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Make room, Jeff, Bill and Mark: the 12-digit club has a new member. Elon Musk’s fortune crossed the $100 billion mark on Friday as Tesla’s shares continued a dizzying rally that has seen the company’s market cap more than quadruple this year. The South Africa-born chief executive has now followed Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Microsoft founder …

This concert is fit for a queen  . . . ant. The show will go on for 11 obscure music festivals this summer despite the dangers of COVID-19. Just how? The only attendees will be teeny tiny ants. Aptly dubbed Antyfest, the musical performances — played by musicians from their own homes — are streamed via iPad to …

The special prosecutor tasked with re-investigating the Jussie Smollett case implored a judge Friday to release his entire investigation into Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx — but the request was denied. Dan Webb, who brought new charges against Smollett in February, just wrapped up his investigation into Foxx’s handling of the case but could …

Coca-Cola is offering voluntary buyouts to about 4,000 people to reduce the number of layoffs it says will take place as it streamlines operations. Coca-Cola is reducing the number of its individual business segments from 17 to nine, which it said Friday will result in “voluntary and involuntary” staff cuts. The streamlining is taking place …

The attorneys representing Kenosha gunman Kyle Rittenhouse have announced they will be establishing a legal defense fund for the teen who is facing multiple charges for killing two protesters on Tuesday.  The Kenosha County District Attorney’s office on Thursday formally charged the 17-year-old from Illinois in the fatal shooting of two men and the wounding of …

Blackpink and Selena Gomez served up more than just a delicious summer bop with their new song “Ice Cream” — the accompanying music video, released along with the track on Friday, is a total fashion treat. The outfits throughout are a throwback to sweeter times, with Gomez, 28, donning pastel pinup looks and polka dots …

Casino operator MGM Resorts plans to lay off 18,000 furloughed workers in the United States as a global travel slowdown from the coronavirus crisis hurt its operations, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The job cuts will start Monday, the report said. The company had about 52,000 full-time and 18,000 part-time employees in the …

American consumers increased their spending by just 1.9 percent in July as the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic lost some momentum. Last month’s $267.6 billion jump in consumer spending beat economists’ expectations for a 1.5 percent gain even as growth slowed from a strong rebound in the prior two months, the US Commerce Department …

Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota all reported record one-day increases in the number of new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. While deaths from the virus climbed to more than 180,000 on Thursday, new cases, deaths, hospitalizations and test positivity rates are all largely declining nationally, aside from a few emerging hotspots in the Midwest. …

Gap and Banana Republic will close more than 225 stores worldwide this year as their parent company slims down its brick-and-mortar footprint. Gap Inc’s Thursday announcement suggests it’s closing far more stores than it expected in March, when it said it would end the 2020 fiscal year with about 90 fewer company-operated shops. The San …