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☆ Activist ValueAct is poised to trim fat and help boost profits at Meta Platforms. Here’s how
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Now, ValueAct has engaged another titan of the market, Meta Platforms, announcing an approximately $1 billion dollar position in the company. With the stock price up about 56% in 2024, ValueAct still sees significant untapped value in Meta. ValueAct has shown at Microsoft and Salesforce that it is very good in helping companies trim fat and build muscle. The AI spending, while concerning to some in the market, can be the muscle that strengthens Meta's core FoA business. It should more than justify Meta's AI spend.

Persons: ValueAct, Mason Morfit, Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI's GPT, Meta, Martha Stewart Living, Ken Squire Organizations: Reality Labs, Facebook, Microsoft, Meta, RL, Spotify, OpenAI, Adobe, New York Times, Expedia, Century Fox, KKR, 13D Locations: Salesforce

Two years after an Alabama prisoner was spared when staff members struggled to execute him by lethal injection, officials plan to try again Thursday — using the rare method of nitrogen gas. He filed a federal lawsuit in March seeking to halt his execution, citing the state's past execution failures and concerns that the method of nitrogen hypoxia would add pain and prolong death. "The resolution of this case confirms that Alabama's nitrogen hypoxia system is reliable and humane," Marshall said in a previous statement. Alabama officials have insisted in court filings that nitrogen hypoxia is "painless because it causes unconsciousness in seconds" and death within minutes. "Whether by lethal injection or nitrogen suffocation, the myth of the 'humane execution' is a lie fewer and fewer people believe," Foa said in a statement.

Persons: Alan Eugene Miller, Miller, Kenneth Smith, gurney, Steve Marshall, I've, " Miller, Marshall, Lee Holdbrooks, Christopher Scott Yancy, Terry Lee Jarvis, Smith's heaving, Maya Foa, Foa Organizations: Alabama, NBC News, Alabama Department of Corrections, Prosecutors Locations: Alabama, Atmore, South Carolina, Missouri, Birmingham, U.S, London

☆ Why Europe’s youth are flirting with the far-right
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

In this month’s European Parliament elections, far-right parties performed predictably well – but especially, and unexpectedly, among young people. Far-right parties enjoyed a similar uptick in support in the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Austria, and continued to do well in Italy. Gonzalo Fuentes/ReutersBut young voters appear less concerned by these roots, says Simon Schnetzer, author of a recent survey of Germany’s youth. But the burst in support for far-right parties could spell a darker trend. This success of far-right parties should be a warning to Europe’s mainstream.

Persons: CNN — Pollsters, “, –, ”, Roberto Foa, ” Foa, “ I’m, Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla, Annegret Hilse, You’d, Le Pen, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Jordan Bardella, Arthur Prevot, Macron’s, Prevot, Macron, Jonathan Verbeken, Gonzalo Fuentes, Simon Schnetzer, “ Young, Lee Heinrichs, ” Heinrichs, Ursula von der Leyen, Maximilian Krah, ” Nigel Farage, Maja Smiejkowska, Nigel Farage –, Farage, Andrew Tate, emasculated, Tate –, Tate, shouldn’t, vociferously, Foa Organizations: CNN, Centre, Democracy, University of Cambridge, National, Confederation, Reuters, White House, German Green Party, Greens, Reform UK Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Brussels, Europe, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Italy, Berlin, Britain, Jordan, Paris, France, Paris ’, Marseille, Ukraine, Syria, Sylt, Deutschland, London, Romania

☆ ‘Moana 2’ coming to theaters. You’re welcome
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The line where the sky meets the sea is calling “Moana” again. Disney announced a sequel to the hit 2016 animated film on Wednesday, and even revealed a release date. The movie is a pivot from original plans, which was going to have “Moana 2” play out in a TV series. “Moana” proved a box office success for Disney, and made over $680 million at the box office. “Moana 2” hits theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.

Persons: “ Moana, Moana, she’s, Dave Derrick Jr, Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina Organizations: CNN, Disney Locations: Moana, Maui, Oceania, “

☆ Disney has over 40 movies coming to theaters through 2031 — here they are
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Kirsten Acuna | Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

"Moana 2" — November 27, 2024Disney unveiled a first look at "Moana 2" in February 2024. Walt Disney StudiosIn February 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that "Moana 2," originally planned as a TV series, would be coming to theaters. "'Moana' remains an incredibly popular franchise," Iger said, "and we can't wait to give you more of Moana and Maui when 'Moana 2' comes to theaters this November." According to Disney's press release, this sequel to the 2016 hit "takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers." The upcoming film is directed by Dave Derrick Jr. and will feature music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa'i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.

Persons: Bob Iger, Iger, she's, Dave Derrick Jr, Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa'i, Mark Mancina Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Studios Locations: Moana, Maui, Oceania

Moana and Maui are sailing back to the big screen, very quickly. “Moana 2” is coming to theaters in November, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger said Wednesday. “Moana 2” was directed by Dave Derrick Jr. and will feature music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Mark Mancina, and Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i. The first film made over $680 million at the global box office and has been streamed for over 1 billion hours on Disney+. Dwayne Johnson is also at work on a live-action “Moana” for the company.

Persons: Bob Iger, Moana, “, she’s, ” Iger, Dave Derrick Jr, Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foa’i, Dwayne Johnson Organizations: Walt Disney Company, “, Disney Locations: Moana, Maui, Oceania

☆ Alabama Prepares to Carry Out First Execution by Nitrogen Asphyxiation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Jonathan Allen(Reuters) - Alabama plans to carry out the first known judicial execution of a prisoner using asphyxiation with nitrogen gas on Thursday evening, a closely watched new method the state hopes to advance as a viable, simpler alternative to lethal injections. Kenneth Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, is a rare prisoner who has already survived one execution attempt. In November 2022, Alabama officials aborted his execution by lethal injection after struggling for hours to insert an intravenous line's needle in his body. A canister of pure nitrogen will be attached to the mask, intended to deprive him of inhaling any oxygen. Jeff Hood, spiritual adviser to Smith, who will be at Smith's side, had to sign a form acknowledging the risk that the execution method poses to others.

Persons: Jonathan Allen, Kenneth Smith, Smith, gurney, Jeff Hood, Maya Foa, Foa, Elizabeth Sennett, Charles Sennett, Mama, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, 11th Circuit U.S, Appeals, U.S, Supreme, Besides Alabama, Holman Correctional Facility Locations: Alabama, U.S, Besides, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New York

A view shows the logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany March 16, 2023. That was a relief to financial markets, roiled in recent weeks by a surge in government bond yields led by U.S. Treasuries. The central bank reiterated it would reinvest all the cash it receives from maturing bonds it holds under its 1.7 trillion euro pandemic-era bond scheme until the end of 2024. Instead, the ECB kept the emphasis on slowing inflation, raising investors' conviction that September's rate rise was the central bank's last. And inflation risks have not disappeared.

Persons: Heiko Becker, Christine Lagarde, Lagarde, Piet Christiansen, Gabriele Foa, reinvestments, Marcus Brookes, Sabrina Kanniche, Yoruk Bahceli, Naomi Rovnick, Amanda Cooper, Nick Zieminski Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, ECB, U.S, Treasuries, Reuters, Danske Bank, The Bank of, Algebris, Quilter Investors, Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Italy, Copenhagen, Israel, The Bank of Canada, wean, Ukraine

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 11, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Coty gains on raising sales forecastFederal Reserve rate verdict due at 2 p.m. The U.S. central bank is expected to maintain its key rate in the range of 5.25%-5.50% as it concludes its meeting at 2 p.m. ET, with investors focused on economic projections and Chair Jerome Powell's comments for clues on the outlook for rates and inflation. Investors were also looking forward to the debut by marketing automation company Klaviyo on the New York Stock Exchange against the backdrop of some recent successful U.S. listings.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jerome Powell's, Gabriele Foà, Foà, Klaviyo, Morgan, Ankika Biswas, Shristi, Arun Koyyur Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Companies Coty, Citigroup, Dow, Nasdaq, Algebris Investments, Financial, Arm Holdings, Dow e, Coty, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

The U.S. central bank's two-day policy meeting will end at 2 p.m. ET (1800 GMT), with investors keenly awaiting Fed Chair Jerome Powell's conference at 2:30 p.m. ET to gauge the central bank’s rate-hike trajectory. While the central bank is likely to continue its hiking cycle with a 0.25% move, we think the guidance for future meetings will be considerably more open," said Gabriele Foà, co-portfolio manager at Algebris Investments. ET, Dow e-minis were up 24 points, or 0.07%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 1.5 points, or 0.04%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 12.75 points, or 0.1%.

☆ Shamima Begum, British-born woman who joined IS, loses appeal over citizenship removal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The British government took away Shamima Begum's citizenship on national security grounds in 2019, shortly after she was found in a detention camp in Syria. Begum would have to take the case directly to the Court of Appeal in London if she wishes to challenge Wednesday's decision, according to legislation which covers the tribunal. Begum, who is currently being held in the al-Roj detention camp in north-eastern Syria, argued that the Home Office failed to investigate whether she was a "child victim of trafficking". Judge Robert Jay found there was a "credible suspicion" that Begum was trafficked to Syria for the purposes of "sexual exploitation". But the judge ruled that a finding that Begum may have been trafficked was not enough for her appeal to succeed.

In both the United States and Europe, the words of central bankers led investors to cut their estimates of the peak or "terminal" rate expected in the current tightening cycle. With financial conditions loosening despite rising policy rates, "central banks must...be resolute in their fight against inflation and ensure policy remains appropriately tight long enough to durably bring inflation back to target," Adrian and others wrote. The European Central Bank seems furthest from a likely stopping point. Combined, the statements mark the start of the endgame for central banks that were slow to recognize the onset of inflation last year before engaging in a record-setting round of rate increases. Central bankers long ago stopped using the word "transitory" in reference to inflation that proved faster and more persistent than any expected.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The oldest prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention center was released and “reunited with his family” in Pakistan, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement Saturday. “We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family,” the statement said. The Pentagon said in a statement Saturday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had “notified Congress of his intent to repatriate Saifullah Paracha to Pakistan” last month. Following Paracha’s release, 35 detainees remain in Guantanamo Bay and 18 have been cleared for release, according to Amnesty International. The most high-profile prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay prison is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

But it is unclear how many lenders are tapping the facility and whether pension funds are willing to shell out additional fees for what is a temporary solution, sources told Reuters. Banks are reluctant to increase their lending to LDI funds through the repo facility, according to one official at a European bank. BRIDGING THE GAPLDI is an investment strategy sold by asset managers like BlackRock, Legal & General Investment Management and Insight Investment to pension schemes to help them match their assets and liabilities. Governor Andrew Bailey has rejected calls to continue buying bonds from pension funds which say they still need support beyond Friday. "It's a bridging tool that they can still use to keep the dialogue with the market and the pension funds going."

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