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President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday named former Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker as his pick for the next ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a key alliance that Trump derided for years. He served just three months in the position until Bill Barr was confirmed as attorney general. Before becoming acting attorney general, Whitaker served as chief of staff to Sessions when he was attorney general. Trump has long criticized NATO, accusing European allies of not contributing enough toward defense spending. In February, Hillary Clinton warned that Trump would seek to withdraw the U.S. from NATO if he were to be re-elected.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Whitaker, Trump, Matt, Whitaker doesn't, Whitaker, Jeff Sessions, Bill Barr, George W, Bush, Ursula von der Leyen, Hillary Clinton, JD Vance, Putin Organizations: Donald Trump Wednesday, Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, Patriot, NATO Allies, AMERICA, Justice Department, Trump, Twitter, Sessions, Southern, Southern District of, Center of Law & Justice, Policy Institute, Union, NBC, Fox News, Fox Business, Ukrainian, U.S Locations: States, Southern District, Southern District of Iowa, Russia, Europe, Ukraine, U.S, Poland

☆ Moldova’s pro-Western president wins 2nd term in runoff overshadowed by Russian meddling claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has won a second term in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation in the European Union candidate country. Today, you have saved Moldova!” Sandu said after claiming victory after midnight. Moldova’s large diaspora, which cast ballots in record numbers of more than 325,000 voted, heavily in favor of Sandu in the runoff. The presidential role carries significant powers in areas such as foreign policy and national security and has a four-year term. But the results of the ballots including Sunday’s vote were overshadowed by allegations of a major vote-buying scheme and voter intimidation.

Persons: — Moldova’s, Maia Sandu, Sandu, Alexandr Stoianoglo, ” Sandu, Stoianoglo, ”, “, Ursula von der Leyen, you’ve, Stanislav Secrieru, Secrieru, Dorin Recean, Vladislav Culiomza, Silviana Zestrea, Ilan Shor, oligarch, Shor, Father Vasilii, it’s, Cristian Cantir, ” Savlina, Stringer Organizations: Western, European Union, Central Electoral Commission, CEC, Russia Party of Socialists, “, Sunday, Moldovan, Northampton, Reuters, ”, EU, Police, Associated Press, Oakland University, AP, ” Moldovan Locations: CHISINAU, Moldova, Russia, “ Moldova, Sandu, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Frankfurt, Germany, Liverpool, Soviet, Chisinau, Bucharest, Comrat, Gagauzia, EU, European, Ukraine, Brussels, Moscow

Thierry Breton, France's European Union commissioner for internal market and consumer protection, industry, research and energy. Billed as an unscripted conversation by Musk, the Spaces session will be one of the few campaign events Trump does this week. Breton warned Musk that the EU was prepared to "make full use of our toolbox" to protect EU citizens from "serious harm." Getty Images | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesSince then, Musk has made a series of incendiary comments about the situation in the U.K. on X. Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside on Aug. 4, 2024 in Rotherham, U.K. Christopher Furlong | Getty Images

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Apu Gomes, Linda Yaccarino, Thierry Breton, Yaccarino, Donald Trump, Musk, Kamala Harris, Keir Starmer, Ashlea Simon, Peter Kyle, Christopher Furlong Organizations: SpaceX, X Holdings Corp, Milken Institute's Global, Beverly Hilton Hotel, Getty, European, X Corp, Union, Trump, Republican, Democratic, EU's Digital Services, Digital Services, Riot, British, Britain, Times Locations: Beverly Hills , California, Europe, United Kingdom, EU, Breton, Southport , England, Southport, England, Northern Ireland, Falkland Islands, Rotherham, U.K

☆ X followed none of the safeguards from Digital Services Act after Oct. 7 attacks, says EU's Vestager
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailX followed none of the safeguards from Digital Services Act after Oct. 7 attacks, says EU's VestagerMargarethe Vestager, European Union Commissioner for Competition, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss who to blame for the lack of child safety on social media, if Europe has laid a blueprint for how social media should be regulated in the U.S., and much more.

Persons: EU's Vestager Margarethe Vestager Organizations: Digital Services, European Union, Competition Locations: Europe, U.S

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland protested Sunday a mistake in a social media post by the head of the European Commission that wrongly suggested the World War II Auschwitz death camp was Polish. That post by Ursula von der Leyen on X, formerly Twitter, was later corrected to say that Auschwitz was a Nazi German extermination camp. In the original post, the Auschwitz camp was described only as “Poland.”Phone and text messages left Sunday with Christian Wigand, EU Commission spokesman, were not immediately returned. Beginning in 1940, the Nazis were using old Austrian military barracks in the southern town of Oswiecim as a concentration and death camp for Polish resistance members. During that time, Poland was under brutal German occupation and lost some 6 millions citizens, half of them Jews.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Christian Wigand, Radoslaw Sikorski, penalizes Organizations: —, Sunday, European Commission, Twitter, European Union, EU, Foreign Locations: WARSAW, Poland, — Poland, Auschwitz, Nazi, Germany, Oswiecim, Birkenau

☆ Finns Choose New President for NATO Era With Russia in Mind
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Nordic country's admission to NATO last year drew threats of "counter measures" from its vast Russian neighbour. In December, Finland closed its entire border with Russia to passenger traffic in response to a surge in migrants trying to cross. Partial results are expected shortly after polls close at 1800 GMT and the competitors for the probable second round should be clear by 2030 GMT unless the results are very close. The new president will replace 75-year-old incumbent Sauli Niinisto who is required to step down after two six-year terms in office. He earned the nickname "the Putin Whisperer" during his tenure for his role in maintaining close ties with Russia, which had long been a key role for Finnish presidents.

Persons: Anne Kauranen, Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Finns Party's Jussi Halla, Olli Rehn, Jutta Urpilainen, Sauli Niinisto, Putin, Terje Solsvik, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, NATO, Nordic, Moscow, Finnish Defence Forces, Green Party, Finns, Bank of Finland, Social Democrat European Locations: Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Helsinki, Oslo

☆ Dublin, Ireland stabbing: Violent clashes erupt between police and protesters after knife attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Emma Tucker | Amy Cassidy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Violent clashes broke out between police and protesters in the central part of Dublin, Ireland, on Thursday after a knife attack in the capital city earlier in the day left three children and two adults injured. The streets of Dublin were “mainly calm” shortly before midnight, Irish public broadcaster RTE reported, citing police. A major operation is underway to restore order in the city after the attack and protests. Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Gardai Superintendent Liam Geraghty reassured the public that there is “no terror-related activity” in the stabbings. European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “shocked” by the knife attack, according to a statement on X.

Persons: “, ” Drew Harris, ” Harris, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Liam Geraghty, ” Geraghty, haven’t, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, Sinn, Mary Lou McDonald, Helen McEntee, CNN’s Sugam Pokharel, Amy Croffey Organizations: CNN, RTE, gardai, Police, European Union, ”, Irish, Parnell, Trinity College, Reuters, Ireland’s, Gardai Locations: Dublin, Ireland, Parnell, ”

Key to the agreement signed Thursday is a massively controversial amnesty that could benefit Puigdemont and thousands of other secessionists. Puigdemont is one of several Catalan leaders who fled justice after an illegal independence referendum was held in 2017. 1 for many Spaniards, and Catalan independence a politically toxic issue, some wonder why Sánchez, who has long opposed any amnesty, is now pushing for it. Those include the two pro-secession Catalan parties who led the unsuccessful 2017 breakaway attempt. A LEGAL QUAGMIREAny amnesty approved by Spain's Parliament is likely to be contested by the opposition parties and several courts in Spain.

Persons: — Spain's, Pedro Sánchez ’, Carles Puigdemont, Sumar —, Sánchez, Junts, QUAGMIRE, Didier Reynders, Spain’s, ___ Wilson Organizations: MADRID, Socialist, WHO, AMNESTY, Sánchez's Socialists, Forces, Popular Party, Vox, Police, Socialists, Junts, Basque Country, Court, European Union Locations: Catalunya, Catalonia, Spain, Spain's, Puigdemont, CATALONIA, Barcelona, Madrid, Basque, Navarra, Belgium

REGULATORY SCRUTINYWhile disinformation has spread on all major social media platforms including Facebook and TikTok, X appeared to be the most recent to draw scrutiny from regulators. On Tuesday, European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton warned Musk that X was spreading "illegal content and disinformation," according to a letter Breton posted on X. Musk himself recommended that X users follow two accounts that had previously spread false claims for "real-time" updates on the conflict, the Washington Post reported. False information has also spread on messaging app Telegram and short-form video app TikTok, said DFRLab's Trad. Like other online platforms, YouTube has moderation employees and technology to remove content that violates its rules.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ruslan Trad, X, Bruno Mars miscaptioned, Thierry Breton, Breton, Musk, Renee DiResta, Jack Brewster, Brewster, Tamara Kharroub, DFRLab's Trad, TikTok, Solomon Messing, there's, Messing, Kharroub, Sheila Dang, Riniki Sanyal, Deepa Babington Organizations: Twitter, REUTERS, Elon, European Union, Reuters, Atlantic, Forensic Research, Hamas, Meta, Facebook, European, EU, Stanford Internet Observatory, Washington Post, Washington, Arab Center Washington DC, New York University's Center for Social Media, YouTube, Thomson Locations: Israel, American, New, Dallas, Bangalore

☆ European Union commissioner blasts X over disinformation track record
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —European Union officials on Tuesday called on large social media platforms to step up their enforcement against online mis- and disinformation, particularly about the war in Ukraine. “Disinformation actors were found to have significantly more followers … and tend to have joined the platform more recently than non-disinformation users,” Jourova added. The reports unveiled this week by the EU reflect transparency filings attesting to the companies’ efforts to live up to the code. The reports from companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok, cover a wide range of content types and enforcement actions by the platforms. “Russian propaganda and disinformation is still very present on online platforms.

Persons: Vera Jourova, Jourova, X didn’t, Google’s, TikTok, ” Organizations: CNN — European Union, EU, Digital Services, DSA, Google, Meta, Microsoft, European Commission, LinkedIn, YouTube, Internet Research Agency Locations: Ukraine, Russia

☆ EU's Gentiloni confident over budget rule deal by year-end deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni holds a news conference on the European Commission's economic forecasts for the EU for 2023 and 2024 on GDP and inflation, in Brussels, Belgium February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 2 (Reuters) - European Union Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni said on Saturday he was confident an agreement over re-implementing EU budget rules would be reached by year-end, ruling out an extension of their suspension into 2024. "I'm confident, I'd say I have to be confident, that a deal (over the new budget rules) can be reached by year-end," Gentiloni told reporters on the sidelines of the European House Ambrosetti economic forum in Cernobbio. Italy is preparing a difficult 2024 budget in which it will seek to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's tax-cutting promises while at the same time reducing the deficit while faced with an economic slowdown. Gentiloni said failing to reach a deal on reviving the rules would mean a return to previous budget rules that did not help promote economic growth and cut sovereign debt in the bloc.

Persons: Paolo Gentiloni, Johanna Geron, Gentiloni, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgia, Christine Lagarde, Elvira Pollina, Giselda, Tomasz Janowski, Helen Popper Our Organizations: EU, REUTERS, Union, House, Italian Economy, European Commission, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Italy, Ukraine

People in Mumbai celebrate the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the Moon on August 23. Chandrayaan-3’s journeyAs Chandrayaan-3 approached the moon, its cameras captured photographs, including one taken on August 20 that India’s space agency shared Tuesday. India’s lunar lander consists of three parts: a lander, rover and propulsion module, which provided the spacecraft all the thrust required to traverse the 384,400-kilometer (238,855-mile) void between the moon and Earth. The lander, called Vikram, completed the precision maneuvers required to make a soft touchdown on the lunar surface after it was ejected from the propulsion module. A view of the moon as viewed by the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on August 5, 2023.

Persons: Vikram, India’s, ”, Somanath, Abhishek Chinnappa, “, Ashish Kumar Verma, Charvi Katare, Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, “ Humble, Ursula von der Leyen, Narendra Modi, Russia’s Luna, Indranil Mukherjee, Modi, Jaishankar, Sergey Lavrov, ” Lavrov, Somnath, Bill Nelson Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Wednesday, Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, Indian Space Research Organisation, of Scientific, Industrial Research, Twitter, European Union, Russia –, Soviet Union, Workers, Getty Images, ” India’s, NASA Locations: New Delhi, India, Sikh, Mumbai, ”, Russia, United States, China, Washington, assertiveness, Ukraine, Delhi, Moscow, South Africa, Johannesburg

☆ News outlets go all in on missing Titanic submersible. But have they gone overboard in coverage?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It melds elements of mystery and humanity with a dose of high drama as rescuers race against time in their frantic search for a missing vessel with five souls aboard. Should a missing tourism vessel for the ultra-wealthy take precedence over other consequential stories happening around the world? While the press took heat for around-the-clock coverage of MH370, the tragedy was arguably far more worthy of coverage. And yet, the disaster did not inspire a level of coverage close to what major news organizations have devoted to the ocean submersible. Eric Deggans, NPR’s media critic and an adjunct instructor at Duke University, conceded that the coverage of the Titanic vessel has perhaps been over-torqued in recent days.

Persons: CNN —, Samuel Freedman, ” Freedman, Trump, Vincent Browne, Ylva Johansson, hasn’t, ” Alex Shephard, it’s, ”, ” Shephard, Eric Deggans, ” Deggans, Deggans Organizations: CNN, Columbia Journalism School, Malaysian, European Union, The New, Duke University Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Greece, The New Republic

☆ Tunisia will not be Europe's border guard, president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, June 10 (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Saturday that Tunisia would not accept becoming a border guard for other countries ahead of a planned visit by European leaders concerned at the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and European Union Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen will offer aid when they visit on Sunday, Meloni said on Friday, with Tunisia facing a crisis in its public finances. "The solution will not be at the expense of Tunisia... we cannot be a guard for their countries," Saied said while visiting the port city of Sfax, the main departure point for migrants seeking to reach Italy by boat. European countries fear that would turbocharge what is already a big surge in cross-Mediterranean migration this year, particularly from Tunisia. Perilous Mediterranean crossings soared after Saied announced a crackdown on sub-Saharan migrants in February using language the African Union denounced as racialised.

Persons: Kais Saied, Giorgia Meloni, Mark Rutte, Ursula von der, Meloni, Saied, Fitch, Tarek Amara, Angus McDowall, Andrea Ricci Organizations: European Union Commission, IMF, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia, Italian, Dutch, Sfax, Italy, African

☆ There’s hope beyond moaning for European telcos
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The annual Barcelona tech fest this week was in line with tradition, but a different mood music could also be heard beyond the bleatings of European telco executives. The good news for them is that European competition authorities seem to have been mollified by the constant pleading, and could take a softer approach to consolidation in the industry. Höttges compared the 55 billion euros invested by European telcos on infrastructure last year to the 1 billion euros invested in connectivity by those he calls the “hyperscalers”. The hope is now that, considering the European telcos’ low return on investment, European competition authorities will review their strict stance on consolidation in the sector. But European telcos also have means to address some of the problems they are facing without giving the impression that everything depends on forces beyond their control.

☆ Nick Clegg led Meta's decision to reinstate Trump to Facebook and Instagram. Here's how the former UK deputy prime minister charmed his way into Mark Zuckerberg's inner circle.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Philip Webster | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

Nick Clegg has risen quickly to become one of Mark Zuckerberg's closest confidants at Meta. Clegg, a former UK deputy prime minister, led the decision to reinstate Donald Trump to Facebook. It was updated on February 16, 2022 following the news that Nick Clegg had been promoted to the role of President for Global Affairs. In a challenging economic climate, the Lib Dems and their Conservative coalition partners voted to raise tuition fees. Nick Clegg (left) and Chris Huhne appearing on the BBC's "The Andrew Marr Show" in October 2007.

Sinead McSweeney, global vice president for public policy, has left Twitter, according to two sources. The layoffs and departures of a high-ranking leader comes as regulators around the globe question Twitter's content moderation work and protection of user data after Musk cut the staff from more than 7,000 to under 2,000. The public policy team is responsible for interacting with lawmakers and civil society on issues including free speech, privacy and online safety. Nick Pickles, senior director for global public policy strategy, has taken over McSweeney's role, the two sources said. One source told Reuters that half of the 30 remaining members of Twitter's public policy team were cut on Wednesday, implying 15 people were laid off.

☆ European Union accuses Meta of breaching antitrust rules
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEuropean Union accuses Meta of breaching antitrust rulesMark Mahaney, Evercore ISI head of internet research, joins CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss Meta shares after the European Union commission accused the social media of abusing antitrust rules.

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