in our automotive-technician program that work on the vehicles will have to have those skills," Popham told BI.<h2>China looms large</h2>Georgia's strategy in recruitment and workforce development is only part of the reason for the boom in renewable-energy-technology companies.In 2018, President Donald Trump <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-solar-tariffs-solar-panels-thousands-of-job-losses-2018-1">slapped tariffs on imports</a> of solar panels and cells, with the goal of helping US manufacturers compete with cheaper imports from China and Southeast Asia. The tariffs were requested by two American companies, including Suniva, which had once been the fastest-growing solar company in the US before filing for bankruptcy protection in 2017.Foreign companies shipping to the US, including Hanwha, were forced to reevaluate their supply chains."We have factories in Korea and Malaysia that were impacted by that duty," said Scott Moskowitz, the director of strategy and market intelligence at Qcells. "The US was our largest market, and we had long wanted to build a factory here. But that trade policy jump-started us making the investment."Qcells' latest expansion plans were buoyed by the Inflation Reduction Act. The law authorized big tax credits for companies making renewable-energy technologies, including solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles, in the US.Those subsidies could increase if companies use what's known as domestic content: components of those technologies that are also sourced from the US. The Treasury Department is still working on final guidance for which components would qualify. An initial draft covers solar modules and cells but not wafers and polysilicon. In February, a dozen senators, including Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/24.02.28_Sen.-Ossoff-Domestic-Content.pdf">asked the Biden administration</a> to include wafers and polysilicon to help reshore more of the solar-panel supply chain.That change would benefit Qcells. Its parent company, Hanwha, invested in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kedglobal.com/energy/newsView/ked202311160013">polysilicon factory in Washington state</a>, reviving operations after a nearly five-year hiatus.Moskowitz said that though the law has spurred the most investment in US manufacturing in decades, these renewable supply chains still face headwinds, primarily from China. He added that China had compensated for its cratering <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-crash-real-estate-collapse-property-market-evergrande-bass-2024-2">real-estate sector</a> by rapidly investing in export-oriented manufacturing inside and outside its borders.According to BloombergNEF, China spent $676 billion on the green-energy transition in 2023, while the US spent $303 billion. The year prior, China spent $546 billion while the US spent $141 billion.As a result, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/renewable-energy-how-much-added-wind-solar-evs-2023-12">China dominates the renewable-energy supply chain</a>, from metals to polysilicon to solar components to batteries. The investment has also led to a global oversupply of solar panels and components that's sent prices plunging, and it's made <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-crush-tesla-elon-musk-american-ev-industry-2024-2#:~:text=BYD%20eclipsed%20Tesla%20in%202023,on%20threats%20from%20Chinese%20automakers.">China a major player in the EV market</a>.While the US doesn't import solar panels directly from China, the Biden administration <a target="_blank" href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/08/department-commerce-issues-final-determination-circumvention-inquiries">last year determined</a> that certain Chinese companies were shipping products through Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Vietnam. This allowed those companies to avoid tariffs, which the administration had waived for two years, through June 2024. According to S&amp;P Global, the US imported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/extreme-dependence-us-solar-panel-imports-boom-to-record-54-gw-in-2023-80448513">more than two-thirds of its solar panels</a> from Southeast Asia last year.The moves reflect the delicate balance the White House is trying to strike between meeting its climate and renewable-energy goals — which rely on imports — and bolstering a domestic manufacturing base.Moskowitz said that despite the difficult market conditions, Qcells was committed to its US expansion plans. The tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act are in effect for 10 years, which he said reduced some risk for the company. Qcells also has an eight-year supply deal with Microsoft, which is building out renewable-energy projects to power its operations.Once the Qcells factory in Cartersville is finished, the company said it will produce about 8.4 gigawatts of solar power capacity a year, or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.seia.org/us-solar-market-insight">about a fourth of what the US installed in 2023</a>.<h2>A new era in the carpet capital</h2>Qcells' arrival in Dalton marked a new era in Whitfield County, which was devastated by the Great Recession. The housing-bubble burst, rippled through the carpet industry, and cost the county <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dailycitizen.news/news/local_news/carbondale-business-park-has-attracted-jobs-and-investment/article_3d4025a4-c81a-11ed-830d-e7ae46616883.html">more than 10,000 jobs.</a> The unemployment rate peaked at about 14% in early 2009 and the county's population, which had steadily grown for decades, plateaued. New housing construction halted.Carl Campbell, the executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority, said that while carpet makers like Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries survived, <a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SMU13191403231400001">the industry never returned to prerecession employment levels</a> because of consolidation and automation.The decline led economic-development officials to try to diversify businesses in the area. Campbell said the local workforce already valued manufacturing because of the community's long history in carpet. This — combined with Dalton's proximity to Interstate 75, a freight-rail depot, and a generous 10-year property-tax abatement — helped close the deal with Qcells.Since Qcells opened its doors in 2019, Whitfield County's population has slowly started increasing, but not nearly as fast as Georgia's overall population, which grew by 1.7% between 2020 and 2022.Jevin Jensen, the chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, said part of the problem is a lack of housing. Each day, Jensen said, 30,000 people come to the county for work and then leave to go home."Surely some of those people want to live here but can't find a place they like or a place that's new," Jensen told BI. "We haven't had any new apartments in 20 years."<div type="image" title="Local residents stand outside Dalton Station, a new apartment complex in Dalton, Georgia." height="2841" width="3024" msid="108470193" hostid="261" sizebytes="694042"></div>But a lot can change in a year. Jensen said Dalton would have 1,200 new apartments by the end of 2024. In early February, he attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a chic new studio-apartment complex that's close to downtown and designed to appeal to young professionals. Amenities include a gym, a common area with a pool table, and cornhole on the patio.Afterward, Jensen gave BI a driving tour of three other developments around Dalton, including a multifamily apartment complex at an old jail site."The younger generation doesn't want to spend time on a remodel," Jensen said. "They want move-in-ready, mixed-use, with retail and restaurants in one area. We had nothing like that for young professionals."Howey, the Qcells employee, lives about 30 minutes outside the city, in Calhoun. He's noticed the new housing popping up in the area, along with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-investors-ev-truck-electric-charging-stations-2023-10">EV chargers.</a> When he sees solar panels atop the chargers, he feels pride in his job."We are helping power our vehicles and homes in a way that isn't going to kill our planet," Howey said.He's also a father to two stepchildren — he said he's glad they'll have more job opportunities than he did when he graduated."I think the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-panel-industry-electricity-generation-us-eia-tariff-prices-trade-2024-2">solar industry</a> has created a whole new atmosphere in the area," he said, "where people want to come here to succeed and move forward."This article is part of "<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/the-great-transition">The Great Transition</a>," a series covering the big changes across industries that are leading to a more sustainable future. For more climate-action news, visit BI's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-planet">One Planet</a> hub.

How Georgia became America's green-manufacturing capital 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I have a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-that-make-costco-membership-worth-it-from-employee-2024">Costco executive membership</a> and a store credit card, so I stack rebates and rewards.</li><li>In addition to bulk deals, my membership gives my family a 2% rebate on most <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-costco-buys-for-easy-meals-executive-membership-2024-6">Costco purchases</a>. </li></ul>For the first time in seven years, Costco said it will <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-raising-membership-fee-gold-star-executive-cost-2024-7">raise its membership prices</a>. On September 1, the $60 gold-star and $120 executive memberships are set to increase to $65 and $130, respectively.But even so, I think the pricier executive membership is 100% worth it for my family — especially when it's paired with the rewards from my <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/costco-anywhere-visa-card-review">Costco store credit card</a>.Here's how I stack all the perks to earn hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at Costco. <h2>Both the executive membership and in-store credit card come with great perks </h2>The executive membership comes with a 2% rebate on most in-store and online purchases, and I typically spend about <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-things-at-costco-family-of-five-grocery-list-2024-6">$300 a month at Costco</a>.The membership rebate is issued three months before the card member's renewal date and is capped at $1,000 a year. But the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/costco-anywhere-visa-card-review"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/costco-anywhere-visa-card-review">Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi</a> is my secret weapon for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/how-to-maximize-credit-card-rewards">maximizing rewards</a>. Most items purchased in-store or online automatically earn 2% cash back, and gas at eligible stations earns 4% cash back. Since Costco has the best prices near us, I always fill up there and get the perks. <div type="image" title="gap pump at costco" height="2504" width="3339" msid="112266153" hostid="261" sizebytes="543738"></div>There's also a 3% reward on eligible restaurants and travel purchases, plus 1% back on everything else, so I'm always earning. Citi issues the reward certificate once the February billing statement closes. Just remember that it's a credit card, and interest will be charged on any balance you carry over. I like to pay the balance in full each month to avoid having my rewards gobbled up by charges. <h2>Plus, the Costco app has so many little-known reward opportunities</h2>One of my <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-shoppers-share-the-best-things-to-buy-photos-list">favorite Costco deals</a> is its four-pack restaurant gift cards available on the app. I either gift them throughout the year or use them when dining out with my family. You can purchase $100 gift cards for various restaurants for $75 or $80. The immediate discount is obviously great, and I still get the 2% rebate and 2% cash back.The Costco app also offers discounts on select online clothing and footwear purchases. It's a great way for my family to stock up on basics like socks and underwear each year.For example, this July, members could save $20 on any five to nine eligible items and $50 on any 10 eligible items. But the discount amount can vary monthly, so make sure to download the app and keep an eye out for specials.Shipping is even included in the price, and my 2% rebate and 2% cash back still apply.<h2>All those rebates and rewards add up — in our case, to hundreds of dollars</h2><div type="image" title="big purchase promotional displays at costco" height="3024" width="4032" msid="112266150" hostid="261" sizebytes="1304154"></div>For my family, our average $300 monthly trip earns us an annual $72 from executive-membership rebates and $72 in Costco credit card rewards. We also spend about $220 on gas, which gives us another $105 in Citi rewards annually. All our clothes, shoes, and restaurant gift cards (which have great discounts off the bat) easily net another $50 to $100 in annual rebates and rewards. Finally, we usually make at least one major purchase each year. For example, last year, we bought a washer and dryer, tires for the car, and my laptop through our Costco membership. That earned us an additional $120 in rebates and rewards. In total, we earned over $400 last year between our executive membership and Costco store credit card. That easily covered the membership costs plus nearly an entire month of groceries. It's hard to argue with those savings.

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