Week InReview
Friday | May 29, 2020
#backtowork
Employers and legislators are turning their attention to the eventual reopening of workplaces, and in some places it is already happening .

But many employees remain nervous about their health, and about how they will make ends meet if they can’t return to work. Meanwhile, many employers are confused by an onslaught of guidelines, rules, executive orders and recommendations from the White House, governors and an array of federal and state agencies. Just last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated its guidance for employers, hoping to clarify questions about testing employees and job applicants, protecting confidential information and accommodating workers with underlying health conditions.

To help make sense of fast-changing rules and norms, The Wall Street Journal consulted a panel of employment lawyers and other experts. While not all of the policies and guidelines referred to here are hard-and-fast requirements, the following answers to some common questions do reflect best practices, the experts say.

—  The Wall Street Journal
in case you missed it...
The $1.2 trillion leveraged loan market’s biggest players can breathe a collective sigh of relief —  at least for now. A New York judge last week dismissed a claim that a leveraged loan JPMorgan Chase & Co. and other Wall Street banks sold in 2014 could be considered a security and, as such, be subject to the same disclosure requirements as stock and bond offerings. (Bloomberg Deals | May 27)

The coronavirus deeply damaged the U.S. economy in recent weeks, with steep job losses and business closures, a new Federal Reserve report said. "Economic activity declined in all districts – falling sharply in most – reflecting disruptions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic,” the central bank said in its Beige Book survey released Wednesday in Washington. (BNN Bloomberg - Canada | May 27) see also The bond market is betting on more Fed action to dodge a depression (Bloomberg Economics | May 26)

It seems that there is never a simple answer when it comes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The housing giants’ regulator last week published capital requirements for the two government-sponsored enterprises, fulfilling one of the key steps before the pair begin to move forward with potential public offerings. The  new guidelines call for Fannie and Freddie  to have about $240 billion in capital between them. That number is well above what the Federal Housing Finance Agency previously estimated a couple of years ago, at roughly $180 billion. (The Wall Street Journal | May 27)

“The recent Twitter spat between 'Black Swan' author Nassim Nicholas Taleb and quant investing pioneer Cliff Asness over hedging against highly remote events reminded me  why Luke Skywalker needed two droids : R2-D2 to ignore chaos and calmly proceed with the long-term plan, and C-3PO to point out all the exotic dangers that make everything hopeless.” (Bloomberg Markets - opinion | May 26)

Forget buy-and hold. Stuck at home and dreaming of a killing, bored retail traders are branching out into all manner of Wall Street exotica. Darting in and out of stock options, dabbling in complicated exchange-traded funds, devouring trading how-to books by the dozen —  all have become tools in the self-directed portfolio playbook. (Bloomberg Markets | May 22)
the cyber cafe
New Unc0ver jailbreak released, works on all recent iOS versions
A zero-day vulnerability in Apple's iOS has been exploited in hacker group UncOver's latest jailbreak tool update. The update allows root access and unlocking, and it works on iOS, macOS, Linux and Windows devices.
—  ZDNet

Vigilante hackers target 'scammers' with ransomware, DDoS attacks
Hackers have been taking justice into their own hands by targeting "scam" companies with ransomware and denial of service attacks. Victims are left with a note stating that the computer was destroyed because "we know you are a scammer!"

5 principles for effective cybersecurity leadership in a post-Covid world
Covid-19 is forcing business leaders to adapt operating models faster than ever before to ensure existential survival. The large-scale adoption of work-from-home technologies, exponentially greater use of cloud services, and explosion of connectivity allow companies to continue operations even with social distancing and “stay at home” orders. However, the paradigm shift is putting immense pressure on cybersecurity operations.
MORE CYBER SECURITY NEWS HERE:
binge reading disorder
Teachers launch a free ebook to help children cope with the pandemic
Written by award-winning teachers to help give children hope during the pandemic, "Hope where are you?" is the story of six children around the world who are experiencing school closures because of the pandemic. Each story follows a similar pattern of frustration and challenge, finding their hope and spreading their hope to others. Available in 30 languages.

Our habits have changed. These gadgets are proof. 
From Pelotons to "Animal Crossing," these are the things that hooked us during the pandemic — and that we’ll likely stick with when it’s over. We aren’t going to give up our smart ovens, webcams, and high-tech exercise bikes when the Covid-19 lockdowns are over.

Where to buy the best fruit and veggies online
Fortunately for consumers, the choices for online produce-box deliveries have gotten more robust in recent years, with strong options for varying budgets and household needs. Nationally, subscription boxes ship a mix of fruits and vegetables, allowing you to tailor the size of the box, its contents and frequency. Regionally, online marketplaces connect producers and consumers. Some farmers operate without middlemen, shipping direct from the field to you.
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