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☆ Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells to Reunite in ‘Gutenberg! The Musical!’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Michael Paulson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The musical, written by Scott Brown and Anthony King, began its life in the comedy world, at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, where King was the artistic director, and then was further developed at the New York Musical Festival. The director will be Alex Timbers, who also directed the 2006 Off Broadway production; Timbers later won a Tony Award for directing “Moulin Rouge!,” and he has also worked in comedy, including as the director of “Oh, Hello” on Broadway. “I love this show, and it gets seen and performed all over the world, but isn’t really known in New York,” Timbers said. “Broadway is rebounding, and it is due for an even bigger rebound,” Gad said. And more than anything, I think that people miss laughing.”

Persons: Scott Brown, Anthony King, King, Brown, “, ”, James Earl Jones, Alex Timbers, Gad, “ Gutenberg, ” Gad, Tony Awards Organizations: Upright Citizens Brigade, New, Broadway, James Earl Jones Theater, Timbers, ” Timbers, ” Locations: London, Australia, France, Korea, Spain, U.S, Moulin Rouge, New York

☆ Jeffrey Epstein Acted Like an Adviser to JPMorgan Executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A number of times, Mr. Staley told Mr. Epstein he missed him, talked about mutual friends and about helping his daughter get into graduate school. In one email, Mr. Staley bragged to Mr. Epstein about his New Year’s Eve 2011 plans: “I’m here in Brazil with three beautiful women. Have a happy new year.”In another email exchange, according to the document, Mr. Staley wrote to Mr. Epstein in 2010: “Maybe they’re tracking u?? In some emails, Mr. Epstein mentioned all the rich and famous people he was meeting or talking to, including Prince Andrew. Mr. Black was another close associate of Mr. Epstein’s for many years and paid him $158 million for tax and financial advice.

Persons: James E, Staley, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein’s, Epstein, Mr, “, ”, Prince Andrew, Leon Black, Black Organizations: JPMorgan Chase, Mr, The New York Times, ”, JPMorgan, Middle, Wall Locations: Brazil

☆ UK's Boris Johnson and the 'partygate' scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

10 Downing Street, in December 2020, when such gatherings were banned. Dec. 1 - Johnson, asked about a December 2020 party, tells parliament: "All guidance was followed completely in No. Dec. 8 - Johnson tells parliament: "I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no COVID rules were broken." May 19 - The police hand out 126 fines relating to eight dates when events were held at Downing Street and the Cabinet Office. March 22 - In a combative public hearing, Johnson tells the committee that "hand on heart" he did not lie to parliament.

Persons: Boris Johnson, Johnson, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip's, Sue Gray, Carrie, Rishi Sunak, Gray, Sachin Ravikumar, Kylie MacLellan, William James, Andrew MacAskill, Gareth Jones, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: ITV, Downing Street, Police, Privileges, Downing, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Downing

The EPL was raised from its initial 25% rate to 35% in November, bringing the overall tax burden to 75%. With Friday's changes the windfall tax would fall away, reducing the tax burden to 40%, if average oil and gas prices fall to or below $71.40 a barrel for oil and 0.54 pounds ($0.6784) per therm for gas in two consecutive quarters. However, the government said independent price forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility suggest the price floor mechanism is unlikely to be triggered before the windfall tax’s planned end date in March 2028. UK North Sea oil and gas producers including TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) and Harbour (HBR.L) have said the levy would result in them cutting investment in the basin. Reuters GraphicsBritain was a net exporter of oil as recently as the 2000s, but now depends on both oil and gas imports.

Persons: Sarah Young, Shadia Nasralla, William James, Kate Holton, David Goodman Organizations: Brent, OPEC, Iraq, Reuters Graphics Britain, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Britain

People picket outside of FOX Studios on the first day of the Hollywood writers strike on May 2, 2023 in Los Angeles. Hollywood is gearing up for another labor fight, and once again worries about artificial intelligence are front and center. Hollywood's talent wants to create guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in future television and film productions. "Our members are human beings, not puppets, and it is a violation to use AI technology to make them do or say something without their informed consent." Actors have varying comfort levels with how AI is used, which is why SAG-AFTRA is looking to advocate for informed consent when it sits down with the AMPTP.

Persons: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Timothee Chalamet, Wes Anderson, Duncan Crabtree, AFTRA, Crabtree, James Earl Jones, Jones, Darth Vader, Obi, Wan Kenobi, Anderson Organizations: FOX Studios, Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Star Wars, SAG, CNBC, of America, Writers Guild of America, Disney Locations: Los Angeles . Hollywood, Ireland

June 5 (Reuters) - The mother of a 6-year-old Virginia boy who shot and wounded his elementary school teacher was charged on Monday with two U.S. firearms felonies, and her lawyer said she will plead guilty to both offenses under a deal with federal prosecutors. She is accused of concealing in a federal firearms transaction form that she was an unlawful user of marijuana, court records show. The federal firearms counts are in addition to state charges on which Taylor was already indicted in connection with the Jan. 6 shooting of her son's first-grade teacher, Abigail Zwerner, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. Another school staffer rushed into the classroom and restrained the boy while Zwerner ushered the rest of the students from the classroom to safety, police said. Zwerner has said the boy had been previously removed from school for violent behavior.

Persons: Deja Taylor, Taylor, Abigail Zwerner, James Ellenson, Ellenson, Zwerner, Steve Gorman, Leslie Adler Organizations: Richneck Elementary School, ABC, Thomson Locations: Virginia, Newport News , Virginia, Los Angeles

☆ Hollywood's next big fight is over how actors will get paid for work by their AI 'digital doubles'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hollywood actors want to get paid for work done by their AI "digital doubles." SAG-AFTRA starts negotiations this week for a new contract with Hollywood studios, and AI is a hot topic. Hollywood is gearing up for another union battle this week, and a big topic will be how actors are paid for work done by their "digital doubles" created using artificial intelligence. Crabtree-Ireland told the FT that the starting point for negotiations would be getting union-scale payments for work using digital doubles. And while the use of AI might scare some actors, others in Hollywood are embracing the potential paydays the tech could bring.

Persons: Duncan Crabtree, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, James Earl Jones, Darth Vader, Crabtree, AMPTP negotiaotors, Hilary Krane Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Morning, Financial Times, Alliance, Television Producers, Reuters, Guild of America, Saturday, CAA Locations: Ireland, Crabtree, Hollywood

☆ Digital doubles, fake trailers: AI worries Hollywood actors before labor talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

AI already has divided studios and striking film and television writers, who want assurances that the emerging technology will not be used to generate scripts. SAG-AFTRA wants to ensure its members can control use of their "digital doubles" and ensure studios pay the actual actors appropriately, said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's chief negotiator. A representative for the AMPTP had no comment on its position on use of AI with actors. In negotiations with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the AMPTP proposed discussing the topic once a year, which the Guild viewed as an attempt to avoid the issue. You're never going to see anything like that if we're all using AI."

Persons: Julia Louis, Dreyfus, Christine, Wes Anderson, Harry Potter, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, Crabtree, Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Reeves, Leland Morrill, we're, Morrill, Justine Bateman, Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, Walt Disney, Ford, Stephen Colbert, James Earl Jones, Darth Vader, Carrie Fisher, AFTRA's Crabtree, Bateman, " Bateman, Lisa Richwine, Jorge Ramos, Dawn Chmielewski, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Warner Bros ., Screen, Writers Guild America, YouTube, SAG, Microsoft Corp, Walt Disney Co's, Lucasfilm, Disney, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix Inc, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, ANGELES, Hollywood, Ireland, ., Los Angeles

☆ Gustavo Dudamel in New York: Selfies, Hugs and Mahler
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( James Estrin | Javier C. Hernández | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The violins were tuning, the woodwinds warming up and the trumpets blaring bits of Mahler. Then the musicians of the New York Philharmonic began to whistle and cheer. Gustavo Dudamel, one of the world’s biggest conducting stars, strode onto the stage this month for his first rehearsal with the Philharmonic since being named the ensemble’s next music director. “I will have the opportunity in the next few days to hug everybody,” he told the musicians, smiling and pumping his fist. “I’m very honored to become part of the family.”

The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful ever made, has revolutionized the way we see the universe. The name was chosen for James E. Webb, a NASA administrator during the 1960s. But when doubts about his background emerged, the telescope’s name turned into a fight over homophobia. Michael Powell, a national reporter for The Times, tells the story of Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, an astrophysicist whose quest to end the controversy with indisputable facts only made it worse.

☆ Lakers vs Nuggets Game 2: LeBron James proves he is human after missing an easy dunk in LA loss to Denver
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —LeBron James proved he is human after all as the Los Angeles Lakers fell to a 108-103 Game 2 playoff loss against the Denver Nuggets. With the Lakers up by eight points early in the second, James had a clear run to the basket after being found by Rui Hachimura in transition. Jack Dempsey/APLeBron blowing the easy dunk was just one of the many uncharacteristic errors made by the 19-time All-Star in the Game 2 loss. After the game, James reflected on the 0-2 hole the Lakers find themselves in and said that it wasn’t the end of the world. To go with four steals, five assists and 10 rebounds, Murray scored an incredible 37 points in the huge win.

☆ 10 Things in Tech: Uber wants to predict your habits, Apple and Google team up, and Lebron James eyes Complex Networks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

And minting it could be a solution to avert a major economic catastrophe (here's an explanation of the looming disaster, by the way). This average-looking coin could prevent job losses, steep cuts to retirement savings, and other major financial blows. Shopify employees and experts brace for shakeup. Multiple sources told Insider that his company, SpringHill Co., has internally discussed offering around $100 million to buy Complex from Buzzfeed. Google tells employees to limit publishing AI research.

☆ As Biden Runs Again, Black Voters’ Frustration Bubbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Maya King | Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In his campaign announcement, Mr. Biden made no secret of the importance of Black voters to his re-election. The state party is preparing to hold its presidential primary first in the nominating process — a move Mr. Biden and Democrats said was made to give Black voters more influence. Mr. Biden’s allies maintain that his administration has delivered for Black voters but that he has failed to trumpet some of his progress. The economy, a top concern for Black voters, has recovered from its pandemic doldrums, though inflation, which spiked last summer, remains higher on a sustained basis than it has been for decades. “The president and vice president have made issues Black Americans care most about a priority and are running to finish the job,” said Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Mr. Biden’s campaign.

☆ Disney's lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis has teeth, legal experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Disney's lawsuit accused Florida officials of infringing on its constitutional rights. Ron DeSantis culminated in a stunning lawsuit on Wednesday, where the entertainment giant said state officials retaliated against it, citing a lawmaker who said "You kick the hornet's nest, things come up." Schultz said Disney could even seek in the lawsuit to depose DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president. It targets The Walt Disney Company." The position articulated by state officials — including that the bill's focus extends beyond Disney — shows Disney will likely keep drawing on more pointed material to support its retaliation claims, said Schutz.

☆ Apple argues UK competition watchdog had "no power" to launch probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - Technology giant Apple (AAPL.O) on Friday told a London tribunal that Britain's competition watchdog had "no power" to launch a probe into its mobile browsers because it did so too late. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a full investigation in November into cloud gaming and mobile browsers over concerns about restrictions by iPhone-maker Apple, as well as by Google (GOOGL.O). Apple filed an appeal in January at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London and argues the investigation is "invalid". However, the CMA's lawyer James Eadie said the watchdog had complied with the legal time limits, because it initially decided not to open an investigation in December 2021. "A finding of invalidity would terminate the market investigation and leave unaddressed the CMA's concerns about the lack of competition for mobile browsers and cloud gaming," Eadie added.

☆ JPMorgan Chase sues former executive Jes Staley over Jeffrey Epstein relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —JPMorgan Chase sued former executive James Edward “Jes” Staley, who was largely responsible for JPMorgan’s 15-year financial relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. By suing Staley, JPMorgan brings its former executive and former Barclays CEO into the court case as a defendant. The US Virgin Islands’ suit did not name Staley as a defendant and he has not been charged criminally with any activities related to Epstein. If successful, JPMorgan’s maneuver could make Staley financially responsible if JPMorgan loses its case. Those email exchanges allegedly continued long after Epstein was convicted, the US Virgin Islands government wrote in its complaint.

☆ UK and EU leaders to meet Monday to finalise Northern Ireland deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The Prime Minister wants to ensure any deal fixes the practical problems on the ground, ensures trade flows freely within the whole of the UK, safeguards Northern Ireland’s place in our Union and returns sovereignty to the people of Northern Ireland," a statement from Sunak's office said. SOVEREIGNTY CONCERNSAs part of its exit agreement, Britain signed an accord with Brussels known as the Northern Ireland protocol to avoid imposing politically contentious checks along the 500-kilometre (310-mile) land border with Ireland. But the protocol effectively created a border for some goods moving from Britain because it kept Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods. That also left Northern Ireland subject to some EU rules even though it was not a member of the bloc. Perceptions that the protocol erodes Northern Ireland's place in the UK have sparked anger among many in pro-British communities.

☆ Biggest security benefits, risks with new Meta, Twitter verified identity subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

As Twitter and Meta Platforms move to paid subscriptions for social media identity verification and security, the battle to stay safe online continues. With social engineering and phishing the primary sources of social media account compromise, it's unlikely verified accounts will actually be more secure. "Twitter is only eliminating the SMS-based two-factor authentication capability, and does offer two additional methods for two-factor authentication that are stronger and more reliable than SMS-based authentication," Ramzan said. When signing on for a social media account, try to give away as little personal information as possible, Buzzard said. Aura recommends social media users disable third-party apps that are connected to their social media accounts.

☆ 'Identity capital' is the key to getting your dream job and making friends in your 20s, according to Gen Z and millennials on TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Young professionals on TikTok are advocating for building "identity capital" to get ahead at work and in life. Identity capital has a lot more to do with connections and relationships and community." "I think of identity capital as anything you do that adds value to who you are," Jay told Insider. "The personal resources acquired developmentally become important," Côté wrote in one 2012 paper, with those personal resources being the experiences that make up identity capital; he calls identity capital the "black box of agency" where there is none. "I don't think identity capital is only valued to the extent that it's seen as profitable," she said.

☆ Insurers Say Cyberattack That Hit Merck Was Warlike Act, Not Covered
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Richard Vanderford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

The Merck case has attracted attention, and not just for the amount at stake or because it touches on cyberattacks, a growing risk to businesses of all sizes. “The United States didn’t say ‘NotPetya is an act of war against the United States and we’re going to launch a military response,’” Mr. Mosier said. The insurers appealed after a lower court judge sided with Merck in 2021. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | Risk and Compliance Journal Our Morning Risk Report features insights and news on governance, risk and compliance. PREVIEWMore broadly, APCIA argued that a win for Merck could jeopardize other similar exclusions that insurers rely on when drafting policies.

☆ Factbox: Profile of all-time top scorer LeBron James
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Factbox on LeBron James, who became the NBA's all-time leading scorer on Tuesday. * Averages 20.9 points a game in his debut season to become the first Cavaliers player to win the Rookie of the Year award. * The following year he takes his revenge on the Spurs in the final as the Heat win back-to-back titles. * The Lakers win the 2020 championship title - their first since 2010. * In January 2023, two weeks after his 38th birthday, James becomes only the second player to score 38,000 career points.

☆ Tomahawk dunk? Step-back three? Skyhook? LeBron has options for breaking record
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Rory Carroll | Thomson Reuters | Los Angeles-Based Sports Reporter Who Interviews The Most Impactful Athletes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But James' shot-making skills have expanded over the years and he has a full arsenal at his disposal to deliver a historic highlight. "Over the course of my career I've just got better with every facet of my game," James told ESPN in a recent interview. Tomahawks, windmills, reverses - James could rock the rim in any number of ways, sending fans into a frenzy and opposing teams into timeouts. James has been seen practicing the difficult shot, which no player has ever mastered like Abdul-Jabbar, during pre-game warm-ups. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Stranded Detroit Pistons' game is postponed after team waited seven hours at airport amid Texas winter storms only to be forced back to hotel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Detroit Pistons played the Dallas Mavericks Monday night, and were unable to leave Dallas due to icy conditions. NBA games have rarely been postponed due to weather in recent years compared to the number of games missed due to COVID outbreaks. However, the team — still stuck — was forced to return to their hotel after seven hours at the airport. The game was later postponed, according to ESPN. Over the course of the pandemic, NBA games routinely were postponed or canceled due to COVID outbreaks among players.

☆ NBA roundup: LeBron James' triple-double sinks Knicks in OT
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Jan 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) controls the ball against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. James, who missed Los Angeles' Monday defeat to the Brooklyn Nets with a sore left ankle and left foot, finished with 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Adebayo grabbed 11 rebounds and Martin hauled in 10 for the Heat, who won for the fourth time in five games. Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 19 points while Jarrett Allen had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Los Angeles capitalized on 20 Chicago turnovers to improve to 2-1 on a six-game road trip and win for the sixth time in seven games.

☆ Unilever names Dutch dairy boss Schumacher as new CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Schumacher, 51, joined Unilever in October last year as non-executive director and is currently the chief of Dutch dairy business FrieslandCampina. The London-based company in September said that CEO Jope planned to retire at the end of 2023. Peltz, through his Trian Fund, holds a nearly 1.5% stake in Unilever, making him the fourth largest shareholder, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Analysts at Jefferies and RBC Capital welcomed Unilever's appointment of an external CEO, saying investors will support the move. "We think Unilever needs a cultural and organisational shake up," RBC analyst James Edwardes Jones wrote in a note.

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