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☆ Jennifer Lopez plus AI robots in ‘Atlas’ equals fuel for Netflix’s algorithm
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Say what you want about Jennifer Lopez, but streaming algorithms surely love her, which accounts for her parade of recent movies – “The Mother” (Netflix), “Shotgun Wedding” (Amazon) and “Marry Me” (Peacock), all in the last two years. Add to that “Atlas,” a nonstop sci-fi action movie that basically gets the job done with a plot that recalls Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” just with a lot more cursing. Atlas must then team up with another AI robot (voiced by Gregory James Cohan) in order to survive. Netflix continues to lay down expensive bets on genre movies, with Zack Snyder’s two-part “Rebel Moon” among the more prominent recent examples. For her part, Lopez steps into a slightly different role – and wisely away from another rom-com – in her dual capacity as producer and star.

Persons: Jennifer Lopez, ”, Disney’s, Atlas Shepherd, Harlan, Simu Liu, Gregory James Cohan, Mark Strong, Sterling K, Brown, Lopez, Brad Peyton –, Dwayne Johnson, Andreas ” –, Zack Snyder’s, it’s Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Sterling, “

Multiple fatalities and some injuries have been reported in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa – about 50 miles southwest of Des Moines – after a tornado carved a devastating path through the community Tuesday evening, Iowa State Patrol spokesperson Sgt. “There is basically nothing left,” Clel Baudler, a former Iowa state representative who lives a half mile from Greenfield, told CNN on Tuesday. Power outages across Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois left nearly 200,000 homes and businesses in the dark as of Tuesday night, according to PowerOutage.us. A few tornadoes could strike from Texas to Arkansas, but hail and powerful winds are possible anywhere along the storms’ path. Heaps of rubble blanket Greenfield, Iowa, after a tornado touched down Tuesday.

Persons: Alex Dinkla, Dinkla, Clel, Kim Reynolds, Charlie Neibergall, Valerie Warrior, KCCI, “, ”, “ They’ll, CNN’s Jessica Jordan, Sara Smart, Amy Simonson Organizations: CNN, Midwest, Des Moines, Iowa State Patrol, Storm Prediction Center Locations: Iowa, Greenfield , Iowa, Des, Greenfield, Iowa , Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, Vermont, Ohio, Great, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Dallas, Fort Worth, Nashville, St, Louis, Memphis, Cleveland, Tulsa, Columbus, Iowa , Minnesota , Wisconsin, Western Iowa, Prescott, Adams County, Montgomery County

☆ Paris 2024: What is an Individual Neutral Athlete at the Olympic Games?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Russian athletes have competed under several different guises throughout the 128-year history of the Olympics, and they will be known by another new name at Paris 2024. Antonin Thuillier/AFP/Getty ImagesHere’s everything you need to know about the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Olympics. “The sanctions against those responsible for the war, the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, remain in place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024,” the IOC said in a statement. “No flag, anthem, colors or any other identifications whatsoever of Russia or Belarus will be displayed at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in any official venue or any official function,” the statement continues. Like all other athletes, AINs will need to meet anti-doping requirements to be considered for selection.

Persons: Ukraine –, Igor Kobzar, Antonin Thuillier, –, AINs, Star Pau Gasol, Nicole Hoevertsz, Ryu Seung, Robert Michael, Russia –, Mariya Lasitskene, ”, Daniil Medvedev, “, it’s, Russia ” Organizations: CNN, Olympics, Belarus –, International Olympic Committee, IOC, ATP, WTA, Russian Olympic, Getty, Games, Olympic Games, Star, Athletes ’ Commission, International, Russian Olympic Committee, Paris, Tokyo, Kyodo, ROC, “ Unified, ”, Soviet Union, Unified Locations: Ukraine, Belarus, Belarusian, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Paris, France, Russia, AFP, Russian, AIN, Tokyo, Beijing, China, –, Moscow, Pyeongchang, South Korea, Barcelona, Soviet, Baltic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

☆ Russia's fearsome S-400 air-defense system isn't quite living up to the hype in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Russian S-400 surface-to-missile systems in the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square on i in May 2023. Ukraine in September said it destroyed two Russian S-400 batteries in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014. Rajan Menon, the director of the Grand Strategy program at the US think tank Defense Priorities, described the S-400 as Russia's "top-of-the-line air defense system." A rocket launches from a S-400 missile system at the Ashuluk military base in Southern Russia in September 2020. A Patriot air defense system test-fired during a training in Chania, Greece, on November 8, 2017.

Persons: —, Fredrik Mertens, John Hoehn, it's, Hoehn, AP Mertens, Mertens, Ian Williams, Mattias Eken, Rajan Menon, Vitaly Nevar, Mick Ryan, you've, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Ryan, haven't, hasn't, KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, might've, Eken, Anthony Sweeney, Army Menon Organizations: Service, Business, Hague, Strategic Studies, NATO, SA, International Institute for Strategic Studies, US Patriot, Reuters, RAND Corporation, Ukrainian Air Force, Forbes, Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, South Korea Defense Ministry, AP, Patriots, Storm, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Defense, REUTERS, Australian Army, Getty, Victory Day, Patriot, Army Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Moscow, Crimea, Screengrab, Soviet, US, Russia's, Ukraine's Luhansk, South Korea, Kaliningrad, Southern Russia, AFP, Chania, Greece, United States, West, NATO

☆ Why Jay Powell really wants to lower interest rates this September
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It’s interesting to me that the equity market is cheering the idea that the Fed is going to be cutting rates. There tends to be a fine line between cutting rates and extending the economic cycle or cutting rates because the cycle is coming to an end (and the economy is softening). When the Fed is cutting rates, it’s cutting rates because a recession is about to happen, right? That’s why I say there’s a fine line between the Fed cutting to extend the cycle and the Fed cutting because a recession is about to happen. The Fed has been in this precarious space where they’re trying to avoid recession while lowering interest rates.

Persons: Dow, stoking, Bell, Tom Porcelli, Jerome Powell, Jay Powell, they’re, that’s, Donald, Goofy, Eva Rothenberg, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Captain Hook, ”, Kate Shindle, “, Uber, Lyft, Jamie Long, Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN — Markets, Federal Reserve, Fed, ’ Equity Association, Equity, National Labor Relations Board, Disneyland, Disney, ’ Equity, Walt Disney Company, Uber, Democratic, Minneapolis City Council Locations: New York, Anaheim , California, Minnesota, Minneapolis

Once Mr. Trump was elected, he agreed to repay Mr. Cohen for the $130,000 hush-money deal and more. And at a meeting in Trump Tower just weeks before he was sworn in, Mr. Trump signed off on the fakery, Mr. Cohen recounted from the stand. “What, if anything, did Mr. Trump say at that time?” a prosecutor asked Mr. Cohen. There, he said, Mr. Trump’s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, explained how Mr. Trump would reimburse Mr. Cohen for the payoff. To reach Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen testified, he called the candidate’s bodyguard, Keith Schiller.

Persons: Donald J, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Michael D, Cohen, Trump, Trump’s, —, Alvin L, Bragg, Cohen —, Marc F, Scholl, ”, ” Mr, Stormy Daniels, Mr, “, Michael M, Joshua Steinglass, Juan M, Merchan —, “ Trump, David Pecker, Pecker, Hope Hicks, Penny, Daniels, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Susan Hoffinger, Cohen’s, Keith Schiller, Schiller, William K, Rashbaum Organizations: Trump, Mr, Trump “, New, National Enquirer, Playboy, fixer Locations: Manhattan, New York

☆ Stakes are high for prosecutors to rescue Cohen testimony as Trump trial enters endgame
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Defense lawyers say they expect to complete their bruising cross-examination of Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and enforcer, on Monday morning. In dramatic testimony, Cohen last week directly implicated Trump in the alleged scheme, saying the former president directed him to hand over $130,000 to Daniels and promised him reimbursement. With the end of Cohen’s testimony looming, there is uncertainty over the extent of Trump’s defense case. Blanche referred to the possibility of Trump’s testimony on Thursday, the last day the court was in session. After the defense case wraps up, the prosecution has a chance to put on its own rebuttal.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen —, Cohen, Trump’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, ” Cohen, Todd Blanche, Keith Schiller, Blanche, President Trump, Schiller, ’, Randy Zelin, Republican nominee’s, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, — Bradley Smith, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Smith, —, backtrack, “, ” Blanche, Arthur Engoron, president’s, Engoron Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Trump, Cornell Law School, Central ”, Republican, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Commission Locations: New York, Lago, Manhattan, Louisiana, Lake Tahoe

One Friday last month, Jamie Raskin, a Democratic congressman from Maryland, spent a chunk of his day in court securing a protective order. Mr. Raskin, who played a leading role in Donald J. Trump’s second impeachment hearing, said he received about 50 menacing calls, emails and letters every month that are turned over to the Capitol Police. His latest court visit was prompted by a man who showed up at his house and screamed in his face about the Covid-19 vaccine, Mr. Trump’s impeachment and gender-related surgeries. Nearly two years earlier, the same man, with his 3-year-old son in his arms, had yelled profanities at Mr. Raskin at a July 4 parade, according to a police report. He just needs some parenting lessons,” Mr. Raskin said.

Persons: Jamie Raskin, Raskin, Donald J, Trump’s, profanities, “, ” Mr Organizations: Democratic, Capitol Police Locations: Maryland

☆ As Trump Trial Nears Its End, the Law May Give Prosecutors an Edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Ben Protess | Jonah E. Bromwich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Over the course of his monthlong criminal trial, the evidence against Donald J. Trump has piled up. And a parade of 18 witnesses who together told a compelling story: that Mr. Trump orchestrated a conspiracy to suppress sex scandals during the 2016 election, and after winning, sought to bury a porn star’s story for good. But the 19th and final witness of their case — the only one to directly link Mr. Trump to the 34 business records he is charged with falsifying — is Michael D. Cohen. Though Mr. Cohen got off to a strong start, Mr. Trump’s lawyer eventually hammered his credibility, highlighting his criminal record and painting him as a serial liar bent on taking down the former president. Between the reams of circumstantial evidence and some very favorable laws underpinning the charges, the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, has retained inherent advantages.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Michael D, Cohen, Trump’s, —, Alvin L, Bragg Organizations: Trump Locations: Manhattan

☆ Disneyland character performers vote to unionize
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Equity described the vote as “a landslide victory,” with 953 cast members favoring unionization and 258 opposed. There are more than 21,000 Disneyland “cast member” employees, who are represented by more than a dozen unions. “Whatever the outcome, we respect that our cast members had the opportunity to have their voices heard,” the spokesperson said. On the other side of the country, Disney World character actors have been represented by Teamsters since the 1980s. Today, Equity estimates they represent around 800 cast members at Disney World.

Persons: Donald, Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Captain Hook, ”, Kate Shindle, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, ’ Equity Association, Equity, National Labor Relations Board, Disneyland, Disney, ’ Equity, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney, ”, CNN, Disneyland Resort, Teamsters Locations: New York, Anaheim , California, Orlando , Florida

☆ US State Department issues worldwide security alert due to potential for attacks on LGBTQI+ people and events
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The US State Department issued a worldwide security alert on Friday due to the potential for terrorist attacks against LGBTQI+ people and events. “Due to the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events and advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the alert read. The alert comes two weeks before Pride Month begins on June 1. That same year, the Human Rights Campaign, for the first time in its 40-year history advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans.

Persons: –, CNN’s Avery Lotz Organizations: CNN, US State Department, U.S, Department of State, of State, Pride, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Parade, Human Rights Locations: Austria, Idaho

☆ Elon Musk is walking a fine line in China with Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk has a lot going on in China right now. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementElon Musk has plenty on the line in China right now. China is Tesla's biggest market outside the US, which means dwindling interest has had a clear knock-on effect. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Elon Musk, It's, —, Elon Organizations: EV, Service, Business Locations: China

☆ ‘Bridgerton’ review: The Netflix show whistles down a new road to romance with Penelope and Colin
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Fortunately, the third round (after a “Queen Charlotte” detour) has the highly sympathetic Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) at its core, adding some additional sweetness to the formula. For the uninitiated, poor Penelope has spent two seasons secretly moonlighting as the acid-tongued gossip Lady Whistledown (still voiced by Julie Andrews, because, well, Julie Andrews! (There’s a praying mantis quality to Bridgertons, since while mating doesn’t lead to death, they do tend to lose their heads and then mostly disappear.) Give some credit to the casting and, more pragmatically, the strength of Netflix as a platform relative to the more rarefied homes for such fare. “Bridgerton” begins its third season May 16 on Netflix, with the second half to premiere on June 13.

Persons: you’ve, Charlotte ”, Penelope Featherington, Nicola Coughlan, Penelope, moonlighting, Whistledown, Julie Andrews, Colin, Luke Newton, Jane Austen, Francesca, Hannah Dodd, Violet, Ruth Gemmell, “ Bridgerton, Shonda Rhimes, Bridgerton ” Organizations: CNN, Netflix

☆ See how Madison Marsh balances her duties as a US Air Force officer and Miss America
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Fort Smith homecomingUS Air Force 2nd Lieutenant Madison Marsh wears her military uniform while holding her Miss America sash. US Air Force photo by Miriam ThurberMarsh returned to her hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas, over the weekend, welcomed with a homecoming parade. She also visited local schools — including her old middle and high school — to talk about her journey to the Miss America stage from those very halls. "I mean, I've been saying all day that winning Miss America has never been about me," Marsh said, according to local news station KHBS. "And so, if I can hopefully open up the mind of another young woman or another young man to chase their dreams, to do something different, then it's a job well [done]," she continued.

Persons: Madison Marsh, Miriam Thurber Marsh, I've, Marsh Organizations: Smith, US Air Force, Miss, Miss America Locations: Fort Smith , Arkansas

☆ Australia’s ‘world’s oldest’ loong: Vandals target the Chinese parade dragon in an Australian museum
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Australian police are seeking two people for allegedly vandalizing a century-old Chinese parade dragon and other valuable artefacts at a museum in a small town known for its historic links to China. The vandalism took place last week at the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo, about 100 miles northwest of Melbourne, according to the police and head of the museum. Golden Dragon MuseumBendigo, currently a city of some 100,000 people, has had Chinese residents for more than a century. To this day, a large dragon parade is held every Easter to raise money for a local hospital. The Golden Dragon Museum was opened in 1991 “to document, interpret and preserve the Chinese heritage in Australia” according to the museum’s website.

Persons: Toyota Prado, ”, Loong, “ Loong, Dai, “, Hugo Leschen, Sun Loong, Leschen, Yi Organizations: CNN, Australian, Dragon Museum, . Victoria Police, Toyota, “ Investigators, Golden Dragon Museum Bendigo, Miners, Bendigo Tourism, Dragon, Yi Yuan, Nine, Chinese Community Council of Australia Locations: China, Bendigo, Melbourne, Australia, Victoria, Yi Yuan Chinese

☆ Mothers of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Speak Out on Resignations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

A rocky startVoight was the first Miss Utah to win the Miss USA crown since 1960. Miss USARose, a fashion designer, bought the Miss USA license after a turbulent year that included rigging allegations and a sexual harassment cover-up. Hector Vivas/Getty ImagesIn her Miss USA resignation letter, Noelia detailed the "detrimental mental and emotional toll" of her time at Miss USA and how it "greatly impacted" her physical health. Noelia and UmaSofia's reigns as Miss USA and Miss Teen USA would have officially ended in August, but their mothers said it became too much. The network — which signed a three-year deal in April to air both the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competitions — said on Monday that it's now "evaluating its relationship with both pageants," according to USA Today.

Persons: Noelia Voigt, Jackeline Voigt, Noelia's, Jackeline, Barbara Srivastava —, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, Noelia, UmaSofia, Barbara, Miss USA's, Laylah Rose, aren't, Rose, Voight, We're, we're, Brian Ach, Miss USA, Thom Brodeur, UmaSofia Srivastava, Barbara Srivastava Barbara, didn't, Stephanie Skinner, Skinner, Teen USA — Barbara, Rose hadn't, USA's, Kenya Moore, Olivia Culpo, they're, Voigt, Hector Vivas, —, — Noelia, Rose weaponized, Claudia Michelle —, Michelle, Colorado Arianna Lemus, Laylah, she's, Barbara Srivastava, it's, Brodeur Organizations: Miss USA, Business, Miss Teen USA, Miss, ABC News, New York, Christmas, Teen USA, Miss Universe, El, ., BI, USA, Miss Teen, Noelia, CW Network Locations: Venezuelan American, Miss Utah, Miss USA, Noelia's, USA, El Salvador

☆ The US and Pacific ally Japan are teaming up to defeat new hypersonic missiles that right now are basically unstoppable
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe US and Japan have agreed to work together to develop a defense system to defeat hypersonic missiles, according to the US Department of Defense. Russian navy frigate Admiral Gorshkov launching a Zircon hypersonic missile in White Sea, Russia, on July 19, 2021. Notably, Pyongyang is also attempting to develop what it says are hypersonic missiles. DF-17 medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with a DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle in a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Republic. The allies successfully tested the jointly developed Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IIA interceptor in a February 2017 intercept of a ballistic missile target.

Persons: —, Gorshkov, Zoya Rusinova Organizations: Service, US Department of Defense, Business, Cooperative, US Missile Defense Agency, Japan, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, AP, China's, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, Iran's, Israel Locations: Japan, Russian, Sea, Russia, Pacific, Moscow, Beijing, Pyongyang, Republic, Getty

☆ Embattled Georgia DA Fani Willis and Trump trial judge hit the campaign trail
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sara Murray | Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Wise Smith, meantime, has faced some skepticism from voters worried that if he ousts Willis it could endanger the Trump case. The disqualification drama surrounding Willis hasn’t spared Wise Smith from skepticism from some Democrats who believe Willis will most aggressively prosecute the Trump case. “Some folks were worried that me jumping in the race, you know, might mean we lose that case,” Wise Smith said in an interview with CNN. Let me say this, I think the case is in grave jeopardy right now,” Wise Smith said of the Trump case. In a rarity for a sitting judge, McAfee has also been granting interviews to local media.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Scott McAfee, ” Willis, “, Trump, Willis, Christian Wise Smith, Willis ’, Wise Smith, McAfee, Robert Patillo, he’s, Courtney Kramer, ”, Michael J, Moore, she’s, Willis hasn’t, ” Wise Smith, Wise Smith –, –, ” McAfee, wouldn’t, “ I’ve, Patillo’s, ” Patillo, “ It’s, Patillo, Brian Kemp, Roy Barnes, Kemp, Barnes, Ray Smith III, Smith, ” Moore, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, Democratic, Trump, Trump White House, Middle, Middle District of, WSB, Georgia Gov, Republican, Democrat, McAfee, Boy Scouts Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia, Inman

☆ Savannah Gankiewicz crowned new Miss USA amid ongoing turmoil at pageant
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Amid a dramatic two weeks of resignations and allegations made against the Miss USA organization, Miss Hawaii USA Savannah Gankiewicz — who had originally placed as the first runner-up at the 2023 Miss USA pageant — has stepped up to be crowned Miss USA. The Miss Universe organization and Rose, through Miss USA, did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment. She welcomed Gankiewicz to the Miss USA family telling her to “embrace this moment of influence and let your words carry the power of positive change,” and thanked her corporate partners and sponsors for their “unwavering support.”Rose said that this year’s Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants would take place in Los Angeles and would broadcast on the CW network. The CW announced a multi-year agreement to air the two pageants in April, but in light of recent allegations, USA Today reported Monday that the network was “evaluating” its relationship with the Miss USA organization. Miss USA and Miss Universe Organization, have not returned CNN’s multiple requests for comment.

Persons: USA Savannah Gankiewicz —, —, Miss USA, ”, Hawaii Josh Green, “, Gankiewicz, Noelia Voigt, Voigt, Laylah Rose, UmaSofia Srivastava, Rose, ” Rose, Stephanie Skinner, ” Barbara Srivastava, Arianna Lemus, ” Gankiewicz, ” Lemus, Jackeline Voigt, Noelia, it’s Organizations: CNN, Miss USA, Miss, USA Savannah, USA, Miss Universe, Miss Teen, Teen USA, CW, Miss Teen USA, Miss Universe Organization, Miss Colorado USA Locations: USA, Hawaii, Honolulu , Hawaii, Waikiki, Sarasota , Florida, Miss USA, Los Angeles, Lahaina, Maui

☆ A look inside Hawaii's Merrie Monarch Festival, an energetic celebration of native art, dance, and music
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Syndi Texeira | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Merrie Monarch is an annual festival in Hilo, Hawaii. This time, they were saying goodbye to Merrie Monarch, an annual weeklong festival for honoring native Hawaiian traditions such as hula and craft making. At the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade, I was enchanted as horseback riders floated by wearing colorful leis and long pāʻū skirts. "It feels like the entire state gets excited for Merrie Monarch, and the absolute best of our culture is on display." Take a look inside this year's Merrie Monarch Festival.

Persons: —, Edith Kanakaʻole, reverberating, Monarch, Dillon Ancheta Organizations: Service, Monarch Locations: Hilo , Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaiian

☆ This year's biggest air battles are showing the US what it could need most in a missile war with China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, FileThe war has shown how effective air defenses can be at denying air superiority, protecting key areas, and threatening high-value aircraft, as well as the costs when capabilities are degraded. Ukraine's air defenses, like its Soviet-era S-300s and US-supplied Patriots, have defeated enemy missile and drone strikes, hindered Russian air operations, and shot down numerous fighter-bombers and other Russian planes. "Ukraine and NATO might reduce risks with a two-prong strategy of strengthening air defenses and boosting infrastructure resilience." Needing more interceptors for the PacificFrom the fights this year, the US can see how it'll need to employ air defenses in a potential showdown with China. Running out of air defenses before the enemy runs out of air threats spells trouble.

Persons: —, Bradley Martin, Evgeniy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Firefighters, Archer Macy, Martin, Shaan Shaikh, We've, Amir Cohen TPX, Shaikh, it's, Andy Wong, Thomas Shugart, Shugart, Joshua Smoot, Heath Collins, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Macy, Mark Wright Organizations: Service, Business, US Navy, Ukraine, AP, Patriots, Institute for, Emergency, Ministry, RAND Corporation, NATO, Western, Central Command, Combat, Navy, RAND, Patriot, US, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, REUTERS, China, Pentagon, Defense, Center, New, Air Force, 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, US Air Force, Aegis, Missile Defense Agency, Former Navy, CSIS, Pacific Missile, AP Air Locations: China, Ukraine, Israel, Navy, Russia, Congress, Avdiivka, Kharkiv, Russian, Kyiv, NATO, Yemen, Gulf of Aden, Iran, Red, Screengrab, French, Ashdod, South Korea, Japan, Guam, Beijing, New American, Gen, Kauai, Hawaii

☆ Can MLB save the starting pitcher? The search for solutions to baseball’s ‘existential crisis’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Jayson Stark | Ken Rosenthal | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +20 min

Ten active major-league starting pitchers have won a Cy Young Award — and nine of them have spent time on the injured list in 2024. The issue is not only the health of the modern starting pitcher, but the role those starters play in the sport these days. “You’ve got to get the starting pitcher back. But has the starting pitcher crisis risen to that level? If you’re a dominating starting pitcher in this era, it probably means you throw harder than the average pitcher.

Persons: Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, ’, Cy Young, Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes, Yu Darvish, Justin Steele, ”, Max Scherzer, “ You’ve, Patrick Mahomes, isn’t, that’s, weren’t, here’s, It’s, they’d, you’re, they’re, David Ortiz, Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Adam Wainwright, they’ve, “, North America aren’t, I’ve, you’ve, ” Scherzer, Corbin Burnes, Patrick Smith, Rob Manfred, we’re, “ You’re, wouldn’t, it’s, “ that’s, He’s, Manfred, Eamonn Dalton, Conrad Williams , Jr, Matthew Grimes Jr Organizations: Cy, Wrigley, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Cubs, Padres, Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers, NFL, Athletic, MLB, American League, of Fame, didn’t, Atlantic League, Red Sox, National League, North America, Orioles, Newsday, Getty Images, Atlanta Braves, Getty

But while the company's profile in the industry has stayed constant and swaggering, behind the curtain, its business has been increasingly troubled, 10 insiders told Business Insider. Creator economy professionals mingled beneath glowing jellyfish and coral light fixtures inside Jellysmack's creator lounge during VidCon 2023. "As a startup in the ever-evolving creator economy, we are constantly testing and adapting our business model," the Jellysmack spokesperson told BI in a statement. Advertisement"The world was falling apart with the pandemic, but early Jellysmack felt like a dream," the second former staffer told BI. BI viewed two Jellysmack contracts and an email exchange between Jellysmack and one of its creator clients to verify the practice.

Persons: —, SoftBank, lanyards, Jellymack, Jellysmack, YouTubers, Brad Mondo, Meta, Michael Philippe, Jellysmack cofounders Swann Maizil, Robin Sabban, Nathan Guetta, Condé Nast, Youri Hazanov, Sean Atkins, hasn't, Snapchat —, Amanda Perelli, JellyFi, deprioritize, that's, it's, Ollie Forsyth, They've Organizations: Service, Business, Facebook, influencers, BI, YouTube, Disney, Comcast, Keli, Big Tech, cryptocurrency, MTV, HBO, Copyright Capital, SoftBank, Productions, OKA Media, Network Media LLC, Crime, Star, Spotify, Crime Network Locations: VidCon, SoftBank

☆ House Speaker Joins Republicans Visiting Trial to Say What Trump Can’t
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Michael Wilson | Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As a key witness testified inside the Manhattan criminal courthouse on Tuesday morning, an increasingly familiar scene unfolded outside, as another in a parade of well-known visitors — this time Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House — stepped up to a microphone. “This is a man who is clearly on a mission for personal revenge,” Mr. Johnson said, attacking the man on the stand, Michael D. Cohen, the former fixer to Donald J. Trump. “He is someone who has a history of perjury. In recent days, Trump allies have stepped up one after another as his proxies, although Mr. Trump used a different term. “I do have a lot of surrogates,” he said in remarks before trial proceedings began on Tuesday, “and they are speaking very beautifully.”

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, ” Mr, Johnson, Michael D, Cohen, Donald J, Trump’s, Trump, ”, “ Organizations: Trump Locations: Manhattan

☆ Genius or madness? Why Putin wants an economist to be Russia's new defense minister at a key point in the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

But Putin's replacement of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was unexpected — and his choice of successor, civilian economist Andrei Belousov, was even more of a surprise. Russia's incoming Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. "Belousov's main goal is to secure [Russia's] military needs in terms of arms. The Kremlin announced on Sunday that Shoigu, Russia's defense minister since 2012, had been relieved of his post and would become secretary of Russia's influential Security Council. Prigozhin died last August in a plane crash after a short-lived and ill-fated rebellion against Russia's military leadership.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Miguel Diaz, Maxim Shemetov, Sergei Shoigu, Andrei Belousov, Belousov, Putin, Andrey Belousov, Shoigu, Belousov's, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Uralvagonzavod, Ramil Sitdikov, Staff Valery Gerasimov, Tatiana Stanovaya, Stanovaya, Nikolai Patrushev, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Ukraine —, Prigozhin, Valery Gerasimov, Mikhail Klimentyev Organizations: Cuban, Canel, Reuters, NATO, Institute for, Anadolu, Getty, Kremlin, Russian MoD, Defense Ministry, Sputnik, Afp, Staff, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, CNBC, Nazi, Security, Wagner Group, Russian Armed Forces, Russian Defence, Defence Ministry Board, National Defence Control Centre Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, Kharkiv, Russian, Urals, Nizhny Tagil, Nazi Germany, Kremlin

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