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☆ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin re-hospitalized for bladder issue
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin takes questions during a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2024. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken back to the hospital on Sunday afternoon for symptoms related to a possible bladder issue, the Pentagon announced. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks is on standby to assume any of Austin's functions, should that become necessary. Still, several lawmakers called on Austin to resign for the lack of transparency, though the White House rebuked those demands and doubled down on its support for the Defense Secretary as he battles cancer. I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility," Austin said at a Pentagon briefing.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Walter, Pat Ryder, Kathleen Hicks, Walter Reed, White, Austin's Organizations: US, Pentagon, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, White House, White, Defense, American Locations: Washington ,, Austin

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized Sunday following symptoms pointing to an “emergent bladder issue,” the Pentagon said. In a statement, the Pentagon said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2:20 p.m. Austin remained at Walter Reed until Jan. 15. He then continued to recover and work from home, and he returned to the Pentagon Jan. 29. Austin did not tell President Joe Biden, Congress or his deputy secretary of defense, Kathleen Hicks, of his cancer diagnosis or initial hospitalization for weeks.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Walter, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Walter Reed, Jan, Joe Biden, Kathleen Hicks Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Pentagon, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Joint Chiefs, Staff, White, Kyiv, NATO Locations: Brussels, Ukraine

4 Kansas extended its home winning streak to 18 games with a 64-61 win over No. Kansas (19-5, 7-4 Big 12) got 14 points from Dajuan Harris, 13 from KJ Adams and 11 from Johnny Furphy. Baylor (17-6, 6-4) was led by Yves Missi with 21 points and Walter with 17. Baylor again trimmed it to a one-possession game at 44-41, but a 9-1 Kansas run opened a double-digit lead. Kansas led by as many as 13 points in the first half before Baylor trimmed it to 34-28 at halftime.

Persons: LAWRENCE, Kan, — Hunter Dickinson, Nicolas Timberlake, Bill Self, “, ”, Scott Drew, “ We've, ” You'll, Patrick, Mahomes, Kevin McCullar, Timberlake, Drew, Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams, Johnny Furphy, that’s, Yves Missi, Walter, ” Dickinson, you've, couldn't, Kevin, Dickinson, We’re Organizations: Baylor, ” Baylor, Chiefs, Jayhawks, Bears, ” Kansas, Kansas, NEXT Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, AP Locations: Kansas, ” Kansas, Allen Fieldhouse . Kansas, ”, Houston, . Kansas, Oklahoma . Kansas

☆ Ukraine claims Russian forces using Starlink internet service
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Maria Kostenko | Simon Cullen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence claims it has confirmed the use of Starlink satellite communications by Russian forces in occupied areas. It says it has intercepted conversations which indicate the Starlink terminals are being used to provide internet access to Russia’s 83rd Air Assault Brigade operating in the Donetsk region. Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, which owns Starlink, says it does not do business of any kind with the Russian government or its military. Starlink, which uses a network of satellites to provide broadband, says its service will not work in Russia, although the statement didn’t address whether it would work in occupied Ukraine. As Ukrainian submarine drones strapped with explosives approached the Russian fleet, they “lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly,” Isaacson writes.

Persons: CNN —, Kyrylo Budanov, “, ”, Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson, Musk, ” Isaacson, Isaacson Organizations: CNN, CNN — Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, Russian, Air Assault Brigade, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, SpaceX, Main Ukrainian Intelligence Locations: Donetsk, Russia, Ukraine, Crimean, Ukrainian, Russian, Crimea

☆ There's still time to plan next weekend's travel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Joi-Marie Mckenzie | Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . I'm Joi-Marie McKenzie, the editor in chief of Life at Business Insider and your new Saturday anchor. Emily HartDispatchThere's still time to plan next weekend's travelRaise your hand if you're taking advantage of the upcoming Presidents’ Day weekend. If you’re like me and forgot to plan an amazing three-day vacation, don’t worry.

Persons: —, I'm Joi, Marie McKenzie, Let's, Emily Hart, There's, There’s, it’s, Richard Chance, Anthony Farrer, Farrer, Reed Hoffmann, Ed Zurga, RJ Sangosti, Rebecca Zisser, Taylor Swift, Swift, Andrea Chronopoulos, DINK, Tyler Le, John Goodman, Goodman, Dan Conner, Roseanne, ”, Walter Sobchak, he’d, Coen, Gilles Mingasson, Peacock, Adrienn Szabo, Abbott, Quinta Brunson's, dino, Joi, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb Organizations: Business, Service, ’, Amtrak, MediaNews, Kansas City Chiefs, Super, Polygram, Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Circle Films, Paramount, Hulu Locations: Florida, Alaska, St, Lucia, Amtrak’s, American, New York

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronauts from Turkey, Italy and Sweden returned to Earth on Friday, ending a private three-week mission to the International Space Station. A former fighter pilot and captain for Turkish Airlines, he became the first person from his country to fly in space. It was Axiom’s third private mission to the space station; the fourth is planned later this year. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesBefore leaving the space station, Gezeravci thanked his country for its “bold and determined decision” to send a citizen into space as part of its 100th anniversary as a republic. They enjoyed a few extra days at the space station, waiting for the weather to improve in the splashdown zone.

Persons: Alper, Gezeravci, Walter Villadei, Sweden’s Marcus Wandt, Michael Lopez, Alegria Organizations: International Space, NASA, Houston, SpaceX, Cape Canaveral, Turkish Airlines, Italian Air Force, European Space Agency, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Florida, Cape

☆ Prince Harry makes surprise appearance at NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas, leaving players starstruck
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Prince Harry left players starstruck after making a surprise appearance at the NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas on Thursday. Before he announced the award’s recipient, Harry took the time to take some humorous jabs at the differences between American and British sports. “Oh man,” Heyward said on stage. Prince freaking Harry. That’s Prince Harry!”Keegan-Michael Key, Heyward and Prince Harry pose for a photo after the Pittsburgh Steelers DT won the Man of the Year award.

Persons: Prince Harry, Duke, Sussex, Harry, “, ”, let’s, Cameron Heyward, ” Heyward, Prince, Man, That’s Prince Harry ! ” Keegan, Michael Key, Heyward, Todd Rosenberg, I’ve, “ I’ve, I’m, “ Cameron, Roger Goodell, Walter Payton, King Charles III Organizations: CNN, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Steelers DT, Steeler, Foundation, Walter Payton NFL Locations: Las Vegas, British, Pittsburgh

☆ John Goodman wants a do-over in his favorite Coen Brothers movie
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

When you think of John Goodman, you likely picture him as Walter Sobchak, the gun-toting bowling enthusiast from "The Big Lebowski." For the latest installment in BI's "Role Play" series, Goodman discusses his favorite Coen brothers movie, why "Bringing Out the Dead" was a hard movie to make, and the time he called 411 looking for Al Pacino. On his favorite Coen Brothers movie and faking it in his first movie roleYou made your movie debut in 1983 in "Eddie Macon's Run," which stars Kirk Douglas. [Laughs]On working with Al Pacino and the casting rumor about him he's never heard(L-R) John Goodman and Al Pacino in "The Sea of Love." [Laughs]On the movie that felt like he 'wasted a great opportunity'(L-R) John Goodman and Nicolas Cage in "Bringing Out the Dead."

Persons: John Goodman, Walter Sobchak, Dan Conner, Roseanne, Sulley, Rosanne, Goodman, Eli Gemstone, He'll, I've, I'm, Dan, Rosanne Barr, Barr, Coen, Al Pacino, Eddie Macon's, Kirk Douglas, Douglas, Kirk, Barton Fink, It's, Rushmore, Jeff, he's, Uncle Buck, John, Candy, Alfredo Pacino, Pacino, You've, Nicolas Cage, Martin Scorsese's, Dan Aykroyd, Scorsese, He's, he'd, Babe Ruth, Turturro, Eugene O'Neill Organizations: Inc, ABC, Al, Denzel Locations: televangelists, Angeles, Charleston, Laredo , Texas, Denzel Washington, Manhattan

“I just can’t think of anyone in our politics, in our culture, in our society who we know across more generations. “I don’t think we, as a country, have ever needed someone as much. At the Grammys, as she often does at awards shows, she stood un-self-consciously and sang along with everyone from Tracy Chapman to Olivia Rodrigo. The world — which may not like our politics, which may not like our foreign policy — still loves our pop culture. "Because these things don’t last and so how does she just become this big commercial success, or does she leave a legacy?”

Persons: —, Taylor, Swift, She’s, ”, Shilpa Davé, She’s Walter Cronkite, John Baick, “, Oprah, “ Taylor Swift, ” Baick, Travis Kelce, ” Swift, I’m, Kelce, didn’t, wasn't, she’s, she's “, Davé, John F, Kennedy, Beatlemania, Tracy Chapman, Olivia Rodrigo, She's, Joe Biden, that’s, Baick Organizations: ANGELES, University of Virginia, Western New England University, Tokyo, South America, Allegiant, Chiefs Locations: Tokyo, America, Los Angeles, Asia, North, South, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Washington, Kelce's

☆ Fake Biden robocall linked to Texas-based companies, New Hampshire attorney general announces
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( David Wright | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A robocall that used an AI voice resembling President Joe Biden’s to advise New Hampshire voters against voting in the state’s presidential primary has been linked to a pair of Texas-based telecommunications companies, the state’s attorney general announced on Tuesday. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, in a news conference on Tuesday, said the source of the calls were linked to two businesses: Life Corporation and Lingo Telecom. Formella identified Walter Monk as the owner of Life Corporation. Formella said the investigation is ongoing and suggested it involves additional entities other than Life Corporation and Lingo Telecom. “We have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Life Corporation that orders the company to immediately desist violating New Hampshire election laws.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, John Formella, Formella, Walter Monk, “, ” Formella, ”, Donald Trump, That’s, we’ve, I’m, Biden, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan Organizations: CNN, New, . New Hampshire, Life Corporation, Lingo Telecom, “ Republicans, Democratic, Texas Life Corporation, New Hampshire, University of California, Berkley Locations: New Hampshire, Texas, ., Hampshire

☆ The relentless focus on White Christian nationalism is spreading a racist myth
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

That’s how critics have described White Christian nationalism, a deviant strain of religion that has infected the political mainstream. But there is another cost to the spread of White Christian nationalism that no one mentions. The relentless coverage of White Christian nationalism is spreading a racist myth: that Whiteness is the default setting for evangelical Christianity. In a February 2023 survey, nearly two-thirds of White evangelical Protestants qualified as sympathizers or adherents to Christian nationalism. However, he rejects the political beliefs associated with White Christian nationalism.

Persons: CNN — It’s, ”, Pastor Peter Lim, ” Lim, he’s, “ It’s, It’s, White, Carolyn Chen, Ella Sophie Bessette, you’re, “, Walter Kim, Tom Lin, William Barber II, Chen, Trump, John Minchillo, browning, — it’s, John C, Richards, Jr, Jim Crow, Mark Noll, ” Richards, “ I’m, John Onwuchekwa, Lyndon B, Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Edward Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Onwuchekwa, ” Maria Antonetty, Tina Fineberg, don’t, Lim, William J, Barber, Oliver Contreras, We’re, John Blake Organizations: CNN, White, Christianity, of Atlanta, Berkeley Center, Republican, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Oral Roberts University, National Association of Evangelicals, InterVarsity, USA, Christian, MLK, Saint Mark Baptist Church, White Americans, Liberty, New, Southern Baptist Convention, Cornerstone Church, Primitive Christian, Washington Post, Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative Locations: America, White, American, Korean, Taiwanese, Asian, Africa, Silicon Valley, Taiwan, Korea, Mexico, Little Rock , Arkansas, Georgia, New York, New York City, Crete, Atlanta, Asia, Washington , DC

☆ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologizes for his handling of cancer diagnosis and hospitalization
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2024. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin publicly apologized Thursday for not telling President Joe Biden and the public about his prostate cancer diagnosis and his subsequent hospitalization. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. The Pentagon took three days to inform the White House that Austin had been hospitalized after complications arose from surgery to treat his prostate cancer. Austin said Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks assumed his duties on Jan. 2, after he was transferred to the critical care unit for several days.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Defense Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Austin, I've, Biden, Kathleen H, Hicks Organizations: US, Pentagon, Defense, American, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, Defense Department Locations: Washington ,

Learn moreBusiness Insider Reviews has been covering the best pet products for more than five years. AdvertisementWhat types of pet products we coverFood: After hundreds of hours of interviews and research, we carefully selected the best cat foods and best dog foods. We also put dozens of litters to the test for our guides to the best cat litters and natural cat litter. Veterinarians and professional groomers also helped us narrow down the best dog toothpastes, dog dental chews, cat dental products, dog shampoos, and cat shampoos. Her article on pet anxiety in Pet Sitting Magazine was also nominated for The PSI Professional Pet Care Award.

Persons: We've, Ollie, we've, groomers, shampoos, Lisa Sabatini, Lisa, basset, JoAnna Pendergrass, JoAnna, Emory University's, Janelle Leeson, Janelle, Dodo, Shoshi Parks, Shoshi, Phoebe, Christy Caplan, Christy, Sherman, Walter, You'll, Jackie Brown, Jackie, Dr, Julie Liu, Liu, — Organizations: Health, Animal Association, Association of American, Business, Wall Street, JPen Communications, Virginia - Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Emory, Emory University's Yerkes, Primate Research, Insurance, Rover, Shop, USA, Freelance, Shoshi Parks, NPR, Smithsonian, Atlas Obscura, Portland Community College, Dog Writers Association of America, Animal Wellness, Product, Pet Health, Service Locations: Virginia, Shoshi, Oregon, Austin , Texas, Austin

A month in, the launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League has been by all accounts a resounding win, from multiple attendance records being broken to the quality of play. Women's players have been involved in NHL All-Star Weekend several times now, including longtime U.S. captain Kendall Coyne Schofield stealing the show in the fastest skater event in the 2019 skills competition. Minnesota on Jan. 6 set the record for the biggest crowd to attend a professional women's hockey game with 13,316 at the Wild's home arena in St. Paul. “We’ll continue to lean in and work with the women’s players and have them as part of our world,” Mayer said. “It just makes it a better event.”The only thing that would be better, Coyne Schofield said, is having every PWHL player taking part.

Persons: “, Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Canada's Sarah Nurse, Igor Shesterkin, we’ve, Coyne Schofield, Nathan Phillips, Mark Walter, Paul, ”, Meghan Duggan, Steve Mayer, “ We’ll, ” Mayer, ” Nurse, Taylor Heise, ” Heise Organizations: Professional Women's Hockey League, NHL, Boston, Olympic, U.S, New York Rangers, Canadian, Los Angeles Dodgers, Premier Hockey Federation, New Jersey Devils, Toronto, Mattamy Athletic Center, Leaf, Toronto's, Montreal, Scotiabank Arena Locations: South Florida, Toronto, Boston , Minnesota , New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Minnesota, St, U.S

NEW YORK (AP) — One of the world’s largest and most influential publishers, Simon & Schuster, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The list tells many stories, through the books selected, not selected, and the evolution of what has been highlighted. “A group of Simon & Schuster staffers took on the daunting challenge of selecting 100 titles from our history that are believed to best represent the breadth and depth of the company’s publishing program, across imprints,” the publisher announced Wednesday. “That book actually had an influence on the course of events.”Like many leading publishers, Simon & Schuster began as an independently owned company and vastly expanded after the 1960s. Along the way, Simon & Schuster acquired numerous other publishers, whose books are now part of the S&S catalog and its centennial list.

Persons: Simon & Schuster, Simon, Gregory Hartswick, Prosper Buranelli, Margaret Petherbridge, Richard Simon, Max Schuster, ”, Schuster, Jonathan Karp, Sloan, veteran’s, Karp, “, — Ralph Ellison, Maya Angelou, Richard Wright, Harper, James Baldwin, Alex Haley, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, ” Karp, Ntozake Shange’s, Jenny Han’s “, ” Carlos Eire’s “, ” Siddhartha Mukherjee's “, ” Jason Reynolds ’, Safiya, Wendy Sherwin, didn’t, John Irving, Bruce Springsteen’s, Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Pulitzer, Franklin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Rivals ’, Barack Obama’s, Hillary Clinton, Scott Fitzgerald’s “, ” Ernest Hemingway’s “, Alan Paton’s “, Scribner, Judy Blume’s “, Margaret ”, Walter Isaacson’s “ Steve Jobs, Frederick Backman's, Ove, Dale Carnegie’s, Leon Shimkin, David McCullough's, Wright, Blume, Woodward Organizations: Simon &, New York, HarperCollins, Dial Press, Doubleday, Knopf, “, Rivals, KKR, Win, Carnegie Locations: ”, Snow, Havana

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returned to work at the Pentagon on Monday after nearly a month's absence because of prostate cancer and was meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier in December, and he went to a hospital for a surgical procedure for the cancer on Dec. 22. Doctors at Walter Reed said on Friday that Austin's prostate cancer prognosis is excellent and no further treatments will be needed. Austin has been criticized for keeping secret his prostate cancer diagnosis, surgery and subsequent hospitalization with complications from the procedure. He was under general anesthesia during this procedure and had transferred some authorities to his deputy defense secretary, Kathleen Hicks.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, “, ”, Austin, ” Austin, Joe Biden, he’d, Walter Reed, Kathleen Hicks Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Pentagon, NATO, Walter Reed National Military Medical, White Locations: Ukraine

☆ The White House Medical Unit operated a pharmacy that gave out controlled substances to ineligible Trump staffers, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The White House Medical Unit operated a pharmacy that distributed controlled substances, a new report says. AdvertisementThe White House Medical Unit gave out controlled substances to ineligible Trump staffers, according to a new report from the US Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. "The White House Medical Unit dispensed prescription medications, including controlled substances, to ineligible White House staff," the report says. Sample of the White House Medical Unit Controlled Substance Receipt Tracking Form. White House Medical Unit.

Persons: —, Trump, Walter Reed, General Organizations: White, Medical Unit, Service, Trump, US Department of Defense, White House, Medical, DoD

☆ They fell in love on vacation but went their separate ways. Four years later, she sent him an email: ‘Remember me?’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Long distanceAfter Dan visited Gabriella in Italy, Gabriella visited Dan in the US. Gabriella Vagnoli and Dan WatlingA couple of months later, Gabriella planned a trip to the US to visit Dan in Chicago. But despite being tired from the flight, Gabriella felt immediately welcomed by Dan’s family. Gabriella Vagnoli and Dan WatlingToday, Gabriella and Dan live in Seattle with their two teenage kids. While a love of adventure unites them, Gabriella and Dan insist they’re quite different in many other ways.

Persons: CNN — Gabriella Vagnoli, ”, Dan Watling, Dan, they’d, Gabriella, She’d, I’m, he’s, –, ” Gabriella, Gabriella Vagnoli, Bill Watling Gabriella, Loch, Bill “, He’d, ” Dan, Bill, “, ’, Gabi, Dan didn’t, she’d, Gabriella couldn’t, Skye, strode, Gabriella “, Read, Gabriella’s, he’d, Dan couldn’t, “ It’s, ’ ”, “ We’re, Dan Watling Gabriella, Siena, Dan’s, ‘ I’m, Dan Watling “, San Giuliano, who’d, “ Dan, ‘, Walter Moretti, “ Michelangelo, Dan haven’t, they’ve, they’re, He’s, it’s, we’re, Storr, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Google, CNN Travel, Scottish Highlands, Piazza del Campo, Italian, Chicago, Rio, “ Locations: Scotland, Italy, Loch Ness, Isle, Skye, Europe, Scottish, Germany, Portugal, Edinburgh, Chicago, Pisa, Rome, Urquhart, glens, 1111IESPDJ, America, Munich, Siena, Piazza, Bryce, Italian, Gabriella's, Galena , Illinois, Tuscan, San, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Rio, Seattle , Washington, Seattle

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center say his prostate cancer prognosis is excellent and no further treatments will be needed after seeing him for a follow-up appointment Friday. Despite the complications, “his cancer was treated early and effectively, and his prognosis is excellent,” his doctors said Friday. He was under general anesthesia during this procedure and had transferred some authorities to his deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks. Austin was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed on Jan. 1 in extreme pain and was admitted to the intensive care unit. The incident has prompted both an internal Pentagon review and an IG review into its notification procedures.

Persons: Lloyd Austin’s, Austin, Joe Biden, ” Walter Reed, John Maddox, Dr, Gregory Chesnut, gaunt, Kathleen Hicks, Walter Reed, he'd, Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Pentagon, “, Murtha Cancer Center, White Locations: Ukraine

☆ Defense secretary expected to return to Pentagon Monday after nearly a month away
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to return to the Pentagon Monday after nearly a month away and host NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, according to a defense official. Doctors at the hospital released a statement saying he is recovering well and is expected to make a full recovery. Republicans have been highly critical of how the Pentagon handled Austin’s illness and the House Armed Services Committee has called on the defense secretary to testify next month about the failure to notify key government leaders. From the hospital, Austin authorized the first round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and spoke daily with senior Pentagon officials. Asked if Austin would take questions from the media upon his return to the Pentagon, press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder demurred.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, Austin, ”, Joe Biden, Biden, Jeff Zients, Zients, Austin’s, Kelly Magsamen, Pat Ryder demurred, Ryder, Betsy Klein Organizations: CNN —, Pentagon, NATO, Walter Reed National Military Medical, Walter Reed Medical, Republicans, House Armed, White, The Associated Press, CNN, White House, Defense Department, Ukraine Defense Contact Locations: New, Yemen, Ukraine

☆ Elon Musk's optimism about Optimus might be misplaced
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk has been bigging up Tesla as a robotics powerhouse, highlighting its humanoid bot, Optimus, as a gleaming example of its sophisticated technology. It's possible, however, that Musk is being a tad over-optimistic in his humanoid robot ambitions, particularly regarding its delivery timeline. In true Musk fashion, he made some grand claims about Optimus in the investors' call. It's the most sophisticated humanoid robot that's been developed anywhere in the world." He said, "It should be impossible for any centralized control to upload malware to a humanoid robot."

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, there's, Optimus, Walter Isaacson, Musk, Tesla's, Brett Adcock Organizations: Service, Business, SpaceX, Optimus, German, BMW, Robotics, Amazon, Tesla Locations: Mars

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Todd Helton and Joe Mauer will become just the sixth pair of players inducted together into the Hall of Fame after spending their big league careers with one organization. “A lot of things had to go right,” Helton said Thursday during a news conference in the Hall’s plaque gallery alongside Mauer and fellow electee Adrián Beltré. You try to make the team better and you lead, and if they want you there, great. Just 58 of 273 players elected to the Hall spent their entire career with one team. Helton was nervous meeting the Hall of Famer Brett, but is eager to spend time with him, Mike Schmidt and other members this summer.

Persons: — Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, ” Helton, Mauer, Adrián, …, Helton, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Johnny Bench, Carl Yastrzemski, George Brett, Robin Yount, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Keli McGregor, ” Mauer, “, ”, It’s, Chip, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Jim Leyland, Juan Marichal, ” Beltré, Marichal, Pedro Martínez, Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, Albert, Pujols, Felipe Alou, Ralph Avila, Pablo Peguero, Larry Walker, of Famer Brett, Mike Schmidt Organizations: of Fame, Rockies, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Cal, Cal Ripken Jr, Red Sox, Boston, Baseball Writers ’ Association of America, Helton, Dominican, Dodgers, Hall, of Famer Locations: COOPERSTOWN, N.Y, Colorado, St, Paul , Minnesota, Dominican

☆ Dan Jones Turned to Fiction After Dinner With George R.R. Martin
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There are no books actually on the night stand — just a clock, lamp and photo of my daughters. But beside it is a wobbly pile of 21 volumes (I just counted), and a smaller tower of almost as many again. Each summer I rent a house in a village in the foothills of the White Mountains in Crete. There is one bougainvillea-shaded taverna, which shares the village square with a tiny Byzantine chapel, decorated with magnificent 14th-century frescoes. I sent Alice fan mail to say so, and we ended up on the phone for an hour talking about medieval beards.

Persons: Karl Ove Knausgaard’s “, ” There’s, Jack Reachers, Thucydides, Walter de la, Kostas, Alice Winn’s, “, ”, Alice Locations: Peloponnesian, Crete

☆ With a Mask and Nitrogen Tank, Alabama Pioneers Execution Method
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Jonathan Allen(Reuters) - If federal courts give the green light, Alabama plans on Thursday to pioneer the first new method of judicial execution since lethal injections were introduced in 1982. "If this execution is successful then we're going to see nitrogen hypoxia take off across the country," said Rev. Smith is scheduled to be the first prisoner subjected to the method, which Alabama refers to as 'nitrogen hypoxia,' on Thursday evening at Alabama's Holman Correctional Facility. Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour told federal judges last week that the state has since developed "the most painless and humane method of execution known to man." This is the first time he has had to sign a form acknowledging the risk that an execution method poses to others in the execution chamber.

Persons: Jonathan Allen, Jeff Hood, Kenneth Smith, Elizabeth Sennett, Smith, Kenny, Hood, Edmund LaCour, We're, Stéphanie Boucher, Paul Thomasch, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, Alabama Department, Corrections, Alabama's Holman Correctional Facility, 11th Circuit U.S, Alabama, Veterinary Medical Association, Worth, Allegro Industries, Allegro's, Walter Surface Technologies Locations: Alabama, . Oklahoma, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina, Allegro's Canada

The Swiss government on Wednesday selected Stefan Walter, a 59-year-old German national who was director-general of the European Central Bank for the last decade, to head the Swiss financial authority known as FINMA. Swiss authorities feared the collapse of such a major lending institution could further roil global financial markets following the failure of two U.S. banks last year. The troubles at Credit Suisse threatened to unhinge Switzerland's position as a leading financial market, and the takeover left the country with only one internationally important bank: UBS. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesA parliamentary panel created after the government-orchestrated merger has been looking into the origins of the deal. Walter, who has a master's degree in international banking from Columbia University in New York, will start the job on April 1, the Swiss government said.

Persons: Stefan Walter, Walter, Urban Angehrn, Angehrn, Mark Branson, Marlene Amstad, ” Amstad, SRF, FINMA Organizations: GENEVA, UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss, European Central Bank, Federal Council, Columbia University Locations: Swiss, U.S, British, New York

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