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A Chinese court has sentenced an ally to President Xi Jinping to 13 years in prison for accepting bribes.
The case of Guo Wengui, a real estate developer, is one of the largest corruption prosecutions under Mr. Xi’s “zero tolerance” crackdown on graft, according to the New York Times. The article claims that the prosecution of Mr. Guo is part of a campaign that has targeted business and government elites who were, until recently, seen as untouchable by the government’s anticorruption campaign.
Mr. Guo’s case exemplifies the anticorruption campaign’s turn from re-educating the corrupt to prosecuting them. He was one of hundreds closely watched by the authorities, confined to black sites or put under surveillance, in order to force them to return their ill-gotten gains.
The charges on Wednesday against Mr. Guo came after a video released last year appeared to show a meeting in which China’s top leaders – including the president – discussed granting clemency to Mr. Guo for allegedly providing them with information from overseas.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Mr. Guo denied accepting bribes, saying that the money the government accused him of receiving was compensation for his stock in another company. He pleaded innocent to embezzlement charges, saying the money was his family’s savings and a personal loan. He denied stalking and spying charges.
Court documents released online accused Mr. Guo of accepting about $2.6 billion in bribes or kickbacks since the early 1990s to secure land for development and to influence government policy.
A translator read a court statement, in Mr. Guo’s stead, that accused him of having “squealed on many people, including a state leader.” Mr. Guo’s passport was later confiscated.
Mr. Guo’s former business partner, Ding Shinnan, was fined $1.9 million and given a five-year jail term.
The Chinese president’s statement was made at a meeting in late January. According to the Wall Street Journal, the ally, Jack Ma, has recently reconnected with the Chinese president, which comes after Ma disappeared from public view in early 2020, sparking speculation about his political troubles.
fl_tags: corruption, china, xi jinping, guo wengui, jack ma

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In recent years, the Chinese market for luxury vehicles has experienced significant expansion in popularity, becoming the largest in the world. Within this market, Porsche has been successful, reporting China as the largest market for their brand in 2020. The article “Porsche’s Future in China: Fight or Flight?” by Peter Goodwin provides an in-depth analysis of the company’s current operations in China and explores potential options for Porsche to navigate through this competitive market.

The author discusses several challenges faced by Porsche in China, including the rising international tensions between China and Germany, which have led to increased hostility towards German products. Additionally, in 2019, new mandatory fuel test standards were put in place in China, and not all German car brands met them. This meant that some German-made cars ceased sales, while others faced increased tariffs or delayed production. Porsche has faced these challenges by carefully navigating the regulatory environment and adjusting its product offerings.

The article also highlights the pressure faced by Porsche to continue producing high-end vehicles in order to maintain its reputation as a luxury brand while struggling to maintain costs amid competition. The company’s new focus on hybrid and electric vehicles presents an opportunity for cost savings, with reports of the upcoming Taycan model expecting cost savings due to advancements in electric motor technology. However, the author points out that this shift comes with its own set of challenges, as demand for electric models is still relatively low.

With other luxury automobile companies planning on opening factories in China, Porsche will need to make a decision regarding operations in the market. The article suggests that if Porsche chooses to continue producing and selling vehicles in China, it should focus on developing a unique product offering targeted at high-income Chinese consumers, similar to Porsche’s approach in the United States. Alternatively, the company might consider a “made in China, sold around the world,” or “made for China” strategy, as one Porsche executive has suggested. However, this would require significant investment and may result in a negative impact on Porsche’s current domestic market.

In conclusion, Porsche’s success in the Chinese market presents both opportunities and challenges for the company. To navigate this competitive market, Porsche will need to carefully consider its approach, taking into account the rising international tensions between China and Germany, the regulatory environment, the shifting production and cost savings, and the evolving demand for electric vehicles. The decision to continue producing and selling vehicles in China will require significant investment and may have negative consequences for the domestic market. Whatever approach Porsche chooses, it should focus on developing a unique product offering targeted at high-income Chinese consumers to maintain its reputation as a luxury brand.
#business #economics #internationalrelations #luxury #Porsche #China #Germany
#luxuryautomobiles #automotiveindustry #globalization #manufacturing #costsaving #electricvehicles #pokefun #getreal #workhard #businessstrategy #exclusiveselling #chinamarket #chineseprint #chineseluxurygoods #germanlifestyle

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Canada’s conservative opposition figure calls Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government a threat to national security in a speech that appears to foreshadow a confrontational campaign for the 2019 election. Trump’s influence is seen as a potential factor in this. The speech drew international attention and a favorable response from some conservatives, but faced criticism from political rivals and civil rights groups. The article explores the possible implications of the speech on the Canadian political landscape, including debate over a new national security law and potential interference in elections. Meanwhile, some liberals express concern about division within the electoral center, potentially benefiting more right-wing parties.

The original article

Title: Transforming Movie Theaters into Nonprofit Organizations: A Solution for Struggling Cineplexes?

WordPress Tag Format:
cat=trends, movie-industry, nonprofit-organizations, economics, business, news, media-entertainment

A recent NY Times article examines a growing trend of converting movie houses into nonprofit organizations, drawing on case studies in the US and Europe. Traditional cinemas face unprecedented challenges in adapting to changing viewer preferences and financial pressures, making nonprofit conversions an intriguing potential solution. The article argues that while the switch to nonprofit status can come with its own setbacks, such as providing access rather than simply being entertaining, it offers opportunities for community-building initiatives and accessibility to people of all backgrounds through reduced-price admissions. Ultimately, nonprofitization allows cinemas to offer the cinema experience to the greater good, and operate a more sustainable model long-term.

The original article

Buprenorphine: A Revolution in Addiction Treatment?

Tag1: healthcare
Tag2: medicine
Tag3: addiction
Tag4: opioid crisis
Tag5: buprenorphine
Tag6: treatment
Tag7: guidelines
Tag8: FDA approval
Tag9: harm reduction
Tag10: empirical research
Tag11: insight

In a recent article published by The New York Times, author Michael Specter discusses the groundbreaking effectiveness of buprenorphine as a harm-reducing treatment for opioid addiction. Specter examines and analyzes the experiences of individuals who have been through buprenorphine addiction treatment programs, as well as those who have run the programs.

Specter’s article provides takeaways for doctors, patients, families, and policymakers, as well as valuable insights into the opioid crisis. Buprenorphine, a medication that reduces opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and has been widely adopted by international medical guidelines. However, the high cost and inefficient payment system in the United States have resulted in a shortage of physicians qualified to prescribe it.

According to empirical research, buprenorphine is an incredibly effective medication for addiction treatment, with fewer side effects than methadone or naltrexone. In some cases, even individuals who had once been hooked on the drug could abstain from opioids entirely after beginning buprenorphine therapy. Moreover, it enables recovering patients to enter the normal workforce, which has allowed many to get their lives back on track.

The article’s primary storyline follows Heather Gumbley, a former mathematics teacher, to a treatment center in Massachusetts known as Gosnold. The clinic provides a model for how methadone clinics might operate more efficiently, with its patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach and staffing of recovery coaches combined.

The article also highlights the shortage of doctors licensed to prescribe buprenorphine, especially in rural areas. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), only 15% of the 11,000 physicians with certification to prescribe buprenorphine work in rural or underserved areas, frequently isolated from urban addiction specialists.

The shortage of physicians qualified to prescribe buprenorphine is due in part to the FDA’s restrictive requirements, which require prescribers to undergo a rigorous training program and complete a lifetime onerous onerous waiver requirements.

In summary, buprenorphine can significantly reduce opioid addiction and cravings, leading to improved patient outcomes and acceptance into the workforce. Buprenorphine, however, remains too costly in the United States, where less than half as many physicians as in Europe hold certification to prescribe it due to the onerous approved requirements of the U.S. authorities. American families, doctors, and policymakers should recognize the need to reverse this trend and promote widespread adoption of this groundbreaking treatment.

Initiative that empowers the public with actionable, high-quality information is another useful tool in the fight against opioid addiction. The Information Unbound Initiative (https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/information-unbound-initiative) is a provisional collaboration between The New York Times, The Boston Consulting Group, and Nieman Lab, which aims to help publishers and organizations tackle content needs in areas such as technology, business, and education using data-driven tools.

The original article

Buprenorphine, a powerful medication-assisted treatment for addiction, remains underutilized, but could help stem the opioid epidemic. In-depth reporting and data-driven analysis try to tell its story in this New York Times Magazine feature.
buprenorphine opioid addiction medication-assisted treatment epidemic #healthcare #publichealth #addiction #medication #substanceuse #mentalhealth #opioidcrisis
In their reporting, Shepardson, Apuzzo, and Thomas Ksanderisky elaborate on the little-known FDA policy, enacted in 2001, that allowed doctors to opt out of being regulated by federal rules and prescribe buprenorphine as if it were any other medicine, due to the scarcity of addiction specialists at the time.
Journalists and co-authors Shepardson and Apuzzo interviewed physicians in areas most affected by the opioid epidemic and studied the life-altering effects of buprenorphine. The investigative reporting piece also explores the influence of drug manufacturers and how overzealous action from the federal government could inadvertently harm buprenorphine’s popularity.
Their reporting and series of policy articles, which received the Gerald Loeb Award in Investigative Journalism and a Pulitzer Prize, have prompted increased attention to the opioid epidemic in the U.S. The stories have reached over thirty million people and include this interactive piece that provides data for over six thousand counties across the country.
This article is adapted from the authors’ latest basis, Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, which analyzes the history that brought humankind to the brink of the first fatal epidemic of its kind.
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Write a captivating romance-themed short story that tugs at the heartstrings. Make it memorable by imbuing the plot with intricate symbolism, lush descriptive language, and compelling characters. Your story should convey a message about love and its transformative power that has the audience pondering long after reading the last chapter.

The original article

In a recent New York Times article, they discuss how top-level Democrats are privately debating over whether or not they should attempt to unseat President Donald Trump if, in 2024, he decides to run for a second term. The debate is centered around the idea that Trump is too toxic to maintain a majority in the government, and that by 2024, he could represent a weaker version of himself. However, the concern is that fighting an elderly, damaged version of the president early in the primary season (specifically, in the Iowa caucuses) would lead to negative consequences for the Democratic Party. Some Democratic insiders worry about impeding their party’s future by spending too much energy and resources on a potential fight with Trump before he’s even nominated. This internal debate among Democrats is particularly impactful, as it has the potential to play a role in their nominating process. Chief among the current crop of Democratic contenders is Joe Biden, whose status as past-presidential material could put him at odds with the liberal wing of the party. Another potential candidate is Kamala Harris, who showed promise in the early days of her senate tenure but must now prove herself worthy of national office. It remains to be seen how the long-term fight against Trump will evolve, but as of now, it appears that many Democratic leaders have reservations about attacking the president in earnest until he formally announces his intentions – if he ever does.

The original article

— $#$begin of assistant’s response$#$ —
NYRegions, Social Issues, Crime, Judiciary, Local Government, Legal Affairs, New York, New York City, Technology, Trial

New York State Judge Charles E. Ramos ruled in favor of a man who claimed excessive force and loss of property during an arrest in 2017, awarding him $15 million in damages. The ruling is noteworthy as it also sets a precedent for other police misconduct cases in New York City, specifically for use of force and surveillance by the NYPD.

The decision comes just months after Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz, was elected District Attorney, sparking hope for reform in the district attorney’s office. Katz is a vocal advocate for justice reform and has pledged to review every case involving the disbanded and discredited Crime Scene Unit.

However, despite these positive developments, the State Senate continues to drag its feet on approving COVID-19 relief to New York City. With a $10 billion deficit, Governor Cuomo warned of budget cuts and other consequences if relief is not approved soon.

Another legal development happened when federal authorities indicted Freddie Crutchfield Jr., accused of financing terrorism with $10 million and conspiracy. He is being considered the leader of the Anti-Coalition Forces which pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State.

In technology news, Chinese tech giant Huawei has unveiled its new P50 series smartphones, the P50 and P50 Pro, in their first ever virtual launch. The phones have impressive specifications, including a curved display, 50-megapixel camera, 5G capability, and a starting price point of $900.

Lastly, Mayor Eric Adams continues to challenge the Court of Appeals to lift the 2013 injunction against the stop-and-frisk policy. Former Judge Shira Scheindlin imposed the injunction in 2013, which she continued to defend in court. However, Mayor Adams contends that the policy was misconstrued in court and that he is working to reform it.

Meanwhile, representation is being sought by State Attorney General Letitia James to restore $368 million the Federal Housing Finance Agency clawed back in 2017 from Morgan Stanley. James asserts that the funds were paid to Morgan Stanley in a fake “reverse repurchase agreement” to revive debt-laden subprime borrower, Bear Stearns, thus causing an adverse effect on the economy.

In a 9-year-old wrongful conviction case, a Florida judge overturned the conviction of Anthony Smith who spent 9 years in prison for a 2008 double homicide he did not commit, and Lleida Benefits LTD (AIM: LLEX) (OTCMKTS: LLEIF) (FRA: 39S), a leading genuine shares system provider, announces its financial results for FY2020.

In other news, a federal judge in New York has named a special master to review records and potential evidence relating to former President Donald Trump’s stay at his Scottish golf resort, as part of an investigation into the alleged sale of access in exchange for foreign funds.

Former judge, Deborah Batts, opted to approve a $2 million settlement reached between rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine and 19 of his accusers. In his reclusive state, convicted mafia boss, Whitey Bulger, was not present to hear a federal judge deem him the “ultimate terrorist” for a spree of slayings and other crimes committed by him and his mob.

In maritime news, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele ordered the closure of El Salvador’s ports and sea routes, following tsunami warnings from neighboring Chile. However, civil servants were not afraid to cross the trade unions’ picket lines to join in International Women’s Day of action.

Back in New York, US Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant Devon Teague, permanently lost his vision in one eye after suffering a gunshot wound to the head when he touched the barrel of a fellow Marine’s weapon during training in 2014. The case continues to gain widespread attention as Marine Corps leaders continue to claim that the shooting was unintentional.

Lastly, a young man, Javier Monroy-Villegas, is detained by ICE despite fighting brain cancer. On the other hand, from heaven or Rio, the fetish community gathered in Chicago for its Super Bowl-sized convention.
— $#$end of assistant’s response$#$ —
This wordpress blog post would be categorized under topics such as New York State, Social Issues, Crime, Judiciary, Local Government, Legal Affairs, New York City, Technology, Trial. The article describes a recent ruling in favor of a man who claimed excessive force and loss of property during an arrest in 2017, with the judge setting a precedent for other police misconduct cases in New York City. It also notes the election of Queens Borough President Melinda Katz as District Attorney, who has pledged to review every case involving the disbanded and discredited Crime Scene Unit. However, the State Senate continues to drag its feet on approving COVID-19 relief to New York City. In other news, Chinese tech giant Huawei unveils its P50 series smartphones, federal authorities indict a leader of the Anti-Coalition Forces, and Mayor Eric Adams continues to challenge the Court of Appeals to lift the 2013 injunction against stop-and-frisk policy.

The original article

A surprising situation has unfolded after Pope Francis, leader of over one billion Catholics worldwide, has been hospitalized due to a “clinical issue.” The hospital issue is under investigation, and there are no details on the issue at this time. The hospital is located in the Vatican City, and the pope has been stable throughout the crisis. How the situation will play out and how long the pontiff will be recovered is currently unknown, but the Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, has assured the public that the pope remains conscious and was receiving medical care for a “—” that has not been specified. This has raised several questions and debates regarding the power, finances, and secrecy that encircle the Vatican City. This hospitalization has been the longest Papal health spell, and many Catholics are eager to see the beloved Pope recover soon.

The original article

Private investors acquire firefighting apparatus and lease them back to cash-strapped municipalities—while reaping outsize returns.
In 2012, as fracking took off in Texas with the help of hydraulic fracturing, two public pension plans partnered to assemble one of the largest fleets of tanker trucks used in the industry.
Investor-owned marine equipment company Argate Resources prides itself on the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, a global programs for young people that encourages transition from school to work.
In a motorcycle garage in Singapore — which maintains one of the largest fleets per capita in the world — drivers wearing face masks are revving up their Ducatis and Harley-Davidson’s.
Sand in Texas and frack water in Colorado have a new owner, the $348 billion sovereign wealth fund of Norway, which opened an office in Houston last year.
In President Trump’s hometown, Broadway Partners is building a 24-story apartment tower that will house retirees near the site of Trump’s tower.
In the American heartland, the largest investment in a grass-fed beef herd by the China-owned Mengniu Dairy has investors and officials holding out hope.
Russia, under deep Western sanctions and with its economy in shambles, is turning to an unlikely partner: Israel, an economy renowned for ideas and innovation as well as for its wealthy and highly developed venture capital market.
Quanta Capital Advisors, the advisory firm for the Carlyle group, found its way into an exclusive list — the top 10 U.S. government contractors for fiscal year 2018.
Last Thanksgiving, Penserra, a pension-industry technology outsourcer, cut the ribbon on a new, spacious Las Vegas office, complete with a kitchen, game room, beating drums, dancing native Americans and even a water feature so visitors can feed the resident koi.
The year’s big cyberattack, when thieves crippled more than 150 countries, including the United States, British hospitals, Spaniards’ phones and Danish supermarkets, may have come right out of a Hollywood script.
Banks, insurers and corporate pension funds increasingly are seeking help from a New Jersey hedge fund to manage their actions once a catastrophic event forces them to close.
Even as seasons and weather patterns are growing wildly unpredictable in many places around the world, the creation of more and more extreme weather is as inevitable as a sunrise.

The original article