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☆ Victor Wembanyama records rare triple-double in San Antonio Spurs win after arriving with ‘Spider-Man Noir’ pregame look
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A new look and new history for transcendent rookie Victor Wembanyama. “It counts even more because it’s family, it’s from the Spurs.”This was Wembanyama’s second NBA triple-double after posting 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in January. Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan added 27 and 16 points respectively in a much-needed road win for San Antonio. After much success in the previous two decades, the franchise is in rebuilding era that is focused on the development of Wembanyama. Despite the victory, the Spurs remain rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference with an 11-43 record.

Persons: Victor Wembanyama, –, ’, Clint Capela, Wembanyama, Toronto's Scottie Barnes, Mark Blinch, phenom, David Robinson, Robinson, “, ” Wembanyama, Hakeem Olajuwon, Cole Burston, ”, Gradey Dick, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan Organizations: CNN, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, NBA, Scotiabank Arena, Atlanta Hawks, Spurs, Reuters, Hall, Raptors, San, Western Conference Locations: Toronto, San Antonio

☆ Ukraine’s Creative Use of Weapons Carries Promise and Risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. officials say Ukraine should continue to develop innovative ways to strike at Russian forces as the war approaches its third year. But Ukraine’s use of a Patriot missile to take down a plane last month is an example of how novel battlefield tactics can be fraught with peril as well as promise. Unbeknown to Ukraine’s military, the Russian aircraft it targeted may have been carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to U.S. officials. The Patriot is a defensive system, usually used to protect a location and not to shoot down planes. Russian officials immediately claimed the aircraft was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, who were to be exchanged for Russian service members.

Persons: Unbeknown Organizations: Russian, Patriot, Russian Ilyushin Locations: Ukraine, Russian

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 23 points, Jakob Poeltl had two big plays in the final minute and the Toronto Raptors overcame a career-high 45 points from Miles Bridges to beat Charlotte 123-117 and hand the Hornets their ninth straight loss on Wednesday night. Scottie Barnes, who learned before the game he'll play in his first All-Star game as an alternate, finished with 18 points for the Raptors. Bridges is only the fourth Charlotte player to have back-to-back 40-point games, joining Glen Rice (twice), Kemba Walker and Terry Rozier. The Hornets bolted to a 36-29 lead after the first quarter behind 15 points from Bridges, who was 5 of 5 from the field including three 3-pointers. Bridges was even better in the third quarter with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting, helping the Hornets carry a 97-91 lead into the final quarter.

Persons: CHARLOTTE, — RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Miles Bridges, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Poeltl, Bridges, Glen, Kemba Walker, Terry Rozier, Brandon Miller, Barrett, Gary Trent Jr, ___ Organizations: Toronto Raptors, Charlotte, Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Glen Rice, Hornets, Barrett Locations: N.C, Bridges, Toronto, Austria, Bucks

☆ Taylor Swift Heading to Disney+ and ‘Moana’ Sequel to Theaters
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Disney is deploying Taylor Swift and Moana as part of a campaign to revitalize its entertainment lineup. Swift to bring her blockbuster “Eras Tour” concert movie to streaming for the first time. “The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)” will include five additional performed songs, including the fan favorite “Cardigan,” and exclusively arrive on Disney+ on March 15. “The Eras Tour” movie has sold more than $260 million in tickets at cinemas worldwide. Nielsen said streaming customers have watched almost 80 billion minutes of “Moana” over the last four years.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, Robert A, Disney, Moana, Moana ”, Nielsen Organizations: Disney, Nielsen Locations: Moana, Cardigan, ”

☆ Two Cases Aim to Cut Off China and Iran From U.S. Technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One of the complaints was against a U.S. citizen born in China who has been arrested and accused of stealing trade secrets from a private company. The technology, according to court documents, “would be dangerous to U.S. national security if obtained by international actors.”A Justice Department complaint filed in U.S. District Court in California said the stolen material would help the development of technology that allows space-based systems to track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. U.S. officials said technology related to hypersonic missiles and missile tracking was among the Chinese military’s top priorities. In the other complaint, the U.S. government accused two Iranian men of trying to illegally procure American goods and technology for Iran’s aerospace industry. The technology, according to court documents, involved firefighting equipment and flame detectors.

Persons: ” Locations: China, U.S, California

☆ Elon Musk Is Funding Ex-‘Mandalorian’ Actress’s Suit Against Disney
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk poked the Walt Disney Company anew on Tuesday by agreeing to fund a wrongful-termination lawsuit filed by the “Mandalorian” actress Gina Carano. “Please let us know if you would like to join the lawsuit against Disney,” Mr. Musk, seemingly trawling for other plaintiffs, wrote in a post on X, which he bought in 2022. Disney dropped Ms. Carano, a former mixed-martial artist, from “The Mandalorian” in 2021 after she espoused baseless conspiracy theories and right-wing positions, some of which were seen as homophobic and antisemitic, in a series of social media posts. Lucasfilm, the Disney division that makes “The Mandalorian,” said in a statement at the time that Ms. Carano’s “social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”United Talent Agency also dropped Ms. Carano. Ms. Carano’s suit, filed on Tuesday in federal court in California, seeks a court order forcing Disney and Lucasfilm to weave her “Mandalorian” character back into episodes and recast her for the part.

Persons: Elon Musk, Gina Carano, Mr, Carano, ”, Carano’s Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Disney, Lucasfilm, United Talent Agency Locations: California

Roughly 40,000 American troops are stationed across the Middle East, mostly in countries with close ties to the United States. There were more than 160,000 American troops in Iraq alone in 2007, during the war that followed the U.S. invasion. Image Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq in 2019. Credit... Nasser Nasser/Associated PressWhy are so many troops there? A military coalition led by the United States, including forces in Syria and Iraq, defeated it. President Biden has retaliated with attacks on Iran-aligned militants, hitting groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Persons: Jan, Al, Nasser Nasser, Biden, Israel —, Al Tanf, ” Gen, Hossein Organizations: U.S, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Hezbollah, Army, Air Force, Washington, Operations, Navy’s, U.S . Central Command, Associated, Islamic, U.S ., Pentagon, ”, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps Locations: Jordan, Iraq, United States, State, U.S, Al Asad Air, Iraq’s, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Azraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, China, American, Islamic State, Mosul, Raqqa, Israel, Yemen

Attacks The map shows five of the seven sites that the U.S. hit with military strikes in Syria and Iraq. The strikes hit more than 85 targets at different locations using more than 125 precision-guided munitions, according to a statement by U.S. Central Command. Two American officials said the United States also conducted cyberoperations against Iranian targets on Friday but declined to provide details. It is clear from statements from the White House, and from Tehran, that neither the United States nor Iran wants a wider war. Striking sites in the Mideast with aircraft launched from the United States and refueled midair is a muscular show of global reach and capability, the official said.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Mr, “, ”, John F, Kirby, Douglas, Sims, Yahya Rasool, That’s, Iran’s, Jordan, Roger Wicker of, William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, Moffett, Sanders, Sergeant Rivers Organizations: Iranian, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, U.S . Central Command, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, ”, Jordan . Middle, Revolutionary Guards, National Security Council, White House, Central Command, White, Pentagon, Dyess Air Force Base, U.S, military’s Joint Staff, Air Force, Iraq’s Armed Forces, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guards Corps, Administration, Capitol, Biden, Republican, Armed Services Committee, Dover Air Force Base, Army Reserve Locations: United States, Syria, Iraq, East, Jordan, Iran, U.S, Jordan ., Tehran, Texas, Yemen, Israel, Gen, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Delaware

☆ I'm a millennial who's obsessed with Stanley cups. They remind me of collecting 'Harry Potter' books, and I even bought some on my wedding day.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThis as-told-to article is based on a conversation with Kaitlin Gostel, a 29-year-old academic in Florida who collects Stanley cups. However, the feeling reminds me of getting Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, or, most importantly, "Harry Potter" books. When waiting for both "Harry Potter" books and Stanley cups, we all get these nervous butterflies. So at 6 p.m., after saying my vow, I ran into the bathroom and purchased four different Stanley cups on my phone. However, they are built to last, and watching the video of a Stanley cup surviving a car fire, I'm like, "Geez, these things are insurance.

Persons: —, Kaitlin Gostel, Stanley, I'm, Harry Potter, Barnes, Noble, I've, he'll, you've, it's, Stanley Quenchers, Brian van der Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Business, Target, Stanley, eBay Locations: Florida, Korea, Starbucks Korea, Italy

☆ Federal Judge Dismisses Disney Lawsuit Against DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ron DeSantis of Florida, a federal judge on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit filed by the Walt Disney Company claiming that Mr. DeSantis and his allies violated the company’s First Amendment rights by taking over a special tax district that encompasses Walt Disney World. Disney and Mr. DeSantis, who recently ended his campaign for president, have been at odds for nearly two years over Disney World, the 25,000-acre theme park and resort complex south of Orlando. Before the takeover took effect, however, Disney signed contracts — quietly, but in publicly advertised meetings — to lock in development plans worth some $17 billion over the next decade. An effort by Mr. DeSantis and his allies to void the contracts resulted in dueling lawsuits, with Disney suing Mr. DeSantis and the tax district in federal court and the new appointees returning fire in state court. On Wednesday, Judge Allen Winsor in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee dismissed the federal case in its entirety.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Disney, — Mr, —, Judge Allen Winsor Organizations: Gov, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney, Disney, Northern, Northern District of Locations: Florida, Orlando, U.S, Northern District, Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee

☆ War in Ukraine Has Weakened Putin, C.I.A. Director Writes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The war in Ukraine has “quietly corroded” the power of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, the C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, wrote in an essay published on Tuesday. While Mr. Putin’s grip on power was unlikely to soon weaken, Mr. Burns wrote in Foreign Affairs, disaffection had “gnawed away at the Russian leadership and the Russian people,” allowing the C.I.A. The agency has made a series videos aimed at recruiting Russian officials. Mr. Burns echoed this sentiment in his article.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, William J, Burns, “ Organizations: Foreign Affairs, YouTube Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, U.S

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Qatar Is Expected to Present Hamas With Deal for Pause in Fighting
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Edward Wong | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Qatar is presenting the proposal to the political leaders of Hamas, who would convey it to the group’s military leaders, who would then send a response. During a seven-day pause in November, many people in those categories were among more than 100 hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and other men from Gaza took about 240 people hostage in the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, which also resulted in about 1,200 deaths, Israeli officials said. Hamas has tried to steer any diplomacy toward discussion of a permanent cease-fire, but Israeli leaders have balked at that. The Israeli officials were expected to speak to leaders in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv about the framework after returning there from Paris.

Persons: Antony J, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, William J, Burns, Shin, Blinken, “, ” Sheikh Mohammed, Biden, Michael Crowley Organizations: Hamas, Central Intelligence Agency, Atlantic Council, New York Times, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Israel Locations: Qatar, Thani, Washington ., Gaza, Israel, United States, Paris, Egypt, Shin Bet, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Mix-Up Preceded Deadly Drone Strike in Jordan, U.S. Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Isabel Kershner | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Air defenses failed to stop a deadly attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan on Sunday because the hostile drone homed in on its target at the same time an American drone was returning to the base, two U.S. officials said Monday. The attack on Sunday killed three U.S. service members, the first known American military fatalities from hostile fire in the turmoil spilling over from Israel’s war with Hamas. At least 34 others were injured in the strike, which Biden administration officials say used a drone launched by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq. The one-way attack drone hit near the outpost’s living quarters, causing injuries that ranged from minor cuts to brain trauma, a U.S. military official said. It serves as a logistics and resupply hub for the Al Tanf garrison nearby in southeastern Syria, where American troops work with local Syrian partners to fight remnants of the Islamic State.

Persons: Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mr, Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, “, Al Organizations: Sunday, Street, Hamas, Senior U.S, ., Defense, Pentagon, U.S, Army, Air Force Locations: Jordan, American, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Germany, Al Tanf, Islamic State

☆ Lise Meitner helped discover nuclear fission but never won a Nobel Prize for her brilliance despite 49 nominations
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Adam Barnes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In 1944, Hahn won a Nobel prize for the discovery. It led to the atomic bomb , nuclear power, and a Nobel Prize in 1944 for German chemist Otto Hahn. ullstein bild Dtl./Getty ImagesMeitner was well respected by other physicists — Einstein called her "our Marie Curie" — comparing her to the trail-blazing, two-time Nobel Prize winner. Left to right: Otto Hahn, Dr. Hartmann, Lise Meitner, Werner Heisenberg, and Theodor Heuss. AdvertisementOverlooked for the Nobel PrizeHahn was awarded the 1944 Nobel Prize in chemistry for the discovery of nuclear fission.

Persons: Lise Meitner, Otto Hahn, Hahn, Meitner, —, Hahn's, Marissa Moss, Meitner's, Moss, — Einstein, Marie Curie, Nazi Germany Meitner, Hartmann, Werner Heisenberg, Theodor Heuss, Hitler, " Moss, Fritz Strassman, Amanda Macias, Strassman, wasn't, Otto Frisch, Frisch, Strassmann, Enrico Fermi Organizations: Service, Business, Kaiser Wilhelm Institute, Physics Locations: Berlin, Austria, Nazi Germany, Germany, Sweden, Ba

☆ 5 Podcasts for Hollywood’s Awards Season
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Emma Dibdin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The 2024 awards season has felt unusually hectic so far, thanks to the strike-delayed Emmy Awards shifting from their usual fall airdate to January. But even when there’s nothing quite so unusual going on, the analysis here always makes awards season more interesting. Starter episode: “Oscar Voters, Start Your Engines”There’s a peculiar category of film that debuts with great fanfare, attracts plenty of awards buzz, and then fades from the cultural consciousness without a trace (and no awards). Not all of the films discussed on “This Had Oscar Buzz” fall into that bracket, but, as the title suggests, the focus is on the movies that had that buzzy aura around them, at least for a while. Starter episode: “Alexander (With David Sims)”Though not a traditional awards season podcast with predictions or play-by-play recaps, “The Town” is an invaluable resource for anyone hoping to understand the upheaval in Hollywood.

Persons: “, Michael Hogan, Katey Rich, Richard Lawson, Joanna Robinson, Oscar, Andrew Scott, Emma Stone, Greta Lee, “ Oscar, Buzz ”, Jennifer Aniston, Aniston, Joe Reid, Chris Feil, don’t belittle, “ Alexander, David Sims, ”, Matthew Belloni, Puck, ’, Brooks Barnes Organizations: Sundance, The Hollywood, Hollywood, The New York Times, Hollywood Foreign Press Association Locations: Hollywood, La, Los Angeles, Cannes, Venice, Toronto

ATLANTA (AP) — Saddiq Bey dunked in a Trae Young miss with 1.1 seconds left to lift the Atlanta Hawks to a 126-125 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. The Raptors had taken a one-point lead when a Young turnover in the backcourt led to a Scottie Barnes dunk with seven seconds remaining. Young had 30 points and 12 assists as the Hawks overcame a night where they shot just 6 for 27 (22%) from 3. Clint Capela finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta and Jalen Johnson had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Atlanta finished with a 76-52 advantage in points in the paint and outrebounded the Raptors 51-46.

Persons: — Saddiq Bey dunked, Scottie Barnes, Bey, Young, Clint Capela, Jalen Johnson, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Jordan Nwora, Gary Trent Jr, Dejounte Murray, soreness, ___ Organizations: ATLANTA, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Raptors, The Raptors, Hawks, Atlanta, Pacers, Toronto, Sunday, Bulls, Lakers

Germany, Britain and at least four other countries said Saturday they were suspending funding for the United Nations agency that provides food, water and essential services for Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, many of whom have been described as being on the brink of starvation after 16 weeks of war between Israel and Hamas. The countries joined the United States, which said on Friday it would withhold funding for the group, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, after a dozen of its employees were accused by Israel of participating in the Oct. 7 attacks. The United Nations has not made public the details of the accusations against the UNRWA employees, who have been fired, but a senior U.N. official briefed on the accusations called them “extremely serious and horrific.”The Israeli military said in a statement Saturday that its intelligence services had compiled a case “incriminating several UNRWA employees for their alleged involvement in the massacre, along with evidence pointing to the use of UNRWA facilities for terrorist purposes.” It did not elaborate on what that involvement entailed.

Organizations: United Nations, Hamas, United Nations Relief, Works Agency Locations: Germany, Britain, Gaza, Israel, United States

☆ How Stanley went from making sturdy bottles for laborers to becoming an 'it' status symbol, and causing chaos at Target stores across the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

"Every time we linked it, it would sell out so quickly," LeSueur told The New York Times. The Buy Guide had to pay for warehouse space and shipping and handling fees, but was allowed to keep the profits, The Times reported. "It was a big risk," LeSueur told CNBC. AdvertisementThe Buy Guide placed another wholesale order for 5,000 – and they sold out in an hour, Retail Dive reported. Reilly told CNBC that Stanley was making more products available with each drop but still wanted "a little bit of scarcity" to create a buzz.

Persons: —, Stanley, They've, Alphas, William Stanley Jr, Grace Dean, restocking, Ashlee LeSueur, Taylor Cannon, Linley Hutchinson —, LeSueur, Emily Maynard, Maynard, Terence Reilly, Reilly, he'd, Crocs, Frederic J . Brown, TikTokers, Bon Appétit, Stanley's Quenchers, Lainey Wilson, aren't, Gen Zers, Alpha, Casey Lewis, Lewis, –, Zers, they'll, Grace Mary Williams, it's, Kaitlin Gostel, Barnes, Noble, Harry Potter, Gostel, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Instagram, New York Times, CNBC, Times, The Times, Wall Street, Getty, Target, Starbucks Locations: Brooklyn, workdays, Crocs, AFP, Pendleton

☆ Nikki Haley touts $1.2 million in donations after Trump vows to blacklist her donors
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Republican presidential campaign of Nikki Haley said it raked in a $1.2 million spike in donations in one day, after former President Donald Trump vowed to blacklist Haley's donors. The former United Nations ambassador's campaign said it has taken a total of $2.6 million since polls closed in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, which Trump won by more than 11 points. But polls of the Palmetto State show Haley trailing Trump by much wider margins. On Wednesday night, Trump ratcheted up the pressure on Haley by targeting her donors. "This is standard in Politics, but no longer with me," Trump wrote.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Haley, AnnMarie Graham, Barnes, Trump, Joe Biden, MAGA Organizations: Palmetto State, Republican, United Nations, Trump Locations: North Charleston, Palmetto, Charleston , South Caroline, United States, Tuesday's New Hampshire, South Carolina

The ruling comes in a lawsuit by Democrats that originally sought $2.4 million in damages from all 10 Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Trump as the 2020 election winner in Wisconsin. But Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington said they can be questioned, although he put limitations on the Evers interview. The fake elector plan hatched in seven battleground states was central to the federal indictment filed against Trump earlier in August that alleged he tried to overturn results of the 2020 election. Trump's attorney Chesebro, who is a defendant in the Wisconsin lawsuit, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents after being charged with participating in efforts to overturn Trump’s loss in Georgia. Trump has continued to spread falsehoods about the 2020 election.

Persons: Tony Evers, Donald Trump's, Trump, Jim Troupis, Kenneth Chesebro, Joe Biden’s, Troupis, Evers, Barnes, “, ”, Matthew Fernholz, that’s, ” Fernholz, Frank Remington, Remington, “ I’m, ” Remington, it’s, ” Evers, Biden, Josh Kaul, hasn't, Chesebro Organizations: —, — Wisconsin Gov, Democratic, Democrats, Republicans, Gov, The Wisconsin Department of Justice, U.S, Senate, Trump, Government, Biden Locations: MADISON, Wis, — Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Dane, Georgia

U.S. officials said Israel’s apparent willingness to agree to a cessation of hostilities in return for the release of more hostages being held in Gaza has created a new opening for negotiations. Any new deal would likely include phased releases of hostages, though the White House is hoping that a more ambitious one, possibly leading to the release of all of the remaining hostages, might be possible. The talks were mediated by Qatar, which was negotiating with Hamas, as well as by Egypt. At least some of the officials last met in Warsaw in December, but those discussions stalled over Hamas’s insistence that the remaining hostages be released in exchange for a permanent cease-fire and larger prisoner releases. Israel rejected any permanent cease-fire and was pushing for a shorter pause in fighting.

Persons: William J, Burns, David Barnea, Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Abbas Kamel, Israel Organizations: Qatari, Hamas Locations: Europe, United States, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Thani, Warsaw

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, could take some form of lethal military action against South Korea in the coming months after having shifted to a policy of open hostility, U.S. officials say. The officials have assessed that Mr. Kim’s recent harder line is part of a pattern of provocations, but that his declarations have been more aggressive than previous statements and should be taken seriously. While the officials added that they did not see an imminent risk of a full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula, Mr. Kim could carry out strikes in a way that he thinks would avoid rapid escalation. They pointed to North Korea’s shelling of a South Korean island in 2010 as an example. The two sides exchanged artillery fire, resulting in the reported deaths of troops on both sides as well as civilians in the South, but both militaries soon stopped.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim Organizations: South Locations: South Korea, Korean

☆ Families of Israeli Hostages Protest at Border Crossing to Block Aid to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Hamas officials say they will only release the remaining hostages in Gaza, believed to number more than 100, as part of a comprehensive cease-fire. Israeli officials have suggested they might consider a permanent cease-fire if Hamas’s Gaza leadership leave the strip and go into exile, the two diplomats said. Hamas officials have rejected that idea. “Hamas and its leaders are on their land in Gaza,” Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, said in a text message. Mr. Netanyahu has largely ruled out the return of the Palestinian Authority, in its present form, to ruling Gaza.

Persons: William J, Burns, Brett McGurk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Husam, Netanyahu, “, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas Organizations: Wednesday, Qatari, White, Gaza, Hamas, Biden, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Fatah Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Europe, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Western, U.S, Palestinian

“It is a privilege to select the team that will help us toward the goal of once again standing atop the Olympic podium. If he plays and the U.S. wins, Durant would be the first men’s player with four basketball golds. “I will play in the Olympics,” Durant adamantly said last fall at Phoenix’s media day. The other 28 players on the list are headlined by a pair who may make their Olympic debuts — Embiid and Curry among them. Players not in the pool aren’t exactly ineligible to make the Olympic team; while it is a long shot, it has happened before.

Persons: LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Golden, Steve Kerr, Miami's Erik Spoelstra, Mark, Grant Hill, — Durant, James, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, James Harden, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Jrue, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Durant, ” Durant, — Embiid, Curry, ” Curry, ” Embiid, Nick Nurse, Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Mikal, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Alex Caruso, Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Jaren Jackson Jr, Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Derrick White, Trae Young, “, ”, Adebayo, ” Green, Green, Antonio’s Keldon Johnson, Gregg Popovich, Johnson, JaVale McGee, Bradley Beal, Kevin Love —, — Organizations: USA Basketball’s, Paris Olympics, U.S, Janeiro Games, USA Basketball, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, ”, Philadelphia, France, ” 76ers, Golden State, Olympic, Tokyo Games, Spurs, AP Locations: USA, Paris, United, Cameroon, Mikal Bridges, Golden, paris

Before the sequel to “Aquaman” was released in China last month, Warner Bros. did everything it could to sustain the original movie’s success. The Hollywood studio blanketed Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, with movie clips, behind-the-scenes footage and a video of an Aquaman ice sculpture at a winter festival in Harbin, a city in China’s northeast. It sent the franchise’s star, Jason Momoa, and director, James Wan, on a publicity tour in China — the type of barnstorming that had disappeared since the Covid pandemic. Mr. Momoa said China’s fondness for the first “Aquaman” was why the sequel was debuting in China two days before the U.S. release. “I’m very proud that China loved it, so that’s why we brought it to you, and you guys are going to see it before the whole world,” he said in an interview with CCTV 6, China’s state-run film channel.

Persons: ”, Douyin, Jason Momoa, James Wan, Momoa, “ Organizations: Warner Bros Locations: China, Harbin, China’s, U.S

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