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☆ Putin orders tactical nuclear weapon drills to deter the West
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's defense ministry said it would hold military drills including practice for the preparation and deployment for use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. "During the exercise, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the ministry said. Russia and the United States are by far the world's biggest nuclear powers, holding more than 10,600 of the world's 12,100 nuclear warheads. No power has used nuclear weapons in war since the United States unleashed the first atomic bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Major nuclear powers routinely check their nuclear weapons but very rarely publicly link such exercises to specific perceived threats in the way that Russia has.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexey Danichev, Natalia Kolesnikova, Joe Biden, Andriy Yusov, Sergei Shoigu, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ludovic Marin, David Cameron, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Abrams, Sean Gallup Organizations: Federal Assembly's Council, Reuters, Missile, Southern Military District, Military, Victory Day, Afp, Getty, Russian Federation, Federation of American Scientists, CNN, Ukraine, Kremlin, U.S . Senate, AFP, British, NATO, U.S . Army, British Amphibious Engineer Battalion Locations: Saint Petersburg, Russia, Reuters Russia, Moscow, France, Britain, United States, Ukraine, U.S, China, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Russian, Paris, London, Soviet Union, Gniew, Poland

☆ Every outfit the Kardashian-Jenner family has ever worn at the Met Gala, ranked from least to most iconic
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Amanda Krause | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the Kardashian-Jenner family have been attending the Met Gala since 2013. Kim Kardashian's outfits, in particular, have become some of the most famous worn at the event. AdvertisementIt's tough to imagine the Met Gala without the Kardashian-Jenner family. And while some of their outfits have made Met Gala history, others have missed the mark. Here's a look at everything the family has worn at the annual event, ranked from least to most iconic.

Persons: Kardashian, Jenner, Kim Kardashian's, —, Kim Kardashian, Kanye, Kris Jenner Organizations: Service, Costume Institute

☆ Putin orders tactical nuclear weapons drills in response to Western ‘threats’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Anna Chernova | Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian forces to rehearse deploying tactical nuclear weapons, as part of military drills to respond to what he called “threats” by the West. Since invading Ukraine in 2022, Putin has repeatedly made veiled threats to use tactical nuclear weapons against the West, but Monday marked the first time Russia has publicly announced drills. “During the exercises, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” Russia’s defense ministry said. Non-strategic, or “tactical,” nuclear weapons can be used in battlefield situations, carrying less power than strategic nuclear weapons, which have the potential to level entire cities. Putin said Russia would not be the first to test nuclear weapons, but would do so in the event of a US test.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Emmanuel Macron, I’m, ” Macron, Ludovic Marin, David Cameron, ” Cameron, Macron, “, Joe Biden, ” Organizations: CNN, Russia, Economist, Getty, United, Ukraine, Kyiv, State Department, US, military’s, Staff, Southern Military District Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Western, Europe, AFP, United Kingdom, United States, Moscow, Hiroshima, Nagasaki

☆ A Baguette Is Baked in France
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Victor Mather | More About Victor Mather | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Look, the French know how to make a great baguette, right? Can the French make a big baguette? An enormously long baguette that could feed a small town? French bakers in Suresnes, just west of Paris, made a 461-foot baguette on Sunday. The massive loaf successfully returned the title of world’s longest baguette to France, according to Guinness World Records, as it exceeded a 435-foot baguette made by (gasp) Italians in 2019.

Organizations: Guinness World Records Locations: Suresnes, Paris, France

☆ An 'artificial sun' achieved a record-breaking fusion experiment, bringing us closer to clean, limitless energy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A fusion reactor in southern France achieved a significant milestone toward clean, limitless energy. The fusion reactor, WEST, created a super-hot plasma and sustained it for a record-breaking 6 minutes. AdvertisementA fusion reactor in southern France, called WEST, just achieved an important milestone that brings us one step closer to clean, sustainable, nearly limitless energy. Fusion energy is more powerful than any form of energy we have today. Commercial fusion energy is still likely decades away, but Delgado-Aparicio thinks they're making steps toward "this big goal of giving energy to humankind."

Persons: —, Luis Delgado, Aparicio, PPPL's, they're, Roux, it's, Delgado, PPPL, Julian Stratenschulte, Tullio Barbui, Novimir Pablant, Delgadot, KSTAR Organizations: WEST, Service, New, Princeton Plasma Physics, NASA Solar Dynamics, CEA, Roux WEST, Getty, Atomic Energy Commission, ITER, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, SPARC Locations: France, Princeton, French

☆ Oil climbs as Gaza tensions rise, Saudi Arabia hikes prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A view of oil-well in action during sunset at Elk Hills Oil Field as gas prices on the rise in California, United States on April 14, 2024. Oil futures climbed on Monday after Saudi Arabia hiked June crude prices for most regions and as the prospect of a Gaza ceasefire deal appeared slim, renewing fears the Israel-Hamas conflict could still widen in the key oil-producing region. Brent crude futures were up 77 cents, or 0.9%, to $83.73 a barrel at 1055 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $78.98 a barrel, up 87 cents, or 1.1%. The geopolitical risk premium in oil prices also eased as talks for a Gaza ceasefire were underway. Also supporting oil was Saudi Arabia's move to raise the official selling prices (OSPs) for its crude sold to Asia, Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean in June, signaling expectations of strong demand this summer.

Persons: Brent, Tony Sycamore Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, IG Locations: Elk, California, United States, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Saudi, Asia, Northwest Europe, China

☆ China's trade war with the US is unlikely to cool down this election year, so it's working on Europe instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Xi is spending two days in France, meeting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday before heading to Serbia and Hungary. "I'm calling for an 'aggiornamento' because China is now in excess capacity in many areas and exports massively to Europe," Macron told La Tribune Dimanche, per a Bloomberg translation. She said China's trade practices are leading to unfair trade that are "market-distorting" and "could lead to deindustrialization in Europe." China has pushed back on the West's claims of overcapacity, accusing the bloc of being protectionist and of trying to curb China's economic development. However, Europe — like China — isn't quite the same anymore, following years of economic malaise punctuated by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Persons: —, Janet Yellen, Olaf Scholz, Xi Jinping's, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Matt Geraci, Geraci, Ursula von der Leyen, Von, Leyen, Léonie Allard, Allard, Xi Organizations: Service, State Authority, European Union, Business, La Tribune Dimanche, Atlantic, Associated Press, European, overcapacity, Council's Locations: China, France, Serbia, Hungary, European, Germany, Europe, Beijing, Washington, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Ariana Grande says filming ‘Wicked’ movie was ‘transformative’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —It sounds like Ariana Grande’s experience filming the upcoming “Wicked” movie was rather wonderful. “It was just the most extraordinary, transformative and beautiful experience I’ve ever had in my life,” Grande said on Vogue’s Met Gala red carpet on Monday. They join an impressive legacy of actors who’ve portrayed the roles including Idina Menzel, Michelle Williams and Kristin Chenoweth. Grande wore a light pink gown by designer Jonathan Anderson to the star-studded event. “Wicked: Part 2” will follow in late 2025.

Persons: Ariana Grande’s, ” Grande, “, I’ve, Glinda, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, who’ve, Idina Menzel, Michelle Williams, Kristin Chenoweth, Erivo “, ”, Jonathan Anderson, Grande, Oz, Elphaba, Jeff Goldblum, Oscar, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang Organizations: CNN, Broadway Locations: ”, Oz

☆ Israel's Cabinet Shuts Down Al Jazeera Operations in Country: Gaza War Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Mr. Netanyahu, who made the announcement on social media, had previously called Al Jazeera a “Hamas mouthpiece” and said he would close it. Israeli lawmakers passed a bill last month allowing the government to temporarily close foreign media outlets that Mr. Netanyahu determined were undermining the country’s national security. “The government under my leadership has decided unanimously: The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be shut down in Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter. Al Jazeera “will no longer broadcast here in Israel and its equipment will be confiscated,” Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, said in a video statement. Much of Al Jazeera’s reporting in Gaza has focused on the suffering of Palestinian civilians during the war, some of it involving its own staff and their families.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, ”, ” Mr, Al Jazeera, Shlomo Karhi, Al Jazeera’s, Wael al, Al Organizations: Al, Reuters, Journalism, Qatari, Hamas, West Bank Locations: Jazeera, Jerusalem ., Al Jazeera, Qatar, Israel, Gaza

☆ The global synthetic drugs crisis has hit West Africa, where people are digging up human bones to make a drug called 'kush'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Cemeteries are bolstering their security measures because gravediggers are stealing human bones to make powerful synthetic drugs, local journalists told Business Insider. AdvertisementA vendor sells daily necessities at a market in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Feb. 21, 2024. Formaldehyde also has euphoric properties, says the National Library of Medicine, which explains why kush users could be raiding Freetown's cemeteries. JOHN WESSELS | Getty ImagesJalloh noted that the use of synthetic drugs was not unique to Sierra Leone. ReutersIn 2015, BI's Erin Brodwin covered the rise of these synthetic drugs, marketed as "spice," "K2," "black mamba," or "crazy clown."

Persons: —, Sierra, Julius Maada, Michael Cole, Sally Hayden, JOHN WESSELS, Cole, Mabinty Magdalene Kamar, Abdul Jalloh, HUGH KINSELLA CUNNINGHAM, Thomas Dixon, Jalloh, Salifu Kamara, kush, BI's Erin Brodwin, Brodwin, tranq Organizations: Service, Business, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Anglia Ruskin University, The Irish Times, National Library of Medicine, Politico, Sierra, Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Police, Getty Images Local, Salone Times, BBC, Freetown Police Force, National Drug Agency, NPR, Guardian, Disease Control, Prevention, Reuters, Financial Times Locations: Freetown, African, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Mabinty, Waterloo , Sierra Leone, kush, New York City, New York, Kensington, North Philadelphia

☆ These are the kinds of San Francisco roads Tesla's FSD had a hard time dealing with, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It's unclear if other aspects of Sunset's grid trip up Tesla's FSD more than other San Francisco neighborhoods. A Tesla makes an unprotected left turn on Lincoln Way, a major road in San Francisco's Sunset District. Another street that was once notoriously difficult for Tesla's FSD to work in was Lombard Street, a steep and windy road northwest of San Francisco. When asked about using the FSD feature in the Sunset, she told BI that she had "no problems" with it. AdvertisementA Tesla parked in San Francisco's Sunset District, where company employees rigorously tested the car's Full Self-Driving technology, according to a report.

Persons: Tesla, —, Elon Musk's, Musk's, Lloyd Lee, FSD, Francisco's, Tayfun, John Bernal, Musk, Walter Huang Organizations: The, Service, X, Railway, San, Sunset District, Lincoln, BI, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Tesla, Washington Post, P Global Mobility, California Department of Motor Vehicles, Los Angeles Times Locations: Sunset, San Francisco, city's, Judah, San Francisco Municipal, Lincoln, Francisco, San, San Francisco San Francisco, Lombard

☆ Turkey suspended trade with Israel pending a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. Here's what that could mean for Israel.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Turkey has suspended trade with Israel, demanding a cease-fire in Gaza. AdvertisementTurkey halted trade with Israel last week, demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and criticizing Western influence in the war. That's a significant portion of Israel's trade, according to recent trade data. Though they didn't name the United States, Turkish leaders also called out the West's tolerance and support of the war. The United States abstained from the vote, sparking sharp dissent from Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu.

Persons: Israel, —, Tayyip Erdogan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Erdogan Organizations: Service, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Reuters, MIT Media Lab, United Nations, United Locations: Turkey, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, That's, China, United States

☆ 3 biggest mistakes people make when trying to improve their gut health, according to a gastroenterologist
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Serafina Kenny | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA gastroenterologist shared the three biggest mistakes people make when trying to take care of their gut health. So don't try to out-supplement a bad diet," Bulsiewicz said. "Have your healthy food, with lots of fiber and a diversity of plants, and then compliment that with supplements." But that isn't necessarily true — you could have eaten more of that food than your gut could handle, or most likely, it's because you don't have a healthy gut microbiome, Bulsiewicz said. Advertisement"The healthy foods that cause those symptoms are, in fact, the foods that you probably need the most" to increase gut microbiome diversity, Bulsiewicz said.

Persons: —, Will Bulsiewicz, ZOE, Bulsiewicz Organizations: Service, Business, BI

No deaths or serious injuries have been reported, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told CNN, adding 153 pets have also been rescued during the deluge. Forecast calls for rain Sunday into MondayMost of the weekend’s rain fell over western and central Texas, but there’s a significant chance of heavier rain in the greater Houston area Sunday. An additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall possible by Monday morning, according to the Houston National Weather Service office. Rainfall today will continue to exacerbate existing river flooding,” warned the Houston weather service office. The weather service listed some of the rainfall totals it collected:Groveton, TX- 23.56”Huntsville, TX- 21.76”Splendora, TX- 21.01”Willis, TX- 20.75”Livingston, TX- 18.42”There is relief on the horizon, however.

Persons: Lina Hidalgo, It’s, ” Hidalgo, “ We’re, Brent Taylor, CNN’s Amara Walker, “, ” Taylor, “ There’s, ‘, I’m, ”, Willis, Hurricane Harvey, Jason Fochtman, ” Emmitt Eldridge, ” Sherri Pegoda, Walker, Greg Abbott Organizations: CNN, Houston Office, Emergency Management, Houston Police, Houston Fire, Houston Public Works Department, Houston National Weather Service, Houston, Panhandle, West Lake Houston, Houston Chronicle, Texas, Gov Locations: South Texas, Harris County , Texas, Houston, Harris, City, Texas, , TX, Huntsville , TX, TX, Willis , TX, Livingston , TX, Gulf, East Texas, Hurricane, Lake Houston, West Lake, Kingwood, Atascocita, Kingwood , Texas, San Jacinto, Walker County, Polk County, Montgomery counties

☆ Israeli Cabinet Votes to Shut Down Al Jazeera’s Operations in the Country
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Liam Stack | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Image Employees working at the offices of Al Jazeera in Jerusalem. Mr. Netanyahu, who made the announcement on social media, had previously called Al Jazeera a “Hamas mouthpiece” and said he would close it. Israeli lawmakers passed a bill last month allowing the government to temporarily close foreign media outlets that Mr. Netanyahu determined were undermining the country’s national security. “The government under my leadership has decided unanimously: The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be shut down in Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter. In January, his eldest son was killed in an Israeli airstrike, according to the authorities in Gaza.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Shlomo Karhi, Al, Mr, Netanyahu, ”, Avraham Hasson, Hasson, Al Jazeera, “, ” Mr, Wael al Organizations: Al, Reuters, Journalism, Hamas, West Bank Locations: Al Jazeera, Jerusalem ., Qatar, Gaza, Israel, Al Jazeera’s, Qatari

☆ Columbia University’s encampment ended with a mass police operation. Here’s how some schools avoided that
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Notably, none of the schools agreed to fully divest from companies doing business in Israel, a demand student protesters have commonly rallied for across the country. What the schools agreed to doOn Monday, Northwestern announced an agreement with protesters to end the encampment. Rutgers agreed to meet with student protesters to discuss divestment and to support scholarships for at least 10 displaced Gazan students. Rutgers, along with Northwestern, agreed to expand spaces for Arab and Muslim students on campus. Recent agreements at Brown University and Northwestern University might show the way,” Roth wrote.

Persons: Brown, “, ”, Sophia Rosenfeld, Rosenfeld, Kena Betancur, Lena Shapiro, Shapiro, Michael Schill, Schill, ” Schill, Trisha Ahmed, Brown’s, Brown University Brown, Owen Dahlkamp, Dahlkamp, “ Brown, ” Brown, Christina Paxson, ” Dahlkamp, Elise Stefanik, Michael S, Roth, ” Roth Organizations: New, New York CNN, Ivy League schools Columbia, Northwestern University, Rutgers University, University of Minnesota, CNN, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, University of Illinois College of Law, Northwestern, Chicago, Rutgers, Birzeit University, West Bank, University of Minnesota's, Palestinian, Brown University, University Hall, Brown Daily Herald, Corporation of Brown University, University of California, University of Texas, Defamation, Republican, Twitter, Wesleyan University Locations: New York, Israel, Brown, Northwestern, New York City, AFP, Deering, Minneapolis, Minn, Providence , Rhode Island, Columbia, Los Angeles, Austin, Gaza

☆ Netanyahu denounces possible ICC warrants against Israeli leaders as ‘indelible stain’ on justice
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Eugenia Yosef | Eyad Kourdi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned the International Criminal Court against potentially issuing arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and commanders as a result of its investigation into the war in Gaza, saying that doing so would leave an “indelible stain” on the concept of international justice and law. Netanyahu’s comments, in a televised speech for the opening ceremony of Holocaust Remembrance Day, appeared to be a reference to Israeli media reports that several government officials, including the prime minister, are concerned that such arrest warrants might be imminent. In his speech Sunday, Netanyahu emphasized that the ICC was “founded as a consequence of the Holocaust” and should not attempt to “undermine” Israel’s fundamental right to self-defense. Even if we have to stand alone, we will continue to fight human evil,” Netanyahu added. Those who are in breach of the law will be held accountable.”Israel is not a member of the ICC and rejects the court’s jurisdiction.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “, ”, ” Netanyahu, Karim Khan, Bensouda Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Sunday, Criminal, ICC, West Bank, Israel, Ministry of Health Locations: Gaza, The Hague, Israel, State, Palestine, Palestinian, East Jerusalem

☆ Sadiq Khan wins third term as London mayor, Labour sources say, capping strong showing for opposition in English elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Sadiq Khan has won a third term as London’s mayor, Labour Party sources claimed on Saturday, capping a round of local elections across England that confirmed the political supremacy of the main opposition party. Sunak has resisted calls to outline when he will hold that vote, and Labour leads opinion polls by a huge margin. Keir Starmer’s opposition party won control of eight councils, and also stormed to victory on Thursday in a Westminster by-election in Blackpool. In particular the loss of Oldham council, a north-west English town, where around a quarter of the population is Muslim. If his victory is confirmed, Khan would become the first mayor of London to serve a third term since the post was created in 2000.

Persons: CNN — Sadiq Khan, Khan, Susan Hall, Rishi Sunak, –, Sunak, Keir Starmer’s, Yvette Cooper, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, Labour Party, Conservative, England, Labour, Conservatives, Tories, BBC Locations: England, West Midlands, Tees, Westminster, Blackpool, Gaza, Oldham, London

☆ High mortgage rates didn't put a lid on home prices, but soaring insurance costs might, real estate experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While high mortgage rates didn't bring prices down, steep insurance costs could put a lid on further appreciation. But there's an under-the-radar factor that could soon pull down home prices nationally, real estate experts told Business Insider — soaring home insurance costs. AdvertisementThe insurance costs usually come as a surprise to home buyers in those areas, Fairweather added. To Fairweather, it's more precise to say the rising insurance will make home values grow more slowly than they would have, as the robust demand still characterizes the current market. We take into account prices and mortgage rates and now rising insurance costs, but there's still people wanting to buy homes," she said.

Persons: —, Zillow, FRED, Daryl Fairweather, Fairweather, Danielle Hale, Hale, Jesse Keenan, Keenan, it's, homeownership, there's Organizations: Service, Business, Tulane University Locations: Florida, Texas, West, Louisiana

☆ Michael Showalter on 'the Idea of You' Controversial Ending, 'Wet Hot'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Michael Showalter kept acting long after he realized he didn't want to do it anymore — mostly because he needed to eat. Showalter got his start in college doing sketch comedy as a member of The State (formerly The New Group). Fast forward roughly two decades and Showalter has found himself right where he was always meant to be. But as I grew older, it was a combination of I wasn't getting cast in things, but I also wasn't really needing to get cast in things. Is there any one moment where you realized acting wasn't what you loved doing?

Persons: Michael Showalter, Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Joe Lo Truglio, Thomas Lennon, Ken Marino —, he'd, didn't, wasn't, Baxter, he's, Sally Field, Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Oscar, Nanjiani, Jessica Chastain, Tammy Faye, Elizabeth Holmes, Amanda Seyfried, Holmes, Jennifer Westfeldt, Lee's, Anne Hathaway, Reid Scott, Ella Rubin, Nicholas Galitzine, Claudette Godfrey, Daniel Boczarski, You've, you've, … It's, Ivanov, Kevin Kline, I'm, Adam Jason Finmann, gee, Hayes, Alisha Wetherill, Nicholas, Nick, Cathy Schulman, He's, It's, Anne, Bernie Telsey, Maria Organizations: The, Business, MTV, Globe, BI, SXSW, Knitting Factory, Amazon, Netflix Locations: New Jersey, Austin, Hollywood , California

☆ The Kentucky Derby could be a wet one. Early favorites Fierceness, Sierra Leone have won in the slop
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Trainer Todd Pletcher watches as Kentucky Derby entrant Fierceness works out on Kentucky Oaks Stakes Day, one day before the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY on Friday, May 03, 2024. It's the 150th Kentucky Derby. Wet weather could benefit six horses that have won in the mud or slop before, including early favorites Fierceness and Sierra Leone. The Kentucky Derby winner earns $3.1 million from the record purse of $5 million. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddles Fierceness, is in the Kentucky Derby for the 24th year and it never gets old.

Persons: Todd Pletcher, Fierceness, Dan, John Velazquez, Peter Brandt, Larry Demeritte, Demeritte, Young, Wayne Lukas, Frankie Dettori, He's Organizations: Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, 150th Kentucky Derby, Society, Saratoga Locations: Kentucky, Churchill Downs, Louisville , KY, Churchill, Sierra Leone, Bahamas, Japan, Italian

☆ Kenya floods: Anger mounts as people left homeless and searching for loved ones swept away in floods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Larry Madowo | Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —When Julia Wanjiku put her son Isaac to bed last Sunday after a day celebrating his third birthday, she didn’t realize she was also saying goodbye. She was among the survivors gathering at Ngeya Girls High School in Mai Mahiu on Tuesday. A damaged car buried in mud in an area heavily affected by torrential rains and flash floods in the village of Kamuchiri, near Mai Mahiu, on April 29. Luis Tato/AFP via Getty ImagesPeople removing mud and water from their house in Mai Mahiu, Kenya, on April 29. Rescuers carry the body of a young man recovered in the debris following flooding, in Mai Mahiu, Kenya.

Persons: Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —, Julia Wanjiku, Isaac, Wanjiku, — Isaac, “, ” Wanjiku, Isaac’s, Mai Mahui, It’s, Luis Tato, El, William Ruto, Kithure Kindiki, Isaac Mwaura, ” Ruto, Mark Laichena, ”, Simon Maina, Mwaura, Nyagoah Tut, James Wakibia, Joyce Kimutai, herder, Makau, “ I’m, ” Larry Madowo, Laura Paddison, CNN’s Louis Mian, Allison Chinchar, Mary Gilbert Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Girls High School, Getty, Getty Images, “, Kenyan, Space Agency European Space Agency, European Space Agency, Isaac Mwaura ., Communities, United Arab Emirates, Rights Watch, Kenya Meteorological Department, Human Rights Watch, Rescuers, Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute Locations: Kenya, Mai, Kenya’s, Nairobi, Mai Mahiu, Kamuchiri, AFP, Getty Images Kenya, Garissa, Tanzania, Tana, Mathare, New York, El, Nyagoah Tut Pur, Africa, East Africa, London

☆ I moved to Montana after getting priced out of California. I work in the trades — not all transplants are rich remote workers buying up property.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Baylon said not all Montana transplants are remote workers buying property and driving up prices. AdvertisementThis is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with 34-year-old Ian Baylon, a tradesman who moved from California to Montana in April 2022. Here in Montana there's a huge shortage of labor too. While it was very competitive in California, there's a lot of demand for the trades up here, but nobody up here really wants to learn the trades. A lot work in tech or finance, and there's no need for them to work locally.

Persons: Ian Baylon, Baylon, —, Jacob Boomsma, they're, Boz Angeles, United States Gordon Calhoun, Montanans, I've, chokehold, It's Organizations: Service, Crockett, That's Locations: Montana, Bay, California, Bay Area, San Francisco, Crockett, Area, Vallejo, West Yellowstone, Bozeman, Downtown Bozeman , Montana, Mexican, Berkeley, Gallatin, Sky , Bozeman, United States, Washington , New York , Texas, West Coast

☆ The Bleak Life of a Deposed President and His Wife, Held Captive
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Elian Peltier | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Held captive by his former security guards in an isolated wing of his house, the deposed president of Niger paces a bedroom with no direct daylight, cut off from the world and unable to talk to his lawyers, according to people with direct knowledge of the conditions of his detention. Nine months since he was toppled in one of the coups that have recently wracked West Africa, Mohamed Bazoum is lingering in detention with no end in sight. The military junta that deposed him is seeking to strip him of presidential immunity, paving the way for him to be prosecuted on charges such as treason, for which the penalty could be life imprisonment, his lawyers said. His only visitor is a doctor, who brings him food once a week. Many of Mr. Bazoum’s closest allies — his cabinet members and advisers — have been thrown into jail or forced to flee Niger.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Hadiza, Bazoum’s, — Locations: Niger, West Africa

☆ Frank Stella, Towering Artist and Master of Reinvention, Dies at 87
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( William Grimes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Frank Stella, whose laconic pinstripe “black paintings” of the late 1950s closed the door on Abstract Expressionism and pointed the way to an era of cool minimalism, died on Saturday at his home in the West Village of Manhattan. Mr. Stella was a dominant figure in postwar American art, a restless, relentless innovator whose explorations of color and form made him an outsize presence, endlessly discussed and constantly on exhibit. Few American artists of the 20th century arrived with quite his éclat. He was in his early 20s when his large-scale black paintings — precisely delineated black stripes separated by thin lines of blank canvas — took the art world by storm. Writing in Art International magazine in 1960, the art historian William Rubin declared himself “almost mesmerized” by the “eerie, magical presence” of the paintings.

Persons: Frank Stella, Harriet E, McGurk, Stella, William Rubin, “ Organizations: of, Art International Locations: West, of Manhattan

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