DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ How the ‘song of the summer’ became a cultural phenomenon
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

And in an age where social media and streaming platforms have fragmented the cultural landscape, does the song of the summer even exist anymore? “It’s not like people were walking around in 1925 and saying, ‘You think that’s the summer song this year? New York Magazine’s 1995 Summer Fun issue devoted an article to examining the summer song as a unifying force — per the magazine, a summer song should be 1) released in the summer, 2) uncomplicated and 3) unforgettable. MTV’s Video Music Awards introduced a song of summer category in 2013, with One Direction’s “Best Song Ever” nabbing the inaugural award. Even as the song of the summer has become increasingly debatable, the idea that a single song could encapsulate a given summer continues to have a hold over our culture.

Persons: David Hajdu, “, ”, Hajdu, Phil Edwards, George Gershwin's, George Gershwin’s, Harry James ’, “ It’s, that’s, ’ ” Hajdu, Young, ’, ” Hajdu, Michael Ochs, Martha, Lovin, Sly, Stone, Robert Thompson, Ann Powers, Ricky Martin's, Frank Micelotta, ” Thompson, Thompson, gatekeepers, Vulture, Rolling Stone, It’s, Jason Lipshutz, Morgan, SZA, Armando L, Sanchez, Morgan Wallen’s “, Lipshutz, Miley Cyrus, Kylie Minogue, — Organizations: CNN, Day, Labor, Vox, Washington Post, Billboard, Beach Boys, Michael Ochs Archives, Vandellas, . Radio, Bleier Center for Television, Culture, Syracuse University . New, Bills, Backstreet Boys, Nielsen, American, Rolling, Social, Chicago Tribune, Tribune, Service Locations: America, Washington, Syracuse University . New York, “

☆ American sniper in Ukraine says his unit prefers Soviet-era rifles because bullets are easier to find and they can take them from the Russians
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewAn American veteran fighting in Ukraine said soldiers in his unit prefer to use Soviet-era rifles over modern ones because it's easier to find ammunition, including by taking it from the Russians. Jonathan Poquette is currently serving as a sniper in Ukraine, and he said that his unit prefers AK-74 rifles, which are chambered for 5.45×39mm rounds. He said that the prolific availability of older rifles among Ukraine's soldiers was also partly an issue with Ukraine's planning. This has also included ammunition from defeated Russian soldiers, or that fleeing Russians have left behind. Ukraine's ammunition shortagesUkraine is suffering from extensive shortages of ammunition and weaponry that have had serious ramifications all along the front lines.

Persons: —, Jonathan Poquette, Poquette, Nuzhnenko, Kalashnikov, Oleksandr Ratushniak, Volodymyr Zekenskyy, Frederick Kagan, Serhii Mykhalchuk Organizations: Service, Business, AK, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Poquette, Chosen Company, 59th Motorized Brigade, NATO, US, REUTERS, Artillery Rocket Systems, EU Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Soviet Union, Russian, Bakhmut, Radio Free Europe, Kyiv, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Russia, Europe, Czech Republic

☆ U.S.-Funded Broadcaster Leaves Hong Kong, Citing Security Law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( David Pierson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The authorities in China have long accused Radio Free Asia, also known as R.F.A., of being a front for the U.S. government. In its statement, the news organization noted that officials in Hong Kong had also recently referred to R.F.A. as a “foreign force” in the context of how it covered the discussion over the new security law. Hong Kong enacted the security law on March 23, giving the city’s authorities more power to investigate such offenses as “external interference” and the theft of state secrets. The government declined a request to comment on Radio Free Asia’s departure, pointing instead to national security laws in other countries to justify legislation in Hong Kong.

Persons: Bay Fang, Chris Tang Organizations: Radio Free Asia, Radio Free, U.S . Locations: States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States, China, Radio Free Asia

☆ Beyoncé's country songs are bringing new listeners to the genre, boosting streams for Black artists
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Micah Washington | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

While some music critics praised Knowles' country tracks, other fans of the genre refrained from a warm welcome. Beyond just radio, Black artists and artists of color represented less than 4% of country songs played on the radio, airplay, charting songs, artists signed to major labels and award nominations, according to SongData. One such fan, Tenley Patterson, 26, said she didn't bother listening to country music before Beyoncé's releases, but was impressed with the country tracks. Rachel Whitney, head of editorial for the Nashville team, said playlists outside of the country genre are playing Knowles' country tracks, broadening its reach. The Beyoncé draw is also boosting exposure for other artists on some lists, like Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson, who have more "traditional" country songs, Whitney said.

Persons: Beyonce, James Devaney, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé Knowles, Tanner Adell, Mickey Guyton, Reyna Roberts, Knowles, Alice Randall, Randall, —, Rhiannon Giddens, hasn't, Jocelyn Neal, Maren Morris, Luke Combs, Kacey, Lil Nas, Nas X, Tim Mosenfelder, Neal, Knowles —, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, George Bush, Tenley Patterson, I've, Patterson, It's, there's, Z, Rachel Whitney, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Whitney, Kevin Mazur Organizations: Scott, New York, Spotify, The New York Times, Radio, University of North, NBC, Houston, CMA, Republican, Nashville, Crypto.com Arena, The Recording Academy Locations: Brooklyn, New, New York City, U.S, Texas, an Oklahoma, University of North Carolina, San Francisco , California, Iraq, Los Angeles , California

☆ The Russian advance into the ruins of the city of Avdiivka was a matter of time
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In December, US officials estimated that the Russian military has suffered more than 13,000 casualties along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis in just a few weeks. The Ukrainian military acknowledged in December that the concentration of Russian forces would ultimately prevail. And ISW warns that “Ukrainian forces may have to stabilize the frontline by counter-attacking in the area where Russian forces are trying to close the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Avdiivka in order to conduct an orderly withdrawal.”Much of Avdiivka now lies in ruins. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via ReutersThere are already indications that not all Ukrainian units were able to escape an ever-tightening noose. The Ukrainians are adapting swiftly to a new stance of active defense that will continue to bleed Russian forces.

Persons: General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Maksym Zhoryn, Ukraine’s, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Nuzhnenko, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Zhorin, laud, Bakhmut, Volodymr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Avdiivka Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, Institute for, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, Russian Defense, Munich Locations: Avdiivka, Donetsk, Radio Free Europe, Kharkiv, Mariinka, Russia, Europe

These are among the reasons why there was alarm this week over reports that Russia may be pursuing nuclear weapons in space. So much of the country's infrastructure is now dependent on U.S. satellite communications — and those satellites have become increasingly vulnerable. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesTHE PAST: STARFISH PRIME AND PROJECT KBoth Russia and the U.S. have detonated nuclear warheads in space. The U.S. and the Soviet Union signed a nuclear test ban treaty a year later, in 1963, which prohibited further testing of nuclear weapons in space. The creation of the Space Force elevated spending on satellite systems and defenses.

Persons: Stephen Schwartz, Ariel, Hans Kristensen, ” Kristensen, John Kirby, John Ferrari, DeAnna Burt, Pat Ryder, Ferrari, ” Ferrari Organizations: WASHINGTON, Aviation, Russia, U.S, of Atomic Scientists, Starfish Prime, of Defense, Radio, Federation of American Scientists, Soviet Union, House, American Enterprise Institute, U.S . Space Force, NRO, National Reconnaissance Office, Pentagon, Space Force, Defense Department Locations: Russia, China, U.S, Hawaii, British, Ukraine

☆ Radio shows surprising resilience even in a rapidly changing media world
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pay TV, while newer, has faced more significant declines. Pay TV penetration, on the other hand, fell 20 percentage points between 2014 and 2023, according to data firm Statista. In the third quarter of last year, the pay TV industry shrank at a record pace, analysts at MoffettNathanson said in their latest cord-cutting report. "Terrestrial radio has stayed steady even as other mediums like satellite radio, podcasts and Apple CarPlay have come on board," said Guggenheim media analyst Curry Baker. Contests and sweepstakes represent another unique draw to terrestrial radio.

Persons: It's, MoffettNathanson, Curry Baker, Baker, Elvis Duran, Ryan Seacrest, Sean Hannity, Tom Poleman Organizations: Pew Research, Apple, Guggenheim, Cable, Conservative, Fox News, CNBC Locations: U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Kyiv accuses Russian forces of shooting surrendering Ukrainian soldiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Members of Ukraine's National Guard Omega Special Purpose unit fire a mortar toward Russian troops in the front line town of Avdiivka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine November 8, 2023. The Russian troops then appear to open fire and the video ends. The Ukrainian General Prosecutor's Office said: "The video shows a group of people in Russian uniforms shooting, at point-blank range, two unarmed servicemen in the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were surrendering." "Today, a video of the execution by Russian servicemen of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered as prisoners appeared online. Deepstate, a popular Ukrainian war blog which posted the video clip, said the footage was filmed near Stepove on the Avdiivka front line in Donetsk region.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Moscow, Dmytro Lubinets, Oleksandr Shtupun, Slava Ukraini, Maria Starkova, Lidia Kelly, Tom Balmforth, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Ukraine's National Guard Omega, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Acquire, Prosecutor's, Armed Forces, Reuters, Pravda, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Kyiv, Geneva, Stepove, Pokrovsk district, Donetsk, Lviv, Melbourne

The fighting is reminiscent of a battle for another eastern city, Bakhmut, which fell to Russian forces last May after months of brutal urban combat. Since Moscow launched its renewed offensive around Avdiivka in October, Ukraine's top general and Western military experts have made downbeat assessments of Ukraine's ability to break Russian lines. Located just north of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in the industrial Donbas region, Avdiivka hosts deeply entrenched Ukrainian defences. Pushing Ukrainian forces out of Avdiivka would be seen as enlarging the amount of territory Russia controls and making Donetsk city safer. Seizing Avdiivka could boost Russian morale and deal a psychological blow to Ukrainian forces, which have made only incremental gains in a counteroffensive launched in June.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Ukraine's, Russia's, Andrei Gurulyov, Semyon Pegov, Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Mykola Bielieskov, Bielieskov, Dan Peleschuk, Andrew Osborn, Mike Collett, White Organizations: Ukraine's National Guard Omega, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Acquire, Mechanized Brigade, Avdiivka, National Institute for Strategic Studies, Kyiv, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Russian, Moscow, Kyiv, Soviet, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russia

☆ Russia says it takes Ukrainian village, Ukraine notes increased Russian activity
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

There was no mention of the villages in official Ukrainian accounts of Wednesday's fighting in an area that Ukrainian forces have been trying to secure for weeks. Unofficial accounts and bloggers acknowledged that part of the village was held by Russian forces, but dismissed any notion it was fully under Russian control. Oleksandr Shtupun, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, said Russian front line shelling and air strikes had doubled following an end to several days of rain. Shtupun told national television that Russian troops were sending waves of up to 20 armoured vehicles at a time in attempting to move on Ukrainian lines. Russian forces, he said, were now within 9 km of the town.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Khromove, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Serhiy Zgurets, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Russia's Defence Ministry, Russian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Donetsk, Kyiv, Bakhmut, Russian, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Kupiansk

☆ Avdiivka: The story of one bloody battle in a trench in eastern Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Anna Coren | Daria Tarasova-Markina | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Avdiivka, Ukraine CNN —“Guys, leave me here. It is seen by Ukrainian and Russian forces as a heavily fortified stronghold, with entrenchments built up over the past eight years. Sentsov and his unit filmed a 5-hour battle on helmet and body cameras in the trenches of Avdiivka, eastern Ukraine, on October 19, 2023 CNNRussian forces have been repelled by the Ukrainian troops who are heavily entrenched in the area. He has fought in some of the war’s fiercest battles so far — Bakhmut, Zaporizhzhia region and now Avdiivka. Sentsov said Ukraine must prepare for a long war and develop a strategy in case the war grinds on for years.

Persons: Ukraine CNN —, ”, crouches, Avdiivka, Oleh Sentsov, ” Sentsov, Sentsov, “, Oleh, Laurent Van Der Stockt, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vitalii Barabash, Serhii Nuzhnenko, Reuters Barabash, Russian Wargonzo Organizations: Ukraine CNN, Moscow, CNN Russian, 47th Mechanised Brigade, Ukrainian Ground Forces, CNN, Analysts, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, National Police Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Russia, Sentsov, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Kyiv, Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Robotyne

☆ Russian forces advancing on Ukrainian town from all sides
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Barabash earlier said that Ukrainian forces had in recent days pushed back Russian forces near Stepove, a village northwest of Avdiivka, pinning them down near a rail line. Ukrainain and Western military analysts say Russia has incurred heavy losses, although the battle for the town is rarely mentioned in official Russian military dispatches. Russian military bloggers also reported Ukrainian gains near Avdiivka last week. Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told the news outlet liga.net that wintry weather and strong winds were affecting the use of drones by both sides. Shtupun said Russian forces had suffered heavy losses near Avdiivka and nearby Maryinka, another largely destroyed town where control has been contested for months.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Vitaliy Barabash, Barabash, Avdiivka, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, liga.net, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Stephen Coates Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Russian, Fortifications, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Ukrainian, Ukraine's Donbas, Donetsk, Stepove, Russia, Russian, Moscow, Maryinka

☆ Zelenskiy praises Ukrainians for battles with Russia and the weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ukrainian servicemen move past a burning car hit by a kamikaze drone outside the front line town of Avdiivka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine November 8, 2023. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said relentless, intense battles were ongoing in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv, while "extremely challenging weather" was affecting areas from Kyiv region in the north to Odesa in the south. In Russian-controlled territory, Oleg Kryuchkov, a senior Moscow-installed official, said nearly half a million people were without power in Crimea, the peninsula Russia annexed in 2014. Ukraine's border service said Moldova had temporarily suspended vehicle access to its territory from two crossing points in Odesa region. Moldovan authorities also asked local schools to consider closing due to snowfall and high winds.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's, Zelenskiy, Oleg Kryuchkov, Henadii Trukhanov, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Alexander Tanas, Elaine Monaghan, Alexander Smith, David Gregorio Our Organizations: servicemen, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Odesa, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa, Moscow, Crimea, Russia, Sevastopol, Kherson, Moldova, Odesa region, Chisinau, Washington

☆ Ukraine says Russia committing few troops to Avdiivka battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A local resident walks next to residential buildings heavily damaged by Russian military strikes in the front line town of Avdiivka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine November 8, 2023. The head of Avdiivka's military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said fighting was gripping an industrial district and Ukrainian forces were holding their positions. The Russian defence ministry's latest update mentioned that its troops were attacking villages south of Avdiivka, but gave few details. In the south, Russian forces also made missile strikes on port infrastructure in the Black Sea city of Odesa, regional officials said. Pro-Russian bloggers said Russian forces had been harrying Ukrainian forces near the village of Krynky, near marshes on the eastern bank upriver from the city of Kherson.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Vitaliy Barabash, Avdiivka, Pavlo Norozhny, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Stephen Coates Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Reuters, Russia's Defence Ministry, Armed Forces, Dnipro, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Maryinka, Kyiv, Black, Odesa, Kherson, Dnipro, Krynky, Oleshky

☆ Ukraine says Russians intensify bombardment of Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A local resident walks next to residential buildings heavily damaged by Russian military strikes in the front line town of Avdiivka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine November 8, 2023. Officials said Russian forces had suffered heavy losses around the city. They also said Ukrainian forces had repelled Russian attacks in other areas of the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line. Over the last two days, the occupiers have increased the number of air strikes using guided bombs from Su-35 aircraft," Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun told national television. Ukrainian forces, he said, had repelled eight attacks in the past 24 hours on the city, known for its vast coking plant.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Oleksandr Shtupun, Barabash, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Charles Brown, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ron Popeski, Michael Perry Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Ukrainian, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Russia, Kyiv, Russian, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Maryinka, Bakhmut, Kupiansk, Ukraine's, U.S

☆ Construction progresses at Russian plant for Iranian drones - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The White House, the Russian embassy and Iran's U.N. mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The report said a mid-September satellite image showed that new construction at the plant "directly" correlated with a leaked building floor plan that the Washington Post shared with the institute earlier this year. The satellite image also showed the construction of other structures and new security perimeters with checkpoints, the report said. Alabuga JSC is 66 percent owned by the federal government and 34 percent by the republic, the report said. The White House in June said Russia and Iran appeared to be deepening their defense cooperation and that in addition to supplying drones, Tehran was working with Moscow to produce Iranian drones in Alabuga.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Iran's, Volodymr Zelenskiy, Jonathan Landay, Sandra Maler Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Rights, JSC Alabuga, Institute for Science, International Security, Washington Post, Sunday, Alabuga JSC, House, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Russia, Moscow, United States, Russian, ., Washington, Tartarstan Republic, Iran, Tehran

☆ The West could live with a frozen Ukraine conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Ukraine may be heading for a similarly frozen conflict with Russia. So a frozen conflict would help the West achieve – at least partly – its key geostrategic aim: to show hostile powers that it doesn’t pay to invade one of its friends. In a frozen conflict, Ukraine would still need to invest heavily in massive fortifications, anti-missile defence systems and technology to deter Russian attacks. ECONOMIC WARIn a frozen conflict, sanctions against Russia would probably remain more or less in place. REBUILDING UKRAINEIt will be harder to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure in a frozen conflict than if there was peace.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Valery Zaluzhny, Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Tim Ash, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Ukraine's National Guard Omega, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Moscow, Hamas, U.S, EU, International Monetary Fund, Kremlin, Investors, BlueBay Asset Management, Soviet, Cyprus, European Commission, West, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Korea, Cyprus, Russia, Kyiv, –, Israel, United States, Moscow, North Korea, Iran, Russian, UKRAINE, West Germany, Soviet Union

☆ Ukraine has enough energy resources to get through winter - energy minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine will have enough energy resources to get through the coming winter, but an expected surge in Russian attacks may disrupt the supply networks, Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko said late on Saturday. "We have enough energy resources, in this regard we feel at peace," Galushchenko told Ukraine's public television. Last winter, thousands of Russian drones and missiles hit power infrastructure, causing sweeping blackouts. Galushchenko said Ukraine expects Russia to restart mass drone and missile attacks on energy infrastructure once temperatures fall and stay below zero degrees Celsius (32F). So far this autumn, Ukraine has enjoyed unseasonably warm weather, but temperatures are expected to drop below zero degrees Celsius in Kyiv and other places in the coming week.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, German Galushchenko, Galushchenko, Lidia Kelly, Miral Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Ukraine's Energy, German, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Melbourne

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A European Union plan to spend up to 20 billion euros ($21.4 billion) on military aid for Ukraine is meeting resistance from EU countries and may not survive in its current form, diplomats say. The debate over military aid comes as EU nations are also in discussions over a proposal to give Ukraine 50 billion euros in economic assistance. The EU is also facing challenges over other aspects of its military aid to Ukraine. SECURITY PACKAGESEU governments have stressed that long-term EU military aid must be coordinated with security packages that individual EU countries are negotiating with Kyiv, making it hard to settle on a price tag while those talks are ongoing. Some EU members have also argued they will struggle to make a big long-term pledge as domestic budgets are squeezed.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Josep Borrell, I'm, Olaf Scholz, David Evans Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Rights, Germany, EU, Peace Facility, Ukraine, Facility, Kyiv, Krisztina, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Rights BRUSSELS, Brussels, Russia, EU, Germany, Kyiv, Hungary, OTP

☆ US right-wing radio host Larry Elder ends 2024 Republican presidential bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder speaks at the Republican Party of Iowa's Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Scott Morgan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Right-wing U.S. radio host Larry Elder said on Thursday he was suspending his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and endorsing former President Donald Trump. Elder, who joined the race in April, failed to gain enough support to qualify for the Republican Party's candidate debates. "As I look at the path forward, and after careful consideration and consultation with my campaign team, I have made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign," Elder said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Elder urged his supporters to unite behind Trump, the Republican front-runner, to beat Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election.

Persons: Larry Elder, Scott Morgan, Donald Trump . Elder, Elder, Joe Biden, Trump's, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, Mike Pence, Eric Beech, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Republican Party of Iowa's, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Republican, Twitter, Trump, Democratic, Florida, South Carolina, New, Thomson Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, New Jersey

☆ Astronomers detect mysterious 8 billion-year-old energetic burst
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A fast radio burst, or FRB, is a pulse of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. It lasts a small fraction of a second but outshines most other sources of radio waves in the universe. Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. "The radio waves in FRBs are similar to those used in microwave ovens. Fast radio bursts were discovered in 2007.

Persons: Ryan Shannon, Stuart Ryder, Shannon, Will Dunham, Daniel Wallis Organizations: ESO, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Australian SKA Pathfinder, European Southern, Swinburne University of Technology, Macquarie University, Thomson Locations: Handout, Western Australia, European, Chile, Australia

Schwinden died Saturday in Phoenix at his daughter's home, son Dore Schwinden said Monday. Schwinden was born Aug. 31, 1925, on his family's farm in Wolf Point on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. In the early 1950s the couple returned to the Wolf Point area to help on their family farms after Schwinden's father fell ill. He stayed in Helena but kept returning to the family farm in Wolf Point to help during harvest time until 1998, his son said. Jean Schwinden died in 2007.

Persons: Ted Schwinden, Schwinden, son Dore Schwinden, “, ” Ted Schwinden, Jean, Ted, ”, Jean Christianson, Schwinden's, Thomas Judge, Jean Schwinden, Dore Schwinden Organizations: Radio, Fort, U.S . Army, Pacific, University of Montana, Montana Grain Growers Association, Gov, Democratic Locations: Mont, Phoenix, Oregon, Wolf Point, Fort Peck, Europe, Helena, Wolf, Arizona

Rob Bauer of the Netherlands, the chair of the NATO Military Committee and NATO’s most senior military official, said of the West’s ammunition stockpile Tuesday during a discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters“We give away weapons systems to Ukraine, which is great, and ammunition, but not from full warehouses. “We have to keep Ukraine in the fight tonight and tomorrow and the day after and the day after,” Heappey said. That means, “continuing to give, day in day out, and rebuilding our own stockpiles,” he added. US military aid to Ukraine has amounted to a staggering $46.6 billion from the war’s start through July 31, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Adm, Rob Bauer, Serhii Nuzhnenko, Bauer, James Heappey, ” Heappey, “, Thomas Warrick, Oleksandr Ratushniak, Warrick, ”, Michael McCord, ” McCord, Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, NATO, NATO Military Committee, Warsaw Security, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, Europe ”, Atlantic, nonresident, Foreign Relations, Pentagon, ” Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Netherlands, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Radio Free Europe, Europe, United Kingdom, United States, Washington

☆ America’s national emergency alert test is coming to your phone at 2:20 pm ET today: Here’s what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Starting at approximately 2:20 pm ET on Wednesday, the federal government will begin conducting a nationwide test of its Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. Radio and TV stations will also blare a test alert at around the same time. Here are answers to all of your burning questions about today’s emergency alert test. There are, however, three conditions which would prevent the cell phone alert from getting delivered to a device. Meanwhile, all radios and televisions will also broadcast a test emergency alert at the same time as part of the broader test.

Organizations: New, New York CNN, US, WEA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Communication Commission, Radio, FEMA, Wireless, National Wireless, Emergency Locations: New York, United States

☆ Ukraine plans big rise in defence spending in 2024 draft budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The government approved a draft 2024 budget on Friday that puts the deficit at 1.548 trillion hryvnias ($41.92 billion) and increases defence spending to 1.7 trillion hryvnias, over 21% of GDP. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the increase in defence spending was needed to fund Ukraine's war effort following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. "This amount (defence spending) is 113 billion hryvnias more than this year. Debt repayment is planned to be 606.5 billion hryvnias, including 421.6 billion hryvnias to be spent on internal debt repayments and 184.9 billion hryvnias for external debt repayments. About 468.8 billion hryvnias is budgeted for social spending, with 30.8 billion hryvnias allocated for business support.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Denys Shmyhal, Yuliia Dysa, Olena Harmash, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe

Search resuls for: ". Radio"

25 mentions found