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Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:44 - 0:00 transcript Columbia Protesters Occupy Building on Campus People inside barricaded the doors of Hamilton Hall with furniture. “Palestine will live forever.” “Go away, yo.” “Free, free Palestine.” “Free, free, free Palestine.” “Shut it down.” “Palestine will be free.” “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.” People inside barricaded the doors of Hamilton Hall with furniture. Credit Credit... Bing Guan for The New York TimesOutside the neoclassical building, protesters, many wearing helmets, safety glasses, gloves and masks, barricaded the entrance. Image Student protesters marching around the encampment on campus at Columbia University on Tuesday. So far, at least, a core of student protesters has vowed to stay put.

Persons: Columbia wasn’t, “, ”, Bing Guan, Alexander Hamilton, Bob Day, Columbia’s, ” Ben Chang, Sueda, ” “ We’ve, Leanne Abraham, Bing Guan Elga Castro, Castro, Chris Eisgruber, Nemat, Anna Betts, Eryn Davis, Tracey Tully, Karla Marie Sanford, John Yoon, Mike Baker Organizations: Police, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Portland State University, Hamilton Hall, Columbia, Columbia Protesters, People, Hall, ”, New York Times, Treasury, Boeing, Portland Police Bureau, Columbia University, ., New York Times Columbia, Police Department, Columbia University Faculty, Broadway Low Library Columbia University, West, St . Columbia University New York, Butler Library Amsterdam, 114th, 114th St . Columbia University New York, Barnard College, New York University, Princeton University, Clio Hall, Princeton, Rutgers University’s Locations: Hamilton, Columbia, California, Oregon, Manhattan, Palestine, ”, Portland, Gaza . Columbia, St, St . Columbia University New York City, Butler, 114th St, Spanish, Gaza, New Jersey, Brunswick

☆ Live Updates: Yale Students Arrested as Campus Chaos Spreads
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Alan Blinder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

Some reportedly shouted at Jewish students and made antisemitic statements. Still, some Jewish students who are supporting the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus said they felt solidarity, not a sense of danger, even as they denounced the acts of antisemitism. Image Grant Miner, a Jewish graduate student at Columbia University, says he doesn’t feel unsafe on campus. Jewish students get harassed trying to leave @Columbia’s campus tonight. Image At the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the Columbia campus, tents were crowded together Sunday night.

Persons: Eric Adams, ” Andrew Bates, Nemat Shafik, Minouche, “ Al, Adams, Grant Miner, Bing Guan, New York Times “, “, U2Ii5GTuLm — David lederer, @Davidlederer6, ”, Eliana Goldin, Aryeh, . Goldin, Samantha Slater, Shafik, Mr, Miner, ” Makayla, Gubbay, —, “ There’s, ” Ms, Elie Buechler, Rabbi Buechler, Hillel, ” Brian Cohen, Noah Levine, “ I’m, Xavier Westergaard, Sharon Otterman Organizations: Columbia, Jewish, White, New, ”, Columbia University, Credit, New York Times, Palestinian, Israel, University, New York Police Department, Barnard College, Gaza Solidarity, New York Times Students, Ivy League, Campus, “, Hillel, Broadway, Jewish Voice, Peace Locations: Upper Manhattan, New York City, American, Israel, Columbia, Poland, @Columbia’s, Europe, Chabad, Gaza, Palestine, Amsterdam

☆ Macy's proxy fight is over, but the battle for the department store's future wages on
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Arkhouse then launched its proxy fight and put forward nine nominees to Macy's 15-person board. Turning the tideOther department store chains have faced challenges from activists in recent years, and even when those efforts fall short, the pressure can bring about sweeping changes. That includes Macy's locations with stronger sales as well as its two chains that have outperformed the namesake brand, higher-end department store chain Bloomingdale's and beauty chain Bluemercury. Arkhouse claims Macy's refused to engage with it, and Macy's rebuffed Arkhouse saying it didn't have the financing for the takeover it proposed. Arkhouse, for its part, has said it plans to keep Macy's stores open.

Persons: Bing Guan, Tony Spring, Arkhouse, Neil Saunders, Macy's, Michelle Gass, Levi Strauss, Chip Bergh, Ben Hider, —, GlobalData's Saunders, It'll, Gavriel Kahane, Kahane, it's Organizations: Macy's Inc, National Retail Federation, Bloomberg, Getty, Arkhouse Management, Capital Management, American, Brigade, Levi, Herald, Sears, CNBC, Macy's, Fortress Investment Group, One Investment Management Locations: Herald, New York, Macy's, New York City

☆ A devastating fried chicken shop explosion in China has killed 7 people and injured 27 others, the authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The intense blast seized national attention in China and drew controversy when frontline staff blocked local reporters. AdvertisementA suspected gas leak explosion in a fried chicken store has killed seven people and injured 27 others in Yanjiao, a town just east of Beijing, state media and authorities said on Thursday morning local time. Another state media reporter, Xu Mengzhe, was seen physically struggling with a group of policemen who surrounded her and two colleagues. She wore a jacket with a logo for China Media Group, a state-owned broadcasting company. "They must not control public opinion, simply and crudely obstructing media reporters from performing their duties," the association said.

Persons: —, VCG, Ng Han Guan, Yang, Xu Mengzhe, Xu, Zhong Ming Organizations: Service, Getty Images, Emergency Management Bureau, Business, Authorities, Firefighters, China Media Group, China Journalists Association Locations: Yanjiao, China, Beijing

☆ He was once hailed as the pride of China. Now nationalists are coming for this Nobel laureate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Now, some of China’s most zealous online nationalists have a new target in their crosshairs: the country’s first officially recognized Nobel laureate. Mo Yan receives the 2012 Nobel Literature Prize from King Carl Gustaf of Sweden during an award ceremony on December 10, 2012 in Stockholm. He accused Wu of creating a publicity stunt by “maliciously framing” the Nobel laureate and taking his words out of context. In 2011, he was named the vice chairman of the state-run Chinese Writers Association – an appointment that could not have been made without the blessing of the party. In 2022, Sima Nan, a nationalist pundit known for his inflammatory criticism of the United States, famously accused Mo’s Nobel win of being a Western effort to smear China.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — They’ve, Mo Yan, Xi Jinping, Xi, Wu Wanzheng, Mao Xinghuo, Wu, Guan Moye, –, Mo, King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Jonathan Nackstrand, ” Zhang Yongsheng, Hu Xijin, Hu, ”, Murong Xuecun, “ Xi, Mao, Writers Association –, Liu Xiaobo, Liu, caricaturize, “, doesn’t, Sima Nan, Mo’s Nobel, ” Murong Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Communist, Getty, Red Guards, Tongji University, Global Times, Writers Association, Chinese Writers Association Locations: China, Hong Kong, Mo, Weibo, Stockholm, AFP, Shanghai, Beijing, Shandong, United States

☆ Coastal cities are sinking in the US and pushing sea level rise into overdrive
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Dozens of cities along the US coastline are sinking at alarming rates, leaving them far more exposed to devastating flooding from sea level rise than previously thought, scientists reported Wednesday. Cities on the East Coast where sinking land is exacerbating sea level rise include New York City and Atlantic City; Virginia Beach; Charleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia. As much as a third of sea level rise in this region over the next three decades could come from the sinking effect, the report found. This is a particular problem in areas where new coastal land has been created over the years by backfilling with sediment. Additionally, researchers say most sea level rise studies make projections for the end of the century, which “is viewed as too far (away) to begin planning,” Shirzaei said.

Persons: ”, Manoochehr Shirzaei, Leonard Ohenhen, Ophelia, Bing Guan, Kristina Hill, you’ll, ” Ohenhen, Joe Raedle, ” Shirzaei Organizations: CNN, Virginia Tech, Cities, Seaboard, Corpus Christi, Reuters, University of California, Getty Locations: East, New York City, Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, Charleston , South Carolina, Savannah , Georgia, Gulf, East Coast, Louisiana, Texas, Galveston, Freeport, Corpus, Northeast, Hamilton Beach, Queens, Berkeley, New Orleans, Port, Miami

☆ Foot Locker's post-earnings plunge could be setting up a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The company's long-term goal, as part of Foot Locker's "Lace Up" turnaround plan, is to achieve $350 million in operating cost savings. Digital sales now represent nearly 20% of Foot Locker's total sales, Dillon said on the call. Still, the bright spots were not enough to block out the sting from Foot Locker's guidance. By store, in North America, same-store-sales were up 4.8% at Foot Locker and 6.9% at Kids Foot Locker. A Foot Locker store near the Times Square neighborhood of New York, US, on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

Persons: Locker, —, Mary Dillon, Dillon, we've, Foot, FactSet, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Bing Guan Organizations: Nike, Revenue, SG, Wall Street, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: North America, —, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Pacific, New York

☆ A year after bankruptcy concerns, Carvana is leaner and ready for its Wall Street redemption
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Carvana over the last 18 months aggressively restructured its operations and debt amid bankruptcy concerns to pivot from growth to cost-cutting. Carvana puts each vehicle it intends to sell through a lengthy inspection, repair and sale preparation process. A Ford F-150 is prepped for a painting booth at Carvana's vehicle reconditing center outside Phoenix. The Wall Street Journal in December 2021 detailed a network of Garcia companies that do business with DriveTime, Carvana or both. Carvana sells such warranties or other service-related protections to customers, and DriveTime takes them over, giving Carvana a commission.

Persons: Michael Wayland, Ernie Garcia III, Ernie Garcia II, Garcia, Carli, Carvana, There's, Richard, Dick, Nixon, there's, Ernie Garcia, pathing, Rajat Gupta, Doug Guan, we've, CNBC Guan, Coldplay, Neil Diamond, Teresa Aragon, DriveTime, Duckling, Garcia II, Charles Keating's Lincoln, hasn't, – Organizations: CNBC PHOENIX, CNBC, Ford, Ford Motor, Nissan, State, Charles Keating's Lincoln Savings & Loan, Street Journal, DriveTime Locations: Tempe, Ariz, Tempe , Arizona, Phoenix, Carvana, Florida, reconditioning, Silicon Valley, Aragon, DriveTime, Drivetime

☆ U.S.-China fentanyl talks get off to a 'productive' start, security advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong (C) announces the launch of the U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group next to U.S. Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal (center L) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on January 30, 2024. Ng Han Guan | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The U.S. and China had a "productive" first day of talks in Beijing about the fentanyl crisis, Jennifer Daskal, a deputy homeland security advisor, told NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer in an exclusive interview Tuesday. "We're looking for results and we had a productive step forward," Daskal said, while acknowledging the risk that China could use its sway over the fentanyl supply chain as a bargaining chip. Daskal, leader of the White House delegation for this week's high-level talks, said the diversity of representatives from both sides "showed a real commitment." "We will know if it works if we start seeing the supply of precursor drugs diminish, if we start seeing the supply of pill presses and other equipment diminish," Daskal said.

Persons: of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, Jen Daskal, Ng, Guan, Jennifer Daskal, Janis Mackey Frayer, Daskal, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wang Xiaohong, Wang, Biden, Hua Zhendong, Mackey, Hua, Yu Haibin, Yu, NBC's Mackey Frayer Organizations: of Public Security, U.S ., Homeland, Getty, NBC News, National Narcotics Control Commission, Public Security, Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science, China -, Counternarcotics, White House, International Narcotics Control Locations: U.S, China, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Afp, BEIJING, The U.S, Mexico, Washington, San Francisco

☆ What’s open and closed on MLK Day 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

However, the first national celebration of MLK Day didn’t take place until 1986 after years of advocacy. Here’s what’s open and closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2024. Bing Guan/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesMajor US retailers and grocers — such as Target, Walmart and Kroger — will be open on MLK Day. MLK Day is one of six free entrance days in 2024. FedEx will be open, though FedEx Express and FedEx Ground Economy will be operating on modified service.

Persons: Martin Luther King, Jr, John Conyers, King, Here’s, Bing Guan Organizations: New, New York CNN, MLK, Retail, Costco, Bloomberg, Getty, Major, Target, Walmart, Kroger, Sam’s, US National Parks, United States Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, FedEx Express, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange Locations: New York, New Hampshire

☆ I regretted buying a home and now live out of 2 suitcases in a $60-a-night Airbnb. I've finally found my freedom, but it's not for everyone.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I had to resort to an iBuyer to sell the house quickly and get out, which meant I lost $100,000. There's an account called Living Big in a Tiny House that I always found fascinating. I always just thought, "That's a nice idea, but I'm not really into the RV lifestyle." I'm staying here for 30 days, and then I have another Airbnb lined up on the west side of Los Angeles. If you're someone who's able to work remotely and who loves freedom, I think this is really the way to go.

Persons: Stella Guan, Guan, —, I've, I'd, I'm, it'll, hasn't, It's Organizations: Service Locations: Los Angeles, LA, Washington, New York City, Europe, Asia, Balkans, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro

☆ Singapore's 'ice cream uncles' are disappearing. Blame old age and bureaucracy.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-24 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Most hawkers collect their ice cream and dry ice from wholesale distributors around the country. Lester Ledesma for Business InsiderLiang is one of Singapore's remaining traditional ice cream sellers and part of a bygone era. Buying one from one of Singapore's "ice cream uncles" is almost a right of passage. But Liang, Tan, and many other traditional ice cream sellers in the country find themselves working well into their golden years. In addition to the ice cream cart, the ice cream hawkers often also use big cooler boxes for additional storage.

Persons: hawking, —, Liang, Lester Ledesma, Insider Liang, Kenneth Goh, Chip Guan Heng, Goh, Koh Poh Koon, That's, Koh, Tan Ah Hock, He's, " Tan, Tan, There's, Wang, she's, Chan Yong Leng, Chan, TikTok, Darren Tan, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Insider, Singapore Food Agency, SFA, Social Service Office Locations: Singapore, Orchard

☆ Activist Nuns, With Stake in Smith & Wesson, Sue Gun Maker Over AR-15 Rifles
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Cameron Mcwhirter | Zusha Elinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistols for sale at a shop in California. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg NewsA group of activist nuns filed an unusual shareholder lawsuit to pressure gun maker Smith & Wesson to drastically change the way it markets, makes and sells its popular version of the AR-15 rifle. The so-called shareholder derivative action, which the nuns filed in Nevada state court Tuesday against publicly traded Smith & Wesson, alleges that company leaders are putting shareholders at risk. They argue the leaders are exposing the company to liability by the way they have made and sold the rifle, which has been used in several mass shootings in recent years.

Persons: Smith, Bing Guan Organizations: Wesson, Bloomberg Locations: California, Nevada

☆ 'An era in the United States has ended': The Chinese internet is alight with tributes to Henry Kissinger
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Chinese internet lamented the death of Henry Kissinger death on Wednesday. Just four hours after his death was announced, topics on Kissinger hit a whopping 660 million combined view count on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. "Old friends are dying, like leaves in the wind," wrote one Weibo user in a top comment, referencing a line attributed to the ancient Chinese warlord Cao Cao. Chinese leader Xi Jinping even called him an "old friend of the Chinese people" when Kissinger visited China in July. AdvertisementWith his death, and that of Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, "an era in the United States has ended," wrote one Weibo user in a heavily upvoted comment.

Persons: Henry Kissinger, Kissinger, —, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, Cao Cao's, Xi Jinping, Charlie Munger, Kissinger —, Munger, that's, Richard Nixon Organizations: Service, Weibo, Twitter, Sino, Business Locations: Weibo, China, American, Washington, Beijing, Berkshire, United States

A general view of the Phillips 66 Company's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into gasoline, aviation and diesel fuels, in Carson, California, U.S., March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 29 (Reuters) - Elliott Investment Management has taken a $1 billion stake in Phillips 66 and is urging the U.S. oil refiner and pipeline operator to revamp its board to boost lagging performance. Phillips 66 has lagged its U.S. refining rivals at a time when fuel demand and margins have soared for the industry. Phillips 66 Chief Executive Mark Lashier acknowledged discussions with Elliott but did not say whether the company was open to adding two Elliott-recommended directors to its board. Phillips 66 currently has 13 board members.

Persons: Bing Guan, Phillips, Mark Lashier, Elliott, Lashier, John Pike, Mike Tomkins, Garfield Miller, Miller, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Laura Sanicola, Gary McWilliams, Anil D'Silva, Bernadette Baum, Mark Porter Organizations: Phillips, Los, Los Angeles Refinery, Elliott Investment Management, Marathon Petroleum, Energy, Exxon Mobil, Aegis Energy Advisors, Elliott, Svea, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Carson , California, U.S, Houston, Providence, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Phillips 66's refining operations come under activist radar
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REFINERIES:WOOD RIVER, Roxana, Illinois, refining capacity: 356,000 barrels per day (bpd)Largest Phillips 66 refinery by operating capacity. LOS ANGELES: Carson and Wilmington, California, capacity: 139,000 bpdTwo sites linked by pipeline, producing California Air Resources Board-grade gasoline and fuel-grade petroleum coke. *SAN FRANCISCO: Santa Maria, Wilmington, California and Rodeo, Rodeo, California, capacity: 120,200 bpdPhillips 66's San Francisco operations consisted of two sites: Santa Maria refinery in Wilmington, California and Rodeo refinery in Rodeo, California. INTERNATIONAL REFINERIES:HUMBER, North Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, total throughput: 245,000 bpdProduces transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks, home heating oil and petroleum coke. MiRO, Karlsruhe, Germany, total throughput: 61,000 bpdProduces transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks, home heating oil, bitumen, and petroleum coke.

Persons: Bing Guan, refiner Phillips, Phillips, Santa, Santa Maria, Shariq Khan, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Phillips, Los, Los Angeles Refinery, REUTERS, Investment Management, Energy, Exports, California Air Resources, INTERNATIONAL, MiRO, . Energy, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Carson , California, U.S, Wood, Borger, Roxana , Illinois, Midcontinent, BORGER, Borger , Texas, West Texas, New Mexico , Colorado, SWEENY, Old Ocean , Texas, United States, America, LAKE CHARLES, Westlake , Louisiana, Europe, Linden , New Jersey, York, Bayway, East Coast . PONCA CITY, Ponca City , Oklahoma, ANGELES, Carson, Wilmington , California, California, California , Nevada, Arizona, FERNDALE, Ferndale , Washington, BILLINGS, Billings , Montana, Montana , Wyoming , Idaho , Utah, Colorado, Washington, Santa Maria, Rodeo , California, Francisco, HUMBER, North Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, Karlsruhe, Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, San Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ CBS 'Late Show' host Stephen Colbert recovering from ruptured appendix
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Stephen Colbert moderates a panel on the Prime Video streaming series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, U.S., July 22, 2022. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Production of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" was canceled this week as the top-rated U.S. late-night television host recovers from surgery for a ruptured appendix, the CBS program announced on Monday. "Sorry to say that I have to cancel our shows this week. Actually, I’m recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix," he wrote. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephen Colbert, Bing Guan, Colbert, Evie, Ed Sullivan, Jennifer Garner, Baz Luhrmann, Jon Batiste, Patrick Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Kelsey Grammer, Variety, Steve Gorman, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Power, Con, REUTERS, CBS, Writers Guild of America, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, U.S, Turkey, Manhattan, Hollywood, Los Angeles

☆ Why doesn’t the US have more passenger trains?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Today, the United States’ passenger rail system is an echo of its former self, with swathes of the network unused or surrendered to freight. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Rail Passenger Service Act, which removed the requirement that private rail companies provide passenger service. Mike Segar/ReutersBut many American towns and cities have lost access to passenger trains. Can passenger trains make a comeback? A passenger rides an Amtrak train passing near the Pacific Ocean on November 9, 2021 near Oceanside, California.

Persons: you’ll, Biden, ”, Miguel Medina, JP Morgan, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Christian Wolmar, “, Yonah Freemark, Bing Guan, Freemark, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Harvey Weber, Paul Hammond, Hammond, Richard Nixon, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Mike Segar, Ulysses S, Grant, Al Drago, Joe Biden, ” Freemark, Robert Puentes, It’s, ” Puentes, Mario Tama, Brightline, Carline Jean, Tony Coscia Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Washington , D.C, Brightline, Miami, US Department of Transportation, du, Getty, Amtrak, US, Transcontinental Railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Railroad, CNN, Bloomberg, United States Senate, Newsday, Colorado Railroad Museum, Rail, Service, Hall, Pennsylvania, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Washington DC, Eno Center for Transportation, Private, Las, Passengers, West Palm Beach, Fort, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tribune Locations: Europe, Asia, America, United States, Boston, Washington ,, Orlando, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Swedish, Paris, AFP, France, Japan, China, Promontory Point , Utah, Compton , California, American, Levittown , New York, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Indiana, Ohio, Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Potomac, Delaware, Oceanside , California, South Florida, Las Vegas, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, South

It ships the goods to FedEx returns centers, where they are sorted by merchant. Consolidating returns can lower transportation costs as much as 20%, said Amena Ali, CEO of returns services provider Optoro. Meanwhile, rival UPS is buying Happy Returns to beef up its e-commerce returns business that has grown 25% since 2020. Roughly 5,200 UPS Store locations will join Happy Returns' established drop-off points, making the service available at more than 12,000 U.S. locations, UPS said. FedEx accepts no label, no box returns at 10,000 U.S. locations including FedEx Office, FedEx Express Ship Centers, and Walgreens (WBA.O).

Persons: Bing Guan, Ryan Kelly, FedEx's, Kelly, Amena Ali, Lisa Baertlein, Will Dunham Organizations: FedEx, Los Angeles International Airport, REUTERS, United Parcel Service, Walmart, Reuters, Optoro, UPS, FedEx Office, FedEx Express Ship Centers, Walgreens, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ The Rules for Holiday Spending This Year (No. 1: Wait ’Til December)
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Oyin Adedoyin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some 182 million Americans are expected to shop at stores and websites this weekend as the holiday season arrives. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg NewsIf your goal is to score the best deals and discounts on your holiday shopping, it likely pays to hit the snooze button. There are some Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, of course. Retailers want to get you in the door, and then get you to spend more.

Persons: Bing Guan Organizations: Bloomberg

☆ Exclusive: China govt advisers call for steady growth target in 2024, more stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Five of the seven advisers who spoke with Reuters said they favoured a target of around 5%, matching this year's goal. The proposals will be made next month at the ruling Communist Party's annual Central Economic Work Conference that discusses policy plans and the outlook for the world's second-largest economy. "We need to adopt expansionary fiscal and monetary policy to stimulate aggregate demand," Yu Yongding, a government economist who advocates for a growth target of roughly 5%, told Reuters. "We are stepping up fiscal policy support," said another adviser, to make the "difficult" 2024 target "achievable." The stuttering post-COVID recovery has prompted many analysts to call for structural reforms that tilt the drivers of economic growth away from property and infrastructure investment and towards household consumption and market-allocation of resources.

Persons: Yu Yongding, Yu, Guan Tao, Xi Jinping, Kevin Yao, Marius Zaharia Organizations: Reuters, Communist, Economic Work Conference, BOC International, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Thomson Locations: China, BEIJING, Beijing, outflows, Japan

"In the more recent macro environment, consumer demand has been even more uneven and difficult to predict," Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said. U.S. holiday sales are expected to rise at its slowest pace in five years, according to data from the National Retail Federation, as Americans are likely to pull back on holiday shopping. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLast week, industry bellwether Walmart (WMT.N) warned of cautious consumer spending as the holiday shopping season gets underway. Retail executives said higher interest rates, inflation and a resumption in student loan repayments will keep consumer wallets under pressure. Still, some investors expect holiday sales starting Black Friday to hold "some positive surprises."

Persons: Corie Barry, Bing Guan, Fitch, David Silverman, Marvin Ellison, Thomas Hayes, Rachel Wolff, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Savyata Mishra, Granth Vanaik, Juby Babu, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: National Retail Federation, REUTERS, Walmart, Retail, Apparel, Abercrombie, Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Insider Intelligence, Thomson Locations: United States, SoHo, New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Gap Is Righting the Ship With Old Navy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Jinjoo Lee | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Gap’s gross margin improved to 41.3%, up 3.9 percentage points from the year-ago period, bringing the measure of profitability higher than where it was in 2019. The company, which also owns Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta, on Thursday reported that comparable sales fell 2% in its quarter ended Oct. 28. That was much better than the 7.4% decline that Wall Street analysts polled by Visible Alpha had expected. Net income of $218 million was more than three times the number analysts had penciled in. Gap’s shares jumped 15% in after-hours trading following the company’s earnings call on Thursday.

Persons: Bing Guan Organizations: Bloomberg, Old Navy, Banana, Street, Alpha Locations: Banana Republic

☆ These high beta stocks will lead the way if the year-end comeback continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Essentially, if the broad market index rises by 1%, the following high beta stocks could jump by 1.5% or more. The company has a beta value of 1.7 and is scheduled to report earnings on Tuesday. Essentially, if the broad market index rises by 1%, the following high beta stocks could jump by 1.5% or more. Goldman Sachs recently recommended the pullback in Devon Energy shares as a buying opportunity, citing the company's strong balance sheet as a factor. The company has a beta value of 1.7 and is scheduled to report earnings on Tuesday.

Persons: Stocks, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Gunnar Wiedenfels, Bing Guan Organizations: CNBC Pro, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, CNBC, APA Corp, APA, Devon Energy, Marathon, Marathon Oil, Nvidia, UBS, Qs, Warner Bros Discovery, Angeles Refinery, Reuters, Beta, APA APA Corp, Entertainment, Devon Energy Corp, Oil Corp, Targa Resources Corp, MGM MGM Resorts, HAL Halliburton, McMoRan, Aptiv, WYNN Wynn Resorts, Body, Semiconductor Corp, NVIDIA Corp, Zebra Technologies, Albemarle, Alaska Air Group Locations: Angeles, Carson , California, Freeport

☆ US consumer prices unchanged; core inflation slowing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Grocery food inflation increased 0.3%, driven by gains in the prices of meat, fish and eggs. Reuters GraphicsGOODS DEFLATIONExcluding the volatile food and energy components, the CPI increased 0.2% amid higher costs for rental housing. Health insurance costs rebounded as the BLS implemented changes to the methodology it uses to calculate health insurance prices, effective with October's CPI release. The old method was based on an annual calculation using aggregated health insurance premium and benefit data. There were concerns about the volatility in the annual data and the lag involved in incorporating the health insurance financial data.

Persons: Bing Guan, Christopher Rupkey, Jerome Powell, Powell, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tuesday, Treasury, Reuters, Fed, CPI, Thomson Locations: SoHo, New York City, U.S, WASHINGTON

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