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CNN —An American-Iranian journalist who once worked for a US-funded broadcaster is believed to have been detained in Iran, according to his former employer and multiple press freedom groups. Iran has not acknowledged detaining Valizadeh and the Iranian mission to the United Nations has declined to comment on his situation. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which focuses on Iran, also believes Valizadeh is being held in Evin. Iran has a long history of using dual nationals as bargaining chips in its troubled relationship with the West. It is currently marking the 25th anniversary of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, in which 52 US citizens were held captive for 444 days.

Persons: Reza Valizadeh, Valizadeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ”, Yeganeh Rezaian, “ Organizations: CNN, Radio Farda, Free, Radio Liberty, RFE, United Nations, US State Department, Farda, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Intelligence Organization, Protect Journalists, Rights, News Agency, Department of State’s, State Department, US Locations: American, Iranian, Iran, Tehran, Free Europe, Switzerland, United States, Israel, New York, Iran’s, Evin, East, North Africa

Groups in favor of the ballot measure are making a final push as early voting is underway, with hundreds of thousands of ballots already cast. While some states, like California and Vermont, passed abortion rights ballot measures by well over 60%, in other states, such as Michigan and Ohio, they passed by about 56%. Jeanette Nuñez, who opposes the ballot measure, accused the abortion rights ads of being deceptive. And one state agency that regulates health care providers, including abortion clinics, launched a website last month opposing the ballot measure. “But they don’t necessarily connect that there’s a six-week abortion ban.”

Persons: Chelsea Daniels, ” Daniels, Court's Dobbs, Octavio Jones, —, Roe, Wade, it’s, ”, Fernand Amandi, Ron DeSantis, ” Amandi, Gov, Jeanette Nuñez, Nuñez, they're, “, Lauren Brenzel, there’s, Alex Berrios Organizations: MIAMI, Getty, Democratic, Republican, Republican Florida Gov, of Health, NBC News, Physicians for Human Rights, Network, The Florida Department, State’s, Security, Department of Transportation Locations: Florida, Parenthood’s Miami, Orlando, Fla, California, Vermont, Michigan, Ohio, Miami

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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’s a look at what to expect on election night:ELECTION DAYThe special election for Pennsylvania state House District 21 will be held on Tuesday. WHAT’S ON THE BALLOTThe Associated Press will provide coverage for the special election in District 21, which is the only race on the ballot. WHO GETS TO VOTEVoters must be registered in House District 21 to participate in the special election. DECISION NOTESUnder its current boundaries, District 21 heavily favors Democrats. In the 2022 general election in District 21, the AP first reported results at 8:39 p.m.

Persons: Sara Innamorato, Lindsay Powell, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, Erin Connolly Autenreith, Thomas Connolly, Innamorato, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Sen, John Fetterman, Mehmet Oz, Pennsylvania, John Galloway, Frank Perman, Autenreith, Perman, Powell, it’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, Representatives, Democratic, Republican, Allegheny, Republicans, U.S, Pittsburgh Mayor, Shaler Township Republican, Pennsylvania House, Rep, Pennsylvania, Press, WHO, House, AP, Pennsylvania’s, Pennsylvania Department, State’s Locations: Shaler Township, McKees, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Etna, Millvale, District, Shaler, underperform

Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of disgraced biotech firm Theranos, bought a one-way ticket to Mexico shortly after she was convicted of fraud last January, a court filing submitted Thursday alleges. Holmes was found guilty on four counts of lying to investors on Jan. 3, 2022. Shortly thereafter, federal prosecutors allege in the filing, Holmes bought a flight to Mexico departing Jan. 26, 2022 without a scheduled return trip. "Only after the government raised this unauthorized flight with defense counsel was the trip canceled," prosecutors say. U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila ordered Holmes to surrender herself into custody by April 27.

☆ Fact Check-John Fetterman did not receive more than half of votes by mail, contrary to claims online
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

They falsely claimed that more than half of votes for Fetterman were from mail-in ballots. The posts echo a false narrative previously debunked by Reuters that mail-in ballots lead to widespread voter fraud, (here), (here). Meanwhile, Reuters calculated that 65.04% of votes for Fetterman were from in-person ballots cast on election day (1,756,951 election day votes divided by 2,701,191 total votes). It is unclear where social media users sourced the percentage of votes by mail for Fetterman to be 52%. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State’s election results, mail-in ballots did not account for 52% of John Fetterman’s total votes.

☆ Fact Check-Images appearing to show election workers moving ballots after poll deadline on Election Day in Detroit are not proof of ‘fraud’
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Social media users are falsely claiming that images of individuals transporting ballots to an election site in Detroit after 8 pm on Election Day prove that there was election fraud in Detroit. This video is from the Detroit Department of Elections at 2978 West Grand.” (here). A spokesperson from the Michigan Department of State, Jake Rollow, added in a statement via email that ballots must go through a security screening before they’re counted. There is no evidence that photographs presented in an article are proof of fraud or unusual processes taking place on election day in Detroit, Michigan. Election officials told Reuters ballots must be collected, verified, and counted, a process that can take hours past poll closing time at 8pm.

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