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☆ Pope Francis to have abdominal surgery, in latest health concern
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( John Allen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Rome CNN —Pope Francis will have surgery on his abdomen and remain in a Rome hospital for several days, the Vatican said Wednesday, sparking renewed fears over the 86-year-old’s fragile health. The pope was forced to cancel several work commitments in late May after he was debilitated by a fever. According to medical sources, the intervention is likely related to the surgery Francis experienced in 2021 to remove half of his colon. Should Francis be incapacitated for any length of time, the Vatican could find itself facing something of a constitutional crisis. Francis said he wrote the letter several years ago and gave it to then-Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who resigned in 2013.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Pope Francis, Francis, he’s “, Vatican, Matteo Bruni, ” Francis, Pius XI, ”, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Tarcisio Bertone, ’ ”, Francis ’, Pope Benedict XVI, “, Gregory XII Organizations: Rome CNN, Vatican, Rome’s Clinic, Catholic, Spanish, ABC, State Locations: Rome, St

☆ ChatGPT’s responses to suicide, addiction, sexual assault crises raise questions in new study
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And regulators could help monitor that such responses offer accurate and reliable information and resources. They’re underutilized already,” said John Ayers, an author of the study and a behavioral scientist at the University of California, San Diego. He said that now, while ChatGPT is still in development, is the time for public health experts and regulators to join forces with the chatbot’s developers to help curate responses to medical questions. The chatbot provided resources in two responses to a question about addiction, two responses for questions related to interpersonal violence and one response to a mental health-related question. “ChatGPT consistently provided evidence-based answers to public health questions, although it primarily offered advice rather than referrals,” the researchers wrote in their study.

Persons: They’re underutilized, ”, John Ayers, ChatGPT, “, –, ” Ayers, ” ChatGPT, “ ChatGPT, Ayers, Dr, Mike Hogarth, Sanjay Gupta, David Asch, Asch, ” Asch, he’d, Deidre McPhillips Organizations: CNN, JAMA, University of California, UC San Diego, Anonymous, Mental Health Services Administration National, Prevention, UC San Diego School of Medicine, Eating Disorders Association, CNN Health, University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine Center, Health Care Innovation Locations: San Diego, United States

☆ Dr. Chatbot will see you now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Almost invariably, the chatbot answers were rated as three or four times as reliable as the ones from the poor wee humans. But here's the most striking part: The chatbot answers, on average, were rated seven times as empathetic as the ones from humans. It's as if the unfeeling android Mr. Data figured out how to convincingly emulate Dr. Crusher's comforting bedside manner. Give those medical chatbots access to people's individual medical records, and they could offer more precisely directed advice. Healthcare AI startups will want the cheapest versions with the most financial bang, which won't necessarily have the best patient outcomes.

Persons: feely, San Diego lurked, I'm, ChatGPT, John Ayers, Ayers, —, chatbot, they're, That's, They're, Teva Brender, Brender, Jonathan Chen, Greg Corrado, isn't, Adam Rogers Organizations: University of California, UC San Diego, Pew Research Center, Harvard, Google, Stanford University School of Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, Healthcare Locations: San Diego, San Francisco

☆ Pence Seeks to Go Where No Vice President Has Gone Before
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Having a former vice president contest the president he served for their party’s nomination in contested primaries is like a 234-year flood,” said Joel K. Goldstein, a specialist on the vice presidency at the St. Louis University School of Law. The broken relationship between Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence is itself a historical anomaly, of course. “The reason why no other vice president appears to have run against his president is that he was selected by the president, and there is almost always a personal bond stemming from a sense of loyalty and gratitude,” said Richard Moe, who was the chief of staff to Vice President Walter F. Mondale. In 1800, Vice President Thomas Jefferson challenged President John Adams, defeating the incumbent’s bid for a second term. Adams and Jefferson had run against each other in 1796, with Adams prevailing and Jefferson becoming vice president because he was the runner-up.

Persons: ”, Joel K, Goldstein, ” “, don’t, “, Pence, Trump, Joseph R, Biden, Mike Pence ”, Richard Moe, Walter F, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Adams, Jefferson Organizations: St, Louis University School of Law, Electoral College, Mondale, Trump

"Germans are cautious by nature," said Stephan Fetsch, Germany's head of consumer goods at KPMG. Economists polled by Reuters are split on its second quarter fortunes: views ranged from a 0.3% GDP fall to a 0.5% gain, with a median forecast of 0.2% growth. However, German consumer sentiment remains below its pandemic low in the spring of 2020 and the consumer barometer from the German Retail Association (HDE) shows a similar picture. German consumers were hit particularly hard by high energy prices, being more dependent on Russia gas. "The German consumer has reasons to be scared and the result of all the economic uncertainty is usually an increase in precautionary savings," said Michael Burda, economics professor at Humboldt University Berlin.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Germany's, Stephan Fetsch, Holger Schmieding, Carsten Brzeski, KPMG's Fetsch, Joerg Kraemer, Michael Burda, Brzeski, Maria Martinez, Prerana Bhat, Indradip Ghosh, Mark John, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, KPMG, Reuters, German Retail Association, Berenberg, ING, European Central Bank, Humboldt University Berlin, Thomson Locations: Cologne, Germany, BERLIN, Europe, France, Italy, Russia, Berlin, China, Bengaluru

☆ Elton John serenaded by Manchester City players at airport in FA Cup celebrations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —“This boy’s too young to be singin’ the blues,” Elton John sings in one of his biggest hits “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”And on Saturday, the legendary singer found himself singing with the sky blue side of Manchester as he was serenaded by Manchester City shortly after the team had won the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola’s side had defeated its bitter rival Manchester United 2-1 at Wembley to keep its hopes of a ‘treble’ still standing, before players and staff bumped into John at Manchester Airport on the tarmac by a plane. “Look who I ran into at Manchester Airport,” John posted on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself holding the FA Cup with some of City’s staff, including a grinning Guardiola. “Congratulations on an incredible double. Fingers crossed for the treble.”Videos posted by Manchester City showed John hugging each of the players in turn as they walked past him, while Phil Foden even posed for a selfie with the singer, before the team serenaded John with a rendition of his famous “Your Song.”“You can tell everybody, we’ve won the FA Cup,” City quipped.

Persons: ” Elton John, Pep Guardiola’s, John, ” John, Guardiola, “, Phil Foden, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Manchester City, FA, Manchester United, Wembley, Manchester Airport, ” Locations: Manchester

☆ Roger Craig, Teacher of an Era-Defining Pitch, Is Dead at 93
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Richard Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

After pitching in the Dodgers’ minor league system and serving in the Army, Craig made his debut with Brooklyn in July 1955. He pitched for the Dodgers again in the 1956 World Series, taking the loss in Game 3 of the seven-game series win for the Yankees. in shutouts, with four, as the Dodgers won their first pennant in Los Angeles. Craig pitched mostly in relief before he was chosen by the Mets as their No. The Mets traded Craig to the Cardinals before the 1964 season, and he won Game 4 of the World Series in relief as St. Louis beat the Yankees in seven games.

Persons: Mike Scioscia, Roger Lee Craig, John, Mamie Craig, Craig, Connie Mack, Hobie Landrith, Elio Chacon, Louis Organizations: Dodgers, Angels, Associated Press, North Carolina State University, Dodgers ’, Army, Brooklyn, Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Mets, Houston, Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Phillies Locations: Durham, N.C, North, Los Angeles

☆ Opinion: What Oppenheimer’s reading list can teach us
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Jane Carr | Opinion Jane Greenway Carr | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Oppenheimer’s list of books included works by Plato, mathematician Bernhard Riemann and scientist Michael Faraday, and the “Bhagavad-Gita,” with which he has famously long been associated. What happens when the inner workings and potential reach of scientific inventions are unknown, even to the human beings who create them? Still, Pride is also a time to revel in culture’s power to transform, sustain and bring joy to LGBTQ communities. But Medvedev knows that above all else he needs Putin to think of him as unequivocally loyal and useful. What it will do is help 40 million borrowers who, like me, were drowning in debt and need immediate relief.

Persons: Robert Oppenheimer, ” Oppenheimer, Plato, Bernhard Riemann, Michael Faraday, William Shakespeare’s “, ” Charles Baudelaire’s “, Fleurs, Mal ”, Eliot’s, Oppenheimer, ” Matthew Zapruder, ”, William Carlos Williams, Nick Anderson, ChatGPT, Stuart Russell, Jessica Chia, Bethany Cianciolo, Russell, isn’t, ” Russell, “, Clay Jones, Joe Biden, John Avlon, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Joel Pett, Poppy Harlow, James Comey, Donald Trump, Republicans ’, MAGA, Julian Zelizer, Zelizer, Trump, Kayleigh McEnany, Rob Finnerty, Matt Wolking, Cupp, McEnany, that’s, Kayleigh, Pride Luciano, Sereno, Luciano Vecchio, It’s, ” Vecchio, “ Sereno, Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s, Frida Ghitis, Medvedev, Putin, ” Medvedev “, Michael Bociurkiw, Biden, Sophia A, Nelson ., Nelson, it’s, …, Brandon Bell, Jill Filipovic —, —, Filipovic, we’ve, ” Don’t, Keith Magee, Kara Alaimo, James Moore, Texas GOP Tess Taylor, Lala Tanmoy Das, Alex Soros, Scottie Pippen can’t, Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Nathaniel S, Butler, NBAE, Michael Jordan, ” Pippen, Charles Barkley, Phil Jackson —, Will Leitch, ” Leitch, Pippen, Leitch, There’s Organizations: CNN, Manhattan, American, Committee, Tribune, Agency, Biden, Republicans, Trump, GOP, Luciano Vecchio Pride, United, AFP, Russia’s Security, Republican, Texas GOP, Philadelphia 76ers, Getty, NBA Locations: Berkeley, Iowa, revel, it’s, Argentina, United Russia, United Kingdom, Russia, Houston City, America, European, Texas

☆ Prince Harry set for London court appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 5 (Reuters) - Prince Harry is expected to appear at London's High Court on Monday as he prepares to give evidence in his lawsuit against the publisher of British tabloid the Daily Mirror. Harry, King Charles' younger son, will this week become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for 130 years, which is likely to take place on Monday or Tuesday. The trial began last month, as lawyers representing Harry and three other test claimants attempted to prove that unlawful information gathering was carried out with the knowledge and approval of senior editors and executives. Harry, the fifth-in-line to the throne, has barely been out of the headlines in the last six months. The prince has also accused his family and their aides in his memoir and Netflix documentary series of colluding with tabloids.

Persons: Prince Harry, Harry, King Charles, Elton John, Rupert Murdoch's, Sam Tobin, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Group, Daily, Sunday, Reach, Sunday People, High, Sunday Mail, Netflix, Thomson Locations: British, Buckingham, Rupert Murdoch's British

☆ ‘The Luckiest Guy in the World’ Review: The Tao of Bill Walton
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bill Walton Photo: ESPN FilmsAmong the first things you notice during “The Luckiest Guy in The World” is that former basketball superstar and broadcaster Bill Walton has great teeth and terrible legs. The legs make sense: Mr. Walton was one of the NBA’s famously walking wounded during a storied, peripatetic career. But what you also get is the sense—as well as his outright insistence—that he really believes himself to be the luckiest guy in the world. Which makes him something of a pleasure to be around for the nearly four hours of this four-part series.

Persons: Bill Walton, Guy, Walton, — Organizations: ESPN Films

☆ ‘Shooting Stars’ Review: Before LeBron Was King
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mookie Cook as LeBron James Photo: Oluwaseye Olusa/Universal PicturesLakers superstar LeBron James is now at the “will he/won’t he” stage regarding his hinted-at retirement at the ripe old NBA age of 38. But the fact that it is a question at all puts a more nostalgic spin on “Shooting Stars,” the tale of Mr. James’s upbringing, his emergence as the country’s top high-school prospect, and the friends with whom he grew up.

Persons: Mookie Cook, LeBron James Photo, Oluwaseye, LeBron James Organizations: Universal Pictures Lakers

☆ Harry to become first British royal in 130 years to give evidence in court
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SummarySummary Companies Prince, celebrities accuse tabloids of phone-hackingHarry to appear in witness box in London's High CourtRoyal aides likely to feature in cross-examinationHarry first senior British royal to testify since 1890sLONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - Prince Harry will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for 130 years when he testifies next week in his lawsuit against a newspaper group he accuses of unlawful behaviour. More than 100 people are suing MGN, with Harry and three others selected as test cases. MGN is contesting the allegations and says senior figures denied knowing anything about hacking and had any wrongdoing concealed from them. Instead, Buckingham Palace is likely to feature prominently in Harry's cross-examination, with MGN arguing that some information had come from royal aides. Harry has said that his family and their aides had been complicit in leaking negative stories to protect or enhance their own reputations.

Persons: Harry, Prince Harry, King Charles, Edward VII, David Yelland, Rupert Murdoch's Sun, MGN, David Sherborne, Piers Morgan, Meghan, Morgan, Yelland, Elton John, Michael Holden, Kate Holton, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Royal, Mirror Group, Daily, Sunday, Netflix, Reach, Sunday People, High Court, Sunday Mail, Thomson Locations: British, Buckingham, London

CNN —CIA Director Bill Burns secretly traveled to China last month, a US official told CNN Friday, amid efforts by the United States to reset relations with Beijing after a year of extremely heightened tensions. The specific intelligence matter that Burns discussed in Beijing is unclear. “Our assessment at CIA is that I wouldn’t underestimate President Xi’s ambitions with regard to Taiwan,” Burns said earlier this year. National security adviser Jake Sullivan met with top Chinese official Wang Yi in Vienna for “candid” and “constructive” talks in mid-May. A US senior administration official said the meeting was an attempt to put communications back on track after the spy balloon incident.

Persons: Bill Burns, Burns “, Burns, Antony Blinken, Biden, Burns –, Xi’s, ” Burns, Defense Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu “, Austin, of National Defense Li Shangfu, Pat Ryder, “, ”, Tan Kefei, John Aquilino, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, We’re, we’ve, Gina Raimondo, Katherine Tai, Wang Wentao, Wang, ” Raimondo Organizations: CNN, CIA, Financial Times, Taiwan, Defense, Pentagon, “, of National Defense, PRC, China’s Defense Ministry, Pacific Command, People’s Liberation Army, US Trade, Chinese Commerce, D.C Locations: China, United States, Beijing, Ukraine, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Vienna, Sweden

London generated $2 billion in venture capital funding in the first quarter of 2023, compared to Berlin's $800 million, a DEEP Ecosystems analysis of Dealroom data showed. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsTOUGHER TIMESIn 2022, 501 startups were founded in Berlin, a fifth of Germany's total. About a fifth of openings at startups were vacant and more than half were struggling to fill posts, German Startups Association said. In Germany, it has been accompanied by the sharpest contraction in venture capital funding in Europe in the past 12 months, down 42%. The funding crunch is hitting Germany's push to encourage the growth of new renewables businesses, given manufacturing startups are particularly capital intensive.

Persons: Avitosh Sawhney, Christian, headwinds, Katharina Beck, Lindner, Maximilian Tayenthal, Christoph Stresing, Tobias Lechtenfeld, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, Maria Martinez, Riham Alkousaa, Matthias Williams, Mark John, Edmund Blair Organizations: Wall, Greens, Reuters, Startup Heatmap, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Manpower, Association, European Central Bank, Tech, Zero Alliance, Free Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Berlin, London, BERLIN, Paris, Germany, Europe

☆ ‘Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll’ Review: Multifaceted in Every Way
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Little Richard in 1972 Photo: Alamy‘He went both ways,” an old friend of the singer Little Richard says during “Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll,” and the meaning is as clear as one of those upper-register “wooooos” on “Tutti Frutti.” But the life addressed by this “American Masters” documentary is all about ambiguities—identity crises, moral conflicts, and a man whose sense of himself was about as straightforward as awop-bop-a-loo-bop-awop-bam-boom.

Persons: Little Richard, “, Richard, King Locations: bam

☆ Opinion: The biggest lesson from the debt ceiling fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( John | Opinion John Avlon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In 2011, many Republicans were enthralled with the Tea Party, and they seemed dead set against any raising of the debt ceiling. He cobbled together a majority by relying on Democratic House votes to pass a clean lift of the debt ceiling. The final tally was 193 Democratic House votes and 28 Republican House votes – including Boehner and one of his top lieutenants, a representative from Bakersfield named Kevin McCarthy. These debt ceiling hostage debates only seem to happen in recent decades when a Democrat is president. Remember, the debt increased by $7 trillion under President Donald Trump – and the debt ceiling was raised three times during his tenure without a major fight.

Persons: John Avlon, “, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, doesn’t Biden, Pramila, Barack Obama, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, John Boehner, Boehner, Paul Ryan, Donald Trump –, Fareed Zakaria, Trump, –, Ryan Organizations: CNN, America, Senate, Republican, Progressive Democrats, Congressional, Office, Tea Party, Democrats, Affordable, Democratic House, Republican Party, Democratic Party, Republicans, White, Democratic, Democrat, Twitter, GOP Locations: “ Lincoln, Washington, cobbling, Ted Cruz of Texas, Bakersfield, American

[1/2] Japanese Yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationLONDON/SINGAPORE, May 30 (Reuters) - The yen strengthened on Tuesday on news of a meeting of Japan's finance ministry and central bank, while elsewhere the dollar rose to a two-month high against a basket of its peers after the U.S. debt ceiling deal. The dollar was last down 0.18% against the Japanese yen at 140.18 after the country's finance ministry said senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Japan and Financial Services Agency will meet from 5:30 p.m. (0830 GMT). Japanese central bank policy has been a major focus for investors in the past year after the BOJ last year intervened to strengthen the yen. Kenneth Broux, head of corporate research for FX and rates at Societe Generale, said FX intervention at current levels was unlikely.

☆ A couple bought a crumbling 700-year-old medieval farmstead and turned it into a fairytale retreat where guests can stay in treehouses overlooking the English countryside
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A classified ad for a dilapidated 12th-century farmhouse with a medieval tithe barn immediately caught her eye. Rainwater running through the roofA farmer had lived in the three-bedroom house until the moment the couple took the keys. "I don't know how, as it was in such a state of disrepair," Nicki Beavan said. Giving a medieval barn a new lease on lifeThe tithe barn before renovations. The tithe barn took four years to complete, and they now hire it out for weddings.

☆ Sologamy: Why these women married themselves
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Its adherents may be on to something, this expert saysThe concept of self-marriage, or sologamy, has been around for years. No data exists on how many people celebrate sologamy with ceremonies, but the practice has been explored in a handful of recent news articles. CNN talked to four women who’ve married themselves. Sologamy is not legally binding in the US and is not recognized by the laws of any country. Fideli’s message to younger women struggling with self-esteem issues: It’s never too late to love yourself.

☆ Opinion: The ultimate ‘Succession’ lesson
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Walt Handlesman/Tribune Content AgencyIn a much more ominous vein, the theme of survival dominates the HBO show “Succession,” which is coming to an end Sunday. She’s so caught up in beating her brothers at the succession game that she can’t see this baby as anything but an obstacle.”“Ultimately, this storyline is a perfect encapsulation of the larger tragedy that is ‘Succession,’” Bodenheimer added. The contest for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination heated up last week with the official entry of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former President Donald Trump’s strongest challenger in the polls.

☆ Opinion: Trump allies change 2024 GOP primary rules to help the former president
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( John | Opinion John Avlon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

John Avlon CNNRepublicans could try to stop Trump from seizing their presidential nomination with one simple reform – increasing proportional representation in the primary process. In fact, the number of GOP primary states that are winner take all increased from seven to 17 between the 2016 and 2020 election, according to an analysis by Gregory Korte at Bloomberg. Let’s say Trump wins 35% of the primary vote in South Carolina – with home staters Scott and former Gov. A supermajority of South Carolina Republican primary voters in this scenario would have voted for someone other than Trump to be their party’s nominee. Months before the first primary vote is cast, polls show that 44% of Republicans don’t even want the former president to run again.

Persons: John Avlon, “, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Trump, Gregory Korte, staters Scott, Nikki Haley, –, don’t, Louisiana Sen, Bill Cassidy, aren’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, South, Florida Gov, Republican Party, Republican National Committee, John Avlon CNN Republicans, Bloomberg, Trump, South Carolina –, South Carolina Republican, GOP, CNN Sunday, Twitter, Facebook Locations: “ Lincoln, South Carolina, Cleveland, Louisiana

☆ Canadian banks see earnings risk from commercial property loans, TD in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Nivedita Balu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TORONTO, May 22 (Reuters) - Canadian banks are expected to report a rise in bad debt provisions and highlight risks from commercial property loans when they report earnings this week, with the country's No.2 bank TD (TD.TO) in focus after its acquisition of First Horizon (FHN.N) failed. Bay Street analysts have lowered their second quarter earnings expectations for Canadian banks, anticipating higher expenses and slowing loan growth as turmoil south of the border weighs on the broader banking sector. Still, investors view Canadian banks as safer bets than their U.S. counterparts due to their strong capital levels. BMO and Scotia Bank (BNS.TO) are due to report earnings on Wednesday, while TD, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM.TO) and Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) report on Thursday. Canadian bank stocks have largely underperformed TSX Canadian bank stocks have largely underperformed TSXEmpty offices in big cities have raised concerns among investors about banks' commercial property loan exposure, since about 10% of the lending portfolio of the Big-6 banks is tied to commercial real estate.

☆ Supreme Court Criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Many Republicans view the recent criticism as unhinged and damaging to American democracy. According to this view, the liberals criticizing the court are sore losers trying to subvert legitimate court decisions with which they disagree. Republicans and the judges they appointed have decided to use hardball tactics to shape the law, including the stonewalling of Obama’s last court nominee and the aggressive rulings of the current court. Roosevelt failed to pass his so-called court packing bill, but his criticism of the court — and his popularity — nonetheless seemed to influence the justices: They reversed course in his second term and stopped overruling major New Deal programs. But the harsh recent criticism is intended to be an early step in a long campaign to constrain the court.

☆ Modi, Blinken to meet Pacific Island leaders in Papua New Guinea
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 22 (Reuters) - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken have arrived in Papua New Guinea ahead of meetings with Pacific Island leaders to discuss trade, climate change and regional security on Monday. Modi, who was met at the airport on Sunday evening by PNG Prime Minister James Marape, will hold a bilateral meeting on Monday morning, before hosting a regional summit with 14 Pacific Island leaders. Blinken is expected to sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement between the United States and PNG, and also hold a Pacific Island leaders meeting in the afternoon. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Vanuatu Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau, and New Caledonia President Louis Mapou were among the Pacific island leaders to arrive on Sunday. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy will also join the meetings.

☆ Opinion: A cerebral rock star is dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Opinion John Avlon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

He is the author of “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace.” The views expressed in this essay are his own. These celebrated writers were the subject of long-form profiles and occasional tabloid scandals, treated as cerebral rock stars and voices of their generation. They were a post-punk crew that migrated from the UK to the US, including Hitchens, Tina Brown and Salman Rushdie. In his final book, “Inside Story,” part memoir and part novel, Amis returned to his friendship with Hitchens in the 1970s, prior to their becoming famous. It chronicles a doomed affair, flashing forward at times to the decline of their friend Saul Bellows from dementia, as well as Hitchens’ death.

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