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☆ Russia considers legalizing crypto for global payments as it faces ongoing sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Illustrative image of two commemorative bitcoins seen in front of the national flag of Russia displayed on a computer screen. Russia is considering legalizing the use of cryptocurrency for international payments as the country faces ongoing financial pressure from Western sanctions. The State Duma, which is the lower house of the Russian Parliament, will on Tuesday consider a law that permits making international payments via cryptocurrencies, Elvira Nabiullina, the governor of Russia's central bank, said Tuesday. Russia's central bank is also itself looking to move money across borders using crypto, with its chief saying crypto-based payments will take place before the end of 2024. In January 2022, the Russian central bank proposed banning the use of crypto for transactions, as well as the mining of digital currencies, citing threats to financial stability, citizens' wellbeing and monetary policy sovereignty.

Persons: Elvira Nabiullina, Nabiullina Organizations: Duma, State Duma, Russian Federation Council, RIA Novosti, Reuters, Russian Embassy, CNBC Tuesday Locations: Russia, Russian, Russia's, State, cryptocurrencies, London

☆ Britain’s Labour Government Says It Inherited a $28 Billion Budget Hole
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Britain’s Labour government said it was making “difficult decisions” concerning the budget, including cutting some road and rail projects and pension benefits, after accusing its predecessor, the Conservative Party, of leaving the country’s finances in a mess. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor of the Exchequer, said on Monday that there was a hole of 22 billion pounds (about $28 billion) in the country’s coffers this year because spending needs had exceeded expected revenue. Ms. Reeves accused the Conservative Party of making spending commitments on plans such as road repairs and building new hospitals “knowing the money wasn’t there.” Some of those plans would scrapped or reviewed. “The scale of this overspend is not sustainable,” Ms. Reeves told lawmakers in Parliament. She will present a full budget to lawmakers at the end of October.

Persons: Rachel Reeves, Reeves, Ms Organizations: Labour, Conservative Party Locations: Rwanda

☆ Jacob Zuma, Ex-President of South Africa, Is Expelled From A.N.C.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Lynsey Chutel | More About Lynsey Chutel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The African National Congress, South Africa’s governing party announced on Monday that it had expelled the country’s former president, Jacob Zuma, officially severing ties with the once-celebrated anti-apartheid fighter after he helped form a rival political party. Though Mr. Zuma has been a vaunted figure in the A.N.C. This year, he used his broad political support to campaign for uMkhonto weSizwe, a rival party known by the initials M.K. The secretary-general of the A.N.C., Fikile Mbalula, said on Monday that Mr. Zuma had been expelled because he “actively impugned the integrity of the A.N.C. from power while claiming that he had not severed his membership.” Mr. Zuma was given 21 days to appeal the decision.

Persons: Jacob Zuma, Zuma, uMkhonto weSizwe, Fikile Mbalula, “, ” Mr Organizations: African National Congress Locations: South

☆ South Africa’s ANC kicks former president Jacob Zuma out of party he once led
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Sarah Dean | Jessie Gretener | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led. “Former President Jacob Zuma has actively impugned the integrity of the ANC,” ANC Secretary General Comrade Fikile Mbalula outlined at a press briefing on Monday. In January, the ANC stated that the party is dedicated to nurturing and, when required, correcting its members and leaders. Yet, while he was barred from running in this May’s general election, his face remained on the ballot paper for the MK party. While Zuma’s MK had nearly 14.59% of the vote.

Persons: Jacob Zuma, “, Comrade Fikile Mbalula, ” Mbalula, Zuma, Mbalula Organizations: CNN, African National Congress, ANC, uMkhonto WeSizwe Party, MK, Democratic Alliance, Zuma’s MK

☆ What is the Golan Heights and who are the Druze?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Tensions between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have reached new heights in the wake of a deadly rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Here’s what to know about the Golan Heights, and the religious and ethnic Druze minority that fell victim to the attack. What is the Golan Heights? More than 20,000 Druze live in the Golan Heights. Druze of the Golan Heights share the territory with around 25,000 Jewish Israelis, spread across more than 30 settlements.

Persons: Majdal Shams, Israel, Donald Trump, Israel’s, Golan, Jalaa Marey, Law, ” Organizations: CNN, Hezbollah, United Nations, UN, Golan Regional Council, Regional Council, UN Human Rights, Getty, Nation Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Golan, Majdal, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria’s, Damascus, Gaza, Egypt, Syrian, Majdal Shams, AFP, ”, Carmel, Galilee, Israel’s

☆ Russian soldiers are relying heavily on their personal cellphones to wage war in Ukraine even though it risks getting them killed
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Former US military officers say this trend underscores a lack of secure military communication options or discipline and leaves Russian soldiers vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks. Russian military officers look at their smartphones while walking past the Kremlin in Moscow in April 2024. Ukrainian soldiers prepare a BM-21 artillery vehicle in its fighting position in the Donetsk region in July 2024. AdvertisementOne such incident occurred at the very end of 2022, when Ukraine launched a devastating precision strike against Russian troops gathered in Makiivka, in the eastern Donbas region. Related storiesUkraine's military intelligence agency, the HUR, regularly publishes audio of purported interceptions from calls made by Russian soldiers.

Persons: —, Dan Rice, Rice, Mark Cancian, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Cancian, HUR Organizations: Service, Former US, Business, State Duma, State, Defense, Institute for, Kremlin, US, American University Kyiv, US Marine Corps, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Getty, Russian, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Russian Defense Ministry, US Army, United Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Donetsk, Anadolu, Makiivka, Russia, United States

☆ UK: Assisted dying bill introduced in House of Lords
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

London CNN —An emotional, accelerating campaign to allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults in Britain has reached parliament, with activists hoping the country will become one of few to legalize the process. Opponents of legalization have argued that those small figures represent a limited appetite for assisted dying in the UK, but there are other pressures at play too. But some among the country’s lawmakers, who will ultimately decide the fate of the assisted dying law, say there is more to consider. For Starmer, the assisted dying bill has the potential to disrupt those intentions. But legalizing assisted dying wasn’t in Labour’s manifesto or in its King’s Speech, limiting the opportunities for it to ever reach MPs.

Persons: Bill, “ I’ve, ” Charlie Falconer, ”, Ellie Ball, Alistair Thompson, Falconer, Esther Rantzen, Wiktor, Rantzen, ” Rantzen, Paola Marra, “, Rachael Maskell, ” Maskell, Marieke Vervoort, CNN “ I’ve, Keir Starmer, –, wouldn’t, wasn’t, ” Falconer Organizations: London CNN, Labour, CNN, Publishing, BBC, Health, Social Care, Labour Party Locations: Britain, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, Oregon, England, Wales, Westminster, Dignitas

☆ Is 100 Days Enough Time to Pick a Leader? Around the World, Yes.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Josh Holder | Keith Collins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Is 100 Days Enough Time to Pick a Leader? But in many other democracies, an official election period sets out when candidates can debate, make speeches and run political ads (often with strict spending limits). “We know from other countries that 100 days is plenty of time for a healthy campaign,” said Mr. Tama. “Most campaigns in different countries are in the range of a few weeks to several months.”Even in India, the largest democracy in the world, the official campaign only starts a little over a month before voting begins. And in India in 2014, Narendra Modi had six months after his party chose him as leader to wage his successful campaign for prime minister.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum, Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Justin Trudeau, Italy Giorgia Meloni, Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Anthony Albanese, France Emmanuel Macron, Indonesia Joko, Keir Starmer, India Narendra Modi, Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, Japan Fumio Kishida, Donald J, Trump, Jordan Tama, “, ”, Tama, Biden’s, Lyndon B, Johnson, Harris, Narendra Modi Organizations: Voters, American University, American, United, Electoral College, Labour, Conservative Locations: Mexico, Philippines, Italy, France, Indonesia, India, Korea, Japan, Canada, United States

☆ UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves pledges most 'pro-growth, pro-business' government the country has seen
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"I will work with business to make sure we're doing all we can to bring wealth creation, to bring business investment to the U.K. economy," she added. "This is going to be the most pro-growth, pro-business Treasury that this country has ever seen," Reeves told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick via remote interview. LONDON — U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said Friday that the new Labour government would be the most pro-growth and pro-business the country has seen. We need to attract business investment to be able to do that." However, the chancellor has a fine balance to tread given pledges from her party to also boost national investment and public sector pay.

Persons: Reeves, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Rachel Reeves, I'm, Keir Starmer, Starmer Organizations: Treasury, CNBC, LONDON, Finance, Labour, Conservative Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Britain

In brief remarks before the meeting, Netanyahu mentioned how the two men have known each other for four decades. Biden also participated in a meeting with Netanyahu that includes families of American hostages in Gaza - a separate setting where he could apply firm pressure on Netanyahu to finalize the ceasefire agreement. After their meeting with the president and Netanyahu, some family members struck an optimistic tone on the prospects of a deal being reached soon. “We got absolute commitment from President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu that they understand the urgency of this moment now. However, as CNN reported this week, US and Israeli officials have voiced increased optimism about the prospects of an agreement.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “, ” Biden’s, ” Biden, ”, Biden, Siegel, Alexander, Chen, Naftali, Goldberg, Jonathan Dekel, –, ” Netanyahu, Kamala Harris, Harris, Nathan Howard TPX, Nathan Howard, Israel, Donald Trump, Trump, CNN’s Sam Fossum Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, CNN, Jewish, State, ” Biden reminisced, Biden, United, Prime, Central Kitchen, US, Democratic, Eisenhower, REUTERS, Trump, Networks Locations: Washington ,, Irish, American, Israel, Gaza, America, Washington , DC, Palm Beach , Florida

☆ Britain will soon lay out new plans to regulate 'buy now, pay later' firms like Klarna after delays
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Buy now, pay later firms like Klarna and Block's Afterpay could be about to face tougher rules in the U.K.Britain's new Labour government will soon set out updated plans to regulate the "buy now, pay later" industry, a government spokesperson told CNBC. "Regulating Buy Now Pay Later products is crucial to protect people and deliver certainty for the sector," the Treasury spokesperson told CNBC via email Thursday. The government first set out plans to regulate the sector in 2021. BNPL plans are flexible credit arrangements that enable a consumer to purchase an item and then pay off their debt at a later date. Most plans charge customers a third of the purchase value up front, then take the remaining payments the following two months.

Persons: Block's, Tulip Siddiq, Siddiq, Keir Starmer's, Christopher Woolard, BNPL, — Organizations: Labour, CNBC, Treasury, . Treasury, Keir Starmer's Labour Party, Financial Locations: Britain

☆ New Zealand enquiry finds 200,000 children and vulnerable adults abused in care, leader says ‘we should have done better’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed regret on Wednesday after a public enquiry found some 200,000 children, young people and vulnerable adults were abused in state and religious care over the last 70 years. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks during the release of The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care report on July 24, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesThe report by Royal Commission of Inquiry spoke to over 2,300 survivors of abuse in New Zealand, which has a population of 5.3 million. The inquiry detailed a litany of abuses in state and faith-based care, including rape, sterilisation and electric shocks, which peaked in the 1970s. Those from the Indigenous Maori community were especially vulnerable to abuse, the report found, as well as those with mental or physical disabilities.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, ” Luxon, Hagen Hopkins, Pope, of, Charlotte Graham, Luxon, ”, Tracey McIntosh Organizations: CNN, Zealand, Royal Commission of, Royal Commission, Safe Agency, University of Auckland Locations: New, Wellington , New Zealand, New Zealand, of Canterbury

☆ Why Erdogan Is Going After Turkey’s Stray Dogs - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Kaya Genc | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Living in Turkey has for decades, even centuries, meant navigating the stray dogs. There has been fierce debate and protests over the fate of stray dogs since Mr. Erdogan proposed “radical” measures in a speech in May. Supporters of what came to be known as Mr. Erdogan’s “euthanasia bill” point to car accidents and injuries caused by the dogs. They say that streets are not suitable homes for dogs, and that their presence makes cities more dangerous for humans and animals alike. We also fear the worst: that beloved dogs we’ve looked after for months or years might suddenly disappear because an overanxious citizen placed an anonymous call.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s, Erdogan, Erdogan’s, we’ve Organizations: Development Party Locations: Istanbul, Turkey

☆ Optimism increases about prospects for a Gaza ceasefire deal, but families of hostages remain concerned ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Alex Marquardt | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

For the families of the hostages held more than nine months in Gaza, there is no time to wait. The Israeli prime minister wants to meet with Biden before the Israeli delegation formally transmits its response to the mediators, the source said. US officials have been sensitive to the Knesset recess as they remain convinced that politics are at play for Netanyahu back in Israel. US officials believe it is possible that Israelis are seeking to put maximum pressure on Hamas ahead of a deal. US and Egyptian officials have begun preparing the flood of humanitarian aid that would enter Gaza if a ceasefire deal goes into effect.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, “ It’s, ”, Netanyahu ‘, ’ Aviva Siegel, Keith, Netanyahu “, They’ve, I’ve, Siegel, “, Jon Polin, Hersh Goldberg, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Harris, Netanyahu doesn’t, Jonathan Dekel, Chen, Sagui Dekel, Satan, ” Netanyahu, Daniel Neutra, Omer, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, There’s, Israel, –, Jake Sullivan, ” Blinken, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, Democratic, Monday, US State Department, Government, Biden, UN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Washington, Rafah, Egyptian, el, Arish

☆ Israeli former national security officials and business leaders blast Netanyahu ahead of his speech to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A group of senior Israeli figures including former national security officials, academics and business leaders have sent US congressional leadership a blistering letter accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to speak to Congress on Wednesday, of threatening both Israeli and American national security. “Netanyahu severely harms the US national security interests through his approach to this war, which adversely impacts American policy in the Middle East and beyond and further endangers Israel,” it continues. The Obama White House had been blindsided by Netanyahu’s decision to address Congress after another invitation from a Republican House speaker, John Boehner. Typically, a vice president, in their role as president of the Senate, would attend and sit prominently on the dais. However, Vice President Kamala Harris will also miss Netanyahu’s Wednesday speech due to travel, which Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday he did not expect to be a repeat of 2015.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, he’s, Tamir Pardo, Aaron Ciechanover, Avishay, Carmi, Morris Kahn, Jeremy Levin, “ Netanyahu, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Pardo, disinvite Netanyahu, ”, Alon Pinkas, “, Biden, –, Pinkas, ” Benjamin Netanyahu, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Schumer, Joe Biden, Biden’s, Obama, John Boehner, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, they’re, ” Sullivan, ’ Organizations: CNN, Israeli, American, Ben Gurion University, Republican, ”, Obama White, Aspen Security, White, Gaza . Senior, Gallup Locations: Gaza, Israel, New York, Washington, Iran, Gaza .

☆ Macron Rejects French Left’s Pick for Prime Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Aurelien Breeden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A coalition of France’s left-wing parties on Tuesday tapped a little-known civil servant to be prime minister, unexpectedly ending weeks of bickering after snap parliamentary elections plunged the country into political gridlock. But President Emmanuel Macron immediately rejected the coalition’s pick, Lucie Castets. The French president alone has the power to appoint the prime minister and the cabinet. His choice must, theoretically, reflect the political balance in Parliament, but there is no constitutionally mandated deadline for him to choose. The left-wing coalition, known as the New Popular Front, said in a statement that it had agreed on Ms. Castets, 37, who has worked at France’s treasury and its anti-money-laundering unit and currently handles financial matters at Paris City Hall.

Persons: France’s, Emmanuel Macron, Lucie Castets, Macron, Castets Organizations: Paris, Paris City Hall

☆ At least 6 dead, 7 missing as fishing vessel carrying 27 sinks off Falkland Islands
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Sahar Akbarzai | Juliana Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —At least six people are dead and seven missing after a fishing vessel carrying 27 onboard sank in the South Atlantic about 200 miles off the coast of the Falkland Islands. The fishing vessel, FV Argos Georgia, requested assistance soon after it began sinking east of the islands at about 4 p.m. local time Monday, the Falkland Islands government said in press release Tuesday. CNN has reached out to the Falkland Islands government to clarify the number of dead and missing. “This is a developing situation, and we will provide no further comment,” Sally Heathman, head of communications for the Falkland Islands Government, told CNN on Tuesday. “The Falkland Islands government sends their thoughts to all the families involved,” it added.

Persons: Sally Heathman, King Edward VII, Stanley, Argos Froyanes, ”, Carmen Crespo Organizations: CNN, FV Argos, Falkland, Falkland Islands Government, Spanish, Associated Press, AP, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Stanley Airport, British Forces South, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Argentina’s Navy, Britain, Argos, Argos Froyanes Ltd, Fisheries Locations: South, Falkland, FV Argos Georgia, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Sandwich, British Forces South Atlantic, South America, British, Argentina, Las, Argos Georgia, Norwegian, Helena

☆ Russian lawmakers seek to punish troops using smartphones on Ukraine battlefields
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Christian Edwards | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russia’s lower house of parliament has proposed punishing Russian soldiers caught using smartphones while fighting in Ukraine, state media TASS reported, amid growing concerns that electronic devices can reveal troops’ location on the battlefield. According to a draft law supported by the State Duma Committee on Defense, carrying internet-connected cell phones whose data can identify Russian troops or the location of forces will be classified as a “gross disciplinary offense” punishable by up to 10 days of arrest. Both Russian and Ukrainian militaries have reportedly used enemy cell phones to identify targets during the war, scraping data from photos and messages to track coordinates and launch attacks. Although the Kremlin has acknowledged the risks posed by soldiers carrying cell phones, Russian military bloggers have criticized the draft law, claiming it shows the Duma’s lack of understanding of the nature of modern warfare. Russian soldiers are already banned from publicly distributing information that could reveal the identity or location of military personnel.

Persons: United Kingdom –, Elon, ”, let’s Organizations: CNN, TASS, State, Defense, Ukraine’s Security, Russia’s Defense Ministry, Kremlin, Veteran Records, Duma, Federation Council Locations: Ukraine, United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ukrainian, Makiivka

☆ Modi's government pledges fiscal prudence in India's post-election budget
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nirmala Sitharaman, India's finance minister, leaves the ministry to present the budget at the parliament in New Delhi, India, on July 23, 2024. India's finance ministry on Tuesday lowered the country's fiscal deficit target to 4.9% for the financial year ending March 2025, a revision from 5.1% during the pre-election interim budget published back in February. That target will then fall to 4.5% or lower for the financial year ending March 2026, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during the announcements. "This is imperative for attracting foreign investment and sustaining growth," he said, adding that "unprecedented financial support" from the central bank will make the fiscal deficit target possible. "We will endeavor to maintain strong fiscal support for infrastructure over the next five years, in conjunction with imperatives of other priorities and fiscal consolidation."

Persons: Nirmala Sitharaman, Vipul Bhowar, Narendra Modi's, Sitharaman, Hajra, Anand Rathi, Modi's Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, India's, Waterfield Advisors, Sitharaman, Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, Stock Brokers, CNBC, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, Centre, Monitoring, BSE, U.S . Locations: New Delhi, India, Mumbai, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh

☆ Pornhub is awash in lawsuits. Unverified videos still on the site could bring even more, says the author of the new book 'Takedown.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

AdvertisementPornhub, launched in 2007 and based in Montreal, lets users upload amateur and professional porn videos in much the same way users upload to YouTube. "Performers" remain unverified in many thousands of pre-2024 videos, including those that pop up from search terms involving teens and violence, Mickelwait told Business Insider. Lawsuits and monitoringAn ever-growing number of lawsuits by some 300 plaintiffs allege the site knowingly profited from videos of their abuse. An excerpt from a federal judge's November order granting class-action status to one of dozens of Pornhub lawsuits. AdvertisementMost recently, she said, she reported to state authorities the Pornhub video showing a woman shouting in pain and asking not to be filmed.

Persons: —, Laila Mickelwait, She's, Mickelwait, It's, Pornhub, Sarah Bain, Aylo —, Rocky Shay Franklin, Nicholas Kristof, Bill Ackman, MindGeek, Netflix —, Laila, Mike Bowe, I've, Bowe, kG2TK2R8sj, Cormac J, Carney, Serena Fleites, Fleites, Bain, Cherie DeVille, Mike Stabile, Stabile Organizations: Service, Business, Ethical Capital Partners, Random House, Justice Defense Fund, Sunday Times, New York Times, Heinz, Unilever, KY, Pornhub, Netflix, Mastercard, Visa, Capital, US, Free Speech Coalition Locations: Montreal, Pornhub, Alabama, Florida, London, Manhattan, California, Bowe's, Bakersfield , California

☆ UK planned to spend 10 billion pounds on Rwanda asylum scheme, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's previous government had planned to spend 10 billion pounds ($12.9 billion) on a now-scrapped plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda and it has already cost taxpayers 700 million pounds, new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday. Cooper said the costs include money for chartering flights that never took off, paying for the work of government officials and 290 million pounds in payment to the Rwanda government. Cooper also said tens of thousands of asylum seekers left in limbo as they were threatened with deportation to Rwanda will now have their asylum claims processed. Instead, the government promised to process their claims, end the costly use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers and clear a backlog of claims. The shift in policy would save taxpayers an estimated 7 billion pounds over the next 10 years, Cooper said.

Persons: Yvette Cooper, Keir Starmer's, Cooper Organizations: Labour, Conservative Locations: Kigali, Europe, Rwanda, Britain's, Britain, East, California

☆ Uganda’s President Museveni warns citizens they are ‘playing with fire’ over planned protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

… We are busy producing … cheap food, other people in other parts of the world are starving… you here want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us…”, Museveni said in the three-hour-long wide-ranging address. However, those agitating for a protest are unimpressed with the government’s handling of corruption, urging Ugandans to “#March2Parliament” on July 23 to “#StopCorruption.”’. She was among high-profile Ugandan politicians sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom for corruption earlier this year. “Among is designated due to involvement in significant corruption tied to her leadership of Uganda’s Parliament,” according to the US State Department.

Persons: CNN —, Yoweri Museveni, Museveni, ”, “, Ashiraf Hector, X, Bobi Wine, Wine, ” Museveni, Ugandans, Anita Annet Organizations: CNN, National Commission, Human Rights, Uganda Police Force, ”, of Government, US State Department, Locations: Kenya, East, Uganda, United States, United Kingdom, ”

☆ A U.K. Deportation Plan Cost $900 Million. Only Four People Left.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Megan Specia | More About Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The previous British government spent far more than previously announced on a contentious plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, it was announced on Monday. The policy, which called for sending asylum seekers to the African nation for processing and resettlement, was championed by successive Conservative prime ministers as their flagship plan to tackle irregular migration. But no asylum seekers were ever deported to Rwanda under the initiative. Four people were put on planes to the central African nation this year, but they were asylum seekers who went voluntarily after being offered £3,000 each. The policy cost the government some £700 million, or just over $900 million, Britain’s new home secretary, Yvette Cooper, told Parliament on Monday.

Persons: Yvette Cooper Locations: Rwanda, African

☆ Germany's plan to halve military aid to Ukraine is a gift to Trump, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA draft budget approved by Germany's government shows the country is planning to halve its military aid to Ukraine next year. The draft budget slashes the amount promised to Ukraine to $4.35 billion in 2025, compared to the roughly $8.14 billion it is receiving this year, Reuters reported. There are fears that Trump will scale back or even totally halt US aid to Ukraine. Germany is the second-biggest donor country by volume of military aid to Ukraine and is Europe's biggest economy. As such, the draft budget is a "moral hazard" for the country, Loss said.

Persons: —, Christian Lindner, Lindner, Rafael Loss, Donald Trump, Mary, Trump, he's, MAGA, JD Vance, there's, Olaf Scholz, Scholz Organizations: Service, Reuters, German, Business, European Council, Foreign Relations, Ukraine, Politico, Trump Loss, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Berlin, Europe

☆ Britain's Labour faces an uphill battle as it looks to rein in AI's key players
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

By taking aim at the most powerful AI models, Labour would impose tighter restrictions on companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft , Google , Amazon , and AI startups including Anthropic, Cohere and Mistral. Matthew Houlihan, senior director of government affairs at Cisco, said any AI rules would need to be "centered on a thoughtful, risk-based approach." Even so, a U.K. AI law would be a step above the U.S., which currently doesn't have federal AI legislation of any kind. Sirion's Liu said one thing he's hoping the government doesn't do, is restrict open-source AI models. Herman Narula, CEO of metaverse venture builder Improbable, agreed that restricting open-source AI innovation would be a bad idea.

Persons: Keir Starmer's, King Charles III, doesn't, Starmer's, Matt Calkins, Appian, Lewis Liu, Liu, Rishi Sunak, Peter Kyle, Kyle, Zahra Bahrololoumi, Matthew Houlihan, Bill, Chris Holmes, Holmes, Matthew Holman, Cripps, Holman, Sirion's Liu, Herman Narula, Narula Organizations: Future Publishing, Labour, European Union, Microsoft, Google, CNBC, Conservative, BBC, AI Safety Institute, Cisco, Authority, EU, AI Safety, Tech, London Tech Week Locations: Jiangsu province, China, Ireland, Salesforce, U.S

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