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☆ Opinion | Columbia, Free Speech and the Coddling of the American Right
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Lydia Polgreen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

As a journalist, you usually go to the front line to find the news. The first was when I happened to be on the campus of Columbia University, speaking at a class. While leaving the classroom, I came upon a tent camp that had sprung up on one of the campus’s lush lawns. They were, according to the university, trespassing on the grounds of the school they pay dearly to attend. What followed was the largest arrest of students at Columbia since 1968.

Persons: , —, Nemat Shafik Organizations: Columbia University, Columbia, New York Police Department Locations: Manhattan, GAZA, South Africa, Vietnam, Israel, Gaza

☆ Ukraine isn't the only country Russia is trying to topple
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Even as Russian bombs pound Ukraine, Moscow's mercenaries and spies are busy trying to set much of the rest of the world afire. To Russia, the conventional warfare waged in Ukraine, and unconventional "gray zone" warfare waged around the world, are two sides of the same coin. Human intelligence operations are used to attempt elite capture through the offer of assistance to politicians who support Russian interests. "As the war in Ukraine protracts, Russia has an interest in creating crises further afield," said RUSI. "As a lot of Russia's unconventional operations are self-defeating, countering Russian unconventional warfare must be premised on careful, selective, and intelligence- driven targeting," the study emphasized.

Persons: —, RUSI, Vladimir Putin, Jack Watling, Oleksandr Danylyuk, Nick Reynolds, Britain —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, Kadyrov, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Business, Kremlin, Soviet Union, NATO, Directorate, Staff of, Armed Forces, Getty, Russian, Central African, Wagner, GRU Expeditionary Corps, Convoy, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Europe, Africa, Central Asia, Soviet, Montenegro, Moscow, Moldova, Russian, Britain, Ukraine protracts, Balkans, Russia's, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Central African Republic, Chechnya, Forbes

☆ The Baltimore bridge disaster is just the latest knock to global shipping and trade
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Over the past few years, supply chain woes have repeatedly come into the spotlight. Since then, global integrated supply chain systems just seem to keep getting disrupted — be it by the COVID-19 pandemic or Russia's war in Ukraine. The domino effect is due to the "just in time" model that supply chains have been relying on for decades. Here are three key reasons why supply chains just seem to keep screwing up in recent years. Examining ongoing conflicts in the Black Sea and Red Sea respectively shows how geopolitical conflicts affect global supply chains.

Persons: —, they've, Donald Trump, Dali, Francis Scott Key, Project44, Nari Viswanathan, Viswanathan, tailspin, Julie Gerdeman, Trump, Rahul Khanna, Geoff Weiss, Allan Post, Justus Heinrich, Khanna Organizations: Service, Business, Maersk, BI, Shipping, Allianz, Allianz Commercial, Technologies Locations: China, Ukraine, Baltimore, The Port, of Baltimore, Europe, Asia, Iran, Israel, Suez, Good, Africa, Panama, El, Egypt

☆ Another Wayward Container Ship Shows World Trade’s Fragility
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Peter S. Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Between swirling geopolitical winds, the variables of climate change and continued disruptions resulting from the pandemic, the risks of depending on ships to carry goods around the planet were already conspicuous. The pitfalls of relying on factories across oceans to supply everyday items like clothing and critical wares like medical devices were at once vivid and unrelenting. Off Yemen, Houthi rebels have been firing missiles at container ships in what they say is a show of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In Central America, a dearth of rainfall, linked to climate change, has limited passage through the Panama Canal. That has impeded a crucial link between the Atlantic and the Pacific, delaying shipments to the East Coast of the United States from Asia.

Organizations: Atlantic, Pacific Locations: Baltimore, Patapsco, American, Yemen, Gaza, Suez, Asia, Europe, Africa, Central America, Panama, East Coast, United States

☆ The Orfali Bros Bistro is the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa — again
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

We love food, and we love people who love food,” says Orfali. Orfali Bros BistroA multicultural menuOrfali left Syria in 2006, relocating to Dubai a year later, and his brothers followed. “Different nationalities, different colors, different languages, different accents. Orfali Bros BistroA “flourishing” food sceneDubai’s restaurant scene has, until recently, been dominated by celebrity chefs and international franchises. “We build a relationship between us and the guests, and we make it family,” Orfali says.

Persons: CNN —, Mohamad Orfali, Treet Bel Laban ” —, ”, Orfali —, Mohamad, Omar, We’re, Orfali, “, Mohammad, barak, they’ve, Orfali Bros, Eclair, Samantha Wood, “ Mohamad, Wood, Chez Wam, ” Orfali, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Michelin, ”, Orfali, UAE, Dubai, “, Bros Locations: Aleppo, Syria, Dubai, East, North Africa, Orfali’s, UAE, Lebanese, Sichuan, , “ Dubai, Hokkaido, Turkish

☆ Somalia Faces ‘Pivotal Year’ as Crises Open on Several Fronts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Abdi Latif Dahir | Brian Otieno | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A 10-year defense and economic deal with Turkey to protect its seacoast and bolster its naval force. An agreement with the United States to construct five military bases for over $100 million. An enhanced defense cooperation accord with Uganda to boost the fight against the terrorist group Al Shabab. The three security pacts signed by Somalia in recent days underscore the increasing perils the Horn of Africa nation faces both internally and externally. Equally worrisome, tensions are growing between Somalia and its western neighbor, Ethiopia, over Somalia’s coastline — the longest in mainland Africa — threatening to set off a new conflict in a vital global shipping route in an increasingly volatile region.

Persons: Al Shabab Organizations: African Union Locations: Turkey, United States, Uganda, Somalia, of Africa, Ethiopia, Somalia’s, Africa

BOSTON (AP) — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog sniffed out something unusual in luggage from a traveler returning from Africa — mummified monkeys. The passenger returning from a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo reported that the luggage contained dried fish, but an inspection at Boston Logan Airport revealed dead and dehydrated bodies of four monkeys, agents said. Raw or minimally processed meat from wild animals, sometimes referred to as “bushmeat,” is banned in the U.S. because of the threat of disease. "The potential dangers posed by bringing bushmeat into the United States are real. Bushmeat can carry germs that can cause illness, including the Ebola virus,” said Julio Caravia, local port director for Customs and Border Protection.

Persons: “, ”, Julio Caravia, Ryan Bissette Organizations: BOSTON, —, U.S . Customs, Democratic, Boston Logan Airport, Customs, U.S . Centers for Disease Control Locations: U.S, Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, United States

lydia polgreenSure, but a few things — one thing that was elided in a lot of the discourse about men falling behind really, really, really under emphasized or just ignored the racial component of it. I just don’t — I don’t —ross douthatYeah, there were like five. That’s a really, really, really big shift. Are women going to pay a disproportionate price for childbearing in terms of their economic potential? But I think — Ross wrote a column about just how freaking weird the bizarre conspiracy theories about Taylor and Travis are.

Persons: ross douthat, polgreen, polgreen Oh, — ross douthat, Carlos Lozada, lydia polgreen I’m, Carlos Lazada, ross, michelle cottle, Lozada, lydia polgreen, Jimmy Carter, — ross, Jimmy Carter lusted, michelle cottle Oh, Jimmy, I’m Michelle Cottle, ross douthat I’m Ross Douthat, Lydia Polgreen, lydia polgreen Hoo, Carlos, Gen, topsy turvy, Ronald Reagan, Ross, Bill Clinton, Michelle, — michelle cottle, there’s, John Burn, Murdoch, Lydia, it’s, —, Taylor Swift, I’m, It’s, Roe, Let’s, Let’s —, That’s, I’ve, Andrew Tates, who’s, you’re, We’re, Don’t, we’ve, ” I’m, Trump, — Trump, michelle cottle It’s, Brett Kavanaugh, they’re, let’s, don’t, he’s, ross douthat It’s, michelle cottle Let’s, michelle cottle That’s, couldn’t, Jesus, that’s, michelle cottle We’ve, Taylor, — michelle cottle Travis Kelce, lydia polgreen Travis, — Ross, Travis, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rush Limbaugh’s feminazis, lydia polgreen Feminazis, michelle cottle There’s, michelle cottle You’re, michelle cottle I’ll, lydia polgreen —, we’re, — michelle cottle Partypalooza, sleepovers, — michelle cottle Ah, lydia polgreen Congrats Organizations: New York, Goldwater Republicans, Bill Clinton Democrats, Democrat, Republicans, Confederation, YouTube, Trump, Public Religion Research Institute, South Korea —, Pinterest Locations: American, US, Germany, United Kingdom, South Korea, Poland, Mars, United States, America, France, Korea, Northeast Asia, Africa, Mozambique, Saharan Africa, Europe, New York City, Manhattan

☆ Ex-Wagner mercenaries may be heading back to Ukraine, but this time with Russia's National Guard, intel says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFormer Wagner Group fighters are being absorbed into Russia's national guard and may soon be deployed to Ukraine, according to Western intelligence, as Moscow continues to assume control over the ruthless mercenary organization. Russian President Vladimir Putin in late-December authorized the country's National Guard, also known as Rosgvardia, to create its own volunteer arrangements. AdvertisementMembers of the Wagner Group prepare to depart from the Southern Military District's headquarters and return to their base in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on June 24, 2023. Some in the West observed this as an effort to strengthen the national guard. AdvertisementRussian police and National Guard (Rosgvardia) servicemen patrol Red Square in central Moscow on Oct. 20, 2021.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Arkady Budnitsky, Vladimir Putin's, Viktor Zolotov, Rosgvardia, Putin, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, Moscow, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Service, Wagner Group, country's National Guard, Volunteer Corps, Business, Southern Military, Anadolu Agency, Getty, National Guard, Institute for, Bakhmut, Kremlin, Africa Corps, Nazi Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Africa, Russia, Rostov, Don, Red, AFP, Africa —

South Africa has accused Israel of genocide and asked the world court in The Hague, Netherlands, to impose interim measures as the case proceeds. Israel has denied committing genocide and asked the court to throw out the case, which the panel of 17 judges refused to do. — How genocide officially became a crime, and why South Africa is accusing Israel of committing it. South Africa requested interim steps since the proceedings could take several years. The world court is delivering its preliminary decisions in a genocide case that South Africa brought against Israel.

Persons: Israel, NETANYAHU, ISRAEL, JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ”, “, Judge Joan E, Donoghue, Aharon Barak, Joan E, ” Donoghue, Osama Hamdan, Hamdan, Al, Khan Younis, Gaza’s, Khan, Ashraf al, Qidra, “ Israel, Naledi Pandor, Antony Blinken, Matthew Miller, Blinken, ” Miller Organizations: Gaza, International Court of Justice, Health Ministry, Hamas, UN, Court of, HAGUE, Israel, International Court, Justice, INTERNATIONAL, Court of Justice, ISRAEL THE, United Nations ’, FIRE, West Bank, Palestinian, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, DEIR, Associated Press, ’ Hospital, Brigades, MINISTRY, SOUTH, Hague, United, State Department . State Department Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, South Africa, The Hague, Netherlands, Egypt, Georgia, U.S, Red, israel, Israeli, HAGUE, Africa, GAZA, ISRAEL THE HAGUE, HAMAS, FIRE RAMALLAH, West, Al Aqsa, Deir, Khan, ISRAEL, RAFAH, SOUTH AFRICA, South

☆ Nobel Peace Prize winner: The time has come to recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Opinion Narges Mohammadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The time has come to declare gender apartheid a crime. That is why I have written a letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urging him to declare gender apartheid a crime against humanity. Inhumane acts committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one gender group over another are termed gender apartheid. This is why it is imperative that gender apartheid is recognized as a crime against humanity. In recent months there has been positive momentum at the United Nations towards recognizing and codifying gender apartheid.

Persons: Read, António Guterres, —, Mahsa Amini, Amini, Iran —, Shirin Ebadi, Malala Yousafzai, Nadia Murad – Organizations: CNN, Getty, United Nations, Assembly, Apartheid, UN Women’s, UN Locations: Iranian, Iran, Tehran’s, Islamic Republic, Afghanistan, South Africa, States

☆ Jane Goodall Says 2024 is the ‘Most Consequential Voting Year’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When I caught up with Jane Goodall in 2019, she was calling on consumers and businesses to make responsible choices and protect the natural world. And in a year when more than 40 countries — including the United States, India and South Africa — will be electing their leaders, Goodall is telling anyone who will listen that the health of Earth itself is on the ballot. “Half of the population of the planet is going to be voting,” she said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. “This year could be the most consequential voting year in terms of the fate of our planet.”As my colleague Manuela Andreoni wrote last week, the leaders elected this year will face consequential choices on energy policy, deforestation and emissions reductions. In the United States, Republicans are planning to undo environmental regulations if former president Donald J. Trump wins re-election.

Persons: Jane Goodall, Goodall, ”, Manuela Andreoni, Donald J, Claudia Sheinbaum Organizations: Economic, Trump Locations: United States, India, South Africa, Davos, Mexico, Mexico City

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s migration agency is launching its first “global appeal,” seeking $7.9 billion to help people on the move and ensure smoother pathways to migration, at a time when the fallout from climate change, conflict and both economic distress and opportunities has caused millions to leave their homes. His agency is seeking $46 billion this year. IOM says it hopes funding for its appeal will come from individual and private-sector donors in addition to governments. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“Irregular and forced migration have reached unprecedented levels and the challenges we face are increasingly complex,” Pope said. “The evidence is overwhelming that migration, when well-managed, is a major contributor to global prosperity and progress."

Persons: Martin Griffiths, Amy Pope, ” Pope, ”, IOM's Organizations: GENEVA, International Organization for Migration, Humanitarian Affairs, IOM Locations: Geneva, Africa —, Libya, Europe

☆ This train goes nowhere. Now it’s a luxury attraction
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Tom Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —South Africa is home to some of the most luxurious, nostalgic train journeys on offer anywhere in the world. But for certain enthusiasts, a train going nowhere is the country’s star attraction. Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge is a hotel in Skukuza in Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “The culture of steam trains and the culture of historical trains I think is beginning to re-emerge,” says Mabena. “We don’t have a moving steam train, but one day, I think we will.”

Persons: Kruger, Jerry Mabena, ” Mabena, ”, Thuli, Mnisi, “, Vusi Mbatha Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Heritage, Motsamayi Tourism Group, Staff, Kruger, Park, Bridge Gardeners, springbok, Rand, South African Railway Locations: South Africa, Skukuza, Kruger, Selati

☆ Falling Domestic Fares and an A.I. Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024 At the start of what promises to be a very busy year, we look ahead at what you’re likely to encounter. With 2023 in the rearview mirror, we look ahead at what travelers will face in 2024. At United Airlines, for example, smarter software can offer rebooking options and issue food and lodging vouchers when a flight is canceled, rather than just rebooking a flight. United Airlines has suspended its flights indefinitely, said Josh Freed, a United spokesman. This year, travelers are expected to choose faraway places and board small ships, according to Virtuoso, the consortium of luxury travel agencies.

Persons: Chanelle, Hayley Berg, ” Ms, Berg, “, Robert W, Mann Jr, ”, Chad Burt, Oren Etzioni, Gilbert Ott, Hopper, Greg Forbes, Delta’s, Neville Pattinson, Mr, Pattinson, biometrics, Laura Lindsay, Joshua Smith, Smith, Laurel Brunvoll, Michael Zeiler, Airbnb, We’ve, Jamie Lane, ‘, ’ ”, Jan Freitag, “ We’ve, David Whiteside, Brian Kelly, Guy, Leigh Rowan, “ There’s, Kelly, Rowan, ” Mr, James Thornton, Sharm el Sheikh, Khaled Ibrahim, Harry Rubenstein, Rubenstein, Eyal Carlin, Josh Freed, Jack Ezon, Tom Marchant, Beth McGroarty Organizations: World Tourism Organization, International Air Transport Association, Analysts, Express Global, ”, airfare, University of Washington, United Airlines, Transportation, Administration, Salt Lake, International Airport, Denver International Airport, Delta Air Lines, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, La Guardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, biometrics, Thales, Air, American Airlines, Global, “, —, MidX Studios, LivSmart Studios, Hilton, Hyatt Studios, Accor Hotels, Boston University, Visa, Mastercard, Walmart, Target, Savanti, Chase, Intrepid Travel, Amisol Travel, East Travel Alliance, United, Consumers, Ki’ama, Wellness, Global Wellness Institute Locations: United States, Point.me, Salt, North America, London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún, Las Vegas, Cayman Islands, Polynesia, Europe, Norway, Denmark, Air Canada, Bergen, Flam, Scandinavia, Italy, France, Malta, Slovenia, Maryland, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Egypt, India, Mexico ; Cape Girardeau, Mo, Niagara Falls, N.Y . Texas, Burnet, Sulphur Springs, New York, Vienna, Marriott, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Oman —, Tunisia, Northern Africa, Sharm, Cairo, Amisol Travel Egypt, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramle, Kimberley, Western Australia, Mitre, Patagonia, Ki’ama Bahamas, Bahamas, South Africa, Hudson, Tuxedo Park, N.Y, Malibu , Calif, Mexico

☆ Insurers shun many ships carrying goods through the Red Sea as attacks continue
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The crisis in the Red Sea threatens to damage the economy by increasing prices on consumers and delaying the shipment of goods. A Houthi official vowed on Wednesday that attacks on “Israeli-linked” vessels in the Red Sea as well as the Arabian Sea will continue. Ikea also does not foresee any product shortages from the Red Sea problems. “Shippers are now much better at using alternative ways of moving their goods around the world,” Zandi said. “We have not seen the situation in the Red Sea translate into material movements in prices in the US such as consumer goods and gasoline prices,” Schwartz said.

Persons: ”, Marcus Baker, Marsh McLennan, Baker, Vicent Clerc, ” Clerc, CNN’s Richard Quest, Mark Zandi, Zandi, Kristalina Georgieva, Quest, ” Zandi, Stephen Schwartz, ” Schwartz Organizations: CNN, US, US Central Command, Maersk, International Monetary Fund, Oxford University . Shipping, P, Moody’s, Global, IMF, Economic, Wednesday, Ikea, Wells, Wells Fargo Global Receivables, Trade Finance Locations: Israel, Marsh, Suez, Africa, China, Davos, Switzerland, “, Asia, Europe, Germany, Wells Fargo, Iran

With 23% of the vote, Wilders stands a good chance of leading any future governing coalition. In the Netherlands, forming a majority coalition with Wilders' party was considered unthinkable not long ago. "And Wilders took off in the polls.”In December, a member of Wilders' party became president of parliament, marking a breakthrough in political acceptance. There is now a real prospect of his far-right party joining, or even leading, a majority governing coalition. Rather than far-right parties being pulled to the center, the center may veer to the right.

Persons: SINT, ”, Geert Wilders, Wilders, ’ ”, Rem Korteweg, “, Walter de Jong, De Jong, Mark Rutte, Tom Theuns, ” Wilders, Theuns, ” Theuns, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Le Pen’s, —, North Africa —, Mark Rutte's, Frans Timmermans Organizations: Party, Freedom, European Union, EU, Party for Freedom, Rabobank, “, Leiden University, National, Frontex, ”, Pulitzer Center, Crisis Locations: SINT WILLEBRORD, Netherlands, Willebrord, Europe, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Austria, The Hague, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Rucphen, Sint Willebrord, Ukraine, Soviet, Syria, Turkey, Belgium, Dutch, North Africa, EU

Steenkamp's family believes he intended to shoot the 29-year-old model and law graduate after becoming enraged in a nighttime argument. Pistorius' parole comes 10 years after the killing. Matthews noted that Pistorius' parole was granted a day before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Steenkamp family lawyer Tania Koen encapsulated it when she spoke about Pistorius' possible release earlier this year and if it was right. She said that no prison sentence for him, no matter how long, would ever really make any difference to Steenkamp's family after her death.

Persons: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp, Pistorius, didn't, he’s, —, Reeva, Steenkamp, Reeva's, Barry Steenkamp, “, ”, Barry, Rob Matthews, Matthews, Tania Koen, ” Koen Organizations: —, of Corrections, South Africa's, Women, AP Locations: CAPE, South Africa, Pretoria, U.S, South, africa

☆ The best places — and best times — to take a safari
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Harriet Akinyi | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

KenyaFor more than 25 years, professional safari guide Geoff Mayes has taken tourists to the best parks in Africa. Amboseli National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its massive elephant population and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. In those three, one can track mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Another park to consider is the Kidepo Valley National Park, with its sweeping plains and valleys overshadowed by the brooding Mount Morungole. ZimbabweApart from the renowned Hwange National Park, I have also visited Matobo National Park, which has a wide diversity of fauna and plenty of white rhinos.

Persons: I've, revel, Harriet Akinyi, Geoff Mayes, Mara —, Masaai Mara, Mara, you'll, Barack Obama, It's, Luis Davilla, There's, Kruger, Addo, Nogaya, Jason Edwards, Dennis Kahungu, Christopher Kidd, Photodisc, Weaver, Clair, Nxai, Patrick J, Cecil Rhodes, Westend61 Organizations: Mara, Reserve, Kenya —, UNESCO, Heritage, Netflix, National Parks, Kruger, Park, Photodisc, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Queen Elizabeth, Lake, CNBC Travel, Getty, Nature, Kalahari Game Reserve, Kenya, Tourists Locations: Africa, Mugie Conservancy, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Nairobi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Solio Conservancy, Africa Kenya, Johannesburg, iMfolozi, Addo, Uganda Uganda, Kyambura, Lake Mburo, Mburo, Ihema, Inti St, Botswana Botswana, Okavango, Matobo

New Zealand and South Africa will contest Saturday's Rugby World Cup final and bring one of sport's most enduring, most intense rivalries to the ultimate stage for the first time in nearly 30 years. The All Blacks and the Springboks — with 102 years of games between them — have met in the Rugby World Cup final just once before, a 1995 showdown that carved out a moment that reverberated way beyond sport. Both teams have won two Rugby World Cups after '95, but never against the other, and to understand the meaning of New Zealand vs. South Africa this weekend at Stade de France in Paris, think Brazil vs. Argentina in a soccer World Cup final. The All Blacks were then beaten by host France in the World Cup opener. ___AP Rugby World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Persons: It's, —, Nelson Mandela, Deon Davids, ” Davids, Ian Foster, “ There’s, Foster, ”, Jacques Nienaber, — Sam Cane Organizations: Rugby, Blacks, Springboks, New Zealand, Stade de France, South, South Africa —, Ireland, ” STEELY SPRINGBOKS South, France, England, AP Rugby Locations: Zealand, South Africa, New Zealand, New, Africa, Paris, Brazil, Argentina, France, ” STEELY SPRINGBOKS South Africa, — Sam Cane of New Zealand

☆ Who's funding Hamas?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementFor Iran, Levitt said, funding Hamas ultimately offers a financially and politically inexpensive way to undermine Israel's stability and increase the pressure against their adversaries while maintaining an air of deniability regarding its involvement. Both Asal and Levitt told Insider the funds from that transaction had little to do with the latest escalation in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. As with many terrorist organizations that control swaths of land or trade routes, Hamas gets funding through taxation, extortion, smuggling, kidnapping, and robbery, Asal told Insider. Money laundering and cryptoTo move all its money around, Levitt said, Hamas relies largely on cryptocurrency transactions and trade-based money laundering to avoid being easily tracked. "And that also allows Hamas to divert money from providing for its people to support its war machine."

Persons: —, Victor Asal, France —, Matthew Levitt, they're, Levitt, Biden, Asal, Reinhard, it's, Alex Zerden Organizations: Hamas, International, Service, European Union, Israel, Center for Policy Research, University of Albany, State University of New, US Treasury, Department, Land Foundation for Relief, Development, Federal Bureau of, Washington Institute for Near East, State Department, US, Street Locations: Gaza, United States, State University of New York, Switzerland, Austria, Lebanon, France, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, East, North Africa

☆ US extends first full deployment of its newest supercarrier, another twist for the powerful warship amid the Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Pentagon announced an extension to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group's deployment. The US Navy carrier strike group was dispatched in early October to the eastern Mediterranean. Its movement — alongside that of another strike group — comes amid Israel's war with Hamas. The move will add another aircraft carrier, a guided-missile cruiser, and two guided-missile destroyers to firepower already on site. USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean on March 19, 2023.

Persons: Gerald R, —, Ford's, Lloyd Austin, Sabrina Singh, Ford, Thomas Hudner, Ramage, USS Carney, Roosevelt, Dwight D, Eisenhower —, MCS2 Jackson Adkins Singh, Austin, Israel, Joe Biden, Jordan, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jordan's King Abdullah, Abdel Fattah El, Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken Organizations: Pentagon, Ford Carrier, US Navy, Service, US, Ford Carrier Strike Group, US Naval Forces, US European Command, Hamas, Navy, Washington, Ford, United Nations, White House, Palestinian Locations: Israel, US Naval Forces Europe, Africa, Normandy, Iran, Britain, Gaza, United States

☆ African ambassador criticizes IMF, World Bank for not giving enough loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

John Wessels | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — An ambassador of an African country to China has criticized the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for restrictive lending policies. "The problem is that the ratings we are making for the African [countries] should be different," Ibrahima Sory Sylla, ambassador for the West African country of Senegal, said Thursday at an event at Peking University. The research claimed every 1% increase in Chinese loans resulted in an increase of 0.176% in African economic growth. Allan Joseph Chintedza, ambassador of Malawi to China, said the report should look also at the repayment period for Chinese loans. The East African country needs to provide a "sustainability letter" from the Chinese government in order to borrow more from the IMF, Chintedza added.

Persons: John Wessels, Sylla, Poor's, Senegal's Sylla, Fitch, Wu Peng, Jang Ping Thia, Thia, Vladimir Putin, Allan Joseph Chintedza, Chintedza Organizations: Afp, Getty, BEIJING —, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, West, Peking University, Fitch, IMF, Bank, United, Loans, Boston, Global, Policy Center, CNBC, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Initiative, Peking University's Institute, New Locations: Senegal's, Dakar, BEIJING, China, Senegal, West Africa, Africa, Beijing, Malawi

☆ Putin Meets With New Wagner Boss Andrei Troshev
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Charles R. Davis | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Friday with the new commander of Wagner, Andrei Troshev. At the meeting, Putin referred to Troshev leading "various combat missions," including in Ukraine. Troshev was the second in command of Wagner before the death of former boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. Andre Troshev, a former colonel in the Russian military, took over as head of the Wagner paramilitary organization following the death of previous boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in August. He had been the group's second in command but did not appear to back Prigozhin's short-lived mutiny against Russian military leadership two months earlier.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Andrei Troshev, Putin, Troshev, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Syria —, Andre Troshev, Yunus, Bek, Dmitry Peskov, Bashar al, Assad, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: Service, Russian, Kremlin, Financial Times, Moscow Times, Islamic, Wagner Group, Central African, Defense Locations: Ukraine, Syria, Troshev, St . Petersburg, Islamic State, Russia, Moscow, Washington, Bakhmut, Belarus, Ukrainian, Russian, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic

☆ Stagflation is 'the big bogeyman out there' — and many increasingly fear its return
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Oil prices surging to the brink of $100 per barrel and the specter of higher for longer inflation have renewed concern about stagflation risks, however. Kashkari reaffirmed this message when speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, saying that he was not sure if interest rates have been raised enough to successfully fight price growth. Market participants are worried that surging oil prices could keep inflation higher for longer, amplifying the risk of stagflation. "The price pressure reflects a shortage of supply, after OPEC+ cut production targets, under the leadership of Saudi Arabia and Russia. This must be seen in the context of a moving geopolitical environment, with Saudi Arabia recently joining the BRICS group," they added.

Persons: Mel Lagomasino, CNBC's, Lagomasino, Neel Kashkari, Kashkari, Jerome Powell, Chip Somodevilla, Stagflation, –, South Africa — Organizations: WE, CNBC, Federal Reserve, Getty, Brent, . West Texas Intermediate, Organization of, Petroleum, OPEC, Generali Investments, United Locations: Minneapolis, Washington ,, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, stagflation, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates

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