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☆ Sting to get highest Ivors honour at songwriting awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Music star Sting will be honoured at this year's Ivors, the annual awards honouring songwriters and screen composers, receiving an Ivors Academy fellowship, organisers said on Wednesday. The award is the highest honour bestowed by the UK-based Ivors Academy to those "who have truly reshaped and redefined the art and craft of music creation". "Of all the awards in the world of music, The Ivors are for me, the most prestigious. Songwriting is a skilled craft and The Ivors Academy are its guild," Sting, 71, said in a statement. Named after the early 20th century Welsh composer, actor and entertainer Ivor Novello, the Ivor Awards were first handed out in 1956.

REUTERS/Gonzalo FuentesPARIS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Airbnb (ABNB.O) is offering a night for two in the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris this summer, transforming a box in the theatre into a plush bedroom with sweeping views of the famous auditorium. Before the pandemic, Airbnb had created other unusual overnight stays in the French capital, one of its key markets. The Palais Garnier stay includes a music recital, dinner in an ornate rehearsal room backstage and a behind-the-scenes tour of the elaborate 19th century building, including its underground pool, the inspiration for the phantom's lair in the book and musical. The Palais Garnier stay will be listed on March 1 for 37 euros, also the number on the box, one of the theatre's most prestigious, which will be decked out with antique furniture specially for the night. I think it will be a bit unreal," said Veronique Dubrulle Leroux, the great-granddaughter of Phantom of the Opera author Leroux, who will host the visitors.

☆ Hate your commute? It might actually be good for your mental health, scientists say.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The commute is often seen as a chore, but the pandemic showed it can be good for your mental health. You need protected time to mentally switch gears after work to prevent burnout, two experts said. This happens on two fronts, the researchers said: psychological detachment and psychological recovery. In an unpublished study, the researchers asked 80 university employees to discuss situations when they were able to mentally switch off. Remote workers, who don't tend to have a commute, can also learn to switch off by creating a fake commute for themselves.

☆ China keeps insisting its real-estate market is not in a crisis — even as just about every sign points to the opposite
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The IMF said in a report on China's economy that the country's property crisis remains "unresolved." But China's hit back at that, saying its property market "has been operating smoothly in general, and is not in a 'crisis' situation." China's real estate market has been mired in debt woes for the past few years. The IMF says China's property crisis "intensified" in 2022The IMF said in its Friday report China's property crisis "intensified" in 2022. The debt crisis also had a deep social impact.

It is rare for investors to take short positions in securities of Indian companies. Securities rules in India also make it hard to quietly build short positions. Institutional investors are obliged to disclose their short positions upfront and there are other restrictions and registration requirements on foreign investors. In Adani, for example, Hindenburg held the short positions through U.S.-traded bonds and non-Indian-traded derivatives. China's strict investment rules make it all but impossible to take short positions in domestic-listed Chinese stocks from overseas.

Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), which has the smallest cloud business among the three, said Google Cloud grew 32%, the slowest rise since the company began reporting the measure in 2019. "Once thought as the most defensive revenue stream in tech, we are seeing investors questioning the cyclicality for the (cloud) business," analysts at Bernstein said. Microsoft's revenue in its so-called intelligent cloud business that includes Azure rose 18% to beat expectations for October to December. Amazon finance chief Brian Olsavsky said on Thursday that the company expects slower cloud growth rates for the next few quarters. "Those (AI) advancements and demand for related cloud services will take time to materialize.

☆ Stranded Detroit Pistons' game is postponed after team waited seven hours at airport amid Texas winter storms only to be forced back to hotel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Detroit Pistons played the Dallas Mavericks Monday night, and were unable to leave Dallas due to icy conditions. NBA games have rarely been postponed due to weather in recent years compared to the number of games missed due to COVID outbreaks. However, the team — still stuck — was forced to return to their hotel after seven hours at the airport. The game was later postponed, according to ESPN. Over the course of the pandemic, NBA games routinely were postponed or canceled due to COVID outbreaks among players.

[1/2] Indian billionaire Gautam Adani speaks during an inauguration ceremony after the Adani Group completed the purchase of Haifa Port earlier in January 2023, in Haifa port, Israel January 31, 2023. On Wednesday, a $2.5 billion sale of shares by one of its companies Adani Enterprises ADEL.NS was called off. Adani Group and the stock market regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) did not respond to a request for comment. Cracking the code of how Hindenburg did the trade could lead to more short sellers taking positions against Indian companies, which have been rare, analysts said. But several bankers familiar with trading in Indian securities said the more profitable piece of the short seller’s bet would likely lie in the derivative trades it had placed.

Brisbane CNN —Australia’s new $5 banknote will not feature Britain’s King Charles III, but rather a new design that honors “the culture and history of the First Australians,” its central bank announced Thursday. The bank will consult with First Australians in designing the $5 banknote, which could take several years to be issued, it added. The mint has said it expects to unveil the design of the first King Charles coins early this year. In Australia, the Queen’s portrait “has been represented in every Australian banknote series since her coronation,” through seven decades, according to the RBA. Video Ad Feedback CNN reporter predicts what we'll see from King Charles 05:17 - Source: CNN— CNN’s Anna Cooban and Angus Watson contributed to this report.

☆ Support for New Zealand's Labour Party jumps after Hipkins replaces Ardern
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WELLINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Support for New Zealand's Labour Party has jumped to its highest level in almost a year after Chris Hipkins replaced Jacinda Ardern as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party. National is sitting at 37%, and is behind in Labour for the first time since early 2022. Hipkins had nailed the political messaging and managed to reconnect with former Labour supporters, said political commentator and former National Party staffer Ben Thomas. Carmel Sepuloni, the new deputy prime minister, who is of Samoan, Tongan and European descent, will be associate foreign minister. Hipkins's first official trip as prime minister will be to Australia next week where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

☆ Some of the most controversial beauty gurus are speaking out as a TikTok star's mascara review stirs up explosive drama on the app
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Andrew Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Controversial beauty gurus Jeffree Star and James Charles are among those weighing in on the drama. The video received over 47,800 comments, many of which doubted the end result of the product and accused Nogueira of wearing synthetic lashes. " On January 26 he posted a TikTok video with the caption, "An UNsponsored Loreal Telescopic Mascara review." Beauty guru Alissa Ashley posted a TikTok video accusing Nogueira of, as she phrased it, "allegedly putting on a false lash to promote a mascara." Beauty YouTuber Raw Beauty Kristi also weighed in with a TikTok saying, "I think it's our responsibility and duty as influencers to keep our authenticity.

☆ A TikToker said he won an award for being the first to Google an obscure phrase. The elaborate hoax reached millions and sparked a copycat trend.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Andrew Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A TikToker went viral after he claimed to win an award from Google after searching a unique phrase. The next day, Justin shared a follow-up video that was viewed 3 million times, with the on-screen caption "I got another!!" Not everyone believed Justin, but his videos sparked a trend regardlessCombined, the videos received over 2,500 comments, many of which speculated whether the award was authentic. Soon after, multiple TikTok users started documenting their attempts to win an award from Google for a unique search. A spokesperson for Google confirmed to Insider the award "does not currently exist" and said 15% of the searches they see every day are new.

☆ 12 ways to save on groceries during inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Jamie Johnson | Jamie Johnson Is A Kansas City-Based Personal Finance Writer Whose Work Has Been Featured On Several Of The Top Finance | Business Sites In The Country | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

12 ways to save money on groceriesGroceries are an unavoidable purchase, but by shopping strategically, you can avoid paying full price at the store. You can also use loyalty programs to save money at your favorite stores. Retailers like Walmart, Target, and Kroger all offer membership programs where you can earn free delivery for groceries, save money on gas, and learn about in-store promotions. Buying in bulkYou can save on groceries during inflation by buying household products in bulk at warehouse stores like Costco and Sam's Club. Get organized and plan aheadOne of the best ways to avoid overspending is to go to the grocery store with a plan.

Jan 18 (Reuters) - A New York state Senate panel on Wednesday rejected Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul's nominee to become the state's chief judge after some lawmakers and advocacy groups expressed concerns he was too conservative for the job. The Democrat-led Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-2 against sending the nomination of Hector LaSalle, the presiding justice of a Brooklyn-based state appeals court, to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. If confirmed, LaSalle would be New York's first Latino chief judge. New York's chief judge heads the seven-member Court of Appeals, which has the final say in interpreting state laws, and oversees the state court system. While Democrats have a strong hold on state government, the Court of Appeals has leaned conservative since former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore joined in 2016.

☆ Qantas plane lands safely after mayday call over Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

A Qantas flight traveling from New Zealand to Sydney landed safely on a single engine after it issued a mayday call over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday. Qantas Flight 144 with 145 passengers aboard landed at Sydney Airport from Auckland, New Zealand, after a 3.5-hour flight between the neighboring nations’ most populous cities. Passengers told reporters in Sydney that they were told when they left the plane that an engine had failed. Sydney Airport said emergency crews were put on standby as a precaution, including firefighters, ambulances and police. Neil Hanford, chairman of Strategic Aviation Solutions, a Sydney-based industry consultancy, said 737s can fly quickly and land safely on a single engine.

☆ Canada's Rogers, Shaw say merger must be allowed to proceed
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Canada's antitrust tribunal approved the transaction on Dec. 30 that would create the country's second-largest telecom firm but the competition bureau later appealed the tribunal's ruling. Shaw called the appeal an "unmeritorious challenge" by the competition bureau to do a "once-in-a-generation" transaction in a separate court document filed later on Tuesday. The companies will face off against the competition bureau in a Federal Court of Appeal hearing on Jan. 24. "This pro-competitive transaction has been delayed long enough and must be allowed to proceed," Rogers said in its filing. Shares of Shaw closed up 0.4% at C$38.28, below Rogers' offer price of C$40.50 from March 2021.

☆ Retail advertising will make $45 billion this year — here are 3 ways companies like Nordstrom and Albertsons are looking to cash in
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many big retailers are building ad businesses this, which Insider Intelligence predicts will be a $45 billion opportunity in the US this year. Leaders from Albertsons and Nordstrom spoke during the panel about how they plan to grab that money. But retailers also need to grow their advertising businesses beyond those companies to so-called non endemic advertisers, like automakers and insurance companies. Argyilan said Albertsons is also working on a tool to help advertisers plug Albertsons' measurement into their broader measurement efforts. "I think measurement needs to grow up quite a bit in retail media space," she said.

☆ See 32 pitch decks that some of the hottest proptech startups used to raise millions from top VCs like SoftBank and a16z
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Alex Nicoll | James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

VC investment fell by 38% in 2022, but the technological transformation of real estate continues. investment fell by 38% in 2022, but the technological transformation real estate continues. Early innovators like Zillow showed that there was a place for real estate on the internet, while investments from firms like SoftBank showed that big money was paying attention. Insider has collected 32 pitch decks that successful firms have used to raise funding from VCs and private-equity firms. Clockwork AnalyticsThe pandemic laid bare the necessity of a technological transformation of commercial real estate.

☆ New Biden Law Won’t Kill Drug Cures. It Will Reshape Them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( David Wainer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Big pharma loves to bemoan the impact on future drug research when lawmakers get tougher on the industry. The truth is usually a lot more complicated. In a 2021 study, for instance, three academics including Massachusetts Institute of Technology finance professor Andrew Lo looked at what happened to innovation when drug companies were no longer able to resort to one of their favorite tactics: paying generic makers to stay off the market, known as “pay-for-delay.” A 2013 Supreme Court ruling had essentially barred such agreements. What the researchers found was that companies actually responded by increasing their research and development spending to find new drugs.

☆ The best social-media moments and trends last year, according to rising stars of the creator economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

We asked 22 rising stars in the creator economy what their favorite social-media moment was in 2022. As part of Insider's inaugural list highlighting the next generation of leaders in the influencer space, we asked individuals what their favorite social-media moment was in 2022. These rising stars have spent the past year making tangible change through their work on products, content, or initiatives at startups or social-media giants. (Read our full list of 22 rising stars of the creator economy.) Read the full list of rising stars for more favorite moments and details about their careers:

☆ 17 Gifts for the Ultimate New Year’s Eve Host
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Sarah Medford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Clockwise from top left: Courtesy of Ralph Lauren, Courtesy of Carolina Herrera, Jonas Marquet, Andrew Lipovsky, Courtesy of Silvia Furmanovich, Courtesy of Abask, Courtesy of Carolina Irving & Daughters, Alfredo Paredes Studio, Courtesy of MatoukIn the PinkWhat to give the seen-it-all host? Something handmade, like this ceramic platter shaped and painted in Portugal by craftspeople who collaborate with Carolina Irving & Daughters. Gigi Pink Oval Platter by Carolina Irving & Daughters, $295. Period PieceFor the host who can’t stop channeling the ’60s, send a vintage Italian decanter dressed in a silverplate turtleneck. 1960s Italian Decanter, $1,235.

☆ Amazon bulked up its advertising behemoth in 2022 — and its becoming an even bigger threat to Meta
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Amazon's digital ad business is only behind Google's and Meta's — and it's already stolen budget from Meta. Today, that advertising business is no longer simply a way to drive product sales on Amazon. Amazon's ad business, which generated $9.5 billion during the third quarter of 2022, dwarfed Microsoft and Snap and ranked third behind Google and Facebook parent, Meta. There are now nearly 600 advertising partners in Amazon's advertising ecosystem, according to Amazon's directory of companies in the space. As part of its ambitions to grow advertising, Amazon also pitches a data clean room called Amazon Marketing Cloud.

☆ CEOs who resist America's growing union wave are making a 'huge mistake' in the war for talent
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

America's unionization wave doesn't show signs of dissipating, and CEOs would be better suited adjusting their leadership style to meet it, especially as the war for talent continues. "Taking it very personally, and making it very personal, has been a huge mistake that employers have made," Bronfenbrenner told Insider. It's a measure that workers want things that employers can't give them and only a union can give them." "When more workers have unions, wages rise for union and non-union workers," Janelle Jones, the chief economist at the Department of Labor, wrote on the department's website. "But there are other measures — if you have a union, you'll have lower turnover, workers will be more productive.

watch nowAfter more than three decades, "The Phantom of the Opera" is getting ready to hang up its mask on Broadway. Casting director Tara Rubin has helped hand-pick the actors for the beloved musical for more than three decades — working just down the street from the Majestic. "Phantom of the Opera" Casting Director Tara Rubin CNBC"I never really dreamed that I would have a job like this," Rubin told CNBC. Rubin is just one of 20 "lifers" who have worked on the show for more than three decades. "Phantom of the Opera" Head Electrician Alan Lampel CNBCThe one-ton chandelier is the centerpiece of the show.

☆ Starbucks and Amazon's PR nightmare is coming true as one of their combined stores pushes to unionize
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Alex Bitter | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

About 30 Starbucks employees at the New York store will participate in the vote, Bloomberg reported. One of the Starbucks Amazon Go stores is considering unionizing this week. Roughly 30 Starbucks employees at the Times Square location will decide on December 15 whether to join Starbucks Workers United. The workers were protesting "short staffing and the company's failure to bargain with union stores," Starbucks Workers United said in a press release. A Starbucks Amazon Go cafe StarbucksBoth Amazon and Starbucks have cultivated reputations as progressive employers and pushed back against unionsBoth companies have painted themselves as forward-thinking on worker treatment and benefits.

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