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☆ Fujian: China’s newest aircraft carrier heads to sea for first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —China’s newest, largest and most-advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, took a big step to joining the world’s largest naval fleet on Wednesday as it set out from Shanghai for its first sea trials. “The sea trials will primarily test the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier’s propulsion and electrical systems,” read an announcement from the state-run Xinhua news agency on Wednesday. The warship was launched in 2022 and has “completed its mooring trials, outfitting work and equipment adjustments” working up to the latest sea trials, Xinhua said. A tugboat tows China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, away from a dock in east China's Shanghai on May 1, 2024. The American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is seen from the air anchored in Italy in the Gulf of Trieste on September 18, 2023.

Persons: Li Tang, ”, John Bradford, Carl Schuster, Gerald R Ford, ” Bradford, Gerald R, Ford, Andrej Tarfila, Schuster, ” Schuster, Brian Hart, Yuan Huazhi, John F Kennedy, Doris Miller Organizations: South Korea CNN —, Jiangnan Shipyard, Maritime Safety Administration, Xinhua, Liberation Army, United States Navy, PLAN, Foreign Relations International Affairs, US, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence, Nimitz, Ford, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Analysts, American, Chinese Defense Ministry, China Power, CSIS, Times, US Navy, Enterprise Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Fujian, Shanghai, East China, Jiangnan, Shandong, Liaoning, Italy, Gulf of Trieste, China

☆ Keith Haring’s Legacy Is Not Found at the Museum
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Max Lakin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In their eyes I don’t exist.’”Haring’s frustration surely feels surprising for anyone who is familiar with his work, which is mostly everyone. You needn’t be able to name a Keith Haring picture to recognize it; its vibrating line and electric palette announce itself as efficiently as a neon sign. And it is more so now, 34 years after his death, in 1990 at the age of 31, as his work continues to permeate contemporary art. In his short but intense career, Haring’s pulsating figures became an inextricable part of New York City life, like ancient hieroglyphics that weren’t as much drawn as unearthed. And yet the most likely place you’ll encounter it now is still not the museum, but the mall, which was his own doing.

Persons: Keith Haring, ” Brad Gooch’s, Haring, ”, needn’t Organizations: Museum of Modern Art, Swatch, Medical Locations: New York City, East Harlem

☆ ‘Marriage Predicts Happiness Better than Education, Work and Money’ - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Nicholas Kristof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With little notice, the United States may be crossing a historic milestone in family structure, one that may shape our health, wealth and happiness. Historically, most American adults were married — more than two-thirds as recently as 1970. But the married share has crept downward, and today only about half of adults are married. And to be clear, it’s more of the former than the latter.”Wilcox believes that perhaps a third of today’s young Americans will never marry. Survey data indicates that married couples on average report more happiness, build more wealth, live longer and raise more successful children than single parents or cohabiting couples, though there are plenty of exceptions.

Persons: —, ” Brad Wilcox, “, ”, ” Wilcox, it’s Organizations: University of Virginia Locations: United States

☆ Judge in classified documents case grapples with how Trump’s personal records claim could be explained to a jury
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | Katelyn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

I don’t understand where she is going with this order,” Brad Moss, a national security lawyer, told CNN on Monday. Part of the law under which Trump is charged criminalizes a person having unauthorized possession of records related to national defense. Still, the judge asked prosecutors and defense lawyers to write versions of their proposed jury instructions that consider the PRA by April 2. “Engage with the following competing scenarios and offer alternative draft text that assumes each scenario to be a correct formulation of the law to be issued to a jury,” Cannon wrote on Monday. The second scenario would assume that as president, Trump had complete authority to take records he wanted from the White House under the PRA.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Donald Trump’s, Trump, – Cannon, Cannon, wouldn’t, Brad Moss, “, ” Moss, she’s, ” Cannon, Moss Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Department, “, White House, National Archives Locations: Trump’s

☆ Amazon warns that not complying with return-to-office mandate could impact getting promoted
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Amazon is once again doubling down on its return-to-office mandate, warning staff that not complying with it could impact their chances of being promoted. There are a “variety of factors we consider when determining an employee’s readiness for the next level,” Brad Glasser, an Amazon spokesperson, told CNN in a statement. Like much of the broader business world, Amazon has faced some employee resistance to this mandate. In August, meanwhile, Amazon sent a warning email to some of its office workers that said it believed they were not complying with its return-to-office policies. The company said it has a remote work exception request policy in place, which is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Persons: don’t, ” Brad Glasser, ” Glasser, Andy Jassy, ” Jassy, Amazon Organizations: New, New York CNN, Employees, CNN, Amazon, “, Seattle Locations: New York

☆ It’s All About the Grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The clean energy will have nowhere to go. Point A to Point BIt’s easy to lose sight of the importance of the grid, and just how much work needs to be done. But clean power sources are often situated far from cities where the most people live. As Brad has reported, the boom in clean energy ventures has also overwhelmed the system for connecting new power sources to homes and businesses. “Sometimes you have existing lines where they are basically at capacity, they’re full and they can’t handle adding more wind power or solar power,” Brad said.

Persons: there’s, Brad, ” Brad Organizations: Department of Energy Locations: U.S, United States

☆ Chevron workers at key LNG facilities in Australia vote to restart strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Union members have voted to restart industrial action at Chevron’s liquefied natural gas facilities in Australia, threatening renewed strikes that could disrupt about 7% of global LNG supply. In the past days, the Offshore Alliance had been working with Chevron (CVX) to finalize the agreements, the alliance said in the statement. In Europe, the threat of strikes in Australia had caused a series of spikes in natural gas prices since August. “Persistently high and volatile gas prices will erode European competitiveness, [which is] a longer-term risk,” the credit rating agency wrote. “Gas prices will remain higher in Europe than elsewhere, making energy-intensive sectors like chemicals less competitive.”

Persons: Brad Gandy, “, Wheatstone, Daniel Toleman, Wood Mackenzie, “ It’s, ”, Alex Froley, Russia —, Moody’s Organizations: London CNN — Union, Offshore Alliance, Chevron, Commission, Enterprise, CNN, Fair, ” Workers Locations: Australia, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Norway, LNG, United States, Qatar, Moscow

Fox, which has maintained it is proud of its dishonest 2020 election coverage, still faces an even larger, $2.7 billion lawsuit from election technology company Smartmatic. That is the crux of our lawsuit, and we look forward to making our case in court.”A spokesperson for Fox Corporation declined to comment on the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the New York City Comptroller’s office said the pension funds held 857,000 shares of Fox Corporation stock valued at $28.10 million. Fox Corporation, led by Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, has kept the current Fox News leadership team that oversaw the network’s lie-filled 2020 coverage in place. Earlier this year, Fox News settled a defamation case with a Venezuelan businessman who had filed a lawsuit against the company over its 2020 election coverage.

Persons: “, Brad Lander, ” Ellen Rosenblum, ”, Rupert, Lachlan Murdoch, Viet Dinh, Ray Epps, Fox, Abby Grossberg Organizations: CNN, Fox Corporation, Fox News, Fox, Voting, New, Dominion, FBI Locations: York, Oregon, Delaware, New York City, Viet, Arizona, Venezuelan

To start, Congress faces a deadline to fund the government by the end of the month, or risk a potentially devastating federal shutdown. But starting a formal impeachment inquiry into Biden could help to appease Republican allies of Trump, who has emerged as the GOP frontrunner to confront Biden in the 2024 election for the White House. Woodhouse is now a senior adviser to the Congressional Integrity Project, which is preparing to criticize Republicans over the Biden impeachment. While the shutdown is the more pressing problem for McCarthy, the Biden impeachment inquiry is his bigger political gamble. McCarthy has signaled an impeachment inquiry is coming.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, It's, —, Joe Biden, “ They've, ”, John Thune of, Donald Trump's, “, Hunter Biden, Biden, Trump, Brad Woodhouse, Woodhouse, White, Ian Sams, deride, Matt Gaetz, Kevin, ” Gaetz, Ken Buck, Jen Psaki, ” Trump, GOP Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Murkowski, couldn't, we’ve Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Capitol, Republicans, Republican, White, Democratic, Congressional, House, Caucus, Defense Department, ”, Senate, GOP Locations: Ukraine, John Thune of South Dakota, Washington, U.S, Mexico, Russia, Lago, Alaska

☆ The majority of Party City stores will stay open as it exits bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Party City exited bankruptcy on Wednesday after a US judge signed off on the retailer’s reorganization plans. The plan cancels nearly $1 billion of Party City’s debt, and while some of Party City’s nearly 800 US stores will close due to the bankruptcy agreement, the majority will stay open, according to the company. In a statement, Party City said it had renegotiated many of its leases and exited “less productive locations.” That means many of Party City’s workers will stay employed. However, those who held Party City’s stock did not fare as well in the bankruptcy agreement. An August filing by Party City’s financial adviser, Moelis & Co., estimated that the retailer is currently worth between $450 million and $775 million.

Persons: Brad Weston Organizations: CNN — Party City, City’s, Party, Party City Locations: Party City

☆ Drill, Baby, Drill: The Promise of Geothermal Power
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( David Gelles | More About David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And much of the research and development needed for the new geothermal technologies is already done, thanks in large part to recent advances by the oil and gas industry — including fracking. At the end of the day, it might be techniques developed by Big Oil that ultimately help make fossil fuels obsolete. Drilling, but not for oilOver the past 20 years, fossil fuel companies have gotten very, very good at drilling. “The thing that made me think that this could be real is the fact that the major costs of these geothermal projects often is drilling,” Brad said. Drilling is something the United States has just gotten incredibly good at.”

Persons: ” Brad, Brad, ” Organizations: U.S . Energy Department, Big Oil Locations: U.S, United States

They raced away from the wildfire tearing through the town of Lahaina last week with just what they could carry, then survived anywhere they could on Maui: in their cars, on friends’ couches, in shelters or in tents by the side of the road. The hotel rooms are covered by state and federal temporary housing programs at no cost to the survivors. The American Red Cross, which is running the mostly FEMA-funded hotel program, said it has secured 750 rooms where survivors can live for as long as they need. The shelters, which housed more than 2,000 people the day after the fires broke out, now hold a few hundred people a day. “We will be able to keep folks in hotels for as long as it takes to find housing solutions.”

Persons: “, Brad Kieserman Organizations: FEMA Locations: Lahaina, Maui, West Maui

☆ Microsoft and Activision Delay Deal to Settle British Regulatory Issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Karen Weise | More About Karen Weise | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard said on Wednesday that they were delaying a $69 billion merger as the two companies scrambled to get final approval from British antitrust regulators. The new extension, set for Oct. 18, signals that the two companies believe they will complete the deal but need more time to satisfy regulators’ concerns. When Microsoft announced its plans to acquire the video game publisher Activision in early 2022, the two companies set a deadline of July 18 this year to close the deal. The revised agreement introduced an escalating breakup fee that Microsoft would have to pay to Activision if the purchase fell through, from $3 billion until Aug. 29, then growing to as much as $4.5 billion if it does not close by Sept. 15. “We are confident about our prospects for getting this deal across the finish line,” Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, wrote on Twitter.

Persons: Activision Blizzard, Brad Smith Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Twitter

☆ Microsoft and Activision extend their deal deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Microsoft and Activision have mutually agreed to extend their merger deadline by three months in the face of ongoing negotiations with the UK government that could allow the $69 billion acquisition to close, the two companies announced on Wednesday. The announcement highlights the commitment by both companies to complete the deal after back-to-back court defeats for US regulators who had challenged the merger. The new contractual deadline for consummating the deal will be October 18, the companies said. If the deal fails to close by Sept. 15, the breakup fee could increase to $4.5 billion, the filing said. We’re confident in our next steps and that our deal will quickly close.”In a memo to employees, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick thanked staff for their patience.

Persons: ” Brad Smith, We’re, Bobby Kotick, “, ” Kotick, Phil Spencer, ” Spencer Organizations: Washington CNN, Microsoft, Activision, Securities and Exchange Commission, Markets Authority, CMA, Activision Blizzard, ” Locations: U.S, United States

☆ Microsoft can close its Activision merger, federal judge rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A federal judge will not block Microsoft (MSFT) from closing its $69 billion deal to acquire video game giant Activision Blizzard, a defeat for US regulators who had asked for a temporary injunction while legal challenges to the merger unfold. Microsoft could potentially finalize the deal with Activision in a matter of days, ahead of a July 18 contractual deadline, or the parties could mutually seek to extend that timeframe. During a five-day hearing last month in federal court, Microsoft executives including CEO Satya Nadella testified that properties such as “Call of Duty” would not be restricted from competitors following the deal’s close. UK officials also previously moved to block the Activision merger in April, citing some of the same concerns the FTC raised in its case and triggering an appeal from Microsoft. “Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and the parties have made a joint submission … to this effect.”

Persons: ”, “, Jacqueline Scott Corley, Corley, Satya Nadella, Tuesday’s, Microsoft’s, “ We’re, Brad Smith, we’ve, Bobby Kotick, Meta’s, ” Douglas Farrar, we’ll, ” Smith Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Activision, US, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Sony PlayStation, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Regulators, Nvidia, Nintendo, “, PlayStation, Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Markets, CMA Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, ”, San Francisco

☆ FTC to seek federal court order temporarily blocking Microsoft-Activision deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Federal Trade Commission plans to file in federal court to prevent Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard from closing their $69 billion merger, according to a person familiar with the matter. The FTC sued Microsoft in the agency’s administrative court in December, challenging the deal as anticompetitive. “We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court,” Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, said in a statement. Microsoft has struck 10-year licensing agreements with some game platforms that will ensure those titles remain available. Antitrust officials from the European Union blessed the deal last month, saying that Microsoft’s concessions were enough to address its competition concerns.

Persons: ” Brad Smith Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, Activision, Court, Northern, Northern District of, FTC, Sony, “, Antitrust, European Union Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, U.S, European

☆ Amazon corporate workers plan to stage walkout, citing ‘lack of trust’ in leadership
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Nearly 2,000 corporate workers at Amazon have pledged to walk off the job on Wednesday to signal a “lack of trust” in the company’s leadership, in what could be the most visible sign of dissent among the e-commerce giant’s office workers in recent memory. Organizers said they will also have a way for employees at other Amazon corporate offices to participate virtually. All told, Amazon has said this year that it is laying off some 27,000 workers over multiple rounds of cuts. At the same time, Amazon and other tech companies are trying to get workers into the office more. “Amazon must keep pace with a changing world,” the group wrote in a Twitter thread last week calling for the walkout.

Persons: ”, Amazon, it’s, ” “, Brad Glasser, “, we’ve, who’ve, ” Glasser Organizations: CNN, Amazon, Amazon’s Seattle, Organizers, Twitter, Workers, Big Tech, Puget, Amazon Employees, Climate Justice Locations: Amazon’s, Los Angeles

☆ J.B. Hunt Expects Freight-Demand Volatility to Ease This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Paul Page | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Trucking and logistics giant J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. expects freight demand to regain traction in the coming months as the pandemic-driven upheaval in supply chains fades and companies return to more conventional ordering cycles. “We have had good signals from our customers about Q2 starting up back to a more normalized or having a more normal environment,” J.B. Hunt President Shelley Simpson said in an earnings conference call Wednesday. “Demand for intermodal capacity was seasonally weaker than normal, as peak season activity leading up to the holidays was absent this year,” Darren Field, president of intermodal at J.B. Hunt, said in the earnings call. He said volumes weakened sequentially during the fourth quarter, with volumes up 4% in October before falling 3% in November and 5% in December. The steepest revenue decline came in J.B. Hunt’s Integrated Capacity Solutions unit, which matches freight loads to trucks.

☆ 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' actor Ke Huy Quan wins Golden Globe for best supporting actor
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Ke Huy Quan has won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a motion picture. The “Everything Everywhere All At Once” actor took home the award Tuesday for his portrayal of doting husband and laundromat owner Waymond Wang. “I was raised to never forget where I came from and always remember who gave me my first opportunity,” he said. The role is also significant for the actor personally, as it marks his return to acting after more than two decades working behind the camera. It wasn’t until the 2018 rom-com “Crazy Rich Asians,” which featured an all-Asian cast, that Quan began to reconsider his options, he said in the Roundtable.

☆ FTC looks to block Microsoft's blockbuster acquisition of Activision Blizzard
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, challenging one of the largest tech acquisitions in history. “We have been committed since Day One to addressing competition concerns, including by offering earlier this week proposed concessions to the FTC. Microsoft’s proposed deal would give it control over key video game franchises, including “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft” and more. But the FTC complaint marks the first attempt by an antitrust regulator to block the deal outright. The list included a promise, which would cover the proposed Activision deal, not to give preferential treatment to its own published games on digital marketplaces it runs.

One year and billions of dollars later, the so-called metaverse still feels years away, if it ever manifests at all. And Meta’s flagship social VR app Horizon Worlds can feel like a ghost town (albeit a ghost town with laser tag). Meta’s latest headset, the Quest Pro, is its first effort at combining the immersiveness of VR with the real world. The VR headset market is still tiny compared to, say, an established gadget market like console video games. A visitor to the 2022 Tokyo Game Show tests the Meta Quest 2 VR headset.

☆ Tom Brady reaffirms his commitment to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —Tom Brady has reaffirmed his commitment to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a difficult start to the new season, both on and off the field. Jeff Dean/AP It was tough times for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Norm Hall/Getty Images Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid as he scrambles for a first down. David Richard/AP Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Breshad Perriman fumbles after catching a pass during the first half against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J.

☆ Tom Brady apologizes for comparing NFL to ‘going away on deployment for the military’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

CNN —Tom Brady has apologized for a “very poor choice of words” after he compared playing in the NFL to a military deployment. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson dives for a two-point conversion during the Vikings' 29-22 victory over the Chicago Bears. Gerald Herbert/AP Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is tripped up by Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams. Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens makes a sensational, one-handed catch over Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. on September 22. Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J.

Share this -Link copiedFloridians are livestreaming Hurricane Ian on TikTok Floridians are giving TikTok users a front-row seat to Hurricane Ian. Storm surge map, they didn’t have a color for 12 to 15 feet," he said about the historic levels of storm surge expected near where Ian is expected to make landfall. Share this -Link copiedA view of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station A view of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station, on Monday. Share this -Link copiedSatellite images show Hurricane Ian approaching Florida Hurricane Ian over the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday. Share this -Link copiedIan expected to strengthen until making landfall, officials say Hurricane Ian is still forecast to strengthen until the hurricane makes landfall in Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.

Floridians are giving TikTok users a front-row seat to Hurricane Ian. Dozens of TikTok users in Florida used TikTok’s livestream feature on Wednesday to offer a window into their lives as the hurricane approached. Some comments trickling in sent the woman prayers, while others predicted her “house will disappear.” TikTok didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the hurricane livestreams. TikTok introduced its livestream feature in 2019, and it has since become a popular way of creating content on the app. TikTok’s livestreaming feature has been used for fun but also to share breaking news, such as when Russia invaded Ukraine.

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