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☆ Russia says Ukrainian city of Bakhmut captured
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Maxar satellite imagery comparing the before/after destruction of the Bakhmut high school and homes in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Russia claimed on Saturday to have fully captured the smashed eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which would mark an end to the longest and bloodiest battle of the 15-month war. Taking Bakhmut — which Russia refers to by its Soviet-era name of Artyomovsk — would represent Moscow's first big victory in the conflict in more than 10 months. The claims came after a week in which Ukrainian forces have made their most rapid gains for six months on Bakhmut's northern and southern flanks. Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi, reacting to Prigozhin's comments before Russia's announcement, had told Reuters: "This is not true.

☆ Trevi Fountain water turns black in Rome climate protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Climate activists pour vegetable charcoal in the Trevi Fountain water, during a demonstration against fossil fuels, in Rome, Italy May 21, 2023 in this image obtained from social media. Allesandro... Read moreROME, May 21 (Reuters) - Seven young activists protesting against climate change climbed into the Trevi Fountain in Rome on Sunday and poured diluted charcoal into the water to turn it black. The protesters from the "Ultima Generazione" ("Last Generation") group held up banners saying "We won't pay for fossil (fuels)," and shouted "our country is dying". Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri condemned the protest, the latest in a series of acts targeting works of art in Italy. The tradition is for visitors to toss coins into the famous 18th century Trevi Fountain to ensure that they will return to Rome one day.

☆ Russia's Wagner claims Bakhmut; Kyiv says situation critical
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But meanwhile, to the north and south, they have made their most rapid gains for six months in the surrounding area, seizing swathes of territory from Russian troops. "Wagner troops climbed into Bakhmut like rats into a mousetrap," Oleksander Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, told troops at the Bakhmut front this week. The battle for Bakhmut has revealed a deepening split between Wagner, a mercenary force that has recruited thousands of convicts from Russian prisons, and the regular Russian military. For two weeks, Prigozhin has been issuing daily video and audio messages denouncing Russia's military leadership, often in expletive-laden rants. Moscow has long claimed that capturing Bakhmut would be a stepping stone towards advancing deeper into the Donbas region it claims to have annexed from Ukraine.

☆ Unbowed, Proud Boys are planning now for their biggest Pride Month disruptions ever, extremism watchdogs warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But this year, the Proud Boys are redoubling their anti-LGBTQ+ efforts, and are laser focused on Pride month. "It's a dangerous thing, because the Proud Boys are all about violence, and so are the Patriot Front, she said. A banner shared to a Proud Boys Telegram channel by someone calling himself a member of the Middle Tennessee Proud Boys chapter. A banner posted on several Proud Boys Telegram channels by an individual identifying themselves as a member of the Proud Boys Michiana (Michigan/Indiana) chapter. The Proud Boys' planned propaganda promoting anti-LGBTQ+ "Proud Day" celebrations timed for Juneteenth, an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the US.

Prigozhin made the claim in a video in which he appeared in combat fatigues in front of a line of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners. "Today, at 12 noon, Bakhmut was completely taken," Prigozhin said. Our units are fighting in Bakhmut." Bakhmut has been the focus of the longest and bloodiest battle of Russia's war in Ukraine, which is nearly at the end of its 15th month. His victory claim followed fierce fighting around the city in the past week in which Ukraine said it pushed back some Russian forces.

☆ Central Asia leaders converge in China as Xi touts 'enduring' friendship
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Andrew Hayley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The first to land was President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan - China's largest trading partner in Central Asia - with his face-to-face meeting with Xi on Wednesday ending with a deal to build "enduring friendship" and share "weal and woe". Tokayev's deal with Xi will set the tone for the other bilateral meetings, where China will seek deeper cooperation with other Central Asia states in its quest to achieve greater food, energy and national security. Two-way trade between China and Central Asia hit a record $70 billion last year, with Kazakhstan leading with $31 billion. Kyrgyzstan followed with $15.5 billion, Turkmenistan with $11.2 billion, Uzbekistan with $9.8 billion and Tajikistan with $2 billion. Reporting by Andrew Hayley; writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Musk revealed those plans on Tuesday at the company's annual meeting, an about-face for the celebrity executive who recently acquired social media platform Twitter. Musk told CNBC he did not yet have a "fully formed strategy" for Tesla advertising. Tesla spent $151,947 on advertising in the U.S. in 2022, according to advertising intelligence firm Vivvix, which measured ads across places including TV, social media, Web banners and billboards. Diaz-Ortiz is a former Twitter manager who has written books about the social media company. Thomas Martin, senior portfolio manager at Tesla shareholder Globalt Investments, sees Musk's embrace of advertising as a positive.

☆ Erdogan Ahead of Challenger as Turkey Appears Headed for Runoff Election
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Jared Malsin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags and banners in Ankara. Photo: necati savas/ShutterstockISTANBUL—Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged with a surprise advantage in a fight for his political survival, pulling ahead of his main challenger in Sunday’s election ahead of a likely runoff ballot that could have far-ranging domestic and geopolitical implications. As of Monday morning, Mr. Erdogan had won 49.40% of the votes counted so far and his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu had 44.96%, according to the head of the Turkish Supreme Election Council. The head of the election board said 99% of the ballot boxes had been entered into the agency’s central system.

CNN —French soccer team Toulouse did not select several players for its Ligue 1 game against Nantes on Sunday after they refused to participate in a league wide anti-homophobia campaign. “Although respecting the individual choices of its players, and after numerous exchanges, the Toulouse Football Club has chosen to exclude these players from the game,” the Ligue 1 club added. It extends to others, but it also encompasses respect for my own personal beliefs. This respect extends to others but also includes respect for my personal beliefs. “Given my roots, my culture, the importance of my convictions and beliefs, it was not possible for me to participate in this campaign.

☆ As shoppers look for savings, Nordstrom hopes Rack stores can fuel its revival
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The success or failure of the Nordstrom Rack turnaround effort could shape the company's future. Those chains such as T.J.Maxx , Ross Stores and Burlington Stores , have opened more stores and wooed new customers, driving higher foot traffic than Nordstrom Rack has seen. Nordstrom Rack stores outnumber the company's namesake stores, with 241 locations across the country, according to company filings. Nordstrom Rack stores accounted for more than 40% of new customers in 2022, CEO Erik Nordstrom said on the March earnings call. As it pins its growth hopes on the off-price locations, Nordstrom has turned Rack stores into e-commerce hubs, too.

☆ Analysis: North Africa backslides toward swirling debt troubles
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Making debt payments could become almost impossible. EGYPTEgypt's finances also look stretched despite it securing a $3 billion IMF rescue plan in December. The rating agency, which downgraded Egypt's credit rating again on Friday, highlights that only default-stricken Sri Lanka would need to pay more. "It would not be immaterial if it were to default" Ross said about the impact on global money managers. "These very wealthy Gulf countries have generally enhanced financial stability in the region," via their support he added.

[1/3] Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and Dr. Ing. He did not mention the company's Xinjiang plant in China, a joint venture with SAIC Motor (600104.SS), which has become a sore point for human rights activists as well as some shareholders, including top-20 investors Deka Investment and Union Investment. "Volkswagen must be certain that its supply chains are clean," said Ingo Speich, head of sustainability and corporate governance at Deka. Volkswagen's China chief visited the plant in Xinjiang earlier this year and said he saw no evidence of forced labour. Shareholders flagged rising competition from Chinese EV competitors in China, with BYD (002594.SZ) outselling Volkswagen as the top passenger car brand earlier this year.

☆ Eurovision: The coronation may have passed off peacefully. But song contest could be a bigger headache
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

London CNN —Britain’s security services are quietly relieved that the coronation of King Charles III passed without major incident – save for some accusations of heavy-handed policing. On the face of it, the stakes associated with the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest would not appear to be particularly high. For that reason, British security officials are more exercised than they might otherwise have been about a kitschy musical competition. “On one hand you have thousands of people enjoying the nightlife, which means potential of physical targets and organized crime. This year’s event is, at its heart, a partnership between the UK and Ukraine, two major thorns in the Kremlin’s side.

☆ Volkswagen defends China record at turbulent shareholder meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Volkswagen defended its record in China and its decision to jointly own a plant in the Xinjiang region after activists and investors lashed out at the carmaker at a volatile annual general shareholder meeting on Wednesday. The United Nations said last year that China's "arbitrary and discriminatory detention" of Uyghurs and other Muslims in its Xinjiang region may constitute crimes against humanity. Rights groups have documented abuses including mass forced labour in detention camps which China has denied. Investors called on Volkswagen to request its joint venture partner SAIC seeks an independent external audit of the Xinjiang plant. "Volkswagen must be certain that its supply chains are clean," said Ingo Speich, head of sustainability and corporate governance at Deka, a top-20 Volkswagen shareholder.

☆ Anti-monarchists released from custody after King Charles' coronation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JUSTIN TALLIS/Pool via REUTERSLONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - The leader of anti-monarchy group Republic and other members were released from custody after hours of detention during Saturday's coronation of King Charles that raised questions over whether the police response had been proportionate. Republic said that detained members began to be released late on Saturday evening, after nearly 16 hours in custody. Tens of thousands of people turned out to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla, who rode in a state coach back to Buckingham Palace after Saturday's service at Westminster Abbey. Not everyone who came to watch was there to cheer Charles, with hundreds of republicans booing and waving banners reading "Not My King". "I think overall (the police) managed to get that balance right," Frazer told Sky News.

“Difficult years await us but if we don’t reach zero emissions immediately they will be terrible.”Photos showed activists, wearing orange vests, standing waist deep in the fountain. They unfolded orange banners bearing the words in Italian: “Our future is as black as this water” as crowds of onlookers snapped pictures. It is believed to be the same group of climate activists that led protests at other Italian historical sites including the Barcaccia fountain at the base of the Spanish Steps in central Rome, where they poured black liquid into the fountain on April 1. Similar protests saw activists glue themselves to Italian art masterpieces in locations like the Vatican museums and Uffizi galleries in Florence. ‘Iconic’ work of artLocated in the famed Piazza Navona square in Rome, the Fiumi Fountain was designed by Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651.

☆ Thousands rally in Australia against potential submarine base
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, May 6 (Reuters) - Thousands of people rallied on Saturday against a future nuclear-powered submarine base at Port Kembla in eastern Australia as part of the A$368 billion ($244.1 billion) AUKUS defence pact with the United States and Britain. The second-largest coal export port in New South Wales state is the Defence Department’s preferred site for a new east-coast submarine base, according to state broadcaster ABC. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said last month no decision had been made on a site for a new east coast submarine base. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the submarine project after two former leaders criticised the deal over its cost, complexity and potential sovereignty issues. The deal unveiled in March will see Australia purchase U.S. Virginia-class submarines before joint British and Australian production of a new submarine class to be built in Australia by the early 2040s.

☆ Anti-monarchists see an opportunity to prove their point in the coronation events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Emma Bubola | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

They said they expected at least 1,000 people to turn up for Saturday’s protest, wearing yellow, holding banners and chanting, “Not my king.” Several anti-coronation parties are also planned around the country, with members eager to use the crowning of King Charles as evidence of the absurdity of having a monarchy in this day and age. “They will put a glittery golden crown on his head in a Christian church,” said Matt Turnbull, a 35-year-old Republic member who lives in London and planned to attend the protest, in an interview. “Look at it, and just accept that something about this feels weird in 2023.”Mr. Turnbull said that he expected the coronation to make his stomach turn, but that it also felt good that he would not be alone in having such a feeling. “The worse it makes me feel to watch it,” he said, “the more quickly we will move to abolish it.”That Charles appears to be less popular than Elizabeth, his mother, is also rising the hopes of anti-monarchists. Riz Possnett, 19, a University of Oxford student who uses they/them pronouns, said that the monarchy and its colonial legacy were an outdated symbol for modern, multicultural Britain.

☆ Chile's voters set to take big step in constitution redraft 2.0
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Natalia A. Ramos Miranda | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Rodrigo GarridoSANTIAGO, May 5 (Reuters) - Chileans will vote to elect 50 constitutional advisers on Sunday, a major step towards rewriting the constitution, after voters overwhelmingly rejected a first attempt in a plebiscite last September to replace the dictatorship-era charter. The so-called Constitutional Council that voters are set to elect will work as of June on the new constitution, based on a preliminary draft prepared by a commission of 24 experts that Congress appointed in March. "I voted to approve (in September), I wanted a new constitution and to get rid of the dictatorship's constitution, but now I'm not really interested." He stressed that traditional political forces are now more in control of the process, unlike the failed first attempt. It seems "likely that no single bloc or party will win enough seats to independently steer the process without compromise," Watson said.

Seoul, South Korea CNN —For years, South Korea’s biggest annual LGBTQ pride celebration has been held in the same grassy square in central Seoul, which fills up with performers and joyful participants decked out in rainbow costumes. Organizers for both the festival and the Christian concert applied to use the Seoul Plaza venue from June 30 to July 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in a statement Thursday. The foundation is linked with the Christian broadcaster CTS, which has vocally opposed homosexuality and the pride festival, according to Reuters. The tension between South Korea’s LGBTQ community and their conservative, often Christian critics is clearly displayed at each pride festival, where both groups show up. At last year’s SQCF festival, opponents and religious groups gathered outside the venue, displaying protest messages on banners and shouting anti-LGBTQ slogans through loudspeakers.

During a historic and solemn two-hour service, which dates back to the time of King William the Conqueror in 1066, Charles' second wife Camilla was also crowned queen. Charles, 74, automatically succeeded his mother as king on her death last September. GREAT AND GOOD[1/20] Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla wave on the Buckingham Palace balcony following their coronation ceremony in London, Britain May 6, 2023. Much of the ceremony featured elements that Charles' forebears right back to King Edgar in 973 would recognise, officials said. Not everyone who came to watch was there to cheer Charles, with hundreds of republicans booing and waving banners reading "Not My King".

☆ Napoli crowned Serie A champions following draw at Udinese
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Serie A - Udinese v Napoli - Dacia Arena, Udine, Italy - May 4, 2023 General view during the match REUTERS/Jennifer LorenziniUDINE Italy, May 4 (Reuters) - Napoli won their third Serie A title, and their first in 33 years, on Thursday after a 1-1 draw at Udinese gave the Naples side an unassailable lead in the standings. A second-half goal by Victor Osimhen secured Napoli the title with five games remaining in the season. Napoli have 80 points, securing their position at the top of the table. Second-placed Lazio, who also have five games left to play, are 16 points adrift of Napoli. As the final whistle blew, Napoli supporters rushed onto the pitch to celebrate the momentous occasion alongside the players.

☆ Italy's Naples explodes in joy as city finally regains Serie A crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Antonio Denti | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin, another fan who declined to give his surname, said of the expected Scudetto party: "It will be chaos, mayhem. Authorities also banned car and scooter traffic from the city centre in the hope of minimising risk to public order. "I've been waiting for the Napoli Scudetto since I was small," said a teenage girl out with two friends, her cheeks painted Napoli blue. "It's a victory for the entire city, it's wonderful," she added, declining to give her name. In Udine, there were post-match scuffles as Napoli fans ran onto the stadium pitch to celebrate with players, but were met by hostile home supporters armed with belts and batons, the ANSA news agency said.

☆ Opinion: Whatever happened in the skies over Putin’s fortress, one thing is certain
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. (The following day, the Kremlin also accused the US of involvement in the alleged attack, which the US denies). What exactly happened over the presumably heavily fortified Kremlin – a word that means fortress in Russian – the seat of government and home to the president? Russia’s credibility, particularly concerning its war against Ukraine, has been crushed by its persistent lies. In the Immortal Regiment parade, hundreds of thousands of Russians take to the streets, many holding up photographs of their relatives who served the nation in World War II, the Great Patriotic War, as it is known there.

☆ You’re About to Pay $300,000 for College. What’s Another $3,000 in Campus Swag?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Tara Weiss | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Laurie Drago spent around seven hours arranging a cornucopia of crimson-and-cream Indiana University paraphernalia for her daughter’s surprise party this year. Pay to playTo celebrate 17-year-old Alex Drago ’s decision to attend the Bloomington, Ind., campus, Ms. Drago bought IU banners, IU shot glasses, IU pillows, IU balloons, IU ball cap, IU sweatshirt, red platform Converse sneakers and a red rhinestone-encrusted champagne bottle to decorate her bedroom. She also got a sprinkle cake with the IU emblem and a custom bomber jacket emblazoned with “Hoosier Daddy.”

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