DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Ex-Iranian official partly blames US sanctions for the helicopter crash that killed its president
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewIranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on Sunday — and the country's former foreign minister believes US sanctions were partly to blame. AdvertisementIran's former foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said the US sanctions — which prohibit Iran from purchasing US-built planes — could be partly to blame. In a phone interview with state TV on Monday, Zarif said the sanctions prevent Iran from having good aviation facilities. Related storiesThe US has imposed various sanctions against Iran since the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979. In 2009, a Bell 212 operated by Cougar Helicopters crashed off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada.

Persons: —, Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, Ahmad Vahidi, IRNA, ISNA, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Zarif, Farzin Organizations: Service, Business, State TV, Reuters, Bell, Iran International, ISNA News Agency, Washington Institute, The Washington Institute, Bloomberg, Cougar Helicopters, Post, United Arab Emirates, Safety, Iran's, of Foreign Affairs Locations: Iran, US, Iranian, Tehran, Canada, Louisiana, Newfoundland

☆ The US is reportedly rethinking plans to ban Russian diamonds amid industry pushback
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US is considering reducing efforts to enforce a ban on Russian diamonds, Reuters reported. AdvertisementThe US is rethinking restrictions on Russian diamonds after a wave of pushback from the industry and nations heavily involved in the diamond trade, Reuters reported on Monday. That's a step up from the initial sanctions, which previously allowed the trade of Russian diamonds that were polished in other countries. The government has received pushback from firms and nations heavily involved in the diamond trade. De Beers, one of the world's largest diamond miners, said it supported a ban on Russian diamonds but wants diamonds to be verified at the source of production, rather than in Belgium.

Persons: —, That's, crimp, Virginia Drosos, De Beers Organizations: Reuters, Service, European Union, White House, US, Signet, De Locations: European, Belgium, Russia

☆ WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal extradition to U.S., UK court rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Julian Assange gestures as he speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England. Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Jack Taylor | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesLONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has the right to appeal against his extradition to the U.S., a high court in London found Monday. The U.K. court also requested assurances that Assange would not face the death penalty. Assange supporters celebrateStella Assange, wife of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaks outside court after the ruling to grant permission for appeal, on May 20, 2024 in London, England. Peter Nicholls | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Persons: Julian Assange, Jack Taylor, Edward Fitzgerald, Assange, Benjamin Cremel, Fitzgerald, James Lewis, Stella Assange, Peter Nicholls Organizations: Getty, WikiLeaks, Reuters, of Justice, Britain's, Afp, Royal, Monday, U.S Locations: ENGLAND, Ecuador, London, England, U.S, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ecuadorian

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Benny Gantz's ultimatum for Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike, in the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on May 18. Rami Zohod/ReutersA displaced woman has told CNN of the dire conditions at the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, after Israel's military heavily bombarded the area and engaged in renewed fighting with Palestinian militants there. We wake up scared and go to bed scared,” Ibtisam Abu Abeid told CNN on Friday. Bassal's teams have recovered at least 150 bodies and rescued hundreds of wounded people over the past week at the refugee camp, he told CNN on Saturday. Bassal said Israeli fire has made his team of first responders afraid to approach certain areas, despite calls for help from citizens.

Persons: Rami Zohod, “, Ibtisam Abu Abeid, ”, Abu Abeid, Mahmoud Bassal, Bassal, Sarah El Sirgany Organizations: Reuters, CNN, Palestinian Locations: Gaza, Beit Hanoun, Jabalya

☆ Soaring debt and deficits causing worry about threats to the economy and markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The federal IOU is now at $34.5 trillion, or about $11 trillion higher than where it stood in March 2020. Concern over such eye-popping numbers had been largely confined to partisan rancor on Capitol Hill as well as from watchdogs like the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Uncharted territory for debt and deficitsIndeed, the CBO numbers are ominous, as they outline the likely path of debt and deficits. Surging budget deficits have been driving the debt, and the CBO only expects that to get worse. "The huge obvious problem is that the U.S. federal debt is now on a completely unsustainable long-term trajectory," analysts at Wolfe Research said in a recent note.

Persons: Greenlee Beal, Jerome Powell, Powell, Jamie Dimon, Ray Dalio, hasn't, Wolfe Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Wall, CBO, Union, JPMorgan Chase, Sky News, Bridgewater Associates, Financial Times, Treasury Department, Wolfe Research, U.S ., Federal Reserve Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Amsterdam, London, America, U.S

☆ Manchester City wins historic fourth straight Premier League title, edging Arsenal with a final day victory over West Ham
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

This Premier League title was a bit more [special] because no team had done it before, now we’re the first team to have done it. We played our own football and it paid off.”Phil Foden scored two first-half goals for Manchester City. Dave Thompson/APStill only 23 years old, Foden has now won a remarkable six Premier League titles. As the match entered its final stages, Manchester City fans began celebrating with “the Poznań,” joining arms and jumping up and down with their backs to the pitch. Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty ImagesGuardiola has built one of, if not the greatest team, in Premier League history.

Persons: Phil Foden’s, Pep, “ We’ve, ” Foden, I’m, “, Phil Foden, Dave Thompson, Foden, ”, Jeremy Doku’s, Mohammed Kudus, Pep Guardiola, Lee Smith, Everton, Alphonse Areola, Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Catherine Ivill, Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp Organizations: CNN, Arsenal, Premier League, Manchester City, West, Gunners, Everton, City, Premier League Player, Sky Sports, League, AP, Etihad, basked, –, West Ham, Manchester City's, Getty Locations: West Ham, North London, Manchester, London, West, City, Liverpool

☆ Slovak PM Fico no longer in immediate danger but condition serious, deputy says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is no longer in immediate danger but still in a serious condition, his deputy said on Sunday, four days after an assassination attempt that sent shockwaves through Europe. “We are all a little calmer,” Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak told a news conference outside the hospital where Fico is being treated in the central Slovak town of Banska Bystrica. The prime minister, 59, was hit by four bullets on Wednesday in an attack that raised alarm over the polarized state of politics in the central European country of 5.4 million people. Kalinak told journalists that Fico’s condition was still too serious to consider transferring him to hospital in the capital. Local news media say the suspect is a 71-year-old former security guard at a shopping mall and the author of three collections of poetry.

Persons: Robert Fico, Robert Kalinak, Kalinak, Juraj C Organizations: Reuters, Slovak Locations: Europe, Slovak, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

☆ PGA Championship: Xander Schauffele holds his nerve to clinch long-awaited first major
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —American golfer Xander Schauffele won the 106th PGA Championship on Sunday, holding off compatriot Bryson DeChambeau in a nail-biting finale to clinch a long-awaited first major title. A final round six-under 65 was just enough to clinch a maiden major title for Schauffele, shredding his unwanted title as one of the most talented golfers to never win one of golf’s four flagship events. Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesDeChambeau laments his ‘B’ gameA fired up DeChambeau played a near-perfect round to push Schauffele to the death, shooting a bogey-free 64 as he hunted a second major crown. 1 and tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler before Friday’s second round. Scheffler escapes a bunker during the final round.

Persons: Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf’s DeChambeau, Schauffele, Wanamaker, “ It’s, I’ve, ‘, ” “, ’, Andrew Redington, DeChambeau, Xander, ” DeChambeau, “, Norway’s Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, bogeying, Belgium’s Thomas Detry, Scottie Scheffler, Scheffler, Adam Cairns, Reuters “ I’m, ” Scheffler, Schauffele’s bogeyless, Hovland, lasering, ”, birdies, Scott Taetsch, LIV Organizations: CNN, 106th, Valhalla Golf Club, Masters, Reuters, PGA, Pinehurst, Country Club, America Locations: American, Louisville , Kentucky, Lousville, USA, Texas, North Carolina, Valhalla, Hovland

☆ Top U.S. Official Visits Israel as Allies Urge Limits on Rafah Incursion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The United States has repeatedly called on Israel not to launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza. Earlier this month, President Biden said in an interview with CNN that the United States would not supply weapons for a major Israeli offensive in Rafah. Hamas said its fighters had fired on Israeli troops in eastern Rafah and close to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. In the interim, tensions between the United States and Israel over the Rafah invasion and Israel’s conduct of the war have escalated. Mr. Sullivan is expected to try to advance the deal in his meeting with the Israeli leader.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Sullivan, Netanyahu, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Antony J, Blinken, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed, Vivian Nereim Organizations: U.S, Sunday, United, White House, Washington . Credit, Reuters, CNN, Crown, Saudi Press Agency Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Washington ., Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, U.S, Saudi

☆ Opinion: Why Julian Assange’s fate matters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Opinion Alan Rusbridger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A determined American journalist, let’s call her Gillian, is sleuthing away at a story about India’s nuclear weapons program. Though Gillian is based in London, when she finally gets to publish her story, the Indian government is bent on revenge. Is Washington going to stand idly by and meekly accept the possibility of an American journalist languishing in an Indian jail? The clue is in the inverted commas around “journalist.” To my mind, Julian Assange is in some ways recognizably a journalist. However, to many journalists Assange is not a proper “journalist,” and they can’t really see what his fate has to do with theirs.

Persons: Alan Rusbridger, Read, let’s, Gillian, Alan Rusbridger Simone Padovani, meekly, Julian, He’s, ”, —, there’s, Julian Assange, Assange, Stephanie Lecocq, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, El País, Der Spiegel —, Chelsea Manning, Sarah Ellison, ” Clinton, Manning, Barack Obama’s, Iraq —, ’, It’s, John Podesta, Richard Nixon, Daniel Ellsberg —, Edward Snowden, Daniel Ellsberg, Wally Fong, Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden Organizations: Prospect Magazine, CNN, Guardian, WikiLeaks, Court, la Republique, Reuters, New York Times, US Army, Apache, US, Washington Post, The New York Times, Pentagon, Australian Locations: American, London, Delhi, Washington, la, Paris, Kenya, Iran, El, Le, Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Los Angeles

☆ Heavy rains set off flash floods in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 84 people
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Remainings of houses damaged by the flood are pictured in Firozkoh the capital city of Ghor Province, Afghanistan, May 18, 2024. REUTERS/StringerMore heavy rains in Afghanistan have triggered flash floods, raising the death toll to 84 in the country's north following weeks of devastating torrents that had already left hundreds dead and missing, a Taliban spokesman said Sunday. The new round of heavy rains and floods hit four districts in Faryab province Saturday night, leaving 66 dead, five injured and eight missing. Afghanistan has been witnessing unusually heavy seasonal rains. Last week, the World Food Program said the exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan had killed more than 300 people and destroyed thousands of houses, mostly in the northern province of Baghlan.

Persons: Stringer, Esmatullah Moradi, Moradi, Abdul Wahid Hamas, Ghor Organizations: REUTERS, Food Program Locations: Ghor Province, Afghanistan, Faryab, Ghor, Baghlan, Farah, Herat, Zabul, Kandahar

☆ Bayer Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso hails ‘exceptional’ unbeaten season
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen completed the most dominant Bundesliga season in history with a 2-1 victory over Augsberg on Saturday, becoming the first champion to lift the trophy without suffering a defeat all campaign. So successful has the team been this season that it has earned the club a new and improved nickname. “It is an exceptional season, not only in Germany but in Europe,” manager Xabi Alonso told reporters, per Reuters. The first Bundesliga title but a big Bundesliga title victory.”However, despite the unprecedented success, Alonso will have little time to bask in the glory of his first major trophy as a manager. It is a special day to have the league trophy here and having done it undefeated.

Persons: CNN — Bayer, ’, Xabi Alonso, “, Alonso, Wolfgang Rattay, Reuters “, ” Alonso, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN — Bayer Leverkusen, Augsberg, Leverkusen, Benfica, Reuters, Bundesliga, German, Kaiserslautern, Atalanta, Europa League, Bayern Munich, Champions League, European football’s Locations: Germany, Europe

☆ Brazil’s floods smashed through barriers designed to keep them out, trapping water in for weeks — and exposing social woes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Vasco Cotovio | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“It’s heartbreaking.”The picture is a little different in Porto Alegre, the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul. Maxar Technologies Satellite images of the cities of Porto Alegre and Canoas before and after the floods. Maxar Technologies Satellite images of the cities of Porto Alegre and Canoas before and after the floods. “Floods, not with this volume but with considerable volumes of water, have taken place in Porto Alegre in the last few years,” Cortês explains. One volunteer was Fabiano Saldanha, a 48-year-old businessman from Porto Alegre, who used his jet ski to rescue people trapped in their homes.

Persons: Karine Pitana, there’s, ”, she’s, “, Pitana Flores da Silva, Karine Pitana Flores da Silva, She’s, we’re, Pitana, —, Renan Mattos, That’s, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Jairo Jorge da Silva, “ We’ve, Pedro Cortês, University of São Paulo, Cortês, Nelson Almeida, ” Cortês, Rio Grande do Sul wasn’t, Fabiano Saldanha, ” Saldanha, Saldanha, Carlos Macedo, ‘, ’ ”, ” Pitana, CNN “, Lula, ” CNN’s Mary Gilbert Organizations: CNN, Bank, Rio Grande do Sul Public Safety, Police, Reuters, ”, Globo, Environmental, University of São, CNN Brasil, Authorities, AFP, Getty, Research, Porto Alegre, Civil Defense, IMF, World Bank Locations: Canoas, Brazil, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre’s, Suriname, Northern Porto Alegre, Chicago, Dallas, “

☆ Israel-Hamas War in Gaza: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matt Surman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The United States has repeatedly called on Israel not to launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza. Credit... Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Mr. Sullivan is expected to stress the need for a targeted approach to fighting Hamas in Gaza and to emphasize American opposition to a full-scale attack on Rafah. Mr. Sullivan traveled to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, a visit that had been slated for April originally but was delayed after the U.S. official cracked a rib. In the interim, tensions between the United States and Israel over the Rafah invasion and Israel’s conduct of the war have escalated. Mr. Sullivan is expected to try to advance the deal in his meeting with the Israeli leader.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Sullivan, Netanyahu, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Antony J, Blinken, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: U.S, Sunday, United, White House, Washington . Credit, Reuters, CNN, Senate, Crown Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Washington ., Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, U.S, Saudi

☆ Russian strikes on Ukraine's Kharkiv region kill at least 11
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows a crater that appeared after a Russian missile strike on a structure at a resort, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 19, 2024. The missile strikes were the latest in what have been constant Russian attacks in recent weeks on the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, where Russian troops have launched an offensive. Rescuers said the initial strike was followed by a second strike around 20 minutes later, targeting emergency crews at the scene in a so-called "double tap". Local governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces shelled two villages of the district with a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. "Two Patriots for Kharkiv will make a fundamental difference," he said, referring to Patriot missile defence systems.

Persons: gesturing, Rescuers, Yaroslav Trofimko, Oleh Syniehubov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: REUTERS, Prosecutors, Local, Patriots, Kharkiv, Patriot Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Valentyn, Russia, Kupiansk district

☆ Russia is finally getting serious about its war, and it spells trouble for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Much of the war in Ukraine has gone poorly for Russia. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's war machine looks very different today than it did at the start of the conflict. The Russian military continued to suffer from other problems in the first year of fighting, racking up troop and equipment losses while failing to capture significant amounts of Ukrainian territory. AdvertisementThe following month, a top US official and general said, respectively, that the Russian military was "almost completely reconstituted" and had "grown back" to its pre-war strength. The employment of glide bombs to support ground maneuver is the primary example of how Russia's military is successfully learning from its past shortcomings, Barros said.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Miguel Diaz, Canel, Maxim Shemetov, George Barros, Russia's, Stringer, They've, Chris Cavoli, Andrei Belousov —, Sergei Shoigu, Barros, It's, Andrei Belousov, VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV, Oleksandra Novosel, Biden, Sergey Pivovarov, Mick Ryan, Jack Watling Organizations: Service, Business, Cuban, Institute for, Ukraine, REUTERS, Allied, US European Command, Sputnik, Security, Defense, Getty, JSC, UA, PBC, 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Russian, Kharkiv, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Ukraine —, —, Russian, Kharkiv, Kherson, Robotyne, Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, Soviet, Shevchenkivskyi, Avdiivka, Washington, Russia's Rostov, Australian, Kyiv

☆ Under Armour was a real threat to Nike. Now it’s fighting to stay relevant
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

It was the upstart athletic brand that was making real inroads against Nike, the dominant name in the industry. People saw it as a company that actually could break through and take market share from Nike among the hardcore athletes,” Swartz said. String of controversiesThe period from 2016 onward is when “things really started to fall apart” at Under Armour, Swartz said. A bulk of Under Armour products are sold through sporting goods retailers and department stores, including Macy’s and Kohl’s, and online. The basketball superstar Curry, arguably the best shooter in history, famously signed with Under Armour instead of Nike in 2013.

Persons: Armour, Stephen Curry, Jordan Spieth, Kevin Plank, Howard Schultz’s, Bob Iger’s, Plank, ”, David Swartz, Morningstar, ” Swartz, Justin Sullivan, Tommy Gilligan, ” Plank, Swartz, “, —, Stephanie Linnartz, ” Schwartz, Andrew Kelly, Merrell, Zak Stambor, Stambor, Plank’s, Noel Celis, Eric Smallwood, Dwayne Johnson, Johnson, ” Smallwood, Smallwood, Curry, Joel Embiid, Embiid, Skechers, Caitlin Clark Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nike, Starbucks, Disney, CNN, Sports, North, Maryland Terrapins, Southern Methodist Mustangs, Capital, Maryland, Reuters, —, Armour, Sports Authority, Sporting Goods, UCLA, US Securities and Exchange Commission, Footwear News, Adidas, NBA Golden State Warriors, UA Curry II, Getty, Apex Marketing, United Football League, NBA, WNBA Locations: New York, San Rafael , California, North America, College Park , Maryland, Manhattan , New York, Petaluma , California, Manila, AFP

☆ Cassie Ventura's husband speaks out after footage appeared to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting her in 2016
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCassie Ventura's husband, Alex Fine, called out "men who hit women" after a video appeared to show Sean "Diddy" Combs physically assaulting her at a hotel in March 2016. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The footage appears to match a physical assault incident Ventura described in her November 2023 lawsuit against Combs. Men who enable it and protect those people aren't men," Fine wrote. Representatives for Fine did not immediately respond to Business a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Cassie, Alex Fine, Sean, Diddy, Combs, Fine, Ventura, shouldn't, Cassie Ventura, Paul Morigi, Lucas Jackson, Hulu Organizations: Service, CNN, InterContinental Hotel, Business, Combs ., Fine, Representatives, REUTERS, The New York Times, of Homeland Security, Bad Boy Records, Black Locations: Ventura, Los Angeles, Miami

☆ Flash floods due to unusually heavy seasonal rains kill at least 68 people in Afghanistan
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Remainings of houses damaged by the flood are pictured in Firozkoh the capital city of Ghor Province, Afghanistan, May 18, 2024. REUTERS/StringerFlash floods from heavy seasonal rains have killed at least 68 people in Afghanistan, Taliban officials said Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports. Afghanistan has been witnessing unusually heavy seasonal rains. In the hard-hit western province of Ghor, 50 people were reported dead, said Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesman for the provincial governor. The U.N. food agency posted on social media platform X, saying Ghor was the most affected by the floods where 2500 families were impacted.

Persons: Abdul Wahid Hamas, Feroz Koh, Esmatullah Moradi, Ghor Organizations: REUTERS, Stringer, WFP, World Food Organization Locations: Ghor Province, Afghanistan, Ghor, Farayab, Baghlan, Farah, Herat, Zabul, Kandahar

☆ Ukraine’s foreign minister blames ‘everyone who is not doing enough’ for recent battlefield setbacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Eve Brennan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Kuleba’s comments come after Moscow has ramped up its offensive in northern Ukraine. Vovchansk, in the northern Kharkiv region, has faced an onslaught, with Russian forces claiming to control surrounding villages, forcing civilians to flee. A pillar of smoke rises from behind apartment blocks after the shelling of Russian troops in Kharkiv on Friday. Ukrinform/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesAnalysts say Russia was prepared for the hiatus in Western military aid to Ukraine and has exploited it for its own gain. It comes as Kyiv’s forces are thinly stretched, with much less artillery than the Russians, inadequate air defenses and a lack of soldiers.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, “, ” Kuleba, Jim Sciutto, ” George Barros, Kuleba, ”, Ogirenko, Tim Lister Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Lennart, Conference, Russian, Kharkiv, Getty, Analysts, Institute for, Ukraine Locations: Tallinn, Estonia, Ukraine, Moscow, Vovchansk, Kharkiv, Russia, Washington, Ukrainian, Donetsk region

☆ Simone Biles begins road to Paris 2024 Olympics at Core Hydration Classic
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The 2024 Paris Olympics are creeping ever closer and for female US gymnasts, including global superstar Simone Biles, the Core Hydration Classic on Saturday represents the first step towards qualifying for the Summer Games. Gabby Douglas is attempting to qualify for the Paris Olympics after eight years away from competition. Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesNow, Biles begins the qualifying road to Paris at the Core Hydration Classic. ET on Saturday May 18, alongside other gymnasts who have competed at the Olympics or World Championships. Fans can watch the first senior session live on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel, before the second session – featuring Biles, Douglas and Lee – begins on CNBC and Peacock.

Persons: Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Sunisa Lee –, –, Biles, Douglas, Lee, Vitaly Scherbo’s, Alex Livesey, Sunisa Lee, Andy Lyons, Jade Carey, Shilese Jones, Lee –, Peacock Organizations: CNN, Summer, Paris, Tokyo, Games, Olympics, Paris Olympics, Olympic, US, NBC News, Getty, Reuters, Pan American, Tokyo Olympic, USA, YouTube, CNBC, NBC Locations: Paris, Hartford , Connecticut, Tokyo, Biles, Douglas

☆ Chile: Coldest May since 1950 grips capital region
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Santiago, Chile CNN —Bundled-up mannequins stand in the storefronts on the main shopping avenues off Santiago’s central Plaza de Armas. Thursday marked the coldest day of the year so far, with one weather station notching a frosty 30 degrees. A customer wearing a puffer jacket stands in front of a kiosk in Santiago, Chile, Friday, May 17, 2024. Esteban Felix/APA drone view shows San Cristobal hill during a season of low temperatures in Santiago, Chile, May 15, 2024. “It has natural protein and in this cold weather it gives you calories,” Salas, a nurse, said.

Persons: Chile CNN —, Angélica, ”, Rosita Moya, parka, “, Guzáman, We’ve, Esteban Felix, Ivan Alvarado, Diamira Salas sipped, ” Salas, Nancy Mujica, Tisla Organizations: Chile CNN, de Armas, Chilean Meteorologic Directorate, CNN, Authorities, Reuters, Bellas Artes Locations: Santiago, Chile, Santiago , Chile, Cristobal, La Vega, Bellas, Santo

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wants to work with countries like China with “influence on Russia” as his country faces a renewed Moscow offensive, urging Beijing to attend peace talks next month. Ahead of expected peace talks in Switzerland next month, Xi has called for negotiations that take both sides’ positions into account. Engaging global players like China is crucial because “they have influence on Russia, and the more such countries we have on our side… the more Russia will have to move and [more countries] to reckon with,” Zelensky said. Zelensky said he would like to see China at the international talks in Switzerland next month, aimed at paving the way for a peace process in Ukraine. Russia has not been represented at any of the four rounds of closed-door international peace talks that have taken place so far, and will not be at this one.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia ”, Zelensky, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin’s, Russia’s, Xi, ” Zelensky, Viola Amherd, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Bobylov, Switzerland Wang Shihting, Emmanuel Macron, Emmanuel Organizations: CNN, Beijing, AFP, Reuters, of, Getty, French Locations: China, Russia, Moscow, Beijing, Switzerland, Zelensky, Ukraine, Tiananmen, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Paris

☆ Some consumers are punting big purchases like pools and mattresses
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Rachel Wisniewski | ReutersAmericans are kicking the can down the road on some more-costly, traditionally financed purchases as elevated inflation and interest rates bite. "As a result, consumers continue to scrutinize their spending and make near-term decisions based primarily on need, price and perceived value. But those options have fallen out of favor as interest rates rose. He also cited increased interest rates as another weight on their shoulders. Lofty interest rates have also hampered housing improvement efforts for those staying put, according to Home Depot .

Persons: Rachel Wisniewski, Joe, Shelly Ibach, Ibach, FactSet, Mark Mathews, Platt, J, Mitchell Dolloff, Dow Jones, it's, Mathews, Enphase, Badri Kothandaraman, Marc Bitzer, Patrick T, bode, Robert Ohmes, Richard McPhail, It's, McPhail Organizations: Reuters, Reserve, Prosper, National Retail Federation, San Francisco Fed, New York Fed, Management, Commerce Department, Consumers, Whirlpool, Fallon, Bloomberg, Getty, Bank of America, CNBC Locations: Gilbertsville , Pennsylvania, Minneapolis, U.S, California, Torrance , Calif, Minnesota

☆ Here are the portfolio's top 5 performers in a record-setting week for stocks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

We trimmed our positions shares in Morgan Stanley and Palo Alto Networks on Wednesday and Thursay, respectively, after nice moves higher for both stocks. Here's a closer look at what drove the moves in the portfolio's top five stocks this week. PANW YTD mountain Palo Alto Networks (PANW) year-to-date performance Palo Alto Networks came in No. Palo Alto has been a sizable outperformer since early April, which factored into our trim Thursday. DHR YTD mountain Danaher (DHR) year-to-date performance Danaher advanced 4.9% in the week to secure a second-place finish.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Estee Lauder, Rainer Blair, OpenAI, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Brendan McDermid Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Club, Palo Alto Networks, IBM, Palo Alto, Bank of America, Broadcom, Google, . Management, Wall Street, Apple, CNBC, Traders, New York Stock Exchange Locations: Thursay, China, Palo, Palo Alto, New York City, U.S

Search resuls for: "REUTERS"

25 mentions found