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☆ Opinion | ‘Civil War’ and Its Terrifying Premonition of American Collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Going into Alex Garland’s astonishing new film, “Civil War,” I expected to be irritated by the implausibility of its premise. In one 2022 poll, 43 percent of Americans said they thought a civil war within the next decade was at least somewhat likely. “Civil War” has received plenty of adulatory reviews, but Garland has also been widely criticized for eliding the ideological forces driving America’s fracturing. But now that I’ve seen “Civil War,” which is neither glib nor cynical, Garland’s decision to keep the film’s politics a little ambiguous seems like a source of its power. Still, it’s not a stretch to interpret the film as a premonition of how a seething, entropic country could collapse under the weight of Donald Trump’s return.

Persons: Alex Garland’s, ”, Garland, “, I’m, —, Lee, it’s, Donald Trump’s Organizations: “, Florida Alliance, Western Forces of, New People’s Army, Southwest, Portland Maoists Locations: America, California, Texas, Loyalist, East Coast, Western Forces of California, Austin , Texas

☆ Cole Brings Plenty, star of 'Yellowstone' spinoff '1923,' was found dead after being reported missing following a domestic violence investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cole Brings Plenty, who starred in "Yellowstone" spinoff "1923," has died at the age of 27. The nephew of "Yellowstone" star Moses Brings Plenty was reported missing earlier this week. Brings Plenty was found dead on Friday (April 5) in Johnson County, Kansas, according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office. Following the news, Moses Brings Plenty shared a statement to Instagram on Friday evening on behalf of the family, written by his brother, Joe Brings Plenty. Brings Plenty was introduced as Pete Plenty Clouds in the final two episodes of Taylor Sheridan's "Yellowstone" prequel series, "1923," aired last year.

Persons: Cole, Moses, Plenty, —, Calvin Hayden, Frazer Harrison, Lawrence, Instagram, Joe, Pete, Taylor, Teonna, Aminah Nieves Organizations: Kansas, Service, Sheriff's, Lawrence Kansas Police Department, Lawrence Police Locations: Johnson County , Kansas, Johnson, Lawrence , Kansas, Johnson County

☆ Trump 2.0 would threaten Mexico's new status as America's top trade partner
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A second Trump presidential term poses a risk to Mexico's status as the US's top trade partner. According to Capital Economics, Trump 2.0 threatens Mexico's newly gained status. In a Tuesday note, Capital Economics strategists said much of the impact would hinge on whether the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) deal remains intact. To Capital Economics, Mexico is one of the most vulnerable emerging markets as far as repercussions to this potential move. Mexico's trade with the US accounts for about one-third of its GDP.

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump, USMCA Organizations: Trump, Capital Economics, Service, Capital, North America Free Trade, US Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Locations: Mexico, China, Canada, US, shoring

☆ Oprah's WeightWatchers departure proves she still has the power to move the needle
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On Thursday, WeightWatchers stock was worth $3.12 — down from a 2021 high of $40. WeightWatchers' value jumped by $700 million in just two days after Winfrey joined the company in 2015, with shares more than doubling. AdvertisementBut WeightWatchers and other weight loss companies have struggled in the recent Ozempic-era, as GLP1 medications become more accessible and commonplace. (Evidence suggests Winfrey's endorsement of GLP-1 medications sparked a spike in demand for them, as well. ) The statement said WeightWatchers' board of directors is supportive of Winfrey's proposal to donate her stock to the museum.

Persons: —, Winfrey's, Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey, Phil, Oz, Suze Orman, WeightWatchers, Semmelbauer Organizations: Service, Business, WW International, Magazine, National Museum of Locations: WeightWatchers

☆ The dangerous parallels between Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine and Xi’s claims on Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Will Ripley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

What is happening is to a certain extent, an element of a civil war,” Putin claimed. The island remained a Japanese colony for half a century until the end of World War II, when it came under the control of China’s ruling Nationalist government. Today Xi is expanding China’s military at a pace the world hasn’t seen in a century – since before World War Two. Long-time China analyst Steve Tsang, author of “If China Attacks Taiwan,” once told me that Xi’s military build-up is, by comparison, larger than Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan combined. Many here in Taiwan fear it’s only a matter of time before Xi, like Putin, puts his words into action.

Persons: Taiwan CNN —, Kolas Yotaka, Tucker, Vladimir Putin, “ Putin, Xi, ”, Putin, Xi Jinping, ” Yotaka, –, Jens Stoltenberg, “, ” Stoltenberg, it’s, ” China’s, Russia –, Carlson, ” Putin, Critics, Chiang Kai, shek, ” Xi, He’s, Tsai Ing, Steve Tsang Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Taiwan Presidential, Taiwan –, NATO, Munich Security, Communist Party, Russia, Observers, Nationalist, Communists, Taiwan’s National Chengchi, Democratic Progressive Party, Taipei, Xi, Navy, Global China, Atlantic Council, Taiwan Relations Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Ukraine, Beijing, China, Russia, Soviet, Ukrainian, Soviet Union, Japan, Republic of China, Taiwan Strait, United States, Hong Kong, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, Washington

☆ Does your dog need a coat?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But all this begs the question: Does your dog need a coat? From high-fashion to high-performanceThere’s evidence of dog fashion and clothing throughout history — from the ancient Egyptians and 19th-century Paris dog boutiques to early 20th-century photographs of dogs wearing clothes. Prada's Re-Nylon puffer dog coat with hood comes in two colors and three sizes, $825 From PradaBut the transition from Fifth Avenue high-end and high fashion to high-performance and technical function has certainly accelerated in recent decades. Doberman Pinschers — along with sleek breeds like Greyhounds and Whippets — are prime candidates for dog coats because of their short hair, thin skin and minimal body fat. “Make sure the coat fits well for safety and they’re supervised while wearing the coat.

Persons: Jerry Klein, Klein, Godiva, Jessica Rinaldi, I’m, ”, Alan Fausel, Enoch Frères, ” Fausel, Tiffany, Bruiser Woods, ” Frank, “ Frasier, Prada, Gucci, Prada's, Peter Kearns, Batman, Robyn Baldrey, Joe Hafner, Voyagers, ” Hafner, That’s, ” Coats, Jackie Moord, Mark Makela, Nicole Wheatley, Shanoa, ’ ” Wheatley, MeadowCat, Wheatley, Minnesota’s Northwoods, Drogo, Lois Katchur, Richter, Whippets, Leon, Sypha, ” Wheatley, Jennifer Bruns, Kent Nishimura, ” Bruns, they’re Organizations: Minnesota CNN —, American Kennel Club, CNN, Boston, Boston Globe, AKC Museum, Prada, Fifth, American Pet Products Association, “, Husky, PetSmart Veterinary Services, Los Angeles Times Locations: Anoka, Minnesota, Boston , Massachusetts, New York City, Paris, Seattle, Bend , Oregon, Santa Monica, It’s, Tacoma , Washington, Ada , Michigan, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, Anoka , Minnesota, Minnesota’s, Muncy , Pennsylvania, Washington , DC

(AP) — Republicans hoping to pick up an open U.S. Senate seat in deep blue Maryland have the most competitive candidate they've fielded for decades. She supports abortion rights unequivocally and said she probably will back a candidate who doesn't hedge. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesHogan has said he does not support taking abortion rights away, even though he personally opposes abortion. “For eight years, we proved that the toxic politics that divide our nation need not divide our state," Hogan said. The state approved legislation in 1991 to protect abortion rights if the Supreme Court were to allow abortion to be restricted.

Persons: they've, Larry Hogan, Hogan, Lynn Johnson Langer, ” Langer, ”, don’t, Langer, Mileah Kromer, “, that’s, ” Hogan, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Mary Kfoury, that's, Kfoury, Kromer, it’s, Larry Hogan Won, Sen, Ben Cardin pounced, Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George's County, Rep David Trone, Alsobrooks, Wes Moore's, Robin Ficker Organizations: —, Senate, U.S, Maryland, Democrat, Republicans, Democratic Party, Goucher College, Trump, Republican, Blue State Republican, GOP, Prince, Democratic, Rep, CNN, Voters, Catholic, Democratic Gov, Washington's NBA Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, U.S, Maryland, U.S ., Annapolis, Edgewater , Maryland, Prince George's, Alsobrooks, Landover , Maryland

(AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker who tanked an effort last year by his fellow Republicans to pass a near-total abortion ban has given top priority this year to a bill that would allow abortions beyond the state's 12-week ban in cases of fatal fetal anomalies. The bill by state Sen. Merv Riepe would amend Nebraska’s 12-week abortion ban, passed last year, to allow abortions in cases when a fetus is unable to survive outside the womb. The diagnosis and abortion must come before 20 weeks of pregnancy — a timeline consistent with Nebraska's previous 20-week ban on abortions. In Nebraska, advocates are trying to collect about 125,000 signatures needed by July 5 to put a constitutional amendment before voters to protect abortion rights until fetal viability. On the national stage, Democrats see the issue of abortion rights as a major driver in a presidential election year.

Persons: LINCOLN, Sen, Merv Riepe, Roe, Wade, Kate Cox, Riepe, ” Riepe, “, Adelle Burk, Burk, “ They're, ” Organizations: —, U.S, Texas Supreme, Democrat, Nebraska, Republican Locations: Neb, Nebraska, U.S ., Texas

“Here in Florida, you’ve had a real dose of Trumpism,” Biden told donors in nearby Jupiter, Florida where Trump owns a golf course. “You’re the reason Donald Trump is a defeated president,” Biden said to the attendees. Along with North Carolina, Florida is a state Biden lost in 2020 but which his campaign sees as a pickup opportunity. It’s a very tall order for the Biden campaign. The president lost Florida voters 65 and older to Trump by 10 points in 2020, a wider gap than his 5-point deficit nationally.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, you’ve, ” Biden, ”, “, hadn’t, Trump’s, Republican megadonors, Nikki Haley, Biden’s, he’ll, Trump, MAGA, GOP Sen, Rick Scott, Ron DeSantis ’, Joe Biden, Joe Raedle, DeSantis, Donna Deegan, Nikki Fried, Fried, Tom Brenner, Democratic handwringing, That’s, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton Organizations: Trump, ” Air Force, Palm Beach International, Republican, Palm Beach, South, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, ., Sunshine State, Florida voters, Social Security, Medicare, Gov, University of Tampa, Democrat, Jacksonville, Florida Supreme, Florida Democrats, CNN, Democratic, Democratic Party, South Carolina's, State Fairgrounds, Reuters, ”, NBC News Locations: Jupiter, Miami , Florida Florida, Florida, Jupiter , Florida, New York, Palm, Palm Beach, South Carolina, Miami, North Carolina , Florida, Lago, Los Angeles, Columbia , South Carolina, Iowa

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. (AP) — Trying to upset President Joe Biden in New Hampshire's primary, Democratic challenger Dean Phillips is running a TV ad across the state comparing him to Bigfoot — the argument being both are hard to find. "So I challenged myself to find President Biden in New Hampshire during this primary season. He pushed through Democratic rule changes that prioritized voters of color, deemphasizing New Hampshire's primary. But New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley, who once warned that the new calendar meant a major Democratic challenger could embarrass Biden, now says his write-in campaign should easily prevail. That means Biden supporters could vote in the Republican primary, where Trump and former U.N.

Persons: Joe Biden, Dean Phillips, Biden, ” Biden, —, Phillips, Marianne Williamson, Donald Trump, Trump, There’s, ”, Angela Brennan, ” Phillips, Andrew Yang, Yang, cued, Yang wasn’t, “, it’s, ’, Biden “, Peter Leishman, ” Leishman, Ray Buckley, ” Buckley, Williamson, trumpeting Biden, Kathy Sullivan, “ I’ve, ” Sullivan, ” Ellen Lavoie Cooke, “ I’m, Desmond Kager, I’ll, Nikki Haley, Tracy Moloney, she'd, he's, Moloney, Rodrigue Ngowi Organizations: Democratic, Dartmouth, Trump, White, New Hampshire Democratic, New Hampshire, Democratic Party, New, AFL, Granite, New Hampshire Democrats, Social, Biden, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Dartmouth College Locations: PETERBOROUGH, N.H, New, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Hampshire, Peterborough, Portsmouth, America, Dover, American, Plymouth, ”, Portsmouth , New Hampshire

LONDON (AP) — Alistair Darling, a central figure in the U.K.’s response to the 2008 financial crisis who later helped organize the campaign against Scottish independence, has died. Darling had been treated for cancer, his family said in statement on Thursday. He served as Britain’s treasury chief under then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who praised him as a “popular and effective’’ government minister. Though Darling held a variety of posts during his 28 years in the House of Commons, he is likely to be remembered most for his work in steering the nation’s finances during the global credit crunch. The package of measures he implemented were credited with preventing an even more dramatic slide after the crisis threatened the nation’s banking system.

Persons: — Alistair Darling, Darling, Gordon Brown, “ Alistair, ” Brown Organizations: Scottish, Commons, Associated Press

☆ Argentina’s New President Wants to Adopt the U.S. Dollar as the National Currency
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Ryan Dubé | Santiago Pérez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

After weakening earlier this year, the U.S. dollar is pushing higher and could be headed back toward the 20-year high it touched in 2022. WSJ’s Dion Rabouin explains why this could be bad news for investors. Photo illustration: Noah FriedmanBUENOS AIRES—The self-styled anarcho-capitalist who won Argentina’s presidency on Sunday plans to ditch his nation’s peso and adopt the U.S. dollar as the national currency. President-elect Javier Milei ’s top campaign proposal was aimed at eradicating rampant inflation that has for decades ravaged Latin America’s third-biggest economy by removing the battered national currency from circulation and stripping the central bank of its power to print money. Uncontrolled money-printing to cover public expenditures, economists say, has fueled 143% inflation, one of the world’s highest.

Persons: WSJ’s Dion Rabouin, Noah Friedman BUENOS, Argentina’s, Javier Milei ’ Organizations: U.S ., Noah Friedman BUENOS AIRES, U.S

☆ Opinion: Why I’m not going to have children
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Opinion Anna Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But each day, the current state of the world dissuades me more and more from having children. Like many folks in Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), my main concern is climate change. As environmental catastrophes reach a caliber we cannot predict or conceive, having children is becoming less of a risk I’m willing to take. Coupled with the resources and opportunities that the US provides, my hypothetical children likely wouldn’t be among the worst-affected by climate change. Under today’s environmental and political climate, I find it is better to regret not having children than regret having them.

Persons: Anna Lee, I’d, ”, William ”, I’ll, I’ve, Z’ers, Jessica Combes, “, trepidation, Miley Cyrus, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Emma Lim, —, It’s, Z, Greta Thunberg, — Sophia Kianni, Vanessa Nakate —, Joe Biden’s, William Organizations: CNN, College of, University of Oxford Student, NBC, Research, ELLE Magazine, Rep, University of Bath Locations: Alexandria, Cortez of New York

When the Colorado Republican announced this past week that he would not seek reelection, he began with the type of criticism of Democratic policies that is standard fare for a hard-line conservative. Yet under political pressure in Colorado, Buck decided there was no way forward for him in Congress. Alone among Republicans, Buck said he was opposing Jordan because he had not clearly stated that Biden won the 2020 election. This past week, Trump called Buck a “weak and ineffective Super RINO,” or Republicans In Name Only. The next day, Buck testified about a legal effort in Colorado to ban Trump from the ballot under the Constitution’s “insurrection clause."

Persons: Ken Buck, Buck, “, Donald Trump’s, Democrat Joe Biden, Biden, ” Buck, MAGA, ”, “ MAGA ”, Trump, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger of, Kevin McCarthy, Ken, Chip Roy, I’ll, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, CrossFit, ” Greene, Dick Cheney, Reagan, Cheney, Liz Cheney's, Ronald Reagan, Democratic Sen, Michael Bennet, “ I’ve, Joe Neguse, David Cicilline, Cicilline, Jim Jordan, McCarthy, Jordan, it’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Colorado Republican, Republican, Democrat, Trump, GOP, CNN, Capitol, Republicans, Caucus, Associated Press, Texas, University of Denver, Princeton University, University of Wyoming, Wyoming Rep, Democratic, Democrats, Colorado Democrat, Rhode Island, Apple, Meta, Google, Ohio, Committee's Locations: Colorado, Wyoming, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Washington, Denver, Georgia, Iran, Buck's

Sakran decided to work in medicine after becoming a victim of gun violence as a teenager. In the hours following the shooting, Morgan State officials canceled all remaining homecoming week events, including Saturday’s football game. It unfolded around 9:30 p.m., shortly after a coronation ceremony for this year’s Mister and Miss Morgan State in the campus auditorium. He visited the White House last month for President Joe Biden’s announcement of the first ever federal office of gun violence prevention. Sakran referenced the Morgan State shooting in a post Wednesday morning on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying he was grateful for his Johns Hopkins trauma team colleagues.

Persons: Johns Hopkins, Joseph Sakran, Sakran, he’s, ”, wasn’t, ” Sakran, “, Brady, Joe Biden’s, didn’t Organizations: BALTIMORE, Morgan State University, Associated Press, Morgan State, Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Police, Baltimore, Miss Morgan State, White, National Rifle Association, American College of Physicians, Morgan Locations: America, Baltimore, Rochester , New York

☆ Vietnam probes wind towers imported from China, weighs anti-dumping tax
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HANOI, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Vietnam's industry ministry has launched an investigation that could lead to anti-dumping duties on wind towers originally from China, following a complaint by domestic producers, the government said on Saturday. Producers in Vietnam have claimed that dumping of Chinese-origin towers has caused "significant damage" to them, the government said in a statement, without elaborating. "In case of necessity, based on preliminary investigation results, the trade ministry can apply temporary anti-dumping measures to prevent dumping activities that hurt domestic manufacturing," the statement added. According to the trade ministry, local producers were proposing an anti-dumping tax rate of 97%. Wind towers imported to Vietnam currently enjoy a most-favored nation (MFN) tariff of 3%.

Persons: Phuong Nguyen, Sonali Paul Organizations: Producers, Thomson Locations: HANOI, China, Vietnam, Hanoi

☆ Man shot at protest over New Mexico conquistador statue
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

New Mexico resident Ryan Martinez, 23, was taken into custody as the suspected shooter after leaving the event in a car, said Rio Arriba County sheriff's office Major Lorenzo Aguilar. A Hopi Native American man from Seattle, Washington, was shot, according to Peixinho. The county halted the reinstallation of 16th-century Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate's statue planned for Thursday after protests over the return of the bronze figure, removed three years ago during nationwide anti-racism demonstrations. The Santa Fe New Mexican showed a picture of a man at the protest it identified as Martinez wearing a red MAGA hat. Onate is known for the 1599 massacre of a pueblo tribe, leading a group of Spanish settlers into what is now New Mexico.

Persons: Juan de Onate, Mateo Peixinho, Ryan Martinez, Major Lorenzo Aguilar, Christina Castro, Juan de Onate's, Peixinho, Martinez, Onate, Andrew Hay, Josie Kao, Lincoln Organizations: University of New, Santa Fe, Red Nation, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Rio Arriba County, Espanola , New Mexico, U.S, New Mexico, Espanola, Seattle , Washington, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Santa, Mexican

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will close nine stores in four states, including one in East Harlem, New York and three in San Francisco, saying that theft and organized retail crime have threatened the safety of its workers and customers. Political Cartoons View All 1182 ImagesWhile the store closings account for just a fraction of the 1,900 stores Target operates nationwide, the move is significant. For example, the Target store in East Harlem is located in a heavily Hispanic area, and residents have few choices to buy good quality healthy foods. “Our team continues to face an unacceptable amount of retail theft and organized retail crime,” Cornell told analysts. More than two-thirds of respondents said they were seeing even more violence and aggression from perpetrators of organized retail crime compared with a year ago.

Persons: Target, ”, Brian Cornell, Cornell, ” Cornell, Anne Organizations: Target, University of Washington, Month, Pride Month, Dick's Sporting Goods, National Retail Federation, ACT, U.S . Department of Homeland, Security Investigations Locations: East Harlem , New York, San Francisco, Portland , Oregon, Seattle, East Harlem, Folsom

"The move from fossil fuels to renewables is happening – but we are decades behind," Guterres said at the start of the one-day summit. "We must make up time lost to foot-dragging, arm-twisting and the naked greed of entrenched interests raking in billions from fossil fuels." Those not invited to speak were the world's two top polluters - the United States and China – though U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry was in the audience. "This climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis," he said, drawing applause from the heads of state and others in the room. "Climate change is a top priority for my administration," Thavisin told the gathering, his country having recently created a climate change ministry.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Mike Segar, Guterres, John Kerry, China's U.N, William Ruto, Ruto, Gavin Newsom, Srettha Thavisin, Thavisin, Sultan Ahmed al, Jaber, COP28, Mia Mottley, Ursula von der Leyen, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Howard Goller Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, REUTERS, Companies Allianz, General, United Arab Emirates, Thailand's, FINANCE, Security Council, Allianz, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Fund, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, COP28, Dubai, Brazil, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, Tuvalu, United States, China, California, UAE, Barbados, Ukraine

☆ Ukrainian Catholic bishops rebuke pope over his Russia comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Pope Francis attends a meeting with bishops of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church at the Vatican, September 6, 2023. In a statement that was remarkable for its candour, they said their two-hour session with the pope at the Vatican was a "frank conversation". They were welcomed by the Kremlin, which praised the pope for what it said was his knowledge of Russian history. The statement from the Ukrainian bishops said the prelates "expressed the Ukrainian people's pain, suffering, and a certain disappointment" over the papal remarks. The statement quoted the pope as telling the bishops: "The fact that you doubted whom the pope is with was particularly painful for the Ukrainian people.

Persons: Pope Francis, tsars Peter I, Catherine II, Vladimir Putin, Francis, Putin, Philip Pullella, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Catholic Church, Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, CITY, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Mongolia, Russian, propounding

☆ VCs don't care as much about Y Combinator's Demo Day anymore
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Y Combinator's Demo Day used to be the hottest in-person early-stage event in Silicon Valley. For early-stage venture capitalists, few days on the calendar used to compare to Y Combinator's biannual Demo Day. "All of the funds try to go meet the best YC companies before Demo Day," the same investor told Insider. When asked about startups raising before Demo Day, Y Combinator president and CEO Garry Tan told Insider in an emailed statement that "lots of the best companies raise at Demo Day and after." "Coinbase, Instacart, Whatnot, Rappi, Airbyte, Retool — you could have gotten into their rounds at Demo Day.

Persons: It's, Erik Bruckner, Y, Garry Tan, it's, Bruckner, They're, Y Combinator, Jeff Weinstein, Combinator, Tan, haven't Organizations: YC, Bruckner Ventures, FJ Labs Locations: Silicon Valley, Columbus , Ohio

☆ Making Sure 1.4 Billion People Are Very Aware India Is Hosting the G20
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Suhasini Raj | More About Suhasini Raj | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In cities across India, the beaming face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi adorns giant posters promoting the country’s G20 presidency. A hundred national monuments, including the Red Fort in Delhi, were illuminated with the G20 logo to encourage people to post selfies. But India, and its governing party, were primed to capitalize on the moment. Mr. Modi has seized on the G20 presidency as confirmation and celebration of India’s ascent — a rise to which he has fused his own image — as he seeks a third term in an election early next year. “That India has arrived on the world stage will go strongly in his favor with the electorate.”

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, ”, Neerja Chowdhury Organizations: Democracy Locations: India, Fort, Delhi

☆ As Fires Endanger the ‘Lungs’ of Athens, Greek Anger Rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Niki Kitsantonis | More About Niki Kitsantonis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even as the Greek authorities battled scores of wildfires, stretching from north to south on the mainland, the fires encroaching on a treasured national park north of Athens on Thursday provoked special anger. Mount Parnitha, a protected wildlife area widely known as the “lungs” of Athens, is normally a respite for city dwellers, especially as the heat of Greek summers has tipped to dangerous extremes. But on Thursday, with the air acrid with the smell of burned wood, residents and conservationists alike lamented the potential loss of one of the few green spaces left near the capital. They accused the authorities of failing to protect a precious forestland that is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, including red deer and wolves. “No other European capital has been blessed with such a hot spot of biodiversity literally at its doorstep,” said Demetre Karavellas, director of World Wildlife Fund Greece, adding that the extent of the damage was still unclear as fires continued to rage.

Persons: Mount Parnitha, ”, Demetre Karavellas Organizations: World Wildlife Fund Locations: Athens, World Wildlife Fund Greece

☆ Explainer: Why has Ecuador become so violent?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A view of the rally site where Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed at a campaign event in Quito, Ecuador August 9, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File PhotoAug 10 (Reuters) - Ecuador was reeling on Thursday from the slaying of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio the night before, less than two weeks before elections were to take place. The killing of Villavicencio, a vocal critic of corruption and drug crime that have beset Ecuador, underlines a deteriorating security situation in much of South America. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SECURITY IN ECUADOR? Verisk Maplecroft similarly attributed an "unprecedented surge in brutal criminality" to growing " trans-national drug-trafficking organizations and violent street gangs."

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, Karen Toro, Villavicencio, Verisk Maplecroft, Guyaquil, Guillermo Lasso, Villavicencio's, Lasso, Luis Donaldo Colosio, Colombia's, Luis Carlos Galan, Cristina Fernandez De Kirchner, Jair Bolsonaro, Oliver Griffin, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Colombia's Liberal, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, South America, ECUADOR, Colombia, Europe, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Argentine

☆ Opinion: All the speculation about a grand Trump deal is far-fetched
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Opinion Jill Filipovic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Will former President Donald Trump accept a plea deal, potentially sparing himself prison and sparing us all a repeat of his presidency? It’s a compelling argument, and one that would certainly be better for the nation than Trump winning in 2024 and pardoning himself; it would be better for Trump than winding up behind bars. Trump has been embroiled in thousands of lawsuits; he’s the first former president to face federal charges. Betting on a 2024 win is a big gamble for Trump, especially if the consequence of that loss isn’t just humiliation, but a jail cell. Join us on Twitter and FacebookThere is also the question of whether prosecutors would even offer a deal Trump might consider.

Persons: Jill Filipovic, CNN —, Donald Trump, Scott Galloway, Trump , Galloway, Trump, Galloway, pardoning, —, don’t, It’s, Joe Biden, — Trump, That’s Organizations: Twitter, CNN, New York University, Trump, Republican, White Locations: New York, Trump ,, Trump

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