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☆ Money or talent? What's actually driving hedge funds to Abu Dhabi and Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Bradley Saacks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Millennium, Brevan Howard, Schonfeld, and ExodusPoint are just a few of the funds that have put roots down in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Meanwhile, Bridgewater's Ray Dalio bought a penthouse in Abu Dhabi as he compliments the country's policies. When one US-based hedge fund fundraiser met with Abu Dhabi officials late last year, he didn't expect much to come of it. He lauded everything from the Louvre outpost in Abu Dhabi to the warm weather to the responsiveness from government officials. A Bloomberg story on Abu Dhabi notes that it's fast-tracking country-club admissions for new wealthy immigrants.

Persons: —, Brevan Howard, Schonfeld, Bridgewater's Ray Dalio, Austen Smart, Tighe, Smart, Alan Howard, Greg Coffey, Danny Yong, hoover, Doug Greenig, Morgan, Point72, Steve Cohen, Viking Global's Andreas Halvorsen, keynotes, Howard, Abu Dhabi, Craig Bergstrom, Bobby Jain's, Florin Court's Greenig, Abu, Floring Organizations: Service, United Arab Emirates, titans, Business, Tighe International, Florin Court Capital, Morgan Stanley's, Dubai Financial Services Authority, Abu, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Mubadala Investment Company, Corbin Capital, Abu Dhabi Global, Hong Kong, pats, Bloomberg Locations: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, New York, Mumbai, UAE, Asia, Switzerland, It's, Gaza, Iran, Palm, Europe, Cayman Islands, Jersey, Miami, San Franciso, Riyadh, Saudi

☆ 2. Anduril Industries
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As the U.S. military modernizes and new aerial threats have defined recent wars, defense technology company Anduril Industries is getting ahead with a tech-smart, Silicon Valley approach in selling to the Pentagon, recently introducing several new AI-powered drones, and supplying Ukraine. Anduril has emerged as a disruptor to traditional contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman and a competitor to several defense unicorns such as Shield AI and Epirus. The company is getting ahead in the defense sector by proactively financing its own research and product development, and then making sales — a departure from the standard military contract-and-then-build process. Loaded with venture capital funding from major investors Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund and General Catalyst, Anduril is on a fast track. Last year, Anduril launched several new drones that rely on its Lattice AI-powered command and control software used by the U.S. military and allies to direct human-assisted robotics systems to perform complex missions.

Persons: Anduril, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Palmer Luckey, Brian Schmipf, Andreessen Horowitz, Catalyst Organizations: Anduril Industries, Pentagon, Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop, VR, Facebook, Founders Fund, U.S . Locations: Ukraine

☆ How Melinda French Gates became one of the world’s wealthiest and most important philanthropists
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —On Monday, Melinda French Gates announced her resignation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, officially ending one of the world’s leading philanthropic partnerships. In French Gates’ 2008 Fortune profile, Buffett said French Gates helped focus the foundation’s mission. In addition to French Gates, Gates and Buffett, The Giving Pledge counts billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and MacKenzie Scott as signatories. French Gates has a net worth of $13.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, while Bill Gates’ net worth is $153 billion. French Gates’ departure from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been hinted at since the couple announced their divorce in May 2021.

Persons: Melinda French Gates, Melinda Gates, Gates, Bill Gates, Melinda Gates ’, Warren Buffett, Buffett, ” Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, MacKenzie Scott, “, French Gates Organizations: CNN, Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, Duke University, Fortune Magazine, Gates Library Foundation, Berkshire Hathaway, Bloomberg, Rutgers ’ Center, American Women Locations: United States, Fortune, “, Gates, French, Politics

☆ What It’s Like Inside the Courtroom at Trump’s Manhattan Criminal Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Jonah E. Bromwich | Charlie Smart | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the public and reporters get 14 rows, seven on each side, inside the wood-paneled courtroom, behind the prosecution and defense tables. Those seats provide a view of the judge — the bench sits directly under burnished letters spelling out “In God We Trust” — and the witness stand. The jurors sit on the right side and are usually focused on the witness stand or the lawyer speaking at the lectern. Four large closed-circuit television screens also make it possible to see the faces of those at the prosecution and defense tables, including Mr. Trump. The former president usually sits in the second chair, with the defense lawyer who is handling arguments or questioning a witness occupying the first.

Persons: Donald J, “, Trump Locations: Lower Manhattan

☆ Prosecution seeks to land Trump hush money case as Cohen cross-examination looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“This case is going to turn in large part on the cross-examination of Mr. Cohen. Cohen said that Trump told him: “Women are going to hate me. “This was all about the campaign.” Cohen also testified that Trump said he would not be on the market for long, implying he could get another wife quickly. Throughout his testimony, Cohen said he always kept Trump up to speed with his activities. “Everything required Mr. Trump’s sign-off,” he said, noting the Daniels payment was no exception.

Persons: CNN — “, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s, Cohen, Trump, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Trump, Bernarda Villalona, “, Donald Trump, ”, “ Michael Cohen, David Schoen, ” Schoen, CNN’s Wolf, quagmire, Joe Biden, Judge Juan Merchan, Cohen –, –, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, mulls, “ What’s, Stormy Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, Hoffinger, Daniels, Daniels ’, —, ” Cohen, smirked, Trump’s, ’, ‘, reimbursements Cohen, Allen Weisselberg Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Republican, NYU Law, Trump, New, New York Times, Judge, Alabama, GOP, Ohio Republican, Trump Organization, White House Locations: New York, Siena, York, Ohio

☆ U.S. energy panel approves rule to expand transmission of renewable power
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Republican Mark Christie opposed the rule, dismissing it as a gift to solar and wind power operators. Many power companies and Republican-led states don't want to spend money on new transmission lines or upgrades for renewable energy, creating conflicts with Democratic states that have ambitious clean-energy goals. The rule is intended to streamline how power lines are sited and how costs are shared between states. It could accelerate construction of new transmission lines for wind, solar and other renewable power and add huge amounts of clean energy to the grid. The new rule "will improve regional transmission planning, break down barriers to grid buildout and support the delivery of more affordable and reliable power,″ Zaidi said.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Willie Phillips, Allison Clements, Republican Mark Christie, Phillips, Christie, ″, Biden, Ali Zaidi, ″ Zaidi, Clements, Heather O'Neill, Chuck Schumer, Schumer Organizations: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Democratic, Republican, Energy Department, FERC, Advanced Energy Locations: Washington, U.S

☆ Can MLB save the starting pitcher? The search for solutions to baseball’s ‘existential crisis’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Jayson Stark | Ken Rosenthal | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +20 min

Ten active major-league starting pitchers have won a Cy Young Award — and nine of them have spent time on the injured list in 2024. The issue is not only the health of the modern starting pitcher, but the role those starters play in the sport these days. “You’ve got to get the starting pitcher back. But has the starting pitcher crisis risen to that level? If you’re a dominating starting pitcher in this era, it probably means you throw harder than the average pitcher.

Persons: Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, ’, Cy Young, Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes, Yu Darvish, Justin Steele, ”, Max Scherzer, “ You’ve, Patrick Mahomes, isn’t, that’s, weren’t, here’s, It’s, they’d, you’re, they’re, David Ortiz, Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Adam Wainwright, they’ve, “, North America aren’t, I’ve, you’ve, ” Scherzer, Corbin Burnes, Patrick Smith, Rob Manfred, we’re, “ You’re, wouldn’t, it’s, “ that’s, He’s, Manfred, Eamonn Dalton, Conrad Williams , Jr, Matthew Grimes Jr Organizations: Cy, Wrigley, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Cubs, Padres, Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers, NFL, Athletic, MLB, American League, of Fame, didn’t, Atlantic League, Red Sox, National League, North America, Orioles, Newsday, Getty Images, Atlanta Braves, Getty

☆ Meeting Yourself Where You’re At
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If you’re already in the work force, we have you covered. But no matter what situation you’re in, here’s the most important piece of advice: Ask for help. You’re not alone in your confusion, and there is no shame in raising your hand and asking a question (or 20). If You’re Already WorkingYour salary is your salary, at least for now. This will make it easier to ask for a raise, something my colleague, Tara Siegel Bernard, has written about in the past.

Persons: you’re, We’ve, You’re, you’ve, Tara Siegel Bernard

☆ These are the new meme stocks getting the most buzz on message boards
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meme stocks are back, and the mania is actually spreading far beyond GameStop and AMC Entertainment . The latest frenzy was triggered by a single post on social media site X from "Roaring Kitty," the man who inspired the epic meme stock mania in 2021. Quiver Quantitative , an alternative data analytics firm, looked to find all the meme stocks that are popular among the Reddit traders. A few names associated with the artificial intelligence boom also became popular meme stocks, including voice AI and speech recognition company SoundHound AI , AI IT services firm BigBear.ai and Super Micro Computer , a maker of servers. Other under-the-radar meme names included B. Riley Financial, Spirit Airlines , Tilray Brands and Smart for Life.

Persons: Smart, Riley Organizations: GameStop, AMC Entertainment, Marathon Digital, IT, Micro, Nvidia, Riley, Spirit Airlines, Tilray

☆ Apple supplier Foxconn's first-quarter profit jumps 72% but misses forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple supplier Foxconn reported a 72% rise in first-quarter profit, boosted by strong demand for AI servers and coming off a low base from the period a year earlier, but the growth was lower than expected. While the profit missed the T$29.31 billion forecast by analysts, it was Foxconn's third consecutive quarterly profit rise. In the first quarter, consumer electronics including smartphones accounted for 48% of its revenue while cloud and networking products, including servers, contributed 28%. Apple's quarterly results and forecast beat modest expectations this month, nd CEO Tim Cook said revenue growth would return in the current quarter. Foxconn's shares have risen 65% so far this year, driven by its rosy AI outlook, far outperforming a 17% gain for the broader market.

Persons: Foxconn, Tim Cook Organizations: Sharp Corp, Hai Precision Industry Co

☆ These 3 ETFs have risen by double-digits every year for the past 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Two U.S.-listed ETFs — the SPDR S & P Metals & Mining ETF and VanEck Steel ETF — and the Japan-listed NEXT NOTES Japan Equity High Beta Select 30 ETF have each risen more than 10% every year since 2019. SPDR S & P Metals & Mining ETF The SPDR S & P Metals & Mining ETF (ticker: XME) gives investors broad exposure to the metals and mining segment. The VanEck fund has outperformed the S & P 500 in four of the past five years. NEXT NOTES Japan Equity High Beta Select 30 The NEXT NOTES Japan Equity High Beta Select 30 ETF (ticker: 2068.T-JP) is a smart beta ETF. High beta stocks react with more volatility than the rest of the market.

Persons: SPDR, It's Organizations: CNBC, P Metals, Mining, VanEck Steel, —, Japan, CNBC Pro, Mining ETF, VanEck, NEXT, Nomura Japan Equity Locations: U.S, Japan

☆ Google's Gmail of the future looks incredible
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewOne of the big takeaways from Google's big developer conference on Tuesday was just how incredible Gmail looks like it's about to get. But the coming updates and seemingly smooth integration of Google's AI model Gemini could take Gmail to the next level. AdvertisementQ&AThe Q&A function allows Gmail users to simply ask a question that Gemini can answer by referencing all of their emails and attachments. AdvertisementIntegration into other Workspace productsGoogle also showed just how well integrated the Gmail of the future could be with other Workspace products, like Google Sheets. Overall, Google's demonstrations showed just how impressive AI-powered features could be in Gmail.

Persons: —, Aparna Pappu, Pappu, Gemini, Gemini's Organizations: Service, Gmail, Business, Google, Knicks, Gemini

☆ Walmart CEO Doug McMillon shares 3 tips for success in work and life
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewWalmart CEO Doug McMillon returned this weekend to his alma mater, the University of Arkansas, where he delivered the commencement address to the class of 2024. McMillon also revealed how some plans didn't work out — like being rejected from the top MBA programs — and how a mistake could have ended his career before it began. I'm wired to think more about what's coming next than the moment right in front of me. AdvertisementMy second piece of advice is to pursue a career that does not feel like work. If you're in the right place, most days, work won't even feel like work.

Persons: —, Doug McMillon, McMillon, Doug McMillon's, I've, Jim Webster, Jim, Wharton, Shelly, they're, Sam Walton's, Helen, it's, you've, Benny Bridwell, Benny, Bryan Adams Organizations: Service, University of Arkansas, Business, Harvard, Stanford, Walmart Locations: Arkansas, USA, South Africa, Rogers

☆ Andrey Belousov: Shifting his fishing buddy sideways, Putin chooses an economy expert for the war in Ukraine. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Alexandra Prokopenko, a former adviser at Russia’s Central Bank, put the shakeup down to the growing interrelationship between the war and Russia’s economy. “Putin’s priority is war; war of attrition is won by economics,” Prokopenko wrote in a thread on X. Russia's President Vladimir Putin, center-right, with Sergei Shoigu, at Red Square for the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2024. Putin has shifted Shoigu sideways to a post as the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, meaning that Shoigu is not completely out of the picture. Discussing Shoigu’s new appointment, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the former defense minister would remain immersed in matters of military production.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, shakeup, Andrey Belousov, Sergei Shoigu, Alexandra Prokopenko, ” Prokopenko, Belousov, Vladimir Putin, Natalia Kolesnikova, Prokopenko, Pyotr Stolypin, Putin, Shoigu’s, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, ” Peskov, General Valery Gerasimov, Nikolai Patrushev, Patrushev, Mikhail Mishustin, Dmitry Patrushev, “, ”, Tatiana Stanovaya Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Russian Ministry of Defense, Russia’s Central Bank, Russia's, Victory Day, Getty, NATO, Putin, US Congress, Ministry of Defense, Security, Russia’s General Staff, subjugating, Security Council, Federal Security Service Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, AFP, Europe, Kyiv, Shoigu, Russian, Japan, Soviet Union, subjugating Ukraine, Patrushev

Smarter grids, like Chattanooga's, are just part of what it will take to modernize the American grid in the coming decades. A troubled transition to renewable energyOffshore wind farms are one of the growing areas of renewable energy. And the Edwards & Sanborn project, the US's largest solar energy and energy storage project in California, came online in January. Renewable energy is not only cleaner than fossil fuels but also often less expensive. Breaking down barriersThe US grid isn't designed for fluctuating renewable energy, so much of it goes to waste because clean-energy projects can't connect to the grid.

Persons: Kevin Schneider, Harris, Joe Rand, Joshua Rhodes, barleyman, Edwards, Rand, Philip Odonkor, Seib, headwinds, Julia Bovey, Ørsted, Bovey, Paul Denholm, We'll, Denholm, There's, PATRICK T, FALLON, we're, Schneider, We've, EPB, MISO, it's Organizations: Infrastructure, Service, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Nationwide, Biden, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas, Renewables, Sanborn, of Systems, Enterprises, Stevens Institute of Technology, Trump, Fork, Eversource Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Getty, Infrastructure Law Locations: Chattanooga , Tennessee, Chattanooga, EPB, Austin, Maine, North Carolina, California, United States

☆ A 24-year-old spent $140,000 buying and converting a Mercedes van. Take a look inside the luxury home on wheels.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

So, she set out to do just that for her most recent van conversion. AdvertisementFor the next nine months, she designed and built a space that's just as much functional as it is artistic. By the end of the conversion, Minor said she spent $140,000 on the build. For example, Minor used liquid fiberglass — a material that's typically used on the exterior of automobiles — inside her van. "In which case, it just turns into a regular business that's complicated, that's restricted."

Persons: —, Abbe Minor, Minor, Autoevolution, Noovo, I've, I'm, she'd, Diego's, Minor's van, van isn't, Abbe Minor's van, she's Organizations: Service, Business, Minor, Overland Locations: San Diego, Pennsylvania, Washington

☆ Kate Gosselin shares rare photo of her kids for Mother’s Day
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former reality star Kate Gosselin shared a rare photo of some of her children on Mother’s Day. Kate Gosselin and then-husband Jon Gosselin with their twin daughters and sextuplets on NBC News' "Today" show in 2007. In 2010, after the couple’s divorce, the series turned into “Kate Plus 8,” focusing on Kate Gosselin and her children. Kate Gosselin featured in several TLC reality series along with her family between 2007 and 2019. They are all smart, they are all kind, they’re driven students, they’re working hard, they’re funny, they’re stylish,” she added.

Persons: Kate Gosselin, sextuplets, Jon Gosselin, Heidi Gutman, ”, Alexis, Aaden, Leah, Joel, Collin, Hannah, Cara, Mady, Gosselin, Jon, Kate, Noel Vasquez, “, you’ve Organizations: CNN, NBC, Getty, Entertainment

☆ Apple's new iPad Pro is thin and fast, but the software needs an update
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

I've been testing the new iPad Pro for several days and what I found is that it's a very nice iPad. The game will look better once Activision Blizzard releases an update enabling improved graphics for the M4 iPad Pro. 2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro Todd Haselton | CNBCThe new iPads Pro support Apple's updated $350 Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (the 11-inch version is $300). 2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro Todd Haselton | CNBCThe updated Apple Pencil Pro is also a lot of fun. What's bad2024 13-inch Apple iPad Pro Todd Haselton | CNBCHere's my biggest gripe about the Pro models: The software, iPadOS, is what you'll get on any other iPad.

Persons: I've, Apple hasn't, Christoph Dernbach, Diablo, it's, Todd Haselton, hasn't, Apple, Slack, you've, Tim Cook Organizations: Apple, Getty, Pro, Activision Blizzard, CNBC, CNBC Here's, Conference, WWDC Locations: It's, 10hz

☆ Can This Never Trumper Find a Future in the Republican Party?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Jess Bidgood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In February 2021, weeks after Jan. 6, Larry Hogan, who was then the Republican governor of Maryland and a frequent critic of Donald Trump, told Katie Couric that a battle for the soul of their party was underway — and that Trump’s influence was really, finally, diminishing. “I guess I’m not as smart as I thought I was,” Hogan told me this morning. Hogan knows that his side of the party — what he calls “the Republican wing of the Republican Party” — lost that battle. He knows that many of his fellow Never Trumpers have lost re-election, decided to retire or changed their tune. “I do feel a little bit like I’m running toward the burning building,” Hogan said.

Persons: Jan, Larry Hogan, Donald Trump, Katie Couric, —, ” Hogan, Hogan, “, Republican Party ” —, ” Organizations: Republican, Republican Party, Trump Republicans Locations: Maryland

About 2,800 residents from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and about 450 residents from the Fort Nelson First Nation were asked to evacuate. Wildfire smoke has been linked to increases in certain cancers and heart-related issues, among other ailments. In 2023, 19 counties in 11 states had days with “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality — given at least a “code purple” alert on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index. Light rain showers were expected overnight Sunday with more rain forecast Monday, “which will help lower fire activity,” a Sunday update from Alberta Wildfire said. Fire restrictions will remain in effect in the area until conditions improve, according to Alberta Wildfire.

Persons: Parker, “, ” Ben Boghean, ” Cliff Chapman, Jaylene, Terry Cavaliere, ” Boghean, Paul, Crews Organizations: CNN, BC Wildfire Service, Northern Rockies Regional, Fort Nelson, Wildfire, Northern Rockies, Fort Nelson First Nation, Environment Canada, Canadian Interagency Fire Centre, Air, Environmental Protection Agency, US, Protection, British Columbia, Alberta, Reuters Residents, Estates, Lake Estates, Fort McMurray, Alberta Wildfire Locations: British Columbia, Fort Nelson, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Parker, Fort, Canada, Maryland, Alberta, Fort McMurray, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Minneapolis, St, United States, British, Grande Prairie Forest, TeePee Creek , Alberta, Regional, Wood Buffalo, Lake

☆ From Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight to NFL games, Netflix interest in live sports is rising
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The company has also leaned into live comedy shows, broadcasting a slew of events including the recent roast of Tom Brady. But on its most recent earnings call in April, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said Netflix isn't "anti-sports, but pro-profitable growth." Conway teaches courses about sports leadership and management, and he spent much of his career as a marketing executive for two Major League Baseball teams. Over the past few years, Apple has bought the rights to air Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer games. CNBC reported last year that Netflix, as well as Amazon, Apple, Comcast's NBCUniversal/Peacock, had expressed potential interest in a contract.

Persons: Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Sarandos, Ted Sarandos, Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Marty Conway, Conway, Needham, Laura Martin, Martin, Brandon Katz, Katz, NBCUniversal, Peacock, William Mao, Octagon, Tyson, Paul, Mao Organizations: Netflix, WWE, Georgetown University, Major League Baseball, Apple, Disney, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox, Warner Bros, Major League Soccer, National Football League, National Basketball Association, CNBC, NFL, NBA, Comcast

☆ Jean Smart Is Having a Third Act for the Ages
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( J Wortham | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The slight is hurled early on in “Hacks,” the popular HBO series starring Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a seasoned comedian who teams up with a younger one named Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to freshen up her act. Deborah, meanwhile, sees Ava as a bit of a hack herself — an entitled and spoiled young internet persona who was canceled for posting a joke about a closeted senator. Deborah is a workaholic on the verge of bitter, someone who grew tired of being cut and so became a knife. Just how far is Deborah Vance willing to go? In one of the show’s funniest moments, Deborah bluntly asks Ava, “You a lesbian?” Ava leans back in her chair while considering the question.

Persons: Jean Smart, Deborah Vance, Ava, Hannah Einbinder, Deborah —, Deborah, —, Z, “, ” Ava, Deborah doesn’t, Rachel Maddow’s Organizations: HBO Locations: Las Vegas

☆ China’s Xi Jinping highlights Europe’s divisions ahead of expected Putin visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese state media played up the warm diplomacy, with headlines proclaiming China’s “ironclad” bond with Serbia and “golden friendship” with Hungary. Both are sure to closely watch any summit between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China, expected to happen soon. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is welcomed at the airport in Belgrade on May 7 for his two-day state visit. Xi also marketed a shared worldview during his meeting with Orban in Hungary, which is a member of both the EU and NATO. Chinese leader Xi Jinping talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on May 9.

Persons: Xi, Peng Liyuan, Aleksandar Vucic, Viktor Orban, China’s, Vucic, Orban –, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der, Vladimir Putin, Orban, Hungary “, ’ ”, Philippe Le Corre, ”, Putin, Le Corre, Xi Jinping, Dimitrije Goll, Xi’s, Serbia’s Vucic, ” Vucic, Bruno Le Maire, BYD, Liu Dongshu, Vivien Cher Benko, Tamas Matura, Mark Rutte, Olaf Scholz, Matura, Von der, “ Orban, Gabor Scheiring Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Russia, Ukraine, China, Europe …, Asia Society, Center for, Forum, Anadolu, Getty, EU, NATO, ”, Xi, Hong Kong’s City University ., Hungarian, Central, Dutch, Georgetown University Locations: Hong Kong, France, Ukraine, China, Belgrade, Budapest, Paris, Serbian, Hungarian, Serbia, Hungary, Europe, Russia, Russian, ”, Europe … Hungary, Center for China, Beijing, United States, EU, Hong, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, Moscow, Qatar, “ Hungary

☆ From the boardwalk to the altar: T-shirt, shorts, bikinis and boot sellers are now dressing brides
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The move into wedding wear makes sense so long as it’s not a distraction from their core business,” Stichter said. “For these bridal collections to land with Gen Z, It’s important that these brands tap into the way that Gen Z shops. Gen Z is always online, but 97% of US Gen Z still shop in-store,” Rees said. With wedding dresses in particular, one trend that emerged during the pandemic was the popularity of black wedding gowns. Boot Barn has a new western-themed wedding collection of bridal dresses, cowboy boots, hats and accessories priced mostly at $400 and below.

Persons: Gen Zers, Taylor Swift, ”, Janine Stichter, Millennials, ” Stichter, ” Carey Collins Krug, “, won’t, Allyson Rees, Gen Z, ” Rees, Gen, they’re, Rees, it’s, ” Lisa Zlotnick, “ There’s, Isha Nicole, ” Nicole Organizations: New, New York CNN, Abercrombie, Fitch, Abercrombie & Fitch Co, CNN, “ Locations: New York, California, Los Angeles, Las Vegas

☆ Saudi Arabia's Neom is looking to fill 262 job vacancies. The roles show just how futuristic the megacity could be.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Saudi Arabia's sprawling megacity, Neom, is billed as a chance to live in the "new future." AdvertisementOfficials say Neom will be a "cognitive city." The chosen candidate will control and operate the fish laboratory, ensuring high standards of fish welfare and supporting surveillance and investigation activities into fish health and disease control. Developers have said they want the island resort Sindalah to act as an "exclusive gateway to the stunning Red Sea." An image showing a nighttime view of mountains in the region in northwest Saudi Arabia where planners say Neom will be built.

Persons: —, Neom, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Neom's Organizations: Service, Tech, NEOM Community School Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Tabuk, Sindalah, Gulf, Aqaba, Neom, Oxagon

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