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☆ Explaining the controversy surrounding Georgia’s foreign agents bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Tara Coughlin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ What exactly goes into closing costs?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But there is an often-overlooked expense when buying a home: closing costs. At the same time, the Biden administration plans to take aim at so-called “junk fees” hidden in closing costs. New York, Delaware and Washington, DC, have the highest average closing costs, according to Bankrate; while Missouri, Indiana and North Dakota have the lowest. Lowering closing costs on your ownThere is one relatively simple way to lower your overall closing costs: shop around. “When you compare those offers, examine not just the rate itself but also the closing costs.

Persons: homebuyers, —, Biden, ” Jeff Ostrowski, , ” Ostrowski, you’re, homebuyers haven’t, Brian Connolly, it’s, “ It’s, ” Connolly, Connolly, ”, Freddie Mac, ” Genaro Villa Organizations: CNN, Consumer Financial, National Association of Realtors, realtors, University of Michigan, NAR, homebuyers Locations: New York , Delaware, Washington, Missouri, Indiana, North Dakota, Bankrate, AnnualCreditReport.com

☆ Real estate agents will continue to pay a key role despite settlements, says Berkshire's Greg Abel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailReal estate agents will continue to pay a key role despite settlements, says Berkshire's Greg AbelBerkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett presides over the 2024 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.

Persons: Greg Abel Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway

☆ AI engineers report burnout, rushed rollouts as 'rat race' to stay competitive hits tech industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

The AI engineer bailed on his friends, who had traveled from the East Coast to the Seattle area. watch nowThis is the dark underbelly of the generative AI gold rush. Last year marked the beginning of the generative AI boom, following the debut of OpenAI's ChatGPT near the end of 2022. Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesAn AI engineer at Microsoft said the company is engaged in an "AI rat race." The Microsoft AI engineer said a lot of tasks are about "trying to create AI hype" with no practical use.

Persons: Sebastien Bozon, Jensen Huang, Tech's, Amy Hood, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Andy Jassy, Jassy, they're, Eric Gu, “, Gu, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, Justin Sullivan, there's, Morry, Kolman, doesn't, Sundar Pichai, Bard, There's, That's, beholden, Ayodele Odubela, ", it’s, Adam Selipsky, Anthropic, Dario Amodei, Noah Berger, Odubela, Gemini Organizations: Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, AFP, Getty, Amazon, CNBC, Big Tech, Nvidia, Google . Engineers, Tech, Vision, Cloud Next, Web, Amazon Web Locations: Mulhouse, France, East Coast, Seattle, ChatGPT, San Francisco, Vegas, Las Vegas, German

☆ Chris Pine had negative $400 in his bank account before his 'Princess Diaries 2' payday changed his life
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Pine said that "The Princess Diaries 2" was a major turning point in his career. The actor said that he had overdrafted his bank account before learning he would be paid $65,000. AdvertisementIf you would describe "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" as an "earth-shattering," life-changing film, you're not alone — Chris Pine would say the same, but for likely different reasons. With a Shonda Rhimes-penned screenplay, it's delightful — and if we're lucky, maybe we'll get a "Princess Diaries 3." Pine told Geist in the preview clip that he felt like booking the film represented the moment when he truly "started working."

Persons: Chris Pine, Pine, he'll, —, Willie Geist, I'd, Anne Hathaway, Mia Thermopolis, she's, Queen Clarice, Julie Andrews, Mia, Geist Organizations: Service, Verizon

☆ Tyler Stanaland and Alex Hall continue playing will-they-won't-they in 'Selling the OC' season 3 — and right now, it looks like they won't
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Over the course of the season, Tyler and Hall have multiple discussions about their relationship and at least one steamy kiss. Here's everything we know about whether Tyler and Hall are dating after "Selling the OC" season three. AdvertisementTyler and Hall's sexual tension ramped up on 'Selling the OC' season 2Tyler Stanaland and Alex Hall on "Selling the OC." Season 3 is filled with more indecisionAlex Hall and Tyler Stanaland continue to test the waters of a relationship on "Selling the OC" season 3. Tyler Stanaland and Alex Hall on "Selling the OC."

Persons: —, Tyler Stanaland, Alex Hall, Tyler's, Brittany Snow, Tyler, Terence Patrick, Gio Helou, Hall, Brandi Marshall, Polly Brindle, Polly, wouldn't, costars, Hall's, he's, flakiness, doesn't, it's, Tudum Organizations: Service, Group, Business, Hall, Netflix, Oppenheim Locations: Cabo, Fiji, Australia, San Diego, Nashville, Vegas, London, Italy

☆ Georgia rocked by protests as government pushes Putin-style ‘foreign agent’ bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —After spending his days making wine in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, Tsotne Jafaridze returns home to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, and begins his new routine. Jafaridze, who also owns a travel business and says he receives 95% of his income from foreign sources, says he would “immediately” be listed as a foreign agent under the broadly-written law. But the government reintroduced the same bill in March and appears determined to force it through, despite protests that grow fiercer every week. Despite recent Russian aggression against Georgia, Georgian Dream has long been accused of harboring pro-Russian sympathies and its billionaire founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made his fortune in the Soviet Union. Bidzina Ivanishvili addresses a rally in support of the "foreign agent" law in Tbilisi, April 29, 2024.

Persons: Jafaridze, ”, Vladimir Putin, “, Giorgi Arjevanidze, isn’t, ” Natalie Sabanadze, –, Levan Khabeishvili, Khabeishvili, Bidzina Ivanishvili, ” Buziashvili, Ivanishvili, Bidzina, Shakh, Sabanandze, Irakli Kobakhidze, Kobakhidze, ” Sabanadze, Viktor Orban, Europe’s, Matthew Miller, Washington, Georgia “, Irakli Gedenidze, Viktor Yanukovych, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, European Union, Getty, EU, United National Movement, National Security Council, Soviet Army, Soviet Union, Belarus ’, Party, Georgian, Conservative Political, United, State Department, Protesters, Reuters Locations: Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia’s, Russia, Georgian, Russian, Soviet, AFP, Brussels, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Hungary, Hungarian, United States, stoke, ”

☆ Murders, imprisonment and violence: Threats to press freedom grow in Latin America
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Esteban Campanela | Sol Amaya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

These are just the tip of the iceberg of the challenges faced by many media workers in Latin America, where experts say the status of press freedom is increasingly worrisome. The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed in a press conference that they believed the crime was linked to his journalistic work. Last week, the Mexican president criticized the US State Department’s report on human rights in the world, which refers to concerns over press freedom in Mexico, saying that US authorities should “be respectful”. In a publication in social network X, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said US officials are not concerned about the human rights of Cubans and that the United States has its own human rights violations. Nicaragua: Ortega-Murillo regime targets journalismHarassment of the press in Nicaragua has been widely reported on numerous occasions.

Persons: CNNE, Francisco Cobos, ”, Cobos, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, Enrique Peña Nieto, Felipe Calderón, Lourdes Maldonado López, Maldonado López, Séptimo Día, Roberto Figueroa, Xochitl Zamora, Lourdes Maldonado, Maldonado ´, Marco Ugarte, AP López Obrador, Andres Oppenheimer, Javier Milei, Lopez Obrador, Abraham Jimenez, Jimenez, civically, “, Miguel Diaz, Yamil Lage, Jiménez, Bruno Rodríguez, Ortega, Murillo, Juan Lorenzo Hollman Chamorro, Hollman Chamorro, Chamorro, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, Rosario Murillo, … provocateurs, Chávez, Vos, Chavez, ” Edgar López, López, Juan Pablo Lares, Maximiliano Bruzual, Ariana Cubillos, Nicolas, Maduro’s, Yván Gil, ” Jeannine Cruz, Gustavo Petro, Nayib Bukele, Gonzalo Zegarra, Rey Rodríguez, Manuela Castro, Ana María Cañizares, Ivonne, José Álvarez, Elvin Sandoval, Iván, Sarmenti, Español Organizations: CNN, Amnesty International, Protect Journalists, Univision, Televisa, Prosecutor’s, AP, CIA, Canel, Getty, Cuban Foreign, La Prensa, National Police, ”, El, Regional, Democracy, Nicaraguan, State Department, National College of Journalists, Venezuelan, TC Television, Communication, “ Locations: Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Latin America, Mexican, American, Tamaulipas, McAllen , Texas, Tijuana, Morelos, Tijuana , Mexico, Spain, Cuban, Havana, AFP, United States, Costa Rica, El Confidencial, Managua, NIcaragua, Sur, Washington, Venezuelan, “, Caracas, ”, Ecuador, Guayaquil, America, Argentina, Colombian

☆ U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, in breach of global ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine undergo training to storm enemy trenches using simulation equipment as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine on February 29, 2024. The U.S. has formally accused Russia of using chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops and announced late Wednesday that it is imposing more sanctions on Russian individuals and entities. The U.S. State Department released a statement late Wednesday in which it accused Russia of violating the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which bans the production and use of chemical weapons, by using the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces. Chloropicrin was used as a poison gas in World War I but is now more commonly used in agriculture as an insecticide. "When inhaled, these agents cause alveoli, air sacs in the lungs, to secrete fluid, essentially drowning those affected," the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons states.

Persons: Chloropicrin Organizations: National Guard, Ukrainian, U.S . State Department, Chemical Weapons Convention, CWC, Russian, Chemical Weapons Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kharkiv Region, U.S

☆ This family traveled for a year. Here are the biggest mistakes they made
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Vivien Soo | Poonam Binayak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Life-changing experiences, unforgettable memories and beautiful pictures — these are things that come to mind when people think of a year-long family trip. The Sullivan family, shown here at Machu Picchu in Peru, ran into several unforeseen circumstances throughout the year. Source: Margaret Bensfield Sullivan"We had packed every conceivable medication, and it never occurred to me that we would encounter lice," she said. After a year abroad, Sullivan, shown here in Egypt, said her family returned home with a stronger bond. Margaret Bensfield Sullivan

Persons: Margaret Bensfield Sullivan, Sullivan, Teddy Organizations: Sullivans Locations: piranhas, Brazil, Mozambique, New York, Tanzania, South America, Africa, East, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Beijing, Peru, Berlin, Machu Picchu, Germany, Sullivan, Vietnam, Cambodia, France, Japan, Egypt

She loaded her carry-ons onto the conveyor belt at the security checkpoint and prepared to walk through the metal detector. “I just felt like they were searching for something.”At first, when they flagged her bags, Griner wasn’t too concerned. This was her eighth season in Russia; she paid taxes there and was familiar with the country and its laws. As soon as she felt the cannabis-oil cartridge stowed in a zippered inner pocket in her backpack, her stomach sank. Griner was told to wait while the agent took the cartridges for testing, along with her passport.

Persons: “, ”, wasn’t, Cherelle, Griner, Lindsay Colas, Colas, Alex Boykov, Boykov, snickered, peered, “ I’ve Organizations: Moscow Locations: Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Russia, Arizona, United States, Russian

☆ Police use tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades on 'foreign agent' bill protesters in Georgia's capital
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Davit Kachkachishvili/Anadolu via Getty Images)Tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons were reportedly used by riot police against protesters in Georgia's capital Tbilisi as demonstrations over a so-called "foreign agent" bill escalated. Clashes lasted until late into Tuesday night, with police trying to disperse protesters which the Georgian internal ministry said were breaking demonstration laws by blocking entrances and exits to the country's parliament. "Totally unwarranted, unprovoked and out of proportion use of force ongoing in Tbilisi against peaceful protesters," Georgia's President Salome Zourabichvili said in a post on social media platform X. The bill would force non-governmental organizations, campaign groups and media platforms who receive at least 20% of funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents." They would also be under close scrutiny by Georgia's justice ministry and be made to share sensitive details with authorities, or be faced with large fines.

Persons: Davit Kachkachishvili, Salome Zourabichvili Organizations: Getty Locations: Tbilisi , Georgia, Anadolu, Georgia's, Tbilisi

☆ US says Russia used choking agents against Ukrainian troops, breaching chemical weapons ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident, and is probably driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield,” it said. Russia has previously denied using chemical weapons. The US has previously warned Russia against chemical warfare in Ukraine; in March 2022, a month after the invasion began, President Joe Biden said that NATO would respond if Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine. The use of chemical weapons is banned by international law. Russia has signed those treaties and claims it doesn’t have chemical weapons, but the country has already been linked to the use of nerve agents against critics in recent years.

Persons: Ukraine’s, Chloropicrin, Joe Biden, Mallory Stewart, Sergei Skripal, Alexey Navalny –, Vladimir Putin, Navalny Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Ukrainian, Chemical Weapons Convention, CWC, Russian Embassy, CDC, State Department, United, United Arab Emirates, US, NATO Locations: United States, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Netherlands, China, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, United Arab, Moscow, Ukrainian, Siberia

☆ The $21 billion influencer industry has gone completely off the rails
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Influencer marketing is booming, and brands spend billions to promote products with a personal touch. But these days, the industry of influencer marketing is completely off the rails. Since 2016, the dollars driving the influencer marketing industry have ballooned from $1.6 billion a year to an estimated $21.1 billion in 2023, according to Influencer Marketing Hub. Marketers, brands, influencers, and platform companies all have opportunities to exploit one another to varying degrees of harm." It's not great for consumersDespite the money flying around, the FTC only provides basic guidelines about disclosure requirements for influencer marketing to protect consumers of their content.

Persons: —, Emily Hund, Hund, David Camp, Michael Jordan, George Foreman, Brooke Shields, Calvin Klein, isn't, It's, Kim Kardashian, influencer Chiara Ferragni, Lindsay Lohan, DJ Khaled, Naomi Campbell, Kardashian, Dylan Mulvaney, Bud Light, Ben Shapiro, Donald Trump Jr, Camp Organizations: Service, Business, Social Media, Harvard Business, CBS News, Nike, Salton, FTC, SEC, Consumer, NBC Locations: influencers, California

Former President Donald J. Trump said on Wednesday that he asked his Secret Service detail to take him to the Capitol after his speech at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, acknowledging a key detail of his actions that were central to the findings of the House committee established to investigate the attack. During a campaign rally in Waukesha, Wis., Mr. Trump brought up a sensational but disputed element of testimony given to the House Jan. 6 committee by a Trump White House aide: that Mr. Trump had lunged for the wheel and physically struggled with Secret Service agents when they refused to take him to join the large crowd of supporters who were marching toward the Capitol. “I sat in the back,” Mr. Trump said, giving his version of events. I said, ‘I’d like to go down there because I see a lot of people walking down.’ They said, ‘Sir, it’s better if you don’t.’ I said, ‘Well, I’d like to.’”“It’s better if you don’t,” Mr. Trump recounted an agent saying. The former president said he replied, “All right, whatever you guys think is fine,” and added, “That was the whole tone of the conversation.”

Persons: Donald J, Trump, “, ” Mr, ‘, ’, it’s, Mr, ” Organizations: Capitol, Trump White House, Secret Service Locations: Waukesha, Wis

☆ Fresh customer-fraud allegations against Globe Life
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Susan Antilla | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Read previewThe embattled insurer Globe Life and its subsidiary American Income Life face new allegations of fraud, kickbacks, and misclassifying its army of sales agents. Neither Globe, AIL, or any affiliated agencies have requested a correction on BI's series, which has been cited in all three short-seller reports. Spokespeople for Globe, AIL, and Arias did not respond to inquiries about the Viceroy report. Viceroy today published excerpts from a civil complaint alleging that Globe Life required recruits to purchase the course from Xcel for $149, $119 of which was kicked back to Globe Life, AIL, and agency executives, an allegation Globe has denied. "As you might expect, these sales tactics do not engender long-term retention of policies," the Viceroy report states.

Persons: —, AIL, Fraser Perring, Nate Koppikar, Panda, Arias, Erica Robertson, Robertson, Amy Williamson, Renee Zinsky, Fuzzy Panda, Jamie Winters, Winters, Viceroy, AIL's, Antonio – Organizations: Service, Viceroy Research, Globe, Business, Research, Orso Partners, Insurance Department, Pennsylvania, Arias Organization, Social, Organization, AIL, BI, Department, Xcel, Liberty National Life, Ohio Department of Insurance Locations: Texas, London, Globe, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Arias's Wexford, California, Xcel, Ohio, Antonio

☆ TikTok employees are reportedly being asked by US border patrol agents if they're part of the Chinese Communist Party
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

US border patrol agents have interrogated more than 30 ByteDance and TikTok employees, per Forbes. They're being asked about ties to the CCP, and the security of American user data. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementUS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have interrogated more than 30 ByteDance and TikTok employees traveling to the US from China, according to a report by Forbes.

Persons: They're, Shou Zi Chew, — Organizations: Forbes, CCP, Service, Border Protection, Forbes . Employees, Chinese Communist Party, Business Locations: China

☆ Bill Gates Is Still Pulling Strings at Microsoft, Overseeing AI Ideas
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

In fact, Business Insider has learned, Gates has been quietly orchestrating much of Microsoft's AI revolution from behind the scenes. The company, Nadella promised, would "continue to benefit from Bill's ongoing technical passion and advice to drive our products and services forward." According to two executives, Gates' memo treated as gospel, sparking Microsoft's push to take the lead in the AI arms race. Now, it seemed, OpenAI might offer Microsoft a way to help forge the AI future that Gates had long envisioned. According to two executives, Gates' words were treated as gospel, helping spark Microsoft's push to take the lead in the AI arms race.

Persons: Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, Gates, Siri, They're, Clippy, Copilot, That's, Sam Altman, — Gates, Satya, Nadella, Steve Ballmer, Peter Thiel bashed, Bill, Melinda, Jeffrey Epstein, Nadella's, Rather, OpenAI, Kevin Scott, Scott, Altman, you'll, OpenAI's, Bing —, Bing, Steve, Sam, Kayla Wood, Frank Shaw, Shaw, —, Charles Lamanna, Jaime Teevan, Jeff Teper, Charlie Bell —, He's, Forbes, Mustafa Suleyman, DeepMind, Bill G, Suleyman, aren't, hadn't, there's, Ashley Stewart Organizations: Microsoft, Agents, Business, Google, Wired, Street Journal, Rover, Steve Jobs, OpenAI, Amazon Web Services Locations: Tay, Gates, Clippy, Washington, Redmond , Washington, Seattle

☆ Opinion: Kristi Noem might have underestimated the decency of dog lovers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Not surprisingly, the report about Noem killing the dog has led to a furor in the media and on the internet. That, however, apparently was not how Noem viewed Cricket, writing in the book that she “hated” the rambunctious puppy. That, Noem wrote, was the last straw. Of course, President Joe Biden also has a pet dog — although Commander has not been the best-behaved dog at times. The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned,” Noem wrote.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, ”, Harry Truman, Kristi Noem, ” Dean Obeidallah, ” Dean Obeidallah CNN Noem, Donald Trump’s, —, stoutly, ” Noem, preorder, Noem, “, “ Kennedy, Trump, Trump’s, Ivana, ” “ Donald, Chappy, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Fido, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, He’s Organizations: CNN, GOP South Dakota Gov, Cricket, ” Dean Obeidallah CNN, Guardian, South, Pew, “, GOP, Cricket —, White Locations: Washington, South Dakota

☆ How Real Estate Became Showbiz and Agents Became Stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The crowd began gathering at 5 p.m., into the movie-perfect backyard of a 1920s Spanish-style Los Angeles estate once owned by Madonna. Unlike the Oscars or the Golden Globes, these awards didn’t go to actors, directors or screenwriters. They went to real estate agents, crowned in categories like “Stratospheric Sale of the Year.” (The winner of that award was Kurt Rappaport, who represented Beyoncé and Jay-Z as they closed on a $190 million Malibu pad last May.) As a real estate broker with two seasons of “Buying Beverly Hills” and 13 seasons as a real husband on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” under his belt, Mr. Umansky was the consummate M.C. for the evening’s Power Broker Awards.

Persons: Mauricio Umansky, Kurt Rappaport, Beyoncé, Umansky Organizations: Madonna, Globes, Malibu, Housewives, Beverly, evening’s Locations: Spanish, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills

☆ Real Estate Fantasies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There are few acts more optimistic than shopping for a home. You walk through its doors, run your fingertips along its appliances and see your face reflected in its windows and mirrors. Real estate agents understand this allure. And the really good ones are so adept at spinning the fantasy that they’re building careers on television out of it. For a new story for The Times’s real estate section, which published this morning, I spent time with agents from shows like “Million Dollar Listing” and “Buying Beverly Hills” to understand how they became stars in their own right, and what that tells us about the state of housing in the U.S.Hollywood luxuryLate last year, I flew to Los Angeles to attend an awards show for some of Hollywood’s most famous real estate agents.

Persons: Mauricio Umansky, Kurt Rappaport, Beyoncé Organizations: Hollywood, Madonna, Malibu Locations: U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Advice about 401(k) rollovers is poised for a big change. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Johner Images | Johner Images Royalty-free | Getty ImagesA new U.S. Labor Department rule will significantly change the advice many investors receive about rolling money over from 401(k) plans to individual retirement accounts, legal experts say. watch nowA 'major shift' in rollover adviceThe new Labor Department rule aims to make more investment recommendations "fiduciary" in nature. The new Labor Department rule changes that, however. Good advisors are likely making an honest effort to do what's best for their clients, but hopefully the Labor Department rule would "bring up the bottom to a better quality," Reish said. However, many financial companies dispute the necessity of the Labor Department rule.

Persons: Rollovers, Katrina Berishaj, Ronon Stevens, Young, it's, Reish, Berishaj, They'd, Susan Neely Organizations: . Labor Department, Department, Labor, Economic, Labor Department, Young, American Council of

☆ Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs seeks to toss portion of sexual assault and ‘revenge porn’ civil suit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | Josh Campbell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Attorneys for embattled musician and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs are asking a New York court to throw out portions of a civil suit accusing the rapper and mogul of sexual assault and revenge porn. Around the time, she had appeared with Combs in a music video, per the suit. The lawsuit also alleged Combs had filmed the sexual assault and shown it to others, claiming that days after the alleged assault, a male friend revealed to Dickerson he had viewed video of it. Since November, Combs has faced six separate civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault or other allegations – with one lawsuit since settled. Combs’ attorney, Aaron Dyer, criticized the searches as “a gross overuse of military-level force.”Representatives for Combs had no additional comment on this latest motion when reached by CNN.

Persons: Sean “ Diddy ” Combs, Combs, Joi Dickerson, Neal, ”, Dickerson, “, Combs “, Aaron Dyer, CNN’s Kristina Sgueglia Organizations: CNN, New, Bad Boy Records, ” Locations: New York, State, Los Angeles, Miami

☆ Warren Buffett’s Real Estate Brokerage Agrees to $250 Million Settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

HomeServices of America, the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States and owned by Warren E. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy, has agreed to settle a series of lawsuits that could change the way commissions are paid to real estate agents. On Thursday, the brokerage signed off on adding $250 million to the mounting pile of damages won by home sellers who have successfully sued several brokerages and the National Association of Realtors over what they described as inflated commissions. That settlement received preliminary approval from a federal judge on Tuesday, and now N.A.R. will pay $418 million in damages and significantly change its rules on agent commissions and the databases, accessible only by those who hold membership to N.A.R. The settlement will introduce competition to the market for real estate commissions, driving down the fees that consumers are required to pay when selling a home and eventually lowering home prices across the board as a result, some industry analysts say.

Persons: Warren E Organizations: Warren, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, National Association of Realtors, The New York Times, Industry Locations: America, United States

☆ Google's 'fastest-growing' moonshot that spun out into an AI earbuds startup aims to ship its first product this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewA team inside X, Google's moonshot factory, was working on a revolutionary hearing device, Business Insider reported in 2021. A few months later, Wolverine's lead, Jason Rugolo, spun the project out of Alphabet and formed a startup named Iyo. Rugolo says the company plans to ship its first product by the end of this year. Rugolo told BI he hired Kraft for a stint at Google X to work on what would become Iyo. Iyo isn't the first X project to fly from Alphabet's nest, and it probably won't be the last.

Persons: —, Google's, Jason Rugolo, Rugolo, Iyo, Lockheed Martin, Sergey Brin, Noah Kraft, Kraft, we're, X Organizations: Service, Business, Lockheed, Horizons Ventures, US, ARPA, Research Projects Agency, Energy, Google, Doppler Labs, Spotify, TED, Wolverine, BI

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