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☆ Disney agrees to settle Florida lawsuit with special district backed by DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board chairman Martin Garcia, right, delivers remarks as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens during a news conference at CFTOD headquarters at Walt Disney World on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Disney agreed Wednesday to end litigation in state court involving a Florida special tourism district that the entertainment giant effectively controlled for more than five decades until last year after Gov. The lawsuit was originally filed in state court by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to void agreements the old district board had signed with Disney right before it was dissolved at DeSantis' behest after Disney opposed Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill backed by the governor. Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle, in a statement, said "We are pleased to put an end to all litigation pending in state court in Florida between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Persons: Martin Garcia, Ron DeSantis, Disney, Jeff Vahle, Vahle, DeSantis Organizations: Florida Gov, Walt Disney, Disney, Gov, Central, DeSantis, Republican Locations: Florida, Lake Buena Vista , Florida, Orlando, Central Florida

☆ Vladimir Putin set to win 2024 Russian presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Minutes after polls closed on Sunday, the head of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) said Putin was in the lead with 87.9% of the vote, with 24.4% of the count in. More constitutional changes in 2020 removed presidential term limits, potentially allowing Putin to stay in power until 2036. Russia also held the presidential election in four Ukrainian regions it annexed during its full-scaled invasion. APThe election comes after more than two years of war which have exacted huge costs on the Russian population. After the election, Russia is set to continue to press home its growing advantage in Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russia’s, Joseph Stalin, – Putin, ”, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, Novichok, “, Navalny’s, Yulia Navalnaya, Molotov, Ella Pamfilova, Dmitri Lovetsky, Levada Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Russian, Election Commission, Russian Security Service, Sunday, CEC, West Locations: Soviet, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, St . Petersburg, Germany, China, North Korea, Iran, Avdiivka, United States, Europe

☆ The rise and fall of Byju's, once a startup darling in India
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Signage at a Byju's Tuition Center, operated by Think & Learn Pvt., in Mumbai, India, on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. It was most recently slashed to $1 billion, after BlackRock downsized its holdings in Byju's last month, according to media reports. Last Friday, major Byju's shareholders, including Netherlands-based global investment group Prosus, voted to oust founder Byju Raveendran as chief executive officer. Investors who attended an extraordinary general meeting "unanimously passed all resolutions put forward for vote," which also sought to change the board, according to a statement Prosus sent CNBC. "As the founders did not participate in the meeting, the quorum was never legitimately established, rendering the resolutions null and void."

Persons: Dhiraj Singh, Prosus, Byju Raveendran, Byju's Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, BlackRock, Investors, CNBC, Honorable Karnataka Locations: Mumbai, India, Byju's, Netherlands, Bengaluru

This is called judicial criminality,” Machado said of Friday's ruling by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. The longtime government foe was able to participate, because the primary was organized by a commission independent of Venezuela’s electoral authorities. On Monday, she sought to reassure supporters, telling them that her campaign is “stronger than ever” and she will represent them during the presidential election. The court and the National Electoral Council, the country’s electoral body, are stacked with people affiliated with the ruling party. "Should there be an aggressive action, our response will be calm, reciprocal and energetic.”___Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Washington.

Persons: María Corina Machado, ”, Machado, Nicolás Maduro, ” Machado, “, Friday’s, Maduro, They’ve, John Kirby, Elvis Amoroso, Tarek William Saab, Roberto Abdul, Gerardo Blyde, Jorge Rodríguez, Blyde, Rodríguez, ” Rodríguez, ___ Zeke Miller Organizations: Monday, Justice, National Security, of American, Electoral Council, U.S Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Venezuelan, United States, Venezuela's, U.S, Barbados, Spain, Latin America, Washington

☆ Moneyball-Plus: What Happens When Investors Treat Athletes Like Startups
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Joseph Bien-Kahn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

What if athletes could sell a percentage of their future earnings to investors, the same way tech entrepreneurs offer a stake in their promising new ideas in return for venture capital? "We look at the game very, very differently than everyone else," Schwimer tells the pitcher. Finlete is launching a fund that allows fans to buy shares in a prospect's future earnings. What if you could sell a share of your future earnings, he asked, for $10,000? Today, he says, more than 80% of the players BLA has invested in are outside the league's top 300 prospects.

Persons: They're, Michael Schwimer, —, Schwimer, BLA, haven't, Fernando Tatis Jr, We've, it's, Daniil, David Liberman, Garrett Broshuis, he'd, He'd, Houdini, Christian Petersen, Erik Kratz, Kratz, Cole Hamels, Hamels, Sean M, Marvin Bush, George W, Bush, Paul DePodesta, bankroll BLA's, Bill Miller, Miller, HBO's, Michael, Jeff Bezos, Bezos, I'd, I'm, Steven Duncker, Goldman Sachs, Elly De La Cruz, Dylan Buell, phenom, Scott Boras, Yermín Mercedes, Francisco Mejía, countersue Mejia, Gervon Dexter, they're, Dexter, Wharton, He's, he'll, isn't, scoffing, he's Organizations: Philadelphia Phillies, Big League, San Diego Padres, Benchmark Capital, Sports, Wharton Sports Business, MLB, University of Virginia, Partners, Phillies, Getty, AAA, Arizona Fall League, Ritz Carlton, Cleveland Browns, Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Big League Advance, Chicago Bears, University of Florida, Huntsman, NCAA Locations: Maryland, Philadelphia, United States, baseball's, Latin America, America, Dominican Republic, Cleveland, Florida

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s president-elect, has vowed to safeguard the island’s de-facto independence from China and further align it with other democracies. Lai, 64, emerged victorious in the election Saturday on the island of 23 million people that China claims as its own. He is currently vice president with the Democratic Progressive Party, which has rejected China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan. Lai has vowed to strengthen the island’s defense and economy, which depends heavily on trade with China. As vice president, Lai helped promote Taiwan’s interests internationally.

Persons: — Lai Ching, Lai, ”, Lai Ching, Sung, Joe Biden, Camp David, Antony Blinken, Mike Johnson, ” Lai, Tsai Ing, Bi, Hsiao, Shinzo Abe, ___ Adam Schreck, Seung Min Kim Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Atlantic Council, America, White, Camp, Street, Harvard, U.S . Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, New York, San Francisco, Paraguay, U.S, People’s Republic of China, Maryland, Taipei, Ukraine, Tainan, United States, Japan, Bangkok, Washington

It will see suspended payments repaid from 2027 to 2029 after a grace period from 2025 to 2026, the Paris Club said in a statement, noting that the deal was reached on Nov. 23. If Ethiopia does not get an IMF staff-level agreement by March 31, the official creditor committee "reserves the right to declare the suspension null and void", the Paris Club said. The Paris Club said 10 of its members were on Ethiopia's official creditor committee, which is co-chaired by France and non-Paris Club member China. Other non-Paris Club committee members are India, Kuwait, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. "We welcome the recent announcement of an interim standstill agreement with official creditors," the IMF spokesperson added.

Persons: Tellimer, Patrick Curran, Rachel Savage, Rodrigo Campos, Alex Richardson, Toby Chopra, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Paris Club, French Treasury, Ethiopian, IMF, Club, OCC, China, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, China, Addis Ababa, Tigray, Ethiopia, France, India, Kuwait, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Turkey

The zoning changes doubled the size of houses allowed in Hogg Hummock. Black residents say larger homes in the community will lead to property tax increases that they won’t be able to afford. He added that their lawsuit “is wholly silent on the topic.”Attorneys for the Hogg Hummock landowners who are suing did not immediately return an email message seeking comment Thursday. About 30 to 50 Black residents still live in Hogg Hummock, founded by former slaves who had worked the island plantation of Thomas Spalding. Well over 100 Hogg Hummock residents and landowners packed those meetings to voice objections, but were given just one chance to speak to the changes.

Persons: Hogg, Hogg Hummock, discriminates “, Paul Frickey, Thomas Spalding . Organizations: Hogg Locations: SAVANNAH, Ga, — County, Georgia, McIntosh, Sapelo, Thomas, Savannah, Black

☆ Opinion: The deep moral dilemma at the heart of the hostage deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The deal, however, is hardly the stuff of unalloyed joy – for Palestinians or for Israel. And the deal arguably strengthens Hamas, allowing it to claim credit, catch its breath and regroup. But their voices were drowned by the strength of the hostages’ families. They simultaneously support the government’s aim of fighting Hamas so it can no longer threaten Israel. It’s a sign of a deep moral dilemma that will continue playing out in profound human suffering.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Israel, –, Cpl, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Yahya Sinwar, Israel –, It’s, Frida Ghitis It’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed Al, Masri, embeds, Iran –, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Hamas, Frida Ghitis CNN, Gaza, Israel’s Locations: Israel, Gaza, Sinwar, Egypt, Sinai, Iran, Palestinian

An orphaned Ukrainian teenager who was taken to Russia last year during the war in his country returned home after being reunited with relatives in Belarus on his 18th birthday Sunday. Bohdan Yermokhin was pictured embracing family members in Minsk in photographs shared on social media by Russia’s children’s rights ombudswoman, Maria Lvova-Belova. The practice prompted the International Criminal Court in March to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin and children's rights ombudswoman Lvova-Belova of committing war crimes. Lvova-Belova has argued that the children were taken to Russia for their safety, not abducted — a claim widely rejected by the international community. Nevertheless, the children’s rights ombudswoman announced in a Nov. 10 online statement that Yermokhin would be allowed to return to Ukraine via a third country.

Persons: Bohdan Yermokhin, Russia’s, Maria Lvova, Andrii Yermak, Yermokhin, Yermak, Yermokhin's, Kateryna Bobrovska, Bobrovska, Valeria Yermokhina, ”, Vladimir Putin, ombudswoman, Putin, Belova, —, Yerkmohin, Dmytro Lubinets, ” Lubinets Organizations: UNICEF, Qatari, Associated Press, Criminal Court Locations: Russia, Belarus, Minsk, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Moscow, The Hague, Netherlands, Russia’s, “ Ukraine

☆ Garcia golden after Pan Am Games race walk comes up short
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SANTIAGO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Peru's Kimberly Garcia won gold in the Pan American Games women's 20 kilometre race walk on Sunday but her time was voided after it was discovered the course was several kilometres short. Ecuador's Glenda Morejon took silver and Peru's Evelyn Inga bronze after completing a route which athletes believe was about 3km short. With women's event completed and the men's race about to get underway organisers delayed the start for over an hour to quickly remeasure the route to the official distance. Ecuador's Alexander Hurtado would win the men's gold in 1:19.20 just four seconds ahead of world championship bronze medallist Caio Bonfim of Brazil. "The expert commissioned by APA, Mr. Marcelo Ithurralde, did not take accurate measurements of the route the athletes took during the race.

Persons: SANTIAGO, Peru's Kimberly Garcia, Garcia, Ecuador's Glenda Morejon, Evelyn Inga bronze, Ecuador's Alexander Hurtado, Caio Bonfim, Marcelo Ithurralde, Steve Keating Organizations: Pan American, Lima Pan Am, Pan American Athletics Association, APA, Pan American Sport Organisation, Thomson Locations: Lima, Brazil, Parque O'Higgins, Santiago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in Wisconsin are threatening to impeach a recently elected state Supreme Court justice and raised the possibility of doing the same to the state’s election director. A Georgia Republican called for impeaching the Fulton County prosecutor who brought racketeering charges against former President Donald Trump. None of the targets met the bar traditionally set for impeachment — credible allegations of committing a crime while in office. Over the past two years, Republicans also have sought to pry Democrats and nonpartisan executives from office through recalls, legislative maneuvers and forced removals, even when no allegations of wrongdoing have surfaced. They’re upset with her over a legal settlement as voting began in 2020 that eased some rules for mailed ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic beyond what state law permitted.

Persons: Donald Trump, Republicans didn’t, Joe Biden, It’s, ”, Melissa Agard, Janet Protasiewicz, Ben Wikler, “, Robin Vos, we’re, Vos, Larry Krasner, impeaching Krasner, Fani Willis, Georgia’s, Brian Kemp, Sen, Colton Moore, Kemp’s, Ken Paxton, Paxton, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, They’re, Gavin Newsom, Newsom breezed, Brian Kalt, ” Richard Hasen, ” ___ Bauer, Brooke Schultz Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Republicans, Georgia Republican, Republicans, Pennsylvania House, Congress, Democrat, Republican, Court, GOP, state's Democratic Party, Philadelphia, Democratic, Trump, Republican Gov, Caucus, Texas, Representatives, Justice Department, North Carolina Republicans, Michigan State University, University of California, Associated Press Locations: Wisconsin, Georgia, Fulton, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Fulton County, Florida, California, Los Angeles, Madison , Wisconsin, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania

☆ Ecuador polls predict close race for presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Noboa, 35, would win 41.5% of total votes, including blank and void ballots, while Gonzalez, who led the first round of voting, would garner 36.4%, according to polling firm Comunicaliza. The survey, conducted this week, included 5,265 people and had a margin of error of 1.35%. Some 17% of the 3,000 people polled are still undecided, while 5.3% would hand in protest ballots, Negocios & Estrategias said. This contest was called by current President Guillermo Lasso after he dissolved the legislature to avoid impeachment. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb Editing by Chris Reese and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Alvaro Marchante, Estrategias, Maluk Resarch, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Negocios, Noboa, Thomson Locations: QUITO

☆ One family’s battle to be reunited with art looted by the Nazis
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Aurore Laborie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The lawyer — Laurence Eisenstein, whose firm works to recover artwork looted by the Nazis — said he’d been speaking to a British scholar who’d come across the name René Gimpel in art collectors’ archives. Thousands of objects lost or lootedAs well as being a famous gallerist of his time, René Gimpel was a very well-connected man. Captured sometime between 1916 and 1933, it showed the three Derain paintings in question hanging on the art dealer’s wall. In 2020, seven years after they began their fight, the Gimpel heirs were finally reunited with the three Derain paintings. Dumas said this is often not the case for Jewish families trying to recover their ancestors’ stolen art.

Persons: Claire Gimpel’s, — Laurence Eisenstein, —, he’d, who’d, René, Eisenstein, Claire, Ian Locke, ” Claire, he’s, André Derain, Claude Monet, René Gimpel, Clarisse Vuitton, Louis Vuitton’s, Monet, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marcel Proust, Johannes Vermeer, ”, Monte, Odile Firer, — René, — Locke, Hôtel Doucet, ’, “ I’m, Palais Bourbon —, Locke, “, Crécy, Corinne Hershkovitch, ” Hershkovitch, Sarah Tilotta, Margaux Dumas, Diderot, Derain, Benoît Payan, Payan, Dumas, Marseille's, Benoit Payan, Gimpel, Alain Robert, SIPA, They’re Organizations: France CNN —, CNN, Gestapo, Europe —, Palais Bourbon, Chapelle, Ministry of Culture, French Ministry of Culture, University Paris, Technical University Berlin, Smithsonian Archives, American Art, Mayor, French Ministry of, Belgium ”, ” Locations: Paris, France, British, French, Gimpel, Vichy France, Cannes, French Vichy, Neuengamme, Hamburg, Europe, Spontini, German, Nice, Troyes, Marseille, René’s Paris, Vichy, Belgium

☆ Three defendants acquitted of plotting to kidnap Michigan governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks to the media following a 'get out the vote' rally at Michigan State University, the night before the midterm election, in East Lansing, Michigan, U.S., November 7, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - The last three men to face charges in a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer were acquitted on Friday in a trial in state court on terrorism and firearms charges. An Antrim County jury found the men not guilty after deliberating for about a day following a two-week trial. The three men were the last of more than a dozen men to face federal and state charges in the kidnapping conspiracy. Both men were convicted of domestic terrorism, conspiracy to kidnap and other charges.

Persons: Gretchen Whitmer, Evelyn Hockstein, Eric Molitor, William, Michael Null, Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr, Brendan O'Brien, Howard Goller Organizations: Michigan State University, REUTERS, Prosecutors, Democratic, Thomson Locations: East Lansing , Michigan, U.S, Antrim County, Chicago

☆ Hunter Biden has been indicted on gun charges after his plea deal fell apart. The most serious count could send him to prison for up to 10 years.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Jacob Shamsian | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The indictment comes after Biden's plea deal with the feds related to two tax charges fell through in late July. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe indictment comes after Biden's plea deal with federal prosecutors on misdemeanor tax charges fell apart in court in late July. AdvertisementAdvertisementProsecutors previously signaled they would bring the gun and tax charges against Biden through the ordinary process, with a grand jury. While Thursday's indictment includes three gun charges, it does not include the tax charges. A plea deal with no time behind bars was an unusually good bargain, he said.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Biden's, Biden, Joe Biden's, —, Neama Rahmani, Maryellen Noreika, Prosecutors, David Weiss, Donald Trump, Trump, Noreika, Leo Wise, Wise, Rahmani, that's, it's, concocting, Demetrius Freeman, James Comer, Joe Biden, Comer, Kevin McCarthy, impeaching Biden, Weiss, Hunter Biden's, didn't Organizations: Service, Biden —, Republicans, West, Trial, Washington, Getty Images Republican, FBI Locations: Wall, Silicon, Delaware

William Null, twin brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor are the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court. They were not among the main group of six people charged with a kidnapping conspiracy in federal court. Molitor, 39, and William Null, 41, acknowledged the road trips but told jurors they didn't really understand the purpose. William Null said he was regularly exposed to “crazy talk" by pot-puffing plot leaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. and didn't think it was too serious until conversations turned to explosives. But during tense cross-examination, prosecutor William Rollstin reminded him of his anti-government views on social media and disgust for Whitmer, especially her COVID-19 restrictions.

Persons: Michigan's, William Null, Michael Null, Eric Molitor, they're, Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr, William Rollstin, Whitmer, ” Rollstin, Null, Dan Chappel, Donald Trump, Trump, Ed White Organizations: FBI, Army Locations: Antrim County, Molitor, Bellaire , Michigan, Detroit, Dublin , Ohio

Antrim Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreAug 23(Reuters) - A trial for the last three men to face charges in a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer began on Wednesday in state court, where they are accused of terrorism and firearms crimes. The Michigan men face up to 20 years in prison if they are convicted of the charges. The three defendants are the last of more than a dozen men to face federal and state charges in the kidnapping conspiracy. The group of men were accused of taking part in an elaborate plot to abduct the governor from her vacation home, then put her on trial for treason. Both men were convicted of domestic terrorism, conspiracy to kidnap and other crimes in a federal trial.

Persons: William Null, Eric Molitor, Michael Null, Shawn Fix, Gretchen Whitmer, William, Charles Hamlyn, Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr, Brendan O'Brien, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Antrim County Sheriff's, Prosecutors, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Antrim County, Michigan, Antrim, Antrim County , Michigan, Chicago

☆ Trial Opens for Men Accused of Aiding Plot to Kidnap Michigan’s Governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Mitch Smith | More About Mitch Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Unlike the men convicted in federal court, they are not charged with planning to participate in the kidnapping itself. They suggested the men were minor players who did not know much about the plans to harm Ms. Whitmer, were egged on by F.B.I. And it’s fair to keep that in your mind when you review all of the evidence.”But prosecutors said the defendants were aiding the leaders of the plot, Barry Croft and Adam Fox. Federal jurors found that Mr. Croft and Mr. Fox had planned to kidnap Ms. Whitmer and blow up a bridge leading to her home in order to disrupt the police response. Mr. Croft is serving a nearly 20-year prison sentence, and Mr. Fox is serving a 16-year sentence.

Persons: . Molitor, Whitmer, Kristyna, William Null, Barry Croft, Adam Fox, Croft, Fox, Ms Organizations: “ Locations: Antrim County, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Mich

☆ Harvard professor Francesca Gino was accused of faking data. Now her million-dollar empire is crumbling — and scholars are eyeing who's next.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

"We believe that many more Gino-authored papers contain fake data," the Data Colada professors wrote. Data Colada found that the raw data showed clear anomalies, such as a distribution infinitely more likely to be produced by a random-number generator than actual people. Soon after, Data Colada ran an article alleging that Gino tampered with data in at least one of her honesty-pledge experiments. A post on Data Colada or a tweet from Brown is like a bomb going off in the behavioral-science world. Others who attempted to build on Gino's studies are grappling with having wasted time, money, and energy.

Persons: It's, Francesca Gino, Gino, Michael Sanders, Greg Burd, —, Hugo Boss, Gino coauthoring, Swarthmore College's Bhanot, Maurice Schweitzer, Simine Vazire, Sanders, Goldman Sachs, Schweitzer, they'd, Uri Simonsohn, Joe Simmons, Leif Nelson —, Data Colada, Dan Ariely, Ariely, Chris Goodney, Harvard, Colada, Nick Brown, Brown, Jeff Lees, Lees, There's Ariely, Brian Wansink's, HBS's Amy Cuddy's, Cuddy, Amy Cuddy's, Marie Claire's, Allison Williams, Astrid Stawiarz, Marie Claire Simonsohn, Simmons, Nelson, they're, Gordon Pennycook, Pennycook, it's, Bhanot Organizations: TED, Twitter, LinkedIn, Harvard, Wharton, Swarthmore College, Harvard Business School, Alaska Airlines, King's College London, Tione, University of Trento, Sant'anna, Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, University of North, Wired, Forbes, Google, Swarthmore, University of Melbourne, Disney, Lavin Agency, Data, Duke University, who's, NBC, BuzzFeed News, Bloomberg, Getty, Privately, Higher Education, Hill, Duke, US Department of, Cornell University, New York Times Locations: Trento, Pisa, University of North Carolina, HBS, Guatemala, Boston, New York, British, Guatemalan

☆ Hunter Biden judge says can't accept plea deal in surprise turn
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

His leading rival, former President Donald Trump, and Trump's Republican allies in Congress had criticized the deal as unfairly favoring the president's son. She said she did not want to "rubber stamp" a plea deal. White House spokesperson Karine Jeane-Pierre said the president supported his son, adding, "Hunter Biden is a private citizen and this was a personal matter for him." U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has denied allegations of special treatment and said Weiss was given full autonomy to investigate Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden has worked as a lobbyist, lawyer, consultant, investment banker and artist.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Hunter Biden's, Donald Trump, Maryellen Noreika, Hunter, Hunter Biden, Biden, Chris Clark, Noreika, David Weiss of, Trump, Weiss, Karine Jeane, Pierre, General Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden’s, Jack Queen, Trevor Hunnicutt, Scott Malone, Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican, U.S, Trump, Biden, Thomson Locations: WILMINGTON , Delaware, Ukraine, China, David Weiss of Delaware, New York, Florida

☆ Hunter Biden's plea deal just collapsed in court
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Haven Orecchio-Egresitz | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hunter Biden's plea deal with federal prosecutors fell apart at the last minute in a court hearing Wednesday. Wise said the plea deal wouldn't cover other potential crimes. At that point, according to the Times, Biden's lawyer said the plea agreement was "null and void." After news of the charges in June, Biden's attorneys said the plea would resolve the Justice Department's investigation into his conduct. On Tuesday, Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the chairman of the powerful House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, tried to intervene in the proceedings by asking the judge to reject the plea deal.

Persons: Hunter, Maryellen Noreika, Leo Wise, Biden, David Weiss, Wise, Biden's, Hunter Biden, —, Donald Trump, Weiss, Jason Smith of, Trump, Latham & Watkins, Smith, Ted Kittila, Jessica Bengels Organizations: New York Times, Prosecutors, Times, Department, Justice Department, The Heritage Foundation, Republican, Latham & Locations: Delaware, Wilmington , Delaware, Europe, Asia, Jason Smith of Missouri

☆ Guatemalan ex-first lady Torres polls first in crowded field ahead of Sunday vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GUATEMALA CITY, June 22 (Reuters) - Former Guatemalan first lady Sandra Torres leads her competitors in the Central American country's presidential race, according to a poll published Thursday by newspaper Prensa Libre, the last before Sunday's election. Diplomat Edmond Mulet trailed Torres with 13.4% support, followed by Zury Rios, the daughter of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, at 9.1%. Torres, a well-known but polarizing figure, finished first in the first round of Guatemala's 2019 election, but lost to current President Alejandro Giammattei in a runoff. If no candidate earns 50% of the vote on Sunday, the top two will compete in a runoff on Aug. 20. Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Torres, Alvaro Colom, Edmond Mulet, Zury Rios, Efrain Rios Montt, Alejandro Giammattei, Giammattei, Carlos Pineda, Sofia Menchu, Brendan O'Boyle, Hugh Lawson Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Central American, Prensa Libre, Torres, Electoral, Washington Office, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, America

☆ Louisiana law would require parental permission to use social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Still, the unanimous vote in both chambers of the Louisiana state legislature underscores the popularity of legislation aimed at protecting kids from online harms. NetChoice, a group that represents internet platforms including Amazon , Google , Meta and TikTok, said it opposes the Louisiana bill and hopes the governor will veto it. NetChoice Vice President and General Counsel Carl Szabo said in a statement that the Louisiana bill would also violate the First Amendment. Anonymity can be important for individuals using social media services for things like whistleblowers, victims, and those identifying crime in the neighborhood who fear backlash," Szabo said. WATCH: Sen. Blackburn says safety should come first on social media 'children have lost their lives'

Persons: NetChoice, Carl Szabo, Szabo, John Bel Edwards, Sen, Blackburn Organizations: Liberal, Google, Democratic Gov, CNBC, YouTube Locations: Louisiana, Utah, Arkansas, California, Virginia, Florida

☆ Matt Onofrio made $35 million helping everyday people invest in real estate. Then he was indicted. Was it all a scam?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Daniel Geiger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

The MMA fighter Michael Chandler, pictured with his wife, Brie Willett, bought a $16 million property from Matt Onofrio in 2021. Then, in November 2022, federal prosecutors indicted Onofrio on charges involving three deals he'd arranged in Minnesota the year before. The federal complaint doesn't involve the property Onofrio sold to Chandler. Unbeknownst to Hermann, Onofrio had already tied up the warehouse in contract for $4.75 million. "Matt was finding a deal for $4 million and selling it for $5 million," Stageberg said.

Persons: Matt Onofrio, anesthetist, who'd, Onofrio, Michael Chandler, Chandler, Brie Willett, Rick Diamond, Michael didn't, Matt, Brendan Johnson, he'd, fraudster, who's, Matthew Hermann, Hermann, he's, —, Anthony Vicino, unburden, Hermann countersued, Let's, Nick Stageberg, Stageberg, Vicino, couldn't, wasn't, Zacari Pennington, Brandon Turner, David Greene, Pennington, Brad Lea's, Ryan Pineda's, Alec McElhinny, Onofrio's, Greene, Ed Mylett, Mylett, Lily Ro Onofrio, Lea, Brittany Arnason, BiggerPockets, Cameron Cropsey, Scott Trench, Nicholas Perrone, Wild Organizations: Onofrio, CMT, Chandler, Wild Moose Ventures, Finance & Commerce, Mayo Clinic, Moose Ventures, Wild, Ventures Locations: Wisconsin, California, Sauk Rapids , Minnesota, Minnesota, Onofrio, Minneapolis, Mexico City, Mayo, Denver, Nashville, Church, Golden Valley , Minnesota, Macon , Georgia, Pennington

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