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☆ West closely watching Putin's next move after breakaway region asks Moscow to 'protect' it from Moldova
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with his confidants for the 2024 election at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 31, 2024. Maxim Shemetov | ReutersSpeculation is mounting that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use his annual address to Russian lawmakers Thursday to announce that Russian troops will be sent to "protect" the pro-Russian, breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova. Officials in the separatist region appealed to Russia on Wednesday for "protection" against Moldova's pro-Western government. "We keep a close eye and reiterate that the Transnistrian region is aligned with the goal of peace and security of Moldova. A map of Moldova, including the breakaway region of Transnistria.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Maxim Shemetov, —, Putin, Moldova's, Daniel Voda, Matthew Miller, Tursa, Russia's, Ivana Stradner, Daniel Mihailescu Organizations: Gostiny Dvor, Reuters, Moldova's, Russia's Foreign, RIA Novosti, Analysts, Federal, U.S . State Department, EU, Getty Russia, United Nations, Defense, Democracies, CNBC, Kremlin, Russian Federation, Institute for, Afp, Getty Locations: Moscow, Russia, Transnistria, Moldova, Soviet Union, Europe, Pridnestrovie, Moldavian Republic, Transnistrian, Ukraine, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Georgia, Washington, U.S, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Chisinau

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador immediately interpreted the reports as a U.S. attack on his government and his Morena party before Mexico’s June 2 presidential election. The stories described testimony by traffickers that they passed about $2 million to confidants of López Obrador in 2006, when he narrowly lost the race for president. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“It is completely false, it's slander,” López Obrador said Wednesday at his daily media briefing. López Obrador is notoriously touchy about anything that tarnishes his own moral authority or reputation, upon which his entire party rests. Campaign operators linked to López Obrador have been caught on video several times receiving large sums of cash, but with no proof he knew about it.

Persons: —, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Salvador, López Obrador, ” López Obrador, “, ” “ It's, Mike Vigil, “ It's, ” Vigil, Cienfuegos, Vigil, Claudia Sheinbaum, López Obrador's, Mexico's, Beltran Leyva, didn't, Guadalupe Correa, Cabrera, ”, Correa, “ That's, Manuel López Obrador, Mexico’s Organizations: MEXICO CITY, ., Mexico’s, . Drug, Administration, López, ProPublica, Deutsche Welle, George Mason University, U.S, Republicans, Republican, DEA, Cienfuegos ’, United Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexico, Mexican, Salvador Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos, United States, López Obrador's Morena, ‘ Mexico, Los Angeles

☆ Donald Trump will not win a war against the Swifties
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

If former President Donald Trump and his campaign choose to attack Taylor Swift, he'll have to defeat a far scarier and more dangerous force than Joe Biden's reelection campaign: her scorned fans. A Morning Consult survey from March 2023 estimated that 53% of US adults consider themselves Swift fans, an astoundingly large support base. While the general perception is that Swift fans are overwhelmingly Democrats or left-leaning, liberals are estimated to be around 55% of her fan base, meaning there are more than 100 million Republican Swifties that the former president risks alienating. If just a small fraction of Swift's Republican fans defect over such attacks, it could legitimately help Biden secure a second term in the White House. If Trump and his circle go ahead with their "holy war" against the pop star, they should be prepared for the worst.

Persons: Donald Trump, Taylor Swift, Joe Biden's, vilifying, Rolling Stone, MAGA, Swift, sullying, Biden, they're, Trump Organizations: Defense, Trump, Rolling, Business, Biden, Democratic

The personnel shake-up follows growing frustration among campaign staffers over the effectiveness – or lack thereof – of the PAC’s spending. “It’s not so good,” Carol Weissert, political science professor at Florida State University, says about the state of the DeSantis campaign. To be sure, DeSantis has put in the work in Iowa, having completed his 99-county tour this week. The polling average as of Dec. 4 shows Trump with 45% support in Iowa, with DeSantis at 17% and Haley at 15%. She eclipsed DeSantis for the first time this week in Iowa in a poll by Americans for Prosperity, which is supporting her campaign, showing Haley 1 percentage point ahead of DeSantis – 17% to 16%.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Christian Ziegler, Bridget Ziegler, Zieglers, –, “ It’s, ” Carol Weissert, it’s, “, Trump, ”, ” DeSantis, DeSantis, he’ll, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, he’s, Haley, Trump’s, Jamie Dimon, ” “ We’ve, Jacob Neiheisel, Neiheisel Organizations: Iowa, Florida Gov, GOP, PAC, Sunshine, Republican, Liberty, Florida State University, Trump, Republican Party, South Carolina Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, DeSantis, Koch, Prosperity, University of Buffalo Locations: Florida, Trump, New Jersey, Tuscaloosa , Alabama, Iowa, Georgia’s Fulton County

Even amid the uproar over President Donald J. Trump’s freewheeling use of his pardon powers at the end of his term, one commutation stood out. Jonathan Braun of New York had served just two and a half years of a decade-long sentence for running a massive marijuana ring, when Mr. Trump, at 12:51 a.m. on his last day in office, announced he would be freed. Mr. Braun was, to say the least, an unusual candidate for clemency. A Staten Islander with a history of violent threats, Mr. Braun had told a rabbi who owed him money: “I am going to make you bleed.” Mr. Braun’s family had told confidants they were willing to spend millions of dollars to get him out of prison. At the time, Mr. Trump’s own Justice Department and federal regulators, as well as New York state authorities, were still after him for his role in an entirely separate matter: his work as a predatory lender, making what judges later found were fraudulent and usurious loans to cash-strapped small businesses.

Persons: Donald J, Jonathan Braun, Trump, Braun, “, Mr, Braun’s, confidants, Trump’s Organizations: New, Justice Department Locations: New York, Staten

☆ Elon Musk's cousin was once found 'basically sobbing' in Twitter HQ over fears he'd be fired, author says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An ex-Twitter exec once found Elon Musk's cousin James Musk "basically sobbing," Ben Mezrich said. The author of "Breaking Twitter" said James Musk had been worried about being fired. James Musk was brought into Twitter after Elon Musk paid $44 billion for the company. Representatives for James Musk and Elon Musk did not respond to requests for comment. Citing unique access to Twitter employees and Musk's confidants, "Breaking Twitter" documents Musk's difficulties since buying the company.

Persons: Elon Musk's, James Musk, Ben Mezrich, Elon Musk, —, Elon, Mezrich, Andrew Musk, Tesla, Musk's, Musk Organizations: Twitter, Elon, Service, Facebook, Social Network Locations: Twitter's San Francisco

☆ What do we know about China's new financial watchdog?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - China's Central Financial Commission (CFC), a new regulator with Premier Li Qiang as its head, held a meeting on Monday and urged stronger supervision of risks in the financial sector as Beijing accelerates efforts to become a "major financial power". The CFC was set up for the top-level design, development and supervision of the financial sector, strengthening "unified leadership on financial work", according to a restructuring plan published by state media in March this year. The CFC has recruited many officials from the central bank and the finance ministry, financial news outlet Caixin reported earlier this month. The appointments indicate that both officials, who are close confidants of President Xi Jinping, will play important roles in shaping China's financial policies. He was also appointed as party chief of a separate Central Financial Work Commission (CFWC), which has been set up to strengthen the ideological and political role of the party in China's overall financial system.

Persons: Li Qiang, Premier Li, Li, Lifeng, Xi Jinping, Wang Jiang, Xia Xiande, Xi, Ziyi Tang, Kevin Yao, Ryan Woo, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Financial Commission, Communist Party, CFC, WHO, THE, Financial Work, China Everbright Group, Analysts, Reuters, National Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, People's Bank of China, prudential, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Lincoln

☆ Elon Musk became so paranoid he banned meetings of more than 2 Twitter employees, fearing mutiny or sabotage, author says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk once banned meetings of more than two employees at X, author of "Breaking Twitter" says. Ben Mezrich told Business Insider that Musk was paranoid while CEO of X, formerly Twitter. AdvertisementElon Musk grew so paranoid when he was CEO of X, formerly Twitter, that he banned meetings of more than two employees, the author of "Breaking Twitter" told Business Insider. Mezrich has said he gained "unique access to Twitter employees and Musk's confidants." In an article published in January, The Verge reported that large meetings had been banned at Musk's "hardcore" Twitter.

Persons: Elon Musk, Ben Mezrich, Musk, —, Mezrich, Tesla, Musk's, Amir Shevat Organizations: Service, Twitter Locations: Elon

☆ Javier Milei: from TV pundit to the presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Maximilian Heath | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei reacts during the closing event of his electoral campaign ahead of the November 19 runoff election, in Cordoba, Argentina, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Nov 19 (Reuters) - When Argentine libertarian Javier Milei announced his entry into politics in 2020 in a bid to "blow up" the system, few predicted that three years later the wild-haired economist and former TV pundit could reach the presidency. Against that backdrop, Milei and his Liberty Advances coalition have seen a dramatic rise in support, especially among the young. "He is the change that Argentina needs," said 28-year-old Milei voter Ayrton Ortiz at a rally in Buenos Aires ahead of the election. "If Javier combed his hair neatly, if Javier didn't get angry, would people ever have invited him to speak?"

Persons: Javier Milei, Matias Baglietto, he's, Milei, Al Capone, Sergio Massa, Massa, Donald Trump, Ayrton Ortiz, THATCHER, Javier, Javier didn't, Diana Mondino, John Oliver, Tucker Carlson, Argentine Pope Francis, Diego Maradona, Margaret Thatcher, Karina, Conan, Murray, Milton, Robert, Lucas, Patricia Bullrich, Juan Gonzalez, El, Maximilian Heath, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Peronist, Liberty, Fox News, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Cordoba, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, United States, Brazil, Buenos Aires, U.S

Maryanne Trump Barry, a former federal judge who was an older sister of Donald J. Trump and served as both his protector and critic throughout their lives, has died. Ms. Barry died at her home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, according to two people familiar with the matter. Ms. Barry, the widow of John Barry, a veteran trial and appellate lawyer, had been a federal judge in New Jersey, a position that Mr. Trump’s fixer, the lawyer Roy M. Cohn, was credited with helping her attain during President Ronald Reagan’s tenure. She retired from the bench in 2019, at a time when inquiries were brewing after a New York Times investigation into the family’s tax practices. Mr. Trump seemed to heed the words of few people as much as he did his sister’s, according to confidants.

Persons: Maryanne Trump Barry, Donald J, Trump, Barry, John Barry, Roy M, Cohn, Ronald Reagan’s, Mary L Organizations: New York Times Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey

☆ Elon Musk screamed a profanity-laden jibe about Mark Zuckerberg when he signed the Twitter deal, author says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk shouted a profanity-laden jibe when he signed the Twitter takeover deal, per a new book. AdvertisementAdvertisementElon Musk shouted a profanity-laden jibe when he signed the Twitter deal, according to the author of the new book titled "Breaking Twitter: Elon Musk and the Most Controversial Corporate Takeover in History." Ben Mezrich's book documents Musk's chaotic Twitter takeover and cites "unique access to Twitter employees and Musk's confidants." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe author, who also wrote "The Accidental Billionaires," said Musk "definitely sees" Zuckerberg as a rival but was a much more "dictatorial control person than Mark." Musk and Zuckerberg have also butted heads outside the ring since Musk's Twitter acquisition.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Ben Mezrich, Kara Swisher, —, Ben Mezrich's, Musk's, Mezrich, Zuckerberg Organizations: Twitter, Service, Elon

☆ Bob Iger's return as Disney's CEO once sparked hope inside the company. Now, insiders are anxious and losing faith.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Lucia Moses | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

"There was a lot of excitement and hope at the return of Bob Iger a year ago," a current Disney staffer told Insider. Uncertainty about the company's future and about who's deciding what on the creative side has left execs in a state of inertia, according to an entertainment lawyer with knowledge of Disney's business. The declining linear TV business culminated in a standoff with Charter Communications over terms for a new contract for carrying Disney's cable channels. And Disney's streaming business, which was supposed to make up for the decline in cable revenues, has lost $11 billion since Disney+ launched in 2019. Churn is a top concern in Disney streaming, some employees said.

Persons: Goofy, what's, Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, He's, confidants, Zenia Mucha, Alan Braverman, Alan Horn, Jayne Parker, Christine McCarthy —, Mickey, Ariel, grumbled, Iger's, It's, he's, Iger, Paul Verna, Chapek, Bob, it's, Ron DeSantis —, Iger —, Nelson Peltz, he'd, hasn't, Verna, Disney, Ike Perlmutter, Peltz, Perlmutter, Ike, Disney's, Paul Singer, Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs, Puck, Stagg's Blackstone, Intelligence's Verna Organizations: Walt Disney Co, Disney, ABC, Hollywood, CNBC, Writers Guild of America, Wall, Insider Intelligence, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Century Fox, Google, Facebook, Netflix, Communications, Florida Gov, Hulu, ESPN Iger, FX, Geographic, ESPN, Apple, Electronic, Elliott Investment Management, Bloomberg, Mayer Locations: Burbank, Hollywood, Florida's, Iger

Each notification sounded its own little alarm, but was amplified many times over when the targets identified themselves publicly. The warning on their phones, sent by Apple on Monday, seemed stark: “State-sponsored attackers may be targeting your iPhone,” it said in part. This week’s episode seemed to fit into that pattern for his critics and many who got the warning from Apple. Rahul Gandhi, the foremost opposition leader, said many of his confidants in the Congress Party received the notification. Mr. Gandhi added that he takes illegal surveillance by the government for granted.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Apple’s, Modi’s, Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Gandhi, “ Organizations: Bharatiya Janata Party, Apple, Party Locations: India

Bankman-Fried testified that he wasn't aware of the amount Alameda was borrowing from FTX, or its theoretical max. Prosecutors entered corroborating materials, including encrypted Signal messages and other internal documents that appear to show Bankman-Fried orchestrating the spending of FTX customer money. Similarly, Bankman-Fried testified that he believed the lavish Bahamas properties were being paid for with FTX operating cash that came from revenue and venture investments. The market had already dropped 70% and if it fell another 50%, he was afraid the firm would be insolvent, Bankman-Fried told the jury. In September, he checked in again with Ellison about the hedging activity, Bankman-Fried testified.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Fatih Aktas, that's, Caroline Ellison, Mark Cohen's, Cohen, FTX, Danielle Sassoon, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Jane Rosenberg, —, Ellison, Sam, Nishad Singh, Gary Wang, Prosecutors, who'd, Michael M, Bankman, wasn't, Alameda, Singh, Shorter, Dawn Giel Organizations: Federal Court, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Alameda Research, U.S, District, Reuters, Stanford University, Alameda, Facebook, Google, Santiago Locations: New York, United States, Manhattan, Bankman, Alameda, Bahamas, New York City, U.S

Over the past three weeks, former employees and friends of Sam Bankman-Fried have testified that he orchestrated a scheme to misappropriate billions of dollars in customer money from his FTX cryptocurrency exchange, which collapsed last year. The witnesses have painted a portrait of Mr. Bankman-Fried, 31, as a controlling boss who directed them to commit fraud. They said the FTX founder had known for months that the exchange had no way of paying back at least $8 billion in customer money that was used to buy lavish real estate, invest in other crypto companies, make campaign contributions and pay back lenders to a trading firm that Mr. Bankman-Fried also controlled. Here are highlights of the testimony from several prosecution witnesses — including Mr. Bankman-Fried’s employee and on-again, off-again girlfriend, Caroline Ellison — who have been central to the case:Adam YedidiaThe first prosecution witness was Adam Yedidia, a former FTX developer who was a close friend of Mr. Bankman-Fried’s and lived with him and other associates in the Bahamas. Mr. Yedidia, who has not been charged with any crimes and testified under immunity, said Mr. Bankman-Fried had known that FTX and Alameda Research, a sister crypto trading firm, were on thin ice.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Bankman, Caroline Ellison —, Adam Yedidia, Mr, Yedidia Organizations: Alameda Research Locations: Bahamas

Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei of La Libertad Avanza party reacts during the closing event of his electoral campaign ahead of the presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 18, 2023. The result, according to the cloning company, was at least four "grandchildren": Murray, Milton, Robert and Lucas, who are named for Milei's economist idols including Milton Friedman. After Conan's death, Milei sent the dog's DNA sample to animal cloning firm PerPETuate, which has written publicly about cloning Milei's dogs on its company website. Through a medium, Milei's original dog, he alleges, gave him the mission of becoming Argentina's president, which he could - against the odds - pull off today or next month. As Milei's political profile has soared, his dogs have become a point of criticism.

Persons: Javier Milei, Matias Baglietto, Milei's, Conan, confidants, Murray, Milton, Robert, Lucas, Milton Friedman, Milei, Juan Luis Gonzalez, Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, Gonzalez, Opponent Massa, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Candelaria Grimberg, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Argentine, La Libertad, REUTERS, Argentina, Economy, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES

"He is the change that Argentina needs," said 28-year-old Milei voter Ayrton Ortiz at a recent rally in Buenos Aires province in support of the candidate. Those working with his campaign say it is his authenticity that has made him so successful, especially with two-fifths of the population in poverty and looking for a new voice. "You can like him or not, but he is himself," said Fernando Cerimedo, a political consultant who works on Milei's campaign. Many Milei voters say they are willing to take the risk. At the end of the month, you see how they count pennies and cry," said Milei voter Valentina Brites, 18.

Persons: Javier Milei, Agustin Marcarian, Juan Luis Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Milei, Donald Trump, Beppe Grillo, Ayrton Ortiz, Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, MURRAY, MILTON, ROBERT AND LUCAS Milei, Karina, Conan, Murray, Milton, Robert, Lucas, Milton Friedman, Eduardo Eurnekian, Fernando Cerimedo, Fernando Morra, Valentina Brites, Javier, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Eliana Raszewksi, Lucinda Elliott, Adam Jourdan, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Argentine, La Libertad Avanza, REUTERS, American, Peronist, Forces, Libertad Avanza, Reuters, Thomson Locations: La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Candelaria

☆ How to be Human - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( David Brooks | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The really good confidants — the people we go to when we are troubled — are more like coaches than philosopher kings. They see who you are becoming before you do and provide you with a reputation you can then go live into. I think I’m more approachable, vulnerable. I know more about human psychology than I used to. I came across it in Kathryn Schulz’s recent memoir, “Lost & Found.” Schulz’s dad, Isaac, was apparently a cheerful, talkative man.

Persons: They’re, I’m, I’ll, Kathryn Schulz’s, ”, Isaac, Edith Wharton, “, ” Schulz, Schulz Locations: unsaid

☆ Mitt Romney criticizes Fox News and right-wing media for warping Republican Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Mitt Romney, once the Republican Party’s standard-bearer, believes the right-wing media machine is at fault for much of the radicalization that has disfigured the GOP. In another excerpt, Romney expressed alarm at how prominent storylines in the right-wing media space demonized people that he believed should have been celebrated, such as an Olympian struggling with mental health. The warped political environment made Romney, once the archetype of its traditional conservative values, an outcast to right-wing media figures, which after a brief civil war, wholly embraced Trump following his election. But the call didn’t go well, with Hannity scolding Romney and accusing him of making certain comments to appease the mainstream press. “You’re just doing this because you want to get praise on MSNBC!” Hannity told Romney, according to the book.

Persons: Mitt Romney, McKay Coppins, “, ” Romney, Tucker Carlson, Romney, Donald Trump, Trump, Sean Hannity, Coppins, Hannity, “ You’re, ” Hannity, Hunter Biden, Carlson —, Sean, Tucker, Tucker —, ”, Mitt, Rupert Murdoch, Lou Dobbs fearmonger, Fox, “ Lou, “ Fox Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Republican Party, Romney, Fox News, Trump, MSNBC, Fox Business Locations: Utah, “ Romney, Washington

☆ FTX top engineer testifies Bankman-Fried spent $1.13 billion on celebrities and sponsorships
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

She was preceded by Bankman-Fried's former close friend and college roommate Gary Wang, who was an FTX co-founder. In response to questions from Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos, Singh said he frequently went to Bankman-Fried to voice his concerns over the company's spending. He told the court that he would tell Bankman-Fried he was "embarrassed" and "ashamed," and that the level of spending "reeked of excessiveness" and "flashiness." Bankman-Fried faces seven criminal counts related to the collapse of FTX and Alameda, including wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering that could put him in prison for life. At the time, Singh pleaded guilty to six charges, including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws.

Persons: Nishad Singh, FTX's, Sam Bankman, Singh, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nicolas Roos, Fried, He's, Ellison, Gabe Organizations: Alameda Research, U.S, University of California, Facebook, Alameda Locations: Manhattan, FTX, Alameda, Bay, Bankman, Berkeley

In the courtroom, the personal dynamics between Mr. Bankman-Fried and his friends have become a vital component of the case. Prosecutors have shown photographs of Mr. Bankman-Fried socializing with Mr. Yedidia and other onetime confidants, seeking to draw out testimony about the relationships at the heart of FTX. On the witness stand, Mr. Bankman-Fried’s old allies have mostly avoided looking at him. “You can anticipate that at closing, this is one of the things that the United States is going to harp on: These were people who were close personal friends of S.B.F.,” said Daniel Silva, a former federal prosecutor. He has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, and faces what would amount to a life sentence if convicted.

Persons: Fried, Yedidia, Bankman, ”, Daniel Silva, ” Mr Organizations: Prosecutors Locations: FTX’s, Bahamas, FTX, United States

☆ The SEC is investigating Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter and attempting to force him to sit for questioning
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The SEC is investigating Elon Musk's initial investment in Twitter and his eventual takeover. "The SEC seeks Musk's testimony to obtain information not already in the SEC's possession that is relevant to its lawful investigation," the agency said. "The SEC has followed all appropriate administrative steps required in seeking Musk's testimony. Musk's lawyer, Alex Spiro, told Insider: "The SEC has already taken Mr. Musk's testimony multiple times in this misguided investigation — enough is enough." AdvertisementAdvertisement'Spurious objections'"Instead, two days before his scheduled testimony, Musk abruptly notified the SEC staff that he would not appear," the SEC said.

Persons: Elon, Musk, Alex Spiro, —, it's, Musk's, San, Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson Organizations: SEC, Twitter, eventual, Service, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: California, San Francisco

☆ 'Loyalty alone is not enough': Kremlin reveals the qualities Russia's Vladimir Putin values the most
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a video link in Saint Petersburg on October 10, 2022. "But for Vladimir Putin, loyalty alone is not enough. Russia's president Vladimir Putin (R) and his spokesman Dmitry Peskov (L) attend the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting at the Congress Hall in Bishkek on December 9, 2022. Contributor | Getty ImagesDuring Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, as it calls its invasion, questions have been raised about the strategy and competency of Russia's military leadership. FILE - Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, left, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin, around his factory which produces school meals, outside St. Petersburg, Russia on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Gavriil Grigorov, Putin, Andrei Kondrashov, it's, Dmitry Peskov, Vyacheslav Oseledko, —, Sergey Lavrov, Sergei Shoigu, Sergei Lavrov, Nikolay Patrushev, Mikhail Mishustin, Sergei Sobyanin, There's, Vladimir Solovyov, Nikolai Patrushev, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Sergei Medvedev, Dmitry, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Alexander Ermochenko, Sergey Shoigu, Shoigu, Prigozhin, Wagner, Kirill Shamiev, Prigozhin Prigozhin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexei Druzhinin Organizations: Afp, Getty, CNBC, Economic, Kremlin, Security, Moscow, SVR, Russian Security Council, Ukraine, West ., Kyiv, Russian, Luhansk People's, Reuters, Wagner Group, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Saint Petersburg, Bishkek, Russian, Yerevan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Luhansk, Luhansk People's Republic, Crimea, Moscow, Belarus, Prigozhin, St . Petersburg

☆ Alibaba CEO warns of being ‘displaced’ if the Chinese tech giant doesn’t keep up in AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Signage at the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. booth at the Smart China Expo in Chongqing, China, on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Alibaba needs to be "user first" and "AI-driven," new CEO Eddie Wu told employees on Tuesday, as he laid out the strategic priorities for the Chinese tech giant. As the world progresses, Alibaba needs to evolve even faster!," Wu said in a letter to employees that was seen by CNBC. However, in a surprise move, Zhang this week quit as CEO of the cloud business with Wu taking over in the interim. It comes months after Alibaba split its company into six different business groups, the biggest shakeup in its history.

Persons: Eddie Wu, Wu, Jack Ma's, Daniel Zhang, Zhang, Alibaba Organizations: Alibaba, Holding, Smart, CNBC Locations: Chongqing, China

☆ Sen. Tim Scott says people point out that he's single because they 'can't say I'm Black'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Tim Scott, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, is defending his unmarried status. "It's like a different form of discrimination or bias," the 2024 GOP presidential candidate told the Washington Post. "You can't say I'm Black, because that would be terrible, so find something else that you can attack." AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd Axios recently reported that some Republican donors wanted to know more about Scott's single status before backing him as a candidate. Correction: September 12, 2023 - The headline has been updated to reflect the fact that Scott's remarks were in reference to political opponents who focus on his single status.

Persons: Sen, Tim Scott, It's, Scott, Tim Scott of, he's, Ron DeSantis, Elon Musk, Matt Schlapp, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Florida Gov, GOP, American Conservative Union Locations: Wall, Silicon, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Florida

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