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AdvertisementDonald Trump sits next to his attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove during the former president's criminal hush-money trial in Manhattan. Eric Trump listens as his father, Donald Trump, speaks to the media in the courtroom hallway during the former president's criminal hush-money trial. Vance listens as Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Manhattan courthouse where his hush-money trial is taking place. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump speaks alongside his wife, former first lady Melania Trump, during a rare joint appearance as they arrived to vote in Florida's primary election. "There was no crime," Donald Trump railed Tuesday as he spoke to reporters in the courtroom hallway.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Michael Cohen —, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Johnson, Doug Burgum, Byron Donalds, Cory Mills, Donald Trump's, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, Craig Ruttle, Trump, Johnson, Cohen, Justin Lane, Susan Hoffinger, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Nicole Malliotakis, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Brenna Bird, Steve Marshall, Mark Peterson, Michael Cohen, Florida Sen, Rick Scott, Ken Paxton, Katie Phang, Jeanine Pirro, Andrew Guiliani, Rudy Giuliani, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell, CNN's Anderson Cooper, Giorgio Viera, reimbursing Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, I've Organizations: Service, Trump, Business, GOP, Mike Johnson , North Dakota Gov, Florida Rep, cochair, Republican, Vance , New York, Alabama, Conservative, Fox News, Getty, Prosecutors, Manhattan, Attorney's Locations: York, Manhattan, Mike Johnson ,, Florida, Cory Mills of Florida, Washington, Donalds, Ohio, Vance ,, Alabama, Iowa, Texas, Tahoe

Orleck and Tamari are among at least 50 professors arrested at campus protests across the country, according to a CNN review of police records, court filings, and news reports. (Since April 18, more than 2,400 students have been arrested amid protests on more than 50 campuses.) Officials from several universities where professors were arrested in connection with recent protests declined to comment on individual cases. All the professors, Blair said, were “expecting to get arrested.” Though Blair himself was not arrested, at least four other UCLA professors were that day. “I want to say some of my colleagues, particularly at Emory and Washington University, were treated much more brutally.

Persons: Orleck, whiplash, Steve Tamari, Louis, Tamari, “, Caroline Fohlin’s, Fohlin, Gregory Pflugfelder, Isaac Kamola, Alex Kent, ”, Kamola, “ There’s, Gregory Fenves, Fenves, Emory, Carol Folt, Andrew Guzman, Minouche Shafik, Joseph Howley, Graeme Blair, Blair, ‘, ” Orleck, she’d “, they’re, Sian Leah Beilock, WMUR, ” Tamari, Mo, Christine Tannous, Andrew Martin, hasn’t, ‘ Don’t, “ Don’t, ” Michael Allen, ” Allen, Allen, I’m, St . Louis, Michael Allen “, Chancellor Martin, Bikrum Gill, Gill, ” Gill, it’s Organizations: CNN, Dartmouth College, Washington University, Palestinian, Emory University, Columbia University, New York Times, American Association of University, ’ Center, Defense, Faculty of Columbia University, Getty, Emory, University of Southern, USC, Columbia, UCLA, Justice, Green, Hanover Police Department, Police, Louis Post, AP Protesters, Boeing Company, Israel Defense Forces, University, Desirée, Virginia Tech Locations: New Hampshire, St, Palestinian American, Atlanta, New York, Columbia’s, Palestine, Gaza, Los, Los Angeles, Dartmouth, Emory, Palestinian, American, Louis , Missouri, Missouri, Illinois, Louis, Washington, Israel, St .

☆ The first severe solar storm in 20 years could spark aurora across the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFor the first time in 20 years, NOAA has issued a G4 geomagnetic storm warning. NOAAAnd in the last 24 hours, AR3664 spit out four coronal mass ejections that are now hurtling toward Earth at roughly 560 miles per second, Owens told BI. Even states including Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania, could catch a glimpse of the aurora low on the horizon, Young told BI. The reality is that we just won't know how bright, active, and wide-reaching the aurora will be until the coronal mass ejections reach Earth's atmosphere. The most extreme estimate of aurora and where they can be seen in the US came from Alex Young.

Persons: —, G4s, They've, Matt Owens, Alex Young, NASA Goddard's, Owens, AR3664, Space.com, Young, they'll, Andrew Gerrard Organizations: Service, NOAA, University of Reading, NASA, NASA Goddard's Heliophysics, Business, Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Earth, New Jersey Institute of Tech Locations: Montana , North Dakota , Minnesota , Wisconsin, Michigan, Maryland , New York, Pennsylvania

☆ The Met Gala theme is ‘The Garden of Time:’ Why culture is obsessed with JG Ballard
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In February, the Met revealed Ballard’s 1962 short story “The Garden of Time” as the forthcoming red carpet theme. Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho/Getty ImagesThere is little glitz and glamor in Ballard’s world — or if there is, it doesn’t last for long. David Cronenberg's adaptation of JG Ballard's "Crash" debuted at Cannes Film Festival in 1996. In 2021, American designer Thom Browne’s Spring-Summer catwalk at New York Fashion Week also imagined life behind Count Axel’s garden wall. And now with the Met Gala theme, the beautiful flower that dies as soon as it’s plucked, it connects back to fashion being ephemeral.

Persons: Manus, Andrew Bolton, JG Ballard, Count Axel, Axel, Count, Countess, Thom Browne, Victor Virgile, —, you’ve, Steven Spielberg’s, David Cronenberg’s, ”, it’s, Ballard, David Cronenberg's, Ronald Siemoneit, Thom Browne’s, Browne, Alon Livné, Andrew Groves, Estrella de Mar, ” Groves, McQueen, Jeremy Scott, Marie, Christiane Marek, Jeremy Scott's, Jeremy Scott “, ” Scott, Scott, “, Nigel Coates, Caffè, Coates, Caffè Bongo, brandished Coates, Caffe, Edward Valentine, Charli XCX, Madonna’s, Ian Curtis, Stanley Donwood, Groves Organizations: CNN, York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, West, Technology, Costume Institute, Bolton, New York, Sun, Cannes Film, Estrella de, Paris Fashion, Division, Preachers, Fourth Estate Locations: China, British, France, American, Israeli, London, Estrella, Tokyo, “

☆ Mike Tyson details regime of abstinence as bout with Jake Paul is sanctioned as professional fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Mike Tyson is clearly taking his fight with Jake Paul seriously as he detailed elements of his training regime, which he says includes not smoking marijuana as well as abstaining from sex. Tyson, 57, will return to the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 20. The 57-year-old has also started his own cannabis brand, Tyson 2.0, with Forbes estimating it generated $150 million in revenue last year. “Why did God, the universe, whatever we believe, why am I the face of it?” Tyson said. “An uneducated guy, Mike Tyson, why am I the face of cannabis and psychedelics?

Persons: Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Tyson, Paul, ” Tyson, “, Damon Elliott, Elliott, ”, Mike ”, Roy Jones Jr, Tommy Fury, Tyson Fury, Andrew Golota, Evander Holyfield’s, Tyson’s, Holyfield, Lakiha Spicer, Holyfield –, Mike, ’ Tyson, Chris Unger, Forbes Organizations: CNN, T, Forbes Life, Texas Department, Dallas Cowboys, YouTube, Forbes, UFC, Mobile Locations: Arlington , Texas, Michigan, Las Vegas , Nevada

☆ Senate dismisses two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security secretary, ends trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee about the Biden Administration's FY2025 budget request in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill on April 16, 2024 in Washington, DC. Senators voted to dismiss both articles of impeachment and end the trial, with Democrats arguing that the articles were unconstitutional. Still, Republicans similarly moved to dismiss former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in 2021, weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Johnson had said he would send them to the Senate last week, but he punted again after Senate Republicans said they wanted more time to prepare. The impeachment trial is the third in five years.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, impeaching Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Mayorkas, Schumer, Chuck Schumer, William McFarland, Kevin F, Mark Green, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Michael McCaul, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline, Andy Biggs, Michael Guest, Laurel Lee, Harriet Hageman, Andrew Garbarino, Pfluger, Democratic Sen, Patty Murray, Murray, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Donald Trump's, McConnell —, Trump, Johnson, he's, I'm, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Homeland, House Homeland Security, Biden, Cannon, Republicans, House Republicans, Democrats, —, Republican, of Homeland, Democratic, National Archives, Capitol, Senate, Democrat, Tennessee Rep, Congress Locations: Washington , DC, Mexico, U.S, WASHINGTON, Texas, Washington, Missouri, Ky, New York, New York City, Ukraine, Mayorkas

☆ House sends Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —House Republicans have sent to the Senate two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a step that launches a trial in the Senate as GOP lawmakers seek to highlight President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration policy. House Republicans do not have the votes or concrete evidence to impeach Biden given their razor-thin majority, leaving that separate impeachment inquiry stalled. GOP arguments for impeachment and pushback from constitutional expertsWhen Johnson originally informed Schumer he would be sending the impeachment articles over to the Senate, he laid out why he believed a Mayorkas impeachment was justified. “These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment,” Green said in a statement provided to CNN. “I think that what the House Republicans are asserting is that Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of maladministration,” Garber said.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden’s, Mayorkas, Biden, —, impeaching Biden, ”, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump, Ian Sams, Johnson, Schumer, Mark Green of, Alejandro Mayorkas ’, ” Green, systemically, Samuel Alito, Ross Garber, ” Garber, “, Michael Chertoff, George W, Bush, Jonathan Turley, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, “ I’m, CNN’s Manu Raju, I’ve, –, John Thune, ” Johnson, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, Michael McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline of Virginia, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Homeland, Senate, Democratic, Republicans, Homeland Security, Biden, House Republicans, DHS, ’, Louisiana Republican, Truth, White, CNN, Congress, Tulane University, Republican, Senate Democratic, Mayorkas, Pro Tempore Locations: Louisiana, Mark Green of Tennessee, Washington, Michael McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Michael Guest of Mississippi, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

☆ Deepening US divide over Israel tests the limits of free speech
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Separately, on Monday, the University of Southern California canceled the commencement speech of its valedictorian – biomedical engineering major Asna Tabassum, who is Muslim – after her social media posts were targeted by pro-Israel activists, raising questions about the existence of free speech. “Tradition must give way to safety,” USC Provost Andrew Guzman wrote in an online, campuswide letter announcing his decision to axe Tabassum’s speech. In her Instagram profile, she links to a website that calls for the abolishment of the state of Israel. The content of the commencement speech was not mentioned in Guzman’s letter announcing the cancellation, and he argued it was not about speech but about security. When Fisk tried to grab the microphone from Afaneh, the mixer turned into a social media moment.

Persons: ”, Tabassum, –, Andrew Guzman, Jon Chu, Rich Asians ”, Asna Tabassum, CNN’s Nick Watt, ” Tabassum, “, Guzman, ” Guzman, there’s, Tom Cotton of, ” Cotton, Cotton, George Floyd, Sen, John Fetterman, Erwin Chemerinsky, Catherine Fisk –, Fisk, Malak Afaneh, Chemerinsky, Jake Tapper, Defamation League “ Organizations: CNN — Pro, Israel, University of Southern, USC, Rich Asians, Bay, Republican, Fox News, The New York Times, Pennsylvania Democrat, Starbucks, University of California, Berkeley Law, Justice, CNN, Islamic Relations, CAIR, Defamation League Locations: Gaza, Bakersfield , California, University of Southern California, USC, Los Angeles, Israel, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Ann Arbor , Michigan, Berkeley, Oakland , California, Palestine, United States

☆ This semiconductor ETF is headed for its best quarterly gain in a year. Here are the winners
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Semiconductor stocks are off to another hot start to the year. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is up 28.5% in the first three months of 2024. That puts the SMH on pace for its biggest quarterly gain since the first quarter of 2023, when it jumped 30%. The stock is up more than 30% to start 2024. Shares have skyrocketed more than 39% to start 2024, helped by strong sales in high bandwidth memory necessary in AI infrastructure.

Persons: Ken Mahoney, Nvidia, Hendi, Management's Paul Meeks, Andrew Garthwaite cautioning Organizations: VanEck Semiconductor, Asset, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Apple, Devices, JPMorgan, PHLX Semiconductor, Intel, Micron Technology, Micron, UBS, Universal Locations: Taiwan

A Chinese business titan pleaded guilty on Monday to federal charges that he made more than $10,000 in straw donor contributions to political candidates — including, a person familiar with the case said, to a New York congressman and Mayor Eric Adams. Hui Qin, 56, of Old Westbury, N.Y., who was once listed on Forbes magazine’s list of billionaires, ran a now-defunct entertainment business called SMI Culture. Image Hui Qin Credit... ImaginechinaMr. Qin asked others to contribute to political campaigns of his choosing, and he agreed to reimburse them, in 2021 and 2022, according to prosecutors. The other figures who received donations were Representative Andrew Garbarino of Long Island and Allan Fung, a former mayor of Cranston, R.I., who ran for Congress, the person familiar with the case said. Both are Republicans, while Mr. Adams is a Democrat.

Persons: Eric Adams, Hui Qin, Imaginechina Mr, Qin, Andrew Garbarino, Allan Fung, Adams Organizations: Forbes, Congress Locations: New York, Old Westbury, N.Y, Manhattan, Qin, Long, Cranston, R.I

☆ What investors need to know about crypto taxes amid the latest bitcoin rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Whether you're a longtime crypto investor or recently purchased digital assets, here are some key things to know from crypto tax experts. For 2023, there's a "digital assets" question on the front page of Form 1040, along with returns for estates and trusts, partnerships, corporations and S corporations. Andrew Gordon President of Gordon Law Group"Yes-or-no questions are quite powerful," said Andrew Gordon, tax attorney, certified public accountant and president of Gordon Law Group. However, the 2023 digital assets question does not apply to bitcoin futures ETFs or spot bitcoin ETFs, he said. How crypto tax reporting works

Persons: Cryptocurrency, Matt Metras, Andrew Gordon President, Andrew Gordon, Gordon, They're Organizations: IRS, MDM Financial, Gordon Law, Gordon Law Group

☆ Responding to Pope, NATO Boss Says Ukraine Needs Weapons, Not White Flags
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg made clear on Monday that he disagreed with Pope Francis’s comments that Ukraine should have the "courage of the white flag" and negotiate an end to the war triggered by Russia’s invasion. Asked about the pope’s remarks, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization told Reuters: "If we want a negotiated peaceful lasting solution, the way to get there is to provide military support to Ukraine." In an interview at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Stoltenberg said "what happens around a negotiating table is inextricably linked to the strength on the battlefield". Asked if his reaction meant now was not the time to talk about a white flag, Stoltenberg said: "It's not the time to talk about surrender by the Ukrainians. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 96 Images(Reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by GV De Clercq)Photos You Should See View All 60 Images

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Pope Francis’s, Stoltenberg, Andrew Gray Organizations: NATO, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Reuters, GV De Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Brussels

☆ UK official discusses UK-Saudi deal to boost research and innovation ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUK official discusses UK-Saudi deal to boost research and innovation tiesAndrew Griffith, U.K. minister of state for science, research and innovation, names the areas of science and technology that the two countries want to collaborate on, saying it's "all about the shared challenges."

Persons: Andrew Griffith Locations: Saudi

☆ Star dunes: Ancient find helps scientists unravel secrets of mysterious sand structures
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Using radar scans and analysis of sand grains buried deep inside the star dune, scientists mapped the mound’s internal structure. “It’s moving about half a meter per year,” demonstrating that star dunes are about as active as most other dunes, Duller told CNN. A mystery solvedThe new findings also addressed a longstanding mystery for geologists: Where is all the ancient evidence of star dunes? Star dunes are so big; perhaps eroded parts of their preserved structures were previously identified as standalone remnants of other types of dunes, the study authors reported. “The fact that star dunes have not been identified very much in the stratigraphic record may partly be because many geologists were not very much aware of star dunes and only knew about longitudinal dunes and barchans (crescent-shaped dunes),” Goudie said.

Persons: ” Andrew Goudie, Goudie, ”, Geoff, “, Lala Lallia, Charles Bristow, ” Bristow, Chebbi, Charlie Bristow, Bristow, ” Goudie, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, University of Oxford, Aberystwyth University, sedimentology, Birkbeck College, University of London, University of London's Birkbeck, Google, Scientific Locations: Erg Chebbi, Morocco, United Kingdom, Wales, Aberystwyth, Scotland

☆ In Shopify's app store, 'people are fighting it out on the margins' as the market becomes oversaturated and merchants cut costs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Its S-1 filing mentions the word "Shopify" 198 times, and it said that about 77.6% of its annual recurring revenue came from Shopify merchants. About a third of the deals FE International facilitates are for businesses within the Shopify ecosystem, Smale said. Smale said that lately, he has worked with a "wider variety of acquirers" quietly looking to scoop up Shopify apps. He said that Shopify apps make good acquisition targets because they tend to be profitable and not venture-backed. "I always say Shopify SaaS applications are so great to build because they're kind of like building a SaaS on training wheels," Gazdecki said.

Persons: Shopify, Rachael Jones, Brent Murri, They've, Murri, Andrew Bialecki, Klaviyo, Dennis Hegstad, there's, Hegstad, Andy Cloyd, it's, We're, Thomas Smale, Smale, Andrew Gazdecki, Acquire.com, Gazdecki, Tobi Lütke, Lucas Jackson, wouldn't Organizations: Shopify's, Business, Boston Globe, FE International, Reuters Locations: Shopify, Klaviyo

☆ Dubai photographer reveals the UAE’s hidden wildlife
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Arya Jyothi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In a country best known for its soaring skyscrapers, modern architecture and sprawling desert, wildlife isn’t always what comes to mind when people think of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Originally from India, Karingattil moved to Dubai 17 years ago and began photographing wildlife shortly after, specializing in macro photography, using extreme close ups. With the UAE’s president recently extending the country’s “Year of Sustainability” into 2024, Karingattil uses wildlife photography as a method of capturing the country’s biodiversity and sharing it with others. For Karingattil, conservation is an important aspect of wildlife photography, which he believes can serve as a powerful tool for advocacy. “By removing litter and debris, we can reduce the impact of human activities on the natural world.”

Persons: Anish Karingattil, Karingattil, ” Karingattil, “, ”, Herping, Andrew Gardner, Gardner, couldn't, Anish Karingattil Gardner Organizations: CNN, United Arab Emirates, “, Sustainability ”, Accounting, Biodiversity Conservation, Emirates Nature, Biological Diversity, Emirates Locations: UAE, Dubai, India, Emirates, dugongs, Australia

☆ Notable UBS strategist Garthwaite sees stocks ending 2024 flat as 'difficult phase' approaches
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Equity strategist Andrew Garthwaite warned investors could be in for a "difficult phase" and end the year flat. The S & P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average reached record highs last week, with the former breaking above 5,100 for the first time on an intraday basis. The S & P 500 and Nasdaq are both up more than 6% this year, and the Dow has climbed 3.8%. Garthwaite admitted his downbeat outlook could be wrong, as productivity gains from AI could lead to a 15% to 20% advance for the S & P 500. Market breadth is also typically better when stocks reach new highs, according to Garthwaite.

Persons: Andrew Garthwaite, Dow, Garthwaite Organizations: UBS, Equity, PPI, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Nvidia Locations: Japan

☆ Trump Comments Show Europe Must Spend More on Defence, Latvia Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Trump sparked fierce criticism from top Western officials for saying that, as U.S. president, he had told an unnamed leader he would not protect countries that failed to meet NATO defence spending targets, and would even encourage Russia to attack them. "Many presidents have been saying for many years that in Europe, we - being a generally wealthy society - should invest more in our own defence," Karins said as he walked between events at the annual Munich Security Conference on Friday. Karins said part of Europe's response should be to continue to spend more on defence - a trend fuelled by Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Karins said Europe would still need the structures and coordination provided by the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization for its forces to operate effectively together, as Europe was not a country with a single army. "We will still need NATO to help coordinate us."

Persons: Andrew Gray MUNICH, Donald Trump's, Krisjanis Karins, Trump, Karins, Andrew Gray, Jan Harvey Organizations: NATO, Latvian, Baltic, Reuters, Security, Treaty Organization Locations: Russia, U.S, Europe, Crimea, Ukraine

☆ Belgian PM Backs EU Bonds to Boost Defence Spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Andrew GrayBRUSSELS (Reuters) - Joint European Union borrowing could help fund higher defence spending but governments would still have to make tough political choices to sustain it, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. To succeed, proponents will need to convince those traditionally sceptical of EU joint borrowing such as Germany, the Netherlands and Nordic nations. European defence spending has been on an upward curve since Russia first invaded Ukraine and seized Crimea in 2014. NATO said on Wednesday it expected defence spending by its European members would grow by $33 billion this year to $380 billion. Last year, NATO estimated Belgium would spend 1.13 % of GDP on defence in 2023, second lowest among NATO members.

Persons: Andrew Gray BRUSSELS, Alexander De Croo, Donald Trump, Kaja Kallas, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Michel, De Croo, Croo, Thierry Breton, Andrew Gray, John Irish, Alex Richardson Organizations: European Union, Belgian, NATO, Estonian, European, Reuters, Munich Security Conference, Nordic, European Defence Fund, EU Locations: European, Ukraine, Munich, Germany, Netherlands, EU, Russia, Crimea, Belgium, Europe, France, Paris

Fidelity Charitable said distributions to nonprofits in 2023 were four times what they were 10 years ago. “I think 2023 was a pretty amazing year,” Fidelity Charitable President Jacob Pruitt told The Associated Press. According to Fidelity Charitable, donors attached their names or the name of their DAF to 96% of the grants made in 2023. Fidelity Charitable said nearly 80% of grants in 2023 went to nonprofits donors had previously supported. “It’s a struggle to figure out how to get your message out there.”Another growth area for Fidelity Charitable DAFs in 2023 was with corporations.

Persons: Jacob Pruitt, DAFs, ” Pruitt, Jude Children’s, Pruitt, ”, Andrew Grumet, Holland & Knight, It’s Organizations: — Fidelity, Fidelity, Associated Press, DAF, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Fidelity Charitable, USA, Jude Children’s Research, Holland &, Fidelity Charitable DAF, Associated, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: millennials

☆ Prague, Budapest Hold up EU Move to Sanction Violent Israeli Settlers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in December he would propose similar measures. The EU has not spelled out what the sanctions would entail but officials have said they would include bans on travel to the EU. The EU has already imposed sanctions on Hamas following the Oct. 7 attacks and diplomats say more are in the pipeline. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday now was "definitely not the time" to sanction Israeli settlers, state news agency MTI reported. (Additonal reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague and Boldizsar Gyori in Budapest; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Persons: Andrew Gray, John Irish, Josep Borrell, Israel, Peter Szijjarto, MTI, Jan Lipavsky, Jan Lopatka, Boldizsar, Nick Macfie Organizations: West Bank, West Bank ., EU Locations: John Irish BRUSSELS, PARIS, EU, Hungary, Czech Republic, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, Britain, Budapest, Czech, France, Prague

☆ Biden Not Charged by Special Counsel for Mishandling Documents
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Special Counsel Robert Hur said he opted against bringing criminal charges after a 15-month investigation because Biden cooperated and would likely be difficult to convict. Hur's conclusion ensures that Biden, unlike his expected 2024 presidential rival Donald Trump, will not risk prison time for mishandling sensitive government documents. Biden has also sought to draw a contrast with Trump on issues of personal ethics and national security. Trump has described the four criminal prosecutions he faces — including one for his handling of classified documents — as politically motivated. The White House said Biden's attorneys found a small number of classified documents and turned them over after discovery.

Persons: Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Robert Hur, Biden, Mr, Hur, Donald Trump, Trump, Alex Pfeiffer, Bob Bauer, Richard Sauber, Barack Obama, indicting, Andrew Goudsward, Jeff Mason, Alexandra Ulmer, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Make, Department, Trump, FBI, Justice Department Locations: U.S, Afghanistan, Washington, Wilmington , Delaware, Florida, Lago

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene would have a major role in DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' impeachment trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is set for one of the highest profile roles of her short career. Greene would be one of 11 House impeachment managers if the chamber votes to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. House managers are responsible for formally presenting arguments to the Senate during a trial in which senators become akin to jurors. Sen. Lindsey Graham was one of the House managers for then-President Bill Clinton's trial. On Monday, Greene spent part of the day fighting with Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House rules committee.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, —, Biden, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Bill Clinton's, Adam Schiff, Donald Trump's, Kevin McCarthy's, speakership, Hunter Biden, Jim McGovern, McGovern, Mark Green, Mike McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins Lousiana, Ben Cline of, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee Organizations: Service, Republican, GOP, Homeland, Senate, Republicans, Biden, California Democrat, House Democrats, Democrats, Twitter, House Homeland Security, House Foreign Affairs, Rep Locations: California, Washington, Mike McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ben Cline of Virginia, New York, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

☆ EU Diplomat Says Defunding U.N. Palestinian Agency Would Be Dangerous
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

A string of countries, including the United States, Britain and Italy, have paused funding to the aid agency, which has opened an investigation into several of its thousands of employees and severed ties with those people. "Defunding UNRWA would be both disproportionate and dangerous," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote in a blog post. Borrell said neither the European Commission, nor the EU's two biggest economies, Germany or France, had decided to end their contributions. In 2022, the EU was the third biggest donor to UNRWA, after the United States and Germany. "The lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, not only in Gaza, are at stake," Borrell said.

Persons: Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Kate Abnett, Andrew Gray, Sharon Singleton Organizations: UNRWA, European Commission, West Bank, UN Locations: Israel, United States, Britain, Italy, Gaza, EU, Germany, France

☆ U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes in Iraq, Syria; Nearly 40 Reported Killed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

The White House said the United States had informed Iraq ahead of strikes. Baghdad later accused the United States of deception, saying a U.S. claim of coordination with the Iraqi authorities was "unfounded". The Syrian foreign ministry said the United States was fuelling conflict in the region in a "very dangerous way". The United States has assessed that the drone that killed the three soldiers and wounded more than 40 other people in Jordan was made by Iran, U.S. officials have told Reuters. Iranian advisers assist armed groups in both Iraq, where the United States has around 2,500 troops, and Syria, where it has 900.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Timour Azhari, Joe Biden's, Nasser Kanaani, Rami Abdulrahman, General Douglas Sims, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Ebrahim Raisi, Radek Sikorski, Jordan, Roger Wicker, Enas Alashray, Adam Makary, Andrew Gray, Sabine Siebold, Tom Perry, Frances Kerry Organizations: United, Revolutionary Guard, U.S, Syrian, Human Rights, Joint Staff, Pentagon, U.S . Defense, Reuters, Republican, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Timour Azhari WASHINGTON, BAGHDAD, United States, Iraq, Syria, U.S, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraqi, Baghdad, Washington, Britain, Polish, Brussels, Al, Jordan

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