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☆ British Museum appoints new interim director after theft crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Mark Jones was appointed as the new interim director at the British Museum on Wednesday as the institution seeks to restore its reputation following the theft of about 2,000 artifacts from its collection. Jones replaces German art historian Hartwig Fischer after he stepped down last month over failings in the investigation into the theft of artifacts at the museum. Jones, who previously held roles as director of the National Museums of Scotland and the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), was appointed following approval by the British government. The British Museum houses the Parthenon sculptures, sometimes referred to in the UK as the Elgin Marbles. The British Museum initially said it had carried out a thorough investigation, but a follow-up probe found the first response to be insufficient, Osborne said last month.

Persons: Mark Jones, ” Jones, Jones, Hartwig Fischer, Stone, Toby Melville, Sir Mark Jones, George Osborne, Osborne Organizations: Reuters, British Museum, Museum, National Museums of, Victoria & Albert Museum, Elgin, British Locations: London, National Museums of Scotland, British, Danish

☆ Insider Today: IPOs' make-or-break moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Speaking of fighting, the IPO market has been KO'd since 2022. But that could change with one company's upcoming public debut. Even if it slightly misses those numbers, it'll still be the largest public debut in the US since Rivian's IPO in late 2021. The stock market recovered in record time, but then something else held up IPOs: VC money. Tech has already led the stock market for about a decade — starting when Apple became the biggest company in the world.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Phil Rosen, IPOs, Andrew Burton, Brent, Gabe Ginsberg, Tony Avelar, Mustafa Suleyman, It'll, Arantza Pena Popo, Insider's Eliza Relman, Vivek Murthy, Lovell, Christian Lovell, Freddie, Lil Wayne, Buster's, Elaine LaLanne, She's, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Apple, Publishing, Getty, Bloomberg, Cash, Google, Nvidia, Getty Images, Tech, US, BMI Locations: Wall, Silicon, British, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, London, New York City, San Diego, New York

☆ Christie’s cancels auction of jewelry linked to Nazi-era fortune
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The sale of over 400 pieces of jewelry once owned by late art collector Heidi Horten broke records at a series of auctions earlier this year. But amid ongoing criticism from Jewish advocacy groups and human rights organizations over the source of the Austrian billionaire’s wealth, Christie’s auction house announced Thursday that it has canceled the final part of the controversial sale. (Christie’s had initially predicted that Horten’s entire collection, featuring over 700 jewels, would sell for over $150 million.) Prior to May’s sales, the American Jewish Committee had called for the auction to be put on hold until “a serious effort” was made to investigate the Hortens’ wealth. The Heidi Horten Collection did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Persons: Heidi Horten, Helmut, ” Christie’s, ”, ” Anthea Peers, Christie’s, Van, Helmut Horten, Forbes Organizations: CNN, American Jewish Committee, Twitter, Washington D.C, ” Locations: Austrian, Nazi Germany, German, Europe, East, Africa, Geneva, Switzerland, Nazi, Washington, Vienna, Austria

☆ Basketball-sized gold coin worth ‘around $23M’ honors late Queen Elizabeth II
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

It was produced by the East India Company, a luxury lifestyle brand with rights to the name of the corporation that once controlled large swathes of Britain’s empire. Businessman Sanjiv Mehta, who acquired the rights to the East India Company in 2005, poses with the diamond-encrusted coin. The East India Company said its multi-million-dollar valuation was partly due to the quality of the materials and crafting processes, which involved artisans and experts from the UK, India, Singapore, Germany and Sri Lanka. The original East India Company operated for almost 300 years before its dissolution in 1874. “The Crown” took over a year to produce, meaning that it was underway before Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland last September.

Persons: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth’s, Sanjiv Mehta, tiaras, ”, Queen Elizabeth, Mehta Organizations: CNN, East India Company, Sotheby’s, NBA, British Overseas, Government, Royal Household, Royal, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Locations: York, India, Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, Scotland, British Overseas Territory, St Helena

☆ Remember when Will Smith’s ‘Fresh Prince’ wardrobe broke boundaries?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Hanna Phifer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

(CNN) — Upon reflection, the odd couple sensibilities that captivated viewers of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” were in place even before the cameras started rolling. Smith's "Fresh Prince" fashions captured, and curated, the visual aesthetic of hip-hop culture. Uncle Phil, conversely, stuck closely to upper middle-class regalia, with suits, sweater vests, and golf polos. “You wore a dashiki and an afro.”Uncle Phil and Smith face off in a scene from the "Fresh Prince" episode "How I Spent My Summer Vacation." As DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Jeff Townes and Will Smith perform with backing dancers at the 1993 American Music Awards.

Persons: Bel, Will Smith, James Avery, ”, Smith, Avery, Philip Banks, Phil, Elena Romero, Chris Haston, Uncle Phil, ” Smith, “, Joseph Del Valle, ” Romero, Flash, Jazzy Jeff, Jeff Townes, Banks Organizations: CNN, ”, NBC, Civil, Black, Museum, FIT, Fashion Institute of Technology, Getty, Black American, ” Entertainment, ABC, Smith Locations: West Philadelphia, California, United States, New York, America

☆ Seahorses, snakes and illegal pork from Vietnam seized by US Customs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Kara Nelson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

US Customs and Border ProtectionSnake oil was one of the main ingredients in the commercial herbal liquid medicine seized at the airport. Customs specialists partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service inspectors to identify the prohibited products. “Just a coincidence that they were both returning from Vietnam,” Sapp said. US Customs and Border ProtectionConsequences include confiscation of the prohibited products, along with potential civil penalties. International wildlife trading is estimated to be a billion-dollar business, according to the news release.

Persons: there’s, ”, Steve Sapp, “, ” Sapp, Lacey, Ryan Noel, ” Noel Organizations: CNN, Washington’s Dulles, Customs, US Department of Agriculture, US Fish and Wildlife Service, “, Travelers, Convention, International Trade, Fauna, Fish and Wildlife, Protection Locations: Vietnam, Fairfax , Virginia, San Francisco, “

☆ Archaeologists unearth ancient Mayan nose jewelry at dig site in Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Claire Voon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by The Art Newspaper, an editorial partner of CNN Style. (CNN) — Archaeologists working in the ruins of Palenque, an ancient city in the southeastern Mexican state of Chiapas, have found a centuries-old, intricately carved Mayan nose ornament made of human bone. The central figure is a Mayan man, shown in profile wearing a headdress and a beaded necklace, and with the Mayan glyph for “darkness” on his arm. The bone was buried in what archaeologists believe was a ritual deposit, interred between 600CE and 850CE to commemorate the completion of a building. When worn, the ornament would have sat on the bridge of the nose, creating a continuous line from the forehead to the tip of the nose.

Persons: K, Arnoldo González Cruz, González Cruz, Janaab Pakal, Read Organizations: The Art, CNN, —, National Institute of Anthropology, of, Unesco Locations: Palenque, Mexican, Chiapas, of Palenque, 600CE

☆ Bolsonaro stays silent in police probe of undeclared Saudi, Bahrain jewelry gifts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Ricardo Brito | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, attend a Partido Liberal Mulher event at the Legislative Assembly of the state of Sao Paulo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 6, 2023. After the presidential gifts became a matter of public knowledge, a court ordered the couple to hand them over to the state. His presidential offices, the Supreme Court and Congress were invaded and vandalized by Bolsonaro supporters one week later. Bolsonaro and Michelle Bolsonaro spent the last two days preparing with their team of lawyers and advisers, officials in his political party said. Cid, who handled the Bolsonaro finances, was arrested for his suspected involvement in a scheme to provide Bolsonaro with false vaccine cards during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: Jair Bolsonaro, Michelle Bolsonaro, Carla Carniel, Michelle, Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro, Prosecutors, Alexandre de Moraes, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Cid, Ricardo Brito, Anthony Boadle, Grant McCool Organizations: Partido Liberal, Legislative, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Police, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Sao Paulo, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA, Brasilia, Guarulhos, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United States

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Tilray, Salesforce, CrowdStrike, Dollar General and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Salesforce — The cloud software company saw its stock jump 3% after it announced quarterly results and guidance that surpassed Wall Street's expectations. Dollar General — The discount retail chain plunged 12.2% Thursday after reporting second-quarter earnings per share of $2.13, which was lower than the StreetAccount consensus estimate of $2.47. Ciena — The network equipment stock surged nearly 16% after topping Wall Street's fiscal third-quarter earnings expectations on the top and bottom lines. Okta — Okta shares surged 13.5% after the access management company topped analysts' second-quarter earnings expectation and issued a strong full-year outlook. Victoria's Secret — The intimate apparel stock popped nearly 7% even after missing second-quarter earnings expectations on both the top and bottom lines.

Persons: Salesforce, Marc Benioff, CrowdStrike, Ciena, Morgan Stanley, Shopify, StreetAccount, Chewy, UGI, Raymond James, —, Macheel, Sarah Min, Yun Li, Alex Harring, Michelle Fox, Pia Singh, Jesse Pound Organizations: Aphria Inc, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Tilray Brands, Cronos, Revenue, Technologies, Arista Networks, Citi, Refinitiv, StreetAccount, Signet, UBS — U.S, Suisse Locations: Leamington , Ontario, Switzerland

☆ Christie’s Cancels Sale of Jewelry Connected to Nazi-Era Fortune
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Zachary Small | More About Zachary Small | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Christie’s announced on Thursday that a second sale of jewelry from the collection of the Austrian heiress Heidi Horten had been canceled, citing the “intense scrutiny” that the auction house had faced from Jewish organizations and some collectors. Helmut Horten died in 1987 and Heidi Horten in 2022. The Heidi Horten Foundation said then that the proceeds would go toward medical research and to a Vienna museum dedicated to artwork the couple had owned. But some historians found the auction house’s decision to move forward with the sale distasteful, and employees had raised concerns internally about tarnishing its reputation. After the criticism, Christie’s added information to the auction materials saying that Helmut Horten had bought Jewish businesses that were “sold under duress,” and said the auction house would donate a portion of the proceeds to Holocaust research and education.

Persons: Christie’s, Heidi Horten, Helmut Horten, ” Organizations: New York Times Locations: Austrian, Vienna

☆ Gen Z is ditching wedding traditions and embracing TikTok trends
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The wedding industry is beginning to see the fallout of this shift away from tradition. That meant "wedding TikTok" — with its dancing groomsmen and videographers turned influencers — was the next best thing. "So it is time for us in the wedding industry to expand the definition of what a perfect day means." Adrienna McDermott spent nine years in the wedding industry before starting a marketing agency for wedding professionals called Ava and the Bee. "It really opened up my eyes for the power of TikTok," Lee said.

Persons: Ashley Klimper, wasn't, videographers, influencers —, who's, Klimper, Jimmy Choo, —, Vishal Joshi, Melanie Breault, She's, Stephanie Kirk, they're, fiancé, they've, Grace Lee, Birdy, Birdy Grey, Lee, Joshi, Joy, Adrienna McDermott, Ava, millennials, Zers Organizations: Service, Signet, expos, Facebook, swatch Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Walmart ramps up efforts to grow third-party marketplace with Las Vegas event, new perks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Walmart is hosting its first seller summit businesses that are part of its third-party marketplace. LAS VEGAS — Walmart is looking for new ways to woo sellers to its third-party marketplace, as it pushes to drive more online sales and close a wide gap with rival Amazon . Walmart also hired another Amazon veteran, Jare' Buckley-Cox, as vice president of Walmart Fulfillment Services. Walmart is the nation's largest retailer, but it lags far behind Amazon in online market share and e-commerce sales. Walmart's annual online sales were less than one-fifth of Amazon's last year, according to Insider Intelligence.

Persons: Doug McMillon, Manish Joneja, Sellers, Jare, Buckley, Cox, John David Rainey, Amazon's Organizations: Walmart, LAS, Amazon, Wednesday, Walmart Marketplace, Joneja, eBay, Intelligence Locations: Chile, North America, U.S

☆ How More Sanctions on Russian Diamonds Could Affect the Global Market
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Elizabeth Paton | More About Elizabeth Paton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Diamonds can change hands 20 to 30 times between mine and market, according to Hans Merket, a researcher with the International Peace Information Service, an independent research agency. “It will be important to find the right balance between ambition and realism,” he added, as it could take “years rather than months to get all noses in the right direction and reorganize this complex global supply chain.”Another headache? Russia is known for producing small diamonds that are mostly sold in very large quantities. The new G7 sanctions likely would cover only finished stones of one carat or larger, Mr. Brooks-Rubin said, although smaller gems may be included later. “But our industry is also very fragmented and global, with many in the trade who still won’t fall under its remit.”

Persons: Hans Merket, ”, Brooks, Rubin, Tiffany Stevens Organizations: International Peace Information Service Locations: Russia, New York City

☆ Morgan Stanley names cash-rich global stocks with 'better downside protection'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Morgan Stanley named a raft of European stocks with strong balance sheets, lots of cash or high shareholder returns. High cash flow and shareholder returns The bank also screened for companies with "resilient high free cash flow." "Self-financing companies should be better able to weather any prolonged macroeconomic weakness, deploying capital effectively and seizing opportunities that come along the way," Morgan Stanley said. "Cash-rich companies with high free cash flow yields should also have better downside protection, while providing upside potential if management is able to deploy its cash effectively," the bank said. Those firms also have "positive free cash flow and net income growth expected over the next 2 years," the bank said.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Burberry, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: CNBC, JD Sports, Sanofi, Airbus, MTU Aero Engines, SAP, WPP, Publicis Groupe, InterContinental Locations: Europe

☆ Recovery of about 2,000 items taken from British Museum is underway, chair says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The British Museum has begun recovering some items that were taken from the prestigious institution and sold online, museum chair George Osborne said on Saturday. “We’re dealing with lots of honest people who will return stolen items, others may not,” Osborne said. British Museum Chair George Osborne said there is "no excuse" for what happened. Danny Lawson/PA Images/Getty ImagesThe British Museum, founded in 1753, is one of the world’s most well-known and prestigious museums. But we’re cleaning up the mess and we’re going to be that British museum that I think the nation and the world can be proud of,” he said.

Persons: George Osborne, Osborne, ” Osborne, “, Danny Lawson, Stone, Hartwig Fischer, we’ve, ”, I’ve Organizations: CNN, British, BBC Radio, British Museum, British Empire . Museum Locations: Danish, British

☆ A thief suspected of plundering treasures from the British Museum vaults for 20 years is a 'possible case of kleptomania,' police source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A suspected thief who plundered the British Museum for 20 years could be a kleptomaniac, says a report. Exquisite jewelry and ancient coins are among the world-famous museum's missing treasures. "Some of them would have been very, very valuable — tens of thousands of pounds — if it was known they were from the British Museum. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe British Museum was first alerted that several missing objects were being sold online years ago, The Times reported. The British Museum said, per The Times: "We take the issue of any missing items incredibly seriously.

Persons: Peter Higgs, Hartwig Fischer Organizations: British Museum, Service, Times, eBay, British, The Times Locations: Wall, Silicon, London

☆ British Museum director steps down amid theft investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —The director of the British Museum has stepped down amid an investigation into the alleged theft of gold and artifacts from the famous London institution. Explaining his decision in a statement on Friday, Fischer said: “Over the last few days I have been reviewing in detail the events around the thefts from the British Museum and the investigation into them. “The British Museum has launched an independent review of security after items from the collection were found to be missing, stolen or damaged. “The matter is also under investigation by the Economic Crime Command of the Metropolitan Police.”In a statement provided to CNN, the Metropolitan Police said: “We have been working alongside the British Museum. Fischer described the incident as “highly unusual,” while George Osborne, chair of the museum, said it was a “sad day for all who love our British Museum, but we’re determined to right the wrongs and use the experience to build a stronger Museum.”

Persons: Hartwig Fischer’s, Fischer, “, George Osborne, ” Organizations: London CNN, British Museum, Metropolitan Police, British, Economic, Command, CNN Locations: London

☆ British Museum Director Resigns After Worker Fired for Theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Alex Marshall | More About Alex Marshall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just days after the British Museum announced that it had fired an employee who was suspected of looting its storerooms and selling items on eBay, the museum’s director announced Friday that he was resigning, effective immediately. Hartwig Fischer, a German art historian who had led the world renowned institution since 2016, said in a news release that he was leaving the post at a time “of the utmost seriousness.”Mr. Fischer said that it was “evident” that under his leadership the museum did not adequately respond to warnings that a curator may be stealing items. “The responsibility for that failure must ultimately rest with the director,” Mr. Fischer said. The crisis became public when the British Museum announced last week that items had been stolen from its collection. The museum did not say how many items were taken, but said that the missing, stolen or damaged pieces included “gold jewelry and “gems of semi-precious stones and glass” dating from as far back as the 15th century B.C.

Persons: Hartwig Fischer, Mr, Fischer, ” Mr Organizations: British Museum, eBay

This is Blackswan, a K-pop group whose members hail from around the world. Gabi agreed, chiming in: “Everything that a K-pop group has, we have.”Trained the Korean wayThe four members may not be Korean, but their journey to Blackswan followed a well-worn, uniquely Korean path that involved auditioning to become trainees in a hyper-competitive program. Emma McIntyre/Getty ImagesBy contrast, some of the newer Blackswan members have been training for a year or less. “When I was 15, my friend showed me a K-pop music video … and since then, I kind of got stuck on the K-pop genre,” Fatou said. But the Blackswan members say most of the criticisms come from international observers, while Korean fans and artists have been largely supportive.

Persons: South Korea CNN —, Gabi, Fatou, UNIQ, Blackswan, ”, “, ” Fatou, –, Yoon Deung, “ presentable, Yoon, Blackpink, Emma McIntyre, Lee Gyu, aren’t, they’re, Lee, ” Lee, Kevin Winter, I’m, I’ve, Lee Wool Organizations: South Korea CNN, DR, CNN, Korean, DR Management, Coachella, George Mason University Korea, South, Hockey Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Brazil, United States, India, Senegal, Belgium, Waterbomb, Europe, South America, Indio , California, South Korean, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Los Angeles, West Africa, America

☆ Simon Cowell sold his 6-bedroom London mansion for $19 million amid security fears that left him in 'total shock'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Simon Cowell sold his six-bedroom mansion in London amid fears for his family's safety. The 6-bedroom residence in Kensington was sold for £15 million (about $19 million). Cohort Capital, a real estate private equity firm, provided a £5.5 million ($7 million) loan to the buyer, whose new neighbors will include Ed Sheeran and David Beckham. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe garden of the property on Addison Crescent in Kensington, west London. Cohort Capital disputed reports that the asking price had been reduced by £30 million.

Persons: Simon Cowell, Ed Sheeran, David Beckham, Cowell, Lauren Silverman, Eric, we're, Matt Thame Organizations: Service, Capital, Guardian, Daily, Addison, Press Association, Sun, People Magazine Locations: London, Kensington, Wall, Silicon, Addison Crescent

☆ The 20 Best Early Labor Day 2023 Sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Bellamy Richardson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +13 min

By Bellamy RichardsonLabor Day may not be until Sept. 4, but you don’t have to wait to take advantage of great Labor Day deals. Here are some of our early favorites; we’ll be continuing to add more early sales as they go live leading up to Labor Day Weekend. BrooklinenThe deal: 15% off sitewideHead over to Brooklinen’s Staycation/Early Labor Day Sale for 15% off bedding, bath and loungewear. There might be something for you at eBags during its Labor Day sale, running now through Sept. 12. LunaThe deal: 20% off sleep productsIf you’ve been craving a good night’s sleep, Luna’s Labor Day Sale might have just the thing to help you out.

Persons: Bellamy Richardson, we’ll, Staycation, unzipping, you’ll, Marigold, Casper, —, Luna, Luna’s, It’s, Spinner, puffiness, Stove’s Organizations: Labor, sitewide, Sage, Luna’s Labor, Sherpa, Cook Duo, Outer’s Labor, Navy, TSA, Stove’s Labor Locations: California

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Netflix, Apple, Dick's, Meta, Amazon, Charles Schwab & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Deutsche Bank reiterates Charles Schwab as buy Deutsche said it sees an even "more" attractive risk/reward for Schwab shares after Tuesday's sell-off. Morgan Stanley reiterates Apple as overweight Morgan Stanley said Apple has "surpassed MSFT as the most under-owned large-cap tech stock exiting the second-quarter." Bank of America reiterates Meta as buy Bank of America said it sees more upside for shares of Meta. Bank of America reiterates Five Below as buy Bank of America said it's standing by shares of the discount retailer. Bank of America downgrades Dick's to neutral from buy Bank of America downgraded the stock after its disappointing earnings report Tuesday.

Persons: Charles Schwab, Schwab, SCHW, Wells Fargo, Wells, Morgan Stanley, Apple, Oppenheimer, Brown, Forman, GM headwinds, Edward Jones, DUK, Avery Dennison, Davidson, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Susquehanna, Marvell Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, Signet, Netflix, GM, Edward, Bank of America, Meta, Barclays, Duke Energy, JPMorgan, UBS, " Bank of America, Infosys, India IT, Marvell Locations: AAPL, 4Q23, Louisiana, Pacific, LPX, India

☆ Over 3,100 Charged With Pandemic Relief Fraud, Justice Department Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Madeleine Ngo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The sweep resulted in criminal charges against 371 defendants, with 119 convicted or pleading guilty. The Justice Department claimed 63 defendants had connections to violent crime and 25 had purported connections to transnational crime networks. The Justice Department listed a range of fraud schemes, including defendants who allegedly used the money to solicit a murder and individuals who laundered funds by shipping cars to Nigeria. The funds were allegedly used to solicit a murder for hire and to purchase firearms, controlled substances, jewelry, clothing and vacations. Some defendants were also accused of transferring firearms knowing they would be used to commit violent crimes or traffic drugs.

Persons: ”, General Merrick B, Garland, “, Department’s, — Organizations: Justice Department, Department Locations: Nigeria, Milwaukee

☆ In Lahaina, one resident's daily trip to her burnt-out home to feed her cats
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Liliana Salgado | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LAHAINA, Hawaii, Aug 23 (Reuters) - There's nothing left of what used to be her home. But Susie Richter still travels every morning to the burnt-out shell of her house in Lahaina, Hawaii, to feed her three cats, who survived the blaze that devastated Maui earlier this month. The main fire-damaged areas of Lahaina remain closed to residents, but some of the structures in Richter's neighborhood are still standing, so she is permitted to enter through a checkpoint. [1/3]Susie Richter feeds one of her three cats that survived the Lahaina fire, Hawaii, U.S., August 22, 2023. "But the little, little bits of joy - I'll take any good news I can get."

Persons: Susie Richter, Liliana Salgado, Richter, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina , Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina, Richter's, U.S

☆ Shoppers are trading down, even in secondhand purchases
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Even though fair condition bags, shoes, and accessories show signs of heavier wear, The RealReal’s report said demand for fair condition bags is up 130% this year. For example, a Chanel flap bag in “fair condition” is $4,900, but in “excellent” could cost 65% more, or about $8,000. But, with the recent rise in fair condition, shoppers have embraced imperfection. They’re willing to buy older, worn items that are made well and still remain beautiful, and they wear them with pride,” said McCandless. Within certain fashion circles, the worn look has become a badge of honor,” she said.

Persons: Alexander McQueen, aren’t, Rati Sahi Levesque, Samantha McCandless, ”, McCandless, “, Millennials, Z, “ We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN Locations: New York

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