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May 10 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve its dispute with law firm Covington & Burling over the agency's demand for the names of 300 clients affected by a cyberattack on the firm. The SEC sued Covington in January to force the prominent Washington-based firm to identify public company clients whose information was accessed or stolen in the breach. Mehta told an SEC lawyer that the subpoena puts Covington in the “very awkward position” of having to identify its clients to an enforcement agency without evidence of wrongdoing. “We’re not targeting any particular party,” SEC lawyer Eugene Hansen responded. A lawyer for Covington, Theodore Boutrous, said the SEC has made Covington a “test case” for new authority to scrutinize public companies through demands on their law firms following a hack.

The advisers said the standoff between Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the White House has already raised taxpayer borrowing costs through weak Treasury auctions and high yields for short-dated Treasury Bills, while ratings agencies are already publishing analyses of potential U.S. ratings downgrades. They said the Treasury market's role as the backbone of the entire financial system would be called into question, leaving the debt market without a benchmark pricing firm and causing investors to pull back from fixed-income and equity markets. Their letter was distributed after President Joe Biden met with Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the White House with no signs of softening their positions, though they agreed to continue talks. The advisers said that following the banking turmoil that started in March, the debate over raising the debt limit is "reckless and irresponsible." A protracted negotiation would have short-term costs, but a default is an "unthinkable" event, the executives said.

☆ Wellness travel is rising among a particularly weary group of travelers — parents
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Morgan Awyong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But a new survey shows parents increasingly want in on a trend that isn't often aimed at families: wellness travel. The data showed an emerging picture of family travel — one in which parents may be starting to prioritize their own needs alongside those of their children. Traveling for physical health is up eight points among parents since last year, said Lindsey Roeschke, travel and hospitality analyst at Morning Consult. Planning a wellness family vacationThough some wellness resorts only allow adults, places like The Farm at San Benito welcome guests of all ages. Planning your own wellness tripRather than a resort stay, parents can plan their own wellness trips based on their interests.

☆ How to Spot a Wellness Scam
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Jancee Dunn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Dicey health claims and wellness programs have been around for centuries, from the snake oil of the 1800s to the “master cleanse” of the early aughts. So I won’t judge if you’ve tried a spoonful of sea moss in hopes of speeding your metabolism. “People don’t necessarily fall for false wellness claims because they’re gullible,” said Christy Harrison, a registered dietitian and host of the “Food Psych” podcast. In her new book, “The Wellness Trap: Break Free From Diet Culture, Disinformation, and Dubious Diagnoses, and Find Your True Well-Being,” Harrison compiled nine years of research on the wellness industry, which embraces marketing and often eschews science. She highlighted a few strategies for assessing wellness claims.

☆ Contrarian investor Mike Dever shared with us 2 vital lessons he learned from his highly profitable association with legendary trader Paul Tudor Jones
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Starting in the 1980s, he crossed paths with leading investors, including Paul Tudor Jones. Dever says Jones delivered huge returns for Dever's clients, and explains what he learned from Jones. He also invested for several years in the 1980s with Paul Tudor Jones, now a billionaire hedge fund manager. While Dever remembers being very impressed by the returns Jones delivered, he also recalls what he learned from the approach that went into them. Shortly after Dever invested with Jones, Jones had a bad run in the bond market.

☆ Where the royal family goes in London, from Indian restaurants to theme parks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Well, they’re not, obviously – but sometimes they do put down their tiaras, leave their palaces and join the hoi polloi at restaurants, bars and even theme parks. He once called Brilliant Restaurant in Southall, west London his favorite Indian restaurant – and Gordon Ramsay is also a fan. Stuart C. Wilson/Getty ImagesBack in the noughties, party Prince Harry was a regular at Mahiki, a Tiki-themed bar-club-restaurant in Mayfair. Simon Dack/AlamyIn his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry wrote about popping out to shop for clothes at T.K. Toby Melville/Getty ImagesThe-then Meghan Markle was apparently spied In the heart of Chelsea while she was engaged to Prince Harry, getting a facial from Sarah Chapman.

☆ CNBC Anchor Complained NBCUniversal C.E.O. Pressured Her for Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A CNBC journalist accused Jeff Shell, the former chief executive of NBCUniversal, of pressuring her for sex over a period of years during her career at the business news network, according to a copy of her complaint reviewed by The New York Times. The complaint, lodged in late March by Hadley Gamble, an anchor and senior international correspondent, kicked off an investigation that led to Mr. Shell’s dismissal last week, sending shock waves across a far-flung media empire that includes NBC News, the Universal movie studio and DreamWorks Animation. Less than a page of Ms. Gamble’s complaint, which is more than a dozen pages, focused on allegations of sexual harassment by Mr. Much of the complaint raised accusations of bullying and discrimination at CNBC, saying women at the network’s international division were harassed by their male colleagues on several different occasions. Comcast, NBCUniversal’s parent company, hired the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher to investigate the complaint after it was sent to the company’s executives in New York and London.

☆ Ex-federal judge Yeakel joins law firm King & Spalding in Austin
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Chinekwu Osakwe | Thomson Reuters | Chinekwu Osakwe Covers Legal Industry News With A Focus On Midsize Law Firms. Reach Her At Chinekwu.Osakwe Thomsonreuters.Com. | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - A former federal judge in Austin, Texas, has joined King & Spalding's trials and global disputes practice group, the law firm said Monday. He said the governor's order violated federal law and would put children with disabilities at risk. Yeakel, who was appointed in 2003 by President George W. Bush and announced his retirement in March, will counsel clients on "all facets of the dispute process," and represent them in court, according to King & Spalding. Yeakel said in a statement King & Spalding has a strong dispute practice and a growing Austin office. Read more:King & Spalding hires ex-prosecutor in N.Y. amid investigations pushMaryland federal judge joins Gibson Dunn after leaving bench at 47Federal judge leaves Chicago bench for Latham law firmOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison partner is well-known for representing blue chip clients like Amazon in cases with millions or even billions of dollars on the line. "Widely considered one of the most preeminent litigators of his generation," is how his Paul Weiss bio puts it. Average profits per partner at Paul Weiss last year were $5.73 million, according to The American Lawyer. The case made national headlines, and the ex-judge, Roy Pearson Jr, was subsequently sanctioned by the D.C. Court of Appeals. In a statement filed with the court, Isaacson and McCrocklin's lawyer said the two sides' positions "are both extremely well-known to each other and seemingly very entrenched."

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☆ Wall St Week Ahead Recession worries simmer beneath US stock market rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK, April 28 (Reuters) - Economically sensitive areas of the U.S. stock market are flashing warnings over growth, even as major equity indexes edge higher. Beneath the surface, however, areas of the market tied to economic sentiment such as transports, semiconductors and small-cap stocks dropped in April, while so-called defensive sectors are outperforming. “People are starting to more defensively position themselves,” said Aaron Dunn, co-head of the value equity team at Eaton Vance. "They are talking about demand being down and they are ridiculously important shipping companies,” said Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak. Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The Emotional Relief of Forgiving Someone
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For someone who’s led a charmed life, my 8-year-old can hold a serious grudge. One set received a forgiveness workbook with exercises they completed on their own. Then write it again as more of an observer, without emphasizing how bad the wrongdoer was or how you felt victimized. Those in the control group waited for two weeks before receiving the workbook. When the two weeks were up, researchers found that those participants who’d completed the workbook felt more forgiving than those in the control group — and had reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

☆ Bitcoin surges 9% toward key level of $30,000 as crypto market rallies amid fresh banking sector fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The rally comes as First Republic Bank stokes fresh fears over weakness in the banking sector. Investors are also adding risk as they anticipate a Fed pivot, a crypto exec told Insider. First Republic Bank stock nosedived almost 50% on Tuesday and lost another 20% Wednesday, hitting a record low, after reporting higher-than-expected customer deposit withdrawals. Bitcoin rallied through the turmoil in March as Silicon Valley Bank failed, and industry observers said a similar situation is playing out for the world's largest crypto amid the latest bout of uncertainty. Another crypto exec echoed similar sentiments, adding that the slew of bank failures like Silicon Valley Bank last month made investors question the stability of traditional financial services.

☆ Bitcoin volatility is back to pre-banking crisis lows, but crypto futures show investor optimism is building
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

This means traders expect bitcoin prices will increase and may be willing to pay a premium for longer-dated futures contracts in anticipation of those higher prices. The banking crisis opened many investors' eyes to the range of bitcoin's nonspeculative use cases, specifically its potential as an alternative banking system. As worries about U.S. banks have waned and inflation has eased, some are concerned the fallout from the U.S. banking crisis could tilt the economy into recession this year. The drop in bitcoin volatility also comes as the stock market's "fear index," the Cboe Volatility Index , has fallen to about 17 from 26 at the height of the banking crisis. New catalysts for volatility While the banking crisis briefly put some life back into the crypto market , tension between the crypto industry and U.S. regulators remains as a dark cloud over it.

A series of upcoming challenges, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to a still-uncertain economy, could provide hurdles to Biden’s reelection. The Washington beltway event may be indicative of what’s to come for the Biden reelection campaign strategy. “Just like four years ago—I’m off to teach and Joe’s launched his (re-election) campaign! Obama held his first reelection campaign rally in May 2012, 13 months after announcing his bid for a second term. The wait for a Biden reelection rally could be just as long.

☆ Up-close photos of the Martian moon, Deimos, are forcing scientists to rethink how it formed in the first place
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Marcia Dunn | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The United Arab Emirates' Amal spacecraft recently flew within 62 miles (100 kilometers) of Deimos. Deimos is a tiny Martian moon that was thought to be a captured asteroid from space. But new close-up photos from the Amal spacecraft suggest its origins are closer to home. The United Arab Emirates' Amal spacecraft flew within 62 miles (100 kilometers) of Deimos last month and the close-up shots were released Monday. Instead, they say the moon appears to be of Martian origin — perhaps from the bigger Martian moon or from Mars itself.

☆ Why You Really Should Clean Your Trash Can
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Jancee Dunn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I, like many others, clean around this time each year. But when I told Dr. Kathleen May, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, that one of my favorite pastimes is thoroughly washing all of my bedding, she said something that will haunt me forever. “If your blanket has been sitting on a bed all winter, it may be loaded with dust mites,” Dr. May said. “If you shake it, the dust mites are going to be airborne for one to two hours.”She added that airborne dust mites, while gross, are a problem only for people who are allergic to them. Dr. May’s tidbit made me think beyond the usual spring-cleaning tasks.

Biden’s plan to run for reelection has been an open, if not officially announced, reality inside the West Wing for months. Biden said last week he had completed his “calculus” about mounting a reelection bid and would announce his intentions shortly. We’ll announce it relatively soon,” Biden said as he departed Ireland. “The trip here just reinforced my sense of optimism about what can be done,” the president told reporters. Biden’s aides have been quietly putting an infrastructure in place for a reelection campaign for months.

US President Joe Biden during an event at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 77 training center in Accokeek, Maryland, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. President Joe Biden is preparing to make his intention to seek a second term official next week, with advisers planning to launch his re-election campaign as soon as Tuesday, three sources familiar with the plans said. And as he did four years ago, Biden would launch his candidacy with a campaign video message, the sources said. The Washington Post first reported that Biden is preparing to announce his re-election bid next week. The timing and method of the announcement mirror how the Obama-Biden ticket launched its re-election bid in 2011.

☆ Credit Suisse upgrades Novo Nordisk on 'surprise' growth of obesity and diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Credit Suisse upgraded Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to outperform from neutral on Thursday, citing growth in its obesity and diabetes drugs. "Rx trends for both Ozempic and Wegovy YTD have been a major surprise and have significantly outperformed our expectations," he wrote. Now that Wegovy is back in supply, Credit Suisse had expected a potential slowdown in growth for Ozempic. Instead, while there has been a rise in new patients taking Wegovy, Ozempic is continuing to see growth, Dunn said. "Novo sees growth being driven by penetration in diabetes rather than off-label obesity use, which is backed up by the fact the Ozempic growth has accelerated despite re-supply of Wegovy for Obesity," he said.

April 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday approved a $75 million settlement between Smithfield Foods Inc and a class of consumers who accused the pork producer of conspiring to restrict supply in order to keep prices artificially high. Pork consumers last year settled with Smithfield rival JBS SA for $20 million. The judge in a separate order on Tuesday awarded nearly $25 million in legal fees to the plaintiffs firms representing the consumer class. The consumer class attorneys said in a court filing in January that they'd spent more than 37,000 hours pursuing antitrust claims over four years. The case is In re Pork Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, No.

☆ ICON prepares to build on the lunar surface. But first, a moonshot at home
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Thomas Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Casey Dunn/ICONA thread running through ICON’s work is building homes for disadvantaged people, including accommodation for the long-term homeless, often in collaboration with non-profits. Bailey suggested the success of 3D-printed housing could hinge on how it is perceived by prospective residents. Instead of Lavacrete, ICON is experimenting with using lunar regolith, the mineral-rich dust and rock that covers the moon’s surface. ICON's Project Olympus will see a construction system built by the company on the moon later this decade. Apis CorCOBOD is responsible for what it claims is the tallest 3D-printed building in the world, a three-story house in Saudi Arabia.

☆ NBA roundup: Warriors hang 157 on Blazers, glide into playoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Shaedon Sharpe added 18 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds, while Jeenathan Williams had 17 points for Portland. New Orleans' Brandon Ingram had 42 points and 12 rebounds, CJ McCollum scored 23 points and Trey Murphy III had 20. Lindell Wigginton scored 17 points and Bobby Portis had 16 for the Bucks. Jaden Hardy led all scorers with 25 points, with Theo Pinson forging a triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists) for the Mavericks. De'Aaron Fox, who scored 13 points, played less than 18 minutes.

☆ NBA roundup: Wolves take key step in play-in race with win
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jazz 118, Nuggets 114Rookie Ochai Agbaji scored a career-high 28 points and Utah concluded its home slate with a win over Denver in Salt Lake City. Kris Dunn finished with 19 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds for the Jazz. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 21 points and Jamal Murray netted 20 in the loss for Denver, which had already clinched the No. Kevin Knox led the Trail Blazers with game-high totals in points (30) and rebounds (11). Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points and Trendon Watford added 24 for Portland.

☆ NBA roundup: Suns secure No. 4 seed in West
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Deandre Ayton scored 16 points, and Devin Booker had 15 points and eight assists. Christian Braun scored 15 points, Jeff Green had 14 and DeAndre Jordan registered 12 points and 11 rebounds. Bam Adebayo supplied 14 points and eight rebounds, while Max Strus also had 14 points as Miami connected on 18 of its 39 shot attempts from beyond the arc. Joel Embiid paced the 76ers with 21 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while James Harden finished with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists. Kris Dunn finished with 22 points, eight assists and seven boards, while Kelly Olynyk totaled 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists to pace the Jazz.

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