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Prosecutors cannot force Donald J. Trump to testify at his criminal trial in Manhattan, but that does not mean they can’t use his words against him. On Tuesday, the prosecutors unearthed a series of damaging excerpts from books that the former president wrote, plucking out passages to help make their case against Mr. Trump. In essence, they called a past version of Mr. Trump to testify against his future self. In his own words, Mr. Trump described how he kept a focus on minute details and watched every penny that left his accounts, corroborating a core component of the prosecution’s case as they argue that he knew that his company falsified business records to cover up a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, a porn star. On cross-examination, Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, suggested that a ghost writer had been responsible for these words.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Trump’s, Todd Blanche Locations: Manhattan

A Master Promissory Note, or MPN, is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of your federal student loans. Promissory notes are used for all types of loans, like auto loans, mortgages, and personal loans, though an MPN is a special type of promissory note used exclusively for federal student loans. Why the MPN mattersIt's important for student loan borrowers to sign and understand an MPN for the following reasons:It's Not Optional: Required to receive federal student loans. In general, you'll default on most federal student loans if you have not made a payment in more than 270 days. Ryan Wangman, CEPF Loans Reporter Ryan Wangman was a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans.

Persons: Mark Kantrowitz, You'll, Stacey MacPhetres, Andrew Pentis, Ryan Wangman, Read Organizations: Parent PLUS, Department of Education, Bright, Borrower's, Loan, Federal, Aid, Finance, Northwestern University, Boston Globe Locations: Chevron

☆ How the overturned Harvey Weinstein conviction could echo in Donald Trump’s hush money trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Gloria Pazmino | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Some legal observers believe the Weinstein decision could prove relevant as the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump unfolds in Manhattan. Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the trial and making day-by-day decisions about what evidence is allowed in court, is bound to the same guidelines as the Weinstein trial judge. Stephen Gillers, professor of law at New York University, said the Weinstein ruling will certainly be important to Merchan. Judge Madeline Singas dissented from the Weinstein appeals court ruling, saying the information was needed for the jury to consider. Gillers said the Weinstein decision is not just weighing on the judge’s mind.

Persons: Harvey Weinstein’s, Weinstein, ”, “ Sandoval ”, Donald Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Sandoval, Douglas Wigdor, “, Trump, Stormy Daniels, It’s, Karen McDougal, Trump’s, McDougal, Daniels, Ronan Farrow, Harvey Weinstein, Merchan, Stephen Gillers, ” Gillers, Deborah Tuerkheimer, Madeline Singas, ” Singas, ‘ Sandoval ’, Weinstein judge’s Sandoval, Augustin Sandoval, Jean Carroll, Tuerkheimer, Merchan’s, he’s, ” Tuerkheimer, Arthur Aidala, Aidala, ” Aidala, “ Harvey, Gillers, –, won’t Organizations: CNN, New, Trump, Molineux, New York University, Northwestern University, ” Prosecutors, Weinstein Locations: New York, Manhattan, Weinstein’s

☆ Black creators were instrumental in building TikTok. Now they fear they'll be hit the hardest by a ban.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But largely, TikTok is a place Black creators found where they could thrive and reach new audiences and customers for their growing businesses. It wasn't that the content wasn't good, Ford said, it was that Instagram "just wasn't a place for Black creators, minority creators, to excel." Some Black creators suspected their Black Lives Matter content was suppressed in 2020 after George Floyd's death ignited a wave of protests. AdvertisementBlack TikTokers have also expressed an "undertone of anti-Blackness" in the platform's algorithm, where white creators benefited from the trends started by Black creators. AdvertisementThis is disheartening, Black creators told BI, because so many top trends and ideas come from their community.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, TikTok, Tenyse Williams, It's, Funmi Ford, Ford, Nya, I've, Étienne, Keith Lee, entrepreneurialism, Kahlil Dumas, Dumas, George Floyd's, Jalaiah Harmon, Black TikTokers, Williams, Imani Bashir, Bashir, We're, isn't Organizations: Service, Senate, Business, Consulting, University of Central, Columbia University, George Washington University, Pew Research Center, An, Free, Black, New York Times, Forbes, YouTube, BI Locations: University of Central Florida, Instagram, An Oxford, Atlanta

One of the architects of that plan for a Trump second term said as much in a video last year for the Heritage Foundation. Reissuing Schedule F is part of a roadmap, known as Project 2025, drafted for a second Trump term by scores of conservative groups and published by the Heritage Foundation. The new rules would not fully block reclassifying workers in a second Trump term. Greene said she worries for federal workers who might face the same choice in a second Trump term. The project includes a personnel database for potential hires in a second Trump administration.

Persons: Donald Trump, it’s, —, Trump, Joe Biden, Donald Moynihan, Georgetown University's, ” Donald Moynihan, ” Moynihan, “ It’s, ”, Russell Vought, “, you’re, Doreen Greenwald, Moynihan, Kenneth Baer, Barack Obama, ” Kenneth Baer, Peter Orszag, Pete Souza, Robert Shea, Eva Shea, George W, Bush, Laura Bush, Tina Hager, ” Biden, Baer, George Frey, ” Trump, Max Stier, Verna Daniels, ” Daniels, Catherine Greene, ” Greene, Tom Bewick, NIFA, ” Bewick, we’ll, Greene, Biden, “ We’ve, He’s, Hillary Clinton, he’d, James Comey, Bill Barr, Barr, Jeffrey Clark, Clark, Mark Meadows, Stephen Miller, Peter Navarro, he’ll Organizations: CNN, United, Republican, Democratic, Trump, ”, Georgetown, Georgetown University's McCourt School, Public, Georgetown University, Heritage Foundation, Management, Budget, of Justice, FBI, Environmental Protection Agency, Vought, National Treasury Employees Union, OMB, White, Personnel Management, Land Management, Department of Agriculture, Kansas City, Partnership for Public Service, Government, Office, GAO, Economic Research Service, National Institute of Food, Agriculture, USDA, National Institute for Food, NIFA, Applied Economics Association, BLM, Getty, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Univision, Justice, Department, U.S . Justice, Center, Washington Post, National Security and Intelligence, of Homeland Security, of Education and Commerce, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission Locations: United States, Washington, Georgetown, , Colorado, DC, Kansas, Colorado, Virginia, America, Grand Junction, Washington ,, New York City, New York, Georgia

☆ Opinion | This Whole King Trump Thing Is Getting Awfully Literal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump’s claim that he has absolute immunity for criminal acts taken in office as president is an insult to reason, an assault on common sense and a perversion of the fundamental maxim of American democracy: that no man is above the law. More astonishing than the former president’s claim to immunity, however, is the fact that the Supreme Court took the case in the first place. It is a process so vital, and so precious, that its first occurrence — with the defeat of John Adams and the Federalists at the hands of Thomas Jefferson’s Republicans in the 1800 presidential election — marks a second sort of American Revolution. And if the trial occurs after an election in which Trump wins a second term and he is convicted, then the court will have teed the nation up for an acute constitutional crisis. A president, for the first time in the nation’s history, might try to pardon himself for his own criminal behavior.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, It’s, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson’s Organizations: Supreme, Federalists, Thomas Jefferson’s Republicans, Trump Locations: United States

☆ Opinion | Trump’s Act Was Getting Stale. Being a Courtroom Victim Is Just What He Needed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Stuart Stevens | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The trial will afford Mr. Trump the opportunity to define the essence of his candidacy: I am a victim. The very competent operatives running the Trump campaign didn’t draw this up as their ideal campaign plan, but they will appreciate its potential. The Manhattan courtroom will be the setting for Mr. Trump to play the role of a familiar American archetype: the wronged man seeking justice from corrupt, powerful forces. But here’s the most important element of scheduling: putting a candidate in a setting that gives them a chance to excel. Mr. Trump loves big rallies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, George W, Bush’s, Bush Organizations: Republican, Trump, Cable Locations: New York City, Manhattan, Texas

☆ How a gag order showdown explains everything about Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“He knows what he’s not allowed to do, and he does it anyway.”Conroy was referring to Trump’s incessant testing of a gag order protecting witnesses, court staff and the jury. “Michael Cohen is a convicted liar and he’s got no credibility whatsoever,” Trump said in an interview with WPVI Philadelphia. Trump could face a ladder of escalating sanctionsProsecutors now want Merchan to fine Trump $1,000 for each of 10 alleged violations of the gag order and to warn that imprisonment could be an option if he continues to flout restrictions. Trump claims the gag order stifles his right to free speech and to campaign as a presumptive party nominee. And while a dispute over one partial gag order might seem like a small wrinkle in an individual case, it conveys a wider truth about Trump’s impact on American life.

Persons: Chris Conroy, Donald Trump, “, he’s, ” Conroy, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Trump, “ Michael Cohen, ” Trump, CNN’s John Miller, “ Judge Merchan, ”, Jeffrey Swartz, Jim Sciutto, CNN Max, lacerating, Merchan, Elizabeth Williams, Todd Blanche, doesn’t, CNN’s Erin Burnett, —, Jack Smith’s, there’s, •, Joe Biden’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, mishandle, He’s, president’s, Trump’s, George Conway, ” Conway, CNN’s Burnett Organizations: CNN, GOP, The New, Trump, Philadelphia, Prosecutors, New York City Department of Corrections, Cooley Law, US, Trump Organization, Conservative Political, Conference, Biden Locations: The New York, Washington ,, Georgia

☆ 'We can save our planet faster': Robotics tech and software offer efficient reforestation solutions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Christine Macintyre | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Companies are using drones and special software to plant trees and overcome reforestation pain points. Robotics making reforestation more efficientThe tech-driven company Mast Reforestation uses drones and biotechnology to help landowners restore forestland after wildfires. Another company using robotics to plant trees is Flash Forest, which employs automated drones to restore burn sites and other damaged forest areas. To combat this issue, Mast Reforestation uses its custom-built software as a seed-inventory and seed-collection logistics platform. The software helped Mast Reforestation collect enough seeds last year to reforest about 2,100 acres on Sheep Creek Ranch in Montana.

Persons: Matthew Aghai, Aghai, Grant Canary, they're, Chris Ireland, Flash, Randy Johns, Jeff Renton, Forest's Organizations: Service, Global Forest Watch, Forest, Ireland, Business, Flash, Boreal, Keewatin Community Development Association, Flash Forest Locations: forestland, Technology, —, Canada, Ireland, Keewatin, Canadian, Saskatchewan, Montana, , Montana

☆ Ukraine is given a reprieve by the U.S., but faces race against the clock over weapons supplies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Ukrainian servicemen monitor the situation along the front via drones in the direction of Kreminna, Ukraine as Russia-Ukraine war continues on 31 March 2024. Defense analysts argue that while the funding could help breathe new life and morale into Ukraine's beleaguered military campaign, aid and supplies must be sent to Ukraine immediately. "It's unlikely this will create immediate parity with the Russian volume of fire, but it will help close the gap," Savill said. They point out that further U.S. aid is not guaranteed, particularly given the uncertain outcome of the presidential election later this year. One top U.S. general told Congress earlier in April that Russia was firing five artillery shells for every one fired by Ukrainian forces, and that this disparity could double in the coming weeks.

Persons: it's, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, DANA, Matthew Savill, Savill, tranche, RUSI's Savill, Chasiv Yar, Roman Pilipey, Donald Trump, Timothy Ash, Ash, — Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Ukraine, Republicans, Democratic, U.S, Senate, Defense, London, Pentagon, Kyiv, Spartan, Afp, Chatham House, RBC BlueBay Asset Management Locations: Kreminna, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Israel, Taiwan, Ukrainian, Washington, Russian, Czech, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Roman, British, Chasiv, Donetsk, Eurasia, Western, Luhansk, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka

☆ A 6-month Chinese-food festival is bringing authentic and flavor-packed cuisine to New York City's masses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Xintian Tina Wang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

At New York's Dragon Festival, authentic Chinese brands and restaurants excite locals' taste buds. Its founder shared some of her favorite vendors of soup dumplings and candies at the opening event. "This doesn't taste like home," said Xu, a 31-year-old entrepreneur and the creator of New York City's Dragon Festival, the biggest Chinese-food festival in the metropolitan area. Jessie YuChen for BIChen said that confectioners in her home province of Fujian, China, caught her attention when she was younger. In 2006, inspired by the soup dumplings made popular by Shanghai's Nanxiang district, Ma opened his first New York City storefront.

Persons: —, Xu, Jessie YuChen, she's, Mila, Tang Hulu, I'm, Bu Tong, Ivy Chen, Dragon Lulu, Chen, Vivian Cao, confectioners, Emperor Guangzong, Michael Ma, Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Ma, Nan, bartenders, Coco, Xibei Yang Organizations: Service, Park, Dragon, Prospect, lollipop, Michelin, Chi Forest, Haidilao, BI Locations: New York, SoHo, Chinatown, Flushing, York City, Koreatown, Union, Chelsea, Washington, Kwa, Henan, Queens, Prospect Park , Brooklyn, Beijing, Fujian, China, Shanghai, York, Nanxiang, New York City, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Chi, Thai, Bangkok, Sichuan, Manhattan

☆ Opening statements to show the stark personal and political stakes of Trump’s first criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But on Monday, his diminished reality as a criminal defendant will become clear in humbling fashion during opening statements in his first criminal trial. The process, known as a Sandoval hearing, offered the ex-president a glimpse of personal and unflattering revelations that the trial could dredge up. The political case against the prosecutions was laid out by South Dakota Gov. But Noem rehearsed a political argument that Trump and his associates will be seeking to land as the trial goes ahead. But the deeply consequential political and personal stakes for the former president will become even clearer when the first trial begins for real on Monday.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Trump, Joe Biden, –, victimhood, He’s, “, ” Trump, president’s, haggled, Sandoval, Stacey Schneider, Jean Carroll, ” Schneider, it’s, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, Pecker, Joshua Steinglass, ”, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Biden, There’s, Kristi Noem, ” Noem, CNN’s Dana, Noem, Cohen Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Trump, American Media Inc, National Enquirer, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Attorney, Democratic, Mar, South Dakota Gov, New York Times Locations: Manhattan, North Carolina, New York, United States, “ State, Siena, Dakota

☆ VCs are obsessed with vector databases. Here are seven AI startups in the space that have raised millions from investors.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Samantha Stokes | Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

VCs are hungry to back vector database startups and other behind-the-scenes tech that improves AI. Vector databases store and structure data that LLMs can then pull from. Business Insider has idenfied seven vector database startups that have been early winners. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Vector databases capture and store the essence of a particular piece of data that a machine-learning program or LLM can then pull from.

Persons: — Organizations: Business, Service

☆ What to see at the Venice Biennale 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Nicole Mowbray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —This week sees the opening of the Venice Biennale, an 8-month-long festival of art and culture staged every other year. For 2024 — the show’s 60th iteration — Brazilian curator Adriano Pedrosa has chosen the topic of “Foreigners Everywhere,” and announced an intention to spotlight artists from diverse and historically marginalized backgrounds. With the main event running from April 20 to November 24 2024, here’s our pick of what to see if you’re headed to Venice. “Willem de Kooning e l’Italia” — Willem de KooningThe show at Gallerie dell’Accademia will include 75 Willem de Kooning works, including "Screams of Children Come from Seagulls (Untitled XX)," 1975. Yoo Youngkuk Art FoundationThe first exhibition in Europe of one of Korea’s most influential artists, including many works never exhibited before outside Korea.

Persons: Adriano Pedrosa, ”, Pedrosa, —, you’re, “ Willem de Kooning, Willem de Kooning, Kooning, Gallerie, Nick, Berlinde De, Abbazia, Ewa Juszkiewicz Juszkiewicz, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Palazzo, Palazzo Cavanis, Ai, Peter Hujar, della, Carolina, Marcel Duchamp, Franchetti, Cindy Sherman, Louise Bourgeois, Sarah Lucas, Irving Penn, Palazzo Franchetti, Marco “, Zoe Saldana, Marco Perego, Corita, Maurizio Cattelan, Pope Francis, Inuuteq Storch, Louise Wolthers, “, John Akomfrah, John Akmofrah, Yoo, Yoo Youngkuk, Stampalia, M.F, Husain, Picasso, Viktoria Bavykina, Max Gorbatskyi, Ai Weiwei Ai Weiwei, Ela Bialkowska, Ai Weiwei, Palazzo Smith, Koo Jeong, Koo, Rick Lowe, Lowe's, Lowe Organizations: CNN, Venice Biennale, Palazzo, Sun, Danish, British, Bangkok Art Biennale Foundation Locations: Venice, Italy, “, Refuge, ” City, San Giorgio Maggiore, San, New York, Santa, San Marco, Marco, Giudecca, Corita Kent, American, Greenland, Europe, Korea, India, Sale, Ukraine, Continua, Bangkok, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Houston

☆ Ashanti and Nelly are engaged and expecting a baby
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Congratulations are in order for singer Ashanti and rapper Nelly. “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” Ashanti, 43, said in a statement to the publication. Ashanti attended the MTV VMA Awards around that time, where Nelly was a scheduled performer. She carried a clutch with a photo of her and Nelly from when they attended the awards ceremony together back in 2003. It wasn’t anything that was planned.”CNN has reached out to representatives for Nelly for additional comment.

Persons: Ashanti, Nelly, ” Ashanti, she’s, Tina Y, Douglas, gasps, Baby Haynes, ”, Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, “, Rasheeda, Kirk Frost, Rasheeda ”, ” Nelly Organizations: CNN, ”, Cornell, MTV, Hop Atlanta

☆ 20 Taylor Swift songs with literary references you may have missed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Happiness" also seems to reference Gatsby, Daisy, and the infamous green light. Swift said it's about "the realization that maybe the only path to healing is to wish happiness on the one who took it away from you." Also in verse two, Swift sings pointedly, "I hope she'll be a beautiful fool / Who takes my spot next to you." Finally, Swift makes Gatsby's influence clear by using the book's most famous symbol. In "The Great Gatsby," the green light at the end of Daisy's dock represents Gatsby's undying love (or obsession, depending on how you look at it).

Persons: Daisy, Taylor, Swift, Nick, Gatsby Organizations: Warner, Illicit Affairs

☆ Opinion: Trump trial isn’t a hush money case, but an election interference one
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

We should call it an “election interference” trial going forward. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass skillfully advanced the election interference theory by structuring his evidentiary points in chronological order within that frame. Trump’s alleged 2020 attempt to overthrow our government distorts perceptions of how serious the charges related to the 2016 election are. How can we call this an election interference trial, they ask, if the election was already over when the 34 alleged document falsification crimes occurred? It is an election interference one and we should say so.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Joshua Steinglass, Steinglass, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, Daniels, Cohen, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jack Smith, Fani Willis, Trump’s, Bragg Organizations: CNN, Trump, ”, American Media, National Enquirer, DA, Attorney, Fulton, Twitter Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Manhattan

☆ At a Holi festival in Brooklyn, tradition and contemporary celebration create a colorful union
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sheetal Banchariya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Hindu festival Holi has become more popular and inclusive, especially in the Indian diaspora. The Hindu festival of colors, observed as Holi in India and Fagu Purnima in Nepal, holds immense cultural significance for South Asians. "There were not many or any events celebrating Holi at that time, despite a considerable number of Indians living in Jackson Heights," she said. He said that over the years he'd seen Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Sri Lankans, African Americans, and Irish people attending his Holi event. Love was in the air at the Holi celebration.

Persons: —, Fagu, bhalle, gulab jamun, I'd, Sheetal, Zayira Ray, Uma Kapoor, Kapoor, Manny Singh, Jarrod Fox, Festivalgoers, Akash Sheth, Sheth, Singh, Elise Young, Elise's Bodyshop, Carmen Perez, Young, who's, Vijay Satnarine, It's, Satnarine, Love, Lord Vishnu, King Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu's, Holika, Radha Rani, Lord Krishna Organizations: Service, BI, Morgan, Morgan Stanley's IT, Google, Hindu American Foundation, gulal, Apple Locations: Brooklyn , New York, India, Fagu Purnima, Nepal, New York, Asian, Queens , New York, Jackson Heights, Jersey, New York City, Morgan Stanley's, City, Brooklyn, Sri Lankans, African, Connecticut, Massachusetts, London, Wales

☆ JPMorgan says gold has further to run on escalating Middle East conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold could have room for further upside as tensions in the Middle East mount, according to JPMorgan. Spot gold has been on a tear in 2024 with a gain of more than 14%. Prices hit an all-time high of $2,448.80 per ounce intraday on Friday as investors braced for a further escalation in the Middle East. @GC.1 YTD mountain Gold hit a fresh all-time high on Friday, but JPMorgan thinks bullion has more room to run. "Given positioning and recent price action, mean reversion risk in gold still remains elevated in the near-term though geopolitics remain a bullish-skewed wildcard amid risks of an escalating retaliation cycle between Israel and Iran," Shearer said.

Persons: Gregory C, Shearer, " Shearer, Michael Bloom Organizations: JPMorgan, Investors, Federal Reserve Locations: Iran, Israel, Damascus, Syria, @GC

☆ Rejoice, millennials: The vampire boyfriend is cool again
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

If you've spent time on TikTok or X in the past few months, you may have spotted a proliferation of videos and posts about two video game characters. There's Astarion from "Baldur's Gate 3," and more recently, there's Vincent Valentine, a fan-favorite character from Square Enix's "Final Fantasy VII" remake. Square Enix; Gregg DeGuire/Getty ImagesMercer's opening line in "Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth" is now a fandom legend. from within the depths of his velvet-lined coffin, longtime "Final Fantasy" fans were introduced to the super-cool, uber-goth gunslinger. "I hope viewers of the work see, too, that there's more underneath the surface of a person than the trope of this decadent, hedonistic, theatrical vampire," Newbon said.

Persons: —, hasn't, you've, There's, there's Vincent Valentine, Edward Cullen sparkled, Edward, he's, there's, Alucard, Valentine, Matthew Mercer, Neil Newbon, Matt Mercer, Zelda, Vincent Valentine, Gregg DeGuire, Vincent, Mercer, I've, Vox, Scott Garfitt, who's, Astarion, Newbon Organizations: Service, Business, BAFTA, Getty Images

☆ I tried Spotify's AI feature to make playlists with text and emoji prompts. It's impressive but I'll still make my own.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Spotify has launched AI Playlist, a new feature that makes playlists with a text or emoji prompt. It then gives you three options: "Playlist" to build your own, "Blend" to make a shared playlist with friends, and "AI Playlist" to "turn your ideas into playlists using AI." Jyoti MannOnce you tap "AI Playlist," a text box appears where you can enter a prompt — even by entering just an emoji. Within five seconds it can put together a playlist made up of 30 songs based on what it thinks you'll like. I then asked for a playlist based on the vibes of Joseph Cooper, the main character in the movie "Interstellar."

Persons: —, I've, Jyoti Mann, swiping, Adele, Hozier, Amy Winehouse, Joseph Cooper, Gaga's, Ryan Lewis's Organizations: Spotify, Service Locations: Australia, Sardinia, Italy

☆ Big corporations are quietly taking over your medical practice. Some doctors and experts say it's ruining healthcare.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

UnitedHealth Group struck a deal in March to buy the nine-state doctor group of the struggling hospital system Steward Health Care. AdvertisementDoctors are hot commoditiesIt's tough to lump the many buyers of medical practices together, as they're pursuing different strategies. Insurers like UnitedHealthcare and CVS' Aetna are required by federal law to spend most of the money they collect in premiums on medical care. Plus, running a modern medical practice is expensive, requiring investments in staffing, technology, and electronic health records. Advertisement"The corporate practice of medicine is the reason why healthcare costs are out of control," Li said.

Persons: —, UnitedHealth's Optum, That's, UnitedHealth, there's, They're, Farzad Mostashari, UnitedHealth's chokehold, Chas Roades, Yashaswini Singh, Singh, Roades, Nick Jones, they're, Optum, Jones, Mitch Li, Li, Michelle Cooke, Cooke, she's, Ben Bowman, Bowman Organizations: Service, UnitedHealth, Health Care, CVS Health, Walgreens, Physicians, Research, US Justice Department, CVS, Aetna, Brown University, Harvard Medical School, Oregon Medical Group, JAMA, Amazon, The Washington Post, Federal Trade Commission, US Department of Justice, Department of Health, Human Services, Oregon State, Corvallis Clinic Locations: Oregon, New York, UnitedHealth, Optum, California, The, Atlanta

☆ All the times Zendaya served looks on the ‘Challengers’ press tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Leah Asmelash | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But her latest press tour is, well, a grand slam. Scroll to see Zendaya’s best looks from the “Challengers” press tour. Zendaya's press tour began with the Australian premiere of "Challengers" in Sydney on March 26. Emmanuel DunandAFP/Getty ImagesIn one of her more literal looks, Zendaya wore a custom Loewe dress to a photocall in Rome on April 8, clearly designed to mimic a classic tennis outfit with its pleated skirt and classic lined v-neck. Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesDuring the “Dune: Part Two,” press tour, Zendaya’s co-stars, including Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson and Timothée Chalamet, matched her commitment to the sartorial ‘bit’ with their own red carpet wardrobes.

Persons: CNN — Zendaya, ” Zendaya, ” Law Roach, Zendaya’s, Thierry Mugler, ” Roach, Flavio Brancaleone, Louis, Emmanuel Dunand, Kristy Sparow, Louis Vuitton, Emmanuel DunandAFP, Zendaya, Daniele Venturelli, Calvin Klein, Vittorio Zunino Celotto, Thom Browne, Hoda Davaine, Dave Benett, Gareth Cattermole, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Timothée, ”, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, O’Connor, Tashi, Loewe, Jonathan Anderson —, — Organizations: CNN, ”, British “ Vogue, US Vogue, British Vogue, Getty, Paris, Rome, “ Locations: British, Sydney, Paris, AFP, Rome

☆ Poland is debating an end to its near-total abortion ban, setting up a heated political fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Though fraught with obstacles, the decision to bring abortion back to the fore was one Tusk had to make. Donald Tusk leads a broad coalition which is divided on how to tackle the issue of abortion. Third Way lawmakers have also supported a referendum on changes to the abortion law, a potentially long-running saga that Tusk is eager to avoid. Poland’s near-total abortion banThe move by PiS to dramatically toughen already restrictive abortion laws in 2020 set off a heated fight in Polish politics whose ruptures are still closely felt. That effort was blocked by opposition lawmakers, many of whom now find themselves in Tusk’s coalition.

Persons: Donald Tusk’s, Tusk, Andrzej Duda, Lewica, Donald Tusk, Omar Marques, ” Izabela, PiS, liberalize, Szymon Holownia, Wojtek Radwanski, President Duda, Leszczyna, TVP, Duda, Tusk’s Organizations: CNN, European Union, Getty, Justice, Poland’s, Health, TVP, Ministry, Third, stoke Locations: Poland, Europe, Polish, Poland’s, Warsaw, AFP

☆ Some Fed officials worry inflation remains stubbornly high, minutes show
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Federal Reserve officials said during their March policymaking meeting that inflation will likely continue to slow this year, according to minutes released Wednesday, but some still fretted over the possibility that inflation could remain stubbornly high. While Fed officials “observed that significant progress had been made over the past year” despite disappointing inflation readings for January and February, some also “noted that the recent increases in inflation had been relatively broad based,” the minutes said. The Fed kept its key interest rate at a two-decade high for the fifth straight meeting last month, at a range of 5.25-5.5%. The odds that the first rate cut will come in June also dropped after CPI was released, according to futures. Goldman Sachs pushed back its call for the first rate cut to July from June and Bank of America is now projecting a June rate cut with “low confidence.”“The likelihood of a June Fed rate cut declined materially today,” Ronald Temple, chief market strategist at Lazard, said in a note Wednesday.

Persons: “, Jerome Powell, Goldman Sachs, ”, ” Ronald Temple, Powell Organizations: Washington CNN — Federal, Fed, CPI, Bank of America, Lazard, “

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