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☆ M&A is a 'huge opportunity area' for Airbnb, says Canvas Ventures' Mike Ghaffary
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | 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 EmailM&A is a 'huge opportunity area' for Airbnb, says Canvas Ventures' Mike GhaffaryMike Ghaffary, Canvas Ventures, joins 'TechCheck' to discuss his thoughts on Airbnb and big opportunities, as well as the value of the stock.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Canvas Ventures' Mike Ghaffary
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Canvas Ventures' Mike GhaffaryMike Ghaffary, Canvas Ventures, joins 'TechCheck' to discuss his thoughts on Airbnb and areas where he sees big opportunities.

☆ Why retailers send your like-new returns to rot in landfills
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Not all retailers are environmentally focused, "so things end up being thrown away because of the cost," he said. If consumers want to avoid contributing to landfills with their returns, there are a few things to keep in mind. Luxury brands, too, are more likely to trash returns to avoid products ending up in secondary markets and tarnishing the label's value. Retailers are investing more in returns technology, services, and other advanced strategies as returns volumes grow. Consolidation strategies used by Amazon and other major retailers cut down on shipping costs by pooling returns together at stores.

☆ Movie theaters get creative with food and drink as they struggle to fill seats
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

At many movie theaters, popcorn and soda appear alongside flatbreads, lobster grilled cheese and elaborate cocktails. "It is things like concessions and how that fits into a broader movie theater experience that really are things that movie theaters need to focus on and hammer in," Gallinari said. AMC Entertainment , the world's largest movie theater chain, exited its third quarter with more than $5.3 billion in debt. According to data from research firm EntTelligence, the average medium popcorn at domestic movie theaters is $8.14, while a medium drink runs for $6.20. "With movie theaters and concessions already having a reputation for being overpriced, being subject to the wills of the market in that way can really work against the movie theater's favor," Gallinari said.

☆ Matt Gaetz called for Biden to 'blow up TikTok' after the Air Force shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Air Force shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon on Saturday using an F-22 fighter jet. "It is an intelligence tool for the Chinese communist party, and no spunky dance is worth having the Chinese communist party being able to exploit information from almost every American family," Gaetz told WEAR-TV. In China, the TikTok app is known as Douyin. It opens the door for the Chinese Communist Party to access Americans' personal information, keystrokes, and location through aggressive data harvesting," Hawley wrote on his website. Hawley's bill came after after a bipartisan bill also aiming to ban TikTok was introduced on December 13.

☆ Trump and other Republicans call for the US 'to shoot down' a suspected Chinese spy balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump called for the US to "SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON" as a suspect Chinese spy craft floats above the US. Other Republicans took a slightly more measured approach, arguing that it was "a mistake" not to have shot down the suspected spy balloon but not necessarily saying that it should be done now. Bloomberg reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advised President Joe Biden not to order the shoot down the balloon due to the risk of falling debris. "It was a mistake to not shoot down that Chinese spy balloon when it was over a sparsely populated area," Rubio wrote on Twitter. "Shoot down the balloon.

☆ Republican U.S. lawmaker meets with TikTok, but unpersuaded
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Representative Mike Gallagher met with TikTok on Wednesday about the Chinese-owned short video app's U.S. data security plans but still plans to seek to ban TikTok in the United States, a spokesperson for the lawmaker said. Gallagher, the Republican chair of a U.S. House of Representatives select committee on China, met with Will Farrell, interim security officer at TikTok U.S Data Security. The lawmaker "appreciated their time but found their argument unpersuasive," Gallagher spokesperson Jordan Dunn said. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ TikTok CEO to testify before Congress in March amid app security questions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Rose Horowitch | Rose Horowitch Is An Intern With Nbc News Digital Politics. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will appear before Congress in March to field questions about the viral video app's security measures amid mounting efforts to ban it because of privacy concerns. TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has come under increased scrutiny after media reports showed possible security breaches. Several lawmakers are supporting legislation to ban the app from the U.S. entirely. The ban Biden approved, which was wrapped into the omnibus spending bill, included limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security and security research purposes. Last month Congress banned it on all government devices.

WASHINGTON — Republicans, newly empowered with a House majority, are demanding spending cuts as a price for lifting the debt ceiling and averting a catastrophic default on U.S. debt. Republicans are divided over whether Medicare and Social Security spending should be on the chopping block. Jose Luis Magana / APLuna said she wants to do it without tax increases or Social Security or Medicare cuts. The White House has vowed that Biden won’t grant concessions on the debt limit and that paying the country’s bills is non-negotiable. But I think we’ve got to also honor our commitment to Americans when it comes to Social Security and Medicare,” Garcia continued.

☆ Sen. Josh Hawley says he'll introduce legislation to ban TikTok nationwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has announced he plans to introduce legislation Wednesday that would ban the popular social media app TikTok in the United States. Now I will introduce legislation to ban it nationwide." "But listen, I welcome all efforts to ban TikTok, of whatever form it takes." Under that measure, the president could impose sanctions on TikTok and other social media companies to prevent commercial operation in the U.S. Several states have also taken steps to prohibit the use of TikTok on government devices.

McCarthy made good on his promise to block former House Intelligence chair Adam Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell — both California Democrats — from serving on that panel. In addition to keeping Schiff and Swalwell off the Intelligence Committee, McCarthy previously said he intended to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who backed McCarthy but has caused headaches for GOP leadership in the past, also got a slot on the panel. The coronavirus committeeRep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, will chair the special committee investigating the spread of the coronavirus. Last week, McCarthy named GOP members to a third select committee, focused on competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party.

☆ TikTok and its parent company spent about $5.4 million on federal lobbying last year as it faced renewed threats of a ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance spent about $5.4 million on federal lobbying in 2022. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance spent about $5.4 million on federal lobbying in 2022, a roughly 4% increase from the previous year, according to year-end disclosures filed by the companies and their hired lobbying firms on Friday. While ByteDance's and TikTok's lobbying spend remained relatively flat between 2021 and 2022, both years represented a significant spike from 2020 when the companies spent around $2.6 million. In late 2020, the Trump administration attempted to ban TikTok's app from US app stores. TikTok's app has faced similar government-device bans at the state level.

☆ Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin will not attend Sunday game after cardiac arrest despite previous reports, but says he wants 'to be out there with them!'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Damar Hamlin is not attending the Buffalo Bills game on Sunday, despite prior reports. A source told the AP Hamlin is expected to attend the game, but later said "plans may have changed." The player confirmed on Twitter shortly before kickoff he is "supporting from home." Fellow Bills safety Matt Milano shared images of the player smiling and shaking hands with a teammate on his Instagram story. Hamlin's Saturday return to Orchard Park comes after he spent more than a week in the hospital in critical condition.

☆ We asked House lawmakers about scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos. Most Republicans want nothing to do with him.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

But Santos is clearly a problem for House Republicans. But three days later, Miller — who actually represents Ohio's 7th district — became the eighth House Republican to publicly call for Santos to resign. said Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who said that Santos "seems nice" even as he appeared unaware of the extent of his controversies. At a press conference on Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pointedly declared that Santos was "an issue that Republicans need to handle." Santos and Ocasio-Cortez briefly spoke on the sidelines of a gaggle of GOP lawmakers on the House floor on Wednesday, January 4.

☆ One more thing for Democrats to fix: the Republican Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Neal Urwitz | Neal Urwitz Is A Public Relations Executive In Washington | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

And that, ironically, means Democrats must focus on fixing the Republican Party. And the current iteration of the Republican Party would strip away American democracy. Is it someone who is likely to make the Republican Party more or less responsible? Will that Republican Party abide by American laws and American democracy? Democracy will only survive if Democrats have done our part to create a responsible Republican Party.

☆ GOP House targets China, abortion, IRS funding in McCarthy's first week as speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Christina Wilkie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., conducts a news conference in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall on Thursday, January 12, 2023. WASHINGTON - The new Republican House majority used its first full week in office to quickly pass six pieces of legislation that showcased the party's political priorities. Following Republicans' historic intraparty battle for the speakership earlier this month, GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's first week was an exercise in party unity. "Voters have elected George Santos," McCarthy told reporters Thursday in the Capitol. Rather than move to expel Santos, McCarthy appeared to put his faith in a House Ethics Committee investigation of the lawmaker.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said she has personally spoken to Jeffries and recommended that Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., should be the ranking member. “The Republicans made it very clear that the committee is primarily focused on … counter intelligence and economic espionage issues which have been the focus of my own work, especially on the Intelligence Committee,” Krishnamoorthi said in an interview. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a former CIA analyst who is eyeing a possible Senate bid in 2024, has also expressed interest in the top role on the China panel. But while CAPAC is divided, its members agree that the ranking member of the new panel should be Asian American. Think about that," said one CAPAC member.

☆ Why experts worry TikTok could add to mental health crisis among US teens
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

TikTok is far from the only social platform to be scrutinized by lawmakers and mental health experts for its impact on teens. That’s problematic because the more time a teen spends on social media, the more likely he or she is to be depressed. Psychologists say as smartphones and social media grew around 2012, so did the rate of depression among teens. But teens say it’s not the most egregious videos that keep them engaged. The majority of teens say social media can be a space for connection and creativity, according to Pew Research.

☆ GOP-led House creates a new committee to tackle threats from China, McCarthy's first big bipartisan win
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Christina Wilkie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is seen outside a House Republican Steering Committee meeting to select committee chairs in the U.S. Capitol Monday 9, 2023. WASHINGTON — Members of the U.S. House from both the Democratic and Republican parties voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to establish a new select committee to address the multifaceted threats that China poses to the United States. The new panel will be called the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party. According to the resolution creating the new select committee, its powers will be largely investigative, not legislative. There will 16 members on the committee, nine Republicans and seven Democrats.

☆ New U.S. House creates committee focused on competing with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The House voted 365 to 65 in favor of a resolution establishing the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, which will investigate the issue and make policy recommendations. Democratic Representative Jim McGovern, a co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, a grouping of House members and senators which studies China policy, said he would vote to create the select committee despite concerns it might be overly partisan. This will be a bipartisan committee," McCarthy said in remarks urging the House to back the bill. He said the committee would address issues such as bringing jobs back from China to the United States, securing intellectual property and bringing supply chains back to the country. The new committee will be chaired by Republican Representative Mike Gallagher.

☆ The House of Representatives will have more guys named 'Mike' than women chairing committees under the new Republican majority
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Republicans have announced a new slate of committee chairs for the new Congress. Six of the committees will be chaired by a man named Mike or Michael. On Monday, House Republicans sorted out a number of contested chairmanships, and House Majority Steve Scalise released a list of recommendations for chairmanships that were ratified by the conference on Tuesday. The result: men named "Mike" will outnumber women two-to-one among committee chairs. Under Democratic leadership in the previous Congress, 7 House committees were chaired by women.

Share this -Link copiedMcCarthy elected speaker in 15th round McCarthy was elected House speaker Saturday shortly after midnight on the 15th ballot. Share this -Link copiedHouse reconvenes to hold 14th round of speaker votes The House has reconvened to begin the 14th round of speaker votes. Read the rest of the story, The House speaker election, in three charts. Share this -Link copiedHouse begins 13th round The House is beginning the 13th round of speaker votes. At least 14 House GOP flip to support McCarthy in twelfth speaker vote Jan. 6, 2023 01:52 Share this -Link copied

☆ McCarthy's dream job could become a nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But that role could turn into a nightmare because it requires leading a caucus that strongly rejects leadership. He told reporters on Friday night that he would be a more effective leader because of the drawn-out process. So now we'll be able to get the job done," McCarthy said. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a group tied to him, contributed more than $160 million to help Republican House candidates. McCarthy sent candidates $6.5 million from his own campaign and four other entities under his control, according to his campaign team.

There are no active House lawmakers. Other business in the House is paralyzed, as well, and the rules that previously governed the lower chamber have expired. Some members worry they and their staff members will stop receiving paychecks if the new Republican majority remains unable to elect a speaker. Incoming House Rules Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., said members are expecting to get paid through Jan. 13. Some lawmakers are asking questions about whether their staffers will be covered by health care if the Republican impasse drags on.

☆ Inside the 'Fly Fleet': billionaire Google founder Sergey Brin's growing flotilla of megayachts, boats, and jet skis
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Rob Price | Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a quiet harbor in California's Redwood City, 30 miles south of San Francisco, there often sits a gleaming 40-meter yacht flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. Along with Butterfly, which often docks in Redwood City, California, Brin maintains a growing flotilla of yachts, jet skis, and skiffs. To maintain the fleet, Brin employs a 50-person team around the globe, led by the master mariner Mike Gregory. InsiderMany of Brin's smaller water-sports toys — as well as Page's — have been supplied by Kai Concepts, a startup that builds high-tech aquatic vehicles, including foilboards and a kite-propelled boat. While he spends much of his time at his collection of tropical islands around the world, he has sold his superyacht Senses and downsized to an assortment of smaller vessels.

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