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☆ Historic Starliner crewed launch attempt delayed again as teams continue to assess helium leak
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Deblina Chakraborty | Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The target date for the highly anticipated inaugural crewed mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has moved yet again. The update comes just days after Starliner teams reported a small helium leak in the service module of the spacecraft. Boeing designed the Starliner to rival SpaceX’s prolific Crew Dragon capsule and expand US options for ferrying astronauts to the space station. Meanwhile, Boeing’s rival under NASA’s commercial crew program — SpaceX — has become the go-to transportation provider for the space agency’s astronauts. Williams and Wilmore were already in their seats aboard the Starliner capsule May 6 when engineers found an issue and halted the launch.

Persons: Starliner’s, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Williams, Wilmore, NASA’s, Bill Nelson, —, ”, SpaceX —, CNN’s Jackie Wattles, Ashley Strickland Organizations: CNN, NASA, Boeing, Atlas V, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, International Space, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, V Locations: Houston, Florida, United States

☆ 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

☆ Scottie Scheffler: The new father and man of faith with the golfing world at his feet
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Scottie Scheffler is a man well-accustomed to making global headlines, but almost never for events beyond the confines of the golf course. In 2014, at 17, as an amateur he made a hole-in-one and the cut on his first PGA Tour start. Without a PGA Tour victory heading into 2022, by April of that year he was a four-time victor, the world No. 1’s image as the self-effacing star of the PGA Tour, a perception he is content to endorse. His 10th PGA Tour title, it made him the first golfer since Woods in 2006 to win a PGA Tour event the week after triumphing at a major.

Persons: Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods, Scheffler, Ryder, Scheffler coasted, “, Meredith, ” Scheffler, Ted Scott, ” Scottie Scheffler, David J, Phillip, Mary, Grandma, CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, Jared C, Tilton, Scheffler’s, Riddell, ”, I’m, I’ve, golf’s, Jamie Squire, Arnold Palmer, Andrew Redington, Bennett, Woods, triumphing, Rory McIlroy, Scott Organizations: CNN, Dallas, PGA, Augusta National, University of Texas, TPC, PGA Tour, Cowboys, Team USA, Ryder, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Northern Locations: Ridgewood , New Jersey, Augusta, Ponte Vedra Beach , Florida, Dallas, Rome, Valhalla, Louisville

☆ Opinion: The latest version of ChatGPT is creepy — and appealing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Opinion Jeff Yang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Jeff Yang CNNLike its predecessors, GPT-4o is trained on enormous quantities of data to process queries, recognize patterns and deliver helpful responses. Watching the reveal, I found myself involuntarily gasping as researchers Mark Chen and Barret Zoph showed off GPT-4o’s new chops. The freakout aspect of the reveal came from how it demonstrated that GPT-4o isn’t just a tool — it’s a tool with personality. On the one hand, having the option to interrupt your AI chatbot when it’s going astray saves time. On the other, watching dudes repeatedly talking over a female-reading chatbot made it abundantly clear why you can’t spell “mansplain” without AI.

Persons: Jeff Yang, Bruce ”, “, Jeff Yang CNN, Mark Chen, Barret Zoph, Chen, Mira Murati, Parmy Olson, ”, Desi Lydic, …, Sam Altman, it’s, Siri, ” chuckling, Altman, Spike Jonze’s, Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Marc Benioff, Johansson, chatbot, mansplain Organizations: CNN, omni, Zoph . Media, Bloomberg, “, Twitter, Boston Dynamics Locations: Asian America, America, omnimodal

☆ They claim AI stole their voices. Now they’re suing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Now, Lehrman, along with fellow voice actor Linnea Sage, is suing AI firm Lovo for allegedly commissioning them for voice projects under false pretenses in order to create and sell AI-generated versions of their voices. The Berkeley, California based tech company advertises AI-generated voice technology to be used in marketing, education and product demos. Then in June 2023, Lehrman claims he heard his voice being used on a podcast about the dangers of AI technologies. Sage says she later also discovered her voice in a YouTube video: a recording of a Lovo investor presentation demonstrating its technology. They are voices stolen by LOVO and marketed by LOVO under false pretenses,” the complaint states.

Persons: Paul Lehrman, Linnea Sage, Lovo, Sage, ” Lovo, Lehrman, he’d, LOVO Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Court, New York Times Locations: New York, Berkeley, California, Southern

It’s just the latest sign that the pilgrimage to Trump’s criminal trial in New York has become a new litmus test for Trump loyalty inside the GOP ahead of November. Then, the GOP members joined Trump in his motorcade – including the Republican candidate challenging GOP Rep. Bob Good, who has tried to cozy up to Trump after initially endorsing Florida Gov. President, we’ve got your back,” GOP Rep. Andy Ogles said outside the courthouse. Gaetz along with Boebert and GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who were all in New York on Thursday, missed the vote. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked outrage when she went after Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s appearance and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence, with the committee meeting devolving into a heated sparring match.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, Trump, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Mike Johnson – who’s, “ There’s, It’s, it’s, Johnson, Lauren Boebert, Ralph Norman of, ”, Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Rick Scott, Vivek, Ramaswamy, Todd Blanche, Sen, We’ve, Eric, Bob Good, Ron DeSantis –, “ Mr, we’ve, Andy Ogles, ” Norman, “, Matt Gaetz, Stormy Daniels, Andrew Kelly, Reuters Legislating, Merrick Garland, Joe BIden’s, Robert Hur –, Andy Biggs, Biden, Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jasmine Crockett’s, devolving, haven’t, “ Greene, johnny, suzy, latelys, Greene –, –, Boebert, Greene, “ Lauren Boebert, ” Boebert Organizations: CNN, Trump, he’s, GOP, Republicans, ”, North Dakota Gov, Manhattan Criminal, Caucus, Capitol, White House, Republican, Florida Gov, US Capitol Police, U.S, Reuters, Judiciary, Democratic Rep Locations: Manhattan, New York, Rick Scott of Florida, Colorado, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Ohio, New York City, Trump, U.S, Capitol Hill, Israel, Gaza, Gaetz, Alexandria

☆ Spanish tourists among four killed in Afghanistan shooting: Spanish Prime Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Masoud Popalzai | Al Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Four people were killed, including three Spanish citizens, in a shooting in central Afghanistan on Friday, according to Spanish and Afghan authorities. A Spanish person is also among the wounded, a Spanish diplomatic source told CNN. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the Spanish shooting victims as tourists, according to a post on X. “Overwhelmed by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan. The Emergency Consular Unit of the Spanish Foreign Ministry is working to offer all necessary assistance.

Persons: Mufti Abdul Mateen Qani, Pedro Sanchez, Qani Organizations: CNN, Foreign, Emergency, Unit, Spanish, Emergency Consular Unit, Spanish Foreign Locations: Afghanistan, Bamyan city, Spanish, Islamic Emirate

☆ The Dominican Republic votes on Sunday. Here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Jessica Hasbun | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic CNN —The Dominican Republic is days away from a general election that will see voters elect new lawmakers and the president as they weigh the nation’s economy and security. During his first term from 2020 to 2024, the Dominican Republic established a new record in the tourism industry, with more than 10 million tourists visiting the island in 2023. Former President of the Dominican Republic and presidential candidate of the People's Force party Leonel Fernandez greets supporters as he attends a closing campaign rally ahead of Sunday's election, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 15, 2024. Martinez poses during an interview with EFE, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 13 May 2024. People wait in Ouanaminthe, Haiti to cross into Dajabon, Dominican Republic, Friday, May 17, 2024.

Persons: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic CNN —, Luis Abinader, “ Abinader, ”, Bernardo Vega, Vega, National District Guillermo Moreno, Orlando Barria, Rosario Espinal, Abinader, Critics, Leonel Fernández, Fernandez, Leonel Fernandez, Henry Romero, “, Abel Martínez, Martinez, EFE, Pablo Flores, Flores, Matias Delacroix, Ney Segura Organizations: Dominican Republic CNN, Caribbean nation’s, Modern Revolutionary Party, National Police, Bank, National District, Dominican Liberation Party, Dominican, People's Force, Reuters, Force, People, Quarterly, United Nations, Santo, country’s National, US State Department, World Bank Locations: Dominican Republic, Dominican, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Port, Santiago, Caribbean, Ouanaminthe, Dajabon

☆ The iconic Mirage in Las Vegas is closing after 34 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The Mirage Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, and its instantly recognizable volcano, is soon shutting down after more than three decades in business. In addition to the volcano, the Mirage was also home to other quintessential Las Vegas features like the Siegfried and Roy’s white tigers show and a Cirque du Soleil show set to Beatles music. MGM Resorts bought the Mirage from Wynn in 2000 and sold it in 2022 for more than $1 billion to Hard Rock International. It’s the second time Hard Rock will have a presence in Las Vegas, with the brand previously owning the now-Virgin Hotel off the Strip. The Hard Rock said it will pay more than $80 million in severance.

Persons: Steve Wynn, Siegfried Organizations: New, New York CNN, Las, luxe, Bellagio, Vegas, MGM Resorts, Wynn, Virgin Hotel, Culinary Workers Union Locations: New York, Casino, Las Vegas, Florida, Treasure

☆ Jake Sullivan met in-person with representatives of countries whose citizens Hamas took hostage
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Mj Lee | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan convened for the first time this week an in-person meeting of ambassadors and chiefs of mission representing countries whose citizens were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, CNN has learned, as a ceasefire and hostages release deal remains stalled. Those 17 countries, along with the United States, have citizens whom Hamas took captive at the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The meeting comes at a critical moment when the efforts to secure the release of hostages and Gaza ceasefire appear to have stalled once again. Multiple US diplomats have told CNN in recent weeks that they are consistently hearing those concerns from their counterparts abroad. Still, the White House has also been clear that the US remains a steadfast supporter of Israel, including its right to defend itself.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Israel, “, ” Sullivan, Biden, ”, CNN’s Erin Burnett Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Qatar –, United Nations, Israel, White Locations: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Rafah

☆ Arup revealed as victim of $25 million deepfake scam involving Hong Kong employee
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —A British multinational design and engineering company behind world famous buildings such as the Sydney Opera House has confirmed that it was the target of a deepfake scam that led to one of its Hong Kong employees paying out $25 million to fraudsters. A spokesperson for Arup told CNN on Friday that it notified Hong Kong police in January about the fraud incident, and confirmed that fake voices and images were used. “Unfortunately, we can’t go into details at this stage as the incident is still the subject of an ongoing investigation. According to Hong Kong police, the elaborate scam saw the employee duped into attending a video call with people he believed were the CFO and other members of staff, but all of whom turned out to be deepfake recreations, Hong Kong police revealed in February. Authorities around the world are growing increasingly concerned about the sophistication of deepfake technology and the nefarious uses it can be put to.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Arup, ” Rob Greig, Michael Kwok Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sydney Opera, Hong Kong, CNN, Hong, Beijing Olympic Games, Arup’s East Locations: Hong Kong, British, Hong, Arup’s East Asia

☆ With Debate Deal, Trump and Biden Sideline a Storied Campaign Institution
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Adam Nagourney | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But the roots of the commission’s decline go back at least a decade and came to a head in 2020, when the commission struggled to stage a debate with Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden during the pandemic. The candidates’ first encounter that year was caustic and raucous, as Mr. Trump shouted over Mr. Biden and the moderator. As it later turned out, Mr. Trump had a Covid diagnosis days before the event, leading to strong objections from the Biden campaign to the commission. The second debate was canceled by Mr. Trump after the commission sought to make it virtual because Mr. Trump was recovering from the illness. By the third debate, the commission gave the moderator a mute button to cut off a candidate who broke the rules.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump, “, I’ve, Chris Wallace Organizations: Mr

Here are the takeaways from Day 18 of the Trump hush money trial:A heated confrontation over a key phone callIt took several hours of cross-examination before Blanche finally turned to the evidence directly related to the case. Blanche says the texts show that at 8:04 p.m. Cohen texted Schiller the phone number of the teenager prank calling him. “Was it true for just that phone calls, or was it true for other phone calls too?”“You just said you don’t recall a phone call back in 2016. “Because these phone calls are things that I have been talking about for the last six years. There’s also the possibility, as CNN has reported, that former Cohen attorney Bob Costello could appear.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Blanche, Cohen, Keith Schiller –, Daniels, Barron, Blanche finally, Schiller, “, ”, ” Blanche, Cohen texted Schiller, Keith Schiller, ” Cohen, Keith, ” “, it’s, he’s, Darrell Scott, –, Trump’s, Jean Carroll, Blanche quizzed, Maggie Haberman –, Susan Necheles, Susan Hoffinger, Merchan, There’s, Bob Costello, Costello Organizations: CNN, Trump, Mr, White, Congress, New, New York Times, Prosecutors Locations: Trump, White, New York, summations

☆ Opinion | When Donald Trump Met Hannibal Lecter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Frank Bruni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

How many of your acquaintances have been eaten by an immigrant who crossed the U.S. border illegally? I’m going to go out on a limb — the botanical kind, not the sort that a cannibal might call dinner — and guess zero. I’m also going to guess that a few of you are wondering if I’ve lost my mind. Donald Trump is the one who should be drawing your concern. Hannibal the Cannibal.

Persons: I’m, I’ve, Donald Trump, Trump, Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal, ”, Anthony Hopkins, Oscar Organizations: Lambs Locations: U.S, Wildwood , N.J, a.k.a

☆ Raccoon, chased by staff with trash cans, storms pitch during soccer game
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A furry pitch invader paused Major League Soccer play on Wednesday as a rogue raccoon ran onto the field during a match between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC. The athletic critter ran the length of the pitch at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, deftly evading capture while sprinting stadium staff tried to apprehend it using a trash can. “We need to find him a ball because he’s moving very well in the center of midfield,” a commentator quipped during the kerfuffle, adding that it was “entertainment of its own kind.”Raquinho the raccoon was eventually captured and later released. Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports/ReutersThe match was paused for five minutes as crews tried and eventually succeeded in capturing the animal, dubbed “Raquinha the Raccoon” by MLS. The Union sent out an update saying that the raccoon was “put in good hands” and was safely released.

Persons: ”, Eric Hartline, “, NYCFC, Alonso Martínez, Hannes Wolf Organizations: CNN, Major League Soccer, Philadelphia Union, New York City FC, Subaru, Reuters, MLS, The Union Locations: Chester , Pennsylvania

☆ Live Updates: Attempted Killing of Slovakia’s Leader Shocks a Polarized Nation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

PinnedA day after Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, was critically wounded in what his government called a politically motivated assassination attempt, attention focused on Thursday on the security breaches that had allowed the attack to occur. Mr. Fico’s condition stabilized overnight, and doctors were carrying out more procedures in hopes of improving his condition, Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak told a news conference on Thursday morning outside the hospital where Mr. Fico was being treated. Political tempers in the deeply polarized Central European nation rose after Mr. Fico’s shooting, and the interior minister, Matus Sutaj Estok, said an initial investigation “clearly points to a political motivation” behind the assassination attempt. Filip Kuffa, a state secretary, said early Thursday on Facebook that Mr. Fico was in stable condition. It said that cellphones had been taken from many staff members at the hospital to prevent them communicating information about Mr. Fico’s condition.

Persons: Robert Fico, Robert Kalinak, Fico, Matus Sutaj Estok, Mr, Filip Kuffa, ” Organizations: Facebook Locations: Bratislava, Handlova, Slovakia, Slovak

Video footage shows the young man in a white hoodie, identified as Edan On, striking at the barrier around the pro-Palestinian encampment. From Social MediaOn, a local high school senior, was captured on video striking a pro-Palestinian protester with a pole. A pro-Palestinian demonstrator is beaten by counterprotesters attacking a pro-Palestinian encampment set up at UCLA's campus. Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty ImagesA counterprotester, identified by CNN as Malachi Marlan-Librett, pushes a pro-Palestinian protester in the barrier of the UCLA encampment. Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesMarlan-Librett is seen throwing the bottom of a broom at a pro-Palestinian protester.

Persons: counterprotesters, UCLA –, –, “ Edan, Sharon, Edan, William Gude, “ We’re, counterprotesters calmy, “, ”, Chaim Seidler, Feller, Hillel, On’s, wasn’t, Malachi Marlan, Etienne Laurent, Wally Skalij, Librett, Dolores Quintana, Quintana, ” Dolores Quintana, Tom Bibiyan, Bibiyan, Trump, William Gude Tom Bibiyan, William Gude “, Angie Givant, she’d, Narek Palyan, Palyan, Catherine Hamilton, Hamilton, UCLA’s, Boosinger, ” Dylan Kupsh, ” Kupsh, Kupsh, Audrey Ash, Isabelle Chapman, Scott Glover, Curt Devine Organizations: CNN, UCLA, Fox, Facebook, Israel, Social, Social Media, Los Angeles Police Department, Patrol, UCLA Police Department, Bruins, LA, Key, Beverly Hills High School, Israel Defense Forces, UC Santa Cruz, Getty, Los Angeles Times, ”, Los Angeles Valley College, USC, Green Party, ucla, “, Student, ” Thistle, Thistle Locations: Gaza, Israel, California, Angeles, UCLA's, Los, Los Angeles

☆ Republicans Flock to Trump’s Trial, Risking Control of the House Floor
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Almost a dozen House Republicans showed up at the courthouse on Thursday, including hard-right rabble rousers like Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida; Anna Paulina Luna of Florida; Lauren Boebert of Colorado; and Bob Good of Virginia. They said they were there to speak on behalf of Mr. Trump because a gag order had barred him from speaking for himself. “We are here of our own volition, because there are things we can say that President Trump is unjustly not allowed to say,” Mr. Gaetz said at a news conference outside the courthouse. He said the former president was on trial for a “made-up crime” that he called “the Mr. Mr. Good said the trial was an example of Democrats trying to “rig” the presidential election against Mr. Trump.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, rousers, Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Lauren Boebert, Bob Good, “, Mr, Gaetz, —, Good, Luna, ” Organizations: Mr Locations: Manhattan, Florida, Anna Paulina Luna of, Colorado, Virginia

☆ Columbia University president hit with no-confidence vote from faculty group over handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Alisha Ebrahimji | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Columbia cited security concerns in canceling the large event, a school official told CNN, and instead is holding smaller ones. “Canceling the traditional commencement ceremony was one of the toughest calls in a year of many tough calls,” Shafik wrote in an op-ed in the Columbia Daily Spectator, noting her top priority has been the safety of students, faculty and staff. Fifty people were arrested, and police began the booking process onsite, university spokesperson Tom Vasich said in an email. Pro-Palestinian protesters had set up a campus encampment on April 29, when the university also called in local law enforcement. “This is not protest, this is pure hate.”The building’s takeover came a day after the UCB Divest Coalition agreed to end its campus encampment following discussions with university leadership.

Persons: Minouche Shafik, “, Shafik “, Ben Chang, Shafik, ”, ” Shafik, Tom Vasich, ” Vasich, Vasich, Anna, Dan Mogulof, Nazism ”, David, Mogulof, Santiago Mejia, ” Carol Christ, Jagdeep Singh Bachher, Ana Mari Cauce, ” Cauce, David Ryder David Ryder, ’, Russell Dorn, Robert Manuel, ” Manuel, Manuel, –, ” Benjamin Meyer, Morehouse, Joe Biden’s, David A, Thomas, CNN’s Victor Blackwell, Amanda Musa, Matt Egan, Julia Vargas Jones, Andy Rose, Chris Boyette, Melissa Alonso Organizations: CNN — Pro, Columbia University, Ivy League school’s, New York, CNN, Barnard College, American Association of University Professors, –, Columbia Daily Spectator, UC Irvine, University of California, Irvine Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Authorities, KABC, UC Berkeley, Pro, KGO, Jewish Community Relations, Nazism, UCB, UC Berkeley’s, Palestine, San Francisco, Getty, UC Regents, UC, Regents, University of Washington, Seattle, Wednesday, REUTERS, Reuters, University, ” DePaul University, Police, DePaul University in, WLS, DePaul, ” University, Coalition, ” Morehouse, Morehouse College’s, White House, White Locations: Israel, Gaza, Shafik, Columbia, Irvine, Orange, Berkeley, Merced, Seattle, DePaul University in Chicago, Atlanta

☆ How Israeli Extremists Won
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last October, an Israeli settler in the West Bank set a Palestinian home on fire. And last fall, a settler shot a Palestinian in the stomach in front of an Israeli soldier. Yet the authorities have not charged any of these settlers — or others who have attacked West Bank residents — with crimes. In it, they document how violent factions within the settler movement have repeatedly received protection from the Israeli government despite attacks against Palestinians — and even against Israeli officials who tried to challenge the settlers. An Israeli government report in 1982 documented the problem, to no effect.

Persons: —, Ronen Bergman, Mark Mazzetti, ” Ronen, Mark, “ Organizations: West Bank, Times Magazine Locations: “, of Israel

☆ 14-year-old died of heart attack after participating in a spicy tortilla chip challenge
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New york CNN —The chief medical examiner’s office in Massachusetts has determined that a teenager who ate a tortilla chip containing a high concentration of a chemical compound found in chili peppers, died of a heart attack last September. Harris Wolobah, who had a congenital heart defect, was attempting Paqui’s ultra-spicy “One Chip Challenge” when he ingested the tortilla chip seasoned with both the Carolina Reaper pepper and the Naga Viper pepper. Paqui voluntarily pulled the product, which was packaged in a coffin-shaped box, off shelves following Wolobah’s death in September. The Carolina Reaper Pepper ranks just under pepper spray on the Scoville scale, which measures the pungency of peppers and chilis. The Naga Viper is a bit less pungent, coming in at around 1.2 million heat units on the scale.

Persons: Harris Wolobah, Paqui, Wolobah, Pepper, “, ”, —, Sara Smart, Richard Davis Organizations: CNN Locations: Massachusetts, Carolina

☆ Giant oddball planet has the density of fluffy cotton candy, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Leah Asmelash | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

An international coalition of astronomers has newly discovered an unusual planet, dubbed WASP-193b, that’s about 50% bigger than Jupiter and somehow still the second lightest planet ever found. Because of how small the mass signal was, it took the team four years to gather data and calculate WASP-193b’s mass, Barkaoui explained. Eventually the team discovered the planet’s mass is a measly 14% that of Jupiter, despite being so much bigger. But a bigger size means a bigger “extended atmosphere,” said study coauthor Julien de Wit, an associate professor of planetary science at MIT. “WASP-193b is an outlier of all planets discovered to date,” he said.

Persons: puffy, Kepler, Jupiters, Khalid Barkaoui, James Webb, ”, Barkaoui, Francisco Pozuelos, Julien de Wit, Wit, Stone, puffy Jupiters, it’s Organizations: CNN, James Webb Space Telescope, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, WASP, Spain’s Institute of Astrophysics, MIT Locations: Andalucia

The no-confidence resolution was introduced by the campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors, a professional faculty organization. The group that brought the no-confidence resolution against Dr. Shafik does not “represent many faculty and students at Columbia University,” the letter stated. On Wednesday, Dr. Shafik wrote a conciliatory note to students and published it in the school newspaper in lieu of a graduation speech. Of the 899 faculty members eligible to vote, 709 completed a ballot. There are about 4,700 full-time faculty members at Columbia, of which the Faculty of Arts and Science represents about 20 percent.

Persons: Nemat, Shafik, “, ” Ben Chang, David Ahmed Ali, ”, Robert Newton, ” Dr, Newton, Liset Cruz Organizations: of Arts and Sciences, Columbia University, American Association of University, University Senate, Hamilton Hall, Columbia College, ”, Israel, Mailman, of Public Health, New School, City University of New, CUNY, New York University, Columbia, Ivy League, of Arts and Science Locations: Israel, Hamilton, Columbia, Gaza, City University of New York

For the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk, they’re getting worse. Locals in the town lived through occupation and liberation for seven grueling months in 2022. The Russian military claims the action has left close to a dozen villages under its control. Maria, 85, evacuates the Ukrainian town of Vovchansk. The Russians held our boys there.” There has been widespread reporting of mistreatment of Ukrainian civilians under Russian occupation, allegations the Kremlin has typically dismissed as fake.

Persons: they’re, Vladimir Putin’s, Mykola, –, “, ”, Maksim, Maria, haltingly, Inna, they’ve, Vovchansk Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, Locals, CNN, Russian Locations: Vovchansk, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Moscow, Kyiv, Russia, Kharkiv

☆ What the Supreme Court Ruling Means for Other Consumer Bureau Actions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Emily Flitter | Stacy Cowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But the ruling falls far short of eliminating the bureau’s legal obstacles. Immediately after the ruling was announced, lawyers for the bureau, which is charged with preventing consumer abuse in the financial industry, began preparing dozens of legal filings to try to unfreeze its activities. Among them are requests to federal judges to end stays on new rules and on subpoenas to financial firms. While the Supreme Court’s ruling should resolve a few of the stays, the bureau will still struggle to overcome other roadblocks. He noted that Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.’s dissent cited three recent consumer bureau actions that, in Justice Alito’s view, would be “major changes” in consumer protection law.

Persons: ”, Graham Steele, Samuel A, Alito Jr, ’, Alito’s Organizations: Consumer, Treasury Department

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