Daily Archives: March 31, 2021

The New York Times

The last time Republicans in South Dakota made a serious push to bar transgender girls from school sports, in 2019, their bill was known only by its nondescript numerical title, Senate Bill 49. Its two main sponsors were men. And it died without ever getting out of committee, just 10 days after it was introduced. But when Republicans decided to try again in January, they were far more strategic in their approach. The sponsors this time were two women who modeled their bill after a template provided by a conservative legal organization. They gave the bill a name that suggested noble intent: the act to promote continued fairness in womens sports. Supporters from Minnesota and Idaho traveled to the Capitol in Pierre to testify that a new law was urgently needed to keep anyone with male biological characteristics out of female competitions, even though they acknowledged only a handful of examples of that happening in South Dakota. These efforts appear to be far more slick and far more organized, said Elizabeth A. Skarin of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, which opposes the bill. Anytime they give a bill a name in South Dakota, she added, you know somethings up. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Then things took an unexpected turn. Gov. Kristi Noem, who is seen as a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, demanded changes to the bill. The response was swift and harsh: Social conservative activists and Republican lawmakers accused Noem of bowing to pressure from business and athletics organizations, which have been successful at stopping laws in other states that single out transgender people for exclusion and feed ugly stereotypes. On Monday, the Legislature rebuked the governor and formally rejected her changes. She said she hoped to force the issue again in a special legislative session before summer. South Dakota is just one of a growing number of states where Republicans are diving into a culture war clash that seems to have come out of nowhere. It has been brought about by a coordinated and poll-tested campaign by social conservative organizations like the American Principles Project and Concerned Women for America, which say they are determined to move forward with what may be one of their last footholds in the fight against expanding LGBTQ rights. Three other states have passed bills this month that resemble South Dakotas. In Mississippi and Arkansas, they are set to become law this summer. And similar bills have been introduced by Republicans in two dozen other states, including North Carolina, where an unpopular bathroom bill enacted in 2016 prompted costly boycotts and led conservatives nationwide to pull back on efforts to restrict rights for transgender people. You make change in our society by making laws, and luckily we have some great states that have stepped up, said Beth Stelzer, the founder of a new organization, Save Womens Sports, that she said opposes demolishing womens sports for the sake of feelings. Stelzer, an amateur power lifter, has testified in support of new laws in South Dakota, Montana and Arkansas. But the idea that there is a sudden influx of transgender competitors who are dominating womens and girls sports does not reflect reality in high school, college or professionally. Sports associations like the NCAA, which has promoted the inclusion of transgender athletes, have policies in place to address concerns about physical differences in male and female biology. The NCAA requires athletes who are transitioning to female to be on testosterone suppression treatment for a year before they can compete on a womens team. Stelzer, who competes in a weight lifting league that does not allow transgender women to participate, said the point is to get ahead of what she and other activists believe will become a bigger issue. Were nipping it in the bud, she said. In high school sports, policies vary widely. Some states pose no barriers to transgender athletes; some have policies similar to those of the NCAA and others have outright bans or demand that students verify their sex if questioned. Rarely has an issue that so few people encounter and one that public opinion analysts have only recently begun to study in depth become a political and cultural flash point so quickly. The lack of awareness creates an environment in which the real impact of transgender participation in sports can be overshadowed by hyperbole. But the debate also raises questions that ethicists, lawmakers and the courts are only beginning to address about whether the decadeslong effort to give women and girls equal opportunities in sports is compatible with efforts to give transgender people equal opportunities in life. A lawsuit in federal court in Connecticut brought by three high school runners who lost in competition against transgender girls will be among the first to test how nondiscrimination laws apply. A mix of factors has helped social conservatives breathe new life into the issue: activists who agreed to give up on unpopular bills regulating public bathrooms; an awareness that women, not men, could be more persuasive and sympathetic advocates; a new Democratic administration that quickly moved to broaden and restore rights for transgender people that the Trump administration had eliminated; and a political and media culture on the right that often reduces the nuanced issue of gender identity to a punchline about political correctness. Activists who have been fighting the anti-transgender efforts say the focus on school athletics is creating a false and misplaced perception of victimization. Theres a sense that theres a victim of transness, said Chase Strangio, a lawyer with the ACLU, which was successful in temporarily blocking the implementation of a transgender athlete ban in Idaho last year. In fact, studies have shown that the majority of transgender students report feeling unsafe at school. What we have is a speculative fear of something that hasnt materialized, Strangio, who is a transgender man, added. Theyre acting like LeBron James is going to put on a wig and play basketball with fourth graders. And not one LeBron James, 100. In reality, youre talking about little kids who just want to play rec sports. They just want to get through life. But the isolated instances that have been filmed or generated headlines female weight lifting records being broken by a new transgender competitor, for example make for viral content, bolstered by media personalities with huge followings like Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan. The issue is much more widely covered in conservative media and often presented with a heavy dose of sarcasm. According to a review of social media content conducted for The New York Times by Media Matters, a left-leaning watchdog, seven of the 10 most popular stories about the proposed laws targeting transgender people so far this year were from the Daily Wire, a website founded by Shapiro. Two others were from Fox News. Combined, the articles were read, shared and commented on 6 million times, Media Matters said. The heightened media awareness on the right is due in part to how social conservative activists have improved at packaging transgender-specific restrictions. Borrowing a page from the anti-abortion movement, which was led by men for much of its early period, they have begun featuring women as public advocates. In Arkansas, where the governor signed the Fairness in Womens Sports Act into law last week, the leading proponents were the attorney general, Leslie Rutledge, who is a candidate for governor, and the Arkansas Republican Womens Caucus. The bill will prohibit transgender participation on female teams from kindergarten through college. In many instances, lawmakers have worked closely with groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal organization that has argued several Supreme Court cases on behalf of people claiming discrimination because of their traditional beliefs about marriage and gender roles. In the case in Idaho, opponents of the law argued that it was exclusionary, discriminatory and a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing two female college runners who said they had deflating experiences after losing to a transgender woman, agreed that the case was about equality, but in the context of creating a level playing field, said Kristen Waggoner, the groups general counsel. When the law ignores the legitimate differences that exist between men and women, it creates chaos, she added. Limiting the rights of transgender people is an issue that has resonance with an increasingly small share of the overall population. A new study by the Public Religion Research Institute reported that only 7% of Americans were completely against pro-LGBTQ policies. But it is a vocal group intent on showing that it can flex its power in the Republican Party. Noem is now at odds with most Republicans in the Legislature. Though she initially said she was excited to sign their bill as is, she is now demanding that they leave college athletes out of any new law. Social conservative organizations went on the attack, taking aim at her apparent presidential ambitions. Its no secret that Gov. Noem has national aspirations, so its time she hears from a national audience, the Family Policy Alliance, an affiliate of Focus on the Family, wrote in an email to supporters. Noem appeared to be aware of how damaging it could be to have conservatives think she was on the wrong side of the issue. On Thursday, she and her advisers joined a hastily arranged conference call with members of the Conservative Action Project, which includes leaders of the largest right-wing groups in the country. Noem expressed concern that if she signed the law, the NCAA would retaliate against South Dakota, as it did with North Carolina, by refusing to hold tournaments there, according to one person on the call. The activists were respectful but clear, this person said: This was not what they expected from the conservative firebrand they had come to admire so much. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. 2021 The New York Times Company

Read the original here:

New Yahoo News/YouGov poll: Americans give Biden mixed reviews on immigration and the border - Yahoo News

Fourth stimulus check: Will Biden and Congress give you another payment?

As millions of Americans still wait for their third stimulus check, speculation is heating up over the prospects for a fourth round of cash payments to help households and the U.S. economy recover from the pandemic.

Online searches for the phrase "fourth stimulus check" have mushroomed over the past few weeks, according to Google Trends, and one economist says another payment is "certainly possible."

More than 60 members of Congress are pressing President Joe Biden to support a fourth stimulus check and even more after that, because they say many Americans are still struggling more than a year into the COVID crisis.

Will you get another "stimmy"? Here's where things currently stand.

Iakov Filimonov / Shutterstock

Fifty Democratic U.S. representatives and 11 members of the U.S. Senate have signed letters urging the Biden administration to support regular stimulus checks to help Americans cover essential needs as long as the coronavirus threat endures.

One more check is not enough during this public health and economic crisis, says the letter from the House Democrats. It does't suggest a dollar amount for recurring payments, but Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted in January that the government should provide $2,000 per month to carry people through the pandemic.

In their letter, the senators including Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden and Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders write that the crisis is far from over, "and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads."

Many Americans have used their aid money for groceries, rent and other basic needs, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study based on how last year's first, $1,200 stimulus checks were spent.

The cash also has gone toward saving, investing and other expenses, the BLS found. Some consumers likely went shopping for affordable life insurance, because demand for those policies has surged amid the pandemic.

Story continues

Some experts agree that the government must do more. "There will likely need to be further stimulus spending in the hundreds of billion dollars," says Stanley Litow, a professor at Columbia and Duke, in a column for Barron's.

"More direct stimulus payments are certainly possible," says Peter Earle, an economist at the American Institute for Economic Research. He was interviewed by Acorns, an app that allows you to grow your investing using spare change.

The idea of additional, maybe even monthly, stimulus checks may attract fans in high places. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell last week told members of Congress "the recovery is far from complete," and indicated that stimulus checks and other aid weren't likely to drive up inflation.

CEOs of retail chains might like to see more government cash going to consumers. Retail sales surged in January after Round 2 of the checks went out, and Macy's said it was expecting a big sales boost from the third stimulus checks.

But further checks would have no shortage of detractors. Republicans opposed the third checks as expensive and unnecessary, and moderate Democrats may feel that way about any further payments. They demanded changes for the third round, to "target" the stimulus checks toward the neediest Americans.

lunamarina / Shutterstock

Beyond the likely opposition, there's a more convoluted issue that could stand in the way of a fourth round of stimulus checks.

The $1.9 trillion COVID rescue package President Biden signed March 11 was approved using an arcane budget process that allowed the Democrats who control Congress to pass the legislation with simple majorities. Typically, bills need a 60-vote supermajority to make it through the Senate, because of the "filibuster rule."

Biden and the Democrats can use the streamlined, go-it-alone approach just one more time in 2020, and they'd have to wait until the next fiscal year starts on Oct. 1 to do that.

In the coming week, Biden plans to unveil a $3 trillion infrastructure plan that will include money for roads and bridges, plus new tax increases. So far, there's been no indication that the package will include a fourth stimulus check.

FamVeld / Shutterstock

If youre anxiously waiting for your third stimulus check or it's already gone and you're worrying about how you'll get by later in the year, you have some options to find more cash.

Cut costly interest charges. Have you been leaning hard on your credit cards through the pandemic, and piling up interest? Make your debt more manageable and pay it off more quickly by folding your balances into a lower-interest debt consolidation loan.

Make savings your policy. Car insurance companies have been doling out discounts for drivers who have been using their cars less because of COVID. If yours wont offer savings, shop around for a better deal. And while youre at it, comparing rates on homeowners insurance could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Refinance your mortgage (if you've got one) and slash your payments. Mortgage rates remain historically low, and refinancing your existing home loan could reap big savings. The mortgage technology and data provider Black Knight says 11.1 million mortgage holders are still sitting on loans worth refinancing for average savings of $277 a month.

Trim your budget and "make your own" stimulus check. Using a few creative ways to cut back, you might come up with the equivalent of a monthly stimulus check. Contact your cellphone provider and switch to a cheaper option. Have a hobby or special talent? Turn it into a side hustle to bring in extra income. And, download a free browser extension that will automatically scour for better prices and coupons whenever you shop online.

Read the rest here:

Fourth stimulus check: Will Biden and Congress give you another payment? - Yahoo Finance

Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration is escalating efforts to safeguard the U.S. power grid from hackers, developing a plan to better coordinate with industry to counter threats and respond to cyber attacks, according to people familiar with the matter.Top administration officials, including Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger, briefed top utility industry executives on the efforts in a March 16 meeting, said the people, who requested anonymity because the session was private.The plan, which could prompt widespread changes in standards and cyber defense strategies, is set to be issued within weeks. U.S. officials hope to create plans for other critical industries but are starting with the electrical sector because of its importance to the economy and recent activities targeting the grid by foreign hackers, one person said.The administration is committed to improving cyber vulnerabilities in the core services Americans rely on as a top cybersecurity priority, Neuberger said on Monday. We designed this initiative -- focused on the electricity utilities -- to achieve that. And, as with every element of our cybersecurity strategy, were doing it in partnership with the private sector.The high-level meeting indicated the seriousness of the initiative, which is meant to knit together the full force of the government, in alignment with the private sector, to confront increasingly aggressive actions by U.S. adversaries to target the electrical grid.Those acts include inserting malicious software that could be activated to disrupt electricity generation or distribution in the U.S. Russia is among the adversaries that have already launched such operations, including a sprawling attack in 2017. But other countries are targeting the grid, including North Korea and Iran, one person familiar with the governments assessment said.The issue has gained renewed attention in the wake of a highly sophisticated attack that compromised popular software from Texas-based SolarWinds Corp. The hack, which affected as many as 18,000 SolarWinds customers, has underscored concerns about the vulnerability of the nations critical infrastructure amid persistent cyber threats.The administration plans to produce a so-called operational technology action plan that will begin with the power industry and expand to other critical sectors such as natural gas distribution, chemical refining and municipal water systems, said one person briefed on the plan. Operational technology, also known as OT, includes the specialized controls used to run the nations nuclear plants, refineries, pipelines and other infrastructure.Power industry advances in cybersecurity make the sector a good place to start as officials beef up protections for the nations critical infrastructure, another person said.The federal government and utilities have a long history of coordination on cybersecurity, with power companies required to report not just successful breaches of their control systems but attempted intrusions. The sector is a chief target of U.S. foes, with security analysts and utility executives warning of a barrage of constant attempts on the systems.Companies, however, have long complained that the government hasnt spoken with one voice about how to address vulnerabilities, and that its recommendations havent always been synchronized -- concerns that were raised in this months meeting. The National Commission on Grid Resilience last year said the industry still needs more information on threats.President Joe Biden intends to put the full weight of the government into the effort, with agencies including the State and Energy departments along with the National Security Agency enlisted to harden defenses and respond to breaches. On Sunday, Biden said he was close to naming someone to serve as national cyber director, a position created by Congress to coordinate the governments efforts to combat and retaliate for hacks.The administrations plan will include efforts to get greater visibility on private sector risks, and to clarify the role of key agencies, including the Homeland Security and Energy departments. The administration also wants to better plot responses to incidents -- including whos involved and what resources are deployed after a company is compromised.Although similar blueprints have been developed in the past, the involvement of top administration officials and their holistic approach is new, according to one person familiar with the matter.A chief concern is deciding the shape of collective defense and response efforts. Administration officials at the March 16 meeting made clear they were seeking to enhance coordination, communication, reporting and response between the industry and government.The virtual session was the first broad meeting between top Biden administration officials and executives in the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, a group designed to further industry-government coordination on protecting the grid.The electric power sector values its close working relationship with partners in government, said Scott Aaronson, vice president for security and preparedness at the Edison Electric Institute that represents investor-owned electric companies.We appreciate that this administration already is coordinating with grid operators to protect critical energy infrastructure, Aaronson said in an emailed statement. Protecting and defending critical infrastructure is a shared responsibility that requires engagement and expertise from asset owners and government partners.(Updates with comment from Anne Neuberger in fourth paragraph.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.

View original post here:

Intel CEO: 'There is competitive fun going on with Apple' - Yahoo Finance

COVID-19 forced the NCAA to rework its longstanding schedule for the mens basketball tournament, and while recognizing that this damn pandemic shouldnt be credited with anything positive, well, turning the Sweet 16 into a weekend affair and moving the Elite Eight to prime time on Monday and Tuesday was genius.

And it's something the NCAA ought to make permanent.

Sweet 16 games have consistently been played on Thursdays since 1953. It wasnt called the Sweet 16 then, of course. With only 22 teams in the entire tournament, it didnt merit a nickname (the term didnt come into vogue until the late-1980s).

Even as the event expanded in size and popularity, the basic setup continued: four Sweet 16 games played on Thursday and Friday each, then two Elite Eight games on Saturday and Sunday. The winners head to the Final Four the following weekend.

Then came COVID, knocking out the entire 2020 tournament and leaving the NCAA staff desperate to make 2021 work.

Tradition now took a back seat to practicality. Protocols, testing, venue availability, player rest and health and about a million other factors became priorities.

The biggest issue was the First Four the four play-in games which previously were held on Tuesday and Wednesday (two each night) immediately after Selection Sunday. The NCAA couldn't test the players in time for that.

Thursday was the earliest we could start with testing and protocols, NCAA vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said in January.

The NCAA March Madness logo is seen on the basket stanchion before a game between Oral Roberts and Florida in the second round on March 21. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Thursday, however, is when the first round traditionally begins 16 games that run from noon to midnight (eastern) and cause an untold number of sick days at work. There are 16 more on Friday. Then the Round of 32 on Saturday and Sunday.

So everything got pushed back one day the 2021 first round was on Friday and Saturday and the second round was Sunday and Monday.

The NCAA decided to further shift the middle weekend. If nothing else, no one wanted a team to have to play four times in eight days (Thursday play-in, Saturday first round, Monday second round, Thursday Sweet 16).

Story continues

Besides, what was the rush?

The result was a gift for basketball fans. Rather than jam four games into two television windows on Thursday and Friday evening (or late afternoon out West), the NCAA scheduled all games to run consecutively on Saturday and Sunday basically 2 p.m. to midnight eastern.

Suddenly, there was no Madness missed. It was a day-long smorgasbord (followed by another day-long smorgasbord) rather than a lot of remote-control work.

Even better, each game and team and player got its own chance to shine. There was no featured contest. An upstart with a small fan base such as Oral Roberts got the same national attention as a Michigan or a UCLA.

If you reach this stage, you get the spotlight.

CBS, being great partners, worked together with us to imagine a Sweet 16 game round with no [overlapping] games, Gavitt said. All of those games, four on Saturday and four on Sunday will have their own exclusive windows, which will just make for an incredible viewing experience.

Gavitts prediction was correct.

The idea of playing the Sweet 16 on Saturday and Sunday (and even starting the first round on the weekend) actually has been around and even presented within NCAA headquarters for at least two decades. There was just no push for action.

We will see what ratings this produces although comparisons would be difficult. Not only is sports viewership down almost across the board, but the time slots, days and rounds are different. These games also lack big-name programs such as Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and so on.

Going forward, the NCAA should return the First Four to its original Tuesday/Wednesday and then start the first round on its traditional Thursday at noon. The Final Four and title game should still be a Saturday/Monday affair.

However, the middle weekend should go with the 2021 precedent. It offers more exposure, actually cuts down on missed class time for players (we know, but still) and gives teams that make the Sweet 16 a little more breathing room to bask in the accomplishment and churn up the publicity.

About the only downside is that each year one Sweet 16 site is held in the football stadium that will host the following years Final Four (its a sort of dry run). Trying to get a huge crowd on a Tuesday night, rather than a Sunday afternoon, will be difficult.

A radical solution to that?

Follow the lead of 2021 where the entire event has been staged in Indiana and hold the Sweet 16/Elite Eight in one city every year.

You only need two venues (the NBAs Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Butlers Hinkle Fieldhouse handled the Sweet 16). As much of a carnival as the Final Four is, having 12 games played across four days in one city would be even better for the basketball-obsessed.

This would become a huge event in its own right. Maybe Indy becomes the annual Sweet 16 site. Or maybe it rotates to markets that lack a domed football stadium and thus can't host a Final Four (New York, Chicago, Boston, Kansas City, Philadelphia). Meanwhile, the first two rounds and the Final Four would continue to bounce around America as is.

If thats too much change all at once, at least stick with the second weekend schedule.

We might as well get something good out of COVID.

More from Yahoo Sports:

Visit link:

This NCAA tournament format change could actually make it better - Yahoo Sports

Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration is escalating efforts to safeguard the U.S. power grid from hackers, developing a plan to better coordinate with industry to counter threats and respond to cyber attacks, according to people familiar with the matter.Top administration officials, including Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger, briefed top utility industry executives on the efforts in a March 16 meeting, said the people, who requested anonymity because the session was private.The plan, which could prompt widespread changes in standards and cyber defense strategies, is set to be issued within weeks. U.S. officials hope to create plans for other critical industries but are starting with the electrical sector because of its importance to the economy and recent activities targeting the grid by foreign hackers, one person said.The administration is committed to improving cyber vulnerabilities in the core services Americans rely on as a top cybersecurity priority, Neuberger said on Monday. We designed this initiative -- focused on the electricity utilities -- to achieve that. And, as with every element of our cybersecurity strategy, were doing it in partnership with the private sector.The high-level meeting indicated the seriousness of the initiative, which is meant to knit together the full force of the government, in alignment with the private sector, to confront increasingly aggressive actions by U.S. adversaries to target the electrical grid.Those acts include inserting malicious software that could be activated to disrupt electricity generation or distribution in the U.S. Russia is among the adversaries that have already launched such operations, including a sprawling attack in 2017. But other countries are targeting the grid, including North Korea and Iran, one person familiar with the governments assessment said.The issue has gained renewed attention in the wake of a highly sophisticated attack that compromised popular software from Texas-based SolarWinds Corp. The hack, which affected as many as 18,000 SolarWinds customers, has underscored concerns about the vulnerability of the nations critical infrastructure amid persistent cyber threats.The administration plans to produce a so-called operational technology action plan that will begin with the power industry and expand to other critical sectors such as natural gas distribution, chemical refining and municipal water systems, said one person briefed on the plan. Operational technology, also known as OT, includes the specialized controls used to run the nations nuclear plants, refineries, pipelines and other infrastructure.Power industry advances in cybersecurity make the sector a good place to start as officials beef up protections for the nations critical infrastructure, another person said.The federal government and utilities have a long history of coordination on cybersecurity, with power companies required to report not just successful breaches of their control systems but attempted intrusions. The sector is a chief target of U.S. foes, with security analysts and utility executives warning of a barrage of constant attempts on the systems.Companies, however, have long complained that the government hasnt spoken with one voice about how to address vulnerabilities, and that its recommendations havent always been synchronized -- concerns that were raised in this months meeting. The National Commission on Grid Resilience last year said the industry still needs more information on threats.President Joe Biden intends to put the full weight of the government into the effort, with agencies including the State and Energy departments along with the National Security Agency enlisted to harden defenses and respond to breaches. On Sunday, Biden said he was close to naming someone to serve as national cyber director, a position created by Congress to coordinate the governments efforts to combat and retaliate for hacks.The administrations plan will include efforts to get greater visibility on private sector risks, and to clarify the role of key agencies, including the Homeland Security and Energy departments. The administration also wants to better plot responses to incidents -- including whos involved and what resources are deployed after a company is compromised.Although similar blueprints have been developed in the past, the involvement of top administration officials and their holistic approach is new, according to one person familiar with the matter.A chief concern is deciding the shape of collective defense and response efforts. Administration officials at the March 16 meeting made clear they were seeking to enhance coordination, communication, reporting and response between the industry and government.The virtual session was the first broad meeting between top Biden administration officials and executives in the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, a group designed to further industry-government coordination on protecting the grid.The electric power sector values its close working relationship with partners in government, said Scott Aaronson, vice president for security and preparedness at the Edison Electric Institute that represents investor-owned electric companies.We appreciate that this administration already is coordinating with grid operators to protect critical energy infrastructure, Aaronson said in an emailed statement. Protecting and defending critical infrastructure is a shared responsibility that requires engagement and expertise from asset owners and government partners.(Updates with comment from Anne Neuberger in fourth paragraph.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.

Go here to see the original:

Square CFO Says Theres Absolutely a Case for All Balance Sheets to Have Bitcoin - Yahoo Finance

The coronavirus pandemic has radically changed the way we live our lives and face masks has become infused into our daily existence.

While vaccinations are taking place across the globe and nations are hoping to come out of their various lockdowns and restrictions this year, face masks are likely to stay for some time to come as borders and travel start opening up and countries vastly differ on the rollout of vaccinations.

In April last year, global gaming giant Razer converted some of its manufacturing lines to produce masks and donated around 1 million of them to health authorities around the world. It also donated the proceeds from the sale of its Stay Home and Game On posters to support the fight against COVID-19.

But following that, Razer decided to take it one step further and design, at least at the conceptual stage, a hi-tech face mask that is medically sound but also more tailored to make sure it evolves for the need of picking up on human interactive cues.

READ MORE: Razer CEO on how the gaming giant smashed sales and cash pile records

Project Hazel is Razer's hi-tech mask which has a transparent front cover to let people see your mouth and has a built-in microphone and speaker that can amplify your voice. It also has active air ventilation that's as effective as an N95 medical mask and has RGB lights (red-blue-green LEDs). It also intends to get rid of the issue of the annoying breath-fog when wearing a mask, especially when it's cold outside.

At first it was a high-end concept through its research and development department but Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday that the company is now fully invested in turning these masks into a reality and will go into production.

Project Hazel. Photo: Razer

"I'll take you through the thought process. When the pandemic first hit, the disposable mask was in huge demand and we had to figure out how we could get these out globally," said Tan.

He said that after setting up Singapore's first mask making facility "out of the blue" within 24 days, they had managed to roll out donations across the world. But he said "we realised the sustainability aspect" since disposable masks aren't the most sustainable.

Story continues

Thinking beyond the pandemic, Tan said the group "took their time" with researching and developing the "very best mask."

"We were thinking, this is a concept project and is this going to be relevant when vaccinations and everything has been rolled out. I think moving forward we decided and I can tell you now we are going to proceed in making it a reality and ship the smart mask," he told Yahoo Finance.

Razer's smart mask will have built-in microphone and speaker and air ventillation. and Project Hazel. Photo: Razer

"We've realised that even with vaccinations we are hearing you still have to be masked up because there is still the risk factor that even if you're vaccinated you still need to be incredibly careful. Secondly, there are also many countries that are unlikely that are going to get the whole [scale] of vaccinations in the next year or even two so travelling everyone should be very careful.

"So with that in mind, we are going to go ahead and solve the sustainable aspect of the mask which is one of the big things for us. Project Hazel is going to be a reality. We are going to make it happen and I think we will all will be, unfortunately, wearing masks for a long time to come."

Check out Yahoo Finance UK for more exclusive stories on Razer on its earnings, and sustainability and workforce initiatives.

View original post here:

Exclusive: Razer confirms hi-tech concept face mask Project Hazel will be turned into reality - Yahoo News

(Bloomberg) -- GameStop Corp. is ending the week lower than where it started, even after retail investors refused to let go of their commitment to the stock following an earnings-related selloff.

Investors were quick to get over GameStops 12th consecutive quarter of slowing sales and managements decision to not take questions on its earnings call on Tuesday, despite warnings from most Wall Street analysts. On Thursday, shares erased the earnings-led slump. More than $6.4 billion in market value was whipsawed from Mondays intraday high of $210.36 to a bottom of $118.62 on Wednesday.

That tumultuous ride lived on as the week drew to an end. The stock initially jumped as much as 19% on Friday before erasing gains to fall as much as 11%. After swinging between gains and losses the stock dipped to cap off a 9.6% drop in five days, its second straight losing week. The shares are up 861% so far this year compared to a 5.8% gain for the S&P 500.

GameStop bulls are leaning into activist investor and board member Ryan Cohens ongoing shakeup. Cohen has become a cult-like figure for investors populating social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, and his push to turn the retailer into a tech giant has amassed hordes of eager traders.

Analysts warned that fundamentals matter little for investors and the companys overhaul faces considerable challenges.

The turnaround story will be extremely difficult for GameStop to deliver on and right now shares are acting like they have already been successful, said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda. The GameStop stock party is lasting longer than anyone expected, but eventually should trade sub-$100 a share.

Total trading volume during Thursdays rebound topped the cumulative activity seen in the three-day selloff, meaning investors who were eager to buy the dip and trade on the way up were far greater than the sellers looking to cash out or short the stock after earnings. The retail traders who love to talk up their diamond hands cheered as the company continued to make changes to its board and bring in industry veterans to help reshape the business.

Story continues

Other stocks that have captivated retail traders were also choppy Friday after snapping losing streaks alongside GameStop. AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. slumped 6.4%, reversing an initial jump of 5.4%, while headphone maker Koss Corp. sank 18%.

The group of meme stocks have continued to be unloved by Wall Street analysts who cover the companies. GameStop is not recommended by any analysts and has three holds and four sell ratings -- with the average price target implying a 75% drop. While AMC has no buys, five holds, and four sell ratings and an average 12-month target thats two-thirds below Fridays level.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter, who rates GameStop at underperform, said in an email that the lack of a question-and-answer portion during its earnings call was a bad look.

However, at least one GameStop analyst boosted her price target to stand out from a sea of skeptics. Jefferiess Stephanie Wissink, who rates the stock at hold, raised the firms price target to a Wall Street-high $175 from $15, citing an ability to rival digital peers if its transformation is successful.

Changes in leadership at the board, executive, and operational levels are signals of a full reimagining of GameStops enterprise model, Wissink wrote in a March 24 report. She noted that shares are subject to volatility beyond fundamentals.

It is worth noting that the Grapevine, Texas-based retailer has been considering whether it should should sell new shares and possibly increase the size of a current program to sell stock at prevailing market prices. The company signed a deal in December with Jefferies to sell as much as $100 million in stock, according to a filing. However, that agreement was reached when shares were worth less than 10% of their current value. A spokesperson for Jefferies didnt respond to a request for comment.

(Updates share movement throughout.)

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.

More:

GameStops Tumult Lives On With $6.4 Billion Roller Coaster Trip - Yahoo Finance

MMA Weekly

Stipe Miocic was the baddest man on the planet heading into Saturday night's event at The Apex in Las Vegas. Now that the UFC 260 results are in, there is a new baddest man on the planet. UFC 260 results: Francis Ngannou lands brutal KO Francis Ngannou showed massive improvement in his skill and his approach in taking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. It was evident from the opening bell that Ngannou wasn't going to let himself lose by running out of gas. Ngannou, fighting more patiently than ever, landed a huge punch in the first couple minutes of the fight, but Miocic ate it. Miocic then went for a takedown, but Ngannou stuffed it and pummeled Miocic with some heavy punches before they returned to the center of the Octagon. Ngannou cracked Miocic with a kick to the head. Having landed several big shots early, but not putting Miocic away, Ngannou fought smartly for the remainder of the round, measuring his effort and not jettisoning all of his fuel in the early moments of the fight. Miocic appeared off kilter, being cautious to avoid Ngannou's power. Ngannou's patience in the first round paid off in the second. He again started with a measured approach, but quickly caught Miocic with a stiff left cross that sent him reeling. Ngannou chased him, unloading with numerous punches, but didn't burn himself out. Miocic tried to fire back, but Ngannou caught him with a short left hook that sent Miocic falling backwards over folded legs. And just like, Francis Ngannou, who literally fought his way through the wilds to make it from his home country of Cameroon to Europe, is the new UFC heavyweight champion of the world. "It feels so amazing. I'm working to the greatness," Ngannou said in recounting coming from a background of challenges, of people doubting him, and a promise he made to himself to become something great. "There is a huge feeling of satisfaction." UFC 260 results: Francis Ngannou knocks out Stipe Miocic to become heavyweight champion UFC 260 results: Vicente Luque upsets Tyron Woodley, calls out Nate Diaz Coming off of successive losses to Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns, and Colby Covington, former UFC champion Tyron Woodley needed a win against Vicente Luque at UFC 260. He didn't get it. Woodley started fast, rushing across the cage, but Luque defended well. Woodley then switched to his old approach of ripping right hands, trying to rip Luque's head off. He connected, staggering Luque, and kept after him. But just when it seemed that Woodley might score the huge knockout that he'd been looking for, Luque cracked him with a right hand, sending Woodley to the canvas. Returning to his feet, Woodley tried to throw bombs, but his legs were made of rubber. Luque kept after him, connecting with numerous shots, sending Woodley down again. This time Luque shifted gears and went for a submission, eventually forcing Woodley to tap out to a D'arce choke. It was a huge win for Luque, who not only defeated a former UFC welterweight champion, but also propelled himself into the upper echelon of the division. "He took a little of my balance away with the overhand right, but man, I have a hard chin," said Luque before zeroing in on his next opponent. "I want to take this time to call out Nate Diaz. I called him out in the past and he didn't respond. I think Nate is the perfect fight, let's go." UFC 260 results: Vicente Luque cracks Tyron Woodley and submits him UFC 260 results: Sean OMalley finishes with a sugar-sweet knockout "Suger" Sean O'Malley got some of his sweetness back with an important victory over Thomas Almeida on Saturday night. Coming off of the first loss of his career, O'Malley wanted to get back on track and erase memories of his loss to Marlon "Chito" Vera. O'Malley started catching fire in the first couple minutes of the fight, landing a spinning back kick to the midsection and following with a straight punch to the chin. A short time later, O'Malley kicked Almeida and dropped him to the canvas with a right hand. He started to walk off, but the referee didn't stop the fight. Almeida got up. O'Malley caught him with another kick, but the Brazilian marched through it. He fought back, eating another head kick toward the end of the round, but his chin held. O'Malley lit him up with punches as round two go underway. Almeida had a difficult time bridging O'Malley's range, but found some success with low kicks. All the while, O'Malley continued to attack with front kicks to the body and stinging jabs. O'Malley opened the final frame with a brutal low kick that nearly took Almeida's legs out from under him, but he almost made the same mistake in the final round as he did in the first. As the round wore on, O'Malley landed a short left hand that sent Almeida to the canvas. O'Malley started to walk off again, but Almeida rolled to his back, the referee again maintaining his distance. This time, O'Malley quickly realized the fight wasn't being stopped, stepped over Almeida, and dropped a bomb of a right hand to close the fight with a knockout. "That dude is legit. He's a tough dude," O'Malley said when questioned about missing out on the finish in the first round. "I only get 15 minutes to perform, maybe a couple times a year. When I get in there, I gotta do something sweet." UFC 260 results: Sean O'Malley knocks out Thomas Almeida UFC 260 results: Miranda Maverick outworks Gillian Robertson Miranda Maverick scored her fifth consecutive victory, her second in the Octagon, by routing Gillian Robertson. The fight started slowly, but Maverick began to hit her stride, scoring a huge takedown toward the end of the first round. Maverick seemed to continue the momentum as the second frame got underway, but Robertson took the fight to the canvas, dominating on the ground for the majority of the round. Maverick escaped to her feet in the final minute of the frame and landed several heavy shots trying to nullify Robertson's ground work. In the final round, Maverick stormed Robertson, dominating on the feet and taking her to the canvas. Maverick ground and pounded Robertson while on the canvas, never allowing her a chance to mount any offense as the fight went to the final horn. When the scorecards were read, Maverick took a unanimous decision with two of the three judges awarding her all three rounds. One judge scored the bout in her favor 29-28. UFC 260 results: Miranda Maverick dominates Gillian Robertson UFC 260 results: Jamie Mullarkey drops Khama Worthy The UFC 260 pay-per-view opened with a bang thanks to Australia's Jamie Mullarkey. Just as the bout was getting underway, Mullarkey stepped in and feinted with a right hand. Worthy bit on the fake and Mullarkey cracked him with a left hook that sent him face first onto the canvas. Mullarkey immediately dropped down to land a few more blows, but the referee was already waving it off as a knockout at the 46-second mark of the first round. UFC 260 results: Jamie Mullarkey defeats Khama Worthy RELATED > UFC 260 Live Results: Miocic vs. Ngannou UFC 260 Live Results UFC 260 Main Card Heavyweight Bout: Francis Ngannou def Stipe Miocic by KO (punch) at 0:52, R2Welterweight Bout: Vicente Luque def Tyron Woodley by submission (D'arce choke) 3:56, R1Bantamweight Bout: Sean OMalley def Thomas Almeida by KO (punch) at 3:52, R3Womens Flyweight Bout: Miranda Maverick def Gillian Robertson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Lightweight Bout: Jamie Mullarkey def Khama Worthy by KO (punches) 0:46, R1 UFC 260 Prelims Light Heavyweight Bout: Alonzo Menifield def Fabio Cherant by submission (Von Flue choke) at 1:11, R1Welterweight Bout: Abubakar Nurmagomedov def Jared Gooden by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Light Heavyweight Bout: Michal Oleksiejczuk def Modestas Bukauskas by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Featherweight Bout: Omar Morales def Shane Young by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) UFC 260 Early Prelim Middleweight Bout: Marc-Andre Barriault def Abu Azaitar by TKO (punches) at 4:56, R3 > Check out MMAWeekly.com's full UFC 260 video coverage on YouTube!

View post:

SF to #3 and what 'League of Leagues' can tell us about early ADP - Yahoo Sports

Teodor Davidov can hit forehands with both hands. Image: Twitter

The tennis world is marvelling over a viral video of 12-year-old Teodor Davidov, who doesn't appear to have a backhand in his arsenal.

And that's simply because he doesn't need it.

'NOT GIVING UP': Ash Barty comeback stuns former World No.1

'NOT BLISS': Serena Williams' candid confession about marriage

The youngster possesses two forehands - one he uses with his right hand and the other with his left.

Davidov serves left-handed but when the ball is hit to his natural backhand side, he simply switches the racquet between hands and hits a right-handed forehand.

Video of the remarkable feat went viral recently after Davidov played at a junior tennis tournament in the US.

To have two forehands and to hit them both this well is amazing, tennis pundit Blair Henley commented.

To be a true switch hitter on the *serve* is next level. Hes in the (under) 12s?!

Australian great Paul McNamee said: Ive always felt that is the next development in tennis... having two King (Nadal) forehands.

"Just imagine facing Rafas forehand on both sides ... too good.

Coach and analyst Brad Gilbert labelled the skill tremendous, while AFL reporter Mark Stevens wrote: The future.

Video of Davidov in action has been viewed more than 320,000 times on Twitter.

Story continues

Veteran tennis writer Christopher Clarey said Davidov reminded him of Yevgeniya Kulikovskaya, who he says is the last all-forehand player to make it to a grand slam tournament.

Kulikovskaya made it as high as World No.91, winning eight titles on the ITF tour.

The Russian also won four doubles titles at WTA level with her ability to 'switch-hit'.

I feel like a horse in the circus, running and people are looking at you do stuff, Kulikovskaya told the New York Times in 2003.

Sometimes, Im getting crazy, because people come and see me, and they point their finger at me: Look! Look! Look, how she plays!

I understand its different, and people will react, but sometimes I cant stand it.

Michael De Jong, the former coach of two-time grand slam winner Mary Pierce, said about Kuikovskaya: Two forehands is the dream.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.

View original post here:

Tennis world erupts over video of 12-year-old 'switch-hitter' - Yahoo Sport Australia