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☆ Snap stock surges on report that Biden may ban TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares in social media companies Snap and Meta jumped in after-hours trading on Wednesday after the Biden administration was reported to be considering banning TikTok in the U.S. unless Chinese tech giant ByteDance divests its stake. Snap shares surged nearly 7% while Meta shares rose more than 2% after The Wall Street Journal reported that TikTok faces a possible ban in the U.S. if ByteDance fails to comply with the Biden Administration's proposition. Both Snap and Meta face fierce competition for user attention from TikTok, and have introduced their own short-form video products to compete. Last week, the White House voiced support for a recent Senate bill that would grant the Biden Administration the ability to ban TikTok in the U.S.U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern that TikTok, by virtue of its Chinese ownership, poses a potential national security threat, with U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., recently saying that "This competition with China around who dominates technology domains, that really is where the nexus of national security lies going forward."

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders and up to two guests can access the space for free. The Sapphire Terrace isn't exactly a lounge — in fact, it's not at all part of the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network. This isn't a short-term space; Chase says it will be a multiyear experience available at no charge to Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders and up to two guests. Hopefully, since it's only accessible to Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders, it will have a more elite feel. If you're not yet a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder, be sure to read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review for a close look at everything the card has to offer.

☆ California's 'zombie forests' are 'cheating death' as the climate has changed so drastically it's no longer able to support them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new study found some of the forests in California's Sierra Nevada no longer match their climate. About 20% of conifers in the Sierra Nevada are experiencing "vegetation climate mismatch." The lead author said the trees are "cheating death" but that they won't survive a major disturbance. When trees or other plants are no longer suited to the environment they are in, it's called a "vegetation climate mismatch." The conifers of the Sierra Nevada include ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and Douglas fir.

The six countries included in the bill are China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba, Warner said. "This competition with China around who dominates technology domains, that really is where the nexus of national security lies going forward," Warner said. Warner said the bill is not solely meant to address TikTok, and rather should create a "systemic approach" that prevents the need for one-off actions. "A U.S. ban on TikTok is a ban on the export of American culture and values to the billion-plus people who use our service worldwide. We hope that Congress will explore solutions to their national security concerns that won't have the effect of censoring the voices of millions of Americans."

☆ Mapping California’s ‘Zombie’ Forests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

NEVADA Sacramento Stable conifer forests San Francisco Mismatch Less than five percent of conifer forests historically occurred in current climate. Sacramento Stable conifer forests Mismatch San Francisco Less than five percent of conifer forests historically occurred in current climate. San Jose Fresno CALIFORNIA Pacific Ocean NEVADA Bakersfield Area of detail CALIF. 50 MILES Reno NEVADA Sacramento Severe mismatch Stable conifer forests Less than one percent of conifer forests historically occurred in current climate. Note: The data looks at changes in conifer forests across the Sierra Nevada between the 1930s and the 2010s. They found that during that time period, the Sierra Nevada’s conifer forests had, on average, shifted about 112 feet higher in elevation.

☆ Hong Kong court convicts 3 members of Tiananmen vigil group for security offence
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Jessie Pang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, March 4 (Reuters) - Three former members of a Hong Kong group that organised annual vigils to mark China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, were found guilty on Saturday of not complying with a national security police request for information. Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and barrister Chow Hang-tung, 38, was among those convicted by the magistrate court. Chow is a former vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China. The national security law, which punishes acts including subversion and collusion with foreign forces has been criticised by some Western governments as a tool to crush dissent. Chinese and Hong Kong officials say the law is necessary to restore stability to the city after the city's protracted anti-China protests in 2019.

☆ Justice Department Hiring Dozens of New Prosecutors to Enforce Russian Sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Dylan Tokar | Ian Talley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

The new prosecutors will work with corporations to investigate sanctions and export control evasion, and also bring criminal charges against companies when they commit violations, he said. Some of the additional prosecutors are new hires, while some are being reallocated from different sections, according to officials. The U.A.E.’s enforcement of sanctions differs between the emirates, officials say, as the separate governments treat the sanctions with varying degrees of compliance. For their part, Justice Department officials have pointed to a growing nexus between their work on corporate crime and national security. In addition to hiring more prosecutors, Mr. Olsen said the counterintelligence section would also hire a lawyer to advise on investigations involving corporations.

☆ Faddis: With bonds offering a real return, investors are going to be a lot more careful about deciding whether to buy equities
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFaddis: With bonds offering a real return, investors are going to be a lot more careful about deciding whether to buy equitiesCatherine Faddis of Fernwood Investment Management discusses whether investors should still be optimistic about stocks, and makes the case for one defense contractor that is at the nexus of national security, IT and cybersecurity.

BARCELONA, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Microsoft has unveiled previews of two AI-powered services designed to manage telecom networks, drawing on the same capabilities used to manage the tech giant's Azure cloud platform. Microsoft first entered the 5G arena after its acquisition of cloud networking companies Affirmed Networks and Metaswitch in 2020. “What we’re doing is taking our native cloud work and making it specific to this telecom operator network space. I think a really great example of that is all the AI ops work that we are introducing into the system," said Jason Zander, executive vice president of strategic missions and technologies at Microsoft. Monica Zethzon, a vice president at Ericsson, said the developments would allow operators to "transform their core networks while improving customer experiences".

[1/3] Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Florence Regional Airport in Florence, South Carolina, U.S., March 12, 2022. Trump said his post was "clearly about" and merely repeated his formal response to the first lawsuit, and was therefore covered by "absolute litigation privilege" under New York law, dooming the defamation claim. Carroll's lawsuit also includes a battery claim under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which lets sexual abuse victims sue their attackers even if statutes of limitations have run out. A Washington appeals court is deciding whether Trump should be immune from Carroll's first lawsuit, but not her second, because he was acting as president when he spoke. The case is Carroll v. Trump, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Reddit user joeyp907 asks a question that almost every travel credit card holder ponders at one point or another. Does that mean you're forfeiting your coverage if you book an award flight or use a travel credit for your flight? Does credit card travel insurance cover free flights? If you attach a $50 flight credit to a $70 flight, you'll pay $20 with your travel credit card, and therefore be covered for your trip. What you need to know about credit card travel insuranceAs long as you charge the paid portion of your airfare to your travel insurance-conferring credit card (even if it's just a single penny), your trip will be covered.

The Biden administration rule would protect wetlands and seasonal streams, not just permanent waterways like the rivers and lakes they feed into. Those smaller waterways were largely eliminated from protections by a Trump administration rule. The Biden administration signaled its intent to replace that rule in June 2021. The Trump-era rule had been vacated by an Arizona federal court in August 2021, which restored previous standards while the Biden administration worked on its changes. For the states: West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Solicitor General Lindsay See and Senior Deputy Solicitor General Michael WilliamsFor the EPA: Counsel not immediately availableOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Limited benefits beyond earning Hilton points Highlights Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Details Rewards Earn 12x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Keep in mind that transferable credit card points — like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One miles — are generally more valuable than hotel points or airline miles. That's worth around $500 in stays, according to Insider's valuation of Hilton points.

☆ Ackman's Pershing Square reaps $2.7 bln from rate trade but down 9% in 2022 -letter
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. stock indexes had a dismal 2022 with the S&P 500 slumping almost 20%, as the Federal Reserve battled soaring inflation with aggressive interest rate hikes that roiled markets. The assets minus the liabilities in Ackman's fund trade at a discount to its share price. "This possibility is also something that we do not feel is currently reflected in PSH's share price," it said. The interest rate hedges were initiated in late 2020 and early 2021. In 2022 the fund entered new positions in long-term interest rates, currencies and energy it said.

Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Automatic Marriott Gold elite status (room upgrades and late checkout when available, bonus points on stays) Check mark icon A check mark. 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Gold status, which opens the door to perks like free breakfast (food and beverage credit at US hotels), bonus points, and room upgrades. With Gold status, you'll get perks like a 10% points bonus on paid stays, late checkout when available, and access to preferred rooms.

Review: Is the Hilton Honors Surpass Card the Best Credit Card for You? The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns terrific rewards rates in multiple categories like Hilton hotel bookings, restaurants, gas stations, and more. Redeem Hilton points for experiences, events, merchandise, and moreOther options for redeeming Hilton points also won't get you the highest value, but they could be helpful in certain circumstances:Hilton experiences — Use points for exclusive events, dining, and toursUse Hilton points for event credits — Starting at 25,000 points for up to $50 creditRedeem Hilton points at Amazon — A poor value; you'll get just 0.2 cents per pointDonate Hilton points to charity — For every 10,000 points you donate, Hilton will send $25 to a charity of your choiceUse Hilton points toward Lyft rides — Again, not the best value; you'll typically get around 0.2 cents per pointPool or transfer Hilton points to a friend — Send up to 2 million points per year to friends or family with no fee, or pool your points with up to 11 people to save for a redemptionHilton points expire if there's no activity in your account for 24 months. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightFees and CostsThe Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a 20.24% - 29.24% Variable APR. So, for example, if you already have The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you could still qualify for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Benefits and FeaturesThe Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card comes with a host of benefits and travel perks. You're also not eligible if you already have a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card (not available to new applicants) open, or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months. Within the past 90 days, you've been approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. Within the past 24 months, you've earned a welcome bonus/upgrade bonus for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

As a newly minted Airman, I was floored when I first found out about all the credit card perks active duty military members receive. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Review: IHG Rewards Premier credit card reviewBest Discover Cards for Military MembersWhile Discover credit cards don't actually charge any annual fees — it's one of their hallmarks — they've outdone much of the competition by eliminating all over-limit and late fees for active-duty military credit cards. Review: Navy Federal Flagship Rewards credit card reviewBest Credit Cards for Active-duty Military Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Are military credit cards guaranteed approval? Military members will have their credit vetted just as anyone who applies for a credit card.

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is ideal for small-business owners who fly Southwest frequently. Review: Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card the Best Card for You? How to Earn Points From the Southwest Performance Business Credit CardThe Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card makes it easy to earn lots of Southwest points. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the most feature-packed Southwest card on the market. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a small-business rewards credit card.

☆ New politically-themed investment funds that mimic lawmakers' money moves aim to shame Congress into banning individual stock trades
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New exchange-traded funds based on congressional stock holdings are launching Tuesday. "90% of it is a product that performs well and 10% of it is shaming," the fund manager told Insider. A press release about the new funds says that in 2022, congressional holdings beat the SPY index fund by nearly 18%. Insider's "Conflicted Congress" project has identified dozens of members of Congress who have violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act — whose enforcement is woefully lacking — by failing to disclose their stock trades on time. Last week, Democratic lawmakers including outspoken trading ban advocate Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia sent Speaker Kevin McCarthy a letter urging him to follow through on his plan to "change the current behavior."

☆ Pelosi backs Schiff in California Senate race
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Bridget Bowman | Bridget Bowman Is A Deputy Editor For Nbc'S Political Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she is backing Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff in California's Senate race — if Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein decides not to run for re-election. But that hasn't stopped other Democrats, including Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter, from jumping into the race. Schiff has been a staunch Pelosi ally, and the former speaker tapped him to lead the team managing former President Donald Trump's first impeachment. And Schiff and Porter may not be the only House members who decide to run for Senate. Schiff responded to the endorsement, writing on Twitter that Pelosi "has been a friend and mentor throughout my time in Congress."

☆ Nancy Pelosi endorses Adam Schiff in California Senate race if Sen. Dianne Feinstein doesn't run
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi endorsed fellow California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff on Thursday in the already-competitive 2024 Senate race for the seat currently held by Dianne Feinstein. The endorsement comes one week after Schiff, the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, launched his bid for Feinstein's coveted Senate seat. That's why I'm running for the U.S. Senate," Schiff said in a campaign-launch video. Schiff was not the first Democrat to jump into the race for Feinstein's seat. Democratic Rep. Katie Porter announced Jan. 10 that she will run for Senate in California, snagging the endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

The Chase Aeroplan Credit Card is a better deal than it's been in a long time. You'll automatically earn 25K Elite Status when you open the card for the current calendar year and the following calendar year. On top of that, the value of Aeroplan points is above average at 1.5 cents each, per Insider's valuations. Other ways to earn Air Canada Aeroplan pointsIf you're not ready to commit to a credit card that earns points in a single loyalty program (but still want the option to earn Aeroplan points), you may do better with a card that earns transferable points. That means you'll have access to Aeroplan points when you earn rewards with popular travel cards, including:You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 3:1 ratio, with a bonus of 5,000 Aeroplan points for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer.

It's easy to earn United miles without stepping on a plane, and because they don't expire, you can use miles when you're ready to travel. There are six United credit cards to consider if you just want to earn United miles and enjoy some day-of-travel perks to boot. Review: Ink Business Preferred card reviewBilt Mastercard® 4.5 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.5 out of 5 Stars Intro offer N/A Rewards Earn 3X point on dining. Earn United miles by flying United and its partnersOf course, the other main way to stock up on a lot of United MileagePlus miles is to fly United and its other airline partners. Earn United miles with other travelIn addition to just flights, you can earn United miles by booking stays with United's hotel partners, sailings through United Cruises, and entire trips through United Vacations, as well as partner car rentals.

Review: Is the Chase Aeroplan card the best credit card for you? It's not often an airline credit card makes waves with a strong welcome bonus and completely unique benefits, but the Aeroplan® Credit Card has managed to do just that. As the first Air Canada-branded credit card offered by Chase (and the only Aeroplan card on the US market) the Aeroplan® Credit Card is packed with perks — and it's worth considering, even if you're not a regular Air Canada flyer. However, points transferred to your Aeroplan account from the Aeroplan® Credit Card won't expire as long as your card account is open. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightAeroplan credit card fees and costsThe Aeroplan® Credit Card charges a $95 annual fee, but you won't pay foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good card to use when you're traveling internationally.

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