Good morning readers. Here’s a not-so-fun fact: a whopping 20% of U.S. workers don't get any paid time off (PTO). For those with the privilege, poorly planned holidays can still lead to a sense of never truly escaping work. The key lies in smart scheduling – pairing PTO with public holidays can transform 15 days into nearly 50 days of extended breaks, if claimed before colleagues. Research highlights the benefits of at least one week-long vacations, which, surprisingly, can be more rejuvenating than even longer breaks. Studies also show well-being peaks around the eighth day of vacation, and shorter breaks don't match the positive post-vacation effects of longer ones.

So, get planning and outsmart your calendar for a stellar 2024.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Unmasking Epstein's elite connections

• Headline Hustle: Fed offers no timetable on cuts, SpaceX illegally fires employees, China’s spy balloons are back

• A culinary controversy in Naples

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

U.S.

Epstein's list exposed: High-profile connections revealed

If you thought your little black book was controversial, imagine if it was tied to Jeffrey Epstein. A U.S. judge just cracked open a pandora's box by unsealing names connected to a lawsuit involving Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. And boy, there were a lot of names.

Stemming from a 2015 defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, the unsealing in a New York federal court reveals an intricate web involving Epstein's associates. Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years for trafficking Giuffre and others, expressed regret over her association with Epstein during her sentencing, calling it “the greatest regret of my life.”

Epstein’s inner circle

While many names had already surfaced through media reports and court documents, this latest revelation includes a mix of Epstein's victims, former employees, and high-profile associates. Notably, it includes Prince Andrew, who settled a lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 and publicly regretted his ties to Epstein. Similarly, former President Bill Clinton, who had distanced himself from Epstein a decade before the latter's crimes became public, was also mentioned. He clarified his limited interactions with Epstein were strictly related to the Clinton Foundation's work.

The documents also shed light on Epstein's financial connections, including former money manager for billionaire Leslie Wexner (the brain behind Vicotria’s Secret) and links to Glenn Dubin and Eva Andersson-Dubin. Wexner severed ties with Epstein in 2007, while the Dubins stated their shock upon learning of Epstein's crimes, despite their past friendship.

So, why spill the beans now? The decision to unseal these names follows a ruling by U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska, balancing the public's right to information against individual privacy concerns. As this saga unfolds, the investigation continues to unravel Epstein's VIP circle, revealing his interactions with influential figures like Bill Gates and CIA director William Burns, who both expressed regrets about their past associations. Epstein's story, marked by a web of influential connections and dark secrets, continues to evolve even after his death in 2019.

Headline Hustle

🏦 Fed minutes suggest rate hikes are over, but offer no timetable on cuts. In a dance of delicate decisions, Federal Reserve officials grapple with the timing of interest rate reductions. The December meeting's minutes reveal a central bank caught between sustaining economic growth and taming persistent inflation. While some policymakers lean towards lowering rates to prevent economic slowdown, others advocate for maintaining higher rates if inflation overshoots the Fed's 2% target. Amid this tension, market players anticipate imminent rate cuts, reflecting Chair Jerome Powell’s nuanced stance on balancing inflation control with economic stability.

🚀 SpaceX illegally fired workers critical of Elon Musk. In a striking clash between employee expression and corporate response, a U.S. labor-relations official has accused SpaceX of contravening federal law by dismissing employees who decried founder Elon Musk's public conduct. These workers, part of a larger cohort dismayed by Musk's behavior, demanded SpaceX dissociate from Musk's personal brand. In the aftermath, SpaceX, a titan in rocket launching and burgeoning in satellite internet service, terminated eight of the dissenting employees. Now, as the labor board steps in, the case teeters on the edge of escalating to the federal courts, spotlighting the tense interplay between worker rights and corporate image.

🎈 China’s balloons are back, this time in Taiwan. As Taiwan braces for a pivotal presidential election, the sighting of Chinese balloons over its airspace stokes tensions and international concern. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported multiple incidents, marking the first acknowledged overflight of such balloons, thought to collect atmospheric data. This development echoes last year's U.S. incident, where a Chinese balloon's intrusion led to a severe diplomatic rift. Analysts suggest these overflights near election time might be a subtle Beijing tactic to influence Taiwan's political landscape.

ITALY

Pineapple on pizza? Naples shakes up tradition with a twist

When in Rome, do as the Romans do—but in Naples, brace yourself for a pizza revolution. The latest culinary curveball? Pineapple pizza, a previously unspeakable heresy, is now making waves in the birthplace of Margherita.

Dimmi che non è vero. The pizza street of the world's pizza capital is now home to a controversial creation, the "Margherita con Ananas." This isn't your average Hawaiian pizza; it's a pizza bianca, lacking the classic tomato base, and enriched with three types of cheese and double-cooked pineapple for a caramelized twist. The mastermind behind this creation seeks to dismantle food prejudices, arguing that many are conditioned to dislike certain ingredients based on past misconceptions.

The launch of this tropical-topped pizza has sliced through public opinion. While some have embraced the experiment, seeing it as a delicious defiance of convention, others view the addition of pineapple as nothing short of heresy. The debate has erupted from social media frenzy to national television discussions.

Zoom out: As this culinary curiosity continues to divide taste buds and opinions alike, it represents something greater than just a menu item—it's a symbol of evolving tastes and the challenging of culinary norms. The introduction of pineapple pizza is perhaps the beginning of a wider culinary revolution, where tradition meets innovation. And with talks of a ketchup pizza already causing a stir, it seems the boundaries of Italian pizza are being redrawn, one unconventional ingredient at a time.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Xerox Holdings announced a 15% workforce reduction and leadership team changes as part of its operating model reorganization.

• Cigna is in advanced talks to sell its Medicare Advantage business to Health Care Service Corp. for between $3 billion and $4 billion.

• Walt Disney gained the backing of a crucial shareholder in its dispute with activist investor Nelson Peltz, while also dealing with a third shareholder seeking influence.

• Since its bankruptcy in November 2022, FTX has been pursuing billions of dollars through numerous lawsuits and plans to file more in 2024.

• Intel is creating a new platform company focused on AI-powered enterprise software, backed by DigitalBridge, a Boca Raton-based asset manager and investor.

• SpaceX has launched its initial group of Starlink satellites capable of connecting directly to cell phones, anticipating tests later this year.

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