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☆ Wisconsin Supreme Court, now under liberal control, overturns Republican-favored legislative maps
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Andrew Menezes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the state’s legislative maps, which give Republicans the advantage, are unconstitutional and ordered new lines drawn for the 2024 election. “We are hopeful that the legislative process will produce new legislative district maps,” the ruling stated. During the campaign, now-Justice Janet Protasiewicz, the liberal-favored candidate, called the legislative maps “rigged” and “unfair” and suggested courts should evaluate their constitutionality. After she was seated in August, Democratic-backed groups filed two lawsuits asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to throw out the Republican-drawn maps. “Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court will have the last word.”This story has been updated with additional details.

Persons: “, Sam Hirsch, Tony Evers, Friday’s, ”, ” Evers, Annette Ziegler, Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Robin Vos, Vos, CNN’s Eric Bradner, Brad Parks Organizations: CNN, Wisconsin Supreme, US, Badger State, Legislature, ”, ” Wisconsin Gov, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Supreme Locations: Wisconsin, ” Wisconsin, ” “ Wisconsin

☆ Developing countries owe China at least $1.1 trillion – and the debts are due
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Developing countries owe Chinese lenders at least $1.1 trillion, according to a new data analysis published Monday, which says more than half of the thousands of loans China has doled out over two decades are due as many borrowers struggle financially. Now, 55% of China’s official sector loans to developing countries have entered their repayment periods, according to the analysis of more than two decades of China’s overseas funding across 165 countries released by AidData. Instead, China is providing substantial numbers of emergency rescue loans, according to AidData. Overall funding commitments from China to the developing world declined at the start of the pandemic, according to AidData. Half of China’s non-emergency lending portfolio to developing countries is now provided via syndicated loan arrangements, with more than 80% of these arrangements involving those Western or multilateral partners, they said.

Persons: William & Mary, Xi Jinping, ”, Brad Parks, Hajarah Nalwadda, ’ AidData, ” Parks, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, William &, Initiative, AidData, CNN, “, Bank of International, Getty, World Bank Locations: China, Hong Kong, Virginia, Beijing, America, Southeast Asia, Switzerland, Kiryandongo, Uganda, Xinhua, United States, AidData, Zambia, Ghana

Reuters GraphicsMuch of China's growing rescue lending is denominated in renminbi, the report found, with loans in the Chinese currency overtaking U.S. dollars in 2020. Overdue payments to Chinese lenders have also risen. The arrangement is controversial because it gives China debt seniority, meaning other lenders, including multilateral development banks, could get paid second during any coordinated debt relief. Half of its non-emergency lending in 2021 was syndicated loans, 80% of that alongside Western banks and international financial institutions. Loan commitments to African countries fell from 31% of the total in 2018 to 12% in 2021, while lending to European countries almost quadrupled to 23%.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, AidData, Xi Jinping, —, Mary, Brad Parks, Rachel Savage, Clare Baldwin, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Beijing, Initiative, People's Bank of China, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Mary university, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights JOHANNESBURG, HONG KONG, U.S, Sri Lanka, Zambia, renminbi, Africa

CNN —Police in a quiet community outside Chicago who are investigating the shooting deaths of a family of four, including two children, in their home Sunday night say it wasn’t a random incident. The two adults, their two children and their three dogs were found with gunshot wounds in their home in Romeoville, Illinois, about 30 miles southwest of Chicago, officials said. Two adults and two children were found dead with gunshot wounds at their home in Romeoville, Illinois, police announced Monday. WBBMThe Will County Major Crimes Task Force has been brought in to assist investigators with gathering evidence and reviewing video, according to Burne. “Our entire community is grieving with the family over this tragic incident,” Romeoville Mayor John D. Noak said Tuesday.

Persons: Chris Burne, ” Burne, Alberto Rolon, Zoraida Bartolomei, Burne, “, Carol Love, Dan Lugo, Rachel Kinder, ” Kinder, ”, John D, Noak Organizations: CNN — Police, Police, Romeoville Police Department, Force, CNN, WBBM, Hill Elementary Locations: Chicago, Romeoville , Illinois, Will, Concord

CNN —Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, has been extradited from Mexico to the United States, the US Department of Justice has announced. Guzman was flown to Chicago and landed Friday afternoon, Northern District of Illinois Assistant US Attorney Joseph D. Fitzpatrick told CNN. Following his arrest in Culiacán, chaos erupted in the city with authorities asking citizens to shelter at home as law enforcement clashed with cartel members in various parts of the city. In his statement following the extradition, Attorney General Garland paid tribute to the law enforcement officials involved. “The fight against the cartels has involved incredible courage by United States law enforcement and Mexican law enforcement and military service members, many of whom have given their lives in the pursuit of justice,” Garland said.

Persons: CNN — Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Joaquin “ El Chapo ” Guzman, General Merrick B, Garland, Guzman, ” Garland, Joseph D, Fitzpatrick, hasn’t, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Emma Coronel Aispuro, El, Chapo ”, Joaquín Guzman, Lopez, “, Edgar Guzman, ”, General Garland, “ El Organizations: CNN, US Department of Justice, Northern District of Illinois, US, US State Department, State Department, United, Department Locations: Mexico, United States, Sinaloa, Chicago, Northern District, Culiacán, Colombia, Argentina, ”, Altiplano

President of China Xi Jinping attends the plenary session during the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 23, 2023. GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China's leader Xi Jinping told African leaders at a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on Thursday that China would launch initiatives to support Africa's industrialisation and agricultural modernisation. "China will better harness its resources for cooperation with Africa and initiatives of businesses to support Africa in growing its manufacturing sector and realizing industrialisation and economic diversification," Xi said without providing details. Xi's pledge was made as the BRICS Summit wrapped up, during a meeting with leaders and ministers from the African Union and 11 African countries including Libya, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia. "In 2009, it issued grants and loans worth $88 billion to support infrastructure projects in Africa.

Persons: China Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Xi Jinping, Xi, Xi's, Wu Peng, Brad Parks, William, William & Mary, Parks, David Monyae, Michael Martina, Carien du Plessis, Rachel Savage, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, African Union, U.S, William &, University of Johannesburg's Centre, Thomson Locations: China, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights BEIJING, JOHANNESBURG, Africa, Libya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Brazil, Russia, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, China Africa, Kenya

CNN —Tou Thao, the former Minneapolis police officer who held back a crowd of bystanders during George Floyd’s fatal arrest in May 2020, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison Monday for aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Tou Thao, the last former Minneapolis police officer to face sentencing in state court for his role in the killing of George Floyd, appeared in court Monday. During the arrest, Lane held down Floyd’s legs, Kueng held down Floyd’s torso, and Thao stood nearby and kept back a crowd of upset bystanders, including an off-duty firefighter trying to render aid. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in state court and was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison in June 2021. Lane, Kueng and Thao were found guilty in federal court of violating Floyd’s civil rights and of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the restraint.

Persons: Tou Thao, George Floyd’s, Thao, ”, George Floyd, Peter A, Cahill, “ Mr, Chauvin, Kueng, Lane, ” Thao, “, Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J, Alexander Kueng, George Floyd's, Floyd, Floyd’s, Judge Cahill Organizations: CNN, Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Human Rights Locations: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hennepin, Floyd, Kueng

CNN —A United Airlines Boeing 767 plane lost its emergency evacuation slide in mid-air Monday – and it ended up in the backyard of a home near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, officials and a witness said. Patrick Devitt lives in the neighborhood where the slide came down, several miles from the runways at O’Hare. When he got to the house, he dragged the slide from his backyard to the front of the home. It’s a very, very big piece of equipment that fell.”Maintenance workers at O’Hare discovered the plane was missing its slide after it landed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. In 2019, a slide fell off a Delta flight landing at Boston’s Logan International Airport.

Persons: Patrick Devitt, Devitt’s, Devitt, ” Devitt, “ Organizations: CNN, United Airlines Boeing, Airport, WLS, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, FAA, Chicago Police Department, Logan International Locations: Chicago, O’Hare, North Chester

☆ How CNN broke the news from Trump's arraignment despite a courtroom ban on electronics
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Noah Gray, CNN’s senior coordinating producer for special events, had grown up in the Miami area and attended Palmetto Senior High School. The remarkable effort to report on the court proceeding was only necessary because of the archaic system in which U.S. federal courts operate. The public continues to have remarkably little access to proceedings in federal courts — no matter how consequential or extraordinary the case may be. Generally speaking, federal courts refuse to budge. “I think the benefits for public access cut for both Trump and the prosecution,” Katyal told Nicolle Wallace.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Noah Gray, CNN’s, Tierney Sneed, Hannah Rabinowitz, Sneed, Rabinowitz jotted, Brad Parks, ” Gray, ” Elie Honig, Jake Tapper, ” Honig, “, Neal Katyal, Katyal, ” Katyal, Nicolle Wallace, newsrooms Organizations: CNN, Palmetto Senior High School, MSNBC, Trump Locations: Miami, Washington, D.C

CNN —A Minnesota judge found former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter for his role in the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, according to court documents filed Monday. “Like the bystanders, Thao could see Floyd’s life slowly ebbing away as the restraint continued,” Cahill wrote in the verdict. Tou Thao Hennepin County Sheriff's Office“The conviction of Tou Thao is historic and the right outcome,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the lead prosecutor of Floyd’s murder, said in a statement. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in state court and was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison in June 2021. Lane, Kueng and Thao were found guilty in federal court of violating Floyd’s civil rights and of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the restraint.

CNN —Disgraced R&B singer and convicted sex trafficker R. Kelly has been transferred to a federal prison in North Carolina. R. Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was moved to FCI Butner Medium I, a “medium security federal correctional institution,” according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. The Butner complex sits north of the Raleigh-Durham area and includes two medium security facilities, a low-security facility and a medical facility. He was already serving a 30-year sentence on racketeering and sex trafficking charges after being convicted in New York in September 2021. “Numerous seated jurors were either familiar with accusations that Defendant had a history of sexually abusing underage girls, had previously faced legal problems, and/or had seen the highly unflattering docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly, in which several government witnesses had appeared,” a brief filed last Wednesday said.

☆ Belt and Road Initiative: China spending billions to bail out megaproject's debtors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For one, China’s loans are far more secretive, with most of its operations and transactions concealed from public view. The PBOC requires an interest rate of 5%, compared to 2% for IMF rescue loans, the study said. There is also public concern in some countries over issues like excess debt and China’s influence. Accusations that Belt and Road is a broad “debt trap” designed to take control of local infrastructure, while largely dismissed by economists, have sullied the initiative’s reputation. In January, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang rejected the accusations of China creating a “debt trap” in Africa, a major recipient of Belt and Road investments.

REUTERS/Thomas Suen/File PhotoJOHANNESBURG, March 28 (Reuters) - China spent $240 billion bailing out 22 developing countries between 2008 and 2021, with the amount soaring in recent years as more have struggled to repay loans spent building "Belt & Road" infrastructure, according to a study published Tuesday. People's Bank of China (PBOC) swap lines accounted for $170 billion of the rescue financing, including in Suriname, Sri Lanka and Egypt. China's rescue lending is "opaque and uncoordinated," said Brad Parks, one of the report's authors, and director of AidData, a research lab at William & Mary College in the United States. China is negotiating debt restructurings with countries including Zambia, Ghana and Sri Lanka and has been criticised for holding up the processes. In response, it has called on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to also offer debt relief.

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