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☆ US Customs and Border Protection chief resigns after initially declining Biden administration request to step down
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chris Magnus resigned as chief of Customs and Border Protection on Saturday, per the White House. "Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Senate confirmed Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection over the past year. "We are thankful to Commissioner Magnus for his contributions over the past year and wish him well," Mayorkas wrote in his letter. Magnus, the former police chief in Richmond, Calif., and Tucson, Ariz., had overseen over 60,000 employees who were largely focused on border security and counterterrorism issues. Border security has become a major issue for Biden, with Republicans and even some Democrats needling the administration over the level of undocumented migrants being caught by agents.

☆ Customs and Border Protection chief refusing request to step down, DHS official says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — The commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the federal agency in charge of border security, is refusing to step down from his job after a request by the Biden administration, an official from the Department of Homeland Security told NBC News. As the head of CBP, Chris Magnus, 62, oversees more than 60,000 employees whose missions focus on counterterrorism, border security and trade enforcement. The Los Angeles Times was first to report the news that Magnus was asked to resign. Magnus has served in the role since Dec. 2021 after being narrowly confirmed by the Senate in a 50-47 mostly party-line vote. He had previously served as chief of police in Tucson, Ariz., from 2016 to 2020, resigning after a civilian died while in police custody.

☆ Biden Administration Pushes Border Agency Head to Resign
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Michelle Hackman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chris Magnus, commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, has said he won’t resign. WASHINGTON—The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is being forced out of his job, according to three officials familiar with the situation, in the first apparent shake-up of the Biden administration following the midterm elections. Chris Magnus, the agency’s commissioner since last December, was asked by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas earlier this week to resign his post or risk being fired, the people said.

☆ Top U.S. border official says Biden administration pushing him out - reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Ted Hesson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - A top U.S. border official said on Friday he had been asked to resign or be fired, a sign of tensions within U.S. President Joe Biden's administration over a record number of migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. Magnus said he would not resign and defended his commitment to the agency, according to the reports. The White House, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and CBP did not respond to requests for comment. The number of migrant arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border has soared to record highs under Biden, a Democrat who took office in 2021, fueling attacks by Republicans who say his policies are too lenient. Magnus, 62, was confirmed in December as commissioner of the CBP, a 60,000-person agency that oversees border security, trade and travel.

☆ Inflation is getting less hot - and the best-case scenario for stocks just played out.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The stock market just had its best day of the year. We can chalk that up to the Thursday morning inflation data that showed prices cooled faster than expected in October. Specialist trader Chris Malloy (C) gives a price to traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, October 18, 2013. As far as a single day is concerned, yesterday looked like a perfect storm for the stock market. Does the latest inflation report change your outlook on the economy or predictions for what the Fed will do next?

☆ The Biden administration is pressuring its top border official to resign — but he says they'll have to fire him
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The head of US Customs and Border Protection said Friday that he had been asked to resign. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Chris Magnus, head of US Customs and Border Protection, said that he had been twice this week asked to resign or risk being fired. According to Magnus, Mayorkas said he would request that he be fired if he did not submit a resignation. According to Magnus, Mayorkas asked for his resignation after the CBP commissioner decided against providing a "retention" bonus to the head of Border Patrol, citing philosophical differences. The number of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border is below the number seen in the early 2000s, according to DHS.

LOS ANGELES — The fourth woman to accuse “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson of rape told the court Thursday that she sent a supportive message to the actor’s brother two years before she told police that she, too, was a victim. Danny and you looked out for me.”Under questioning by defense attorney Philip Cohen, Jane Doe #4 confirmed that she had written the note. He is not charged with sexually assaulting Jane Doe #4. Smith, who said she also has known Masterson since he was a teenager, said Jane Doe #2 confided in her about the alleged assault in 2003. But two of the women Masterson is charged with raping have testified they were rebuffed when they told Scientology officials he sexually assaulted them.

WASHINGTON — Republican Kris Kobach has won the race to serve as Kansas's attorney general, NBC News projected Thursday. As the state's attorney general, Kobach will have the power to prosecute voter fraud and enforce other election laws. He told the Associated Press in October that “there’s no question” voter fraud occurred in 2020 and that Americans will never know “how many fraudulent ballots were cast." As the vice chair of Trump's election commission, he was charged with investigating claims of voter fraud in the 2016 election. The panel found no major evidence of voter fraud and the committee was dissolved in 2018.

Nov 10 (Reuters) - Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay $473 million in punitive damages for his defamatory claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting, a Connecticut judge ruled on Thursday. On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman murdered his mother, then killed 20 children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School before killing himself. Some experts doubt the move will offer much protection for Jones’ assets, even if he is not able to pay the full judgments against him. The Sandy Hook families have intervened in the case, urging a judge to freeze Free Speech Systems' assets and investigate its finances. They claim Jones pulled $62 million from the company while burdening it with $65 million in “fabricated” debt.

☆ CNN CEO Chris Licht is facing an increasingly angry newsroom as more layoffs loom, plans are murky, and staff have lost confidence after 'horrible programming decisions'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

CNN CEO Chris Licht has been faulted by the newsroom for too many changes and not enough communication. Chris Licht needs a hit. "People are starting to believe there is no plan," said one executive familiar with the workings of CNN. "Is Chris Licht going to be there for them and push back on government officials? Many on the ad sales team that was formerly dedicated to CNN have either been pink-slipped or joined the broader ad sales group under WBD ad honcho Jon Steinlauf.

☆ Hot startups like Miro and Canva are racing to dominate virtual whiteboards, an emerging category of workplace tools that sparked Adobe's $20 billion bid for Figma
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Paayal Zaveri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Virtual whiteboards are becoming essential workplace tools, as evidenced by Adobe's bid for Figma. The $20 billion price tag only further signaled the boom around virtual whiteboards, which allow users to collaborate visually and are quickly becoming essential tools alongside videoconferencing and workplace messaging. Besides Figma, Miro has gained momentum over the past two years, growing to 40 million users from 5 million users. But industry insiders think virtual whiteboards will become just one piece of a visual-collaboration arena. As a result, companies like Miro, Canva, and Lucid are on similar paths toward becoming larger visual-communications platforms.

ZURICH/NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) - After months of reflecting, Credit Suisse's chairman Axel Lehmann revealed an overhaul "to rebuild Credit Suisse as a strong ... bank with a firm foundation, rock-solid like our Swiss mountains". On Thursday, Credit Suisse outlined plans to raise 4 billion Swiss francs from investors, cut thousands of jobs and shift its focus from investment banking towards its rich clients. Credit Suisse said its clients pulled funds in recent weeks at a pace that led the lender to breach some regulatory requirements for liquidity, underscoring the deep impact of wild market swings and social media speculation about its health. It will separate its investment bank to create CS First Boston, focused on advisory work such as mergers and acquisitions and arranging deals on capital markets. And that's the pond that Credit Suisse is swimming in."

☆ World’s best spicy foods: 20 dishes to try
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

When it comes to the world’s best spicy dishes, we have some of the world’s hottest peppers to thank, along with incredible layers of flavor and a long, spice-loving human history. Peppers – a headliner for heat – are rated on the Scoville Heat Units scale, which measures capsaicin and other active components of chile peppers. And it’s the perky red pepper of the same name that brings the spiciness to this complex, layered and delicious dish. “The peperoncino (red chile pepper) is what makes this sauce ‘angry’ (arrabbiata) or spicy,” Chris MacLean of Italy-based Open Tuesday Wines said via email. FomaA/Adobe StockThe fiery Ethiopian spice blend called berbere – aromatic with chile peppers, basil, cardamom, garlic and ginger – is instrumental to the flavor chorus that’s doro wat, Ethiopia’s much-loved spicy chicken stew.

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☆ CNN chief Chris Licht has big ideas, but employees are nervous, and more job cuts are coming
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Courtesy: CNNShifting from ZuckerPart of Licht's challenge as the new leader of CNN is he's not the old leader. There's also a hangover effect from the sudden collapse of CNN+, which Zucker pushed relentlessly as the future of the business. The comments heightened anxiety for many CNN staffers, according to six people who were at the company at the time. The changes should also bring workflow alignments to CNN digital and linear, which should help both entities' content and organization. CNN still hasn't named a chief digital officer, although the company's job posting now says it's filled.

☆ Migrant border crossings in fiscal year 2022 topped 2.76 million, breaking previous record
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julia-Ainsley-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Julia Ainsley | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

The number of undocumented immigrant crossings at the southwest border for fiscal year 2022 topped 2.76 million, breaking the previous annual record by more than 1 million, according to Customs and Border Protection data. For the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2022, CBP stopped migrants more than 2,766,582 times, compared to 1.72 million times for fiscal 2021, the previous yearly high. The 2022 numbers were driven in part by sharp increases in the number of Venezuelans, Cubans and Nicaraguans making the trek north, according to CBP. In September, there were 227,547 encounters along the border, up 12 percent compared to August. CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said that in October, the number of Venezuelans trying to cross the border has fallen sharply due to increased cooperation with Mexico.

☆ A French Farmhouse in the Middle of New Mexico Lists for $5.9 Million
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Libertina Brandt | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Be the first to know about the biggest and best luxury home sales and listings by signing up for our Mansion Deals email alert. In a suburb of Albuquerque, N.M., developer Chris Martinez is preparing to list his modern spin on a traditional French farmhouse for $5.9 million.

☆ Gwyneth Paltrow says husband is totally cool with her friendship with Brad Pitt
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —There is no battle of the Brads in Gwyneth Paltrow’s life. The actress talked about how her husband of four years, Brad Falchuk feels about her friendship with her ex-fiancé, Brad Pitt during a recent interview with “Entertainment Tonight.”“My husband is probably like the least judgmental, most secure man in our relationship, so I think he totally respects [the friendship],” Paltrow said. It’s not the first time Paltrow has talked about her relationship with her ex. In June she published a chat with Pitt on her Goop site in which she joked with him, “I finally found the Brad I was supposed to marry. It just took me 20 years.”“And it’s lovely to have you as a friend now,” Pitt said.

☆ Fewer Venezuelans caught at U.S.-Mexico border after Biden expulsions
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Ted Hesson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus told Bloomberg News on Thursday that U.S. border agents had encountered just 155 Venezuelans on Wednesday, down from a daily average of 1,200 earlier this month. More than 4,500 Venezuelans have been returned to Mexico since the new U.S. expulsion policy began on Oct. 12, the Mexican government said, straining shelters there. The new effort comes as Republicans have criticized Biden's handling of the border and seek to gain control of the U.S. Congress in Nov. 8 midterm elections. At a shelter in the U.S. border city of Deming, New Mexico, Venezuelans went from being the most common nationality to absent, according to Ariana Saludares, executive director of Colores United, which runs the center. A spokesperson for Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the busing could continue until Biden "does his job."

☆ Goldman to merge investment banking, trading as Marcus takes backseat
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Saeed Azhar | Lananh Nguyen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The group’s reorganization sees its investment banking and trading businesses merged into a single unit, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. It is the biggest shakeup since the company’s investor day in early 2020 when it outlined plans for four core units: investment banking, global markets, consumer and wealth management and asset management. “They’re excellent at trading, excellent (at) investment banking,” said Marinac. But the consumer banking unit that launched in 2016 has struggled to gain traction and suffered from delays. The combined investment banking and trading group will be overseen by Dan Dees and Jim Esposito, who are currently global co-heads of Goldman’s investment banking division, and Ashok Varadhan, now co-head of its global markets division, according to Bloomberg.

☆ Frustrated Nigerians 'flee' abroad in punishing pre-election brain drain
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Libgeorge Angela Ukomadu | Angela Ukomadu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nwaogu, like hundreds of other Nigerians, left amid a brain drain that is punishing even for a nation used to losing its young and educated. "We have serious doubts if this is the time for that hope to blossom," he said before flying to the UK last month. "We are witnessing an epidemic of brain drain," said Dr Dare Godiya Ishaya, president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). But British government data showed a 300% increase in Nigerians getting UK work visas in the year to June, to 15,772. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting By Libby George; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

CNN —British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Monday apologized for her controversial mini-budget that crashed the country’s currency, rattled financial markets and led to her firing her finance minister and closest political ally. The moves amount to a gutting of Truss’ flagship “growth plan” and leave her in a perilous political position. “We have to make sure though, that we have economic stability, and that has to be my priority as prime minister. Truss added it was “painful” to sack her “friend” Kwarteng as finance minister but said she stood by her decision. She also apologized to her party’s lawmakers for her “mistakes” but said she would “move forward” and focus on delivering for the UK.

☆ Alex Jones faces long odds hiding assets after $1 billion Sandy Hook verdict
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It also comes three months after a Texas jury awarded two Sandy Hook parents $49.3 million in a similar case. An economist in the Texas case estimated that Jones is personally worth between $135 million and $270 million. “No bankruptcy judge would allow Alex Jones and his dad to stand in line in front of the plaintiffs,” Myers said. 'EGREGIOUS' CONDUCTInfowars founder Alex Jones speaks to the media after appearing at his Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., October 4, 2022. D’Amico said a billion-dollar verdict is appropriate given the uniquely tragic circumstances of the case and egregious nature of Jones’ conduct.

REUTERS/Andrew KellyOct 14 (Reuters) - Profits slid at Wall Street's biggest banks in the third quarter as they braced for a weaker economy while investment banking was hit hard, but investors saw a silver lining with some banks beating estimates. Banks set aside more money in preparation for a hit from a potential economic slowdown. Marinac said investors would want to see banks build reserves at this point in the economic cycle. Morgan Stanley's earnings showed that investment banking revenue more than halved to $1.3 billion with declines across the bank's advisory, equity and fixed income segments. Corporations' interest in mergers, acquisitions and initial public offerings dried up, particularly hitting banks strong in investment banking.

Infowars founder Alex Jones speaks to the media after appearing at his Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., October 4, 2022. The plaintiffs were relatives of 20 children and six staff members who were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. The families, meanwhile, suffered a decade-long campaign of harassment and death threats by Jones’ followers, attorney Chris Mattei said. The trial was marked by weeks of anguished testimony from the families, who filled the gallery each day and took turns recounting how Jones’ lies about Sandy Hook compounded their grief. In August, another jury found that Jones and his company must pay $49.3 million to Sandy Hook parents in a similar case in Austin, Texas, where the headquarters of Jones' Infowars conspiracy theory website is located.

The families claimed Jones profited off the lies while they were harassed and abused by those who believed him. This is the second trial related to his Sandy Hook conspiracy theories. In August, a Texas jury ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million in damages to Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, whose son Jesse was killed in the massacre. “Every single one of these families were drowning in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot right on top of them." A defiant Jones said he believed Sandy Hook was a hoax when he spread his lies.

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