DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Ukraine started this year on the brink of disaster. A lot has changed since.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Getting F-16s and long-awaited weaponsDelays in getting Western equipment have long been a source of frustration for Ukraine. Western allies lifted some restrictions in May, allowing Ukraine to strike Russian troops building up at its borders. AdvertisementTaking the war inside RussiaThe biggest change this year is that Ukraine altered the dynamics of the conflict by launching a surprise attack on Russia's Kursk region. In just two weeks, starting on August 6, Ukraine claims its forces took more territory in Kursk than Russia had since the beginning of 2024. Ukraine is "losing territory and may suffer a breakthrough," Benjamin Friedman, policy director at the Defense Priorities think tank, told BI.

Persons: —, Abishur Prakash, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Vitalii, Mark Temnycky, it's, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Ukraine wouldn't, Mark Cancian, year's, Putin, Joe Biden, Benjamin Friedman, Michael Kofman, Rob Lee, Prakash Organizations: Service, Russia, Republican, Business, Inc, Reuters, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Getty, Council's Eurasia, Times, Institute for, American Enterprise, Air Assault Brigade, REUTERS, US Marine Corps, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CNN, Defense, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Foreign, Kyiv Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Kursk, Toronto, Kharkiv, London, Russia's Kursk, Malaya Loknya, Kursk Region, REUTERS Russia, Kyiv

Jerusalem and Gaza CNN —A 14-year-old boy lies in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip, severely burned from an Israeli airstrike. Even as the campaign to vaccinate Gaza’s children for polio continues, the United Nations and aid agencies warn of deteriorating public health conditions. Displaced children sort through trash at a street in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on August 29. A Palestinian woman sits on the floor between patients at the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on April 3. “It is also used for washing and sterilizing dishes because of hepatitis, which is spreading terribly in the Gaza Strip, and to deter jaundice,” Rayyan told CNN.

Persons: Dr, Mahmoud Yousef Mughani, Mughani, vaccinate, Abdel Kareem Hana, OCHA, ” OCHA, Mohammed Al, Taweel, ” Al, “, ”, Ghada, ” Shahoura, Balah, Saeed Rayyan, ” Rayyan, Rayyan, al, Oula Al Goul, Mahmoud Shalabi, Shalabi Organizations: Gaza CNN, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, CNN, United Nations, UN Relief and Works Agency, UN, Humanitarian Affairs, “, CNN Sunday, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, AFP, Getty, Aid, Ministry, Health Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Al, Aqsa, Deir Al, Balah, Rafah, Egypt, Palestinian, Al Aqsa, Deir, Ashkelon, Israel

☆ Inside the landmark Google adtech antitrust trial that could transform the $700 billion global digital ad market
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The DOJ and the states are seeking a breakup of Google's adtech business. Separately, they said that while a separation of Google's ad server and its ad exchange would be good for competition in the adtech market, it might drive ad server costs up for publishers. Google's ad server is "a loss leader, they make all their money in AdX," the exec said, referring to Google's ad exchange that connects buyers and sellers. Global regulators have Google in their sights, tooAny unraveling of Google's ad empire would be complex. Over the pond, the European Union said last year it might look to break up Google's adtech business.

Persons: —, Google's, Tim Nollen, isn't gunning, adtech, Macquarie's Nollen, Bietti, Mark Jamison, there's, Arielle Garcia Organizations: Service, Eastern, Business, US Department of Justice, Google, DOJ, Microsoft, Macquarie, Publishers, US Department of, Northeastern University, Public Utility Research Center, Digital Markets, University of Florida, Global, European Union Locations: Virginia, AdX

☆ Why playing it safe on immigration and crime could be a big risk for Harris
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Since Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, Trump has constantly attempted to portray her as weak on immigration and crime. On Friday, Harris also chose not to mention mass deportation during a radio interview with Univision, when the host asked her to summarize her argument to undecided Hispanic voters. “There is a way in which those [crime and immigration] issues in particular are also about bigger things,” said Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC, a group working to mobilize Black voters for Harris and Democrats. And many of those voters might recoil from these Trump policies on crime and immigration if they heard more about them. “What he is hoping is that the Black voters who he is [courting] don’t see that stuff,” Shropshire said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Trump, Harris, Joe Biden, Gary Segura, UnidosUS, Segura, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Miller, Michael Ettlinger, Goldman Sachs, Jeffrey Passel, Passel, Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, Black, Ed Chung, Vera Action, Tim Walz, Trump’s, she’s, surrogates, ”, Adrianne, “, ” Segura, ” Tom Wong, Wong, ” Wong, Daniela Gilbert, That’s, Biden, Gilbert, ” Gilbert, ” Anthony Baber, Baber, “ Trump, ” Baber, ” Harris, She’s, Chung, –, Dana Bash, , Daniel Cox, BlackPAC Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Unidos, ”, White, Trump, of Police, National Guard, University of New, Carsey, of Public, Boston Globe, Pew Research Center, New York Police Department, Minnesota Gov, Univision, Black, GOP, US Immigration, Center, University of California, America’s, Marquette Law School, Religion Research Institute, Detroit, Whites, Survey Center, American Enterprise Institute Locations: California, Wisconsin, Texas, New York City, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Savannah, Adrianne Shropshire, San Diego, United States, CNN’s, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Shropshire, ” Shropshire

☆ A major student-loan company is once again at the center of a lawsuit blocking debt cancellation for millions of borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Even with the financial burden his student debt has brought him, Larry said he has tried to remain optimistic about the prospect of debt relief, given President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' actions during their term. Larry and millions of other student-loan borrowers will have to keep waiting. It's the same argument a different group of GOP states used that led the Supreme Court to strike down Biden's first attempt at broad debt relief last summer. Their arguments are based on internal documents the states obtained from the Education Department to federal student-loan servicers regarding preparation to implement its second try at broader debt relief. According to the documents, the Education Department sent a memo to MOHELA saying, "In September of 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration will launch the Federal Student Loan Debt Initiative."

Persons: missouri Larry, bachelor's, Larry —, —, Larry, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, I've, they've, I'm, Biden, Biden's, Luke Herrine, Herrine, Harris, Sen, Bill Cassidy, MOHELA, he's Organizations: Service, Business, Higher, University of Alabama, GOP, Department of Education, Education Department, Biden, Harris Administration, Federal, Loan, Initiative, Department, Republican Locations: missouri, Georgia's, Missouri, Missouri , Georgia, Alabama , Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, Ohio

☆ Many 'doubted the vision': Saudi investment minister touts 'green shoring' on path to diversification
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih pushed back against skepticism over the country's economic diversification plan, as Riyadh touts "green shoring" investment opportunities to woo foreign financing. The Saudi minister on Saturday said that, eight years into manifesting Vision 2030, the kingdom is now "more committed, more determined" to the program and has already implemented or is about to complete 87% of its targets. The number of foreign investment licenses issued in Saudi Arabia nearly doubled in 2023, the IMF noted, with government data pointing to a 5.6% annual increase in net flows of foreign direct investment in the first quarter. Concerns have nevertheless lingered over the potential uncertainty and unpredictability of the kingdom's legal framework and its dispute resolution system for foreign investment. Al-Falih insisted that Saudi Arabia boasts predictability, as well as domestic political and economic stability.

Persons: Khalid, Falih, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Cernobbio, Italy, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ Trump and Biden agree: The US should finally start a sovereign wealth fund
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

So it is noteworthy that Democratic and Republican leaders both appear to want to establish a sovereign wealth fund to help the United States pay for stuff. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which manages about $925 billion in assets, reported a $36.8 billion profit for 2023, according to Reuters. This isn't the first time Washington has toyed with the idea of a sovereign wealth fund. Last March, a group of bipartisan lawmakers led by Sen. Angus King and Sen. Bill Cassidy began discussing a sovereign wealth fund to pay for Social Security. The White House's interest in a sovereign wealth fund stems partly from its desire to compete with China, which has multiple state-owned funds itself.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Daleep Singh, Biden, Donald Trump, LIV Golf, Sen, Angus King, Bill Cassidy, Mitt Romney, John Paulson, Larry Summers Organizations: Service, Democratic, Republican, National, Bloomberg, Business, White, Economic, of New, Fund, Reuters, Norges Bank Investment Management, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Blackstone, LIV, Social Security, America, Bloomberg Television Locations: United States, of New York, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Norway's, PIF, Heathrow, American, Washington, China

☆ The controversial plan to regreen a desert
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The Dutch engineer wants to transform a huge stretch of inhospitable desert into green, fertile land teeming with wildlife. “The only holistic way out of this situation is with large-scale ecological regeneration”So-called desert regreening projects are not new, and this is one of a number around the world seeking to transform arid landscapes. Costfoto/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesFor van der Hoeven, it was further proof his plan could work. “The scale reaches a level that helps prove that restoration can be done on a planetary scale.”It would add to other huge desert regreening projects also underway. The project was scheduled to kick off this December, but conflict has slowed everything down, van der Hoeven said.

Persons: der Hoeven, “, Van, van der Hoeven, Ali Moustafa, ”, Van der, der, it’s, John Liu, Wolfgang Kaehler, Liu, ” Liu, Susan Gardner, Gardner, Alice Hughes, ” Hughes, Raymond Pierrehumbert, Pierrehumbert, — “, Van der Heoven, He’s, Van der Hoeven Organizations: CNN, United Nations, World Bank, UN, Hong Kong University’s School of Biological Sciences, University of Oxford Locations: Dutch, Africa, Asia, Maryland, Dubai, Lake Bardawil, Sinai, Bardawil, Egypt, China, California, Gansu Province, Yongjing, Gansu province, Nairobi, Hong, Gaza

☆ Ukrainian forces in Kursk are readying for a long fight and may plan to 'bleed' the Russians just like in Ukraine, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

That figure is more than the amount of territory Russia has seized in Ukraine so far this year. AdvertisementThat's a rate of more than 1,100 casualties a day, and there are indications Russian forces are continuing to take heavy losses. A pair of Ukrainian soldiers walk in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region. But he said there's also a danger that Ukraine's forces could get overextended and "get too widely spaced that the Russians can take advantage of it." Furthermore, this unexpected invasion of Russian territory has allowed Ukraine to regain the initiative after months in a grueling defensive position.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Fabien Nachi, Matthew Savill, David Cohen, Michael Bohnert, Savill, Ed Ram, Mark Cancian, there's, Cancian, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, Business, NBC, Getty, Royal United Services Institute, UK Ministry of Defence, Russia, Ukraine, CIA, RAND Corporation, Washington, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Russia's Kursk, Russia, Ukraine, Kursk, Sudzha, Ukrainian

☆ The Iberian lynx is back from the brink. Now virtual fences could save it from becoming roadkill
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Victoria Barauna | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sound and lightYet, the IUCN acknowledges that the Iberian lynx remains threatened. In the 1980s, roadkill played a key role in lynx mortality in the Doñana area (a prominent spot for the Iberian lynx) accounting for almost 17% of deaths. That may not sound like much, but Breitenmoser explains that given that lynx populations were critically endangered at the time, the impact was significant. Ortiz says that in a five-year timeframe, almost €4.5 million ($5 million) will be spent on improving habitats and nearly €2.9 million ($3.2 million) on boosting connectivity, including virtual fences. Innovation aside, for Ortiz the future of the Iberian lynx depends on co-operation.

Persons: Spain’s, ”, Urs Breitenmoser, Breitenmoser, roadkill, ” Breitenmoser, Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, Marcos López, Parra, Brown, Ortiz, Guillermo López Zamora, “ It’s, “ Organizations: CNN, University of Bern, International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, EU, roadkill, LIFE, Spain’s University of Córdoba Locations: Spain, roadkill, Sierra Morena, Doñana, Andalusia, Jaén, Granada, “, Italy, Extremadura, Portugal

☆ The no-tech Tuesday night challenge was apparently a hit at Google
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Jaures Yip | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Martin's personal success with the challenge inspired her to bring the tradition to the Google offices. However, asking tech bros to stay away from their tech — even for just a night — required a strategic introduction. "Pick one night a week is so much less powerful than no-tech Tuesday," she said. At the end of the challenge, Martin said that 97.2% of participants reported feeling that no-tech Tuesday in some way positively impacted their work performance and/or stress level, and 92% said they planned to continue the challenge. Advertisement"Some participants have been doing the challenge for five years and have kept up with every single Tuesday night since I first held it," Martin said.

Persons: —, Laura Mae Martin, JOMO, Martin, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, JOMO Locations: Swiss

☆ National Suicide Prevention Month: How to reduce suicide risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Not everyone who attempts suicide has a mental health conditionOne of many common myths about suicide is that only people with mental health conditions have suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide. Describing a suicide attempt as “successful” is also problematic, as taking one’s life is not a positive achievement. “Failed suicide attempt” can suggest that surviving isn’t the best outcome or that there’s something lacking in the character or willpower of the attempter. Given these factors, when referring to suicide, appropriate language includes “died by suicide,” “fatal suicide attempt,” “killed herself” or “took his own life,” experts said. Acceptable shorthand ways to communicate not dying from an attempt include “nonfatal suicide attempt” or simply “suicide attempt.”Using more compassionate language to discuss suicide can also improve empathy and strategies for reducing suicide risk, experts said.

Persons: CNN —, Mitch Prinstein, Prinstein, John Van Seters, Justin Baker, ” Baker, haven’t, isn’t, That’s, Michael Roeske, I’ve, life’s, —, Roeske, “, Jacek Debiec, ” “, ” Organizations: International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders, CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, American Psychological Association, Neuroscience, University of North, Prevention, Initiative, Veterans, Ohio State University, Globally, University of Michigan Locations: United States, University of North Carolina, Chapel

☆ Retired NATO commander says Ukraine's Kursk invasion proves it can succeed without Western advice
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewA former NATO commander said that Ukraine's successful incursion into Russia's Kursk region shows what it can do without relying much on Western advice. It had taken and held 500 square miles of Russian territory as of last week, according to Ukraine's army chief. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told the Kyiv Post that he viewed Ukraine's operation as a success. A local volunteer looks at a building damaged by Ukrainian strikes in Kursk on August 16, 2024, following Ukraine's offensive into Russia's western Kursk region. But many allies, the US among them, still forbid Ukraine from using long-range weapons within Russia, limits Ukraine's ability to hit the highest-value targets there.

Persons: —, Philip M, Vladimir Putin, TATYANA MAKEYEVA, Breedlove, Putin, George Barros Organizations: Service, Business, NATO, Allied, Kyiv Post, Getty, US Air Force, Ukraine, Institute for Locations: NATO, Russia's Kursk, Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Kursk, AFP, Sudzha, Ukrainian

☆ Supersized seed rounds: The earliest stage of the startup market is getting out of control
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-31 | by ( Vishal Persaud | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThere's been an investor gold rush to find the hottest new startup, causing a new dynamic: larger seed rounds. In some cases, the seed round is getting out of control. Tier one multi-stage firms have decided to allocate more resources to investing at the seed stage, according to several traditional seed investors who Business Insider spoke to. Related storiesMy colleague Sri Muppidi has reported on these supersized seed rounds in AI startups throughout the summer. Other supersized seed rounds this year include a $10.5 million round by Swedish legal AI startup Leya, and Gameplay Galaxy recently announced a $24 million seed round for its Web3 gaming platform.

Persons: —, Greylock, they've, Let's, Sri Muppidi, Ed Sim, whiff, Sim, Sim postured, Shruti Gandhi Organizations: Service, Business, Q2 Venture Monitor, Sequoia, Felicis Ventures, Galaxy, Boldstart Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Canaan Partners, Instacart's, Ventures, Founders Locations: Canaan

☆ Mark Zuckerberg says White House 'pressured' Meta to 'censor' Covid-19 content
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-27 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The letter was posted on the committee's Facebook page and on its account on the X social media platform on Monday. The Biden administration "pressured" Facebook parent Meta to "censor" content related to Covid-19, the social media giant's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg , alleged, adding that he regrets some of the decisions taken in relation to the U.S. government's requests. NBC News has reached out to the White House for comment Tuesday morning, but did not immediately receive a response. That year, the White House criticized social media firms, including Facebook, for allowing misinformation related to the coronavirus to spread across their platforms. Zuckerberg's letter underscores the ongoing debate about the extent to which social media firms should moderate content.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Biden, Meta, Jim Jordan, Chan Organizations: Meta, Committee, Tech, Biden Administration, White, Republican, Facebook, NBC News, Politico, Rep Locations: Ohio

☆ Brands are so scared of culture wars and controversy that it's ripping apart the media business
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-27 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Related storiesBut it wasn't until Trump's 2016 election that brand safety really entered the mainstream marketing vernacular — and the culture wars. In 2023, more than 21,400 jobs were cut in the US media industry, according to the employment agency Challenger, Gray & Christmas. But some industry experts think it's too late to put the "content adjacency" genie back in the bottle. AdvertisementThe result, Tobaccowala fears, is a further winnowing of the media industry where only the biggest platforms and individual content creators survive.

Persons: —, Elon Musk's, Donald Trump, Alex Marlow, Breitbart, Mark Penn, Tobaccowala, Tucker Carlson, Ingraham, Jessica Sibley, Taylor, Taylor Swift, Vittorio Zunino Celotto, Penn, it's, Richard Raddon, Ben Shapiro, Shapiro, Gregory Woodman, John Deere, Davidson, Kid, Bud, Bud Light, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Gene J, Rob Kim Organizations: Service, Global Alliance, Responsible Media, Business, Breitbart News, News Corp, Groupe, Association for National, Companies, Giants, YouTube, Fox, Fox News, Facebook, Poets Department, Challenger, Getty, Penn, Publishers, The Daily, State of, US Department of State, Supply, Harley, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, State of Texas, America

☆ In photos: Arabian oryx populations rebound
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-26 | by ( Katie Guenthner | For Cnn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. The slender horns of the Arabian oryx, also known as the “white oryx” because of its luminous white coat, are said to be an inspiration for tales of the mythical unicorn. This kickstarted conservation efforts, which involved breeding the species in captivity and reintroducing it into the wild. Today, there are an estimated 1,220 Arabian oryxes in the wild and 6,000 to 7,000 in captivity, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Organizations: CNN, Initiative, International Union for Conservation of Nature Locations: Egypt, Yemen

☆ Restaurants fight back against the FTC crackdown on 'junk fees' as diners balk at new charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Leopatrizi | E+ | Getty ImagesLawmakers want to crack down on "junk fees," but restaurants are trying to stay out of the fight. The Biden administration has broadly targeted so-called junk fees, like an undisclosed service charge for concert tickets or unexpected resort fees when checking out of a hotel. The Biden Administration is attempting to crack down on so-called "junk fees" in retirement accounts with a rule prosed by the U.S. Labor Department. Lobbyists vs. legislatorsOn the state level, restaurants have already had some success in getting excluded from the fight over junk fees. California's SB 478 law would ban so-called "junk fees".

Persons: Birkin, Biden, Joe Biden, Chip Somodevilla, Biden administration's crosshairs, Sean Kennedy, Kennedy, Andres Clavero, Clavero, Galit, Peter Demetri, Tai Huh, Huh, CSHG Organizations: Getty, National Restaurant Association, Federal Trade Commission, White, Biden Administration, U.S . Labor Department, National Women's Law, Cambridge Street Hospitality Group, Health, Restaurant Association, California's Locations: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington ,, New York, Denver, Asian, Massachusetts, California, –, Oakland , California

☆ Engaged Capital might have the recipe to build value for shareholders at Portillo's
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The company was acquired by private equity firm Berkshire Partners in 2014 from the founder for approximately $1 billion. The non-Chicago locations have achieved AUVs of $6 million to $7 million, more than double quick service restaurants and fast casual industry averages. While Portillo's has much larger AUV than its peers, the company has an even larger average footprint than peers. Closing this gap will take significant capital allocation improvements, technology initiatives, marketing plans, real estate restructurings and operational advancements. Engaged is supportive of management and expects they will recruit a strong operator into the presently vacant COO role.

Persons: Portillo's, –, Ken Squire Organizations: Berkshire Partners, Berkshire, Management, NFL, Del, Shake, 13D Locations: Berkshire, Chicago, Portillo's, That's, Del Frisco's

☆ The battle of Kursk has unchained Ukraine from a failing war strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

At the start of August, Ukraine seemed doomed to remain on the defensive, slowly but relentlessly being ground into retreat by Russian onslaughts. But its successful new Kursk offensive has done more than seize 480 square miles of Russian territory and humiliate Putin. After nearly a year of a grim defensive battle, the Kursk operation has also allowed Ukraine to seize the initiative and force Moscow to dance to Kyiv's tune. The Russians no longer hold the initiative across the entirety of the theater, like they have for most of last year." Which means Ukraine has to find some economical way of keeping up the pressure on Russia, without losing more territory of its own.

Persons: Putin, George Barros, Barros, Vladimir Putin, " Barros, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Kursk, Moscow, Donetsk, Russia, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Polohy, Zaporizhia, Zabrama, Bryansk, Belgorod, Forbes

☆ Why Black men's job situation is worse than it looks
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

That means that the tens of thousands of Black men who are incarcerated aren't being included in these calculations, effectively boosting the Black male employment rate. As of July, the BLS estimated a there were 16.2 million US Black men in the noninstitutional population, compared to 18.8 million Black women. AdvertisementThe bottom line: If the survey data had a more complete picture of Black men, Holzer said the Black male employment rate would likely be "considerably worse." Education differences and discrimination can work against Black menEducation is one factor that can help explain the lower employment rate of Black men, Wilson said. A strong job market and workforce development programs could drive progressThere are several things that might help get more Black men into the workforce.

Persons: —, there's, it's, Harry Holzer, aren't, Holzer, Valerie Wilson, Wilson, Jared, Black, didn't, weren't, " Holzer Organizations: Service, Business, Georgetown University, US Department of Labor, Pew, BLS, Black, University of California, University of Chicago, BI, Harvard, Stanford, Initiative Locations: Berkeley

☆ Kyiv’s incursion into Russia sends a defiant message to its Western backers: We can win this war
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Just as importantly, it’s also sent a political message to Kyiv’s allies that has changed the prevailing narrative of the war - that Ukrainian forces are doomed to fight an endless rearguard action against superior Russian firepower. A Ukrainian soldier walks past at a city hall in Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. But Ukrainian forces have shown that the conflict is not a one-way street. For the Ukrainians, sustaining the operation as Russia brings more artillery and aviation to bear will become increasingly difficult. But for every passing day that Ukrainian forces control an area of Russian territory the size of Hong Kong, the Kursk incursion becomes less of a footnote.

Persons: CNN —, it’s, Vladimir Putin, “ Putin, ” Mathieu Boulegue, ”, ” Boulegue, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, ” Mick Ryan, Kursk “, Ryan –, Zelensky, ” Ryan, Boulegue, Sabrina Singh, Josep Borrell, Donald Trump, Olga Tatariuk Organizations: CNN, Institute for, Center for, Kremlin, Ukrainian, Futura, Kyiv, Ukrainian Defense Ministry, NATO, Russian, Chatham House, Special Forces, Special Forces of Locations: Russian, Kursk, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Australia, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Sudzha, Germany, United States, Chatham, Glushkovo, Kursk Region, Special Forces of Ukraine, Donetsk, Pokrovsk, Hong Kong

☆ Texas sues over Biden legalization program for immigrants married to US citizens
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Texas and a coalition of Republican-led states on Friday sued President Joe Biden’s administration over a new program that offers a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally and are now married to U.S. citizens. America First Legal, an organization led by Trump adviser Stephen Miller, served as co-counsel in the lawsuit alongside Texas and 15 other states with Republican attorneys general. Miller, a driving force behind Trump’s restrictive policies during his 2017-2021 presidency, called the Biden program “brazenly unlawful” in a statement. White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said the Texas lawsuit aimed to separate families and “goes against our nation’s values.”Texas has repeatedly clashed with the Biden administration in court over immigration and border issues. A federal appeals court in July said Texas could keep a large floating barrier in the Rio Grande River intended to block migrants illegally crossing from Mexico.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Trump, Stephen Miller, Miller, “, Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, Biden Organizations: Republican, U.S, Republicans, Democratic, America, Biden Locations: Texas, U.S, Rio Grande, Mexico

☆ Chinese scientists use lunar soil to produce water, state media reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese scientists have discovered a “brand-new method” of producing large quantities of water using lunar soil brought back from a 2020 expedition, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday. Vials of lunar soil brought back from the moon by China's Chang'e-5 probe in Beijing, on Aug. 26, 2021. China hopes that recent and future lunar expeditions will set the foundations to build the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), an initiative it is co-leading with Russia. The announcement of the discovery comes at a time when Chinese scientists are already conducting experiments on lunar samples brought back in June by the Chang’e-6 mission. The importance of lunar water goes beyond making permanent human presence viable.

Persons: China’s, “, ”, China's Chang'e, Ren Hui, Bill Nelson, NASA’s Nelson Organizations: Academy of Sciences, Getty, Lunar Research, Russia, NPR Locations: U.S, China, Beijing

The agency also said that it was under the initiative of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who issued a directive saying that all social networking sites should be treated equally. Oli became the prime minister last month after the collapse of the previous coalition government. The previous government had imposed the ban on TikTok in November last year, saying it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform because it was disrupting social harmony and goodwill and diffusing indecent materials. The government has also asked social media platforms companies to register in Nepal, open a liaison office, pay taxes and abide by the country’s laws and regulations. There were several exchanges of communication between the government and TikTok officials in the months leading to the lifting of the ban.

Persons: Prithvi Subba Gurung, Khadga Prasad Oli, Oli, China’s ByteDance, TikTok Organizations: National, Agency Locations: KATHMANDU, Nepal, Beijing, United States, Britain, New Zealand

Search resuls for: "Inițiative"

25 mentions found