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☆ A U.N. panel says Israel is obstructing its investigation of the Oct. 7 attack.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Nick Cumming-Bruce | More About Nick Cumming-Bruce | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Members of a United Nations commission said on Tuesday that Israel was obstructing their efforts to investigate possible human rights violations on Oct. 7 and in the ensuing war between Israel and Hamas. But they said the commission had still shared large amounts of evidence with the International Criminal Court. “We have faced not merely a lack of cooperation but active obstruction of our efforts to receive evidence from Israeli witnesses and victims” related to the Oct. 7 attack, Chris Sidoti, one of three members of the commission, told a briefing for diplomats in Geneva. The commission was formed in 2021 to investigate human rights violations in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel has accused the commission of bias, and has said it would not cooperate with what it described as “an anti-Israeli, antisemitic body.”It has not allowed the commission to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories, and in January it instructed Israeli medical personnel who treated released hostages and victims of the Oct. 7 attack not to cooperate with the panel, which is led by Navi Pillay, the former United Nations human rights chief.

Persons: Israel, Chris Sidoti Organizations: United Nations, International Criminal, Navi Pillay, United Locations: Israel, Geneva, Palestinian, United Nations

☆ At U.N. Court, Germany Fights Allegations of Aiding Genocide
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Marlise Simons | Erika Solomon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Germany on Tuesday began defending itself at the International Court of Justice against allegations that it is furthering genocide in Gaza by supplying arms to Israel. Nicaragua brought the case against Germany to the court in The Hague. Berlin has denied violating the Genocide Convention or international humanitarian law, and sent a delegation of international lawyers, including some from Britain and Italy, to the U.N. court. Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States and a nation whose leadership calls support for the country a “Staatsräson,” a national reason for existence, as a way of atoning for the Holocaust. But the mounting death toll in Gaza and humanitarian crisis in the enclave have led some German officials to ask whether that backing has gone too far.

Organizations: Tuesday, International Court of, Convention Locations: Germany, Gaza, Israel, Nicaragua, The Hague, Berlin, Britain, Italy, United States, ”, atoning

☆ Terminally ill Palestinian prisoner dies after 38 years in Israeli custody
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Sahar Akbarzai | Kareem Khadder | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Walid Daqqa, one of the longest-serving Palestinian prisoners in Israel, died of cancer on Sunday at the age of 63 after almost four decades of incarceration. At the time of his death, he was the longest imprisoned Palestinian in Israel, with the second longest sentence served overall, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society. Born in the Israeli town of Baqa al-Gharbiyye in the northern “triangle” region, Daqqa was a Palestinian citizen of Israel. Daqqa was not convicted of carrying out the murder but of commanding the group, which he denied, Amnesty said. After his death, a tent set up for mourners to gather on Monday in Baqa al-Gharbiyye was stormed by Israeli police, according to a statement from the Palestinian Prisoners Society and CNN video.

Persons: CNN — Walid Daqqa, Daqqa, Liberation of, Moshe Tamam, Tamam’s, Ortal, Israel, Daqqa “, ”, Addameer, Gharbiyye, Erika Guevara, Rosas, Ortal Tamam, “ Organizations: CNN, Palestinian Prisoners Society, Oslo Accords, Israel Prison Service, Popular Front, Liberation, Liberation of Palestine, Amnesty, Palestinian, West Bank, ” CNN, myelofibrosis, Research Locations: Israel, Oslo, Baqa, Palestinian

watch nowFTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday for the massive fraud and conspiracy that doomed his cryptocurrency exchange and a related hedge fund, Alameda Research. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves the U.S. courthouse in New York City on July 26, 2023. Instead, "He's an awkward math nerd" with a "tireless work ethic," said the lawyer, who also compared the FTX founder to "a beautiful puzzle." In this courtroom sketch, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried attends his sentencing hearing at federal court in New York City on March 28, 2024. Barbara Fried and Allan Joseph Bankman, parents of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, arrive at court in New York on March 28, 2024.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, FTX, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Jane Rosenberg, Bankman, convicting, Prosecutors, Amr Alfiky, It's, Marc Mukasey, Torrey Young, Nicolas Roos, scoffed, Roos, Mukasey, Sam, Sunil Kavuri, Damian Williams, Samuel Bankman, " Williams, General Merrick Garland, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Allan Joseph Bankman, Yuki Iwamura, Caroline Ellison, Nishad Singh, Gary Wang Organizations: Alameda Research, ., U.S, District, Reuters, Republicans, Manhattan U.S, Stanford Law, Bloomberg, Getty, Bankman Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, FTX, Kavuri, New York

☆ 4 takeaways from Sam Bankman-Fried’s sentencing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Allison Morrow | Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

25 years … with caveatsBankman-Fried’s 25-year sentence is about half of the 40 to 50 years prosecutors had sought. Judge Kaplan said he weighed a number of factors, including the brazenness of the crimes and Bankman-Fried’s potential to commit crimes in the future. “It haunts me every day.”Judge Kaplan appeared unmoved by parts of Bankman-Fried’s apology about customers being hurt. FTX victims are waitingJudge Kaplan roundly rejected Bankman-Fried’s argument that there was no loss to former customers of FTX because the bankruptcy estate indicated those victims are poised to recoup most of their funds. To say that FTX customers and creditors will be paid in full “is misleading, it is logically flawed, it is speculative,” Kaplan said.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Judge Kaplan, ” Kaplan, ” Mitchell Epner, Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, ”, ” Judge Kaplan, Kaplan, “, ” Epner, FTX, John J, Ray III, Ray Organizations: New, New York CNN, Prisons, CNN, Enron Locations: New York, San Francisco, Bankman, ”

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried appeared to wipe away tears during sentencing while his dad held his head in his hands and his mom stared out the window
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Katie Balevic | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan said Bankman-Fried didn't express remorse for his crimes. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Speaking before the court, Bankman-Fried apologized for the pain caused to customers, maintaining that they could all be repaid in full. Prior to handing down the 25-year sentence, Kaplan called Bankman-Fried a "mathematical wizard," saying he essentially ran a cost-benefit analysis of getting caught versus getting away with fraud.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Lewis Kaplan, Bankman, —, Fried, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Elizabeth Williams, Marc Mukasey, Nicolas Roos, villainizing, Roos, Kaplan Organizations: Service, AP Locations: Manhattan

☆ Kenyans struggle to comprehend starvation cult massacre as first bodies are finally released for burial
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( David Mckenzie | Sarah Dean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The family members clutched each other and wailed as attendants pulled small bundles out of the funeral van. On Tuesday, Wanje became the first family member to retrieve the bodies of his relatives for burial after they became victims of a tragedy, dubbed the Shakahola massacre, that many Kenyans find hard to comprehend. Mortuary workers move the remains of several members of the same family who were victims of the Kenyan starvation cult. Forensic experts and volunteers have spent months finding and digging up remains of the cult members. Of those, only 34 positive DNA matches to surviving family members have been made, said Kenya’s chief pathologist, Johansen Oduor.

Persons: “, ” Francis Wanje, ”, Wanje, Paul Nthenge MacKenzie, Luis Tato, MacKenzie, Kithure Kindiki, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Johansen Oduor, Mackenzie, Irungu Houghton, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Getty, Getty Images Government, Kenya National Commission, Human Rights, Prosecutors, Amnesty Locations: Malindi, AFP, Kenya

☆ India to hold the world's biggest election starting April in over a month-long exercise
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Around 970 million registered voters are expected to cast their votes for India's next prime minister. India will hold the world's largest general elections starting April this year with nearly a billion voters set to exercise their franchise. The seven-stage election process will start from April 19 and last till June 1, 2024, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India. The country has about 970 million registered voters. Since Modi won a second term in the 2019 general election, India has seen the economy strengthen, with Indian equity benchmarks hitting record highs.

Persons: India's, Narendra Modi's, Modi, Rajiv Kumar, Krishnamurthy Subramanian Organizations: India, India's, Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, WealthMills Securities, CNBC, BSE, International Monetary Fund, U.S, White House Locations: India, BJP, Hong Kong, China

☆ The way Americans buy and sell homes is about to get turned on its head
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The way Americans buy and sell homes is about to get turned on its head. And other broker tactics that critics say are anticompetitive, such as a rule that made sellers’ agents set compensation for buyers’ agents, will be prohibited. Goodbye, 6% commissionsFor decades, Americans have paid a standard commission of around 6% when selling a home, split between the seller’s broker and the buyer’s broker. A separate new rule will require buyers’ brokers to enter into written agreements with their buyers. Second, it led buyers’ brokers to push more expensive homes on buyers, so their payout would be higher.

Persons: Cowen, Stephen Brobeck, Norm Miller, Miller Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Industry, Consumer Federation of America, University of San Locations: America, University of San Diego

☆ Florida braces for Haitian migrants influx, Gov. Ron DeSantis deploys military personnel
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Ramon Sanchez | Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ron DeSantis, a Republican, to deploy more than 250 law enforcement officers and soldiers to the Florida Keys to “protect our state” and stop a possible surge of Haitian migrants fleeing the violence. The deployment includes officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, and members of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard. The US Coast Guard said Tuesday that it had repatriated 65 migrants to Haiti after they were picked up on a boat near the Bahamas. Since October 1, the Coast Guard said, it has repatriated 131 migrants to Haiti. The Coast Guard said it has not seen an increase in migrants from Haiti in recent weeks.

Persons: Eliantes Jean Jacques, Jean Jacques said, Prince, Jean Jacques, “ I’m, ”, “, Ron DeSantis, Tessa Petit, Petit, ” Petit, DeSantis, –, Gepsie Metellus, Sant, Guerinault Louis, Ariel Henry, Santo, Henry, Haiti’s, Jovenel Moïse, who’s, Dotie Joseph, ” CNN’s Caitlin Stephen Hu, David Culver, Evelio Contreras, Tara John, Carlos Suarez, Denise Royal Organizations: CNN, Gov, Republican, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Florida Department of Law, and Wildlife Conservation, Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard, US Coast Guard, Coast Guard, The Coast Guard, Haitian Neighborhood Center, Anadolu, Getty, Kenyan, Residents, United Nations, Democrat, North Locations: Haitian, Florida, Port, Haiti, North Miami, ”, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Santo Domingo

☆ Five Ways Buying and Selling a House Could Change
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Rukmini Callimachi | Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A settlement reached this week threatens to strike a blow to an established standard of residential real estate: the 6 percent sales commission. It also will change who pays it. The deal, reached after a yearslong court battle initially brought by a group of home sellers in Missouri, calls for the powerful National Association of Realtors, which has long regulated the way U.S. homes are sold, to amend its rules on how Realtors for sellers and buyers are compensated. In most real estate transactions in the United States, both the seller and buyer have an agent representing them. For decades, there’s been a standard for paying these agents: a commission of between 5 and 6 percent of the home’s sale price, covered by the seller and split between the two agents.

Persons: there’s Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtors Locations: Missouri, United States

☆ How the recent settlement on paying a commission could change the way Americans buy and sell homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Commissions aren’t disappearing — you’ll still need to pay a real estate agent for their work, just as you would any service provider. And the commission, which is set between an agent and the seller, will continue to be negotiable. The seller’s agent will also still be able to split the commission with the agent bringing the buyer. One new rule prohibits agents’ compensation from being included on listings placed on local centralized portals known as multiple listing services, which critics say led brokers to push more expensive properties on customers. This agreement will specify the work the buyer’s agent will do and how they will get paid.

Persons: who’ve, TD Cowan, Will, that’s, it’s Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, MLS Locations: Washington

☆ ‘Welcome to Hell’: U.N. Panel Says Russian War Crimes Are Widespread
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Nick Cumming-Bruce | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, United Nations investigators say they have uncovered new evidence of systematic and widespread torture of Ukrainian prisoners held by Russian security forces. A United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Friday detailed a range of what it described as Russian war crimes, including summary executions, sexual violence and forced transfer of Ukrainian children into Russia. The commission paid special attention to “horrific” treatment of Ukrainian prisoners by Russian security services at detention centers in Russia and occupied Ukraine. The commission will deliver a report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva next week, detailing accounts of torture from four locations in Russia and seven in occupied Ukraine, strengthening previous findings that the use of torture had become widespread and systematic. “We are concerned at the scale, continuation and gravity of violations and crimes that the commission has investigated and the impact on victims,“ Erik Mose, chairman of the three-person panel, said in a statement.

Persons: Russia’s, “ Erik Mose Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Commission, Human Rights Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Geneva

☆ Europe investigates Big Tech’s use of generative AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Regulators at the European Commission say they’re particularly concerned about how generative AI could sow chaos in the run-up to this summer’s EU parliamentary elections. Online platforms will have until April 5 to respond to questions about steps they’ve taken to prevent AI tools from spreading election misinformation. The companies’ responses could be incorporated into a series of election security guidelines for tech platforms the European Commission plans to finalize by March 27, another commission official said. The AI investigation also covers a broader set of topics including how platforms are addressing generative AI’s impact on user privacy, intellectual property, civil rights and children’s safety and mental health. “One of the grievances we have is the ability to manipulate the service through automated means and this can include generative AI, so yes, there’s a link to the ongoing investigation,” one of the commission officials said.

Persons: “, ”, Linda Yaccarino, Thierry Breton Organizations: CNN, European Union, Meta, Microsoft, Commission, Digital Services, Elon Locations: Israel, EU

☆ Google says it will restrict Gemini's ability to answer election-related questions 'out of an abundance of caution'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewGoogle will restrict its AI chatbot Gemini from answering questions about elections as a precautionary measure and "out of an abundance of caution," a company spokesperson said. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementIt responds to election-related questions with a generic message: "I'm still learning how to answer this question. The news of how Gemini will handle election-related inquiries comes just a couple of weeks after concerns were raised over its image-generating capability.

Persons: —, Gemini, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Al Jazeera, Christopher Wray Organizations: Service, Economic, Business, Google, FBI Locations: India, OpenAI

☆ Opinion: Russian elections weren’t always like this
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Opinion Ekaterina Kotrikadze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Editor’s Note: Ekaterina Kotrikadze is a news director and anchor for the independent Russian TV channel Dozhd (TV Rain). They couldn’t win elections, but they could participate, they could speak to independent media and convey their ideas to a significant audience. Thousands of people protest against the parliament elections in Moscow, on December 24, 2011. The Central Election Commission of Russia, of course, did not allow Nadezhdin to participate in the elections. While we cannot make the upcoming elections free, we can cover this circus as honestly as possible.

Persons: Ekaterina Kotrikadze, Kotrikadze, Read, Vladimir Putin, Ekaterina Kotrikadze Denis Kaminev, Putin, Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Nemtsov, Yuri Kadobnov, Kara, ”, Alexey Navalny, Boris Nadezhdin, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Russia — Organizations: CNN, Faculty of Journalism, Moscow State University, Union of Right Forces, Getty, Putin, Commission, YouTube Locations: Russian, Europe, Netherlands, Russia, Moscow, AFP, Ukraine, Amsterdam

☆ Andrew Tate detained in Romania over UK sex offense charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Martin Goillandeau | Amy Croffey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Controversial internet influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been detained in Romania on Monday over UK sex offense charges, Romanian police said on Tuesday. Tate’s spokesperson Mateea Petrescu said in a statement Tuesday: “This bewildering revival of decade-old accusations has left the Tate brothers dismayed and deeply troubled. “They categorically reject all charges and express profound disappointment that such serious allegations are being resurrected without substantial new evidence,” Petrescu said. Tate and his brother spent three months in police custody in Bucharest last year and were then placed under house arrest pending a criminal investigation for alleged abuses committed against seven women, accusations they have denied. The two are awaiting trial in the country on separate charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal group to sexually exploit women.

Persons: Andrew Tate, Tristan, Voluntari “, Mateea Petrescu, Tate, “, ” Petrescu Organizations: CNN, Criminal Investigation Service, Bucharest Police Headquarters Locations: Romania, Great Britain, Bucharest, Ilfov

“Continuation of hostilities can, in no way, protect them,” she said. She told the council that the 134 hostages still in captivity and the more than 2 million civilians in Gaza “share a common fate. For their common sake, there must be a humanitarian cease-fire now.” Israel's ongoing offensive against Hamas has killed over 30,000 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he came to the council “to protest as loud as I can against the crimes against humanity” committed by Hamas in order to deter and scare Israeli society. Patten told the council that when she visited the West Bank she didn’t receive any reports of rape, but instances of sexual violence during the detention of both Palestinian men and women were raised.

Persons: ”, ” Pramila Patten, ” Patten, Israel Katz, Katz, Ramadan Kareem, ” Katz, ” Riyad Mansour, Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t, Mansour, “, Patten’s, Israel “, Patten Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, . Security, Hamas, Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s, Security Council, Palestinian, Independent International Commission of, West Bank Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, United Kingdom, France

☆ Trump clutches 'immunity' blanket again, seeks delay of NY hush money trial by claiming 'official acts' as president
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump wants a delay in his NY hush money trial until SCOTUS determines if he has blanket immunity. AdvertisementIn a remarkable, eleventh-hour request, lawyers for Donald Trump on Monday asked a judge to delay his New York hush money trial on presidential blanket-immunity grounds. A tweet Donald Trump hopes to exclude from his hush money trial on grounds of "presidential immunity." Business InsiderThree tweets Donald Trump hopes to exclude from his hush money trial on grounds of "presidential immunity." Trump is accused of falsifying 34 checks, invoices, and ledger entries to disguise the hush money payment as legal expenses.

Persons: Trump, SCOTUS, he's, Stormy Daniels, —, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Michael, Susan Necheles, Todd Blanche Organizations: Service, Monday, New, Trump v ., Manhattan, Attorney, Air Force, nation's, Trump Locations: York, Manhattan, Trump v, Trump v . United States, Washington

☆ Myanmar military conscription law sparks panic and fear as youth prepare to flee
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Helen Regan | Angus Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

It’s a terrifying prospect that could become a reality for Anna and millions of her peers across Myanmar after the military junta activated a mandatory conscription law for all young men and women. “While wounded and increasingly desperate, the Myanmar military junta remains extremely dangerous,” Tom Andrews, United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, said in a statement. “People know for sure that no matter what is written in the conscription law, they will have to go to the front lines. “In Myanmar, young people are not safe anymore,” said Maung Nyein, who also requested to use a pseudonym for safety reasons. “Our villagers won’t join the military forces or leave the country, instead we will join our resistance forces.

Persons: Anna, ”, “, ” Tom Andrews, — “, Aung, —, Ting Aung, Zaw Min Tun, Young, Kyaw Naing, Sen, Min Aung Hlaing, Kyaw, doesn’t, ” Anna, he’s, he’ll, Khin Ohmar, Stringer, Maung, Maung Nyein, terrifies, Ko, Maung Aye, he’d Organizations: CNN, Thai Embassy, Getty, Analysts, United Nations, People’s Defense Forces, National Unity Government, United, CNN Defense, Armed Forces, Reuters, Facebook, Foreign Ministry, Myanmar, Mandalay People's Defense Forces, Immigration, International Labour Locations: Myanmar, Myanmar’s, Yangon, AFP, United States, Naypyidaw, Thailand, Rakhine, Mandalay, Shan State, “, Shwebo, Sagaing

☆ Opinion: A Sydney ‘copshop’ with a dark history. And the gay community reclaiming it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Opinion Gary Nunn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Police arrest a protester during a gay rights demonstration, which would become known as the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, June 1978. A permanent place to learn and healThere’s never been a more crucial time to record and display the stories and history of my LGBTQI community. LGBTQ+ activists demonstrate in what would evolve into the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 1978. Many arrested gay men were sent to Cooma — the world’s only known jail for gay men — also in New South Wales. My gay community finally gets to tell their own history in a venue that imprisoned and beat us for simply being ourselves.

Persons: Gary Nunn, Read, Gary Nunn Qtopia, Sydney’s, Anthony Albanese, “ ‘, ”, Darlo copshop, Steve Warren, Peter Murphy, Murphy, Qtopia, They’ve, videographers, There’s, —, David Polson, wasn’t, “, Cooma, David hasn’t, He’s Organizations: Sydney CNN, Darlinghurst Police, “ ‘ 78ers, ‘ 78ers, 78ers, Police, Sydney Gay, Mardi Gras, Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media, Getty, Warren, Mardi, South Wales, Gay, NSW police, Goliath Locations: Sydney, Australia, Darlinghurst, San Francisco, London, South, Qtopia, New South Wales, Uganda, Malaysia, Guyana, Dominica, Nigeria, Pakistan

☆ Greece legalizes same-sex marriage in a first for an Orthodox Christian country
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Elinda Labropoulou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Athens, Greece CNN —The Greek parliament on Thursday passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage, in a landmark victory for human rights in Greece and making it the first majority Orthodox Christian country to establish marriage equality for all. Now, same-sex parents can both be recognized as legal parents to their children. A recent poll carried out by Metron Analysis showed that although 62% of respondents said they were in favor of same-sex marriage, 69% were against same-sex parenthood. The same-sex marriage bill has drawn the wrath of the influential Greek Orthodox Church to which more than 80% of the population belong. All three voted against the same-sex marriage law, and the legislation could still push some angry voters to the right ahead of European elections in June.

Persons: Greece CNN —, Andrea Gilbert, “, ”, Katerina Trimmi, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Sergio Berezovski, Mitsotakis, Alexis Rafailides, Stefanos, ” Kasselakis, Tyler McBeth, Kasselakis, Elias …, ” Stelios Pandazopoulos, Angelo, – Organizations: Greece CNN, Athens Pride, CNN, Greek National Commission of Human Rights, Rainbow, Computer, EU, Metron, New Democracy Locations: Athens, Greece, surrogates, Thursdau, ”, Syriza, American, Karditsa

The long-awaited indictments marked the latest development in what has been labeled the largest corruption case in Ohio history. In July 2021, Yost asked a judge in Columbus to add Jones, Dowling and Randazzo to his office's lawsuit against FirstEnergy. It identified 84 phone contacts between Jones and Householder and 14 phone contacts between Dowling and Householder. FirstEnergy admitted to its role in the bribery scheme as part of a July 2021 deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. A statement of facts signed by then-FirstEnergy CEO and President Steven Strah, who retired in 2022, detailed the involvement of Jones, Dowling, Randazzo and others in the bribery scheme.

Persons: Chuck Jones, Michael Dowling, Dave Yost, Sam Randazzo, Larry, Matt Borges, Jones, Dowling, Susan Baker Ross, Randazzo, Baker, Columbus, FirstEnergy, Mike DeWine, Carole Rendon, ”, Matthew Meyer, Richard Blake, Borges, Juan Cespedes, Jeffrey Longstreth, Neil Clark, Householder’s, Bill, Yost, Steven Strah Organizations: FirstEnergy Corp, Republican, Public Utilities Commission, Summit, FBI, Republican Gov, GPS, Industrial Energy, Randazzo, Sustainability, of Ohio, FirstEnergy, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: COLUMBUS , Ohio, Ohio, Akron, Naples , Florida, FirstEnergy, U.S, Cincinnati, Columbus

☆ Rocio San Miguel: White House ‘concerned’ as Venezuela detains activist over alleged ‘White Bracelet’ plot to kill Maduro
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday that the US government is “deeply concerned” by the arrest of activist and security analyst Rocio San Miguel in Caracas, Venezuela. On Tuesday, Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced on X that San Miguel had been charged overnight with treason, conspiracy, terrorism and criminal association as part of an investigation into the “White Bracelet” plot. “White Bracelet” is the name of an alleged plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro that the Venezuelan government denounced in January, and for which it has presented no evidence. San Miguel’s ex-husband Alejandro Gonzales was also charged with revealing military secrets, while four other citizens were released, Saab said. They are complicit in (terrorism) and interventionist actions against Venezuela,” Gil wrote on X.

Persons: CNN —, John Kirby, “, Rocio San, …, ” Kirby, Juan Luis Gonzalez, Tarek William Saab, Miguel, Nicolas Maduro, Miguel’s, Alejandro Gonzales, Yvan Gil, Maduro, Vladimir Padrino, Freddy Bernal, ”, ” Gil Organizations: CNN, Maiquetia, Venezuela’s, Saab, UN, Commission, Human Rights, Interamerican, Amnesty International Locations: Rocio San Miguel, Caracas, Venezuela, Miguel, Venezuelan, Spanish, United States, Tachira

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The government of Venezuela accused neighboring Guayana Sunday of granting illegal oil exploration concessions in territory the two nations are disputing. The comments Sunday came after Guyana said Saturday that it has satellite imagery showing Venezuelan military movements near the South American country’s eastern border with Guyana. Venezuela has been laying claim to the mineral-rich Essequibo region, which covers about two thirds of Guyana’s surface area. But for more than 60 years Venezuela has accused the commission of cheating it out of the Essequibo region. Several top American administration and military officials have visited Guyana in recent weeks as a show of support.

Persons: Guayana, Vincent, Robert Persaud, Irfaan Ali, Nicolás Maduro Organizations: ”, ExxonMobil, Argyle, US Center for Strategic, International Studies, Venezuelan Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Guyana, Essequibo, Caribbean, St, Brazil, Punta Barima, Netherlands, U.S

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