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☆ It's likely only a matter of time until Russia captures a key town in Ukraine, intel chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine is likely to lose the key eastern town of Chasiv Yar to Russia, a top intelligence official said. AdvertisementUkraine likely faces the approaching loss of a key eastern town to Russia, one of the country's top intelligence officials said. Much of the town in question, Chasiv Yar, is little more than rubble after more than a year of bombardment. BAKHMUT, UKRAINE - SEPTEMBER 27: An aerial view of the city of Bakhmut totally destroyed from heavy battles on September 27, 2023 in Bakhmut, Ukraine. AdvertisementWhile Chasiv Yar holds, Russia has carved a salient about 25 miles to the southwest in the village of Ocheretyne.

Persons: Chasiv Yar, Chasiv, —, Vadym Skibitsky, Bakhmut, Serhiy Hrabsky, Vladimir Putin's, Skibitsky, Avdiivka, Putin Organizations: Service, Ukraine Patrol Police, AP, Russia, New York Times, Russian, Ukrainian, Libkos, Pentagon, Economist Locations: Ukraine, Chasiv, Russia, Donetsk, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut, Luhansk, BAKHMUT, UKRAINE, Ocheretyne, Russian, Beijing

☆ In Los Angeles, a Hilltop Garden Party With a Tower of Crudités
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jean Trinh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Southern California’s infamous Santa Ana winds were barreling through Los Angeles as Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson prepared to host a garden party to celebrate the May 7 release of their first cookbook, “Kismet.” But as seasoned chefs and restaurant owners — they opened their Middle Eastern-inflected East Hollywood restaurant, also called Kismet, in 2017 after bonding in the kitchen at Brooklyn’s Glasserie over a decade ago — the two women have plenty of practice keeping cool in stressful situations. “We were like, ‘It’s going to die down, it’s going to die down,’” said Hymanson, 37, of the gale. “And if it doesn’t, then we’ll figure it out.”Indeed, just before 5:30 p.m., when guests were set to arrive at the Echo Park hilltop home that Kramer, 38, shares with her partner, the comedian Emil DeRosa, 34, and their goldendoodle, Kevin, the gusts subsided and the gray skies gave way to a golden sunset. Suddenly, the garden — which features a winding pathway scented by jasmine bushes and herbs that leads down to a grove of loquat, fig and Blenheim apricot trees — felt like an ideal place for a celebration. Chase Valencia, 40, who co-owns Lasita, a modern Filipino restaurant in the city’s Chinatown, took in the setting, admitting, “I came to this dinner because I really wanted to check out her house!”

Persons: Sara Kramer, Sarah Hymanson, It’s, ’ ”, Hymanson, Kramer, Emil DeRosa, Kevin, Chase Valencia, “ Organizations: Southern, Hollywood Locations: Santa, Los Angeles, Echo

☆ The Battle for a Hilltop Fortress in Eastern Ukraine, Explained
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russian forces have razed dozens of towns and cities in Ukraine over the past 26 months — killing thousands of civilians, forcing millions from their homes and leaving a trail of destruction that is impossible to calculate. Cities and towns little known to the world have become the scorched-earth battlegrounds where two armies clashed for months to bloody effect before the Russians finally prevailed. Now Russian forces have set their sight on Chasiv Yar, a hilltop fortress town in eastern Ukraine. The campaign is part of an intense effort by Russia to achieve what could be its most operationally significant advance since the first summer of the war in 2022. That includes the headquarters of the Ukrainian eastern command in Kramatorsk.

Persons: Chasiv Yar Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka . Cities, Russia, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Kramatorsk

The cost of pawn shop loans can be high, but in some situations they can offer financial leeway. How pawnshop loans workThe process of getting a pawnshop loanPawnbrokers assess your items just as they do for customers looking to pawn for a direct sale. About 60% of users of pawn loans, title loans, or payday loans were turned down partially or in full for requested mainstream credit sources, according to the CFPB. Unlike qualifications for personal loans, pawn loans don't require a credit check or information on financial assets. Pawnshop loans can get expensive because they have higher interest rates and fees compared to traditional loans.

Persons: you've, You'd, you'll, They're, you'd, Kate Underwood Kate Underwood Kate Underwood, www.kateunderwoodwriter.com Read Organizations: U.S . Department of, National Pawnbrokers Association, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Chevron Locations: Virginia Beach , Virginia, Richmond , Kentucky

☆ A 7-Year-Old Girl Is the Lone Serious Casualty of Iran’s Barrage
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Natan Odenheimer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The hospital waiting room was quiet on Sunday: There was no crowd of relatives, no flood of patients. Israel’s air defenses had just fended off a large-scale Iranian attack, with only one serious casualty recorded. While Israel suffered little in the way of significant damage overnight, this one family was dealt a devastating blow. Amina al-Hasoni, 7, was clinging to life — the sole serious casualty of the Iranian barrage. And were it not for systemic inequities in Israel, her relatives said, maybe she too could have been spared.

Persons: Israel, Amina al, Amina’s, Ismail, —, “, ” Organizations: Soroka Medical Locations: Israel’s, Beersheba, Israel, Negev, al

☆ Get Ready for the Great Trump Diaspora
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Paul Starobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Atlantic devoted an entire issue to the authoritarian horrors in store for America "If Trump Wins." AdvertisementA second Trump presidency, Speer said, could serve as a "catalyst" that further fuels the growing diaspora of Americans living in exile. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the DNC, has nearly tripled its membership. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the Democratic National Committee, has nearly tripled its membership, which now numbers in the hundreds of thousands. My wife and I are both Trump decriers, although we didn't begin our Italy property search to find a refuge from MAGA-infused America.

Persons: specter, Donald Trump —, Trump, Gallup, George W, Bush's, Barack Obama's, Doris Speer, Speer, —, Roe, Wade —, Martha McDevitt, Pugh, Emily, Francophiles, Ernest Hemingway, James Baldwin —, Nicole Kidman's, MAGA, batty, it's, John Galey, Paul Starobin Organizations: Washington Post, Trump, America, Association of Americans Resident Overseas, dodgers, DNC, Democratic National Committee, Leggett, Italy Facebook, Côte, IRS, Citizens Abroad, Los Angeles Times, New Books Network Locations: Umbria, Italy, Montana, Tuscany, Texas, Tennessee, America, Canada, Washington, Paris, United States, Iraq, Europe, Vietnam, Sedona , Arizona, Portugal, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Golden, California, MAGA

☆ More Americans are moving to Tuscany, where their money goes further, the pace is slower, and the wine flows freely
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Jordan Pandy | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

More Americans are moving to Tuscany, a part of Italy known for medieval walled cities and wine. Some locals say it's keeping their economy alive, but others are starting to grumble. The influx of Americans, locals said, can be at once a booster of fortunes and an irritating imposition. "A lot of locals say that a place like Montepulciano cannot handle all those tourists because it's a small city," said Tudor, the jeweler. Americans, Ercolani said, "spend money and they appreciate the quality of the food and the wine that we have."

Persons: —, Leanne Davis, Davis, Jon Chewning, Chewning, It's, Georgette Jupe, Knight Frank, Florence ., they're, we've, Frances Mayer's, it's, Michele Capecchi, Capecchi, Erin Lewis, Lewis, Danilo Romolini, Luca Tudor, AJ Tuscany, Tudor, who's, Sam D'Avanzo, dell'Anfiteatro, Frank Bienewald, they've, lockdowns, Jupe, Bendetta, Cantina Ercolani, Ercolani Organizations: Service, Business, Associated Press, US Department of State, Italian National Institute of Statistics, away.com, Christie's, Estate, Locals, International School of Florence Locations: Tuscany, Italy, California, Romano, Sacramento, Montepulciano, Florence, Boccheggiano, Lucca, Siena, American, Europe, Rome, Venice, Chiusi, Austin , Texas, Houston , Texas, Italian, Switzerland, Albanian

☆ She missed her flight to extend her Italy vacation romance. Here’s what happened next
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Bianca was in the harbor of Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the five picturesque fishing villages that make up the Italian Cinque Terre region. “Then, three days before I was leaving to go home, my friend said, ‘Let’s go to the Cinque Terre. After three days with Alessandro, Bianca didn’t want to leave, but she figured she had no choice. She fed me, of course.”Alessandro also took Bianca on the back of his scooter for hilltop rides around the Cinque Terre. The couple would take their daughter along too, and spend time with their Italian family.

Persons: Bianca Gignac, Bianca, ” Bianca, It’s, she’d, Florence –, “, ”, ‘ Let’s, ’, Alessandro Morelli, ” Alessandro, –, Alessandro, I’d, Bianca –, Artie, “ I’m, skeptically, let’s, She’d, Bianca Gignac Bianca, Bianca didn’t, “ Bianca, don’t, Paola, ‘ I’m, they’d, “ I’ve, I’m, ’ ” Bianca, Riomaggiore –, Alessandro’s, Italy Bianca, ” “ Patience, Bianca’s, ’ ”, Stefano Butturini Bianca, – we’re, ‘ Don’t, we’ve, “ She’s, Italy –, “ It’s, we’re Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Italian Cultural Institute of Vancouver, Terre, La Spezia, Getty Locations: Riomaggiore, Italian, Terre, Canadian, Italy, Europe, Florence, La, Cinque Terre, Rome, Canada, Terre wasn’t, La Spezia, Vancouver, Bianca’s, Costa Rica, Bianca

☆ We spent over $900 to go on a bucket-list hike hidden in the Grand Canyon region. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Bernadette Rankin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A quick internet search led me to pursue my dream bucket-list trip at Havasupai Falls. The first step in the journey was securing reservationsThe first part of planning my trip was securing permits to visit Havasupai Falls. We crossed the bridge one by one and ventured on until we got our first jaw-dropping look at the cascading Havasu Falls. AdvertisementOur favorite hike of the trip was on the Havasu Falls Trail, which stretches from Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls. We consoled each other by swearing that we'd be back again to see Havasupai Falls, a place we'd fallen hopelessly and insatiably in love with.

Persons: —, van, Hilltop, Bernadette Rankin, I'm, Beyoncé, we'd Organizations: Service, First, Business, Las Vegas Locations: Havasupai, Las, Peach Springs , Arizona, Hilltop, Supai, Supai Village, Havasu, Little Navajo Falls, Navajo, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls, Mooney, Havasu Creek

☆ A Re-established West Bank Settlement Symbolizes Hardened Israeli Views
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Steven Erlanger | Sergey Ponomarev | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For an Israeli settlement that has become such a resounding symbol of religious and right-wing politics in the West Bank, Homesh is not much to look at. They live part time here amid the ruins and rubbish of a hilltop settlement ripped down in 2005 by the Israeli army and police. It is one of four West Bank settlements dismantled when Israel pulled all of its troops and settlements out of Gaza. The decision to dismantle them is now being challenged by the more religious and right-wing ministers in the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. They are agitating to settle more land in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and even remove Palestinians from Gaza to resettle there.

Persons: Homesh, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: West Bank Locations: Bank, Israel, Gaza, Washington

☆ Gulmarg: Snow has returned to Asia’s highest ski resort. Here’s what visitors going there now can expect
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Ramaa Reddy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —In early January, anyone who visited the ski resort village of Gulmarg in Indian-administered Kashmir with hopes of actually skiing was out of luck. A severe snow shortage, blamed on dry weather, threatened to derail the entire winter season, leaving both travelers and tourism operators disappointed. Regardless of whether you’re a full-time athlete or someone who enjoys skiing and snowboarding for fun, Gulmarg offers a winter experience like no other. Today, travelers headed for Asia’s highest ski resort can enjoy over 1,330 vertical meters (4,363 feet) of skiable terrain, with lifts offering access to four separate skiing zones on Mount Apharwat. Many of those visitors don’t ski but just ride up the gondola to play in the snow and take in the views at the top.

Persons: Mukhtar Ahmad, Nanga Parbat, ”, Brian Newman, Newman, “, ” Mehmood Ahmad Lone, –, nans, Kababs, Rogan Josh, Kati, It’s, Mount Apharwat, Colonel Mirza Zahid Baig, Gulmarg, Javedh Ahmad Reshi Organizations: CNN, El, El Nino, Adventure, Hindustan Times, Newman’s, US Department of State, Warfare, USA Locations: Gulmarg, Kashmir, India, Mount Apharwat, British, Apharwat, Nanga, Colorado, Europe, North America, Pakistan, Khyber, Highland, Hilltop, Kashmir’s, Srinagar, Mount

☆ They fell in love on vacation but went their separate ways. Four years later, she sent him an email: ‘Remember me?’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Long distanceAfter Dan visited Gabriella in Italy, Gabriella visited Dan in the US. Gabriella Vagnoli and Dan WatlingA couple of months later, Gabriella planned a trip to the US to visit Dan in Chicago. But despite being tired from the flight, Gabriella felt immediately welcomed by Dan’s family. Gabriella Vagnoli and Dan WatlingToday, Gabriella and Dan live in Seattle with their two teenage kids. While a love of adventure unites them, Gabriella and Dan insist they’re quite different in many other ways.

Persons: CNN — Gabriella Vagnoli, ”, Dan Watling, Dan, they’d, Gabriella, She’d, I’m, he’s, –, ” Gabriella, Gabriella Vagnoli, Bill Watling Gabriella, Loch, Bill “, He’d, ” Dan, Bill, “, ’, Gabi, Dan didn’t, she’d, Gabriella couldn’t, Skye, strode, Gabriella “, Read, Gabriella’s, he’d, Dan couldn’t, “ It’s, ’ ”, “ We’re, Dan Watling Gabriella, Siena, Dan’s, ‘ I’m, Dan Watling “, San Giuliano, who’d, “ Dan, ‘, Walter Moretti, “ Michelangelo, Dan haven’t, they’ve, they’re, He’s, it’s, we’re, Storr, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Google, CNN Travel, Scottish Highlands, Piazza del Campo, Italian, Chicago, Rio, “ Locations: Scotland, Italy, Loch Ness, Isle, Skye, Europe, Scottish, Germany, Portugal, Edinburgh, Chicago, Pisa, Rome, Urquhart, glens, 1111IESPDJ, America, Munich, Siena, Piazza, Bryce, Italian, Gabriella's, Galena , Illinois, Tuscan, San, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Rio, Seattle , Washington, Seattle

He said shots suddenly hit the back of the truck, striking Abdel Jabbar. Hafeth Abdel Jabbar said that when he arrived, he found his son’s lifeless body in the pickup, amid shattered glass and blood stains. They jumped in the family truck and headed out, he said, but realized they'd forgotten charcoal. Later Tuesday, investigators took the truck, Abdel Jabbar said. Also Tuesday, Abdel Jabbar said, he accompanied Salameh to provide witness testimony to Israeli investigators.

Persons: Mohammed Salameh's, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, “, ” Salameh, Abdel Jabbar, Salameh —, Abdel Jabbar's, Hafeth, Mazra’a, Sharquiya —, Salameh, Hafeth Abdel Jabbar, —, wasn't, ” Hafeth, Abdel Jabbar family's, Tawfic, Yesh Din, Rami, Mona, Joe Biden's, ” Mona Abdel Jabbar, ” Organizations: West Bank, Associated Press, Bank, Police, AP, U.S, West Locations: American, Louisiana, Al, Israel, Ramallah, Mona, Gretna , Louisiana, West Bank

☆ Why the West can't stop the Houthi rebels' missile attacks on ships
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They enjoy three advantages that magnify their ability to create havoc, and make it difficult for the West to stop them. Bab el Mandeb is just 70 miles long and 20 miles wide, within easy range of land-based anti-ship missiles, drones and even howitzers firing extended-range shells. The Houthis also have Iranian-made anti-ship ballistic missiles with a range of around 300 miles, as well as drones. Even a giant aircraft carrier is hard to spot in the vastness of the ocean, and an anti-ship missile's onboard radar can only scan a small area . The Houthis claim they are only attacking Israeli ships out of solidarity with Gaza, though many of the ships have nothing to do with Israel .

Persons: Bab el, Quds Organizations: Service, U.S, U.S ., International Institute for Strategic Studies, US Locations: Red, America, Yemen, Europe, U.S . East Coast, India, East Asia, Suez, Egypt, East Coast, Bab, Eritrea, Djibouti, Iran, Saudi, Gaza, Israel, Persian, Tehran isn't, Vietnam

☆ Target and Walmart stores in the Bay Area are locking up underwear and socks to prevent shoplifting
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Target and Walmart stores in the Bay Area are putting underwear and socks behind locked doors. AdvertisementUnderwear and socks are some of the latest items to be locked up at Target and Walmart stores in the Bay Area, in the retailers' latest efforts to combat shoplifting, NBC Bay Area reported . One customer told NBC Bay Area that they had to wait 10 minutes for an assistant to retrieve an item. A Walmart store located in Hilltop, California is also keeping underwear locked up in a bid to prevent theft. Cesar Zepeda, a Richmond City councilmember, said in an interview with NBC Bay Area that retail theft is hurting the local community and its likely to lead to store closures.

Persons: —, Cesar Zepeda Organizations: Walmart, Service, Target, NBC Bay, NBC Bay Area, Richmond City councilmember, Social, National, Security Survey Locations: Bay, Hilltop , California, Richmond

☆ Best travel destinations to visit in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Cnn Travel Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +32 min

cdwheatley/iStockphoto/Getty Images Angola: Beyond the capital city of Luanda, pictured, Angola has some jaw-droppingly spectacular scenery and cultural treats. David ChiaFF/Alamy Stock Photo Mérida, Mexico: Yucatán state's capital city showcases a blend of Mayan and colonial heritage. Pavel Tochinsky/The Image Bank RF/Getty Images Morocco: This North African country is home to nine UNESCO sites, including the historic city of Meknes, pictured. Panama City is also the only world capital with a tropical rainforest within its city limits. And a historic city forever entwined with the famed Camino de Santiago.

Persons: you’d, Tengguo Wu, Gabriele Thielmann, Turkey's, Gary Ennis, Matevz, Bill Bachman, Christian Kober, Gonzalo Azumendi, David ChiaFF, Pavel Tochinsky, Terry Kelly, Raul Rodriguez, iStock, Anton Petrus, –, — Karla Cripps Turkey’s, — Barry Neild, Mana Kaasik, — Maureen O’Hare, — Maggie Hiufu Wong, Deb Snelson, Glen Arbor, Marnie Hunter, — Forrest Brown, — Forrest Brown Angola Cristo, Eric Lafforgue, it’s, King, Eric Carr, John’s, Saint John, New Brunswick —, —, Tuul, Bruno Morandi, — Julia Buckley, Groenewald, Alamy, — Lilit Marcus, Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon, — JB, Bogdan Lazar, — Tamara Hardingham, Gill, Hercules, Francesca, Lazarus, ”, David Casanova, Megan Sequeira Casanova, “, Kuka y Naranjo, medina, Gordon Sinclair, Yvette Cardozo, — FB, Pierce Ingram, Stefan Tomic, Fujairah, who’ve, Samarkand —, It’s Organizations: CNN, United, CNN Travel, Getty Images, Town, Getty, Northwest, Saint, New Brunswick Tourism, UNESCO, Heritage, Alamy, Parque Nacional Volcán Barú, Galicia, Tercera Orden, Parque, Bank, Wakulla Springs, Texas, United Arab Emirates, AP, Rock, of Culture, Estonian National Museum, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest Michigan, Bear, Farm, Riders, Lubango, — BN Saint John, Canada Tourists, St, Saint John City Market, Historic, Saint John Arts Centre, Carnegie, Carnegie Library, — KC, Korea, Folk, Netflix, South Korea, Adriatic, Nacional Glaciares, Australian Sea Lions, Panama, Spain Santiago de, Spain Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Islas, Camino, Mexico People, YouTube, US State Department, Morocco, Regis Hotels, Resorts, — FB Texas, Travel Texas, Krause, Gruene, Fujairah, Icefjord, FS, Tuul, ” Locations: United States, Sumba, Indonesia Sumba, Indonesia, Bali, Getty Images Tartu, Estonia, Tartu —, European, Tainan, Taiwan, Northwest Michigan, Traverse City, Lake Michigan, iStockphoto, Western Balkans, Culebra , Puerto Rico, Flamenco, Culebra, cdwheatley, Angola, Luanda, , New Brunswick, Fundy, New Brunswick, New Brunswick Tourism South Korea, Korea Albania, Albania, Chile, mauritius, Western Australia, Greece, Macedonia, American, Panama, Spain, Camino, Santiago, St, John's, Mexico, Parque Hidalgo, Morocco, Meknes, Florida, Spicewood, Anton, Greenland, Denmark, AP Uzbekistan, Bukhara, Indonesian, Sumela, Turkey's, — Barry Neild Tartu, Estonia Tartu, of Culture Tartu, Tartu, “, Baltics, — Maureen O’Hare Tainan, Taiwan Tainan, Taipei, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest, Lake, Traverse, Leland, Glen, perusing, Balkans, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, transdinarica.com, —, Puerto Rico, It’s, — Forrest Brown Angola, Lubango, Barra, Cabo Ledo, — BN Saint John , New Brunswick, Canada, Hopewell, Newfoundland, Saint, Canada’s, Korea Andong, South Korea, Sanga, Korea, Seoul, Busan, Andong, Albania Albania, Berat, Montenegro, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, — Julia Buckley Chile, Atacama, Patagonia, Coral Coast, Geraldton, — Lilit Marcus Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece's, Hemis, Athens, Vergina, Veria, Naousa, Greece’s, Thrace, Philippi, Kavala, Panama . Panama City, Gill Galicia, Spain Santiago, Spain Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Galicia’s, Santiago de Compostela, Cabo, Fisterra, Galicia —, Singapore, John’s, Paseo, Montejo, Mérida, Yucatán, getaways, there’s, Marrakech, Rabat, Fes, Resorts Morocco, Wakulla, Ginnie, Fredericksburg, Texas, Marble Falls, Meanderers, New Braunfels, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Wadi, Nuuk, Ilulissat, West, FS Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, China, India, Khiva, Uzbek, Sentob, Tashkent

And if we say, ‘This is my land,’ they start to shoot live.” Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel, violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has intensified. Extremist Israeli settlers have been emboldened in what Palestinians say is an increased effort to seize their land with support from the Israeli Army. On Oct. 13, Sami Hourani’s cousin Zacharia al-Adara was shot and wounded by an Israeli settler in the Palestinian village of at-Tuwani. In 2012, Israel’s Security Agency accused him of leading covert and violent activity against Palestinians, and he was temporarily banned from entering the West Bank. In the past seven weeks alone, the U.N. says more than 1,000 villagers have been forced to leave their homes due to settler violence across the West Bank.

Persons: ’, Sami, Zacharia al, Adara, Zacharia, Zvi, He’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Dalal al, Awad, They’ve Organizations: West Bank, Israeli Army, Observers, Israel’s Security Agency Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Zacharia, Tuba, Ma’on

☆ A wife waits in Israel for her husband, a hostage in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Joseph Campbell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lavi has to answer her two year-old daughter Roni's increasingly insistent questions about what has happened to her father. "At first she thought that 'Daddy went to a treatment,' because Omri is a shiatsu healer. And after today, she said, and this is what we told her until now, 'Daddy got lost.'" "I need my Omri back, I need my man back. I need all the world to understand that Omri, (was) taken from our home, in his boxers, without shoes even, and we need him back."

Persons: Lavi, Omri Miran, Nahal Oz, Joseph Campbell, Omri, Roni's, Daddy, James Mackenzie, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Kibbutz Kramim, Israel, gunpoint, Gaza

☆ Scientists Observe Chimpanzees Using Human-Like Warfare Tactic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

It is a scenario that has unfolded innumerable times in the history of human warfare. Inter-group violence is ubiquitous in chimpanzees, Lemoine said. While atop border hills, the chimpanzees typically refrained from noisily eating or foraging, instead resting and listening. They were more likely to advance into dangerous territory after descending a hill if the rival chimpanzees were further away. Chimpanzees and the closely related bonobos are the species nearest genetically to humans, sharing about 98.8% of our DNA.

Persons: Will Dunham, Sylvain Lemoine, Lemoine, " Lemoine, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: University of Cambridge, Biology, Inter Locations: Tai, Ivory Coast, West, Washington

☆ Scientists observe chimpanzees using human-like warfare tactic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] A group of chimpanzees listen to other chimpanzees heard at a distance in the West African forests of Cote d'Ivoire, studied as part of research by the Tai Chimpanzee Project, in this undated handout photograph. But in this case, it involved not people but chimpanzees in Tai National Park in southwestern Ivory Coast, West Africa's largest protected area of rainforest. Inter-group violence is ubiquitous in chimpanzees, Lemoine said. They were more likely to advance into dangerous territory after descending a hill if the rival chimpanzees were further away. Chimpanzees and the closely related bonobos are the species nearest genetically to humans, sharing about 98.8% of our DNA.

Persons: Wittig, Sylvain Lemoine, Lemoine, " Lemoine, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, University of Cambridge, Biology, Inter, Thomson Locations: West, Cote d'Ivoire, Tai, Ivory Coast, Washington

☆ Opinion: There’s a smarter way for Israel to eliminate Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Opinion Robert A. Pape | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

To defeat terrorist groups like Hamas, it is important to separate the terrorists from the local population from which they emerge. Right now, we are witnessing not the separation of Hamas and the local population, but the growing integration of the two, with likely growing recruitment for Hamas. The only viable way to separate Hamas from the local population is politically. This could, over time, separate Hamas from the local population more and more, and so lead to significant success. This new strategic conception is the best way to defeat Hamas, secure Israel’s population and advance America’s interests in the region.

Persons: Robert A . Pape, Read, CNN —, —, Robert A, Pape Robert Pape Indeed, Maz Nash, Israel, Mohammed Abed, Ben Curtis, Saddam Hussein’s, Saddam Hussein, Chris Hondros, Israel doesn’t Organizations: University of Chicago Project, Security, “, Power, CNN, West Bank, Getty, Beirut International Airport, ISIS, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health Locations: Israel, United States, Southern Lebanon, Lebanon, Beirut, Gaza, Gaza City, AFP, Iraq, Al, Kut, Ramallah, Syria, Palestinian

☆ A gay Israeli soldier says he's going to fly the LGBTQ+ flag on his tank while fighting Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A gay Israeli soldier plans to take an LGBTQ+ flag to fight against Hamas. Atzmoni told Insider that he's worried that a Hamas victory could set Israel's progress on LGBTQ+ rights back several decades. Meanwhile, in Jordan, public opinion is overwhelmingly opposed to LGBTQ+ rights, according to the LGBTQ+ collaborative knowledge base, Equaldex . Under Hamas, LGBTQ+ Palestinians suffer "severe persecution and ostracism," per UN Watch's 2022 report. Nadav Yitzhaki and Yoav Atzmoni holding an Israeli flag with LGBTQ+ colors Courtesy of Yoav AtzmoniBut the progress has been hard-won, according to Azmotovi.

Persons: Yoav Atzmoni, —, Atzmoni, Nadav Yitzhaki, Azmotovi, Eytan Marmelstein, Omer Bauman, Yulav Shtaigel, Benyamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yitzhak Pindrus Organizations: Hamas, Service, Israel Defense Forces, Gaza, Tel Avid Pride, Dignity, Israel's Defense Ministry, Torah Judaism Party, Hilltop, West Bank Locations: Israeli, Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, Europe

☆ Opinion: War didn’t look like this when the Geneva Conventions were written
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Sheena Mckenzie | Opinion Mukesh Kapila | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Fatima Shbair/APHowever, modern urban warfare sets new records of ruination because more than half of us live in built-up areas. This is not illegal under the UN Charter but the concept of ’just’ war in international law requires protecting non-combatants. In urban war, fighters and civilians intermingleOften, the frontlines of urban conflicts cannot be clearly demarcated when fighters and civilians are intermingled. War has changed since the Geneva ConventionsThese new-style warriors were unknown when the Geneva Conventions emerged over a century ago. That violates international humanitarian law and is contrary to a UN political declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas.

Persons: Mukesh Kapila, “, Mukesh, Khan, Fatima Shbair Organizations: UN, Global Health, Humanitarian Affairs, University of Manchester, CNN, United Nations, Islamic, Hamas, International, International Committee, Cross, Food Program Locations: United, Sarajevo, Kabul, Kigali, Huambo, Goma, Gaza, Khartoum, Port, Jerusalem, Britain, Germany, Stalingrad, Beirut, Khan Younis, Geneva, Russian, Ukraine, Islamic State, Afghanistan, Yemen, Australia, Iraq, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Al, Aqsa, Israel

☆ How the Azores islands went from whale hunting to whale watching
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Anne Pinto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Soon, factories processing whale oil, meat and bones sprung up on the islands. After crude oil was discovered in 1859, the demand for whale oil decreased dramatically in the following decades. In 1990, French national Serge Viallele set up the first whale watching company in the archipelago, on Pico island. The number of whale watching boats is strictly limited by a license system, which issues a maximum number per island – or per zone for the smaller islands. For now, whale watching remains a major draw for visitors to the islands.

Persons: ”, Rui de Souza Martins, Azorean, they’d, De Agostini, –, – didn’t, José Carlos Garcia, São Miguel, Pedro Madruga, wasn’t, Francois Gohier, Serge Viallele, “ Viallele, Miguel Cravinho, Francisco Garcia, ” de Souza Martins, you’ll, Martin Zwick, Jean, Michel Cousteau, Luís Silva, Garcia, “ Organizations: CNN, University of, Whaling, Whalers, Netflix, International Whaling Commission, IWC, Azul, World Cetacean Alliance, Centre for Research Locations: Azores, Lisbon, Azoreans, Portugal, United States, Nantucket and New Bedford , Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Pico, Francois, Terra Azul, Miguel, Europe

Visitors can now pinch and zoom their way around the ancient Greek site, with a digital overlay showing how it once looked. Other, less widely known features also appear: Many of the sculptures on the Acropolis were painted in striking colors. Tech giant like Meta and Apple are pushing into VR headsets that can cost thousands of dollars. “Accessibility is extending to the digital space,” Mendoni said at a preview launch event for the Chronos app in May. “Real visitors and virtual visitors anywhere around the world can share historical knowledge.”Developed by Greek telecoms provider Cosmote, the free app's designers say they hope to build on existing features that include an artificial intelligence-powered virtual guide, Clio.

Persons: Athena, ”, “, Maria Engberg, Lina Mendoni, ” Mendoni, Panayiotis Gabrielides, Petros Giannakouris Organizations: —, British Museum, Greece’s Culture Ministry, Bank of Greece, Revenue, Titans, Tech, Apple, VR, Malmo University, Culture Ministry, Microsoft, Olympic, Cosmote, Acropolis Museum Locations: ATHENS, Greece, London, Tourism, Rhodes, Sweden, Athens, China, Olympia

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