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At least one person was killed on Wednesday as strong storms moved through Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee on Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and hail in some areas. The severe weather arrived a day after widespread storms pummeled the Midwest, with tornadoes that tore through Michigan. As storms continued to move through a swath of the Midwest and the Eastern United States on Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a string of tornado warnings in cities across Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. More severe storms were expected through the evening, according to forecasters. About 18 million people were under either an enhanced or moderate risk of severe weather — the third and fourth levels of intensity, out of five — on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.

Organizations: Midwest, Eastern, National Weather Service, Prediction Locations: Missouri , Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Claiborne County, Eastern United States, Missouri , Kentucky

☆ Republican Party asks Secret Service to keep protesters further away from where convention is set to take place
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Shania Shelton | Daniel Strauss | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Republican National Committee is asking the Secret Service to keep protesters farther back from the July convention in Milwaukee than is currently planned. Alexi Worley, spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a statement that the agency is “not formally in receipt of the letter” and will “respond through appropriate channels” if it receives one. “The operational security plan for national special security events, to include the 2024 Republican National Convention, is developed and approved through an executive steering committee made up of representatives from the Secret Service, as well as supporting federal, state, and local agencies,” Worley said. The RNC announced in 2022 it would host this year’s convention in Milwaukee, and the city’s Democratic mayor, Cavalier Johnson, dismissed security concerns at the time. “Our police department is well-versed, and I think they are prepared for the convention,” Johnson said in 2022, noting that Milwaukee was supposed to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention before it switched to a virtual format amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Persons: Todd Steggerda, …, Kimberly Cheatle, Alexi Worley, ” Worley, Cavalier Johnson, ” Johnson, Samantha Waldenberg Organizations: CNN, Republican National, Service, Secret, Republican National Convention, RNC, Democratic, Convention Locations: Milwaukee, Milwaukee’s, detainments

☆ Can markets make a comeback? That depends on tech earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Nasdaq tumbled 2.1% on Friday as tech stocks plunged, marking its worst day since January 31. “US earnings updates this week will be key to see if they can keep topping expectations and buoying risk appetite in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment.”Tesla, Facebook-parent Meta, IBM, Microsoft and Alphabet all report first quarter earnings later this week. “Big Tech earnings may determine whether the stock market avoids its first four-week losing streak in two years,” wrote Chris Larkin, managing director of trading and investing at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley on Monday. About 15% of S&P 500 companies have reported first quarter earnings, and nearly three-quarters of those companies have posted a positive earnings-per-share surprise. But investors are nervously waiting for the Magnificent Seven, those massive Tech stocks that carry an outsized portion of market weight, to report.

Persons: Monday’s, “, ”, They’re, Tesla, Chris Larkin, Morgan Stanley, aren’t, we’re, Dave Sekera, ” Taylor Swift’s, Apple Taylor Swift, Liam Reilly, Department ”, Post Malone, Laura He Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN —, Nasdaq, BlackRock, Federal Reserve, Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, “ Big Tech, Tech, Companies, Nvidia, Apple, Big Tech, Bank of America, Morningstar, Department, Spotify, Poets Department, Amazon Music, Apple Music, EV, Tesla Locations: New York, Wells, China, Germany, United States, Tesla’s, Europe

☆ Taylor Swift’s new album shatters Spotify and other streaming records
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which dropped on Friday, became the most-streamed album on its first day across Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. Amazon and Apple also said Swift’s album broke records across their respective streaming platforms. “The album broke the record for biggest pop album of all time by first-day streams,” Apple Music said. Amazon Music reported “The Tortured Poets Department” had in just three days become the music service’s most-streamed album worldwide in its first week. Swift’s fourth rerecorded album, “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” also broke Spotify’s most-streamed artist in a single day record in 2023.

Persons: CNN — Taylor Swift, Department ”, Post Malone, ”, Swift, “ Organizations: CNN, Poets Department, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Apple, Department

☆ How the super rich will watch the 2024 Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Chrissie Mcclatchie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Olympic luxury packages are already on sale, offering exclusive access to the sporting spectacle, alongside very upscale travel and accommodation experiences. And this year, there’s no bigger sporting event than the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Tour operator Kensington Tours says it has two clients coming into Paris for the first seven nights of the Games. “Paris presents a wealth of opportunities for luxury travelers to indulge in during the Olympics,” Adto Teppa says. Pierre MonettaTo ensure their clients have access to Paris’ most prestigious hotels, many luxury travel advisers have made blanket bookings at properties across the city.

Persons: cher, Barnabas Carrega, “, ” Carrega, ’ Carrega, Ducasse, Alain Ducasse, won’t, They’ll, they’ll, AZA, Angela Adto Teppa, ” Adto Teppa, Palais, Paris, Andrea Galvez, ”, Galvez, Pierre Monetta, We’ve, Dave Guenter, Crillon, Nicolas De Gols, De Gols, Fraser Yachts, Askari, Patrick Locqueneux, Clément Bru, Charles de Brosses, Cookoon, “ We’ve, ” Bru, Henri Jayer Vosne, Domaine, Conti, de Mars, Simone Biles Organizations: CNN, Paris, CNN Travel, Michelin, Olympic, Kensington, Eiffel, Palais Garnier, Travel, Opera Ballet, Travel Group, Le Bristol Paris, Paris ’, Royal, Raffles, “, Royal Monceau’s, Nice, Tahiti, Fraser Locations: Paris, American, Alma, Kensington, Oahu, Hawaii, New York, Rosewood, Le Bristol, Raffles Paris, Marseille, Polynesia, Teahupo’o, Tahiti, Monaco, France, Burgundy

☆ Opinion: Can the party of Winston Churchill really bring about the world’s toughest smoking ban?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Opinion Holly Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Last week, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson treated a Canadian crowd to a helping of his signature bombast. Second World War-era Conservative British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, is also one of history's most famous cigar smokers. Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesDespite what Johnson may have led his audience to believe, a potential smoking ban enjoys broad popular support in the UK. New Zealand’s conservative National Party introduced a similar phased smoking ban last year, but reversed it before it went into effect to help pay for tax cuts. Smoking costs the NHS an estimated £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) every year, equivalent to 2% of the health service’s budget.

Persons: Holly Thomas, Katie Couric, London CNN —, Boris Johnson, Winston Churchill, “, It’s, Rishi Sunak, Johnson, YouGov, Conservative backbenchers, Liz Truss, they’d, it’ll, ’ Organizations: Katie Couric Media, CNN, London CNN, Conservative Party Conference, Conservative British, Central Press, Hulton, National Health Service, Conservative, New, National Party, Cancer Research, Tory Locations: London, Quebec, Britain, America, England, Wales, Scotland

☆ Netflix’s New Film Strategy: More About the Audience, Less About Auteurs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Back in, say, 2019, if a filmmaker signed a deal with Netflix, it meant that he or she would be well paid and receive complete creative freedom. Dan Lin arrived as Netflix’s new film chief on April 1, and he has already started making changes. He laid off around 15 people in the creative film executive group, including one vice president and two directors. (Netflix’s entire film department is around 150 people.) He will also be changing the formulas for how talent is paid, meaning no more enormous upfront deals.

Persons: Dan Lin, Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Rather Organizations: Netflix

☆ Taylor Swift’s Music Returns to TikTok Ahead of New Album
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ben Sisario | More About Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Universal Music Group, the world’s biggest music company, went to war with TikTok earlier this year over licensing terms, songs by hundreds of its artists were removed from the platform, and have remained absent. But on Thursday, music by one very special Universal artist returned: Taylor Swift. It was not immediately clear how Swift’s songs made it back to TikTok while Universal’s ban remains in place. When the company announced its plans to remove music earlier this year, it said its licensing contract with TikTok expired Jan. 31. By the early hours of Feb. 1, Universal’s music began to disappear from TikTok, and millions of videos that used the label’s music went silent.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift —, ”, Swift Organizations: Universal Music Group, Universal, Poets Department, Machine, TikTok Locations: “ Cardigan, ”, TikTok

☆ The US Postal Service wants to hike stamp prices again in July. Here’s how much you’ll pay
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Stamp prices are set to increase — again. If approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the change would take effect in July, raising the cost of mailing services products by nearly 8%. Stamp prices alone have soared 36% since 2019 when they used to cost 50 cents. The Postal Service last raised First-Class stamp prices by two cents in January, just a few months after it raised prices three cents in July 2023. Other changes include domestic postcard prices increasing from 53 cents to 56 cents and international postcard prices increasing from $1.55 to $1.65.

Persons: ”, General Louis DeJoy, DeJoy, Trump Organizations: New, New York CNN, US Postal Service, Postal Regulatory Commission, Postal Service, USPS Locations: New York

☆ U.S. Postal Service Proposes Raising Stamp Prices Again
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Mike Ives | More About Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States Postal Service on Tuesday proposed an overall increase of nearly 8 percent on the price of postage, the latest in a series of stamp hikes over the past three years. The new prices would take effect in July, pending approval from an independent regulatory commission. Among other changes, a Forever stamp would cost 73 cents instead of 68 cents, and the price of a domestic postcard would rise to 56 cents from 53 cents. The Postal Service has faced financial issues for years because it is required to fund retiree health care benefits for its employees in advance. It’s also facing headwinds, like other postal services globally, as fewer people send mail.

Persons: It’s Organizations: United States Postal Service, Postal Service

☆ Cold water immersion benefits are not backed by quality science, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hof attributes his success to his training method, which focuses on a commitment to practicing cold water therapy with a specific form of breathing. We have no idea if any benefits arising from the Wim Hof method could not be obtained more safely by other means,” Tifton said. “I do not agree that anyone can do things like cold water immersion.”Submerging the body in cold water is not advised for a range of medical conditions, Tipton said. “When your body hits cold water, ‘cold shock’ can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure,” the service’s website says. Anyone who wants to try cold water therapy at home should do so carefully, and only after a thorough medical checkup.

Persons: Wim Hof, Wim, ”, Mike Tipton, Kin Cheung, —, Tipton, ” Tifton, “, “ Wim Hof, ” Tipton, Ivan Rodriguez Alba Organizations: CNN’s, CNN, Wim, University of Portsmouth, ” Hof, Guinness, Records, of Fame, Hof, National Weather Service Locations: Dutch, Hof, United Kingdom, Wim

☆ Hot on the trail of cherry blossoms — peak times for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. CNN —In travel news this week: Circling the calendar for peak cherry blossoms, a very rare peek at post-pandemic North Korea and the insightful confessions of a Vegas habitué. While peak bloom can still be up in the air, the dates for the National Cherry Blossom Festival are solidly locked down: March 20-April 14. Meanwhile, Japanese forecasters are out with their own cherry blossom, or sakura, predictions. 02:06 - Source: CNNIn the best of times, a visit to communist North Korea was a rarity.

Persons: Brandon Griggs, He’s, Willy Wonka Organizations: CNN, Washington , D.C, Bloom Watch, National Cherry Blossom, –, Air Albania, AAA Locations: Korea, Netherlands, France, Washington ,, Japan, Wharf, Kochi, Tokyo, wintry Sapporo, Dubai, Atlanta, Air, London, India, United States, North Korea, Russia, Pyongyang, Masikryong, North, Las Vegas, Sin

☆ The least-visited national parks in the United States in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The state of Alaska — which covers 665,384 square miles (426 million acres) — is home to five of the 15 least-visited national parks for 2023. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska - 78,305 recreation visitsAmerica’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses 13.2 million acres — or about the size of Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined, the Park Service says. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida - 84,285 recreation visitsThis island park in Florida is among 20 National Park Service sites that broke visitation records in 2023. Channel Islands National Park, California - 328,746 recreation visitsStretching over five islands and the surrounding ocean, Channel Islands National Park offer opportunities to hike, snorkel, kayak, birdwatch and more. While Pinnacles may rank among the 15 least-visited national parks, it gets very busy on weekends, holidays and throughout the spring, according to a notice on the park’s website.

Persons: Alaska’s Gates, “, ” Peter Christian, fa’asamoa, Gates, ”, Katmai, Brooks Camp, Elias, Lumir, Nabesna, McCarthy Organizations: CNN, &, CNN Travel, of, Park Service, National Parks, & Preserve, South Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines, Lake Clark, National Park Service, Getty, Isle Royale, NPS, Wolves, Elias, Park & Preserve, Yosemite National, Voyageurs National, Voyageurs National Park, ” Voyageurs, Voyageurs, Service, Channel Locations: Alaska’s, Fairbanks, Alaska, of American Samoa, South, Samoa, Smoky, Wild Rivers, American Samoa, Honolulu, , Alaska, Isle, Lake Superior, Isle Royale, Park , Michigan, Brooks, , Washington, Wrangell, St, Elias, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Switzerland, , Florida, Florida, Key, Fort Jefferson, , Nevada, Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park , Minnesota, Canada, Guadalupe, Park , Texas, Texas, Salt, , South Carolina, South Carolina, Congaree, There’s, Santa Cruz, , California, Southern California

☆ How Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Davis Jr. became America’s first Black generals
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Nicole Chavez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black person to achieve the rank of brigadier general in the US Army. Twenty years after his father made history, Davis Jr. became the first Black brigadier general in the Air Force in 1960. Davis Sr. was born in Washington, DC, less than 20 years after the ratification of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery. So, Davis Jr. moved alone to Chicago for nearly two years to secure the nomination and his spot at West Point. “So, (the Army) provided no opportunities for African Americans to lead troops, it provided no opportunities before 1940 for African Americans to fly airplanes, there were no African Americans in the Marine Corps,” Moye added.

Persons: Benjamin O, Davis, Davis Jr, “ Davis, ”, J, Todd Moye, “, White, ” Moye, Sr, West Point Davis, Oscar S, De Priest, Illinois, ” “, Doug Melville, ’, America’s, Ben Jr, ” Benjamin O, Simon, Simon & Schuster, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Moye, Army shouldn’t, Harry S, Truman, Melville, Le’Trice Donaldson, ” Donaldson, Bill Clinton, Davis , Jr, ” Clinton, ” Melville Organizations: CNN, US Army, Tuskegee Airmen, Air Force, University of North, Service’s Tuskegee, Guard, 8th US Volunteer Infantry, Army, Army’s, of, 9th Cavalry, Buffalo Soldiers, Army War, Corps, West Point, African, Blacks, Tuskegee Institute, 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Chanute Air Museum, Simon &, Marine Corps, Alabama’s Tuskegee Army, US Air Force, Armed Services, United States Army, United States Air Force, Black, Texas, Corpus Christi, Department of Transportation, Federal Air Marshal Service, America Locations: University of North Texas, Washington ,, Spanish, Philippines, Mexico, American, France, Chicago, West, West Point, Italy, Washington, America, North Africa, Sicily, Vietnam, “

☆ 2 Black Heroes, 2 Cities in New York: A Journey Into the Past
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Shayla Martin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There are certain American cities that are known for Black history. But African American history and culture can, of course, be found across the United States, in seemingly unlikely cities, like Portland, Maine, say, or Providence, R.I. There are currently more than 700 Network to Freedom locations across 39 states, in addition to Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many are in the Northeast, a region that is not always strongly associated with Black history. Curiosity about these lesser-known destinations is how I found myself on the road to Auburn and Rochester, N.Y., the homes of two American heroes: Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.

Persons: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman Organizations: Service’s, Freedom, National Underground Railroad Network, Underground Railroad, Washington , D.C, U.S . Locations: Memphis, Atlanta . Birmingham, United States, Portland , Maine, Providence, R.I, Washington ,, U.S, U.S . Virgin Islands, Northeast, Auburn, Rochester, N.Y

☆ US Army under increasing pressure as it foots bill for Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“We’re basically taking it out of hide in the Army,” a senior Army official told CNN. That includes not only the operations related to Ukraine support — training and ferrying weapons and equipment to Poland and Ukraine — but other operations for the US command throughout Europe and Africa. Those operations include training exercises for Army forces in Europe and Africa and equipment moving into the theater. Last week, the Senate voted to advance a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, including $60 billion in support for Ukraine. So far in fiscal year 2024, the Army has spent $39.7 million on ground transportation, the first senior Army official told CNN.

Persons: “ We’re, ”, hasn’t, Christine Wormuth —, —, Peter, Paul, I’m, ” Wormuth, Martin O’Donnell, Mike Johnson, it’s, Daniel Hokanson, that’s, ” Hokanson, Sabrina Singh, ” Singh, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, US Army, Army, Africa Command, Congress, ”, Morris Air National Guard Base, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, US, Lawmakers, Capitol, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, DOD Locations: Russia, Europe, Ukraine, Poland, Africa, Army Europe, US Army Europe, Germany, Arizona

☆ Aleksei Navalny Outspoken Putin Critic Is Dead, Russian State Media Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Anton Troianovski | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

ETAleksei A. Navalny, the most outspoken domestic critic of President Vladimir V. Putin, has died in prison, Russian state media said on Friday. Mr. Navalny’s death was reported by Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, according to Russian state media. In a statement carried by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, the penitentiary service said that Mr. Navalny, 47, lost consciousness on Friday taking a walk in the Arctic prison where he was moved late last year. “The facility’s medical staff immediately arrived and an ambulance brigade was called,” the penitentiary service’s statement said. The ambulance doctors confirmed the death of the convict.” Mr. Putin’s spokesman said that the death had been reported to Mr. Putin, according to the Tass state news service.

Persons: Aleksei, Vladimir V, Putin, Navalny’s, Navalny, ” Mr, Putin’s, Mr Organizations: Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service, RIA Novosti, Tass

Nearly half of all flash flood deaths are vehicle-related, experts say, which is why you should never drive into a flooded street. Here’s what to do in advance — and in the moment — to get through a flash flood safely. A “flash flood warning” means a flash flood is imminent or already occurring, and you should immediately move to higher ground if you’re outside or in a basement apartment. The most dire alert is a “flash flood emergency,” which indicates that not only is flooding occurring, but it’s posing a severe threat to human life. “People need to realize that most people who lose their footing in a flash flood don’t get out,” she said.

Persons: there’s, ”, Bonnie Schneider, Schneider, it’s, Hurricane Ida, You’ll, Ready.gov, David Markenson, ‘ It’s, Sabine Marx, I’m, Julie Munger, Munger, “, Dr, Markenson, you’re, don’t, they’re, Ms, Lynn Burttschell, Burttschell, Eugene Resnick, ’, ” Susan Shain Organizations: National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cross Training Services, Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Sierra Rescue, FEMA, Wimberley, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York Times Locations: United States, New York City, New York, Madison, Wis

Classes were canceled Monday for schools across Santa Barbara County, which was devastated by mudslides caused by powerful storms in 2018. Evacuation orders and warnings were in effect for mountain and canyon areas of Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. As of Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second largest, said it was planning to open schools as usual Monday. ___Associated Press videographer Eugene Garcia in Ventura, Calif., and radio reporter Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.

Persons: Alexis Herrera, ” Herrera, Ryan Kittell, ”, Lindsay Horvath, ” Horvath, Gavin Newsom, Alberto Carvalho, videographer Eugene Garcia, Julie Walker Organizations: ANGELES, San Francisco Bay Area, Sunday, San Francisco International, Palisades, Central, Gov, Emergency Services, Los Angeles Unified School District, Associated Locations: California, San Francisco Bay, San Jose, Southern California, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sierra Nevada, Hawaii, Northern California, Monterey, San Luis Obispo County, Los Angeles, LA, Topanga, Soledad, Los Angeles , Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Ventura counties, Southern, Ventura , Calif, New York

☆ Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil predictions are in. More winter, or early spring?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Mary Gilbert | Monica Garrett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Punxsutawney Phil – the famous groundhog weather watcher – woke up and did not see his shadow Friday morning, calling for an early spring. Each February 2, on Groundhog Day, the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club make the pilgrimage to Gobbler’s Knob – Phil’s official home. Phil and his friends in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, have been predicting the seasons since 1887, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Given that, will Phil’s prediction of an early spring come true?

Persons: Phil –, –, Phil, Nature, Groundhog, A.J, Dereume, Barry Reeger, Phil’s prognostications Organizations: CNN, National Centers for Environmental Locations: Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney, Pa

The recordings immediately went viral on social media, and the candidate, who is pro-NATO and aligned with Western interests, was defeated in September by an opponent who supported closer ties to Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin. AI images that falsely depicted former President Donald Trump sitting with teenage girls on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane circulated on social media last month. And once a deepfake appears on social media, it can be nearly impossible to stop its spread. Šimečka said his team and others complained to social media platforms and law enforcement. He said social media platforms need to “put measures in place” to prevent attempts to meddle with an election.

Persons: he’d, Vladimir Putin, ”, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein’s, Trump, “, Subrahmanian, Alex Curtas, Curtas, Jared DeMarinis, ’, ” DeMarinis, Chelsea Carattini, Ilana Beller, haven’t, ” Beller, Paul Vallas, Sean R, Clark, ” Vallas, Vallas, Brandon Johnson, ” “ We’ll, Slovakia Michal Šimečka, ” Šimečka, Šimečka, ” Daniel Milo, Milo, it’s, ” Milo, Janis Sarts, ” Sarts Organizations: CNN, NATO, Northwestern University, Senior, Twitter, Democratic, Chicago, Political, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Public Citizen, State’s, Republican Party, Commission, Progressive, YouTube, Facebook, Slovakia’s Ministry, Meta, NATO Strategic Communications, of Excellence, Foreign Intelligence Service, Russian Intelligence Locations: Slovakia, Moscow, Europe, States, New Hampshire, Russia, China, Russian, Northwestern, American, California , Michigan, Minnesota , Texas, Washington, New Mexico, Idaho, Chicago, Progressive Slovakia, Slovakia’s, Latvia

☆ Premarket stocks: Regional banks could be on the rocks again
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Stocks of small US lenders are still in the doldrums nearly a year after the regional banking crisis. The KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking index, which tracks the performance of regional lenders and thrifts, has fallen more than 2.4% this year compared to the benchmark S&P 500’s 2.6% gain. “This development is likely to … challenge the health of regional banks,” wrote José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers, in a note on Thursday. Regional bank stocks struggled for much of 2023 after the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank sparked a flight on deposits and sent shockwaves through the stock and bond markets. High interest rates threatened to put pressure on regional banks’ bond portfolios and squeeze their bottom lines, creating a good old-fashioned bank run.

Persons: Huntington, PNC Financial Service’s, ”, José Torres, Alex McGrath, “, McGrath, Samantha Murphy Kelly, David McQueen, ” Read, Bryan Mena Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Nasdaq, PNC Financial Services, PNC, Comerica Inc, US Bancorp, Citizens, PNC Financial, Federal Reserve, Interactive Brokers, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, First, Bank, Microsoft, Apple, ABI Research, Gross, Commerce Department Locations: New York, China

☆ China says US military makes region more dangerous after Navy ship sails through Taiwan Strait
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —China accused the United States military of “abusing international law” and continuing a pattern of “dangerous provocations” in East Asia Thursday, after a US Navy destroyer made the service’s first transit of the Taiwan Strait of 2024. The USS John Finn (DDG 113) conducts routine operations in the East China Sea, on January 24, 2024. John Finn’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle,” Greene said. While the John Finn’s transit of the Taiwan Strait was the first of 2024, US warships and warplanes regularly travel through and over the waterway. Aquilino told a defense forum in Hawaii that he expected a show of force from China against Taiwan in the wake of the election result.

Persons: ”, John Finn, Xi Jinping, reunify, Justin Stack, Cmdr, Meagan Greene, John Finn’s, ” Greene, John, Collin Koh, Washington, Wu Qian, “, John Aquilino, Aquilino, ” Aquilino, ” Koh Organizations: South Korea CNN, United, US Navy, Democratic Progressive Party, Party, Taiwan, Taiwan Relations, U.S . Navy US Navy 7th Fleet, Coast Guard, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, China’s Defense Ministry, Xinhua, China -, Defense, Pacific Command, Communist Party, Clinton, CNN, Pacific Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, United States, East Asia, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, Beijing, East China, State, States, Singapore, China - U.S, U.S, Hawaii, Honolulu ., Washington

☆ IRS set to launch its free tax filing pilot program
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —When tax filing season opens on January 29, some taxpayers will have the option of filing their 2023 federal tax returns with a brand new, government-run system. The law required the IRS to complete a cost and feasibility study about developing a free, electronic tax filing system, which it released in May. If the pilot program is successful, Direct File could eventually rival competing services in the private market. This screenshot shows the Internal Revenue Service's free tax filing pilot. It offers step-by-step guidance, in both English and Spanish, to taxpayers filing their federal tax returns by posing questions about their income and tax situations.

Persons: Danny Werfel, haven’t, Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, IRS, Democrat, Congress, Internal Revenue, Social Security, Taxpayers, Republicans Locations: Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

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