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☆ Trump Trial Judge Cracks Down on Cohen’s Taunting of Ex-President
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jesse Mckinley | Jonah E. Bromwich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In a startling precursor to what could be the most explosive testimony in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial, the judge on Friday told prosecutors that he was personally asking that a key witness halt his statements about the former president. The witness, Michael D. Cohen, was a personal lawyer for Mr. Trump, who in 2016 paid $130,000 in hush money to a porn star to silence her account of extramarital sex with him. Mr. Cohen is expected to begin testifying next week, and has been outspoken in his taunting of Mr. Trump, including by posting a TikTok video in which he wore a shirt with a picture of the former president behind bars. On Friday, moments after prosecutors acknowledged that they have little control over their star witness, the judge, Juan M. Merchan, asked them to tell Mr. Cohen to refrain from making any more statements about the case. And he made it clear that was from the highest authority in the court: him.

Persons: Donald J, Michael D, Cohen, Trump, Juan M, Merchan, Mr Organizations: ”

☆ FTX bankruptcy plan: collapsed firm says it can pay most creditors back in full
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —FTX has recovered enough assets to pay most of its creditors back in full, the failed crypto exchange said late Tuesday as it unveiled a proposed reorganization plan. “The plan contemplates payment in full of all non-governmental creditors based on the value of their claims as determined by the (relevant) bankruptcy court,” FTX said in a statement. Ray, a restructuring specialist, took over as CEO in November 2022 to shepherd what was left of the firm through bankruptcy. “We are pleased to be in a position to propose a Chapter 11 (bankruptcy) plan that contemplates the return of 100% of bankruptcy claim amounts plus interest for non-governmental creditors,” John J. Ray III, FTX CEO and chief restructuring officer, said in Tuesday’s statement. If his plan is approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District Court of Delaware, FTX expects that 98% of its creditors will receive approximately 118% of the amount of their allowed claims, FTX said.

Persons: London CNN — FTX, ” FTX, FTX, Sam Bankman, Fried, ” John J, Ray III Organizations: London CNN, Alameda Research, Enron, United States Locations: Alameda, Delaware

☆ Israel could win Eurovision. That would cause major headaches for the song contest’s organizers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

But this year, “the presence of Israel has become such a big issue (that) I think it’s going to overshadow the event,” he said. And they are leading perhaps the tensest three minutes in the contest’s history, when Israel’s competitor, Eden Golan, performs live. It doesn’t make sense,” Bambie Thug, Ireland’s participant, told CNN of extensive rules restricting any form of pro-Palestinian statement during the event. Ireland's Bambie Thug told CNN they disagreed with Israel's involvement in the competition. Long-standing rules preventing flags of non-competing countries and territories mean that Palestinian flags are banned from the crowd, which Bambie Thug told CNN they “100%” disagreed with.

Persons: Eden Golan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Golan, ”, Jessica Gow, ” Paul Jordan, Weeks, Johan Nilsson, Israel, Noel Curran, KAN, Bambie Thug, Patricia J, Garcinuno, ” Curran, “, Fredrik Persson, –, ” Jordan, SuRie, Karin Karlsson, Karlsson, ” Elina Pahnke, Saturday’s, Mohammad Ghannam, ” Lara Yosef, ” Yosef, ” Bambie Thug, Alyona Alyona Organizations: CNN, Music, Malmo, Eurovision, European Broadcasting Union, EBU, Getty, TT, Agency, Reuters, Israel, RAI, United, AFP, Malmo Arena, Artists, Aftonbladet, Israel’s National Security Council Locations: Swedish, Malmo, Israel, Gaza, Israel's, AFP, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Russia, Stockholm, Sweden's, seeping, Sweden’s Palestinian, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, “

☆ Eurovision braces for its most tense contest yet, as protesters and artists bristle at Israel’s presence
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The competition – which tries desperately to retain its “apolitical” tag – has become the largest cultural event so far to be rocked by the repercussions of Israel’s war in Gaza. Those protesting or boycotting the song contest claim it is “artwashing” the conflict; others defend Israel’s inclusion, insisting the contest should not be dragged into geopolitics. It doesn’t make sense,” Bambie Thug, Ireland’s participant, told CNN of extensive rules restricting any form of pro-Palestinian statement during the event. Ireland's Bambie Thug told CNN they disagreed with Israel's involvement in the competition. Long-standing rules preventing flags of non-competing countries and territories mean that Palestinian flags are banned from the crowd, which Bambie Thug told CNN they “100%” disagreed with.

Persons: ” Paul Jordan, ”, Weeks, Eden Golan, ” Jordan, “, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Bambie Thug, Patricia J, Garcinuno, Noel Curran, KAN, ” Curran, Golan, Fredrik Persson, –, SuRie, Karin Karlsson, Karlsson, ” Elina Pahnke, Johan Nilsson, Saturday’s, Mohammad Ghannam, ” Lara Yosef, ” Yosef, ” Bambie Thug, Alyona Alyona Organizations: CNN, Music, Malmo, Eurovision, European Broadcasting Union, EBU, TT, Agency, AFP, Getty, Malmo Arena, Artists, Aftonbladet, Israel’s National Security Council Locations: Swedish, Gaza, Israel, Malmo, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Stockholm, Sweden's, seeping, Sweden’s Palestinian, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, “

☆ Columbia’s administrators failed crisis management 101
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

There’s the day to day admin, the glad-handing of donors, and, crucially, keeping internal fires from becoming public, violent conflagrations. That last one is a public relations lesson, one on which Columbia’s president might need a refresher. In doing so, Columbia’s leadership threw out the playbook for managing protests that universities have honed for decades to keep students safe. To be sure, Columbia’s president, Minouche Shafik, knows her job could be on the line. Meanwhile, thousands of students, parents and alumni are about to descend on Columbia’s campus for commencement, adding more pressure to remove protesters.

Persons: CNN Business ’, ” Sarah J, Jackson, “, ” Jackson, they’re, it’s, Nadia Abu, ” Abu, Haj, Minouche Shafik, UPenn Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN — University, Columbia University, NYPD, University of Pennsylvania, ”, Trustees, comms, Haj, Columbia, New York, Harvard, Brown University, Wesleyan, University of Chicago Locations: New York, Columbia, Nadia Abu El, ” Abu El

☆ LeBron James: Paris 2024 is on the horizon, but first star wants to spend time with family after LA Lakers exit playoffs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —After being dispatched in five games by the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, LeBron James spoke to the media about what’s next for the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar. With his season once again coming to a premature end, James is looking forward to spending some time away from basketball. “I just want to get home to the family, honestly,” James said after the game. James, playing in his 21st season in the league, averaged 27.8 points across the five games along with 6.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.4 steals and one block. Despite the silver lining of an extended break from the sport, the summer won’t be one long vacation for James.

Persons: LeBron James, James, “, ” James, ”, Bronny, who’s, Bart Young, Jamal Murray, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, ‘, King ’, coy, “ I’m, Isaiah J, Downing, Reuters James, ” Bronny Organizations: CNN, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers ’, Denver, Laker, Phoenix Suns, AAU, Nuggets, Lakers, Team USA, Olympic Games, USA, Reuters, NBA, University of Southern Locations: LA, Paris, University of Southern California

☆ Election Updates: Koch group attacks Biden on the economy, hoping to engage Latino voters
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jazmine Ulloa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Despite a run of positive economic data, including strong job growth and record unemployment, the economy has been a stubborn weakness for President Biden and Democrats, particularly among Black and Latino voters. The group rolled out a similar effort with an anti-“Bidenomics” message last year, but organizers said this campaign would be much larger in scope. Although Latino voters still overall lean Democratic, former President Donald J. Trump improved his performance with the slice of voters in 2020, and in some areas like South Florida and South Texas made sizable gains. Mr. Biden, on the other hand, has stepped his up — and has been looking to sharpen his own economic message after an earlier push to reclaim the term “Bidenomics” largely fell flat. The liberal organizations have earmarked $33 million to mobilize Hispanic voters for Mr. Biden and other key Democratic races in several battleground states.

Persons: Koch, Biden’s, “ Bidenomics, Biden, “, ” Jose Mallea, Donald J, Trump, ”, Somos, Somos Votantes, Josh Harder, Mike Levin, Gabriel Vasquez, Yadira Caraveo, NoBidenomics.com — Organizations: Libre, New York Times, Republicans, Pew Research Center, Associated Press, Somos PAC, Mr, Republican Locations: Spanish, ”, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arizona, South Florida, South Texas, Libre, Montana , Nevada , Ohio, Wisconsin, In California, New Mexico, Colorado, America

☆ Middle East Crisis Blinken Is Set to Meet With Top Middle East Diplomats on War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, three weeks after telling him that he could rethink U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza. An administration official said that about three-quarters of Mr. Biden’s nearly hourlong call to Mr. Netanyahu focused on the possible cease-fire and hostages deal. The two leaders also discussed hostage videos released by Hamas last week, including those showing two hostages with American citizenship. Israel, heeding pleas by Mr. Biden for restraint, fired back only a token counterattack, and both sides have indicated they want to avoid further escalation. With the immediate threat of a wider war seemingly fading, Mr. Biden and his team could shift their attention back to Gaza.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken, “ That’s, John F, Kirby, Biden’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Mr, Biden “, “, Bernie Sanders, ”, Yahya Sinwar, ” Edward Wong Organizations: Israel, Hamas, State Department, Mr, Economic, White, ABC, Biden, American, ”, CNN, “, U.S Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Jordan, Israel, ”, U.S, Vermont, “ State, Iran

☆ Trump’s Trial Could Bring a Rarity: Consequences for His Words
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Maggie Haberman | Jonah E. Bromwich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“So that’s not true? That’s not true?”The judge in control of Donald J. Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial had just cut off the former president’s lawyer, Todd Blanche. Mr. Blanche had been in the midst of defending a social media post in which his client wrote that a statement that had been public for years “WAS JUST FOUND!”Mr. Blanche had already acknowledged during the Tuesday hearing that Mr. Trump’s post was false. But the judge, Juan M. Merchan, wasn’t satisfied. But this particular defendant, accused by the Manhattan district attorney’s office of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal, has spent five decades spewing thousands and thousands of words, sometimes contradicting himself within minutes, sometimes within the same breath, with little concern for the consequences of what he said.

Persons: Donald J, Todd Blanche, Mr, Blanche, Trump’s, Juan M, wasn’t, Merchan Locations: Manhattan

☆ Conservative Justices Take Argument Over Trump’s Immunity in Unexpected Direction
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Before the Supreme Court heard arguments on Thursday on former President Donald J. Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution, his stance was widely seen as a brazen and cynical bid to delay his trial. The practical question in the case, it was thought, was not whether the court would rule against him but whether it would act quickly enough to allow the trial to go forward before the 2024 election. Instead, members of the court’s conservative majority treated Mr. Trump’s assertion that he could not face charges that he tried to subvert the 2020 election as a weighty and difficult question. They did so, said Pamela Karlan, a law professor at Stanford, by averting their eyes from Mr. Trump’s conduct. “What struck me most about the case was the relentless efforts by several of the justices on the conservative side not to focus on, consider or even acknowledge the facts of the actual case in front of them,” she said.

Persons: Donald J, Pamela Karlan, Trump’s, ”, “ I’m, Samuel A, Alito Jr Organizations: Stanford

☆ Gag Order Hearing Is Heated as Judge Considers Citing Trump for Contempt
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s trial in Manhattan held a fiery hearing on Tuesday about whether to find Mr. Trump in criminal contempt for repeatedly violating the provisions of a gag order. While the judge, Juan M. Merchan, did not issue an immediate ruling, he engaged in a heated back-and-forth with one of Mr. Trump’s lawyers, scolding him for his failure to offer any facts in his defense of the former president. “You’ve presented nothing,” Justice Merchan told the lawyer, Todd Blanche, adding soon after: “You’re losing all credibility with the court.”Justice Merchan’s rebuke came moments after prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney’s office had complained that Mr. Trump willfully violated the gag order by making 10 public statements on social media and on his campaign website that attacked two likely witnesses and the jury.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Merchan, “ You’ve, Todd Blanche, “ You’re, Merchan’s Locations: Manhattan

☆ Martin Wygod, a Winner on Wall Street and the Racetrack, Dies at 84
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Sam Roberts | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Martin J. Wygod, a Wall Street whiz who graduated from walking horses after races to owning and breeding championship thoroughbreds when he made millions from investing in online companies that sold pharmaceuticals by mail and pruned medical paperwork, died on April 12 in San Diego. His daughter, Emily Bushnell, said he died in a hospital from complications of lung disease. Raised near two racetracks in suburban New York and mentored by a software pioneer, an investor and a gambler, Mr. Wygod was said to have been the youngest managing partner of a New York Stock Exchange brokerage in the 1960s. The sale netted Mr. Wygod $250 million. “Marty Wygod made $6 billion for himself because he developed a data base.”

Persons: Martin J, Emily Bushnell, Wygod, ” Jan Buck, “ Marty Wygod Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Merck, Princeton Group International, New York Times Locations: San Diego, New York

☆ Election Updates: Biden courts labor unions, with a speech to electrical workers planned today.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Members of this prominent Democratic family, including most of Mr. Kennedy’s siblings, had already signaled their support for Mr. Biden. Just as President Biden does today.”“Nearly every single grandchild of Joe and Rose Kennedy supports Joe Biden,” she said. “That’s right: The Kennedy family endorses Joe Biden for president.”Responding on social media, Mr. Kennedy avoided engaging with his family’s rejection of his candidacy. “I know you’re never supposed to reject a gift,” Mr. Kennedy joked as he held them. He then encouraged the roughly dozen people there to volunteer for the Biden campaign, arguing that their help could decide the election.

Persons: Kennedy, Biden, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, I’m, Kathleen, Rory, Joe, Chris, Max, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, —, Kennedy’s, Biden’s, Jim Wilson, Donald, ” Kerry Kennedy, “ Daddy, Rose Kennedy, ”, “, Mr, John, Kennedy —, John F, Martin Luther King, Donald J, Trump, Conor Lamb, Teenie Harris, Edward M, ” Joseph P, Kennedy II, Joseph P, Kennedy III, you’re, ” Mr Organizations: America, Biden, White, Democratic, Black, New York Times, Trump, PAC, Voters, Marquette Law School, Carnegie Museum of Art, Getty, Mr, Republican, MAGA Inc, Philly Locations: Philadelphia, America, Michigan, United States, Wisconsin, American, Pennsylvania, Kennedy, Washington, Pa, Harlem, Massachusetts

At 4:34 p.m. on Thursday, a jury of 12 citizens was selected to determine the fate of an indicted former president for the first time in American history, a moment that could shape the nation’s political and legal landscapes for generations to come. The dozen New Yorkers will sit in judgment of Donald J. Trump, the 45th president turned criminal defendant, who has been accused of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal. If the jurors convict Mr. Trump, he could face up to four years in prison, even as he seeks to reclaim the White House as the presumptive Republican nominee. “We have our jury,” Justice Juan M. Merchan proclaimed as the 12th juror was added. He then swore the seven men and five women to an oath that they would render a fair and impartial verdict, which they accepted with sober expressions as Mr. Trump stared from the defense table.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Mr, “, Juan M, Merchan Organizations: Republican

Asked for proof of his claim that Mr. Biden was personally directing the local cases against him, Mr. Trump pointed to purported ties between prosecutors and “Washington,” but provided no evidence that Mr. Biden had been involved in any of the hiring decisions, conversations or meetings that Mr. Trump cited. The writer E. Jean Carroll filed her first lawsuit against Mr. Trump in November 2019, accusing him of defamation. Faulty and irrelevant comparisonsWhat Mr. Trump Said“I got indicted more than Al Capone.”— in a rally in Ohio in MarchFalse. Mr. Hur described Mr. Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” who had “diminished faculties and faulty memory.” He did not declare Mr. Biden mentally incompetent to stand trial. Inaccurate attacks on judgesWhat Mr. Trump Said“Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, President Biden, Trump’s, ”, Trump Said “ Biden, General Merrick B, Garland, Trump “, Biden, Mr, Doug Mills, Trump Said, Jack Smith, Merrick Garland’s, Fani Willis, Letitia James, Alvin L, Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, —, James’s, Colangelo’s, Bragg ramped, Willis, Willis — Nathan J, Wade, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Kamala Harris, Harris, Crooked Joe Biden, James, Jean Carroll, Smith, Brittainy Newman, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, Letitia James ’, Hunt, PolitiFact, Trump Said “, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, Hillary, Bill, Bush, Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Bill Clinton’s, Taylor Branch, Branch, “, Barack Obama, George W, Bill Clinton, George H.W, Ronald Reagan, Robert K, Hur, Biden’s, Juan Merchan, Loren, Loren Merchan, Merchan, Merchan’s, Justice Merchan, Ahmed Gaber, Arthur F, Justice Engoron, Engoron Organizations: New York, Democratic Party, Trump, Justice Department, The New York Times, The, White House, Trump . Credit, New York Times, American People, Biden Administration, Prosecutors, Mr, Manhattan, Washington, Fox News, New, Times, White, Counsel’s Office, Supreme, Black, Trump Organization, Democrat, Companies, Exxon Mobil, Trump Foundation, Trump University, Associated, National Archives, Records Administration, TRUMP, Twitter, Credit Locations: Manhattan, Georgia, Trump ., Washington, New York, “ Washington, Fulton County ,, Russian, New, Ohio, Fla, South Carolina, Trump’s Florida, Beach

☆ Live Updates: Justices to Hear Obstruction Case That Could Bar Charges Against Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Still, in an earlier case involving a different provision of the law, the Supreme Court said it should be tethered to its original purpose. Mr. Fischer is accused of entering the Capitol around 3:24 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, with the counting of electoral ballots having been suspended after the initial assault. But the question for the justices is legal, not factual: Does the 2002 law cover what Mr. Fischer is accused of? Indeed, the judges in the majority in an appeals court ruling against Mr. Fischer could not agree on just what the word meant. By a 5-to-4 vote, the Supreme Court agreed.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Joseph W, Fischer, Trump’s, “, Mr, Judge Florence Y, Pan, Fischer’s, Justin R, Walker, Judge Walker, corruptly ’, ”, Judge Gregory G, Katsas, ” Judge Katsas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Kagan, Seuss Organizations: Sarbanes, Oxley, Enron, Capitol, Mr, ” Prosecutors, Yates, Supreme Locations: United States

But the calm could be short lived, as world leaders and markets focus on Israel’s response. Military clashes don’t always sink the markets, as was the case when Hamas attacked Israel in October and Israel retaliated. “We may be entering one of the most treacherous geopolitical eras since World War II,” Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s C.E.O., warned last week. “Take the win,” President Biden reportedly told Israel’s embattled prime minister after the attack was rebuffed with American help. Iran has signaled that the attack was a one-and-done, but Israel’s war cabinet hasn’t indicated its next move.

Persons: Israel, ” Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, hasn’t, Helima Croft Organizations: JPMorgan, ”, RBC Capital Markets Locations: Israel, Ukraine, United States, Iran

☆ O.J. Simpson helped create the America we live in today
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Many Black Americans cheered, pumped their fists and exchanged high-fives, while many White Americans gasped in disbelief and anger. Some say America is a nation of immigrants who bolster the economy and reinvigorate the country. Kent Nishimura/Getty ImagesPoliticians have adopted the Simpson trial playbookThere was a surreal moment during the Simpson trial that could have been easily missed. Critics say Simpson spent years running away from his Blackness with as much vigor as he eluded NFL defenders. Simpson may have died this week, but he helped give birth to the America we now live in.

Persons: O.J, Simpson, Nicole Brown Simpson, Ronald Goldman, Ford Bronco, Elise Amendola, what’s, Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump, Conway, Sean Spicer, Kent Nishimura, “ I’m, Johnnie Cochran, Simpson’s, Al Sharpton, Brother Simpson, Johnnie, ” Sharpton, “, ” , White, Trump, Paul Blumenthal, “ Donald Trump, ” Blumenthal, Jabin, Barack Obama, Ben Rhodes, “ Trump, ’, ” Obama, John Blake, ” Organizations: CNN, White Americans, of Fame NFL, America —, O.J, NBC, Getty, NFL, White, Trump, Fulton County Sheriff's, Republican, Trump National Doral, Washington Post Locations: America, Los Angeles, Washington , DC, ”, Fulton County , Georgia, Fulton County, U.S, Doral , Florida

☆ ‘Save Democracy’ Democrats Look to Win Primaries on Anti-Trump Sentiment
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer whose pitched battles with former President Donald J. Trump’s supporters on and after Jan. 6, 2021, vaulted him to political stardom, was greeted Tuesday evening in Annapolis, Md., like a celebrity. But there was also an undercurrent of skepticism among attendees at the Beacon Waterfront Restaurant, where he appeared at a campaign event to bolster his candidacy for the U.S. House. “We have a person here with a proven legislative record,” Jessica Sunshine, an Annapolis Democrat, told Mr. Dunn, referring to State Senator Sarah Elfreth, his main opponent in next month’s Democratic primary. But, she added, “You have heart.”But Mr. Dunn, an imposing former offensive lineman who stands 6-foot-7-inches and 325 pounds, didn’t shy away from the reason he is running: to save what he sees as democracy on the edge. It calls for a fighter,” he said.

Persons: Harry Dunn, Donald J, Trump’s, “, ” Jessica Sunshine, Dunn, Sarah Elfreth, ” Organizations: Capitol Police, Beacon, U.S . House, Annapolis Democrat, Democratic Locations: Annapolis, Md

☆ China concerns bring new unity to once-turbulent US-Japan-Philippines relationship ahead of major White House summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Both the Philippines and Japan are US defense treaty allies, and the US military retains permanent bases in Japan and has base rights in the Philippines. That threat is manifested in three key areas – Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, analysts say. Here's why 03:27 - Source: CNNJapan and Philippines both have separate territorial disputes with China, in the former’s case the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and in the latter’s areas of the South China Sea. Meanwhile, China claims the shoal, which is in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as its sovereign territory, as it does much of the South China Sea, in defiance of an international arbitration ruling. “Alliance building is the most practical way to deal with China’s moves” in the South China Sea, he said.

Persons: ”, James D.J, Brown, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Xi Jinping, Biden, Micah Jeiel Perez, Marcos, Kishida, ” Marcos, Shinzo Abe, Ricardo Jose, ” Jose, Thomas, CNN Marcos, Shoal, China –, Masaharu Homma, –, Perez, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos Jr’s, Duterte, Thomas Shoal, Veejay Villafranca, Robert Ward, BRP Antonio Luna, you’ve, Donald, Trump, ” Brown, “, Ward Organizations: South Korea CNN, White, Temple University, Japanese, Taiwan –, Communist Party, Taiwan Relations, University of, Nikkei Asia, University of the, “, CNN, East China, Philippine, China Coast Guard, US, US State Department, Gen, “ Alliance, Clark Air Base, Naval, Bloomberg, Getty, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Cooperative, Philippine Navy, BRP, Royal Australian Navy, Self, Defense Forces, JS Akebono, US Navy, USS, Multilateral Maritime Cooperative, Armed Forces, AP Analysts Locations: Seoul, South Korea, United States, Japan, Philippines, China, Tokyo, Philippine, Taiwan, Washington, South, Senkaku, East China, University of the Philippines, CNN Japan, East, South China, Palawan, China – Washington, Beijing, Spain, Spanish, Imperial Japan, New Orleans, Bataan, Subic, Manila, US, Australia, India, Vietnam, Warramunga, IISS

☆ Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, J Balvin and more lash out against ‘enormous’ AI threats that ‘sabotage creativity’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —More than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, J Balvin, Ja Rule, Jon Bon Jovi, The Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Miranda Lambert and more, are speaking out against artificial intelligence-related threats in the music industry. The letter highlights AI threats including deepfakes and voice cloning, as well as “irresponsible uses of AI” such as the using AI sound to diminish royalty payments to artists and the use of musical works by AI developers without permission to train and produce AI copycats. “Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders.”The letter urges digital music platforms and services to pledge to protect artist. “We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem,” the letter says. In a statement, the executive director of the ARA, Jen Jacobsen, said the threats of artificial intelligence are worsening already-tough working conditions for artists.

Persons: Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, J Balvin, Jon Bon Jovi, Jonas, Katy Perry, Miranda Lambert, “, ’, Billy Porter, Camila Cabello, Chuck D, Darius Rucker, Finneas, Jon Batiste, Julia Michaels, Kate Hudson, Kim Petras, Mumford, Nicki Minaj, Norah Jones, Pearl, Sam Smith, Sheryl Crow, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Zayn Malik, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, Jen Jacobsen, ” Jacobsen, Tyler Perry, OpenAI’s, ” Sora Organizations: CNN, Rights Alliance, Sons, ARA, SAG, WGA Locations: Atlanta

☆ Biden Assails ‘Outrageous’ Florida Abortion Ruling as His Campaign Blames Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden on Tuesday called a decision by the Florida Supreme Court to uphold a restrictive abortion law “outrageous” and “extreme,” saying that it had effectively eliminated access to the procedure across the American South. The president said in a statement that the restrictions in Florida and others enacted by Republicans across the country “are putting the health and lives of millions of women at risk.” But Mr. Biden said voters would “have the opportunity to make their voices heard,” after the court ruled separately that Floridians would be able to decide on expanding abortion access in November. Mr. Biden’s statement on the decision, which clears the way for a six-week abortion ban, came as his campaign and a host of Democratic officials began an all-out effort to pin responsibility for dwindling access to abortion care squarely on former President Donald J. Trump. “Donald Trump is directly to blame for the fact that abortion has now been effectively banned across the entire Southeastern United States,” Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Mr. Biden’s campaign manager, told reporters on Tuesday. “Make no mistake, Donald Trump will do everything in his power to try and enact a national abortion ban if he’s re-elected.”

Persons: Biden, ”, Donald J, “ Donald Trump, ” Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Biden’s, “, Donald Trump, he’s Organizations: Florida Supreme, Mr, Democratic, Trump Locations: Florida, United States

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( David Yaffe-Bellany | J. Edward Moreno | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange who was convicted of stealing billions of dollars from customers, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday, capping an extraordinary saga that upended the crypto industry and became a cautionary tale of greed and hubris. Mr. Bankman-Fried, 32, did not visibly react as Judge Lewis A. Kaplan handed down the sentence in Federal District Court in Manhattan. His parents, the law professors Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried, sat two rows from the front, staring at the floor. He knew it was criminal,” Judge Kaplan said of Mr. Bankman-Fried’s actions. Before the sentence was delivered, Mr. Bankman-Fried, cleanshaven and wearing a loosefitting brown jail uniform, apologized to FTX’s customers, investors and employees.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Bankman, Lewis A, Kaplan, Joe Bankman, Barbara Fried, ” Judge Kaplan Organizations: Court Locations: Manhattan

☆ John Eastman Should Lose Law License, Judge Finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A judge in California recommended on Wednesday that the lawyer John Eastman be stripped of his law license, finding he had violated rules of professional ethics by persistently lying in his efforts to help former President Donald J. Trump maintain his grip on power after losing the 2020 election. In a 128-page ruling, the judge, Yvette Roland, said Mr. Eastman had willfully misrepresented facts in lawsuits he helped file challenging the election results and acted dishonestly in promoting a “wild theory” that Mr. Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence, could unilaterally declare him the victor during a certification proceeding at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “In sum, Eastman exhibited gross negligence by making false statements about the 2020 election without conducting any meaningful investigation or verification of the information he was relying upon,” Judge Roland found, adding that he had breached “his ethical duty as an attorney to prioritize honesty and integrity.”

Persons: John Eastman, Donald J, Trump, Yvette Roland, Eastman, Trump’s, Mike Pence, ”, Roland Organizations: Capitol Locations: California

The Walt Disney Company and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida have reached a settlement over control of a special tax district that includes the Disney World theme park in Orlando, the company said on Wednesday. “We are pleased to put an end to all litigation pending in state court in Florida,” Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World, said in a statement. Disney and Mr. DeSantis have been fighting for two years over Disney World, the 25,000-acre theme park and resort complex south of Orlando and one of the state’s largest employers. In response to Disney’s criticism of a Florida education law that opponents called “Don’t Say Gay,” Mr. DeSantis took over the tax district, appointing a new board and ending the company’s long-held ability to self-govern Disney World as if it were a county.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, “, ” Jeff Vahle, DeSantis, ” Mr Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Gov, Disney, Walt Disney Locations: Florida, Orlando

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