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☆ Man Behind California Forever, Silicon Valley's City of the Future
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Hugh Langley | Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

He sees California Forever. And if he can't undo the damage, there may never be a California Forever. California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. But here's the thing: California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. Places like California Forever aren't being opposed by the people who are desperate for a place to live.

Persons: Jan Sramek's, Goldman Sachs, Sramek, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Marc Andreessen —, They've, Christie Hemm, Peter Thiel, Jan Sramek, Jan, Thiel, Goldman, CheatSheet, Sramek's, hadn't, Jonas Rave, who's, —, Guy Saidenberg, Evernote, Marc Andreessen, Jane Jacobs, He's, he'd, Robert Moses, growth.y Christie Hemm, Flannery, Bronson Johnson, David George, Andreessen Horowitz, Marilyn Farley, Farley, Solano County's, Kathleen Threlfall, Bill Mortimore, California Forever's, Jessica Christian, he's, Lyle Lanley, Solano, Sam Houston, weren't, Gabriel Metcalf, You've, John Garamendi, Garamendi, isn't, they'll, latte, Christie, Travis, I've, aren't, They're Organizations: Silicon, California, BI Development, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, Party, Rising Star, Facebook, York, Sramek's, BI Sramek, Google, American, Planners, Sacramento -, Travis Air Force Base, Area, titans, Farmers, councilwoman, California Forever, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Air Force, Flannery Associates, Disney, San Francisco, Vallejo Naval, Historical Museum, Rep, BI, Solano, Sierra, Goldman Locations: San Francisco, It's, Sramek, California, Rio Vista, Solano County, Napa, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, America, London, Zurich, England, Czech Republic, Dřevohostice, York, British, Eastern Europe, Cambridge, Bay Area, Hayes Valley, America's cutest, Atlanta, Phoenix, Copenhagen, Barcelona, New York, Sacramento - San Joaquin, San Francisco Bay, Lake Tahoe, Toledo , Ohio, Silicon, Google's, Toronto, Big Tech, China, Calif, Springfield, Vallejo, He's, Atherton, Foreverville, Fairfield, Austin, Solano, Valley, Europe

☆ F.T.C. Clears Exxon Mobil’s Acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Clifford Krauss | More About Clifford Krauss | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday approved Exxon Mobil’s acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources as long as Exxon excludes Pioneer’s chief executive from its board. Exxon’s purchase of Pioneer is one of several large mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry in recent years. accused Pioneer’s chief executive, Scott Sheffield, of colluding with officers of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to control global oil production and prices. Sheffield’s past conduct makes it crystal clear that he should be nowhere near Exxon’s boardroom,” Kyle Mach, deputy director of the commission’s Bureau of Competition, said in a statement. “American consumers shouldn’t pay unfair prices at the pump simply to pad a corporate executive’s pocketbook.”

Persons: Pioneer’s, Scott Sheffield, Mr, Kyle Mach, ” Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Exxon, Natural Resources, Pioneer’s, Organization of Petroleum, Competition Locations: Texas, New Mexico, commission’s

☆ FTC accuses ex-Pioneer CEO of colluding with OPEC, blocks him from Exxon board seat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The FTC filed a complaint alleging that Scott Sheffield attempted to collude with representatives of OPEC to reduce oil and gas output to increase prices at the pump and inflate Pioneer's profits. "The FTC has a responsibility to refer potentially criminal behavior and takes that obligation very seriously," spokesman Doug Farrar told CNBC. In response, Exxon agreed to keep Sheffield off its board, the oil major said in a statement Thursday. The FTC alleged that Sheffield repeatedly held private conversations with high-ranking OPEC representatives to assure them that Pioneer and its competitors in the Permian Basin were working to keep oil output artificially low. "Notwithstanding, Pioneer and Mr. Sheffield are not taking any steps to prevent the merger from closing," the company said in the statement.

Persons: Scott Sheffield, Doug Farrar, Exxon, Sheffield, Sheffield's, Lina Khan, — CNBC's Pippa Stevens, Mary Catherine Wellons, Lina Khan's Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Natural Resources, OPEC, Exxon Mobil, Pioneer, FTC, Justice Department, Wall Street, CNBC, Exxon, Sheffield

☆ Home buyers and sellers to be spared automatic broker commissions under $418 million settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Rob Wile | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The National Association of Realtors has agreed to a landmark settlement that would eliminate real estate brokers' long-standing automatic commissions, commonly of up to 6% of the purchase price. Instead, home buyers and sellers would be able to negotiate fees with their agents upfront. If the $418 million legal agreement is approved by a federal court, consumer advocates predict the ranks of real estate agents will thin, further driving down commission prices. "For years, anti-competitive rules in the real estate industry have financially harmed millions," said Benjamin Brown, managing partner at the Cohen Milstein law firm and one of the settlement's negotiators. "It's a bribe," Doug Miller, an attorney and longtime consumer advocate in the real estate industry, said of the commission-splitting arrangements.

Persons: Benjamin Brown, Cohen Milstein, Nykia Wright, Wright, —, Doug Miller Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, MLS

☆ Hong Kong proposes new security bill with life imprisonment for 'treason' and 'insurrection'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The flag of Hong Kong flies from a ferry boat on July 2, 1997, a day after the former British colony returned to Chinese rule. Hong Kong on Friday unveiled a new draft security bill proposing up to life imprisonment for offences such as insurrection and treason following a month of public consultation period for the bill. The draft legislation is necessary for Hong Kong to fulfil its constitutional duty to safeguard national security, China's Ministry of National Security emphasized in its official WeChat account on Monday. Beijing imposed a controversial law four years ago, which stamped out dissent and led to the arrest of many Hong Kong pro-democracy activists. China's 2020 national security law aimed at prohibiting secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign interference.

Persons: Hong, John Lee Organizations: British, China's Ministry of National Security, Hong, U.S . State Department, Kong's Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ A SpaceX employee is suing the company, alleging her manager forced her into a sexual relationship that led to pregnancy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A female SpaceX employee accused the company of gender discrimination and retaliation in a new lawsuit. The employee said in the suit that SpaceX continued to side with her male boss even after he left. AdvertisementA female SpaceX employee accused the rocket company of discrimination and retaliation in a new lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The civil rights arm of the Justice Department has also filed suit against SpaceX alleging discrimination against asylees and refugees. Last month, Bloomberg obtained California civil rights complaints that revealed former SpaceX employees are accusing executives at the company of joking about sexual harassment and firing employees who reported their concerns.

Persons: —, Michelle Dopak, Dopak, Gwynn Shotwell, Shotwell Organizations: SpaceX, Service, Los Angeles Superior Court, Reuters, Business, Justice Department, Bloomberg Locations: Los Angeles, California

☆ Promises Donald Trump has made so far in his campaign for a second term
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Piper Hudspethblackburn | Piper Hudspeth Blackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Trump also said in that campaign video that he would cut funding for schools that teach critical race theory and gender ideology. Health careLast November, Trump promised to replace the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, in a series of posts on Truth Social. Trump also vowed in a June 2023 campaign video to reinstate his previous executive order so that the US government would pay the same price for pharmaceuticals as other developed countries. The former president added in a campaign video that he would stop lobbyists and government contractors from pushing senior military officials toward war. We will reverse almost all of them,” Trump said in a campaign video.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Immigration Trump, Trump, ”, “, ” “ We’ll, ” Trump, Education Trump, Obamacare, Biden, ” “, Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, ‘ Everybody’s, ’, ‘, he’s, Energy Trump, “ We’re, ” “ It’s, Equity “, CNN’s Tami Luhby, Kate Sullivan, Kristin Holmes Organizations: CNN, Republican, Immigration, Des Moines Register, ATF, FBI, DHS, Hamas, Department of Defense, Education, of Education, of Justice, Department of Education, Health, Trump, Democrats, Trump Administration, Justice, CIA, Department, U.S, Attorneys, Soros District, Marxist, National Guard, Department of Justice, NATO, Cities, Environmental Protection Agency, Energy, Trade, Trump Reciprocal Trade, Economy Trump, Black Conservative, Rifle Association, Legislative Action, Equity Locations: United States, Israel, America, United States of America, State, Washington , DC, Washington, NATO, American, South Carolina, Russia, Ukraine, New Hampshire, New, China, Michigan, Des Moines , Iowa

Sports streaming platform FuboTV is suing Disney , Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery over their recently announced joint venture, citing what the company calls "extreme suppression of competition in the U.S. sports-focused streaming market," according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by CNBC. The joint venture, announced earlier this month, aims to offer viewers a new way to access marquee live sports. "These horizontal competitors are colluding to create a JV that will cause substantial harm to competition and consumers," the complaint reads. A spokesperson for the joint venture declined to comment.

Persons: David Gandler Organizations: Disney, Fox, Warner Bros, Discovery, CNBC, JV, ESPN, Hulu Locations: U.S

The vast majority — nearly $40 million — went to law firms working on his personal legal problems. But significant portions of their donations went to law firms defending Trump in civil cases involving his real-estate empire and its top executives, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump. Only about $861,000 was spent on law firms working exclusively on political issues. Where there were gaps, we contacted law firms and individual lawyers who received money from the PACs. In 2021 and 2022 combined, Trump spent $16 million on legal fees through the Save America PAC.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, MAGA, Trump's, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Stormy Daniels, Jean Carroll, Robert, Clifford S, Michael Cohen, — Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, Frederick —, Madaio, Alina Habba, Michael Madaio, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Mary Trump, general's, Carroll, Trump —, Joe Tacopina, Chad Seigel, Christopher Kise, Jesus M, Suarez, Eli Bartov, Bryan Woolston, Silverman Thompson Slutkin, White, Evan Corcoran, Todd Blanche, Cadwalader, Taft, Blanche, Attorney Alvin Bragg's, Daniels, Susan Necheles, John Lauro, who's, Steven H, Drew Findling, Jennifer Little, Jesse R, it's, Jim, John Rowley, Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, perjured, ArentFox Schiff, Jeff McConney, Stanley Woodward, Stanley Brand, Carlos de Oliveira, John S, Irving of, Boris Epshteyn, Kenneth Chesebro, Troutman Pepper, Ivanka, Newsmax, Harmeet, Dhillon, Bradley T, Morvillo Abramowitz, David Pecker, Elkan Abramowitz, Greenberg Traurig, Ballard Spahr, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Corey Lewandowski, Robert Mueller's, Jones, Andrew Kelly, It's, Forbes, defaming Carroll, he's Organizations: Service, Trump, Save America PAC, Make, Trump Organization, Politico, Reuters, New, Associates, Democratic National Committee, The New York Times, Times, Continental LLP, Inc, AP, Attorney, Capitol, Law, Taft, Brand Woodward Law, Irving of Earth & Water Law, Ivanka Trump, Republican National Committee, Save, MAGA, Curve Solutions, National Enquirer, Republican, MAGA PAC, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Georgia, Carroll, Manhattan, Florida, York, Washington, DC, Wickersham, Attorney Alvin Bragg's Manhattan, Fulton County , Georgia, codefendants, MAGAworld, Robert Mueller's Russia

☆ Snoop Dogg is accusing Walmart of a 'diabolical' scheme to keep his cereal off their shelves
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Snoop Dogg's food company is suing Walmart and Post Consumer Brands for their "diabolical actions." The rapper accused the two companies of keeping "Snoop Cereal" off Walmart's shelves. AdvertisementSnoop Dogg and his fellow rapper Master P are accusing Walmart and Post Consumer Brands of colluding to keep their newly launched cereals off store shelves. The rappers' attorney Ben Crump in a statement on Wednesday accused Walmart of colluding with Post Consumer Brands. A spokesperson for Post Consumer Brands told Billboard that they "made substantial investments" in their partnership with Broadus Foods.

Persons: Snoop, —, Ben Crump, stockrooms, couldn't, Crump, Snoop Dogg Organizations: Walmart, Post Consumer Brands, Service, colluding, Broadus, Post Foods, Billboard, Business Insider Locations: colluding

☆ Trump civil fraud trial: What to know as the verdict nears
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Dan Berman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A New York state judge has the future of Donald Trump’s business empire in his hands. The civil lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, is seeking $370 million from Trump and the other defendants (the figure was originally $250 million). The back and forth between the judge, Trump and the former president’s lawyers during the trial was repeatedly heated. “What evidence do you have – I just haven’t seen it – that they knew that there was fraud?” Engoron asked. Furthermore, Trump says, companies like Deutsche Bank wanted to do business with Trump Org.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Judge Arthur Engoron, Trump, Letitia James, Engoron, What’s, James, ”, Andrew Amer, Allen Weisselberg, Jeff McConney, Mr, ” Amer, “, ” Engoron, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, belittle James, colluding, ” Trump, I’m, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, New York, Democrat, Trump, disgorgement, Trump Organization, Trump Org, Deutsche Bank, Engoron Locations: York, New, Mar, New York, Westchester County , New York

☆ Brown, Yale, and Columbia are among 5 elite schools that agreed to pay $104.5 million to students after being accused of colluding to limit financial aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Five more elite schools agreed to a settlement to resolve claims they colluded on financial aid. The 2022 lawsuit accused nearly 20 top schools of working in a "price-fixing cartel" to limit aid to students. AdvertisementFive more elite schools have now agreed to a settlement to put claims they colluded to limit financial aid to rest. On Tuesday, Emory, Yale, Brown, Columbia, and Duke agreed to pay a collective fine of $104.5 million to resolve allegations against 17 top schools that concerned the way each of them allocated financial aid. The other schools named in the original lawsuit have yet to announce trial dates or progress toward reaching a settlement.

Persons: —, Duke, Brown, Brian Clark, Johns Organizations: Service, Duke, Yale, Group, University of Chicago, Columbia, Emory, UChicago, Cornell, MIT, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, CalTech, Johns Hopkins Locations: Emory, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Northwestern, Georgetown, Notre, Penn, Rice

☆ The Farmers Had What the Billionaires Wanted
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Conor Dougherty | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For six years a mysterious company called Flannery Associates, which Mr. Sramek controlled, had upended the town of 10,000 by spending hundreds of millions of dollars trying to buy every farm in the area. It sued a group of holdouts who had refused its above-market offers, on the grounds that they were colluding for more. Residents worried it could be a front for foreign spies looking to surveil a nearby Air Force base. The truth was that Mr. Sramek wanted to build a city from the ground up, in an agricultural region whose defining feature was how little it had changed. They and others from the technology world had spent some $900 million on farmland in a demonstration of their dead seriousness about Mr. Sramek’s vision.

Persons: Jan Sramek, Flannery, Sramek, Michael Moritz, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobs Organizations: American Legion, Flannery Associates, Air Force, Silicon, LinkedIn, Emerson, Apple Locations: Rio Vista, Calif, Rio

☆ Agnes Chow: Hong Kong democracy activist reveals she has moved to Canada and plans to skip bail
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In her Instagram post, Chow said she decided to flee after “considering the situation in Hong Kong, my personal safety, my physical and mental health,” adding that she had faced sustained pressure from authorities. Chow said she received permission from Hong Kong authorities to pursue her master’s degree in Canada, on the condition that she returned to Hong Kong to report to police during school breaks. Chow was among the first pro-democracy leaders to be detained under the law in Hong Kong. In her Instagram post, Chow said she was admitted by a university in Toronto earlier this year. The Hong Kong police statement on Chow confirmed they had returned her passport to allow her to study overseas and prolonged her bail.

Persons: Kong’s, Agnes Chow, ”, . Chow, “, Chow, Chow’s, ’, Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Demosisto, Wong, you’re, ” Chow Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, Police, Critics, The Hong Locations: Hong Kong, Canada, ., Hong, China, Beijing, United Kingdom, The, The Hong Kong, Toronto, Shenzhen

☆ Taiwan election about choosing whether to embrace China, frontrunner says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te and running mate Hsiao Bi-Khim pose for a photo after registering for the upcoming presidential election at the Central Election Commission in Taipei, Taiwan November 21, 2023. Lai Ching-te, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election. Speaking to reporters and supporters after formally registering his candidacy with the election commission, Lai said Taiwan's security was an international issue and the whole world was watching this election. "The people of Taiwan have to choose between trusting Taiwan, allowing Taiwan to continue to move forward on the road of democracy, and relying on China, following the old path of the one-China principle, and walking into the embrace of China," he said. Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard".

Persons: Lai Ching, Hsiao Bi, Ann WAng, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai, Hsiao, colluding, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Central, Commission, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Taipei, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, United States

☆ Taiwan's former U.S. envoy, vilified by China, is named vice presidential candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Representative to the United States, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office T.H. Lai, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election, which is taking place as Taiwan comes under increased pressure from China to accept its sovereignty claim. The United States, as with most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island's most important international supporter and arms supplier. 'INDEPENDENCE ACT'Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". The DPP's smooth handling of its vice presidential nominee stands in contrast with efforts by Taiwan's two main opposition parties to agree on a joint ticket.

Persons: Hsiao, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui Organizations: Cultural, T.H, Sheraton, Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook Locations: United States, Taipei, Sheraton New York, New York City, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, U.S, The United States, Japan

☆ Taiwan Election About Choosing Whether to Embrace China, Frontrunner Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Lai Ching-te, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election. Speaking to reporters and supporters after formally registering his candidacy with the election commission, Lai said Taiwan's security was an international issue and the whole world was watching this election. "The people of Taiwan have to choose between trusting Taiwan, allowing Taiwan to continue to move forward on the road of democracy, and relying on China, following the old path of the one-China principle, and walking into the embrace of China," he said. Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". "Taiwan independence means war.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai, Hsiao, colluding, Lincoln Organizations: Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Taipei Locations: Ben Blanchard TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States

In a post on his Facebook page, Lai said he would formally present Hsiao as his running mate on Monday afternoon. "Bi-khim's relationships in D.C. will be invaluable to a President Lai, if he is elected, she's going to bring all of those relationships into his government and he doesn't have those," he told Reuters. The United States, as with most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island's most important international supporter and arms supplier. 'INDEPENDENCE ACT'Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". The DPP champions Taiwan's separate identity from China.

Persons: Hsiao, khim, Morris Chang, Carlos Barria, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, San Francisco , California, Rights TAIPEI, United States, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, The United States, Japan

☆ Taiwan's Former US Envoy, Well-Known in U.S., Vilified by China, Named VP Candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Hsiao, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook Locations: Yimou Lee TAIPEI, United States, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, U.S, The United States, Japan

☆ Tenants and a top prosecutor have accused major landlords and a popular apartment-pricing site of colluding to inflate rents. A legal expert says it shows algorithmic collusion is no longer 'science f
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementYou're probably aware that a severe housing shortage has driven rents and home prices through the roof in recent years. Now, several lawsuits filed across the country contend that the algorithmic software some big landlords use to determine rents has artificially inflated prices. This allegation is unusual, given that RealPage doesn't have any market power over its clients, Stucke said. AdvertisementProsecutors also allege that RealPage monitors the rents that its clients charge and disciplines landlords who don't adhere to its recommendations.

Persons: —, Brian Schwalb, RealPage, They're, Maurice Stucke, RealPage didn't, Axios, Department —, Donald Trump —, Steve Winn, ProPublica, Stucke Organizations: Service, University of Tennessee, DOJ, The, Department, Prosecutors, Department of Justice, Democratic, Federal Trade Commission, Computer Locations: Washington, DC, RealPage, Texas, Seattle , New York, Boston, Colorado, Nashville

☆ Philippine court grants bail to jailed "drug war" critic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Finally, I will be freed," De Lima told reporters outside the court after her bail was granted. Two of three cases against De Lima have been dismissed and she had sought bail in the one pending case on health grounds, which the court granted on Monday. Her lawyer, Filibon Tacardon, told Reuters by phone, De Lima could walk out of prison later on Monday. Police always denied that and Duterte insisted police were under orders to kill only in self-defence. Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Mikhail Flores; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Leila de Lima, Eloisa Lopez, De Lima, Rodrigo Duterte's, Duterte, Filibon Tacardon, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Martin Petty Organizations: Muntinlupa, of Justice, REUTERS, Reuters, Police, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Muntinlupa, Lima, MANILA

☆ This city never slept. Now with China tightening its grip, is the party over?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

China’s message at the time was that even if change was coming to Hong Kong, its spirit of “anything goes” would be staying put. People gather outside a restaurant on a near-empty street in the Soho area of Hong Kong. Officials say they were “fluorescent.”A Hong Kong government spokesman told CNN this week that the activities were “well-received by local residents and tourists”. Under Hong Kong’s pandemic restrictions, live music was all but banned in small venues for more than 650 days. Months before the virus emerged, China had been tightening its grip on Hong Kong in response to pro-democracy protests that had spread throughout the city.

Persons: Hong Kong, Boy George, Grace Jones, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, China’s, Deng Xiaoping, China –, Deng, Deng’s, –, Noemi Cassanelli, Hong, John Lee, “, ”, Gary Ng, Covid, Benson Wong, Wong, Lan Kwai Fong, Cassanelli, Hong Kongers, Kongers, Ng, Yan Wai, ” Yan, hasn’t, Billy H.C, Kwok, Richard Feldman, Feldman, Becky Lam, ” Lam, “ They’ll, ” Feldman, Kwai Fong, Marco Chan, Chan, ” Allan Zeman, Allan Zeman, Lan, CNN “ They’ll, they’ll, Lam, Hong Kong’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, East, West, Britain, Occupy Central, National Security, Michelin, CNN, Hong, Tai Hang, National, Hong Kong Wine, HKSAR, Immigration Department, Chinese University of Hong, Soho Association, Netflix, “, Lan Kwai Fong Group, Hong Kong, Shady Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, Hong, Soho, Japan, Singapore, Tai, Thailand, Lan Kwai, expats, Britain, Canada, Australia, Natixis, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lan, revelers, California, Central, Shenzhen, Hong Kong’s Central, Bangkok, Shanghai, Taipei, Petticoat

☆ Major landlords, RealPage sued in DC for alleged rent-fixing scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The alleged collusion violates the District of Columbia's Antitrust Act, the office said. Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb's office said Tuesday that it's suing RealPage, a property management software company, and 14 of the district's largest landlords for allegedly colluding to raise rents. In a statement to CNBC, a company spokesperson for William C. Smith & Co. said the company does not comment on pending litigation. The software uses proprietary, nonpublic data and statistical models to estimate supply and demand and generate a price to maximize the landlord's revenue. RealPage has previously been sued by renters in the Southern District of California and Tennessee over the past year.

Persons: Igor Golovniov, Brian Schwalb's, it's, RealPage, William C, Smith, didn't, Schwalb, Jennifer Bowcock, Berkshire Hathaway Organizations: Inc, Getty, Columbia's, Washington , D.C, CNBC, Southern District of, D.C, National Association of Realtors, CNBC PRO Locations: Washington ,, Southern District, Southern District of California, Tennessee, Seattle , Texas, Boston, Missouri, Berkshire

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers remarks to supporters at the Club 47 USA event in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. October 11, 2023. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan plans a hearing in Washington on the bid by Special Counsel Jack Smith to bar Trump from discussing possible witnesses and disparaging prosecutors, court staff and potential jurors. Smith has cited “inflammatory public statements”, including a stream of social media attacks by Trump, that prosecutors argue are undermining public confidence in the legal system and may influence potential jurors. Trump has pleaded not guilty and accused prosecutors of attempting to interfere with his campaign. The case is one of four criminal cases federal and state prosecutors have brought against the former president this year.

Persons: Donald Trump, Shannon Stapleton, Donald Trump’s, Tanya Chutkan, Jack Smith, Smith, Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, Mike Pence, Mark Milley, Prosecutors, Trump’s, “, Andrew Goudsward, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Rights, Trump, Democrat, Biden Administration, U.S . Justice Department, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: West Palm Beach , Florida, U.S, Washington, York, China

☆ Fearing China, South Korea targets firms building Taiwan navy submarines
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

SI Innotec, which was fined in August 2022, and Park, who received a suspended prison sentence, deny wrongdoing and have appealed. The equipment was not designed solely for military purposes and did not involve sensitive technology, SI Innotec told Reuters. SI Innotec said the contract, at CSBC's request, listed the equipment's primary use as for wind power generation. "The accused were fully aware that the subject equipment would be used to manufacture a military submarine", the court ruled. It was at this point that Seoul's foreign ministry told DAPA it disapproved of the deal, one of them said.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Narwhal, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Park Mal, sik, China's, DAPA, Moon Jae, Taiwan's, Innotec, SI Innotec, Moo, sik —, —, Yang Hyang, Yang, KHNT's, KHNT, Cho Hyeon Gyu, 1,343.1000, Ben Blanchard, Faith Hung, Tian, Katerina Ang, Josh Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Administration, Keumha Naval Technology, South, Police, Foreign Ministry, Democratic Progressive Party, Indigenous Defense, South Korean, Foreign Trade, SI, Thomson Locations: Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Rights SEOUL, Beijing, Seoul, U.S, China, South Korea, Park, Taipei, Netherlands, Pacific, Beijing . U.S, Changwon, Korea

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