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[1/4] A man clears away the snow from an alley as it snows on a cold winter day in Seoul, South Korea, January 26, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiSEOUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) - South Korea plans to double energy vouchers and a discount of gas prices for underprivileged families to cope with spiralling heating bills amid a prolonged cold wave, officials said on Thursday. Many South Korean households began to feel the impact in recent weeks after turning up the heat amid a cold spell, with monthly gas bills up 34% last month from a year ago, according to Statistics Korea. "There is an inevitable aspect of realising energy prices under these difficult external circumstances," he told a briefing. Many South Koreans expressed concerns over additional hikes in energy bills as freezing winter weather continued.

☆ Jim Cramer's top 10 things to watch in the market Thursday: GDP beat, Tesla records, Macao recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Credit Suisse cuts price target on Club holding to $285 per share from $365. On the Tesla earnings call, Musk also defends his ownership of Twitte r. Says he's not worried about Tesla brand and reputation due to his political tweets. LVS price target raised to $65 from $53. Oppenheimer out with a hilarious Alphabet (GOOGL) price target cut to $130 per share from $135; keeps outperform (buy) rating. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Tech Chiefs Fear ‘Frankenstein’ Software Integrations
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Angus Loten | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Microsoft Corp. this month said it plans to incorporate AI into all of its enterprise software, while boosting its multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI, the startup behind chatbot ChatGPT. That is a potentially costly process that can require overhauling existing enterprise tech stacks, or even hiring high-priced experts to manage new IT tools, analysts said. Hewlett Packard Enterprise this month said it acquired Pachyderm and would integrate new software tools into its enterprise-tech platform. HPE this month said it acquired Pachyderm, a San Francisco-based software startup, and would integrate the new software tools into its enterprise-tech platform. “Our existing customer base will want to know they won’t be forced to replace an existing technology they already buy,” Mr. Hotard said.

At Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), a set of tire chains and a taxidermy rat landed in lost-and-found. The aptly named Lost and Found Software serves many U.S. and international airports as well as public transportation systems. Despite their differences, each provider promises to help customer service workers not only connect more lost items with their owners but to speed up returns as well. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines and others use NetTracer, which has been operating since 2004. Boomerang recently landed two airport customers: Savannah/Hilton Head (SAV) and New York’s Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR).

☆ Disney World closed Splash Mountain after allegations of racism. Not everyone's happy.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Walt Disney World has closed its famous Splash Mountain water ride, the Magic Kingdom attraction that for years had been criticized for having racist roots. Goodbye, Splash Mountain,” read the caption of one video that had more than 1,300 likes Tuesday afternoon. The website for Tokyo Disneyland does not indicate if or when its Splash Mountain ride will close. A representative for Walt Disney World did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday. Splash Mountain is no stranger to controversy: In 2018, it made headlines when Walt Disney World banned a man who rode it while holding up a "Trump 2020" sign.

☆ Man dies after dog steps on rifle, causing it to discharge, Kansas officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

A man died in Kansas on Saturday after officials believe he was struck by a rifle that discharged after a dog stepped on it. The dog stepped on the rifle in the back of the truck, causing it to fire and hit the back of the man, who was found in the front passenger seat, he said. Emergency medical personnel administered CPR before the 30-year-old victim, whose name has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Hay. It was not immediately clear who owned the truck or the dog or who called 911. Representatives for the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks did not immediately respond to questions.

☆ Exclusive: Blackstone in talks with Bain to sell $480 million stake in top Indian REIT
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( M. Sriram | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

For Blackstone, it would mean a further selldown of its Embassy stake as it adjusts its portfolio. A spokesperson for Blackstone declined to comment while Bain Capital and Embassy did not respond to requests for comment. It owns and operates more than 43.2 million square feet of office parks and office buildings in cities such as Bengaluru and Mumbai and is also the largest office REIT in Asia by area. Blackstone currently owns 24% of the Embassy REIT, which has a market capitalisation of nearly $4 billion. That will be worth $400 million-$480 million based on Monday's closing price of the Embassy REIT on the stock exchange in Mumbai.

☆ Angela Bassett becomes Marvel's first actor nominated for an Oscar
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Angela Bassett accepts the Best Supporting Actress award for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" during the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Angela Bassett made history on Tuesday as the first Marvel Cinematic Universe star to be nominated for an acting Oscar for her “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” role as Queen Ramonda. After being nominated in the best supporting actress category, Bassett paid tribute to the character she portrayed. Bassett was previously nominated for a best actress Academy Award for her portrayal as Tina Turner in the biopic "What's Love Got To Do With It." Disney’s "Black Panther” sequel sold around $330 million in tickets and set a November record in the United States and Canada.

☆ Looking to ditch the crowded cities? Consider these 10 outdoorsy zip codes that are drawing Americans looking for affordable housing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The draw of affordable suburbs was as strong as ever for movers as 2023 began, Opendoor data show. The top zip codes for movers were all in the south, but popular cities like Miami missed the list. Americans want the warm temperatures and favorable tax policies that many southern states can offer, Opendoor's analysis shows. Opendoor's ranking was derived through an analysis of homes sold in the 53 metro areas where it operates. If you're pondering a move, and thinking like the millions who did so last year, behold, these zip codes are the ones to consider.

☆ College wrestler missing after friends say he jumped into California ocean for 'polar plunge'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

A San Francisco State University wrestler is missing after jumping into Esplanade Beach for a "polar plunge," friends and authorities said. San Francisco StateThe two other men were able to get out of the water and called 911 for help. The U.S. Coast Guard, California Highway Patrol's air unit, the San Bruno Police Department, and California State Parks Ocean Life Guards were also called in to assist. Friends told KTVU that Alsaudi and his wrestling teammates were doing a polar plunge, when people jump into cold water during the winter months. Alsaudi is a political science major at the university with a minor in Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies.

☆ Abandoned shopping carts cost taxpayers thousands of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Abandoned shopping carts are a scourge to neighborhoods, as wayward carts block intersections, sidewalks and bus stops. There is no national data on shopping cart losses, but US retailers lose an estimated tens of millions of dollars every year replacing lost and damaged carts, say shopping cart experts. They pay vendors to rescue stray carts and fork over fines to municipalities for violating laws on shopping carts. “It is the shopping cart.” Another New York Times article in 1957 called the trend “Cart-Napping.”There’s even a book, “The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification,” dedicated to the phenomenon and a system of identification for stray shopping carts, much like guides for bird-watching. Coin-lock shopping cart systems are popular in Europe, and Poulos said more US companies are requesting coin-lock systems in response to the costs of runaway shopping carts.

☆ Russians are posting footage of air-defense systems being installed on Moscow's roofs, a sign the Kremlin may fear an attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian Telegram channels are posting footage of anti-air systems installed on Moscow's rooftops. The footage, which Insider was unable to independently verify, has since been reposted several times on Twitter. On January 13, Russia's longer-range S-400 surface-to-air-missile systems were also seen deployed in photos posted by the anti-war Telegram channel CHTD. The images, which Insider was also unable to independently verify, show the systems installed in two parks near central Moscow. Russian state media and officials have not addressed the new footage of the missile systems so far.

☆ Supreme Court again declines to block New York gun restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Supreme Court on Wednesday turned away a challenge by a group of firearms dealers in New York to numerous Democratic-backed measures adopted by the state last year regulating gun purchases that the businesses said hurt their businesses. Others were adopted in July after the Supreme Court the prior month struck down New York’s limits on carrying concealed handguns outside the home in a landmark ruling expanding gun rights. New York officials have said the new gun restrictions, which face numerous legal challenges in lower courts, are needed to protect public safety. The Supreme Court has broadened gun rights in three key rulings since 2008. Alito wrote that the New York law at issue “presents novel and serious questions” under the U.S. Constitution’s provisions on gun rights and free speech.

☆ EU tourist stays neared pre-pandemic levels in 2022 - Eurostat
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 18 (Reuters) - The number of nights spent in tourist accommodation in the European Union in 2022 approached pre-pandemic levels, the bloc's statistics office Eurostat said on Wednesday, confirming the sector's recovery path after the COVID-19 pandemic. The 27-nation bloc recorded 2.72 billion nights spent in tourist accommodation last year, down by only 5.6% from 2019 levels, before COVID-19 inflicted heavy losses on the tourism industry due to border closures and lockdowns. This number is an increase of 91.1% and 48.3% from 2020 and 2021 levels, respectively. Domestic travel saw the strongest recovery, already exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 0.7% to 1.53 billion nights, while international tourism was still 12.6% below at 1.19 billion nights. Latvia and Slovakia were among the slowest recovering countries in terms of tourist night numbers in 2022, only recovering to slightly above 70% of 2019 levels.

☆ Solomon Pena was belligerent to neighbors who opposed his political views, condo official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Deon J. Hampton | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Mirna-Alsharif-Byline-Jm.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Pena claimed his defeat was the result of election fraud, Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said Monday at a news conference. Bode said her partner, who died a year ago, had several interactions with Pena. “My partner got into difficult, unsolicited conversations with him as she came in and out of the building,” Bode said. “He’s not a polite, nice person.”Parks said Pena often expressed his political thoughts. “You didn’t necessarily want to get in the elevator with him, because you may not have a nice conversation,” Parks said.

☆ Disney slams Peltz for lack of media experience, but its board is light on it, too
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney directors unanimously rejected activist investor Nelson Peltz's request to join the board this month, in large part due to his lack of media industry expertise. That would be a stronger argument if Disney's current board members had ample media and entertainment experience when they joined. Peltz's strongest claim for a board seat is probably ensuring that succession planning finally happens in an organized and coherent way – which doesn't appear to be the primary argument he's making. According to a company filing Tuesday, Disney decided not to offer Peltz a board seat because he didn't suggest any specific strategic ideas and had minimal industry experience. But Disney's board is filled with directors whose prior experience have little to do with streaming services, legacy pay TV, theme parks or films.

Zambia has become a test case for the G20-led 'Common Framework' restructuring vehicle launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, but differences with some of its main creditors about the debt relief required means progress has been slow. Its vast swathes of national parks are home or migration routes for some of Africa's most impressive wildlife including lions and elephants. "We will be considering all debt restructuring options that are in the framework (G20 Common Framework)which falls within the DSA (debt sustainability analysis) parameters... and that are acceptable to all parties," the ministry's response added. KAZA conservation areaCOMMON FRAMEWORKWWF's Zambia country head, Nachilala Nkombo, told Reuters that the most recent talks with the government took place last month. Sri Lanka, another Common Framework restructuring country, has said that it would like to do a debt-for-nature swap and with Zambia still hoping to wrap up its deal this year it would likely set a precedent.

Others were adopted in July after the Supreme Court the prior month struck down New York's limits on carrying concealed handguns outside the home in a landmark ruling expanding gun rights. New York officials have said the new gun restrictions, which face numerous legal challenges in lower courts, are needed to protect public safety. The Supreme Court has broadened gun rights in three key rulings since 2008. Alito wrote that the New York law at issue "presents novel and serious questions" under the U.S. Constitution's provisions on gun rights and free speech. Nine individuals who sell firearms in upstate New York and a gun collectors association sued state officials in federal court to challenge a series of laws regulating purchases.

☆ Ousted Disney CEO Bob Chapek is getting a $20 million golden goodbye, on top of the $24 million he earned in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Disney says ousted CEO Bob Chapek is set to get a severance package worth more than $20 million. He got $24.2 million total compensation in the 2022 fiscal year, including $280,000 for air travel. Disney said that Chapek's total annual compensation was 446 times higher than that of the median employee pay at Disney — $54,256. In total, Iger got $15 million in total compensation in the 2022 fiscal year, including a pro-rated bonus of $4.4 million, per the filing. He earned $45.9 million in total compensation in 2021 and $21 million in 2020.

☆ I left Manhattan for LA. It's easier to make friends, my cost of living is lower, and I'm so much happier here.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Daniel Zahler | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

I got the full New York City experienceI lived in Manhattan for 12 years. In 2015, I decided to sublet my West Village pad and spend the winter in Santa Monica. Santa Monica is one of the priciest areas of California, but it's still cheaper than Manhattan. Today I'm paying $3,000 a month for a spacious apartment in the heart of Santa Monica with amazing views of mountains and palm trees. New York City is unrivaled in its energy and diversity and is the major league of cities — truly world-class.

☆ Disney says Peltz 'lacks skills' to help business as proxy battle heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Peltz does not understand Disney's businesses and lacks the skills and experience to assist the board in delivering shareholder value in a rapidly shifting media ecosystem," Disney said. Peltz told CNBC on Thursday that Disney should either jettison the streaming business or buy the rest of rival streaming service Hulu. Disney also needs to boost capital expenditure at its parks business, where it probably raised ticket prices "too hard," he said then. In its statement on Tuesday, Disney said it was already working to improve profitability at the Disney+ streaming business that Iger helped launch in 2019 and was rolling out broader cost-cutting measures. Unless Peltz settles with Disney, investors will vote this year on whether he should sit on the company's board.

☆ Disney rips Peltz over board fight, defends Iger's acquisitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Disney ripped Nelson Peltz and his bid for a board seat Tuesday, as the entertainment giant's proxy fight with the investor and his activist firm, Trian Fund Management, takes shape. Disney said in a securities filing Tuesday that its board was where it needed to be to move the company forward. Last week, Peltz laid out his case for a proxy fight with Disney on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" after Trian filed a preliminary proxy statement looking for a seat on the board. Peltz raised issues with how shareholder value has eroded recently and Disney's $71 billion acquisition of Fox in 2019. The company said it had offered Peltz an information-sharing agreement, meaning he would have met quarterly with both management and the board, rather than a board observer role, as Peltz had said.

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Alphabet, Chipotle, Microsoft & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Morgan Stanley downgrades Chipotle to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley said it's concerned about "traffic headwinds." Morgan Stanley upgrades Domino's to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said Domino's is best positioned to handle a downturn. Morgan Stanley upgrades Church & Dwight to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said it sees "fundamental inflection ahead." Morgan Stanley downgrades AutoNation to underweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said it sees too many headwinds for shares of AutoNation right now. Morgan Stanley upgrades Kroger to equal weight from underweight Morgan Stanley said it sees more people eating at home.

☆ Judge Fires at New Jersey’s Gun Law
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( The Editorial Page | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Massive resistance used to be a phrase associated with Southern opposition to the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling on racial integration. These days it describes how progressive institutions resist the Supreme Court’s rulings on guns, race and regulation. In June the High Court ruled that the ability to carry a firearm outside the home is fundamental to the Second Amendment. New Jersey politicians responded by declaring a host of public places from state parks to theaters off-limits to guns—and last week federal Judge Renée Marie Bumb called foul on the state by blocking enforcement of specific provisions that have been challenged in lawsuits. The temporary stay will last until a hearing and ruling on the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.

☆ Taliban asks to keep getting UN aid money despite ending education for women
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Taliban in Afghanistan recently banned women from universities, and working with NGOs. In response, the UN has said it cannot continue to supply the Taliban with humanitarian aid. But the Taliban still asked for support, arguing humanitarian aid shouldn't be "linked" to politics. Then, less than a week later, it banned women from working for non-governmental organizations. UN flights carrying stacks of cash for humanitarian aid into Kabul had already been suspended, he said.

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