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NEW YORK — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. "We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that's possibly why he targeted that company," Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he had yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was arrested on December 9, 2024, after a six-day manhunt and charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His arrest has sparked a viral social media movement, with many hailing him as a symbol of resistance against systemic healthcare failures. The #FreeLuigi movement gained significant traction, with his social media profiles amassing over 100,000 new followers before being suspended. Despite this, the movement continues to trend, highlighting public discontent with the U.S. healthcare system. Some social media users argue that Mangione's radicalization stemmed from the struggles faced by millions in obtaining necessary healthcare, and not from his university education. Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald's in Altoona led to the seizure of a "ghost gun," a suppressor, fake IDs, and a manifesto criticizing the healthcare system. While the manifesto seems to admit guilt, some users question Mangione's responsibility, pointing out discrepancies in surveillance photos. The fascination with Mangione has only intensified, with discussions about his attractiveness and comparisons to characters in Ryan Murphy's productions. The phenomenon is reminiscent of society's long-standing obsession with infamous criminals, blurring lines between horror and hero worship. Former FBI agent Rob D’Amico noted that Mangione is seen by some as a "Robin Hood" figure fighting against corporate greed, which complicates the investigation. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing was scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a " ghost gun " matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Luigi Mangione was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what law enforcement has called a "targeted attack." Mangione is from a prominent Maryland family with extensive business interests. The Mangione family is known for developing real estate and running businesses. Relatives expressed shock over the arrest and offered condolences to Thompson’s family. Mangione faces multiple charges, including murder, firearm possession, and forgery, in New York and Pennsylvania. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation was a success and that his pain improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.None

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California plans to appeal Huntington Beach voter ID rulingOpenAI to partner with military defense tech companyThis Christmas, elevate your holiday spread and stocking-stuffers with delectable delights from Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s kitchen. From indulgent baked goods to flavorful hams, our festive creations are perfect for your family feasts and gifts for loved ones. Freshly Baked Kitchen Treasures for the Season Eastwood Richmonde’s signature pastries are the ultimate holiday indulgence. The oversized Plain Richmonde Ensaymada (PhP 215) and Ube Richmonde Ensaymada (PhP 245) bring a nostalgic touch with their soft, buttery dough and generous cheese toppings. For a more shareable option, Mini Ensaymadas available in boxes of 6 (Plain PhP 245, Ube PhP 275) or 12 (Plain PhP 490, Ube PhP 550) are the season’s best sellers. Serve up luscious desserts at your holiday gatherings and order a consistent fan favorite, the Richmonde Chocolate Cake with its perfectly moist texture and not-too-sweet taste. It comes in two sizes: 4” (PhP 255) and 8” (PhP 765). Looking to impress guests with something extra special? The luxurious Pistachio L’opera Cake (PhP 2,195) and Classic L’opera Cake (PhP 1,125) will surely elevate your dinner table. Pair morning coffee and post-dinner tea with Eastwood Richmonde’s newest baked offerings. Choose from festive breads like Spiced Fruit Bread (PhP 795), Banana Walnut Bread with Cinnamon Streusel (PhP 595), or the irresistibly rich Cranberry Cream Cheese Loaf (PhP 395). For the perfect holiday gift and hot drink pairing, these cookies will satisfy any sweet tooth: Milk Chocolate Chip (PhP 125 each), Milk Chocolate Chip with Macadamia (PhP 175 each), and Double Chocolate with Macadamia (PhP 185 each). Opt for a box of four and get a discounted price and elegant packaging. Gifts and Feasts to Savor Make gift-giving effortless with carefully curated holiday hampers in chic purple and silver boxes. The Sweet Holiday Hamper (PhP 2,175) includes Banana Walnut Bread with Cinnamon Streusel, a box of assorted cookies, and the plain and ube signature ensaymadas. The Savory Hamper (PhP 2,015) which contains 300g of sliced Pork Muscovado Ham, Cranberry Cream Cheese Loaf, and jars of dried fruits and mixed nuts, will make tasty additions to anyone’s Christmas charcuterie board. For a proudly Filipino gift, the Sampaguita Hamper (PhP 1,925) celebrates local flavors with Pork Muscovado Ham, Sampaguita Focaccia, Sampaguita Mango Jam, and Sampaguita Polvoron. To add a touch of tradition to the Christmas table, Eastwood Richmonde offers delicious, ready-to-serve holiday hams for hassle-free preparation. Choose from the 1.5kg Muscovado Ham (PhP 2,225) or the 1.2kg Cured Chicken Ham (PhP 1,725), both with the delectable blend of rich, sweet, and smoky flavors that will take holiday feasts to the next level. Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s Yuletide treats are available at the Gingerbread House found at the lobby until January 5, 2025. For advance orders, 48-hour lead time required. Bulk orders for corporate giveaways are welcome. To order or inquire, call +632 8570 7777 or +63 917 821 0333.

NEW YORK , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative technology and media company zuMedia Inc. announced today the launch of the official fatSu website at www.fatSu.com . fatSu is the purple TikTok sensation who has danced her way into the hearts of millions throughout the world, spreading her message of joy through acceptance. Though fatSu creators Phyllis Jager and Barry Terach come from two entirely different worlds and backgrounds, they share the goal of actualizing a better way for people to understand and embrace one another, and they've joined forces to demonstrate these ideals via their newly-birthed social hero, fatSu. fatSu's whimsical antics bring joy and a sense of acceptance to all as she spreads the message that everyone should feel comfortable in their own bodies regardless of who they are or what they look like. Through their many principled initiatives, PJ and Barry are striving to battle a variety of social affronts that affect us all on a daily basis. For instance, their UNH8 cause provides a tangible, contractual way for people to commit themselves to stopping hate, and Be A Better Citizen provides opportunities for everyone to educate and equip themselves with tools that can improve both their confidence as well as the lives of those around them. fatSu is one of PJ's and Barry's star ambassadors determined to demonstrate compassion and acceptance throughout the cosmos. By supporting numerous zuMedia campaigns, her crusade is to lead the way and promote admirable virtues such as kindness and decency through her huge-hearted benevolence. On the fatSu website, users can learn about fatSu's origins and of her message, and purchase fatSu merchandise such as exquisite fatSu fragrances including her flagship scent "Iconic" , fatSu apparel and fatSu plushies. Visitors to the website can also download fatSu animated shorts and music. Additional fatSu videos can be found at the @HappenstanceManor page on TikTok. zuMedia Inc. is an innovative company that seeks to create groundbreaking technologies which can level the playing field for consumers, all with a sense of fun and the goal of allocating a substantial portion of its revenue to support humanitarian causes. In addition to its patented BACKSKIN advertising technology, zuMedia is the company behind the DMDb.com social and streaming platform. Soon to be released projects include PropertyDuds.com , the goal of which is to change the way consumers buy and sell their homes, and Feudr.com , a platform on which users can debate issues ranging from current events to the best way to clean a dirty pan. zuMedia can be found at www.zuinc.com . For more information, contact Phyllis Jager at pj@zuinc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zumedia-announces-fatsu-website-302323236.html SOURCE zuMedia Inc.

By Elizabeth Pineau and Michel Rose, Reuters French lawmakers passed a no-confidence vote against the government on Wednesday, throwing the European Union's second-biggest economic power deeper into a crisis that threatens its capacity to legislate and tame a massive budget deficit. Far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined forces to back a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier, with a majority 331 votes in support of the motion. Barnier now has to tender his resignation and that of his government to President Emmanuel Macron, making his minority government's three-month tenure the shortest lived in France's Fifth Republic beginning in 1958. He is expected to do so on Thursday morning, French media reported. The hard left and far right punished Barnier for using special constitutional powers to adopt part of an unpopular budget without a final vote in parliament, where it lacked majority support. The draft budget had sought 60 billion euros ((NZ$110 billion)) in savings in a drive to shrink a gaping deficit. "This (deficit) reality will not disappear by the magic of a motion of censure," Barnier told lawmakers ahead of the vote, adding the budget deficit would come back to haunt whichever government comes next. No French government had lost a confidence vote since Georges Pompidou's in 1962. Macron ushered in the crisis by calling a snap election in June that delivered a polarised parliament. With its president diminished, France now risks ending the year without a stable government or a 2025 budget, although the constitution allows special measures that would avert a U.S.-style government shutdown. France's political turmoil will further weaken a European Union already reeling from the implosion of Germany's coalition government, and weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. The country's outgoing defence minister Sebastien Lecornu warned the turmoil could impact French support for Ukraine. The hard left France Unbowed (LFI) party demanded Macron's resignation. Barnier's demise was cheered by far-right chief Marine Le Pen, who has sought for years to portray her National Rally party as a government in waiting. "I'm not pushing for Macron's resignation," she said. "The pressure on the president will get greater and greater. Only he will make that decision." No easy exit from French political crisis France now faces a period of deep political uncertainty that is already unnerving investors in French sovereign bonds and stocks. Earlier this week, France's borrowing costs briefly exceeded those of Greece, generally considered far more risky. Macron must now make a choice. The Elysee Palace said the president would address the nation on Thursday evening. Three sources told Reuters that Macron aimed to install a new prime minister swiftly, with one saying he wanted to name a premier before a ceremony to reopen the Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday, which Trump is due to attend. Any new prime minister would face the same challenges as Barnier in getting bills, including the 2025 budget, adopted by a divided parliament. There can be no new parliamentary election before July. Macron could alternatively ask Barnier and his ministers to stay on in a caretaker capacity while he takes time to identify a prime minister able to attract sufficient cross-party support to pass legislation. A caretaker government could either propose emergency legislation to roll the tax-and-spend provisions in the 2024 budget into next year, or invoke special powers to pass the draft 2025 budget by decree - though jurists say this is a legal grey area and the political cost would be huge. Macron's opponents also could vote down one prime minister after the next. Economic pain The upheaval is not without risk for Le Pen. Macron allies sought to present her as an agent of chaos after her party joined forces with the left to down Barnier. "The French will harshly judge the choice you are going to make," Laurent Wauquiez, a lawmaker from the conservative Les Republicains party who backs Macron, told Le Pen in parliament. Since Macron called the summer snap election, France's CAC 40 benchmark stock market index has dropped nearly 10% and is the heaviest loser among top EU economies. The euro EUR=EBS showed little immediate reaction versus the dollar, trading for around $1.05 per euro, but dipping against other European currencies, such as the Swiss franc and the pound . "I'm amazed the euro hasn't moved much," said Nick Rees, senior foreign exchange market analyst at Monex Europe. "There are two major powers in Europe, France and Germany, both of which right now are emasculated." Barnier's draft budget had sought to cut the fiscal deficit from a projected 6% of national output this year to 5% in 2025. Voting down his government would be catastrophic for state finances, he had said. Le Pen shrugged off the warning. She said her party would support any eventual emergency law that rolls over the 2024 budget's tax-and-spend provisions into next year to ensure there is stopgap financing. - Reuters

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Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictionsGMA's Lara Spencer gives painful health update that leaves co-hosts in shock By RACHEL BOWMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 18:18 EST, 12 December 2024 | Updated: 18:21 EST, 12 December 2024 e-mail 45 shares 39 View comments Good Morning America's Lara Spencer has revealed she was off the airwaves this week due to two painful surgeries on both of her feet. The television host, 55, took to Instagram detailing her operations and shared a photo of her bandaged feet. She posted a photo with her surgeon thanking him for his help and declaring she is on the mend. 'If I look a little groggy it's thanks to this guy who just gave me a new pair of boots,' Spencer said. The mother-of-two explained why she needed each operation, revealing she suffered an agonizing injury in college . 'My right foot was easy - just had plate removed from surgery last year. The left is a bigger deal from a very old college diving injury. I was doing a reverse one-and-a-half and hit the board, shattering toes and joints,' Spencer said. 'Back then they said there was nothing you could do except tape it, let it heal, and live with the pain. Today there are much better options, thanks to surgeons like Dr. Marty O'Malley at HSS.' Colleagues and fans flooded her comments with well wishes and messages of a speedy recovery. Spencer attended Pennsylvania State University on an athletic scholarship for springboard and platform diving Lara Spencer, 55, revealed she was off the airwaves this week after undergoing two painful surgeries 'Jesus!!! Who does both feet at the same time???? My girl, that's who! So tough! Sending u speedy love to fast recovery! We've got dancing to do,' said GMA's former medical chief, Dr. Jennifer Ashton. 'Sweetie!! Feel better soon,' said chief business, economics, and technology correspondent Rebecca Jarvis. ABC News 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts said, 'Wow! Well no doubt you'll be twirling in no time!' Spencer attended Pennsylvania State University on an athletic scholarship for springboard and platform diving, and was a nationally ranked competitive diver. She was named an All American Athlete in 1991, her senior year, and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. The TV host shared in a 2023 post that O'Malley previously operated on her foot due to a torn plantar plate and ligament that she said had been 'slowly getting worse and worse.' Last week, the Good Morning America crew unveiled its 2024 holiday card - but fans were left outraged after they noticed a major oversight. The card featured many of the morning show's anchors, including Spencer, Ginger Zee, Michael Strahan, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. The mother-of-two explained why she needed operations on both of her feet, revealing she suffered an agonizing injury in college Last week, the Good Morning America crew unveiled its 2024 holiday card The box was decorated with twinkling lights and various holiday-themed décor, and the GMA cast members stood in front of snowy trees. But some social media users were quick to point out that two of the network's top stars were missing from the holiday card - weekend host Gio Benitez and weatherman Sam Champion. People magazine shared the new holiday card to Instagram on Wednesday, and immediately, people took to the comment section to question why they weren't in it. 'You are missing Sam Champion and Gio Benitez,' one person commented. Another said, 'Sam is missing,' with a crying emoji. Instagram Share or comment on this article: GMA's Lara Spencer gives painful health update that leaves co-hosts in shock e-mail 45 shares Add comment

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Netflix continues to express confidence that its streaming platform is prepared to handle the massive audiences expected for a pair of Christmas Day NFL games along with the start of its live coverage of the World Wrestling Entertainment's "Raw" next month. Concerns were raised after users experienced issues with buffering and low quality feeds during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match last month. Netflix has exclusive rights to stream NFL games on Christmas Day between the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. Beyonce is scheduled to perform during halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, which could create more server traffic Netflix must take into account. It's a major test after the company reported an average global live audience of 108 million viewers for Paul's victory over Tyson in Arlington, Texas. Downdetector.com , which tracks service outages, announced that there were 90,000 issues reported at one point. "It was a big number, but you don't know, and you can't learn these things until you do them, so you take a big swing," Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria told Front Office Sports. "Our teams and our engineers are amazing, moved super quickly, and stabilized it, and many of the members had it back up and running pretty quickly. But we learn from these things. "We've all obviously done a lot of stuff to learn and get ready for the NFL and Beyonce, and so we're totally ready and excited for WWE." WWE president Nick Khan told FOS that Raw's tone and content will not change as it moves to the streaming service, with its first event of 2025 scheduled for Jan. 6. "There's some online chatter about, ‘oh, it's going to be R-rated, or for us old folks, X-rated.' That's definitely not happening," Khan said. "It's family-friendly, multi-generational, advertiser-friendly programming. It's going to stay that way. I would look for more global flair, especially as the relationship continues to develop." --Field Level MediaSubscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . New York is rife with great art right now, of all genres and styles, but if the shows below share anything, it’s an explosion of color. Maybe artists and institutions are responding to the dull, gray surroundings — weather-related and otherwise — or maybe we’re drawn to it at the moment, but our list is filled with multi-hued, multimedia maximalism, ranging from Anne Samat’s grand sculptures incorporating everyday items to the captivating hand-dyed textiles in the group show The Lady and The Unicorn: New Tapestry to the seven stunning abstract paintings at Bienvenu Steinberg & C, to Jerome Baja’s tiny glitter-and nail polish paintings. Big names like Simone Leigh and Bill Viola also offer dazzling visuals in their own distinctive idioms. For a more solemn experience, but one hinting at human presence and connection, check out Tsohil Bhatia’s solo exhibition This Fire That Warms You at the CUE Art Foundation, just extended through December 14. — Natalie Haddad, Reviews Editor Abstract Expressions: 7 Paintings by 7 Painters Bienvenu Steinberg & C , 35 Walker Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 14 I love to see galleries offer their spaces to artists who can show us what they got, and this exhibition is a nice celebration of seven painters who feel connected to the legacy of the New York School and its taste for large gestural paintings that are more event than object. Each artist brings their own visual vocabulary to the walls, from Andrea Belag’s luscious translucency to Stephen Pusey’s webs of radiant energy, and they all offer us insight into the artistic gardens they actively cultivate in their studios. You can feel the respect in the room among the artists, all of whom confidently showcase their very individualist styles. A nice tour of some artists who continue to challenge what the legacy of New York abstraction is today. — Hrag Vartanian Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities Your Patience Is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show Marian Goodman Gallery , 385 Broadway, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 14 This is your last chance to see the inaugural exhibition at Marian Goodman’s new large three-story gallery space. This is the latest proof that Tribeca has cemented its reputation as the city’s premiere art gallery hub — sorry, Chelsea, but you were always a terrible place to see art. Upon entering you’re greeted by a large cheesy Maurizio Cattelan “I Love NY” artwork, while works by Pierre Huyghe, Julie Mehretu, Nairy Baghramian, Marcel Broodthaers, Steve McQueen, Louise Lawler, Robert Smitson, Danh Vo, Giuseppe Penone, and so, so many others can be found in one of the 16 — if you include the stairwell — spaces. There’s even someone to perform Tino Seghal’s “This Ornation” (2024) for you in a rather nondescript office space on the third floor. — HV Jerome Caja: Ugly Pageant Bortolami Gallery , 39 Walker Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 19 🤩 was the reaction from my nine-year-old niece when I sent her a picture of Jerome Caja’s “Virgin Poop” (1992), an anthropomorphic pile of dung with a beatific gaze. This is not to say that the painting is just for kids who like gross-out jokes. Rather, it points to the star quality that the artist could imbue in the most unlikely subjects. Born in Cleveland in 1958, one of 11 boys in a Catholic family, Caja left Middle America after high school to study ceramics at the San Francisco Art Institute. Between 1985 and ’95, the year he died, he created a presence in San Francisco as a drag performer but he continued to make visual art. The works on view here are primarily small paintings on paper. His materials include glitter, nail polish, collaged fabrics, and white-out. Some pieces are in found frames (including a toilet seat); others take the form of reliquaries. Most are portraits whose subjects range from crusty drag queens holding mixed drinks to amalgams of sexual and religious iconography. A lot of artists have tried in vain to capitalize on kitsch and camp aesthetics. In contrast, Caja plumbed the depths of the grotesque in all its glitter and doom to reflect a world where saints wearing fishnets are born in Cleveland and the Virgin Mary’s grace rings truer when she’s at the bottom of a sewer. — NH Andrea Geyer: Manifest Hales , 547 West 2oth Street, Chelsea, Manhattan Through December 2o I’m usually averse to text-based art because it often tries to tell me what to think and how. I’ll make an exception for Andrea Geyer, whose beautifully sewn banners deliver a piercing manifesto on what today’s deeply flawed art museums can and should be. She wants a museum to “face history without fear”; “be a space to breathe”; and “feel its own floors tremble when others are destroyed.” Amen to all that. — Hakim Bishara Anne Samat: The Origin of Savage Beauty Marc Straus Gallery , 57 Walker Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 21 Born from grief and loss, Malaysian artist Anne Samat’s work looks from afar like pua kumbu textiles , with bright colors and totemic shapes that create an altar to the artist’s lost loved ones. But on closer inspection, the installations are composed of toy army figurines, a bra holder, and a container for a mosquito coil. Each of these objects references memories of individuals, stories that are not readily apparent but that flow easily from the artist’s recollection. For example, “Never Walk in Anyone’s Shadow,” the stunning centerpiece of the show, looks like a three-part altar that folds into the floor. The title comes from a memory of her late elder brother, who encouraged her to build an art career in New York with a style that is distinctly her own. — AX Mina Bill Viola: The Raft James Cohan Gallery , 291 Grand Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 21 This is the first time “The Raft” (2004) has been exhibited in New York City. Commissioned for the 2004 Athens Olympics, the large-scale video work depicts 19 people being bombarded with water in a deluge whose source remains unknown to us. It is surprising how the work seems to portend the immigration crisis that would show up on the shores of Europe over a decade later, as people from across the Global South would brave the Mediterranean to find safety, only to be demonized by Europeans. The work is complemented by two other video pieces by the veteran video artist, including “Traveling on Foot” (2012), one of five works from his Mirage series, and the 83-minute portrait called “Anima” (2000). All three showcase Viola’s interest in the human form when placed under various types of stress or even in awkward scenarios. These works suggest a greater truth that is found beyond simply the image. — HV Jiha Moon: Fool’s Moon Derek Eller Gallery , 38 Walker Street, Ground Floor, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 21 Bananas appear frequently in this one-person exhibition in Tribeca, and while Moon suggests it as a metaphor to navigate Asian American, particularly second-generation, identity, the zeitgeistiness of the very peelable fruit is not lost on the viewer. While Maurizio Cattelan may have leaned into the comedy of the banana in his obscenely expensive prank, Moon enjoys the more slippery aspect of the fruit that is often evoked when Asian Americans slide into good ol’ American assimilation politics. There’s one line in her press release that continues to bring me joy whenever I reread it: “I reference the Korean drag queen Kimchi and Keanu Reeves, whose life quotes resonate deeply with me, borrowing their voices to tell my story.” I can imagine no more apt way to encapsulate her aesthetic universe in a sentence. — HV Simone Leigh Matthew Marks Gallery , 522 and 526 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, Manhattan Through December 21 Simone Leigh has a way of charging her sculptures of Black female figures with a palpable aura, even if she makes them headless. Moving between them at Matthew Marks’s cavernous gallery spaces is traversing through millennia-old histories and traditions, but it also feels like these figures have their own stories to tell. Don’t miss “Okwui” (2024), an 11-foot-long bronze sculpture of a reclining woman with an outstretched skirt. Her body is alive with dance and music, grief and joy. She’s still on my mind, weeks after seeing the show. — HB The Lady and the Unicorn: New Tapestry Salon 94 , 3 East 89th Street,Upper East Side, Manhattan Through December 21 The Lady and The Unicorn: New Tapestry offers a refreshingly contemplative return to the body as AI and disembodied technologies cast a shadow across art. The show presents eight contemporary textile artists operating in different geographical and cultural regions who tell their stories using natural dye processes, traditional weaving techniques, and a variety of materials. On the gallery’s first floor, Zapotec textile artist Porfirio Gutiérrez’s richly patterned works combine modernist design with his reverence for the land in his native Oaxaca. Some of his pieces feature wool canvases dripping with natural indigo dyes produced by his family, as well as pomegranate and pericon dyes, within a tight geometric structure, making a record of the exact period the plants were harvested. Hanging from the walls and taller-than-life ceilings on the next floor, Mitsuko Asakura’s ombré silk tapestries fill an entire room with waves of color. Her works contemplate Western and Japanese visual histories, as the materials interweave their respective approaches. The exhibition also includes playful and provocative works such as Qualeasha Wood’s embroidered collages of webcam selfies and desktop screenshots, as well as Felix Beaudry’s humanoid fabric wearables, that humorously reflect upon one’s sense of self. — Sebastián Meltz-Collazo Pass Carry Hold: Studio Museum Artists in Residence 2023–24 MoMA PS1 , 22–25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens Through February 10, 2025 For its sixth iteration, the Studio Museum’s artist in residence program tasked its artists to “explore themes related to ancestral and intuitive knowledge.” Each artist — sonia louise davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley — responded with distinctive, personal artworks, but all three assert the works’ materiality as part and parcel of histories and lives. In three different gallery spaces, family histories and transient moments hold forth. Peacock’s multimedia sculpture, a single, huge object in a small room, incorporates synthetic hair among other materials to simulate a giant tree trunk. The rings and textures are reflected in davis’s abstract textile pieces, while Pulley transforms clothing into abstract artworks, covered in furniture plastic and displayed alongside family ephemera. Rather than bogging the work down in explanations about its physical presence and emotional resonance, I suggest you see it and experience it for yourself. — NH We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn FacebookNEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE: LFT ) ("LFT" or the "Company") announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.08 per share of common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. The Company also announced the declaration of a one-time special cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock due to real estate investment trust tax considerations. These dividends are payable on January 15, 2025 , to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024 . The Company also announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.4921875 per share of 7.875% Cumulative Redeemable Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business January 2, 2025 . About LFT LFT is a Maryland corporation focused on investing in, financing and managing a portfolio of commercial real estate debt investments. The Company primarily invests in transitional floating rate commercial mortgage loans with an emphasis on middle-market multi-family assets. LFT is externally managed and advised by Lument Investment Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Additional Information and Where to Find It Investors, security holders and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the Company at the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov/ or the Company website www.lumentfinancetrust.com or by directing requests to: Lument Finance Trust, 230 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10169, Attention: Investor Relations. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. You can identify forward-looking statements by use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may," "will," "seek," "would," "could," or similar expressions or other comparable terms, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company on the date of this press release or the date on which such statements are first made. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release and should consider carefully the factors described in Part I, Item IA "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 , which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , and in other current or periodic filings with the SEC, when evaluating these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company's control. Except as required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lument-finance-trust-inc-declares-quarterly-cash-dividends-for-its-common-and-preferred-stock-and-announces-special-cash-dividend-distribution-302330846.html SOURCE Lument Finance Trust

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