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Juan Diego Reyes for NBC NewsLara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and daughter-in-law of the former president, was among the speakers. There were no rainbow flags in the half-empty Charlotte ballroom where the Trump UNITY event took place. Headliners have included conservative influencers, Republican officials and Trump family members Lara Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Marla Maples, the former president’s second wife. Trump has not attended any of the LGBTQ-led Trump UNITY events himself. In his speech on Tuesday, Grenell said that none of the speakers were paid to speak at the Trump UNITY events.

Persons: CHARLOTTE, Donald Trump, “ I’m, ”, Gage West, “, Lara Trump, Juan Diego Reyes, NBC News Lara Trump, didn’t, Trump, influencers, Donald Trump Jr, Marla Maples, Andrew Wheeler, Matthew Whitaker, National Intelligence Ric Grenell, Matt Gaetz, Aaron Schock, Richard Grenell, Trump’s, Grenell, Bill White, ” White, NBC News White, Don Webber, We’ve, ” Webber, ” Don Webber, NBC News Rob Smith, Black, ” Smith, Smith, ” Charles Moran, Rob Smith, “ It’s, ” Moran, Moran, Kamala Harris, Brandon Wolf, Harris, ” Wolf, Biden, Kamala Harris ’, NBC News Harris, Sam Alleman, “ Donald Trump’s, fundraised, Melania Trump Organizations: NBC News, Republican National Committee, RNC, NBC News Trump, Republican, Environmental Protection Agency, National Intelligence, Trump, NBC, Charlotte, ”, Black Trump, Conservative, Gallup, U.S ., Democratic Locations: N.C, Charlotte, Georgia , Wisconsin, Michigan, Congress, Palm, U.S, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Nevada

BEIJING — The United States will judge China “on its actions, not just its words,” U.S. “It’s very important that we have these channels of communication,” Burns said in an exclusive interview in Beijing on Wednesday. “We want to be responsible for our own people, but also for the world as we conduct this relationship,” Burns said. During their summit last year, the two leaders said there should be more people-to-people exchanges between their countries, including in academics, business and tourism. It’s a very challenging relationship,” Burns said.

Persons: China “, China Nicholas Burns, Burns, ” Burns, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Xi Jinping, It’s, ” Janis Mackey Frayer, Jennifer Jett Organizations: China, U.S, NBC, Pacific, Ukraine, Chinese Commerce Ministry, United Nations, Biden, Embassy, Foreign Ministry, American Chamber of Commerce Locations: BEIJING, United States, China, U.S, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Asia, Pacific, South, Taiwan, Washington, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, Gaza, Israel, California, Shanghai

But even some who managed to escape Israel’s offensive in the north and head farther south toward Gaza City did not survive. The Jerusalem-based human rights group B'Tselem echoed the accusation Tuesday, calling on the international community to "stop the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza." He also said the "General's plan," a proposal calling for Israel to force the evacuation of residents from northern Gaza through starvation, had not been adopted as Israeli policy. Images released by the IDF of Monday show what it says is a crowd of civilians fleeing the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Images published by the Israel Defense Forces over the weekend, showing dozens of men being detained in northern Gaza as thousands of people fled the area en masse, have also sparked alarm.

Persons: Kamal Adwan, Mahmoud Ouda, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shin Organizations: Gaza’s Civil Defense, NBC, Ismail Amro, Arabi, UNICEF, Wednesday, World Health, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency Locations: Beit Lahia, Gaza, Al, Ahli, Gaza City, Israel, Jerusalem, U.S

☆ Sudan: ‘The world doesn’t see us’, said a militia chief while holding Clarissa Ward captive in Darfur
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Clarissa Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

North Darfur, Sudan CNN —“La tasweer! During our journey in and out of North Darfur, we spent many hours traversing the remote region on sandy tracks. During our time in North Darfur, we passed at least six cell phone towers but none of them were operational. “The world doesn’t see us, the help doesn’t come,” the security chief mused to me one afternoon. The security chief poses with Scott McWhinnie and Clarissa Ward after announcing the team would be released.

Persons: Sudan CNN —, hemming, Scott McWhinnie, “, we’re, ”, Brent Swails, “ What’s, Clarissa Ward, Abdul Wahid al, Tawila, Abu Gamra, Don’t, don’t, Scott’s, Ward, ” Michel Lacharité, mused Organizations: Sudan CNN, CNN, Sudan Liberation Movement, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Rapid Support Forces, UN, Toyota Land Cruiser, US, Emergency Operations, Yale Humanitarian Research Locations: Darfur, Sudan, North Darfur, El Fasher, Tawila, El, Ukraine, Gaza, New York City, Abu, Port Sudan, Geneva, Adre, Chad, Zamzam

☆ Federal prosecutors charge Iranian Revolutionary Guards official in assassination plot on US soil
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The charges made public Tuesday against the official, Ruhollah Bazghandi, are the first to accuse an Iranian government official by name in the alleged plot to kill journalist Masih Alinejad. Prosecutors allege they were enlisted to carry out the assassination of Alinejad in the United States. Bazghandi allegedly discussed the plot to murder Alinejad with a second defendant, Haj Taher. Taher, in turn, communicated about the plot defendants Hossein Sedighi and Mohammad Forouzan, prosecutors say, including about payment for the murder. Taher, Sedighi and Forouzan also have connections to the Iranian government, prosecutors allege.

Persons: Ruhollah Bazghandi, Masih Alinejad, Bazghandi, Alinejad, General Merrick Garland, ” Alinejad, Ali Khamenei’s IRGC, “, ”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, General ”, Qasem Soleimani, Javad, Haj Taher, Taher, Hossein Sedighi, Mohammad Forouzan, Sedighi, Forouzan, Rafat Amirov, Amirov, Polad, Zailat, CNN’s Kara Scannell Organizations: CNN, Federal, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Eastern, ”, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Treasury Department, Qods Force, Amirov Locations: New York, Iran, United States, Iran’s, American, Iranian, New York City, IRGC, Syria, ”, France

☆ BlackRock's Larry Fink says the US election 'really doesn't matter' for markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Larry Fink says the US election won't impact markets long-term. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementLarry Fink doesn't think the US election will affect markets much. The BlackRock CEO doubled down on saying the outcome of the US election, which will be decided in two weeks, won't matter in the long run. Divided Wall StreetFink is not the only Wall Street heavyweight saying the election won't matter to financial markets.

Persons: Larry Fink, Fink, BlackRock, —, Larry Fink doesn't, I'm, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Adewale Adeyemo, Mike Pyle, Harris, Obama, Mike Gitlin, PGIM Organizations: Service, BlackRock, Securities Industry, Financial, The Financial Times, Republican, Republicans, Wall, Capital Locations: BlackRock, China

☆ Civil rights coalition calls on Musk and Zuckerberg to take action against election disinformation
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —An umbrella organization of civil rights groups is alerting the public to “digital voting disinformation” and imploring social media companies to take action. Wiley’s coalition, representing more than 200 civil rights interest groups and other organizations, wants companies like Elon Musk’s X and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta to more clearly separate fact from fiction. “Social media companies should be vigilant,” Wiley said, observing that information platforms don’t have to be overwhelmingly polluted. The Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology decided to speak out after social networks were swamped with lies about Hurricanes Helene and Milton earlier this fall. The conduct of social media firms is of interest to civil rights groups; candidates and campaigns; government agencies; and election technology suppliers, just to name a few.

Persons: Maya Wiley, Elon, Zuckerberg’s Meta, ” Wiley, Musk, Donald Trump’s, Zuckerberg, Milton, ”, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Conference, Civil, Human, Wiley’s, Social, Republican, Conference’s Center for Civil Rights, Technology, Hurricanes, Dominion Voting Systems, Fox, Dominion, for Civil Rights Locations: New York, United States

☆ Women soccer players call on FIFA to cut ties with Saudi oil giant Aramco
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —More than 100 soccer players from the women’s game have signed an open letter to FIFA, urging the sport’s world governing body to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil and gas company Aramco. In April this year, FIFA announced a four-year global partnership with the majority state-owned oil giant, giving it sponsorship rights to the 2026 men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. “The Saudi authorities trample not only on the rights of women, but on the freedom of all other citizens too,” the letter, addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, said. Last year, it produced an average of 12.8 million barrels of oil a day, far more than any other company. US oil and gas companies combined, however, produce more than Saudi Arabia, according to a 2023 analysis from the US Energy Information Administration.

Persons: Vivianne Miedema, Becky Sauerbrunn, trample, Gianni Infantino, “, Miedema, ”, John Walton, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sportswashing Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Saudi, Manchester City, Saudi Aramco, BBC, CNN Sport, Aramco, Manchester, Fox News, US Energy Information Administration, “ Grassroots, ”, Women’s Locations: Saudi, Aramco, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco

CNN —A 3-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by air-dropped aid in the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday, according to his relatives, as the humanitarian crisis spawned by the Israeli offensive compounds severe hunger across the Gaza Strip. A number of countries have air-dropped aid into Gaza, including the United States, United Kingdom, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. CNN footage from the aftermath of the aid drop shows large pallets with UAE insignia, in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on October 19. CNNThe United Arab Emirates airdropped 81 food packages into Khan Younis on Saturday, according to the Israeli agency which controls the flow of aid into Gaza. CNN video from the displacement camp in Khan Younis on Saturday shows crates of aid, with the UAE flag stamped on cardboard boxes.

Persons: Khan Younis, Sami Ayyad, Sami, Ayyad, Sami’s, ” Ayyad, Blood, welling, ”, ” Sami’s, Mahmoud Ayyad, airdrops, Israel, Mahmoud, “ Organizations: CNN, United, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Emirates, Integrated, ”, Israeli, Israel, Ministry of Health, Hamas Locations: Khan, Gaza, United States, United Kingdom, Jordan, United Arab, Territories, UAE, UN, Israel

☆ Ex-general Prabowo, once accused of rights abuses, takes up presidency of world’s third-largest democracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Jakarta Reuters —Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto on Sunday took over as president of the world’s third-largest democracy, vowing to combat internal issues such as corruption that plague the country and to make it more self-sufficient. “We must always realise that a free nation is where the people are free,” Prabowo said, at times raising his voice. Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto greets supporters after being sworn in as the country's eighth president in Jakarta on Oct. 20, 2024. Flower boards outside the palace either congratulated Prabowo and Gibran or thanked Jokowi for his decade of service. Jokowi supporters are also attending the celebrations to bid farewell to Indonesia’s outgoing leader.

Persons: Prabowo, ” Prabowo, “, ”, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Joko “, Widodo, Sugiono, Prabowo Subianto, Dita Alangkara, Gibran, Jokowi, Anneta, “ Prabowo, Critics, Han Zheng, Linda Thomas, Joko Widodo, Achmad Ibrahim, Suharto Organizations: Jakarta Reuters —, Sunday, US Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia’s, Indonesian, China, United States, Greenfield, Indonesia's, Indonesia, Gaza, Papua, East Timor

☆ Israel’s ties with Europe strained by wars in Gaza and Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Adding impetus to their effort is the fact Israeli military strikes are now hitting UN peacekeeping bases in southern Lebanon, which house European troops. European reproach of Israel reached new levels when Israeli military strikes began hitting posts of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. The UN has said Israel’s military has fired on its peacekeepers multiple times in recent weeks, injuring more than a dozen. ‘We have blocked everything’Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned Israel’s actions in Lebanon, including an Israeli military strike that hit a UN peacekeeping base where around 1,100 Italian troops are stationed. In an earlier move that protested Israel’s war in Gaza, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized Palestinian statehood in May.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Hugh Lovatt, Josep Borrell, Ali Moustafa, ” Lovatt, ”, Biden, It’s, ” Borrell, Lovatt, Israel, Maya Sion, Netanyahu, António Guterres, Emmanuel Macron, “ Netanyahu, Macron, Carl Court, ” Macron, ” Netanyahu, Borrell, Guterres, Giorgia Meloni, ” Meloni, Meloni, Tzidkiyahu, Keir Starmer, of National Security Itamar Ben, Bezalel Smotrich, David Cameron, Ben Gvir, Smotrich, ” Ben Gvir’s, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Israel “ Organizations: CNN, UN, EU, North Africa, Foreign Relations, Hamas, European Union, Red Crescent, Reuters, UNIFIL, Europe, Agence France, Presse, United Nations Interim Force, AFP, Israel, UK, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Foreign Affairs Council, Getty, of National Security, Finance, Sky News, DPA, Nazi Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, East, Berlin, Rafah, Egypt, United States, “, Iran, Spain, Ireland, Italy, France, Tzidkiyahu, Jerusalem, Paris, AFP, Marjayoun, Vichy, Stockholm, Germany, United Kingdom, Irish, Sion, Norway, Britain, Lebanese, Khiam, Palestine

AITOU, Lebanon — The scene of carnage in northern Lebanon showed heartbreaking snippets of everyday family life. Illy Edwan, whose villa in Aitou, Lebanon, was destroyed in the blast. Pages from a children’s book are strewn across the wreckage following an Israeli strike in Aitou, northern Lebanon, on Tuesday. More than 2,300 people, including 127 children, have been killed in Lebanon since the Oct. 7 attack and an estimated 1.2 million have been displaced, according to Lebanese officials. If they can’t, they will remain in Lebanon.”Emergency responders move a body bag following an Israeli strike in Aitou, Lebanon, on Tuesday.

Persons: Israel, Illy Edwan, “, Ziad Jaber, Edwan, ” Jeremy Laurence, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Rema Jamous, Mohamed Youssef, Nermin Khair, Sandy, Bashar Hanouf, he’ll, ” Matt Bradley, Alexander Smith Organizations: NBC News, NBC, Israel Defense Forces, ”, United Nations, Hamas, Palestinian, Israel Locations: AITOU, Lebanon, Lebanese, Aitou, Beirut, ”, Israel, Gaza, Middle East, Tripoli, Turkish, Mersin, Nermin, London

☆ Venezuela’s Maduro appoints to his Cabinet a close ally pardoned by the US in a prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CARACAS, Venezuela Associated Press —Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Friday appointed to his Cabinet a close ally who was pardoned by US President Joe Biden last year as part of a prisoner swap and following assurances that Venezuela would hold a fair presidential election in 2024. In exchange for Saab, Maduro released 10 Americans and a fugitive defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who was wanted for his alleged role at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal. Last month, it responded to Venezuela’s highly disputed July presidential election by sanctioning 16 of Maduro’s allies, accusing them of obstructing the vote and carrying out human rights abuses. Saab was arrested in 2020 during a fuel stop en route to Iran to negotiate oil deals on behalf of Maduro’s government. After his arrest, Maduro’s government said Saab was a special envoy on a humanitarian mission and was entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution under international law.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Joe Biden, Maduro, Alex Saab, ” Maduro, Biden, Leonard ”, Saab Organizations: Venezuela Associated Press, Saab, White House, South, US Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Cape Verde, South American, Iran

He received the news of Sinwar’s death with “deep sadness and pain because (Sinwar) is a noble resister” – and predicted he would soon be replaced. For Abu Fares, one of hundreds of thousands prevented from returning to their homes, Sinwar’s death is just a continuation of a brutal war. Palestinians say they remain skeptical over whether Sinwar's death will shift Israel's war, which has laid waste to swathes of Gaza. Omar Al-Qatta/AFP/Getty ImagesAround 70% of Palestinians killed by Israel’s strikes are women and children, according to the Hamas-run Government Media Office (GMO). Mahmoud Jneid, also displaced in Deir al-Balah, said the world’s focus should rest on civilian suffering – not Sinwar’s death.

Persons: Deir, Gaza CNN — Abu Mohammed, Mohammed, Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar’s, Gaza – Mohammed, ” Mohammed, ”, Israel’s, Sinwar, Omar Al, Majdal, “ Sinwar, Israel, “, Benjamin ) Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Akram Dabbour, –, ” Dabbour, that’s, Mustafa Barghouti, ” Barghouti, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Abu Fares, Suha Al Turk, Balah, Mahmoud Jneid, ” Jneid Organizations: Gaza CNN, Israel, CNN, Getty, Israel Defense Forces, Amnesty International, CUNY Institute, Ministry of Health, UN, Shifa, Media Office, Hamas, Amnesty Locations: Gaza, Deir al, Rafah, Jabalia, AFP, Al, Ashkelon – Sinwar, Israel, Gaza's Al, Nazla, Jabalya, Gaza City

A South Carolina man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for the murder of a Black transgender woman. Ritter was the first person tried and convicted under federal hate crime law for fatal violence against a trans person. Dime Doe was fatally stabbed in 2019. “With today’s sentencing, the defendant is being held accountable for the senseless murder of Dime Doe, a transgender woman of color. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, which expanded the federal hate crime statute to include gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability.

Persons: Daqua Lameek Ritter, Ritter, Doe, ” Benjamin C, Doe’s, ” Doe, Kristen Clarke, Clarke, Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr, Shepard, ” Clarke Organizations: Justice Department, Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, University of Wyoming, Human Rights, HRC Locations: Carolina, South Carolina, Laramie, Texas

☆ Why Uniqlo is thriving right now
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Uniqlo's parent recently reported record earnings for the third year running, bolstered by strong sales at Uniqlo. Uniqlo consumers are diverse in age and disposable income. Uniqlo thinks of itself as a tech companyTadashi Yanai, CEO of Uniqlo and founder of Fast Retailing, once said, "Uniqlo is not a fashion company — it's a technology company." Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty ImagesThat's why Uniqlo releases new collections seasonally, whereas rivals such as Zara produce about 500 new designs weekly. He thinks Uniqlo comes with "a bit of this myth of the Japanese psyche.

Persons: —, Zara, Kate Yuille, Uniqlo.com Amrita Banta, Z, Banta, Martin Roll, Uniqlo, Tadashi Yanai, Toray, Yanai, Cristina Arias, Yuille, that's, Koji Watanabe Organizations: Service, Retailing, M, GU, Research, Strategy, McKinsey Locations: Japan, Zara, Hiroshima, Uniqlo, Uniqlo's

In an interview with NBC News, Shaban's 17-year-old brother, Mohammed al-Dalu, described the Israeli attack that killed his mother and brother, saying he saw something fall on Shaban's leg, pinning him down. He tried to run into the tent to save his brother, but several men held him back. "No one let me see my brother Shaban," he said. His mother, Mohammed said, "she remained asleep. The site of the Israeli airstrike on the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital compound in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on Monday.

Persons: Alaa, Mohammed al, Shaban, Mohammed, GoFundMe, Ahmed al, he'd, Israel, Abdallah F.S, ”, Matthew Miller, “, ” Miller, Médecins Organizations: Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, NBC News, Al, “, Getty, International Court of Justice, United Nations, U.S, Department, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, NBC, AFP Locations: Al, Aqsa, Deir al, Al Jazeera, Israel, Gaza, Anadolu, Egypt

☆ Federal judge blasts DeSantis administration for threats against TV stations
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Liam Reilly | Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —“To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid.”That’s what a federal judge wrote Thursday as he sided with local TV stations in an extraordinary dispute over a pro-abortion rights television ad. “Florida has now banned abortions, even in cases like mine.”The state health department – part of Gov. John Wilson, the health department’s general counsel, sent cease-and-desist letters to multiple television stations airing the ad. The health department’s threats were so chilling that WINK, a CBS affiliate, pulled the ad from its broadcasts, Florida Politics reported. Other stations have continued to air the ad, some as recently as Thursday evening, according to the TVEyes video search service.

Persons: New York CNN —, Mark E, Walker, Caroline, ”, Ron DeSantis’s, –, John Wilson, Wilson, Joseph Ladapo, ” Wilson, “, ” Jae Williams, Jessica Rosenworcel Organizations: New, New York CNN, State of, Chief U.S, District, Northern, Northern District of, Gov, Tampa Bay Times, Miami Herald, CNN, Physicians for Human Rights, CBS, Florida Politics, Democratic, FCC Locations: New York, State of Florida, Northern District, Northern District of Florida, Florida

☆ Who was Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Kara Fox | Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, believed to be one of the architects of the militant group’s October 7, 2023, terror attack and Israel’s most wanted man, was killed in Gaza on Wednesday, according to the Israeli military. He was also viewed as a pragmatic political leader by some: In 2017, Hamas elected Sinwar as the political chief of its main decision-making body, the Politburo, in Gaza. At one of the protests, Sinwar applauded those facing “the enemy who besieges us.”As the group’s political leader, Sinwar focused on the group’s foreign relationships, forging important ties with regional Arab powers. Yahya Sinwar, center, with the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, left, take part in the funeral of senior militant Mazen Fuqaha in Gaza City on March 25, 2017. The talks involved senior figures from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar, ”, Khan Younis, bunkering, Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas ’, Majdal –, Ashraf Amra, Shutterstock Sinwar, Gilad Shalit, “, –, Mazen, Mohammed Salem, Mohammed al, Masri, Mohammed Deif, Al, Marwan Issa Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Islamic University, Open University, European Council, Foreign Relations, Israel, Brigades, US Department of State, European Union Locations: Gaza, Tehran, Al, Ashkelon –, Aqsa, Palestine, Gaza City, Israel, Israeli, Italian, Islam, Iran, United States, Qatar, Egypt, United Kingdom, France

☆ Myanmar’s internet freedom is now as bad as China’s, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —For the past decade, China has consistently ranked last in the world for internet freedom due to its all-pervading online surveillance and content control system dubbed the “Great Firewall.”But a new report out Wednesday shows that internet freedoms in China’s neighbor Myanmar are now just as lacking. The report from Freedom House, a US government-funded NGO, found that global internet freedom has declined for the 14th consecutive year. In a record 43 countries, people were physically attacked or killed in retaliation for their online activities, the report found. The Central Asian nation Kyrgyzstan showed the biggest drop in internet freedoms, according to the report, as President Sadyr Japarov ramped up efforts to silence digital media and suppress online organizing. The report also covers online disinformation campaigns and political interference in the run-up to elections, including harassment of independent researchers and fact checkers.

Persons: ”, Mao Ning, Sadyr Japarov, Kloop, “ Organizations: CNN, Freedom, Trust, United Nations, UN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ”, Central, US Locations: China, China’s, Myanmar, Central Asian, Kyrgyzstan, Iceland, United States, ’

☆ Italy ships migrants to Albania for first time under controversial plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Egypt and Bangladesh are among 22 countries deemed “safe” by Italy, a designation that prevents their nationals from qualifying for political asylum, with few exceptions. Under the protocol signed between Italy and Albania last year, those sent to Albania must not show signs of torture, illness or vulnerability or be part of nuclear families traveling together. Those brought directly to Italy instead would fall under EU regulations, which involve a lengthy asylum process. If they are denied asylum in Italy, they will then be deported back to their countries of origin at Italy’s expense. More than 1 million migrants have made it to Italy by sea from North African ports since 2014, according to Italian government statistics and UNHCR.

Persons: Italy CNN —, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Filippo Ungaro, ”, “, Marta Welander, Welander Organizations: Italy CNN, Italy’s Coast Guard, EU, Italian Coast Guard, Italian Navy, Italian, Albanian, UN, UNHCR, UNHCR’s, CNN, “ UNHCR, ”, Rescue, UN’s, Organization for Migration Locations: Rome, Italy, Shengjin, Italian, Libya, Egypt, Bangladesh, Albania, Europe, UNHCR’s Italy, EU, Spain, North

☆ Saudi Arabia’s coveted Masters 1000 tennis tournament has stalled as Six Kings arrives in Riyadh
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

After years of pushing, everything looks ready for Saudi Arabia’s billion-dollar move to become a major force in tennis to take off — with one major hitch. The Ministry of Sport of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) and the WTA Tour then announced a three-year deal to host the tour finals. These moves raised Saudi Arabia’s tennis profile, but its potential new tournament at the start of the season was seen as the most important of its tennis investments — and its most divisive. It would cement Saudi Arabia’s place at the center of the sport, bringing with it an extensively criticized human rights record. Saudi Arabia’s moves into tennis have roiled the organisations behind the Grand Slam tournaments.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, —, Novak Djokovic, Turki Alalshikh, Rome —, ”, Nadal, Sinclair, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, “, Jamal Khashoggi, Henry Nicholls, Iga Swiatek, Adam Pretty Organizations: St, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, WTA, Saudi, ATP, Public Investment Fund, SURJ Sports Investment, U.S ., ”, Sport, Saudi Tennis Federation, WTA Tour, Sinclair, Tennis, Rights Watch, Athletic, Wimbledon, Getty, Australia, Tennis Australia, Laver Locations: Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, provisionality, PIF, Istanbul, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand

☆ ‘We have your location’: The Taliban death threats hounding this Afghan woman
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( Joseph Ataman | Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“They do not exist.”Her countrywoman Manizha Talash was disqualified from this year’s Paris Olympics after unveiling a cape with the message “Free Afghan Women” during the breakdancing events. She was removed from the competition for making a “political protest.”Hamidi has been bombarded with death threats since criticizing Afghanistan's men's cricket team. Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou/CNN“With these three words I spoke with all the world and asked them, please, let’s do some practical action for Afghan women. “They are the Taliban team for me, not the Afghan team,” she said, a similar accusation she has leveled against the Afghan cricket team, calling for Afghan sports teams to be banned from the Olympics, following bans on South Africa during the apartheid era. The term gender apartheid was first used by Afghan women in the late 1990s during the first Taliban regime.

Persons: Paris CNN —, ”, “, It’s, Talash, ” Hamidi, Afghanistan's, Li, Lian Ahlskog Hou, ” Manizha, Kimia, Hamidi, Robert Cianflone, Richard Bennett, Bennett, Afghanistan’s, Marzieh Hamidi, ” Hamidi’s, Ines Davau, UN’s Bennett, she’s, ” Davua, ” Davau Organizations: Paris CNN, didn’t, CNN, “, Tokyo Games, Our, Afghan, Taekwondo, Taliban, Afghanistan Cricket Board, country’s Taekwondo, UN, Cricket, country’s, Afghan men’s, Tokyo Locations: Afghan, Paris, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, France, Europe, Kabul

CNN —Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna, who went missing in an occupied part of her country, died in Russian detention last month, Ukrainian authorities said earlier this week. “I have official documentation from the Russian side confirming the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna, who was illegally deprived of her liberty by Russia,” Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, said in a statement. Journalist Evgeniya Motorevskaya, who worked with Roshchyna as the former editor of Hromadske, a Ukrainian media outlet, said the young reporter was determined to do her job as best as she could. The Ukrainian government says thousands of Ukrainians have been held in arbitrary detention in Russia. Yatsenko said that according to Russian authorities, Roshchyna died while being transferred from a detention facility in the southern Russian city of Taganrog to Moscow.

Persons: Victoria Roshchyna, Roshchyna, Roshchyna’s, “, ”, Dmytro Lubinets, Roshchyna's, Anatolii Stepanov, General, Evgeniya Motorevskaya, Hromadske, Vika, Petro Yatsenko, Yatsenko, Tetyana Katrychenko, ” Katrychenko Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Getty, Center, Media Initiative, Human Rights, Russian Federation, International Women’s Media Foundation, Ukrayinska Pravda, Hromadske, Radio Free Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Kyiv, AFP, Crimea, Taganrog, Radio Free Europe

Springfield, Ohio CNN —It’s just past 4am. To lose them would be a blow to his business, he told CNN. They’re ready to give birth in probably the next couple hours, and they’ve never had a single prenatal visit,” Cook told CNN. Haitians sit down to eat their meal at a Haitian restaurant in Springfield, Ohio, on September 12, 2024. That’s tough,” Heck told CNN.

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