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☆ China eases Covid rules, shortening quarantine for inbound travelers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

BEIJING — China on Friday eased some of its draconian Covid rules, including shortening quarantines by two days for close contacts of infected people and for inbound travelers, and removing a penalty for airlines for bringing in too many cases. Under the new rules, centralized quarantine times for close contacts and travelers from abroad were shortened from seven days to five days. The requirement for three further days in home isolation after centralized quarantine remains. Inbound passengers are transported by bus to their quarantine hotels after arriving at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai in January. “This meeting further illustrates policymakers have started to focus more on optimizing the Covid control policies,” Goldman Sachs said in a note following Thursday’s Politburo Standing Committee meeting but before Friday’s announcement.

☆ A day of chaos brings Twitter closer to the brink
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN Business —Two weeks after Elon Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter, the future of the company has never looked less certain. “Quite the day!” Musk tweeted. In its latest reversal on the matter, Twitter said it would re-introduce a gray “Official” badge for select accounts to help confirm their identities. “Stick with the new Twitter that democratizes every tweet by paid accounts and puts the onus on all users to curate for themselves. “Twitter usage is at an all-time high,” Musk tweeted earlier this week, before adding in a follow-up tweet: “I just hope the servers don’t melt!”

☆ Mark Cuban tells Elon Musk that Twitter's new paid-for verified accounts are annoying him
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Cuban told Elon Musk that Twitter's new paid-for verified accounts were annoying him. He told Twitter's new owner that he spent "too much time" muting newly verified accounts. Cuban said he was attempting "to make my verified mentions useful again." I just spent too much time muting all the newly purchased checkmark accts in an attempt to make my verified mentions useful again. That said, we can definitely make the verified mentions tab more usable."

☆ AOC says Elon Musk's changes to Twitter's blue check feature are 'ripe for targeted harassment'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned Elon Musk's changes to Twitter Blue could lead to "targeted harassment." Users who pay a monthly fee will appear in a separate tab in other users' notifications page. The "verified" tab has historically helped verified users filter out spam. The "verified" tab in the Twitter notifications page has long been a feature for verified users. The current version of Twitter Blue only has access to limited features, with plans to roll out more soon.

☆ Twitter's new paid-for checkmark system has created a Wild West of scamming and parody
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Twitter's new paid-for checkmark system has created a Wild West of scamming and parody. Billionaire Mark Cuban also told Musk he spent "too much time" muting newly verified accounts. The new system has also created a Wild West of scamming and parody, with users impersonating public figures from George W. Bush to OJ Simpson, as well as LeBron James and Donald Trump's former lawyer Rudy Giuliani. A Wild West TwitterA screengrab of a verified Twitter page impersonating the social media platform's account. TwitterMore "verified" accounts impersonating high-profile individuals continue to emerge.

☆ I used Twitter's $8 'verification' to impersonate a famous YouTuber and trick their fans. It only took 25 minutes to set up and showed me how dangerous this new feature will be.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Fortesa Latifi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Since Elon Musk took over, Twitter has rolled out "verification" for accounts with Twitter Blue. The Twitter Blue check mark has no identity verification, letting users impersonate famous people. It took me 25 minutes to set up a "verified" Twitter account under the name of a Youtuber with more than 1.3 million subscribers. Through a fake Apple ID, a VPN, a disposable email, and a masked debit card, I used Twitter's new Twitter Blue program to launch the account. Thanks to Elon Musk, Twitter's blue check mark can now be boughtWith Musk's takeover of Twitter, the website's Twitter Blue program is billed as a premium subscription service that goes for $8 per month.

☆ Check out the pitch deck that helped Recess, a Mark Cuban-backed startup that's disrupting live events, raise $5 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Recess, an experiential marketing platform, just raised $5 million in Series A funding. Recess, an experiential marketing platform, just raised $5 million in Series A funding led by Data Point Capital and Spring Mountain Capital, bringing its total fundraise to $11.5 million, the company said. Recess' pitch is that it takes the time and hassle out of a cumbersome process of researching and coordinating events sponsorships. Recess then matches marketers with events and handles logistics like contracts, insurance verification, and pre-event coordination. Recess grew out of a media and events company, The Recess Music & Ideas Festival, started by Indiana University alums Jack Shannon and Deuce Thevenow.

☆ Nintendo shares head for biggest one-day drop in a year after Switch sales projection cut
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Shares in Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) fell nearly 7%, putting them on track for their biggest one-day drop in a year on Wednesday after the Japanese videogame giant cut its annual sales projection for its Switch console by nearly 10%. The Kyoto-based company on Tuesday cut its sales forecast for the Switch to 19 million units for this business year from 21 million, as microchip shortages constrained production. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa told an earnings briefing on Tuesday that chip supply had begun recovering in recent months, helping boost Switch production. Still, Nintendo shares were up 6.9% in Tokyo trade, against a nearly flat broader market. Shares of Nintendo are up 8.3% so far this year.

☆ Major League Pickleball merges with PPA's week-old VIBE League
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association's new VIBE Pickleball League have agreed to merge, the organizations said Wednesday. The combined league will continue to operate under the Major League Pickleball brand name and format as the rapidly growing sport surges in popularity. Last week, the PPA announced the creation of the VIBE Pickleball League with Mark Cuban as its first team owner. VIBE said it would be team focused and co-ed, similar to what Major League Pickleball has been doing. Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk have both made investments in Major League Pickleball.

☆ Twitter staffer says Elon Musk and his close advisers failed to inform employees of the plan of action after layoffs, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter staff told WIRED they've heard nothing from Elon Musk and his advisors since the layoffs. One Twitter engineer in the report described the past week as "radio silence." "The way to characterize this past week is just radio silence," a Twitter engineer who requested to remain anonymous told WIRED. Since the layoffs, the engineer told said: "We've heard nothing at all from Elon or any of his close advisers." "As you've probably heard, no one hears anything," Matt DeMichiel, senior research analyst at Twitter, told WIRED.

Nov 10 (Reuters) - Origin Energy Ltd (ORG.AX), Australia's no.2 power producer and energy retailer, backed an A$18.4 billion ($11.8 billion) non-binding buyout offer from a consortium led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management, the companies said on Thursday. The deal sent Origin's share price soaring nearly 40% in early trade to A$8.14. Origin opened its books to the consortium after it raised its offer to A$9 per share in cash, a near 55% premium to Origin's last close of A$5.81. The bid from Brookfield comes after it was rebuffed earlier this year when it led a $3.5 billion takeover offer for Australia's top power producer, AGL Energy (AGL.AX). Under the indicative proposal submitted on Thursday, Brookfield would acquire Origin's energy markets business, while MidOcean Energy, the other consortium partner, would take control of Origin's integrated gas business, including its 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG).

☆ The Orthodox Church of Ukraine said Christmas can be moved to December 25, in another snub to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine said Christmas can now be celebrated on December 25. It previously marked Christmas on January 7, alongside the Russian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced that its assembly had voted in favor of letting parishes choose whether to mark Christmas on December 25. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine is distinct from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, with the latter maintaining ties to Moscow until recently, The Guardian noted. Russia's Orthodox Church has supported Russia's war in Ukraine, with its leader saying in September that dying against Ukraine is an act of "sacrifice" that absolves soldiers of their sins.

☆ Kevin O'Leary: Do this for 1 hour every morning, or 'you will lose money 100% of the time'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"You have to invest in information," O'Leary says. Spending an hour skimming through articles on your social media feed may sound easy. O'Leary avoids articles with "ridiculous and outrageous headlines" during his daily morning news hour, no matter how enticing they sound, he says. Google has a free fact-checking tool, where you can search keywords and verify if claims on social media or in blog posts are accurate. If you let the news and social media "bleed your time, you're going to become a very inefficient person," he adds.

☆ Guest view: Climate finance club hands over baton
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Huw Van Steenis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

A year after financial institutions joined forces to lower carbon emissions as part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, the initiative faces criticism from all sides. But the initiative is starting to hit the limits of what financial institutions can achieve through voluntary cooperation. Chief executives of financial institutions worry that participating in GFANZ opens them up to accusations of anti-competitive behaviour and litigation risk. It’s for politicians to set the legislative framework and financial institutions to abide by it. This could double or treble by increasing development banks’ capital, by changing their capital frameworks and mandates, or through smarter public-private partnerships.

☆ Mark Cuban tells Elon Musk 'your business, your decision' after his suggestion that only certain users should pay the $8 verification fee was bluntly rejected
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Cuban told Elon Musk that Twitter was "his business," following an exchange between the pair. Elon Musk replied to Cuban, saying: "$8 for all." Cuban wrote in the tweet. Musk replied to Cuban, saying: "$8 for all." Your decision," Cuban wrote in a quote-tweet to Musk.

☆ Powerball's $1.9 billion jackpot is the biggest ever—but Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary disagree on what to do if you win
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're lucky enough to win Powerball's $1.9 billion jackpot draw — the biggest ever — you'll need to figure out what to do with all that money. Celebrity investors Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary have different takes on how to make the most of your winnings, although both advise against spending too much right away. Here's what both Cuban and O'Leary say to do if you win big. What Mark Cuban says to do with the moneyWhen it comes to large jackpots, Mark Cuban, billionaire and judge on ABC's "Shark Tank," says to keep most of the money in the bank, rather than risking it on investments that might not pay off. Winners often choose the lump sum because it can be immediately reinvested.

☆ 'The old UK growth model is dead': What a long-term weak pound means for Britain
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowA historically weaker pound on a medium- to long-term basis has a variety of impacts on the U.K. more broadly, economists told CNBC. But, Portes said, the weaker pound is not in itself an issue for the fiscal planning the government is currently doing, with a much-anticipated budget due Nov. 17. 'Growth model is dead'According to Blyth, beyond the pain suffered by households, the higher prices caused by a weaker currency will have deeper and longer-lasting effects. The potential upside to exports was negated by Brexit, he said, pointing out that the U.K. economy had declined from 90% to 70% of the size of Germany's since the 2016 vote. It means that the old U.K. growth model is dead," Blyth continued.

☆ Russia's war in Ukraine rages on without a clear end in sight. Here are 6 ways the conflict could play out.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

As Russia's war in Ukraine continues, there does not appear to be a clear end in sight. Russian victoryWhen it began its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Russia's goal was to take over the country completely. Rather than taking more territory, Russia's objectives in the current stage of war seem to be to weaken Ukraine's resources, economy, and army. Nuclear war and/or NATO interventionPutin has repeatedly made nuclear threats since he began the invasion of Ukraine and, in September, claimed that it was "not a bluff." One senior official previously said that a Russian nuclear strike could trigger a "physical response" from NATO itself.

How Putin and Friends Stalled Climate Progress A handful of powerful world leaders rallied around Russia and undercut global cooperation. Mr. Putin has gained from this as the increasingly autocratic Mr. Xi finds common cause with the Kremlin. “Much depends on whether authoritarian leaders perceive climate action to be in their self-interest.”Though their actions help Mr. Putin, their track records on climate are mixed. Mr. Xi called Mr. Putin his “best friend.”He was returning the favor from a year earlier, when Mr. Putin hosted Mr. Xi at the Grand Kremlin Palace and awarded him one of Russia’s highest medals for foreign dignitaries. At a news conference with Mr. Putin, Mr. Bolsonaro thanked his “dear friend,” saying that Mr. Putin had offered him support when other world leaders were criticizing his Amazon policy.

☆ Mark Cuban: Don't use credit cards—if you do, 'you don't want to be rich'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban suggests you pay off all your credit cards — and then burn them. "If you use credit cards, you don't want to be rich," Cuban said during an interview with personal finance radio personality Dave Ramsey on "The Ramsey Show." Cuban's biggest issue with credit cards: high interest rates, he told Ramsey. What Cuban suggests instead of credit cardsTake out a personal loan as an alternative to using a credit card, Cuban proposes. Similar to credit cards, your credit score could take a hit if you miss a payment.

☆ Elon Musk misses the irony of the world's richest man asking people to pay him $8 a month for a Twitter blue check
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk, the world's richest person, plans to charge people $8 to be verified on Twitter. But putting a pricetag on the blue checkmark completely misses the point. Musk doesn't appear to realize the irony of his tweet, nor does he seem to understand the point of verification. It's not just about having a blue checkmark next to your name. That's the exact opposite of what the verification system should be striving for.

☆ Arizona GOP nominee Kari Lake mocks attack on Paul Pelosi during campaign event
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Arizona Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake made light of the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband in remarks at a campaign event Monday, drawing laughter from the audience. The remark comes after House Speaker's Nancy Pelosi's 82-year-old husband, Paul Pelosi, was brutally attacked Friday at the couple's San Francisco home. You can’t talk about vaccines, you can’t talk about elections, you can’t talk about Paul Pelosi, and now you can’t talk about Nancy Pelosi." Paul Pelosi was still in the intensive care unit, surrounded by family members, a source with knowledge of the situation told NBC News on Monday. Lake is the not the first high-profile Republican to draw attention for remarks about the attack on Paul Pelosi.

☆ Former Danish PM Rasmussen set to become king-maker in election -exit poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COPENHAGEN, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Former prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen looked set to become the king-maker after Denmark's election on Tuesday in which neither the ruling left nor right-wing opposition looked set to win a majority in parliament, according to an exit poll. It indicated that Rasmussen's new Moderates party, founded only four months ago, stood to become the fourth biggest in parliament with 17 seats. The right-wing opposition appeared on course for 73 seats, and could thus also form a government with Rasmussen's mandate. The Liberals, Rasmussen's ex-party and the main opposition, looked set to win only 24 seats, down from 43 previously. Frederiksen campaigned for a broad coalition across the political middle, arguing that political unity is needed at a time of international uncertainty.

☆ Factbox: COP26 a year later: Where do last year's climate pledges stand?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Nov 1 (Reuters) - A year ago at the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, countries, banks and business leaders announced a slew of climate plans and pledges. METHANE PLEDGETo date, 119 countries and blocs including the United States and the European Union have joined the COP26 pledge to slash methane emissions 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. And China could also give an update on its plan to begin monitoring methane emissions - a promise made under the U.S.-China agreement announced in Glasgow. The group now counts more than 550 members, including most of the world's leading banks, insurers and asset managers, with collective assets of more than $150 trillion. read more And last week, climate activists criticized GFANZ for dropping a requirement that its members sign onto a U.N. emissions reduction campaign.

After decades of decline, even into negative territory, term premium is rising again. chartchartchart"We are in a tectonic phase of monetary policy and you are getting asset dislocations across the board, including long bonds," said Solomon Tadesse, head of North American Quant Strategies at Societe Generale. A 30-year bond bought and held to maturity by a pension fund, for example, quickly becomes 'off the run,' so liquidity risk ends up lifting the term premium. In the week through Oct. 21 the 30-year bond's price fell for an eighth straight week, the longest selling streak since 2004. If the Fed is successful in driving down inflation or the economy goes into recession, more investors will flock to 30-year bonds.

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