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☆ China is trying to end its ‘epic’ property crisis. The hard work is just beginning
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“The policymakers recognize the urgency to prevent an outright property crisis,” said Zhaopeng Xing, senior China strategist at ANZ Research. According to Goldman Sachs, the total value of unsold homes, unfinished projects and unused land in China is about 30 trillion yuan ($4.1 trillion). On Friday, Tao Ling, deputy governor of the PBOC, said the relending program could eventually underpin 500 billion yuan ($69 billion) worth of bank loans to support the buying. The Housing Ministry said Friday that local governments can instruct local state-owned enterprises to help purchase some unsold homes from developers. Just the beginningAddressing the oversupply of unsold homes is only the first step, experts say.

Persons: ”, Zhaopeng Xing, Goldman Sachs, it’s, Tao Ling, Ting Lu, Nomura, Helen Qiao, It’s, Tao, ” Jing Liu, Taylor Wang, Xing, Goldman, Donald Trump, Michelle Lam, Wei Yao, Société Générale Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, ANZ Research, Goldman, People’s Bank of China, Greater China, Bank of America, Housing Ministry, HSBC, European Union Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Beijing, Beijing, Greater, Société, Japan

☆ Here's how Disney’s streaming business can work toward Netflix-like profitability
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Disney's streaming margins, while still negative due to losses and nowhere near Netflix's, have improved significantly in recent quarters and are now on the doorstep of an important milestone. Disney's streaming overview Disney+ is its flagship streaming service across the globe. The ARPU discrepancy on Disney+ core helps explain why Netflix is much more profitable than Disney's streaming business. Given that Disney's streaming business has rolled out pretty much everywhere across the globe, Cruetz said moving forward "it's about driving more penetration in those markets." The latest is a matchup with Disney and HBO's parent Warner Bros Discovery , whose flagship streaming service is called Max.

Persons: Bob Iger, Disney, Iger, Covid, Morgan Stanley, It's, That's, Cowen, Doug Creutz, Hulu's, Cowen's Cruetz, Brandon Nispel, Cruetz, TD Cowen, Max, Creutz, cannibalization, it's, KeyBanc's Nispel, Wells Fargo, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Presley Ann Organizations: Disney, Netflix, ESPN, Reliance Industries, Century Fox, CNBC, Comcast, Capital, Warner Bros Discovery, Getty Locations: Netflix's, Hulu, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, U.S, Canada, Europe, Africa, West Asia, Los Angeles

YouTube YouTube TikTok TikTok TikTok TikTok YouTube Visual Investigations How a Haitian Gang Is Trying to Turn Itself Into a Militia Dozens of 5 Segonn members dance in a music video. It’s typically carried by militaries and hasn’t been seen being used before by the 5 Segonn gang. It’s typically carried by militaries and hasn’t been seen being used before by the 5 Segonn gang. A group of 5 Segonn gang members dressed in tactical gear. TikTok TikTok TikTok TikTok YouTube YouTube YouTube TikTok TikTok On social media, Izo often posts videos of himself dancing and drinking.

Persons: hasn’t, Jovenel Moïse, Ariel Henry, Johnson André, TikTok, Izo, They’ve, Gustavo Petro, Moïse’s, Dimitri Hérard, Hérard, Izo’s Organizations: YouTube YouTube, Kenyan, The New York Times, Gang, PORT, PRINCE, Prince Bay Gang, Prince, Global, Transnational, Rights, Human Rights Defence Network, Human Rights, Integrated, YouTube, of, Los Angeles Crips, Toyota, Haitian National Police, Haitian Army, Times, Associated, The Justice Department, State Department, Facebook Locations: Belgian, Haiti, Port, Dominican Republic, Prince Bay HAITI, PRINCE HAITI, U.S, America, Dieu, Izo’s, United States, Colombia, Haitian, South, Central America, Brazil, Latin America, Europe, Izo, Western

☆ Opinion | Ruben Gallego and the Fight for Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Tom Zoellner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Arizona has become an epicenter of political discord and conflict over issues that have roiled the national discourse. In the fall, the outrage over an abortion ban from 1864 and a potential ballot initiative on the issue are likely to motivate Democrats, and the outrage over chaos at the border is likely to motivate Republicans. The margins in recent elections have been razor-thin: Purple Arizona is very much up for grabs in this election and beyond. Democrats might be thinking about building on their success in recent elections to secure the state as a future Sun Belt bulwark. Democrats are hoping that future may be embodied by Representative Ruben Gallego, who is running for a Senate seat to replace Kyrsten Sinema.

Persons: Representative Ruben Gallego, Kari Lake Organizations: Sun, Representative, Kyrsten, Republican Locations: Arizona, Texas, Florida

☆ As student loan forgiveness nears $160 billion, here's what to know about the relief programs
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Joe Biden announces student loan relief with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (R) on August 24, 2022 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty ImagesThe Biden administration fixes to the country's $1.6 trillion student loan system have resulted in regular announcements to forgive large shares of that debt. In total, the U.S. Department of Education has canceled almost $160 billion in federal student loan debt for nearly 4.6 million borrowers while President Joe Biden has been in office. Here what to know about the aid programs that have led to that relief. Income-driven repayment plansPublic Service Loan ForgivenessNavigating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has been famously difficult.

Persons: Joe Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Olivier Douliery, Biden, George W, Bush, Federal Perkins Organizations: Education Secretary, White, AFP, Getty, U.S . Department of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Family Education, Federal, Federal Perkins Loans, Education Department Locations: Washington ,

☆ China military forces getting closer to Taiwan could lead to 'miscalculation,' analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina military forces getting closer to Taiwan could lead to 'miscalculation,' analyst saysRaymond Kuo, Taiwan Policy Initiative director at Rand Corporation, says "at some point, Taiwan has to respond, whether it's 24 nautical miles, whether it's 12 nautical miles."

Persons: Raymond Kuo Organizations: China, Taiwan Policy Initiative, Rand Corporation Locations: Taiwan

☆ Meet WiFi Money: Wealthy Finance Influencers Who Infuriated Investors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Rob Price | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

The Texas couple were staring down more than $100,000 in debt, much of which they had poured into WiFi Money. Those who give their money to WiFi Money are often encouraged to sign up other people in return for a cut of their profits — and perhaps, one day, a chance to become part of the WiFi Money crew. As the money poured in, WiFi Money gained a patina of mainstream credibility. AdvertisementThrough WiFi Money, Moeller and Frederick had created a virtuous cycle of money and influence. The same month investors took WiFi Money to court over the stores, DBC announced it was closing down.

Persons: Alex Moeller, influencer, Jasmine Sadry, Joey Martin, Martin, Moeller, Chris Frederick, Casa Moeller Martinez, MentorCI, Kim Kardashians, Gary Vee, Uber, Etsy, Farnaz Ghaedipour, Frederick, Jay Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald's, Brandon Celi, There's, Billy, Chris Casey, There's Todd Cahill, Liz Friesen, Tana Mongeau, Kardashian, —, James Ragano, BI Moeller, wouldn't, Kyle McDougal, Sadry, Kyncey, McDougal, hustlers, Kevin O'Leary, Jordan Belfort, Ronaldinho, Glenn Beck, I've, he'd, Daemon, I'm, they'd, It's, Chris Costello, Francis, Ashley, Costello, Gatsby, Casey, Avery Williamson, Victor Bermudez, DBC, They're, Instagram, Rolex Submariner Organizations: WiFi, Lamborghini, McLaren, Fox News, YouTube, Invest, Stanford University, PBS, BI, Social, Yahoo Finance, Business, Times, Piccadilly Circus, Fort, DMs, Kyncey Investments, Amazon, Kyncey, Investors, CNN, Fox Business, Big Tech, Florida Tropics Soccer Club, Royce, WiFi Money, Federal Trade Commission, WifiMoney, IRS, NFL, Dallas, Rolex Locations: Instagram, Mexico, Texas, Dallas, Quito, Ecuador, @amoeller, Florida, pecs, Maryland, Europe, Illinois, Mita, Burj, Fort Worth, dropshipping, Brazilian, New York City, ensconced, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Munich

☆ Opinion: Credibility is the key at Trump trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

The idea that Cohen talked to Trump about Daniels on that call “was a lie,” Blanche alleged. Moreover, my experience has been that juries don’t decide based upon one moment — they base their judgment on an overall view.”There were allegedly three parties aware of the scheme to conceal the real reason Trump paid Cohen more than $400,000 in supposed legal fees: Trump, Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, then-chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. “Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense,” wrote attorney Stacy Schneider. Trump seems to be tempted to go mano a mano and show that he is better fit to be commander-in-chief. The new requirement for GOP politicians wanting to demonstrate their loyalty to Trump seems to be visiting the Manhattan courthouse where he’s on trial.

Persons: CNN —, ” Mark Twain, “, Twain, ” Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, —, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Norm Eisen, Blanche, ”, pummeled Cohen, Robert Mueller, Nick Anderson, Agency Cohen, Keith Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, ” Eisen, don’t, Allen Weisselberg, Stacy Schneider, Weisselberg, David Zurawik, “ I’ve, Sen, Robert Menendez, He’s, George Santos ., CNN “ It’s, he’s, ‘, Henry Cuellar, ” Cupp, Drew Sheneman, Georgia —, Vladimir Putin’s, Frida Ghitis, ” Ghitis, Joe Biden’s, ” Dana Summers, “ Biden, ” Julian Zelizer, mano, Biden, ” Bill Bramhall, Stephanie Griffith, Howard Tucker, Gayle Fleming, Michael Ventura Gayle Fleming, Biden —, ” Tom Brady’s, Kara Alaimo, Tom Brady “, Kevin Hart, Gisele Bündchen, Brady, Benjamin, Vivian, ’ Brady, ’, Alaimo, Brady didn’t, Nafees Syed, Kamel El Hilali, Andrew Borene, freakout Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, … ” Brown, Keith Magee, Brown, backpedaling, Forget, Doug Burgum, Scott Jennings, Burgum’s, Bill Bramhall, Content Agency Clarence Thomas Washington, Clarence Thomas ’, Dean Obeidallah, Thomas, Harlan Crow, ” Clay Jones, John Oliver’s, Steve Vladeck, “ Thomas, ” Don’t, Clayton Swope, Dan Perry, Netanyahu, Jill Filipovic, Miss Teen USA Mary Ziegler, Bob Kolasky, Megan L, Ranney, Karen Tang, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Jonathan Yeo, King Charles III, Aaron Chown, Holly Thomas, King Organizations: CNN, Trump, Tribune, Agency, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC, Robert Menendez of New, GOP, ” Texas, White, Europe, Russia, Kyiv, Biden, ABC, Democratic Party, Netflix, Garden State, Content Agency, Capitol, Consumer Financial, Board, Fifth Circuit, ICC, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Buckingham Palace, Royal Locations: New York, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Russian, Ukraine, Slovakia, Georgia, Soviet Republic, United States, Cleveland, “, Manhattan, North, . North Dakota, ” That’s, Louisiana , Mississippi, Texas, Florida’s, Buckingham

☆ How Trump’s first term may have laid the groundwork to make his radical immigration agenda a reality
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Phil Mattingly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Trump’s advisers don’t see their agenda as aspirational political messaging. “Think about the first term, but on steroids,” a former senior Trump administration official who is working outside the campaign to draft immigration policy options for a second term. In closed-door fundraisers, Biden has also called attention to the radical nature of Trump’s immigration proposals – something his 2020 campaign used to its advantage. It shouldn’t.”The dramatic scale of Trump’s immigration agenda would have a sweeping effect across the US, Schulte said – one that shouldn’t get lost in debates over his rhetoric. Once viewed as radical and relegated to the fringes of the GOP, Trump’s immigration agenda is now an animating force for most, if not all, Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, don’t, ”, “, Todd Schulte, Joe Biden, Stephen Miller, ” Miller, Sebastian Gorka, Trump’s, Miller, ” Trump, Eisenhower, Clinton, Karoline Leavitt, Leavitt, Biden Biden, Biden, Biden’s, would’ve, ” There’s, SSRS, ” Biden, that’s, ” Schulte, Schulte, –, shouldn’t, “ He’s, Steve Vladeck, “ That’s, Neil Gorsuch, – Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett –, Vladeck Organizations: CNN, Republican, Supreme, National Guard, Trump, Democratic, Trump White House, Refugee, US Navy, Pentagon, White, Border Patrol, Department, Office, Senate Democratic, Democrats, Gallup, Biden, ” Trump, GOP, Republicans, Capitol, CNN Supreme, University of Texas Locations: United States, Panama, Mexico, torpedoing, California, America, Michigan, Ohio

☆ Ukraine Reports No Shortages of Artillery Shells for First Time: Zelenskyy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Ukraine's forces had reported no shortages of artillery shells for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Kyiv Independent reported. "For the first time during the war, none of the brigades complained that there were no artillery shells," Zelenskyy said on May 16. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesUkraine's armed forces have faced severe artillery shortages in recent months, partly due to a US military aid package being stalled in Congress. Despite this, Russian artillery will likely outmatch Ukraine's for most of 2024, officials and analysts told Foreign Policy. He added that he expected Ukrainian forces would "hold the line" near Kharkiv City.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, milblogger Stanislav Osman, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Rustem Umerov, Petr Pavel, Vladimir Putin, Christopher Cavoli Organizations: Service, Kyiv Independent, Business, Kyiv Post, Army, Anadolu Agency, Getty, EU, BBC News, Policy, CNN, for Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine's, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Donetsk Oblast, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Czech Republic, Russian, Kharkiv City

☆ Poland to spend around $2.5 billion on securing eastern border
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, speaks during a press conference where Polish PM announces resignation of four ministers and nominees for the future positions in Chancellery of Polish Prime Minister in Warsaw, Poland on MAy 10, 2024. Poland will invest 10 billion zlotys ($2.55 billion) in a program to secure its eastern border, the prime minister said on Saturday, in a bid to bolster its defenses against what it says is a rising threat from Russia and Belarus. "We have decided to invest 10 billion zlotys in our security, and above all in a secure eastern border," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference. "We are starting a major project to build a secure border, including a system of fortifications as well as landscaping and environmental decisions that will make this border impossible to pass for a potential enemy." Tusk had announced plans to strengthen the eastern border earlier in May, but without giving details.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Tusk Organizations: Polish, European Union, Minsk, European Investment Bank, Sky Locations: Poland, Warsaw, Russia, Belarus, Poland's, Minsk, Russian, Europe, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarusian, Germany

☆ OpenAI dissolves team focused on long-term AI risks, less than one year after announcing it
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The news comes days after both team leaders, OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, announced their departures from the Microsoft-backed startup. OpenAI's Superalignment team, announced last year, has focused on "scientific and technical breakthroughs to steer and control AI systems much smarter than us." "I joined because I thought OpenAI would be the best place in the world to do this research," Leike wrote on X. Leike wrote that he believes much more of the company's bandwidth should be focused on security, monitoring, preparedness, safety and societal impact. The update brings the GPT-4 model to everyone, including OpenAI's free users, technology chief Mira Murati said Monday in a livestreamed event.

Persons: Sam Altman, OpenAI, Ilya Sutskever, Jan Leike, OpenAI's, Leike, Altman, Sutskever, Helen Toner, Tasha McCauley, Adam D'Angelo, Ilya, Jakub Pachocki, Mira Murati, Murati Organizations: OpenAI, Hope, CNBC, Microsoft, Wired, Tuesday, Wall Street Locations: Atlanta, Leike, OpenAI

☆ New Star Wars Plan: Pentagon Rushes to Counter Threats in Orbit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Eric Lipton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Pentagon is rushing to expand its capacity to wage war in space, convinced that rapid advances by China and Russia in space-based operations pose a growing threat to U.S. troops and other military assets on the ground and American satellites in orbit. Details of the push by the Pentagon remain highly classified. But Defense Department officials have increasingly acknowledged that the initiative reflects a major shift in military operations as space increasingly becomes a battleground. No longer will the United States simply rely on military satellites to communicate, navigate and track and target terrestrial threats, tools that for decades have given the Pentagon a major advantage in conflicts. Instead, the Defense Department is looking to acquire a new generation of ground- and space-based tools that will allow it to defend its satellite network from attack and, if necessary, to disrupt or disable enemy spacecraft in orbit, Pentagon officials have said in a series of interviews, speeches and recent statements.

Organizations: Pentagon, Defense, Defense Department Locations: China, Russia, U.S, United States

☆ Many high schools are curbing the use of AI. These schools are leaning in
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —At Princeton High School, students are trying to combat the rapid decline of indigenous languages with some unlikely help: a furry, wide-eyed stuffed animal named Che’w. He’s a wildly intelligent generative AI robot that speaks Mam, a Mayan language spoken in the western highlands of Guatemala and Mexico and by a small population of the school’s students. At a time when some high schools are restricting the use of AI in the classroom, others, like Princeton High School, are leaning into it. Courtesy SamsungBeyond generative AISome high schools around the country are trying to teach students how to use other forms of artificial intelligence for a greater good. “It doesn’t lose patience or get sick of talking to them,” said Mark Eastburn, Princeton High School’s science, research and engineering teacher.

Persons: Che’w, Joy Barnes, Johnson, ”, ChatGPT, Ed ”, Noel Candelaria, ” Candelaria, Tylo Chacon, Chacon, “ We’ve, It’s, —, Mark Eastburn, “ It’s, ’, Eastburn, they’re Organizations: CNN —, Princeton High School, UNESCO, PHS, ”, STEM School Highlands, Samsung, Los Angeles Unified School District, Seattle Public Schools, National Education Association, CNN, NEA, Stuyvesant High School, University of Colorado, Princeton Locations: Guatemala, Mexico, Colorado, New York City, Washington ,, Boulder, Mam

☆ Free Preschool With One Catch: It May Be a Long Commute Away
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Troy Closson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

New York City once sold a promise of free prekindergarten for all as an unusual benefit designed to make it far easier to raise children in this expensive city. So as families worried over whether their 3-year-olds would have spots this fall, Mayor Eric Adams pledged last month that everyone would have “access” to a seat. Every 4-year-old in New York is guaranteed a free preschool seat, and 3-year-olds were next in line for a universal program. On Thursday, about 2,500 children did not receive a prekindergarten offer, leaving their parents in limbo. Many are still on huge waiting lists and scrambling to rethink their finances and future in the city.

Persons: Eric Adams, Adams Organizations: Education Department Locations: York City, New York

☆ From hunter to guardian: How the ‘Snakeman of India’ found his way into wildlife conservation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Michelle Cohan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Whitaker would go on to earn the nickname “Snakeman of India,” and spend more than six decades dedicated to reptile research and conservation. His field work with snakes and crocodiles ultimately led his conservation efforts to help save India’s rainforests. We tell people when they’re working in the field, when they’re doing agriculture, use a stick. Romulus Whitaker teaches the next generation about reptiles at his conservation organization, Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, in southern India. And it’s wonderful to realize that dozens, if not hundreds, of young people have continued to do wonderful work with reptiles.

Persons: Romulus Whitaker, ”, Whitaker, Doris Norden Whitaker, Rama Chattopadhyay, Bill Haast, Heyward Clamp Whitaker, I’ve, cobras, we’ve, Arun Sankar, there’s, Cedric Bregnard, You’re Organizations: CNN, Miami Serpentarium, Miami, cobras, Cooperative, Getty Images CNN, Global Health Research, University of Toronto, Research, Cedric Bregnard CNN Locations: America, India, cobras, Mysore, Hoosick , New York, New York, Bombay, Western Ghats, Madras, South India, An, Chennai

☆ No Israel-Saudi normalization without a Palestinian state: PNI
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThere will be no Israel-Saudi normalization without a Palestinian state: PNI leaderMustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "doesn't care about that."

Persons: Mustafa Barghouti, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Palestinian National Initiative Locations: Israel, Saudi

☆ The US Secretary of State gave a war-time rock performance at a bar in Kyiv, leaving some Ukrainians scratching their heads
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Slinging a crimson electric guitar onto his shoulder, Blinken told the crowd he knew they were facing a "really, really difficult time." So much of the world is with you and they're fighting not just for a free Ukraine, but for the free world. "For ten years, we've been explaining to the free world that we are defending it too," he wrote. Residents self-evacuate from a multi-story residential building hit by a Russian UMPB D-30 glide bomb on May 14, 2024 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The lyrics of "Rockin' in the Free World" are often seen as a criticism of American patriotism and George H.W.

Persons: —, Antony Blinken, Neil Young's, Blinken, Ukraine, Antony, Muddy Waters, Bohdan Yaremenko, Trump, he's, we've, Oleg Simoroz, Valeriy, it's, Matviyenko, Yevhen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Illia Ponomarenko, George H.W, Bush, Donald Trump, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Biden Organizations: Service, Business, U.S, US State Department, Blinken, Music Diplomacy Initiative, Facebook, AFP, Ukrainian NGO Agency, Getty Images, Ukrainian, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Kyiv, Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Soviet Union, State Department Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russian, Kharkiv, United States, Muddy, Ukrainian, Russia, KABs, Sumy, Getty Images Russia, Polina, Soviet

☆ China's Baidu beats quarterly revenue estimates on ad recovery, cloud
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China's Baidu beat analysts' estimates for first-quarter revenue on Thursday, driven by a recovery in advertising sales and higher demand for its AI-powered cloud products. The company, China's largest search engine provider, reported revenue of 31.51 billion yuan ($4.37 billion) for the three months ended March 31, compared to analysts' average estimate of 31.21 billion yuan as per LSEG data. "Baidu Core's online marketing revenue remained stable, while the end-to-end optimization of our AI technology stack continued to propel the growth of our AI Cloud revenue during the quarter," said co-founder and CEO Robin Li in an earnings release. Revenue from Baidu Core, which includes its search-based ad sales, cloud offerings and autonomous driving initiatives, grew 4% to 23.8 billion yuan. Baidu reported adjusted net income of 7 billion yuan for the quarter, beating the analysts' average estimate of 5.57 billion yuan, according to LSEG data.

Persons: ERNIE Bot, Baidu, Robin Li Organizations: Baidu Locations: ZHEJIANG, CHINA

☆ Ukraine's getting more longe-range missiles that leave the Russians with 'nowhere to hide'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The number of missiles isn't publicly known, but ATACMS missiles average about $1.3 million each. These air-dropped missiles can fly at low altitudes to avoid detection and have been used to strike Russian naval headquarters and vehicle-repair depots in the occupied Crimean peninsula. The arrival of Storm Shadow missiles — and, several months later, ATAMCS — presented new challenges for Moscow, but Ukraine has received so few it has had to bee choosy over what to target. Indeed, Kyiv has used the American missiles in recent weeks to strike Russian airfields and troop gatherings. Missiles like ATACMS and Storm Shadow "will enable Ukraine to neutralize Russia's advantages and eventually enable them to regain the initiative," he added.

Persons: —, Ben Hodges, John Hamilton The, Jake Sullivan, Grant Shapps, Ben Stansall, Dan Rice, you've, Rice, ATAMCS —, Serhii, Hodges, Moscow's, Jack Watling, Watling Organizations: Service, US, Business, US Army, Army Tactical Missile System, White, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, Biden administration's, Republicans, Congress, Kyiv, General Staff, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Storm, Shadow, Farnborough, American University Kyiv, Artillery Rocket Systems, Getty, Missiles, Russian Defense Ministry, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Ukraine, New Mexico, Washington, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Italy, France, Crimean, Russia, Russian, Moscow, Donetsk Oblast, Berlin, Avdiivka, Anadolu, Kharkiv

☆ TikTok’s new suitor is former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, as lawsuit pushes back against ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Frank McCourt, a real estate billionaire and the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, said Wednesday he is laying the groundwork to acquire TikTok as part of a broad initiative to make a healthier internet. Still, McCourt said, the potential opportunity to acquire TikTok is a chance to rewire how social media works. “We can, and must, do more to safeguard the health and well-being of our children, families, democracy and society,” McCourt said in a statement. McCourt joins a host of other would-be suitors angling to pick up a platform used by 170 million Americans. A group of eight TikTok creators on Tuesday also filed a separate lawsuit challenging the potential ban.

Persons: Joe Biden, TikTok, Frank McCourt, McCourt, ” McCourt, Kirkland, Ellis, Sir Tim Berners, Lee, Steven Mnuchin, Kevin O’Leary, “, ”, Topher Townsend, ” TikTok Organizations: New, New York CNN, Los Angeles Dodgers, TikTok, Guggenheim Securities, Former, O’Leary Ventures, US Department of Justice Locations: New York, United States, China

☆ How Tubi grabs Gen Z viewers by tapping into its fan base, multicultural programming, and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

TubiHow Tubi found a Gen-Z audienceTubi, which was acquired by Fox in 2020 for $440 million, didn't deliberately aim at Gen Z when it started in 2014. Because Gen Z spends so much time on social media, they're used to entertainment being free. "Gen Z is orienting themselves around shared interests, subculture interests. The plan is to turn fans into promotors, recognizing that Gen Z is heavily influenced by their friends' recommendations; the initiative is in beta. My thesis is not that people are going to cancel their Netflix subscriptions and go running to Tubi," Parlapiano said.

Persons: Tubi, Peacock, Max, Gen, Nicole Parlapiano, It's, it's, Rupert Murdoch, Fox, There's, didn't, they're, Parlapiano, we've, Carter, Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Joseph Gordon, Levitt, Chris Baker, Issa Rae's, Bridgerton's, Nicola Coughlan Organizations: Service, Fox, Nielsen, Disney, Hollywood, Business, YouTube, Netflix, FAST, ColorCreative, promotors Locations: Tinder, Tubi

☆ The Billionaire Frank McCourt Mounts Bid to Buy TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Lauren Hirsch | Sapna Maheshwari | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The billionaire Frank McCourt has put up his hand. Mr. McCourt said Wednesday he was working to put together a group of bidders to buy the social media app. His goal in doing so is to rethink how TikTok, and the internet overall, use data and consider privacy. “This seemed like a great opportunity to actually create the alternative to the current internet, which has been colonized by large platforms and including TikTok,” Mr. McCourt said in an interview. He said the deal could help users “control their identity, own and control their data.”

Persons: Frank McCourt, McCourt, Jonathan Haidt, Mr, ” Organizations: Los Angeles Dodgers, Facebook, Liberty

☆ Tesla is going all out to push Elon Musk's $55 billion pay package through — even spending money on ads
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTesla is going all in on its efforts to push through approval of Elon Musk's $55 billion pay package. A screenshot of some of the paid ads Tesla ran in support of Musk's pay package proposal. SECThe company aims to pass two separate proposals, one moving its state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas and another reapproving Musk's pay, which was struck down by a Delaware judge earlier this year. Musk does not receive a salary from Tesla and his pay package centered on a series of goalposts around the carmaker's financial growth. AdvertisementEarlier in May, Denholm even sat down for a video promoting the pay plan.

Persons: —, Elon, Tesla, Kathleen St, J, McCormick, Musk, Robyn Denholm, Denholm Organizations: Service, Elon Musk's, Securities and Exchange Commission, Google, Business, SEC, Street Journal, Bloomberg Locations: Tesla, Delaware, Texas

☆ Everyone's talking about AI, but marketers shouldn't overlook other emerging tech innovations like 5G and robotics
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Raja Rajamannar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWhen it comes to the trends and technologies shaping marketing today, it's easy to see why AI has dominated the headlines. The rise of generative AI is a watershed moment for marketers, transforming the landscape for creative expression. But it is worth remembering that AI is far from the only emerging technology presenting an outsized opportunity. AdvertisementOne example is the Mastercard Artist Accelerator — a tech- and talent-centered music program geared to helping emerging artists create, collaborate and monetize their work using emerging tech like GenAI and Web3. By embracing change, handling data responsibly and investing in innovation, brand leaders can make emerging tech their stepping stones — not stumbling blocks — as they push the industry forward.

Persons: —, smartly, Raja Rajamannar Organizations: Service, Business, Vision, Mastercard Invest, Mastercard, Design

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