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It may be just electioneering: López Obrador leaves office in September, and he really wants his party’s candidate, former Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, to win the presidential elections. López Obrador has made other unfulfilled promises in the past, like pledging Mexico would have a health care system “better than in Denmark." But the cost of what López Obrador is proposing for pensions is striking. The other half of Mexicans, who work under the table in the ‘informal’ economy, have no pension program at all. It seems unlikely to be achieved, so why would López Obrador propose it?

Persons: —, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, Claudia Sheinbaum, “ It's, Morena, ”, Gabriela Siller, It's, he'll, “ López Obrador, Claudia, Sheinbaum, Viri Ríos Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Mexico City, Morena, Nuevo Leon, Banco Base, López Obrador doesn’t, National Guard Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Denmark, Morena

☆ A Chocolate Fondue to Remember
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ligaya Mishan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The summer after college, I worked briefly as a shoe model. By briefly, I mean that I was fired after one day. I had to crawl over them when I wanted to lie down, which was most of the time. I sat in a sun-soaked conference room with a conqueror’s view of the city. Across the table was another, better candidate for the job, a woman with gold-lidded eyes and mouth ajar.

Locations: Manhattan

☆ U.N. Agency for Palestinians Imperiled by Terrorism Charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Ronen Bergman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Leaders of the largest United Nations agency in Gaza warned on Monday that it may soon run out of money as new allegations emerged about Hamas’s influence on the organization. As U.N. officials fretted over the future of UNRWA, the main aid agency for Palestinians, Israeli officials debated whether it made sense to publicly air accusations that a group of the agency’s workers were involved in the Oct. 7 terror attack. UNRWA plays a crucial role in Gaza — distributing food, water and medicine — and it is unclear who would fill the vacuum were it to collapse. Israel has charged that at least 12 employees of the agency — the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees — participated in the Oct. 7 attack and that as many 1,300 employees are members of the group. The Oct. 7 assault ended with roughly 1,200 people dead and another 240 taken hostage, according to Israeli estimates.

Persons: Works Agency for Palestine Refugees — Organizations: United Nations, UNRWA, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ The CIA is posting videos to persuade Russians to betray their leaders — and says it's working
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe CIA released a new video appealing to disaffected Russians who might pass secrets on to the spy agency — a tactic it says is already bearing fruit. The tactic is working, a CIA spokesperson claimed. "We are seeing more outreach from Russians as a result of these videos," the unnamed spokesperson told NBC News. The CIA has a dedicated Russian-language channel to encourage informants, with 13,500 followers there — a minuscule fraction of the Russian population. AdvertisementThe CIA has argued that such tensions stemming from the war in Ukraine bring opportunity to encourage recruits.

Persons: —, Boris Nadezhdin — Organizations: Service, CIA, Business, NBC, Moscow Times Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Soviet, Russian

☆ Emotionally intelligent people always do these 3 things to be more successful in life, says CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jason Harris | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In my industry, understanding human nature and developing high emotional intelligence are key to long-term success. While researching for my book, "The Soulful Art of Persuasion," I identified three things that the most emotionally intelligent people always do to develop authentic relationships:1. They lead with sincerityI've found that people who lead with sincerity are better at getting their message across to others. But the most emotionally intelligent people I know are also the most generous. People with emotional intelligence understand that developing relationships is a long game.

Persons: I've, David Bowie, Bowie

☆ Hamas released a 13-year-old hostage but not her mom, despite promising not to separate them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Despite Hamas agreeing not to separate parents from their children, Hila's mom remains in captivity. AdvertisementOn Saturday, Hamas released a 13-year-old Israeli girl, Hila Rotem Shoshani, who had been held in captivity in Gaza since the October 7 terror attack. But her mother, Raya, remains in captivity, despite Hamas vowing not to separate children from their parents as part of the truce agreement, according to Israeli media. Hila's uncle, Yair Rotem, told reporters this weekend that he does not believe Hamas' claim that they do not know where the girl's mother is. Rotem also told the Times: "Israel has to say this is unacceptable.

Persons: Hila Rotem Shoshani, —, Raya, Israel, Hila's, Yair Rotem, Hila, Rotem Organizations: Service, CNN, Times, Hamas, Sheba Hospital, The, Israel's, Minister's Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Kibbutz Be'eri

☆ With crises brewing around the world, the US's diplomatic 'special agents' are sharpening old skills and learning some new ones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The State Department relies on its Diplomatic Security Service to protect diplomats around the world. To protect those diplomats, the State Department relies on a little-known but highly capable agency — the Diplomatic Security Service. US State DepartmentAs the State Department's law-enforcement and security arm, the Diplomatic Security Service has been protecting US diplomats at home and abroad since 1916. "Through the council, the State Department can exchange information in real-time with hundreds of private businesses, faith-based organizations, and other US entities," a State Department spokesperson told Insider. Diplomatic Security ServiceFollowing a string of high-profile cyberattacks against government agencies and private businesses, US national-security officials are increasingly focused on cybersecurity.

Persons: —, Anatolii Organizations: Diplomatic Security Service, DSS, Service, UN, Assembly, US State Department As, State, State Department, Mobile Security, Mobile, Foreign Affairs Security Training Center, US Department of State Regional, US, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Publishing, Getty, Operations Command, Foreign Affairs Counter, APEC, Diplomatic Security, State Department's, Department of Homeland Security, Management, Budget Locations: Ukraine, China, Taiwan, State, Virginia, Kyiv, Russia, San Francisco

☆ Andrew Tate said he'd give $1M a month to Elon Musk after major companies suspended their ad campaigns on X. It's not nearly enough to help him.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Several large companies have pulled ads on X after Elon Musk reposted an antisemitic remark. AdvertisementAndrew Tate has stepped in to pledge funds to Elon Musk's X after antisemitism row caused several major companies to pull ads from the platform. Since returning to X, Tate seems to be earning a significant amount under Elon Musk's content-creator plan, claiming he received $20,000 during one payout. Several right-wing figures stepped in to express support for Musk, including Seth Dillon, the CEO of satirical site Babylon Bee, and commentator Tim Pool. "I will advertise X on X," he wrote on X.

Persons: Elon Musk, influencers, Andrew Tate, Tate, —, Elon Musk's, Musk, Jack Dorsey, Seth Dillon, Tim Pool, Tate —, Tristan Organizations: Service, Elon, Elon Musk's, Disney, Apple, IBM, Bloomberg, Sun Locations: Romania

☆ Living in my truck is helping me make six figures for the first time. It's not for the faint of heart, but I visited 30 states this year.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rachel Harris, 22, about traveling the US in her camper truck. When I had enough cash, I moved out and started living in my car with my dog. Without living in my car, I would never be in the position that I am now. I definitely work a lot but it's flexible. AdvertisementAdvertisementHow I am living currently is the best quality of life that I've ever had because I'm always outside.

Persons: Rachel Harris, Harris, She's, —, I've, I'm, It's, they've, it's, Fado Organizations: Service, Facebook, YouTube Locations: Instagram, Puerto Rico, Colorado, Baja California, Mexico, Alaska, Oregon

☆ Gen Z is lonely. Going back to the office may be the cure for some.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Aaron Mok | Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The solitude of remote work seemed to particularly hit Gen Z workers — who began their careers as workplaces went from in-person to virtual — hard. With companies asking — and in some cases mandating — their employees return to the office, Gen Z workers who are going in regularly have said they have a renewed sense of confidence in their jobs. Since Fitchett's employer started mandating employees go to the office, Fitchett said he finally feels a sense of ease at his job. Don't expect a full-scale return to the office quite yetThere's more that goes into a worker's preferences than loneliness, and Gen Z workers are mixed about returning to the office full time. For her — and many other Gen Z workers — the solution may come in some form of flexibility.

Persons: Ben Fitchett didn't, Fitchett, Ben Fitchett, Ben Fitchett Young, Aaron Terrazas, —, Cigna, Hubert Palan, Z, Covid —, Palan, Vivek Murthy, it's, Mansoor Soomro, Soomro, Gen, Juanita Garcia, Garcia, who've, Zers, Anita Pan —, Anita Pan, Pan, Ricky Yean, Zers —, Yean, Bianca Wu, Bianca Wu Bianca Wu, Wu, wouldn't Organizations: Company, Teesside University, Starbucks, Flow, Dell Locations: New Zealand, Los Angeles, New York, Washington , DC, Bay

The Employee Retention Credit was intended to be a financial lifeline to small businesses struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. Innovation Refunds — a consulting firm that focuses on the ERC — was one of the most visible advertisers during the tax credit's heyday. How Innovation Refunds worksOn its website, Innovation Refunds makes it clear it is not a tax professional. Innovation Refunds markets to clients, determines if they are viable candidates for the credit and then collects businesses' documentation. Some former employees said this could insulate Innovation Refunds from potential liability if ineligible businesses claimed the credit.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Andrew Kelly, Howard Makler, Ty Burrell, Burrell, Rob Domenico, Werfel, Tom Williams, Makler, Kate Rogers, Domenico, Slack, Jenn McCabe, Armanino Organizations: Companies, ERC, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, ERC —, CNBC, Reuters, CPA, Senate, Washington , D.C, CQ, Inc, Getty, LinkedIn, Justice Locations: New York, Washington ,, Des Moines

Musk has dismantled core features of what made Twitter, Twitter — its name and blue bird logo, its verification system, its Trust and Safety advisory group. “We’re still negative cash flow," he posted on the site on July 14, due to a about a "50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load." Insider Intelligence estimates that X will bring in $1.89 billion in advertising revenue this year, down 54% from 2022. “Even though the cultural relevance of Twitter was already starting to decline," before Musk took it over, "it’s as if the platform no longer exists. Usually when a social platform, starts to lose its relevance there are at least some external factors at play, but that’s not the case here.”

Persons: Elon Musk, it's, hasn’t, Jasmine Enberg, Musk, ” Enberg, —, Ian Bremmer, “, algorithmically, ” It's, We’re, ”, Linda Yaccarino, it’s, that’s Organizations: FRANCISCO, —, Twitter's San, Twitter, Media Matters, European Commission, NBC, Facebook, Meta, Google, ., Intelligence Locations: Twitter's, Twitter's San Francisco, Maine, Israel

☆ Cocoa farmers face mounting challenges as El Nino rages on
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Quek Jie Ann | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Frequent extreme weather events caused by El Nino and climate change hurts cocoa production. According to the the latest El Nino-Southern Oscillation Outlook, El Nino is expected to last through January to March 2024, with a 71% chance it will intensify from November to January. An intensified and frequent El Nino effect could significantly reduce the amount of arable land for cocoa cultivation. watch nowAccording to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a high intensity El Nino may result in severe economic disruption across Africa. The financial cost of El Nino and climate change remains unquantified for Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

Persons: Cristina Aldehuela, El, El Nino, Nino, Jonathan Haines, it's, Kerry Daroci, Daroci, That's, Steffany Bermudez, Bermudez Organizations: Afp, Getty, El, El Nino, Southern Oscillation, Gro Intelligence, CNBC, Cocoa, Rainforest Alliance, International Cocoa Organization ., West Africa's Cote d'Ivoire, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Economist Intelligence Unit, Cote d'Ivoire, West, Rainforest, International Cocoa Organization, Environmental Protection Agency, International Institute for Sustainable Development Locations: Asikasu, Ghana, El Nino, West, West Africa, Kerry, Brazil, Ecuador, International Cocoa Organization . Asia, Pacific, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, West Africa's Cote, Ivory, Ivory Coast, Africa, London, New York

☆ Curipod helps teachers make interactive lessons using generative AI. Check out the pitch deck it used to raise $4.6 million in seed funding.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"Instead, I wanted this interactive lesson tool where students can express themselves and have agency — the opposite of this lecture model." With Curipod, teachers can create lessons on any school subject using generative AI, first by inputting the subject of the lesson, the grade level, and any additional learning objectives. Curipod is free for teachers and students to use at the moment, with paid tiers for school districts, said Seip. The team only launched its AI product at the beginning of this year, and had not previously sought venture capital funding. Check out the nine-slide pitch deck that Curipod used to raise $4.6 million in seed funding.

Persons: Jens Aarre Seip, Seip, Eirik Hernes Berre, Frikk Fossan, Curipod, GPT3 Organizations: Norwegian School of Economics, Reach, aha, Emerson, Sondo, Edovate Locations: Norway

☆ Astronaut Frank Rubio sets US record for longest trip in space
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Astronaut Frank Rubio has now been in low-Earth orbit for more than 355 days, breaking the record for the longest space mission by a US astronaut. Rubio — who has been on the International Space Station since September 2022 — bested the previous record, held by retired NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, at 1:40 p.m. NASAIn the record booksIf all goes to plan, and Rubio departs on September 27, his 371-day stay will not be a world record for the longest space mission. She now serves as a private astronaut for Axiom Space, which so far has hosted two commercial trips to the space station that have allowed paying customers to experience a trip to the orbiting laboratory alongside a veteran professional astronaut. During his stay in space, Rubio has seen several crews of astronauts rotate through via SpaceX vehicles.

Persons: Frank Rubio, Rubio —, —, Mark Vande Hei, Rubio, crewmates, Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin —, Roscosmos, Rubio’s, Vande Hei, Bill Nelson, Frank ! ” Rubio, Valeri Polyakov, Vande Hei’s, Scott Kelly, Gennadi Padalka, Peggy Whitson, Whitson, Anna Kikina, Joel Montalbano, ” Montalbano, European Space Agency — Organizations: CNN, Space Station, NASA, Russian Soyuz, Soyuz, SpaceX, Roscosmos, Space, Russian, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, European Space Agency Locations: Russian, Roscosmos, Russia, United States, Ukraine

☆ Take a look at the $10 million Embraer Phenom 300, which just became the new most popular private jet in the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Embraer Phenom 300 has surpassed the Cessna Citation Excel as the US' most popular private jet. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cessna Citation Excel family (top) has been the US' most-flown private jet for the past 15 years. jremes84/Shutterstock, NetJetsThe Cessna Citation Latitude, the Cessna Citation V, and the Cessna Citation CJ3 business aircraft were also in the FAA's monthly report as the third, sixth, and ninth most-flown private planes, respectively. And, it costs about $3 million less than $13 million Cessna Citation XLS+, which is the latest version of the Excel. He also explained that Embraer's "long airliner heritage" (the company also builds commercial planes) gives the Phenom 300 a "perception of being purpose-built for high utilization."

Persons: Embraer Executive Jets Michael Amalfitano, Brian Foley Organizations: Embraer, Cessna, Excel, Textron, Federal Aviation, Embraer Phenom, Embraer Executive Jets, LinkedIn, Private, Bloomberg Locations: Brazilian, America

☆ Warren Buffett dumps stock, regulators open probes as claims of abuse and fraud mount against a top Globe Life agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Susan Antilla | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Five other current or former agents confirmed to Insider that some Arias agents wrote up policies in the names of fictional people or people who were dead. Amy Williamson, an attorney who represents dozens of current and former Arias agents in civil claims, said she received an inquiry from a US attorney's office. With regard to Insider's specific questions about Globe, AIL, and Arias, she said, "It is the Company's policy not to comment." Lusty asked questions about Russin's campaign of aggressive social-media posts since Zinsky filed suit, Williamson said, including posts about his gun purchases. Since Zinsky filed suit against him, Russin has made a string of threatening social media posts featuring firearms.

Persons: Simon Arias, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Arias, Trina Orlando, Michelle Billotte, Billotte, she'd, Orlando, Nancy Andrews, William McKee, McKee, Brett Hambright, Amy Williamson, AIL, Renee Zinsky, Michael Russin, Russin, Jennifer Haworth, Benjamin Webb, Chris Williams, Natalie Price, dialers, DocuSign, Scott Dehning, Steven Greer, Joel Scarborough, Dehning, Haworth, Greer, Zinsky, Abeni Mayfield, Mayfield, Columbia , Maryland Rosem Morton, Abeni Mayfield Orlando, texted, Kailey Andrasko, propositioned, Russin texted, he'd, Kailey, Williamson, Anne Hilbert, Hilbert, Debbie Gamble, Zinsky's, Webb, didn't, interrogatories, Jonathan Lusty, Lusty, I'm Organizations: Arias, . Insurance, Wexford, Berkshire, Globe, Life, American, Arias Organization, Arias Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, Department of Insurance, Department, Pennsylvania, Globe Life, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, AIL, Organization, Russin, Insider Orlando, Caesars, Employment, Commission, Caesars Palace, Russin's, Consulting, Court, Western District of Pennsylvania Locations: Wexford , Pennsylvania, Wexford, Morgantown , West Virginia, AIL, Michigan, Scarborough, Columbia , Maryland, Las Vegas, Stockholm, Orlando, Morgantown, Mayfield's, Western District, Pittsburgh

☆ Chandrayaan-3 landing: India could become the fourth country ever to land a spacecraft on the moon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —India is on the brink of a historic attempt to land its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the moon that could make it only the fourth nation ever to accomplish such a feat. India’s space agency will livestream the landing attempt starting at 5:20 p.m. IST (7:50 a.m. Previously, only the United States, China and the former Soviet Union have completed soft landings on the lunar surface. Russia’s Luna 25 spacecraft crashed into the moon on August 19 after its engines misfired, ending the country’s first lunar landing attempt in 47 years. Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty ImagesIndia’s mission has taken on even greater significance since Russia’s failed Luna 25 landing attempt.

Persons: nation’s, Russia’s Luna, Vikram, Angela Marusiak, she’s, Marusiak, “, ” Marusiak, Satish Dhawan, Indranil Mukherjee, Luna, landers, Artemis, Bill Nelson, India’s Organizations: CNN, Indian Space Research Organization, Soviet Union, University of Arizona’s, Laboratory, Satish Dhawan Space, YouTube, Getty, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, United, NASA Locations: India, United States, China, France, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Israel, Japan, Artemis, Russia

☆ Ukraine says it busted an all-female spy ring who fed crucial military intelligence to Russia and the Wagner Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine says it's uncovered an all-female spy ring that passed military information to Russia. Ukraine's intelligence service said they were feeding Russia info on troop and vehicle movements. The group, based in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, passed information on to both the FSB — Russia's main spy agency — and the pro-Russian mercenary Wagner Group, according to the announcement. The purported plan was foiled due to the SBU gaining advanced knowledge and putting on extra security measures, the agency said. It is unclear if the woman arrested was part of this alleged spy ring.

Persons: it's, —, Wagner, unmasking, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Counterintelligence, Ukraine's Security Service, Wagner Group Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine's Donetsk, Ukrainian, Pokrovsk, Donetsk, Russian, Mykolaiv

☆ The Future of Rap Is Female
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Niela Orr | Photographs Adrienne Raquel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +22 min

The Future of Rap Is Female As their male counterparts turn depressive and paranoid, it’s the women who are having all the fun. In the mid-’80s, the dynamics shifted slightly, when UTFO released “Roxanne, Roxanne,” a comical torch song dissing a woman who rejected the men’s advances. Like good sex, raunchy rap is only fun if all parties are completely enthusiastic, and this music provides necessary female perspectives to match what the men make. In Miami one weekend in late July, Rolling Loud, one of the biggest annual hip-hop festivals, made itself into a microcosm of the rap world. There’s a relentless gender pessimism in the air, too — on the street, on dating apps, in the Supreme Court and, of course, in rap music.

Persons: Sackler, Drake, Foley, Yung Miami, Wu, Da, Tupac Shakur, Nicki Minaj, Cardi, Megan Thee, there’s, ”, There’s Latto, Jung Kook, “, Diana ”, Boy’s, Red’s, Munch, Rodney Dangerfield, munch, ” MAIYA, “ We’re, Lil Baby, Flo Milli, —, ” Flo Milli, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire —, Debbie D, Lisa Lee, Mercedes Ladies, UTFO, Roxanne, Lolita Shanté Gooden, Gooden, ” FLO MILLI, Roxanne Shanté, Clover Hope, M.C, Brian Coleman, Lyte, Ruff Ryders, it’s, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Kash Doll, SKODI LOLA BROOKE, Lil ’ Kim, “ I’m, I’m, ” That’s, Lolita Gooden, Greta Gerwig’s “ Barbie ”, James Harden, P.J, Tucker, KENTHEMAN “, I’ve, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Grace Jones, Benzino, blowin, ignorin ’, Berry hairdo, Grandmaster Flash, It’s, ” —, ” Leray, VETTE, CHANEL, ” Flo, Cartier, “ Lyte, Flo Organizations: YouTube, Girls, City Girls, Public, Down Productions, Wu -, Digital, City, Memphis, Brooklyn Locations: Miami, Wu - Tang, “, Bronx, Mobile , Ala, y’all

☆ NASA Seeks a Nuclear-Powered Rocket to Get to Mars in Half the Time
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Kenneth Chang | More About Kenneth Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A Number That Sums It Up: 3 to 4 months to MarsWhat if a spacecraft could get to Mars in half the time it currently takes? Every 26 months or so, Mars and Earth are close enough for a shorter journey between the worlds. “The technical capabilities, including early safety protocols, remain viable today,” Tabitha Dodson, the DRACO project manager, said in a news briefing on Wednesday. A key difference between NERVA and DRACO is that NERVA used weapons-grade uranium for its reactors, while DRACO will use a less-enriched form of uranium. The demonstration spacecraft would most likely orbit at an altitude between 435 and 1,240 miles, Dr. Dodson said.

Persons: Agency —, NERVA, ” Tabitha Dodson, DRACO, ” Dr, Dodson, Kirk Shireman, Lockheed Martin Organizations: DARPA, Orion, NASA, Air Force, Research, Agency, Rover, Lockheed

☆ Microsoft is giving out free cybersecurity tools after an alleged Chinese hack
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Microsoft is offering free cybersecurity tools to some government and commercial customers following criticism of the tech giant’s handling of a major alleged Chinese hack that compromised US government email accounts. Starting in September, Microsoft cloud computing customers won’t have to pay extra money to get access to critical data to help them spot cyberattacks, Microsoft said Wednesday. The move comes after cybersecurity officials privately expressed frustration that Microsoft had not done enough to detect the alleged Chinese cyber-espionage campaign, according to US officials. The email accounts of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and State Department officials were breached in the activity, CNN has reported. Until now, Microsoft’s business model has involved charging customers extra for access to these logs.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, ” Sean Koessel, ” Koessel, —, Jen, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Microsoft, Street Journal, State Department, CNN, Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Locations: New York

☆ Wagner ‘does not exist’: Why Putin claims a rift in the mercenary group
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Weeks after an armed uprising by the Russian mercenary group Wagner revealed cracks in Russia’s system of one-man rule, the Kremlin has been on a PR offensive. “Wagner PMC does not exist,” Putin said when asked if Wagner would be kept on as a fighting unit. Roman Romokhov/AFP/Getty ImagesTensions between Wagner and the Kremlin boiled over in recent weeks, with Putin alleging that the paramilitary group "does not exist." So what is Putin’s aim in floating this account of a meeting with Prigozhin and Wagner commanders? “No, the guys do not agree with this decision,” the Wagner leader said, according to Putin.

Persons: Wagner, Weeks, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, “ Wagner, ” Putin, ”, State Duma —, —, “ It’s, ” Wagner, Romokhov, Putin winkingly, “ We’ve, “, Prigozhin, Internet Research Agency —, Russia —, “ I’ve, ” Prigozhin, Prigozhin’s, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Kommersant, “ Wagner PMC, State Duma, PMCs, Getty, Kremlin, TV, Internet Research Agency, “ Locations: Russian, Moscow, Rostov, Russia, AFP, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Donbas, St . Petersburg, Prigozhin

☆ Opinion | A Major Problem With Compulsory Mental Health Care Is the Medication
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Daniel Bergner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The New York City chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness — the country’s largest organization representing the mentally ill and their families — has protested on City Hall’s steps against Mr. Adams’s efforts to loosen standards for mandatory care. It is to say that the drugs shouldn’t be considered — as they tend to be now — the required linchpin of treatment. Science hasn’t made great strides in antipsychotics since the drugs were first introduced seven decades ago. Commonly, people abandon their antipsychotic drugs, whether they’re in mandatory treatment or the most sensitive, attentive voluntary programs. This is generally attributed to anosognosia and the disorganization that can come with mental illness, but it might well be seen as an outcome from the weighing of pros and cons.

Persons: —, they’re, that’s, Michelle Funk, shouldn’t, hasn’t, anosognosia Organizations: New, National Alliance, New York, New York City Bar Association, World Health Locations: New York City

☆ Japan’s Ispace reveals why its lunar lander crashed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“While the lander estimated its own altitude to be zero, or on the lunar surface, it was later determined to be at an altitude of approximately 5 kms (3.1 miles) above the lunar surface,” according to Ispace’s news release. The company received valuable data to fine-tune its lunar lander design for another attempt, Hakamada said. The lunar lander was carrying the Rashid rover — the first Arab-built lunar spacecraft, which was developed by Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Even before the failed landing attempt, Ispace had been bracing for mishaps. That same year, the Indian Space and Research Organisation lost contact with a lunar lander shortly before it was slated to touch down on the moon.

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