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☆ Corruption inquiry in Australia's NSW state uncovers China links to lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 29 (Reuters) - The former premier of Australia's most populous state engaged in corrupt conduct involving another lawmaker with whom she was in a secret romantic relationship, a years-long corruption inquiry that examined business dealings with China said on Thursday. Maguire told the inquiry he had received envelopes full of thousands of dollars in cash at his parliament office as part of a scheme for Chinese nationals to fraudulently acquire visas. The commission found Maguire engaged in "serious corrupt conduct" between 2012 and 2018 for the migration scheme and other misconduct. Maguire also misused his office by receiving a fee to introduce the party secretary of Liaoning province in China to then NSW premier Barry O'Farrell at parliament in 2012, it said. The commission said it would seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether further prosecutions should be commenced into Maguire.

Persons: Gladys Berejiklian, Daryl Maguire, Maguire, Berejiklian, Barry O'Farrell, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, New South Wales Independent, Corruption, NSW, Liberal, NSW Parliament's, Pacific Friendship Group, Public, Maguire, Thomson Locations: Australia's, China, New, Berejiklian, Shenzhen, South Pacific, Australia, Beijing, Sydney, Liaoning

☆ The Supreme Court Rejects a Once-Fringe Elections Theory
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Justices on the country’s highest court rejected a legal theory that would have radically reshaped how elections are conducted by giving state legislatures largely unchecked power to set rules for federal elections and to draw congressional maps warped by partisan gerrymandering. The 6-to-3 decision was cheered by voting rights advocates who feared an undemocratic fallout if the Supreme Court had ruled the other way. “If the theory had been upheld, it would have been chaotic,” my colleague Michael Wines said. “In states like Wisconsin and Ohio, it basically would have allowed legislators to enshrine themselves in power all but permanently. A recent ruling by that state’s Supreme Court authorized the legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, to draw maps as it sees fit, ensuring that the resulting districts will be warped by politics.

Persons: Michael Wines, “, John Roberts Organizations: North, Republicans Locations: Wisconsin, Ohio

☆ Supreme Court Rejects Theory That Would Have Transformed American Elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Adam Liptak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a legal theory that would have radically reshaped how federal elections are conducted by giving state legislatures largely unchecked power to set all sorts of rules for federal elections and to draw congressional maps warped by partisan gerrymandering. The vote was 6 to 3, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. writing the majority opinion. The Constitution, he said, “does not exempt state legislatures from the ordinary constraints imposed by state law.”Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch dissented. The case concerned the “independent state legislature” theory. The doctrine is based on a reading of the Constitution’s Elections Clause, which says, “The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof.”Proponents of the strongest form of the theory say this means that no other organs of state government — not courts, not governors, not election administrators, not independent commissions — can alter a legislature’s actions on federal elections.

Persons: John G, Roberts, “, Clarence Thomas, Samuel A, Alito Jr, Neil M, Gorsuch, —

☆ Racism, sexism and class-based discrimination ‘widespread’ in English cricket, independent report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —An independent report into the culture of cricket in England and Wales has found racism, class-based discrimination, elitism and sexism to be “widespread” and “deep rooted” in the sport. The “Holding a Mirror Up to Cricket” report was written by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) and received more than 4,400 responses to its call for evidence between oral and written submissions. … The decline in Black cricket in England and Wales has been well documented and subject to much public debate for many years. Regarding sexism, the report said: “Women are still seen as an ‘add on’ to the men’s game. “The apology should acknowledge that racism, sexism, elitism and class-based discrimination have existed, and still exist, in the game, and recognise the impact on victims of discrimination.

Persons: George Floyd, ”, Cindy Butts, Azeem Rafiq, Butts, Rafiq, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Heather Knight, …, Richard Thompson Organizations: CNN, Cricket, Independent Commission, Equity, Wales Cricket Board, Culture, Media, Sport Committee, England men’s, ECB, ”, England Women, England Locations: England, Wales, “

☆ England & Wales Cricket Board apologises over racism and sexism
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 26 (Reuters) - (This June 26 story has been refiled to fix the spelling of 'apologises' in the headline)The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday apologised "unreservedly" to those who faced discrimination in the game after the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) released a report finding evidence of racism across the sport. The report found the cricket boards had failed to prevent "structural and institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination", and the ECB acknowledged the need for change. "Cricket should be a game for everyone, and we know that this has not always been the case. Powerful conclusions within the report also highlight that for too long women and Black people were neglected. Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Angelica Medina Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Richard Thompson, Thompson, Clare Connor, Zahida Manzoor, Pete Ackerley, Ebony Rainford, Brent, Ron Kalifa, Richard Gould, Caroline Dinenage, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Angelica Medina, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Wales Cricket Board, Independent Commission, Equity, Cricket, ECB, Media, Sport, Thomson Locations: England, Bengaluru

☆ UN rights investigator aims to probe growing Israeli settler violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On Tuesday, Palestinian gunmen opened fire near an Israeli settlement, killing four people. "We are very disturbed that violent settler activity has considerably increased in the last months and it's... becoming, in fact, the means through which (Israeli) annexation is insured," said Miloon Kothari, a member of a Commission of Inquiry mandated by the U.N. Human Rights Council. The COI addressed the Geneva-based Human Rights Council earlier on Tuesday, accusing Israel's government of placing growing restrictions on Palestinian civil society groups. Israel, which left its seat empty, said in a statement by its Foreign Minister Eli Cohen that the COI was a "stain on the U.N. and on the Human Rights Council". The council cannot make legally binding decisions but evidence collected by the inquiries it establishes is sometimes used by international courts.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Miloon Kothari, Israel's, Eli Cohen, Michele Taylor, Kothari, Emma Farge, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: West Bank, Human Rights, Rights, United, Israel, United Nations, Thomson Locations: GENEVA, Israel, Geneva, United States

☆ Manchester City wins Champions League for first time, beating Inter Milan 1-0 in tense Istanbul final
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This was not only a night when City won its first Champions League. In beating three-time champion Inter, Pep Guardiola’s side became only the second English team to achieve the treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season. Rodri pictured scoring the winner which secured City the Champions League trophy. Manchester City has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League this season. Will City dominate the Champions League like it has the Premier League?

Persons: Manchester City’s, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Pep, Alex Ferguson, Shaun Botterill, Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, André Onana, Nicolò Barella, Ederson, Rodri, Federico Dimarco’s, Romelu Lukaku, Catherine Ivill, Sheikh Mansour –, –, ” Guardiola, Guardiola, “, ”, Martin Rickett, Abu, Umit Bektas, Jack Grealish, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Manchester, Abu Dhabi United Group, Champions League, Inter Milan, City, Inter, Premier League, FA, Manchester United, City . Manchester City, League, Monaco, Tottenham, Real Madrid, BT Sport, Inter’s, Etihad, Reuters Locations: Istanbul, Europe, City . Manchester, Liverpool, Lyon, Chelsea, Manchester City, Abu Dhabi, Will City, Barcelona

☆ Manchester City: Pep Guardiola's side lays claim to being Premier League's greatest ever team
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When all is said and done, it is looking increasingly likely that this iteration of Manchester City will go down as the greatest team in Premier League history. A 'Premier League Champions' banner is revealed outside Manchester City's stadium on Saturday. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesIndeed, defender Rúben Dias recently called Guardiola the “main piece” of this City team. Back in February, the Premier League accused Manchester City of more than 100 breaches of the league’s finance rules and referred the club to an independent commission. The Premier League told CNN it had no comment to make on the issue, while Rosen said he wasn’t taking press inquiries.

☆ Ivan Toney: Brentford and England striker banned for eight months and fined for breaching betting rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Ivan Toney, the star striker for English Premier League club Brentford, has been suspended from soccer and fined £50,000 ($62,407) due to “breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules,” England’s Football Association announced on Wednesday. According to the FA, Toney “was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.”Rule E8 in the FA’s handbook highlights the rules around betting. Brentford said the club was aware of the eight-month ban decision and is awaiting the written report from the independent Regulatory Commission who ruled on the case. According to the FA, Toney can return to training only with the Bees for the final four months of his suspension starting September 17.

WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a bid by South Carolina officials to revive a Republican-crafted voting map that a lower court said had unconstitutionally "exiled" 30,000 Black voters from a closely contested congressional district. In this case, the Republican legislators were accused of racial gerrymandering to reduce the influence of black voters. South Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature adopted a new voting map last year following the 2020 U.S. census. The Republican map resulted in a 1st congressional district with a larger percentage of white, Republican-leaning voters. The judges – all three appointed by Democratic presidents – ruled that no elections can take place in the 1st district until it has been redrawn, prompting the South Carolina Republican officials to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Time is tight to avoid a historic, economically destabilizing default, which the Treasury Department has warned could come as soon as June 1, but some areas of potential compromise emerged after a Tuesday White House meeting. Deep disagreements remained over competing pressures for spending cuts versus tax increases. Meanwhile, the White House reiterated its backing for legislation speeding government permitting of energy projects by setting maximum timelines. A White House fact sheet distributed on Wednesday said the administration "supports the important reforms" contained in a bill by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. House and Senate Republicans, meanwhile, have said they will not authorize any additional borrowing without an agreement to cut spending.

☆ Premarket stocks: The earnings recession is here. There could be worse to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Earnings reports are coming thick and fast, showing how companies fared in the first few months of the year. But even as earnings are forecast to slump to their lowest level in three years, investors fear the worst is yet to come. This left significant gaps in the forensic search for Nazi-linked records, the Senate Committee stated. AlixPartners, according to the Senate committee, has indicated it will conduct a “supplementary review” of Credit Suisse’s connections to ratlines amongst other allegations. Credit Suisse is Switzerland’s second-largest bank by assets and has spent the past few years plagued by scandals and large losses.

☆ Credit Suisse limited investigations into Nazi-linked accounts, Senate Committee alleges
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

This left significant gaps in the forensic search for Nazi-linked records, the Senate Committee stated. The bipartisan Senate investigation follows a March 2020 report by the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) that linked Credit Suisse accounts to a list of 12,000 Nazis in Argentina. Credit Suisse has thus far failed to meet that standard,” said Sen. Grassley in a statement. AlixPartners, according to the Senate committee, has indicated it will conduct a “supplementary review” of Credit Suisse’s connections to ratlines amongst other allegations. Credit Suisse is Switzerland’s second-largest bank by assets and has spent the past few years plagued by scandals and large losses.

“I have argued for years that the biggest banks in the world are still too big to fail. In practice, however, the economic damage would be considerable.”Keller-Sutter was at the center of a government-orchestrated rescue of Credit Suisse by its larger rival UBS (UBS) earlier this month. Global standards for dealing with teetering “too big to fail” banks were key a part of the package of rules introduced after the global financial crisis. They were designed to make it possible to wind down a big bank without destabilizing the financial system or exposing taxpayers to the risk of losses. The rest is lent out at higher interest rates or invested, because that’s how big banks make most of their profit.

“I have argued for years that the biggest banks in the world are still too big to fail. In practice, however, the economic damage would be considerable.”Keller-Sutter was at the center of a government-orchestrated rescue of Credit Suisse by its larger rival UBS (UBS) earlier this month. They were designed to make it possible to wind down a big bank without destabilizing the financial system or exposing taxpayers to the risk of losses. Although some investors in Credit Suisse bonds lost everything, Swiss taxpayers are still on the hook for up to 9 billion Swiss francs ($9.8 billion) of potential losses arising from certain Credit Suisse assets. The rest is lent out at higher interest rates or invested, because that’s how big banks make most of their profit.

☆ The war in Ukraine has created more refugees than the world has seen since WWII, according to a new UN report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The UN has released a new report describing crimes committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The report details war crimes including torture and rape of civilians, and deportation of children. The invasion has created more refugees and displaced more people than the world has seen since WWII. More people have fled Ukraine or been displaced within the country since the start of the war than the world has seen since WWII, according to the United Nations. A State Department spokesperson told Insider "there is no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, and we have been clear that those responsible must be held accountable."

☆ U.N. Sees Wide Range of War Crimes by Russian Forces in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Daniella Cheslow | Isabel Coles | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The conflict in Mariupol, Ukraine, has left apartments destroyed and residents devastated. United Nations investigators have gathered evidence of a range of atrocities that Russian forces committed against Ukrainians that amount to war crimes, a United Nations commission found. An independent commission formed under the U.N. Human Rights Council cited evidence of killings, imprisonment, torture, sex crimes and the deportation of civilians, according to a report released on Thursday. Ukrainian forces also committed “a small number of violations” of international law, the commission found, including the shooting and torture of Russian prisoners of war, the report stated.

☆ Soccer’s new M&A binge will mostly benefit players
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Streisand Neto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Qatari consortium is set to make a $6 billion offer for Man Utd, home to stars including Marcus Rashford, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The Financial Times reported that Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi is preparing a $3.8 billion swoop on Harry Kane’s Tottenham Hotspur. The Qataris’ reported Man Utd offer of $6 billion would value the New York-listed club at 8.6 times trailing revenue. Man Utd, whose financial advisers are U.S. investment bank Raine Group, has set an initial Feb. 17 deadline for bids. The Financial Times on Feb. 15 reported that Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi was preparing a $3.8 billion offer for Tottenham Hotspur.

The tumult that broke out last month during the election of Kevin McCarthy for speaker illustrated the potential for profound dysfunction in the new House Republican majority. Here is a closer look at the fractious House Republican caucus. Chart of House Republicans highlights members who denied the 2020 election results, were supported by the House Freedom Fund, or both. Representative Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, who has also denied the 2020 election results, defeated Representative Liz Cheney in the primary. A Venn diagram shows the Republican newcomers in the House who either denied the 2020 election results, were supported by the House Freedom Fund, or both.

☆ We've already been condemned, says Man City's Guardiola over charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"It's the same as what happened after UEFA (charges). And I think the Premier League, supported by 19 teams, are going to take good lawyers too to defend their position. "But if the same situation with UEFA happens and we are innocent, what happens to restore or pay back our damage?" Guardiola also warned that other clubs should look at their own affairs before condemning Manchester City. The charges against City, the world's highest revenue-generating club last season according to Deloitte, will be heard by an independent commission.

☆ Manchester City Accused of Financial Breaches by English Premier League
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON—The English Premier League accused Manchester City Football Club, the league’s current champion and one of its most-storied teams, of breaching the league’s financial regulations over almost a decade, in a sweeping critique of the club’s financial management. Representatives for Manchester City, the league’s current champions, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The Premier League has a number of financial rules in place, including requirements for clubs to submit annual accounts and disclose payments made to agents. Clubs found to have breached the league’s governing rules can face expulsion from the competition, fines and points deductions. The league said Monday that it would appoint an independent commission to consider the charges against Manchester City.

☆ Soccer’s Premier League accuses Manchester City of breaching financial rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City, on September 14, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom. The Premier League has referred the club to an enquiry over an alleged breach of financial rules. LONDON — The English Premier League on Monday announced it has referred soccer club Manchester City to an independent commission over alleged breaches of its financial rules. A commission will be held in private, with members appointed by the chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel. A spokesperson for Manchester City was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

☆ Man City charged by Premier League over alleged financial rule breaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

City were acquired by their Abu Dhabi-based owners, City Football Group, in 2008. If the charges are proved City, could face a range of sanctions, including a points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League. City are also alleged to have failed to cooperate with and assist the Premier League in its investigations from December 2018 to date. "The members of the Commission will be appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel," the Premier League said in a statement. "The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice."

☆ Fact Check-No evidence COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are significant contributing factor to UK’s 30,000 excess cardiovascular deaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Millions of people have viewed a BBC News interview with a British cardiologist who used the broadcast to spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Malhotra cites the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for reporting 30,000 excess cardiovascular deaths “during the pandemic or since the pandemic”. A BHF spokesperson told Reuters that there were indeed 30,000 excess deaths involving ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in England between March 2020 and August 2022. Reuters has addressed similar claims linking COVID-19 vaccines with excess mortality (here, here and here), cardiac arrests (here, here and here), and other heart issues. Experts say the 30,000 excess cardiovascular deaths reported since the beginning of the pandemic are due to COVID-19 infection and issues with healthcare services.

LONDON/WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - A Russian hacking team known as Cold River targeted three nuclear research laboratories in the United States this past summer, according to internet records reviewed by Reuters and five cyber security experts. Cold River has escalated its hacking campaign against Kyiv's allies since the invasion of Ukraine, according to cybersecurity researchers and western government officials. 'INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION'In May, Cold River broke into and leaked emails belonging to the former head of Britain's MI6 spy service. Reuters was unable independently to confirm why Cold River targeted the NGOs. "Google has tied this individual to the Russian hacking group Cold River and their early operations," he said.

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