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☆ Sam Bankman-Fried: US lawmakers want answers from FTX founder
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Lawmakers are demanding that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the failed crypto exchange FTX, appear before the Senate Banking Committee next week over “significant unanswered questions ” surrounding the collapse of his companies. FTX was one of the biggest crypto exchanges in the world until last month, when it faced a sudden wave of customer withdrawals that it couldn’t cover. One of the key questions prosecutors are likely to probe is whether FTX misappropriated customer funds when it made loans to Alameda. The Times said the issue is part of a broadening inquiry into the collapse of FTX, and it’s not clear whether prosecutors have determined any wrongdoing by Bankman-Fried. In a statement to the paper, Bankman-Fried said he was “not aware of any market manipulation and certainly never intended to engage in market manipulation.”

☆ It’s Not Just You: Businesses Are Making Their Phone Numbers Hard to Find
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Rachel Wolfe | Allison Pohle | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

No matter how many times you yell “representative” into the phone, you won’t reach an employee at Frontier Airlines . The budget carrier dropped its phone service option last month, leaving customers to use chat functions or social media to resolve issues. The airline joins a growing group of companies—from Breeze Airways to Resy to Facebook —that eliminate or make phone numbers extra hard for customers to find. Instead, they rely on automated or text-based customer service. Others still have operators, but are pushing more customers to use online services rather than the phone.

☆ Full ‘cold moon’ shines bright and eclipses Mars in a rare event
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —December’s full moon, also known as the “cold moon,” will shine bright in the night sky this Wednesday, peaking at 11:08 p.m. December 7 also marks the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 17 mission launch — the last time humans set foot on the moon. Moon observingThe full moon will make its way across the sky starting at sunset. It was the final mission of NASA’s Apollo program and brought the number of humans who have walked on the moon to a grand total of 12. Apollo 17 was the final lunar landing mission in NASA's Apollo program.

[1/3] Members of WWF protest during COP15, the two-week U.N. Biodiversity summit, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada December 7, 2022. REUTERS/Christinne MuschiMONTREAL, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Climate campaigners waved placards and chanted pro-nature slogans on Wednesday as a U.N. summit kicks off in Montreal, bringing together global negotiators for a "once-in-a-decade opportunity" to protect nature. Negotiators hope the two-week event delivers an agreement that ensures there is more "nature" — animals, plants, and healthy ecosystems — in 2030 than what exists now. Global Land Outlook assessment. ($1 = 1.3651 Canadian dollars)Read more:Businesses want COP15 nature summit to deliver clarityU.N. chief urges strong global nature deal to end 'orgy of destruction'Reporting by Allison Lampert and Gloria Dickie in Montreal; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Rebecca Naden/File PhotoMONTREAL, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Countries are gathering Tuesday for a key U.N. nature conference in Montreal, aiming to broker a new global agreement to protect what's left of Earth's wildlife and natural spaces. Global Land Outlook assessment. Like many other campaigners, Zabey called for "an ambitious, clear and enforceable international agreement" similar to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Unlike the U.N. climate talks, Montreal's summit will see few world leaders, which negotiators say could make it tougher to reach an ambitious agreement. Meanwhile, Montreal police have put up a 3-meter (10-foot) fence around the downtown summit venue, Palais des congrès, and are preparing for thousands of student protesters expected to swarm the Montreal's streets to demand a strong deal to protect nature.

☆ Why the world’s top chip maker is doubling down on American manufacturing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

That measure invests more than $200 billion to encourage companies to bring chip production back onto American soil. Raising the debt limit, the bank wrote, will be “necessary but hard to achieve.”For the uninitiated: The “debt ceiling” is simply the federal government’s borrowing limit. Senator John Thune told Bloomberg last week the debt ceiling could be a way to push through budget cuts. Goldman Sachs noted that the political environment next year will have “echoes of 1995 and 2011” — the two most tense standoffs over the debt limit in recent history. (OK, most nights — we believe in a four-day work week around here.)

☆ Welcome to the ‘free-for-all hellscape’ that is Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Despite unprecedented sanctions from the West on various industries, Russia’s war chest has been padded by oil revenue. China and India, among others, are still buying surplus barrels of Russian oil, which has been cheaper ever since Western traders began shunning it. The price cap is designed to be enforced by companies that provide shipping, insurance and other services for Russian oil. Countries like Poland and Estonia wanted a lower price cap, emphasizing that $60 is too close to the current market price for Russian oil. Because of the relatively generous price cap, Russia may continue to find buyers.

☆ Can You Tell a Country by Its Corner Kicks?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Rory Smith | Allison Mccann | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

Argentina vs. Mexico 2022 World Cup Nov. 26, 2022 The play started here as a corner. Argentina vs. Mexico 2022 World Cup Nov. 26, 2022 The play started here as a corner. Argentina vs. Mexico 2022 World Cup Nov. 26, 2022 The play started here as a corner. Argentina vs. Mexico 2022 World Cup Nov. 26, 2022 The play started here as a corner. Reid can, sometimes, tell where a team is from just from the way it attacks or defends its corner kicks.

☆ Ex-trooper bought home, blacked out windows, weeks before allegedly killing family of teen he catfished, seller says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Property records from Smyth County, Virginia, list Austin Lee Edwards as the owner of the home on Allison Gap Road. “It still doesn’t feel real," Gordon told NBC affiliate WCYB of Bristol, Virginia. A fire that authorities believe was intentionally set broke out at their home and Edwards allegedly drove off with the teen. Gordon said Edwards told him that he moved to the area because he'd grown up in the region and wanted to return. The last time Gordon said he saw Edwards was Tuesday, Nov. 22, three days before the Wineks were killed.

We take a closer look at three memorable goals from the group phase of the 2022 World Cup. MethodologyThe 3-D scene was created using photographs and videos of the venues for reference. The positions of the players were determined from a photograph taken at that moment during the play. The player models were created using a machine learning model called ICON, which was created by Yuliang Xiu, Jinlong Yang, Dimitrios Tzionas, Michael J. The models were refined manually using photographs as reference.

☆ Dispute over North Carolina congressional districts tees up major elections case at Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Lawrencehurley_Pic.Jpg | Lawrence Hurley | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

WASHINGTON — When the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down the Republican-drawn congressional district maps in February, Rep. Tim Moore, the Republican speaker of the state’s House of Representatives, reached for some potent ammunition. Moore said in an interview that he backed the theory because it is the only way to challenge a state court ruling that he believes was not based on law or precedent. Republicans, led by Moore, immediately asked the Supreme Court to reinstate the maps. Gary D. Robertson / AP fileThe independent state legislature theory claims state legislatures have the final say over election laws, potentially shielding their actions from state courts. He also said he believed that the governor had the power to veto elections legislation, a procedure cast into doubt by at least one interpretation of the independent state legislature theory.

☆ Meet 12 Republican officials crusading against BlackRock and ESG investing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

A group of vocal conservative officials are criticizing aspects of ESG investing. Players in the ESG ecosystem, like S&P Global and BlackRock, the world's largest money manager and an influential proponent of ESG investing, are often the subject of their critiques. Instead, officials often paint large financial firms' ESG strategies as functions of left-leaning agendas. Here are key GOP players who are taking aim at ESG investing. Abbott, who is seeking reelection in November, was early to denouncing ESG investing.

☆ The divorce lawyer who's represented Johnny Depp, Kim K, and Angelina Jolie charges $1,000 an hour and says tough love is how she gets things done
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Mark Ellwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Laura Wasser is a divorce lawyer whose clients have included Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. "You'd go to someone's bar mitzvah and say, 'You're Dennis Wasser's daughter,' and they'd say, 'You're at that table,' according to whether my dad had represented the mom or the dad," she said. She'd majored in rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley, and realized quickly that what she'd loved most about those studies was vital in divorce cases, as was her age and gender. She's a spokesperson for Divorce.com, the do-it-yourself split site, as its chief of divorce evolution and has hosted several podcasts, including "All's Fair with Laura Wasser" and "Divorce Sucks! With Laura Wasser," where one guest was the Kardashian momager and matriarch Kris Jenner.

☆ Western US residents warned against traveling as a winter storm is expected to bring feet of snow
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Allison Chinchar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The snow and rain should begin to taper off Friday for most areas before the next storm system arrives late Saturday into early Sunday. While nearly 3 feet of snow could fall in California, 1 to 2 feet of widespread snow is expected across the Rockies in places like Montana, Utah and the mountains in Colorado. This would be a significant and fairly rare snow for Seattle, a city that averages as much snow a year (3.8 inches) as Little Rock, Arkansas. Salt Lake City will also see a few inches in the city proper up where 2 to 5 inches is forecast. Back-to-back winter storms will bring periods of very difficult to impossible travel over Sierra passes through Sunday.

☆ Why the Fed may finally loosen its grip
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Fed should be pleased that its aggressive rate hikes in the past few months are having their desired effect, and they can ease up a bit. After four giant three-quarter-point hikes in a row, all signs point to Fed Chair Jay Powell announcing a half-point bump later this month. BIG PICTUREIt’s taken most of the year, but the economy appears to have made it over the mountain of inflation and aggressive rate hikes, according to Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Financial Group. But while 200,000 is nothing to sniff at, it’s still not soft enough for the Fed to pause its rate hikes. However, markets may cheer the fact that it’s low enough for the Fed to hike at a less aggressive pace than we’ve seen in recent months.

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried says he ‘got a little cocky’ before FTX collapsed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of now-bankrupt FTX, has fallen from the peak of crypto celebrity, but he’s not going quietly. “I think I got a little cocky — I mean, more than a little bit,” he told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in an interview on Good Morning America. Bankman-Fried, echoing comments he also made to The New York Times on Wednesday, denied knowing of any improper transfers of customer funds between the exchange and Alameda. “I don’t think that’s who I am at all, but I understand why they’re saying that,” Bankman-Fried told Stephanopoulos. In that interview, Bankman-Fried said he “didn’t ever try to commit fraud on anyone,” while admitting he made mistakes as chief executive.

☆ Quebec party wants vote to end mandatory oath to King Charles
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MONTREAL, Dec 1 (Reuters) - A Quebec political party opposed to swearing an oath to Britain's King Charles said it expects to introduce legislation on Thursday that would make such fealty optional. Left-leaning Quebec solidaire, whose members grudgingly took the oath that is required for elected officials, plans to introduce a bill in the Canadian province's national assembly, a party spokesperson said on Wednesday. It's not clear whether the party which represents just 11 ridings in the 125 seat assembly would have widespread support. It comes after the death of Queen Elizabeth in September revived debate among Canadians on whether the country should continue with the decades-old system of British monarchy. "It is, I think, a relic from the past," Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, a co-spokesperson for Quebec solidaire, said in an interview.

☆ Here are the 5 things you should do when you get a bad performance review and your boss isn't in your corner
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider spoke with career experts about the steps you should take after you get a bad review. "But if your manager isn't in your corner — isn't aligned with you and isn't trying to help you advance — it can be really stressful and deflating." Insider spoke with Elias and other career experts about the five steps you should take after you get a bad review. A line-by-line rebuttal isn't wise, but Layfield said that some well-reasoned (and polite) counterarguments that debunk or weaken your boss' assessment might be warranted. "Look for things that are within your control that your boss can't take away from you," she said.

☆ FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried says he didn’t intend to commit fraud
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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My husband died when I was 31; we'd been diligently saving for retirement. As a widow, I'm spending on my home and mobility instead of saving for a future that's not promised. I hear some of you out there gasping at what may sound like a flippant attitude toward planning for my financial future. I'm saving for 3 things I care aboutRight now, I'm saving for home repairs and odd jobs around the house, driving lessons and a car, and a gravel bike. I've learned that life is short and I want to spend money on experiences and things I can enjoy now, but that doesn't mean I'm spending money recklessly.

☆ I'm a Disney World expert who runs my own travel agency. Here are my best tips for an affordable — and headache-free — trip to the parks.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Julie Halpert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I've been to Disney World more than 50 times, and I go to Disneyland every few weeks. The first time I went to Disney World was when I was nine months old. I became an expert in planning Disney trips not just through my own excursions but by planning vacations for friends and family who asked for help. I plan trips for all Disney destinations, including Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, and Adventures by Disney. Planning Disney trips was a side hustle that became a full-time careerMertzman with Minnie Mouse.

☆ SBF won’t shut up, and it’s driving lawyers mad
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

SBF has repeatedly admitted that he “f—ked up.” He has apologized on Twitter and in a letter to staff. “What SBF is doing is a form of litigation suicide,” Howard Fischer, a former Securities and Exchange Commission lawyer tells me. SBF resigned as CEO when his crypto exchange, FTX, declared bankruptcy on November 11. Ray sought to make clear that SBF does not speak for FTX or its affiliates. (And no, I don’t mean extra sick days — I mean any sick days, which workers currently have to take unpaid).

☆ Bitfront: The crypto winter claims another casualty after FTX's collapse
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New Delhi CNN Business —Bitfront, a crypto exchange backed by Japanese social media app Line, is shutting down after failing to overcome turmoil in the industry. The announcement by the US-based exchange comes at a time when the market for digital assets is grappling with financial contagion unleashed by the spectacular collapse of another crypto exchange, FTX. Its decision to shut down the exchange came on the same day crypto lender BlockFi filed for bankruptcy. BlockFi, founded in 2017 by Zac Prince and Flori Marquez, made loans to customers using crypto assets as collateral. Shortly after filing for Chapter 11, BlockFi filed a lawsuit against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s Emergent Fidelity Technologies, demanding he turn over collateral that BlockFi claims it is owed.

☆ Protests in China send a chill through global markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The protests had an immediate impact on global markets, and raised questions about the path forward for China’s increasingly sluggish economy. The protests began Friday after 10 people were killed in a fire in China’s Xinjiang province, where Covid lockdown restrictions reportedly hindered first responders from reaching the blaze. Step down, Communist Party!”Meanwhile, the prospect of social upheaval in the world’s second-biggest economy has sent a chill through global markets. Oil prices dropped sharply as investors feared that surging Covid cases and protests in China would sap demand from one of the world’s largest oil consumers. To fix its economy, China needs to ease lockdowns to allow its people to get back to their lives.

☆ BlockFi files for bankruptcy as contagion grips crypto markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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