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☆ World Snooker Championship: The near-silent sport which has become the latest focus of Saudi Arabia’s imagination
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —No one dares speak louder than a whisper as nearly 1,000 people respectfully take their seats inside the dimly lit Crucible Theatre. They’ve come to witness the nerve-shredding, silently electric atmosphere of the World Snooker Championship. The World Snooker Tour (WST) – organizers of the World Snooker Championship – say the sport is watched by half-a-billion people around the world. The Crucible Theatre has been the home of the World Snooker Championships since 1977. Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of snooker should not be surprising, but moving the World Snooker Championship would be an emotional decision for many of its fans.

Persons: they’re, They’ve, Shaun Murphy, It’s, ’, they’ve, George Wood, Mike Watterson, Hossein Vafaei, –, it’s, ” Murphy, Young, Murphy, ” Ronnie O'Sullivan, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s, O’Sullivan, ”, “, Steve Dawson Organizations: CNN, Crucible, CNN Sport, Sheffield, Crucible Theatre, ‘, Wembley, Snooker, Wimbledon, ”, Theatre Locations: Sheffield, England, Augusta, Saudi Arabia, “, Saudi, China

☆ Trump’s bombardment of dishonesty: Fact-checking 32 of his false claims to Time
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +43 min

We’re paying for close to 100% of NATO.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. They don’t pay their bills.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. (It rose to about $314 billion in 2020, Trump’s last full year in office.) Facts First: Trump’s claim is false. Facts First: Trump’s claim that “nobody died other than Ashli” is false.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “, William Barr, Bill Barr, Barr, Bill, I’m, ”, it’s, Biden, Joe Biden, Tamar Hermann, Hermann, Bill Clinton, “ Trump, ” Trump, …, National Guard Trump, I’ve, George Floyd, Tim Walz, Walz, Paul —, –, Erwan, George Washington, “ don’t, they’re, Stoltenberg, Trump’s, Lagadec, Marc Lipsitch, Barack Obama, European Union won’t, Cortellessa, “ Moody’s, Moody’s, Mark Zandi, Zandi, ’ ” Zandi, Joe Biden’s, rioter Ashli Babbitt, Brian Sicknick, Sicknick, Trump’s ‘, patriotically, ‘, patriotically ’, ” Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, “ Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, Christopher Miller, Miller, Eric Cortellessa, Alvin Bragg’s, Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Alvin Bragg, ” Cortellessa, Hillary Clinton, —, Roe, Wade, Kimberly Mutcherson, “ Donald Trump’s, Maya Manian, Mary Ziegler, Davis, Ziegler, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe should’ve, ’, Crime Biden, don’t, “ Biden, he’s, James Biden, Jeff Asher, Asher, It’s, ” “, ” Asher Organizations: Washington CNN, Time, Trump, NATO, Capitol, Trump’s, Trade Center, didn’t, World Trade Center, Department, ISIS, CNN, Democratic, White House, White, South Korea Trump, Pentagon’s Defense Manpower Data, Biden Administration, Congressional Research Service, Israel, Israeli Democracy Institute, National Guard, Minnesota Democratic Gov, Minnesota National Guard, Guard, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Transatlantic, for Disease Control, World Bank, Washington Post, Harvard, Harvard’s, National, Trump -, of Health, Human Services, Strategic, Biden, U.S . International Trade Commission, European, Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, European Union, US, European Automobile Manufacturers ’ Association, Bloomberg Economics, US Capitol Police, Capitol Police, “, Republican, Democratic Rep, National Guardsmen, District of Columbia National Guard, Army, Capitol Police Board, Senate, Justice Department, Pulitzer Foundation, Pulitzer, New York Times, Electoral, Democrat, ” Rutgers Law, American University, university’s Health, University of California, ”, Customs, Border Protection, Crime, Manchurian, Republicans, FBI Locations: “, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Mexico, South Korea, Trump , South Korea, South, Korea, Israel, Washington, Trump , Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Trump, Minnesota, St, United States, Germany, Brussels, Belgium, Harvard University, China, EU, DC, Trump’s, ”, York, Manhattan, York’s, Russia, That’s

☆ Opinion: I’ve seen too many young journalists pay the ultimate price. It’s them I’ll be thinking of today
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Opinion Jon Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

When a journalist is killed, it is not just their voice that is silenced: Press freedom is your freedom. Over 30 years ago, the United Nations recognized May 3 as World Press Freedom Day: a global reminder of the importance of press freedom and an opportunity to assess its health around the world. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) found that at least 100 journalists and media workers have been killed since we last marked World Press Freedom Day. Tragically, on this World Press Freedom Day, our work is needed more than ever. On this World Press Freedom Day, the fallen who gave their lives for the truth should serve as a reminder as to why press freedom is really your freedom.

Persons: Jon Williams, Rory Peck, Read, Jon Williams Rory Peck, Bayeux, ”, Simon Cumbers, Simon, Al, Louise, Cumbers, Johnny Green, Thomas Jefferson, ” Jefferson, it’s, Dom Phillips, Phillips, Aldeia Maloca, Bruno Pereira, Joao Laet, don’t Organizations: Rory Peck Trust, BBC News, ABC News, CNN, 1st Cavalry, Canadian, BBC, The Washington Post, United Nations, Protect Journalists, Getty, United, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Bayeux, Northern France, France, Omaha Beach, Europe, Nazi Germany, Normandy, Paris, “, Saudi Arabia, Al Qaeda, Saudi, Riyadh, Ireland, London, South, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Madrid, Irish, Kabul, Afghanistan, Gaza, Ukraine, Honduras, Sudan, Philippines, Brazil, Aldeia, Roraima, AFP, Britain, United States, Israel, Egypt

☆ I'm a Palestinian startup founder. I wanted to do my part for my home country, but now we have to leave.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The Palestinian startup sceneOur business is based in Ramallah, where Raya lives. If starting a company in Ramallah could benefit the community by creating jobs and further building on the small startup scene there, we wanted to try. When "The Middle Frame" goes through a hard time in the future, we can look back at that screenshot. In the future, when our business is stable in a different market, we could maybe have a smaller operation in the Palestinian market. The Palestinian startup ecosystem needs more examples of successful startups in the wider region to support the startups in Palestine and more investment bodies to support the early-stage startups.

Persons: Mohammad Alnobani, Alnobani, —, We'd, Raya, creatives, We're, I'd, I've, We've, Raya's, we've, it's Organizations: West Bank, Hamas, Service, Young, Palestine, Israel, Getty, UAE Locations: Gaza, Alnobani, Ramallah, Palestinian Territories, Amman, Jordan, Jerusalem, Belfast, Palestinian, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Nablus, Qatar, London, Boston, East, North Africa, it's, Egypt, Europe, Ramallah —, Dubai, Jordanian, Iran, UAE, Palestine

☆ Restaurants are competing for frugal diners’ dollars
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For some restaurants, it feels like a battle to get them to spend. Olive Garden-parent Darden Restaurants saw same-restaurant sales dip during its most recent quarter. Darden saw sales from households with incomes above $150,000 climb from the prior year. What to expect in Friday’s jobs reportThe US job market has been on a roll for the past three years. That’s about 25,000 more jobs per month than last year and 111,000 more per month than in 2019.

Persons: ”, Laxman Narasimhan, “, we’ve, Ian Borden, Ricardo Cardenas, Scott Sheffield, “ Mr, —, Matt Egan, Read, Alicia Wallace, ” Julia Pollak, ZipRecruiter Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Starbucks, Darden, OPEC, Federal Trade Commission, Sheffield, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi Arabia, Regulators, Pioneer Natural Resources, CNN, of Labor Statistics Locations: New York, China, Olive, American, Saudi, Sheffield, Texas, OPEC, Russia

☆ Israel is retiring its Patriot missile batteries. They could help a struggling Ukraine.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Israel has never been impressed with the US-made Patriot air defense system. AdvertisementIsrael has never been satisfied with its version of the Patriot air defense system that Ukraine views as essential to its survival. AdvertisementA Patriot air defense system test-fired during a training in Chania, Greece, on November 8, 2017. Israel previously refused a US request for its vintage Hawk missiles, long in storage and out of service, for Ukraine. Jordan requested the US deploy a Patriot missile on its soil in October and helped intercept the Iranian barrage on April 13.

Persons: Israel, —, Israel wouldn't, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Israel isn't, Bohl, Anthony Sweeney, US Army Federico Borsari, Borsari, it's, Jordan Organizations: Scud, Patriots, Service, Israel, Patriot, East, US Army, Center for, Patriot PAC, Patriot's PAC, Analysts, United Arab, Israeli PAC Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Iraqi, Russia, North Africa, Chania, Greece, United States, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi women’s rights activist sentenced to 11 years in jail, rights groups say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Radina Gigova | Hande Atay Alam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Human rights groups are calling for the release of a Saudi woman, who they say has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for supporting women’s rights and for the way she dressed. Manahel al-Otaibi, a 29-year-old fitness instructor and women’s rights activist, was sentenced during a “secret hearing” before the kingdom’s Specialized Criminal Court on January 9, 2024, Amnesty International and the London-based Saudi rights organization ALQST said in a joint statement Tuesday. Saudi Arabia’s authorities “must immediately and unconditionally” release Manahel al-Otaibi, as the decision to imprison her “directly contradicts the authorities’ narrative of reform and women’s empowerment,” Amnesty and ALQST said. “Manahel’s conviction and 11-year sentence is an appalling and cruel injustice,” said Bissan Fakih, Amnesty International’s Campaigner on Saudi Arabia. Al-Otaibi’s sentencing comes “amid an intensified crackdown on free speech in Saudi Arabia, including online expression,” the groups said.

Persons: Manahel, ”, ALQST, Otaibi “, Al, Fawzia, “, Bissan Fakih, Otaibi, Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Organizations: CNN, Amnesty International, Saudi, United Nations, UN, Amnesty, Human Rights Locations: Saudi, London, Geneva, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

☆ Scott Sheffield, former Pioneer CEO, accused of trying to conspire with OPEC to inflate prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Scott Sheffield, the founder and longtime CEO of a leading American oil producer, attempted to collude with OPEC and its allies to inflate prices, federal regulators alleged on Thursday. Regulators say Sheffield, then the CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources, used WhatsApp conversations, in-person meetings and public statements to try to “align oil production” in the Permian Basin in Texas with that of OPEC and OPEC+, the wider group that includes Russia. Unlike with OPEC nations, US oil production is supposed to be decided by the free market, not by coordination among the major players. The FTC said that while Sheffield was discussing efforts to coordinate output with other Texas producers, the Pioneer CEO said: “If Texas leads the way, maybe we can get OPEC to cut production. Exxon said that in response to the FTC’s concerns, it will not add Sheffield to its board.

Persons: New York CNN — Scott Sheffield, “ Mr, —, Kyle Mach, Sheffield “, Douglas Farrar, Sheffield, ”, Exxon Organizations: New, New York CNN, OPEC, Federal Trade Commission, Sheffield, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi Arabia, Regulators, Pioneer Natural Resources, FTC, ExxonMobil, Competition, CNN, Railroad Commission, Texas, Exxon Locations: New York, American, Saudi, Sheffield, Texas, OPEC, Russia, FTC’s, Saudi Arabia

☆ Opinion | Israel and Saudi Arabia Are Trading Places
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

But the other part of the deal, which is seen as critical to winning support in Congress, is for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. There are a lot of “ifs” and “provided thats” in this equation that seem most unlikely today. As a result, the U.S. and the Saudis are considering finalizing the deal and taking it to Congress with the stated proviso that Saudi Arabia will normalize relations with Israel the minute Israel has a government ready to meet the Saudi-U.S. terms. Hopefully, though, if there can be a permanent end of fighting and a return of all Israelis taken hostage, Israel will hold new elections. And then — maybe, just maybe — the choice on the table for Israelis will not be Bibi or no Bibi, but Bibi or a credible pathway to peace with Saudi Arabia and the Palestinians.

Persons: Biden, Israel, “, Netanyahu, Bibi Organizations: U.S, West Bank, Palestinian, Saudi, New York, Facebook Locations: U.S, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, Gaza

☆ A new Saudi-US deal to reshape the Middle East is taking shape — but Israel can't join while it's still at war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A new Saudi-US security deal is being negotiated, reports said. It resembles the deal that was forming before it was derailed on October 7 by the Hamas terror attacks. A deal dubbed "plan B" Israel is, for now, excluded because of its war on Gaza. AdvertisementThe US and Saudi Arabia are said to be drawing closer to a historic deal that could reshape the Middle East — by sidestepping the vexed issue of Israel's war in Gaza. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, sidestepping Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Saudi, Israel, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long sought relations with Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s holiest sites, as the move could domino across the wider Muslim world. The first component includes a package of agreements between the US and Saudi Arabia, another component has the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and a third component for a pathway to a Palestinian state. The subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza, which has left the enclave in ruins and killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, may have changed the parameters of the deal for Saudi Arabia, analysts say. However, there has been no indication that the Biden administration would opt to bypass Congress for the bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia to pass. Saudi Arabia is rich in uranium deposits and has insisted on being able to enrich it domestically, which would be a first for an Arab state.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Antony Blinken, ”, Blinken, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Netanyahu, Biden, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Israel, Lindsey Graham, ” Graham, Firas Maksad, “, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, Crown Prince, Karen Young, Edward J, Markey Organizations: CNN, State, Saudi, State Department, Abraham Accords, Israel, MBS, Saudi Foreign, Republican, Senate, Bahrain, Biden, Strategic Outreach, Middle East Institute, Washington DC, Congress, Washington Post, Crown, Columbia University’s Center, Global Energy, Neighboring United, Democratic, Nuclear Weapons, NATO Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, Israel, Iran, Russia, China, Palestinian, Gaza, ”, Riyadh, Saudi, Washington, Turkey, “ Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Bahrain, U.S

☆ Why the Miami Grand Prix is the most distinctive race in Formula 1
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Gregory Leporati | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The Miami Grand Prix, a unique spectacle in Formula 1, is heading into its third year. Heading into its third year, Formula 1's Miami Grand Prix has made a name for itself as a unique spectacle in the sport. But the logistics' massive scope is just one aspect that sets the Miami Grand Prix apart. The marina at the F1 Miami Grand Prix in 2022. Local flavorThe Miami Grand Prix aims to capture the city's flair.

Persons: —, Todd Boyan, Boyan, Tyler, Ricardo Arduengo, Guenther Steiner, Steiner, Mark PETERSON, Haas, We've, It'll Organizations: Miami Grand Prix, Service, Miami, Hard, Miami Dolphins —, Miami Dolphins, Miami Open, Prix, Tyler Epp, Miami Grand, Epp, . Miami, Monaco, Logistics, Haas, Netflix, Miami . F1 Academy, F1 Academy, Beach Club, cabanas, Art, Paddock Club Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Miami, South Beach, Art Basel

☆ BlackRock is opening a Saudi investment firm with initial $5 billion from PIF
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The BlackRock logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York City on Nov. 14, 2022. Asset manager BlackRock will launch an investment platform in Riyadh with the help of a $5 billion anchor investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager with $10 trillion in assets under management, will "launch investment strategies across asset classes for the Saudi market, including both public and private markets, managed by a Riyadh-based investment team," a joint press release from the firm and the PIF read. The new platform will be called BlackRock Riyadh Investment Management, or BRIM. BRIM aims to help bring foreign institutional investment into Saudi Arabia as well as develop the Saudi asset management industry, expand local capital markets and investor diversification, and support the development of the kingdom's asset management talent, the release said.

Organizations: BlackRock, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Saudi, BlackRock Riyadh Investment Management Locations: BlackRock, New York City, Riyadh, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ Once-hot AI play Super Micro is getting crushed, but most analysts are staying bullish
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Super Micro Computer shares are selling off at the moment, but major Wall Street firms are hopeful about the company's long-term prospects. Super Micro, one of the vendors that builds Nvidia-based servers, released quarterly results on Tuesday after market close. Super Micro also bumped up its fiscal 2024 revenue guidance above its previously estimated range and what analysts are expecting. But a revenue miss dragged shares of Super Micro 16% lower on Wednesday. On the other hand, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo maintained their neutral-equivalent ratings for shares of Super Micro.

Persons: LSEG, Samik, Chatterjee, Ruplu Bhattacharya, George Wang, Wang, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Wells, SMCI, Michael Ng, Ng Organizations: Micro Computer, Nvidia, Super, JPMorgan, Barclays, Bank of America, DELL Locations: CY25, East, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Japan, Korea, Malaysia

☆ Far-right Israeli ministers urge Netanyahu not to accept ceasefire proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Benjamin Brown | Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming under fierce pressure from far-right members of his government not to agree to the ceasefire proposal currently on the table, which could prevent an Israeli military offensive in Rafah from moving forward. Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 27, 2024. Jack Guez/AFP/Getty ImagesFormer Israeli Prime Minister and opposition leader Yair Lapid hit back at Strook’s remarks. In the first phase, between 22 and 33 hostages are to be released over several weeks in exchange for the pause and the release of Palestinian prisoners. A woman looks at a wall of photos of hostages captured by Hamas on October 7, displayed in Tel Aviv.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Orit Strook, Strook’s, Netanyahu mulls, Bezalel Smotrich, ”, Netanyahu, Jack Guez, Yair Lapid, “, Benny Gantz, Gantz, ” Strook, Amir Levy, Blinken, Jordan, “ We’re, ” Blinken, Isaac Herzog, wouldn’t, Herzog, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Israel’s Army, Hamas, Getty Locations: Rafah, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, AFP, “, Saudi Arabia

☆ Dubai reveals massive plans for the world’s busiest airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A mammoth airport in Saudi Arabia has already set records for size, but new plans in Dubai are ratcheting up the race to be the world’s busiest airport by passenger volume. Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Airport currently wears the crown as the largest airport in the world by area. “It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, and all operations at Dubai International Airport will be transferred to it in the coming years,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, said Sunday when outlining Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects’ strategic plan. The other, Dubai International Airport, was just ranked the No. Dubai AirportsAt present, Dubai World Central’s primary role is as a center for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul – “MRO” in industry parlance.

Persons: Saudi Arabia’s King, Atlanta’s, Jackson’s, It’s, Al Maktoum, Markus Mainka, That’s, ” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ”, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, X, Paul Griffiths, Abu Dhabi’s, Foster Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International, King Fahd, Atlanta’s Hartsfield, Jackson, Al, Al Maktoum International, Dubai International Airport, Dubai International, Dubai Aviation Engineering, Emirates Cargo, UAE, Emirates, Dubai Airports, Hamad International Airport, Kuwait International, Partners, Sharjah International Airport, Air Locations: Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain, Hartsfield, Al Maktoum, Saudi, Qatar, Muscat , Oman, Gulf, Kuwait, British, Dubai’s, Sharjah

☆ Saudi Arabia will 'downscale' some Vision 2030 projects amid 'challenges,' minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Neom project secured a $2.7 billion credit line from local lenders. The Saudi finance minister said the kingdom was "very pleased" with progress on Vision 203 goals. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementSaudi Arabia is trying to counter reports that its Neom project is struggling.

Persons: —, Mohammed Al Jadaan Organizations: Saudi, Service, Business Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Sunday

☆ 86% of expats report being stressed out, but study suggests they may also cope better with burnout
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ernestine Siu | In Ernestinesiu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Globally mobile employees often have... a mental and physical feeling of being healthy, capable, and energetic – and a strong sense of meaning and purpose. So why do globally mobile individuals score higher on vitality despite reporting higher stress and burnout levels compared to local counterparts? Globally mobile employees emerge as a highly valuable and resilient segment of the workforce. Despite facing unique stressors associated with their situation, they exhibit distinct skills and a high level of motivation, resulting in higher vitality. 2024 Cigna Healthcare Vitality Study

Persons: Ernestine Siu It's, Wendy Sherry, Sherry Organizations: Healthcare, Global Health, International Health, Cigna, Cigna Healthcare, Financial Locations: United States, Singapore, U.S, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China, Hong Kong, Asia, Middle East, Africa, UAE, Europe

☆ Blinken holds high-stakes meetings in Israel as he ramps up pressure on Hamas to accept ceasefire deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

He is expected to meet with senior Israeli government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US officials have signaled some optimism about the potential of reaching an agreement to secure a ceasefire and release of the hostages held by Hamas after Israel put forward what Blinken described Monday as an “extraordinarily generous” proposal. Israel is awaiting a response from Hamas before deciding whether to send its own delegation to Cairo. Blinken’s visit is his latest since the deadly Israeli strike on a World Central Kitchen aid convoy in Gaza in early April. “We have not yet seen a plan that gives us confidence that civilians can be effectively protected,” Blinken said Monday.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Blinken, ” Israel “, ”, “, ” Blinken, Biden, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Cairo

☆ Good news: The worst could be over for gas prices this spring
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

US gas prices have stopped rising and even briefly dipped in recent days. Now, there is growing hope that gas prices are at or near a peak for the spring – or perhaps even for the year. ‘Could have been much worse’Of course, none of this is to say gas prices are cheap. A spike in gas prices would be the last thing President Joe Biden needs as he struggles to convince voters of his economic message before November. Why gas prices have cooledThere are multiple reasons why gas prices have stopped rising for the moment.

Persons: Patrick De Haan, “ I’m, ” De Haan, Tom Kloza, ”, Andy Lipow, “, De Haan, Joe Biden, Lipow, ” Lipow, Kloza Organizations: New, New York CNN, OPEC, AAA, CNN, “, Oil Price Information Service, Lipow Oil Associates, Drivers, Federal Reserve, Biden, US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Coast, Colorado State University Locations: New York, Israel, Iran, Covid, California, De Haan ., Washington, Syria, West Texas, New Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Russia

☆ 29-year-old ex-bartender now earns $100,000 working in AI without a college degree—here's how
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

For a while, Maruyama thought her career options without a college degree would be limited to low-wage jobs or becoming an entrepreneur. Cosmetic tattoo artists, who need to complete classes and acquire a license, tattoo permanent makeup and can camouflage bald patches and tattoo full scalps to create the appearance of hair. Maruyama obtained her cosmetic tattoo artist license in 2018 while living in Savannah. Most of the open jobs Maruyama saw online were in tech and required skills she had never heard of. At the same time, Maruyama started sharing her experience looking for — and landing — a job without a college degree on TikTok under the username @degreefree.

Persons: Maruyama, Hannah Maruyama, Ryan, Hannah, furloughed Organizations: CNBC, Georgia Southern, Georgia Southern University, Yama Studios, Honolulu Fire Department, AWS Locations: Savannah, AskMakeIt@cnbc.com, Honolulu, Hawaii, Saudi Arabia

☆ McKinsey tried to boost the morale of senior staff by blasting Eminem and Bob Marley at an internal event, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McKinsey & Co. held an internal event to rally partners amid a challenging year, Bloomberg reports. Like many major consulting firms, McKinsey has announced layoffs as demand for its services has fallen. During the event, Bob Sternfels, global managing partner at McKinsey, reportedly admitted that the last 18 months had been challenging but said that 2024 was looking better for the firm. McKinsey global managing partner, Bob Sternfels, makes a statement to the US Senate on the firm's work with Saudi Arabia, February 2024. But McKinsey partners have reportedly been unhappy with how leadership has handled the role reductions, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Persons: Bob Marley, Eminem, —, Bob Sternfels, Sternfels, sprees, they're Organizations: McKinsey, Co, Bloomberg, Service, SPAN McKinsey, Employees, US Department of Justice, Purdue Pharma, Sternfels Locations: British, Copenhagen, Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia is desperately trying to convince everyone that Neom megaproject is going just fine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia insists its Neom megacity project is on track. The Saudi economy minister told CNBC there was "no change in scale" for the project. The kingdom's been battling reports that its ambitious desert city has suffered setbacks. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementSaudi Arabia says its Neom megacity project is going ahead as planned.

Persons: — Organizations: CNBC, Service, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Only the U.S. has the ability to break the cycle of violence in Gaza, Egyptian foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Emma Graham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called on the U.S. to leverage its influence over Israel to prevent further bloodshed in Gaza. Speaking to CNBC's Dan Murphy on Sunday at a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he said "only the United States has the overall ability to influence conditions, and to motivate all sides concerned to find the point of convergence, and to be able to break the cycle of violence." His words echoed other Arab leaders at the WEF meeting who believe that ending the war in Gaza falls on the United States. Shoukry pushed Washington to "leverage their ability to provide incentives, but also to indicate consequences for the lack of achievement or the lack of progress in the cessation of hostilities." Hamas is reportedly reviewing Israel's latest Gaza cease-fire proposal and a delegation from the group is scheduled to visit Cairo on Monday for talks, according to a Hamas official who spoke to Reuters.

Persons: Sameh Shoukry, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Shoukry Organizations: Egypt's, Reuters Locations: Israel, Gaza, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, United States, Washington, Cairo

☆ Middle East Crisis Blinken Is Set to Meet With Top Middle East Diplomats on War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, three weeks after telling him that he could rethink U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza. An administration official said that about three-quarters of Mr. Biden’s nearly hourlong call to Mr. Netanyahu focused on the possible cease-fire and hostages deal. The two leaders also discussed hostage videos released by Hamas last week, including those showing two hostages with American citizenship. Israel, heeding pleas by Mr. Biden for restraint, fired back only a token counterattack, and both sides have indicated they want to avoid further escalation. With the immediate threat of a wider war seemingly fading, Mr. Biden and his team could shift their attention back to Gaza.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken, “ That’s, John F, Kirby, Biden’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Mr, Biden “, “, Bernie Sanders, ”, Yahya Sinwar, ” Edward Wong Organizations: Israel, Hamas, State Department, Mr, Economic, White, ABC, Biden, American, ”, CNN, “, U.S Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Jordan, Israel, ”, U.S, Vermont, “ State, Iran

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