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☆ Russia ramps up its economic war with the West as it seizes local operations of 2 corporate giants
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia escalated its economic war with the West by seizing local operations of Carlsberg and Danone. They marked the second seizures of Western assets since the Kremlin unveiled a decree in April. To slow the exodus of Western firms out of Russia, the Kremlin previously mandated a steep discount for any firms trying to sell their local operations as well as an exit tax. But the recent seizures of Western assets signal a continued escalation in Russia's economic war with the West, which imposed punishing sanctions on Moscow in 2022 for its war on Ukraine. Meanwhile, 523 of the major firms in the study have permanently withdrawn from Russia, while 503 firms have temporarily suspended operations.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Germany's Uniper, Danone Organizations: Carlsberg, Danone, Kremlin, Service, Russian, Carlsberg Group, Danone Russia, Yale School of Management Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Danish, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ The weaponization of the dollar will reverse globalization and kill the WTO, it was warned. That's a real threat today as dedollarization gathers force.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

US economic sanctions have spawned something of a global backlash, in the form of the dedollarization movement. This was anticipated as early as 2019, by an expert who warned the weaponization of the dollar could have serious consequences for the global economic system. Back in 2023, dedollarization is a thingFast forward to 2023, and some of the recent rumblings across the global currency and monetary landscape are strikingly in line with Sen's prognostications. All that could come at a huge cost to the global economy – and drive a "complete reversal of global economic integration," he wrote. The dollar's share of global reserves could slowly decline, but no alternatives exist that could completely displace the US currency, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last month.

Persons: Julius Sen, Donald Trump, Sen, prognostications, Emmanuel Macron, Elon Musk, –, optimists, Paul Krugman, Janet Yellen, Putin Organizations: London School of Economics, Service, UN, SWIFT, Allianz, WTO, FX Locations: Wall, Silicon, China, Brazil, Iran, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, India, Europe

☆ How Trump turned the ‘law and order party’ into an enemy of the FBI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Trump has pleaded not guilty in the classified documents case and in another prosecution in New York related to a hush money payment to an adult film star. “President Trump endured an unprecedented raid at his home in Mar-a-Lago. (A special counsel is still investigating classified documents found in Biden’s possession, while the Justice Department closed a case on the possible mishandling of documents found at Pence’s Indiana home.) Ron DeSantis and other Republicans have promised a comprehensive gutting of the FBI, Justice Department and other government agencies in response to what they claim is a wholesale effort to stop Trump winning the 2024 election. Some independent investigations looking at the Trump era have found wrongdoing or mistakes in the FBI.

Persons: Donald Trump pulsated, Christopher Wray, –, Wray, Biden, that’s, Wray’s, James Comey, Hillary Clinton, ”, George W, Harriet Hageman, Liz Cheney, Cheney, Jerrold Nadler, Justice Department –, Trump, Hunter Biden, Wesley Hunt, Biden didn’t, Biden’s, ” Hunt, Mike Pence, “, ” Wray, Jim Jordan –, Trump –, ” Jordan, Ron DeSantis, Richard Nixon, Comey, Matt Gaetz, DeSantis, Chris Wray, There’ll, ” DeSantis, Trey Gowdy, J, Edgar Hoover –, John Durham, William Barr, ’, Barr, David Weiss –, “ Weiss, COWARD, Bill Barr, ” Trump, didn’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, Democrats, FBI, Judiciary, Bush’s, Department, Wyoming Rep, Rep, Justice Department, GOP, Biden, Texas Republican, Pence’s Indiana, The Biden, Florida Gov, Justice, White, NBC, Fox News, DOJ, Committee, Foreign Intelligence, Delaware US Locations: Wyoming, York, New York, Moscow, Florida, Mar, Pence’s, Delaware, Ohio, Rehoboth , Delaware, Trump, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Durham

But one of these panels is expected to be tasked later this summer with deciding whether to approve indictments in the Trump investigation. If there is a true bill, that creates a criminal case,” McBurney said, explaining the grand jury process. McBurney oversaw the special grand jury that previously collected evidence in the Trump investigation. To secure an indictment in the Trump investigation, 16 of the 23 voting grand jury members would need to be present. At the same time, Trump tried to weaponize the Justice Department to help him intervene in the Georgia election.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Trump, White, Robert McBurney, “, …, ” McBurney, Willis, ”, McBurney, Joe Biden, Rudy Giuliani, Brian Kemp, Brad Raffensperger, Giuliani, The Trump Organizations: Atlanta CNN, Republican, Atlanta . Fulton, Trump, Fulton County Superior Court, CNN, Prosecutors, GOP, Georgia Republican, Gov, Republicans, Senate, Justice Department, Department Locations: Georgia, Atlanta ., Atlanta . Fulton County, Peach State, Fulton County, Atlanta, Fulton, “, New York, Miami

☆ AI Voice Generators Are Fueling a Terrifying New Phone Scam
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Eve Upton-Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

As soon as he heard his dad's voice, Eddie, a 19-year-old TikToker, knew something was up. But with AI, the voice on the other end of the phone can now sound eerily like the real deal. Plus, more people are making their real voice available to scammers: McAfee said 53% of adults shared their voice data online weekly. McAfee also found that over one-third of victims lost more than $1,000 in AI scams, with 7% losing more than $5,000. Then, the scammer can just type out whatever they want, and the AI voice will speak what is typed in real time.

Persons: Eddie Cumberbatch, Eddie, —, Eddie's, Eddie didn't, tricksters, scammers, McAfee, aren't, Richard Mendelstein, Stella, panicking, it's, Steve Grobman, Grobman, they've, Neil Gorsuch, Kamala Harris, Ally Armeson, cybercrime, Armeson, Eve Upton, Clark Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, People, FTC, McAfee, Google, Washington Post, Supreme, Cybercrime Support Locations: Chicago, Mexico City, Canadian

CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing the greatest threat to his authority in two decades after Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner paramilitary group and Putin’s former ally, launched an apparent insurrection. Prigozhin has been highly critical of Russia’s military leadership and their handling of the war in Ukraine, but he had always stopped short of criticizing Putin directly. Wagner group also claimed to have seized Russian facilities in a second city, Voronezh, some 600 kilometers (372 miles) to the north of Rostov-on-Don. Alexander Gusev, the governor of the Voronezh region, said the Russian military was engaging in “combat measures” in the area. Stunning escalationSaturday’s dramatic events come off the back of Prigozhin’s very public and months-long feud with Russia’s military leadership.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Prigozhin, Putin, ” Putin, Igor Artamonov, Sergei Sobyanin, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, “, ”, Don “, ” “, ” Prigozhin, Rostov, Don, Alexander Gusev, Shoigu, –, Gen, Vladimir Alekseev, Sergei Naryshkin, Naryshkin, Ramzan Kadyrov, Vladimir Rogov, Rogov saif, ” Wagner, Stringer, Dmytro Kuleba, Serhii Cherevatyi Organizations: CNN, Prigozhin, Moscow, Terrorism, Security, Russian, RIA Novosti, Kremlin, Russian Southern Military Headquarters, Ministry of Defense, Russian Ministry of Defense, Foreign Intelligence Service, Russian Historical Society, Telegram, Southern Military District, Reuters, Russian Foreign, European Union, US State Department, Britain’s Ministry of Defense, Russian National Guard, Ukrainian, Twitter, Ukrainian Armed Forces Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Rostov, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Russia, St . Petersburg, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Don, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, EU

☆ US officials saw signs Prigozhin was planning challenge to Russian military but surprised by rapid escalation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Alex Marquardt Jim Sciutto | Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

US and Western intelligence officials saw signs that Prigozhin was making preparations for such a move, including by massing weapons and ammunition, one Western intelligence official and another person familiar with the intelligence said. Prigozhin had vowed Friday to retaliate against Russian military leadership over an alleged strike on a Wagner military camp and claimed control of military facilities in two Russian cities. A European intelligence official told CNN that the “temperature had obviously been building,” but few could have predicted what Prigozhin was planning. It is not clear to US or European officials how far in advance Prigozhin was planning the rebellion. One source familiar with Western intelligence said it appeared that it must have taken at least several days to organize.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, ”, Putin, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken’s, Blinken, Matthew Miller, “, Stringer Stringer, Kamala Harris, Adam Hodge, Lloyd Austin, Brig, Pat Ryder, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Intelligence, Ukraine, House, European Union, Foreign, Commonwealth, Development, ”, Southern Military District, REUTERS, Reuters Biden, National Security, US, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Moscow, Russian, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Japan, United States, Ukraine, Britain, Rostov, Don, Poland

☆ Disney's parks division is driving big profits, a bright spot as the streaming biz struggles and ESPN's future is unclear. Here's how that could factor into Bob Iger's CEO succession plans.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger has reorganized the company into 3 core units: entertainment, ESPN, and parks. Parks' growing prominence comes as the company faces looming decisions over Iger's CEO. Travel bans "dramatically impacted" results for Disney Parks during the intense early years of the coronavirus pandemic, Heger noted, adding that parks are now generating more revenue and operating profit than they did in pre-COVID times. The parks' success is "helping to offset" losses from Disney's "DTC," or direct-to-consumer streaming business, Heger added. Josh D'Amaro, the current chairman for Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, would be a likely figure appearing on any shortlist of CEO contenders.

Persons: Bob Iger, Parks, It's, Dave Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, AECOM, Iger, Josh D'Amaro, Christine McCarthy —, Iger's, Bob Chapek, Ron DeSantis, Chapek, Hollywood creatives, Tom Staggs, Iger —, —, Chapek's, it's, you've, Jeffery Merola, he'd, DeSantis, Reed Alexander Organizations: Disney, ESPN, Disney Parks, Walt Disney, Disneyland, Products, Florida Gov, Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, Sunshine State Locations: Tokyo, Shanghai, Orlando , Florida, Anaheim , California, execs, Chapek, Syracuse , New York, Orlando

☆ Republican response to Trump indictment shows they're stitching their own straitjacket
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The roar of outrage from Republican leaders to that indictment restored Trump’s grip on the party after frustration over his role in the GOP’s disappointing 2022 midterm elections had loosened it. Repeating the pattern from other moments of maximum threat to Trump, the GOP response has been marked by a pronounced communications imbalance. (The poll was conducted after Trump’s indictment in Manhattan but before the recent federal charges.) At another point Trump insisted, “These criminals cannot be rewarded” – presumably by frightening Republican voters away from nominating him. Yet, Robinson believes, by echoing Trump’s claims of unfair treatment, the other candidates are encouraging Republican voters to accept his framing of the race.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Kevin McCarthy, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Trump’s, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, –, William Barr, John Bolton, John Thune –, ”, he’s, Ruth Ben, Ghiat, thrall, “, “ Strongmen, Mussolini, Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, machina, Bill Kristol, Jack Smith, Fani Willis –, Dave Wilson, Craig Robinson, “ Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Jennifer Horn, ” –, “ They’ve, Donald Trump, ” Robinson, Robinson, Asa Hutchison, ” Kristol, Biden, Nikki Haley –, Mike Pence, Pence, she’s, ” Ben Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, GOP, Marxist, Republicans, NPR, PBS, Marist, Whites, CBS, Forza Italia, New York University, District, Iowa Republican Party, New, Georgia GOP, “, Trump “ Locations: Manhattan, South Carolina, lockstep, Fulton County , Georgia, New Hampshire, Georgia, America, Thune, Trump, Trump’s, South Africa, Chile

June 13 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in Miami federal court on Tuesday to criminal charges that he unlawfully kept national-security documents when he left office and lied to officials who sought to recover them. Following are some comments in reaction to the news:*Former President Donald Trump on Truth Social"Thank you Miami. Such a warm welcome on such a SAD DAY for our Country!" *Republican Senator Ted Cruz"Looking at the indictment of Donald Trump, the double standard is a massive problem for the Department of Justice. Compiled by Reuters bureaux; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Elise Stefanik, Joe Biden, President Trump, Ted Cruz, Merrick Garland, Jack Smith, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Former U.S, Trump, Republican, Republican Conference, White House, Department of Justice, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Former, Miami

☆ Protesters carrying Nazi flags and DeSantis imagery gathered outside Disney World in Orlando, Florida
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Protesters with Nazi flags gathered outside Disney World on Saturday. DeSantis has been embroiled in a yearlong feud with Disney over the "Don't Say Gay" bill. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyProtestors waving Nazi flags gathered outside Disney World in Orlando, Florida on Saturday afternoon. Last May, a similar protest took place in the same location outside Disney World with protesters carrying Nazi flags. Representatives for DeSantis did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, which was made outside of normal working hours.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, —, Anna V, Eskamani, egan, ince Organizations: Nazi, Disney, Florida Gov, Service, Privacy Locations: Orlando , Florida, ffend

☆ With eye on China, US and five allies condemn trade-related 'economic coercion'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The United States and five of its allies on Friday condemned the use of trade practices that amount to economic coercion in a joint declaration that did not single out other countries but appeared to be aimed at China. Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand jointly released the statement with the United States, emphasizing that "trade-related economic coercion and non-market-oriented policies and practices" threatened the multi-lateral trading system and "harms relations between countries." The United States, Britain, Japan and Canada are also members of the G7. In May, Beijing protested the G7's declarations, including on economic coercion, saying the U.S. was "pushing hard to weave an anti-China net in the Western world." "We are also seriously concerned about the use of forced labour, including state-sponsored forced labour, in global supply chains.

Persons: Jeff Mason, Dan Whitcomb, Sonali Paul Organizations: New, Seven, Washington, U.S . Trade, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Beijing, Lithuania, Taiwan, U.S

☆ Donald Trump’s criminal cases, explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Trump was indicted back in March by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to hush-money payments to a former adult-film star in 2016. Smith is also overseeing other investigations related to Trump, including those regarding the January 6, 2021, insurrection and the 2020 election. That federal law deals with the illegal retention of “national defense information,” a broad term that encompasses classified documents and other sensitive government materials. Federal charges related to classified documents likely do not either. But people do routinely serve prison time for retention of classified documents, conspiracy and obstruction.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, He’s, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Trump, Aaron Burr, Wasn’t, isn’t Trump, Smith, Joe Biden’s, Jim Trusty, ”, Elie Honig, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, CNN’s Evan Perez, Joe Biden, Honig, “, Robert Ray, Ray, it’s, David Axelrod, ‘ They’re, ’, Richard Hasen, don’t, Jean Carroll, We’re, hasn’t, Hasen, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Nixon’s, Spiro Agnew, Agnew, Burr, We’ve, Let’s Organizations: CNN, US Department of Justice, Trump, White, National Archives, Prosecutors, Lago, USC, FBI, DOJ, That’s, Manhattan, Justice Department, Republican, Democratic, University of California, Senate, State, Quinnipiac University, Service Locations: Lago, Miami, Manhattan, Florida, Trump . Miami, Washington, New York, Dade County, Los Angeles, United States, New York City, Fulton County , Georgia, York

☆ Opinion | Oklahoma Breaches the Wall Between Church and State
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

If I had to sum up the current debate within the American right, I’d describe it as a contest between liberty and authority. The dispute between liberty and authority has become a subtext of the Republican presidential primary. It also respects the free speech rights of students and the academic freedom of professors, so that the state doesn’t become the final arbiter of truth. The authority side, by contrast, believes that someone’s worldview will control our schools, so it should be theirs. laws and other educational gag orders, which attempt to tightly regulate instruction about race, gender, and sexual orientation in public schools.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, DeSantis, Disney, Asa Hutchinson, “ it’s, ” Tim Scott Organizations: Republican Locations: Florida

☆ Wagner boss Prigozhin is escalating his feud with the Russian military to stay relevant after Bakhmut, but he risks taking it too far, war experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Wagner founder and financier Yevgeny Prigozhin continues to escalate his feud with the Russian defense ministry. But some prominent voices in Russia's pro-war ultranationalist community are troubled by his antics, ISW observed. But in that same information space, Prigozhin also voiced repeated, profane, and blunt criticisms of the regular Russian military and its leadership. This aspect of his online activities appears to have become more pronounced as Wagner forces come off the line and reposition to rear areas. "Prigozhin is exposing a similar hatred for select individuals within the Russian military command," she said.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ISW, —, Prigozhin, Russia's ultranationalist, Bakhmut, Stepanenko, Roman Venevitin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Igor Girkin, Shoigu, Russian oligarch Organizations: Service, Wagner Group, Russia's, Kremlin, Institute for, Press, REUTERS, 72nd, Motorized Rifle Brigade, Wagner, Russian MoD, RIA, MoD, Washington DC Locations: Bakhmut, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, Concord, Russian, Soledar

☆ A.I. will give cyberattack defenders an 'asymmetrical advantage,' says Microsoft
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailA.I. will give cyberattack defenders an 'asymmetrical advantage,' says MicrosoftTom Burt of Microsoft says that while cyberattacks have become more sophisticated, in the longer run, he is optimistic that A.I. will grant an advantage to defenders rather than those who weaponize it.

Persons: Microsoft Tom Burt Organizations: Microsoft

☆ The judge assigned to hear Disney's lawsuit against Ron DeSantis just disqualified himself from the case because a 'third-degree' relative owns stock in the company. A Trump appointee will replace him
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Obama-nominated Judge Mark Walker recused himself from the Disney lawsuit. The case will now go before Judge Allen Winsor, a nominee of President Donald Trump — who is challenging DeSantis for the 2024 nomination for president. Walker denied that specific request, calling it "meritless" and accusing DeSantis of "rank judge-shopping," but he still disqualified himself from hearing Disney's lawsuit over the ethical conflict. Walt Disney Co., the parent company of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, is headquartered in Burbank, California, but the company holds powerful sway in Florida through Walt Disney World, which has roughly 70,000 employees and is the state's biggest tourist attraction. Neither a representative for the board, the governor's office, nor Disney immediately responded to a request for comment from Insider.

Persons: Obama, Mark Walker, Judge Allen Winsor, —, Ron DeSantis, Walker, Allen Winsor, Donald Trump —, Winsor, Pam Bondi, DeSantis, Barack Obama, Disney, Governor DeSantis Organizations: Disney, Trump, Service, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Florida Gov, Walt Disney Co, British, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney, Circuit Locations: Florida, Northern District, Northern District of Florida, Burbank , California, Central Florida

☆ Nike CEO praises Disney's Bob Iger, saying he's 'doing a great job' in his feud with Florida's Ron DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Nike CEO John Donahoe said Tuesday that Disney CEO Bob Iger is "doing a great job." "I think Bob's doing a great job at this," Donahoe said of Iger. Donahoe's remarks are the latest chapter in a yearlong feud that started in early 2022 when then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek objected to the DeSantis administration's "Don't Say Gay" bill. Iger, who returned as Disney CEO in November, has continued to battle with DeSantis. Disney and Nike have long supported each other and shared connective tissue.

The Hiroshima summit comes as G7 members are faced with the immense challenges posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions with China. The G7 nations are looking to "de-risk, not decouple" from China, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in Hiroshima. In a draft of the final communique seen by Reuters, G7 leaders agreed that China's status as the world's second-largest economy meant they had to continue to cooperate. U.S. President Joe Biden told G7 leaders on Friday that Washington supports joint allied training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, in a significant endorsement for Kyiv. Reporting by Reuters G7 team in Hiroshima; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The college student who tracks Elon Musk's private jet on Twitter is now monitoring the jet used by Ron DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The student who tracks Elon Musk's private jet is now doing the same for Ron DeSantis's plane. Jack Sweeney created a new Twitter account that he said will track the governor's state-owned jet. The college student who tracks Elon Musk's private jet on Twitter has decided to give Florida governor Ron DeSantis the same treatment. Jack Sweeney, a student at the University of Central Florida, has set up a new Twitter account, @DeSantisJet, to track the government-owned jet the politician uses. Sweeney made headlines when Musk offered him $5,000 to take down the Twitter account that tracked his private jet.

☆ The world's biggest publisher is suing a Florida school district for banning books by writers including Toni Morrison and Khaled Hosseini
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Penguin Random House is suing a Florida school district and board after it banned certain books. Penguin Random House has joined forces with an authors' group to sue a Florida school district after it banned a number of books. Books removed or restricted by Escambia include "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison, "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut, and "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. All have had books removed from libraries or had student access restricted by the district, PEN America said in a press release. "The book removals and restrictions enacted by the School District and School Board are denying students access to books they would like to read, or chilling such access."

☆ Manhattan DA refuses Trump's demand for a lot more detail in his hush money records-fraud prosecution — for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On Tuesday, lawyers for DA Alvin Bragg said Trump already has everything he's currently entitled to. Trump won't get more from prosecutors until he agrees not to weaponize the materials, the DA said. Under the protective order, Trump will be allowed to view the new discovery material only in the presence of his lawyers. Trump and his company misrepresented Cohen's reimbursement as "legal fees" in company books, the DA alleged last month. Bragg has alleged there were false entries in the records of the Trump Organization and the National Enquirer concerning the hush money payment to Daniels.

☆ Fears of a US debt default are mounting as the deadline to lift the borrowing limit looms. Here's what Elon Musk, Paul Krugman and Jamie Dimon have warned.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Fears of a US debt default are mounting as a deadline to raise the government's borrowing limit draws near. Investors anxiety over the risk of a US debt default is mounting rapidly as a months-long political deadlock over the government's borrowing limit continues. Here's what six prominent figures have said about the ongoing political standoff over the debt ceiling. "You might ask how we're supposed to enforce a debt ceiling if the government can play games with the definition of debt. He said he doesn't expect the US to experience a debt default, but the deadline to reach a deal is soon approaching.

☆ Wagner boss Prigozhin is going off the rails in Ukraine, and Putin may not have much choice but to let him, war expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Though he strikes hardest at the defense ministry, he has seemingly aimed his frustrations at Putin as well. During the intense fighting in Bakhmut, where the mercenaries have suffered tremendous losses, simmering tensions between the Russian defense ministry and the Wagner boss have boiled over. With the replacement of Gen. Sergei Surovikin, an infamous Russian leader pushed by ultranationalists like Prigozhin, in January, the Russian defense ministry retook control. The situation got so bad for Wagner at one point that expert observers speculated that the Russian military was purposefully decimating the group. Prigozhin said he was threatened with treason over his assertions that Wagner forces would pull out of Bakhmut.

☆ Disney's Bob Iger taunts Florida with an ominous threat: 'Does the state want us to invest more, employ more, and pay more taxes — or not?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Last month, Disney sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, escalating a war that's gone on for over a year. Iger threatened DeSantis, asking the governor if he wanted Disney to "pay more taxes or not." Disney's feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has gone from bitter to downright acrimonious in recent months. "One question: Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people, and pay more taxes — or not?" "We've built a business that employs, as we've said before, over 75,000 people and attracts tens of millions of people to the state," Iger said.

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