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☆ Giant pink man causes stir in small Welsh town
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Louis Mian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A large, pink, inflatable man, created by the Chinese contemporary artist Yue Minjun, has divided opinion in a small town in Wales. “The image represents the boredom of Chinese society during the rise of consumerism and economic reform in the early 1990s,” the centuries-old Ruthin School said in a post on Facebook. Yue’s work, in particular his many grinning self-portraits, have become among the most recognizable pieces of Chinese contemporary art. She said the school’s students “love it” are “really quite fond” of the large inflatable man. Another local resident told CNN the inflatable is “a bit odd for an art installation,” while a local barber aid opinions differed, explaining that he had heard both positive and negative reaction.

Persons: Yue Minjun, Frances King, “, that’s, King, “ We’ve, ’, ”, ” Gina Moorcroft, ” Angela Louise Sersa, “ It’s, Yue Organizations: CNN, Ruthin School, Facebook, Ruthin International Arts Locations: Wales, Ruthin, Cardiff, ”

☆ Hugo Awards: Hundreds of fraudulent votes cast in prestigious science fiction prize
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Louis Mian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hundreds of votes were cast fraudulently for one finalist in the prestigious Hugo Awards, which honors the best science fiction and fantasy works of the previous year, its administrative team has revealed. The Hugo Awards can only be voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Society, who gather at annual conventions commonly known as “Worldcon,” which brings together science fiction enthusiasts from around the globe. A membership for the World Science Fiction Society costs about $58 (£45), meaning the membership fees to cast 377 fraudulent votes would cost about $21,900 (£16,960). The Hugo Awards, established in 1953, has 15 categories, including best novel, best short story and best fanzine. Jemisin’s “The Stone Sky.”John Scalzi, one of this year’s finalists for his book “Starter Villain,” praised the Hugo Awards’ transparency in a post on his website.

Persons: Hugo, Rowling’s, Harry Potter, Martha Wells, Jemisin’s, John Scalzi, ”, “, ” Scalzi Organizations: CNN, Science Fiction Society Locations: Scottish, Glasgow, Seattle , Washington

☆ Mass protest on Spanish island Mallorca calls for ‘limits on tourism’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Louis Mian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Thousands of people took to the streets to protest against mass tourism on the island of Mallorca on Sunday as pushback against holidaymakers in Spain continued. ET) according to organizers Menys Turisme, Mas Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), although police put the figure at around 12,000, RTVE reported. Juan Medina/ReutersThe demonstration included around 110 groups and social movements, according to Spanish public broadcaster RTVE. It came amid growing tensions over the impact of tourism on local areas in Spain. In April, a hunger strike was called by locals in the Spanish Canary Islands, protesting against excessive tourism, which protesters said is pricing out locals and leading to environmental damage.

Persons: Jaime Reina, Menys, Mas, RTVE, ”, Juan Medina Organizations: CNN, Palma de Mallorca, AFP, Getty, Tourists, Reuters, RTVE, Spanish National Statistics Institute, Islands Locations: Mallorca, Spain, Palma de, Tourism, El Arenal, Balearic, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Barcelona, Canary Islands

☆ UK’s most complete dinosaur fossil in a century reveals new species
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Louis Mian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —A previously unknown species of plant-eating dinosaur roamed on an island off the south coast of England around 125 million years ago, new research has found. The bones were found by avid local fossil collector Nick Chase, who died of cancer in 2019. The dinosaur's large pubic hip bone revealed it was a previously unknown species. University of PortsmouthThe researchers were able to determine the skeleton belonged to a new dinosaur species because of unique features, such as its jaw and particularly large pubic hip bone. “Nick Chase’s remarkable find and Jeremy Lockwood’s dedicated research are a testament to the incredible history waiting to be uncovered here,” he added.

Persons: London CNN —, Jeremy Lockwood, Lockwood, ” Jeremy Lockwood, Nick Chase, “ Nick, Mary Anning, ” Lockwood, weathers, we’d, chasei, Chase, Compton, Mike Greenslade, ” Greenslade, “ Nick Chase’s, Jeremy Lockwood’s Organizations: London CNN, University of Portsmouth, Isle of Wight University of Portsmouth, Trust Locations: London, England, United Kingdom, Compton, Isle of, Isle of Wight, Compton Bay

People celebrate exit poll results at a "Stop The Tories" election afterparty in London, on July 4. Last month’s European elections saw a historic number of lawmakers from hard-right and far-right parties elected to the European Parliament. Farage’s political success to date has all come without him holding a parliamentary seat. It is possible that Farage’s splitting of the right has actually helped Starmer increase his majority in parliament. An odd quirk of British politics is that the percentage of votes a party gets doesn’t necessarily translate to seats.

Persons: Suzanne Plunkett, Emmanuel Macron, Benito Mussolini, Euroskepticism, Nigel Farage, Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, Starmer’s, Farage, Starmer Organizations: United, Labour Party, Parliament, European, Conservative Party, Reform, Conservatives, Labour Locations: London, Europe, Netherlands, Italy, Britain, British

☆ King Charles’ first official portrait vandalized by activists
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | Louis Mian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Video Ad Feedback Video shows King Charles' portrait being vandalized by activists 00:51 - Source: CNNLondon CNN —Activists from an animal rights group have vandalized the first official portrait of King Charles, currently on display in a London gallery. Campaign group Animal Rising posted a video on its social media channels on Tuesday showing two activists using a paint roller to stick signs over the portrait of the monarch. The painting, which is the first official portrait of King Charles as monarch, raised eyebrows when it was officially unveiled earlier this year. Activists covered the king’s head with a sign of British cartoon character Wallace, from the “Wallace and Gromit” comedy series. One British newspaper suggested the activist group chose “Wallace and Gromit” because of a remark made by Queen Camilla in 2012.

Persons: King Charles, Philip Mould, Jonathon Yeo, Wallace, “ Wallace, Gromit, Queen Camilla, Elizabeth’s, Camilla, Mould Organizations: CNN London CNN —, Royal Society for, RSPCA ., Clarence House, CNN Locations: London, British

CNN —A cyberattack on a contractor to England’s National Health Service has forced several major hospitals in London to cancel operations, blood tests and appointments and send patients elsewhere. King’s College Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ have all been affected, as have numerous primary care providers in the UK capital, a spokesperson for the National Health Service (NHS) said Tuesday. The hospitals and providers affected are all partnered with Synnovis, a company that provides lab services to the NHS. Mark Dollar, the CEO of Synnovis, said the company was “incredibly sorry for the inconvenience and upset this is causing to patients, service users and anyone else affected. We are doing our best to minimize the impact and will stay in touch with local NHS services to keep people up to date with developments.”

Persons: Thomas ’, Oliver Dowson, Thomas ’ –, “, ”, Vanessa Welham, Ciaran Martin, ” Martin, Mark Dollar Organizations: CNN, National Health Service, King’s College Hospital, Synnovis, NHS, Royal, Guy’s, Gracefield, Cyber Security, Cyber Operations Locations: London, Guy’s, Royal Brompton, Streatham

☆ 5 killed after floods engulf southern Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Billy Stockwell | Inke Kappeler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Five people have died and thousands were evacuated in southern Germany after heavy rainfall hit the region and caused vast floods, prompting warnings from senior officials that the climate crisis was set to worsen extreme weather in the country. After heavy rainfall, the German Armed Forces has sent 800 personnel to the region to help with rescue efforts. Record floods occur every few years … record rainfall every few years,” Habeck, of the Greens Party, told broadcaster n-tv. Deadly floods hit Western Europe in 2021, with at least 220 people killed between July 12 and 15, mostly in Germany. Other areas of Europe have also been affected by heavy rainfall in recent days.

Persons: Juergen Weiss, Thomas Niedermueller, Armin Weigel, Olaf Scholz, ” Scholz, Robert Habeck, ” Habeck, HINA, CNN’s Barbie Nadeau, Louis Mian Organizations: CNN, Bavarian firefighters, Authorities, German Armed Forces, Bavarian, Environmental Office, Economy, Greens Party, Firefighters, Sunday, RTV SLO Locations: Germany, Bavaria, Baden, Wuerttemberg, Regensburg, Rudersberg, Bavarian, Passau, Europe, Udine, Northeastern Italy, Slovenia, Gornja Radgona, Austrian, Zagorje county

☆ US embassy in London refuses to pay $18.6 million in congestion charge fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Louis Mian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US embassy in London is refusing to pay more than $18.6 million in charges from unpaid congestion fees, according to Transport for London (TfL), which oversees the city’s vast transport network. The congestion charge was introduced in 2003 in order to stem traffic and pollution in central London. However, TfL is insisting that in agreement with the UK government, London’s congestion charge constitutes a service and not tax. As of December 31, 2023, a total of 161 embassies, high commissions and consulates owed more than $182 million combined in unpaid congestion charge fees, according to TfL data. According to TfL’s figures, the Japanese embassy owes the second highest amount from unpaid congestion charge fees, at around $12.8 million.

Persons: ”, Dominic Raab Organizations: CNN, Transport, London, Drivers, TfL, International Court of Justice, Diplomatic Relations, U.S . Government, CNN “, of, Embassy, Foreign Office Locations: London, Vienna, of Japan

☆ North Darfur state, Sudan: At least 56 people dead as ‘deadly fighting escalates’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Louis Mian | Ingrid Formanek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —At least 56 people died in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, between last Friday and Wednesday, as “deadly fighting escalates,” Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a statement. At the city’s South Hospital, 454 casualties have arrived since last Friday, of whom 56 “have succumbed to their injuries,” according to the humanitarian organization. MSF added that “the wounded and death toll are likely far higher, since the fighting continues to be so intense that many people cannot reach the hospital.”“North Darfur had been a relatively safe haven compared to other parts of Darfur,” MSF added. “Now, there are snipers in the streets, heavy shelling is taking place, and nowhere in the city is safe at all.”Violence in North Darfur has intensified, as the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been encircling El Fasher. “The RSF military operation to encircle and besiege El Fasher, North Darfur, has endangered the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians,” a US Department of State spokesperson said.

Persons: “, Sudan Clementine, ”, RSF Organizations: CNN, Hospital, MSF, ” MSF, Rapid Support Forces, Yale School of Public, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Yale, UN, United, US Department of State, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: El Fasher, Sudan’s North Darfur, ”, Darfur, El, Sudan, United States, North Darfur

☆ Kenya floods: Anger mounts as people left homeless and searching for loved ones swept away in floods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Larry Madowo | Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —When Julia Wanjiku put her son Isaac to bed last Sunday after a day celebrating his third birthday, she didn’t realize she was also saying goodbye. She was among the survivors gathering at Ngeya Girls High School in Mai Mahiu on Tuesday. A damaged car buried in mud in an area heavily affected by torrential rains and flash floods in the village of Kamuchiri, near Mai Mahiu, on April 29. Luis Tato/AFP via Getty ImagesPeople removing mud and water from their house in Mai Mahiu, Kenya, on April 29. Rescuers carry the body of a young man recovered in the debris following flooding, in Mai Mahiu, Kenya.

Persons: Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —, Julia Wanjiku, Isaac, Wanjiku, — Isaac, “, ” Wanjiku, Isaac’s, Mai Mahui, It’s, Luis Tato, El, William Ruto, Kithure Kindiki, Isaac Mwaura, ” Ruto, Mark Laichena, ”, Simon Maina, Mwaura, Nyagoah Tut, James Wakibia, Joyce Kimutai, herder, Makau, “ I’m, ” Larry Madowo, Laura Paddison, CNN’s Louis Mian, Allison Chinchar, Mary Gilbert Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Girls High School, Getty, Getty Images, “, Kenyan, Space Agency European Space Agency, European Space Agency, Isaac Mwaura ., Communities, United Arab Emirates, Rights Watch, Kenya Meteorological Department, Human Rights Watch, Rescuers, Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute Locations: Kenya, Mai, Kenya’s, Nairobi, Mai Mahiu, Kamuchiri, AFP, Getty Images Kenya, Garissa, Tanzania, Tana, Mathare, New York, El, Nyagoah Tut Pur, Africa, East Africa, London

CNN —Time is running out to prevent starvation in Darfur, in western Sudan, a UN agency has warned, as escalating violence devastates the African nation. People have been forced to consume “grass and peanut shells,” the regional director for Eastern Africa of the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday. More than 8.7 million people have been displaced by the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF, according to the UN. At least 500,000 of those sheltering in the city have been displaced from violence elsewhere in Sudan, according to the UN’s children’s agency (UNICEF). More than 8.7 million people, including 4.6 million children, have been displaced by the war in Sudan and 24.8 million need assistance, according to OCHA.

Persons: ” Michael Dunford, Cross, Dan Kitwood, Toby Hayward, Hayward, Fasher, Catherine Russell, ” Russell, El Fasher Organizations: CNN, UN, Food Programme, Rapid Support Forces, ICRC, UNICEF, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, WFP Locations: Darfur, Sudan, Eastern Africa, South Darfur, Chad, Adré, North, El, El Fasher, Chad’s Tine, –, ”, Port Sudan

Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —Eleven people and a dog were rescued from the raging flood waters in Kenya on Wednesday, the country’s Red Cross has said. The humanitarian agency described the rescue mission as “challenging” but later offered a glimmer of hope with reports that floodwaters were gradually receding. Residents in Mai Mahiu are frantically sifting through heaps of debris to recover bodies trapped by the floods. When CNN visited the town on Tuesday, corpses could be seen accumulating beneath toppled trees and layers of mud. Evacuation from flood hit areasCitizens in the worst affected areas have been ordered to leave due to fears of more rain.

Persons: Mai Mahiu, Isaac Mwaura, William Ruto, he’s, ” Ruto, Ruto, Mwaura Organizations: Kenya CNN —, Red Cross, Residents, CNN, National Youth Service Locations: Kenya, Kitengela, Kajiado County, Nairobi, Mai

☆ Andrew Tate will stand trial on trafficking and rape charges, Romanian court rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Louis Mian | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The trial of Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed “misogynist” online influencer accused of human trafficking and rape, can go ahead, a Romanian court said Friday. Tate was indicted in June along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian citizens on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women – allegations they have denied. The court in Bucharest, Romania’s capital, has not yet confirmed a trial date and the Tate brothers have already appealed the ruling, said Mateea Petrescu, a spokeswoman for the brothers. Romanian prosecutors alleged the Tate brothers seduced victims by falsely claiming they wanted a relationship or marriage with them. The Tate brothers, both former professional kickboxers, were first arrested in December 2022 and kept in police custody until April 2023, before being placed under house arrest.

Persons: Andrew Tate, “, influencer, Tate, Tristan, Mateea Petrescu, Eugen Vidineac, ”, ” Adrian Sandulescu Organizations: CNN, Tate Locations: Bucharest, Romania’s, United Kingdom, Romania

☆ NATO looking at options to shore up long-term support for Ukraine amid concerns about Trump winning November’s election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the alliance needs to commit to providing more support for Ukraine and rely less on voluntary contributions. This move would mean that Trump winning the presidency would have less of an impact on the mechanics of getting necessary weapons support into the country from dozens of nations around the globe. Politico was first to report on NATO considering taking these steps. Another ongoing push is for NATO countries to independently establish their own commitments with Ukraine, explained one of the sources. This would mean that not all Ukraine support gets funneled through NATO – creating sources of funding that could not be disrupted by individual alliance members.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, ”, Donald Trump, Stoltenberg, CNN’s Louis Mian, Eve Brennan Organizations: CNN, NATO, Kyiv, Ukraine, Trump, Pentagon, Ukraine Contact Defense, Politico Locations: Ukraine, European, Russia, Brussels

☆ ‘Reasonable grounds’ to believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, UN rights expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Louis Mian | Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —There are “reasonable grounds” to believe Israel is “committing the crime of genocide against the Palestinians as a group in Gaza,” the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories has said. Francesca Albanese made the remarks Wednesday following the submission of her latest report called “Anatomy of a Genocide” to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. Speaking at a press conference, Albanese said: “Israel has committed three acts of genocide with a requisite intent: killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”Israel said it “utterly rejects” the report, which it said “brings shame” on the Human Rights Council. It is “no surprise, that the premise of this report is that the creation of the Jewish State in 1948 was an act of ‘settler colonialism,’ and genocide is an ‘inherent part’ of that act,” the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations in Geneva said in a statement on X on Monday. Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva in its response also said, “the very attempt to level the charge of genocide against Israel is an outrageous distortion of the Genocide Convention.”“Israel’s war is against Hamas, not against Palestinian civilians,” it added.

Persons: Francesca Albanese, Albanese, “ Israel, ” Israel, “, ”, ” Albanese, bello, ” “ Jus, bello ” Organizations: CNN, Israel, United Nations, UN Human Rights, Human Rights, Jewish State, Getty, UN, Hamas, Palestinian Locations: Gaza, Geneva, Israel, Al, Gaza City, AFP

☆ What we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Holly Yan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A massive cargo ship plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing the 1.6-mile bridge to crumble like a pile of toothpicks and plunge cars and people into the frigid water below. Here’s what we know about the catastrophe:Why did the bridge collapse? The Patapsco River is about 50 feet deep under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Wiedefeld said. The water temperature in Baltimore Harbor near the site of the bridge collapse was about 46 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday morning. The Francis Scott Key Bridge lies in shambles after a massive cargo ship crashed into one of its pillars overnight in Baltimore.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, DALI, Dali, Wes Moore, it’s, Paul J, Wiedefeld, “, ” Wiedefeld, James Wallace, ”, It’s, Andrew McCabe, ” McCabe, McCabe, we’ve, Akbarzai, Andy Rose, Derek van Dam, Monica Garrett, AnneClaire Stapleton, Louis Mian Organizations: CNN, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Maritime, Port Authority, Synergy Marine, Ltd, Maryland Gov, Maryland Transportation, Baltimore City Fire, Sonar, Synergy Group, National Weather Service, Reuters, University of Minnesota, FBI Locations: Singapore, Maryland, Patapsco, Baltimore, “, Baltimore Harbor, Harford County

☆ The US is dropping aid into Gaza. Here’s why that will do little to ease a humanitarian crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The US has joined several other countries in airdropping aid into Gaza, which is grappling with a humanitarian crisis. But despite this advantage, aid agencies say their drawbacks overwhelmingly outweigh their benefits. “Humanitarian workers always complain that airdrops are good photo opportunities but a lousy way to deliver aid,” Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group’s UN Director said. Aid agencies have consistently said not enough aid is reaching Gaza. “When countries use airdrops and these maritime piers is usually if not always in situations when you want to deliver humanitarian aid into enemy territory.

Persons: We’ve, ” Richard Gowan, Michael Fakrhi, “, ” Fakrhi, John Kirby, ”, ” Kirby, Mahmoud Shalabi, Shalabi, Abdel Qader Al Sabbah, Kerem Shalom, Michael Fakhri, Israel, Dave Harden, ” Avril Benoît, CNN’s Louis Mian, Sana Noor Haq, Nadeen Ebrahim, Lauren Kent Organizations: CNN, UN, Food Programme, Islamic, “, Crisis, White, Medical Aid, Palestinian, Food, US Aid, Biden, MSF Locations: Gaza, warzones, Afghanistan, Islamic State, Iraq, Beit Lahia, Palestinian, Israel, Kerem, Rafah

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