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A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump, possibly over a "hush-money" payment. Here's a timeline of Trump and Daniels' alleged relationship, the $130,000 payment to keep Daniels silent, and the testimonies leading to a possible indictment. Markus Schreiber/APManhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg convened a grand jury in mid-January of this year to consider an indictment against Trump. And Trump's former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen, prosecutors' key witness, has made repeated visits to the DA's office and to the grand jury. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesThe Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump on Thursday, March 30.

Trump and his aides were surprised by the timing of his indictment, the NYT's Maggie Haberman reports. Some advisors previously believed the decision wouldn't come until late next month. Trump and some advisors are currently mulling over next steps at Mar-a-Lago. Some advisors had been confident that the vote wouldn't come until the end of April. Trump is the first former US president to be charged with a crime, although it's currently unclear what Trump has been charged with.

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☆ Ukrainian troops say Russia's Wagner fighters would rather die in Bakhmut than retreat and face punishment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Bakhmut say Wagner troops are the toughest opponents, NYT reported. One soldier said Wagner units face punishment if they retreat, so they "prefer to die" in battle. Wagner units have played a major role in Bakhmut battles. But that assessment isn't necessarily due to Wagner's training — Ukrainian troops told The New York Times that Wagner troops fight harder because they face physical punishments if they retreat or lose. Milley said that Wagner units have taken heavy losses in Bakhmut over the past month, CNN reported.

☆ Exclusive: Massachusetts regulator probes First Republic insiders' stock sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

He is seeking details about the firm's insider trading policies and how officers handled their stock sales from January 1. A spokesperson for First Republic declined to confirm the firm received a subpoena or comment on the stock sales. Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were seized by regulators days later amid liquidity crises, actions that sapped investor confidence in the sector. SHARE SALESSeveral First Republic executives have sold shares this year, including founder and Executive Chairman James Herbert. Herbert and Roffler did not respond to requests for comment on their stock sales or the subpoena.

NEW YORK, March 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged crypto firm Beaxy.com and several executives for registration failures on Wednesday, expanding regulators' push to rein in the industry. That structure, which is common throughout the crypto industry, is one that the SEC's chair has criticized for conflicts of interest and risks to investors. On Monday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued Binance, accusing the world's largest crypto exchange of violating rules preventing illegal activity. The next day, prosecutors in New York added a Chinese bribery charge to their fraud case against Sam Bankman-Fried, who founded the now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX. Another man, Brian Peterson, was accused of acting as an unregistered dealer by providing marketing services to Beaxy.

☆ A company made volleyball-sized meatballs with mammoth DNA, but no one tasted them because humans could be allergic to the 5,000-year-old protein
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An Australian cultured meat firm made a giant meatball with mammoth DNA and lab-made lamb. Australian cultured meat company Vow has engineered a giant meatball made with a surprising protein: woolly mammoth DNA. But no one has tasted it because humans could be allergic to the 5,000-year-old protein. The meatball was made from extinct woolly mammoth DNA and fragments of African elephant DNA, a close relative to the mammoth, according to a press release from Vow. James Ryall, chief scientific officer at Vow, told CNN it's unclear if humans can stomach mammoth meat.

☆ The solar system was hit with a gamma-ray burst so bright, it blinded scientists' equipment in space
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Chris Panella | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Our solar system was hit by a gamma-ray burst so bright, it blinded space equipment and telescopes. A gamma-ray burst that recently hit our solar system was so bright, it temporarily blinded gamma-ray instruments in space, according to a NASA release. Scientists say the gamma-ray burst (GRB), the most powerful type of explosion in the universe, was 70 times brighter than any previously recorded event. What is a gamma-ray burst? Because it blinded space instruments, they couldn't accurately record it, so scientists weren't sure how bright the burst was when it first reached our planet.

Reuters could not determine Coley's status in the government investigations or whether she had cooperated. While he was its director of enforcement, the CFTC increasingly worked on investigations in parallel with federal prosecutors. McDonald's representation of Coley comes as the U.S. investigations pile pressure on Binance, which dominates the crypto sector as the world's largest digital currency exchange. The CFTC's complaint said that Binance personnel, including Zhao, have "dictated Binance.US's corporate strategy, launch, and early operations." In a subpoena addressed to Coley that same month, the SEC also requested all records of her activities and meetings.

Founder Artak Hamazaspyan and a company he controlled, Beaxy Digital Ltd, raised $8 million in an unregistered offering of the Beaxy token (BXY), and Hamazaspyan also misappropriated at least $900,000 for personal use, the SEC said. The regulator also said executives Nicholas Murphy and Randolph Bay Abbott facilitated trading on the Beaxy platform since October 2019 through the company they managed, Windy Inc, the regulator said in a statement. Another executive, Brian Peterson, and his companies provided market making services for the Beaxy platform, acting as unregistered dealers, the SEC said. The other executives and firms, who did not admit or deny the SEC's findings, could not be reached immediately for comment. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Chris Prentice; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LAS VEGAS, March 28 (Reuters) - Mid-sized U.S. lenders are getting creative as they try to hang onto customer deposits after two bank failures rattled consumers and spurred a $119 billion exodus from small institutions in recent weeks. Industry executives discussed strategies to bolster trust in their institutions at an annual meeting of the Consumer Bankers Association conference on Monday in Las Vegas. Paying higher rates on deposits is the most common way to make them stick, executives said. Despite the recent flight in deposits to large banks, one banker at a mid-sized bank said they were confident the lender could survive the recent exodus. Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer and Nupur Anand in Las Vegas; Editing by Lananh Nguyen and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - A U.S. banking regulator is investigating potential misconduct on the part of executives and others involved in the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Gruenberg did not offer further details into who or what may be the subject of probes, which could be one of several under way by the U.S. government. It is common for the government to open probes into such events, and such investigations do not necessarily result in charges of misconduct. But its sudden collapse has also raised questions about what executives knew about the bank's struggles and what they disclosed with investors, the sources said. Reporting by Pete Schroeder and Chris PrenticeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A school shooting victim's protesting parents were hauled out of Congress by Capitol police last week. Now another mass shooting has left 3 adults and 3 more children dead.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Parkland victim's parents were taken out of Congress last week, days before another mass shooting. Manuel and Patricia Oliver interrupted a House gun regulations committee hearing last Thursday. Now, just days later, another mass shooting has left three schoolchildren and three adults dead in Nashville, Tennessee. Manuel and Patricia Oliver, parents of 17-year-old Parkland, Florida, shooting victim Joaquin Oliver, attended a House committee hearing on gun regulations last Thursday, NBC reported. The mass shooting marks the 129th recorded this year, according to Brady, a non-profit working to prevent gun violence.

☆ Russian forces have a new focus, and the target city already looks like a 'place from post-apocalyptic movies,' Ukrainian officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian forces have a new target city that Ukrainian officials say already looks post-apocalyptic. Gaining control of the city won't give Russia "significant operational advantage," analysis suggests. According to Reuters, Russian troops have pushed towards Avdiivka in recent weeks, potentially looking to make gains in the eastern Donetsk region. As Russian efforts in the area continue, it's possible that Avdiivka could become a "second Bakhmut," Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi said last week, the Kyiv Independent reported. Russian gains could further restrict Ukraine's defense, as supply lines are being "increasingly threatened" by Russia's gains, a UK defense intelligence update said last week.

The CFTC sued Binance, Zhao and its former top compliance executive with "willful evasion" of U.S. law, "while engaging in a calculated strategy of regulatory arbitrage to their commercial benefit." "Upon an initial review, the complaint appears to contain an incomplete recitation of facts, and we do not agree with the characterization of many of the issues alleged in the complaint," Zhao said in a statement. Firms such as brokers that facilitate U.S. customers' trading of such products are required to register with the agency. 'PIRATE SHIP'Founded in Shanghai in 2017, Binance sits at the heart of the global crypto industry. With a holding company based in the Cayman Islands, Binance has never revealed the location of its core exchange.

March 27 (Reuters) - Major cryptocurrency exchange Binance and executives, including CEO and founder Changpeng Zhao, have been sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for regulatory violations, according to a court filing on Monday. Binance's compliance program has been "ineffective" and the firm, under the direction of Zhao, told employees and customers to go around compliance controls, the CFTC said. It also accused Binance's former Chief Compliance Officer Samuel Lim of aiding and abetting Binance's violations. "For years, Binance knew they were violating CFTC rules, working actively to both keep the money flowing and avoid compliance. Its core Binance.com exchange, the world's biggest, processed trades worth about $23 trillion last year, according to data provider CryptoCompare.

☆ NBA roundup: Nuggets belt Bucks in matchup of titans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Antetokounmpo was aggressive from the start, with 13 points in the first quarter and 24 at halftime. But the Bucks went 4:10 without a point in the fourth period as the Nuggets built a 20-point lead. Booker led six Suns scoring at least 13 points. Biyombo also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton added 19 points and 13 assists.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - The banking crisis set off by the swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB.O) has exposed a sharp disconnect between Washington and Wall Street. Some critics are asking whether the Biden administration could have contained the crisis with aggressive actions at the start. FINDING A BUYER FOR SVBThe failure of the nation's 16th largest bank caught regulators off guard. The banking industry itself is not united on how to reassure depositors. The banking industry is searching for sweeping relief to calm markets, while Washington is discussing how to prevent the next crisis.

☆ Fact Check-Digitally altered image shows Mark Wahlberg wearing anti-liberal T-shirt
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

American actor Mark Wahlberg was not pictured wearing an anti-liberal T-shirt. The image is altered and the original shows Wahlberg wearing a plain black T-shirt. Examples of the altered image can be viewed (here) and (here). The original photograph shows Wahlberg dressed in a plain black T-shirt and was captured by Associated Press photographer Chris Pizzello in June 2012 (here). The original shows Wahlberg wearing a plain black T-shirt.

☆ Starlink is key to Ukrainian operations, but the Russians 'will find you' if you use it too long, soldier says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starlink is key to Ukraine's operations, but if troops use it too long, the Russians can locate them. Soldiers fighting for Ukraine told Defense One that it's a race against time to use the service. The Russians "will find you," Boris told Defense One. Troops say that there are some ways to prevent Russians from interfering with the service, such as placing a Starlink device behind a dirt or concrete barrier to prevent jamming signals. Ukraine has found workarounds to the limitations though and is still using it in support of certain high-risk operations.

☆ Front-line Ukrainian soldiers say it seems like Russia has 'unlimited' artillery shells to throw at them while they're worried about running out
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Front-line Ukrainian soldiers say it feels like Russia has been firing "unlimited" artillery shells. New weapons from the US and NATO allies, like the Abrams tank, could change the tide of the war. A new BBC video follows troops in the area, operating older Soviet-era tanks and firing at Russian enemies just 500 meters away. As the soldiers run to safety in trenches, they tell BBC it feels like Russia has been firing nonstop in the area. But for Dima and other soldiers on the front lines, the bombardment still feels constant.

Discussions between the SEC and Coinbase broke down in recent weeks, with one source saying the two sides had moved "further apart." The crypto industry believes it operates in a regulatory gray area not governed by existing U.S. securities laws - and that new legislation is needed to regulate the industry. "But if necessary, we welcome the opportunity for Coinbase and the broader crypto community to get clarity in court." Prior to Gensler's arrival, the SEC engaged in targeted enforcement, but the Democratic chair has ratcheted up focus on crypto platforms themselves. "There couldn't be a more significant development for crypto markets and crypto investors," said Philip Moustakis, former SEC enforcement lawyer and partner with Seward and Kissel LLP in New York.

Morgan Stanley analyst Manan Gosalia, in a report earlier this week, set a target price of $54 for First Republic shares in a best-case scenario. "I have not considered or discussed anything having to do with blanket insurance or guarantees of deposits," she said. The Morgan Stanley report considered that a potential extension of FDIC insurance could bring a majority of First Republic's customers back. Even if it clinches a cash infusion, the lender will probably need to take losses on securities in its so-called held-to-maturity portfolio, the Morgan Stanley analysts wrote. In the worst-case scenario, First Republic's shares would sink to just $1, Morgan Stanley analysts estimated.

☆ Ukraine is getting older US Abrams tanks, but Russia's Soviet-era tanks still won't be a match for them in battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Instead of newer Abrams, Ukraine will receive older M1A1 Abrams tanks. According to some early performance reports from the first Gulf War, America's M1A1 tanks were a formidable and invaluable asset on the battlefield. Performance reports make similar arguments, noting that the inclusion of the depleted uranium boosted a round's ability to penetrate heavy tank armor. Allan Tannenbaum/Getty ImagesIn the Gulf War, the M1A1 was very successful at moving around the battlefield. During the Gulf War, tank crews complained about sand getting into the air filtration systems, as well as constant refueling, which the updated versions and the A2 improved upon.

☆ Starry 'Dungeons & Dragons' film brings fantasy game to big screen
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Hannah Ellison | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/7] Elz the Witch attends the premiere of 'Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves' in London, Britain, March 23, 2023. "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" hits cinemas from next week hoping to entice a new generation of fans with the game which first came out in 1974. "It made me understand why (Dungeons & Dragons) has been around for 50 years." Page, who plays Xenk, said he played his first Dungeons & Dragons game just before starting filming. "I wasn't a player but I had actually watched people play Dungeons & Dragons, which is quite possibly even more involved," he said.

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