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☆ South by Southwest Cuts Ties to Army After Gaza-Inspired Boycott
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Marc Tracy | More About Marc Tracy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The South by Southwest festival, which dozens of artists withdrew from this year to protest its sponsorship by the U.S. Army and defense contractors in light of their ties to Israel, announced this week that it would no longer accept their support. “After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model,” the festival, which is held each year in Austin, Texas, said in a brief statement on its website. “As a result, the U.S. Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”No further details were offered, and SXSW declined to elaborate on the statement. “We look forward to a chance to work together in the future,” said Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, the public affairs officer at the Army Futures Command in Austin, which works on technology and innovation. And we were very proud of the partnership we had this past year.”

Persons: “, ”, Jamie Dobson, A.F.C, It’s Organizations: Southwest, U.S . Army, SXSW, Austin for Palestine Coalition, Army, Army Futures Command Locations: Israel, Austin , Texas, Austin, Palestine

☆ Covid-flu combination vaccine shows positive results in late-stage trial, Moderna says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —There could be a combined Covid-19 and flu shot in our future, although it won’t be ready for this year’s flu season. On Monday, vaccine maker Moderna announced positive late-stage trial results for its Covid/flu combination vaccine it calls mRNA-1083. Other companies have been testing a combined Covid-flu vaccine, but Moderna is the first to announce positive late-stage trial results. The trial studied the vaccine in two different age groups with about 4,000 adults in each age category. Few people got the latest Covid shot, studies show.

Persons: ”, Francesca Ceddia, ” Ceddia, Covid, Spikevax, Moderna, Sue Peschin, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Peschin, ” Peschin, “ Organizations: CNN, Moderna, Public, US Centers for Disease Control, Food, Covid, FDA, Alliance for Aging Research, CNN Health, CDC Locations: United States

☆ Taiwan celebrities Mayday, Jolin Tsai in crossfire of political battle as tensions with China rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Douban, a popular site for reviewing movies, books and music, users compiled a list of nearly 100 Taiwanese celebrities, detailing whether each of them had shared the post. On Saturday, CCTV publicly endorsed Taiwanese celebrities who shared its post, sharing the screenshots of 36 such reposts – fueling a further backlash against those who hadn’t. On Monday, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council weighed in, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of requiring Taiwanese artists to express a political stance. The remarks and retweets by Taiwanese artists of the CCTV unification post came against the backdrop of China’s largest show of force around the island in more than a year. “This is not the first time, and probably not the last, that Taiwanese artists are forced to make a political stand in China,” said the leader.

Persons: Mayday’s, Ashin, ”, –, Xi Jinping, Jolin Tsai, Edgar Su, China’s, Beijing’s, ’, Tsai, “, Lin Chen, ” Lin, Lai Ching, Ichiro Ohara, Lai, Zhu Fenglian, ” Zhu, Lin Organizations: CNN, Party, China, Democratic Progressive Party, Cardiff University, Facebook, Mainland Affairs Council, Chinese Communist Party, Communist, Yomiuri Shimbun, Taiwan Affairs Office, “ Locations: Beijing, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Taiwanese, “, Nanchang ”, Singapore, Weibo, ” Beijing

☆ Japan is determined to keep hunting whales. And now it has a brand new ‘mothership’ to do that
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Heather Chen | Hanako Montgomery | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Demand for whale meat in JapanOver the years, Kyodo Senpaku has launched aggressive public relation campaigns to promote whale meat and win over new generations of young diners. We would react very badly to that.”The owner of a whale meat shop shows a block of whale meat at the Karato fish market in Shimonoseki city. Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty ImagesThis picture taken on May 20, 2024 shows whale meat sashimi at a 'Nisshinmaru' whale meat restaurant in Shimonoseki city, Yamaguchi prefecture. Located in deep waters surrounding the entire continent of Antarctica, the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary hosts dozens of whale species including humpbacks, blue whales and fin whales. “It’s called the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary for a reason – you don’t kill whales there,” Watson said.

Persons: Tokyo CNN —, Hideki Tokoro, ”, ” Tokoro, Hideko Tokoro, Hanako Montgomery, Paul Watson, “, Daisuke Urakami, Ari Friedlaender, Sutton Hibbert, Shutterstock, ” Donald Rothwell, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Francois Gohier, ” WCA, Tokoro, Nobuhiro Kishigami, ” Kishigami, “ It’s, Yuichi Yamazaki, Mitsuhiro Kishimoto, Juan Barreto, Takaaki Sakamoto, Captain Paul Watson, aren’t, James Anderson, ” Rothwell, Watson, CNN he’s, ” Watson Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Kyodo, CNN, Yomiuri Shimbun, “, International Whaling Commission, IWC, International Convention, Whaling, Australian National University, ANU, Cetacean, Kyodo Senpaku, South Korea –, National Museum of Ethnology, Getty, Shimonoseki City University, Whale, Whaling Affairs, Japan’s Fisheries Agency, Captain Paul Watson Foundation, Whale Defense Agency Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kangei, Japan, Norway, Iceland, Nisshin, Gulf of Maine, North, Russia, Thailand, South, Osaka, Shimonoseki, AFP, Yamaguchi, Gerlache, Antarctica, …

☆ An American soldier went missing in the Korean War. How his late mother’s faith he’d come home has finally been realized
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Kaila Nichols | Brammhi Balarajan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

With limited logistics and no hope of reinforcement, 30,000 UN soldiers faced over 120,000 Chinese troops in a battle considered one of the most brutal of the Korean War. A lack of proof and a mother’s faithSoon after the war, the opposing nations embarked on Operation Glory, a 1954 exchange of thousands of sets of remains of Korean War dead. Spruell’s name also was recorded, it said, at the cemetery’s Courts of the Missing, where the names of 8,210 Americans lost in the Korean War were listed when it was dedicated in 1966. But the brother rarely spoke of the young man last seen halfway around the world near the Chosin Reservoir, said another one of his children, Dennis Spruell. More recently, it called Dennis Spruell with the news.

Persons: Cpl, John Albert Spruell, 7th Infantry Division –, Spruell, Spruell’s, Pauline Sleeper, ”, –, Dennis Spruell, ” Dennis Spruell, “, Sleeper, Dennis ’, Donna Lee Bailey, John Spruell, John A, Bailey, “ he’s, Charles Haley, Spruell didn’t, Haley, James Bell, John Spruell’s, ” Bailey, son’s, “ They’re Organizations: CNN, UN, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, Army, Operation, 57th Field Artillery, US Defense Department’s Defense POW, Agency, Memorial, of, Defense POW, Punchbowl, Spruell Defense POW, Army Mortuary Locations: Cortez , Colorado, Hagaru, Colorado, Cortez, Korean, Honolulu, cemetery’s, Korea, Japan

☆ Robinhood climbs after reporting record earnings for first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of Robinhood rose in extended trading Wednesday afternoon after the retail brokerage announced stronger-than-expected first-quarter results. Robinhood reported net income of $157 million, or 18 cents per share, for the first quarter. Cryptocurrency transactions accounted for $126 million in revenue in the quarter, the company said. Robinhood said that its number of funded customers rose by 810,000 year over year to 23.9 million. Shares of Robinhood were up nearly 40% year to date before Wednesday's earnings announcement.

Persons: Robinhood, Dan Gallagher, Robinhood's Organizations: LSEG, Securities and Exchange Commission

☆ Robinhood says SEC could pursue enforcement actions over its crypto operations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Securities and Exchange Commission could soon pursue enforcement action against Robinhood , according to the trading firm. Robinhood disclosed in a filing Monday that over the weekend the regulator sent it a warning that upon completion of an investigation the company could be charged. "We firmly believe that the assets listed on our platform are not securities and we look forward to engaging with the SEC to make clear just how weak any case against Robinhood Crypto would be on both the facts and the law," he said. Shares of the stock initially fell 2% but have reversed. They were recently trading up 1%.

Persons: Robinhood, Dan Gallagher, Robinhood's, Robinhood Crypto Organizations: Securities, Exchange Commission, Robinhood, SEC

☆ Nespresso, Keurig have new coffee pods coming designed to put an end to all the garbage
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Keurig coffee sales in the U.S. reached over $4 billion last year, while Wall Street analysis pegs Nespresso sales at roughly $1.5 billion. The U.S. coffee pods and capsules market is expected to grow to $10.1 billion by 2028 up from $8.4 billion last year, according to market research firm Mordor Intelligence. Environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and compostable coffee pods are increasingly in demand, and have been on the market for a few years, such as NEXE, a packaging solutions supplier based in Canada, which launched a line of compostable coffee pods in the U.S. and Canada in 2021, which it markets as Nespresso-compatible. Getting customer buy-in for new products is also a challenge for companies looking to produce more sustainable coffee pods. Here's a look at what Keurig and Nespresso — the two largest makers of at-home coffee pod systems — have planned for at-home coffee drinkers as part of that push to keep the pods from filling up the garbage.

Persons: Pepper, Joe, Dillon Baxter, Nespresso, Dr, it's, Monique Oxender, Oxender, they'll, Keurig Organizations: Intelligence, National Coffee Association . Companies, Nestle, Recycling Locations: U.S, Canada, there's, North America, Europe

Israel’s military instead announced it was building a new crossing into northern Gaza and said an aid convoy used it for the first time on Friday. The military declined to specify the location of the crossing or the number of aid trucks. COGAT said 419 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to Gaza on Monday, followed by 468 trucks on Tuesday – the highest one-day figure since the start of the war – and another 298 trucks on Wednesday. Aid shipments slated for Gaza are sniffed by a dog at the Kerem Shalom border crossing on March 14, 2024. Israel counts trucks arriving at their crossings for inspection and entry, while UN agencies count trucks inside Gaza that arrive for distribution, according to UN humanitarian affairs office (UNOCHA) spokesman Jens Laerke.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Erez, Samantha Power, Jamie McGoldrick, McGoldrick, ” McGoldrick, “, Kerem Shalom, ” COGAT, COGAT, Jack Guez, Jens Laerke, Laerke, Antonio Guterres, Abu Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israel, CNN, UN, Getty Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, United States, Israel, Ashdod, Kerem, AFP, Abu Salem, Rafah

☆ Congress cut funds cities need to handle the migrant surge
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Congress last month approved the fiscal year 2024 funding level for FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program in the federal funding package, nearly six months into the fiscal year. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat who represents San Antonio, said that immigration is a federal responsibility. “Funding from the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) has helped Catholic Charities and other groups in my city of San Antonio offer basic migrant services without straining local resources. “Due to the substantial demand that exceeds the limited SSP program funding authorized by Congress, not all requests can be fulfilled,” a DHS spokesperson told CNN. The Migrant Resource Center opened in July 2022 as a temporary place for migrants traveling through San Antonio.

Persons: of San Antonio doesn’t, Biden, Joaquin Castro, ”, of San Antonio, Antonio Fernandez, Fernandez, Greg Abbott, Mark Ritacco, John Giles, Giles, Ron Nirenberg, he’s, Joe Biden, Carlos Kosienski, Priscilla Alvarez Organizations: CNN, of San, Resource Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Democrat, “, Shelter, Services, Catholic Charities, Catholic, San, FEMA, GOP Texas Gov, Democratic, Republicans, Department of Homeland Security, Congress, National Association of Counties, US Customs, Protection, US, Mayors, Migrant Resource Center Locations: San Antonio, Washington, DC, Cities, Mexico, Atlanta ; Chicago ; New York City, Albuquerque , New Mexico, Laredo , Texas, Riverside County , California, Pima County , Arizona, Mesa , Arizona, Texas

☆ Pacific castaways’ ‘HELP’ sign sparks US rescue mission – and an unexpected family reunion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

So the castaways gathered palm fronds from the 31-acre island, arranged them to spell out “HELP” on the beach, and waited, according to a Coast Guard statement. The names of the stranded men have not been released by the Coast Guard, and CNN attempts to contact their relatives have not gotten replies. When the Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry reached Pikelot on April 9, the story took another twist. “He couldn’t believe I’m with the Coast Guard trying to rescue them.”The man was a third cousin, the others fourth cousins, he said. “It could be coincidence,” said Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir, public affairs officer for US Coast Guard Forces Micronesia.

Persons: Sgt, Richard Ebensberger, Chelsea Garcia, ” Garcia, Oliver Henry, Eugene Halishlius, Halishlius, ” Halishlius, ”, Sara Muir Organizations: CNN, US Navy, Coast Guard, US Coast Guard, Guard, Hawaii Air National Guard, Federated, Kadena Air Base, Navy, Coast Guard HC, Air, Coast, US Coast Guard Forces Micronesia, US Air Force, Andersen Air Force Base, Australian Locations: Micronesia, Pikelot, Guam, Polowat, Federated States, Pacific, Philippines, Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan

☆ Scotland’s new hate crime law was meant to protect against prejudice. It ended up sowing further division
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Amy Cassidy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order Act came into force last week, a contentious law that expands existing legislation to include transgender identity as a protected characteristic from hate crimes. In the first week of the law’s enactment, a feminist group, “Let Women Speak,” organized a rally against the legislation in Scotland’s capital on Saturday. Another major concern for those who oppose the Hate Crime Act is the supposed lack of clarity on what type of behavior could constitute an offense under the new law. But 25-year-old Scottish trans student Lucy (who asked not to be identified by her real name due to concerns about continued online abuse), said the new law does not reassure her. Scotland’s proposed reforms would have allowed transgender people to self-identify, without the need for a medical diagnosis or certificate.

Persons: –, – Humza Yousaf, ”, JK Rowling, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Jane Barlow, ’, Susan Smith, “, ’ ” Smith, Siobhan Brown, Rowling, Harry Potter, Yousaf, J, Rowling waded, Angela Weiss, ” Vic Valentine, Lucy, Scotland’s, hadn’t, Musk, Ian Miles Cheong Organizations: CNN, ” Scottish, Reuters, Scottish, Women Scotland, Community Safety, Police Scotland, BBC, Getty, Scottish Trans, Public Affairs, Equality Network, Scottish Police Federation, ” Police, Courier, PA Media, Police Locations: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, British, Scottish, Malaysian

CNN —Health workers in northern Gaza exhumed the first corpses from mass graves in and around Al-Shifa Hospital on Tuesday, after they said Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians and left their bodies to decompose during their two-week siege of the complex. Many of the decomposed remnants they discovered had been buried or were found above ground, officials told CNN on Monday. Palestinians walk through the destroyed Al-Shifa Hospital, in northern Gaza, on April 1. Gazan health workers told CNN they exhumed the first bodies from mass graves dug by Israeli forces. Tell me where my husband is?”Palestinians at Al-Shifa told CNN say they want to give their loved ones a proper funeral, lamenting the indignity of their deaths.

Persons: Mahmoud Basal, ” Ahmad Alaiwa, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ”, “ Shifa, Jonathan Whittall, Mohammed Hajjar, Shifa, Yoav Gallant, Israel, ” Motasem Salah, “, Salah, Ghassan Riyad Qunaitta, ” Qunaitta, Dawoud Abo, Nuha Swailem, ” Swailem Organizations: CNN — Health, Shifa, Gaza Civil, CNN, Al, WHO, World Health Organization, Humanitarian Affairs, UN, Israel Defense Forces IDF, IDF, Israeli, Hamas, Ministry of Health, ” CNN, Dawoud Abo Alkas, Getty, Gaza’s Ministry of Health Locations: Gaza, Al, Shifa, Israel, Gaza City, Anadolu, Palestine

☆ Opinion: Trump videos send wildly different messages
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. In a video promoting the Bible, Trump said, “Religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country. … we need to bring them back.”On Good Friday, Trump posted a very different kind of video. It showed an image of President Joe Biden lying sideways and tied up in the bed of a pickup truck. “Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign can’t win, but it could swing the presidency to former President Donald Trump,” Begala wrote.

Persons: Matthew Arnold, Homer, King James, Donald Trump, ”, Lee Greenwood’s, AJ Willingham, Trump, Joe Biden, Drew Sheneman, MAGA, Biden, Fareed Zakaria, ” Zakaria, Candida Moss, he’ll, he’s, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Julian Zelizer, ” “, …, ” Clay, “, Obama, “ Obama, CNN Trump, —, Attorney Alvin Bragg, “ Trump, Stormy Daniels, ” Norman Eisen, Andrew Warren, James Antle III, stoked, Letitia James, Dali, Francis Scott Key, Tasos Katopodis, Richard Timme, ” Timme, Salvatore R, Mercogliano, ’, Jalal Baig, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Baig, Paul Hockenos, “ It’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Nicole Shanahan, Eric Risberg, Paul Begala, Ross Perot, George H, Bush, “ Robert F, can’t, ” Begala, ” Shanahan “, Sergey Brin, Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, Ro Khanna, Lee Drutman, Mark Osler, Jill Filipovic, Lisa Murkowski, Obeidallah, Johnson Ronna, Ronna McDaniel, Justin Sullivan, McDaniel, ” McDaniel, David Zurawik, Jack Ohman, Walt Handelsman, Tim Hubbard, Dennis Muilenburg —, Max, David Calhoun, ‘, ” Hubbard, Annelle, ” Sheline, ” Don’t, Frida Ghitis, Putin, Howard Fischer, Keith O’Brien, Pete Rose, Nick Anderson, Agency Sara Stewart, Mary Ziegler, Patrick T, Brown, shouldn’t, Emma Firth, Carter ’ Parkwood, Roxanne Jones, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé, ” Jones Organizations: CNN, Oxford University, New, Trump, Nasdaq, NYPD, Hollywood, Biden, Cupp, Obama, Manhattan, Attorney, Democratic, US Coast Guard, Baltimore, Federal Highway Administration, RFK Jr, RFK, Google, The New York Times, Republican National Committee, NBC News, “, Press, NBC, MSNBC, Content Agency Boeing, Notre Dame, Boeing, US State Department, Israel, Tribune, Agency, Sony, AP Locations: Independence, New York City, America, New, Manhattan, Queens, New York, Baltimore, Coast, Suez, Port, China, Argentina, Red, Gaza, Wales, Northern California, California, Israel, Columbia

☆ Opinion: Why I’m resigning from the State Department
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Opinion Annelle Sheline | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Unable to serve an administration that enables such atrocities, I have decided to resign from my position at the Department of State. Whatever credibility the United States had as an advocate for human rights has almost entirely vanished since the war began. By resigning publicly, I am saddened by the knowledge that I likely foreclose a future at the State Department. Yet just recently, the State Department ascertained that Israel is in compliance with international law in the conduct of the war and in providing humanitarian assistance. After four years of then-President Donald Trump’s efforts to cripple the department, State employees embraced Biden’s pledge to rebuild American diplomacy.

Persons: Sheline, Israel, Annelle, —, Biden, Joe Biden, Yitzhak Brick, ”, Donald Trump’s, Aaron Bushnell, Jim Crow Organizations: Eastern Affairs, Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor, CNN, Gaza Ministry, Health, UN, West Bank, International Court of Justice, Department of State, United, Protect Journalists, State Department, State, Department, US, Feds United, Peace, Ukraine, Twitter, Facebook, Air Force, Embassy Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, United States, Lebanon, harm’s, Washington

☆ 5 products for kids you should avoid buying on Temu and how to find safe alternatives, according to a pediatrician
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Kelly Burch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A pediatrician says there are five kinds of products you shouldn't buy and shares advice on finding safe, affordable alternatives. Advertisement"If you're buying, you have to understand you're not getting all the safety and quality that you can get from other retailers," Shapiro said. StrollersLike cribs, strollers are subject to recall in the US, as well as safety regulations. When you're buying from a reputable retailer that's subject to US regulations, more expensive doesn't necessarily mean safer, he noted. "Because it's cheaper doesn't mean that it's better, or worse," as long as it meets safety regulations, Shapiro said.

Persons: —, Ilan Shapiro, Shapiro, it's, haven't Organizations: Service, AltaMed Health Services, Consumer Product Safety, Seattle Children's Hospital, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Locations: China, headrests, Seattle

☆ Analysis: China worried about return of Trump, but also sees opportunities if he wins 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Then-US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Beijing's Forbidden City in 2017. “If this decoupling is carried out by Trump 2.0 in a very forceful way, the impact on China is going to be very severe. But experts say China’s business and official sectors are likely already considering contingency plans. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin leave a reception following talks at the Kremlin in March 2023. “Whoever wins – the structure of (US) confrontation, competition, pressure to China are still there,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, Donald Trump, didn’t, –, Biden, Wang Yi, Trump, He’s, Trump’s, Brian Wong, ” Wong, Lintao Zhang, Obama, Melania, “, Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan, Xie Huanchi, he’s, ”, Bala Ramasamy, Shen Dingli, Premier Li Qiang, Ronald Reagan, “ Biden, Shen, ” Trump, skeptically, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Pavel Byrkin, Wong, it’s, Wang Yiwei Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Communist Party, Biden, Senior, Trump’s “, University of Hong Kong’s, Contemporary, House, oceanside, Trump, of, Forbidden, Huawei, Oxford Economics, China Europe International Business School, Premier, American, South Korea Navy, Asia –, Russia’s, NATO, Europe, Kremlin, Getty, South Korea –, White House, Renmin University Locations: China, Beijing, State, US, Russia, Communist, Contemporary China, Taiwan, Lago, City, Xinhua, Shanghai, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, China's Qingdao Port, –, Asia, Seoul, Tokyo, Ukraine, United States, AFP, Japan, South Korea, America, Washington, Hong Kong, South China

Taipei, Taiwan CNN —American support for Taiwan will continue no matter who wins the upcoming US election, House Rep. Mike Gallagher told an audience in the democratic island on Thursday, as tensions simmer between Taipei and Beijing. “I’m confident regardless of how the presidential election goes, we will maintain our support not only for Taiwan but also a posture of internationalism and engagement,” Gallagher told reporters in the capital Taipei. Gallagher said American efforts to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion were also critical to deterring Beijing from using force against Taiwan. American lawmakers regularly visit Taiwan and have supported legislation to bolster US support for the island and its defensive capabilities. 07:53 - Source: CNNTroubled watersThe delegation’s visit comes during a period of heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, sparked by the drowning of two Chinese fishermen near Taiwan’s Kinmen Island last week.

Persons: Mike Gallagher, “, ” Gallagher, Gallagher, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Tsai Ing, Lai Ching, Tsai, ” Tsai, China, ”, ” “, …, ” Zhu Fenglian, Chen Chien Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Communist Party, Taiwan, NATO, Democratic, Washington, CNN, Taipei, Republican, Wisconsin, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Taiwan Affairs Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, China, Ukraine, Europe, Raja, United States, Taiwanese, ”

☆ NASA is looking for a crew to live inside a simulated Martian habitat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —For anyone who has ever dreamed of living on Mars, NASA is seeking potential “Martians” for a simulated mission to the red planet. Inside Mars Dune Alpha, participants will grow crops, maintain their habitat, exercise, carry out robotic operations and go on simulated spacewalks. When it comes to selecting the CHAPEA crew, the agency has specific criteria in mind that aligns with how they select astronauts. Inside the habitat, the CHAPEA 1 crew conducts "Marswalks" (left) and grows crops using a system with appropriate lighting, water and nutrients for growing plants indoors. A series of Mars simulationsThe first CHAPEA mission, which began on June 25, 2023, is set to conclude on July 6.

Persons: Alpha, Kelly Haston, Ross Brockwell, Nathan Jones, Josh Valcarcel, “, ”, Anna Schneider Organizations: CNN, NASA, NASA’s, Space Center, Johnson Space Center Locations: Houston

☆ China ramps up patrols near Taiwan’s outlying islands following death of Chinese fishermen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Nectar Gan | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China is increasing patrols in waters near a group of frontline islands controlled by Taiwan, as tensions rise after two Chinese fishermen drowned during a pursuit by Taiwan’s coast guard who accused them of trespassing. The patrols are likely to put Chinese coast guard vessels in closer proximity to their Taiwanese counterparts, potentially raising the risk of miscalculation and conflict. Two survived after being rescued by Taiwan’s coast guard, while the other two were found unconscious and confirmed dead after being taken to the hospital in Kinmen. Taiwan's coast guard inspects a vessel that capsized during a chase off the coast of the Kinmen islands on February 14, 2024. Over the past three years, 20 people from mainland China have been rescued by Taiwan’s coast guard, according to Kuan.

Persons: Gan Yu, Taiwan’s, “, ” Kuan Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sunday, Democratic Progressive Party, China’s Taiwan Affairs, Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, “ Fishermen, Mainland Affairs, Ocean Affairs Council, Kuomintang Locations: Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Fujian, Xiamen, Taiwan’s, Kinmen, Beijing, Taiwan's, “, Kuan, Taipei

☆ China Says No Banned Areas Around Taiwanese Islands After Two Killed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - There are no off limits or restricted areas for fishing around a group of Taiwanese islands close to China's coast and Beijing reserves the right to take further measures after two Chinese nationals died near the islands, the government said. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained in recent years about Chinese fishing boats and other vessels operating in Taiwan-controlled waters, especially around the Kinmen and Matsu islands which sit a short distance from China's coast. Late on Saturday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, which has already condemned Taipei for the incident near Kinmen's Beiding islet, said the deaths had caused "strong indignation" in China. China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the government had goodwill towards Taiwan's people, but will never tolerate Taiwan's disregard for the safety of Chinese fishermen. "The mainland reserves the right to take further measures, and Taiwan shall bear all the consequences," it added, without elaborating.

Persons: Kinmen, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan, Xu Hao, Ben Blanchard Organizations: China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Fishermen, Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan Affairs Office's, Beijing Locations: BEIJING, China's, Beijing, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Shanghai, Taipei Mayor, Taiwan Affairs Office's Shanghai

☆ Two Chinese fishermen drown during pursuit by Taiwan coast guard
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Shawn Deng | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Two Chinese fishermen have drowned during a pursuit by Taiwan’s coast guard for trespassing off the coast of Taiwan’s Kinmen islands. According to the coast guard, an unnamed mainland Chinese vessel had trespassed within about one nautical mile off the coast of Kinmen - which lies nearer to mainland China than to Taiwan. The vessel capsized while attempting to flee, causing four crew members aboard to fall into the water, it said. “The coast patrol boat rescued two crew members and found another two unconscious crew members in the sea,” the coast guard said in a statement Wednesday, adding that the two unconscious members were confirmed dead after being taken to the hospital. The coast guard said they would contact the fishermen’s families through official channels.

Persons: ”, Taiwan’s Organizations: CNN, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan, Taiwan Affairs Office, Democratic Progressive Party of Locations: Taiwan’s, Kinmen, China, Taiwan

☆ Chipotle says California customers will soon be paying more for their burritos
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chipotle customers in California should brace themselves for higher menu prices this year. The law will put fast-food workers' wages up to $20 an hour from April. Minimum wages for California fast-food workers will increase to $20 an hour in April under a law signed by Gov. The new legislation, known as AB 1228, won't just bring a wage increase in April. Chipotle, which has roughly 115,000 workers, spent $2.44 billion on labor in 2023, up about 11% from the previous year.

Persons: Chipotle's, —, Jack Hartung, Gavin Newsom, Hartung, Laurie Schalow, Chipotle, Chris Kempczinski, Brian Niccol Organizations: Service, Gov Locations: California, —

☆ Taiwan Stops New Group Trips to China Amid Tourism, Air Route Spat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Tourism Administration on Wednesday told travel agents to stop organising new group tours to China since Beijing has yet to allow such trips to the island by Chinese tourists and has altered a flight path in the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei. But "considering the change in the situation", including China not allowing Chinese to visit Taiwan and China's altering of a flight route through the Taiwan Strait last week, Taiwanese travel agencies cannot arrange any more tours, the Tourism Administration said in a statement. China has downplayed the furore, saying it is a routine measure to alleviate air space pressure. Taiwanese are still able to visit China on individual trips, while Chinese who live in third countries have since last September been allowed to come to Taiwan again as tourists.

Persons: Taiwan's, Ben Blanchard, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Administration, Wednesday, Tourism Administration, Taiwan Affairs Office Locations: TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Japan, Taiwan, Taipei

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Crews were searching for a Marine Corps helicopter carrying five troops from Nevada to California that was reported overdue early Wednesday, officials said. The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Creech Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, the Marine Corps said in a statement. The five U.S. Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Miramar Air Station in San Diego is coordinating search and rescue efforts with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol, the Marine Corps said. It was unclear what time the helicopter took off from Nevada or why it was flying back in the storm.

Persons: — Crews, Matthew Carpenter Organizations: DIEGO, Marine Corps, Marines, Stallion, Creech Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, U.S, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron, Marine Aircraft, 3rd Marine Aircraft, Miramar Air Station, San, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Civil Air Patrol, Sheriff’s, National Weather Service, Naval Air System Command Locations: Nevada, California, Clark County , Nevada, San Diego, Miramar, San Diego County, Pine Valley

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