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☆ Trump press secretary pick removed post praising Pence on January 6, then ran for Congress as an election denier
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Andrew Kaczynski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Trump to this day criticizes Pence for certifying the results of the 2020 election, falsely claiming it was stolen due to rampant voter fraud. In another interview in October of that year, Leavitt again denied that Joe Biden had won the 2020 election legitimately. Youngest White House press secretaryAt 27, Leavitt will be the youngest person ever to hold the position of White House press secretary. Trump praised Leavitt’s appointment, calling her “smart,” “tough” and “effective,” as he is expected to shake up the traditional White House press briefing in some way. Another included false claims of voter fraud in Georgia during the 2020 election.

Persons: CNN — Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump’s, Mike Pence, Pence, Trump, Leavitt, ” Leavitt, Elise Stefanik, “, Joe Biden, ”, Chris Pappas, Karoline Leavitt, Charles Krupa, Leavitt’s, “ Karoline, ” Steven Cheung, Sen, Tim Scott’s, Eugene Goodman, Goodman, ’ Organizations: CNN, White, Capitol, United States Capitol, Capitol Hill, Press Office, New York, New, OANN, Republican, Democratic Rep, Trump’s PAC, Republicans, Trump, White House, Capitol Police Locations: Trump’s, New Hampshire, Manchester , New Hampshire, Georgia

Under the Rome statute that created the ICC, its signatories are obliged to carry out arrest warrants, no matter the rank of the accused. Mohammed Deif was accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including for his role as a mastermind of Oct. 7. Some European countries have not said whether they would arrest Netanyahu if he visited, including a number of Israeli allies. Britain respects the independence of the ICC, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said, but did not say whether Britain would arrest Netanyahu. Netanyahu and the other two Israelis facing the arrest warrants join a group that includes Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been subject to an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine since last year.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Yoav Gallant, Mohammed Deif —, Netanyahu, Viktor Orbán, Hungary, ”, Joe Biden’s, “, Gallant, Mohammed Deif, Keir Starmer’s, Petr Fiala, Alexander Schallenberg, Omar Al, Israel, Pope Francis, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Israeli, U.S, Criminal Court, Government Press, AFP, Getty, ICC, World Health Organization, Austrian, International Court of Justice Locations: Gaza, Ireland, Netherlands, Hungary, U.S, Tel Aviv, The Hague, Rome, Israel, Britain, France, Paris, Sweden, Norway, Czech, Austrian, Gaza City, AFP, South Africa, Ukraine

☆ Trump said he will divide Russia from China. It's a tough bromance to break.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

President-elect Donald Trump claims he can split the alliance between Russia and China. "The one thing you never want to happen is you never want Russia and China uniting," Trump said. These are potentially all things that Trump could use to drive a wedge between Russia and China." The Trump effectAnother factor likely to draw Russia and China closer together is Trump himself. In East Asia, Trump has accused allies of freeloading off the US, a source of tension Beijing will likely seek to exploit.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Tucker Carlson, Trump, Biden, Vladimir Putin of, Xi, China's, Putin, Stefan Wolff, Carlson, Wolff, Paul Cormarie, Jonathan Ward, Vladimir Putin, they'd, Robert Dover, Zhiqun Zhu, Cormarie Organizations: Service, Trump, University of Birmingham, Pentagon, Trade, Anadolu, Getty, Central, RAND Corporation, BI, Hudson Institute, Kremlin Press, Anadolu Agency, International Security, Hull University, NATO, Bucknell University Locations: Russia, China, Ukraine, Glendale , Arizona, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Moscow, Beijing, Taiwan, Russian, Bering, European, East Asia

☆ Pope urged at LGBTQ meeting to reverse church ban on gender-affirming care
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis faced calls to overturn the Catholic Church’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender people on Saturday when he held talks with LGBTQ activists at the Vatican. “I really wanted to share with Pope Francis about the joy that I have being a transgender Catholic person,” Michael Sennett, who took part in the meeting, told Reuters. The meeting “means that the church is coming along, the church is joining the modern era,” she said. Gramick’s work with LGBTQ Catholics has attracted the ire of Vatican and U.S. Catholic officials for decades, including Pope Benedict XVI. But she has developed a correspondence with Francis, who first welcomed her for a meeting at the Vatican last year.

Persons: CITY — Pope Francis, “, Pope Francis, ” Michael Sennett, Sennett, I’ve, ”, Cynthia Herrick, Herrick, ” Francis, Jeannine Gramick, Francis, Pope Benedict XVI Organizations: CITY, Vatican, Reuters, Catholic, Ministry Locations: U.S, Boston, Louis , Missouri, Vatican

☆ Social Security Administration announces 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

More than 72.5 million Americans will see a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment to benefit payments in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced on Thursday. The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2025 is the lowest annual increase since 2021, when beneficiaries saw a 1.3% increase to benefits. While the cost-of-living adjustment for 2024 was 3.2%, beneficiaries saw the highest increases in four decades in 2023, with an 8.7% increase, and in 2022, with a 5.9% boost to benefits. Now that the pace of inflation has come down, the cost-of-living adjustments are more average. Social Security's annual benefit increases have averaged about 2.6% over the past 20 years, according to the Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior group.

Persons: COLAs Organizations: Social Security Administration, CNBC, Social Security, Senior Citizens League

Lebanese authorities have said that the devices used in the attacks were Gold Apollo Rugged Pager AR-924 pagers and ICOM IC-V82 walkie-talkies. The logo of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo is seen outside its office in New Taipei City on September 18, 2024. Yan Zhao/AFP/Getty ImagesThe chairman and founder of Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, Hsu Ching-kuang, was questioned by Taiwanese prosecutors last Thursday before being released. On its YouTube channel and website, Apollo Systems HK said that it had acquired the “sole distribution rights” to Gold Apollo pager systems. Hsu Ching-kuang (L), head of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, speaks to the media outside the company's office in New Taipei City on September 18, 2024.

Persons: Budapest CNN — Israel, Yoav Gallant, “, Shin, Israel, Sean Moorhouse, ” Moorhouse, Mohamed Azakir, –, Gold, ICOM, Yan Zhao, Hsu Ching, Hsu, Teresa, Teresa Wu, Wu, Jakub Porzycki, Cristiana, Arcidiacono, ’, DANS, Dimitar Glavchev, Rinson Jose, Jose, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Nasrallah, ”, Hassan Ammar, Volker Türk, Pallabi Munsi, Katie Polglase, Tara John, Eyad Kourdi, Avery Schmitz Organizations: Budapest CNN, Getty, Israel, CNN, British Army, American University of, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Reuters, United Nations, UN Security, UN, International, New York Times, Consulting, Budapest, Gold, Prosecutors, BAC Consulting, Apollo Systems Ltd, Taiwan’s International Trade Administration, Apollo Systems, Apollo Systems HK, YouTube, Apollo, AA, ”, NBC News, Norta Global, Norta, Norwegian Police Security Service, Security, “ Authorities Locations: Beirut, New Taipei City, Budapest, Lebanon, Beirut's, AFP, American University of Beirut, Taiwan, Hungary, Taipei, Taipei City, Hong Kong, United States, Australia, Europe, Bulgaria, Norway, Anadolu, pagers, Sofia, Norwegian, Gaza

☆ Biden admin offers $20 million reward for info on Iranian charged with plot to kill ex-Trump official John Bolton
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who is charged with plotting to kill Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton. U.S. authorities in January charged an Iranian national and two Canadians, including a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, for allegedly plotting to assassinate an Iranian defector living in Maryland. Poursafi was charged in August 2022 for his role in the alleged plot against Bolton. He remains at large abroad.Iran has denied it is plotting to assassinate Trump, current or former officials, or others abroad. But Iranian leaders have vowed to avenge the U.S. drone strike in 2020 that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump’s, John Bolton ., Shahram Poursafi, Bolton, “ Poursafi, —, Trump, him.Iran, Poursafi, Qassem Soleimani, Qassem, Soleimani, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Andrea Mitchell, ” Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Bolton, Washington , D.C, State Department, U.S, Hells Angels, Justice, Press, Iranian, Getty, Force, NBC Locations: U.S, Washington ,, Maryland, Iranian, Baghdad, Tehran, Iran, Yemen, Baghdad’s

☆ Man smashes Ai Weiwei’s ‘Porcelain Cube’ at Italy art show
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Footage from CCTV cameras — posted on Ai Weiwei’s Instagram account — showed a man vigorously pushing the sculpture over, breaking it and then holding a piece of it over his head. The sculpture targeted was the artist’s large blue and white “Porcelain Cube,” the spokesperson said. The work "Porcelain Cube" left in pieces. The police in Bologna told local media a 57-year old Czech man had been arrested after being stopped by the museum’s security. It was not clear how the man had entered the building during the invite-only event on Friday.

Persons: Ai Weiwei, Ai Weiwei’s, —, Arturo Galansino, ”, “ Ai Weiwei Organizations: CNN, Bononiae Press Locations: Italian, Bologna, Florence

☆ U.S. targets Russia over 2024 election influence operation
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The DOJ said it was seizing 32 Internet domains "used in Russian government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns colloquially referred to as 'Doppelganger,' in violation of U.S. money laundering and criminal trademark laws." Those alleged efforts include the use of RT, the English-language media network backed by Russia, to influence U.S. opinion. The Biden administration on Wednesday announced sanctions targeting Russian government-backed efforts to manipulate American opinion leading up to the 2024 election. An unidentified Russia Today anchor prepares to go on the air in the RT TV studio in Moscow, June 8, 2018. Investigations later found that there was a coordinated effort by Russia to support his candidacy over the then-Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, Elena Afanasyeva, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Merrick Garland, Margarite Simonova Simonyan, Elizaveta Yuryevna, Anton Sergeyvich Anisimov, Antony Blinken, Rossiya, Blinken, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Harris, Donald Trump, Trump, Hillary Clinton, RT's, RT, Clinton Organizations: Justice Department, DOJ, Department of Justice, Wednesday, RT, U.S, U.S . Treasury Department, State Department, RIA Novosti, Novosti, Sputnik, U.S . Foreign, NBC News, Democratic, Republican, White House, Investigations, NBC Locations: Washington , DC, Tennessee, Manhattan, American, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, U.S, Russian

☆ A US Navy chief who wanted WiFi on her warship secretly ran an illegal Starlink network that she named 'STINKY': report
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Matthew Loh | Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The chief's mess then kept access to the Starlink network — which they named "STINKY" — only to themselves, Navy Times reported. AdvertisementWhen junior sailors and commanding officers began noticing the WiFi network, Marrero denied its existence, according to Navy Times. The Starlink dish was eventually discovered on August 18 by a civilian installing a separate, authorized satellite communication system. Advertisement"The gig is up," Marrero texted a crew member at the time, according to the investigation seen by Navy Times. Navy Times reported that Marrero admitted to her commanding officer on August 26, 2023, that she had installed the illegal WiFi network.

Persons: —, Grisel Marrero, Marrero, aren't, " Marrero texted, didn't Organizations: Service, US Navy, USS, Navy, Business, Navy Times, Manchester Locations: USS Manchester, Manchester

☆ Russia, Facing Ukrainian Incursion, Maintains Pressure in Eastern Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Kim Barker | Evelina Riabenko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Russian forces, even as they scramble to respond to a surprise incursion from northern Ukraine into Russia last week, are pummeling Ukrainian forces along the front lines in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian military officials said Monday. “Our guys do not feel any relief,” said Artem Dzhepko, a press officer with Ukraine’s National Police Brigade, which is fighting near the strategically important town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. He said Russian forces were continuing to use aerial bombs, as many as 10 a day, against Ukrainian positions. Mr. Dzhepko added: “It’s hard. Unfortunately, the pressure of the Russians did not decrease.”At the same time, Ukrainian troops have been pushing to the northwest and west in Russian territory, according to a briefing Sunday from the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank.

Persons: “, ”, Artem Dzhepko, Chasiv Yar, Dzhepko Organizations: Ukraine’s National Police Brigade, Institute for Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Chasiv, Donetsk, U.S

☆ When ICE Agents Use Deadly Force, the Shootings Go Unprosecuted.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Lila Hassan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +46 min

AdvertisementYet when and how ICE agents use deadly force has long been shrouded in secrecy. ICE agents shot people in public places, such as traffic intersections and strip-mall parking lots. Yet in over half of the shootings we identified, ICE agents never made an arrest. But Ramos still became one of dozens of people on the receiving end of an ICE agent's deadly force. A significant number of the shootings documented in the logs happened while ICE agents were off-duty or in plain clothes.

Persons: Nemesia Martinez, wouldn't, Martinez, Gabino Ramos Hernandez, Ramos, Ramos wasn't, Soledad Ramos Hernandez, Ramos's, Soledad, Timothy Ivy, Donald Trump, We've, Ramos —, Chuck Wexler, haven't, Genia, Miguel Alvarez, Alvarez, Jake Driskell, Driskell, Phillip Causey, Causey, Laurel Police Department Ramos, gurney, Mario Bass, Bass, Prince William, Bryan Cox, Bradley Epley, Epley, Rueben Coray, Hector Santana, Santana, who'd, Othello Jones, Jones, Johnathan Liddell, Douglas, Ryan Leonard, Joe Biden, García Ramos, it's, they're, he'd, Leo Clemons, Doctors, Clemons, Ramos moans, wasn't, Bailey C, Martin, Prince William County, HSI, Chris Baroni, Ronaldo Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Baroni, Jerry Robinette, General, OPR, Gretta Goodwin, Robinette, doesn't, Goodwin, Tommy Cox, Donald Trump's, reining, Jennifer Chacón, Biden, Timothy Cerniglia, Cerniglia, Hernandez's, hasn't, Business Insider Ramos, He's, Loevy Organizations: Investigations, Business, Customs, Laurel, Facebook, ICE, Immigration, Homeland Security Investigations, New York City Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Department of Homeland Security, Police, Research, New, Immigrant Defense, DHS, Border Patrol, Laurel Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Nissan, Ramos, FBI, Justice Department, Denver, Phoenix, Border Protection, Maricopa County Attorney's Office, General's, Department of Justice, Force, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Mississippi Bureau of, MBI, Laurel Police, NBC, Sheriff's, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, Scottsdale police, Howard Center, Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University, Attorney's, Federal Homeland Policy, Maricopa County DA, Firearms, ICE's, Homeland Security, Justice, DHS's Office, Army, Center, New American Security, Congress, Stanford Law School, Ohio State Law, Trump, White, GAO, Service, Biden's, Ohio State, Business Insider, Fund, Journalism Locations: Jackson, Laurel, Laurel , Mississippi, Woodbridge , Virginia, New York, Puebla, Mexico, Mississippi, United States, Arizona, Phoenix, Dumfries , Virginia, Nashville, Denver, arm's, Maricopa, Mesa , Arizona, Maricopa County, Lithia Springs , Georgia, Soledad, Metairie , Louisiana, Jefferson, Virginia, Scottsdale , Arizona, Scottsdale, Chula Vista , California, Washington , DC, Africa, New American, Oaxaca

☆ Ukraine Is Conscripting Thousands More Troops. But Are They Ready?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine’s campaign to replenish its war-weary troops is ramping up and should help fill personnel gaps on the front line in the coming weeks, according to Ukrainian officials, soldiers and military analysts. The mobilization push has so far not significantly bolstered Ukraine’s forces on the battlefield, those people say. And some recruits who have arrived are not physically fit for combat, members of Ukrainian units have noted. But several brigades deployed on the battlefield have reported an increase in the number of conscripts they have received in recent weeks. They said they were hoping that the influx of soldiers would help Ukraine to stabilize the front line this summer.

Persons: Nazar Voytenkov, “, ” Organizations: 33rd Mechanized Brigade Locations: Ukraine

Was it the Parisians who bluntly told travelers "do not come" to Paris during the Summer Games? London, Athens and Atlanta all saw a drop in summer visitors when they hosted the Summer Games, said Grant. Empty Airbnbs and unsold ticketsHotels, too, are feeling the pinch of Paris' summer slowdown, with occupancy rates expected to drop to 60% in early July, down some 10 points from 2023, according to Paris' tourism board. Airbnb also said "domestic interest" for stays during the Games has never been higher than in the weeks leading up to Paris Games. 'The Olympics is too broad'Last-minute travelers can still snag tickets to the Paris Games.

Persons: —, John Grant, Grant, Rather, They've, OAG's John Grant, Jakub Porzycki, Airbnb Organizations: Olympic Games, France, Summer, Ryanair, Nurphoto, Olympic, Games, Notre Dame, CNBC, Paris Games, Paris, Financial Times Locations: Paris, London, Athens, Atlanta, Delta, Europe, North America, Oceania, Lille

☆ ‘A point of no return:’ Why Europe has become an epicenter for anti-tourism protests this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Billy Stockwell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Anti-tourism protests have been sweeping across Europe this summer, with demonstrations taking place in the Netherlands, Greece, and of course, Spain. When anti-tourism protesters started to fire water pistols at visitors in the Barcelona city center on July 6, a moment that gained international attention, Ramirez said he could “feel the resentment” in the air. Frankly, I think it worked,” Ramirez said, reflecting on the ability of the protests to dissuade tourists from visiting the city. Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty ImagesIt’s not just housing issues that have generated a backlash against tourists, Ramirez said, adding that the disrespectful behavior of some has also played a part. Bad tourist behavior has been a problem across other parts of Europe too, including Barcelona, Mallorca, Magaluf and Benidorm, Ramirez said.

Persons: Carlos Ramirez, Ramirez, ”, It’s, Jaume Collboni, Andrey Rudakov, ” Ramirez, Antje Martins, Eduardo Santander, Martins, “, € 2.4million, Marco Bertorello, Luigi Brugnaro, Susanna Polloni, ” Polloni, Collboni, ‘, ’, Jaime Reina, Bacchus, ” Sebastian Zenker, Zenker Organizations: CNN, Primavera Sound, skyrocketing, ”, Bloomberg, Barcelona’s City, University of Queensland, “, European Travel Commission, Getty, Solidarity Network for Housing, Palma de Mallorca, AFP, Copenhagen Business School Locations: Europe, Netherlands, Greece, Spain, Spanish, Barcelona, Mallorca, Southern Europe, Canary, Magaluf, Barcelona’s, Antje, “ Barcelona, €, AFP, Venice, “, Sagrada Familia, Palma de, Florence, Italy, Benidorm

☆ Russian Court Orders Arrest of Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s Widow
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Neil Macfarquhar | More About Neil Macfarquhar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Russian court on Tuesday ordered the arrest in absentia of Yulia B. Navalnaya, the widow of Aleksei A. Navalny, who was a key figure in the country’s political opposition, accusing her of “participating in an extremist community.”The court order against Ms. Navalnaya, who left Russia in 2021, comes five months after her husband died under murky circumstances in a harsh Russian penal colony. He was imprisoned after being convicted of various trumped-up charges when he returned to Russia after a near-fatal attempt to poison him in August 2020. Ms. Navalnaya has repeatedly accused President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia of murdering her husband and has vowed to continue his opposition work. The statement from the Basmanny District Court’s press office announcing the arrest order did not spell out the reason for the charges, but it appeared to be linked to her role in helping to run the Navalny opposition organization. Although she avoided any overt political role while her husband was alive, Ms. Navalnaya has long led the advisory board of his Anti-Corruption Foundation.

Persons: Yulia B, Aleksei A, Navalnaya, Vladimir V, Putin, Mr Organizations: Kremlin, Corruption Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv, Basmanny

Around 8 in 10 people infected with West Nile virus don’t show symptoms. These symptoms can often be confused with those of other viruses, so the majority of West Nile cases are never diagnosed. The CDC’s tally for West Nile cases this year is likely an undercount, since several states have reported additional human cases in recent weeks. Raman said he’s worried about more West Nile transmission during monsoon season in the Las Vegas area, which is expected to start soon. The county announced in late June that one person, a blood donor, had tested positive for West Nile virus.

Persons: “, ” Kate Fowlie, “ WNV, ”, Scott Weaver, Weaver, ” Weaver, Vivek Raman, Raman, he’s, Lindsay Huse, Dranda Hopps, “ It’s Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Agricultural Research Service, AP, Institute, Human, University of Texas Medical Branch, U.S, CDC, West, Southern, Southern Nevada Health District, Southern Nevada Health, The Texas Department of State Health Services, NBC, Dallas, Fort, Texas Department of State Health Services, Scott County Health Department Locations: Arizona , Arkansas , Kansas , Maryland , Michigan , Mississippi, Tennessee, West Nile, West, U.S, Texas, Colorado, Southern Nevada, Nile, Las Vegas, Douglas County , Nebraska, Houston, Springtown , Texas, Fort Worth, Springtown, Clark County , Nevada, Scott, Illinois

☆ Popular weight loss and diabetes drugs linked to increased risk of rare form of blindness
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —People who take Ozempic or Wegovy may have a higher risk of developing a rare form of blindness, a new study suggests. The condition is relatively rare — up to 10 out of 100,000 people in the general population may experience it — but the doctors noted three cases in one week, and each of those patients was taking semaglutide medications. The risk was found to be greatest within the first year of receiving a prescription for semaglutide. Semaglutide prescriptions have soared in the US, which could raise the number of people at risk for a potential side effect. But the large number of people who are taking semaglutide should raise confidence that the absolute risk of developing NAION as a result is rare.

Persons: ”, Joseph Rizzo, ” Susan Mollan, Disha, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Chanapa, Andrew Lee, ” Narang Organizations: CNN —, Mass, Novo Nordisk, CNN, Harvard Medical School, ”, University Hospitals Birmingham, Endeavor Health, CNN Health, US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Houston Methodist Hospital Locations: Chicago

☆ How an elite Ukrainian unit is using viral videos to attract hundreds of fresh-faced volunteers a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The 3rd Separate Assault BrigadeRecruits of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade taking part in military training. The 3rd Brigade has since become famous for its battle-hardened, fearless approach to combat. While many brigades use social media platforms to advertise and celebrate battlefield wins, the 3rd Brigade is especially skilled at PR. Four Ukrainian soldiers of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade preparing mortar rounds for intensive firing at a position near Andriivka on September 25, 2023, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. "The Third Assault Brigade falls into the second category."

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Julia Kazdobina, ANATOLII STEPANOV, Ukraine isn't, Andriy Biletsky, Kazdobina, Elina Beketova, Yurii, Beketova Organizations: Service, Business, Ukrainian Prism's Security, Ukrainian Information, Separate Assault Brigade, Separate Assault, Azov Brigade, 3rd Brigade, Washington DC, Center for, Getty, Radio ROKS, Brigade, Ukraine's Defense, Third Assault Brigade Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Mariupol, Andriivka, Donetsk Oblast, Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Soviet

☆ UK prime minister’s protection officer arrested over alleged bet on election timing
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Sharon Braithwaite | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A police constable working as part of the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s protection team was arrested this week for allegedly making bets related to the timing of the general election, police told CNN. The officer was arrested on Monday “on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said Wednesday. The arrest comes days after the Guardian newspaper reported that a close aide of Sunak made a £100 ($127) bet on a July election date before the prime minister had publicly announced the date. Many people in the comments have since reacted by highlighting the news of the police constable’s arrest for allegedly betting on the election. The UK general election will take place on July 4.

Persons: Rishi Sunak’s, “, ”, Sunak, Craig Williams, that’s, Sunak’s Organizations: CNN, UK, Metropolitan Police, Commission, Protection Command, Professional, Guardian, BBC, Met, Sunak’s Conservative Party, Labour, Labour Party Locations: ”, Sunak, Britain

☆ Search continues for US tourist and two French women missing in Greece
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Issy Ronald | Stephanie Halasz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Greek police are still searching for a US citizen who went missing on the Greek island of Amorgos, as well as two French women on the island of Sikinos in the Cyclades, a police spokeswoman told CNN on Monday. Albert Calibet, a 59-year-old American, has been missing since June 11, Petros Vasilakis, head of the Southern Aegean Police press office, told CNN. The two French nationals, aged 64 and 73 years old, went missing during a walk on the island of Sikinos, Vasilakis said. Vasilakis told CNN one of the women sent a message of distress to the guest house where she was staying. The man’s body will undergo a forensic examination later Monday to determine the cause of his death, police spokeswoman Konstantia Dimoglidou told CNN.

Persons: Albert Calibet, Petros Vasilakis, Calibet, Vasilakis, Michael Mosley, Mosely, Konstantia Dimoglidou Organizations: CNN, Southern Aegean Police, Hellenic Rescue Team, Samos Locations: Amorgos, Sikinos, British, Symi, Corfu, Samos

☆ Iran's upcoming snap elections: A battle of anti-western hardliners
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iranian Leader Press Office | Anadolu | Getty ImagesIran is holding snap elections on June 28 following the sudden death of former Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. The election will take place against the backdrop of a battered Iranian economy, widespread popular discontent and crackdowns on dissent. He described Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei⁠ as the country's "only 'voter' of significance." Iran's Presidency | WANA | Via ReutersBut with Sunday's announcement of the approved candidates, "those hopes were largely dashed," he said. It comes after turnout for Iran's parliamentary election in March was also the lowest for a legislative contest in the Islamic Republic's history at 41%.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir, Ibrahim Raisi, crackdowns, Behnam ben Taleblu, Ayatollah Khamenei⁠, ben Taleblu, Nader Itayim, it's, Raisi, Khamenei, Mahsa Amini, Sanam Vakil, Itayim, ATTA KENARE Organizations: Iran's, Tehran University, Iranian, Press, Anadolu, Getty, U.S, Guardian Council, Council, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, CNBC, Western, Argus Media, Reuters, Union for Secular Republic, Human Rights, Chatham House, Islamic Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Mideast, Iran's, Islamic Republic, Kurdish Iranian, East, North Africa

☆ Ukraine's Azov Brigade, a unit with a controversial past, can now use American weapons to fight the Russians
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe US State Department announced Monday that it has lifted a ban on the Azov Brigade, a former Ukrainian militia group with an ultranationalist history, allowing the current National Guard unit to receive American weapon shipments and training. A State Department spokesperson told BBC on Tuesday that following a vetting of the brigade, there was "no evidence of gross violations of human rights." Related storiesNow known as the Azov Brigade, the unit became part of the Ukrainian National Guard in 2015. AdvertisementThe State Department has dismissed the congressional ban and said the Azov Brigade "passed Leahy vetting," referring to Leahy Law, which prevents the US from supporting foreign entities that have committed major human rights violations. The Azov Brigade has claimed that it has evolved from its problematic past and that its leadership has changed since its inception.

Persons: —, Leahy, Dmytro Kozatski, Ruslan Muzychuk, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, US State Department, Azov Brigade, National Guard, State Department, BBC, Business, Azov Battalion, Ukrainian National Guard, Department, Leahy Law, Azov Special Forces Regiment, Ukrainian National Guard Press, Washington Post Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Mariupol, United States

☆ Pope Francis repeats homophobic slur in closed-door meeting, Italian media reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Rome — The pope has again used a highly disparaging word against gay people for which he had already apologized last month, ANSA news agency said on Tuesday. Italian media had attributed to the pope the use of a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as “f*****ry,” on May 20 during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops. Last month, a source close to the pope told CNN the phrase could also be understood as there is a “gay climate” in the seminaries. Two years later he told Italian bishops not to accept gay candidates for the priesthood. Francis, 87, had been credited with making substantial overtures toward the LGBTQ community during his 11-year papacy.

Persons: Rome, ”, ANSA, Francis, Roman, CNN’s Christopher Lamb, Sharon Braithwaite Organizations: della Sera, CNN, Church Locations: Argentine

☆ Singapore Airlines offers compensation of at least $10,000 to passengers of turbulence-hit flight
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok, greet family members upon arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore on May 22, 2024. Singapore Airlines has offered compensation to passengers of the ill-fated flight SQ321, which was hit by extreme turbulence that resulted in the death of one passenger and several injuries. "For passengers who sustained minor injuries from the incident, we have offered US$10,000 in compensation. For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer," the company said. Another 104 passengers were injured, a press officer for Bangkok's Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital told the Associated Press in May.

Persons: Bangkok's Organizations: Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport, SIA, London, Boeing, Srinakarin Hospital, Associated Press Locations: London, Singapore, Bangkok

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