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☆ This couple lives in a vintage 940-square-foot trailer by the beach for $5,100 a month: It's 'the California dream'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Jaclyn Westlake | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

When my husband Brian first told me he's from Laguna Beach, it took everything in me to play it cool. Deciding we wanted to stay in Laguna Beach wasn't hard — I mean, it's beautiful, sunny, laid back, and has a thriving art scene. Finding a creative way to live in Laguna BeachThe median home price in Laguna Beach hovers around $3 million and the median monthly rent is over $8,000. Take a look inside our 'vintage' Laguna Beach trailerOur two-bedroom, two-bathroom home was built in the 1960s. The trailer is across the street from the beach and Jaclyn and Brian typically head over a couple days a week.

Persons: Brian, millennials, I'd, Kristin, Seth, Brian's, we'd, We've, Jaclyn Westlake, we're, Jaclyn, Tristan Pelletier, you'll, it's, Brian didn't, Indiana Jones, we've Organizations: CNBC, Brian's Locations: Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, Laguna, Brian's, It's, California

☆ Every Pixar movie, ranked from worst to best — including 'Inside Out 2'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

"A Bug's Life" (1998)"A Bug's Life." PixarIn the second movie ever released by Pixar, an ant named Flik (voiced by Dave Foley) sets out to find others to help save his colony against grasshoppers and ends up recruiting a unique group of allies. Though the movie was successful at the box office, with the release of DreamWorks' "Antz" a month earlier, you're more likely to remember the Lasseter-Katzenberg feud than the films.

Persons: Dave Foley, Lasseter Organizations: Pixar, DreamWorks

☆ No more bus tours for China's rich millennials — they're seeing the world on their own
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRich millennials in China are experiencing world travel in a very different way from their parents. These tours offered a safer and more accessible way to explore new destinations, Elisa Harca, CEO of consultancy firm Red Ant Asia, previously told Business Insider. New technology has made solo travel much less dauntingSocial media platforms like Xiaohongshu are the go-to place for local travel tips. BORIS HORVAT/Getty"They're a lot more used to being tourists,'' Jack Porteous of China-focused consultancy firm Tong Global told Business Insider. The rise of social media platforms for travel has also spurred the accessibility of solo travel.

Persons: —, Elisa Harca, Ant Asia, — millennials, Z, BORIS HORVAT, Jack Porteous, Tong, China's, Sally Maier, Yip, Porteous, Mark Kolbe, Getty, Maier, they've Organizations: Service, Business, Tong Global, Consulting Locations: China, China ., Europe, glamping, Inner Mongolia

☆ Rich Chinese millennials are creating new status symbols. Here are 11 ways they are redefining luxury.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Rich millennials in the US have been known to splash out on their pets, new laundry rooms, and expensive coffee machines. And over in China, rich millennials have their own ideas of what counts as a luxury status symbol. AdvertisementExpect to see these rich millennials mixing luxury casual wear like T-shirts and sneakers with traditional luxury brands, Banta told BI. And getting regular aesthetic treatments has become a top priority for affluent millennials, Banta told BI. Independent luxury brands that offer more authentic products and those that draw on cultural heritage are also highly in demand, she said.

Persons: —, they've, Rich millennials, They've, Claudio Lavenia, Louis Vuitton, Daniel Langer, Amrita Banta, Budrul Chukrut, Elisa Harca, Ant Asia, Mary, Kate, Ashley Olsen, prioritizes, Harca, Banta, JUAN BARRETO, Olivia Plotnick, Port Ellen, Alexandra Bacon, Ewan Andrew, Langer, Black Pearl, JOHANNES EISELE, Olivier Morin, Plotnick, Tom Dixon, Potnick, Gen, Gabriella Tegen, Gen Z Organizations: Service, Business, Pepperdine University, Research, Getty, JUAN BARRETO Travel, Wai, Social, Diageo, Michelin, China Morning, Meituan, Clover, Bloomberg, Clover Suites, China News Service, McKinsey, Brands, Independent Locations: China, Antarctica, Iceland, Shanghai, Port, Scotland, That's, Harca, Singapore, Banta, millennials

☆ Disney takes Instagram to court to catch the latest Marvel leaker
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The subpoena request was first reported by Torrent Freak. Now, Disney and Marvel want to get to the bottom of who's behind the account. Disney, Marvel, and Instagram's parent company, Meta, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Disney chief Bob Iger unveiled this month the company's plans for Marvel during an earnings call: quality over quantity.

Persons: America, Instagram, Bob Iger, —, @canwegetsometoast, Matthew Slatoff, didn't Organizations: Disney, Service, Marvel, Torrent, Business, Google, Meta

☆ Election Updates: As the V.P. race heats up, Tim Scott will hold a fund-raiser with Trump-resistant donors.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Michael C. Bender | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

“You know, I’m a fan of his father,” Mr. Schlossberg says, as Jimmy. Mr. Schlossberg has long been in Mr. Biden’s corner. The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to questions of whether Mr. Schlossberg’s video barrage had been coordinated with the campaign. At minimum, Mr. Schlossberg, who has hinted in the past that he has his eye on elected office, has demonstrated a willingness to take comedic risks. Whatever his flaws, and however reliant he may be on hackneyed stereotypes, Mr. Schlossberg is plainly a committed performer.

Persons: John F, Kennedy, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Jack Schlossberg, ”, Donald J, Ben Affleck, ” Mr, Schlossberg, Jimmy, Wade, Anthony, Mr, “, Caroline Kennedy, Solomon, Matthew Abbott, Joshua, Camelot, John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, Biden, Jim Wilson, —, — “ Organizations: Trump, Kennedys, The New York Times, New York Jewish, Federal Reserve, Convention, Mr, Democratic, Ivy League, New York Times Locations: America’s, Russian, Massachusetts, China, Russia, New, England, Biden’s, Australia, New York City

☆ Disney stock slides on revenue and streaming misses
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Disney posted its earnings for the first quarter on Tuesday. The entertainment giant beat Wall Street forecasts for the fourth consecutive quarter. Related storiesThe stock was up close to 30% this year at Monday's close, but a combination of the revenue miss and weaker-than-expected subscriber numbers for Disney's streaming business probably sparked the early-morning sell-off, according to analysts. Disney expects its streaming business, Disney Plus, to turn a profit for the first time in the fourth quarter, but total subscriber numbers of 153.6 million fell short of analysts' expectations. Streaming losses narrowed to just $18 million, down from $659 million this time last year.

Persons: —, Bob, Iger, Kathleen Brooks, Nelson Peltz Organizations: Disney, Service Locations: Refinitiv, Monday's

☆ China's Ant Group doubles down on global expansion with cross-border payments offering Alipay+
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Photo of a person making a mobile payment. Ant InternationalChinese fintech major Ant Group is looking to boost its global presence via its digital offering, Alipay+, as it seeks to connect mobile payment apps around the world. The group's global arm, Ant International, introduced Alipay+ in 2020, allowing foreigners to use apps from their home countries to make payments in China and other countries by scanning QR codes of Ant Group's largely domestically-focused platform Alipay. Ant with its Alipay+ offering seeks to make the most of the early inroads into those markets. "We had the benefit that Alipay was already accepted in many merchants around the world so one of our first steps was [to] convert those merchants to Alipay+ merchants.

Persons: Douglas Feagin, Ant Group's, Ant, Feagin, Alipay Organizations: Ant, Ant Group, CNBC, Ant International Locations: China, Asia, Latam, Europe, U.S, Alipay, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Japan

☆ Alibaba shares jump after founder Jack Ma reemerges with praise of Chinese giant's 'transformations'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, reappeared in the public view in China for the first time in months. Alibaba founder Jack Ma on Wednesday praised the company's reorganization and change over its tumultuous past year, marking the billionaire's second major public statement to employees in just a few months. Daniel Zhang, longtime CEO of Alibaba Group, unexpectedly quit and then stepped down as CEO of the company's cloud unit. Ma is reemerging at a time when Alibaba employees are likely in need of a morale boost. The Alibaba founder also said Alibaba needs to think what e-commerce looks like in three years' time, especially since the arrival of artificial intelligence.

Persons: Jack Ma, Alibaba, Ma, ByteDance, Daniel Zhang, Eddie Yongming Wu, Joe Tsai, Tsai, Wu Organizations: CNBC, Wednesday, Ant Group, Alibaba, Cainiao Locations: China, Beijing

☆ No jail for Marvel actor Jonathan Majors after judge agrees to DA-recommended domestic-violence program
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jonathan Majors got a no-jail sentence for a fight last year with his then-girlfriend. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe former Marvel star Jonathan Majors was sentenced Monday to attend a 52-week domestic-violence program in lieu of jail for a violent fight in New York City's Chinatown last year with his then-girlfriend. If he fails to attend the program and continue therapy, Majors, a Los Angeles resident, faces up to a year in a New York jail. She dabbed at both her eyes with her fingers when the judge said he would not be sending Majors to jail.

Persons: Jonathan Majors, Grace Jabbari, —, Jabbari, Michael Gaffey, Majors, Priya Chaudhry, Meagan, Kang, Chaudhry Organizations: Service, Marvel, ABC News, Jabbari, Majors Locations: Los Angeles, New York, Chinatown, London

☆ Gen Z workers in China are picking 'gross outfits' over corporate glam because they don't get paid enough to look fly
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But a new trend flooding Chinese social media takes casual to the next level, with young workers sharing videos of themselves wearing their "grossest" clothes to the office. The hashtag "gross outfits at work" has been taking over Chinese social media platforms such as Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like app. AdvertisementOne woman posted a video of her colleagues being criticized by their boss for their gross outfits on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Douyin"They are getting criticized by the boss for their gross outfits," one Douyin user said amid fits of laughter in a video she'd posted on March 7. In a separate Douyin video, which was posted in February, a woman could be seen touting her "gross outfit."

Persons: —, Wei, Ant, Candise Lin, netizens, Lin, Jack Porteous, TONG, Porteous, hadn't Organizations: Service, Business, TONG Global Locations: China

☆ Disney beat back activist investor Nelson Peltz. Now the real work begins
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

That would mark a milestone for the company, which launched Disney+ on Nov. 12, 2019. It would be the first time Disney showed it can make money from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. Disney will need to sustain and grow streaming profit to justify Iger's five-year-old strategy to go "all in" on the segment. Disney has already offered ESPN+, a sports streaming service that has some but not all of ESPN's content. Trian Partners' Nelson Peltz, who failed to join Disney's board Wednesday after securing just 31% of the vote, publicly questioned what he has called Disney's "woke" content strategy.

Persons: Bob Iger, Sun Valley , Idaho David A, Iger, Disney, they've, Cowen, Doug Creutz, Needham, Laura Martin, Gabby Jones, David Greenbaum, Sean Bailey, Alan Bergman, Indiana Jones, Nelson Peltz, Peltz, shouldn't, Bob Chapek, He'll, Bergman, Jimmy Pitaro, Josh D'Amaro, Dana Walden, They've, Cowen's, you've, That's, it's, — CNBC's Sarah Whitten, Needman's Martin Organizations: Disney, Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, Grogan, CNBC Disney, Disney Disney, Hulu, ESPN, Co, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox, CNBC, Athletic, Bloomberg, Getty, Marvel, Star Wars, Searchlight, Walt Disney Motion, Disney Entertainment, Century Fox, Sony, Disney's Marvel Studios, Trian Partners, Financial Times, Resorts, Iger Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, Brooklyn , New York, Iger, Parks, Disney

☆ Disney's cinematic drought may have opened a door for activist investor Peltz
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

DisneyDisney has struggled to return to the lofty box office records of 2019 — and that may have helped open the door for its recent troubles with activist Nelson Peltz. Just four years ago, the studio had seven billion-dollar films, which contributed to a global box office haul of more than $13.2 billion. Sony produced and distributed "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which made $1.9 billion, although Disney's Marvel Studios did serve as a co-producer. "People go to watch a movie or a show to be entertained," Peltz said in recent interview with The Financial Times. Peltz has also taken particular issue with Disney's failed succession plans and what he's described as a disjointed streaming strategy.

Persons: Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones, Nelson Peltz, Disney's, Strange, Peltz, Jay Rasulo, he's, Marvel, Ike Perlmutter Organizations: Disney Disney, Disney, Century Fox, Star, Sony, Disney's Marvel Studios, Guardians, Galaxy, Trian Fund Management, Financial Times, Marvel, U.S . Air Force, Financial, Marvel Entertainment Locations: U.S

☆ Jonathan Majors' ex filed a defamation lawsuit against the actor, saying his lies about her prompted death threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewJonathan Majors' ex-girlfriend has filed a defamation lawsuit against the embattled actor, alleging that his false denial of assaulting her and his depiction of her as a liar has prompted death threats against her. "Now that Majors can no longer physically abuse Grace, he has resorted to very publicly abusing her reputation," Jabbari's lawsuit says. In addition to defamation, Jabbari's lawsuit against Majors alleges assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and malicious prosecution. The lawsuit accuses Majors of pushing Jabbari so hard during a September 2022 incident that her back was bruised. "I'm in love, I'm transitioning, I'm healing, I'm growing [and] I'm getting excited about what's next," Good told People on the red carpet.

Persons: —, Jonathan Majors, Grace Jabbari, III, Grace, Priya Chaudhry, Majors, Jabbari, Meagan, What's Organizations: Service, Marvel, Business, ABC News, Majors, NAACP, Hollywood Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Los Angeles

☆ Americans Invested Billions in Chinese Companies. Now Their Money Is Stuck.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Lauren Hirsch | Michael J. De La Merced | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When investors talk about “zombie” companies, they’re usually referring to distressed start-ups that are hobbling along, unable to grow and unlikely to ever return the money they’ve raised. But as deal makers feverishly debated efforts this week by lawmakers to force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app, they talked about a new version: China zombies. China zombies may have booming businesses, but they’re unlikely to provide investors with any immediate return because they’re stuck in geopolitical cross hairs. It’s not just the investors in ByteDance who, after handing it more than $8 billion, are stuck. What looked like a mammoth growth opportunity just a few years ago — inspiring investors to pour money into companies like Ant Financial, PingPong and Geekplus — has turned hostile.

Persons: they’re, — Organizations: Ant Locations: China, ByteDance

☆ The burning acid behind ant stings was spotted around two stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected commonplace chemical ingredients found in vinegar, ant stings and even margaritas around two young stars, according to NASA. The complex organic molecules they observed using the space observatory’s Mid-Infrared Instrument included acetic acid, a component of vinegar, and ethanol — otherwise known as alcohol. The team also found simple molecules of formic acid, which causes the burning sensation associated with ant stings, as well as sulfur dioxide, methane and formaldehyde. Stars form from swirling clouds of gas and dust, and the leftover material from star formation gives rise to planets. Detecting complex organic molecules in space is helping astronomers to determine the molecules’ origins as well as those of other larger cosmic molecules.

Persons: James Webb, Carl Sagan, “, Webb, detections, ”, Will Rocha, Young, Ewine van Dishoeck, Harold Linnartz, Linnartz, “ Harold, ” van Dishoeck Organizations: CNN —, NASA, ESA, Hustak, Leiden University, Astrophysics, Leiden Laboratory Locations: astrochemistry, Netherlands, ices

☆ China is making it much easier for foreigners to use mobile pay
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Scanning QR codes with a mobile pay app has become the most common way to pay in mainland China. BEIJING — Foreign visitors to China can now spend up to $2,000 a year using the mobile app Alipay without having to register their ID, the app operator said Friday. The number of foreign travelers to China had declined after the country temporarily imposed strict border controls during the pandemic. However, stringent real-name verification policies have often made it difficult for foreign visitors to China to use mobile pay. Tencent did not confirm an exact figure for ID-free transactions using WeChat Pay, but noted foreigners could complete some payments without registering their ID.

Persons: Ant Organizations: Alibaba, Ant, Pay Locations: China, BEIJING

☆ India’s booming tech sector suffers a big blow as Byju’s and Paytm plunge into crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A subsequent audit "revealed persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in the bank," the central bank said on Jan. 31. Yet to be profitable, Paytm is also reportedly being probed by the federal anti-fraud agency on possible violations of foreign exchange laws. On Feb. 26, One97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm, said in an exchange filing that founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma had resigned from the board of Paytm Payments Bank. During the pandemic, Paytm capitalized on the digital payments boom in India, reporting a 3.5 times growth in transactions. SoftBank and Ant Group are now reportedly cutting their stakes in the payments company, according to local media.

Persons: Anindito Mukerjee, There's, Karan Mohla, Paytm, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, SoftBank Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, B Capital, Reserve Bank of India, One97 Communications, Paytm Payments, Alibaba, Ant, Ant Group Locations: Greater Noida, India

☆ Give us your nominations: CNBC is listing the world’s top fintech companies
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

For a second year, CNBC and independent research firm Statista are working together to identify the world's top fintech companies, to be named in a published CNBC report this July. Nominations are now open for the top global fintech companies list. You can check out last year's list of the top 200 fintech companies, which includes the likes of Chinese tech giants Ant Group and Tencent, U.S. fintech firms PayPal and Stripe, and European companies like Klarna and Revolut. In addition to the fintech list, CNBC is also launching a separate list showing the top insurance technology (insurtech) companies globally, planned to be published in August. Insurance has proven a market ripe for digital disruption, as a wave of new digital-native companies have done away with the paper-based processes that previously dominated the industry.

Organizations: CNBC, Ant Group, PayPal, Insurance

☆ The Endangered Languages of New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Alex Carp | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

Most people think of endangered languages as far-flung or exotic, the opposite of cosmopolitan. All told, there are more endangered languages in and around New York City than have ever existed anywhere else, says Perlin, who has spent 11 years trying to document them. She has published children’s books in Wakhi and other endangered languages of the Pamir mountains in Central Asia. By the start of the pandemic, the city had begun official outreach in nine Indigenous languages and recorded videos in several other endangered languages. We cross-referenced E.L.A.’s New York City language list with three independent databases that track the threat level of languages around the world: Ethnologue, which catalogs all known living languages in the world; UNESCO’s World Atlas of Languages, a survey of all the languages spoken in UNESCO member states; and the Endangered Languages Project, a site to which the public can contribute content, managed by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and the Endangered Languages Catalogue (ELCat) project at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Persons: Bukhori, Zaza Bartangi, Alex Carp, Ross Perlin, Perlin, Zenaida Cantu, Ikhiil Mardakhayev, Ken Hale, Michael Krauss, Krauss, ” Eleanor Castillo Bullock, Eleanor Castillo Bullock, Gloria Angeles, Gloria Tadii, ’, Daniel Kaufman, Trung, Kaufman, ” Kaufman, Gola, Rasmina Gurung, Safiyatou, E.L.A, ”, “ Ahh, “, —, Ganja Perlin, Ibrahima Traore, Kamel Mrowa, Kante, Husniya Khujamyorova, Pamiri, ” Perlin, Seke, ” Gurung, ” Irwin Sanchez, ” Patricia Tarrant, Patricia Tarrant, Thelma Carrillo, Carrillo, Uttam Singha, Singha, Jean James, Jean, Gurung, doesn’t, Ibrahima Traore's, Coleman Donaldson Organizations: Lenape, Scottish, U.S, Arts Medicine Agriculture Education International, Rebeldía, Language Alliance, Perlin, Rockefeller Center, American Indian Community House, city’s Health Department, Manipuri, New York City, Endangered Language Alliance, of, UNESCO, First, Cultural, University of Hawaii Locations: Syrian, Pangasinan, Nauaran, Kurdish Moroccan, Zaza Bartangi Puerto, Taíno, New York City, New York, Nepal, Brooklyn, Bangladesh, India, Queens, Central Mexico, Mexico, Israel, Hope, Belize, Kukaa, Oaxaca, Manhattan, E.L.A, QUEENS, Pangasinan Kham, Woodside, Elmhurst, Jackson, Tshugsang, Kathmandu, Brooklyn , New York, America, Roosevelt, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Language, ”, Australian, — Culiacán, Mexico City , New York, Los Angeles, Ganja, Harlem, Bronx, Montclair , N.J, “, Bouaké, Lebanon, Midwood , Brooklyn, Wakhi, Central Asia, Pamir, Tibet, city’s, New, Latin America, United States, Jamaica Estates, Staten, Lummi, Manoa

☆ 'Madame Web' is a spectacular failure — and a sign we officially have superhero fatigue
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewIf "Madame Web" is a predictor of the future of Sony's Spider-Man Universe, the road ahead doesn't look very promising. The reviews are in, and "Madame Web" is no critical darling, nor will it satisfy Spidey fans. 'Madame Web' suffers from a weak script and poorly defined charactersTahar Rahim as Ezekiel Sims in "Madame Web." Superhero fatigue is at an all-time high, and 'Madame Web' doesn't make a solid case for the genre(L-R) Celeste O'Connor, Dakota Johnson, Isabela Merced, and Sydney Sweeney in "Madame Web." AdvertisementAt the end of "Madame Web," Cassie says that the best thing about the future is that it hasn't happened yet.

Persons: —, SJ Clarkson, Dakota Johnson, Cassandra Webb, Cassie, Ezekiel Sims, Tahar Rahim, Beyoncé's, Martha Stewart's, Ezekiel, selfishly, He's, Ezekiel regurgitates, Celeste O'Connor, Sydney Sweeney, Adam, James Gunn, Peter Safran, Jared Leto, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Eddie Brock, Hardy, Matt Smith's, cackled, there's, Kraven, Hunter, Aaron Taylor, Johnson, Bad Bunny, he's, Olivia Wilde Organizations: Service, Marvel Comics, Business, Sony Pictures, Sony, Marvel, DC Comics, Warner Bros, Discovery's DC Studios, Rotten Locations: New York, Peruvian, Isabela Merced

The “Last of Us” and “Mandalorian” actor is set to play Reed Richards (also known as Mister Fantastic) in the newest incarnation of “The Fantastic Four,” the studio announced Wednesday. The rest of his squad was revealed, too, with Vanessa Kirby stepping up as Susan Storm (The Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn of “Stranger Things” as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach of “The Bear” as Ben Grimm (The Thing). “The Fantastic Four” is among Marvel’s longest-running comics series and the titular crew is one of its most beloved groups. When it debuted in November 1961, it was a refreshing revelation that helped inform the Marvel voice and set a path for Iron Man and Spider-Man. The film is set to be directed by “WandaVision” veteran Matt Shakman, with a planned July 25, 2025, theatrical release.

Persons: Pedro Pascal, Mandalorian, Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby, Susan Storm, Joseph Quinn, Johnny Storm, Ebon Moss, Bachrach, “, Ben Grimm, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roger Corman, Alex Hyde, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, Michael Bailey Smith, Oley Sassone, Corman's, Tim Story, Chris Columbus, Raja Gosnell, ” helmer Peyton Reed, ” Ioan Gruffudd, Reed, Jessica Alba, Susan, Chris Evans, Johnny, Michael Chiklis, Ben, Kevin Feige, John Krasinski, Strange, “ WandaVision, Matt Shakman Organizations: Star Wars, Marvel, Century Fox

☆ China's central bank encourages local businesses to accept foreign payment cards
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING — China is encouraging banks and local businesses to accept foreign bank cards and is considering other steps to make mobile pay for international visitors even easier, said Zhang Qingsong, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China. "Banks and vendors (such as hotels, restaurants, department stores and even coffee shops) are encouraged to accept foreign bankcards," Zhang said. Shopping malls have increasingly preferred not to accept foreign credit cards. Last summer, the two dominant mobile pay apps WeChat and AliPay started allowing verified users to connect their international credit cards — such as those from Visa . "Now, when using Alipay or WeChat Pay, foreign visitors do not need to provide ID information if their total annual transaction volume is under $500," he said.

Persons: Zhang Qingsong, Banks, Zhang, that's, AliPay, Tencent Organizations: Beijing Capital Airport, Visa, Mastercard, People's Bank of China, CNBC, Mobile, Alibaba, Ant Locations: BEIJING — China, Beijing, China

☆ Michelle Pfeiffer in negotiations to play female lead in new 'Yellowstone' spinoff opposite Matthew McConaughey: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewMichelle Pfeiffer is in the final stage of negotiations to take on the female lead in the new as-yet-untitled "Yellowstone" sequel, according to Puck. Not much is known about the series, which was announced in May 2023 as an "expansion of the Yellowstone universe." At the time, he said that McConaughey "seems like a natural fit" to lead the "new chapter" of the Dutton saga. Reilly and Hauser have asked their per-episode salary to be upped to $1.2 million and $1.25 million, respectively, he stated, citing industry sources.

Persons: —, Michelle Pfeiffer, Puck, Matthew Belloni, Pfeiffer, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Matthew McConaughey's, Taylor Sheridan, Kevin Costner, Sheridan, Jonathan Bachman, McConaughey, Jon Linson, Dutton, Buddy, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Danno Nell, Luke Grimes, Belloni, Reilly, Hauser, Grimes, wasn't, Costner Organizations: Service, Marvel, Paramount, Paramount Global, Business, Hollywood, Paramount Network Locations: Sheridan

☆ Alibaba co-founders buy more than $200 million worth of shares, sending stock up
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alibaba co-founders Jack Ma and chairman Joe Tsai, in front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. An entity linked to Tsai's family office, Blue Pool, acquired nearly 2 million Alibaba depository shares worth $152 million in the fourth quarter, according to a Tuesday regulatory filing. Separately, sources familiar with the matter told the Times that Ma acquired $50 million worth of Alibaba's Hong Kong stock during the same period. Around the same time the spinoff was canceled, Ma in a regulatory filing said that he would sell 10 million shares worth $870 million. Alibaba shares are down roughly 21% since the cancelled spin-off.

Persons: Alibaba, Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, Ma, Tsai Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, New York Times, Times, Depository, Brooklyn Nets, Ant, CNBC Locations: New York, U.S, Hong Kong

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