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☆ The Perils of the Fed’s Vast Bond Holdings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jeff Sommer | More About Jeff Sommer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But even after two years of quantitative tightening, the amount of bonds and securities that the Fed still retains is stupendous. Quantitative tightening is a perilous operation. Earlier attempts — notably, in 2019 — disrupted financial markets. The slow pace of quantitative tightening is partly responsible for the Fed’s inability to contribute to the national budget. That’s because the Fed has also raised interest rates, which move in the opposite direction of bond prices.

Persons: — Organizations: Fed, Treasury, Silicon Valley Bank Locations: United States

☆ A woman 'rage applied' to a job, scored an interview in 2 days, and an offer soon after. Here's why a career coach wouldn't recommend it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA woman said she "rage applied" to a job after an incident at work left her in a bad mood. She said she secured an interview within two days, scored an offer, quit her job, and has zero regrets. Still, a career coach said rage applying to new jobs could set employees up for failure. Two days after she applied for the job, Tiara said she had an interview scheduled. A career coach says people 'rage apply' when emotions run high — it doesn't always set them up for successThe phrase "rage applying" is relatively new.

Persons: —, Tiara, she's, I've, TikTok, Octavia Goredema, Goredema, RealPeopleGroup, there's, they've Organizations: Service, Business, Workers

☆ Pope Francis skips Good Friday event at last minute ‘to preserve health’ for Easter rituals
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Christopher Lamb | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Pope Francis pulled out of a Good Friday service at the last minute, the Vatican said, “to preserve his health” ahead of major Easter events over the weekend. The 87-year-old pontiff’s well-being has been watched closely following an operation on his abdomen last year. The stations mark various stages of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death, with the pope seeking to apply the biblical account to contemporary concerns. War, online hatred and the exploitation of women are among the themes tackled by Pope Francis in his Good Friday meditations this year. In them, he reflects on the judgment of the crowd watching the crucifixion, linking it to online hatred.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Jesus Christ’s, ”, Jesus Organizations: CNN, Vatican Locations: Peter’s

☆ Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Pope Francis skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum to protect his health, the Vatican said, making a last-minute decision that added to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy period. But just as the event was about to begin, the Vatican announced that Francis was following the event from his home at the Vatican. Brian Hopp, a visitor from Chicago, noted that Francis has had his health challenges this year. I think a lot was taken into it and I think he probably prioritized his health for Easter, which I think is a very responsible thing to do," Hopp said. On Thursday, he left the Vatican to preside over the Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual at a Rome women's prison.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, Marlene Steuber, Brian Hopp, Hopp, Peter's Organizations: Vatican, Casa Santa Locations: Costa Rica, Rome, Chicago, St, Peter's

☆ A viral TikTok is igniting a debate over data centers taking over Virginia's countryside
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But a viral TikTok shows that some people aren't happy about what the giant structures are replacing in Northern Virginia. Related storiesOthers pointed out the irony of posting about the issue on a social media platform powered by data centers. Data centers are popping up thanks to billions of dollars of investment and the AI boom. In Loudon County, roughly a 45-minute drive from DC, some residents say they can hear a constant hum from all the data centers in the area. AdvertisementDo you live or work in Northern Virginia or another part of the US where data centers have altered life?

Persons: —, @claireecowles, suara, commenter, they're Organizations: Service, Business, Northern, Northern Virginia Technology Locations: Northern Virginia, Shenandoah, Washington, Virginia, NoVa, Loudon County

☆ What the US Army should learn from Ukraine's hasty retreat from a Russian assault
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

And it should be a wake-up call for the US Army, which could find itself in the same situation, according to a US Army intelligence officer. With the potential for large-scale ground operations against well-armed Chinese or Russian forces, it's a topic that the US military cannot afford to neglect. The Ukrainian retreat suffered from poor coordination between the 110th Mechanized Brigade that had been defending the city, and the newly arrived 3rd Assault Brigade that was supposed to cover the 110th's withdrawal. The other lesson of Avdiivka is ensuring adequate support for a retreat, especially for the covering force that screens the withdrawal of the rest of the army. AdvertisementTo their credit, and despite a lack of ammunition, Ukrainian commanders were able to provide some fire support for the retreat.

Persons: It's, Ryan Forte, —, Forte, Corbis, Avdiivka wasn't, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Army, Business, Modern, Institute, 3rd Assault Brigade, Zenit, US, Union Army, Army, Marine Corps, 110th Mechanized Brigade, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, West, Donetsk, Russian, Russia, Moscow, Tunisia, Bull, Korean, America, Korea, Ukrainian, Forbes

☆ Celebrities 'snubbing' presenters while accepting awards is the internet's new hyper-fixation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewAwards season has officially ended, but not before people online found yet another thing to obsess over: how celebrities interact with presenters when they accept their trophies. (Business Insider has reached out to Downey Jr. and Stone but did not receive an immediate response.) These reactions are indicative of the heightened standards that celebrities are held to, even in high-stress environmentsEmma Stone accepting the award for best actress at the 2024 Oscars. Downey Jr. snubbing Quan made him look stuck up and egotistical. Downey Jr. shook hands and hugged Quan in the press room at the Oscars, and Swift embraced Dion backstage at the Grammys.

Persons: —, Jimmy Kimmel, Ryan Gosling's, Ken, Messi, Robert Downey Jr, Oscar, Lewis Strauss, Christopher Nolan's, Oppenheimer, Huy Quan, Downey, Quan, shiv ✯ kotfm, I’m, Huy’s, titnXbvTMb, Jacob Throneberry, Emma Stone, Michelle Yeoh, Charlize Theron, Jessica Lange, Jennifer Lawrence, Sally Field, Yeoh, Cillian Murphy, Downey Jr Organizations: Service, Business, Marvel

☆ Ukraine's losses on the battlefield could make the war more dangerous for Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesEarly on in the war with Russia, Ukraine's successes on the battlefield prompted warnings from defense analysts that Moscow — with its back against the wall militarily — could lash out, using a nuclear weapon on Ukrainian soil. Defense analysts noted that the more successes Ukraine saw, the more dangerous and unpredictable its opponent Russia could become as it sought to regain the initiative. That, in turn, would make the war much harder and more dangerous for Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual state of the nation address, on February 29, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, —, Ignacio Marin, Christopher Granville, Alexander Ermochenko, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: Brigade, Anadolu, Getty, Moscow, Defense, Analysts, Global Political Research, TS Lombard, Service, Reuters, Ukrainian, NATO, West, Russian Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donbas, Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Moscow, Russian, Volnovakha, U.S, Canada, Paris

☆ Why readers are falling for romantasy stories
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

But when it comes to the literary flavor that’s dominating readers’ attention in 2024, it’s clear: “Romantasy” reigns supreme. When romantasy protagonists (such as dragon-riders, fairies and fallen angels) aren’t busy saving their worlds, they’re falling deeply in love — often with someone they formerly considered an adversary (the “enemies-to-lovers” trope does big numbers with romantasy readers). Romantasy is breaking through among readers who previously didn’t browse the fantasy aisle — and delighting readers who’ve loved it for years. We talk to authors, experts, longtime fans and recent converts about why readers are flocking to romantasy stories, in which treacherous quests are punctuated by steamy trysts. It’s what bookseller and romantasy fan Gideon Ariel calls “Swiss Army lit” — a subgenre that all readers can enjoy, from longtime fantasy nerds to newcomers.

Persons: Romantasy, aren’t, —, ”, Sarah J, Maas, Rebecca Yarros ’, who’ve, steamy trysts, Taylor Su, CNN Romantasy, Frankie Diane Mallis, Yarros ’, Violet Sorrengail, Gideon Ariel, “, Ariel, romantasy, Diana Gabaldon, Nalini Singh, who’s, couldn’t, Stephanie Meyer’s, ’, Jennifer L, Armentrout, Mallis, TikTok, Patti McConville, I’ve, Gemma Todd, Jayashree Kamblé, ” Kamblé, ” Ariel, Beth Gabriel, ” Mallis, Yarros, Todd, “ Harry Potter ”, ” Todd, Gabriel, She’s, Tracy Deonn, ” Sarah J, ” Rebecca Yarros, ” Travis, ” Silvia Moreno, Garcia, ” Scarlett St, Clair, ” Jennifer L, Ash, ” Rebecca Ross, ” Tracy Deonn, ” Frankie Diane Mallis, ” Nalini Singh Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Arcadia University, Army, Guardian, Bloomsbury, LaGuardia Community College, International Association for, Milwaukee Public Library Locations: bibliophiles, Madison , Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Crescent, Yarros, Wisconsin

☆ Russia relishes NATO disarray after hasty denials of plan to deploy ground troops to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The United States, Germany, the U.K., Spain, Poland and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg were among those denying that sending ground troops into Ukraine was an option. She claimed NATO countries' denials that they planned to send their ground troops into Ukraine showed the West had "betrayed Ukraine and will continue to use and betray it," repeating Moscow's baseless claims that Western countries are using Ukraine to destroy Russia. After the conference, Macron said discussions had also covered the possibility of deploying ground troops, although he said there was no agreement on the issue. France was left looking increasingly isolated throughout the day Tuesday, with the White House also distancing itself from Macron's comments. When asked about Macron's comments, Kirby said "well, that's a sovereign decision that every NATO ally would have to make for themselves.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Mikhail Metzel, Emmanuel Macron, Jens Stoltenberg, Dmitry Medvedev, Macron, Vyacheslav Volodin, Volodin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon, Maria Zakharova, Macron's, Stephane Sejourne, John Kirby, Kirby, General Stoltenberg, —, Biden, Timothy Ash, Ash Organizations: Defence, Sputnik, Reuters, NATO, Russian, Russia's Foreign Ministry, Ukraine —, Russian Foreign, Tass, Chesnot, Getty, White, . National Security, Kremlin Russia, Kremlin, Russia, BlueBay Asset Management Locations: Nazi Germany, Moscow, Russia, Reuters Russia, Ukraine, United States, Germany, Spain, Poland, NATO, Russian, France, Canada, Paris, France's, Republic, U.S

☆ Russia was ridiculed at the start of the war. Two years on, it has reasons to be confident
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Internal political frictions and the replacement of popular military chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi has also fueled concerns over military strategy going forward. "I think for Ukraine, there's really quite minimal difference between a president who can't deliver lethal aid and a president who won't deliver lethal aid. Russia's President Vladimir Putin listens while then-U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, in 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles while visiting an aviation plant on February 21, 2024, in Kazan, Russia. "The dispute over mobilization is happening at a time when most authorized U.S. military aid is close to exhausted and Congress has yet to pass a new aid package."

Persons: Moscow —, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, there's, James Nixey, that's, Putin, Donald, Trump, Nixey, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Brendan Smialowski, Alexei Navalny, Kurt Volker, he'd, Avdiivka, Volker, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, David Kirichenko, Kirichenko Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Kyiv —, U.S, Russian, AFP, NATO, CNBC, Analysts, Institute for, Russia, Manpower, Kremlin, Center for, Armed Forces of, Bloomberg Locations: Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Avdiivka, Eurasia, Helsinki, Finland, West, U.S, Russian, Kazan, Donetsk, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ Myanmar military conscription law sparks panic and fear as youth prepare to flee
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Helen Regan | Angus Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

It’s a terrifying prospect that could become a reality for Anna and millions of her peers across Myanmar after the military junta activated a mandatory conscription law for all young men and women. “While wounded and increasingly desperate, the Myanmar military junta remains extremely dangerous,” Tom Andrews, United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, said in a statement. “People know for sure that no matter what is written in the conscription law, they will have to go to the front lines. “In Myanmar, young people are not safe anymore,” said Maung Nyein, who also requested to use a pseudonym for safety reasons. “Our villagers won’t join the military forces or leave the country, instead we will join our resistance forces.

Persons: Anna, ”, “, ” Tom Andrews, — “, Aung, —, Ting Aung, Zaw Min Tun, Young, Kyaw Naing, Sen, Min Aung Hlaing, Kyaw, doesn’t, ” Anna, he’s, he’ll, Khin Ohmar, Stringer, Maung, Maung Nyein, terrifies, Ko, Maung Aye, he’d Organizations: CNN, Thai Embassy, Getty, Analysts, United Nations, People’s Defense Forces, National Unity Government, United, CNN Defense, Armed Forces, Reuters, Facebook, Foreign Ministry, Myanmar, Mandalay People's Defense Forces, Immigration, International Labour Locations: Myanmar, Myanmar’s, Yangon, AFP, United States, Naypyidaw, Thailand, Rakhine, Mandalay, Shan State, “, Shwebo, Sagaing

☆ Russia raises its flag in Avdiivka, then presses the advantage on a vulnerable Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Tim Lister | Maria Kostenko | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Russian military may have sensed a window of vulnerability in its adversary. Ukraine’s better units are exhausted after two years of combat; there is a new commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi; and Ukrainian troops are short of shells and vulnerable to relentless air strikes. The daily update from the Ukrainian military provides a glimpse of the firepower now being brought to bear by the Russians. This is how the enemy gained the advantage, destroying everything and advancing in the city.”Ukrainian servicemen build a temporary fortification near Avdiivka. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that in Avdiivka, seven Russians were being killed for every Ukrainian soldier lost.

Persons: they’ve, Ukraine’s, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin’s, ”, “, Ivan Tymochko, –, Firsov, Anatolii Stepanov, Chasiv Yar, Yevlash, ” Yevlash, Diego Herrera Carcedo, ’ Organizations: CNN, Russians, General Staff, Ukrainian Land Forces, Lyman, TV, Getty, Forces Locations: Avdiivka, Donetsk, Russia, Russian, Luhansk, Bakhmut, Kupiansk, Zaporizhzhia, Russians, Kharkiv, Robotyne, Severodonetsk, AFP, Mariinka, Vuhledar, Chasiv, Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Anadolu, Ukrainian

“I didn’t even make it home, and you’re telling me that I got traded,” Tapani added, remembering what she told Minnesota GM Natalie Darwitz. The trade became the first to put CBA relocation clauses to the test, while creating some initial confusion among the players involved. Jaques and Cook left their cars behind, unsure of how to get them to their new cities. Cook said PWHL officials have been in contact to help with the challenges of relocation. “They’ve been asking and trying to learn about what we’re going through, so yeah, I think it’ll be different for the next lucky girl that gets traded,” Cook said.

Persons: Susanna Tapani, “, ” Tapani, Natalie Darwitz, Abby Cook, Sophie Jaques —, ” Jaques, PWHL, What’s, Jaques, Cook, they’re, Liz Schepers, Clair DeGeorge, Schepers, “ They’ve, ” Cook, ” Darwitz, Darwitz, Jacques, Lee Stecklein, Danielle Marmer, Marmer, ’ ”, GM Don Sweeney, Tapani, ”, it’s Organizations: hockey, Hockey, Minnesota, Tapani, NHL, Ohio, Boston, NHL's Bruins, GM, ” Locations: Twin Cities, Boston, Minnesota, Finland, Sweden, Russia

But the blog does offer insight into how U.S. geopolitical rivals have been using large-language models to expand their ability to more effectively breach networks and conduct influence operations. But criminals and offensive hackers use it as well, and the introduction of large-language models led by OpenAI's ChatGPT upped that game of cat-and-mouse. — Iran's Revolutionary Guard has used large-language models to assist in social engineering, in troubleshooting software errors, and even in studying how intruders might evade detection in a compromised network. “Of course bad actors are using large-language models — that decision was made when Pandora’s Box was opened," said Amit Yoran, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Tenable. Some cybersecurity professionals complain about Microsoft's creation and hawking of tools to address vulnerabilities in large-language models when it might more responsibly focus on making them more secure.

Persons: —, OpenAI, ”, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Malaysia —, Amit Yoran, Gary McGraw, Edward Amoroso Organizations: BOSTON, — Microsoft, Microsoft, Korean, Guard, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, Google, Meta, Berryville Institute of Machine Learning, NYU, T Locations: Iran, North Korea, Russia, China, Redmond, Washington, OpenAI, Russian, Ukraine, France, Malaysia

☆ What MAGA World Gets Wrong About the N.F.L. and Taylor - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Jane Coaston | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The National Football League is an American cultural behemoth: Ninety-three of 2023’s 100 most-watched television broadcasts were N.F.L. Among those who will be watching the game is National Review senior editor Charles C.W. A native of England, Cooke has become an avid football fan (specifically, of the Jacksonville Jaguars) and has written about his growing understanding of America’s one true national sport. He has also written about some on the Right’s aversion to the N.F.L., particularly as some concoct convoluted conspiracy theories involving singer Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, the Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, while others denounce professional sports as a whole. As Cooke wrote in National Review, “Online, one can say that Taylor Swift is a ‘Deep State psyop’ and prompt a million Lost Boys to clap their hands in glee.

Persons: —, Charles C.W, Cooke, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, ’, ” Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, National Football League, National Review, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chiefs, National, Boys, 49ers Locations: American, England

☆ Meta removes Facebook and Instagram accounts of Iran’s Supreme Leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Meta has removed the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Meta, the accounts have been disabled, which means they are permanently removed. “We have removed these accounts for repeatedly violating our Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy,” a Meta spokesperson told CNN. Meta did not give a specific reason as to why Khamenei’s account fell under the Dangerous Organizations and Individuals Policy. “We expect the threat posed by Iran’s cyber and influence operations will grow as the conflict persists,” the Microsoft Threat Intelligence report said.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Biden, ”, Mahsa Alimardani, Meta, “ Organizations: CNN, Meta, Facebook, Iran’s, Organizations, US State Department, Foreign Terrorist Organization, Microsoft, ” Microsoft, Intelligence Locations: Iran, Yemen, Israel, Tehran, “, Iranian, UAE, Canada

☆ Violent Protests in Indian City Kills Two, More Than 80 Injured
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Two people were killed and more than 80 injured in violent protests in India's northern city of Haldwani following a government demolition drive against what it calls illegal encroachments, officials said on Friday. "I can confirm two have lost their lives and three people are serious (injured)," said senior police official Prahlad Narayan Meena. "Over 80 suffered injuries due to stone pelting, including some police and reporters." He said locals of the area, including Muslim clerics, should have been taken into confidence before starting the drive. "Every rioter who indulged in arson and stone pelting is being identified.

Persons: Prahlad Narayan Meena, Sumit, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Saurabh Sharma, Rupam Jain, Michael Perry Organizations: Police Locations: DELHI, India's, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, Nainital, New Delhi

(AP) — Annette Bening, a two-time Golden Globe winner who recently received her fifth Oscar nomination, was feted Tuesday with a raucous parade full of colorful costumes and drag performers as part of festivities honoring her as Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals 2024 Woman of the Year. The Pudding is the oldest theatrical organization in the nation and one of the oldest in the world. As the parade made its way through Cambridge, Bening, wearing a brown coat, hat and sunglasses, blew kisses to the crowd, and at point, was pecked on both cheeks by drag performers. Benning, who will also be roasted Tuesday night before attending a performance of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 175th production, “Heist Heist Baby,” launched into can can dance with several other people as the parade ended. “We’re absolutely thrilled to honor Annette Bening in this milestone 175th anniversary year for the Hasty Pudding,” said Josh Hillers, the organization’s president.

Persons: — Annette Bening, “, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Coolidge, Bening, Benning, ”, “ We’re, Annette Bening, Josh Hillers, we’re, ” Bening, Diana Nyad, Barry Keoghan Organizations: Golden Globe, Harvard Locations: CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, ”, Dunkirk

(AP) — Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals roasted Barry Keoghan, best known for his roles in “Dunkirk,” “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” “Eternals,” and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” on Friday with its 2024 Man of the Year Award. He also offered a quip about “Saltburn” — which includes a scene where Keoghan performs a nude dance. Annette Bening, a two-time Golden Globe winner who recently received her fifth Oscar nomination, was named Thursday as the 2024 Woman of the Year. Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which dates to 1844 and calls itself the third-oldest theater group in the world, has handed out a Man of the Year Award since 1967. Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 2024 Woman of the Year Award dates to 1951.

Persons: Harvard, Barry Keoghan, ”, Keoghan, Hasty, “ Mr, Robert Downey Jr, Morton, “ I’ve, Paul Newman’s, “ It’s, ” Keoghan, “, Annette Bening, Bob Odenkirk, Saul Goodman, Saul, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, Samuel L, Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, Bening, Diana Nyad Organizations: The, Harvard, Golden Globe Locations: CAMBRIDGE, “ Dunkirk, ”, —, “

(AP) — Annette Bening, a two-time Golden Globe winner who recently received her fifth Oscar nomination, was named Thursday as the 2024 Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The Pudding is the oldest theatrical organization in the nation and one of the oldest in the world. The festivities, including a celebratory roast of Bening, will take place Tuesday night. Bening will attend a performance of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 175th production, “Heist Heist Baby.”“We’re absolutely thrilled to honor Annette Bening in this milestone 175th anniversary year for the Hasty Pudding,” said Josh Hillers, the organization's president. He will honored Friday night.

Persons: — Annette Bening, Harvard University’s, “, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Coolidge, Bening, We’re, Annette Bening, ”, Josh Hillers, we’re, ” Bening, Diana Nyad, Barry Keoghan Organizations: Golden Globe, Harvard Locations: CAMBRIDGE, ”, Dunkirk

☆ Slovak Lawmakers to Fast-Track Criminal Law Reforms Debate Despite Objections
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Slovakia's parliament will fast-track debate on government plans to scrap a special prosecutor's office fighting corruption and lower sentences for financial crimes after ruling lawmakers approved the move on Thursday despite objections. Opposition parties had delayed the vote on whether to fast-track the criminal law reforms for weeks, looking to slow Prime Minister Robert Fico's changes that they argue will afford impunity for politicians and business leaders linked to him. Pushing the reforms on a faster track has also raised warnings from the European Union and United States. Opposition parties have led near weekly protests drawing tens of thousands, with another string of rallies planned for Thursday evening. Slovakia's special prosecutor's office, around for two decades, has been in Fico's sights since he won a September election and returned to power.

Persons: Robert Fico's, Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Caputova, Jason Hovet, Nick Macfie Organizations: Reuters, European Union, European Commission, Brussels, USP Locations: United States, Hungary, Poland, Prague

☆ Icon of the Seas: Why Americans Are Obsessed With Big Cruise Ships
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Henry Wismayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Love them or loathe them, giant cruise ships are among the most remarkable success stories of the mass tourism age. Rechristened the Mardi Gras, the first Carnival cruise ship sailed out of Miami that March. Cruise ships like the Icon of the Seas will spend the majority of their trip at sea. Eight years later, cruise ships such as the Diamond Princess became early incubators for COVID-19. Cruise Market Watch forecasts there will be 360 cruise ships in service at the end of this year, comprising less than 1% of the global commercial fleet.

Persons: Ted Arison, Arison, Pieter De Boer, Costa, Diamond, Aaron Saunders, We've, Sue Bryant, Z, sass, Emma Le Teace, YouTuber, David Foster Wallace, Harper's, Sarah Knorr, Bryan Comer, Karla Hart, Hart, Saunders, it's, Henry Wismayer Organizations: Port, Passengers, Mardi Gras, Mardi, Gras, Cruise, Royal Caribbean, Costa Concordia, Cruise Lines International Association, Broadway, CivicScience, Royal, Virgin, Business, Transport & Environment, Getty, International Council, Global Cruise, Global Cruise Activist Network, Cruise Market, Royal Caribbean International, New York Times, National Geographic, Financial Times Locations: Port of Miami, Caribbean, Miami, The Port, Tuscany, Italy, Royal Caribbean, TikTok, Panama, Bahamas, Brussels, Netherlands, Douarnenez, Venice, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Amsterdam, Juneau , Alaska, Skagway , Alaska, CocoCay, London

☆ Mohammad Ghobadlou: Iran executes protester with mental health condition, judiciary says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Adam Pourahmadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An Iranian protester with a mental health condition has been executed over the death of a local official during mass demonstrations that rocked the country in 2022, the Iranian judiciary’s news agency reported on Tuesday. International law and standards prohibit using the death penalty against people with mental disabilities, according to the rights group. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Norway-based Iranian human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR), called Ghobadlou’s execution an “extrajudicial killing.”On X, formerly Twitter, he wrote that “the Islamic Republic’s leader Ali Khamenei and his Judiciary must be held accountable for this crime. US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) placed the number of dead at more than 500, including 70 children. Thousands were arrested across the country, the UN said in a report last year, citing research from its Human Rights Committee.

Persons: “, Mohammad Ghobadlou, Farid Karampour Hassanvand, Ghobadlou, Robat, Abolqasem Salavati –, ”, Mizan, ” Ghobadlou, Mahmood Amiry, Ali Khamenei, Mahsa Amini Organizations: CNN, Amnesty, Revolutionary, Supreme, Iran Human, United Nations, Rights, News Agency, UN, Human Rights Locations: Robat Karim, Tehran province, United States, Norway, Iran

☆ Saudi Arabia's soccer dream suffers a setback with high-profile departure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jordan Henderson acknowledges the crowd after the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ettifaq and Damak at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on Sept. 2, 2023 in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia. England international Jordan Henderson abruptly ended his playing time in Saudi Arabia's Pro League, dealing a blow to the kingdom's ambitious plans to make its domestic league an international soccer hub. Former Liverpool captain Henderson on Thursday signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Dutch side Ajax shortly after the 33-year-old agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. Henderson's U-turn on playing in the Saudi Pro League comes six months after his controversial decision to sign with the club. Henderson's hasty exit from Saudi Arabia marks the end of "a miserable episode in a previously exemplary career," according to BBC Sport's chief soccer writer, and raises questions about both the midfielder's reputation as well as the image of the Saudi Pro League.

Persons: Jordan Henderson, Prince Mohamed bin Fahd, Henderson, Saudi Arabia's, Henderson's, Al Ettifaq Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Al, England, Saudi Arabia's Pro League, Liverpool, Dutch, Ajax, Saudi, BBC Locations: Prince, Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia

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