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☆ Blinken chides Beijing's 'escalating actions' at sea, concerned over Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Beijing's "escalating and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea at a summit on Saturday, while his Russian counterpart said Washington has stoked anxiety with its plan for a nuclear deterrence with ally Seoul for the Korean peninsula. Blinken singled out China over its coast guard's hostile actions against U.S. defense treaty ally the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Philippines' small troop presence on a grounded former U.S. navy ship at the Second Thomas Shoal has angered China for years. Blinken discussed Taiwan with Wang and concerns about Beijing's recent "provocative actions", included a simulated blockade during the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, a senior U.S. State Department official said. Wang told Blinken that although communications had been maintained between China and the United States, Washington had not stopped its containment and suppression of Beijing and had even intensified it.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Beijing's, Blinken, Thomas Shoal, Wang, Lai Ching Organizations: China's, 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Washington, Seoul, U.S, ASEAN Regional Forum, EU, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Foreign, Taiwan, U.S . State Department Locations: Vientiane, South, China, Philippines, South China, Manila, Russia, India, Australia, Japan, Gaza, Ukraine, North, U.S, Laos, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Washington

☆ When the crowd leaves Trump's hush-money trial, the judge spends his day in a very different kind of court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

AdvertisementGetting accepted is just the startThe Manhattan mental health court is one path available to those who plead guilty to felonies. Related storiesMerchan is the sole judge of the mental health court in all of Manhattan, and has presided over it since its founding in 2011. If the office allows it, a mental health court treatment plan can become part of their plea agreement, which includes different consequences for failures. "It's really hard, a huge burden to even get so far as to be accepted into mental health court," said Orlins. If you fail the mental health court program in such a dramatic fashion, the next step can be a sentencing hearing.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Stormy Daniels, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Donald Trump, Curtis Means, Trump, I'm, Eliza Orlins, Justice Juan M, Seth Wenig, Juan Merchan's, ANGELA WEISS, Orlins, Jane Rosenberg, Iris Organizations: Service, Republican, Business, New, Trump, Justice, AP, Manhattan, Attorney's, Getty, Associated Press Locations: United States, Washington, Manhattan, New York City

CNN —Judge Juan Merchan called out former President Donald Trump’s defense team during their motion for a mistrial Thursday afternoon, telling them there were many times they could have objected to Stormy Daniels’ testimony, but did not. For the second time this week, Merchan expressed surprise that Trump’s lawyers had not objected more when Daniels was on the stand. And for the second time this week, Merchan rejected their motion for a mistrial. Merchan specifically pointed to Daniels’ testimony about the trailer park, in which Daniels suggested Trump told her she would be stuck living in a trailer park before they had sex in 2006. Merchan also referred back to the defense’s opening statement when Blanche denied there was ever a sexual encounter between Daniels and Trump.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump’s, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Daniels, Todd Blanche, Daniels ’, Trump, Susan Necheles, ” Merchan, Blanche, CNN’s Laura Dolan Organizations: CNN, Trump

☆ Ukraine war live updates: NATO chief chides China; Pentagon says weapons will reach Ukraine 'within days'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A view of the street filled with rubbles of partially destroyed building after a Russian missile strike as at least 7 were killed, 28 injured in the attack Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs said, in Dnipro, Ukraine on April 19, 2024. The Pentagon says its deliveries of weapons from the latest U.S. support package for Kyiv are on their way and will arrive in the coming days, if not sooner. Russian officials have hit back at the news, saying the new arms provisions will harm the region's security but will not bring Ukraine any closer to defeating Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had some strong words for China, saying Beijing must end its support for Russia's war in Ukraine if it wants better relations with the West, and that it cannot have it "both ways." Elsewhere, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping Organizations: Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Pentagon, Kyiv, Russia, NATO Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Dnipro, Ukraine, China, Beijing

☆ Biden Chides Netanyahu, Threatening to Pivot U.S. Policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

During a 30-minute call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, President Biden went further than ever in pressing for change in the military operation. “President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” according to a White House summary of the call. But Mr. Kirby would not outline specific metrics for judging Israel’s response or what Mr. Biden would do if not satisfied. Mr. Biden called himself “outraged and heartbroken” over the incident and made a point of calling Mr. Andrés to express his condolences. Bibi obviously doesn’t care what the U.S. says, its about what the U.S. does.”Jon Favreau, a former chief speechwriter for Mr. Obama, was even more derisive of Mr. Biden.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, President Biden, Biden, “, Netanyahu, ”, Fatima Shbair, Antony J, Blinken, ” Mr, Biden’s, Chris Coons, Mr, Coons, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, Biden “, Mohammed Saber, John F, Kirby, emboldening, John Hannah, José Andrés, Andrés, Zomi Frankcom, Damian Soból, Barack Obama, Bibi, ” Ben Rhodes, Obama, ” Jon Favreau, doesn’t, ‘, ’, aggravation, Jill Biden, Joe, Katie Rogers, David E, Sanger, Lara Jakes Organizations: Israel, Hamas, Credit, Associated, NATO, Democratic, CNN, Republican, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Iran, Central Kitchen, Shutterstock, Jewish Institute for National Security of America, Biden, Mr, Israel Defense Forces, White Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Brussels, Michigan, Washington, Delaware, Jerusalem, Iran, Syria, United States, “ Hamas, Haiti, Cyprus, U.S, “

☆ Originalism Isn’t the Key to This Supreme Court. Tradition Is. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Marc O. De Girolami | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It is a sign of the polarizing nature of the current Supreme Court that even knowledgeable critics of its opinions make diametrically opposed arguments. Justice Breyer’s criticism follows on the heels of that of another judge, Kevin Newsom of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Such traditions, he warned, “have no demonstrable connection to the original, written text.”The current Supreme Court is the object of considerable controversy and confusion. Justice Breyer is right that the Constitution should be interpreted, in part, in light of practices that persisted after its ratification, but wrong to think that the current court is not doing this. Judge Newsom is right that the current court is doing this, but wrong to think that it should not be.

Persons: Stephen Breyer, ”, Breyer, Kevin Newsom, Judge Newsom, “ Organizations: U.S ., Appeals, Harvard Law School

☆ U.S. Defence Chief Reaffirms Support for Philippines, Chides 'Dangerous' Chinese Conduct
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines and criticised as "dangerous" China's use of water cannon and disruption of a Philippine resupply mission last week. In a phone call on Wednesday with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, Austin "reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. commitment to the Philippines" following Chinese obstruction at the Second Thomas Shoal "of a lawful Philippine resupply mission," said a statement from the Pentagon. Austin emphasised support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction, it said. The Philippines routinely sends boats to the Second Thomas Shoal to deliver supplies to a small group of its soldiers posted to guard a warship that was intentionally grounded on a reef 25 years ago. The Philippines has been furious over what it calls repeated aggression by China's coastguard around disputed features located inside Manila's 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Gilberto Teodoro, Austin, Thomas, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: . Defense, Philippine, Pentagon, China's coastguard Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Philippine, China, United States

☆ The final scenes of 'The Crown' uncannily predicted the current state of Britain's royal family
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One scene showed a conversation between the Queen and Prince Philip about the next generation of royals. The royal family suffered several setbacks after King Charles took the throne in September 2022. AdvertisementThe final moments of Netflix's "The Crown" seemingly predicted the state of the royal family in the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth's death. The royal family is in chaosIn January 2023, Prince Harry's bombshell memoir, "Spare," was published, revealing previously unreleased details about his fallout with the royal family. The most recent Sovereign Grant report showed that the royal family cost British taxpayers £86.3 million, or about $110.5 million, during the 2022-23 financial year.

Persons: Queen, Prince Philip, King Charles, —, Queen Elizabeth's, Queen Elizabeth II, Imelda Staunton, Olivia Colman, Claire Foy, Prince Phillip, it's, Philip, We'll, chides Philip, Samir Hussein, Prince Harry's, William, Harry, Meghan Markle, Camilla, Meghan, Buckingham, Graham Smith, King Charles ', King Charles and Prince William, Chris Jackson, Smith, hadn't, Grant, Kate Middleton Duchess, Cambridge, Germany Chris Jackson, Kate Middleton, Charles, Kate, Wales, Evan Nierman, Instagram, Phil Chetwynd Organizations: Service, Netflix, Windsor Castle, Getty, Getty Images, REUTERS, Metropolitan Police, Sky, BI, British, PR, BBC, AFP Locations: British, George's, Windsor, Buckingham, Poland, Germany, Berlin, Kensington

☆ Late Night Chides Biden for Talking About Gaza While Eating Ice Cream
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Biden’s Big ScoopOn Monday, President Biden was asked about a timeline for a potential cease-fire in Gaza while visiting an ice cream shop for a “Late Night with Seth Meyers” segment. On Tuesday, the “Daily Show” host Michael Kosta said Biden had delivered his response “in the most Joe Biden way possible” — that is, while eating an ice cream cone.

Persons: Biden, Seth Meyers, Michael Kosta, Joe Biden Organizations: Netflix Locations: Gaza

☆ Late Night Chides Donald Trump for a Lack of Self-Control
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Get Ahold of YourselfA judge threatened to remove Donald Trump from court on Wednesday after he could be heard muttering disparaging comments during E. Jean Carroll’s second defamation suit against the former president. “A judge actually had to tell a former president of the United States, ‘You can’t control yourself,’” Seth Meyers said on Thursday. “He can’t even control an umbrella.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Jean Carroll’s, “, ’ ” Seth Meyers Organizations: Netflix Locations: United States

☆ Opinion | Fear and Anguish Amid a Rise in Antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “Schumer Chides Leftists Abetting Antisemitism” (news article, Nov. 30) and “What American Jews Fear Most,” by Chuck Schumer (Opinion guest essay, Nov. 30):Senator Schumer’s resolve to take a strong public stand against antisemitism is laudable, particularly when the scourge of hatred toward Jews is reaching a fever pitch. The Senate majority leader’s felicitous and poignant plea, both on the floor of the Senate and in the Opinion section, was notable for its moral clarity and forceful denunciation of the wanton antisemitism pervading every segment of our society. Furthermore, the urgency with which he conveyed how dangerous this conflagration of hate has become and how critical it is for all Americans — not just Jews — to condemn antisemitism is a clarion call that will hopefully resonate on all points of the political spectrum, on university campuses and throughout our nation. Remaining silent in the face of blatant bigotry is indefensible, and Senator Schumer’s compelling words should serve as a wake-up call to everyone who has thus far failed to confront this growing crisis. N. Aaron TroodlerBala Cynwyd, Pa.To the Editor:Like Senator Chuck Schumer, I am deeply concerned about the rise in antisemitism.

Persons: “ Schumer, Chuck Schumer, Schumer’s, —, Aaron Troodler Bala, David Locations: Pa

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado judge chided a welding company that tried to pay off a $23,500 settlement with a subcontractor by sending the money in loose coins that weighed 3 tons (2.7 metric tonnes). Findley ordered JMF to pay by a more conventional method like a check. He also said JMF would now have write a larger one — to pay an extra estimated $8,092 to cover legal fees for the ensuing dispute over whether it had the right to pay in coins. Political Cartoons View All 1218 Images“The form of the settlement in this case is a reference to their shared career field and is intended to satisfy the settlement, albeit in an uncommon form,” they said in a September court filing. Findley said photographic evidence showed JMF apparently took the extra step of taking coins separated in boxes by denomination and then “dumping them loosely and randomly” into the container.

Persons: Joseph Findley, “, Findley, JMF, Danielle Beem, Denver's, ”, ” Findley Organizations: DENVER, Plaintiff Locations: Colorado

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has benefited from waiting to reveal where he stands as the swing vote in a chamber closely divided between Democrats and Republicans. During a multi-day trip to West Virginia's capital this week, the 76-year-old expressed growing frustration with the polarized U.S. two-party system. He managed to win reelection in 2018 in one of former President Donald Trump's most loyal states as the last of his party to hold statewide office in now-deep red West Virginia. Still, Justice has a high approval rating in West Virginia, making him a formidable opponent for any candidate. Robert Rupp, a retired political history professor at West Virginia Wesleyan, called Manchin one of the most successful campaigners in recent state history because of his personal relationships with constituents.

Persons: — Sen, Joe Manchin, He's, —, ”, Manchin's, he's, Manchin, ” Manchin, Donald Trump's, Jim Justice, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Alex Mooney, He’s, Robert Rupp, Rupp, ” Rupp, “, shouldn't, We've Organizations: Republicans, Amtrak, West, West Virginia's House, Democratic, Democratic Party, Republican Gov, White, Energy, Natural Resources, Justice, Senate, Democrat, GOP, Trump, West Virginia Wesleyan Locations: CHARLESTON, W.Va, West Virginia, West, Charleston, West Virginia's, New Hampshire, Washington

(AP) — Washington Commanders part-owner Magic Johnson criticized coach Ron Rivera's team for playing with “no intensity or fire" in a 40-20 loss Thursday night to the Chicago Bears, a club that hadn’t won a game in nearly a full year. By the time Sam Howell led the hosts to their initial first down, nearly 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter, Chicago (1-4) was already ahead 17-0. At halftime, the tally was 27-3, and the Bears had outgained the Commanders 307-84 in total yards. Afterward, the Commanders forced the Bears to punt for the first time all evening. Later, with a chance to cut the deficit to seven with under 5 1/2 minutes left, Slye missed a 46-yard attempt.

Persons: Magic Johnson, Ron Rivera's, hadn’t, “ Let's, ” —, —, Rivera, Jack Del Rio —, Justin Fields, DJ Moore, ” Rivera, “, ” Johnson, Dan Snyder, Washington “, “ didn’t, Terry McLaurin, ” McLaurin, that’s, we've, Darrick Forrest, Moore, Khalil Herbert . Washington, Fields, Sam Howell, “ Let’s, Howell, Logan Thomas, Matt Eberflus, Thomas, Joey Slye, Ron, Slye, ___ Organizations: —, Chicago Bears, Redskins, Washington, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Bears, Chicago, Denver Broncos Locations: LANDOVER, Md, — Washington, Chicago, Washington

Judge Arthur Engoron is seen in the courtroom before the start of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s civil business fraud trial at the State Supreme Court building in New York, U.S. October 4, 2023. Mary Altaffer/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 4 (Reuters) - A judge overseeing Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial pounded his fists in frustration with the former U.S. president’s lawyers on Wednesday for what he described as redundant and "ridiculous" cross-examination of a witness. He has already disciplined Trump’s lawyers for making what he said were "frivolous" arguments. "This is ridiculous," Engoron said on Wednesday as one of Trump’s lawyers repeatedly asked his onetime accountant the same questions for each year at issue in the case. Trump’s lawyers appealed the decision on Wednesday.

Persons: Arthur Engoron, Donald Trump’s, Mary Altaffer, Donald, Trump, Engoron, Letitia James, James, Donald Jr, Eric, Joe Biden's, Jack Queen, Grant McCool Organizations: Supreme, REUTERS Acquire, New, Trump, Democrat, Trump Organization, White, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Manhattan

☆ Pope approves Shanghai bishop as Vatican chides China for lack of consultation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

VATICAN CITY, July 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has approved a new bishop of Shanghai as the Vatican chided China for transferring him there without consultation, in violation of bi-lateral accords. A Vatican statement on Saturday said the pope had named Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to head the vacant Shanghai diocese position. It is the latest dispute between the Vatican and China over the transfer of a bishop. In November, the Vatican accused Chinese authorities of violating the 2018 pact by installing a bishop in a diocese not recognised by the Holy See. For the first time since the 1950s, both sides recognised the pope as supreme leader of the Catholic Church.

Persons: Pope Francis, Bishop Joseph Shen Bin, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Shen, Parolin, Philip Pullella, Frank Jack Daniel, Mike Harrison Organizations: CITY, State, Conservative, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Vatican, China, Haimen, Jiangsu province

☆ Opinion | ‘The Idol’ Is the First Big TV Show of the Backlash Era
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

To write about “The Idol” at all is to fall into a bit of a trap, because the show desperately wants to be a scandal. Sam Levinson, who created the show with Tesfaye and ended up directing it, pronounced himself delighted by the Rolling Stone report. HBO also leaned into the controversy, marketing “The Idol” as the “sleaziest love story” in Hollywood. Jocelyn, after all, doesn’t really resemble any current female pop stars. The stars who’ve been open about their mental health challenges, including Selena Gomez and SZA, certainly don’t sexualize those struggles.

Persons: Rolling Stone, ”, Amy Seimetz, Seimetz, Abel Tesfaye, Tesfaye, Sam Levinson, ‘, ’ ”, Rose Depp, Jocelyn, she’s, Jane Adams, chides, Tedros, ” Jocelyn, erotically asphyxiating, Megan Thee, who’ve, Selena Gomez, SZA Organizations: Rolling, Cannes, HBO, Tesfaye Locations: Hollywood, America

☆ Jimmy Kimmel Chides Fox News for Not Covering Its Lawsuit Settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Willful IgnoranceFox News and Dominion’s settlement continued to dominate the news cycle on Wednesday — everywhere except on Fox News. Jimmy Kimmel joked the omission was surely an “oversight,” saying he was curious “how Fox News was going to cover the story about themselves” and was unable to find anything about it on their home page.

☆ Harris backs expelled Tennessee lawmakers, chides Republicans for ousting them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Cheney Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Republicans who control the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday expelled two young Black lawmakers who last week led protesters into the well of the House floor, while a resolution to remove a white representative came up one vote short. The Republicans ousted Justin Pearson, 28, of Memphis, and Justin Jones, 27, from the Nashville area. They staged the protest for gun reforms following the March 27 shooting at a Nashville school that killed three 9-year-old students and three adults. With a 75-23 advantage over Democrats in the House, Tennessee Republicans took the extraordinary measure to expel their Democratic colleagues, citing their disruption of orderly House business. Just two state lawmakers had previously been expelled since the U.S. Civil War.

☆ Harris chides Tennessee Republicans for ousting state lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Cheney Orr | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Republicans ousted Justin Pearson, 28, of Memphis, and Justin Jones, 27, from the Nashville area. They staged the protest for gun reforms following the March 27 shooting at a Nashville school that killed three 9-year-old students and three adults. [1/7] U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an address after the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic members, representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, for their roles in a gun control demonstration at the Tennessee State Capitol, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., April 7, 2023. With a 75-23 advantage over Democrats in the House, Tennessee Republicans took the extraordinary measure to expel their Democratic colleagues, citing their disruption of orderly House business. Just two state lawmakers had previously been expelled since the U.S. Civil War.

☆ They’re Inseparable—but Only When They Exercise
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Jen Murphy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Kim Austin and Mark Abair bicker like an old married couple. She chides him for always starting out too fast at races. On long runs, she rolls her eyes when he insists on finding a port-a-potty. Ms. Austin is married, but not to Mr. Abair. Instead, he serves as what hard-core exercisers call a workout husband—the exercise equivalent of a work spouse.

☆ IAEA chides Iran for undeclared change to Fordow uranium enrichment setup
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Francois Murphy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The International Atomic Energy Agency found the change during an unannounced inspection on Jan. 21 at the Fordow Fuel enrichment Plant (FFEP), a site dug into a mountain where inspectors are stepping up checks after Iran said it would dramatically expand enrichment. Fordow is so sensitive that the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers banned enrichment there. Since the United States pulled out of the deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions against Iran, the Islamic Republic has breached many of the deal's restrictions on its nuclear activities. The IAEA has had regular access to Fordow to carry out verification activities like inspections and it is in talks with Iran on stepping up those activities, the report said. However, some other safeguards measures are still required and are being discussed with Iran," the report added.

☆ A Dutch executive chides Americans for not taking more vacation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some US workers aren't provided much vacation, while others are leaving unused days on the table. Including paid holidays as well as vacation days, the average American took over 20 days off between 1978 and 2000, but this has fallen to roughly 17 days in recent years. The fact that many vacation days are left unused is even more notable when one considers how few vacation days most Americans have to begin with when compared to the rest of the world. The US is the only country in the OECD, a group of 38 of the world's most developed nations, that does not require businesses to offer any paid vacation or paid holidays. For these people — many of whom are among the lowest-wage workers — choosing to not use all of their vacation days isn't even an option.

☆ 'The Whale' review: Brendan Fraser's standout performance can't keep Darren Aronofsky's film afloat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The love showered on Brendan Fraser out of film festivals inflates expectations for “The Whale” wildly out of proportion, in a movie based on a play that occurs almost entirely within a lone apartment. Weighted down not by its morbidly obese protagonist but rather its stick-thin supporting players, Fraser deserves praise for his buried-under-makeup performance, but that’s not enough to keep the movie afloat. Adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his play, “The Whale” actually derives its title from the book “Moby Dick,” although the convincing enormity of Charlie’s physique obviously provides another meaning. As poignant and heartbreaking as Charlie’s plight is, “The Whale” can’t transcend the line between theater and film. While it’s easy to root for Fraser to earn accolades, in the annual hunt for award-worthy movies, consider this another one that got away.

☆ Why this NBA star earning $1.7 million only wears free team gear: 'I think long term'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For Jones, wearing his Pelicans gear is less a fashion statement than it is a monetary one. Herbert Jones may be a millionaire, but the second-year NBA player still prefers to get his clothes for free. If I have to wear Pelicans gear ... for the rest of my career, then my kids or kids' kids can go to school for free just based on what I earned in the NBA, then I'm good, I'm cool. If I have to wear Pelicans gear ... for the rest of my career, then my kids or kids' kids can go to school for free just based on what I earned in the NBA, then I'm good, I'm cool." "And I'm like, 'man, I'm good.'"

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