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☆ Australia's IAG sees lower double-digit gross written premium growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Small toy figures are seen in front of displayed IAG (Insurance Australia Group) logo in this illustration taken, November 8, 2021. Australia's top general insurer reported a 10.6% rise in GWP to A$14.73 billion ($9.4 billion) for fiscal 2023, matching the Refinitiv estimate. The company also expects an insurance margin in fiscal 2024 of 13.5%–15.5%, higher than the pervious year's margin of 12.6%. IAG also declared a dividend of 9 Australian cents per share, up from 5 cents per share a year ago. The insurer posted cash earnings of A$452 million for the 12 months ended June 30, up from A$213 million a year ago.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nick Hawkins, IAG, Refinitiv Eikon, Nausheen Thusoo, Archishma Iyer, Paul Simao, Stephen Coates Organizations: Insurance, REUTERS, cps, Insurance Australia Group, ”, Thomson Locations: GWP

☆ Manchester United faces growing pressure over decision on Mason Greenwood
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —As Manchester United continues to consider Mason Greenwood’s future, the English Premier League club faces growing scrutiny from fans, some of whom have staged protests at games. Earlier this week, United said that the club is in “the final stages” of making a decision on the player’s future. Pretending this is ok would be a huge part of the problem.”Manchester United fans protest against Greenwood potentially returning to play for the club prior to Monday's game against Wolves. Manchester United referred CNN to the club statement issued on Wednesday, saying it has nothing further to add. In that statement, the club said that it has “conducted a thorough investigation” into the allegations against Greenwood.

Persons: Mason Greenwood’s, Greenwood, United, “ legitimises, Rachel Riley, won’t, Riley, Ioannis Alexopoulos, Greenwood hasn’t, Mason, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Manchester United, English Premier League, Crown Prosecution Service, CPS, Wolves

CNN —A British nurse has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the hospital where she worked, making her the country’s worst baby serial killer in recent times. But concerns raised by consultants over the increased mortality rate of patients under Letby’s care were initially dismissed by the hospital’s management, the UK’s PA Media news agency reported. In September 2016, Letby filed a grievance against her employers after she was relocated from the hospital’s neonatal ward. “Justice has been served and the nurse who should have been caring for our babies has been found guilty of harming them. “We are heartbroken, devastated, angry and feel numb.”Letby will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on August 21.

Persons: CNN —, Lucy Letby, Countess, Chester, duping, Letby, Elizabeth Cook, ‘, ”, “, ” Pascale Jones, ” ‘, ’ Organizations: CNN, Manchester Crown Court, Police, Prosecution Service, Consultants, UK’s, Media, Royal College of Nursing, CPS, ”, “ Locations: Manchester, England

☆ After watching Ukraine track down and kill Russian military commanders, the US and its allies are training to avoid the same fate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ukrainian attacks on Russian commanders have undermined Russian command-and-control capabilities. They have forced Russia's military and others around the world reconsider how they set up command posts. An Australian army HX77 truck moves command-post components into place during Talisman Sabre on July 21. An Australian army engineer digs a headquarters battle hide during Talisman Sabre on July 20. Ukrainian attacks on command posts across the country have led to stunning attrition among senior Russian military leaders," the authors added.

Persons: unmasking, Benjamin McLennan, Sabre, Cpl, Nicole Dorrett, Col, Ivan Pavlenko, Greg McKenzie, McLennan, we've, Doug Organizations: Service, Russian, BBC, Combat Training, US Army, Milford Beagle, US Army Combined Arms, Royal United Services Institute, CPs, 28th Infantry Division, US Army National Guard, Staff, 1st Combat Signals Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Australia, Ukraine, Australian, Nicole Dorrett Ukraine, Kherson, Russians, Gen, British, Pennsylvania

☆ US Navy stealth destroyer Zumwalt's deck guns are basically useless, but it's on its way to get new hypersonic missile launchers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Destroyer USS Zumwalt has long had problems with its main deck guns, which don't have any ammunition. The Zumwalt is changing homeports to receive upgrades including a new hypersonic missile system. US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt arrives in Yokosuka for a port visit, September 26, 2022. Unlike China and Russia, the US does not currently have any hypersonic weapons systems deployed. True hypersonic weapons pose a new and potentially unstoppable threat due to their ability to maneuver unpredictably at these speeds.

Persons: Zumwalt, Seaman Darren Cordoviz, Michael Monsoor, Lyndon, Johnson Organizations: Service, US Navy, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Navy, Systems, US, Army, CPS Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Diego , California, Pascagoula , Mississippi, Ingalls, Yokosuka, Hawaii, China, Russia, Virginia

☆ Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of rape and attempted rape Benjamin Mendy: Former Manchester City footballer found not guilty of rape and attempted rape
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has asked for privacy to begin “rebuilding his life” after he was found not guilty on a charge of rape and a separate charge of attempted rape. But jurors at the time failed to decide on two charges, resulting in the second trial. Outside court, Mendy said, “Alhamdulillah,” meaning “praise be to God” in Arabic. Mendy, who plays as a left-back, was suspended by Manchester City in August 2021 when the original charges against him were announced. He began his career playing professional leagues in France for Le Havre, Olympique de Marseille, and Monaco before moving to Britain to play for Manchester City.

Persons: Benjamin Mendy, Mendy, “, Jenny Wiltshire, “ Benjamin Mendy, ” Organizations: London CNN — Former Manchester City, French, Chester Crown, CNN, Crown Prosecution Service, CPS, Manchester City, Le Havre, Olympique de Marseille Locations: England, France, Monaco, Britain

☆ Ukraine's attacks on Russian commanders have the US Army worried about its own 'fat and ponderous' command posts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ukraine's military has been using its long-range weapons to attack Russian command posts. A command post set up at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin in California during a training exercise. A destroyed Russian army command post pictured on March 13, 2022. One is to move command posts further from the lines and fortify them against bombardment or special-forces raids. Virtual reality would enable command posts to remain in secure locations far from the front.

Persons: —, Scott Woodward, James Geelen, Michael Peck Organizations: Army, Service, Command, US Army, National Training Center, Fort, GPS, CPs, Arms Army, Milford Beagle, US, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Ukrainian Armed Forces, US Army CPs, Colorado . US Army, James Geelen Command, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Fort Irwin, California, Chornobaivka, Ukrainian, Kherson, Gen, Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, China, Taiwan, Russia, Fort Carson, Colorado, Forbes

Abuja, Nigeria CNN —A Nigerian senator, his wife and a doctor were on Friday jailed in the UK over an organ harvesting plot, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement. Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice and Dr. Obinna Obeta were sentenced at the UK’s Old Bailey court to nine years and eight months, four years and six months, and 10 years in prison respectively. Some of the country’s political class wrote to the UK court appealing for leniency ahead of his sentencing, including Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ekweremadu served as speaker of the ECOWAS parliament between 2011 and 2015. But the calls for clemency failed to hold sway over the UK court and some in Nigeria questioned why high profile politicians were using their influence to advocate for a convicted criminal.

☆ Nigeria: Clemency pleas for senator found guilty of organ harvesting plot in UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Abuja, Nigeria CNN —Nigerian MP Ike Ekweremadu will be sentenced in the UK Friday after being found guilty of an organ harvesting plot, but fellow lawmakers in his country have joined growing calls for leniency in his case. Many of the country’s political class have written to the UK courts appealing for leniency during his sentencing, including Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo. … The conviction has already been done but we are seeking clemency because this is the first time our colleague is getting involved in this kind of thing,” Lawan said. Ekweremadu served as speaker of the ECOWAS parliament between 2011 and 2015. But the calls for clemency are unlikely to hold any sway over the UK court and some in Nigeria have raised eyebrows that high profile politicians are using their influence to advocate for a convicted criminal.

☆ Tragedy chanting: ‘Vile’ soccer songs about deaths fueled by ‘need to hurt’ opposing fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Described as “vile” and “unacceptable” and fueled by “the need to hurt,” ‘tragedy chanting’ is becoming an increasing concern to soccer authorities. Then, in 1989, overcrowding in the stands ahead of the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. Nottingham Forest fans hold up a banner in memory of the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. The working group has also been in contact with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to discuss whether convictions can be pursued for fans that engage in tragedy chanting. Heysel Stadium Disaster, May 1985.

☆ Premier League player won’t face charges following arrest on suspicion of child sex offenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —An English Premier League footballer who was arrested on suspicion of child sex offenses in July 2021 will not face further action or prosecution, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed Friday. CNN is unable to name the player or his former club as UK law stipulates that his identity cannot be disclosed. A CPS spokesperson said: “After careful consideration, we have concluded that this case does not pass our legal test. “However, where our legal test is not met we cannot bring a prosecution, no matter how serious the allegations are. The CPS’ decision to not prosecute implies there was not a realistic prospect of conviction.

☆ Lockheed Martin gets U.S. Navy contract worth up to $2 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Feb 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) a contract worth up to $2 billion related to hypersonic weapon systems, the defense firm said on Friday, amid a global uptick in demand for arms and ammunitions. Under the contract, Lockheed will integrate the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) weapon system on to the navy's ZUMWALT-class destroyer stealth ships. The defense contractor will also provide launcher systems, weapon control, integrated missile components, and platform integration support for the naval platform. The contract comes as the United States and its global rivals have been developing several hypersonic weapons, which travel in the upper atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound. Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Lockheed Martin gets U.S. Navy contract worth up to $2 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Adani Group likely to repay short-term commercial paper borrowings - bankers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Bhakti Tambe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSE.NS) regularly raise funds by issuing CPs – short-term debt instruments issued to meet working capital requirements. "All payments are being made as per schedule," an Adani group spokesperson said in an e-mail, but did not respond to queries on whether investors are seeking early redemption. Adani Ports has CPs worth 35 billion rupees due to mature through end March, data from information service provider Prime Database showed. So, we may see them (Adani Group) staying away from the market for some time," said one banker, who regularly arranges debt issuances for the group. The Adani Group spokesperson denied media reports that these bond issues have been scrapped, saying this is "speculation" and "not true" in a reply to Reuters' mail.

☆ Michael Haight is accused of killing his wife and 5 kids in a brutal Utah familicide. Police reports suggest he had a troubling pattern of aggression toward children.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Police say Michael Haight, 42, shot and killed his wife, Tausha Haight, 40, her mother, Gail Earl, 78, and the couple's five children, three girls, and two boys ages 4 to 17, before committing suicide. The couple had five children: Macie Haight, 17, Briley Haight, 12, Ammon Haight, 7, Sienna Haight, 7, and Gavin Haight, 4. The officer told her there was no indication Michael Haight would respond with violence, according to the report. At some point prior to the massacre, Tausha Haight told family members that her husband removed all the firearms from the home, her sister-in-law, told the AP. Park said he last met with Tausha Haight on Tuesday, January 3 — the day before the family's bodies were discovered.

☆ Lori Lightfoot's campaign investigated for trying to recruit Chicago public school students to help her win
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Natasha Korecki | Natasha Korecki Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

CHICAGO — An explosive revelation is shaking up an already competitive mayor’s race here after incumbent Lori Lightfoot’s campaign sent an email to Chicago public school teachers — in a system she oversees — asking them to recruit students to volunteer on her campaign for school credit. Now, the Chicago Public Schools inspector general is investigating the matter, critics are calling for more extensive inquiries and her opponents are piling on. “CPS OIG has opened an investigation into this matter and we are currently gathering information to determine which, if any, policies have been violated,” the Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General confirmed to NBC News Thursday. The probe comes after a deputy campaign manager sent an email to public school teachers — over government email — asking them to recruit students to volunteer for Lightfoot’s campaign in an “externship program” where students could earn class credit. As mayor, Lightfoot directly oversees Chicago schools, appointing the superintendent and members of the board of education.

Put another way, more Black children in metro Phoenix will go through a child maltreatment investigation than won’t. Almost all described a system so omnipresent among Black families that it has created a kind of communitywide dread: of that next knock on the door, of that next warrantless search of their home. Many Black families first moved there as a result of redlining and racial covenants that blocked them from renting or owning property elsewhere. In Maricopa County, Black children experienced child welfare investigations at one of the highest rates among large counties nationally, and nearly three times the rate of their white peers, from 2015 to 2019. But throughout the country, investigations were more pervasive among Black families.

☆ NZ's Fonterra cuts milk price forecast as demand weakens
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 8 (Reuters) - New Zealand's Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd (FCG.NZ) on Thursday lowered its farmgate milk price forecast range for the second time for the 2022/23 season on higher costs and softening demand for whole milk powder. The world's biggest dairy exporter now expects to pay farmers between NZ$8.50 and NZ$9.50 per kilogram of milk solid (kgMS), compared with NZ$8.50 to NZ$10.00 per kgMS it forecast in August. Chief Executive Officer Miles Hurrell said demand for whole milk powder has weakened, particularly in Greater China, offset by increased participation from other regions. Fonterra's global milk supply from key exporting regions declined for the 12 months to September, while its New Zealand milk collections dropped 3% season-to-date. The New Zealand dairy giant's first-quarter earnings before interest and taxes rose to NZ$368 million ($234 million), compared to prior year's NZ$190 million.

☆ A communications satellite the size of an apartment is so bright it can outshine stars, and astronomers are worried it could interfere with their research
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AST SpaceMobile deployed a 693-square-foot communications satellite into orbit called BlueWalker 3. Astronomers say it's as bright as some of the brightest stars, and warn it could impact their work. AST SpaceMobile bills it as the "largest-ever commercial communications array deployed in low Earth orbit." Astronomers are also concerned about how satellite constellations contribute to the loss to "humanity's ability to experience the natural night sky," according to the IAU statement. When we look up at night sky, many of the bright lights might not be stars — but satellites.

☆ Kevin Spacey charged with 7 new sexual assault allegations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is facing seven new sexual assault charges in the U.K., British authorities said Wednesday. The CPS said it had also authorized one charge of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. Spacey, 63, has already pleaded not guilty to allegations in the U.K. dating back 17 years, including four charges of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. Those allegations were related to incidents alleged to have taken place in London and Gloucestershire, a county around 100 miles west of the British capital. In October, Spacey was found not liable for battery against "Star Trek: Discovery" star Anthony Rapp when Rapp was 14 in the 1980s.

☆ Kevin Spacey charged with seven more sexual offenses in the UK
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

London CNN —Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has been charged with seven more sexual offenses, UK police have said. The 63-year-old actor was charged on Tuesday with a number of sexual offenses against the same man between 2001 and 2004, London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday. Spacey is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on December 16. In July, Spacey pleaded not guilty in a London court to four charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. Spacey has won two Academy Awards for his roles in “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” and was artistic director of London’s Old Vic theater from 2003 to 2015.

☆ Actor Kevin Spacey faces more sexual assault charges in Britain
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Britain's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised seven additional charges against Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey for a number of sexual assaults against one man between 2001 and 2004, it said on Wednesday. The new CPS charges include one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and others of indecent and sexual assault. Spacey, 63, was previously accused of five offences in Britain - four counts of sexual assault by touching, and a more serious charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. 71st Tony Awards – Arrivals – New York City, U.S., 11/06/2017 - Actor Kevin Spacey. Spacey's defence lawyer in Britain, Patrick Gibbs, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the latest charges.

Audiences will see how the battle in the Texas Legislature over gender-affirming care for trans children is far from a mere partisan philosophical argument or campaign talking point for me. That’s the year a flood of anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in the Texas Legislature — the majority of which directly targeted trans kids and their families. This year dealt Texas trans families a double blow when state Attorney General Ken Paxton delivered a nonbinding legal opinion that gender-affirming care for children was child abuse — followed by a directive from Gov. We acted quickly as a family, breaking the news of our pending out-of-state move to Noah over an unforgettably sad dinner. Despite it all, Texas is where our hearts reside, no matter how many miles might separate us and how directly damaging Republican rhetoric has been.

☆ I'm in the Disney College Program, so I work in the Disney parks and get free access for 9 months. The rules are strict and the days are long, but I love it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Cassie Schoene | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Cassie Schoene was a sophomore in college when she got into Disney's college program. It's a work program that usually lasts four to seven months and can be extended for up to a year. Disney College Program participants, or CPs, must be enrolled in a university or have graduated in the past two years. Sometimes people will leave the Disney College Program if they don't get the role they want. The rest of Florida may be cheaper, but I get to experience Disney World cheaper than the rest of Florida.

☆ Pentagon successfully flight tests hypersonic weapon components
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The U.S. Department of Defense launches a sounding rocket from NASA's launch range at Wallops Flight Facility carrying hypersonic weapon experiments that will inform the development of the hypersonic class of weapons, on Wallops Island, Virginia, U.S., October 26, 2022. Wednesday's test was intended to validate future aspects of the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) and the Army's Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). Glide bodies are different from their air-breathing hypersonic weapon cousins, which use scramjet engine technology and the vehicle's high speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion to enable sustained flight at hypersonic speeds. Companies such as Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp are working to develop U.S. hypersonic weapon capability. Reporting by Mike Stone on Wallops Island, Virginia; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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