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☆ Review: In ‘Grey House,’ Broadway Gets an Expert Haunting
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jesse Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Four strange girls, somewhere between 12 and 200 years old, live in an isolated cabin in the woods. Marlow (Sophia Anne Caruso) is the alpha, bossing the others around — and also bossing the stranded outsiders, because of course there are stranded outsiders in a play that trades on the tropes of a million horror tales. In “Grey House,” the prime trope is coy creepiness. “Grey House,” at the Lyceum Theater, is certainly an in-your-face assault, more in the manner of John Carpenter movies than anything seen onstage since the age of melodrama. But mostly let’s go with the freak-out fun of the four telekinetic weirdos and their den mother, Raleigh, played by Laurie Metcalf in a stringy salt-and-pepper wig that’s almost as frightening as she is.

Persons: Marlow, Sophia Anne Caruso, coy creepiness, comfortingly, “, ”, John Carpenter, Levi Holloway, Joe Mantello, Laurie Metcalf Organizations: Lyceum Locations: —, Raleigh

Economists expect such examples to become increasingly common in coming years, as a glut of university graduates and a shortage of factory labour due to an ageing workforce deepen China's job market imbalances. The industries most popular among fresh Chinese graduates, such as tech, education, real estate and finance, have all faced regulatory crackdowns in recent years. Reuters Graphics'ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES'It is unclear exactly how many graduates are taking jobs below their skill level, but state media has acknowledged the trend. President Xi Jinping repeatedly exhorted young people to "seek hardships" in a recent state media article emphasising his suffering during the Cultural Revolution. China's education and human resources ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Liang Huaxiao, Liang, Keyu Jin, Xi Jinping, today's, Chim Lee, Jobs, Han Zhaoxue, master's, Wang, Laurie Chen, Marius Zaharia Organizations: REUTERS, Economist Intelligence Unit, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, Taiyuan, Shanghai, Jining

☆ Take a look at this sleek $3.7 million yacht that has 3 bedrooms and is perfect for Ibiza parties
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Yachting has long been a favorite pursuit of the rich and famous. Take a look inside the Princess Yachts S62, one of the vessels that was on display. From top business leaders and royals, to sports stars and Hollywood celebrities, yachting has long been a favorite pastime of the rich and famous. Whether it's Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' $500 million megayacht or Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie's $300 million aquarium-equipped superyacht, the boats are bigger and flashier than ever. Take a look inside one of the yachts that was on display.

Several foreign missions in China raised the Ukrainian flag, or displayed its image in posters and lights, following the February 2022 invasion that sparked international condemnation of Russia, a close ally of China. "Do not use the building facilities' exterior walls to display politicised propaganda to avoid inciting disputes between countries," China's foreign ministry said in a notification dated May 10. The notice, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, was addressed to "all embassies, and international organisations' China representative offices". The foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has called for a peace in Ukraine but has refrained from condemning Russia, leading to criticism from Western countries.

☆ Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia on 'peace' mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, May 15 (Reuters) - A top Chinese envoy will begin a tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European cities on Monday in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis. "The visit ... is a testament to China's efforts towards promoting peace talks, and fully demonstrates China's firm commitment to peace," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing. He is the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and his trip could coincide with the beginnings of a long anticipated counteroffensive by Ukraine to recapture territory seized by Russia. Ukraine is scheduled to be Li's first stop on his trip, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The visit comes weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy in late April, in the first talks between the two leaders since the war began.

☆ Chipotle, Papa John's link ESG goals to bonus compensation, and pay practice is moving below the C-suite level
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Companies are increasingly linking ESG metrics to executive compensation packages. That percentage of Russell 1000 companies linking ESG goals to compensation has quickly grown in recent years, from 14% in 2020 to 18% in 2021 to 28% in 2022. In 2021, Mastercard changed its executive compensation model for its most senior executives, EVPs and above, to link their bonus structure to goals set around carbon neutrality, financial inclusion and gender pay parity. Papa John's took a similar step last year, introducing an ESG bonus incentive for eligible employees and executives for goals around enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion, environmental impact, and its broader mission around cleaner and better ingredients. "For example, if there is an ESG goal around emissions, does a director of finance have any direct oversight or responsibility for how that is achieved?"

☆ Moms and worried and stressed. Here are 4 strategies they can use to juggle family, work, and everything else.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Surveys show that American moms are stressed, burned out, and anxious about their children. Experts have said there are concrete steps working and non-working moms can take to ease the burden. Some surveys have shown that American moms are stressed, burned out, and anxious about their children. The effects have particularly destructive consequences for working moms, she told Insider. In household-management terms, this means assessing family needs, identifying solutions to meet those needs, and implementing strategies.

Under current guidelines, single women are barred from freezing their eggs, with assisted reproductive technologies only available to married women with fertility issues. In recent months, some provinces have extended childbirth benefits for unmarried women, and in the southwestern province of Sichuan province single women are increasingly undergoing IVF treatments in private clinics. SOCIAL STIGMALike many Chinese women, Xu spent her twenties and early thirties focused on career development, but was constantly reminded of women's fertility decline with age. "I think society should stop this stigma and recognise the diverse circumstances of single women, as well as their courage and independence." "I hope that all single women can achieve bodily autonomy and reproductive autonomy, and that everyone is allowed to have the space for making independent choices," she said.

☆ Cluster of Chinese vessels spotted near Russian rig off Vietnam - ship monitors
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | Thomson Reuters | Francesco Leads A Team Of Reporters In Vietnam That Covers Top Financial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Strong relations between Russia and China are a major factor supporting global stability, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in March, but the two countries have conflicting interests in the South China Sea. "Chinese fishing and scientific research vessels carry out normal production and work activities in maritime areas under China's jurisdiction," it said. It made similar remarks on Tuesday after Chinese boats approached an area where the navies of India and Southeast Asian countries held exercises. On Wednesday, the Chinese vessels were about 10 nautical miles (18 km) from the Japanese operating rig and about 20 miles from the Russia-Vietnam rig, according to South China Sea Chronicle Initiative (SCSCI), an independent non-profit. The Chinese research vessel moved at full speed before entering Vietnam's EEZ but slowed to 4-5 knots, suggesting the ship was conducting a survey there, said SCSCI's Van Pham.

☆ EU envoy to China hails Xi's call with Ukraine president as positive step
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, May 9 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was a very positive step, the European Union ambassador to China said on Tuesday, while urging greater efforts to achieve peace. Xi's hour-long call with Zelenskiy for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fulfilled one of Kyiv's long-standing goals, which it had publicly sought for months. "We would like China to go further and help more to reach a just peace, which involves withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine," Jorge Toledo Albinana told a press conference in the Chinese capital. State media had reported that during their call, Xi told Zelenskiy China would send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties seeking peace. Borrell reportedly wrote in an opinion piece in the Journal du Dimanche that European navies should patrol the Strait.

Capvision said in a statement soon after the broadcast that it would resolutely abide by national security rules. The CCTV report was the first clear indication of the national security scope of recent police action against several consulting firms. "The state security organ and other authorities will intensify law enforcement against activities that endanger national security, such as illegal consulting," the state-owned Global Times said. The revisions will see all documents, data, materials and items "related to national security and interests" given the same protection as state secrets. The law does not define China's national security or interests.

BEIJING, May 8 (Reuters) - The Global Times, a hawkish Chinese state media tabloid, on Monday criticised a letter of protest sent to it by South Korea's embassy in China, the latest public spat amid worsening ties between the Asian neighbours. The South Korean embassy "expressed strong regret over a series of unreasonable slanderous articles" from the Global Times, in a letter of protest published Friday on its website. In its editorial, the Global Times slammed the embassy's "brutal interference in (its) independent reporting". South Korea's embassy in China did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a similar incident last December, China's ambassador in South Korea criticised Korean media for stoking anti-China sentiment.

☆ China forex reserves rise to $3.205 trln in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, May 7 (Reuters) - China's foreign exchange reserves rose more than expected in April, official data showed on Sunday, as the dollar fell against other major currencies. The country's foreign exchange reserves - the world's largest - rose $21 billion to $3.205 trillion last month, compared with $3.192 trillion tipped by a Reuters poll of analysts and $3.184 trillion in March. The yuan fell 0.63% against the dollar in April, while the dollar last month fell 0.94% against a basket of other major currencies. China held 66.76 million fine troy ounces of gold at the end of April, rising from 66.50 million ounces at end-March. The value of China's gold reserves rose to $132.35 billion at the end of April from $131.65 billion at the end-March.

☆ You’re About to Pay $300,000 for College. What’s Another $3,000 in Campus Swag?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Tara Weiss | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Laurie Drago spent around seven hours arranging a cornucopia of crimson-and-cream Indiana University paraphernalia for her daughter’s surprise party this year. Pay to playTo celebrate 17-year-old Alex Drago ’s decision to attend the Bloomington, Ind., campus, Ms. Drago bought IU banners, IU shot glasses, IU pillows, IU balloons, IU ball cap, IU sweatshirt, red platform Converse sneakers and a red rhinestone-encrusted champagne bottle to decorate her bedroom. She also got a sprinkle cake with the IU emblem and a custom bomber jacket emblazoned with “Hoosier Daddy.”

☆ Exclusive: India, China propose 'multiple pathways' on cutting use of fossil fuels-sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Sarita Chaganti Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Multiple pathways for energy transition would enable countries to choose resources, even coal, while working towards plans on net zero emissions. Officials said it was the first time India used the phrase 'multiple pathways' in global climate negotiations against repeated demands by Western nations to end coal usage. At the G20 meeting last month, India kept the focus on fossil fuels, rather than singling out coal, the third official said. India and China, the world's two most populous countries, have often taken common positions at international climate change negotiations, despite long-standing border disputes. The G20 includes the G7 countries as well as Russia, China, India, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia, among other nations.

☆ Check out Nancy Walton Laurie's $300 million superyacht that features a helipad, swimming pool, and aquarium
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie owns a multi-award-winning $300 million superyacht. A superyacht owned by Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie attracted attention recently after being spotted in Miami, Florida. A TikToker posted a video of "Kaos," Walton Laurie's 361-foot luxury yacht, as it was moored outside her "front door." Walton Laurie, worth $7.5 billion according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is the youngest daughter of Walmart co-founder James "Bud" Walton. Walton Laurie reportedly also owns another lavish superyacht called "Secret," according to Robb Report.

☆ Sam Altman is building his utopia, whether you want it or not
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Melia Russell | Julia Black | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +41 min

Altman told Insider, "We debate our approach frequently and carefully." "I don't think anyone can lose your dad young and wish he didn't have more time with him," Altman told Insider. Altman told Insider that his thinking had evolved since those posts. (When asked about guns, Altman told Insider he'd been "happy to have one both times my home was broken into while I was there.") When asked about this, Altman told Insider in an email: "i can guess what that's about; these stories grow crazily inflated over the years of getting re-told!

☆ He's played chess with Peter Thiel, sparred with Elon Musk and once, supposedly, stopped a plane crash: Inside Sam Altman's world, where truth is stranger than fiction
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Melia Russell | Julia Black | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +41 min

But, "you do at some point need to start having contact with reality," he told Insider. The plan was still only a rough sketch, Blania told Insider, but that didn't seem to matter to his host. "He always wanted to understand everything at a very deep level," Thrun told Insider in an email. (When asked about guns, Altman told Insider he'd been "happy to have one both times my home was broken into while I was there.") When asked about this, Altman told Insider in an email: "i can guess what that's about; these stories grow crazily inflated over the years of getting re-told!

The fifth of young Chinese without jobs among a highly-educated generation is a record. The number of master's and Ph.D graduates in Beijing exceeds undergraduates for the first time, education authorities said. "However, young people who really pin their hopes on the gods and Buddhas when under pressure are also clearly going astray." "I don't believe I will ever find my ideal job," said the urban planning graduate, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect her job prospects. "Why, instead of helping private enterprises develop, do you blame 11.58 million graduates for not taking off their scholar gowns?"

☆ Commerce Dept. Outlines Plans to Fund Cutting-Edge Chip Research
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Ana Swanson | Don Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The plans are part of the Biden administration’s effort to reinvigorate semiconductor manufacturing and ensure that the United States has a steady supply of chips necessary to feed its factories and support its national defense. The Commerce Department has been charged with doling out $50 billion to revitalize the industry, including $11 billion devoted to research and development. “It should be on areas that no one company can solve alone,” she said. Companies, universities, lawmakers and local governments have been lobbying the administration to set up an outpost of the new organization in their area. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader and an author of the legislation that funded the semiconductor investment, said in a statement Tuesday that he was pushing to make Albany, N.Y., a site for the new organization.

The cause of death was not immediately known and authorities will perform a post-mortem to find out more, the outlet reported. Uday – who was named by Indian citizens in a contest – was among 20 cheetahs airlifted to India over the past few months from Africa. The news of the deceased 6-year-old cheetah came just three weeks after his fellow feline, Sasha, died from a kidney infection. Laurie Marker, founder of the Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which also helped with transferring the animals, said re-establishing a population is very difficult. In late March, the country welcomed four newborn cheetahs for the first time since the species disappeared from India more than 70 years ago.

☆ Riding with the woman in charge of America’s last muscle car
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

I could take a ride in what will soon be America’s last gasoline-powered muscle car with the woman who’s in charge of getting it into production and onto the street. Courtesy FordTransou and others at Ford will tell you there is an electric Mustang, the Mustang Mach-E SUV. As we took off, there was a burst of speed and throaty V8 engine noise as we blasted down Manhattan’s 10th Avenue. First, it’s the only actual car Ford currently sells in the United States. About 40% of V8 Mustang buyers get a manual transmission, she said, going for that truly classic driving experience.

The protests, unprecedented in President Xi Jinping's decade in power, began in late November in cities across China. They were suppressed by police within days but helped hasten the end of three years of tough COVID restrictions, sources have previously told Reuters. The Ministry of Public Security and the Beijing Public Security Bureau did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Human Rights Watch had reported the pair were among four protesters detained in December and charged with "picking quarrels and provoking trouble", which carries a sentence of up to five years. Reuters could not independently verify the total number of protesters who were detained by police or have been charged and remain in custody.

Four months later, 26-year-old Huang fled to Germany and decided to speak out in support of fellow demonstrators, some of whom remain in detention. "I feel like I need to speak up for Cao Zhixin and the other detained protesters... China has not commented officially on the protests, whether they triggered the end of the zero-COVID policy or subsequent detentions. He was then sat near the front of a police bus full of other detained protesters. "As long as one protester is still detained, the world cannot stop paying attention to the white paper movement."

"The EU requested to the Chinese authorities their immediate and unconditional release," the spokesperson said. "China's ongoing crackdown on human rights activists and lawyers is a well-known EU concern, which we raise at all levels." Yu Wensheng, 55, is a human rights lawyer who last year completed a four-year prison sentence for "subversion of state power". He was among more than 300 rights lawyers and activists arrested in a 2015 crackdown. The EU delegation in Beijing said on Friday three other human rights lawyers, Wang Quanzhang, Wang Yu and Bao Longjun, had been placed under house arrest.

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