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☆ First close-up image of a star beyond our galaxy may reveal impending supernova
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The star, known as WOH G64, is 160,000 light-years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small neighboring galaxy that orbits the Milky Way. Van Loon has observed WOH G64 since the 1990s and studied it as a student at the European Southern Observatory. The Hubble Space Telescope soon revealed it had indeed been a red supergiant in the past, perhaps 20,000 years before the explosion. “If this is what we are seeing (WOH G64) doing, then a spectacle awaits us soon,” van Loon said. It’s nowhere near as bright or variable as WOH G64, van Loon said, and only experienced a brief hiccup compared with what WOH G64 is undergoing.

Persons: ”, Keiichi Ohnaka, Jacco van, UK’s Keele University . Van Loon, van Loon, Gerd Weigelt, Max Planck, It’s, Edward Guinan, Guinan, “, ” van Loon, Ohnaka Organizations: CNN —, Southern, Astrophysics, “, Andrés Bello National University, Keele Observatory, UK’s Keele University . Van, European Southern Observatory, Max, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Villanova University in, Hubble Locations: Atacama, Chile, Jacco van Loon, Bonn, Germany, Villanova University in Pennsylvania

☆ Sarah Silverman says her lawsuit against OpenAI is difficult because the company is one of the 'richest entities in the world'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Silverman discussed her copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT. Comedian Sarah Silverman opened up about her copyright infringement lawsuit against Sam Altman's OpenAI, which owns the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT. The lawsuit's defendants include OpenAI, L.P. and OpenAI GP, L.L.C, among other entities. The plaintiffs originally sued OpenAI for direct copyright infringement, vicarious copyright infringement, violating The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, unjust enrichment, violating the California and common law unfair competition laws, and negligence. The judge dismissed all the claims except direct copyright infringement and unfair competition, prompting the plaintiffs to file an amended lawsuit in March.

Persons: Sarah Silverman, Rob Lowe's, Silverman, Sam Altman's OpenAI, ChatGPT, Rob Lowe, OpenAI, Sam Altman, Nehisi Coates, Laura Lippman, Paul Tremblay, Jason Redmond, It's, Lowe, that's Organizations: Rob Lowe's Sirius XM, OpenAI, Microsoft, Court, Northern District of, Northern District of California San Francisco Division, Business, Copyright Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, AFP, California

☆ What to know about Denzel Washington's family, including his actor kids
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Here's what to know about Washington's kids: John David, Katia, Malcolm, and Olivia. John David Washington, Washington's eldest child, stars as the lead. In 2018, John David Washington told Andscape that pursuing football was a way to escape being compared to his father. In 2020, John David Washington told Esquire that he didn't tell his father about the audition until he got the role. Katia Washington has worked on several movies, including "The Equalizer," which starred Denzel Washington, "Fences," which was directed by Denzel Washington, and "Malcolm & Marie," which stars John David Washington.

Persons: Denzel Washington's, John David, Katia, Malcolm, Olivia, Washington's, John David Washington, Katia Washington, Denzel Washington, Cuba Scott, Malcolm Washington's, Olivia Washington, Young Mama Ola, Mama Ola, Samuel L, Jackson, John David Washington John David Washington, Emma McIntyre, Andscape, It's, it's, Dwayne Johnson, — Pauletta, —, Spike Lee's, Christopher Nolan's, Tenet, Gareth Edwards, Katia Washington Katia Washington, Monica Schipper, Django, Marie, Malcolm Washington Malcolm Washington, Jon Kopaloff, Malcolm Washington, August Wilson, Tony, Wilson, Malcolm Washington cowrote, Oscar, Virgil Williams, Olivia Washington Olivia Washington, Amy Sussman, Latoya Richardson, Butler Organizations: Netflix, Washington, Paramount Pictures, Santa Barbara, Film, Campbell Hall High School, Morehouse College, Louis Rams, Germany's, NFL Europe, California Redwoods, United Football League, Hollywood, HBO, Broadway, Yale, Bron Studios, Windward School, University of Pennsylvania, American Film Institute, AP, Toronto Film, New York University's Tisch School, Arts, New York, New York Amsterdam News Locations: Cuba, Pauletta Washington, Washington, Atlanta, — Pauletta Washington, Hollywood, Canadian, LA, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, American, London's, California, New York Amsterdam

☆ Amelia Earhart: Sonar imagery resembling missing plane was a rock formation
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

After returning to the site on November 1, Deep Sea Vision — an ocean exploration company based in Charleston, South Carolina, that captured the original sonar image — has identified the object to be a natural rock formation. The hunt for Earhart’s plane continuesThe rock formation was more than 16,000 feet (4,877 meters) underwater. The team sent out the AUV directly above the site in early November, producing a high-resolution image of the rock formation. After the anxious wait, the image surprisingly revealed that the object was a natural rock formation, he said. When Deep Sea Vision first announced the anomaly, Jourdan cautioned against using sonar imagery to identify anything on the seafloor.

Persons: Amelia Earhart, Earhart, Electra, ”, Tony Romeo, “, ” Romeo, Romeo, shouldn’t, Nauticos, David Jourdan, Jourdan, ” Jourdan, ” Amelia Earhart, Fred Noonan, Dorothy Cochrane, Cochrane Organizations: CNN, Lockheed, US Air Force, Vision, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Locations: Charleston , South Carolina, Kennebunkport , Maine, Lae, Papua New Guinea, Howland

☆ Jury awards $98 million to family of Dallas man shot in his home by ex-police officer
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A jury ordered former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger to pay $98 million after finding that she used excessive force in the fatal shooting of Botham Jean in his home six years ago. The jury found that Guyger acted with "malice, willfulness, or callous and reckless indifference" to Jean's safety and rights and awarded his family $60 million in punitive damages, a verdict form shows. The jury awarded an additional $38 million in compensatory damages for mental anguish, loss of earnings and other claims, the document shows. Jean’s family had sought $54 million in damages, according to NBC Dallas Fort-Worth. Sammie L. Berry speaks as church members and Botham Jean's family gather at Greenville Avenue Church of Christ after the funeral service in Richardson, Texas in 2018.

Persons: Amber Guyger, Botham Jean, Guyger, Jean’s, Sammie, Berry, Botham Jean's, Stewart F, she'd, Jean, ” Guyger, Lucia Organizations: Dallas, NBC Dallas, NBC Dallas Fort, Greenville Avenue Church of Christ Locations: Fort Worth, Worth, Dallas, Greenville, Richardson , Texas, Jean, St

The man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley was found guilty of murder Wednesday in a case that became a flashpoint in the immigration debate earlier this year, ahead of the presidential election. Riley’s killing drew national attention to the immigration debate after officials announced that Ibarra is a Venezuelan citizen who entered the United States illegally in 2022. UGA students during a vigil for Laken Riley on Feb. 26. Joshua L. Jones / USA Today NetworkDuring the trial, prosecutors argued that Ibarra killed Riley after she fought off his attempt to rape her. The prosecution pointed to DNA and other evidence that they said linked Ibarra to Riley on the day of her murder.

Persons: Laken Riley, Jose Antonio Ibarra, Tom, ”, Jose Ibarra, Hyosub Shin, H, Patrick Haggard, Ibarra, Haggard, Allyson Phillips, Riley’s, “, ” Phillips, Phillips, ” Prosecutors, Riley, Donald Trump, Joshua L, Jones, Sheila Ross, Riley “, ” Ross, Diego Ibarra, Kaitlyn Beck, Diego, Jose Organizations: Superior Court, ”, University of Georgia, UGA, USA Locations: Athens, Clarke, Ga, Venezuelan, United States

☆ Why Muddy Waters' CIO Carson Block is skeptical of e.l.f. Beauty
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | 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 EmailWhy Muddy Waters' CIO Carson Block is skeptical of e.l.f. BeautyCarson Block, founder and CIO of Muddy Waters Research, joins CNBC's 'The Exchange' to discuss why his firm is shorting e.l.f. Beauty, why he believes the company may be lying about some of its data, and more.

Persons: Waters, Carson Block, Carson Organizations: Muddy Waters Research

☆ 7 key details from Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's DOGE plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( John L. Dorman | Alice Tecotzky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

On Wednesday, Musk and Ramaswamy outlined their vision for DOGE, which Musk previously said would cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Ron DeSantis' Presidential Announcement with Elon MuskTheir opinion piece, published in the Wall Street Journal, is lengthy and dense, filled with Supreme Court rulings and decades-old statutes. Musk and Ramaswamy wrote that their goal for deep reform will be rooted in two Supreme Court rulings. Musk and Ramaswamy make it clear that by eliminating federal regulations, there should also be "mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy." Musk and Ramaswamy note that Trump has implied that the statute is unconstitutional and predict that the Supreme Court would agree.

Persons: Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Musk, Ron DeSantis, Loper, Raimondo, Chevron, Trump, haven't, DOGE, Musk's, Tesla, overreach Organizations: Department of Government, Florida Gov, Elon, Street, Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense Council, Congress, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio, Social Security, SpaceX, Trump, Musk Locations: Florida, America, West Virginia

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Muddy Waters Research founder Carson Block
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | 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 EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Muddy Waters Research founder Carson BlockCarson Block, founder and CIO of Muddy Waters Research, joins CNBC's 'The Exchange' to discuss why his firm is shorting e.l.f. Beauty, why he believes the company may be lying about some of its data, and more.

Persons: Carson Block Carson Organizations: Muddy Waters Research

☆ Carson Block is shorting cosmetics company E.L.F. Beauty, saying it's a 'revenue and investor mystery'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Bradley Saacks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementSpeaking at the Sohn conference in London, Muddy Waters founder Carson Block said he was short E.L.F Beauty. Notorious short-seller Carson Block has a new target: discount cosmetics company E.L.F. AdvertisementUsing import data and referencing conversations the Muddy Waters founder and his team had with E.L.F. "Its reported inventory also appears materially inflated as a result — i.e., to account for cash that has not really come in." AdvertisementBlock and his firm, Muddy Waters, have been a thorn in the side of plenty of companies, big and small.

Persons: Muddy, Carson Block, E.L.F, Block, Muddy Waters, Block's, Blackstone Organizations: Sohn, Muddy Waters, Sohn Conference Locations: London, California, Muddy, China

☆ Ethics Committee deadlocks on releasing Matt Gaetz sex, drug probe report
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The bipartisan House Ethics Committee deadlocked Wednesday on whether to release a report on its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and other wrongdoing by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. Ethics Chair Michael Guest, R-Miss., told reporters after the closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, "There has been no agreement to release the report." She stressed that the vote in the 10-member committee, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, fell along partisan lines. In September he said he would no longer voluntarily participate in the ethics probe, while revealing that the committee had asked him whether he ever "engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18." Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee urged the FBI earlier Wednesday to turn over all the evidence it had gathered from its investigation into Gaetz.

Persons: Sen, JD Vance, Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's, Michael Guest, Susan Wild of, Wild, Guest's, Gaetz, Trump, Guest, Gaetz's, Dick Durbin Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Department of Justice, DOJ, Senate Locations: Washington ,, Susan Wild of Pennsylvania

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Apple, Netflix, Microsoft, Robinhood, Amazon, Dell, Chewy & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Loop reiterates Nvidia as buy The firm said it's standing by the stock heading into earnings on Wednesday. "We see more upside potential and are moving up our target price to $51 from $30. Pivotal reiterates Netflix as buy Pivotal raised its price target on Netflix to a Street high $1,100 from $925. Goldman Sachs reiterates Microsoft as buy Goldman said it's standing by the stock following the company's Ignite Conference in Chicago on Tuesday. Citi downgrades Target to neutral from buy The firm downgraded the stock following earnings on Wednesday morning and says it's losing share.

Persons: NVDA, hasn't, Bernstein, Robinhood, HOOD, Tyson, Paul, Apple, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Piper Sandler, Piper, Morgan Stanley, it's, DELL, qtr, Guggenheim, Oppenheimer, JPMorgan Chase, Cava Organizations: Nvidia, Deutsche Bank, Gaming, Leisure Properties, Deutsche, Netflix, Bank of America, Walmart, Microsoft, Adobe, JPMorgan, Dell, of America, Underperform, Trump, Barclays, Newell Brands, Citi, Target, TGT, HSBC Locations: Chicago

☆ A boomer built a $350K ADU in her backyard to grow old. It's also a win for her daughter, who moved into the main house.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Meanwhile, her 34-year-old daughter lives in the 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom main house with her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter. The ADU was a win for mom, daughter, and granddaughterFor Wilder-Abrams, building an ADU in her backyard and having her daughter move into the main house was much more affordable than purchasing a new home in Oakland. Courtesy of Christine Wilder-AbramsConstruction on Wilder-Abrams' ADU began in 2021. By May 2022, her daughter had moved into the main house, and she had settled into the ADU. To finance the construction of the ADU, Wilder-Abrams took out a second mortgage on her home, as the original mortgage had been paid off years earlier.

Persons: Christine Wilder, Abrams, Wilder, Zillow, Thomas Winz, ADUs, ADU Wilder, it'll, ADU, Everybody's, wasn't, it's Organizations: Wilder Locations: California, Oakland , California, Wilder, Oakland, Oakland , Orange County

Walmart’s CFO John David Rainey said the retailer would likely have to raise prices on some items if President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs take effect. “We never want to raise prices,” he said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. Beauty CEO Tarang Amin told CNBC in an interview earlier this month that the company could be forced to raise prices if the higher duties take effect. The majority of goods Walmart sells are not at risk of tariffs. The home improvement retailer addressed the potential levies as it reported earnings on Tuesday.

Persons: John David Rainey, Donald Trump’s, ”, “, ” Rainey, Wall, Matthew Shay, Tarang Amin, Steve Madden, Rainey, We’ve, Lowe’s, it’s, Brandon Sink, — CNBC’s Gabrielle Fonrouge Organizations: CNBC, National Retail Federation, Walmart Locations: China, U.S

The family of a 30-year-old Hawaii resident is searching for her in Los Angeles after she missed a connecting flight, sent unusual text messages and then went silent, the relatives said. The next day, she sent concerning text messages to loved ones, family members said. The three were part of a larger group of family members and loved ones who gathered in Los Angeles in recent days to launch a search effort. Family members said they couldn't speak about it in detail because they don't want to hinder investigators. The group gathered in Los Angeles is focusing its own search on the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Hill Street, near the Convention Center, LA Live and Crypto Arena, family members said.

Persons: Hannah Kobayashi, Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi, Kobayashi's, Pidgeon, Larie, Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi, Facebook Pidgeon, Tony Im, ” Pidgeon, Geordan Montalvo, Geordan, It's, Father Ryan Kobayashi, I’ve, ”, KHNL, Elsa Lam, Hannah Organizations: Los Angeles International Airport, Nike, NBC News, Facebook, of Modern, Los Angeles International Airport Police Department, FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD, NBC, LAX, RAD, Convention, LA, Crypto, Los Angeles . Security Locations: Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York City, Maui, New York, Grove, Beverly Grove, The Grove, Honolulu, San Diego County , California, Pico Boulevard, Hill, Angeles

☆ Trump expected to nominate Howard Lutnick for Commerce secretary: reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Geoff Weiss | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementTrump is expected to nominate Howard Lutnick for Commerce secretary, according to the WSJ and CNN. Lutnick had previously been viewed as a frontrunner for the position of Treasury secretary. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to tap billionaire finance executive Howard Lutnick as his next Commerce secretary, according to the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Axios. Commerce secretary will be a pivotal role in the Trump administration, given economic concerns played a key role in fueling Trump's victory. He's known Trump for decades, and has hosted fundraisers for the president-elect and appeared on TV as a surrogate.

Persons: Howard Lutnick, It's, Lutnick, Donald Trump, Linda McMahon, Trump, Cantor Fitzgerald, Elon Musk's Organizations: Trump, Commerce, WSJ, CNN, Wall Street Journal, WWE, World Trade Locations: New York, Commerce

☆ China is doubling down on Latin America ties to bolster influence and trade, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China's President Xi Jinping (L) and Peru's President Dina Boluarte shake hands during a meeting at the government palace in Lima on November 14, 2024, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Beijing is strengthening economic ties in Latin America as it seeks to further bolster trade and gain influence in the resource-rich region, experts told CNBC. "The completion of Chancay Port will effectively consolidate Peru's role as a gateway linking shipping routes across land and sea, and between Asia and Latin America," the spokesperson said Friday. Experts say that the port cements China's growing position as a top trade partner of Peru and the rest of Latin America, as it supplants the U.S. in its own backyard. "The port of Chancay is seen as a game changer in the logistics of Latin America," Juan Carlos Ladines Azalia, professor of international affairs and international trade management at Peru's Universidad del Pacífico, told CNBC.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Dina Boluarte, William Reinsch, Scholl, Reinsch, Lin Jian, Juan Carlos Ladines Azalia Organizations: Economic Cooperation, Summit, CNBC, China, Business, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Foreign Ministry, Peru's Universidad del Pacífico Locations: Lima, Asia, Beijing, Latin America, China, Peru, Shanghai, Peruvian, Chancay, America, Port

☆ Conclave: How realistic is the movie which lifts a lid on how a pope is elected?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —This has been a blockbuster election year politically, so it’s fitting that a new movie shines a light on an ancient and highly secretive voting process: the selection of a new pope. Brían F. O'Byrne as Cardinal O'Malley (L) and Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence (R) in the movie "Conclave." They cast them in the Sistine Chapel, in front of the awe-inspiring sight of Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment,” writing their choices on paper ballots that are then burnt after being counted. The crowd waiting outside is informed that a pope has been elected when the chimney above the Sistine Chapel billows out white smoke. White smoke emerged from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel when a new pope was elected on March 13, 2013.

Persons: ”, Edward Berger, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow, Robert Harris, F, O'Byrne, Cardinal O'Malley, Cardinal Lawrence, Bishop Robert Barron, egotism, Fiennes ’, Pope Francis, Steven P, Millies, Bernardin, “, Joe Raedle, Harris, Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Peter Straughan, Tom Reese Organizations: CNN, Roman Catholic Church, Fire Catholic, Bernardin Center, Catholic Theological Union, Jesuit Locations: British, Central, Chicago, Washington ,

☆ Photos show Donald Trump and Elon Musk's post-election bromance
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( John L. Dorman | Alice Tecotzky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementIn the two weeks since the election, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been pretty much inseparable. The Tesla CEO is set to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency in Trump's second term. It's been two weeks since President-elect Donald Trump won another four years in the White House. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been by his side for much of that time. Here's a look at Trump and Musk's whirlwind post-election partnership in photos, from boxing matches to golf games, with an eye on governing in between.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Musk, It's, elect's, Elon, Trump Organizations: Department of Government, Trump, Republicans, NBC

☆ Then and Now: The cast of 'School of Rock' 21 years later
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Pascale Mondesir | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Jack Black, who starred as Dewey Finn, is still a successful actor and musician. Jack Black in 2004 and 2023. Dave Hogan/Getty Image 2004 ; Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images 2023Prior to rocking out and pretending to be Mr. Schneebly in "School of Rock," Jack Black already had an impressive career. The actor also starred on HBO's "Tenacious D," which chronicled a fictionalized version of his rock duo with Kyle Gass. Outside of acting, Black and Gass have released several Tenacious D albums and videos.

Persons: Jack Black, Dewey Finn, Dave Hogan, Albert L, Ortega, Schneebly, He'd, Guy, HBO's, Kyle Gass, Black, Kong, Nacho, Kung, He's, Gass, Donald Trump, Mario, Ireland's JOE he'd, Mike White Organizations: Getty, of, School of, Mario Bros Locations: Orange

☆ Trump to Watch Latest SpaceX Launch With Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Erica L. Green | More About Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Trump’s appearance at the launch demonstrates the growing closeness between the two billionaires, and Mr. Musk’s increasing influence in Mr. Trump’s realm. Last week, Mr. Trump announced that Mr. Musk would lead a yet-to-be-created government agency, and Mr. Musk has become a staple in Mr. Trump’s transition. Mr. Musk has frequently attended meetings with him at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s private residence, and traveled with Mr. Trump to meetings in Washington. As has been the case with many of Mr. Trump’s job candidates, Mr. Musk’s influence and presence brings potential conflicts of interest. Although he and Mr. Musk only recently became close allies, Mr. Trump had long expressed admiration for Mr. Musk’s rocket launches and would frequently reference SpaceX during campaign speeches.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, SpaceX’s, Elon Musk, Musk, Trump’s, Musk’s Organizations: Elon, Mar, Mr, Musk’s SpaceX, SpaceX, Musk’s Locations: Brownsville , Texas, Washington

☆ René Magritte’s ‘L’empire des lumières’ sells for record $121 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Karina Tsui | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A René Magritte painting depicting an eerily lit streetscape sold for more than $121 million at a Christie’s auction in New York on Tuesday –– surpassing its $95 million estimate and smashing the auction record for the Surrealist artist’s work. The auction also featured paintings by other modern giants like Ed Ruscha and Max Ernst. The painting sold for a record sum at a Christie's auction in New York. Two other Magritte works were included in the sale: The paintings “La cour d’amour” and “La Mémoire,” which sold for $10.53 million and $3.68 million, respectively. He produced a total of 17 oil paintings and 10 gouaches (water-based paintings) that all share the name “L’empire des lumières” –– and each with small alternations between versions.

Persons: Magritte, Mica Ertegun’s, Ed Ruscha, Max Ernst, ”, Max Carter, ” Carter, David Hockney, –, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Peggy Guggenheim, Sandra Zalman, Zalman, ” “, ” Zalman Organizations: CNN, Century, Art Basel, Venice Biennale, University of Houston Locations: New York, British, Hong Kong, Belgian

☆ Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy want to 'delete' parts of the US government. It won't be easy.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Alice Tecotzky | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are set to co-lead the DOGE in President-elect Trump's second term. In their roles as co-leaders of the forthcoming Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have vowed to "delete" government agencies, much like a line of code. "Or does it mean that a different federal agency will assume the responsibilities of collecting income taxes?" Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images"The president can't 'delete' departments — or even almost all of government's subunits. Kettl said that any effort to delete the functions of a department is "an even bigger battle" than trying to delete a department itself.

Persons: Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump's, Ron DeSantis, Kevin Kosar, DOGE's, Ramaswamy, Donald Trump, Mordecai Lee, aren't, haven't, Kosar, Allison Robbert, Donald Kettl, Elaine Kamarck, Bill Clinton, Kamarck, Kettl, Lee, they've, nix, it's Organizations: Republicans, of Government Efficiency, Elon, Florida Gov, American Enterprise Institute, Fox News, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, Department of Education, University of Wisconsin -, Trump, Republican, University of Maryland, Brookings Institute, of Education, Farmers, of Agriculture, USDA, Conservative Locations: Florida, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

☆ Visa and Mastercard execs grilled by senators on 'duopoly,' high swipe fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Ece Yildirim | In Ecedyildirim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Interchange fees, also known as swipe fees, are paid from a merchant's bank account to the cardholder's bank, whenever a customer uses a credit card in a retail purchase. "In 2023 alone, Visa and Mastercard charged merchants more than $100 billion in credit card fees, mostly in the form of interchange fees," Durbin told the committee. Visa and Mastercard, however, stand by their swipe fees. But the current high credit card swipe fees for retailers translate to higher prices for consumers, the National Retail Federation told the committee in a letter ahead of the hearing. "Last year, the average American spent $1,100 in swipe fees, more than they spent on pets, coffee or alcohol."

Persons: Bill Sheedy, Linda Kirkpatrick, Democratic Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Republican Kansas Sen, Roger Marshall, Ryan McInerney, Sheedy, Americas Linda Kirkpatrick, Dodd, Frank, Roger Alford, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Visa, Americas, Mastercard, Committee, Democratic Illinois, Republican Kansas, Credit, National Retail Federation, Notre Dame University Locations: Washington ,

☆ Opinion | What Is Trump to Putin? A Harbinger of America’s Collapse.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Mikhail Zygar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

By then, Mr. Putin himself had laid out a similar view of territorial disintegration. The United States is confidently, firmly marching down the same path as the Soviet Union.” This still seems to represent Mr. Putin’s fundamental assessment of the country. This year, high-ranking Russian officials eagerly watched the American film “Civil War,” starring Kirsten Dunst. “Hollywood,” he remarked on his Telegram channel, “doesn’t make films about it for no reason.”How would such conflict come about? “Ordinary citizens won’t lift a finger to preserve America’s unity, knowing they mean nothing to their own government.

Persons: Putin, ”, Kirsten Dunst, Maria Zakharova, ” Dmitri Medvedev, doesn’t, Patrushev Organizations: Soviet Union, Hollywood, Kremlin, “ Locations: United States, Soviet Union, America, Russia, California, Texas, Florida, Alabama, U.S

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