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☆ Tsitsipas banks on wine, baguettes, Alcaraz-style smiles for Paris success
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) - World number five Stefanos Tsitsipas will be downing red wine, munching on baguettes and smiling a lot in Paris, hoping this will lead to success at the French Open, he said on Sunday. Alcaraz, at 20, is four years younger than Tsitsipas, but the Greek said it was the Spaniard's constant smiles and charisma that he found impressive. "Red wine and baguettes," Tsitsipas, a Paris finalist in 2021, said when asked about his plan to go deep in the tournament. "Plenty of red wine and baguettes would help to do well in Paris." Alcaraz took the tennis world by storm as a teenager in 2022, winning the U.S. Open title along with claiming the number one spot.

☆ Bayraktar TB2 drones were hailed as Ukraine's savior and the future of warfare. A year later, they've practically disappeared.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In the early months of the Russia-Ukraine war, Bayraktar TB2 drones were hailed as Ukraine's savior. However, a year later, nearly all of them are believed to have been shot down by Russian forces. "Once the Russian military got its act together, it was able to down many TB2s," Bendett said. Electronic warfare is a "critical component" of Russia's tactics and contributing to the enormous losses of Ukrainian drones, a report released by the UK's Royal United Services Institute found. Ukraine still had the initiative, but "as the Russian military adapts, there can be no room for complacency," it said.

She added the Ukrainian did not deserve to leave the main showcourt in the manner she did, but Kostyuk urged Sabalenka to take a stronger, more personal stand against the war. "She (Sabalenka) never says that she personally doesn't support this war, and I feel like journalists should change the questions you ask these athletes because the war is already there," Kostyuk said. Fifth seed Tsitsipas was made to work hard by Vesely, who is on the comeback trail following a lengthy injury absence, before winning 7-5 6-3 4-6 7-6(7). With temperatures at 22 degrees and expected to reach 26 in the afternoon, the water vending stands were busy. Serbian Djokovic is bidding for his third French Open title.

☆ Explosions rock Kyiv in Russia's night raid, air defence downs targets, mayor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] Smoke rises in the sky over the city after a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb GaranichKYIV, May 28 (Reuters) - Explosions shook the Ukrainian capital in early hours on Sunday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, adding that information was being clarified and defence systems were downing air targets. "Blasts in Kyiv," Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app. Anti-aircraft defence working in the region, there are downed targets." Reuters' witnesses reported several blasts after air alerts were issued for Kyiv and a large swath of Ukraine.

This photograph taken on October 20, 2022 shows a replica of the Big Ben Tower at the Londoner Casino resort at the Cotai Strip in Macau. They can now do the same in Macao, the so-called Las Vegas of Asia. The Londoner Macao, a British-themed luxury casino resort in the Chinese gambling hub, held its grand opening ceremony on Thursday. You can't get better spa experience, you can't get better food experience," Las Vegas Sands CEO Robert Goldstein told CNBC on Thursday. The Londoner Macao casino resort and the Venetian casino resort, along the Cotai strip in Macau, China.

Persons: Eduardo Leal, EDUARDO LEAL, Ben, David Beckham, we've, Robert Goldstein, Goldstein, Wonderland, Beckham Organizations: AFP, Getty, Afp, Vegas Sands, CNBC, Downing, Fountain, Las Vegas Sands, Sands, The Plaza Macao, Hotel Macao, Bloomberg, Macao, Guard Locations: Macau, Asia, Macao, Vegas, British, Westminster, Shaftesbury, London, Las, Venetian Macao, Parisian Macao, Italy, France, England, Paris, China, Buckingham, Hong Kong

☆ Car crashes into Downing Street where U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lives
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Henry Austin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Police officers work at the site where a car crashed into the front gates of Downing Street in London, Britain, May 25, 2023. Armed police on Thursday arrested a man after a car was driven into the gates of Downing Street where Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and several other senior politicians reside. Video footage posted on social media showed a silver hatchback car heading straight for Downing Street's gates at a slow speed across Whitehall, the main thoroughfare in London's government district. Downing Street's gates are manned by armed and unarmed police officers at all times. In 1991 the IRA fired three mortars at the street, one of which exploded in the backyard of No.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Downing, Simon Parry, John Major Organizations: Britain's, Metropolitan Police, Associated Press, Britain's Press Association, Irish Republican Army, Islamic State Locations: Downing, London, Britain, Whitehall, London's

☆ Ukraine is losing 10,000 drones a month to Russian electronic-warfare systems that send fake signals and screw with their navigation, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A new report estimates that Ukraine is losing roughly 10,000 drones every month. A sophisticated electronic warfare system is among Russia's biggest strengths, researchers said. Patton Rogers said that while the figures are "likely" overestimated, they underline just how effective Russia's electronic warfare has become at countering Ukraine's extensive use of drones. Sophisticated Russian systems such as the Shipovnik-Aero jamming station are hard to detect and can imitate other signals, the researchers said. But by the summer of 2022 it was clear that Russia's electronic warfare and air defense capabilities had ramped up, as Insider's Alia Shoaib reported.

☆ Scientists may have discovered the first antidote to the deadliest mushroom known to humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Rupendra Brahambhatt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Death cap mushrooms kill up to 100 people per year and sicken thousands more but have no antidote. Scientists used CRISPR to help identify a chemical that could become the first death cap antidote. A recent study in Nature Communications finally found a possible death cap mushroom antidote. A death cap mushroom antidote is long-awaitedMushroom foragers can easily mistake death cap mushrooms for other edible fungi. When the researchers tested ICG in mice poisoned with the death cap mushroom toxin, the results were eye-opening.

It was against that backdrop that Biden and his fellow leaders entered three days of talks. Biden faces his fellow world leaders Friday in Japan under the shadow of a looming default on US debt, a scenario his advisers said risks subverting American leadership and sending the global economy into tailspin. The risk appears particularly acute as Biden works to rally fellow G7 officials behind a shared approach toward Russia and China. The conflict will be a key topic of discussion for world leaders Friday. Biden and fellow leaders were planning to discuss how much progress has been made on the battlefield, with an eye toward helping Ukraine regain territory and assume leverage in potential peace talks.

☆ Russian forces in retreat near Bakhmut, Ukraine and Wagner say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Ukrainian troops near the front line said Russia was bombarding access roads to slow the Ukrainian assault, which has shifted momentum after months of slow Russian gains in Europe's deadliest ground combat since World War Two. Ukraine's gains have been accompanied by a deepening public split within Russia's forces between Wagner, which has led the Bakhmut campaign, and the regular Russian military. The Russian defence ministry has acknowledged some withdrawals from positions near Bakhmut over the past week but denies Prigozhin's assertions that flanks are crumbling, or that it has withheld ammunition from Wagner. "Using the principle of active defence, we resort to counteroffensive actions in some directions near Bakhmut. Russia has also been experiencing attacks and explosions both in Ukrainian territory it controls and in Russian territory near the border.

☆ Pension reform defiance brings new blood to French trade unions
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Interest is growing among younger and private sector workers, where unions tend to be less well represented. Vacheron said that more than 30% of the CGT's recent joiners were under the age of 35 while 70% were coming from the private sector, which traditionally is dominated by the CFDT. "Since the retirement reform is contested by the young and old, public and private sector workers, they see a utility in belonging to unions, unions are attractive," Vacheron said. "Unions are rebuilding themselves from the ground up through recruitment and not only street protests," sociologist Michel Wieviorka said. Labour relations consultant Stephanie Matteudi-Lecocq said that the momentum coming from pension reform pushback could ultimately put unions back on more solid footing in companies.

☆ National Conservatism: Why are some British Conservatives behaving like the next election is already lost?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The list goes on, but the general theme of this conference was that British Conservatism is having an identity crisis and these ideas could be the solution. CNN spoke to several people involved in this conference as well as people inside the Conservative Party who opposed the conference and its ideas. Another group of Conservatives supporting the vocal criticisms of Sunak are, sources say, thinking beyond the election and about future leadership contests. Indeed, another Conservative conference was held at the weekend, seen widely as a “Bring Back Boris” event, which the former PM didn’t turn up to. Pro-Sunak Conservatives who still think the next election could be won are also not happy.

☆ Sevilla fight back to beat Juve and reach another Europa League final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Spaniards will bid for a record-extending seventh Europa League title when they face AS Roma in the final in Budapest on May 31, after Jose Mourinho’s side drew 0-0 at Bayer Leverkusen to secure a 1-0 aggregate victory in their semi-final. But midfielder Suso levelled six minutes later with a stunning long-range strike to take the game into extra time. It was a cathartic night at Seville as the Europa League kings worked their magic yet again in their favourite competition after a difficult season. "This is madness, incredible, it's time to enjoy this amazing moment," Sevilla captain Jesus Navas told Movistar Plus. "The courage of the fans has carried us and we are here again in another European final.

☆ Embarrassed by Ukraine downing its 'unstoppable' missiles, Russia is now scrambling to attack its air defenses, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

This comes after Ukraine shot down Kinzhal missiles that Russia bragged were unstoppable. Russia claimed it destroyed one Patriot air defense system, but US officials said it was still operational. KILLJOY is NATO's term for Russia's advanced Kinzhal missiles, which Russia has previously described as unstoppable. Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday that a Russian missile destroyed one Patriot air defense system in Kyiv. The US decided to give Ukraine the Patriot defense system last year, after Ukraine asked allies for air defense help to repel Russian attacks.

☆ Ukraine and Russia face off in June at World Court over flight MH17
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

THE HAGUE, May 16 (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia will face off before the United Nations' top court on June 6, when judges will hear Ukraine's claim that Moscow violated a U.N. treaty by supporting pro-Russian separatists who were identified by a Dutch court as being responsible for the 2014 downing of flight MH17. The Dutch ruling also found that Russia had "overall control" over the forces of the Donetsk People's Republic in Eastern Ukraine from mid-May 2014. The International Court of Justice, as the World Court is formally known, has set four days of hearings on June 6, 8, 12 and 14 to hear both sides in the case. This case, filed in 2017, is one of two Ukraine brought against Russia at the court. The other case, filed just after the 2022 Russian invasion, centers on Moscow's claim they invaded Ukraine to prevent genocide.

☆ How the president of Abbot Downing tried to save the Wells Fargo unit for the ultra-rich from being folded
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Wells Fargo folded Abbot Downing, which served the bank's wealthiest clients, in late 2020. In late 2020, Wells Fargo disbanded Abbot Downing, the unit that catered to the bank's wealthiest clients. Abbot Downing was folded into Wells Fargo's private bank, which also serves rich clients, but it wasn't a safe haven. Business Wire via APGinter left Wells Fargo in September 2021 to launch a new registered investment advisor the following March. Some ex-Abbot Downing employees refer to Callan the "new Abbot Downing" for its focus on the ultra-rich set.

London CNN —Britain and the Netherlands are working on an “international coalition” to help Ukraine procure F-16 fighter jets that Kyiv says are vital to its defense as Russia ramps up its aerial strikes, a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Tuesday. Ukraine, which has been saying the fighter jets are essential to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks, welcomed the announcement from the British and Dutch leaders. Britain does not have F-16s in its air force, but the Netherlands and Belgium do. Early on in the war, the US believed that supplying Ukraine with new fighter jets would risk an escalation between NATO and Russia. Any movement of F-16s to Ukraine would require US approval and US President Joe Biden said earlier this year that Kyiv did not need the fighter jets.

☆ Belarus president and Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko appears to confirm that 4 Russian military aircraft were shot down. The Kremlin has not yet acknowledged the downed aircraft.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the four downed Russian aircraft were "shot down." According to Reuters, Lukashenko addressed Belarusian troops on Monday at the border with Ukraine. The Belarusian leader decisively claimed that the four aircraft were shot down — but did not say by whom. "Three days after the events near us — I mean in the Bryansk region, when four aircraft were shot down, we are forced to respond," Lukashenko said, according to Reuters. The crash signified the most Russian aircraft lost in a single day since March 2022, according to the pro-Russia Telegram channel Fighterbomber.

CNN —Russia’s air force may have just suffered one of its worst days since the Ukraine war began. Some analysts believe Ukrainian air defenses may have been pushed forward as the Russian air force uses more “glide munitions” that can fire at targets from distance. They are using these bombs “from a distance that is unreachable for Ukrainian air defense,” he said. Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, has also suggested that the nature of the threat has changed. That may be as of much concern in Russia as the loss of four aircraft over Russian territory

☆ Heat become first eighth seed to reach Conference Finals in 24 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler put up 24 points with eight rebounds and four assists to steer the Heat past a Knicks team that was desperate to stay alive in front of a raucous Miami crowd. They will next meet either the Philadelphia 76ers or Boston Celtics, who eliminated them in the conference finals a year ago. "We've been in games like this all year long, we're prepared for it," Butler said in a televised interview. The Heat, who dominated first seeded Milwaukee Bucks in their opening round, are only the second eighth seed to reach the conference finals after the Knicks, who did it in 1999. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK's Sunak to seek more Ukraine support in summits next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will push other global leaders to pledge more support for Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion when he attends international summits next week, his office said on Saturday. Sunak, looking to bounce back after heavy losses for his Conservative Party in local elections last week, will travel to Iceland on Tuesday to meet other European leaders attending a Council of Europe summit. In addition to the war in Ukraine, efforts to strengthen Europe's borders will also form part of Sunak's discussions in Reykjavik. At the G7 summit, Sunak will again push for more assistance for Ukraine as it prepares for escalating military action against Russia, Downing Street said. Sunak will also press allies to counter hostile states using "economic coercion" - an oblique reference to China.

☆ Thanks for the memories (and money) index-rebalance strategies
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A man pauses outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 15, 2016 in New York City. Index-rebalance strategies, the talk of the town just a few short years ago, are seemingly on their last legs these days. What doomed the index-rebalance strategy is a tale as old as time on Wall Street. Times are tough now, but as Alex notes in his story, not everyone is completely giving up on the strategy. And while we're talking Man Group, here's a rundown on a program meant to help non-tech workers learn data-science skills to help streamline their jobs.

☆ Abbot Downing's president pitched a buyout to save the Wells Fargo unit from being folded. The bank said no, and employees have fled.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

☆ ‘A Trump tribute act’: Meet Suella Braverman, the commander-in-chief of Britain’s culture wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

London CNN —Late last year, after a breakneck ascent of British politics put her in charge of the country’s migration, crime and national security agenda, Suella Braverman revealed her political fantasy. Leon Neal/Getty ImagesAnd she is an equally furious culture warrior, borrowing rhetoric from the American right when lambasting “woke” culture, transgender rights and climate protesters. Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP/Getty ImagesIt is a stance that has drawn sharp criticism – including from within the traditional wing of Braverman’s Conservative Party. Should Braverman succeed at her next bid for the party leadership, her critics fear another rightwards shift in British politics. “She’s recognized that in the current political climate, her way of creating an impact… (is) positioning herself as a Trump tribute act.

☆ Jill Biden visits UK's Downing Street ahead of King Charles' coronation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Akshata Murty, the wife of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets with U.S. first lady Jill Biden at Downing Street in London, Britain May 5, 2023. REUTERS/Peter NichollsLONDON, May 5 (Reuters) - U.S. First Lady Jill Biden met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty at Downing Street on Friday as she visited London to represent the United States at King Charles' coronation. Jill Biden, 71, will visit a local school on Friday afternoon along with Murty before meeting staff at the U.S. embassy and King Charles at a reception in Buckingham Palace. U.S. President Joe Biden has faced some criticism, notably from his predecessor and potential 2024 election rival Donald Trump, for skipping Charles' coronation. Biden visited Belfast and Ireland last month to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace pact.

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