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☆ Giant Pandas Are Returning to San Diego, China Announces
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States and China may be at odds these days over Russia’s war in Ukraine, cheap Chinese exports, tensions with Taiwan and matters of human rights. But when it comes to giant pandas, diplomacy is back. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China confirmed this week that two giant pandas — Yun Chuan and Xin Bao — would be sent from the China Conservation and Research Center to the San Diego Zoo. The zoo has a longstanding partnership with China on panda conservation research, and a ministry spokesman said the upcoming exchange would focus on prevention and treatment of major diseases and habitat protection. It is not clear when the new pandas will arrive, but the agreement should allay concerns that the recent tensions between the United States and China would threaten the beloved tradition of panda diplomacy.

Persons: Yun Chuan, Xin Bao —, Lin Jian Organizations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Conservation and Research Center, San Diego Zoo Locations: States, China, Ukraine, Taiwan, U.S, United States

☆ U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Companies for Aiding Russia’s War Effort
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The sanctions represent a broadening of U.S. efforts to disrupt Russia’s military industrial complex supply chain. The Biden administration has expressed growing alarm about the weapons technology alliance between China and Russia. The sanctions follow Ms. Yellen’s trip last month to China, where she confronted Chinese officials over support for Russia. She warned them that Chinese companies and financial institutions that facilitate support for the Kremlin’s war effort would face penalties. The Treasury secretary said her counterparts told her that China had a policy of not providing Russia with military aid.

Persons: Biden, “, Janet L, Yellen, Yellen’s Organizations: Wednesday, Top U.S, Russia Locations: Russia, Ukraine, China, United States

☆ Biden Tax Increases Won’t Hit Middle Class, Yellen Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The battle lines of the next big tax fight were laid out on Tuesday as Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen sparred with Republicans over the Biden administration’s plans to raise taxes on businesses and wealthy Americans. In recent weeks, Republicans have been amplifying their attacks on President Biden’s tax proposals, which have become central to the president’s re-election message. Many provisions in the $1.7 trillion tax cut that Republican lawmakers and former President Donald J. Trump enacted in 2017 are set to expire in 2025, including lower tax rates for individuals as well as many tax breaks for corporations. Renewing all of the tax measures for another decade would cost about $3 trillion, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. Republicans have begun warning that Mr. Biden plans to allow all of the tax cuts to expire, effectively raising taxes on businesses and families at a moment when inflation is pinching consumers.

Persons: Janet L, sparred, Biden’s, Donald J, Trump, Biden Organizations: Biden, Republican, Taxation, Republicans

☆ ISS endorses most of activist Ancora's nominees for Norfolk Southern board
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Influential proxy advisory firm ISS recommended on Tuesday that Norfolk Southern shareholders support five of activist Ancora's seven board nominees, withholding an endorsement from CEO pick Jim Barber but describing him as a "credible director and CEO candidate nonetheless." Ancora is seeking to oust both current CEO Shaw and newly appointed COO John Orr. ISS recommends shareholders support Ancora nominees William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Allison Landry and John Kasich. "As board chair, Amy Miles arguably bears the most responsibility for this state of affairs," ISS' report read. WATCH: CNBC's full interview with NSC CEO Shaw on activist campaign

Persons: Jim Barber, Glass Lewis, Alan Shaw's, Barber, Amy Miles, Ancora, Shaw, John Orr, William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Allison Landry, John Kasich, Orr, Sen, Heidi Heitkamp, Richard Anderson Organizations: Norfolk, ISS, CNBC, Vanguard, BlackRock, Norfolk Southern, Delta Locations: Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio, Norfolk

☆ Trump Wants to Prosecute Biden. He Also Thinks Presidents Deserve Immunity.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Alan Feuer | Maggie Haberman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Could President Biden someday be charged with unlawfully inducing immigrants to enter the country illegally for his border policies?” the lawyer, D. John Sauer, asked. What Mr. Sauer did not mention was that Mr. Trump has done as much as anyone to escalate the prospect of threatening political rivals with prosecution. In 2016, his supporters greeted mentions of Hillary Clinton with chants of “lock her up.” In his current campaign, Mr. Trump has explicitly warned of his intent to use the legal system as a weapon of political retribution, with frequent declarations that he could go after President Biden and his family. In effect, Mr. Trump has asked the Supreme Court to enforce a norm — that in the United States, public officials do not engage in tit-for-tat political prosecutions — that he has for years threatened to shatter. In promising to sic his Justice Department on Mr. Biden, Mr. Trump has laid the grounds for the very conditions that he was asking the justices to guard against by granting him immunity.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, ceaselessly, “, Biden, John Sauer, Sauer, Hillary Clinton, ” Organizations: Mr Locations: United States

The judge overseeing Donald J. Trump’s criminal case in Manhattan held him in contempt on Tuesday, fining the former president $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order and warning that he could go to to jail if he continued to attack witnesses and jurors. “The court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders,” the judge, Juan M. Merchan, said as Mr. Trump’s trial reconvened for a third week. He added that while he was “keenly aware of, and protective of, defendant’s First Amendment rights,” he would jail Mr. Trump “if necessary and appropriate.”Justice Merchan determined that Mr. Trump had flouted the gag order by making nine public statements on social media and on his campaign website in which he attacked witnesses and the jury. He ordered Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, to remove the posts by Tuesday afternoon. The judge’s ruling and admonition came one week after a fiery hearing in which prosecutors had argued that Mr. Trump’s statements threatened the trial.

Persons: Donald J, fining, “, ”, Juan M, Merchan, Trump’s, Trump Organizations: Republican Locations: Manhattan

☆ Ancora can not be trusted to run a company as vital as Norfolk Southern, says CEO Alan Shaw
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | 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 EmailAncora can not be trusted to run a company as vital as Norfolk Southern, says CEO Alan ShawAlan Shaw, Norfolk Southern CEO, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk proxy battle heating up, union outreach, profitability and more.

Persons: Alan Shaw Alan Shaw Organizations: Norfolk Southern Locations: Norfolk

☆ Breaking down the impact of FTC's ban on non-compete agreements
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBreaking down the impact of FTC's ban on non-compete agreementsAlan Guarino, Korn vice chairman, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the FTC banning non-compete clauses and what it means for American workers.

Persons: Alan Guarino, Korn

☆ Glass Lewis endorses 6 of activist Ancora's nominees for Norfolk Southern board
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Activist investor Ancora received a powerful endorsement in its efforts to secure a board change and to oust Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Monday, when proxy advisor Glass Lewis recommended the railroad's shareholders vote for 6 of Ancora's board nominees. "We believe Ancora has presented a compelling case for supporting a substantial overhaul of the Company's current leadership," Glass Lewis said in its report. Furthermore, Glass Lewis said Barber, Ancora's pick for CEO, and Jamie Boychuk, the activist's pick for COO, "have compelling credentials and track records." Ancora also seeks to install former CSX executive Boychuk as Barber's chief operating officer. Their support, coupled with Glass Lewis' endorsement, gives the activist powerful ammunition as it seeks to convince shareholders.

Persons: Ancora, Alan Shaw, Glass Lewis, Betsy Akins, Jim Barber, William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Allison Landry, Shaw, Amy Miles, Barber, Ancora's, Jamie Boychuk, Boychuk, John Orr Organizations: Norfolk Southern, Teamster, UPS, CNBC, CSX, Canadian National, CN, NSC, Norfolk Locations: Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio, Norfolk

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan ShawAlan Shaw, Norfolk Southern CEO, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk proxy battle heating up, union outreach, profitability and more.

Persons: Alan Shaw Alan Shaw Organizations: Norfolk Southern

☆ Norfolk CEO: Believe Ancora is violating the Railway Labor Act
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNorfolk CEO: Believe Ancora is violating the Railway Labor ActNorfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to discuss the ongoing fight with Ancora and respond to proxy advisor firm Glass Lewis siding with the activists ahead of the May 9th vote. Plus, Shaw updates on the progress the railroad is making on its operations to its operating ratio.

Persons: Alan Shaw, Ancora, Glass Lewis, Shaw Organizations: Norfolk, Railway Labor, Norfolk Southern

☆ Eat, sleep, live luxury: LVMH is building whole cityscapes centered on their designer stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Luxury powerhouse LVMH is investing billions in real estate, The Wall Street Journal reported. Michael Burke, head of LVMH Fashion Group, told the Journal, "We're creating a city." According to the Journal, the company spent $2.1 billion last year acquiring properties in Paris ahead of the Olympic games. Related storiesThe luxury brand is among several spending billions on luxury stores and experiences. Chanel and LVMH are also interested in purchasing properties on New York's Fifth Avenue and the Champs-Élysées in Paris, the Journal reported.

Persons: —, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, Louis Vuitton, Frank Gehry, Michael Burke, we're, Burke, Bernard Arnault, Saint Laurent, Chanel, LVMH, Amar Sitayeb, Saint, Alan DeSousa Organizations: Street Journal, Service, Wall Street Journal, Dior, LVMH, Design, Miami Design District, Gucci, Montenapoleone, The New York Times, Times, Canada, Laurent, Global News, Business Locations: Paris, Pont Neuf, Miami, Montreal, Milan's, New, The, Marais

☆ ‘The Sympathizer’ star on how he ‘never felt rooted’ to his Vietnamese heritage until landing lead role
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Rochelle Beighton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Set in the 1970s as the Vietnam War draws to a close, Xuande embodies The Captain, an unnamed double agent for the Viet Cong operating within the American-backed South Vietnamese army. ‘It’s my life’Chinh, known for her role in “The Joy Luck Club,” portrays a refugee mother to a South Vietnamese Major (Phanxine) who is forced to flee to the US. Drawing parallels with her own life, she was born during the Vietnam War and was forced to evacuate at the age of 15. A unique casting challengeCasting the role of The Captain was a critical and challenging task for casting director Jennifer Venditti and her team. Xuande’s response to an international casting call immediately caught their attention with an impressive audition tape.

Persons: Viet Thanh Nguyen, “, Park Chan, ” Xuande, Xuande, ”, Robert Downey Jr, “ Oppenheimer, Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, Alan Trong, ‘, Chinh, Joy, Sofia Mori –, –, It’s, ” Oh, Jennifer Venditti, Don McKellar, Xuande familiarized, Chan, we’d Organizations: CNN, HBO, Warner Bros ., Viet, Opportunity, Hollywood, Joy Luck, South Locations: Vietnam, United States, Saigon, Sydney, Australia, South Vietnamese, Los Angeles, South Korea, Hollywood, Viet

The sudden end to the standoff produced cheers from the protesters, and confusion for those who had been bracing for chaos. At Emory University in Atlanta, officers used pepper balls and wrestled protesters to the ground, ultimately arresting 28 people. On quads and lawns from coast to coast, colleges are grappling with a groundswell of student activism over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Administrators are having to make controversial decisions over whether to call in the police, and are often criticized regardless of the route they take. “They don’t seem to have a clear strategy,” said Jennie Stephens, a professor at Northeastern who attended the protest there to support the students.

Persons: ”, Jennie Stephens, “ Organizations: Boston, University of Southern, Emerson College, Ohio State University, At Emory University, Northeastern Locations: Northeastern University’s, University of Southern California, Boston, Atlanta, Gaza

covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump.

Persons: Donald J, Trump Organizations: The Times, Capitol

☆ Activist Ancora endorsed by second Norfolk Southern union in proxy contest
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A second Norfolk Southern union said Friday it would back activist Ancora's efforts to elect seven directors and oust CEO Alan Shaw, a sign of labor dissatisfaction with management and a key endorsement for Ancora as Norfolk Southern's shareholder meeting nears. The BLET Teamsters, which represents the engineers and trainsmen who operate Norfolk Southern's locomotives, said Friday they're throwing their weight behind Ancora. "It's a privilege to receive support from the BLET Teamsters, who believe in our plan to improve performance, safety and employee relations at Norfolk Southern," Barber said. The latest endorsement, coupled with the support of the BMWED Teamsters earlier this week, means roughly half of NSC's unionized employees are supporting the activist, Ancora said. "We recognize the hard work that the BLET Teamsters members and all of the Company's employees put in every day," Boychuk said.

Persons: Alan Shaw, John Orr, Edward Hall, Jim Barber, Jamie Boychuk, Barber, Ancora, Boychuk Organizations: Norfolk Southern, Teamsters, NS, BLET Teamsters, Norfolk, Ancora . Norfolk Southern Locations: Ancora, Norfolk, Ancora . Norfolk

☆ How a Supreme Court Immunity Ruling Could Affect Trump’s Election Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If the Supreme Court’s hearing on Thursday about former President Donald J. Trump’s claims of executive immunity is any indication of how the court might ultimately rule, the justices could end up helping Mr. Trump in two ways. The justices signaled that their ruling, when it comes, could lead to some allegations being stripped from the federal indictment charging Mr. Trump with plotting to overturn the 2020 election. And because the process of determining which accusations to keep and which to throw away could take several months, it would all but kill the chance of Mr. Trump standing trial on charges that he tried to subvert the last election before voters get to decide whether to choose him again in this one. Near the end of the arguments, however, Justice Amy Coney Barrett abruptly floated a way that prosecutors could maneuver around that time-consuming morass. If the special counsel, Jack Smith, wanted to move more quickly, she said, and avoid the ordeal of lower courts reviewing his indictment line by line, deciding what should stay and what should go, he could always do the job himself.

Persons: Donald J, Trump’s, Trump, Amy Coney Barrett, Jack Smith

☆ 4 Takeaways From the Supreme Court Hearing on Trump’s Immunity Claim
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Charlie Savage | Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Thursday about Donald J. Trump’s claim that the federal charges accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election must be thrown out because he is immune from being prosecuted for any official act he took as president. Several justices seemed to want to define some level of official act as immune. Although Mr. Trump’s claim of near-absolute immunity was seen as a long shot intended primarily to slow the proceedings, several members of the Republican-appointed majority seemed to indicate that some immunity was needed. Some of them expressed worry about the long-term consequences of leaving future former presidents open to prosecution for their official actions. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. criticized an appeals court ruling rejecting immunity for Mr. Trump, saying he was concerned that it “did not get into a focused consideration of what acts we are talking about or what documents are talking about.”

Persons: Donald J, Trump’s, Brett Kavanaugh, John G, Roberts Jr, Trump, “, ” Organizations: Republican

Police officers swept onto the ordinarily serene campus of Emory University in Atlanta after demonstrators erected tents on Thursday morning, leading to the latest clash in a pro-Palestinian protest movement that has cascaded across American campuses this week. As the demonstrators at Emory screamed, officers wrestled with protesters on the ground and escorted others away. From a few dozen yards away, onlookers stared and recorded the scene with their cellphones. The authorities did not immediately say how many people had been arrested in Atlanta, but across the country, more than 400 protesters have been taken into police custody since April 18, when the arrests of more than 100 protesters at Columbia University in New York set off a wave of student activism nationwide. University administrators and law enforcement officials have responded by arresting students, removing encampments and threatening academic consequences as some Jewish students have expressed concern for their safety, and some politicians have demanded a crackdown on the growing demonstrations.

Organizations: Emory University, Emory, Columbia University, University Locations: Atlanta, New York

☆ Teamsters union endorses activist Ancora in Norfolk Southern proxy fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Activist Ancora on Thursday won the support of the BMWED Teamsters in the investor's efforts to oust Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and a majority of the railroad's 13-person board. The labor group said it would back the activist's seven director nominees over Norfolk Southern management, a significant endorsement in an industry unusually dependent on union support. The support from the BMWED Teamsters, whose members build and maintain the track infrastructure that keeps Norfolk Southern trains moving, amounts to a sharp rebuke of Shaw and Norfolk Southern's board. Norfolk Southern and Ancora have been locked in a proxy contest for several months. Neuberger Berman, for example, is backing the activist and said that Norfolk Southern had a history of poor governance and that a boardroom change was needed.

Persons: Ancora, Alan Shaw, Shaw, Tony Cardwell, Cardwell, Jim Barber, Jamie Boychuk, Boychuk, Barber, It's, John Orr, Glass Lewis, Neuberger Berman Organizations: Thursday, Teamsters, Norfolk Southern, Norfolk, BMWED Teamsters, Labor, American Federation of Labor, Industrial Organizations, CSX, Ancora Locations: Norfolk Southern, Norfolk, U.S, East Palestine , Ohio, Washington

covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump.

Persons: Donald J, Trump Organizations: The Times, Capitol

☆ Solar Companies Seek New U.S. Tariffs on Asian Imports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A group of seven leading solar manufacturers filed trade complaints on Wednesday formally requesting that the Biden administration impose tariffs on solar products being exported from Southeast Asia into the United States. They come amid growing alarm within the U.S. solar industry that a flood of cheap Chinese green energy technology exports are pushing down prices of solar panels and threatening efforts by the Biden administration to develop a domestic solar supply chain. Chinese companies have been relocating production of solar products to neighboring countries to avoid existing tariffs, and U.S. manufacturers believe new trade measures are needed to protect their businesses. In the past year, the United States has imported $12.5 billion worth of solar products from those countries as prices of solar products have dropped by around 50 percent. The trade complaints are focused on imported solar cells, the parts of solar panels that turn light into electricity.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Department of Commerce, U.S . International Trade Commission Locations: Southeast Asia, United States, U.S, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia

Nemat Shafik, Columbia University’s besieged president, faced skeptics on Wednesday in a meeting with the university senate that could vote to censure her over her handling of protests on the Upper Manhattan campus. If Dr. Shafik ultimately remains atop Columbia, her meeting with the university senate made plain that it will likely be as a scarred figure. Dr. Shafik defended her choice to summon the New York authorities to campus, according to three people who attended the meeting at the law school. She said she believed, though, that it was necessary for the safety of protesting students. The group could vote on a censure as soon as Friday, but some senators were discussing the possibility of pursuing a more moderate course in the aftermath of Wednesday’s meeting.

Persons: Nemat Shafik, Columbia University’s, Shafik, Mike Johnson Organizations: Columbia, New Locations: Columbia, Manhattan, New York

Dr. Shafik herself was preparing to confer with the university senate, which could censure her as soon as Friday. On Monday, police were called in to make dozens of arrests at Yale and New York University. Mr. Johnson’s visit to campus will not include a meeting with Dr. Shafik. The university senate could vote on a resolution to censure Dr. Shafik as soon as Friday — not long after the 48-hour negotiation period concludes. By calling in the police anyway, the resolution said, Dr. Shafik had endangered both the welfare and the futures of the arrested students.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Nemat Shafik, Shafik, Kathy Hochul, Emerson, Johnson’s, Columbia, —, “, ” Brendan O’Flaherty, Grayson, Kirk’s, Dr, O’Flaherty, Shafik’s, Liset Cruz, Eryn Davis, Annie Karni, Santul Nerkar, Katherine Rosman, Karla Marie Sanford, Ed Shanahan Organizations: Columbia University, New York Police Department, National Guard, Gov, Guard, Yale, New York University, Tufts, University of California, Hamas, New York City Police, Johnson’s, Republicans Locations: York, Gaza, Berkeley, Israel, ”, Washington, Columbia, New

☆ To Justify His Immunity Defense, Trump Flips the Prosecution Script
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the Supreme Court considers Donald J. Trump’s sweeping claims of executive immunity on Thursday, it will break new legal ground, mulling for the first time the question of whether a former president can avoid being prosecuted for things he did in office. But in coming up with the argument, Mr. Trump used a tactic on which he has often leaned in his life as a businessman and politician: He flipped the facts on their head in an effort to create a different reality. At the core of his immunity defense is a claim that seeks to upend the story told by federal prosecutors in an indictment charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election. In that indictment, prosecutors described a criminal conspiracy by Mr. Trump to subvert the election results and stay in power. In Mr. Trump’s telling, however, those same events are official acts that he undertook as president to safeguard the integrity of the race and cannot be subject to prosecution.

Persons: Donald J, Trump’s, Trump

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