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☆ Zero-down mortgages are making a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

That massive roadblock is being removed by a new zero-percent down mortgage program launched two weeks ago by one of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders. ‘Demand has been huge’These mortgages are only open to first-time homebuyers and those making no more than 80% of the area’s median income. That’s because in order to refinance at a lower rate, the homeowner would need to fully pay off that second mortgage. For instance, Bank of America launched a zero-down payment mortgage program in 2022 for first-time homebuyers in certain Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. “These mortgages are going to be ticking time bombs – just like subprime mortgages –unless home prices continue to increase very substantially,” Kelleher said.

Persons: Mat Ishbia, homebuyers, Christian Petersen, refinances, UWM, ” Alex Elezaj, they’d, ”, Patricia McCoy, McCoy, won’t, Bankrate, ‘, Anneliese Lederer, ” Lederer, ” Dennis Kelleher, ” Kelleher, Jonathan Adams, ” UWM, Elezaj, “, ” Elezaj, ” It’s, “ We’re, Greg McBride, Adams, ” Adams Organizations: CNN, United Wholesale Mortgage, Phoenix Suns NBA, Phoenix Suns, NBA, Oklahoma City, Footprint Center, Boston College Law School, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve, Bank of America, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Responsible, Better, Saint Joseph’s University, Bankrate, “, Wall Street Locations: Phoenix , Arizona

☆ Iceland volcano dramatically erupts again as streams of lava reach town’s defensive walls
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Met Office had earlier warned that a volcanic eruption was likely following “intense seismic activity” at the crater and a build-up of magma in its underground reservoir. “Lava is flowing outside the defense walls at Grindavík in several places, and lava is also starting to flow outside the walls at Svartsengi,” Víðir Reynisson from Iceland’s Civil Defense told RUV. Another volcanic eruption is seen from a helicopter flight for the fifth time since December on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland on May 29, 2024. The site is part of southwest Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula — a thick finger of land pointing west into the North Atlantic Ocean from Reykjavik. Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones.

Persons: RUV, ” Reynisson, Defense’s Reynisson, Benedikt Ófeigsson, ” Organizations: CNN, Iceland’s, Met Office, Iceland’s Civil Defense, Almannavarnadeild, Getty, Iceland’s Met, Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Iceland, Grindavík, Hagafell, Svartsengi, Anadolu, Reykjavik

☆ The Ingredient That Unites My Favorite Salads
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Eric Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

I cleared those plates, tempted every time to sneak a rehydrating taste when there were leftovers. On my last day, the managers said I could order anything I wanted: I sat at a table, a diner for the first time, and ordered the salad. The salads of my youth, the ones I most remember, all have this effect — and they all have cheese. The contrast between cool, anchoring base note (fruit, vegetable or lettuce) and salty, creamy accent (cheese) is what makes a bite of these salads feel like more than just salad. The day I interviewed for my first food-writing job, even before getting the offer, I celebrated with a glass of rosé and a Caesar salad.

Persons: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Branch, Jessica Harp, Adam Baumgart, Gabrielle Hamilton’s, ” Organizations: Brooklyn Locations: St, Augustine, Fla, Parmigiano, New York City

☆ Rafael Nadal loses to Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

PARIS, France — There will be no magical run, no age- and injury-defying push into the deep end of the competition. AdvertisementThe end officially arrived at 6:28, with a final miss off the Spaniard’s racket, forced by Alexander Zverev, who prevailed 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. A clump of two dozen that is used to getting choice seats clogged the entryway to the president’s box. Ultimately, that is what doomed him on a chilly and dreary afternoon and evening under the roof on Chatrier. He hit serves that became easy chances for Zverev to go on the defensive, and groundstrokes into the middle of the court that Zverev pounded for winners.

Persons: Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros, Alexander Zverev, Nadal, Philippe, Chatrier, ”, Emmanuel Dunand, He’d, hadn’t, Zverev, Brenda Patea, he’d, Mateo Villalba Organizations: Nadal, Getty Locations: PARIS, France, AFP, Paris, German, Berlin, Germany

☆ She kissed a woman on the Trans-Siberian Railway 32 years ago. Then she flew across the world to find her
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

The bus was ferrying travelers to the train station to board the Trans-Siberian railway. Like Marie-Claire, Elaine had been working in Japan for a while, teaching English. Flirting in MongoliaMarie-Claire and Elaine were strangers who happened to be both traveling via the Trans-Siberian railway. She also shared the news with her extended network of New York friends. Elaine, Marie-Claire and their son Marcello have a family motto, based around their shared initials, EMC.

Persons: CNN — Marie, Claire Martineau couldn’t, Elaine Comerford, Marie, Claire, Elaine, ’, Elaine broached, they’d, “, Claire couldn’t, ” Marie, they'd, Claire Martineau Marie, who’d, ”, she’d, That’s, ” Elaine, “ Marie, Wolfgang Kaehler, we’d, Steve, ” Here's Marie, Claire Martineau, you’ve, Elaine didn’t, weren’t, Diane, “ Diane, ‘ Let’s, She’d, Claire’s, –, Marie Claire, Marcello, Here's Marie, “ We’ve, We’ve, we’ve, Anna Maria, Cliare, it’s Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Queens, Maison Internationale, EMC Locations: France, Japan, Europe, Eastern Europe, Budapest, Vienna, Boston , Massachusetts, Boston, New York City, Marie, New York, Beijing, China, Moscow, Mongolia, Russia, Asia, Mongolia Marie, Siberia, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Hungary, ”, Austria, Manhattan, Queens, Midtown, –, Provincetown , Massachusetts, Thailand, Vietnam, Colombia, Ecuador, United States, Anna Maria Island , Florida, Florida

☆ Netflix shows about stalkers like ‘Baby Reindeer’ and ‘You’ are capturing audiences, but awareness of the crime is still low
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Sydney Bishop | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

In “Baby Reindeer,” Gadd’s stalker is portrayed as unattractive and mentally ill — someone whom her victim actually feels sorry for. “Baby Reindeer,” rated TV-MA by Netflix for “language, nudity, sex, sexual violence, substances,” only has a viewer discretionary warning before “Episode 4” wherein Gadd’s character is sexually assaulted. Information is also available on sexual assault, sexual violence and relationship abuse. Neither Netflix nor the “You” and “Baby Reindeer” teams responded to CNN’s requests for comment. Fleitman hopes “Baby Reindeer” can raise awareness for stalking victims, like men and so-called “imperfect victims” whose stories may not look like the ones we’re used to seeing.

Persons: Richard Gadd, Donny, Martha, Joe Goldberg, Dr, Lorraine Sheridan, don’t, ” Sheridan, “ I’ve, ” Gadd, “ I’m, Donny Dunn, Gadd, Edward, ” Emilio Estevez’s, Andie MacDowell’s, Penn Badgley, Joe, Goldberg, Sheridan, Stalkers, stalkers, we’ve, ”, Dana Fleitman, Anna Nasset, ” Nasset, “, aren’t, they’re, ” Fleitman, Fleitman, Edward Cullen, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Bella, “ we’re, —, Nasset, femicides, weren’t, Dana, Resouces, Alice Ruggles Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, Netflix, Resource Center, Resources, SPARC, for Disease Control, US Department of Justice, National, HOPE VictimConnect, National Center for Locations: “ St, Elmo’s, California, Edinburgh, Scotland

☆ Talking politics at work: If you must, tread carefully
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Sometimes someone with strong views can be unnerved by a person who thinks nothing is ever a big deal, and vice-versa. Either way, the question is: How can we keep our conversations about any of these lightening rod issues from derailing our ability to work well together? For employers: Stress civility and set guardrailsRegardless of any one hot-button issue, it seems like US culture has become less civil over time. And many polarizing conversations are happening at work in ways they weren’t years ago, according to SHRM, the leading human resources membership association. … Recognize that while his opinion may be contrary to yours, what is the goal of being at work?

Persons: New York CNN —, Donald Trump’s, ’ ”, Christy Pruitt, Haynes, Pruitt, Oliver Brecht, Cindy O’Peka, It’s, ” Pruitt, “ Compartmentalize, –, ”, “, ” Brecht, it’s, O’Peka Organizations: New, New York CNN, NeuroLeadership Institute, Consulting Locations: New York, Gaza

☆ Mojave Desert: How a seed bank in southern California is preserving an ancient ecosystem under threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Samantha Bresnahan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The result was the Mojave Desert Land Trust seed bank. In 2016, Mojave Desert Land Trust officially launched the seed bank project, which has since been described as a “Noah’s Ark” for southern California. A jar of seeds sits in one of three full refrigerators at the Mojave Desert Land Trust headquarters in Joshua Tree, California. Beau Molloy/CNN“We’ve already been able to provide seed to researchers who are studying the effects of climate change on specific species that we have in our seed bank,” Asbell adds. Beau Molloy/CNNRoughly 70,000 Joshua tree seeds are currently preserved in the seed bank, some of which could be planted in cooler locations, if needed.

Persons: birdsong, Madena Asbell, “, ” Asbell, Asbell, Beau Molloy, Kelly Herbinson, ” Herbinson, hasn’t, Corina Godoy, Gerber, MDLT, CNN “ We’ve, Joshua, It’s, Seuss, Herbinson, ”, ” CNN’s Adeline Chen Organizations: CNN, Land Trust, MDLT, Land, Mojave, Conservation Board Locations: California, Texas, Colorado, Mojave, Joshua Tree , California

☆ What it’s really like to live in Antarctica
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The Minnesota native first went to the White Continent in 2007 to work as a janitor at McMurdo Base, one of the three US outposts there. She was one of half-a-dozen people staffing the world’s southernmost post office, UK-administered Port Lockroy. Counting penguins is one of the roles Port Lockroy staff have during their time in Antarctica. Once you get the Antarctica bug, Long and Nelson say, it’s pretty hard to get rid of. In a fast-paced globalized world where everyone is on their phones all the time, Antarctica offers a rare opportunity to live a different kind of life.

Persons: United States –, Keri Nelson, Amundsen, ” Nelson, “, McMurdo, Palmer, Evan Townsend, ” Keri Nelson, ”, Nelson, Scott Base, –, Scott, Keri Nelson “, Chris Long, Long, Laura Bullesbach, Bridie Martin, Laura Bullesbach doesn’t, you’re, You’re, Port Lockroy, Bullesbach, Clare Ballantyne, ” Long, Keri Nelson Long, he’s, vacationer, ” Klaus Dodds Organizations: CNN, United, Antarctic, Minnesota, Base, Scott, Palmer, grownups, McMurdo Base, McMurdo, US, Geographic, Pole, Ocean, Scott Base, Port, Lockroy, Port Lockroy, Electronics, University of London Locations: Antarctica, Chile, Japan, Australia, United States, McMurdo, New, Ross, Amundsen, New Zealand, Russian, South America, Port Lockroy, Lockroy, Port, Denver, China

☆ Some birds may use ‘mental time travel,’ study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“It’s often helpful to think about episodic memory as remembering, whereas semantic memory is just knowing,” he said. To find out whether Eurasian jays are capable of "mental time travel," researchers worked with birds trained to find food hidden under cups. “The idea is that with human episodic memory, we remember details of events that, at the time, weren’t necessarily relevant to anything. This aspect of episodic memory is sometimes referred to as “mental time travel.”To find out whether Eurasian jays are capable of mental time travel, the researchers worked with birds that had been trained to find food hidden under cups. “The big disease of memory is Alzheimer’s disease, and of course, the most debilitating aspect of Alzheimer’s disease is a profound loss of episodic memory,” Crystal said.

Persons: CNN —, ”, James Davies, Davies, “, “ There’s, James Davies Corvids, Nicola Clayton, —, advisee, ” Davies, weren’t, didn’t, ‘, I’ll, ’ ” Davies, Jonathon Crystal, ” Crystal, “ It’s, Kate Golembiewski Organizations: CNN, University of Cambridge’s, University of Indiana Bloomington Locations: Chicago

☆ Carissa Moore: Before stepping away from surfing, Olympic champion has a showdown with ‘big, intense, scary’ Teahupo’o
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Carissa Moore remembers the first time she surfed Teahupo’o, the barreling wave located off the island of Tahiti. “I was so out of my league,” recalls Moore, who has surfed the famous break numerous times throughout her career. “It’s those waves that scare you the most that end up being the best,” Moore tells CNN Sport. Moore waits for a wave at Teahupo'o during the Tahiti Pro event on August 11 last year. “Maybe I return, maybe I just focus on Moore Aloha and free surfing and doing film projects.

Persons: CNN — Carissa Moore, surfed Teahupo’o, Moore, ”, “, Teahupo’o, ” Moore, “ It’s, ’ ”, Red Bull, Ben Thourad, I’ve, I’m, “ I’m, “ There’s, Brent Bielmann, what’s Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Tahiti Pro, Tahiti, Getty, International Surf Association, Surf League, surfing's, Moore Aloha Locations: Tahiti, Polynesia, Hawaii, AFP, Japan, Paris

☆ This Trump fundraising email will shock you
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Followers of former President Donald Trump were meant to be startled when they were sent an email Tuesday, addressed from “President Trump,” with this arresting subject line:“They were authorized to shoot me!”The preview line in the email did not back down. The judge, Beryl Howell, cited the discovery of additional documents with classified markings found in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago bedroom months after the FBI search. Trump is a master sensationalist, so place the email subject line where he says he’s in physical harm within his oeuvre of over-the-top and untrue allegations. How to get people to open fundraising emailsThe email address where I get fundraising pitches from politicians received seven such messages from Trump on Tuesday. Trump’s allegations about the FBI document were not just contained in the fundraising email.

Persons: Donald Trump, “ President Trump, Trump, Trump’s, Tierney Sneed, Katelyn Polantz, Holmes Lybrand, Hannah Rabinowitz, Stephen D’Antuono, “, ” D’Antuono, ” Trump, Beryl Howell, “ I’ve, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Biden, Biden’s, Hunt, Joe Biden’s, JOE BIDEN, Juan Merchan Organizations: CNN, “, DOJ, Mar, Trump, Justice Department, FBI, Secret Service, Capitol, Service, Biden, Joe Biden’s DOJ, FORCE, New Locations: Lago, Washington, Washington ,, Trump’s Mar, Las Vegas, London, Manhattan, Mar, New York

☆ New Iranian foreign minister a familiar face for US officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

One familiar name stood out to US officials: the new acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani. Just last week in Oman, Kani was part of a delegation of senior Iranian officials that met indirectly with US officials, current and former officials said. In the wake of the death of so many of his top officials, US officials believe that Khamenei will work to ensure that replacements adhere to his hardline worldview. “It’s difficult to see there will be any major changes in the way Iran behaves on the world stage,” a senior administration official said. In talks with Iranian officials in Oman last week, US officials once again laid out for their counterparts the consequences of Iran’s destabilizing actions, behavior and policies, according to the senior administration official and a US official.

Persons: Ali Bagheri Kani, Kani, Biden, Ebrahim Raisi, Ali Khamenei, Raisi, Jonathan Panikoff, ” Khamenei, Khamenei, ”, Panikoff, “, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Vahid, –, Matt Miller Organizations: CNN, US, Supreme, Experts, Tehran ”, State Department Locations: Iran, United States, Oman, Gaza, Washington, Tehran, Israel, Kani

☆ Why OpenAI should fear a Scarlett Johansson lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“It doesn’t matter if OpenAI used any of Scarlett Johansson’s actual voice samples,” Li posted on Threads. Here, Johansson could accuse OpenAI of illegally monetizing who she is by essentially fooling users into thinking she had voiced Sky. But there’s substantial case law — and one very inconvenient fact for OpenAI — undercutting that defense, legal experts say. According to Johansson, OpenAI approached her to perform as Sky; Johansson declined. While California’s publicity law protects all individuals, some state statutes only protect famous people, and not all states have such legislation on the books.

Persons: Will Scarlett Johansson, OpenAI, Johansson, OpenAI’s, Sam Altman, OpenAI didn’t, demoed, Tiffany Li, Scarlett Johansson’s, ” Li, monetizing, John Bergmayer, “, ”, —, Bette Midler, Midler, Tom Waits, Waits, …, James Grimmelmann, Scarlett Johansson ”, Altman, Sky’s, Johansson ”, Samantha, ‘, ” Grimmelmann, Joel Saget, ” Bergmayer, Dana Rao, Adobe’s, we’re, Jennifer Rothman, ” Rothman Organizations: Washington CNN, University of San, Public, Ford Motor Company, Appeals, Circuit, Frito, Cornell University, Getty, Adobe, FAIR, University of Pennsylvania Locations: University of San Francisco, California, Midler’s, Paris, AFP

CNN —The defense rested its case in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial on Tuesday after roughly 90 minutes of testimony – and without the former president taking the stand. Here are takeaways from the final day of testimony in the Trump hush money trial:Trump doesn’t take the standOver the last several months, Trump repeatedly teased that he would take the stand in his own defense. “That was a lie,” Blanche alleged of Cohen’s testimony he spoke to Trump about moving forward with the hush money deal. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger also tried to remind jurors that it was Trump – not Cohen – who was on trial in this case. In their first meeting, Costello said Cohen was “absolutely manic” and suicidal after the FBI raid on his properties.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Robert Costello, Michael Cohen, Trump, Cohen, ” Trump, Todd Blanche, Costello, Sandoval, –, Jean Carroll, Donald J, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Cohen –, Trump’s, Blanche, Keith Schiller, Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, Keith, ” Cohen, Prosecutors, Susan Hoffinger, Trump –, ” Hoffinger, “, Juan Merchan, ” Merchan, Merchan, ” Costello, Emil Bove, Bob, Donald Trump, ”, scold Costello, Hoffinger, Rudy Giuliani, Mercahn Organizations: CNN, FBI, Publicly, Trump, New, Mr, Giuliani Locations: Wisconsin, New York, Florida

☆ Cannabis poisonings among older adults have tripled, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But some older adults may be unaware of the strength of today’s weed, and little is known about the health effects of legalizing edible cannabis on older adults — the age group with the largest growth in overall cannabis use a year after dried cannabis flower was legalized in Canada, Stall said. Jamie Grill/Tetra images RF/Getty Images“There’s a bit of an age-related bias that many health care practitioners, and frankly society, hold that older adults are not using drugs. During the eight-year study period, there were 2,322 emergency department visits for cannabis poisoning in older adults who were age 69 on average. Products older adults intentionally use should have dosing information with specific guidance for older adults, “recognizing that the amount of drug they may need is a lot less than younger populations,” Stall said. Health care providers should also have open and judgment-free conversations with older adults about cannabis use and its benefits and risks, he added.

Persons: edibles, Nathan, Jamie Grill, “, ”, —, Lona Mody, Sharon K, Inouye, weren’t, Amanda Sanford Hickey, Ann Arbor . Inouye, Arthur Marcus, ” Mody Organizations: CNN, Sinai Health, Getty, Ontario Ministry, Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Aging, for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School Locations: Canada, —, Sinai, Ontario, Ann Arbor, Boston

☆ An artist reckons with the dangerous power of advertising and iconography
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Abigail Glasgow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The artist Hank Willis Thomas is pointing to one of the images: of two well-dressed, neatly coiffed men standing atop a cliff. "She's Somewhat of a Drag," a 1959 advertisement Thomas repurposed in his series "Unbranded: A Century of White Women." Across his work, Thomas reframes iconic and mundane imagery to connect viewers to historical moments of resistance and reshape our understanding of who counts in society. Here, a pro-football player appears to face off with an enslaved cotton picker, in Thomas' work "From Cain't See in the Mornin' Til Cain't See at Night." His body of work work reflects the observation — and, perhaps, a warning — that we have moved toward “existing in a society of branded consciousness."

Persons: Hank Willis Thomas, Thomas, Aaron Wessling, Jordan, “, Thomas ’, Drummond, —, ” Thomas, mascara, Jordan Schnitzer, ” Schnitzer, ” Thomas ’, Thomas reframes, Barack Obama, ”, “ I’ve, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Art, White, White Women, Family, Cotton, Corporate America, Civil Rights, American Express Locations: ”, Oregon, United States, Gorée

☆ Gold earring found in burned Iron Age village may reveal ‘moment in time,’ archaeologists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The inferno consumed the wooden structure, situated in an Iron Age settlement, killing six animals penned in the stable. The presence of a horse in the stable suggested that these people were wealthier than some of their neighbors, Olesti Vila said. The site provides important insights into the daily lives of Iberian Iron Age populations in the Pyrenees at this pivotal time in history, Arnold said in an email. During the Iron Age, when people lived in wooden homes heated by fires, buildings often accidentally burned. “This is also an indication of some kind of conflict or some kind of violent aggression,” Olesti Vila said.

Persons: Oriol Olesti Vila, Baltarga, Francesc Riart, Olesti Vila, “, weren’t, ”, Bettina Arnold, Arnold, ” Arnold, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Wisconsin -, Scientific Locations: Iberia, Spain, Tossal, Baltarga, Iron, Hannibal, Roman Republic, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Pyrenees, “, Europe

☆ Israeli political tensions boil over, revealing new danger for Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Divisions and disagreements within the Israeli cabinet on the conduct and priorities of the war against Hamas have simmered since the onset of the crisis. That has been a red line for the religious right in the Israeli cabinet. Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, pictured in October, is widely seen to be a leading contender to be the next Israeli leader. Over the next three weeks, compromise may yet keep the war cabinet intact. It would, however, leave the prime minister more exposed to the demands of far-right- members of his cabinet.

Persons: –, Benny Gantz, Mahmoud, Abbas, Gantz, Amir Levy, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Gantz, Itamar Ben Gvir, Yair Lapid, Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, ”, Jack Guez, Yoav Gallant, “, “ Gantz, Anshel Pfeffer, ” Pfeffer, “ Bibi, …, Pfeffer, Gallant, Leo Correa, Bezalel Smotrich Organizations: CNN, Hamas, National Unity Party, Palestinian Authority, Israel, National, Getty, Sunday, Jerusalem Post, AP, Finance Locations: Gaza, “, Iran, Lebanon, Palestinian, Tel Aviv, AFP, Israel, Jerusalem

☆ Is America ready for a $400 pineapple? Luxury fruit is now a thing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The Rubyglow pineapple –— bred for its distinctive red exterior and its sweetness — costs $395.99 at Melissa’s Produce, a California-based seller of specialty fruit and veggies. It took Del Monte, a wholesaler which sells a variety of produce but specializes in pineapple, a decade and a half to develop the red-hued fruit. And yet, there’s interest in premium fruit — enough to convince Del Monte to bring the Rubyglow, which is grown in Costa Rica, stateside. Courtesy Fresh Del MonteThe Pinkglow was never supposed to be a grocery list staple, said Melissa Mackay, VP of marketing in North America at Del Monte. Melissa’s started with 50 pineapples, according to Robert Schueller, director of public relations at Melissa’s Produce.

Persons: Del, ”, Cindy van Rijswick, “ there’s, Cotton Candy, McIntosh, Jim Luby, Patrick T, Fallon, Luby, Lane Turner, Oishii, Hiroki Koga, Jerod Harris, Melissa Mackay, “, It’s, Melanie Zanoza Bartelme, pricey, Hailey, Strawberry, it’s, Melissa’s, Robert Schueller, ” Schueller, Bo Corley, ” Corley, Corley Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, University of Minnesota, Getty, Rabobank, Citrus, Boston Globe, Vox Media, Del, Mintel, Melissa’s Locations: New York, California, Del Monte, China, United States, America, Costa Rica, AFP, Minnesota, Beverly Hills , California, North America, Erewhon, Angeles, Las Vegas, Southern California

☆ Opinion: Credibility is the key at Trump trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

The idea that Cohen talked to Trump about Daniels on that call “was a lie,” Blanche alleged. Moreover, my experience has been that juries don’t decide based upon one moment — they base their judgment on an overall view.”There were allegedly three parties aware of the scheme to conceal the real reason Trump paid Cohen more than $400,000 in supposed legal fees: Trump, Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, then-chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. “Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense,” wrote attorney Stacy Schneider. Trump seems to be tempted to go mano a mano and show that he is better fit to be commander-in-chief. The new requirement for GOP politicians wanting to demonstrate their loyalty to Trump seems to be visiting the Manhattan courthouse where he’s on trial.

Persons: CNN —, ” Mark Twain, “, Twain, ” Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, —, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Norm Eisen, Blanche, ”, pummeled Cohen, Robert Mueller, Nick Anderson, Agency Cohen, Keith Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, ” Eisen, don’t, Allen Weisselberg, Stacy Schneider, Weisselberg, David Zurawik, “ I’ve, Sen, Robert Menendez, He’s, George Santos ., CNN “ It’s, he’s, ‘, Henry Cuellar, ” Cupp, Drew Sheneman, Georgia —, Vladimir Putin’s, Frida Ghitis, ” Ghitis, Joe Biden’s, ” Dana Summers, “ Biden, ” Julian Zelizer, mano, Biden, ” Bill Bramhall, Stephanie Griffith, Howard Tucker, Gayle Fleming, Michael Ventura Gayle Fleming, Biden —, ” Tom Brady’s, Kara Alaimo, Tom Brady “, Kevin Hart, Gisele Bündchen, Brady, Benjamin, Vivian, ’ Brady, ’, Alaimo, Brady didn’t, Nafees Syed, Kamel El Hilali, Andrew Borene, freakout Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, … ” Brown, Keith Magee, Brown, backpedaling, Forget, Doug Burgum, Scott Jennings, Burgum’s, Bill Bramhall, Content Agency Clarence Thomas Washington, Clarence Thomas ’, Dean Obeidallah, Thomas, Harlan Crow, ” Clay Jones, John Oliver’s, Steve Vladeck, “ Thomas, ” Don’t, Clayton Swope, Dan Perry, Netanyahu, Jill Filipovic, Miss Teen USA Mary Ziegler, Bob Kolasky, Megan L, Ranney, Karen Tang, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Jonathan Yeo, King Charles III, Aaron Chown, Holly Thomas, King Organizations: CNN, Trump, Tribune, Agency, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC, Robert Menendez of New, GOP, ” Texas, White, Europe, Russia, Kyiv, Biden, ABC, Democratic Party, Netflix, Garden State, Content Agency, Capitol, Consumer Financial, Board, Fifth Circuit, ICC, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Buckingham Palace, Royal Locations: New York, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Russian, Ukraine, Slovakia, Georgia, Soviet Republic, United States, Cleveland, “, Manhattan, North, . North Dakota, ” That’s, Louisiana , Mississippi, Texas, Florida’s, Buckingham

☆ Opinion | Loneliness Is a Problem That A.I. Won’t Solve
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Jessica Grose | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

One day it will be better than a real [girlfriend]. One day, the real one will be the inferior choice.” The article goes on to breathlessly outline use cases for “A.I. companions,” suggesting that some future iteration of chatbots could stand in for mental health professionals, relationship coaches or chatty co-workers. This week, OpenAI released an update to its ChatGPT chatbot, an indication that the inhuman future foretold by the Andreessen Horowitz story is fast approaching. While some observers, including the Times Opinion contributing writer Julia Angwin, who called ChatGPT’s recent update “rather routine,” weren’t particularly impressed, there’s been plenty of hype about the potential for humanlike chatbots to ameliorate emotional challenges, particularly loneliness and social isolation.

Persons: Andreessen Horowitz, A.I, OpenAI, Horowitz, ”, Scarlett Johansson, Julia Angwin, weren’t, there’s Organizations: The Washington Post, omni

☆ Under Armour was a real threat to Nike. Now it’s fighting to stay relevant
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

It was the upstart athletic brand that was making real inroads against Nike, the dominant name in the industry. People saw it as a company that actually could break through and take market share from Nike among the hardcore athletes,” Swartz said. String of controversiesThe period from 2016 onward is when “things really started to fall apart” at Under Armour, Swartz said. A bulk of Under Armour products are sold through sporting goods retailers and department stores, including Macy’s and Kohl’s, and online. The basketball superstar Curry, arguably the best shooter in history, famously signed with Under Armour instead of Nike in 2013.

Persons: Armour, Stephen Curry, Jordan Spieth, Kevin Plank, Howard Schultz’s, Bob Iger’s, Plank, ”, David Swartz, Morningstar, ” Swartz, Justin Sullivan, Tommy Gilligan, ” Plank, Swartz, “, —, Stephanie Linnartz, ” Schwartz, Andrew Kelly, Merrell, Zak Stambor, Stambor, Plank’s, Noel Celis, Eric Smallwood, Dwayne Johnson, Johnson, ” Smallwood, Smallwood, Curry, Joel Embiid, Embiid, Skechers, Caitlin Clark Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nike, Starbucks, Disney, CNN, Sports, North, Maryland Terrapins, Southern Methodist Mustangs, Capital, Maryland, Reuters, —, Armour, Sports Authority, Sporting Goods, UCLA, US Securities and Exchange Commission, Footwear News, Adidas, NBA Golden State Warriors, UA Curry II, Getty, Apex Marketing, United Football League, NBA, WNBA Locations: New York, San Rafael , California, North America, College Park , Maryland, Manhattan , New York, Petaluma , California, Manila, AFP

☆ Opinion: Israel could defeat Hamas in Gaza more quickly if the US didn’t hold it back, this military expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hilary Krieger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

CNN: Do you think that Israel can defeat Hamas without conducting a ground invasion in Rafah? The fact is that Rafah’s where the hostages and remaining Hamas military power and leadership are believed to be, their rockets and weapons production and other capabilities, everything. CNN: Couldn’t Israel’s offensive still have the effect of creating more militants who are going to join Hamas and fight against Israel? But it’s also a very winnable war for Hamas at this point because wars are not determined just by military capability. The problem is that the international community pushed Israel into this framework of going slower, going methodically, evacuating every area beforehand.

Persons: CNN —, John Spencer, Spencer, John Spencer Spencer, He’s, ” Spencer, JACK GUEZ, they’ve, we’re, there’s, Couldn’t, David Petraeus, Petraeus, who’s, it’s, You’ve, Dawoud Abo, Israel, I’ve, Israel doesn’t, that’s, — we’re, they’re, would’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Modern, Institute, IDF, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Getty, Israel, Nazi, Spencer, Shiva, Dawoud Abo Alkas, ISIS, UN, Gaza, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, West, Rafah, Spencer, Israeli, Hamas, Gaza City, AFP, Iran, Palestine, Northern Gaza, Afghanistan, United States, Egypt, Sinai, Anadolu, Qaida, Mosul, Panama, Tokyo

1s ’63 ’70 10 TAYLOR SWIFT 5 ’24 ’06 10 THE BEATLES 5 ’63 ’70 10 TAYLOR SWIFT 5 ’24 ’06 10 THE BEATLES 5 ’63 ’70 10 TAYLOR SWIFT ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ (2012) 5 ’24 ’06 10 THE BEATLES 5 ’63 ’70 10 TAYLOR SWIFT ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ (2012) 5 ’24 ’06 10 THE BEATLES 5 ’63 ’70 10 TAYLOR SWIFT 5 ’24 ’06 Two bar charts: one for the Beatles, one for Taylor Swift. 30 15 5 MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS 30 ‘Thriller’ 15 5 MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS 30 ‘Thriller’ 15 ‘Fearless’ ‘1989’ 5 MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS 30 15 5 Not yet certified MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS 30 15 5 Not yet certified MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS 30 30 million 15 15 million 5 MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES 30 30 million 15 15 million 5 MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES 30 30 million 15 15 million ‘1989’ 5 MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES 30 30 million 15 15 million ‘1989’ ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ 5 MICHAEL JACKSON PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES A grid of 10 Michael Jackson albums covers transitions into charts depicting Michael Jackson’s and Taylor Swift’s album sales. 15 million 10 5 BRITNEY SPEARS ALBUM SALES TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES ‘... Baby One More Time’ 15 million 10 5 BRITNEY SPEARS ALBUM SALES TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES ‘1989’ 15 million 10 5 BRITNEY SPEARS ALBUM SALES TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES Two side-by-side charts depict album sales for Britney Spears and Taylor Swift. 1s ’82 ’12 TAYLOR SWIFT 10 5 ’06 ’24 10 5 ’82 ’12 TAYLOR SWIFT 10 5 ’06 ’24 10 5 ’82 ’12 TAYLOR SWIFT 10 5 ’06 ’24 10 ‘Vogue’ (1990) 5 ’82 ’12 TAYLOR SWIFT 10 5 ’06 ’24 10 ‘This Used To Be My Playground’(1992) 5 ’82 ’12 TAYLOR SWIFT 10 5 ’06 ’24 10 5 ’82 ’12 10 5 ’06 ’24 10 ‘Music’ (2000) 5 ’82 ’12 TAYLOR SWIFT 10 5 ’06 ’24 10 5 ’82 ’12 TAYLOR SWIFT 10 5 ’06 ’24 Two charts show Billboard top hits for Madonna and Swift, over the course of their respective careers. 15 million 10 5 BEYONCE ALBUM SALES TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES 15 million ‘I Am ... Sasha Fierce’ 10 5 BEYONCE ALBUM SALES TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES 15 million 10 5 BEYONCE ALBUM SALES TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES 15 million ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ 10 ‘Cowboy Carter’ 5 BEYONCE ALBUM SALES TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM SALES Two side-by-side charts depict album sales for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, respectively.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, ”, Swift, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Drake, Billy Joel, Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Kareem, Brady, Marino, Harry Potter, TAYLOR, TAYLOR SWIFT, Swift’s, didn’t, Max Martin, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, McCartney, George Harrison, “, Taylor, Jackson, MICHAEL JACKSON, ’, Michael Jackson’s, …, “ Ben ”, —, Jackson’s, Micheal Jackson, It’s, she’s, Department ”, Spears, BRITNEY SPEARS, Spears’s, Madonna, Dick Tracy ”, Evita, I’m, David O, “ Ray, Bob Dylan, John, Springsteen, Elton John Farewell, Bruce Springsteen Springsteen, Elton John’s, Bruce Springsteen’s Springsteen, Madonna’s, it’s, Beyoncé, Georg Solti, Quincy Jones, It's, Madonna didn’t, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Sinatra, — Beyoncé, Sasha Fierce, Carter ’, Carter ”, Cowboy Carter, DRAKE, Kendrick Lamar, they’re, gunning, she’ll Organizations: Poets Department, MetLife, Beatles, “, Marvel, Billboard, TAYLOR SWIFT, U.S, Swift, MTV, Recording Industry Association of America, Department, Vogue, Veterans Touring, Drake, Beyoncé, Beyoncé’s Locations: New Jersey, U.S, Kobe, ”, “, pigtails, Amsterdam, Texas

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