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☆ Auction house withdraws shrunken heads and other human remains from sale following outcry
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —An auction house in England has withdrawn human remains, including shrunken heads and ancestral skulls, from sale following an outcry. Other withdrawn lots include an ancestral skull from the Solomon Islands, another from the Fon tribe in Benin and a double ancestor skull from Congo. The planned sale of another piece, described as a 19th-century horned Naga human skull, drew criticism from Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Nagaland. CNN has contacted The Swan auction house, the FNR and the Pitt Rivers Museum for comment. Museum staff removed human remains from its collection of more than 500,000 artifacts, following a three-year review of displays and programming “from an ethical perspective.”Overall, 120 objects containing human remains were removed from view, along with an additional 71 non-biological objects that were in the same displays, the museum told CNN at the time.

Persons: Hugh Hefner, Neiphiu, “, ”, Rio, Laura Van Broekhoven, Swan, Lianne Kolirin Organizations: London CNN, Playboy, Affairs, Forum, Naga Reconciliation, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, “, CNN Locations: England, Tetsworth , Oxfordshire, Solomon Islands, Benin, Congo, Neiphiu Rio, Nagaland, Rio, India, Naga, Kota, Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, Ecuador

☆ Britain's defense sector vies for stretched government funding on path to 2.5%
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Liverpool, ENGLAND — British defense officials are vying to secure more funding as Finance Minister Rachel Reeves' upcoming Autumn budget risks exacerbating already beleaguered efforts to boost military investment. Maria Eagle, the U.K.'s minister of defense procurement, joined a chorus of voices that called on the sector to prove that it could be more efficient under the new government, as the Treasury grapples with allocating its stretched finances. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine has cast a spotlight on deep inefficiencies within Britain's defense sectors, provoking calls for reform. A 72-page House of Lords report published Thursday last week warned of "burdensome bureaucracy" in military recruitment and "cumbersome" procurement processes. Unless "laser-sharp priorities" are set, even 2.5% might not be enough to meet the country's defense needs, it said, adding that the government must acknowledge the essential need for higher defense spending and communicate that to the public.

Persons: Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Maria Eagle, We've, Eagle, Let's, Keir Starmer, — Organizations: RAF, Armed Forces, Treasury, Labour Party, NATO Locations: Oxfordshire, Liverpool, ENGLAND, Ukraine

☆ Soho House billionaire's mansion plans for English countryside is 'more suited to Disneyland,' locals say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

One said the proposed development is "more suited to Disneyland." AdvertisementAn American billionaire's plan to build a home in the English countryside is not going over well with local residents, one of whom said it was "more suited to Disneyland." Burkle's proposed home would be near Soho Farmhouse, a countryside outpost of the members-only chain. AdvertisementAn illustration of Ron Burkle's proposed countryside home in England. Martin Leay AssociatesBurkle is having a hard time, however, getting approval for his rural home from West Oxfordshire officials.

Persons: Ron Burkle, —, He's, Ron Burkle's, Burkle's, Martin Leay, Burkle, Monteverdi, Mascagni, Mozart, Little Tew's Organizations: Soho House, Service, Yucaipa Companies, West, West Oxfordshire District, Business, Little, National Locations: England, Soho House, Little Tew, West Oxfordshire, Soho

☆ Europe faces a hostile Russia and the prospect of an isolationist US. Unity is more crucial than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Together we will make our allies share in the burden of securing world peace,” he said at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “I think whoever wins the US race… it will be more America first,” Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told CNN. Europe needs to take care of its defense more.”Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argues Europe stepping up its commitment to its own security has nothing to do with the US. “We have to be more capable of defending ourselves, with a more and more aggressive Russia, not only when it comes to Ukraine,” she told CNN. Preserving European unity is critical to a long-lasting peace, he said.

Persons: JD Vance, ”, Vance, Donald Trump, Alexander De Croo, ” Finland’s, Alexander Stubb, “, Sen, Will Lanzoni, Mette Frederiksen, Keir Starmer, Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, ” Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelensky, … Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republican National Convention, Munich, NATO, Trump, European Commission, EU, Ukraine Locations: Blenheim, Milwaukee, Ohio, Ukraine, Oxfordshire, Europe, States, Danish, Russia, Hungarian, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ UK's Starmer aims to overhaul EU relations as Trump specter looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future," Starmer said in a Wednesday statement from Downing Street. It comes as the specter of a second presidency from Republican candidate Donald Trump looms heavy over Europe after an assassination attempt over the weekend buoyed support for the former president. Both Trump and his newly announced running mate JD Vance have indicated that continued support for Europe — and in particular Ukraine — are not guaranteed under a second Trump administration. The Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly lambasted the continent's lack of defense spending, and has threatened to pull out of NATO, while Vance has shown ambivalence over U.S. intervention in foreign affairs. In anticipation, European NATO members have been upping their defense spending, including a new commitment from Starmer to spend 2.5% of U.K. gross domestic product (GDP) on defense.

Persons: Keir Starmer, John Healey, George Robertson, Winston Churchill's, Starmer, Donald Trump, Trump, JD Vance, Vance Organizations: British, Defence, Downing, Labour, European Political, Republican, Europe —, NATO Locations: London, England, OXFORD, Europe, Winston, Blenheim, Oxfordshire, Ukraine

☆ 'Alarmingly high': E.coli levels discovered in River Thames ahead of famous regatta
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Spectators watch a race on the River Thames at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, west of London, on June 30, 2023. LONDON — Harmful E.coli bacteria has been discovered at "alarmingly high" levels in the U.K.'s River Thames just days before elite rowers are due to compete there for the international Henley Regatta, anti-pollution campaigners have warned. River Action also found E.coli levels up to 10 times higher in March tests. James Wallace, CEO of River Action, accused the government and Thames Water, which manages water supply in the area, of failing to appropriately manage water hygiene levels. Thames Water did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment, though the BBC reported that it had dubbed the findings "alarmist" and said it was monitoring bacteria levels.

Persons: James Wallace, Sir Steve Redgrave, UKHSA Organizations: Henley Royal Regatta, Henley Regatta, River Action, Henley, —, Thames Water, BBC, CNBC, Henley Royal, Olympic, UK Health Security Agency Locations: Henley, Thames, London, Oxfordshire

☆ UK local election: Former PM Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting ID
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Christian Edwards | Alex Hardie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Boris Johnson was turned away from a polling station while trying to vote in the United Kingdom’s local elections after forgetting to bring photo ID – a requirement he introduced while prime minister. Polling station staff were forced to turn the former prime minister away as he tried to cast his ballot in South Oxfordshire on Thursday, PA media reported. New rules requiring photo ID to vote were introduced by Johnson’s Conservative government in the Elections Act 2022. Veterans minister Johnny Mercer apologized to Diver. “The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year.

Persons: Boris Johnson, Johnson, Adam Diver, Johnny Mercer, ” Mercer, Rishi Sunak Organizations: CNN, United, Johnson’s Conservative, Labour Party Locations: South Oxfordshire

☆ ‘It’s a dolphin!’: Researchers uncover unusual ancient fossil in the Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The newly identified dolphin species lived in a freshwater lake in the Peruvian Amazon 16 million years ago. This composite image captures the phases of a total solar eclipse as they unfolded in El Molle, Chile, in July 2019. Stan HondaOn April 8, astrophotographer Stan Honda will be stationed in Fredericksburg, Texas, armed with four cameras to document the total solar eclipse. Mark your Apple iCal or Outlook, Google, or Office365 calendar with the date of the upcoming total solar eclipse, which CNN will be covering live. UnearthedThe remains of a decorative wall can be seen at the site of an ancient home renovation in Pompeii.

Persons: Dr, Austin Gallagher, Gallagher, Pebanista yacuruna, Jaime Bran, ”, Aldo Benites, Emperor Wu, couldn’t, Wu, Stan Honda, Honda, Apple, George Washington, Samuel, Washington, Francesca Giarelli, Everest, —, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, University of Zurich, Honda, Google, Italy Ministry of Culture, Red River Archaeology, CNN Space, Science Locations: Bahamas, Peruvian, Peru’s Loreto, Switzerland, China, Mongolia, El Molle, Chile, Fredericksburg , Texas, Mount Vernon , Virginia, Samuel’s Harewood, Charles Town, West Virginia, Harewood, Red, English, Oxfordshire, Cairo

☆ ‘Remarkable’ Roman villa discovered under housing development
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Archaeologists have unearthed a “remarkable” Roman villa complex on a housing development site in a small English village. The complex was decorated with painted plaster, mosaics and there was a collection of tiny, tightly-coiled lead scrolls suggesting some sort of ritual or pilgrimage might have taken place there, according to a press release. The villa in Grove would have been “central for this area of Oxfordshire,” Francesca Giarelli, project officer for Red River Archaeology Group and the site’s director, told CNN on Thursday. Archaeologists found huge quantities of painted plaster. Even in the late Roman period, this particular villa continued to show signs of human activity.

Persons: ” Francesca Giarelli, Giarelli, ” Giarelli, Barratt, David Wilson Homes, haven’t Organizations: CNN —, River Archaeology Group, CNN, River Archaeology, Red River Archaeology Locations: Grove, Oxfordshire, Red

☆ Kate’s cancer revelation throws royal family into fresh turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Yet again, the royal family could face some difficult questions about what they chose to reveal to the public, and when. Kin Cheung/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Kate Middleton, seen here at age 3, was born on January 9, 1982, in Reading, England. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Kate and Prince William pose for photographers during an event to mark their engagement in 2010. Hannah McKay/Reuters From left, Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wave to a crowd outside Windsor Castle ahead of the Queen's funeral in 2022. Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images Kate attends the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London in November 2023.

Persons: Catherine , Princess, Wales, ”, Kate, “ KATE, Prince William, Kate –, Queen Camilla, King Charles III’s, Catherine , Princess of, Kelly Holmes, Kelly Holmes Trust —, Kin Cheung, Kate Middleton, Middleton, Pippa, Michael, Clarence House, Stephen Lock, Shutterstock Prince William, Richard Heathcote, William, Princess Diana, Ben Stansall, Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton, Kirsty Wigglesworth, John Stillwell, Charles Dharapak, Queen Elizabeth II, Stefan Wermuth, Elizabeth II, Arthur Edwards, Harry Potter, Chris Jackson, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Dominic Lipinski, Prince Louis, Charlotte, Aaron Chown, Oli Scarff, Queen, Hannah McKay, Meghan, Duchess of, Emilio Morenatti, Paul Grover, King Charles III, Yui Mok, Reuters Kate, Turlough Mor, Seamus, Karwai Tang, Choo Kyung, Max Mumby, Henry Nicholls, David Cliff, Diana, of, Rishi Sunak, “, Princess, Princess of Wales, CNN Kate, Easter, Prince William –, Gupta, George, Louis, Prince, Kate’s Organizations: London CNN, Times, Sun, Kelly Holmes Trust, Getty, University of St, English rugby, Nations, Italy, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Queen, Mary's, Trench, Culture Yard, Royal Air Force, Reuters, Hall, Horse Guards, Irish Guards, National Service of, Images Police, London Clinic, Getty Images, Press Association, Britain, Mary’s, British, CNN, CNN’s Royal Locations: British, Catherine , Princess of Wales, Bath, England, Reading, Jerash, Jordan, Blenheim, Oxfordshire, Andrews, Scotland, AFP, Westminster, London, Buckingham, South Pacific, Tuvalu, St, St . Austell, Kingston , Jamaica, Caribbean, Duchess of Sussex, Windsor, South Korea, Kensington, Wales, Lindo, London’s St, of Wales, Princess

☆ This Treasure Hunter’s Latest Find? A 1,000-Year-Old Viking Sword.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The long, thin piece of metal looked like a scaffolding pole when Trevor Penny saw it on the banks of an English river last November. That would not have surprised Mr. Penny, who, while practicing his magnet fishing hobby, has unearthed household items, tools and other metal debris from the waterways near his Oxfordshire home. (Magnet fishing is pretty much what it sounds like: A strong magnet is attached to a rope, which is then tossed into a body of water.) But his find that day was much more dramatic: a rusty Viking sword that had been there for more than 1,000 years. The sword, found in the River Cherwell and identified by an archaeological group that tracks public finds, most likely dates to a period between 850 A.D. and 975 A.D. Mr. Penny said he handed it over to the Oxfordshire Museums Service this week, where it is expected to be put on display after restoration.

Persons: Trevor Penny, Penny Organizations: Oxfordshire Museums Service Locations: Oxfordshire, Cherwell

☆ I took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge with a group. Next time, I'll attempt this popular long-distance hike alone.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Annabel Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe Yorkshire Three Peaks is a popular hike in England's Yorkshire Dales National Park. Along with my husband and two friends, I participated in the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, which calls on hikers to complete the 24-mile hike in under 12 hours. The experience was an endurance challenge, offering spectacular views, beautiful hill walking, and an incredible sense of achievement. Although we could've done a self-guided hike, we booked an organized walk so we wouldn't have to worry about navigation. AdvertisementThe Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge is a brilliant test of endurance that combines exertion with nature and serenity with popularity.

Persons: —, Annabel Lee, would've, I'm, I'd Organizations: Service, Business, Ingleborough Locations: England's Yorkshire, ghent, Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, Horton, Whernside, Ribblehead

☆ 'You barely knew what we were actually selling': Gap CEO Richard Dickson on the brand's heavy discount strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

New Gap CEO Richard Dickson has spoken about his experience upon joining the struggling company from toy business Mattel in August. "You barely knew what we were actually selling," he said on Wednesday, describing how the firm's four apparel brands had leant heavily on promotions and discounts. Dickson was addressing an audience at Voices, a conference organized by apparel industry website The Business of Fashion, in Oxfordshire, U.K. Displayed behind him on stage was a screenshot of Gap's website where money-off messages were a prominent part, which Dickson said was typical of the company's brands "a few months ago." Dickson took on the CEO role at Gap after an almost 10-year tenure at Mattel, where he was president and chief operating officer.

Persons: Richard Dickson, Dickson, it's, Gap, Barbie Organizations: Mattel, Fashion Locations: Oxfordshire

☆ Four Men Charged in the Case of the Missing Golden Toilet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Alex Marshall | More About Alex Marshall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Four years ago, a fully functioning 18-karat gold toilet was stolen from an art exhibition at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. On Monday, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service announced that it had authorized charges against four men in connection with the theft of the golden loo — an artwork by the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, titled “America,” which had been on display as part of an exhibition at the palace, which is in Oxfordshire, England. The Crown Prosecution Service said in a news release that it had charged James Sheen, 39, with burglary, conspiracy to transfer criminal property and transferring criminal property; Michael Jones, 38, with burglary; and Fred Doe, 35, and Bora Guccuk, 39, with conspiracy to transfer criminal property. The four men will appear at a court in Oxford, England, on Nov. 28 for the first stage in potentially lengthy criminal proceedings. Britain’s courts system has a severe backlog in cases.

Persons: Winston Churchill, Maurizio Cattelan, James Sheen, Michael Jones, Fred Doe, Bora Guccuk Organizations: Prosecution Service, Crown Prosecution Service Locations: Blenheim, Italian, Oxfordshire, England, Oxford

☆ Reactions: Bank of England bashes pound after halting rate rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

A pedestrian carrying an umbrella walks near the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, July 30, 2023. Investors had already rushed on Wednesday to reel in their bets on further UK rate rises after data showed UK inflation cooled surprisingly quickly in August. Against the euro , the pound was down 0.5% at 86.74 pence, having traded around 86.70 pence before the decision. "The MPC still refers to its flexibility to react should things change, but the chances are this could be the peak in this UK interest rate cycle." "However, there is a risk that the ‘lag effect’ on interest rate hikes means that today’s decision may not be felt for another 9 to 12 months."

Persons: Hollie Adams, Sterling, THOMAS, Huw Pill's, HUGH GIMBER, PHILIP SHAW, DOUGLAS GRANT, JEREMY BATSTONE, CARR, RAYMOND JAMES, FRANCES HAQUE, JOE TUCKEY, RICHARD GARLAND, GILES COGHLAN, BoE, stagflation, Amanda Cooper, Dhara Organizations: Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, London, Investors, Bank of, Bank, MPC, SANTANDER, LONDON, Core CPI, PMI, CPI, EMEA, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, London, MANX, EUROPEAN, FRANCE, GROUP, OXFORDSHIRE

☆ Thousands of plastic tents are being discarded at festivals. Could cardboard tents be the answer?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Cardboard camping capsulesEnviroTent started as a school project in 2019, as part of the Young Enterprise competition. Enlisting the help of seasoned mentors, including designer Carsten Astheimer, Evans began taking the cardboard tent from concept to reality. EnviroTent‘It’s not something you need to last forever’EnviroTent isn’t the first to pitch cardboard tents as a solution to festival waste. Dutch company KarTent began producing cardboard tents in 2015, in response to the growing problem of single-use tents. While Heaps prefers people to rent and reuse tents (“The most sustainable items are the items we already own!” she adds), cardboard tents could be a great alternative to plastic tents that only get used once, “especially as the cardboard gets recycled and then reused,” she says.

Persons: Tayla Evans, it’s, ”, Evans, Chris Gorman, –, Carsten Astheimer, ” Evans, EnviroTent, you’re, “, She’s, ‘, KarTent, Timo Krenn, England –, Shambala, Rebecca, Camplight Organizations: CNN, Leeds Festival, Association of Independent, Reading, Young Enterprise, Leeds, Glastonbury Festivals Locations: Reading, England, Oxfordshire, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Northamptonshire, Glastonbury, Leeds

☆ Until 3183 A.D., This Public Sculpture Is a Work in Progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Richard Fisher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

One of the biggest sticking points was the use of concrete, which some residents found ugly and drab, Barbara Laber said. He may have been seeking to make time itself more concrete, more tangible, Schlecht said. In the late 20th century, Laber was not the only German artist exploring time’s reach across generations. Since then, several other long-term art projects have begun across Europe and beyond. But Michael Münker, whose day job is running a medical device firm in the Netherlands, recently established a network called L.T.A.P.

Persons: Barbara Laber, “, Klaus Schlecht, Laber, Schlecht, Joseph Beuys, Bogomir Ecker, Michael Münker Organizations: Pyramid Foundation, Hamburger Kunsthalle Locations: Kassel, Germany, Hamburger, Hamburg, Europe, Halberstadt, Dutch, Oxfordshire, England, Texas, Netherlands

CNN —UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he raised his “very strong concerns” to China’s premier regarding potential Chinese interference in British democracy after a parliament employee was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. UK newspaper, The Sunday Times broke the story on Sunday, reporting that the researcher was arrested alongside another man on March 13. According to a statement from London’s Metropolitan Police, police arrested a man in his 30s in Oxfordshire, southern England, and a man in his 20s in Edinburgh, Scotland. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on September 7, 2023. According to the Sunday Times reporting, the arrested parliamentary researcher was also linked to the chairperson of the British government’s foreign affairs committee, Alicia Kearns.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Premier Li Qiang, Tom Tugendhat, Li Qiang, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Alicia Kearns, ”, Kearns Organizations: CNN —, Premier, Conservative, Sunday Times, London’s Metropolitan Police, ASEAN Summit, Getty, Command, Twitter, Inter, Parliamentary Alliance, China Locations: China, New Delhi, Beijing, Oxfordshire, England, Edinburgh, Scotland, Jakarta, AFP, London, British, People’s Republic of China

☆ Watch Amateurs Race Against the Tour de France’s Top Climbers (Sort Of)
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( K.K. Rebecca Lai | Ben Blatt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Col du Platzerwasel Puy de Dôme Col du Tourmalet Stage 20 Stage 9 Stage 6 Col du Platzerwasel Stage 20 Puy de Dôme Stage 9 Col du Tourmalet Stage 6 Photos of cyclists climbing mountains at the Tour de France. Col du Tourmalet (Stage 6)10.4 miles 7.4% avg. gradient Tadej Pogacar Pro cyclist Starts in 00:00:00 00:00:00 Rich Bower School administrator 00:00:00 Start the climb! gradient Sepp Kuss Pro cyclist Starts in 00:00:00 00:00:00 Martin Catherineau Student 00:00:00 Start the climb! gradient Feilx Gall Pro cyclist Starts in 00:00:00 00:00:00 Christophe Schmitt Newspaper journalist 00:00:00 Start the climb!

Persons: du Platzerwasel Puy, du, Etienne Garnier, du Platzerwasel, MARCO BERTORELLO, Thibault Camus, Col du Tourmalet, Rich Bower, du Tourmalet, Bower, Rich Bower “, ”, “, Puy, Sepp, Martin, Sepp Kuss, Martin Catherineau, Col du Platzerwasel, Christophe Schmitt, Felix Gall of Austria, Schmitt Organizations: Tour de France, Agence France, Presse, Getty Images, Getty, AP, Amateur, de France, Rich Bower School, Martin Catherineau Locations: AFP, Slovenia, Oxfordshire, England, France, American, Lyon, Europe, Eastern France, Mulhouse

☆ Why are far-right parties on the march across Europe?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Far-right parties are propping up coalitions in Finland and Sweden. Afraid of losing voters to UKIP (and other far-right parties), the governing Conservatives ended up adopting many of its positions. Chesnot/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesConversely, far-right parties have attempted to sanitize some of their rhetoric, hoping to appear a more credible electoral prospect. Leon Neal/Getty ImagesA different type of populismAnd so the recent successes of far-right parties cannot be explained by dramatic shifts in public opinion. A lot depends on the ability of mainstream parties – particularly on the left – to build tents big enough to accommodate their differences, rather than compromising with far-right parties to prop up their coalitions.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel’s, Mario Draghi, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Viktor Orban, Andrej Babis, Czech Michael Bloomberg, Czech Donald Trump, Meloni, Mussolini, Nigel Farage, Jack Taylor, Farage, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Marine, Lionel Jospin, Jacques Chirac, Petteri Orpo, Sanna Marin, Vilhelm Junnila, Ulif Kristersson, Mark Rutte’s, Pen, Chesnot, Philippe Marlier, ” Le, Matteo Salvini, Vladimir Putin, Tino Chrupalla, Alice Weidel, Thomas Lohnes, Omer Messinger, Larry Bartels, Boris Johnson, Leon Neal, Giorgia Meloni, Odd Andersen, Orban, Kaczynski, Rutte’s, Pedro Sanchez Organizations: CNN, White, Channel, European Central Bank, Italy’s, Vox, UK Independence Party, UKIP, European Union, EU, Conservatives, National, Socialist, Socialists, Finns Party, Swedish, Sweden Democrats, Rassemblement National, University College London, Lega, Ukraine, Russia, Former British, Italy's, NATO, Getty, Spain’s Locations: United Kingdom, United States, Europe, Brussels, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Czech, France, Finland, Sweden, Austria, European, Netherlands, Russian, Oxfordshire, Vilnius

☆ Michelin starred hotels around the world, from Italy to Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Chris Dwyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

Courtesy CoteArgentinian maestro Mauro Colagreco was the first ever non-French chef to earn three Michelin stars in France, at Mirazur on the famed French Riviera. Gastronomic restaurant Plénitude by chef Arnaud Donckele marked an extraordinary debut by being awarded the pinnacle of three Michelin stars just six months after opening. Since 2021, they have held three Michelin stars for their cuisine, which celebrates peerless produce from their sustainable farm just seven miles away. Lung King Heen, Four Seasons Hong KongLung King Heen was the first Chinese restaurant to hold three Michelin stars. Capella Hotels & ResortsFinally to Vietnam, where Michelin published its first ever guide in June 2023.

Persons: Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, it’s, Heiko Nieder, carne ”, Ben Benoliel, Alex Nietosvuori, Ally Thompson, Hjem, morel, Cigliutti Enrico Crippa, Piazza, Crippa, Ferran Adrià, Mauro Colagreco, Côte, Raymond Blanc, Paul Wilkinson Chef Raymond Blanc, Lady Gaga, Queen Elizabeth II, ”, ” Blanc, Luke Selby, Plénitude, Cheval Blanc, France Plénitude, Sylvie Becquet, Blanc Paris, chef Arnaud Donckele, Chopin, Maxime Frédéric –, Aled Williams, Gareth Ward, Il Ristorante Niko Romito, Ristorante Niko Romito, Niko Romito, Romito, Giacomo Amicucci, Kyle, Katina, Michel Bras, Le Saint, Martin, Château Saint, France Le Saint, Chef Jean, Luc Lefrançois, Saint, –, sommelier Vincent Arhuro, King Heen, Hong Kong Lung King Heen, Heen, who’s, Chan Yan Tak, Rome Cavalieri, Pergola, Heinz Beck, Hatta, Ushikubo, Raby Hunt, Raby Hunt's Michelin, James Close, Maria, Chef Maria, Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Germany Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Lorenz, Young, Reto, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D, Waku, Ghin, Tetsuya Wakuda, There’s, Tetsuya, they’re, kinome, It’s, Denmark There's, Jean Marchal, Maria Coppy, Jakob de Neergaard, iberico, Sven Wassmer, “, Lumnezia, Douglas, Koki, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Bill Bensley, Chris Dwyer Organizations: CNN, Michelin, Duomo, Capella, Rosewood, of, Notre Dame, Resorts, Dubai Michelin, Resort Dubai, Reale, peerless, ”, Le Saint, Hong, Hong Kong Lung, Seasons Hong, Rockefeller, Sands, Royal Suite, Royal, Swiss, Koki, Capella Hotels, Capella Hanoi Locations: Bangkok, Piedmont, Hanoi, Tokyo, Zurich, Switzerland, Northumberland, Hadrian's, Swedish, England, Wall, Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy, Japan, Spanish, Capella Bangkok, Thailand, France, Mirazur, Thai, Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Chaat, Oxfordshire, ”, Cheval Blanc Paris, of Light, City of, Powys, Wales, Bulgari, Dubai, UAE, Italy’s Abruzzo, SingleThread, California, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Toya, Le, Provence, French, Vence, Marseille, Seasons Hong Kong, Yunnan, Peking, La, Rome, Eternal, County Durham, Darlington, romaine, Berlin, Germany, Brandenburg, Young Swiss, Europe, Marina, Sands, Singapore, Australia, Shizuoka, Hokkaido, d’Angleterre, Copenhagen, Denmark, Marchal, Hibana, Capella Hanoi, Vietnam

☆ CIA says Russia is a recruiting opportunity as disaffection with war rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MOSCOW, July 1 (Reuters) - U.S. CIA Director William Burns said on Saturday that disaffection in Russia with the war in Ukraine was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recruit spies - and that his agency was not letting it go to waste. "Disaffection with the war will continue to gnaw away at the Russian leadership beneath the steady diet of state propaganda and practiced repression," Burns, a former U.S. ambassador to Moscow, said in a lecture to Britain's Ditchley Foundation in Oxfordshire, England. "That disaffection creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us at CIA - at our core a human intelligence service. We're not letting it go to waste." Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Burns, Burns, We're, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: U.S, CIA, Ditchley, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Moscow, Oxfordshire, England

☆ CIA's Burns: U.S. needs to de-risk and diversify away from China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 1 (Reuters) - Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns said on Saturday that decoupling from China would be foolish given the deep economic interdependence so the United States should try to diversify its supply chains. "China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and increasingly the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do so," Burns said in a lecture in Oxfordshire, England. "In today's world, no country wants to find itself at the mercy of a 'cartel of one' for critical minerals and technologies," Burns said. "The answer to that is not to decouple from an economy like China's, which would be foolish, but to sensibly de-risk and diversify by securing resilient supply chains, protecting our technological edge and investing in industrial capacity." Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Burns, Burns, Guy Faulconbridge, Louise Heavens Organizations: Central Intelligence Agency, Thomson Locations: China, United States, Oxfordshire, England

☆ CIA's Burns: armed mutiny shows damage Putin has done to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 1 (Reuters) - U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns said on Saturday that the armed mutiny by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin had shown the corrosive effect on Russia of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. "It is striking that Prigozhin preceded his actions with a scathing indictment of the Kremlin's mendacious rationale for the invasion of Ukraine and of the Russian military leadership's conduct of the war," Burns, a former U.S. ambassador to Moscow, said in a lecture to Britain's Ditchley Foundation in Oxfordshire, England. "The impact of those words and those actions will play out for some time - a vivid reminder of the corrosive effect of Putin's war on his own society and his own regime." Burns cast the mutiny as an "armed challenge to the Russian state" but said it was an "internal Russian affair in which the United States has had and will have no part." Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Burns, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin's, Prigozhin, Burns, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: . Central Intelligence Agency, Ditchley, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Moscow, Oxfordshire, England, United States

☆ CIA says wartime Russia is a rare spy-recruiting opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: William Burns, Burns, We're, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: U.S, CIA, Ditchley, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Moscow, Oxfordshire, England

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