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☆ Ukraine's facing a perfect storm of problems, and a vote in Congress could make or break its war with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The House is expected to soon vote on a long-awaited aid package including support for Ukraine and Israel. If the stalled aid package is approved, it remains to seen how the rollout of aid will go. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu via Getty ImagesWhile US lawmakers have spent months debating Ukraine aid, Russia has been given a golden opportunity. As the Russian war machine fires up, the army is putting pressure on Ukraine's defenses, seeing where it can potentially break through and seize territory. AdvertisementJohnson's planned foreign aid package comes in at a similar cost and includes about $61 billion for Ukraine.

Persons: —, Frederick Kagan, Kostiantyn, It's, Kagan, GENYA SAVILOV, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's, Mick Ryan, 2S3, Wojciech Grzedzinski, it's, Franz, Stefan Gady, Gady, Ryan, Mike Johnson, Republican opposers, Johnson, Johnson's, Scott Peterson, Jose Colon, William Burns, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Lev Radin Organizations: Service, Washington DC, American Enterprise Institute, Business, Armed Forces, Getty Images, Australian Army, Ukrainian 63rd Brigade, Getty, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russian, Ukraine, NATO, Archer Artillery, Roman, Republican, Democrats, Republicans, Pentagon, Anadolu, CIA, Russia, UNITED STATES, Pacific Press, Ukrainian Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Washington, Chernigiv, AFP, Getty Images Ukraine, Russian, Lyman, Donetsk Oblast, Anadolu, Europe, Taiwan, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Izyum, China, North Korea, Poland, American

☆ Families who sued social media companies years ago are taking matters into their own hands
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Now there are hundreds of such lawsuits against social media platforms, alleging teenagers across the country have been harmed from exposure to social media, according to Matthew Bergman, the founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center, from where many of these lawsuits have been filed. Jaime Puerta said he has met with police departments, government agencies and schools to discuss the dangers of social media platforms. Mayor Eric Adams makes announcement on lawsuit against social media companies at City Hall in New York City. Next, she said she wants to work with lawmakers to help increase the age requirement to access social media sites. Donna and Chris Dawley have attended conferences, events and Congressional hearings to raise awareness about social media addiction.

Persons: Jaime Puerta’s, Daniel, Puerta, Snapchat, Matthew Bergman, Koukichi Takahashi, TikTok, ” Puerta, “, ”, Jaime Puerta, Meta, Gail Flatt, Sarah’s, Sarah, Flatt, Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Sen . Blackburn, Blackburn, Mark Zuckerberg, who’ve, “ I’m, Norma Nazario, Zackery, Eric Adams, Nazario, Lev Radin, Ron DeSantis, Jaime Puerta – Amy Neville, Alexander, –, she’s, Neville, ” Amy Neville, Alexander Neville, Amy Neville, Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Sen, Klobuchar, Sabine Polak, Polak, Mileva, ” Polak, Repasky, it’s, Cece Nelter, Independence , Kentucky –, Instagram, Cece, Nelter, Donna, Chris Dawley –, CJ, ” Donna Dawley, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Chris Dawley, Donna Dawley “, Donna Dawley, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders, Social Media, Law, Meta, Adobe, Big Tech, Los Angeles, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Drug, Administration, Federal, Facebook, Wall, Northern District of, Republican, Union, New York City, New York, City Hall, Pacific Press, TikTok, Florida Republican, Snapchat, Alexander Neville Foundation, Alexander, Parent, Academy, Democratic, Media, Free Schools Movement Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, Instagram, Tennessee, Biden’s, New York, New, New York City, Florida, United States, Minnesota, Phoenixville , Pennsylvania, ”, Independence , Kentucky

☆ Donald Trump paid more than $2.3 million in donor money to law firms helping Ivanka Trump with her legal problems last year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

In 2023, Save America disbursed a total of $1,303,667.11 to the law firm Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, and $1,042,479 to the firm Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, & Frederick. AdvertisementBoth firms represented Ivanka Trump in New York Attorney General Letitia James's sprawling lawsuit against the Trump Organization, Donald Trump, his three eldest children, and several executives over its finances. Clifford S. Robert and Michael Farina of Robert & Robert served as their local counsel while also defending Eric Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. in the litigation. Kellogg and Figel withdrew from representing Ivanka Trump the following month as the case moved closer to trial. Ivanka Trump didn't respond to a request for comment.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Robert, — Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Donald Trump , Jr, Trump, He's, Robert Maguire, Maguire, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel, Frederick, Ivanka, Letitia James's, Michael K, Kellogg Hansen, Reid M, Clifford S, Michael Farina, Farina, Lev Radin, Troutman Pepper, Bennett S, Moskowitz, Jeffrey Epstein's, Ketan D, Bhirud, Trump's, Arthur Engoron, Jane Rosenberg, wasn't, Moskowitz —, general's, Michael Cohen, Jared Kushner, Amalija Knavs, Robert didn't, It's, Kushner Organizations: Service, Save America PAC, Commission, Business, PAC, Trump Organization, Save, Trump, Citizens, Election Defense Fund, Ivanka Trump, New York, Pacific Press, Getty, Ivanka Trump's, New, Trump's Save America PAC, Court, REUTERS, America, MAGA PAC, Republican Locations: Washington, New, New York, DC, Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Florida, Palm Beach , Florida

☆ Susan Sarandon was dropped by her talent agency in the wake of comments about the Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon has been dropped by United Talent Agency. She drew criticism for comments made at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City. AdvertisementSusan Sarandon has been dropped by her talent agency over comments she made at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York last week, a spokesperson from the agency told Deadline. The Oscar-winning actress, who has been represented by United Talent Agency (UTA) since 2014, has attended several rallies about the Israel-Hamas war, but drew criticism for comments she made during a speech at Union Square. In another clip of the rally Sarandon says being anti-Palestinian is the result of "brainwashing and conditioning for years and years."

Persons: Susan Sarandon, they've, —, Sarandon, Pink, Roger Waters, He's, Aaron Sorkin, William Morris, William Morris Endeavor Entertainmnet, she's, Melissa Barrera Organizations: United Talent Agency, Service, UTA, The New, The New York Post, Aviva, UN, Guardian, Israel, New York Times, Palestine, Pacific Press, CAA, William Morris Endeavor Locations: New York City, Hollywood, Israel, New York, The New York, Manhattan

☆ ‘Roman Stories’ Review: Eternal, Uncertain City
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Liesl Schillinger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Photo: Matteo Nardone/Pacific Press/AlamyWhat does it mean to be “a Roman” in the 21st century? But the narrator of the last story in Jhumpa Lahiri’s collection “Roman Stories” has a personal stake in this question. She is an American professor in her 50s who was pulled to Rome as a young woman by a fascination with the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (whose name provides the story’s title). After marrying a Roman, she ended up staying in the city for decades. At her mother-in-law’s funeral, she wonders: Had her long residence made her a Roman?

Persons: Matteo Nardone, Virgil, Aeneas, Caesar, Mussolini, Fellini, Sophia Loren, ”, Dante Alighieri, she’d, “ Organizations: Pacific Press Locations: American, Rome, Italian, America

☆ NATO's 2 least-friendly members have a history of aerial showdowns, and they're both about to get new stealth jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Greece and Turkey both plan to roll out new stealth jets by the end of the decade. Greece is acquiring F-35s from the US, while Turkey is building the domestically designed TF Kaan. The TF KAAN at its presentation ceremony in Ankara on May 1. AdvertisementAdvertisementBohl said several factors could hinder timely production of the TF Kaan, including fiscal considerations, national spending priorities, and Ankara's foreign partnerships. Stealth jets over the AegeanAn F-16 with Greece's Zeus solo display team at an airshow in Pireus in November 2016.

Persons: Dhruv Gopinath, Pratt, Whitney, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Yavuz Ozden, Bohl, George Tzogopoulos, Tzogopoulos, Greece's, George Panagakis, Cuneyt Organizations: NATO, Service, US Air Force, Souda Air Base, Tech, Turkish Aerospace Industries, GE, East, TF, Hellenic Air Force, Turkish, BAE Systems, Stealth, Pacific Press, Getty, NATO Air Policing, Anadolu Agency, Ankara Locations: Greece, Turkey, Wall, Silicon, Dhruv Gopinath Athens, Ankara, North Africa, Turkish, Crete, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Pireus, Athens, Malbork, Poland

Particle pollution is a “key ingredient” of wildfire smoke, Barrett told CNN. “Sometimes we can see, smell, and even taste the impacts of wildfire smoke,” Barrett said. Mountain ranges can shield some regions from worse air pollution by keeping smoke aloft when it travels, Mass said. Pittsburgh - June 29, 2023An MLB game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates is delayed as Canadian wildfire smoke descends on downtown Pittsburgh. San Francisco - Sept. 9, 2020Smoke from northern California wildfires casts a reddish glow in San Francisco, California.

Persons: ”, William Barrett, Barrett, ” Barrett, Clifford, Talat Odman, Mass, “ It’s, “ You’re, Lev Radin, Scott Olson, Kevork, Joe Robbins, San Diego Padres, Andrew McCutchen, Carr, George Rose, Ray Chavez, David Zalubowski Organizations: CNN, American Lung Association, University of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington DC, ” CNN, Pacific Press, York City, MLB, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego, Pirates, MediaNews, Mercury, Environmental Protection Agency Denver, Denver International Airport, Denver Locations: Canada, United States, Northern Europe, New York City, York City, Chicago, Irvine, Santiago, Irvine , California, California, Santa, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sacramento, Sacramento , California, Shasta County , California, San Francisco, San Francisco , California, San Francisco Bay

☆ India violence against women: Brutal killings of two young girls show one of country's biggest problems is only getting worse, advocates say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Advocates had hoped the shocking murder case would represent a watershed moment in India’s approach to violence against women. In fact, as others like Swati Maliwal, chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, point out, such crimes are becoming more common. Violence against women has prompted past protests with calls for greater government action. She’s concerned that it suggests a societal apathy towards violence against women and girls, or worse, acceptance. “I think why the recent case is so shocking is it happened so blatantly in a public place,” Kothari said.

Persons: bludgeoned, Jayna, we’ve, ”, Kothari, “, ” Kothari, Swati Maliwal, Sayantan Chakraborty, there’s, Yogita Bhayana, shaming, ” Bhayana, Maliwal, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Mantar, Sanchit Khanna Organizations: CNN, Delhi Commission, Women, Pacific Press, Crime Records, Wrestling Federation of India, Hindustan Times Locations: India, ”, Delhi, Gujarat’s Surat district, “

☆ Touching the sky: A rare solar eclipse and a new hotel in the clouds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Courtesy Amelia Earhart Hangar MuseumAmelia Earhart wasn’t just the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic. Camelot Theme Park (England): Set in the leafy Lancashire countryside, the Magic Kingdom of Camelot resurrected tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Scott Audette/AP Pripyat Amusement Park (Ukraine): This theme park was orphaned in 1986 following the Chernobyl meltdown just five kilometers (three miles) away. Considered the first theme park in Southeast Asia, it featured an artificial lake, huge swimming pool with giant water slides and a Prehistoric Animal Kingdom. Anne Jones/Alamy Stock Photo 10 fascinating theme parks that have closed forever Prev NextThat’s the question posed by these no-longer-in-operation theme parks around the world.

☆ A former fentanyl user describes the first time she took the illicit drug laced with xylazine as 'the scariest experience of my life'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Kelly Burch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Opioids contributed to 80,411 overdose deaths in 2021, up from 68,630 deaths in 2020, data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows. Xylazine is a sedative that can lead to respiratory and cardiac issuesOpioids, like fentanyl, contributed to more than 80,000 overdose deaths in 2021. Mixing xylazine with fentanyl is particularly problematicMixing xylazine and fentanyl can amplify xylazine's sedative effect and the associated health risks. ReutersThe opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, also known as naloxone, will not reverse the impact of xylazine, since the drug is not an opioid, according to the DEA. That's because opioids account for nearly 75% of all drug overdose deaths in the US.

☆ DeSantis says Florida won't help extradite Trump even though it's required by US Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

DeSantis pledged Florida wouldn't be involved in an extradition to New York, given that Trump lives in Palm Beach. Ron DeSantis of Florida pledged Thursday that state officials would not help extradite former President Donald Trump from Florida to New York in a charged political attack on the prosecutor, following the first-ever indictment of a former president. The Florida extradition statute describes two ways of extraditing people from Florida to another state where they face criminal charges. The governor's only role is making sure the demand meets all the legal requirements before ordering the extradition, legal experts told Insider. He could also delegate and let another member of the Florida executive branch sign off on Hochul's extradition demand.

☆ Fox bosses ‘shut down’ fact checking with 2020 conspiracies, Dominion lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Dominion is suing Fox News over the right-wing channel’s airing of false claims of election fraud around the 2020 presidential election. Fox News argued that Dominion should instead rely on the “lengthy depositions” that these witnesses already gave. It claims Dominion hasn’t shown anything strong enough to overcome the high bar that the First Amendment provides, protecting good-faith journalists from speech-chilling defamation lawsuits. Dominion lawyer Rodney Smolla said its high-stakes defamation case against Fox News will protect the public discourse and hold accountable people who deliberately lied about the 2020 election. “They endorsed,” Murdoch said, referring to Fox hosts Sean Hannity, Jeanine Pirro, Maria Bartiromo, and former host Lou Dobbs.

☆ Big tech was a major target at CPAC, but conservatives building alternatives are facing challenges
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Ben Goggin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., targeted big tech and the legal immunity companies enjoy under Section 230, which is currently being considered by the Supreme Court. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Co., said in her speech Saturday: "I have called for 230 protections to be removed from these big tech companies who are hiding behind section 230, and they are acting like editors rather than publishers." "The key was, could we build something that big tech couldn't tear down and couldn't stop?" But not all Big Tech was a target. LibsofTikTok creator Chaya Raichik criticized how big tech has treated her accounts while also boasting about her follower count on those platforms and promoting her book sold on Amazon.

☆ Several big-name GOP lawmakers won't go to CPAC this year amid chairman Matt Schlapp's sexual assault scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

CPAC is typically a major opportunity for GOP politicians to boost their profile and give red-meat speeches. But many aren't going this year as chairman Matt Schlapp faces a $9.4 million sexual assault lawsuit. Nikki Haley, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida — are still scheduled to speak later this week. Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, also not attending, visibly cringed when asked about CPAC.

☆ Republicans are mostly ignoring a $9.4 million sexual assault lawsuit against the Trump-aligned head of CPAC
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

A GOP staffer accused CPAC head Matt Schlapp of sexually assaulting him, filing a $9.4 million lawsuit. A screenshot of the staffer's texts with Matt Schlapp on the morning after the assault on October 20, 2022. "I had a private life before Matt Schlapp, and I want to have that life post-Matt Schlapp," he said. "Those are simply allegations, and I'm not going to comment on them," said Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee. "All matters pertaining to CPAC, I leave to CPAC internally," he said when asked if Matt Schlapp should remain atop the organization.

☆ Vanguard's global investment expert explains what traders are doing to kick off 2023 and how markets are reacting to the Federal Reserve's policy tightening.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Today, I'm sharing my conversation with Fiona Greig of Vanguard's Investment Strategy Group. Fiona Greig, global head of investor research and policy for Vanguard VanguardFiona Greig is the global head of investor research and policy for Vanguard's Investment Strategy Group. This suggests a "stay the course" posture, meaning yes there's been volatility, but the longer term outlook they have for the stock market is stable. There's some lower expectations for stock market returns in the short term, but we see pretty clear expectations and optimism for returns in the next 12 months, and even 10 years. The firm's strategists said these companies pay out a healthy dividend and can offset stock market losses in a slow-growth economic landscape.

☆ Trump claims lawsuits are a conspiracy to 'keep him busy' ahead of 2024. He's the one making lawsuits political, judges say.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Judges have repeatedly slammed Trump for using lawsuits "to advance a political narrative." "Keep Trump busy, because this is the way you defeat him, to keep him busy with litigation," Trump testified in the deposition, speaking in the third person. US District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks said that Trump has a "pattern of misusing the courts to serve political purposes." Trump's lawyers have to deal with his 2024 runIn the Trump lawsuits that haven't been dismissed, those trials may need to be scheduled around his 2024 campaign events. A trial for Carroll's claims is set for April of this year, and James' lawsuit against Trump is on track for October.

☆ 5 places World War III could start in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Robert Farley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

In February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine, starting the largest clash in Europe since World War II. These five simmering disputes pose the greatest risk of erupting into "World War III" in 2023. In 2022, the world came closer to Great Power War than at any point since the end of the Cold War. These five areas pose the greatest risk for the eruption of what we might be tempted to call "World War III." Pray World War III never happensDestroyed apartments in Lyman after the Ukrainian city was recaptured from Russia forces in November 2022.

☆ White House aides pitched having Trump 'peacefully protest' in a glass box near the Capitol on January 6: testimony
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some White House aides wanted President Donald Trump to "peacefully protest" outside of the Capitol in a glass box on January 6. Trump ultimately didn't join the crowd as they swarmed the Capitol building on January 6. Tony Ornato, a former Secret Service agent and White House aide, testified in a deposition in late November that two White House aides— Bobby Peede and Max Miller — asked him if the president could join supporters and protest Congress counting of the electoral votes. When Ornato asked what Trump would even do outside of the Capitol, the aides suggested placing Trump in a secure glass box on a stage. But despite his wish to go to the Capitol that day, his team shot down the idea and brought him back to the White House.

☆ Iran's state media denies abolition of 'morality police' as three-day strike begins
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Atta Kenare | Afp | Getty ImagesSome Western media outlets are facing backlash from Iranian activists over headlines printed Sunday saying that Iran was abolishing its "morality police." Many Iranian anti-government activists now feat it will distract from three days of major strikes around the country. What's more, the higher branches of Iran's government have not confirmed it, and Iranian state media has denied any abolition of the morality police. "In reality morality police have been inactive since protests started, but there is no substantive news on their future." "This disinfo was propagated today to distract media attention from the 3 days of major protests in Iran which begin tomo.

☆ Rising tensions between 2 of NATO's biggest militaries are driving fears of the first war between alliance members
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Greece and Turkey have two of NATO's largest militaries and are in an important corner of Europe. Their tensions have escalated in recent years, stoking new fears about the first war within NATO. Greece's defense spending in 2022 was the highest in the alliance as a share of GDP. (NATO also calls for 20% of members' defense spending to go toward equipment purchases and upgrades.) Greece's defense minister said that "as long as there is a threat of territorial sovereignty, it renders futile any attempt at communication."

☆ The Elon Musk-Twitter saga could finally be coming to end
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk’s Twitter account is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on April 26, 2022 in Paris, France. The end of the line for Elon and TwitterWhat a long strange trip it's been. That might be the best way to sum up the Elon Musk-Twitter saga that has played out over the past six-plus months. It finally appears an end is in sight*, or at least the closing of a transaction. The main issue remains how Musk will come up with the $44 billion needed to actually buy Twitter.

☆ No hope for the future: Economic struggles add fuel to Iran's protests
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Anti-government uprisings are to remain a sticking point and increase in frequency in Iran's political landscape as dissatisfaction with other factors like the country's economic conditions surface, according to analysts. These protests will be met with force, and increase the Islamic Republic's dependence on Iran's elite armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, she told CNBC. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khameinei broke his silence last week and called the protests "riots." Iran's economic troublesInflation in Iran is expected to remain high at over 30%, according to the World Bank. Anti-government uprisings are to remain a sticking point and increase in frequency in Iran's political landscape as dissatisfaction with other factors like the country's economic conditions surface, according to analysts.

We took over four school boards.”“Eleven seats on school boards, took over four!” Bannon shouted as a crowd of CPAC attendees erupted in applause. In the neighboring city of Southlake, Patriot Mobile donated framed posters that read “In God We Trust” to the Carroll Independent School District during a special presentation before the school board. Nearly 200 people signed up to speak during public comments before the board vote at the school board meeting in Grapevine, Texas. Patriot Mobile paid Vanguard Field Strategies nearly $150,000 to run get-out-the-vote canvassing operations across the four school districts, according to financial disclosures. “This is the most extreme board policy that we have seen related to classroom censorship,” Huddleston said.

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