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☆ Scotland cannot hold an independence referendum without UK government approval, top court rules
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — The U.K.'s Supreme Court on Wednesday told the Scottish government it cannot hold a fresh independence referendum without the U.K. government's consent. Supreme Court President Lord Reed said in broadcast remarks that the Scottish Parliament did not have the power to legislate on matters reserved to the U.K. Parliament, including the union. A referendum was held in in September 2014 in which Scotland voted to remain in the U.K. by 55% to 45%. The Scottish National Party, which backs independence, became a major political force when it won a majority in the Scottish Parliament in the 2011 election. "However, we must be clear today that the Supreme Court does not make the law — it interprets and applies it," she continued.

☆ Cuban singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés dies at 79
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

“The culture in Cuba is in mourning for the death of Pablo Milanes,” Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz tweeted Monday night. Milanés and Rodríguez in particular became close, touring the world’s stages as cultural ambassadors for the Cuban Revolution, and bonding during boozy sessions. “If Silvio Rodríguez and I got together, the rum was always there,” Milanés told El Pais in 2003. Cuba’s aging leaders “are stuck in time,” Milanés told Spanish newspaper El Mundo. “These freedoms have been seen in small doses, and we hope that with time they will grow,” Milanés told The Associated Press.

☆ Lewandowski misses penalty as Poland draw with Mexico at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group C - Mexico v Poland - Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar - November 22, 2022 Poland's Robert Lewandowski with teammates after the match REUTERS/Carl RecineDOHA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Poland skipper Robert Lewandowski failed to break his World Cup duck when he saw a second-half penalty saved in a goalless but entertaining draw with Mexico in their opening Group C game at Stadium 974 on Tuesday. Lewandowski earned the penalty after a VAR check 11 minutes into the second half when Hector Moreno tugged at his shirt in the box. But the Polish striker, who has never scored at the World Cup, saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. The tactical change seemed to work initially as Poland began creating chances and eventually won the penalty which Lewandowski shot low but Ochoa guessed correctly and dived to his left to deny the skipper. The result leaves Saudi Arabia as group leaders following their stunning upset of Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favourites, earlier in the day.

☆ 'Welcome to Chippendales' review: Kumail Nanjiani stars in a Hulu limited series that looks a little under-dressed for success
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hulu has carved out an impressive niche of salacious fact-based limited series, including several with a true-crime hook. “Welcome to Chippendales” checks off those boxes, but in a less-appealing package that’s surprisingly lifeless, and even with its trashy selling points looks under-dressed for success. The story begins with Indian immigrant Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani) who is introduced as a gas-station/quickie-mart attendant before he gambles his savings by opening a high-end backgammon club. Ultimately, though, “Chippendales” is defined by its trashier aspects, while its assortment of supporting players and their soap-opera problems too often feel as if they’re just killing time. “Welcome to Chippendales” premieres November 22 on Hulu.

In October 2021, Da’Vion Miller was found unconscious in the bathroom of his home in Detroit a week after receiving his first dose of Pfizer's Covid vaccine. Courtesy Da’Vion MillerMiller is one of a very small group of people in the United States who have experienced myocarditis following vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna Covid vaccines based on mRNA technology. Video: CDC says waiting longer between Covid vaccine doses could reduce myocarditis risk. Cooper joined an expert advisory panel formed by Moderna to monitor its Covid vaccine safety. The Pfizer study will include people who were previously hospitalized with vaccine-associated myocarditis, and it will also follow those who were more recently diagnosed.

☆ Every World Cup 2022 squad announced: USMNT, Germany, Belgium and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —‘Tis the season for wall charts and fans gathering around to pick their starting teams for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying and isn’t going to be a part of the program. Again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”All but one of the 26 will be making their World Cup debut at this year’s tournament and, according to the USMNT, it will be the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup. Octavio Passos/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesGhanaManager: Otto AddoThe final squad has not been announced yet. READ: Meet Otto Addo, the coach responsible for guiding some of Europe’s brightest young talents (2021)—–PortugalManager: Fernando SantosThe final squad has not been announced yet.

☆ Factbox: COP27: Which countries have offered 'loss and damage' funds?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While vulnerable countries say one-off commitments are no substitute for a fund to provide ongoing support, some praised Scotland's leadership in acknowledging the issue. AUSTRIAAustria will provide at least 50 million euros to tackle loss and damage over the next four years, the government said on Tuesday. IRELANDIrish PM Micheal Martin committion 10 million euros to the "Global Shield" initiative for 2023. Some vulnerable countries say that type of funding does not count as "loss and damage" money, which they say should compensate countries for unavoidable costs from disasters. Wealthy countries already provide funds to help countries adapt to climate change by preparing for worse weather impacts, although this funding has fallen short of promised amounts.

The COP27 climate summit gets underway in Egypt from Nov. 6. Climate Change Conference will see more than 30,000 delegates convene in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss collective action on the climate emergency. Loss and damage funding, meanwhile, is recognized by many as the third pillar of international climate policy. Kerry's openness to talks on loss and damage funding marked an abrupt change in tone from just one month earlier. Singh said political mobilization over loss and damage funding makes COP27 the most important COP yet.

☆ Facebook-parent Meta's India head Ajit Mohan steps down
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) said on Thursday that its India head, Ajit Mohan, has stepped down after four years, while a media report said he would join rival Snap Inc (SNAP.N). Manish Chopra, director and head of partnerships at Meta India, will take over on an interim capacity, a company spokesperson told Reuters. Mohan will serve as the President of the Asia-Pacific business, Techcrunch reported, citing sources. "Over the last four years, he (Ajit Mohan) has played an important role in shaping and scaling our India operations," Nicola Mendelsohn, Vice President, Global Business Group at Meta said in a a statement. "We remain deeply committed to India and have a strong leadership team in place to carry on all our work and partnerships," Mendelsohn said.

☆ ‘Quiet layoffs’ are growing across Big Tech, benefiting the image and bottom line of major companies while hurting workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Kali Hays | Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tech companies of all sizes are facing the brunt of a volatile economy, impacting their stability. Tech companies are having a tumultuous time. "There is nothing that prohibits an employer from doing mass PIPs or letting people go," Rella said. Using workers' performance, and setting new standards for them to be judged on, like what is happening inside Facebook, is workers bearing the brunt of mismanagement. Yet, mass PIPs are ultimately an improper usage of a management tool that should be prefaced with feedback and coaching, said Cooney of Bambee.

☆ For the first time, New Zealand has more female lawmakers than male
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — For the first time in New Zealand’s history, a majority of lawmakers are women. With the resignation of another male lawmaker, it has tipped the balance in Parliament to 60 women and 59 men. “Whilst it’s a special day for me, I think it’s historic for New Zealand,” Peke-Mason told reporters. The milestone places New Zealand among a half-dozen nations in the world that this year can claim at least 50% female representation in their parliaments, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. New Zealand has a history of strong female representation.

☆ Rishi Sunak will be Britain’s next prime minister after seeing off rivals in race to replace Truss
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Former finance minister Rishi Sunak will be the United Kingdom’s next prime minister after seeing off his lone remaining rival in the fast-tracked race to become Conservative party leader on Monday. Sunak is set to replace Liz Truss, who will become the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history. Sunak will become prime minister once he is officially appointed by King Charles III and will be the first prime minister appointed by the new King following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. His campaign got a big boost when his former boss and rival, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, withdrew from the race on Sunday night. He criticized Truss’ economic plan which ultimately sparked panic in the financial markets and led to her demise.

☆ Fact Check-Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell’s palsy, acute flaccid myelitis and transverse myelitis are not polio ‘renamed’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell’s palsy, acute flaccid myelitis and transverse myelitis are not polio “renamed”, despite claims posted online. It was NEVER eradicated, it's been renamed several times, Guillian Barre, Bells Palsy, Acute Flaccid Myelitis, Transverse Myelitis... Any neurological disorder has been renamed polio.”A similar post can be found here. Though primarily seen following an acute infection, GBS can also be a rare side effect of vaccination (here). Four medical syndromes with symptoms that can include muscle weakness and paralysis are not “polio renamed”, as claimed on social media. Poliovirus infection, while extremely rare, can lead to some of these syndromes, but the syndromes themselves also have other, more common causes and distinct symptoms.

☆ New Zealand Q3 inflation smashes expectations, boosts case for hawkish hikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Annual inflation ran at 7.2% in the third quarter, sitting just below a three-decade high, Statistics New Zealand said in a statement on Tuesday. Inflation slowed slightly from 7.3% in the second quarter but far outpaced expectations in a Reuters poll for a 6.6% annual rise. "With the RBNZ having the inflation bit between its teeth, all options are likely to remain on the table." Smith said they had changed their OCR forecast and were now expecting a 75-basis-point rate hike in November, and two further 50 bp rate hikes in February and April 2023. Statistics New Zealand added that annual non-tradable inflation - products made in New Zealand for domestic consumption - rose 6.6%, the highest since it began tracking that data in June 2002.

☆ New Zealand third-quarter inflation outpaces expectations
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Annual inflation rose 7.2% in the third quarter, slowing from a 7.3% gain in the second quarter and sits just below three-decade highs, Statistics New Zealand said in a statement on Tuesday. The data was above economists’ expectations for a 1.6% rise for the quarter and a 6.7% annual rise, according to a Reuters poll. The New Zealand dollar rose slightly after the data showed inflation was hotter than expected. The main drivers of the 7.2% annual inflation were rising prices for construction, local government taxes and rentals for housing, Statistics New Zealand said in a statement. Statistics New Zealand added that annual non-tradable inflation - products made in New Zealand for domestic consumption - rose 6.6%, the highest since it began tracking that data in June 2002.

☆ Tourists in Italy are behaving badly this year: Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

With Europe seeing an explosion of visitors a year after Covid travel restrictions dropped, incidents of visitors behaving badly in Italy show no sign of abating. Think that’s bad? Meanwhile in Venice, tourists routinely swim in the UNESCO-protected canals, which double as the city’s sewer system. “Tourists don’t know how to relate to the artistic heritage because they have no relation with our history – so they refer to their cultural imagination, and therefore to our cinema. “So many tourists have said to me over the years, ‘In Italy there are no rules.’ But they are mistaken.

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Venerable Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, best known as the dragon-loving half-giant Hagrid from the "Harry Potter" film franchise, died on Friday, his managers said. "We are hugely saddened to hear of the passing of the magnificent Robbie Coltrane who played Hagrid with such kindness, heart and humour in the Harry Potter films," the “Harry Potter” film franchise said in statement. Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" series. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”And fellow “Harry Potter” actor James Phelps, who played one of the Weasely twins, recalled being a fresh-faced 14-year-old, nervous on first day on the set in September 2020. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "Ftiz" was one her favorite TV characters and called Coltrane a "Scottish entertainment legend."

☆ Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane dies aged 72
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Actor Robbie Coltrane talks during a media preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida June 19, 2014. REUTERS/David Manning/FilesLONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Robbie Coltrane, the larger-than-life Scottish actor who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, died on Friday at the age of 72, his agent said. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling led the tributes on Twitter, writing: "I'll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again. "Robbie Coltrane, Scottish entertainment legend - you will be hugely missed," she wrote. British actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry - who narrated the British version of the Harry Potter audio books - wrote that he had met Coltrane almost exactly 40 years ago.

☆ EU launches online job-seekers tool for Ukraine refugees
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The European Commission unveiled a new online tool on Monday to help Ukrainians find a job as the bloc looks to extend its protection for those displaced by Russia's invasion for another year. Some 4.2 million people who have arrived in the EU from Ukraine are covered by a system giving all those fleeing the conflict accommodation support, health care, education access and the right to enter the EU job market. EU employment commissioner Nicola Schmidt told a new conference that five EU countries had joined the pilot, including Poland, which is housing the most Ukrainian refugees, and called more to join. Some 600,000 Ukrainians have entered the EU job market since the conflict began. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Philip Blenkinsop Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The 2-week period when Mark Zuckerberg refused to take any meetings demonstrates his leadership and vision, Meta exec says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a new podcast interview, a Meta exec talked about what CEO Mark Zuckerberg is like. She said Facebook's pivot from desktop to mobile was an early example of his leadership and vision. In 2012, Zuckerberg wanted to shift Facebook's users and the company's design priorities from desktop to mobile. During the same amount of time, Facebook's mobile daily active users increased 34% year over year, and its mobile monthly active users grew 26% year over year. Zuckerberg pivoted Facebook to become Meta last year, a huge bet on the company's aspirations in the metaverse.

☆ Sterling sinks to new low as 'mini budget' shatters investor faith in UK markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"It also puts more pressure on the Bank of England to increase interest rates," she added. read moreScottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called for the Westminster parliament to be recalled to hold an emergency session. "It's hard to overstate the scale of the economic crisis caused by Friday's UK budget," she said on Twitter. read moreEYES ON BOEIn light of the rout, strategists and economists said the Bank of England needs to do something to calm markets and restore credibility. "The market is now treating the UK as if it's an emerging market.

☆ Prince William's alma mater beats Oxford and Cambridge to be named Britain's best university
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

St Andrews University pipped Oxford and Cambridge for the first time in a Guardian ranking. Cambridge came in at second place and Oxford was the third in the Guardian University Guide. St Andrews took the best university title for the first time in The Guardian's rankings of Britain's top undergraduate institutions, with Oxford second and Cambridge in third place. St Andrews led the way in major subjects such as economics, English, history and chemistry in the 2023 guide. "I hope that St Andrews' terrific students and all of my hard-working colleagues will feel the recognition of this very significant achievement.

Increasing wind pushes waves towards the south shore before the arrival of Hurricane Fiona in Bermuda September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Nicola MuirheadHAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Hurricane Fiona threatened the Atlantic island of Bermuda on Friday, passing west of the British territory on its northward trek toward Nova Scotia while packing the potential to become one of the most severe storms in Canada's history. That made it a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, meaning it was capable of producing catastrophic damage. Fiona is shaping up to be the most powerful storm to reach Canada since Dorian made landfall to the west of Halifax in September 2019, the government's Environment Canada website said. Like Dorian, Fiona could ease to a post-tropical storm, but Dorian still carried Category 2 intensity, with sustained winds of 96 mph (155 kph).

☆ Liz Truss and King Charles III could be the end of the 'United' Kingdom
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Peter Mcloughlin | World Politics Review | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

King Charles III and Prime Minister Liz Truss now lead a United Kingdom with profound divisions. However, when this ends with the late queen's funeral Monday, the new heads of state and government, King Charles III and Liz Truss, will be left leading a United Kingdom that is profoundly divided. However, the EU, the Irish government and most nationalists in Northern Ireland oppose any unilateral changes to the treaty. Nationalists, who are growing in numbers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, might see this as the moment to unravel the union. Peter McLoughlin is a lecturer at Queen's University Belfast, where he focuses on contemporary political history in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

☆ Europe's severe drought is unearthing ancient artifacts from 'Spanish Stonehenge' to Emperor Nero's bridge
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Receding water levels due to drought in Europe are unearthing old sites and artifacts. Since early 2022, Europe has experienced an extended period of unusually high temperatures and severe lack of rainfall. From megalithic monuments to ancient bridges, sites and artifacts continue to be unearthed by the 2022 drought in Europe. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesIn late July, receding water levels in Spain's Valdecanas reservoir dropped to 28% percent of its capacity, revealing the Dolmen of Guadalperal, dubbed "Spanish Stonehenge," Reuters reported. In June, receding water levels due to the intense drought resurfaced a sunken shipwreck of a World War II-era barge.

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