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☆ Meet the leaders of the Trump era's new conservative economic populism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Drew Angerer | Getty ImagesThis reported column is Part Two of Eamon Javers' two-part series on the new, conservative economic populism gaining ground among Republicans close to former President Donald Trump. In Part One, Javers introduces readers to the new, conservative economic populism gaining ground among Republicans close to former President Donald Trump. Senator Republican Marco Rubio gives a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, February 25, 2022. Cass counts among his allies several well respected conservative economic thinkers. "It's economic policy that emerges not from good economics, but from politics and the culture war and what your base wants," he said.

Persons: Vance, Sen, Josh Hawley, Drew Angerer, Eamon Javers, Donald Trump, Javers, WASHINGTON —, Trump, Sohrab Ahmari, Ahmari, Donald Trump's, –, We've, Oren Cass, —, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Republican Marco Rubio, Octavio Jones, Cass, Robert Lighthizer, Lighthizer, James Pethokoukis, Pethokoukis, Joe Biden —, Biden, Kahn, Lina Kahn, Lina Khan, Tom Williams Organizations: Republican, U.S, Senate, GOP, Wall Street Journal, Security, African American, Trump coalition, National Labor Relations, American, Conservative Political, Reuters, CNBC, United States Trade, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Democratic, Big Tech, Biden's Federal Trade Commission, Financial Services, General Government, Federal Trade Commission, Cq, Inc, Getty Locations: Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls , Ohio, America, Washington, Ukraine, Vance ( Ohio, Fla, Mo, Washington . U.S, Orlando , Florida, Biden's, Rayburn

☆ The NBA is picking its next TV partners — and a deal hinges on Warner Bros. Discovery's next move
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The league ended its exclusive window to renew a deal with its two current media partners, Disney and Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros.

Persons: Adam Silver, it's, NBCUniversal, NBCUniversal's, Warner, David Zaslav, — Organizations: National Basketball Association, Warner Bros, Turner Sports, Comcast, CNBC, Disney, NBA, Discovery, Warner Bros . Discovery Locations: Cleveland , Ohio

☆ The $5 McDonald's meal may be making a grand comeback — but only for a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McDonald's reportedly plans to launch a limited-time $5 meal. AdvertisementMcDonald's is looking to launch a $5 meal in the US in a move to bring back price-sensitive customers. CEO Chris Kempczinski said McDonald's has local value meals around the US, but no standard national offering like competitors do. A meal consisting of the same four items — a McChicken, fries, a drink, and four-piece chicken nuggets — costs $18.26 in downtown New York City. AdvertisementThe new bundle would be priced lower than a Happy Meal, which starts at $6.39 in downtown Manhattan.

Persons: McDonald's, —, Ian Borden, they're, Chris Kempczinski, Gunther Plosch Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Restaurant Business, Customers, downtown, Burger King, Restaurant Brands Locations: New York City, downtown San Francisco, Manhattan

☆ The Battle for The Streets of New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Dodai Stewart | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

New York City streets and sidewalks have always been crowded, but it’s never been like this. But lately, New York City streets are teetering between lively and unlivable. Karsten Moran for The New York Times“I think this could be the catalyst for a streets renaissance in New York,” Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City’s former transportation commissioner, said in a recent interview. New York City’s population reached 8.8 million in 2020, and the New York region is now home to nearly 19 million people. Use this form to tell us what you think about the state of New York City’s streets.

Persons: it’s, Karsten Moran, ” Janette Sadik, “, ”, Susan Lee, William Notman, Jon Orcutt, you’re, —, Henry Hale Bliss, Bliss, James Nevius, George Rinhart, Damon Winter, Sadik, Yorkers who’ve, Ms, Khan Organizations: New, Lexington, Verizon, FedEx, The New York Times, Broadway, Getty, Yorkers, Brooklyn baseball, Midtown, Bike New, city’s Department of Transportation, Park West, Times, New York Times, Cycling Locations: New York City, New York, Manhattan, , New York, York, York’s, Midtown —, Bike New York, United States, Holland, Jackson, Queens, Bogotá, Stockholm, London, Paris, Europe, —

☆ Trump’s bombardment of dishonesty: Fact-checking 32 of his false claims to Time
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +43 min

We’re paying for close to 100% of NATO.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. They don’t pay their bills.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. (It rose to about $314 billion in 2020, Trump’s last full year in office.) Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. Facts First: Trump’s claim that “nobody died other than Ashli” is false.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “, William Barr, Bill Barr, Barr, Bill, I’m, ”, it’s, Biden, Joe Biden, Tamar Hermann, Hermann, Bill Clinton, “ Trump, ” Trump, …, National Guard Trump, I’ve, George Floyd, Tim Walz, Walz, Paul —, –, Erwan, George Washington, “ don’t, they’re, Stoltenberg, Trump’s, Lagadec, Marc Lipsitch, Barack Obama, European Union won’t, Cortellessa, “ Moody’s, Moody’s, Mark Zandi, Zandi, ’ ” Zandi, Joe Biden’s, rioter Ashli Babbitt, Brian Sicknick, Sicknick, Trump’s ‘, patriotically, ‘, patriotically ’, ” Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, “ Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, Christopher Miller, Miller, Eric Cortellessa, Alvin Bragg’s, Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Alvin Bragg, ” Cortellessa, Hillary Clinton, —, Roe, Wade, Kimberly Mutcherson, “ Donald Trump’s, Maya Manian, Mary Ziegler, Davis, Ziegler, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe should’ve, ’, Crime Biden, don’t, “ Biden, he’s, James Biden, Jeff Asher, Asher, It’s, ” “, ” Asher Organizations: Washington CNN, Time, Trump, NATO, Capitol, Trump’s, Trade Center, didn’t, World Trade Center, Department, ISIS, CNN, Democratic, White House, White, South Korea Trump, Pentagon’s Defense Manpower Data, Biden Administration, Congressional Research Service, Israel, Israeli Democracy Institute, National Guard, Minnesota Democratic Gov, Minnesota National Guard, Guard, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Transatlantic, for Disease Control, World Bank, Washington Post, Harvard, Harvard’s, National, Trump -, of Health, Human Services, Strategic, Biden, U.S . International Trade Commission, European, Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, European Union, US, European Automobile Manufacturers ’ Association, Bloomberg Economics, US Capitol Police, Capitol Police, “, Republican, Democratic Rep, National Guardsmen, District of Columbia National Guard, Army, Capitol Police Board, Senate, Justice Department, Pulitzer Foundation, Pulitzer, New York Times, Electoral, Democrat, ” Rutgers Law, American University, university’s Health, University of California, ”, Customs, Border Protection, Crime, Manchurian, Republicans, FBI Locations: “, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Mexico, South Korea, Trump , South Korea, South, Korea, Israel, Washington, Trump , Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Trump, Minnesota, St, United States, Germany, Brussels, Belgium, Harvard University, China, EU, DC, Trump’s, ”, York, Manhattan, York’s, Russia, That’s

☆ ABC News president Kim Godwin in hot water as Disney-appointed boss conducts review
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —ABC News President Kim Godwin is skating on thinner and thinner ice. OConnell, according to people familiar with the matter, has been astonished by Godwin’s management — or lack thereof — at the network. “She has to take swift moves,” a person familiar with the inner workings of ABC News candidly told me of OConnell. Those lieutenants include Stacia Deshishku, executive editor and senior vice president; Derek Medina, executive vice president; and Jose Andino, vice president of the office of the president and process management. As OConnell’s not-so-subtle evaluation has played out at ABC News, Godwin has privately voiced displeasure about being layered away from Iger and bemoaned Disney’s micromanagement, CNN was told.

Persons: Kim Godwin, Debra OConnell, OConnell, Godwin, Galen Gordon, Jonathan Greenberger, Bob Iger, tepidly, ”, Stacia, Derek Medina, Jose Andino, OConnell’s, Disney’s micromanagement Organizations: New York CNN, ABC, Disney, ABC News, POLITICO, CBS, “, CNN Locations: New York, Burbank, Washington, Iger

☆ Drake and Olivia Rodrigo fans can rejoice. TikTok is getting their music back.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

TikTok said it reached a deal with music company UMG to bring back some of its biggest musicians. In February, music from stars like Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, and Taylor Swift was removed from TikTok. AdvertisementUniversal Music Group has inked a new deal with TikTok that will return some of the hottest hits to the video-sharing app. TikTok announced Thursday that the two businesses reached a "multi-dimensional licensing agreement" that fans of artists like Drake and Olivia Rodrigo will be relieved to hear about. It comes after TikTok removed UMG artists' music in February after negotiations over an expired licensing contract heated up, meaning people couldn't post content on TikTok featuring overlaid UMG songs, for example.

Persons: TikTok, UMG, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Taylor Swift's music returns to TikTok after Universal Music agrees new licensing deal, ending spat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Taylor Swift attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Universal Music Group , the record label for top music artists including Taylor Swift, struck a new licensing agreement with TikTok, putting an end to a spat between the two companies. In a statement Thursday, UMG said the licensing deal would lead to the return of its artists' music to TikTok. Music by artists including Swift and Drake became unavailable on TikTok, which is owned by Chinese internet giant ByteDance. At the heart of the spat was the contention that TikTok allowed its platform to undermine artists' intellectual property with unauthorized AI-generated songs.

Persons: Taylor Swift, UMG, TikTok, Swift, Drake Organizations: Crypto.com Arena, Universal Music Group, TikTok, Poets Department, CNBC, UMG Locations: Los Angeles , California

☆ TikTok agrees deal with Universal Music Group, bringing back the world’s biggest artists
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Ariana Grande, Adele and Rihanna will soon be back on TikTok, joining Taylor Swift after a deal with Universal Music Group ended a feud that saw one of the world’s biggest record labels pull its music from the video platform. The licensing agreement, announced Wednesday, means that within one to two weeks TikTok’s 1 billion-plus users will be able to use music by UMG artists in their videos. All videos featuring Universal artists’ music that had previously been muted because of copyright violations will be unmuted. “We are pleased to have found a path forward with Universal Music Group,” TikTok CEO Shou Chew said in a joint statement. Universal pulled its music off TikTok in February after the two companies failed to reach an agreement on royalty fees for Universal’s artists, who also include Lady Gaga, Coldplay and Justin Bieber.

Persons: London CNN — Ariana Grande, Adele, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Michael Nash, Shou Chew, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, TikTok, ” Organizations: London CNN, Universal Music Group, ”, UBS, Universal, TikTok, Poets Department Locations: TikTok

☆ Johnson & Johnson Proposes $6.5 Billion in New Talc Settlement Offer
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( J. Edward Moreno | More About J. Edward Moreno | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Johnson & Johnson said on Wednesday that it would ask tens of thousands of people suing the company over claims that its talcum powder products caused their cancer to approve a new $6.5 billion settlement, its third attempt to resolve the lawsuits. The proposal would settle nearly all current and future claims that its talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer, the company said. Judges have rejected the two previous attempts, on the grounds that bankruptcy court isn’t the right venue for them. Representatives for Johnson & Johnson declined to comment beyond its announcement. The company has long denied those claims, but has in recent years stopped selling talc-based baby powder worldwide.

Persons: Johnson, — Organizations: Johnson

☆ Opinion | I’m a Young Conservative, and I Want My Party to Lead the Fight Against Climate Change
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Benji Backer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Not that long ago, Republican presidents were carrying out the Clean Air and Water Acts, creating the Environmental Protection Agency, expanding the National Park System and even initiating the country’s most authoritative report on climate change, the National Climate Assessment. Many of today’s Republican leaders stoke fear and anger by mocking the most divisive climate activists while claiming that every environmental solution is a radical one. If they’re not doing that, Republicans can often be found on the sidelines and disengaged from the issue completely. Instead of continuing the environmental legacy they were once known for, they have ceded the fight against climate change to Democrats, putting themselves on the wrong side of history. In other words, Donald Trump’s denial of climate change probably cost him the White House.

Persons: they’re, Biden, Donald Trump’s, Gavin Newsom Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, Park System, Republican, stoke, University of Colorado, Democratic Party, Green Locations: Boulder, California

☆ Merck beats earnings expectations, raises outlook on strong Keytruda and vaccine sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Merck on Thursday reported first-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings that topped expectations as it posted strong sales of its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda and vaccine products. The pharmaceutical giant also raised and narrowed its full-year revenue and adjusted earnings forecasts. Merck now expects 2024 sales to come in between $63.1 billion and $64.3 billion, up from previous guidance of $62.7 to $64.2 billion. That outlook includes a one-time charge of roughly 26 cents per share related to Merck's acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics in January. Merck raked in $15.78 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 9% from the same period a year ago.

Persons: Merck Organizations: Merck, Harpoon Therapeutics, LSEG Locations: Rahway , New Jersey, U.S

☆ Federal labor board has been much more pro-worker under Biden. Employers want courts to end that
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The companies are asking federal courts, often with conservative, pro-business judges, to stop the agency from standing behind the more activist unions now making their lives more difficult. “The NLRB has long used the federal courts … to obtain injunctions … before the merits of an unfair labor practice case are fully evaluated,” said a statement from Starbucks. The employer doesn’t have to pay any interest, penalty or fine, to the fired workers, their union or the agency. While this is the first such case to reach the Supreme Court, other cases are emerging in which some high profile employers are challenging the agency’s right to exist. The Supreme Court’s decision is expected by the end of June.

Persons: Biden, …, ”, “, Jennifer Abruzzo, Cathy Creighton, Clinton, Elon Musk’s, Joe’s, Cornell’s Creighton, she’s, “ They’re, “ I’m Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Memphis, Cornell University’s, Industrial and Labor Relations, SpaceX, nonunion Locations: New York, Memphis, Buffalo , New York

☆ Trump’s immunity case is another reminder that all roads now lead to the Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

CNN —The Supreme Court’s hearing Thursday on former President Donald Trump’s immunity claim will underline a historic power shift. Trump’s relationship has been complex with the court’s conservative majority – despite his instrumental role in establishing it. In sharp contrast, the court’s conservative majority has exerted its influence year after year, without interruption. “There is just much more intense vetting of Supreme Court justices,” said Pierson. “You can tell by the results of the court decisions over the past several years that it is fundamentally different.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, “, ”, Jeff Shesol, Franklin D, John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Paul Pierson, –, Barack Obama’s, Roberts, Joe Biden, Trump, they’ve, Michael McConnell, Jack Smith, Gore, outvoted, George W, Bush, MAGA, Michael Waldman, ” Waldman, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Nixon, Waldman, ” McConnell, McConnell, Sandra Day O’Connor, Anthony Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, David Souter, George H.W, Pierson, Obama, Brett Kavanaugh, Barrett, Cecilia Munoz, Biden, “ It’s, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Clinton, ” Shesol, FDR, Shesol Organizations: CNN, White House, GOP, Republican Party, Trump, Republicans, University of California, Democratic, House, White, Constitutional, Center, Stanford University Law School, Brennan Center for Justice, New York University School of Law, Senate, Republican, Federalist Society, Alabama, Electoral, Citizens, Constitutional Law Center, New, Great Society Locations: Berkeley, Manhattan, Florida, “, George H.W . Bush, Shelby County

☆ ‘Peasants vs. Marie Antoinette’: What the Premier League does with its billions of dollars is riling 72 other soccer clubs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

DisparityThanks to its multi-billion-dollar TV deals, the Premier League is often celebrated as a UK Inc. success story. Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty ImagesBy targeting talents from lower-league academies, Premier League clubs don’t have to pay inflated transfer fees. The mooted introduction of an independent regulator comes against the backdrop of some Premier League clubs falling foul of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Earlier this month, Everton were handed a further two-point deduction for allegedly breaching Premier League financial rules. Relegated from the Premier League in 2023, Leicester denies any wrongdoing and opened legal proceedings against the Premier League and the EFL, but could face a points deduction if found guilty.

Persons: Abu, –, Kieran Maguire, Marie Antoinette ”, Marie Antoinette, – James McConnell –, Gabriele Biancheri, James McConnell, Bobby Clark, Andrew Powell, Caroline Dinenage, Maguire, Richard Masters, ” Maguire, ”, “, ” Masters, Phil Noble, we’ve, It’s, Mike Egerton, they’ve Organizations: CNN —, Manchester City, League, Reading FC –, Reading, English Football League, CNN, British, Premier League, Inc, Sunderland, Manchester United, Cardiff City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Liverpool FC, Getty, Premier League clubs, Culture , Media, Sport Committee, Premier League clubs “, Premier League’s, ” CNN, The Times, European Super League, National League, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City –, Reuters, Nottingham, “ Premier League, Leicester City, Leicester Locations: Istanbul, Manchester, Abu Dhabi, France, Europe, England’s, Britain's

☆ Caitlin Clark salary criticism a 'false narrative,' says WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But right now we're seeing that even if you're the best, women are not paid their fair share." However, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, speaking at CNBC's inaugural Changemakers Summit on Thursday in New York City, said there's a "false narrative" around Clark's expected salary, likening it to the way that executive salaries are displayed for public companies. Cathy Engelbert, Commissioner of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) speaking at the CNBC Changemakers Event in New York on April 18th, 2024. The NBA has around $13 billion in revenue while the WNBA is roughly around $200 million. Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall pick by the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Joe Biden, Clark, Victor Wembanyama —, —, Cathy Engelbert, there's, Engelbert, Danielle DeVries, Caitlin, she's, we're, Sarah Stier Organizations: Indiana Fever, House, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, Summit, Deloitte, National Basketball Association, CNBC, Nike, Gatorade, State, WNBA, Athletic, Getty Locations: New York City, New York, U.S, Iowa

☆ NBA's exclusive TV rights negotiating window with ESPN, Warner expected to pass without a deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, #23, during the NBA game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2024. The National Basketball Association's exclusive media rights negotiating window with current partners Disney and Warner Bros. While no agreement is expected to be announced by the deadline, Disney and Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Discovery's TBS began airing NBA games in 1984, and TNT has shown NBA games since 1988.

Persons: LeBron James Organizations: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Los Angeles Clippers, Crypto.com Arena, Disney, Warner Bros, Apple, YouTube, Comcast, Netflix, CNBC, Discovery, TBS, TNT, ESPN, ABC, Fox Locations: Los Angeles

☆ What the conversation about Caitlin Clark’s pay gets wrong
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA’s stars aren’t asking to be paid an equal dollar amount to NBA players, however. WNBA players have made progress on salaries since 2020, when they reached their latest collective bargaining agreement with the league. Sharing the revenue pieBecause it’s a smaller and younger league, women’s players have had less bargaining power with team owners over their pay than men. While NBA players receive 50% of total NBA revenue, the WNBA must hit a certain revenue threshold annually before any revenue sharing agreements kick in. This has held back women’s salaries.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Clark, Angel Reese, ” Terri Jackson, David Berri, Kelsey Plum, Griner, Jackson, ” Jackson, “ It’s, ”, Alicia Jessop, “ That’s, ” David Berri, David Stern, “, Berri, Cathy Engelbert, ” Breanna Stewart Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, University of Iowa, Louisiana, NCAA, WNBA, ’ Association, CNN, Southern Utah University, Las Vegas Aces, —, Phoenix Mercury, ’, Pepperdine University, longtime, New York Liberty Locations: New York, men’s, Russia

☆ Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says he's committed to cost cutting while investing in AI in shareholder letter
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +41 min

This work diminished short-term revenue, but was best for customers, much appreciated, and should bode well for customers and AWS longer-term. We're also making progress on many of our newer business investments that have the potential to be important to customers and Amazon long-term. Being intentional about building primitives requires patience. Customers building their own FM must tackle several challenges in getting a model into production. Customers' AI models contain some of their most sensitive data.

Persons: Andy Jassy, Jassy, Jeff Bezos, he's, we've, Martha Stewart, Clinique, we're, We've, bode, We're, I've, iterating, We'd, we'd, Fox, affordably, you've, They're, Anthropic, that's, Claude, Dana, debugs, Slack Organizations: Amazon, Services, AWS, Deal, Prime, MGM, Savings, Regions, Citadel, Target, Storage Service, Netflix, Disney, Max, Paramount, CIA, . Intelligence, Amazon Freight, Carrier, Amazon Shipping, Foods, Drones, Amazon Pharmacy, Amazon Clinic, Robotics, Nvidia, Ricoh, NatWest, FMs, Meta, Bridgewater Associates, Farber Cancer Institute, Delta Air Lines, Intuit, KT, Lonely, LexisNexis, Netsmart, Pfizer, PGA, Rocket Companies, Siemens, Media, Inc Locations: North America, U.S, Europe, India, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Middle East, Africa, Malaysia, New Zealand, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Berlin, Hulu, Amdocs, Genomics England, GoDaddy, GenAI

☆ Blizzard, NetEase deal: ‘World of Warcraft’ and other hit games return to China as dispute ends
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Diksha Madhok | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —China’s gaming giant NetEase will bring back the iconic “World of Warcraft” and other popular video games by Microsoft’s Blizzard Entertainment to the country, the companies said in a joint statement Wednesday. California-based Blizzard and Hangzhou-based NetEase had ceased their 15-year relationship in 2023 after an acrimonious fallout, leaving millions of fans in China heartbroken. “After a year of negotiations, Blizzard and NetEase are pleased to align on a path forward to once again serve players in mainland China,” the companies said in a post on NetEase Games’ official Weibo account. The new deal will see the return of “World of Warcraft” and “Hearthstone” games to China, as well as other titles in the Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo and StarCraft universes, according to the statement. Foreign publishers must work with local partners to offer video games in China.

Persons: NetEase, “, ”, we’ve, William Ding, ’, Phil Spencer Organizations: CNN, Microsoft’s Blizzard Entertainment, Blizzard, Games, Weibo, Microsoft Gaming, Xbox, Microsoft, Activision, Big Locations: China, California, Hangzhou, Beijing, Big Tech

The Chinese company NetEase said on Wednesday that it had struck a deal to distribute titles from Microsoft’s Blizzard Entertainment, restoring access to popular video games like World of Warcraft for Chinese gamers. More than a year ago, NetEase and Blizzard called an end to their long-running partnership when renewal talks turned testy, with both sides accusing each other of bad-faith negotiations. An uproar ensued among Chinese gamers, upset about losing access to a slew of popular titles from Blizzard’s parent company, the U.S. game developer Activision Blizzard. NetEase said on Wednesday that it had reached the new deal with Microsoft, which acquired Activision Blizzard in a $69 billion deal in October. The two companies said they had also agreed to distribute NetEase titles on Microsoft’s Xbox game device.

Persons: NetEase, we’ve, ” William Ding Organizations: Microsoft’s Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Locations: U.S

☆ Caitlin Clark will head to the WNBA at a critical moment for the league
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA, still emerging entering its 28th season, hopes Caitlin Clark can achieve what those athletes did and turn the league into a cultural phenomenon. WNBA players’ salaries also lag behind. Turning Clark fans into WNBA fansClark is already having an impact on the WNBA. “The need by WNBA teams to invest in fan acquisition and fan engagement is really critical to maximize this moment,” she said. Bebeto Matthews/APThe league was financially connected to the NBA, and each of the first eight WNBA teams was linked to an NBA franchise.

Persons: Woods, Venus Williams, Michael Jordan, Caitlin Clark, ”, Boris Lelchitski, Candace Parker, Jonquel Jones, ” Clark, Angel Reese, Clark, Reese, “, Phil Cook, Gregory Fisher, Nielsen, “ Caitlin Clark, Noah Henderson, Cathy Engelbert, “ We’ve, Erica Denhoff, Jessica Gelman, Gelman, David Stern, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Bebeto Matthews, Terri Jackson, ” Donna Orender, Orender, ” Engelbert, Cameron Brink, ’, “ Clark, Donna Orender Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, WNBA, Indiana Fever, NCAA, University of Iowa, Louisiana State University, Tiger, USA, Sports, Reuters, Loyola University, CNN, LSU, WNBA's Indiana, Kraft Analytics Group, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, Nielsen, Brands, Gatorade, State, longtime, Olympics, Basketball Players Association, Deloitte, Kraft Analytics Locations: New York, Chicago, Iowa, USA, Atlanta, San Francisco

☆ Why NBC is the wild-card NBA bidder to watch as the league negotiates a new TV deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Why NBC could be a perfect fit for the NBABarring a major upset, ESPN and WBD will continue to broadcast NBA games. The network used to broadcast NBA games nationally starting in 1954, and Comcast still shows games on its regional-sports networks in five markets. Comcast-subsidiary Sky Sports also aired NBA games in the United Kingdom for four years starting in 2019. Moffett, the media analyst and MoffettNathanson cofounder, told BI he sees NBC entering the bidding war for NBA media rights if only to assist its streamer. Unlike ESPN and TNT, NBC doesn't necessarily need NBA games.

Persons: it's, supercharge Peacock, Peacock, Craig Moffett, Nielsen, That's, Will, Moffett, Joseph Bonner, WBD's, Bonner Organizations: NBA, ESPN, Warner Bros, TNT, Business, Apple, Netflix, NBC, Comcast, WBD, Diamond Sports, NFL, Premier League, Sky Sports, Moffett, BI, Argus Research, Disney, Fox, Google Locations: United Kingdom

☆ Sports Illustrated’s Owner Sues Energy Drink Mogul After Chaos at Magazine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Sports Illustrated’s owner on Monday sued Manoj Bhargava, the energy drinks mogul whose foray into media has been rife with chaos and conflict, accusing him of failing to pay millions of dollars for the rights to publish the iconic magazine. The 51-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, says that Mr. Bhargava and Arena Group, the publisher he controls, owe $48.75 million in missed payments, as well as damages for infringing on Sports Illustrated’s copyrights and trademarks. The lawsuit represents the latest public skirmish between Authentic Brands Group, which owns Sports Illustrated, and Mr. Bhargava, the 5-Hour Energy drink founder whose effort to take control of Sports Illustrated’s parent company has resulted in a series of lawsuits and turmoil at the sports publication. Sports Illustrated is being operated by Minute Media, a New York-based sports-media company that wrested the title away from Arena Group last month by striking a new deal with the magazine’s owner. After Arena Group laid off scores of employees in January and threatened to discontinue Sports Illustrated’s print edition, Minute Media pledged to hire some of them back and keep the magazine alive.

Persons: Manoj Bhargava, Mr, Bhargava Organizations: Southern, of, Arena Group, Sports, Authentic Brands, Energy, Minute Media, Group, Media Locations: U.S, of New York, New York

☆ Microsoft, Salesforce woo skeptical CFOs on new generative AI tool spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Many other business software providers have looked to quickly introduce tools that utilize generative AI, or update their existing ones with it. The utilization of AI more broadly is nothing new for CFOs, with tools like predictive AI being used by most companies to help with core tasks. But this new wave of generative AI presents a different opportunity, and Weaver said the focus on generative AI across industries has frantically increased in the last year. However, he added that there is a challenge when it comes to generative AI tools: creating auditable processes or being able to visually inspect the processes to ensure the data or conclusions are correct. Hrncirik said that the message within Microsoft is that generative AI is a "new skill that we have to develop."

Persons: Jensen Huang, CNBC's Jim Cramer, Cory Hrncirik, Amy Weaver, Weaver, Mark McDonald, Gina Gutzeit, McDonald, we've, isn't, Hrncirik, it's, CFOs, Gutzeit Organizations: Microsoft, Nvidia, Johnson, GE Healthcare, CNBC, Microsoft's, Gartner, FTI Consulting, Solutions Locations: Krakow, Poland

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