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☆ Billionaire CEO gifts 1,200 UMass grads 'envelopes full of cash' totaling about $1.2 million — but there's a catch
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA billionaire gifted graduating students at UMass Dartmouth with "envelopes full of cash" totaling $1,000. Related storiesA UMass Dartmouth press release said security brought onstage two large duffle bags "packed with envelopes full of cash." AdvertisementHale told graduates that he had two envelopes to give them: one reading "gift" and the other reading "give." UMass Dartmouth graduates received $1,000. If all 1,200 students received the $1,000, Hale's giveaway amounted to about $1.2 million.

Persons: —, Robert Hale Jr, Hale, Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfeld, Duke Organizations: Service, UMass Dartmouth, Granite Telecommunications, Business, UMass Dartmouth Chancellor's, Columbia University, Duke University, BI Locations: Hale, United States, Gaza, Israel

☆ Universities continue to grapple with pro-Palestinian protests ahead of graduation ceremonies
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Universities across the United States have adopted a number of tactics in recent weeks to prevent disruptions by pro-Palestinian protesters at graduation ceremonies. Some universities have reached agreements with on-campus demonstrators, while others have cited safety concerns and canceled, postponed or relocated their schoolwide ceremonies. Several schools continue to grapple with pro-Palestinian protesters ahead of their spring commencement, subjecting themselves to internal scrutiny and public criticism. Friday’s arrests follow the arrest of at least 33 people on May 10 when law enforcement broke down a pro-Palestinian encampment erected on campus. Biden is expected to deliver a commencement address at the United States Military Academy at West Point on May 25.

Persons: Fisher, Bennet, Monday’s, Gene Block, counterprotesters, “, grievously, Andrea M, Kasko, ”, Etienne Laurent, Mildred García, Mike Lee, …, Lee, ” Lee, García, ” Morehouse, David A, Thomas, Joe Biden’s, ” Thomas, CNN’s Victor Blackwell, Biden Organizations: New, New York CNN — Universities, University of Pennsylvania, CNN, Penn, Occupation, UCLA, Senate, University of California, California State University System, Sonoma State University, Justice, “, Morehouse College, Morehouse, George Mason University, United States Military Academy, West Locations: New York, United States, Palestine, Gaza, Israel, Sonoma State, Los Angeles, University of California Los Angeles, Atlanta, Virginia

☆ Biden’s China Tariffs Are the End of an Era for Cheap Chinese Goods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Jim Tankersley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For the first two decades of the 21st century, many consumer products on America’s store shelves got less expensive. A wave of imports from China and other emerging economies helped push down the cost of video games, T-shirts, dining tables, home appliances and more. Those imports drove some American factories out of business, and they cost more than a million workers their jobs. Stung by shuttered factories, cratered industries and prolonged wage stagnation, Americans in 2016 elected a president who vowed to hit back at China on trade. In separate but overlapping efforts, former President Donald J. Trump and President Biden have sought to revive and protect American factories by making it more expensive to buy Chinese goods.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Biden Organizations: Walmart, Amazon, Mr Locations: China, United States, U.S

☆ U.S. and Iranian Officials Held Indirect Talks in Oman on Risks of a Wider War
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Edward Wong | More About Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senior American and Iranian officials held talks through intermediaries in Oman this past week, the first such conversations since Iran launched a retaliatory attack on Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones last month, according to a person familiar with the recent meetings. Brett McGurk, the top White House official on Middle East policy, and Abram Paley, the deputy special envoy for Iran, attended the talks in Oman. Since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, several Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have stepped up attacks on American troops, raising fears of a wider war. However, U.S. intelligence officials assess that neither Hezbollah nor Iran wants to engage in a wider war. The format of the talks in Oman was similar to ones held in January: The Americans sat in one room while their Iranian counterparts sat in another, and Omani officials shuttled between the rooms.

Persons: Brett McGurk, Abram Paley, Axios Organizations: White, Hamas, United Locations: Oman, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, United States

☆ Former Augusta National Golf Club employee pleads guilty to stealing millions worth of Masters memorabilia and merchandise
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A former employee of the Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) in Georgia has pleaded guilty to stealing millions worth of Masters Tournament merchandise and memorabilia. A view of a Members Only sign outside of Augusta National Golf Club prior to the 2024 Masters Tournament on April 7. The 11th green is prepared prior to the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6. CNN has contacted Augusta National for further comment. Unlike the other majors, The Masters is played at the same course every year, with Augusta National hosting the event since the year it was founded.

Persons: CNN —, Richard Globensky, Globensky’s, Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Globensky, Bobby Jones, Andrew Redington, “, Maddie Meyer, Tom Church, Scottie Scheffler Organizations: CNN, Augusta National Golf, District of Illinois Eastern, Masters, Augusta National, United States Attorney’s Office, Prosecutors, Augusta National Golf Club, PGA, U.S . Locations: Georgia, Chicago, Augusta, Florida

☆ The Baltimore Bridge cargo ship’s crew has been stuck on board for 7 weeks. What life is like on the Dali vessel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Holly Yan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Mark Nestlehutt boarded the Dali cargo ship a week after it crashed into a Baltimore bridge, anxious questions emerged among the 21 crew members:“When will I get off the ship? When will I be able to get home?”More than a month later, crew members still don’t know the answers. But the FBI has only returned some of the crew members’ SIM cards, he said. They’re also assisting with the salvors.”The Singaporean-flagged Dali cargo vessel is shown on March 26, hours after it destroyed Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. Their one-month visas expired during the nearly two months they’ve been trapped on the Dali, Duan said.

Persons: Mark Nestlehutt, They’ve, Dali, Francis Scott Key, ”, Gwee Guo Duan, they’ve, Philip C, Schifflin Jr, ” Schifflin, Nestlehutt, “, Duan, Dave Heindel, Bro Chen Chuanyi, ” Don Marcus, Darrell Wilson, They’re, Baltimore's Francis Scott Key, Julia Nikhinson, ” Wilson, Wilson, Duan –, can’t, “ They’re, ” Duan, nonessential, Schifflin, Gloria Pazmino Organizations: CNN, Francis Scott Key Bridge, FBI, Singapore Maritime Officers ’ Union, Center, Mariner, Federal Register, Seamen’s Church Institute, Singapore Organisation of Seamen, International Union, ”, ITF, International Organization of Masters, Synergy Marine, –, Marine, Synergy, National Transportation Safety, Walmart Locations: Baltimore, Lankan, United States, Dali

☆ I live in a Texas city that's one of the fastest-growing in America. I see why so many Californians are moving here — and the impact they have on home prices and traffic.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eric Newland, a 56-year-old retired Medical Service Corps officer who is now a real-estate agent in New Braunfels, Texas. The city is about 32 miles northeast of San Antonio and roughly 40 miles southwest of Austin, within the Texas Triangle." The city is growing but retaining its identityDespite its growth, the city maintains its small-town charm, with quaint shops and restaurants. Moving towards San Antonio and Austin, the city begins to feel like a larger town with several strip malls and new homes. An upside is that there have been a lot of new businesses, more income to the city, and even live music.

Persons: —, Eric Newland, Fort Sam Houston, I've, Braunfels, Newland, Eric Newland There's Organizations: Service, Medical Service, Business, Fort, Texas, Austin, Army, Realtors, Railroad Locations: New Braunfels , Texas, Braunfels, New Braunfels, Fort Sam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Germany, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Houston, there's, Wurstfest, United States, Schlitterbahn, California, Texas, San Diego, Angeles

☆ Tsai Ing-wen: the leader who put Taiwan on the map and stood up to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Wayne Chang | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

While supporters applaud Tsai for standing up to China, defending Taiwan’s sovereignty, freedom and democracy, critics blame her for straining ties with Beijing, stoking cross-strait tensions. Beijing, which deems the tacit agreement a precondition for dialogue, has cut official contact with Taipei since Tsai took office. Taiwan President Tsai inspects reservists at a training session at a military base in Taoyuan on May 11, 2023. But under Tsai, Taiwan has sought to enhance its asymmetric defense capabilities, developing and procuring cheaper and more mobile weapon systems that could be instrumental in halting a potential Chinese invasion. Taiwanese military experts have increasingly advocated for such an approach, noting that Taiwan can never match China in military might and assets.

Persons: Taipei CNN — Tsai Ing, introvert, ” Tsai, Xi Jinping, Xi, Tsai, stoking, Taiwan’s, Lai Ching, ”, Alex Chan Tsz Yuk, Wellington Koo, “, Vanessa Hope, Ma Ying, Taiwan's, Jose Lopes Amaral, Wen, Amanda Hsiao, Nancy Pelosi, Chien Chih, Nancy Pelosi’s, Huang, Jameson Wu, ” Sung, ” Hsiao, “ Tsai, Sawayasu Tsuji, Sung, ” Tsai’s, –, Lai Organizations: Taipei CNN, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, World Health Organization, WHO, Atlantic, Trump, Biden, International Crisis, US, Getty, World Health Assembly, National Chengchi University, Getty Images, Taiwan’s Military Academy, ” Tsai’s DPP Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, United States, Beijing, Tsai, Asia, Wellington, Ukraine, Gaza, Japan, Czech Republic, Republic of China, Taoyuan, AFP, Washington, Hong Kong

☆ Donald Trump addresses an embattled NRA as he campaigns against Biden’s gun policies
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Steve Contorno | Daniel Strauss | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Significantly less clear, though, is how much the NRA can help Trump’s bid to win the White House once again. “Donald Trump is winning no new voters when he boasts about doing nothing about gun violence during his presidency. Period,” said Nick Suplina, a senior vice president at Everytown for Gun Safety, a group founded in the aftermath of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Suplina said Trump’s NRA appearance “shows that both the organization and the man are a bit desperate for each other. Among both gun safety advocates and gun rights groups, there’s little disagreement about the stakes in 2024.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Wayne LaPierre, It’s, ”, “ It’s, I’ve, ” Trump, Kristi Noem, Donald Trump Jr, Joe Biden’s, Bryan Lanza, “ Donald Trump, ” Lanza, “, Biden, Nick Suplina, Sandy, Suplina, Aidan Johnston, Johnston, ” Suplina, ” Biden, Karoline Leavitt, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene Organizations: Dallas CNN —, National Rifle Association, NRA, White House, New, Political, Mar, CNN, North Dakota Gov, Libertarian Party, Republican, Trump, Biden, Safety, Sandy Hook Elementary, Gun Owners of America, White, U.S Locations: New York, Manhattan, Jersey, Washington ,, Minnesota, United States, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Parkland , Florida

☆ AI 'godfather' Geoffrey Hinton says he's 'very worried' about AI taking jobs and has advised the British government to adopt a universal basic income
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewSome say AI will be a great equalizer. And he believes a universal basic income might be the solution. "I advised them that universal basic income was a good idea." AdvertisementOpenAI CEO Sam Altman — who's been racing to develop artificial general intelligence — is running his own experiment around a universal basic income, the results of which he expects to release soon. He also recently floated the idea of a "universal basic compute."

Persons: —, Geoffrey Hinton, It's, Hinton, Sam Altman — who's, Altman Organizations: Service, BBC, Business Locations: Downing, South Africa, Kenya, India, United States

☆ Gaza Gets Its First Aid Shipment from U.S. Pier: Israel-Hamas Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The notion of deploying U.N. peacekeepers into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been mentioned occasionally by diplomats. But the Arab League’s statement appeared to be the first time the group had officially made such a request in a written document, according to Farhan Haq, a U.N. spokesman. U.N. forces, which are typically drawn from the armed forces of multiple countries, do not enter live battle zones and do not engage in fighting. Both Israel and Hamas would also have to agree to having U.N. peacekeepers on the ground. “We don’t go into active combat, and parties themselves have to agree on allowing the presence of peacekeepers.

Persons: Farhan Haq, Mr, Haq, don’t, Israel, Vedant Patel, António Guterres, Guterres Organizations: United Nations, West Bank, . Security, League, Arab League, State Department Locations: Gaza, Israel, Manama, Bahrain, United States, Washington, Bahrain’s, Rafah

☆ Russian forces use border-town captives as ‘human shields,’ Ukrainian officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Mariya Knight | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Vovchansk, in the northern Kharkiv region, has faced an onslaught, with Russian forces claiming to control surrounding villages, forcing civilians to flee. The details came a day after Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Russians are taking civilians captive in northern Vovchansk. Russia has not commented on its troops using civilians as human shields or targeting those trying to evacuate. Russian forces launched airstrikes on Kharkiv Friday, killing at least three people and injuring 28, mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a Telegram post. He also said there may be several waves of Russian attacks on the region, and emphasized the need for Patriot missile systems to push Russian troops out of Kharkiv.

Persons: Serhii Bolvinov, ” Bolvinov, Bolvinov, Ihor Klymenko, ” Klymenko, Ihor Terekhov, Oleh Syniehubov, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Russian, Kharkiv, police, Suspilne, Ukraine’s, ” Police, Russian Defense Ministry, AFP, Patriot, The United States Locations: Vovchansk, Moscow, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Russian, Russia

☆ Mercedes Workers in Alabama Reject Union
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Workers at two Mercedes-Benz factories near Tuscaloosa, Ala., voted on Friday against joining the United Automobile Workers, a stunning blow to the union’s campaign to gain ground in the South, where it has traditionally been weak. Hyundai and Honda also have large factories in Alabama that the U.A.W. could build on a string of recent victories and gain ground in a state whose elected officials have been hostile to organized labor. The union has said it wants to organize every automobile factory in the United States, expanding its membership to include the employees of companies like Toyota and Tesla. Union leaders will want to spend time figuring out how best to counter the messages and tactics of local lawmakers and company executives.

Persons: Kay Ivey Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, United Automobile Workers, Alabama’s, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Tesla Locations: Tuscaloosa, Ala, Alabama, United States, Union

☆ No walk-ins allowed: What to know when touring the world’s best wine regions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Penny Sadler | Erica Lamberg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Wine touring in the Old WorldFrance Of France's 11 wine regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy (or Bourgogne) and Champagne are the most eminent. The United States California is renowned for wine tasting, though almost every state in the continental U.S. has a wine region or wine tourism area. Visitors can drive between vineyards, bike the Napa Valley Wine Trail, or book a ride on the vintage Napa Valley Wine Train. Barossa is one of the older wine regions in Australia, with some 200 cellar doors within two hours of Adelaide. South Africa South Africa may be considered a new world wine region, but Constantia, a top destination for wine tasting, is centuries old.

Persons: meunier, Chateau Angelus, Viniv Bordeaux, Georges Gobet, Montagne, Kim Kulish, Margaret River, Wine, Joey Estate, River, Groot Organizations: Michelin, Viniv, Afp, Getty, UNESCO, Heritage, Montagne de Reims, Travelers, United, Wine, Sonoma, Australia Wine, Bloomberg Locations: Europe, United States, Australia, South Africa, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Bourgogne, Vin, Chateau, Saint Emilion, France, Champagne, Italy Tuscany, Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Greve, Alba, Piedmont, United States California, Napa Valley, Napa, Texas, Washington , Oregon, Virginia, New York, Yarra, Victoria, Barossa, Adelaide, Perth, Yarra Valley, Melbourne, South Africa South Africa, Constantia, Groot Constantia, South, Cape Town

☆ Mercedes-Benz workers in Alabama vote against unionizing in blow to big UAW push
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Out of the valid votes counted, 56% of workers voted “no,” while 44% voted “yes” for unionization, according to Mercedes-Benz. Under relatively new UAW president Shawn Fain, the UAW had shifted its strategy for a membership push in non-unionized factories, many of which are located in the American South. David Johnston, right, a worker at Mercedes, thanks UAW President Shawn Fain following a press conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on May 17, 2024, after workers at two Alabama Mercedes-Benz factories voted overwhelmingly against joining the United Auto Workers union. Alabama is not Michigan, and we are not the Sweet Home to the UAW,” Ivey said in the statement. People react as the result of a vote comes in favour of the hourly factory workers at Volkswagen's assembly plant to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, at a watch party in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S., April 19, 2024.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, ”, ” “, ” Fain, David Johnston, Kim Chandler, “, Kay Ivey, Vance, ” Ivey, Mercedes, Tesla, Seth, Wheaton, Mercedes plant’s, It’s, Mercedes Benz, ” Wheaton, “ It’s, Chris Isidore, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, Mercedes, Benz, The National Labor Relations Board, UAW, Alabama, Big Three, Volkswagen, International, Team, Workers, Alabama Gov, Benz US International, Member, ” CNN, US, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, Seth Herald, Reuters, Chattanooga, Volkswagen didn’t, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations ’, CNN, P Global Market Intelligence Locations: New York, Benz, Alabama, United States, Chattanooga , Tennessee, American, Tuscaloosa , Alabama, MBUSI, Alabama , Georgia , Mississippi, South Carolina , Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, U.S, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations ’ Buffalo

☆ Vietnam reportedly forfeits billions of dollars in foreign aid amid anti-graft freeze
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Vietnam forfeited at least $2.5 billion in foreign aid over the last three years and may lose another $1 billion because of administrative paralysis, the United Nations, the World Bank and Western donors told the government in a letter seen by Reuters. Vietnam forfeited at least $2.5 billion in foreign aid over the last three years and may lose another $1 billion because of administrative paralysis, the United Nations, the World Bank and Western donors told the government in a letter seen by Reuters. Two senior foreign officials interviewed by Reuters directly linked the administrative hurdles to the "blazing furnace" anti-graft drive, echoing similar comments from other diplomats and officials in recent months. The anti-graft drive has created a sort of paralysis, in which bureaucrats are slow to approve or advance initiatives because they fear accidentally violating complex regulations. The U.N. and the World Bank said they kept working closely with the government on projects, with the U.N. acknowledging in a statement to Reuters that there were "challenges" for the use of funding.

Persons: Pham Minh Chinh Organizations: United Nations, World Bank, Reuters, European Union, Japan, Asian Development Bank Locations: Vietnam, Communist, United States

This episode contains explicit language. Over recent months, protests over the war in Gaza have rocked college campuses across the United States. As students graduate and go home for the summer, three joined “The Daily” to discuss why they got involved, what they wanted to say and how they ended up facing off against each other. On today’s episode

Locations: Gaza, United States

☆ Thunderstorms, Wind and Climate Change: Here’s What to Know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Raymond Zhong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The severe storms that swept through Houston and the Gulf Coast on Thursday left all the destructive traces of a hurricane, yet they didn’t blow in from the tropics. Here’s what to know about such storms, and how they might be changing in our warming climate. Global warming creates conditions more favorable to severe storms. As the planet warms, severe storms of all kinds are likely to deliver even bigger payloads of rain. The heat energy released into the atmosphere by this condensation is what feeds thunderstorms.

Locations: Houston, Gulf, United States

☆ Opinion: Israel could defeat Hamas in Gaza more quickly if the US didn’t hold it back, this military expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hilary Krieger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

CNN: Do you think that Israel can defeat Hamas without conducting a ground invasion in Rafah? The fact is that Rafah’s where the hostages and remaining Hamas military power and leadership are believed to be, their rockets and weapons production and other capabilities, everything. CNN: Couldn’t Israel’s offensive still have the effect of creating more militants who are going to join Hamas and fight against Israel? But it’s also a very winnable war for Hamas at this point because wars are not determined just by military capability. The problem is that the international community pushed Israel into this framework of going slower, going methodically, evacuating every area beforehand.

Persons: CNN —, John Spencer, Spencer, John Spencer Spencer, He’s, ” Spencer, JACK GUEZ, they’ve, we’re, there’s, Couldn’t, David Petraeus, Petraeus, who’s, it’s, You’ve, Dawoud Abo, Israel, I’ve, Israel doesn’t, that’s, — we’re, they’re, would’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Modern, Institute, IDF, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Getty, Israel, Nazi, Spencer, Shiva, Dawoud Abo Alkas, ISIS, UN, Gaza, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, West, Rafah, Spencer, Israeli, Hamas, Gaza City, AFP, Iran, Palestine, Northern Gaza, Afghanistan, United States, Egypt, Sinai, Anadolu, Qaida, Mosul, Panama, Tokyo

Ukraine has asked the Biden administration to provide more intelligence on the position of Russian forces and military targets inside Russia as Ukrainian troops struggle to hold ground in the war, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. A group of Ukrainian Parliament members also met with members of Congress in Washington to press for the United States to allow Kyiv to use American weapons in Russia. Ukraine’s requests have become more urgent in recent weeks as Russia has taken advantage of delays in shipments of American weapons and intensified military operations in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine. But White House officials said the administration’s longstanding policy remained unchanged: The United States is not encouraging or enabling attacks inside Russia. American officials, seeking to avoid escalating the war, have insisted they do not want U.S. weapons used in cross-border attacks or their intelligence reports used to target sites in Russia.

Persons: Biden Organizations: White Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Washington, United States, Kyiv, Kharkiv, U.S

☆ Uyghur forced labor: US blocks imports from 26 Chinese textile firms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington (Reuters) — The United States has barred imports from 26 Chinese cotton traders or warehouse facilities on Thursday as part of its effort to eliminate goods made with the forced labor of Uyghur minorities from the US supply chain. US officials believe Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in China’s western Xinjiang region. “The so-called ‘Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’ is just an instrument of a few US politicians to disrupt stability in Xinjiang and contain China’s development,” the spokesperson said. Washington has restricted imports from 65 entities since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List law was passed in 2021, according to the department. “We enthusiastically endorse DHS’s action today to nearly double the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s ‘Entity List’ — while recognizing that the current list remains only a fraction of the businesses complicit in forced labor,” Representative Chris Smith and Senator Jeff Merkley, chairs of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said in a statement.

Persons: ” Alejandro Mayorkas, “, Chris Smith, Jeff Merkley Organizations: Washington, Reuters, Uyghur, Labor, US Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security, Congressional, Commission, DHS Locations: United States, China’s Xinjiang, China’s, Xinjiang, Beijing, Washington, China, Asia

☆ New Star Wars Plan: Pentagon Rushes to Counter Threats in Orbit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Eric Lipton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Pentagon is rushing to expand its capacity to wage war in space, convinced that rapid advances by China and Russia in space-based operations pose a growing threat to U.S. troops and other military assets on the ground and American satellites in orbit. Details of the push by the Pentagon remain highly classified. But Defense Department officials have increasingly acknowledged that the initiative reflects a major shift in military operations as space increasingly becomes a battleground. No longer will the United States simply rely on military satellites to communicate, navigate and track and target terrestrial threats, tools that for decades have given the Pentagon a major advantage in conflicts. Instead, the Defense Department is looking to acquire a new generation of ground- and space-based tools that will allow it to defend its satellite network from attack and, if necessary, to disrupt or disable enemy spacecraft in orbit, Pentagon officials have said in a series of interviews, speeches and recent statements.

Organizations: Pentagon, Defense, Defense Department Locations: China, Russia, U.S, United States

☆ Bollywood and Indian politics: Influence of Modi and BJP on world’s largest film industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

And most of these are Hindi films, meaning Bollywood holds an outsized influence on the country’s culture, identity and economy. A screengrab from the 2022 Bollywood film "The Kashmir Files." CNN reached out to several people from the film industry for this story, some of whom declined to be interviewed due to sensitivities around the topic. It encouraged some Bollywood filmmakers to “(lean) into the caricature of the Muslim villain,” he says. These films are growing fast; outside Bollywood, earnings from the South Indian media and entertainment industry have nearly doubled year on year, according to a 2023 report by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Persons: India’s, Narendra Modi, Indranil Mukherjee, ”, Raja Sen, “ It’s, Modi, Tanul Thakur, …, Veer Savarkar, –, ” Adah Sharma, Pandits, Vivek Agnihotri, ” Sudipto Sen, Debashree Mukherjee, it’s, Thakur, Sen, Darab Farooqui, Sonu Mehta, Farooqui, “, she’s, Aamir Khan, ” Farooqui, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mukherjee, Yash Chopra, ” That’s, ” Thakur, ” Sen, “ We’ve, ’, Dharmendra, Noemi Cassanelli, “ Something’s Organizations: India CNN —, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Observers, Hollywood, Republican, Modi’s, Getty, CNN, Ministry of Culture, of, Netflix, Columbia, Social Democratic Party of India, Hindustan Times, Columbia University, Journalists, Confederation of Indian Industry Locations: Mumbai, India, Kerala, Kashmir, Jammu, Columbia University’s, Middle Eastern, South, Jaipur, New Delhi, Pakistan, United States, Tamil Nadu

☆ FLiRT variants threaten a summer Covid wave, but experts say the risk remains uncertain
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

FLiRT variants are offshoots of the JN.1 variant — all part of the broader Omicron family — that caused this winter’s wave. The mutations of the FLiRT variants make increased transmissibility — and a possible summer wave — a real threat. “We learned from the laboratories that FLiRT variants appeared, so far, to be as transmissible as the other Omicron subvariants, which means they’re really quite contagious. As of May 1, the requirement for all hospitals to report Covid-19 data to the federal government has expired. While the FLiRT variants pose some risk this summer, experts remain focused on what might happen in the fall.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Andy Pekosz, “ We’ve, William Schaffner, ” Schaffner, it’s, ” Pekosz, “, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, we’ve Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, Data, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Vanderbilt University, Schaffner’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center, CDC, JAMA, CNN Health, JN, US Food Locations: United States, Covid

☆ Oil set for weekly gain on signs of improving demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices rose in Asian trading hours on Friday, with global benchmark Brent set for its first weekly increase in three weeks on signs of improving global demand and slowing inflation in top oil consumer the United States. Brent crude oil prices rose 21 cents, or 0.3%, to $83.48 a barrel by 0018 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 18 cents, or 0.2%, to $79.41 a barrel. Brent futures are set to rise about 1% on a weekly basis, and WTI futures are set to gain 1.4%. Recent declines in oil and refined products inventories at major global trading hubs have created optimism over oil demand growth, reversing a trend of rising stockpiles that had weighed heavily on crude oil prices in prior weeks.

Persons: Brent, Alex Hodes Organizations: . West Texas, Brent, ., Financial, Federal Reserve Locations: Tutong district, Brunei, United States, U.S, Europe's Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp

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