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☆ Elon Musk's 'X' sign removed from San Francisco headquarters after complaints from city officials and neighbors over its blinding lights: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's new "X" sign appeared atop its San Francisco headquarters Friday. The large sign Elon Musk had installed atop X's San Francisco headquarters has already been removed after irking neighbors and raising concerns with city officials. It's the latest update in the ongoing saga surrounding X's San Francisco headquarters. Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesSeparately, city officials also voiced concerns over the new sign and Musk's attempts to remove the original Twitter sign. City officials also stepped in when the new X sign was installed, according to the Associated Press.

Persons: Elon, Musk, Elon Musk, NBC's Scott Budman, Christopher J, Beale, KTVU, Justin Sullivan Organizations: Elon, Twitter, KQED, San Francisco Police Department, Authorities, Associated Press Locations: San Francisco, X's

☆ SEC punts on whether syndicated loans are securities, in closely watched appeal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Alison Frankel | Thomson Reuters | Alison Frankel Has Covered High-Stakes Commercial Litigation As A Columnist For Reuters Since A Dartmouth College Graduate | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Law firm alerts have gone so far as to call the appeal an “existential threat” to the entire syndicated loan market. The SEC later added to the suspense by requesting two more extensions from the 2nd Circuit, noting the complexity of the issue. On the other hand, any remaining uncertainty will be resolved as soon as the 2nd Circuit issues a ruling. But it’s a good bet that the trustee's lawyers from McKool will urge the 2nd Circuit to read the SEC’s silence as proof of the complexity of the issue. An earlier version incorrectly reported that Judge Michael Park was part of the 2nd Circuit panel that heard oral argument.)

Persons: Cromwell, JPMorgan Chase, Marc Kirschner, Paul Gardephe, Manhattan, Gardephe, McKool Smith, Jose Cabranes, Joseph Bianco, Myrna Perez, ”, Malcolm Stewart, Christopher Johnson, McKool, SEC wouldn’t, Michael Park, Alison Frankel, Leigh Jones Organizations: Sullivan, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S, Circuit, SEC, 2nd, JPMorgan, Millennium, U.S . Justice Department, District, Trading Association, Securities Industry, Financial Markets Association, Justice Department, U.S . Treasury Department, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S .

☆ ‘And Just Like That …’ Style Recap: Going as Yourself for Halloween
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( The Styles Desk | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

This article contains spoilers for Episode 5 of the second season of “And Just Like That …”As “And Just Like That …” nears its halfway point, its creators have sprinkled a series of self-referential winks into the new episode. For a Halloween charity benefit, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) dresses up as Helen Gurley Brown, the former editor of Cosmopolitan and, in some ways, the spiritual predecessor to Bradshaw. Ahead of Episode 5, members of The New York Times’s Styles desk discussed the looks, brands and wigs on display in the latest installment of the series. Louis Lucero II From a costuming perspective, this episode was a little front-loaded, wasn’t it? Charlotte’s Halloween benefit for the fictitious City Parks Conservancy showed us all three ways you can phone in a costume.

Persons: Carrie, Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Gurley Brown, Bradshaw, Sara Ramirez, Herbert Wexley, Christopher Jackson, George Washington, “ Hamilton ”, Times’s Styles, Louis Lucero Organizations: Cosmopolitan, Broadway, The, Parks Conservancy Locations: “

☆ Haze Moves Through Midwest, as New York City Avoids the Worst for Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Liam Stack | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In Pittsburgh, the air quality was so poor on Thursday that smoke covered the tops of downtown’s skyscrapers. City pools were closed for the second day in a row, and the Pittsburgh Pirates delayed the start of their game against the San Diego Padres. His guests had stopped trying to take pictures of the sights, he said, because the haze made it so hard to see anything. “It was kind of nice because it was really smoky at Cedar Point, so no one’s out there,” he said. “We went on all the rides.”At Ziegler Park, in Cincinnati, children splashed around at the pool on Thursday as smoky conditions persisted.

Persons: ”, Maria Montaño, Christopher Jen, “, Justin Gunn Organizations: Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres Locations: Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Ziegler, Cincinnati

☆ Fear of missing out on stocks' rally drives bullish options trading
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, June 16 (Reuters) - Fear of missing out on the recent stock market rally is driving traders in the U.S. equity options market to lap up bullish derivative contracts at a hectic pace, further fueling gains for stocks, analysts said on Friday. On Thursday, a record 1.8 million S&P 500 calls traded. The rush into call options lifted the S&P 500 Index's 1-month moving average of calls-to-puts to the highest in at least 4 years, according to Trade Alert data. Some of the rush into call options has also helped fuel the rally, said Brent Kochuba, founder of options analytic service SpotGamma. "The trend is probably higher... but in the very short term we have gotten over our skies," Kochuba said.

Persons: Russell, Christopher Jacobson, Brent Kochuba, Kochuba, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Ira Iosebashvili, Nick Zieminski Organizations: YORK, Thomson Locations: U.S, Susquehanna

☆ As China's intelligence capabilities grow, spying becomes an increasing flashpoint in ties with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

They underscore how intelligence gathering – an activity meant to go on without detection, out of the public eye – is becoming an increasingly prominent flashpoint in the US-China relationship. That pushes intelligence gathering itself to become “another factor that is complicating US-China relations,” he said. That’s especially the case, experts say, as China continues to expand its own intelligence gathering capabilities – catching up in an area where the US has traditionally had an edge. Other arms of the Communist Party apparatus also play a role in activities beyond conventional intelligence gathering, experts say. Heightened concern and awareness about Chinese intelligence gathering – or the potential for it – has exploded in the US in recent years.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Bill Burns, ”, Lyle Morris, Christopher Johnson, “, there’s, they’ve, Johnson, Xi Jinping, That’s, Xuezhi Guo, Guo, Xi, Hector Retamal, –, TikTok –, Edward Snowden, ’, Shou Zi Chew, Jabin, John Delury, John T, Downey, Delury Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, White House, CIA, CNN, Asia Society, Center for, Central Intelligence Agency, China, Group, U.S . Navy, AP, Guilford College, People’s Liberation Army, Ministry of State Security, Communist Party, Federal Bureau of Intelligence, The New York Times, Huawei, TikTok, Tiktok, US Justice Department, China Initiative, Center for Strategic, International Studies, National Security Agency, US Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, China ”, Energy, Commerce, Capitol, Washington Post, Subversion Locations: Hong Kong, United States, China, Beijing, American, Cuba, US, Center for China, South, Russia, AFP, Washington, USA, South China, Washington , DC

☆ Inside Infowars' crumbling empire: Ex-Staffers reveal the 'volatile' and 'unhinged' atmosphere working for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Tom Porter | Ashley Collman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

One afternoon in the spring of 2017 Alex Jones furiously lunged at his video producer. According to Jacobson, Jones had to be restrained by another Infowars staffer lest he actually hurt him. Alex Jones did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Owens also said he felt guilty about his complicity in promoting the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories during his time working there. "People hearing the words Sandy Hook, they automatically think Alex Jones," she added.

Persons: Alex Jones, lunged, Robert Jacobson, Jones, Jacobson, hawking, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Alex, baselessly, David, doesn't, Sandy Hooks, Sandy Hook, Josh Owens, Owens, Marjorie Taylor Greene, John Travolta, badgering, George, we're, Jone, Nuri Vallbona, lackey, …, That's, I'm, Christmas Jones, Kelly, David Duke, Duke, Infowars, He'd, David McCullough, Christopher Jordan, Jordan, they're, Megan Squire, Squire, Dave Mustain, Tim Kennedy, Donald Trump, Chris Mattei, Judge Barbara Bellis, Daria Karpova, Karpova, " Jacobson, he'll, He'll Organizations: Austin, Austin Community, Facebook, Factory, Infowars, Iron, Alamo, New York Times Magazine, REUTERS, New, Senate, Housing, Southern Poverty Law Center, San Diego, Free Speech Systems, YouTube, Sandy, Connecticut Superior, Associated Locations: Austin, Texas, USA, Infowars, Atlanta, Austin , Texas, U.S, New York City, Louisiana, Infowar, Newtown, Connecticut, New Orleans, Waterbury, Conn

And while Musk has mentioned the trip in two posts since leaving, he didn't tweet once while in China. That said, after three years of harsh COVID curbs that hampered entry into China, foreign CEOs appear eager to get the lay of the land. Sixty-seven foreign business leaders attended the high-profile China Development Forum this year, although that is still 20 fewer than in 2019. The few known comments by foreign CEOs whilst they were in China have been in line with Biden's stance that he is not seeking to decouple the world's two largest economies. The foreign ministry quoted Musk as saying he was opposed to a decoupling of the U.S. and China economies which he described as "conjoined twins".

Persons: Elon Musk, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Musk, Goldman's Solomon, wariness, Xi, Noah Fraser, Tesla, Goldman, Joe Biden, Tim Cook, Patrick Gelsinger, Mary Barra, Stephen Schwarzman, Jamie Dimon, Christopher Johnson, JPMorgan's Dimon, Daniel Russel, Brenda Goh, Joe Cash, Selena Li, Zhang Yan, David Brunnstrom, David Shepardson, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Media, Twitter, Canada China Business Council, EU Chamber of Commerce, U.S . Department of Commerce, U.S, flashpoints, General Motors, China, China Strategies, U.S ., JPMorgan, Blackstone, Intel, JPMorgan Global China Summit, Asia Society Policy Institute, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, BEIJING, China, Shanghai, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Blackstone's, East, Hong Kong

☆ NRO director says commercial space industry helps fuel the spy satellite agency’s ambitious goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Morgan Brennan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office plans to quadruple the number of satellites on orbit over the next decade. It will need commercial space companies to help do it. "It's helped us improve our reliability so that we can achieve more with more capability at a lower cost," he said. The ambitious game plan speaks to the growing role of commercial space companies in national security work. NRO partners closely with both the U.S. Space Command and the Space Force.

☆ Nina Gold on creating film stars, audition tapes, and why she'll never act
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Thomas Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This is the same Nina Gold who’s made a successful career casting some of the defining films and TV shows of this century. “I still don’t really understand what it is that makes acting good,” she says. For “Bad Sisters’” smarmy, abusive antagonist John Paul, Gold cast Claes Bang. For Gold and her team – rising to six people, depending on projects – it’s a lot of logistics and audition tapes. Gold cast Taylor-Johnson in his breakout role as John Lennon in “Nowhere Boy” (2009) at age 18-20, she guesses, but had been auditioning him since about the age of nine.

☆ Shell company stock hijacker Mark Miller sentenced to year in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Lengeling told Doty it "felt like we got punched in the gut, quite frankly" when he recently learned prosecutors were asking that Miller spend a year in prison for the penny stock scheme. In addition to his prison term, which Miller is expected to start serving in August, Doty sentenced Miller to two years of supervised release after he completes his time locked up. Miller and Jaberian, as well as an unidentified person related to Miller, became the nominal CEOs and presidents of the targeted companies, prosecutors say. Miller voluntarily dropped a suit related to efforts to take over New World Gold soon after CNBC reported his involvement with that company. Doty sentenced him on May 10 to two years of probation.

☆ Analysis: Options investors guard against U.S. stock tumble, despite buoyant markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidNEW YORK, May 10 (Reuters) - Options market demand for insurance against a stock market crash has soared to multi-month highs, even as equities have calmed down after a choppy start to the year. U.S. stock market volatility has subsided as the S&P 500 (.SPX) has logged a 7% year-to-date gain. Though stock market gyrations have subsided in recent weeks from levels hit during the regional banks crisis, investors see plenty of catalysts for volatility ahead. Institutional investors' stock exposure has inched higher after slumping in 2022 to a decade low, excluding the COVID-19 market crash of March 2020, Deutsche Bank data showed.

☆ Options investors guard against US stock tumble, despite buoyant markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ Born of Grief, a Couple’s Off Broadway Incubator Marks 20 Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Robin Pogrebin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In 2002, Jenny and Jon Steingart founded the Off Broadway incubator Ars Nova as a way of honoring Jenny’s brother, Gabriel Wiener, who in 1997 died of a brain aneurysm at the age of 26. Now, as the nonprofit theater is marking its 20th anniversary, the couple is facing another wrenching struggle: Jon has A.L.S., the severe neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. “Every painful experience in my life — if I have to live through it, I am going to come out on the other side with a lesson and a way to give back in some way,” Jenny Steingart said in a recent interview at their home on the Upper West Side. “Because a loss without some meaning behind it is really hard to live with.”So this anniversary, to be celebrated with a gala on Monday, also finds the Steingarts feeling great satisfaction, having created an institution that — in the wake of the 9/11 attacks — has played a crucial role in the professional development of so many artists. Among those who have worked at Ars Nova are Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Christopher Jackson and Phillipa Soo of “Hamilton” fame; Bridget Everett, the actress and cabaret performer of the acclaimed HBO series “Somebody Somewhere”; and Dave Malloy, who created “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” at Ars Nova.

☆ Big Tech employees are getting culled. Their European colleagues get stronger labor laws and softer landings.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

European Big Tech employees have better labor protections"There are regulations in Europe that apply to collective situations, based on European law: the so-called Mass Dismissal Directive," said Dr. Jordan. But in January, Twitter employees were reported to have been paid just one month's severance, according to CNN. Twitter employees in other European hubs such as Germany, Spain, Ireland, and the UK are also pushing back, with the help of the countries' labor laws and unions. Twitter employees in Germany have also worked with the Verdi union to push Twitter into making a better severance offer, Fortune reported. The process could take months instead of weeks, Brittin added — another testament to Europe's stronger labor protections for its employees.

The summit is the same week as major South Korea-U.S. military drills that routinely anger Pyongyang, and North Korea has already staged multiple missile launches - a backdrop for the message that Japan, South Korea and the United States need to close ranks. In November South Korea and Japan agreed to exchange real-time intelligence on North Korea's missile launches, which experts say will help both countries better track potential threats. "South Korea is already taking a side and entering the Cold War," said Kim Joon-hyung, a former chancellor of the Korean National Diplomatic Academy. Yoon said high-tech cooperation on supply chains between Japan and South Korea would contribute significantly to economic security. 'SHARED INTERESTS'Washington had pressed for reconciliation, but a State Department spokesperson said the recent arrangements were the result of bilateral discussions between Japan and South Korea.

☆ As Big Tech employees get culled, their European colleagues get stronger labor laws and softer landings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Big Tech layoffs at Meta, Twitter, Amazon and Snap have laid off thousands of workers globally. Until recently, tech employees haven't had to think too seriously about mass layoffs. European Big Tech employees have better labor protections"There are regulations in Europe that apply to collective situations, based on European law: the so-called Mass Dismissal Directive," said Dr. Jordan. But in January, Twitter employees were reported to have been paid just one month's severance, according to CNN. Twitter employees in Germany have also worked with the Verdi union to push Twitter into making a better severance offer, Fortune reported.

☆ Europe markets set to open higher as investors digest Fed comments, inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets were on course to open higher Friday, extending the previous session's gains as investors take stock of the slew of economic data published this week. Across Europe, inflation data came in hotter than expected. A flash estimate for the euro zone showed headline inflation eased from 8.6% to 8.5%, but this was above a consensus estimate; while core inflation rose from 5.3% to 5.6%. However, in a separate speech, Fed Governor Christopher J. Waller raised the possibility of a higher terminal rate if inflation does not cool, citing January's bumper payrolls report. Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher Friday, while U.S. stock futures nudged lower.

☆ Dow jumps 387 points as US stocks snap weekly losing streak after rate fears ease
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US stocks climbed higher on Friday, snapping a weekly losing streak. Fears of a move back to bigger rate hikes were eased as traders digested comments from Fed officials. All three indices ended the day higher, with the Dow gaining almost 400 points to break a four-week streak of losses. "The solid ISM survey and resilience to high interest rates will reinforce the Fed's resolve that interest rates should continue to move higher. "The Fed wants to tread lightly to minimize the risk that they overshoot and cause an unnecessarily severe downturn."

☆ Stock futures tick lower on Thursday night: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. stock futures inched downward on Thursday night as investors pondered the Federal Reserve's rate-hiking path in light of fresh commentary from central bank speakers. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.15% and 0.21%, respectively. The S&P 500 is up 0.28%, while the Nasdaq has a 0.60% gain. The road ahead is a tough one for the central bank, regardless of the messaging they're relaying to the public. Investors will also listen for further commentary from central bank officials, including Fed Governor Michelle Bowman and Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin.

☆ Blackstone's Ike leaves to start new investment firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Chibuike Oguh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Melvin Ike, a managing director in Blackstone Inc's (BX.N) tactical opportunities group, has resigned to start his own investment firm, the private equity firm told Reuters. Ike's resignation was announced during a meeting of Blackstone's tactical opportunities fund investors held last week in New York, the firm said in a statement on Tuesday. Ike's transactions for Blackstone's tactical opportunities unit include the sale of a majority stake in Wisconsin-based home improvement lender Aqua Finance for $1 billion to Apollo Global Management (APO.N) in 2021. He also led Blackstone's acquisition of a majority stake in collectibles authentication firm Certified Collectibles Group as well as the minority investments in digital marketing firm Recurrent Ventures and Cybersecurity firm Geocomply. Blackstone's tactical opportunities unit, which is run by David Blitzer, invests in assets that typically fall outside the scope of the firm's other funds, from timber and mines to oil tankers and satellites.

☆ What do Chinese travelers want? Luxury 'star-rated' hotels, says new survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The research points to growing demand for high-end and luxury hotels in China now that the country has ended domestic travel restrictions — and a Covid wave has passed. watch nowThe report said that "37% of the consumers prefer higher star-rated hotels, up from 18% in 2020, with higher-income consumers showing even stronger appetites for luxury hotel stays (47% vs. 31% in 2020)." "The growing mid-/high-income population in China will fuel continued growth in demand for upscale hotels," the UBS report said. "At present, the number of upscale and luxury hotel guest room contribution and brand penetration rate in China are both lower than in North America." "China's hotel groups are still exploring the upscale hotel market, and we think acquisition of established overseas upscale brands may be their best option, and that founding joint ventures with real estate developers could provide property management resources for expansion into the upscale hotel market."

☆ New US Marine units are taking position on 'key terrain' around Taiwan as tensions rise with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The US and Japan said in January that a Marine Littoral Regiment will be set up in Japan by 2025. A Marine Littoral Regiment will also hold a major exercise in the northern Philippines this spring. That unit, the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, is the second of three Marine Littoral Regiments planned for the Indo-Pacific region, the first of which was activated in March 2022 and is based in Hawaii. Within weeks of its activation, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment was participating in the US-Philippine military exercise Balikatan. Members of 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in Hawaii in August 2022.

☆ US Marines are taking position on 'key terrain' around Taiwan as tensions rise with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The US and Japan said in January that a Marine Littoral Regiment will be set up in Japan by 2025. That unit, the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, is the second of three Marine Littoral Regiments planned for the Indo-Pacific region, the first of which was activated in March 2022 and is based in Hawaii. Within weeks of its activation, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment was participating in the US-Philippine military exercise Balikatan. New threat, new forceUS Marines provide security for an amphibious landing during Balikatan 22 in northern Luzon in March 2022. US Marines during an amphibious landing as part of Balikatan 22 in northern Luzon in March 2022.

☆ Don't make this common career mistake in your 20s, says the CEO of Hilton
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The job taught Nassetta, the 60-year-old CEO of Hilton Worldwide — a multinational hospitality company with a $38.86 billion market capitalization, as of Tuesday morning — more than just how hotels operate, he says. "Young people have so much access and information to knowledge, but you don't want to confuse that with experience." In contrast, some of his friends spent their 20s and 30s rising through the career ranks to powerful positions — and quickly flaming out, he says. On finding help in unexpected places: 'To this day ... you just don't know what you don't know'I like to think I work hard, I'm well educated, I'm reasonably smart. But even to this day, and certainly when I was in my 20s and 30s trying to figure things out, you just don't know what you don't know.

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