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☆ UN says Taliban carried out hundreds of extrajudicial killings after seizing power
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Taliban fighters have committed hundreds of extrajudicial killings since taking power in Afghanistan in 2021, despite a “general amnesty” meant to protect the previous government, according to the United Nations. International rights groups and bodies like the UN have accused the Taliban of unwinding progress in protecting human rights since seizing power. In interviews conducted with UN officials, individuals recounted beatings with pipes, cables, verbal threats and abuse at the hands of Taliban security force members. “Former government and security officials are entitled to the same human rights protections as all Afghans.”Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the Taliban to punish offenders. “Afghans were able to regain their country, freedom, government and will,” Taliban deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi previously told CNN.

Persons: “, ”, Volker Turk, Abdul Khaliq, ’, Alia Azizi, hasn’t, UNAMA, ” Turk, Amir al, Hibatullah Akhundzada, Bilal Karimi, Roza Otunbayeva, ” Otunbayeva Organizations: CNN, Taliban, United Nations, United Nations Assistance, Afghan National Army, police, National Directorate of Security, UN, Human Rights, NATO, Taliban’s Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, Herat, Emirate

The day is “full of honor and pride for Afghans,” Taliban deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi told CNN. “Afghanistan was freed from occupation, Afghans were able to regain their country, freedom, government and will. “There is no such thing as women’s freedom anymore,” said Mahbouba Seraj, an Afghan women’s rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. “The women in Afghanistan are being slowly erased from society, from life, from everything – their opinions, their voices, what they think, where they are.”Video Ad Feedback 'They can't go to school? “The only reason why I’m in Afghanistan and I’m staying here is to be next to my sisters and try to help them,” said Seraj, the women’s rights activists.

Persons: Zahra, ”, “, ” Zahra, Bilal Karimi, Zahra –, Mahbouba Seraj, CNN “, I’m, who’ve, ” Zabiullah Mujahid, haven’t, Heather Barr, Seraj, Mahbouba, “ They’re, they’re, Barr, what’s Organizations: CNN, “, Nations, United Nations, CNN “ I’m, UN, Taliban, Human Rights Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, States, “ Afghanistan, Zahra, Afghan, United

☆ Union Pacific appoints former executive Jim Vena as CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

July 26 - Union Pacific Corp (UNP.N) on Wednesday named former chief operating officer Jim Vena as its top boss, months after CEO Lance Fritz said he was stepping down, sending the U.S. railroad operator's shares up 6.7% in premarket trading. Vena, who will take the top job on Aug. 14, started his career in 1976 and was in the reckoning to lead Canadian National Railway Co (CNR.TO) after investors backed him for the role. He has worked under the late Hunter Harrison at Canadian National, who pioneered Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which is commonly used across the industry today. Union Pacific, which connects 23 states in the western part of the country by rail, also elected Mike McCarthy as its board chairman. Reporting by Nathan Gomes and Amna Karimi in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jim Vena, Lance Fritz, Vena, Hunter Harrison, Mike McCarthy, Nathan Gomes, Amna, Anil D'Silva, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: Union Pacific Corp, Wednesday, U.S ., Canadian National Railway Co, Canadian National, Union Pacific, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Union Pacific names former executive Vena as CEO, misses profit estimate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Vena, who will take the top job on Aug. 14, started his career in 1976 and was in the reckoning to lead Canadian National Railway Co (CNR.TO) after investors backed him for the role. He has worked under the late Hunter Harrison at Canadian National, who pioneered Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which is commonly used across the industry today. Union Pacific, which connects 23 states in the western part of the country by rail, also elected Mike McCarthy as its board chairman. The company reported second-quarter profit of $2.54 per share, missing analysts' average estimate of $2.75 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data, as its shipments fell. The railroad industry has been struggling with railcar shortages resulting in shipment delays and supply-chain disruptions.

Persons: Jim Vena, Lance Fritz, Vena, Hunter Harrison, Fritz, Mike McCarthy, Nathan Gomes, Amna, Anil D'Silva, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: Union Pacific Corp, Wednesday, U.S ., Canadian National Railway Co, Canadian National, Soroban Capital Partners, Union Pacific, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ MrBeast: Behind the success of YouTube’s most popular creator
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“People would tell me, ‘All you do is talk about YouTube videos. Seven years later, Donaldson, better known online as MrBeast, has 167 million YouTube subscribers – more than any other individual creator on the platform. Donaldson navigates a maze in a screenshot from MrBeast's video, "I Got Hunted By the FBI." “That’s an interesting model, because you’re giving video viewers access to something they would never get to see in real life,” Fischer says. He often uses income from his previous videos to outdo himself in his next videos,” Miller says.

Persons: Jimmy Donaldson, ”, podcasters Colin, Samir, “, You’re, ’ ”, Donaldson, Mark Zuckerberg, Colin, ’, Donaldson breathlessly, Sara Fischer, “ It’s, CNN’s Jon Sarlin, ” Fischer, Pete Davidson, Tom Brady, relatable, Miller, MrBeast, ” Donaldson, Monica Schipper, Vince Miller, ” Miller, – Donaldson, Kristen Ruby, Gen Zers, Ruby, Burger, Dave Kotinsky, MrBeast Burger, –, mobbing, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, East Carolina University, YouTube, FBI, NFL, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Microsoft Theater, University of Kent, Ruby Media, Getty, Google, Records, Harvard Business School, Harvard Locations: North Carolina, Los Angeles, Greenville , North Carolina, New Jersey, Greenville, Chile

☆ Deinfluencing, explained: Forget the influencers. Here come the 'deinfluencers'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Their messages are simple and straightforward: These items are overhyped, you don’t need them, and here’s why. Courtesy John O'DonnellIt comes as social media has become crucial for marketing products and services – especially to younger consumers. “Rather than saying buy this, they are saying – don’t buy this. Aria Connor, 36, creates lifestyle content on social media and says some deinfluencers are not in it for the right reasons. But social media advice on what to buy or what not to buy is not all that meaningful, she says.

Persons: ”, Kris Ruby, John O'Donnell, –, ’ ” Ruby, deinfluencing, haves ”, Louis, who’s, “, ” Michelle Skidelsky, ” Skidelsky, Michelle Skidelsky, Aria Connor, Connor doesn’t, Connor “, ‘, Ruby, Victoria Sola, deinfluencers, Sola Organizations: CNN, Ruby Media, Brands, “, Victoria Locations: Mains, Mikayla Mains, Canadian, influencers

☆ Sologamy: Why these women married themselves
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Its adherents may be on to something, this expert saysThe concept of self-marriage, or sologamy, has been around for years. No data exists on how many people celebrate sologamy with ceremonies, but the practice has been explored in a handful of recent news articles. CNN talked to four women who’ve married themselves. Sologamy is not legally binding in the US and is not recognized by the laws of any country. Fideli’s message to younger women struggling with self-esteem issues: It’s never too late to love yourself.

☆ Factbox: Pilots, airlines seek to strike new contracts ahead of peak travel season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV.N):The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) in May said its members at the company approved a strike mandate. It added that 98% of its members participated in the vote and 99% voted in favor of authorizing a strike. UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC (UAL.O):Last year, ALPA said 94% of the nearly 10,000 United Airlines pilots voted to reject a contract offer. SPIRIT AIRLINES INC (SAVE.N):In January, ALPA said pilots at Spirit Airlines voted to ratify a new contract. More than 97% of the union members took part in the vote and 99% of them authorized union leaders to call a strike, if needed.

CNN —Kouri Richins’ husband was found dead at the foot of their bed last March. Around 9 p.m., she brought her husband, Eric Richins, a celebratory Moscow Mule cocktail in the bedroom of their home in Kamas, Utah. Newly released court documents detailed a series of illicit fentanyl purchases in the months leading up to his death. By this time, according to court documents, Kouri Richins no longer owned the property. Kouri Richins said she wrote a book on grief with her sons to help them articulate their feelings, she said.

☆ Her dad was diagnosed with cancer. This teen has donated thousands of books to kids in hospitals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

At the age of 17, Emily launched a neighborhood book drive in honor of her dad, Mike Bhatnagar. Her initial goal was to collect books for children undergoing cancer treatment, but she’s expanded it to all patients under 18. The neighborhood book drive that began with a lone teen in a cloud of despair over her dad’s illness has grown into a nationwide initiative. “We are grateful to have been chosen by Emily … Hospitals are a scary place for kids, and the books will help enhance the healing environment.”Whenever possible, Emily specifies the books go to hospitals with pediatric cancer units. Her not-so-little book drive is teaching her how to run a nonprofit and build relationships with community leaders.

☆ AI scam calls: This mom believes fake kidnappers cloned her daughter's voice
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But her older daughter, 15-year-old Brianna, was away training for a ski race and DeStefano feared it could be a medical emergency. “A scammer could use AI to clone the voice of your loved one,” the agency said in a statement. Law enforcement has not verified whether AI was used in her case, but DeStefano believes scammers cloned her daughter’s voice. It was the voice, matching with the crying.”Jennifer DeStefano, right, with her daughter, Brianna: "A mother knows her child," she said. She’s tried to figure out how the virtual kidnappers got her daughter’s voice, and has considered several scenarios.

☆ Norfolk takes $387 mln charge due to Ohio derailment, warns on volumes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC.N) took a $387 million charge in the first quarter due to the Ohio freight train derailment and said it expects economic headwinds to weigh on its volume and revenue during the April-June period. Shares of Norfolk, which operates in 22 states and the District of Columbia, slipped 1.1% in afternoon trade on Wednesday. The U.S. Justice Department sued Norfolk last month, seeking to ensure that the railroad operator pays the full cost of cleanup and any long-term impacts of the derailment. Norfolk posted an adjusted profit of $3.32 per share for the first quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of $3.12 per share, according to Refinitiv data. Reporting by Amna Karimi and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Norfolk Southern expects economic, inventory headwinds to pressure Q2 volume, revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC.N) said on Wednesday it expected inventory and economic headwinds would pressure its volume and revenue throughout the second quarter, even as demand for freight remained strong. Norfolk came under heavy fire after one of its freight trains carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in early February. "Looking at the back half of '23, clearly, the economic conditions remain uncertain," Elkins said. However, automotive shipments have boosted freight demand as car makers are ramping up production. Overall quarterly operating revenue rose 7.4% to $3.13 billion, compared with analysts' estimates of $3.11 billion.

☆ Norfolk Southern takes $387 mln charge in Q1 after Eastern Ohio derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC.N) said on Wednesday it took a $387 million charge in the first quarter after a freight train derailment in Eastern Ohio released over a million gallons of hazardous materials into the environment. Norfolk came under heavy fire after one of its freight trains carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in early February. The state of Ohio sued the railroad operator in March, seeking compensation for damages to the state's environment, economy and residents. Norfolk, which serves 22 states and the District of Columbia, posted an adjusted quarterly profit of $3.32 per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $3.12 per share, according to Refinitiv data. Reporting by Amna Karimi and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

April 20 (Reuters) - Union Pacific Corp's (UNP.N) chief executive officer said on Thursday the railroad operator was considering slowing down the pace of hiring in the second half of the year amid a cloudy economic outlook, becoming the latest U.S. company to evaluate its staffing plans. CEO Lance Fritz told Reuters in an interview the outlook was turning a "little cloudier" for consumer-facing companies, which is making railroad volume difficult to predict. A possible slowdown in hiring comes at a time when railroads are struggling to move cargo on time, which has invited severe criticisms from regulators and customers. Shares of Union Pacific, which connects West Coast ports to key terminals such as Chicago, lost its gains in the day to trade flat in the afternoon session. Operating revenue for the quarter ended March 31 rose 3% to $6.06 billion, in line with analysts' estimates.

☆ US Army awards Lockheed up to $4.5 bln missiles contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 3 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said on Monday the U.S. Army has awarded a multi-year production contract for Joint-Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) and HELLFIRE missiles, in a deal that could go up to $4.5 billion including follow-on awards. The contract, which will have a total value of $439 million in its first year, is among the first multi-year awards for precision munitions, as the Pentagon looks to build stocks in the hopes of deterring China. Lockheed added the contract also offers three additional follow-on awards which will start in late 2023, allowing for a total contract value of up to $4.5 billion over the next four years. The JAGM program anticipates a "significant increase" in international demand for the weapon system, Lockheed said. Reporting by Amna Karimi in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A wave of suspected mass poisonings of schoolgirls in Iran remains shrouded in mystery
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Up to 900 Iranian school girls have been victims of suspected mass poisoning in recent months. Iran's president blamed the unexplained bouts of respiratory distress on the Islamic state's "enemies." Dozens more girls have been admitted to hospital with respiratory distress in the last few days, according to The Guardian. On Friday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi blamed the unexplained suspected school poisonings, which have happened in multiple locations, on the Islamic state's "enemies" but did not clarify who that was. The health minister has previously said that the culprits could be religious groups opposed to girls receiving an education, according to Reuters.

☆ Iran president blames foreign enemies for wave of schoolgirl poisonings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

March 3 (Reuters) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Friday blamed a wave of poisonings of hundreds of schoolgirls around the country on Tehran's enemies. Raisi, speaking to a crowd in southern Iran on Friday in a speech carried live on state television, blamed the poisoning on Iran's enemies. He did not say who those enemies were although Iranian leaders habitually accuse the United States and Israel, among others, of acting against it. He is the first government official to report an arrest in connection with the wave of poisonings. "Guards at a parking lot where the fuel tanker was parked also suffered from poisoning," Saleh said, referring to the Pardis site.

☆ EU regulator recommends against approval for Merck's COVID pill for adults
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Merck & Co Inc FollowFeb 24 (Reuters) - The European Union's drug regulator said on Friday its Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has advised against market authorisation of the COVID-19 pill from Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) for treatment in adults. Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said they will appeal the decision and request a re-examination of the committee's opinion. "The CHMP's recommendation does not reflect the compelling data" from one of the company's late-stage trial and real-world studies, Dean Li, head of Merck's research division, said. In December, a large study had shown that the drug sped up recovery but did not reduce hospitalisation or death rate in higher-risk vaccinated adults. The regulator's recommendation against Merck's COVID-19 pill comes days after the company said Lagevrio was not effective at cutting the risk of coronavirus infections in people living with someone infected with the virus.

☆ UK says norovirus cases sharply rise in England
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Norovirus cases in England are 66% higher than the average at this time of year, official data showed on Thursday, with the biggest rise in confirmed infections seen in those aged 65 years and over. Outbreaks caused by the vomiting and diarrhoea-causing norovirus have surged in hospitals, schools and care homes, with majority of cases in care home settings, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. The UKHSA added that while elevated levels were expected in those aged 65 years and over, the number has not been seen in over a decade. "The number of people in hospitals with norovirus has risen significantly in line with what we are seeing in the community and in care homes," NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said. Reporting by Amna Karimi in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Afghan women prosecutors once seen as symbols of democracy find asylum in Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Afghan prosecutor S.M., who left her 4 years old daughter with her grandmother in Afghanistan while escaping to Peshawar, looks down in Islamabad, Pakistan, September 22, 2022. "Most Afghan women and girls that remain in Afghanistan don't have the right to study, to have a social life or even go to a beauty salon," Sharar said. due to fears over her safety and who specialised in gender violence and violence against children said, "I was the only female prosecutor in the province... The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it was not in a position to comment on specific cases. "The Government of Pakistan has not agreed to recognise newly arriving Afghans as refugees," UNHCR said in a statement.

☆ Iran, Russia link banking systems amid Western sanction
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Iran and Russia have connected their interbank communication and transfer systems to help boost trade and financial transactions, a senior Iranian official said on Monday, as both Tehran and Moscow are chafing under Western sanctions. Similar limitations have been slapped on some Russian banks since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year. "Iranian banks no longer need to use SWIFT ... with Russian banks, which can be for the opening of Letters of Credit and transfers or warranties," Deputy Governor of Iran's Central Bank, Mohsen Karimi, told the semi-official Fars news agency. Iran's Central Bank chief Mohammad Farzin welcomed the move. "The financial channel between Iran and the world is being repaired," he tweeted.

☆ How 'Cryptoqueen' Ruja Ignatova ended up as the only woman on the FBI's most-wanted list
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Ruja Ignatova is one of the FBI's 10 most-wanted fugitives -- the only woman currently on that list. FBIShe is now one of the FBI’s 10 most-wanted fugitives, alongside accused gang leaders and murderers, and is the only woman currently on that list. The bureau declined to provide additional details to CNN beyond court documents from the US Department of Justice, which did not list an attorney for Ignatova. “The cryptocurrency OneCoin was established for the sole purpose of defrauding investors,” IRS Special Agent John R. Tafur said in a statement. Less than two weeks later, on October 25, 2017, she boarded a commercial flight from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece, court documents said.

☆ Popeyes meme kid: A decade later, Dieunerst Collin is a college football player who just signed an NIL deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —College freshman Dieunerst Collin’s road to internet meme fame started with a confused side-eye at a Popeyes in New Jersey. Collin, holding a Popeyes lemonade cup, gave the man a sideways glance, wondering why he had a camera in his face. Popeyes announced the deal this month after a social media campaign by Collin and his fans. “From memes to dreams, Dieunerst and Popeyes will grace social media feeds once again.”The partnership started with a call on social mediaThe new partnership is the result of yet another social media moment. A few days later, Popeyes announced the partnership on social media.

☆ Taliban criticize Prince Harry's claim he killed 25 fighters
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Henry Austin | Henry Austin Is A London-Based Editor For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Among the killers of Afghans, not many have your decency to reveal their conscience and confess to their war crimes,” he said. Several British news outlets, including the broadcaster Sky News, have reported that Harry has written that he did not “think of those 25 as people." A poster advertising the launch of Prince Harry's memoir in a store window in London on Friday. His elder brother, Prince William, is the next in line to their father, King Charles III. Among the most serious of Harry's accusations is that his brother physically attacked him during an argument over his marriage to Meghan.

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