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☆ Saudi Arabia's lavish sports push will now embrace snooker — and introduce a new golden ball
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia will hold its first major invitational snooker event in March as the kingdom continues to make sizable investments into a growing number of sports. The "Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker" will take place between March 4 to March 6 at Boulevard Arena in the capital of Riyadh. Games of snooker — a cue sport like billiards that is very popular in the U.K. and China — will take place under current World Snooker rules but with the introduction of a 23rd ball referred to as the "Riyadh Season" ball. This golden ball will be worth 20 points but will only be pottable on completing a maximum break. "We are thrilled to be hosting our first-ever professional snooker tournament in the Kingdom," said Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Persons: Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan —, Luca Brecel, Turki Alalshikh, Alalshikh Organizations: Morningside Arena, Boulevard Arena, Saudi General Entertainment Authority Locations: Leicester, England, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, China

☆ UK postal scandal: How a software glitch and a centuries-old British company ruined peoples lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The government — which owns the Post Office — has described the scandal as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British history. The software regularly showed that money — often many thousands of pounds — had gone missing from Post Office accounts. The Post Office has so far paid more than £138 million ($176 million) in compensation, a company spokesperson told CNN. “The Horizon system was a piece of machinery and software that wasn’t working correctly,” she said. “If the Post Office can do this to you, then God knows what any other brand is capable of,” she said.

Persons: —, Jo Hamilton, Hamilton, ”, Mr Bates, ’, Alan Bates, Rishi Sunak, ‘, Jonathan Wells, Wendy Buffrey’s Horizon, “, I’d, Buffrey, “ I’ve, Neil Hudgell, Martin Griffith, they’ve, Leon Neal, James Hartley, Siema Kamran, Kamran Ashraf, Ashraf, Kamran, ” Siema Kamran Organizations: London CNN, UK Post, Fujitsu, CNN, Post, ITV, Horizon, of Justice, Office, Cheltenham, Metropolitan Police, Getty, Post Office Locations: Britain, England, Hamilton, British, London, Buffrey, Bracknell , England, Freeths, Cheltenham

☆ What is the ‘freeze response’ to sexual assault? Psychiatrist explains
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The following article discusses sexual assault. CNN: What is commonly misunderstood about the freeze response to sexual assault? If you don’t think you need clear verbal or physical consent, the freeze response could be misinterpreted as consent. Usually people in practice will have bios about specialty areas they have further training in, such as working with survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. Organizations that try to help survivors of sexual assault are good resources for this information.

Persons: Mariska Hargitay, “, ” Hargitay, Gail Saltz, ”, Hargitay, Saltz, ‘, That’s Organizations: CNN, “, Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychoanalytic Association, Network Locations: York

☆ The Biden Economy Is Doing Fine - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The tenth is what Gordon Gekko, in the movie “Wall Street,” called a “$400,000-a-year working Wall Street stiff.”Then the stiff leaves for a while, maybe to answer a call of nature. Because it’s most of the story of wages in the U.S. economy since Covid-19 struck. In 2020 the average wage of workers who still had a job shot up, because those who were laid off were disproportionately low-wage service workers. Then, as people resumed in-person shopping, started going to restaurants and so on, growth in average wages was held down because those low-wage workers were being rehired. You need to look through these “compositional effects” to figure out what was really happening to earnings as that played out.

Persons: Gordon Gekko, ” Locations: U.S

☆ Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman Charlie Munger dies at 99
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Nov 28 (Reuters) - Charlie Munger, the longtime vice chairman and second-in-command to Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N), died on Tuesday morning at a California hospital. For stock-pickers like us to lose Charlie Munger, would be like if you’re a basketball fan and you lose Bill Russell. "I wouldn't think Berkshire will look much different, apart from Buffett no longer being able to share ideas with Munger. CATHERINE SEIFERT, VICE-PRESIDENT, CFRA RESEARCH, NEW YORK“Berkshire Hathaway shareholders are not going to be directly or negatively impacted from the passing of Charlie Munger. Therewass already a transition plan in place and there's a transition plan in place when Warren Buffett passes away.

Persons: Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, Charlie, WHITNEY TILSON, BRIAN MOYNIHAN, Charlie Mungerwass, ” BURNS MCKINNEY, Bill Russell, ”, Berkshire Hathaway, ” PHIL ORLANDO, FEDERATED HERMES, BILL, Buffett, Munger, PHILLIP, —, STEVE SOSNICK, “, ” WIN MURRAY, DIAMOND, MARY JO, BILL SMEAD, Warren, ” “ Buffett, Todd Combs, Ted Weschler, ” PAUL LOUNTZIS, Greg Abel, I've, you'll, STEPHEN DODSON, hewass, ” PAUL NOLTE, FOR MURPHY, Warren Buffet, they've, QUINCY KROSBY, RICK MECKLER, CHERRY, NEW VERNON, Hewass, obviouslywass, DOUG KASS, ” THOMAS RUSSO, GARDNER RUSSO, QUINN, CATHERINE SEIFERT, he's, ” ANTHONY SAGLIMBENE, THOMAS HAYES Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, COOK, APPLE, WHO, KASE, OF, FEDERATED, Berkshire, ” WIN, THE BRETTON, SAN, SYLVEST, NEW, Buffett, GREAT, Global Finance, Markets, Thomson Locations: California, Munger, Berkshire, American, DALLAS , TEXAS, GLENVIEW, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, DIAMOND HILL, COLUMBUS , OHIO, PHOENIX, ” “ Berkshire, , PENNSYLVANIA, ELMHURST, IL, CHARLOTTE, NC, CHERRY LANE, NEW JERSEY, LANCASTER , PENNSYLVANIA, Munger . Berkshire, TROY , MICHIGAN, GREAT HILL

(AP) — It wasn’t all work and no play for President Joe Biden on Friday on this picturesque Massachusetts island. Because of the remarks on hostages, the traditional family lunch happened later than usual. Finally, the Bidens ended up at Nantucket’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, clapping as the town crier led the countdown and the tree was illuminated with colored lights. Leaning against metal barricades and waving banners that said “Free Palestine,” the protesters chanted: “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide. A local official urged the protesters to stop, noting that the community event was not a political one.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, it’s, Jill Biden, Ashley, Can’t, “ We’ve, Heather Cox Richardson, “, crier, “ Biden, –, Joe, Jill, Beau, Hunter, they’ve, David Rubenstein Organizations: Biden, Nantucket, of, Nantucket Books, White, Palestine Locations: NANTUCKET, Massachusetts, Gaza, Craftmasters, Nantucket, Palestine

☆ Mattel, hot off 'Barbie' success, hires ex-Fox, Sony exec to run TV studio
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mattel hopes a new hire will help it expand its content slate, following the blowout box office success of "Barbie." The toy maker, home to Hot Wheels and American Girl, announced Thursday that it has hired former Fox and Sony exec Michelle Mendelovitz as head of Mattel Television Studios. "I look forward to the impact Michelle and Mattel Television Studios will have on expanding the content slate to the delight of our fans around the globe." Mendelovitz previously held senior roles at Disney 20th Television Studios, Apple TV+, Sony Pictures Television and CBS Television Network. "Hot Wheels Let's Race" and "Masters of the Universe: Revolution" are a few of the new releases planned for the upcoming year.

Persons: Mattel, Barbie, Michelle Mendelovitz, Josh Silverman, Michelle, Mendelovitz, Thomas, It's, Ynon Kreiz, Barney, Max Organizations: Girl, Fox, Sony, Mattel Television Studios, Mattel, Disney 20th Television Studios, Apple, Sony Pictures Television, CBS Television Network, Thomas &, CNBC, Cartoon Network

☆ Opinion: Marjorie Taylor Greene botches the explanation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. CNN —On the day after Republicans lost pivotal races in Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia last week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene offered a diagnosis for her party’s ills. On Tuesday, Ohio voters passed an amendment to the state constitution that guarantees abortion rights. The disconnect may or may not cost Trump votes in 2024, but it’s hurting Republicans up and down the ballot. “Democrats will win in 2024 by making the election a choice, not just a referendum on Biden’s performance in office.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, CNN’s Manu Raju, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Trump, ”, Kate Bedingfield, Joe Biden’s, Youngkin, ” Bill Bramhall, Bedingfield, They’ll, Julian Zelizer, Biden, ” Clay Jones, ” Clay Jones Republican Lanhee Chen, — don’t, Chen, “, ” Mary Ziegler, Davis, Republicans don’t, Comstock, Nikki Haley, Ana Marie Cox, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Dick Cheney, ’ Haley, Haley, Ramaswamy, ‘, Haley “, ” Patrick T, Brown, ” Roxanne Jones, DeSantis, Todd Graham, Bill Bramhall, Mary Ellen O’Connell, ” “, ” John Spencer, he’s, Al Qaeda, Peter Bergen, Israel, Hani Almadhoun, Suzanne Nossel, Frida Ghitis, Walt Handlesman, Ivanka Trump, Elliot Williams, Letitia James, Williams, ” Williams, Nick Anderson, Ian Berry, Bob Dylan, Anna Lee, I’d, William, I’ll, Bethany McLean, Joe Nocera, Dr, Kent Sepkowitz, ” Sepkowitz, ” Don’t, Corey Mintz, DoorDash, Paul Rieckhoff, Jill Filipovic, Shannon Watts, Jade McGlynn, Keith Magee, King Charles, Sara Stewart, Priscilla ’, Barbra Streisand, CHANEL, Presley Ann, Patrick McMullan, Holly Thomas, James Brolin, Barbra’s, Thomas Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Trump, “, White House, State Senate, Biden, ” Clay Jones Republican, University of California, Department of Justice, Florida Gov, Republican, Senate, Content Agency Israel, Hamas, University of Notre Dame, Modern War, Twitter, Facebook, ISIS, Content Agency Trump, New York, Trump Organization, “ Trump, —, Tribune, Agency, College of, Getty, BBC Locations: Kentucky , Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, “, Mexico, Ohio, State, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi, Florida, Miami, Hialeah , Florida, Trump, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, West, Mosul, Raqqa, Manhattan, New York City, Ukraine, Malibu , California, Greenwich Village

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Fans have pushed the Fisher-Price Corn Popper into the National Toy Hall of Fame, elevating it from perpetual finalist to 2023 inductee, alongside baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids and NERF foam toys, the Hall of Fame announced Friday. Baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids and NERF toys were voted in in the usual way from among a field of 12 finalists, with input from a panel of experts. The winners are on permanent display at the National Toy Hall of Fame, which is located inside The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Cabbage Patch Kids continue to encourage imagination and storytelling for kids. Fisher-Price Corn Popper, which is a forgotten finalist no longer, is a great activity for toddlers," Bensch said.

Persons: Price, Popper, Fisher, Ken, Barbie, ” Christopher Bensch, Price Corn Popper, Bensch, “, grownups Organizations: National Toy Hall of Fame, of Fame, Fame's, Toy Hall of Fame, Museum of Locations: ROCHESTER, N.Y, Rochester , New York

☆ The SEO world is up in arms after a story said they're 'ruining the internet.' Here's the spicy drama.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementAre your Google search results increasingly irrelevant — worthless, even? The Verge article, written by Amanda Chicago Lewis, is 8,000 words and starts with an anecdote about attending a search-engine optimization industry event that featured a live alligator. It seeks to answer a question many of us have thought: Why does it seem like Google search sucks now? AdvertisementAdvertisementDespite The Verge's headline (which, as far as I can tell, isn't even good SEO), Lewis doesn't really say that SEO experts ruined the internet. Spammy and misleading SEO are noticeable; good SEO, the kind the people in this article do, is unseen.

Persons: —, Amanda Chicago Lewis, it's, It's, SEOs, Danny Goodwin, brag, Danny Sullivan, who's, Sullivan, Lewis, They're, they're, it's furries, Lewis doesn't Organizations: Google, Service, Facebook, Wild, …

☆ Goldman Sachs is about to kick off a cascade of managing director promotions across Wall Street. Here's why the battle for power could be fiercer than ever.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

There are plenty of terms to describe Wall Street power brokers — but none of them matters quite so much right now as the simple phrase "managing director." Wealth management, which has been an area for growth across Wall Street, may prove an exception. "Two years ago, everybody was in the war for talent," said Alan Johnson, a Wall Street compensation expert at Johnson & Associates. Getting a promotion to managing director is tremendously important for the people who are vying for the role. "Once you become an MD, you're going to be making a lot more money.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Banks, Alan Johnson, Wall, Jeanne Branthover, Johnson, Goldman, it's, Lloyd Blankfein, Justin Tuck, Branthover, might've, You'd, you'll Organizations: Wall, Citigroup, Jefferies, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Johnson & Associates, DHR International, NY Giants Locations: Wall

☆ When Courtly Love Goes Wrong, It’s Deadly
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Tina Brown | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Compared to the dour, dutiful sewing circle serving Katherine of Aragon at the British court, the French matriarchs were pistols. “Anne found herself in a world in which women could exercise power in strikingly different ways,” write Guy and Fox. Stereotyped by convention as a conniving hustler bent on building the Boleyn brand, Thomas is positioned more interestingly here as a kind of geopolitical Zelig. It would prove the right time to catch the eye of the strapping 34-year-old king. Henry had never before encountered a woman as dazzling as Anne, with her French flair and intellectual self-confidence.

Persons: Katherine of Aragon, “ Anne, ”, Guy, Fox, Anne’s, Thomas, Henry VIII’s, Europe’s, Emperor Charles V, Pa Boleyn, Henry, Anne, Queen Katherine, Mary Boleyn, Katherine Locations: France, Pa, England, Europe

☆ Bulgarian nationalists protest against NATO bases, want government out
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Stoyan Nenov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SOFIA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Bulgarian police on Thursday scuffled with supporters of the ultra-nationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party protesting against the policies of the pro-Western government, calling for the government to resign and for the closure of NATO military bases. Many shouted "Resignation", while fully equipped riot police protected the government buildings, including the defence ministry at which some protesters threw eggs. Bulgaria, which has sent arms to Ukraine, lifted its ban on Ukrainian grains last week. [1/5]Protesters scuffle with police as they try to remove construction fences surrounding the Soviet army monument, during an anti-government demonstration organised by the ultranationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party, in Sofia, Bulgaria, September 21, 2023. Bulgaria is a zone of peace", referring to the opening of a new military base in the NATO member.

Persons: Neli Tyulekova, Stoyan, Neli Balabanska, Stoyan Nenov, Daria Sito, Jan Harvey Organizations: SOFIA, Bulgarian, NATO, EU, Ukraine, REUTERS, State Agency for National Security, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Sofia, U.S, Soviet

☆ Tupac, Cocaine, Murder: Henchmen Brothers, Hip-Hop's Forgotten Moguls
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( David Kushner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

Mario called Tupac. All he could do was listen to her cry as he explained that he didn't know when he'd be back. He didn't speak Spanish, didn't know a soul in Mexico, and had no clue where he would be sent. Mario didn't ask why, and the guy didn't inquire about Mario's predicament. "It's all good, man," Mario told Jimmy.

Persons: Mario Rosemond, Rosemond, Jimmy, Mario, Akon, Sean Kingston, Gucci Mane, Jimmy Rosemond —, Lowell, Lodi Mack, Fletcher, Tupac Shakur, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Jimmy Rosemond, Saul Goodman, Tommy Davis, Mario stammered, It's, Jimmy Jr, Andrea, Constantin, Johnny Nunez, Rikers, —, Slick, Russell Simmons, Benny Medina, Lyor Cohen, Chris Lighty, Mona Scott, Mark Sparks, Shoop, Paul Bergen, Bryce Wilson, Wilson, Mohammed, Tef, Stewart, Little Shawn, Puff Daddy, Pac, Freddie Moore, Moore, Al Pereira, would've, Jimmy wasn't, They'd, didn't, Jimmy didn't, —, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Wyclef Jean, Garland, Cyrus, THONY BELIZAIRE, Mariah Carey, LL, Missy Elliott, Cent, Tef Stewart, Jimmy Rosemond Jr, Jimmy Sr, Khalil Abdullah, Jimmy Iovine, determinedly, DJ Skee, Mario couldn't, Mario chuckles, he'd, GummyBone, Mario didn't, I'm, freckling, he's, isn't, I've, Jim Brown, Michael K, Williams, Donald Trump, Arturo Holmes, Scott Olson, Trump, Brown, James Rosemond Jr, David Kushner Organizations: FBI, Entertainment, Justice Department, Bronx ., Quad Studios, AP, grandad, Wall, Black Panthers, Junior Mafia, Hollywood, Haiti, Management, Apollo, Lowell, Racing, Interscope Records, Interscope, Feds, Department of Motor Vehicles, DMV, Colombian, York Post, Drug, Administration, NFL, Trump, Stone, Atari Locations: Mexico, Haiti, Brooklyn, Bronx, Cuernavaca, Spanish, Rahway , New Jersey, Port, New York City, Vanderveer Estates, East Flatbush, Rikers, Islam, Miami Beach, New York, New Jersey, East Coast, West Coast, Plainfield , New Jersey, Brandy, Los Angeles, Czar's, Harlem, LA, California, Beverly Hills, San, Tijuana, Mexico City, Colombian, San Diego, Manhattan

☆ H.B.O. Is Tackling Religion in the Most Remarkable Ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Elizabeth Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Television’s depictions of religion have often leaned either toward po-faced dogma or scouring atheism, but here is one that dares to split the difference. The eldest, Jesse, is a pompous hothead whose default response to any insult is light violence and who, despite his persona as a family man, has enjoyed the sort of hard-partying lifestyle that would make early-1970s Led Zeppelin blush. His sister, Judy, is a flamethrowing libertine with a staggeringly foul mouth and a tendency to transgress against her lovingly milquetoast husband. Like a staging of “King Lear” at a monster-truck rally, the show has a loneliness that undergirds its berserk energy. This is not the only fascinating vision of the church on HBO these days.

Persons: they’ve, McBride, Jesse, Judy, “ King Lear ”, John Goodman, Eli Gemstone —, Aimee, Leigh, Croesus, ”, Gideon, —, Bridget Everett, Sam, Joel, Sam —, Maria ” Organizations: ”, Southern, Gemstone Salvation, HBO, Hollywood Locations: American, Hollywood, Kansas, America

☆ Neuroscientist: 3 tips for finding songs that give your brain a physiological and emotional boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Though it might seem counterintuitive, slow tempo music is more likely to give you the chills than uptempo music. "There's often a long anticipation phase and a buildup of tension in the music," Viskontas says of ballads. "And the chills happen when there's a release of tension like a beat trop or some kind of modulation or change." Though it might seem counterintuitive, slow tempo music is more likely to give you the chills than uptempo music. "And the chills happen when there's a release of tension like a beat trop or some kind of modulation or change."

Persons: Pharrell isn't, Miles Davis, Viskontas, Whitney Houston's, Adele, Warren Buffett Organizations: Indre, CNBC

☆ Opinion | Elections Are Bad for Democracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Adam Grant | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In a study of elections worldwide, candidates who were rated by experts as having high psychopathy scores actually did better at the ballot box. In the United States, presidents assessed as having psychopathic and narcissistic tendencies were more persuasive with the public than their peers. A common explanation is that they’re masters of fearless dominance and superficial charm, and we mistake their confidence for competence. Sadly, it starts early: Even kids who display narcissistic personality traits get more leadership nominations and claim to be better leaders. Eliminate voting, and candidates with dark triad traits would be less likely than they are now to rise to the top.

Persons: Putin, there’s, Lincoln, They’re Locations: United States

☆ How conservatives use ‘verbal jiu-jitsu’ to turn liberals’ language against them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Recent years have brought numerous headlines about another liberal term that has been dismantled by the right. Some scientists believe climate change is a more accurate description of the environmental challenges facing the planet. Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge during a climate change protest in New York on March 3, 2023. Instead of acknowledging the science pointing toward a looming environmental disaster, one Republican pollster offered another phrase to mute the alarm: climate change. Two decades later, many liberal politicians and activists continue to use the phrase “climate change, the cognitive scientist George Lakoff noted.

Persons: “, ”, Joe Raedle, Lindsey Cormack, “ I’ve, ” Cormack, Cormack, Conservatives didn’t, Harry Harris, didn’t, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Robin DiAngelo, ” DiAngelo, Paulette Granberry Russell, it’s, ” “, who’s, there’s, It’s, Yuki Iwamura, pollster, Frank Luntz, Republican pollster, Luntz, George Lakoff, ” Lakoff, “ It’s, John F, Kennedy, ” John F, ’, ” Kennedy, Trump’s, won’t, – they’ll, Trump, John Blake Organizations: CNN, White House, Democrats, House, Republicans, Stevens Institute of Technology, Conservatives, Democratic, Republican, New York City, Getty, Diversity, Equity, National Association of Diversity Officers, Higher Education, Bloomberg, AFP, Capitol Locations: Milwaukee, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, AFP, Brooklyn, ”

☆ Portfolio manager explains why Microsoft is his pick for the AI investment theme
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | 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 EmailPortfolio manager explains why Microsoft is his pick for the AI investment themeTrent Masters of Alphinity cautions investors to be selective when investing in the artificial intelligence space.

Organizations: Microsoft, Trent

☆ Meet the Mattel CEO who convinced Margot Robbie to become Barbie – and is being played by Will Ferrell in the movie
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He earmarked Margot Robbie to play Barbie, and has driven the group's push to exploit its brands. Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in "Barbie." Warner Bros.Self-deprecationAccording to Bloomberg, Mattel gave Warner Bros. and Gerwig huge creative license on the movie – including how Mattel and its bigwigs would be portrayed. Kreiz, with his chiseled jaw, pearly white teeth and broader good looks, might look more like Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, than the ghoulish CEO played by funnyman Will Ferrell. Ferrell is listed only as "Mattel CEO" in the film's credits, adding an element of ambiguity.

Persons: Barbie, Margot Robbie, Will Ferrell, Ryan Gosling rollerblading, Ken, Kreiz, Barbie's, He's, Greta Gerwig's, Robbie, Mattel, Greta Gerwig, Ryan Gosling, funnyman Will Ferrell, Ferrell, Oscar, Daniel Kaluuya, Barney, Lena Dunham, helming, Lily Collins, It's, Polly Pocket, David Zalubowski, Kreiz – Organizations: Mattel, Bloomberg, Service, Maker Studios, Disney, Endemol Group, Brother, Fox Kids Europe, London's, Warner Bros, MGM, Arch, Hasbro Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ The End of the Magic World’s 50-Year Grudge
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( David Segal | More About David Segal | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke wrote that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” and today magic and technology are merging. He still prefers nondigital methods, though, which he attributes in no small part to the influence of Mr. Geller. Mr. Money-Coutts first met Mr. Geller in 2003. A student at the British prep school Eton who was a budding magician, he invited Mr. Geller to perform for 700 gobsmacked schoolboys. Mr. Geller had relocated to Britain by then, having spent 12 tumultuous years in the United States, most of them in New York City.

Persons: Arthur C, Clarke, ”, Alice Pailhès, Volodymyr Zelensky, Randi, Ben Harris, Drummond, Coutts, conjurer, Midjourney, Pope Francis, Geller, Mr Organizations: Magic, Netflix, Eton Locations: Ukraine, Britain, United States, New York City

☆ Carlos Alcaraz Has Been Studying the Grass Court Masters. That Means Andy Murray.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Carlos Alcaraz took a little time to rest after coming up short in the French Open last month, and then he embarked on the next step toward strengthening one of the few remaining weaknesses in his tennis development — playing on grass. For Alcaraz, the 20-year-old world No. 1, that meant getting enough training sessions and matches on the surface that is at once the most traditional and most quirky in the sport. It also meant hours of watching videos of Andy Murray, the two-time Wimbledon champion and one of the masters of grass court tennis. Alcaraz has never advanced past the round of 16 at Wimbledon, but he has left no doubt about his goals for his third go-round at this most venerated of tennis competitions.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Murray, Alcaraz, Murray Organizations: Wimbledon, All England

☆ BMW taps abstract artist Julie Mehretu to paint its latest Art Car
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Now, Ethiopian American artist Julie Mehretu, known for her work in abstract painting, has been chosen to create the company’s next Art Car. The first BMW Art Car was painted in 1975 by the American sculptor Alexander Calder after French racing driver Hervé Poulain brought the idea to BMW. The first woman to take on a BMW Art Car was South African artist Esther Mahlangu, who in 1991 painted a 525i sedan. Esther Mahlangu's Art Car featured the bold colors and geometric patterns used in the traditional arts and crafts of the Southern Ndebele people. Enes Kucevic/BMWMehretu’s will be the 20th BMW Art Car.

Persons: Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, Robert Rauschenberg, Julie Mehretu, Alexander Calder, Hervé Poulain, Poulain, Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Warhol, Esther Mahlangu, Holzer, Esther Mahlangu's, Enes, Marian Goodman, Josefina Santos, BMW Mehretu, Madeleine Grynsztejn, ”, Julie, ” Grynsztejn, ” Mehretu, I've, ” Julian Kroehl, City’s Solomon R, hasn’t, Mehretu, “ Organizations: CNN, BMW, Ethiopian, Le, CSL, BMW Le, Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, MacArthur, US Department of State, of, Pritzker, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Daytona, Guggenheim Museum Locations: Ethiopian American, American, African, Southern, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, United States, New York, Daytona Beach , Florida, New

☆ Analysis: Mutiny lays bare prospect for Putin of 'forever war' in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But current and former officials in Kyiv say the mutiny offered a startling glimpse into the strain the Russian political system is under. It revealed that Russian reserve forces were so thin they struggled to respond to the threat. A war stretching many more months and possibly years would inevitably mean more deaths and wounded on each side. U.S. officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said much remained unclear, including why Russian forces did not do more to halt Wagner's advance. A senior Central European diplomat said they saw "no immediate effect on the war" from Prigozhin's aborted mutiny.

Persons: Wagner, Stringer, Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner, Andriy Zagorodniuk, Putin, Prigozhin's Wagner, Zagorodniuk, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Dmytro Kuleba, Mykhailo Podolyak, Voldomyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Pavel Polityuk, Andrew Gray, Phil Stewart, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Southern Military District, REUTERS, Reuters, Central, National Resistance Centre, Airborne Assault Division, Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Rostov, Don, Russia, KYIV, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyiv, Moscow, Russia's, Russian, hurtling, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Brussels, Washington

☆ Ukraine: Chaos in Russia works to our advantage
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Lidia Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 25 (Reuters) - Chaos in Russia works to Kyiv's advantage, Ukraine officials said on Saturday, but it remains to be seen whether President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his army can capitalise on the disorder caused this weekend as mercenaries marched towards Moscow. "Today the world saw that the masters of Russia do not control anything. Just complete chaos," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, urging Ukraine's allies to use the moment and send more weapons to Kyiv. "Any chaos behind the enemy lines works in our interests," State-run Ukrinform news agency quoted Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as saying on Saturday. Putin called Prigozhin's actions a "blow to Russia", but there were no immediate signs his rule was threatened.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Zelenskiy, Ukraine's, Vladimir Putin, Dmytro Kuleba, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Kuleba, Antony Blinken, Oleksiy Danilov, Lidia Kelly, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, U.S . State Department, Kyiv, National Security, Defence Council, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus, Kyiv, Washington, Krasnohorivka, Donetsk, Melbourne

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