Year: 2024

Shanghai, China – January 1: The sun rises over the Oriental Pearl Tower on New Year's Day, January 1, 2023, in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Asia-Pacific markets got off to a mixed start to the second half of the year as investors weighed June economic data from China and business confidence data from Japan. Official China PMI data released over the weekend showed the manufacturing PMI at 49.5, unchanged from May, marking the second month of contraction. However, a private survey, the S&P Caixin PMI, showed a marked improvement, rising to 51.8 in June from 51.7…

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 18, 2024. At Salesforce's annual meeting, shareholders rejected the proposed compensation plan for top executives, including CEO Marc Benioff. The decision followed concerns from advisory groups about stock awards granted to Benioff. Of the votes cast, 339.3 million were in favor, while 404.8 million were against, according to regulatory documents filed Monday. Despite the board's recommendation to approve the compensation plan, shareholder advisory firms Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services advised against adopting it. For fiscal 2024, Benioff’s total compensation increased to $39.6 million…

At the climax of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," the orchestra reaches what Sondheim called its Max Steiner moment, evoking the great scores of "Casablanca" or "Gone with the Wind." During a pivotal scene, Désirée and Fredrik, former lovers on the verge of losing their happiness, meet and kiss as the orchestra swells to a stirring reprise of "Send in the Clowns." Jonathan Tunick’s new orchestration premiered Thursday at David Geffen Hall with the 53-piece St. Luke’s Orchestra. Strings and winds soared, supported by rich, staggered chords and flourishing counterpoint, creating a moment fit for both film and opera.…

On Monday, Israel released Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the head of Gaza’s largest hospital, after holding him for more than seven months without charge. The move sparked immediate protests in Israel, highlighting the polarized views on the ongoing conflict. Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, was arrested in late November during an attempt to evacuate patients while the hospital was under siege by the Israeli army. The military said he was being questioned about Hamas activities at the hospital. His release has amplified differing perspectives on the war. Human rights groups have criticized his continued detention without charge…

For the Golden State Warriors, this marks the end of an era. Klay Thompson is set to sign a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, ending his 13-year tenure with the Warriors, 12 of which he spent alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Together, they built a dynasty, reaching six NBA Finals and winning four championships in eight years. They formed one of the league’s longest-tenured trios, anchoring one of the greatest teams ever, which set an NBA record with 73 wins in the 2015-16 season. In a league known for constant change, the Warriors’ Big Three were…