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☆ Old, unused, and 'twisty' — meet the obscure NY election-conspiracy law that just might get Trump convicted
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Attorneys specializing in state election law believe the statute has never been prosecuted. Jeenah Moon-Pool/Getty ImagesTwo highly respected law professors specializing in New York election law said the same. "I think it's very smart of prosecutors to use this state law, whether it's been used before or not," said Jeffrey M. Wice, who teaches state election law at New York Law School. Related storiesThese same three "underlying crimes" — using state election law, federal election law, and state tax law — were again given equal prominence here in a February 15 decision by Merchan. "You're having an underlying crime within an underlying crime to get to that felony," Connor told BI.

Persons: Alvin Bragg's, Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Donald Trump, Law Trump, Stormy Daniels, Joshua Steinglass, Juan Merchan, Steinglass, I've, Sen, Martin Connor, Joseph T, Burns, that's, it's, Jeffrey M, Wice, — Merchan, Alvin K, Trump's, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Cohen, Connor, Prosecutors, Jerry H, he's, Goldfeder, Cozen O'Connor Organizations: Service, Manhattan, New York, Court, New, Republican, Democratic NY, Erie, Erie County Republican, New York Law School, Attorney, National Enquirer, Trump, Fordham Law, Democracy Locations: Manhattan, New York, Brooklyn, Erie County, Buffalo , New York

Whispering in the ears of the billionaires and celebrities doing the buying, however, are investment bankers. Like other sports bankers BI interviewed for our list of top sports bankers, he exemplified a good-humored, approachable attitude, including joking about his many sports allegiances. Related stories"Earlier in my career, I made the mistake of telling Bob Kraft that I was a New York Jets fan," Carey told BI recently. They're obsessive Jets fans, and they're just fans because I'm a Jets fan," Neville told BI. So that's why we'll be Jets fans forever."

Persons: it's, Goldman Sachs, Greg Carey, everyone's, Carey, Colin Neville's, he's, David Beckham, Steve Ballmer, Joe Tsai, Ballmer, Tsai, Neville, Andrew Kline, Kline, Bob Kraft, I'm, Robert Tilliss, There's, Abramovich, Vladimir Putin, Todd Boehly, Joe Lenehan, Michael Arougheti, David Rubenstein's, doesn't, there's Organizations: NBA, JPMorgan, Business, The, PJT Partners, Chelsea FC, Baltimore Orioles, Sports, Goldman, Endeavor, WWE, Microsoft, Beckham's, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, St, Louis Rams, Los Angeles Rams, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Harvard, US Rugby National, Cal, New York Jets, BI, Patriots, Giants, Rays, Chelsea, Circle, Atlanta Hawks NBA, New York Mets, NFL, soccer's Premier League, Russian, Chelsea football, LA Dodgers, Yankees, Manchester United Games, Jets, we'll Locations: European, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Barcelona, Ukraine, New York

☆ On Stand, Pecker Fires Back After Trump Lawyer Implies He Was Untruthful
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Matthew Haag | More About Matthew Haag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The lawyer for Donald J. Trump who on Friday led the cross-examination of David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer and first witness in the trial, used confrontational questioning to try to catch Mr. Pecker in contradictions. But that strategy, which led to a tense exchange in the Lower Manhattan courtroom, did not seem to pay off. Mr. Pecker repeatedly rejected characterizations and questions posed by the lawyer, Emil Bove, and resisted the suggestion that he had not been forthright in earlier testimony. For most of Friday, Mr. Bove had struck a polite tone with Mr. Pecker, spending most of the second day of cross-examination focusing on arcane questions about deals to suppress stories, including one with Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump. But as Mr. Bove wrapped up his cross-examination, he asked Mr. Pecker about his obligations in cooperating with the prosecution in the hush-money trial.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, David Pecker, Pecker, Emil Bove, Bove, Karen McDougal Organizations: National Enquirer, Playboy Locations: Lower Manhattan

☆ The Comstock Act Is a Danger to Abortion Rights. I Want to Repeal It. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Tina Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A long discredited, arcane 150-year-old law is back in the news in 2024, and that should terrify anyone who supports reproductive freedom. Anti-abortion activists like to bring up the Comstock Act because one of its clauses prohibits sending through the mail “every article, instrument, substance, drug, medicine or thing” that could possibly lead to an abortion. That could effectively make abortion impossible to access even in places like Minnesota, which has affirmatively protected a woman’s right to choose by passing reproductive freedom laws. In response, I’m prepared to fight back — including by introducing legislation to take away the Comstock Act as a tool to limit reproductive freedom. The Comstock Act hasn’t been broadly enforced since the 1930s.

Persons: doesn’t, Trump, I’m, hasn’t, Biden Organizations: Supreme, of Justice, Food, Drug Administration Locations: Minnesota

☆ What’s it like to dine at Asia’s ‘best’ restaurant?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Chris Dwyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But his career and trajectory have always been defined by global experience, exposure and a passion for embracing other cultures and cuisines. Back in 2006, Australian Chef Shane Osborn of Hong Kong’s acclaimed Arcane hired Calvert to work at his two Michelin-starred Pied à Terre restaurant in London. The culinary Holy Grail of Paris followed, with a stint at Epicure, which like Per Se is also a three Michelin-starred restaurant. His global culinary journey continued with a move to Hong Kong and the contemporary Parisian bistro Belon, where he earned the restaurant a Michelin star and reached fourth place on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Calvert is happy to modestly take the considerable accolade of the best restaurant in Asia with a pinch of salt, as it were.

Persons: Daniel Calvert, “, ”, It’s, Shane Osborn, Hong Kong’s, Arcane, Calvert, who’ve, ” Osborn, Daniel Calvert's, Chef Thomas Keller’s, Paris, “ I’ve, ” Calvert, Hong, André Fu, morel, SÉZANNE Calvert, Ashley Caley, shima, botan ebi, there’s, sommelier Nobuhide Otsuka, “ I’m, ” Chris Dwyer Organizations: CNN, Champions League, Michelin, Sézanne Locations: Sézanne, “ Tokyo, Marunouchi, Tokyo, London, British, London , New York, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Epicure, France’s Champagne, Hokkaido, France’s Jura, Yamaguchi Prefecture, morel, bouillon, Asia, @chrismdwyer, Instagram

☆ How Donald Trump, Joe Biden and grassroots liberals could upend Democratic politics in one of the country’s bluest states
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Menendez announced Thursday that he would not run for reelection in the Democratic primary but again left open the possibility of an independent bid this summer. New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim greets supporters outside the Bergen County Democratic convention in Paramus on March 4, 2024. “Corrupt systems like the ‘county line’ in New Jersey (is) an enemy because that dissuades folks from actually getting involved. Kim speaks to delegates during the Bergen County Democratic convention in Paramus, New Jersey, on March 4, 2024. In Camden County, where the local boss keeps a tighter grip, video of another Senate candidate, progressive Patricia Campos-Medina, being blocked from entering the county Democratic convention went viral.

Persons: Andy Kim, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Tammy Murphy, Kim, Murphy, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Phil Murphy, Seth Wenig, Olivia Liu, –, Trump, ”, Julia Sass Rubin, Rubin, ” Rubin, Sue Altman, ” Altman, Goldman Sachs, Cori Bush, Ezra Levin, Levin, ” Levin, isn’t MAGA, don’t, we’ll, Altman, Zahid Quraishi’s, ” “ I’m, ” Kim, “, Kim’s, Alexandra Altman, Katey Sabo, Matt Platkin, Platkin, Governor Murphy, ” Murphy, Mahen Gunaratna, Patricia Campos, Rachel Hodes, ” Hodes, Steven Fulop, ” Fulop, “ I’ve Organizations: Jersey City , New Jersey CNN, Democratic, Garden State, Democrats, Capitol, New, . New, . New Jersey Rep, Bergen County Democratic, Tammany Hall of, New Jersey Democratic, ”, Asbury Park Press, USA, Though New, Though New Jersey Democrats, Congressional, Democratic National Committee, Justice Democrats, Democratic Party, Families Alliance, CNN, –, Hoboken Democrats –, Hudson County Democratic Organization, Hoboken Democratic, Hoboken Democrats, Jersey City, Senate, New Jersey Republicans Locations: Jersey City , New Jersey, Trenton, South Jersey, New Jersey, Garden, ., . New Jersey, Bergen County, Paramus, Siberia, Long Branch , New Jersey, Rutgers, enmesh, Though, Though New Jersey, Alexandria, Cortez, New York, Missouri, Paramus , New Jersey, Jersey, Kim’s, Morris, Atlantic, Camden County, Medina, Hoboken

☆ The Foreign Language That Changed My Teenage Son’s Life
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Paul Tough | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Max was always a shy kid, slow to warm up to new people and content to spend long stretches on his own. But when he got to school in the morning, it was like a curtain came down between him and the world. A new subject came along in those pandemic years to once again capture his imagination: birds. Maybe creatures that could fly and soar were an appealing notion during endless lockdowns, or maybe birds were just another vast universe for him to map. Max borrowed bird books from the library and lay in bed reading them, absorbing facts and patterns, gathering arcane knowledge.

Persons: Max, didn’t Locations: Texas

☆ The Fed 'went crazy' with rates and did big damage to the real estate market, billionaire mogul Barry Sternlicht says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The real estate market is "collateral damage" in the Fed's inflation fight, Barry Sternlicht said. AdvertisementThe commercial real estate market is hurting, and that's largely thanks to the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes which have battered the economy, real estate billionaire Barry Sternlicht said. In an interview on "In Depth with Graham Bensinger," the real estate investor and Starwood Capital CEO sounded off the Fed's policy-tightening campaign since early 2022. AdvertisementLast year, Sternlicht warned of a "Category 5 hurricane" coming for the real estate market, which he believed could be followed by a recession. Still, Sternlicht said he was optimistic about the real estate market going forward, and while property prices have plunged, that creates investment opportunity.

Persons: Barry Sternlicht, I've, Sternlicht, —, Graham Bensinger, Morgan Stanley, Sternlict, Powell, Joe Biden Organizations: Starwood, Service, Starwood Capital CEO, Bloomberg, Fed, Wall, Infrastructure Investment, Investors

☆ Critics call 'Dune: Part Two' a 'sci-fi masterpiece' and one of the 'greatest sequels ever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A critic hailed it as "the best sci-fi epic of the century." AdvertisementIt's time to return to Arrakis for the much-anticipated sequel to Denis Villeneuve's 2021 epic "Dune." Prepare for a cliffhanger endingLike in the first movie, you're not going to get many answers by the end. Inverse's Hoai-Tran Bui dubbed it "the best sci-fi epic of the century" in her headline. "It's a towering feat of sci-fi cinema that will put 'Dune: Part Two' in contention for the pantheon of greatest sequels ever."

Persons: —, Denis Villeneuve's, Villeneuve, Paul Atreides, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Christopher Walken, Critics, Timothée, Lawrence, Peter Bradshaw, Peter Debruge, Therese Lacson, He's, IndieWire's David Ehrlich, Irulan, Paul, Chalamet, IndieWire's Ehrlich, Nick Schager, David Fear, Niko Tavernise, Joshua Rothkopf, Tran Bui Organizations: Service, Warner Bros, The Guardian, Collider, Hollywood Reporter, Stone, Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Locations: Arabia

☆ My dad is 100. He says curiosity has kept him alive this long.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Amara Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewMy dad is almost 100. My dad went from living with his parents to living with his wife. AdvertisementIt's the first time he's lived aloneFor starters, my folks were self-described Luddites. His forward-thinking primary care doctor has him on an exhaustive supplement regimen and very few prescription medications, which may be one reason he's lived so well for so long. While my dad likes to say he's "a 20th century man in a 21st century world," he's done a pretty good job of keeping up.

Persons: —, they'd, It's, he's, Dad, wouldn't, he's intently Organizations: Service, Business, New York Times Locations: America

☆ Putin gets a propaganda opportunity as Congress dithers over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Zachary Wolf | Analysis Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

► Russian President Vladimir Putin was about to be isolated worldwide as a pariah. They also fact-check Carlson on his assertion that US media organizations have not tried to interview Putin. From their report:In fact, journalists have repeatedly been requesting interviews with Putin, but the Russian president had declined to grant access. Ukraine funding has run dryThe Pentagon has essentially exhausted the money Congress allocated for Ukraine over the past two years. In the Senate, there is support for Ukraine aid.

Persons: Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, ► Elon Musk, Donald Trump, ► Putin, Carlson, Trump, Joe Biden, Putin, X Carlson, CNN’s Oliver Darcy, ”, Darcy, Alexei Navalny, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Vadim Krasikov, CNN’s Nathan Hodge, Katharina Krebs, Helen Regan, Tucker Carlson's, CNN Putin, Webster, Volodymyr Zelensky, Valerii, Zelensky, Biden, autocrats, Sen, Rand Paul of, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Johnson Organizations: CNN, Fox News, unflappable, Twitter, Republicans, Republican, Pentagon, SpaceX, Putin, Street, Big Tech, Trump, Biden, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, bewilderment, US, Chechen, Berlin, Russian, West, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Merriam, Israel, Rand Paul of Kentucky

It states that no one can hold office who has previously taken an oath to support the Constitution but then engaged in an insurrection or provided help to enemies of the United States. The Colorado Supreme Court agreed, ruling that Trump's conduct amounted to engaging in "insurrection" in violation of Section 3. And only an appointed and not an elected official can be an ‘officer of the United States,’” his legal team said. “My colleagues and I have filed a brief in the Supreme Court on that very question, and we have argued to the Supreme Court that that is the quintessential insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution of the United States. “He is the presumptive Republican nominee and the leading candidate for President of the United States.

Persons: Donald Trump –, –, Trump, Noah Bookbinder, “ We’re, ”, Bookbinder, “, ” Trump, ’ ”, ” “, ’, J, Michael Luttig, ” Luttig Organizations: Republican, Citizens, GOP, Capitol, The, The Colorado Supreme, Trump, Electoral College, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, MSNBC, New Locations: United States, Washington, Colorado, The Colorado, United States of America, Iowa, New Hampshire

☆ How using the 14th Amendment against Trump went from a ‘pipe-dream fantasy’ to the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

‘A sheer coincidence’The journey to the Supreme Court unknowingly began even before the insurrection itself. (In the Cawthorn case, the group partnered with a retired GOP state Supreme Court justice.) CREW appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, whose members were all appointed by Democratic governors, though they originate from a pool of candidates recommended by a bipartisan panel. Trump appealed the Colorado ruling to the US Supreme Court in early January and oral arguments are set for Thursday. “It’s embarrassing, and it shows the imbalance on our state Supreme Court,” Buck told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, –, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, coalescing, ”, Donald Sherman, Gerard Magliocca, ” Magliocca, United States …, Trump, Donald Trump’s, Jack Dempsey, Mitch McConnell, ” He’d, hadn’t, James Bopp, Greene, didn’t, Ron Fein, resoundingly, Bopp, ” Fein, Couy Griffin, ” Sherman, Griffin, ” Griffin, Trump’s, William Baude, Michael Stokes Paulsen, J, Michael Luttig, ‘, Sherman, Winston Pingeon, Pingeon, Sarah Wallace, ” Donald Sherman, State Jena Griswold, FDR, Norma Anderson, “ I’ve, Wallace, Magliocca, disqualifying Trump, Carlos Samour, vindicating, Ken Buck, Ken Buck of Colorado, denialism, Buck, ” Buck, …, ” CNN’s Scott Bronstein Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Liberal, Rep, Madison, Citizens, Indiana University, United, Capitol, AP Police, National Guard, Republican, Republicans, GOP, Amnesty, ”, Cowboys, Trump Republicans, Federalist Society, Colorado Supreme, US Capitol Police, Responsibility, Ethics, Abaca Press, Colorado, State, Colorado Legislature, Court, Democratic, Dissenting, US Supreme, Supreme, CNN Locations: Colorado’s, Colorado, Thursday’s, America, Washington, United States, DC, Colorado and Maine, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, North Carolina, Cawthorn, Georgia, New Mexico, Denver, “ Colorado, Israel, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington ,, Dissenting Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, Ken Buck of

☆ A Famed Analyst’s Final Forecast Is the Fall of the U.S. Economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Rob Copeland | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Over his 54 years as a financial analyst, Richard X. Bove perfected the art of grabbing attention. Through thousands of newspaper interviews, cable news appearances and radio segments, Mr. Bove turned what can be a dull, by-the-numbers career into a more showy one. In an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Bove (pronounced “boe-VAY”), who goes by Dick, shared a dire outlook on the U.S. economy and his former profession. Many analysts are rewarded for coming up with unique but inconsequential and “arcane” ideas, he said, peppering his criticism with profanities. Mr. Bove worked at 17 brokerage firms during his career.

Persons: Richard X, Bove, ”, “ boe, VAY, Dick, Mr Organizations: Banker, Bloomberg, The New York Times Locations: U.S, Tampa, China

☆ Why revamping feedback is a priority for Carlyle's new human resources chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Carlyle, the Washington, DC-based alternative asset manager which manages some $382 billion in assets, this week announced that it would install a new chief human resources officer. Jennifer Barker, a partner who's been with Carlyle since 2016 and presently serves as the firm's head of international human resources, will step into the role of chief human resources, taking over for Bruce Larson, formerly a senior human-capital executive at Goldman Sachs who joined Carlyle in 2019, according to a Carlyle regulatory filing. Others include Lúcia Soares, the firm's chief information officer and head of technology transformation, appointed in July; Eleena Melamed, global chief operating officer of investor relations and head of client strategy, appointed in August; and Meg Starr, formerly Carlyle's global head of impact, who became global head of corporate affairs in December. In a Thursday memo announcing the switch, Schwartz said Barker will report to Christopher Finn, Carlyle's chief operating officer, and take a seat on the firm's leadership and operating committees. She is also interested in rethinking how companies deliver feedback to their employees, perhaps through the arcane rite of the performance review.

Persons: Carlyle, Jennifer Barker, who's, Bruce Larson, Goldman Sachs, Larson, Barker, Harvey Schwartz's, Lúcia Soares, Eleena, Meg Starr, Schwartz, Christopher Finn, Jen, that's, we've, Reed Alexander Organizations: Business Locations: Washington, DC, London

☆ The $900,000 Tomes That No One Really Wants to Read
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Corrie Driebusch | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In this year’s biggest initial public offering, semiconductor designer Arm Holdings raised around $5 billion in September. One mundane task on its path to IPO riches was the prospectus—the lengthy documents required by U.S. regulators for aspiring public companies. The roughly 200-page document included a description of its business, audited financial statements and boilerplate legal language about the risks of investing in its shares. The company had to navigate arcane Securities and Exchange Commission rules about formatting and get the placement of the banks involved just right on the prospectus cover.

Organizations: Arm Holdings, Exchange

☆ At 99, the late Henry Kissinger still worked 15 hours a day and flew around the world on business trips
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says Kissinger '"works harder than a 40-year-old." According to his son, Kissinger consumed "a diet heavy on bratwurst and Wiener schnitzel." The younger Kissinger said that his father didn't play any sports and pursued "a career of relentlessly stressful decision-making." He has an unquenchable curiosity that keeps him dynamically engaged with the world," the younger Kissinger wrote, noting his father's abiding interest in global challenges such as nuclear weapons and artificial intelligence. Although he has been caricatured as a cold realist, he is anything but dispassionate," Kissinger's son wrote in The Post.

Persons: Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, Kissinger, —, Nixon, David, Wiener, didn't, Schmidt Organizations: CBS News, Service, Ford, Washington Post, Google Locations: Washington

That's our goal and we hope to have an agreement very soon," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said on the Senate floor. Leaders from both parties have said they support a stopgap spending bill that passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives by a wide bipartisan margin on Tuesday. 2 Republican, said a vote on the House bill later in the day was possible. More significantly, it would avoid a partial shutdown that would disrupt a wide array of government services and furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, John Thune, Rand Paul, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Senate, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Louisiana

REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday he would try to quickly pass legislation to keep the government funded, preventing a partial shutdown that would otherwise begin this weekend. That's our goal and we hope to have an agreement very soon," Schumer said on the Senate floor. Both chambers of Congress need to pass spending legislation and send it to Democratic President Joe Biden to sign into law before then in order to avoid disruption. Schumer said he will have to work out an agreement with the chamber's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, for a quick vote. Tuesday's House vote was a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced down opposition from some of his fellow Republicans who had pushed for deep spending cuts.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Tuesday's, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Democratic, Democratic, Republican, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Louisiana

☆ Vatican confirms ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis gestures as he leaves after the weekly general audience, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The Vatican has confirmed a ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a centuries-old secretive society that the Catholic Church has long viewed with hostility and has an estimated global membership of up to six million. "Active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is prohibited, because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry," the Vatican's doctrinal office said in a letter published by Vatican media on Wednesday. The letter on Freemasons cited a 1983 declaration, signed by the late Pope Benedict XVI, at the time the Vatican's doctrine chief, stating that Catholics "in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion". The group says it has 180,000 male members, with two parallel female lodges in England having another 5,000 members, and estimates global Freemasonry membership at around six million.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Pope Benedict XVI, Queen Elizabeth's, Prince Philip, Winston Churchill, Peter Sellers, Alf Ramsey, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Alvise Armellini, Nick Macfie Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Freemasons, Catholic Church, United, Lodge of, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Philippines, Lodge of England, England

☆ US Senate takes up bill to avert partial government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday prepared to take up a stopgap spending bill that would avert a partial government shutdown, with little time remaining before funding runs out on Friday. Both chambers of Congress need to pass spending legislation and send it to President Joe Biden to sign into law before then in order to avoid disruption. More significantly, it would avoid a partial shutdown that would disrupt a wide array of government services and furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Tuesday's House vote was a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced down opposition from some of his fellow Republicans who had pushed for deep spending cuts. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday said he supported the bill and vowed to bring it up for a vote as quickly as possible.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden, Tuesday's, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Senate, Democratic, Republican, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Louisiana

☆ Vatican Confirms Ban on Catholics Becoming Freemasons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican has confirmed a ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a centuries-old secretive society that the Catholic Church has long viewed with hostility and has an estimated global membership of up to six million. "Active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is prohibited, because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry," the Vatican's doctrinal office said in a letter published by Vatican media on Wednesday. The same office said last week that transgender people can be baptized, serve as godparents and act as witnesses at Catholic weddings. The letter on Freemasons cited a 1983 declaration, signed by the late Pope Benedict XVI, at the time the Vatican's doctrine chief, stating that Catholics "in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion". The group says it has 180,000 male members, with two parallel female lodges in England having another 5,000 members, and estimates global Freemasonry membership at around six million.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Queen Elizabeth's, Prince Philip, Winston Churchill, Peter Sellers, Alf Ramsey, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Alvise Armellini, Nick Macfie Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Vatican, Freemasons, Catholic Church, United, Lodge of Locations: Philippines, Lodge of England, England

☆ The last time there was a fight in the Senate, they changed the rules to ban calling each other corrupt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A fistfight nearly broke out in the US Senate on Tuesday but was stopped by Sen. Bernie Sanders. The last time there was actually a fight in the Senate, two Democrats brawled, hitting bystanders. The last time there was an actual fight in the Senate was in 1902, and it was so bad they changed the Senate's rules to ban insulting people. Tillman wasted no time reacting; he swung around and clocked McLaurin in the jaw, according to the Senate website. Both South Carolina senators were censured and a new rule was added that bans senators from calling each other corrupt.

Persons: Sen, Bernie Sanders, brawled, —, John McLaurin, Ben Tillman, McLaurin, Tillman Organizations: Senate, Service, Republican, Teamsters, South, Democratic, Politico Locations: States, South Carolina, Philippines

☆ How to talk to your secretly 'overemployed' friends
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

There's a secret world of "overemployed" people who are holding down multiple high-paying jobs. "Overemployed" workers use their own language and codenames on Reddit. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Taking on multiple jobs to make ends meet isn't new, but these are professionals, often making large salaries, who are making hay in the remote work sunshine. Facebook mom groups talk about DH (dear husband) or LO (little one, or kid); and on looksmaxxing TikTok they talk about mogging (being more handsome than someone else).

Persons: —, Insider's Aki Ito Organizations: Meta, IBM, Service, J3, RJ

☆ Lawsuits are shaking the NAR’s grip on America’s real estate fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It’s easy to forget how much we used to rely on real, physical paper and, like, other people to buy basic things. It wasn’t all that long ago that you’d call a travel agent to book a flight. But the sellers argued that in a competitive market, the buyers should pay their own agent’s commission, and negotiate that fee separately. Because even though the NAR says fees are negotiable, the industry has made 5%-6% commissions so standard that most people wouldn’t question it. According to Bloomberg, Realtor commissions are high by global standards.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Anna Bahney, Keller Williams, Bob Goldberg, ”, you’re, you’ll Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN Business, National Association of Realtors, Homeservices, Keller, Keller Williams Realty, NAR, MLS, Bloomberg, Department of Justice Locations: New York, Missouri, America, Australia

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