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CNN —Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday pushed back on criticism of President Joe Biden’s new executive action restricting asylum while calling on Congress to take action on the border. Still, Mayorkas insisted the restrictions on asylum would reduce the number of people who try to cross the border. “The bipartisan deal was rejected once, we pressed forward again. And it requires the cooperation of other countries which we have secured.”But Mayorkas again called on Congress to do more. “Former President Trump tried to implement a Muslim ban, a ban on entry to this country explicitly based on one religion.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden’s, “, ” Mayorkas, —, Donald Trump, Biden, Greg Abbott of, “ gaslighting, he’s, ” Abbott, Mayorkas, ABC’s Martha Raddatz, ”, let’s, Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, Trump, It’s Organizations: CNN, Homeland, Sunday, Republican Gov, GOP, Democratic, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of Justice, Republicans, Trump, House Republicans, Democrats, Delaware Democrat, Progressive House Democrats, ACLU, ” CNN Locations: Greg Abbott of Texas, ”, Chris Coons of Delaware

☆ Opinion: I was born into India’s lowest caste. But nothing will stop me from embracing my joy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Opinion Shreeja Rao | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Shreeja Rao Sankul SonawaneMy community of Dalit women are doubly oppressed by caste and gender. Dalit women like me are bound together by a sense of sisterhood woven with each other for as long as anyone can remember, and long before that. I think of my mentor, Beena Pallical, who made history by becoming the first Dalit woman to address the UN General Assembly. But these advances have led Dalit women to significant victories and more freedom than ever before in India’s caste-tainted history. Seeing the only Dalit woman hockey player score a hat-trick at the Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.

Persons: India CNN —, Shreeja Rao, US Department of State’s Madeleine K, Albright, Shreeja Rao Sankul, cruelties, Beena Pallical, Pallical, —, we’ve, Joy, Ambedkar, India’s, Bhim Geet Organizations: India CNN, Guardian, The, US Department of State’s, Albright Young, CNN, Dalit, Assembly, UN, Olympics, Twitter, Ambedkar Jayanti Locations: Pune, India

☆ An intensifying Republican-led legal campaign alleging big advertisers colluded to defund conservative media is rankling the ad industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Judiciary Committee's probe has sought documents related to discussions about advertising on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. GARM and its members developed a "brand safety floor and suitability framework" for the industry to adopt. Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee issued wide-ranging subpoenas to both GARM and the WFA last year as part of the probe. The CEOs were also told to preserve all existing and future records related to their companies' work with GARM. Advertisement"GARM's members and board members are senior advertisers," a marketing executive close to GARM said.

Persons: —, Jim Jordan, GARM, Sherman, Jordan, Ørsted, Joe Rogan, Elon, Vivian Zink, Ørsted didn't, Rob Rakowitz, Unilever —, Breitbart, Joe Rogan's, Ben Shapiro, Michael Brochstein, Jim Jordan's, Lou Paskalis, Ad Fontes Media's Paskalis, Paskalis Organizations: Service, Global Alliance, Responsible Media, Business, Spotify, Syfy, NBCU, Getty, World Federation, YouTube, WFA, Diageo, GroupM, Procter, Gamble, Unilever, Steer Team, Fox News, Daily, Republican, Federalist, US Department of State, Ad Fontes Media Locations: Ohio, GARM, Jordan, Texas

☆ BMW unveils its latest ‘Art Car,’ courtesy of abstract artist Julie Mehretu
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Designed and engineered in collaboration with the Italian race car manufacturer Dallara, it’s low and wide with an enormous rear wing and a large vertical rudder. For the commission, which marks the 20th BMW Art Car, Mehretu chose to adapt one of her most famous works: The painting “Everywhen,” which is now in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The first woman to take on a BMW Art Car was South African artist Esther Mahlangu, who in 1991 painted a 525i sedan. In 1996, Holzer covered a BMW Le Mans race car in the words “Protect Me From What I Want,” among other provocative phrases. Esther Mahlangu's 'Art Car' featured the bold colors and geometric patterns used in the traditional arts and crafts of the Southern Ndebele people.

Persons: Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, Robert Rauschenberg, Julie Mehretu, Mehretu, ” Mehretu, André, Alexander Calder, Hervé Poulain, Poulain, Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Warhol, Esther Mahlangu, Holzer, Esther Mahlangu's, Enes, Goldman Sachs, “, Marian Goodman, I've, ” Julian Kroehl, BMW Mehretu, Madeleine Grynsztejn, ”, Julie, ” Grynsztejn Organizations: CNN, BMW, Pompidou Center, Le, Dallara, Museum of Modern Art, BMW “, CSL, BMW Le, Daytona, Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, MacArthur, US Department of State, of, Pritzker, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Locations: Ethiopian American, Paris, New York City, American, African, Southern, Manhattan, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, United States, New York

☆ US State Department issues worldwide security alert due to potential for attacks on LGBTQI+ people and events
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The US State Department issued a worldwide security alert on Friday due to the potential for terrorist attacks against LGBTQI+ people and events. “Due to the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events and advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the alert read. The alert comes two weeks before Pride Month begins on June 1. That same year, the Human Rights Campaign, for the first time in its 40-year history advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans.

Persons: –, CNN’s Avery Lotz Organizations: CNN, US State Department, U.S, Department of State, of State, Pride, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Parade, Human Rights Locations: Austria, Idaho

☆ North Darfur state, Sudan: At least 56 people dead as ‘deadly fighting escalates’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Louis Mian | Ingrid Formanek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —At least 56 people died in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, between last Friday and Wednesday, as “deadly fighting escalates,” Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a statement. At the city’s South Hospital, 454 casualties have arrived since last Friday, of whom 56 “have succumbed to their injuries,” according to the humanitarian organization. MSF added that “the wounded and death toll are likely far higher, since the fighting continues to be so intense that many people cannot reach the hospital.”“North Darfur had been a relatively safe haven compared to other parts of Darfur,” MSF added. “Now, there are snipers in the streets, heavy shelling is taking place, and nowhere in the city is safe at all.”Violence in North Darfur has intensified, as the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been encircling El Fasher. “The RSF military operation to encircle and besiege El Fasher, North Darfur, has endangered the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians,” a US Department of State spokesperson said.

Persons: “, Sudan Clementine, ”, RSF Organizations: CNN, Hospital, MSF, ” MSF, Rapid Support Forces, Yale School of Public, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Yale, UN, United, US Department of State, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: El Fasher, Sudan’s North Darfur, ”, Darfur, El, Sudan, United States, North Darfur

☆ US soldier was arrested in Russia last week
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An American soldier was detained in Russia last week on suspicion of theft and is currently being held in pre-trial detention, according to two US officials. “The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia. The soldier was stationed in South Korea when he took leave to travel to Russia on his own, according to another US official. A State Department official confirmed that a US citizen had been detained in Russia but would not provide further details. Last July, another soldier stationed in South Korea willingly crossed into North Korea where he was immediately detained.

Persons: Gordon Black, ” “, ”, Cynthia Smith, “, Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, Ksenia Karelina, John Kirby, haven’t, ” Kirby, Travis King, King, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, US Army, Army, Russian Federation, U.S . Department of State, Vienna Convention, Consular Relations, Soldier, US State Department, Street, Marine, NBC News, State Department, US, National Security, Joint Security Area, Incheon International Locations: American, Russia, South Korea, Vladivostok “, Vienna, Ukraine, Cavazos, Texas, Moscow, North Korea, United States, Incheon, Seoul

A U.S. Army soldier has been detained by Russian authorities in the port city Vladivostok on charges of criminal misconduct, the State and Defense Departments said on Monday, adding what is likely to be another complication in the contentious relationship between Moscow and Washington. A military official identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. He was apprehended on May 2, and Russia notified the State Department of the soldier’s “criminal detention” in accordance with international agreements between the two nations. “The Army notified his family, and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia,” Cynthia O. Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said in a statement. A State Department official reiterated the U.S. government’s warning for Americans not to travel to Russia.

Persons: Gordon Black, ” Cynthia O, Smith, Sergeant Black Organizations: U.S . Army, State and Defense, State Department of, Army, U.S . Department of State, State Department, NBC News Locations: Vladivostok, Moscow, Washington, Fort Cavazos, Texas, South Korea, Russia

☆ Baltimore bridge collapse: 5th body recovered
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Joe Sutton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Authorities have recovered the body of a fifth victim in the Baltimore bridge collapse five weeks ago, officials said Wednesday. A 213-million-pound cargo vessel slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, crippling the structure and killing six workers repairing potholes on it. The six construction workers were immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala. “Maryland State Police investigators along with officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and the FBI responded to the scene and recovered the body of a fifth construction worker inside a red truck,” he added. Attorneys representing the families of two deceased workers and a victim who survived the fall have started their own investigation.

Persons: Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, Glen, Francis Scott Key, Luna, Roland L, Butler , Jr, Miguel Luna, CNN Butler, ” Organizations: CNN — Authorities, Unified Command, Francis Scott Key Bridge, CNN, El, CASA, “ Unified Command, Maryland Department of State Police, State Police, Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, FBI, US Coast Guard, Grace Ocean Private Limited, Synergy Marine PTE LTD Locations: Baltimore, Glen Burnie , Maryland, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Maryland

☆ US imposes sanctions on more than a dozen companies in China for support of Russia’s war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The United States imposed sanctions on more than a dozen companies in China and Hong Kong for their support of Russia’s war in Ukraine as part of a tranche of nearly 300 new sanctions unveiled Wednesday. “The almost 300 targets being sanctioned by both Treasury and the Department of State include sanctions on dozens of actors that have enabled Russia to acquire desperately needed technology and equipment from abroad,” the Treasury Department said in a news release. The sanctions also hit targets within Russia, as well as Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The sanctions are aimed at cracking down on sanctions evasion and support for Russia’s military-industrial base and its biological and chemical weapons programs. The Treasury Department also targeted those involved in providing precursor materials to Russia used in explosives.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Treasury, Department of State, Treasury Department, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: United States, China, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, United Arab

Arm Ukraine With Fanfare and Israel in Secret? That package will pay for billions of dollars of arms flowing to Ukraine, Israel and other nations. As soon as the bill became law, the administration issued new announcements about weapons shipments to Ukraine, but not about transfers to Israel. Press releases about military aid for Ukraine and Israel Since both wars began, the U.S. government has issued at least 126 press statements or updates describing military aid sent to Ukraine and just three describing military aid sent to Israel. Information on maritime support sent to … Ukraine IsraelInformation on air-based weaponry and drones sent to … Ukraine IsraelThere is another distinction worth noting.

Persons: Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Antony Blinken, ”, Josh Paul, Israel —, Ukraine Israel “, Daniel C, it’s, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Reuters, Israel Defense Forces, Israel . Press, U.S . Department of State, U.S . Department of State ; U.S . Department of Defense, Internet, State Department, Defense Department, State and Defense, Washington Post, Ukraine authorizations, Democratic Party, West Bank, White, New York, Facebook Locations: Israel, Ukraine, U.S, U.S . Department of State ;, Ukraine Israel, Gaza, American, Egypt, Russian, Rafah, Lebanon, Iran, Iranian, Syria, United States

☆ Same-sex couples face up to 15 years in prison in Iraq’s LGBTQ crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Nechirvan Mando | Eyad Kourdi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Iraq has passed a new law that penalizes same-sex relations with up to 15 years in prison, a move condemned by rights advocates as the latest attack on the country’s LGBTQ community. Samar called on the US and other countries to put diplomatic pressure on the Iraqi government to revoke the law. He warned that international business coalitions have already signaled that such discriminatory practices could negatively impact Iraq’s economic growth. “Respect for human rights and political and economic inclusion is essential for Iraq’s security, stability, and prosperity. This legislation is inconsistent with these values and undermines the government’s political and economic reform efforts,” Miller said on Saturday.

Persons: ” –, Raad al, Mohsen Al, ” Al, Mandalawi, ‘, I’ve, ” Samar, Samar, Mohammed Shia, Joe Biden, “, ” Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Sarah Sanbar, ” “, ” Organizations: CNN, Iraq, Maliki, Iraqi, US Department of State Locations: Iraq, Iraq Samar, Samar, Al

☆ UnitedHealth Group has paid more than $3 billion to providers following cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

UnitedHealth Group has paid out an additional $1 billion to providers that have been impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack since last week, bringing the total amount of funds advanced to more than $3.3 billion, the company said on Wednesday. UnitedHealth, which owns Change Healthcare, discovered in February that a cyber threat actor had breached part of the unit's information technology network. The interruptions left many health-care providers temporarily unable to fill prescriptions or get reimbursed for their services by insurers. Many health-care providers rely on reimbursement cash flow to operate, so the fallout has been substantial. Federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have introduced additional options to ensure that states and other stakeholders can make interim payments to providers, according to a release.

Persons: UnitedHealth, it's, Mandiant, Jamie Raskin, Andrew, Raskin, Biden Organizations: UnitedHealth, Healthcare, SEC, CNBC, American Hospital Association, Medicare, Medicaid Services, U.S . Department of Justice, of State, Wednesday, United Health, Palo Alto Networks, Change Healthcare Locations: Palo

☆ Opinion: Why I’m resigning from the State Department
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Opinion Annelle Sheline | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Unable to serve an administration that enables such atrocities, I have decided to resign from my position at the Department of State. Whatever credibility the United States had as an advocate for human rights has almost entirely vanished since the war began. By resigning publicly, I am saddened by the knowledge that I likely foreclose a future at the State Department. Yet just recently, the State Department ascertained that Israel is in compliance with international law in the conduct of the war and in providing humanitarian assistance. After four years of then-President Donald Trump’s efforts to cripple the department, State employees embraced Biden’s pledge to rebuild American diplomacy.

Persons: Sheline, Israel, Annelle, —, Biden, Joe Biden, Yitzhak Brick, ”, Donald Trump’s, Aaron Bushnell, Jim Crow Organizations: Eastern Affairs, Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor, CNN, Gaza Ministry, Health, UN, West Bank, International Court of Justice, Department of State, United, Protect Journalists, State Department, State, Department, US, Feds United, Peace, Ukraine, Twitter, Facebook, Air Force, Embassy Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, United States, Lebanon, harm’s, Washington

☆ Former RNC chair McDaniel calls January 6 Capitol attack ‘unacceptable’ after years of deflection
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Casey Gannon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Sunday called the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol “unacceptable” after years of deflecting on the issue. McDaniel, who is joining NBC News as a political analyst after exiting the RNC earlier this month, told the outlet that the Capitol riot “doesn’t represent our country. It certainly does not represent my party.”“We should not be attacking the Capitol; we should not be having violence,” she added. Asked why she didn’t offer such condemnation as RNC chairwoman, McDaniel responded, “When you’re the RNC chair, you kind of take one for the whole team. McDaniel acknowledged Sunday that Biden won the 2020 election “fair and square” even as she voiced concern over “issues” with the vote.

Persons: Ronna McDaniel, McDaniel, ”, Donald Trump, Trump, “, Michael Whatley, Lara Trump, ” McDaniel, Joe Biden, Biden, we’ve, … we’ve, ” CNN’s Oliver Darcy, Kaitlan Collins, Daniel Strauss, Michelle Shen, Avery Lotz Organizations: CNN, Former Republican National, Capitol, NBC News, RNC, GOP, Trump, ”, NBC, ” The Michigan Department, Michigan Locations: Michigan, Detroit

☆ NBC hires former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, who has demonized the press and refused to acknowledge Biden was fairly elected
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In her role as RNC chief, McDaniel also fanned the flames of election denialism after the 2020 presidential contest. McDaniel told the officials, regarding the certification: “Do not sign it. I don’t think that’s election denying,” McDaniel told Wallace. We have every right to look at that.”In the interview, Wallace pressed McDaniel if she believed Biden legitimately won the election. Ultimately, he won the election but there were lots of problems with the 2020 election,” she said.

Persons: Ronna McDaniel, ” Carrie Budoff Brown, McDaniel, Donald Trump, Richard Engel, “, he’s, ” McDaniel, ”, Joe Biden, CNN’s Chris Wallace, Wallace, “ I’m, I’m, That’s, that’s, Biden, peddle, Trump’s, Rachel Maddow Organizations: CNN, NBC, Republican National, NBC News, RNC, MSNBC, NBC News ’, ” The Michigan Department, Michigan, Trump, Republican, CNBC Locations: Michigan, Detroit, Wayne County

☆ AI could lead to human extinction, says report commissioned by US State Department
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US State Department commissioned a risk assessment that found AI could lead to human extinction. The State Department commissioned AI startup Gladstone to conduct an AI risk assessment in October 2022, about a month before ChatGPT came out. AdvertisementSome of the risks could "lead to human extinction," the report said. He believes there's a 10% chance AI will lead to total human extinction within the next 30 years. "Oh it's absolutely real and I think there's a conversation to have in terms of practical human extinction," Kiulian said.

Persons: —, Gladstone, ChatGPT, Jeremie Harris, Edouard Harris, Robert Ghrist, Ghrist, Geoff Hinton, there's, Lina Khan, Elon Musk, Lorenzo Thione, Thione, Artur Kiulian, Kiulian, David Krueger, Krueger, Aaron Mok Organizations: US State Department, Service, US Department of State, The State Department, United States, Google, Publicly, Penn Engineering, PlayStation, Cambridge University Locations: United, Iran

☆ Article 23: Hong Kong unveils its second national security law, aligning city more closely with mainland China
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong’s government unveiled a new suite of powerful national security laws on Friday that critics and foreign governments warn could deepen the ongoing crackdown in the city and further undermine its reputation as an international business hub. They point to the application of national security laws in mainland China as well as in Hong Kong where a Beijing-imposed national security law has already transformed the once outspoken city since 2020, silencing almost all dissent and jailing dozens of political opponents. The new draft Hong Kong law – known locally as Article 23 – is aimed at “filling the loopholes” left by the Beijing-imposed version enacted in 2020, according to the Hong Kong government. But the atmosphere in Hong Kong this time around is very different. Many of the city’s leading pro-democracy figures are in jail either convicted or facing charges under the 2020 national security law.

Persons: ”, Hong Kong’s, –, John Lee –, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, China’s Communist Party, Chinese Communist Party, Authorities, Security, US Department of State Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Hong, United States

☆ More Americans are moving to Tuscany, where their money goes further, the pace is slower, and the wine flows freely
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Jordan Pandy | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

More Americans are moving to Tuscany, a part of Italy known for medieval walled cities and wine. Some locals say it's keeping their economy alive, but others are starting to grumble. The influx of Americans, locals said, can be at once a booster of fortunes and an irritating imposition. "A lot of locals say that a place like Montepulciano cannot handle all those tourists because it's a small city," said Tudor, the jeweler. Americans, Ercolani said, "spend money and they appreciate the quality of the food and the wine that we have."

Persons: —, Leanne Davis, Davis, Jon Chewning, Chewning, It's, Georgette Jupe, Knight Frank, Florence ., they're, we've, Frances Mayer's, it's, Michele Capecchi, Capecchi, Erin Lewis, Lewis, Danilo Romolini, Luca Tudor, AJ Tuscany, Tudor, who's, Sam D'Avanzo, dell'Anfiteatro, Frank Bienewald, they've, lockdowns, Jupe, Bendetta, Cantina Ercolani, Ercolani Organizations: Service, Business, Associated Press, US Department of State, Italian National Institute of Statistics, away.com, Christie's, Estate, Locals, International School of Florence Locations: Tuscany, Italy, California, Romano, Sacramento, Montepulciano, Florence, Boccheggiano, Lucca, Siena, American, Europe, Rome, Venice, Chiusi, Austin , Texas, Houston , Texas, Italian, Switzerland, Albanian

☆ Gulmarg: Snow has returned to Asia’s highest ski resort. Here’s what visitors going there now can expect
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Ramaa Reddy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —In early January, anyone who visited the ski resort village of Gulmarg in Indian-administered Kashmir with hopes of actually skiing was out of luck. A severe snow shortage, blamed on dry weather, threatened to derail the entire winter season, leaving both travelers and tourism operators disappointed. Regardless of whether you’re a full-time athlete or someone who enjoys skiing and snowboarding for fun, Gulmarg offers a winter experience like no other. Today, travelers headed for Asia’s highest ski resort can enjoy over 1,330 vertical meters (4,363 feet) of skiable terrain, with lifts offering access to four separate skiing zones on Mount Apharwat. Many of those visitors don’t ski but just ride up the gondola to play in the snow and take in the views at the top.

Persons: Mukhtar Ahmad, Nanga Parbat, ”, Brian Newman, Newman, “, ” Mehmood Ahmad Lone, –, nans, Kababs, Rogan Josh, Kati, It’s, Mount Apharwat, Colonel Mirza Zahid Baig, Gulmarg, Javedh Ahmad Reshi Organizations: CNN, El, El Nino, Adventure, Hindustan Times, Newman’s, US Department of State, Warfare, USA Locations: Gulmarg, Kashmir, India, Mount Apharwat, British, Apharwat, Nanga, Colorado, Europe, North America, Pakistan, Khyber, Highland, Hilltop, Kashmir’s, Srinagar, Mount

☆ Check out the pitch deck video AI firm ViralMoment used to raise $2.5 million in seed funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

ViralMoment raised funds to expand its AI-based video tools. The tools help marketers identify what people are talking about on social media. It recently identified fake, explicit images of Taylor Swift that appeared online. ViralMoment, which uses AI to analyze short-form social videos on platforms like TikTok, raised $2.5 million in seed funding. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: ViralMoment, Taylor Swift, Techstars, Chelsie Hall Organizations: Supernode Global, Crush Ventures, Duo Partners, Carnegie Mellon University, US Department of Defense, Department of State, Business

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Strikes Over 85 Targets at 7 Sites in Iraq and Syria Against Iran’s Forces and Proxies
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Image Pro-government Iranians gathering near a banner that warns Iran’s enemies — in Farsi and in Hebrew — to “Prepare your coffins,” this month in Tehran. Credit... Arash Khamooshi for The New York TimesIran projects its military power through dozens of armed groups across the Middle East, but how much does it control their actions? Iranian rhetoric, echoed by its allied groups, often goes further, calling for the elimination of the Israeli state. A 2020 U.S. Department of State report estimated that Iran’s support for Hezbollah was $700 million annually at that time. They’re not Iran’s stooges.”Much the same could be said of other groups.

Persons: —, Arash Khamooshi, Israel, Michael Knights, Hisham al, “, Mohammed al, Sulami, ”, Vivian Nereim Organizations: Pro, The New York Times, United States, Sunday, U.S, Pentagon, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, . Department of State, Washington Institute, AK, United Nations Locations: Tehran . Credit, The New York Times Iran, United, Iranian, Jordan, Tehran, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, U.S, Eastern, Suez, United States, Israel, Yemeni, Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic

☆ The US ramped up arms exports by more than 50% in 2023, cutting into Russia's own weapons trade: Politico
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US increased its arms exports by more than 50% in 2023, compared to 2022, while also damaging Russia's own defense trade, Politico reported . In a fact sheet citing the numbers, the Department of State specified that arms exports rose to $80.9 billion in 2023, a 55.9% increase from $51.9 billion in 2022. "We see that because Russia's defense industry is denied the resources that come from exports, that helps to contribute to Russian strategic failure on the battlefield," she said. Resnick cited a $1.8 billion arms deal that the US struck with India last year, and "real tough decisions" in Global South countries about abandoning Russian equipment. Since the early 2010s, Russian arms exports have declined in part due to China and India's efforts to ramp up their own domestic arms production, along with earlier Western sanctions packages meant to dissuade third countries from buying Russian weapons.

Persons: Mira Resnick, Resnick Organizations: Politico, NATO, Department of State, Reuters, State Department, Department's Office, Regional Security, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Moscow, India, Global South, Stockholm, China, Russia

☆ Pacific Islands Need to Boost Digital Security to Join Undersea Cable, Says US Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kirsty NeedhamSYDNEY (Reuters) - Pacific Islands nations that want to connect to U.S.-funded undersea cables will need to secure their digital ecosystems to guard against data risks from China, a senior U.S. State Department official said. The United States pledged last year to jointly fund two undersea cables, to be built by Google, connecting the U.S. territory of Guam with hubs in Fiji and French Polynesia, and further branching out across remote Pacific Islands. The proposed intra-Pacific cable project has offered to branch out to Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna and the Federated States of Micronesia. China and the U.S. are jostling for influence in the Pacific Islands with competing offers for infrastructure. The Solomon Islands, which struck a security pact with Beijing, is rolling out a Chinese-funded mobile network built by Chinese telecommunications company Huawei.

Persons: Kirsty Needham SYDNEY, Nathaniel Fick, Kirsty Needham, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Pacific, U.S . State Department, United, Google, Futuna, Federated, The U.S . Department of, Washington, Sydney, Huawei, Telstra, Microsoft, U.S Locations: U.S, China, Guam, Fiji, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Wallis, Federated States, Micronesia, The, Solomon, Beijing, Australia, Asia, Pacific

Here is what you need to know about the U.N. agency, the allegations against its workers and the fallout. While UNRWA does not resettle Palestinian refugees, it provides other services such as education and health care to refugees across five separate locations. The remaining approximately 2.5 million refugees are located in the enclaves of the Gaza Strip (nearly 1.6 million) and the West Bank (more than 900,000). As of Monday morning, the following 10 countries have announced they would at least pause UNRWA funding. “The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.”What Does the UNRWA Scandal Mean for Gazans?

Persons: Philippe Lazzarini, ”, ” Lazzarini, ’, “, – Jordan, Lazzarini Organizations: United, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Hamas, The New York Times, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, Gaza, West Bank, European Union, U.S . State Department, Department of State, Nations Locations: United Nations, Israel, United States, Gaza, East, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, U.S, Germany

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