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BlackRock gets fresh chance to keep NYC pension assets despite climate concerns

BlackRock will have a chance to keep managing New York pension money as City Comptroller Mark Levine opened a rebidding process widely on Friday despite his predecessor's call for the city to drop the manager over its climate record.In one of his last acts in office, Levine's predecessor Brad Lander in November recommended major city pension funds drop BlackRock and rebid its public equities index mandates. Lander made the move in response to what he saw as BlackRock's retreat on climate concerns, with the asset manager putting less pressure on portfolio companies as appointees of U.S. Presi

Tired of chaos, investors retreat from oil market at record pace

Instant View: SpaceX opens trading at $150 after record-busting IPO

Business|Economy|Environment|Travel|World

Iran war is straining African airlines, industry body warns

The war in Iran is driving up jet fuel prices and worsening supply strains for African airlines, forcing carriers to review routes and raising fresh concerns about the stability of the continent’s aviation network. The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) says the crisis has exposed its heavy dependence on imported refined jet fuel, leaving airlines vulnerable to global shocks. African carriers were already paying about 17% more for jet fuel than the global average before the Iran war, according to AFRAA. The new price pressures are adding to already thin margins

Lost Gulf oil exports far smaller than thought, traders and shippers say

Gold's record rally falters as bulls run into Fed rate expectations, stronger dollar

Business|Economy|Political|World

Iranians endure war fatigue and soaring prices as conflict deepens domestic woes

Iranians are living between confusion and exhaustion as the country and its economy are squeezed between war and multiplying crises at home. U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he called off fresh strikes on Iran as he claimed a deal to end the war was imminent. Back-and-forth strikes earlier this week pushed a shaky ceasefire to the edge of collapse, which, if it happens, would inflict more havoc on Iran’s battered economy. Strikes on steel and petrochemical industries and energy infrastructure earlier in the war have spurred a wave of business closur

Judge says she doesn’t believe ‘anti-weaponization’ fund is dead; extends order blocking it

US judge indefinitely blocks Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund

US News

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Arts|Celebrity|Entertainment|Political|US

Ariana Grande tells White House to stop using her music

Ariana Grande has spoken out against the White House’s use of one of her songs on a video promoting the administration’s immigration policy.The 14-second-long video posted on TikTok on Tuesday shows officers, including ICE agents, handcuffing and arresting people. According to the BBC, the video had Grande’s 2024 song “Bye” playing over it. The sound has since been removed.The video is captioned: “Bye-bye 👋 President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history.”On Thursday, Grande commented on the TikTok video, writing: “Please do not use my music in relation to th

SpaceX vaults over $2 trillion valuation as stock jumps after record IPO

SpaceX jumped over 20% in its Nasdaq debut on Friday, lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion as investors piled into the world's largest IPO and bet on Elon Musk's sprawling empire spanning rockets to AI. The stock opened for trading at $150, compared with the IPO price of $135 per share. It was last trading at $164, making it the sixth largest U.S. company by market value.The deal was being closely scrutinized because of the stakes for the IPO market, which some bankers said could face difficulties if SpaceX shares closed below Thursday's pricing level. The company's market debut is

Knicks fever is colliding with World Cup buzz, and New York soccer bars are trying to juggle both

Trump's grand sporting season begins with UFC fights on White House lawn

Trump is raising expectations that this time he really will close deal with Iran to wind down war

President Donald Trump has long been looking for this weekend to be a big one for his presidency. The World Cup returns to the U.S. on Friday for the first time in 32 years after Trump threw himself into winning the bid to co-host the soccer tourney during his first term. He’ll be feted Sunday, his 80th birthday, during a UFC fight night that’s expected to draw thousands to the White House grounds. Hours after the final bout, he’s scheduled to jet off to the G7 summit in the French Alps for talks with several world leaders he’s been beefing with over war and tariffs.

Trump appeals court order to strip his name from Kennedy Center building

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday filed an appeal of a court order that required Trump's name to be removed from the Kennedy Center and blocked the Republican leader's bid to close the Washington performing arts venue for a two-year renovation.The appeal to the Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenges a sweeping ruling against the administration in a lawsuit brought by Democratic U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a member of the Kennedy Center's board by virtue of her position in Congress.The White House and Beatty'

Alaska election official threatens to disqualify Republican who shares name with Sen. Dan Sullivan

Trump says he believes Iran's supreme leader has approved deal with US

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Sports|World

It’s the USA’s time to shine at the World Cup

Two goals, three red cards and players crying with pride and joy on the pitch – what else did you expect from the first game at this year’s World Cup?The Estadio Azteca proved the perfect place to kick-start the tournament and Mexico showed the other co-hosts how to do it with a brilliant win over South Africa.The attention now turns to the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Canada, who open their campaigns later today. Read on for all the latest news from North America.The Main Thing: USMNT ready for the biggest game in nation’s soccer historyMy colleague Dana O’Neil is in Los Angel

Arts|Political|Sports|World

The Latest: Judge extends block on Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund

A federal judge agreed Friday to extend a court-ordered block on the Trump administration’s creation and operation of a $1.8 billion settlement fund for compensating people who claim to be victims of a weaponized government. Even though acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress the government is scrapping its plans earlier this month, plaintiffs’ attorneys weren’t satisfied by Blanche’s assurances that the fund won’t move forward. President Donald Trump hasn't publicly and unequivocally endorsed its cancellation. Meanwhile, a new AP

War-wary Hill Republicans question Trump’s Iran strategy with control of Congress at stake

The tanks in Cushing, Oklahoma, are hitting bottom. The oil market is about to hit a tipping point

Travel|World

The underground tunnel village where Vietnamese people lived for years to hide from war

On the outskirts of Vịnh Mốc, bamboo trees sway in the wind above a line of streetfood shacks. Red plastic chairs on the sidewalk serve as the dining hall, while patrons prepare grilled rice and noodle dishes. It’s a typical Vietnamese sight — as are the Coca-Cola fridges for the cold drinks. Things have clearly changed — since six decades ago this village in central Vietnam was heavily bombed by American forces, who dropped an estimated 9,000 tons of explosives over eight years.Beside the streetfood stalls lies an entrance to a second Vịnh Mốc: an underground complex of tunnels

Environment|Science|World

A mysterious ‘cold blob’ in the ocean has puzzled scientists. A new study says it’s an ominous sign

In the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland and Iceland, a large patch of water is doing something very strange. While the rest of the ocean heats up, it’s been getting colder. A new study says it has the answer to this mystery — and it’s an ominous sign the world is hurtling toward one of the most alarming climate tipping points.The swath of ocean — dubbed the “cold blob” or “warming hole” — has cooled by nearly 1 degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) since 1900.Scientists have long debated whether this anomaly is driven by heat loss from the ocean surface due to changes to wi

ICE takedown in view of young children at school leaves 2 detained and backlash roiling in Baltimore

Celebrated British artist David Hockney dies at 88

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Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who was known for her legal work, dies at 47

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Kennedy Center board seeks pause of ruling ordering removal of Trump's name by Friday deadline

President Donald Trump's board at the Kennedy Center is trying to keep his name on the building before a court-ordered deadline to remove it by Friday

Business|Economy|Entertainment|Science|Technology

SpaceX IPO makes Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire

Few business leaders have been as deeply embedded in popular culture as Elon Musk, the ambitious entrepreneur who has become a central figure in

Economy|Political|World

Trump bristles over memorandum text that appears to favour Iran

Economy|Political|World

Iran’s ‘accidental’ president has survived the war. Peace may be a tougher challenge

SpaceX vaults over $2 trillion valuation as stock jumps after record IPO

SpaceX jumped over 20% in its Nasdaq debut on Friday, lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion as investors piled into the world's

Business|Economy|Finance|Stock Markets|World

US stocks drift as oil falls and SpaceX debuts on Wall Street

Business|Economy|Finance|Technology|World

Elon Musk's SpaceX kicks off mega IPO wave with $75 billion haul

Elon Musk's SpaceX began trading on Nasdaq on Friday after the rocket and satellite maker raised $75 billion in its initial public offering, shattering records and eclipsing Saudi

Economy|Political|World

War-wary Hill Republicans question Trump’s Iran strategy with control of Congress at stake

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Trump nominates US Attorney Jay Clayton to be director of national intelligence

President Donald Trump is nominating Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, as director of national intelligence

California & Local

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Local

From LA to Scottsdale: The Founder Behind AdDynamix Is Building the Bridge Between AI and Business Tools

An LA digital advertising veteran of 28 years has moved to Scottsdale and is building what he calls the missing piece between business software and the AI assistants people now use every day. SCOTTSDALE, AZ. When Benoit Pecqueur talks about his latest company, he sounds less like a founder pitching a product and more like an operator who got tired of watching the same problem repeat itself. “Most small business owners are watching the AI revolution from the sidelines,” he says. “Not because they don’t want it. Because their tools don’t talk to ChatGPT or Claude. Their accountant still pulls