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☆ Tunisian judge bars broadcast media from opposition conspiracy cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TUNIS, June 17 (Reuters) - A Tunisian judge has barred radio and television news programmes from covering the cases of prominent opposition figures accused of conspiring against state security in recent months, official news agency TAP said on Saturday. "The investigating judge of office 36 of the anti-terrorism branch issues a decision banning media coverage of the two cases of conspiring against state security," the court's spokesperson Hanan el-Qadas told TAP. Judges have detained or opened investigations into more than 20 political, judicial, media and business figures with opposition ties over recent months, accusing some of plotting against state security. The main opposition parties have decried the arrests as politically motivated and rights groups have urged Tunisian authorities to free those detained. Saied has denied staging a coup, saying his actions were legal and needed to save Tunisia from chaos and corruption.

Persons: Kais Saied, Hanan el, Saied, Angus McDowall, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Tunisian, TAP, Reuters, Interior Ministry, Ministry, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia

☆ How a deadly bat virus found new ways to infect people
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

Scientists found bats with Nipah virus roosting near Sabith’s home. A search of the neighborhood led to a colony, near their house, of flying foxes, a common fruit bat. NETTING NIPAH: Researchers in Bangladesh use nets to catch bats and collect samples to find the Nipah virus in the wild. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir HossainWhether Sabith ate contaminated fruit or somehow came into direct contact with a bat, the virus entered his cells. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir HossainA year later, Chua’s team found the same strain of Nipah virus in flying foxes.

☆ Opinion | DeSantis Is Letting Trump Humiliate Him
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Trump might be easier for Joe Biden to beat, but anyone who gets the Republican nomination has a chance of being elected, and the possibility of another Trump term is intolerable. Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor who was supposed to stop Donald Trump, is deflating before even entering the race, with his poll numbers softening and donors fretting. Trump, meanwhile, seems more buoyed than hindered by his ever-proliferating scandals, and is racking up endorsements at DeSantis’s expense. The ad from the Trump camp is inspired by reporting about DeSantis eating pudding with his fingers on an airplane. “Trump should fight Democrats, not lie about Governor DeSantis,” the ad continues — whining about Trump’s aggression rather than countering it.

☆ The Other Stanford DEI Scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Betsy Devos | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

What happened to Judge Kyle Duncan at Stanford University was repulsive and unacceptable, and the staff who aided and abetted it—most notably DEI dean Tirien Steinbach—should be fired. This isn’t the only scandal on that campus worthy of attention and outrage. The school also faces a criminal case of false sexual-assault accusations. Both instances were complicated by the incessant buildup of nonteaching bureaucrats. Stanford now employs more administrators than it enrolls undergrads—focused on an agenda, not education.

☆ CFTC Charges Against Binance Highlight Role of Former Compliance Chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Mengqi Sun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A Binance spokeswoman called the complaint filed by the CFTC ”unexpected and disappointing as we have been working collaboratively with the CFTC for more than two years.”The suit by U.S. regulators against Binance Holdings Ltd. focuses in large part on the work of the cryptocurrency exchange’s former chief compliance officer, alleging he willfully aided and abetted the firm in evading U.S. laws. Samuel Lim, Binance’s compliance chief between 2018 and 2022, faces civil charges of undermining Binance’s compliance program and conducting activities to evade rules designed to prevent illicit financial activity, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said Monday.

☆ Credit Suisse whistleblowers say Swiss bank has been helping wealthy Americans dodge U.S. taxes for years
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

In this article CSCSG.N-CH Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA sign of Credit Suisse bank is seen at their headquarters in Zurich on March 20, 2023. "To date, no Credit Suisse employees involved in the scheme have faced any consequences from the United States government for their participation." "It's not a question of whether Swiss banks continue to do this, it's a question of which Swiss banks still do this." In a statement to CNBC, a Credit Suisse spokeswoman said it does not tolerate tax evasion. "DOJ must correct its lax oversight of Credit Suisse and hold Credit Suisse accountable for any violations of its plea agreement," he said.

☆ NATO slams Putin rhetoric on nuclear weapons in Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

KYIV, March 27 (Reuters) - NATO castigated Vladimir Putin over his nuclear rhetoric a day after the Russian president said he planned to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, escalating a standoff with the West. "Russia's nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said on Sunday. We have not seen any changes in Russia's nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own." Tactical nuclear weapons refer to those used for specific gains on a battlefield rather than those with the capacity to wipe out cities. Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said the risk of escalation to nuclear war "remains extremely low."

☆ Ukraine slams Putin plan to station Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"Making a statement about tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, he admits that he is afraid of losing & all he can do is scare with tactics," Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. Washington, the world's other nuclear superpower, played down concerns about Putin's announcement and the potential for Moscow to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine. The official noted that Russia and Belarus had been speaking about the transfer of nuclear weapons for some time. However, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons called Putin's announcement an extremely dangerous escalation. Sharing nuclear weapons makes the situation much worse and risks catastrophic humanitarian consequences," it said on Twitter.

☆ TD Bank reaches $1.2 billion settlement in Ponzi scheme lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —TD Bank will pay $1.2 billion to settle a lawsuit alleging its involvement in an infamous $7 billion Ponzi scheme orchestrated by disgraced financier Allen Stanford more than a decade ago. The lawsuit claimed TD Bank collected these deposits in US and Canadian dollar values and continuously ignored red flags about the Antigua-based bank over the years. “TD provided primarily correspondent banking services to Stanford International Bank Limited and maintains that it acted properly at all times,” the bank said. Additionally, HSBC will pay $40 million and Independent Bank, formerly Bank of Houston, will pay $100 million, the receivership’s counsel confirmed. Societe Generale reached a settlement of $157 million and Trustmark agreed to pay $100 million earlier this year.

☆ How the Supreme Court could re-shape the internet as you know it
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Nearly 30 years of protectionsA view of the U.S. Supreme Court on February 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court isn't the only one reviewing Section 230; Congress and the White House have also proposed changes to the law, though legislation to update Section 230 has consistently stalled. For skeptics of the tech industry, and critics of social media platforms, more lawsuits would imply more opportunities to hold tech companies accountable. Allowing the courts to scrutinize the tech industry more would bring it in line with other industries, some have argued. Even a 'like' could trigger a lawsuitLiability could also extend to individual internet users.

☆ Supreme Court justices aren't 'the 9 greatest experts on the internet,' Elena Kagan said as they heard a major tech case
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Section 230 provides tech companies with legal immunity over the content shared on their sites. "We're a court," Justice Elena Kagan said during more than two-and-a-half hours of oral arguments on the major tech case. The family argued that Google should be held liable for its platform, YouTube, recommending ISIS videos to its interested users. Both Republicans and Democrats have attacked the provision, saying tech companies should be subject to some accountability for how they run their platforms. Despite the justices' skepticism, however, some of them did question the broad legal immunity granted to tech companies during arguments on Tuesday.

The lawsuit argued that YouTube's actions provided "material support" to Islamic State. Critics including Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump have said Section 230 needs reform in light of the actions of social media companies in the decades since its enactment. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, a lawyer representing the Gonzalez family, said social media companies, through automated and human means, can prevent militant groups from using their services. "There should be zero tolerance for terrorism on social media. Terror organizations are using social media as a tool that they never had before - and cannot do without."

☆ Boies, co-counsel move to grab control of all private FTX cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Alison Frankel | Thomson Reuters | Alison Frankel Has Covered High-Stakes Commercial Litigation As A Columnist For Reuters Since A Dartmouth College Graduate | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, that the judge overseeing their Miami cases, U.S. District Judge Michael Moore, has already proven in their brand ambassador cases that he can steer FTX cases quickly and efficiently. Not everyone pursuing claims on behalf of FTX customers agrees with Boies and Moskowitz. (To be clear, these private cases are different from cases that could be brought by a court-appointed receiver or trustee in FTX’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy.) If the cases go to California, the California slate is a likelier candidate. It will be a few months before any ruling on the Boies and Moskowitz consolidation petition.

☆ 2 years after the Jan. 6 insurrection, election deniers are still in the building — and holding the speakership hostage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A group of 20 ultra-conservative Republicans continues to stonewall his leadership ambitions. More than half denied the 2020 election result and a handful are mentioned in the now-dissolved January 6 committee's report. But several of the political personalities at the heart of that attack are the same ones now holding the speakership hostage. All three lawmakers denied allegations that they were involved in planning the event. Meanwhile, the FBI seized the phone of Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania in August of last year.

☆ The 20 Republicans holding the speakership hostage are employing Trumpian tactics while blatantly ignoring Trump's advice, extremism expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A group of 20 Republicans are wielding an inordinate amount of power as negotiations continue. An extremism expert told Insider the holdouts are employing "Trumpism" without Trump's influence. "The influential part of these 20 votes don't care whether they control the House speakership or not," he told Insider. The former president issued a last-minute plea on Wednesday morning, urging Republicans to set aside their differences and make McCarthy speaker. Ward warned that this chaos will be just the beginning should the 20 Republicans ultimately get their way.

FTX co-founder Gary Wang and former Alameda Research co-CEO Caroline Ellison both pleaded guilty to federal charges in the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a message Wednesday. Wang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Ellison pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The SEC alleges that both Ellison and Wang, in their respective roles at Alameda and FTX, abetted Bankman-Fried in allegedly defrauding FTX customers. Ellison, 28, and Wang, 29, become the second and third individuals to be charged in connection with FTX's multibillion-dollar collapse.

☆ ‘Harry & Meghan’ Review: A Royal Pity Party on Netflix
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

In a trailer for “Harry & Meghan,” the Netflix-abetted public service announcement on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle asked whether it didn’t make sense “to hear our story from us” especially “when the stakes were this high.” To which many Americans would likely answer “No” and “Are they really?”A viewer really has to be on board the royal soap-opera bus not to be bored out of one’s mind by “Harry & Meghan,” not that anyone on it rides a bus: The story of Meghan Markle, of the erstwhile “Suits,” and Prince Harry , of the perennial drama “The Windsors,” is one that involves matters of wealth, romance, monarchy, English vs. American racism, English vs. American tabloid journalism, family betrayals and what victimization really means. Also, the blinkered view of the main characters as to who they happen to be. “Anyone else in my situation would have done the same thing,” says the duke, referring to the couple’s decision to remove themselves from The Firm and live their life as non-royals. One wants to answer “ no one has ever been in your situation,” though the distinct peculiarity of the couple’s position is only brought up when convenient, depending on what is being argued in this six-part, one-sided series. Director Liz Garbus is a respected documentarian, but documentarians are propagandists by instinct and in the not-so-royals she has eager collaborators.

“I was just so thirsty to get a BBL,” Velasco said. 7Q Spa also has positive reviews on Yelp and Google, where it averages a 4.5 star rating. The front door of 7Q Spa is side-by-side with Vitality Medical Center, which, according to California business registration documents, has the same CEO as 7Q Spa. After the surgery, Velasco said she felt great and, at first, she couldn’t feel her stitches at all. The California Medical Board revoked her license as part of the settlement, but stayed the revocation and granted her a 35-month probation.

☆ Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman says the S&P 500 won't hit a new high for a long time - and predicts a US recession and stubborn inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Leon Cooperman expects the S&P 500 to eke out mediocre returns for the rest of this decade. The billionaire investor predicts a US recession and stubbornly high inflation. Sign up for our newsletter to get the inside scoop on what traders are talking about — delivered daily to your inbox. "The 4,800 high this year will be the high for quite some time," he said about the benchmark stock index. Rising prices, declining growthA prolonged economic downturn and elevated inflation lie ahead for the US, Cooperman said.

An Ohio man accused of helping his family plan, carry out and cover up the killing of eight members of another family was found guilty of murder Wednesday. Both Wagner brothers as well as their parents, Angela Wagner and George “Billy” Wagner III, were charged in the killings. Angela Wagner pleaded guilty to a role in helping to plan the killings in exchange for a 30-year sentence. Edward "Jake" Wagner speaks to an attorney at the Pike County Courthouse in Waverly, Ohio, on Nov. 27, 2018. Jake Wagner said his brother froze and did not fire, leading Jake to kill the man himself, according to WLWT.

☆ At least 38 killed in fire at industrial wholesaler in central China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING — A blazing fire has killed 38 people at a company dealing in chemicals and other industrial goods in central China’s Henan province. A fire has killed 36 people at a chemicals and industrial goods company in central China’s Henan province. Online listings for the company, Kaixinda, said it was a wholesaler dealing in a wide range of industrial goods including what was described as specialized chemicals. The chemicals were found to be falsely registered and stored, with local officials found complicit in turning a blind eye to the potential threat. The densely populated and economically vital province has seen a number of deadly incidents leading to the arrest of local officials.

☆ Jan. 6 rioter who filmed Pelosi laptop theft jailed after jury convicts her on 6 counts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Ryan J. Reilly | Daniel Barnes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Williams was found guilty on six counts, but the jury deadlocked on two others, including whether she aided and abetted the theft of a laptop in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She also pushed up against cops and tried to organize other rioters inside the Capitol rotunda. But they deadlocked on obstruction of an official proceeding — a charge which would have carried the lengthiest potential sentence — and the charge of aiding and abetting the theft of Pelosi's laptop. Williams, who showed little emotion when the jury returned its verdict, was clearly upset by Jackson's decision to lock her up. About 900 people have been arrested in connection with the U.S. Capitol attack, with hundreds more arrests in the works.

How Putin and Friends Stalled Climate Progress A handful of powerful world leaders rallied around Russia and undercut global cooperation. Mr. Putin has gained from this as the increasingly autocratic Mr. Xi finds common cause with the Kremlin. “Much depends on whether authoritarian leaders perceive climate action to be in their self-interest.”Though their actions help Mr. Putin, their track records on climate are mixed. Mr. Xi called Mr. Putin his “best friend.”He was returning the favor from a year earlier, when Mr. Putin hosted Mr. Xi at the Grand Kremlin Palace and awarded him one of Russia’s highest medals for foreign dignitaries. At a news conference with Mr. Putin, Mr. Bolsonaro thanked his “dear friend,” saying that Mr. Putin had offered him support when other world leaders were criticizing his Amazon policy.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene Republican of Georgia Suggested Mr. Pelosi knew his attacker. Elon Musk Chief executive of Twitter and Tesla Amplified a conspiracy theory about male prostitution. Finding life on far-right websites and the so-called dark web, conspiracy theories and falsehoods leaped from the fringes to the mainstream. Each comment Friday, Oct. 28 6 p.m. A conspiracy theory circulates widely that the attack was the result of a sexual affair. saturday, oct. 29 at 9 p.m. A conspiracy theory circulates widely that the attack was the result of a sexual affair.

The people of Iran are in open revolt, this time led by courageous young women protesting the murder of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in the custody of the morality police, and the law requiring they wear hijab. Most significantly, this current uprising over the murder of a Kurdish 22-year-old is being led by the young women of the TikTok generation. Pro-regime chants of “death to America” and “death to Israel” have been a staple of the rhetorical diet fed to the public. To that end, pro-Palestinian sympathy was ingrained in Iran’s propaganda via school textbooks, television programs, sports, cartoons, billboards and more. In 1979, the people of Iran yearned for a democratic revolution; instead, they got an Islamic dictatorship.

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