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☆ Meet Lokiceratops, the rock star cousin of Triceratops
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. The Triceratops fossil emerged first as it eroded from the rock of the Hell Creek Formation in 2006. Across the universeAn artist's illustration shows a supermassive black hole as it wakes up at the center of a faraway galaxy. M. Kornmesser/ESOAstronomers are watching a supermassive black hole awakening in the middle of a distant galaxy for the first time. Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt.

Persons: dino, rex, Mark Eatman, ”, Eatman, Sergey Krasovskiy, Lokiceratops rangiformis, Lokiceratops, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, won’t, Stephen Hawking, Robert Erwan Fordyce, Benjamin Kear, Martin Bernetti, Fernando Trujillo, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, NASA, International Space Station, Boeing, ESO, University of Otago, Southern Hemisphere, Uppsala University’s Museum, Evolution, Getty, CNN Space, Science Locations: what’s, Montana, Raleigh, what's, Maribo, Denmark, British, New Zealand, Pangea, Uppsala, Sweden, Nui, Chile, AFP, Easter, Rapa, Colombian

CNN —Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi had his death sentence overturned by the Iranian Supreme Court this week in what his lawyers have deemed a victory for human rights in Iran. After being briefly released from prison in 2023, Salehi was re-arrested for “making false claims and spreading lies,” according to Iranian judiciary news agency Mizan. On Saturday, his lawyer Amir Raesian broke the news of the reversal in a post on X, saying that the Iranian Supreme Court had “avoided irreparable judicial error” and overturned Salehi’s death sentence this week. The Supreme Court found that the death sentence delivered to Salehi was excessive and failed to comply with Iranian law,” the group said in a statement Saturday. London-based human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher who is the international counsel for the Salehi family said it was “not enough” that his life had been “spared” by the Iranian authorities.

Persons: Toomaj Salehi, Salehi, Mahsa, Amir Raesian, “, Iran’s, Chambers, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Gallagher, ” Gallagher, Toomaj, ” “, Richard Branson, ”, Jemimah Steinfeld, ” Claudia Bennett Organizations: CNN, Iranian, Mizan, UN, Academy, Human Rights Foundation Locations: Iranian, Iran, Isfahan, London’s, London, British

☆ Living in the 'first car-free neighborhood in the U.S.' for $1,472 a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Mickey Todiwala | Elham Ataeiazar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Unlocked is a home tour series focused on how much people across the globe spend on their housing, what they get for the money and what they had to sacrifice to make it happen.

☆ Nvidia remains a little-known brand despite briefly passing Apple, Microsoft in market cap
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The other is Nvidia , which for a time this week, surpassed Microsoft to become the largest company in the world by market cap. Nvidia has over 80% of the market for chips used to train and deploy AI software like ChatGPT. 100 on Interbrand's list for 2023 is Japanese camera maker Canon, with Dutch brewer Heineken at No. The risk for Nvidia, Silverman added, is that its "weak brand strength will limit how valuable it will be, despite its market cap heights." Gamers love itHowever, a competing survey shows that Nvidia's brand value is catching up to that of its peers.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Ann Wang, —, Greg Silverman, Interbrand's, Silverman, Interbrand, Kantar BrandZ, Marc Glovsky, Philip Fong Organizations: Reuters Apple, Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, Disney, Netflix, Heineken, Apple, Windows, Samsung, Toyota, Mercedes, Benz, BMW, Nike, Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, CNBC, Nintendo, AFP, Getty, chipmaker, Dell, Vanda Research Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Korean

☆ Putin Shows He Can Antagonize the U.S. Far Afield From Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Paul Sonne | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the United States and its Western allies declared that Ukraine could strike Russian territory with their weapons, President Vladimir V. Putin began ratcheting up the threats. He triggered drills in Russia to practice the use of tactical nuclear weapons. He reminded unnamed NATO countries in Europe of their small territories and dense populations, implying they could be easily obliterated. “The Westerners supply weapons to Ukraine and say that ‘we don’t control anything here at all,’” he said Thursday, failing to acknowledge the limits Washington and its allies have placed on Ukraine. “We can also say that we delivered something to someone, and then we have no control over anything.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Kim Jong, ’ ”, ” Locations: United States, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Europe, Russian, North Korea, Washington

☆ Citi names one 'compelling emerging' theme to play real estate — and stocks and REITs to buy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Real estate companies around the world are eyeing one area right now: data centers, according to Citi. Citi noted the push toward data centers is being driven by major themes such as artificial intelligence and nearshoring. More industrial companies are looking to convert warehouses into data centers, Citi noted. Stocks to benefit The bank named three "direct beneficiaries" of rising data center demand: U.S.- listed real estate investment trust Digital Realty Trust , data center firm Equinix and Australia-listed NextDC . Paul Hanna | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesReal estate companies around the world are eyeing one area right now: data centers, according to Citi.

Persons: Stocks, There's, Keppel DC REIT, Paul Hanna Organizations: Citi, Digital Realty Trust, Digital Realty, Equinix, Nvidia, Keppel DC, Industrial Trust, Inc, Talavera de la Reina, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: datacenters, Equinix, Australia, Singapore, India, Talavera de, Spain

☆ 2028 L.A. Olympics unveil venue plan: Swimming in SoFi, softball in Oklahoma City
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Lauren Merola | Mark Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Organizers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics plan to hold swimming in the home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers — and softball and canoe slalom in Oklahoma. That’s according to an amended venue plan unveiled Friday by LA28, the 2028 Games’ organizing committee. It will be the largest swimming venue in Games history, per LA28, with 38,000 seats. LA28 organizers faced one complication with the SoFi swimming plan, however: The stadium is also set to be part of the Games’ opening ceremonies. The venue plan adjustments are in part due to new arenas that have become available for use and a previously assigned venue that became unavailable, LA28 said.

Persons: LA28, Katie Ledecky, “, ” Ledecky, Sarah Stier, Casey Wasserman, Brian Bahr, David Holt, ” Holt, ” Wasserman, Qian Weizhong Organizations: Olympics, NFL’s Rams, Chargers, Olympic Committee, SoFi, Lucas Oil, NFL, Olympic, New York Times, Athletics, Oklahoma City, USA Softball, International, Devon Park, Women’s, OGE Energy, Getty, IOC, Hollywood, Crypto.com Arena, Lakers, Kings, Sparks, Intuit, LA Clippers, USC’s Locations: Oklahoma, Inglewood , Calif, U.S, Indianapolis, Indianapolis , Indiana, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, Devon, Okla, Paris, Lille, Tahiti, Long Beach, Calif, Exposition, Temecula , Calif, Sepulveda, L.A, Fernando Valley, Tokyo

☆ 2 Goldman Sachs interns share their Wall Street experience and secrets for success, from early mornings to overcommunicating
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Stankard should know — he's a rising senior now, but this will be his second summer interning for Goldman's sales and trading division. "I've always been interested in business generally," said Young about her decision to intern with Goldman last summer. For sales & trading interns like him, the summer is different — they split their nine weeks between two "pods" within the division. Dan Dees Goldman SachsA summer at Goldman is hard workTraders are known for having early work schedules to get ahead of the trading day and clients' needs. Goldman interns mingle Emmalyse BrownsteinAdvice for other interns and applicantsStanding out is hard in the application process.

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, Anna Kouba, Goldman, Robbie Stankard, He's, Stankard, you've, Willow Young, Goldman Young, I've, Young, Dan Dees, Dees, Tony Pasquariello, Lucy DeStefano, he's, Lucy, they're, Dan Dees Goldman Sachs, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Goldman, Columbia University's, Stanford University, Financial, Group, FIG, Bloomberg, Soros Fund, CNBC, Investment, Wall Locations: Jersey, California, Chicago, New York, Westwood , Massachusetts

☆ Ron Insana: Never mind the narrow leadership. This is a powerful bull market
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Ron Insana | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

There has been a fair amount of nervous chatter lately about the state of the stock market. As of Thursday's close, the S & P 500 was up about 15% in 2024, while the Nasdaq Composite was just shy of 19%. Companies like Microsoft , Cisco Systems and Intel were among the biggest gainers in the S & P 500. Further, the S & P 500 Equal Weighted Index , with a roughly 4% gain in 2024, is far underperforming its capital-weighted counterpart. .SPXEW .SPX YTD line The S & P 500 Equal Weighted Index vs. the S & P 500 in 2024 Having said that, in years past, these types of divergences would worry me to the point of distraction.

Persons: it's, Bubbles, It's, rebalancing, Ron Insana Organizations: Nasdaq, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Intel, Federal Reserve, Nvidia, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ Your Guide to the Heat
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I still remember how hot the summer of 1993 felt. As one Globe headline put it — describing the entire city — “Pavement buckles, people lose cool and fans just blow hot air.”Since then, I have often thought of 1993 as the hottest summer of my life. It just felt that way because the intensity and frequency of heat was unusual at the time. Today, many of us have become accustomed to heat waves like the one now blanketing the eastern half of the country and much of the Southwest. Last month was the 12th straight to be the hottest month of its kind on record.

Persons: Manuela Andreoni Organizations: Boston Globe

☆ TV Weather Gets Political
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Climate change is now squarely part of the American culture wars, and heat waves and flash foods have become fodder for partisan squabbling. Nowhere is this tension more acute than in the weather departments of local TV stations. As extreme weather becomes more commonplace and climate change raises temperatures around the globe, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the nation’s roughly 2,000 television meteorologists to stay above the fray. An award-winning TV weatherman, Gloninger moved to Iowa in 2021 to take the job of chief meteorologist at KCCI, the CBS affiliate in Des Moines. His new bosses were explicit: They wanted him to talk about climate change.

Persons: Chris Gloninger, Gloninger Organizations: CBS Locations: Iowa, KCCI, Des Moines

One by one, each country with the money and the drive to compete started its own nuclear weapons program. Even with this kind of evidence in hand, science has reached only limited conclusions about how nuclear weapons testing affects individuals’ health. They helped create the 2021 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, signed by 93 countries, which bans the possession, use and testing of nuclear weapons. France has acknowledged its “debt” to Polynesians over nuclear testing, and it created a commission in 2010 to evaluate nuclear testing victim compensation claims, but it has never apologized. We are still wrestling with the damage wrought by testing nuclear weapons in our past.

Persons: —, Ernest Moniz, Barack Obama, ” Mr, Moniz, Trump, Trump’s, Biden, United States ’, Republic of Kiribati —, we’re, Robert Oppenheimer’s, Oppenheimer, Ben Wyatt, King Juda, Harry Truman, Oppenheimer’s, Karina Lester, ”, Willard F, Libby, Louis, couldn’t, Merril Eisenbud, Hinamoeura, Britain —, “, it’s, John Moody, Benetick Kabua Maddison, Maddison, Benetick, It’s, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Las, Washington, United States, Marshall, Embassy, D.C, Marshalls, U.S, Navy, United, Soviet Union, Britain, Atomic Energy Commission, St, Louis University, Washington University School of Dental Medicine, Bravo, U.S . Navy, Atomic Energy, Centers for Disease Control, Polynesia —, Nuclear Weapons, ., Pacific Mart, Educational, America Locations: U.S, Japan, United States, Russia, China, Nevada, Soviet Union, — Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, Reggane, Algeria, Montebello, Australia, Republic of Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Republic, Washington, Hiroshima, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Marshall, Hawaii, Philippines, Bikini, Atoll, Soviet, Africa, Polynesia, Xinjiang, The, Britain Britain, Britain, American, Kwajalein Atoll, France, France France, Tahiti, Nagasaki, Asia, Europe, India, Pakistan, North Korea, United, Kwajalein, Hawaii , California, Washington and Oregon, Arkansas, Springdale, you’re, Rhode Island, Moscow

☆ 'The Hunger Games' star Donald Sutherland dead at 88
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Paul Squire | Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Sutherland died in Miami at 88. He was known for roles in films such as "Animal House," "Klute," and the "Hunger Games" franchise. AdvertisementThe veteran award-winning actor Donald Sutherland, who played the villainous President Snow in the "Hunger Games" franchise, died at 88. AdvertisementDonald Sutherland as President Snow in the "Hunger Games" franchise. Sutherland starred in dozens of other notable films, including "Animal House," "Klute," "Pride & Prejudice," "Don't Look Now," and the "Hunger Games" franchise.

Persons: Donald Sutherland, Sutherland, Oscar, —, Snow, Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland's, Lionsgate Donald Sutherland, Vernon Pinkley, Hawkeye Pierce, Mikhail Fetisov, Judge Parker, Bass Reeves Organizations: Service, Business, Lionsgate, Globe, Paramount Locations: Miami, Saint John , New Brunswick, Canada, Hollywood

☆ Analysis: What Putin got from his North Korea visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Vladmir Putin’s first visit to North Korea in nearly a quarter of a century has been intensely scrutinized around the world. If this is a collective defense pact, does Russia’s nuclear deterrent now extend to North Korea’s and vice versa? “But definitely I would say this clause is very alarming.”Russia's President Vladimir Putin was given a rapturous welcome in Pyongyang. “The West admits terrible concern around Putin’s visit to North Korea” read the headline in Moskovsky Komsomolets, a national daily newspaper Tuesday. Russia also needs weapons to keep up its strategy of exhausting and destroying Ukraine into surrender.

Persons: Vladmir, Putin, Kim Il, ”, “, ” Putin, Korea’s, Kim, Jo Bee, yun, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Smirnov, North Korea ”, Vladimir Solovyov, Kim Jong Organizations: CNN, International Criminal Court, Kremlin, Korea Institute for Defense, UN, Kim Jong UN Locations: North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Pyongyang, China, United States, North, Moscow, Komsomolets

☆ After CNN report, White House bringing back program for Gold Star families to honor service members buried abroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Jake Tapper | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The White House is pushing to reestablish a program for Gold Star families to honor their loved ones buried in American military cemeteries overseas after the shuttered program was featured in a CNN report, a White House official exclusively tells CNN. Biden administration officials have worked with the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to restore the program, which allows Gold Star families to have flowers placed on their loved one’s grave at US military cemeteries abroad. “The White House worked with the ABMC and this program will now be re-established,” the official said. For years, Gold Star families who lost loved ones in battle could pay for flowers and have the ABMC deliver them to the grave of their fallen family members in, say, Normandy. Rondy Elliott, a Gold Star daughter, lost her father, Corporal Frank Elliott, during the Normandy invasion 80 years ago.

Persons: CNN’s, Jake Tapper ”, Rondy Elliott, Corporal Frank Elliott, ”, Biden, Jeff Zients, John Kelly, ” Kelly, Kelly, “, –, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Gold Star, White House, Biden, Monuments Commission, White, Marine, Star Locations: Normandy, Arlington, America

☆ In 'Operation Endgame,' global law enforcement teamed up in their biggest battle against hackers. It's a start.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. 'Largest ever operation against botnets'Europol called the sting the "largest ever operation against botnets, which play a major role in the deployment of ransomware." As part of the operation, the law enforcement agencies shut down at least four malware groups or "droppers" known as "IcedID," "Smokeloader," "Pikabot," and "Bumblebee." Mitrano said "Operation Endgame," is a "very important first step, but we have to keep going." AdvertisementThe "biggest problem" in the malware world, according to Holt, is that there is always a different iteration of malware on the horizon.

Persons: —, Adam Wandt, John Jay, botnets, Europol, Christopher Wray, alarmingly, Wandt, Ransomware, Tracy Beth Mitrano, it's, Mitrano, Thomas Holt, cybercrime, Holt, Cybercriminals, Wray, borderless cybercrime Organizations: Service, Business, European Union, FBI, cybercrime, New, John, John Jay College of Criminal, botnets, Cornell University, of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University Locations: Ukraine, Armenia, Europe, cryptocurrency, United States, Holt, ransomware

☆ Apple doesn't want to be your banker anymore
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Apple discontinued its buy-now, pay-later service on Monday. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIt sure looks as if disrupting the world of finance isn't as easy as Apple initially thought. On Monday, the iPhone maker told 9to5Mac that it was discontinuing its buy-now, pay-later service, Apple Pay Later, just months after it was rolled out across the US in October. "With the introduction of this new global installment loan offering, we will no longer offer Apple Pay Later in the US."

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Apple's, it's, — Organizations: Apple, Service

☆ Anouk Aimée, Enigmatic Star of ‘A Man and a Woman,’ Is Dead at 92
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Anita Gates | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Anouk Aimée, the French film actress who became an international sex symbol as the aloof, enigmatic and sensual star of Claude Lelouch’s 1966 romance “A Man and a Woman,” died on Tuesday at 92. Her death was announced on social media by her daughter, Manuela Papatakis, who said her mother died at home in Paris. But it was with “A Man and a Woman,” a 28-year-old director’s low-budget project that went on to win the Oscar for best foreign film, that she created the image that endured throughout her career. Ms. Aimée was nominated for a best actress Oscar for the role. It also brought her the BAFTA film award for best foreign actress and the Golden Globe for best motion picture actress.

Persons: Anouk Aimée, Claude Lelouch’s, ”, Manuela Papatakis, Aimée, Federico Fellini’s, Vita ”, Jean, Louis Trintignant, Francis Lai’s, Oscar Organizations: BAFTA, Golden Globe Locations: French, Paris, Italian

☆ Bitcoin drifts back under $65,000 for the first time in more than a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A worsening macroeconomic climate and the collapse of industry giants such as FTX and Terra have weighed on bitcoin's price this year. The price of bitcoin was last lower by 3% at $64,680.44, according to Coin Metrics, dipping under $65,000 for the first time since May 16. "Economic conditions around the globe are weakening, geopolitical issues are far from resolution, and markets are thinner during the summer months. Bitcoin has been wrestling with the $70,000 threshold since hitting its March 14 record of $73,797.68. Its on-chain data suggests that traders have been reducing their holdings since bitcoin touched the $70,000 level in late May and are still not buying.

Persons: bitcoin, Marko Jurina, DEX, Jurina, Coinbase, Bitcoin, It's, CryptoQuant Organizations: U.S, Nasdaq

☆ Woman accuses former Olympic swim coach of sexually abusing her as a teen and USA Swimming of failing to stop it
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Amy Simonson | Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

He also founded the Bernal’s Gator Swim Club, an amateur swim club, and coached Le from 2006 to 2010. In February 2016, USA Swimming permanently banned Bernal for his abuse of an unnamed “Athlete A,” the lawsuit states. The suit accuses Bernal, USA Swimming and other defendants of violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Further, the lawsuit accuses Bernal of sexual abuse and the others of negligence. USA Swimming is not a defendant in the lawsuit.

Persons: CNN —, Amanda Le, “ Amanda Le, Joseph Bernal, Bernal, Le, ”, Scott Leightman, ’ ’, Larry Nassar, Jon Little, ” Little, Nassar, doesn’t, Amanda, “ Amanda, Kimberly Stines, Little Organizations: CNN, of Fame, Court, Fordham, Harvard, American Swim, Hall of Fame, Swim, Le, Boston Globe, ’ ’ CNN, USA, Olympic, Paralympic Committee, Gator Swim, New, Stines Locations: Massachusetts, USA, New England, Bernal’s

☆ Ian McKellen Is in ‘Good Spirits’ After Falling Off the Stage During a Play
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Claire Moses | More About Claire Moses | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The actor Ian McKellen was hospitalized but expected to recover quickly after falling off the stage during a performance of “Player Kings” at a theater in the West End in London on Monday night, the producers of the play said. After a scan, doctors at Britain’s National Health Service said that McKellen would “make a speedy and full recovery, and Ian is in good spirits,” according to a statement by the producers. McKellen, 85, who has been nominated for two Academy Awards and has won a Tony, a Golden Globe and multiple Olivier Awards, is starring in the play, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s two “Henry IV” plays, directed by Robert Icke. McKellen plays John Falstaff, a fictional character who appears in three Shakespeare plays. The fall took place during a battle scene, according to Aleks Phillips, a BBC journalist who was in the audience on Monday night and described what he saw in an article.

Persons: Ian McKellen, McKellen, “, Ian, Tony, Olivier, William Shakespeare’s, Henry IV ”, Robert Icke, John Falstaff, Shakespeare, Aleks Phillips Organizations: “, National Health Service, Globe, BBC Locations: London

☆ 21 transgender and nonbinary celebrities who are changing television
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | Frank Olito | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is known for her work on "Pose" and became the first transgender person to win a Golden Globe in 2022. Jordan Strauss/APBefore landing her role in "Pose," Rodriguez appeared on TV in shows like "Nurse Jackie" and "The Carrie Diaries." After three seasons, Rodriguez was finally nominated for an Emmy in May 2021 for her role in "Pose," making history. And in January 2022, Rodriguez made history again by becoming the first transgender person to win a Golden Globe. "This is the door that is going to Open the door for many more young talented individuals," Rodriguez wrote on Instagram.

Persons: Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Mj Rodriguez, Jordan Strauss, Rodriguez, Jackie, Blanca Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Adam Scott, Joel Kim Booster Organizations: Globe, Black Latina, Netflix, Apple Locations: Black, Newark New Jersey

☆ Iceland wants to switch up its tourism tax to protect nature — and fight overtourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa near the fishing town of Grindavik, Iceland, on May 23, 2024. Iceland wants tourists to flock to its bubbling hot springs, picturesque ice caps and lunar-like lava landscapes — but not at the expense of its residents or natural environment. "We are trying still to mold the taxation system for the tourism sector for the future," Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson told CNBC via videoconference. As I see it, we would want to go more toward accession fees to the magnets, as we call them, around the country," Benediktsson said. Iceland's government reinstated its so-called tourism tax at the start of the year, seeking to raise funds for sustainability programs and mitigate the environmental impact of mass tourism.

Persons: Bjarni Benediktsson, Benediktsson Organizations: CNBC Locations: Grindavik, Iceland, Amsterdam, Venice

☆ Russia’s Putin to visit North Korea in rare trip as anti-West alignment deepens
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Following his visit to North Korea, Putin will travel to Hanoi Wednesday for another two-day trip, in a display of Communist-governed Vietnam’s ties to Russia that is likely to rankle the United States. Both countries have denied North Korean arms exports. The Kremlin has said that Russia hopes to build a partnership with North Korea “in all possible areas,” according to Russian state media. Putin’s move to bolster North Korean ties has also been a boon for Kim, who remains unbowed by years of international sanctions over his illegal nuclear weapons program. But Russia’s apparent increasing reliance on North Korea and rising frictions with the West appear to have shifted that dynamic.

Persons: CNN — Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Kim, ” Kim, Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin’s, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, ”, ” Putin, Kim Jong Il, Xi Jinping Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Putin, North Korean, Pyongyang –, North, North Korea “, Ukrainian, Kyiv, NATO, Ukraine, Defense, United Nations Security, UN Locations: North Korea, Russian, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Hanoi, Russia, United States, South Korea, Moscow, Korean, Russia’s, Italy, Kyiv, Beijing, China, Iran, South Africa, Brazil

☆ Apple stops offering buy now, pay later loans in U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple said on Monday that it has stopped issuing loans through Apple Pay Later, its buy-now-pay-later program that launched last year. The move comes after Apple said it would start allowing installment loans later this year in its Apple Pay checkout process through third-party companies, such as Affirm , and credit and debit cards from issuers, such as Citigroup. Apple said it would no longer issue Apple Pay Later loans, which enabled customers to buy products online and pay in four interest-free installments, at prices up to $1,000. Users with open loans will continue to have access to Apple Pay Later features to manage and pay their loans, Apple said. Before it was discontinued, Apple Pay Later enabled users to apply for loans within the iPhone Wallet app, and approved users would see a "Pay Later" option when checking out online.

Persons: Apple Organizations: Apple, Citigroup, CNBC, Apple Pay Locations: U.S

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