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☆ An Iraqi historian was slain after being labeled a spy on Facebook. Exclusive emails show catastrophic delays in removing threatening posts.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Tekendra Parmar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Hisham al-Hashimi reached out to his friend Aws al-Saadi, a Meta Trusted Partner, to ask him to take down posts endangering his life. "One of the reasons for his killing was Meta," al-Saadi told Insider. "Mainly because they assumed that the slow response times had to do with a high volume of cases." Aws al Saadi, a Meta trusted partner, outside the Erbil Citadel in Iraq. Internews hopes this might help create a trusted-partner channel with improved communication, more transparency, and faster response times.

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CNN —President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden capped South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official state visit with a glamorous state dinner at the White House Wednesday night to celebrate the two nations’ 70-year alliance. May we do it together for another 170 years.”But Biden wasn’t the only leader who took the mic. Following a round of musical performances, his South Korean counterpart joined him on stage to give his own – a karaoke rendition of Don McClean’s “American Pie” – which received a standing ovation from the crowd. The elaborate dinner is the result of weeks of careful diplomatic preparations, with each detail meticulously planned by a team of White House chefs, social staff, and protocol experts. U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose with South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee in front of the Grand Staircase of the White House before an official State Dinner, in Washington, U.S. April 26, 2023.

Parchment is one of the most durable writing materials in the world. The ancient material was invented more than 2,000 years ago but almost went extinct after the Middle Ages. At 92, İsmail Araç is one of the last artisans in the world still making it by hand. The ancient paperlike material was invented more than 2,000 years ago in Turkey but almost went extinct after the Middle Ages. At 92, İsmail Araç is one of the last artisans in the world still making it by hand.

Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app

☆ 6 ways to support Muslim coworkers who are fasting during Ramadan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Allana Akhtar | Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

For many Muslims, Ramadan means abstaining from food and drink while at work. So, how can non-Muslim colleagues be supportive, while also not accidentally making a micro-aggression toward someone who is observing Ramadan? At one office where Nasr worked, a boss privately asked her if she needed any special accommodations while observing Ramadan. Most Muslims use the Arabic phrase "Ramadan Mubarak," which translates to "have a blessed Ramadan" or "happy Ramadan, to greet each other. Plus, there are many other reasons why Muslims don't fast, like during illness or travel.

Musa Jaiteh has been using only natural dyes to make his tie-dyed fabrics for 35 years. But since the 1960s, artisans have been replacing natural ingredients for imported chemical dyes. Natural dyes from kola nuts and indigo have been used to make tie-dye in Gambia for generations. But more and more artisans have been replacing these traditional ingredients with imported chemical dyes. Today, Musa Jaiteh is the last artisan in his town in Gambia still using only natural dyes and traditional techniques.

M&S Schmalberg has been handcrafting custom fabric flowers in Manhattan since 1916. Its flowers have been worn by celebrities like Beyoncé, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Rihanna. But since the 1950s, competition from overseas manufacturers has made it difficult for them to stay afloat. But competition from overseas flower manufacturers has made it difficult to stay afloat. For more information, visit the M&S Schmalberg website or Etsy shop.

☆ After New Year's Eve violence, German police union calls for action
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Germany’s biggest police union called Tuesday for concerted action to prevent a repeat of the violent excesses seen in Berlin and other cities during the New Year’s celebrations, in which officers, firefighters and medical personnel were attacked with fireworks. Police in the capital recorded dozens of attacks and said 41 officers were injured. Online videos showing people firing rockets and throwing firecrackers at police cars and rescue vehicles drew widespread condemnation from German authorities. Some conservative and far-right politicians have noted that some of the attacks took place in areas of Berlin with large immigrant communities. Experts say the absence of such a ban may have contributed to the scale of violence and large number of fireworks injuries — including at least one death — seen this year.

Women in West Bengal, India, have been weaving jute into mats for generations. Many Rajbanshi women depend on the craft to make their livelihoods. But mass-produced mats are flooding the market and threatening to put them out of business. Loading Something is loading. But mass-produced mats are flooding the market and threatening to put them out of business.

☆ World Cup 2022: How Qataris have reacted to tournament on home soil
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Reem Al-Haddad still remembers how excited she felt when Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup. “The World Cup has almost always been in Western nations. The report did not connect all 6,500 deaths with World Cup infrastructure projects and has not been independently verified by CNN. She still remembers watching the 2002 World Cup from home, cheering on Italy before it was knocked out by host South Korea in the round of 16. “That person who watched the World Cup behind the screen never believed that she would actually get to experience it in real life,” she added.

☆ Your job is probably safe, even in a recession. Employees are going to have the upper hand for years.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Declining immigration and an aging population could cause the labor shortage to continue in the years ahead. And the labor shortage may only get worse in the years ahead. Those slowdowns have already contributed to the current labor shortage, and will continue to do so for years to come. "But it's happening very slowly, and I don't think it explains what is particularly going on in the labor market right now." A steady decline in the US' working age population might not only create problems for businesses looking to grow.

Prateep Rodpai is one of the few Khon mask-makers in Thailand. Khon is a traditional Thai dance that's been practiced since the 15th century. Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Loading Something is loading. Khon is a traditional Thai dance form that's been practiced since the 15th century.

The Sitarmakers of Miraj, India, have been crafting musical instruments out of pumpkins for almost 200 years. They are known for making the tanpura, a string instrument used by classical singers. But lately, cheaper electronic instruments have been threatening their business. They are known for making the tanpura, a string instrument used by classical singers to find the perfect tone. The family gained a reputation for high-quality handmade instruments over seven generations.

☆ Anne Hathaway-backed VC firm Pact just closed the first tranche of its $36 million seed fund. Here's the 11-slide LP deck it used to raise the capital.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A female-founded VC firm has closed the first tranche of its £30 million ($36 million) early-stage fund. Check out the 11-slide LP deck the London-based firm used to raise the fresh funds. While investments will span Europe, Pact will help its portfolio companies scale into regions underserved by traditional investors, Gu told Insider. Gu will support companies looking to enter Asia while Pham and Mobassaleh-Wyndham will focus on EMEA, and specifically Türkiye. It sees this as a pull for potential portfolio companies who can then take advantage of the network's expertise.

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People across Africa have used shea butter for skin and hair care, food, and medicine for at least 700 years. Shea butter-making has been the only source of income for many women in Ghana for centuries. Deforestation and competition from bigger companies are threatening the livelihoods of the women and their families. People across Africa have used it for skin and hair care, food, and medicine for at least 700 years. We traveled to Ghana to find out how despite the challenges, this group of women artisans is still standing.

☆ Qatar day trip: Zekreet Peninsula beckons with desert, art
▼ + stars: | 2018-02-28 | by ( Barry Neild | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Out in the hot, shimmering desert sands of western Qatar, something alien, colossal and very weird looms over the horizon. The steel plates, located across a kilometer of desert on Qatar’s Zekreet Peninsula, are the work of Richard Serra, an American artist known for creating imposing metalwork sculptures. While hardly overrun, “East-West/West-East” has become a place of occasional pilgrimage for locals, tourists and art devotees alike, adding to a roster of Qatar desert activities that includes dune bashing, Bedouin camps and camel treks. While there’s plenty to take in at “East-West/West-East,” the artwork isn’t the only attraction the Zekreet Peninsula has to offer. Somewhat more mysterious – in appearance at least – are the “desert mushrooms” of Qatar, another few kilometers along the peninsula.

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