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☆ Columbia student protestors are demanding ‘divestment.’ Here’s what the university has divested from in the past
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Clare Duffy | Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Columbia University Apartheid Divest submitted a formal proposal to the committee for withdrawing investments related to Israel in December, which has yet to yield success. Students at Columbia College, the university’s undergraduate school, voted to support the divestment proposal last week. Heading a nationwide South Africa divestment movementCurrently, Columbia lists five areas where it refrains from investing: tobacco, private prison operations, thermal coal, Sudan and fossil fuels — all decisions that were made in the past decade. In April 1985, students led a three-week student demonstration against Columbia’s investments in South Africa, the New York Times reported at the time. Pete Seeger, right, speaks to the crowd at Columbia University as hundreds of students continued to protest the school's ties to South Africa, April 8, 1985.

Persons: ” Israel, Catherine Elias, Daniel Armstrong, “, ” Armstrong, Pete Seeger, Frankie Ziths, G4S, Karla Ann Cote, divests, ”, Savannah Pearson, Michael Cusack Organizations: New, New York CNN, Columbia University, Columbia University Apartheid, —, Columbia, Columbia College, CNN, Coalition, New York Times, American Express, Ford, Ivy League, University of California, Johns Hopkins University, University of North, Corrections Corporation of America, Library, “, Columbia’s, Trustees, Columbia’s Teachers College Locations: New York, Gaza, Palestine, Columbia, Vietnam, Upper Manhattan, Israel, South Africa, Sudan, Los Angeles, Chevron, Berkeley, University of North Carolina, Hill, South, United States

☆ Lance Armstrong says that he experience PTSD and had intensive therapy – ‘all alone, one-on-one, 10 hours a day’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Lance Armstrong experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and used an intensive therapy approach in the years after he admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs, the former professional cyclist told “The Great Unlearn” podcast. “I went from hero to zero overnight,” the 52-year-old said on an episode of “The Great Unlearn” podcast released on Tuesday. “There was a mile-long list of lawsuits,” Armstrong told “The Great Unlearn” podcast. On “The Great Unlearn,” Armstrong said that he engaged in “couch therapy” in the years after his Oprah interview before deciding that he needed “something different and deeper” to cope with his PTSD. In an interview with CNN in 2014, Armstrong explained that he wasn’t considering therapy, saying: “My therapy is riding my bike, playing golf and having a beer.

Persons: Lance Armstrong, “, Armstrong, Oprah Winfrey, ”, Oprah, ” Armstrong, it’s, It’s Organizations: CNN, de France, Doping Agency, US Postal Service, American Psychological Association, Tour de France Locations: Texas, Tennessee

NEW YORK (AP) — The mild-mannered Franklin — the first Black character in the “Peanuts” comic strip — gets to shine in his own animated Apple TV+ special this month in a story about friendship. Franklin is a newcomer who bonds with Charlie Brown and is welcomed to the Peanuts universe in “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin," which premieres on Friday. Franklin and Charlie Brown soon enter a soap box derby competition and their friendship is tested before a deep bond is forged. In the new special, Franklin is specifically asked to come sit with his new pals on their side during a pizza party celebration. So to have him years later spotlight Franklin in a TV special seems almost divine intervention.

Persons: Franklin —, Franklin, Charlie Brown, Robb Armstrong, Charles Schulz, ”, Armstrong, Scott Montgomery, ” “, Stevie Wonder, Little Richard, James Brown, John Coltrane, he's, Linus, he’s, Raymond S, ” Franklin, Schulz, Martin Luther King Jr, Charlie Brown’s, Charlie Brown's, “, “ They’re, Persi, Mickey Mouse, Jeff Morrow, Berry's, Johnny B, Goode, Billy Preston, Coltrane, ” Armstrong, —, revering Schulz, someone’s, I’m, ” ___ Mark Kennedy Organizations: Apple Locations: Franklin

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — With some of America's biggest stars deciding to stay home, Claire Curzan and Hunter Armstrong claimed the spotlight at the World Aquatics Championships on Tuesday. Curzan won gold in the women's 100-meter backstroke at the Aspire Dome, while Armstrong followed just a few minutes later with a victory in the men's 100 back. The 19-year-old Curzan, who competes at the University of Virginia, claimed the first individual world title of her burgeoning career. After settling for bronze in the 100 back at the last two world championships, the Ohio native now has a gold. Hobson, part of a scaled-back team for these world championships, gave himself a big boost with the Paris Olympics just five months away.

Persons: Claire Curzan, Hunter Armstrong, Curzan, Armstrong, Simona Quadarella, Italy romped, Hwang Sun, Kaylee McKeown, Regan Smith, Iona Anderson, Canada's Ingrid Wilm, ” Curzan, ” Armstrong, “, Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Ryan Murphy, Quadarella, Katie Ledecky, Ledecky, Li Bingjie, Isabel Gose, Hwang, Luke Hobson, Danas Rapsys, Hobson, ”, Kim Woo Organizations: University of Virginia, Paris, Cal, Doha, Ledecky, Olympic, Paris Olympics, University of Texas Locations: DOHA, Qatar, U.S, Doha, Italy, South Korea, Fukuoka, Ohio, Paris, Quadarella, China, Germany, Nevada

Just this week, the SEC sued Kraken, another crypto exchange, alleging that it is operating as an unregistered securities exchange. Binance is exiting the US as part of the agreement the crypto exchange made with law enforcement agencies. That also includes the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission , and the Treasury Department. There is even a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team within the Justice Department actively identifying and investigating criminal cases involving digital assets. That is precisely how the feds secured the first ever corporate settlement with a crypto exchange.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Zhao, Binance, Brian Armstrong, Coinbase, ” Armstrong, “, General Merrick Garland, ” Changpeng Zhao, Anthony Kwan, cryptocurrencies, ethereum, Bitcoin, ’, it’s, Ethereum, Treasury Department —, Kraken, Tiffany Hagler, ” Garland, Lisa Monaco, Tuesday’s presser, “ I’ve, Benham Organizations: New, New York CNN, Justice Department, Bloomberg, Getty, Washington DC, US Department of Justice, Department of Justice, Treasury, Securities and Exchange Commission, Treasury Department, SEC, Geard, Futures Trading Commission, Cryptocurrency, feds Locations: New York, United States, Binance, Washington, U.S, “, rulemaking

They're “the most potent greenhouse gases known to modern science,” as one research paper put it and they're growing fast. With the Environmental Protection Agency required to phase out one family of the chemicals 85% by 2036, the push is on to develop and spread cleaner alternatives. With more than 200 million gasoline cars in the U.S. alone, Groll said that amounts to approximately 100 million pounds of refrigerant leaking out into the atmosphere each year. The need to minimize refrigerant leaks has spurred a reuse and reclamation industry. ___Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations.

Persons: Jennifer Byrne, Byrne, ” Byrne, Eckhard Groll, Groll, Danielle Wright, “, let’s, ” Wright, Mike Armstrong, ”, Anthony Nash, ” Armstrong, Christopher Cappa, Davis, ” Cappa, Wright, Jarad Mason, Mason Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, Environmental Protection Agency, Purdue University, Supermarkets, Gas, University of California, Trane Technologies, Harvard University, AP Locations: West Philadelphia, U.S, Dallas , Texas, Toledo , Ohio, Punta Gorda , Florida, Americas, refrigerants

Leaders dropped $6 billion in Ukraine aid from the temporary funding measure passed Saturday as they focused on passing it quickly, just hours before the government would have shut down. Supporters of Ukraine aid — including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who visited the Capitol to plead for the money in person just two weeks ago — say it’s essential that additional funding is included. He said he would address Ukraine aid soon. But any dealmaking is on hold as House Republicans try to find a new leader. Jordan has made clear his opposition to additional Ukraine aid and reiterated it Wednesday.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, “, ” Biden, ”, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, ” Sen, Joe Manchin, Republicans “, Manchin, Biden, Lindsey Graham, Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, Kevin Hern, Jordan, ” Jordan, Hern, Scalise, Kelly Armstrong, ” Armstrong, Adam Smith, Michael McCaul, McCaul, “ It’s, ” McCaul, Stephen Groves, Josh Boak, videojournalists Dan Huff, Nathan Ellgren Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Russia, Capitol, House Democrats, Ukraine, Senate, Democrats, Democratic, ”, Oklahoma Rep, Republican, House Armed Services Committee, Foreign, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, “, Connecticut, United States, Russia, U.S, Ohio, Jordan, Washington, Texas

Much of the furor is directed at Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, the ringleader of the McCarthy rebellion. “I think it’s very sad that this is obviously politically personally motivated,” Murphy said of Gaetz’s push to oust McCarthy. “I don’t think Markwayne Mullin and I have said 20 words to each other on the House floor. Republicans in the group will huddle as a unit next week to decide their next steps, the lawmaker said. “I have no advice to give to House Republicans except one – I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate,” McConnell said.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Mace, McCarthy, Mace, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Kelly Armstrong, “, ” Armstrong, ”, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Garret Graves, Mark Schiefelbein, ’ Gaetz, Mike Lawler, Greg Murphy, ” Murphy, Dave Joyce of Ohio, ” Joyce, Graves, Max Miller, hasn’t, Austin Scott, Sen, Markwayne Mullin –, McCarthy –, Markwayne Mullin, Kevin, ” Gaetz, Brian Fitzpatrick, bipartisanship, Hakeem Jeffries, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Republican Governance Group, Capitol, Florida Rep, Democratic, North Dakota Republican, ‘, House GOP Conference, ” Ohio Republican, Georgia Rep, Oklahoma Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Group, House Republicans Locations: South Carolina, Washington, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina

☆ SEC request for Coinbase to halt trading would have been 'the end of the crypto industry,' CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The Securities and Exchange Commission asked Coinbase to halt trading on all cryptocurrencies except for bitcoin before it sued the company in June, Coinbase’s chief executive told the Financial Times. The SEC’s request left Coinbase, America’s largest crypto exchange, with no choice but to take the matter to court, CEO Brian Armstrong said, because stopping those trades would have “essentially meant the end of the crypto industry in the US,” he said. “We really didn’t have a choice at that point,” Armstrong told the FT in an interview published Monday. Recounting discussions with the regulator before the lawsuit, Armstrong told the FT that Coinbase had requested clarity on how the SEC determined that every digital asset other than bitcoin is a security. The SEC disagrees, and has often said that most crypto offerings are securities that should face the same government regulations on Wall Street as stocks and bonds.

Persons: Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, ”, “, ” Armstrong, Armstrong, we’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Securities, Exchange Commission, Financial Times, SEC, Coinbase Locations: New York

☆ 2 American tourists attacked in Germany are identified as recent college graduates from Illinois
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Andy Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Two American tourists who police say were attacked – one fatally – while hiking in Germany were identified as recent graduates of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, according to the school. A friend who was with her, Kelsey Chang, 22, attempted to rescue Liu but was pushed down a steep slope. After fleeing the scene, he is now in police custody on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and attempted sexual offense, according to authorities. View from the Marienbruecke bridge into the Pollat gorge, near the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, on Friday. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/AP“Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms. Chang,” said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Persons: –, Eva Liu, Neuschwanstein, Kelsey Chang, Liu, Chang, Karl, Josef Hildenbrand, Ms, ”, Robin Kaler, ” Liu, “ Eva, Tami J, Armstrong, “, ” Armstrong, Kelsey Organizations: CNN, University of Illinois, “ Our University of Illinois, “, Illinois, Science Academy, US Embassy Locations: Germany, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, Bavarian, American, Schwangau, Aurora

☆ Coinbase CEO believes SEC lawsuit will benefit crypto industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is confident his battle with federal regulators will benefit the crypto industry, no matter how the judge rules. “Regardless of the outcome of the case, it’s a step towards clarity.”The Securities and Exchange Commission dealt another blow to the crypto industry on Tuesday by suing Coinbase, America’s largest crypto exchange. The SEC alleges Coinbase made billions of dollars facilitating the sale of crypto assets as an unregistered exchange, robbing investors of key protections along the way. ‘Icy reception’Armstrong questioned the timing of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s decision to file a lawsuit against his company just 24 hours after the agency accused Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, of mishandling customer funds. “They allowed us to become a public company,” Armstrong said.

Persons: Brian Armstrong, isn’t, ” Armstrong, Coinbase, Armstrong, “, Gary Gensler’s, Binance, “ He’s, Gensler, ”, I’ve, ‘, ‘ I’m, ’ ” Armstrong, ’, Gurbir Grewal, ” Coinbase, San, Coinbase wouldn’t, We’re, Adam Levitin Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Enforcement, “, SEC —, Georgetown Law Locations: New York, Washington, SEC’s, “ Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, San Francisco

REUTERS/David SwansonJune 7 (Reuters) - Coinbase (COIN.O) Chief Executive Brian Armstrong on Wednesday hit back at the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair over the agency's lawsuit against the crypto exchange, calling him an "outlier," while also reassuring customers that their funds were safe. Crypto companies, including Coinbase, dispute that crypto tokens are securities and have repeatedly called for the SEC to create clear rules. SETTLEMENT BREAKDOWNLast July, Coinbase disclosed an SEC probe into its asset listing processes, staking programs and yield-generating products. Grewal said despite the lawsuit, Coinbase would still be interested in a dialogue with the SEC about how to bring cryptocurrency into the regulatory perimeter. "If there were an opportunity for a real conversation, of course we would take it up, but I want to be very clear: Coinbase is absolutely committed to defending itself in court," he said.

Persons: Brian Armstrong, David Swanson, Coinbase, Armstrong, Gary Gensler, Gensler, ” Armstrong, Binance, hasn’t, haven’t, Paul Grewal, Grewal, Hannah Lang, Manya Saini, Niket, Chris Prentice, Shounak Dasgupta, Michelle Price Organizations: Milken, Global Conference, REUTERS, U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Bloomberg, Monday, CNBC, Reuters, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Solana, Cardano, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Jeremy Strong ‘terrified’ the ‘Succession’ creator during that last scene
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —It was an improvised scene the audience didn’t see, but Jeremy Strong freaked out the “Succession” creator with his performance in the series finale. The creator, Jesse Armstrong, appeared on a recent episode of NPR’s “Fresh Air” and was asked about Strong climbing over the railing at the river as if he may jump in during the improvised final scene of the Emmy-winning HBO series. I was terrified that he might fall in and be injured,” Armstrong said. “I did try and go in the water,” Strong said. Your job is to give the writing heart and a nerve and … all that stuff.”Strong said he “didn’t feel like (Kendall) could come back from what happens to him.”

Persons: Jeremy Strong freaked, Jesse Armstrong, “, ” Armstrong, ”, ” Strong, Kendall Roy, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Kendall Organizations: CNN, HBO, Warner Bros .

☆ Unlike last year, this tax season has been going smoothly
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But by comparison, this year’s tax-filing season has been going relatively smoothly, tax preparers say. “After a few years of pandemic-related updates, mid-tax season IRS guidance, last-minute tax law changes and more, the ‘quiet’ is a welcome change to many,” the National Association of Tax Preparers said in a statement. Better but far from perfectA return to a more normal tax-filing season doesn’t mean tax preparers and their clients are getting all the guidance that they need, though. But the quality of the answers to their questions and request for guidance has still left some tax preparers wanting. And when it comes to online services, Colorado-based enrolled agent John Dundon II has noticed some improvements as well.

☆ She was weeks away from maternity leave at Twitter. Then Elon Musk took over
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Twitter now reportedly has fewer than 2,000 employees following more cuts late last month, down from around 7,500 before Musk took over. CNN“We were on the Twitter-coaster, the Elon Musk chapter, for seven months,” Ali said. De Caires is one of the former Twitter employees taking legal action against the company following mass layoffs after Musk took over. Jeff Chiu/APInstead, Twitter employees say they heard very little from their new leader in the days immediately after his takeover. Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan is representing around 1,500 former Twitter employees taking legal action against the company following Musk's takeover.

☆ SEC targets ‘crypto-staking’ in $30 million Kraken settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

That practice, known as “staking,” reflected an unregistered offer and sale of securities, the SEC alleged in a complaint announced Thursday. According to the SEC, Kraken failed to adequately disclose the risks of participating in the program, which had advertised annual yields of as much as 21%. But according to cryptocurrency advocates, the SEC clampdown on staking could have wider effects that undermine the US cryptocurrency ecosystem. The SEC complaint zeroes in on a practice that the industry says is vital to supporting the healthy function of some virtual currencies. In its complaint, however, the SEC alleged Kraken failed to notify users about the lack of protections it offered to those who engaged in staking through Kraken’s program.

☆ Moving species emerges as last resort as climate warms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Moving species to save them — once considered taboo — is quickly gaining traction as climate change upends habitats. Concerns persist that the novel practice could cause unintended harm the same way invasive plants and animals have wreaked havoc on native species. “Climate change is causing a greater need for this — for taking a species outside its known historical range.”A pending change to the U.S. “In the future, some species’ ranges may shift due to climate change, or their current habitats might become unsuitable due to invasive species encroachment,” Armstrong said in an email. Humanity has been moving species around for centuries, often inadvertently and sometimes causing great harm.

☆ Ex-Bills punter Matt Araiza won't face criminal charges over alleged gang rape while in college
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

SAN DIEGO — Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza will not be charged in connection with an alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at an off-campus party last year when he played football for San Diego State University, prosecutors said Wednesday. “I am grateful that the district attorney and the San Diego Police Department have discovered all the facts and found no criminal wrongdoing. I am excited to continue my NFL career,” Araiza said in a statement issued by his agent, Joe Linta. “Ultimately, prosecutors determined it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges and there is no path to a potential criminal conviction. San Diego State officials have said they deferred investigating at the request of police for fear that conducting their own might harm the criminal investigation.

☆ Premarket stocks: Is the dollar's relentless rise coming to an end?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

At last, however, its breakneck rally could be coming to an end. Last week, investors turned bearish on the greenback for the first time since July 2021, according to data from Societe Generale. First, there was the surprising inflation data in the United States, which showed that prices rose more slowly than expected in October. If these economies perform better than expected, the United States won’t look like the only game in town — and other currencies could look appealing again. About 261,000 positions were added in October, and by next summer, the bank expects monthly gains of closer to 50,000.

☆ Cuba shouldn't be on sponsor of terrorism list, former U.S. officials say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Ed Augustin | Ed Augustin Is A British Journalist Based In Havana Who Has Written For The New York Times | The Guardian | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

HAVANA — Along with Iran, Syria and North Korea, Cuba is listed as a “state sponsor of terrorism” by the U.S. Department of State. Cuba has called the sponsor of terrorism designation "illegitimate and immoral," arguing that it deprives it of financing and credit sources. “‘Cuba is not a state sponsor of terrorism’ was a mantra from the moment I walked into the State Department to the moment I walked out,” he said. Throughout the 1980s, Cuba shared intelligence with, trained and apparently supplied weapons to revolutionary movements fighting military dictatorships in Central America. Cuba will once again be a “guarantor state.”The Biden administration has provided no evidence that Cuba sponsors terrorism.

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