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☆ King Arthur left an ancient trail across Britain. Experts say it offers clues about the truth behind the myth
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Today, he is best associated with Tintagel Castle, where remains of a settlement dating back to the fifth century perch strikingly on an islet off the wild coast of Cornwall. Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesFor Stoyle, it’s likely that the myth of Arthur has at least its roots in fact. This Arthur was played by Clive Owen in the 2004 film, “King Arthur,” alongside Keira Knightley as Guinevere. The sixth-century “Artognou stone," discovered in 1998, has linked Tintagel with King Arthur for some scholars, though others dismiss it. Of course, medieval history writers were fast and loose with the facts.

Persons: CNN —, He’s, King Arthur, —, Arthur’s, Arthur, France —, Tintagel, Merlin, they’d, There’s, who’ve, Mark Stoyle, Brittany —, ”, Stoyle, “, Guinevere, Lancelot, Clive Owen, “ King Arthur, Keira Knightley, Gandalf, Dumbledore, Glastonbury Abby, Grant, indelibly, JFK's, Harvey Georges, Pierre Vinet, Sam Morgan Moore, Ben Birchall, Arthur . PaulMaguire, Keira Knghtley, Jonathan Hession, Gerhard Zwerger, King Arthur Prev, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Geoffrey —, Camelot —, Geoffrey, Mordred, Win Scutt, Earl Richard, Prince William . “ Earl Richard, Britain —, ” “ It’s, Arthur —, Scutt, Nicholas J, Higham, ” Higham, J.R.R, Tolkien —, laud, Gildas — “, ” Henry VIII, superfan Henry VIII, Oli Scarff, England’s King Henry VII, Richard III, he’d, –, Prince, Wales — Arthur, Henry’s, England, Henry VIII, Henry, David’s, Elizabeth I, Stuart, Arthurs, ” Scutt Organizations: CNN, Celtic, Camelot, Cornwall Glastonbury, Wales Cadbury, Glastonbury Tor, Cadbury, Glastonbury Abbey, UK’s University of Southampton, Bettmann, Disney, Cornish, Bank, Getty, Royal Mail, Walt Disney Pictures, Avalon, English Heritage, University of Manchester, Britons, Glastonbury Locations: England, Europe, Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, France, Wales, Cornwall, southwesternmost, Tintagel, Tintagel Castle, Cornwall Glastonbury Abbey , Somerset Caerleon Castle, Wyddfa, Wales Cadbury Castle , Somerset Slaughterbridge, Island, Wales Winchester Castle, Hampshire, Edinburgh, Somerset, Caerleon Castle, Camelot, Mount Snowdon, Barfog, Glastonbury, Baschurch, Shropshire, Mynydd y Gaer, Bodmin, Las Vegas, Winchester, Caerleon, Cornwall’s, Avalon, Cornish, Greece, Turkey, London, Higham, AFP, Brittany, Ludlow, St

☆ Almaty, Kazakhstan: How a drab Soviet metropolis became Central Asia’s capital of cool
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Almaty, Kazakhstan CNN —Several cities around the globe have reinvented themselves in recent years, but none more successfully than Almaty. Since the collapse of the USSR, Kazakhstan’s largest city (population 2.2 million and growing) has evolved from a drab, run-of-the-mill Soviet metropolis into the urban star of Central Asia. “It’s an incredibly livable city,” says long-time American resident Dennis Keen, a historic preservation advocate and founder of Walking Almaty. Over and underground artThe Abilkhan Kasteev State Art Museum is filled with more than 20,000 works of art. Other good collections include the Ihlas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments (in a Russian-style wooden mansion built in 1908) and the ethnographic artifacts of the Almaty Museum.

Persons: It’s, “, ”, Dennis Keen, ” Keen, “ It’s, Jama Nurkalieva, Charles O, Cecil, Alamy, Auyl, James Talalay, Lukas Bischoff, Keen, Roshcha Organizations: Kazakhstan CNN, Walking, Central, Cathedral, Astana, Tselinny Center of Contemporary, Dynamo, Prix Versailles, Park, Art, Louvre, Art Museum, Ihlas Museum, Folk, Almaty Museum, Eiffel, of Contemporary, Academy of Science, Turkish Airlines, Air Astana, Ritz, Carlton Locations: Almaty, Kazakhstan, USSR, Kazakhstan’s, Central Asia, Walking Almaty, “, Central Asian, China, Europe, Russian, Soviet Union, Shan, Lower Kolsai Lake, There’s, Soviet, Zholy, Almaty Metro, Almaly, Auezov, Istanbul, Beijing, Seoul , New Delhi, Bangkok, Arasan, Otrar, Lanzhou, Novotel, Darejani, Ascension

☆ Tensions rise between banks and tech companies over online fraud liability in the UK
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Meta is facing calls from U.K. banks and payment firms like Revolut to financially compensate people who fall for scams on their services. Proposals to make tech firms liableTensions have been running high between banks and tech companies for some time. A key ask has been for the tech firms to share more detailed intelligence on how criminals are abusing their platforms. Social media firms not doing enough to combat and remove attempts to defraud internet users was another complaint from regulatory authorities at the event. Jones added that it was tough to "break the inertia" at tech companies to "really get them to get after it."

Persons: Jaap Arriens, it's, Meta, Woody Malouf, Matt Akroyd, Kate Fitzgerald, Rob Jones, Jones Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, Systems, PSR, Payments Association, Facebook, NatWest, Metro Bank, Financial Times, Labour Party, CNBC, Stewarts, Social, Economic Crime, U.K, National Crime Agency, Tech, Meta, Intelligence Locations: London

☆ The CIA is soliciting secret tips from informants in the national languages of Iran, North Korea and China
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | 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 Central Intelligence Agency is releasing instructions in Farsi, Mandarin and Korean to allow people to share information with the agency without running afoul of authoritarian regimes. The instructions, in a text-only video and infographic, were posted online across multiple social media platforms and sites on the dark web, the agency said. In 2023, the CIA announced it had posted instructions in Russian on how to access a site on the dark web accessible only through a Tor internet browser, which unlike most browsers has encryption protections. The spy agency’s director, William Burns, has said that disaffection in Russia after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has created a “once-in-a-generation” recruiting opportunity for the CIA. Once a message lands at the agency, the CIA will evaluate it, the agency said.

Persons: “, William Burns, Moscow’s, ” Organizations: Central Intelligence Agency, CIA Locations: Iran, China, Russia, Ukraine

☆ The unspoken rules of celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Oktoberfest is a worldwide phenomenon, a Bavarian beer festival celebrated in countries around the globe. Revelers, dressed in leather lederhosen, celebrate Oktoberfest in Munich on Sept. 21, 2024. A waiter brings beer to a table during Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany on Sept. 22, 2024. The world's biggest beer festival ends on Oct. 6, 2024. A waitress carries a tray of food at the start of the Munich Oktoberfest celebration.

Persons: Johannes Simon, Beer, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Revelers, Ein, driel, Crown Prince Ludwig, Princess Therese von Sachsen, Felix Hörhager, Alexander Hassenstein, Marco Polo, Jeff Dean Organizations: Munich's Department of Labor, Getty, Afp, Oktoberfest Museum, Oktoberfest Locations: Bavarian, Munich, steins, Germany, Hildburghausen, Munich's Beer, Salzburg, Austria, Rothenburg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Harbour, Cincinnati , Ohio

☆ The battle of Kursk hinges on the Russian railroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Related storiesExactly how overloaded the Russian rail network may be isn't clear. Despite the humiliation of foreign troops occupying Russian soil, Russian forces continue to grind forward in bloody attacks at places such as Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region. Relying on trucks would require an extraordinary number of vehicles, so it seems likely that Russian forces at Kursk will require multiple railheads that depend on a limited number of railroad bridges. However, Ukraine has captured data about the Russian railway system, which will make it easier to disrupt operations, Fraser noted. Barros believes that Ukraine could seriously disrupt Russian rail traffic and logistics if the US would lift those restrictions.

Persons: —, We've, George Barros, ZwsdIWSBwg, — Rob Lee, Ben Hodges, Kyiv's, Barrow, Oleg Palchyk, Callum Fraser, Fraser, Biden, Barros, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Business, Belarusian, Moscow Railway, Moscow Railways, Russian Railways, Study, UR, 101st Airborne Division, US Army, Interior Ministry, FSB, Kremlin, Getty, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Ukraine, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Los Angeles, Russia, railheads, Kursk, Russian, Orel, Belarus, Smolensk, Moscow, Ukrainian, Washington, Belgorod, Europe, Ukraine, Donetsk, Bryansk, Russia's Kursk, Kharkiv, Leningrad, Oryol, Voronezh, Forbes

☆ Joe Arden's voice made him the hottest narrator in romance. Then, a sexting scandal turned BookTok against him.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Anna Merlan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

But there's no denying that a large number of people, mostly women, found Joe Arden's voice to be exceedingly hot: smooth, insistent, husky, occasionally dropping to a seductive growl. Arden's voice made him one of the most popular romance audiobook narrators of his generation. Last year, a promising new romance author reached out to Blue Nose Audio and received a reply from Joe Arden. "My working name of 'Joe Arden,' has always been just that, a professional persona that labeled my career," he added. For good measure, they dug up Cronin's abandoned trademark application for the Joe Arden moniker, first filed in 2020.

Persons: Joe Arden's, Men's, I've, Joe Arden, Joey, Arden, He's, Lauren Blakely, Vi Keeland, Meghan March, Blakely, BookTok, TikTok, Joe, Ardenmania, —, BookTok influencers, who'd, Brynne Weaver, they'd, wasn't, quizzing, Arden she'd, didn't, she'd, Arden's, sexting, he'd, Angela, Aiden Snow, Julie McKay, Blue, James Patrick Cronin, Rice, Cronin, Beatrice Colen, Patrick Cronin, manny, Max Thomas, McKay, Maxine Mitchell, Sean Zanni, Patrick McMullan, Sarah J, Brittanée Nicole, Nicole, Teddy Hamilton, Hamilton, Brynne Weaver's, it's, Brittany Lowry, Kate Stewart's, Arden isn't, pant, Shane East, Paige Reisenfeld, he's, Tor, influencer, you'd, Sean Crisden, Crisden, Maas, Craig Barritt, Arden blowup, voEROS, Arden —, who've, Kathy Haan, Patreon Organizations: Men's Health, Audio Publishers Association, Society of Voice Arts and Sciences, Arden, BI, East Tennessee State University, University of Louisville, Getty, SAG, Texas, GQ, Wired, Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Times, Publishers, TikTok, Tantor Media, The New York Times, New York Comic Con, Communications Locations: Arden, sexting, gaslighting, TikTok, Los Angeles, East, New York City, York, LA, Audm, Ghostface Gulf, masturbate, Romanceland

☆ Iran Warns Israel Against War in Lebanon Against Hezbollah: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Illegal Israeli settlements in the Gush Etzion settlement block in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2020. But after the first Arab-Israeli war, Jordan took control of the West Bank, and Jerusalem became divided between Israel and Jordan. In the 1967 war, Israel annexed East Jerusalem and occupied the West Bank, which it says is disputed territory whose fate should be determined in negotiations. That appears to be the goal for Mr. Smotrich, who adamantly opposes Palestinian statehood. In a social media post on Thursday, Mr. Smotrich indicated that the latest settlement legalization was a response to those decisions.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Smotrich, Ammar Awad, Evyatar Borovski, Givat, Assaf Hershkovitz, Sde Ephraim, Jordan, Amit Elkayam, Volker Türk, Tor, “ We’ll, ”, Yehuda Fox, “, ” Aaron Boxerman Organizations: West Bank, Authority, Palestinian, Reuters, West, Peace, United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Security Council, International Court of Justice, Bank, Geneva Convention, Criminal Court, United Nations, International Court of, The New York Times, East Jerusalem —, Mr, Israel’s, Command Locations: Gush Etzion, Bank, Israel, Jerusalem, Jabal Subeih, Nablus, West, Givat Assaf, West Bank, Ras Karkar, Ramallah, Settlers, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jordan, East Jerusalem, Palestinian, Oslo, Evyatar, Beita, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Armenia

☆ Hezbollah has the weapons to carry out its threat against Cyprus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The threat against Cyprus is also an indirect threat against NATO member Greece, which has close ties with Israel. "Although the Republic of Cyprus and Israel have enjoyed strategic cooperation for years, the current timing is crucial. "The Republic of Cyprus is able to expose the tactics of Hezbollah at the EU level and simultaneously seek support by the US." Jack Guez/Getty ImagesNevertheless, Hezbollah could harm Cyprus if it carries out its threat. Related stories"The Israeli capacity to shoot down Hezbollah's drones in 2022 could be a model for the Republic of Cyprus," Tzogopoulos said.

Persons: —, Hassan Nasrallah, George Tzogopoulos, Tzogopoulos, Nasrallah, Jack Guez, Mark III, Nicholas Heras, Heras Organizations: Service, NATO, Israel, Cypriot, Business, Hezbollah, European Union, UN, Sovereign Base, EU, Cypriot National Guard, New Lines Institute, Israeli Air Force, New Lines, Israeli Defense Forces Locations: Iran, Lebanon, Republic of Cyprus, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, United Kingdom, Akrotiri, EU, Gaza, Russian, Nicosia, Iranian Fateh, Yemen, Syria, NATO

☆ US designates Nordic neo-Nazi group as terrorists
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US State Department on Friday designated a Nordic neo-Nazi group and three of its top officials as terrorists. It’s the second time in history that the US has designated a foreign White supremacist organization and its leaders as terrorists. The department designated the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) and three of its top officials – Tor Fredrik Vejdeland, Pär Öberg, and Leif Robert Eklund – as Specially Designated Global Terrorists on Friday, according to a statement from spokesperson Matthew Miller. The Trump administration in 2020 designated the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) and its leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. NRM is a transnational neo-Nazi organization founded in Sweden in 1997, with branches in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland, according to the State Department.

Persons: – Tor Fredrik Vejdeland, Pär Öberg, Leif Robert Eklund –, Matthew Miller, Biden, Trump, ” Miller, “, ”, Harris Administration’s, —, Ian Moss, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Nazi, White, Nordic Resistance Movement, Terrorists, Russian Imperial Movement, State Department, United, US Intelligence Community, Biden, Department, Bureau, Counterterrorism Locations: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, United States, Europe, South America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, U.S

☆ The Ukraine war is a huge opportunity for US intel to recruit Russian spies
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Analysis Josh Campbell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Editor’s Note: The CNN Original Series “Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game” examines the tenuous global geopolitics during the Cold War through the lens of two notorious double agents: Oleg Gordievsky and Aldrich Ames. CNN —Russia’s brutal ongoing invasion of Ukraine has provided US intelligence services with a rare opening to recruit Kremlin insiders furious with the handling of the war. “Disaffection creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us,” said CIA Director Bill Burns last year during a speech in the United Kingdom. Russian Foreign Ministry building is seen behind a billboard showing Z, a tactical insignia of Russian troops in Ukraine, on October 13, 2022. As the documentary underscores, the espionage lessons of the Cold War could very well determine future global stability.

Persons: Oleg Gordievsky, Aldrich Ames, CNN —, ”, Bill Burns, “, David McCloskey, Alexander Nemenov, James Schlesinger, Douglas London, Edgar Hoover, Stefani Reynolds, Jim Sciutto, Tim Naftali, –, Sarah Moon, Alex Marquardt, Donie O’Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, CIA, Russian Foreign Ministry, Getty, FBI, BBC, Edgar Hoover FBI Locations: Ukraine, United Kingdom, Moscow, AFP, Virginia, Russia’s, Washington, Washington ,, Soviet Union, Europe

☆ I moved to Thailand, started a family, and can't picture ever returning home to Scotland
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Duncan Forgan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewA friend recently said that living in Southeast Asia was akin to winning one of Willy Wonka's golden tickets. AdvertisementIt's been 14 years since the author arrived in Southeast Asia. Yet Western media obsessions — US presidential elections and divisive identity politics, to name but two — are not given the same relentless prominence here. I've not lived in Scotland since 2007, and the axis of my life — wife and son, friends, work networks, clients — is almost entirely Asia-orientated. We are heading back to Scotland this July, and I can't wait to catch up with friends and family and show my son Alex the Highlands for the first time.

Persons: —, Willy Wonka's, batty, Mr Wonka, Thailand's, It's, Duncan Forgan, kao, he's, Chiang Mai, Alexander, I'm, Alex the Organizations: Service, Business, South, Tamil Nadu, Royal, Alex the Highlands Locations: Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Chinatown, Thai, Jok, Ojo, Thailand, Vietnam, Asia, Pacific, soi, South, Western Australia, Scotland, London

☆ Opinion: Why Apple’s iPad ad hit such a nerve
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Opinion Bill Carter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Actors, directors, writers and academics expressed outrage at the Apple ad. I liked the sarcasm of screenwriter Ed Solomon’s post on X: “Who needs human life and everything in life that makes it worth living? Sincerely, Apple.”That was not the message Apple intended to convey, was it? Join us on Twitter and FacebookGiven that ongoing uncertainty and trepidation, the Apple ad is not merely tone deaf, it’s stone deaf. 1 hit (perhaps not the greatest example of human creativity, but still) that plays over images of paint cans exploding and musical instruments splintering to dust.

Persons: Bill Carter, Apple, Sonny, Cher, Bill Carter Bill Carter, Tor, “, “ We’ve, Tim Cook, Pete Townsend, Ed Solomon’s, creatives, … Organizations: The New York Times, CNN, HBO, Apple, Tech, Twitter, Facebook

☆ Apple Says Destructive iPad Ad ‘Missed the Mark’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Tripp Mickle | More About Tripp Mickle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Apple doesn’t make mistakes often and seldom apologizes, but on Thursday, its head of advertising said the company had erred in making a new iPad commercial that showed an industrial compressor flattening tools for art, music and creativity. “Creativity is in our DNA at Apple, and it’s incredibly important to us to design products that empower creatives all over the world,” said Tor Myhren, the company’s vice president of marketing communications, in a statement provided to the publication AdAge. “Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. We missed the mark with this video, and we’re sorry.”Mr. Myhren said Apple would no longer run the ad on TV. They found the crushing of a trumpet, piano, paints and a sculpture particularly unnerving at a time when artists fear that generative artificial intelligence, which can write poetry and create movies, might take away their jobs.

Persons: ”, Tor Myhren, Mr, Myhren Organizations: Apple, Big Tech

☆ Apple pulls iPad ad that it says 'missed the mark'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Apple is facing backlash for an iPad ad showing analog art tools getting crushed. Apple apologized for the ad Thursday, and AdAge reported it won't run the ad on TV as planned. AdvertisementApple apologized Thursday for a widely panned iPad ad showing time-tested artistic tools — paint, a piano, camera lenses — getting crushed in a hydraulic press. Cribbing a viral trend, the commercial was supposed to tout the creative promise of Apple's new iPad Pro. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Apple, LG, — Organizations: Apple, Service, Business

☆ Apple apologizes for its controversial iPad Pro ad
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Apple has apologized and admitted it “missed the mark” with its latest iPad Pro advertisement. The ad, posted on social media Tuesday by Apple CEO Tim Cook, was met with backlash from internet users who felt that the ad celebrated technology’s destruction of human creativity and art. As the metal slabs of the hydraulic press lift, Apple’s new iPad Pro is revealed. “Meet the new iPad Pro: the thinnest product we’ve ever created, the most advanced display we’ve ever produced, with the incredible power of the M4 chip. Actor Hugh Grant wrote on social media that Apple’s ad represented “the destruction of the human experience.”Apple no longer plans to run the ad on TV, according to AdAge.

Persons: Apple, “, Tim Cook, Tor Myhren, ” Myhren, ” Apple, ” Cook, ”, Hugh Grant Organizations: CNN, Apple

☆ Apple apologizes for iPad Pro ad showing hydraulic press destroying guitars, piano
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple took on Thursday the unusual step of apologizing for a short advertising video promoting the company's new iPad Pro tablet after the ad was roundly criticized on social media. Apple CEO Tim Cook posted the spot on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. Apple has also decided not to run the ad on TV, Ad Age said. It isn't the first Apple iPad ad in recent years to annoy some customers. In 2018, some people said they were annoyed by an iPad Pro spot in which a child asks, "What's a computer?"

Persons: Tim Cook, Joko Widodo, Apple, Tor Myhren Organizations: Apple, YouTube, \ Media, Lab Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia

☆ Sarah J. Maas is the bestselling author of 2024 so far — and other romance and fantasy authors are right behind her
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFour months into 2024, Sarah J. Maas is having quite the year. Circana, which tracks book sales, also reported that it's currently the bestselling novel of 2024. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesForbes reported on Wednesday that Maas has sold 3.1 million copies of her books in 2024, making her the bestselling author of the year so far. Likewise, Forbes reported that Circana data shows nine of the 10 bestselling books sold in March fell into either the romance or fantasy genres. Publisher's Weekly reported sales of Maas' books increased 86% in the 2022 fiscal year — the same period TikTok experienced massive growth.

Persons: —, Sarah J, Maas, it's, Weiss Eubanks, Getty Images Forbes, Circana, Rebecca Yarros, Yarros, Carissa Broadbent, Jennifer L, Forbes, Bloomsbury TikTok Organizations: Service, Business, The New York Times, Publisher's, Bloomsbury, Getty Images, Wings, New York Times Locations: Tor

☆ A stalemate in the Ukraine war could now be the best-case scenario, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ukrainian soldiers of a mortar team in 24th brigade are seen at positions near Toretsk, Ukraine on March 26, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesBefore the two-year anniversary of Russia's war against Ukraine, defense experts widely predicted that the conflict would settle into a stalemate in 2024, leading neither side to make or lose a significant amount of territory. Russia's recent momentum — and ongoing worries over Ukraine's weaponry and ammunition shortages, as well as stalled U.S. military aid — are now prompting concerns that a stalemate might even be the "best-case scenario" that Kyiv can hope for this year. At worst, Ukraine could see Russian forces breaking through Ukraine's defensive positions along parts of the front line, one defense expert noted. Ukrainian servicemen of 24th brigade operate an 82mm mortar near the frontline in Toretsk as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Toretsk, Ukraine on March 27, 2024.

Persons: Ben Barry, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Barry, Vladimir Putin, confidants, Evgenia Novozhenina, Ian Bremmer, Ukraine's, Metin Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Land Warfare, Kremlin, Reuters Supply, Ukraine, Eurasia Group Locations: Toretsk, Ukraine, Moscow, Avdiivka, Russia, Russia’s, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, Iran, North Korea, Germany, U.S, Europe, Ukrainian, Izium, Kharkiv

LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a short film shown at the end of the Super Bowl halftime performer news conference, the show’s headliner Usher comes up missing. ?” It’s one of the many creative projects from Apple Music, which has made a concerted effort to amplify the anticipation around Sunday's halftime show. Since Apple Music became the halftime show sponsor, the streaming service is pushing to leave an influential mark like never before. As Usher prepares to headline this year's festivities, Apple Music created a strategic plan before he hits the Super Bowl stage. Between Apple Music, Apple Music Radio, the talent who have a deep understanding of music and culture and obviously Apple's ecosystem, I think we can amplify that.”Leading up to Sunday, it's all about Usher.

Persons: Usher, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Taraji, Henson, “ We’re, ”, Oliver Schusser, Schusser, ” Schusser, “, Rihanna —, “ It's, Jermaine Dupri, Tiësto, Nadeska Alexis, Lil Wayne, Estelle, Tor Myhren, ” Myhren, there's Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Super, Apple Music, Pepsi, Apple, NFL, Jay, Apple Music Radio

☆ Tim Cook, Steve Ballmer and Jamie Dimon are among the few US billionaires who didn't found a company or inherit a fortune
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewVirtually all of America's billionaires either founded a wildly successful company or inherited a vast fortune. Apple CEO Tim Cook, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer are among the few exceptions. Ballmer leads the pack with an estimated fortune of $143 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index largely due to his near-4% stake in Microsoft. AdvertisementRemarkably, Ballmer ranks sixth on the Bloomberg list, just one spot and $3 billion behind the Microsoft cofounder. Other industry stalwarts include Meta's former operating chief, Sheryl Sandberg ($2 billion), and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman ($3 billion).

Persons: —, Tim Cook, Jamie Dimon, Steve Ballmer, Forbes, Bill Gates, Ballmer, Eric Schmidt, Charles Simonyi, Jeff Rothschild, Jeff Skoll, Sheryl Sandberg, Meg Whitman, Justin Sullivan, Snowflake, Frank Slootman, Apple's Cook, Safra Catz, Lisa Su, Ramzi Musallam, JPMorgan's, Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, Tor Peterson, Paul Saville, homebuilder Organizations: Service, Apple, JPMorgan, Business, Bloomberg, Microsoft, Facebook, eBay, Getty Images Tech, Forbes, Oracle, AMD, Veritas Capital, Blackstone, KKR Locations: Silver

☆ Inside the rise of Sarah J. Maas, the best-selling author who's taking the 'romantasy' genre to the next level
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Sarah J. Maas' latest book, "House of Flame and Shadow," was published on Tuesday. Publishers are prioritizing romantasy, with Entangled creating Red Tower, an imprint focused on sci-fi and fantasy romance books in 2022. But an organic community of Maas readers formed on social media recently, making her even more widely loved. The pair, who are good friends thanks to BookTok, post videos breaking down the smallest details of Maas' works. Studios founder Molly Werts, 26, runs her shop full-time and met her roommate because they connected over one of Maas' books.

Persons: Sarah J, Maas, —, Samantha Grindell, Harry Potter, it's, Feyre, she's, fae Bryce Quinlan, Stephanie Meyer's, Cassandra Clare's, Tor, Rebecca Yarros, Bramble, Jennifer L, BookTok, TikTok, superfans, Rosie Dent, Dent, Lili, BookTokers, Jaclyn Wooten, Wooten, Molly Werts, romantasy, they've Organizations: Service, Bloomsbury, Marvel, New York Times, Reuters, Publishers, Wings, Studios, Jupiter's, Publisher's, Writers of America Locations: Brooklyn , New York, New York, Connecticut, Florida, Maas, Bloomsbury, Crescent, BookTok

☆ These Japanese beef croquettes are so popular there’s a 43-year waitlist
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Founded in 1926, Asahiya sold meat products from Hyogo prefecture – Kobe beef included – for decades before adding beef croquettes to the shelf in the years following WWII. An unprofitable business ideaThe highly coveted “Extreme Croquettes” are one of four types of Kobe beef croquettes available at Asahiya. The shop’s Premier Kobe Beef Croquettes currently have a more palatable four-year waitlist. Our shop only sells meat that was produced in Hyogo Prefecture, whether it’s Kobe beef, Kobe pork or Tajima chicken. Production boosted but popularity growsThe cheap price tag of the Extreme Croquettes flies in the face of the quality of the ingredients.

Persons: Asahiya, Shigeru Nitta, “, ” Nitta, Nitta, ”, Sanda –, Asahiya’s croquettes, Nitta chuckled, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Premier Kobe Beef, ”, “, Asahiya Locations: Kobe, Asahiya, Takasago City, Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, it’ll, Hyogo, Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe city

☆ UN again delays vote on watered-down Gaza aid resolution. The U.S. backs it, others want stronger text
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The revised draft resolution was discussed behind closed doors for over an hour by council members not long after it was circulated. Because there were significant changes, many said they needed to consult their capitals before a vote, which is now expected Friday. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters after the consultations that the United States backs the new text, and if it is put to a vote the U.S. will support it. The U.S. ambassador said the revised resolution "will support the priority that Egypt has in ensuring that we put a mechanism on the ground that will support humanitarian assistance." During the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took about 240 hostages back to Gaza.

Persons: General Patrick Gauchat, Charly Triballeau, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, —, Antonio Guterres, Thomas, António Guterres, Biden, Israel, Lloyd Austin Organizations: Mission, Staff, United Nations Truce, UN Security, UN, Afp, Getty, . Security, Hamas, U.S, United States, United Arab Emirates, Food, Gaza Health Ministry, Health Ministry Locations: Jerusalem, New York City, Gaza, United States, Israel, United, U.S, Egypt, Hamas

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson once promoted software he used to monitor his porn usage. Josh Duggar and Lamar Odom used the same program.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly promoted Christian porn monitoring software Covenant Eyes. Convicted reality TV star Josh Duggar and Lakers player Lamar Odom have also used the software. AdvertisementAdvertisementCovenant Eyes, the Christian porn monitoring software repeatedly promoted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, has been used by other celebrities — infamously by convicted reality TV star Josh Duggar. But the software also surfaced during the 2021 child pornography case of Josh Duggar, the former reality TV star from TLC's "19 Kids and Counting." During a hearing in the case in May 2021, a Homeland Security agent said Duggar used the program with his wife, who was acting as his "accountability partner."

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Josh Duggar, Lamar Odom, —, Duggar Organizations: Lakers, Service, Republicans, Facebook, Former Lakers, Homeland Security

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