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☆ Who was Aleksei Navalny? Here’s a timeline.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Gaya Gupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Aleksei A. Navalny, the outspoken activist who Russian authorities said died in prison on Friday, was born on June 4, 1976, according to his website, and grew up outside Moscow to liberal parents who opposed Soviet rule. Starting his political career as an anticorruption blogger who organized street protests, Mr. Navalny mobilized a generation of young Russians through social media and rose to prominence for investigations into Russia’s elite. Here’s a look at Mr. Navalny’s career:2000Mr. Navalny, who had studied law and finance and worked as a real estate lawyer, joined the liberal Yabloko party the same year that Vladimir V. Putin was first elected president of Russia. Looking to organize grass-roots opposition to the Kremlin, he took aim at what he called lawless Moscow construction projects, moderated political debates, started a radio show and criticized pro-Putin tycoons on a widely read blog.

Persons: Aleksei A, Navalny, Navalny’s, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Moscow, Russia

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Former Illinois lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate William “Sam” McCann abruptly pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine felony counts of wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, halting his federal corruption trial over misusing up to $550,000 in campaign contributions. The seven counts of wire fraud and single count of money laundering each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. But a complex set of advisory guidelines before Lawless, who set sentencing for June 20, will likely yield a far shorter term. “Are you pleading guilty because you are in fact guilty?” Lawless asked. McCann's trial was repeatedly delayed.

Persons: William “ Sam ” McCann, McCann, Colleen Lawless, Jason Vincent, Lawless, ” Lawless, he’s, “, Timothy Bass, McCann's, “ God's, McCann didn't, Vincent, Instagram, Michael Madigan, ’ ” McCann, I’m, ’ Organizations: Ill, Former Illinois, U.S, Conservative Party of Illinois, International Union of Operating Engineers, FBI, IRS Locations: SPRINGFIELD, Springfield, ”, St, Louis

Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine's Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions. In the U.S., Uber and Lyft drivers planned daylong strikes in Chicago; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Miami; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Providence, Rhode Island. Drivers were also holding midday demonstrations at airports in those cities, according to Justice for App Workers, the group organizing the effort. Meanwhile, U.K. delivery drivers for Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Stuart said they would turn off their apps and refuse deliveries between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Justice for App Workers, which says it represents 130,000 ride-hailing and delivery workers, is seeking higher wages, access to health care and an appeals process so companies can’t deactivate drivers without warning.

Persons: Uber, Stuart, ”, Evadur Rahman, Rahman, “, ” Rahman, “ It’s, ” Uber, Deliveroo, Rachel Gumpert, Lyft, ” Lyft, Jill Lawless, Brian Melley Organizations: App Workers, Associated Press, deactivations, U.S, ___ Associated Press Locations: U.S, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Miami, Orlando, Tampa , Florida, Hartford , Connecticut, Newark , New Jersey, Austin , Texas, Providence , Rhode Island, London, ___

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia and China on Wednesday accused the United States and Britain of illegally attacking military sites used by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to launch missiles at commercial vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting global shipping. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood and UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward countered that the Houthi attacks are illegal, and their “proportionate and legal action” against the Yemen rebels are being taken in self-defense. “An immediate cease-fire in Gaza will help to stabilize the situation in the Red Sea, and the de-escalation in those waters will in turn unblock the efforts of the special envoy, Mr. Grundberg,” Polyansky said. The war has devastated Yemen, already the Arab region’s poorest country, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. This year, the Yemen appeal is more targeted and seeks $2.7 billion to reach 11.2 million people across Yemen.

Persons: Yemen’s Houthi, Robert Wood, Barbara Woodward, Woodward, U.N, Dmitry Polyansky, Zhang Jun, Yemen Hans Grundberg, Wood, Bab, ” Wood, “, ”, Moscow “, Grundberg, ” Russia’s Polyansky, ” Polyansky, Wosornu Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, —, . Security, U.S Locations: — Russia, China, United States, Britain, Red, Yemen, Gaza, Israel, Asia, Europe, United Kingdom, U.S, Mandeb, Aden, ”, Iran, Moscow, Russia, Sanaa, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, israel

☆ I.R.S. Commissioner Aims to Show Progress Amid Threats of Budget Cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A year later, Mr. Werfel has overseen the clearing of a backlog of thousands of tax filings, shrinking wait times on the I.R.S. telephone lines and the creation of a system that lets qualified taxpayers submit their federal returns with no cost. But those achievements have not been enough to satisfy Republicans, who have accused Mr. Werfel of making the I.R.S. commissioners and when Mr. Werfel testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, he will receive a frosty reception as he fends off efforts to cut his agency’s budget. For Mr. Werfel, the face-off is an opportunity to explain why even skeptics would benefit from a well funded I.R.S.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Werfel Organizations: Internal Revenue Service

☆ Haley attacks Trump’s morals, age and wealth as she looks to stave off home state loss
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Haley laid out a stinging character study of the former president in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday. Grouping Trump with President Joe Biden, she said it was “absurd” that the country would be stuck with two 80-year-old candidates. In recent campaign events, Haley has also questioned Trump’s morality and capacity to tell right from wrong. They had to find a way to exploit Trump’s greatest general election liabilities in the knowledge that most Republican voters had no interest in hearing about them. South Carolina state Rep. Bill Taylor hit back at some of Haley’s recent criticisms that Trump only thinks of himself.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, —, besmirching, Haley, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, quagmire, she’s, they’ve, Jeb Bush, Sen, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, ”, ” DeSantis, ” Haley, Hilton, Chris Christie, Liz Cheney, Tapper, “, He’s, he’s, doesn’t, E, Jean Carroll, hadn’t “, Carroll, Haley —, Nancy Mace, ” Mace, Bill Taylor, “ Nikki Haley, Nikki, ” Taylor Organizations: CNN, South, GOP, Trump, Hampshire, United Nations, Gov, Republican, Wyoming, New York Times, UN, Capitol, Republicans don’t, Republicans, South Carolina Rep, Rep Locations: South Carolina, United, Florida, Iowa, America, Hilton Head, Columbia , South Carolina, New York, York, Trump, Columbia, New Hampshire, vise, China, United States

☆ Read All About It! The Long and Bloody History of True Crime Lit.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Lizzie Pook | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“There’s been 11 hardback books on me,” the serial killer John Wayne Gacy told a reporter on the eve of his execution in 1994. “Thirty-one paperbacks, two screenplays, one movie, one Off Broadway play, five songs and over 5,000 articles. We may consider the obsession with true crime a contemporary preoccupation — with Etsy shops selling enamel pins of Ted Bundy’s face and his Volkswagen, and crime conventions filling casino-size hotels with teenage girls in “Murderino” T-shirts. But these grisly stories, and our insatiable thirst for them, have been monetized for hundreds of years. Long before the self-styled Zodiac Killer mailed his letters to California newspapers, threatening killing sprees and bombings if his messages were not printed, there was an English prison chaplain named Henry Goodcole who bolstered his modest salary by selling stories about death and sin.

Persons: “ There’s, John Wayne Gacy, “, Ted Bundy’s, Long, sprees, Henry Goodcole, Goodcole Organizations: Volkswagen Locations: “, California, Newgate

And it certainly wouldn’t be the first time states have lent a hand to Abbott to help border security efforts. Kevin Stitt also sent National Guard troops to the border last year – about 50 of them each – to, at least symbolically, bolster Abbott’s efforts. “[Abbott] is exactly right to invoke Texas’ constitutional authority to defend itself,” she said in a statement. “It's unfortunate that there is a governor in Texas, Governor Abbott, who has politicized this issue of what's happening on the border. “Governor Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border,” Rep. Joaquin Castro, Texas Democrat, said in a statement.

Persons: Gregg Abbott, Biden, Abbott, ” Abbott, ”, “, Bertrall Ross, James Madison, Trump, –, ” Trump, Ron DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Kristi Noem, Kevin Stitt, Mike Johnson, Alejandro Mayorkas, Karine Jean, Pierre, Governor Abbott, ” Jean, we’ve, he's, – Jean, Greg Abbott, Joaquin Castro, Abott Organizations: Texas Gov, White, University of Virginia, Karsh Center for Law and Democracy, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, Border Patrol, Texas National Guard, National Guard, Florida Gov, U.S, South Dakota Gov, Oklahoma Gov, Biden Administration, Republican, Homeland, Mayorkas, White House, CNN, Republicans, Democrats, ”, Texas Democrat Locations: U.S, Mexico, Texas, United States, “ Texas, Florida, Alabama , Arkansas, Georgia , Idaho , Iowa, Louisiana , Montana , Nebraska, North Dakota , Oklahoma, South Carolina , Tennessee , Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, ”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A federal judge on Friday reinstated Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who had been suspended from the team since he was charged with rape in Kansas. The suspension, she ruled, deprived Shannon of “protected property interests” without due process. Prosecutors in Douglas County, Kansas, charged Shannon on Dec. 5 with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. The alleged incident occurred early on Sept. 9 after Shannon and a friend attended the Illini's football game at Kansas. The woman said Shannon grabbed her buttocks and then reached under her skirt and touched her sexually.

Persons: Terrence Shannon Jr, Colleen Lawless, Shannon, “, ” Lawless, Robin Kaler, Shannon “, ” Shannon, ___ Organizations: Ill, —, Illinois, NBA, Illini, Rutgers, Sunday, Prosecutors, Kansas, Police, AP Locations: SPRINGFIELD, Kansas . U.S, Douglas County , Kansas, Kansas, Shannon

Thursday's attack followed one by Iran inside Pakistan on Tuesday. The strikes imperiled diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Tehran, as Iran and nuclear-armed Pakistan have long regarded each other with suspicion over militant attacks. Iran has seen growing pressure for action after the Islamic State group attack, Israel's war on Hamas and wider unrest against its theocracy. Iran and Pakistan share a 900-kilometer (560-mile), largely lawless border in which smugglers and militants freely cross. For both Iran and Pakistan, the cross-border attacks renew questions about their own military preparedness, particularly their radar and air defense systems.

Persons: ”, Ali Reza Marhamati, Pakistan's, “, Jundallah, Jaish, Abdullah Khan, ” There's, Mao Ning, ___ Gambrell, Riazat Butt, Nasser Karimi, Liu Zheng Organizations: Hamas, Islamic, Ministry, Baluch Liberation Army, Baluch, Adl, Islamic State, Pakistan Institute for Conflict, Security Studies, Baloch, Foreign Ministry, Associated Press Locations: ISLAMABAD, Iran, Pakistan, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Islamic State, Islamabad, Tehran, Iran’s Sistan, Baluchestan, Saravan, Baluchistan, United States, Israel, Pakistan’s Baluchistan, Sistan, Chabahar, Afghanistan, India, U.S, French, China, Beijing, Pakistan's Baluchistan, Jerusalem

ISLAMABAD (AP) — This week's airstrikes between Iran and Pakistan that killed at least 11 people marks a significant escalation in fraught relations between the neighbors. Pakistan said its strikes in Iran on Thursday were aimed at hideouts of the Baluchistan Liberation Army and the Baluchistan Liberation Front. The drill will include live fire from aircraft, drones and air defense systems. Separately, Iran relies on radar and air defense systems in the case of potential strikes by its main enemy, the United States. However, the airstrikes could backfire on Pakistan because the Baluch Liberation Army said it will avenge the killings and wage war on the state.

Persons: Iran's, ”, Abdullah Khan Organizations: Adl, Baluch Liberation Army, Baluchistan Liberation Army, Pakistan Institute for Conflict, Security Studies Locations: ISLAMABAD, Iran, Pakistan, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Delhi, Tehran, Islamabad, Chabahar, Iraq, India, United States, IRAN, PAKISTAN, Israel, U.S

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Jahmir Young scored 28 points and Julian Reese had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Maryland to a 76-67 victory Sunday over No. 10 Illinois, the 10th time this week a team ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll has lost. Marcus Domask scored 26 points for Illinois (12-4, 3-2) and Luke Goode had 13. Coleman Hawkins, who had scored in double figures in seven straight games for the Illini, fouled out with 2:50 left. Illinois led 39-37 at halftime thanks to Dain Dainja scoring seven straight points for the Illini in the final 1:28.

Persons: — Jahmir Young, Julian Reese, Reese, FanDuel Sportsbook, Marcus Domask, Luke Goode, Coleman Hawkins, Hawkins, He’s, ”, Kevin Willard, Brad Underwood, “, Domask, Dain Dainja, Terrance Shannon Jr, Shannon, Colleen Lawless, ” Shannon, Willard, GREAT SCOTT Maryland’s Donta Scott, ___ Organizations: Maryland, Illinois, Terrapins, Illini, ” Terps, he’s, BIG, Terps, Big, Purdue, Houston, HOME, State Farm Center, Michigan State, Missouri, Colgate, Northwestern, GREAT, Rutgers, LAST, AP Locations: CHAMPAIGN, Ill, Maryland, Illinois, “ Maryland, . Illinois, Lawrence , Kansas, Springfield, Lawrence, Kansas, College Park, Michigan

The warning came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed retaliation, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel's war in Gaza. The U.S.-led bombardment came in response to a recent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel's offensive in Gaza against Hamas. The Houthis’ military spokesman, Brig. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Yemen’s Houthis, “, " Biden, Lloyd Austin, Donald Trump Lt, Douglas Sims, Yahya Saree, Nikolas, Iran’s, Hussein, George W, Bush, Friday's, Nasser Kanaani, Vassily Nebenzia, Linda Thomas, Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Thomas, Greenfield, ” ___ Gambrell, Ahmed Al, Haj, Bassem, Jill Lawless, Nasser Karimi, Fatima Hussein, Ellen Knickmeyer, Chris Megerian, Seung Min Kim, Edith M, Lederer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Britain, Associated Press, U.S . Central Command, Navy, White, Camp, U.S . Navy, Republicans, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff, . Air Forces Central Command, Tomahawk, Foreign Ministry, Brent, Food, U.S, U.S ., United Arab Emirates, . Security, Ambassador, United Nations Locations: Yemen, U.S, Sanaa, Iran, Aden, Gaza . U.S, Houthi, Gen, Red, Gaza, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, United Kingdom, Bani, Abbs, Gulf of Oman, Tehran, Washington, Suez, America, Britain, Houthis, Greenfield, U.K, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Beirut, London, Emmaus , Pennsylvania

☆ SEC approves bitcoin ETFs for some investment firms
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“While we approved the listing and trading of certain spot bitcoin ETP shares today, we did not approve or endorse bitcoin. The SEC had a deadline of January 10 to offer a decision for just one of the 11 firms that applied to offer bitcoin ETFs. Bitcoin ETFs, like bitcoin, carry risks for investorsFor those considering jumping on the bitcoin bandwagon, it’s important to note that the price of a bitcoin will be just as volatile whether you invest in it directly yourself or through an ETF. Those sentiments have been echoed by many financial advisers and the investor watchdog group Better Markets, which strongly opposed the SEC’s approval of bitcoin ETFs. The full list of companies that got SEC approval to launch bitcoin ETFs are: Ark Invest together with 21 Shares; Bitwise, BlackRock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, Hashdex, Invesco, WisdomTree, Valkyrie and VanEck.

Persons: Gary Gensler, bitcoin, ”, Gensler, Dennis Kelleher, “, Sheila Warren, Franklin Templeton Organizations: New, New York CNN, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, FBI, Investments, Better, Street, Crypto, Innovation, Fidelity Locations: New York, BlackRock

☆ Elon Musk takes aim at Ireland's prime minister following the Dublin riots: He 'hates the Irish people'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk hit back at the PM, saying he "hates the Irish people." AdvertisementElon Musk said that Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar "hates the Irish people" after he called for incitement to hatred legislation to be updated as violence erupted across Dublin city center this week. Brian Lawless - PA Images / GettyIn response to the riots, Varadkar called for laws on incitement to hatred to be modernized. Elon Musk has since weighed in on Varadkar's comments, saying in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the prime minister "hates the Irish people." AdvertisementIronically, the Irish PM hates the Irish people — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2023"The current Irish government clearly cares more about praise from woke media than their own people," Musk added in another post.

Persons: Ireland's, Elon Musk, —, Leo Varadkar, Drew Harris, Harris, Brian Lawless, Varadkar, it's, — Elon, tDqVn2OmR0 — Kevin Doyle, @KevDoyle_Indo, Caio Benicio Organizations: Twitter, Service, Ireland's, Advertisement, Irish Independent, Politico, PM, Black Americans, Defamation League, New York Times, BBC News NI Locations: Dublin, Ireland, Irish, Algeria, Brazil

☆ Dublin Sees Worst Rioting in Decades After Children Stabbed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Max Colchester | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A bus and car were set on fire in Dublin during the violence. Photo: Brian Lawless/Zuma PressIreland witnessed its worst civil disorder in decades after rioters marauded through Dublin city center looting shops and setting buses and police cars on fire in a spate of violence that appeared to be triggered by a stabbing attack that injured three children. Irish police said Friday that 13 shops were damaged and 34 people arrested following the riots, which followed the attack by an unidentified man outside a school on Thursday afternoon. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said on Friday that he had not seen such levels of violence “for decades.” He added that it had been caused by a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology.”

Persons: Brian Lawless, Drew Harris, ” Organizations: Zuma Press, Garda Locations: Dublin

☆ Fear is driving Chinese travelers away from two of Asia’s most popular destinations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Shalbha Sarda | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

But both are losing ground with Chinese nationals as safety concerns rise among younger travelers. Both countries were the top choices for Chinese holidaymakers earlier this year but fell in the third quarter — Thailand to No. 8 — according to the marketing company China Trading Desk, which gauges Chinese travel sentiment on a quarterly basis. Both countries now lag behind South Korea, Malaysia and Australia in terms of Chinese travelers' next vacation destinations, with Singapore — deemed one of the safest places for travelers in 2023 — rising to the top spot. The World Health Organization and other safety groups have said seafood from Japan is safe to eat, but fears among Chinese travelers have "turned one of their most popular destinations into one of their least popular," Bhatt said.

Persons: Singapore —, Subramania Bhatt, Bhatt, Pia Oberoi, Oberoi, There's Organizations: China Trading, China, World Health Organization, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights, High, Afp, Getty, ASEAN, CNBC Locations: Japan, Thailand, Asia, Korea, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Thailand —, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Southeast, South Asia, China, Taiwan, America, Pacific, perpetrating, Thu, People's Republic of China

☆ Trump ‘insurrectionist ban’ ruling: Takeaways from the blockbuster decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A Colorado judge on Friday issued a stunning ruling that fell just short of removing former Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot based on the 14th Amendment’s insurrectionist ban. The 102-page decision was a win for Trump, but it read more like a condemnation. The Colorado ruling isn’t binding on other courts, but it’s the most comprehensive fact-finding to date by a judge about Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And it’s the first time that any court in the country has ruled that Trump engaged in the insurrection, a watershed moment in the quest for accountability for January 6. “Trump was unable to provide the Court with any credible evidence which would discredit the factual findings of the January 6th Report,” Wallace said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Sarah Wallace, –, Wallace, ”, “, Biden’s, Jack Smith, Trump’s, “ Trump, ‘, it’s, ” Wallace, United States ’, scoundrels ” Organizations: CNN, Trump, GOP, US Capitol Police, Capitol, Electoral, United, United States ”, White, Trump Republicans Locations: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, United States

☆ Protests encapsulate progressive angst that could imperil Biden’s 2024 campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Israel could not have asked for a better friend than President Joe Biden. As global anger mounted at the thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza during Israel’s counter-attack against Hamas, Biden has been unequivocal on the Jewish state’s right to hit back. He pushed back at suggestions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel would somehow control Gaza after the war. Senior administration officials have repeatedly denied that any part of Biden’s calculations on Israel are rooted in domestic politics. Protests have rocked university campuses, where there’s been an outbreak of anti-Israel feeling that has sometimes crossed into blatant antisemitism.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Democratic Sen, Mark Warner, Virginia, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, “, –, what’s, ” Biden, Netanyahu, there’s, Hakeem Jeffries, Andy Biggs, Donald Trump, George Floyd, Trump, CNN’s Jeff Zeleny Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Democratic Party, Jewish, Democratic, CBS, Rep, New York Democrat, NPR, PBS, Marist, Israel, White, Democratic National Committee, Capitol, Democrat Party, DNC, American, GOP, Trump, New York Times, Siena Locations: Gaza, United States, Michigan, Israel, Alexandria, San Francisco, Washington, Arizona, California, Asia, Oakland, Iraq, Georgia, Virginia, Ohio, East

The Marine Infantry Command’s claims are the first to come directly from the Ukrainian military about advances across one of Russia’s most significant strategic barriers. Earlier this week, Andriy Yermak, head of the president’s office, confirmed for the first time that Ukraine had established a foothold on the eastern side of the river. Ukraine provided no timeline for how long it took to establish its position on the eastern bank. “Neither side is currently capable of mounting decisive offensive operations on the land in the foreseeable future,” one official said. Ukraine said its troops killed more than 1,200 Russian soldiers and wounded more than 2,200 in a series of operations to establish its position on the eastern riverbank.

Persons: Andriy Yermak, ”, can’t, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, David Cameron, Cameron, Vladimir Saldo, ” Saldo, Jill Lawless Organizations: Marine Infantry, Press, Hamas, Ukraine, European Union, British, Associated Press Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Kherson, Russian, Crimea, Ukrainian, Gaza, U.S, Kyiv, Moscow, Russia, Krynky, London

Globally, as many as 128,000 fishers face threats of violence, debt bondage, excessive overtime and other conditions indicative of forced labor, according to the U.N.'s International Labor Organization. U.S. and European companies are under increasing pressure to clean up supply chains in labor-intensive industries where worker abuse is widespread. But ZheJiang Hairong in a statement last year to the state-owned Fujian Daily claimed ownership of only five of the 10 vessels that would later appear on the Financial Transparency Coalition's list. Pingtan last year was sanctioned by the Biden administration over allegations of illegal fishing and labor abuse. The Financial Transparency Coalition scoured government reports, media accounts and complaints by advocacy groups to come up with a list of 475 individual vessels suspected of forced labor since 2010.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Beth Lowell, Pingtan, Biden, Fu Ting, Wanqing Chen Organizations: MIAMI, Financial, Coalition, D.C, Walton Family Foundation, AP, Associated Press, International Labor Organization . U.S, Force, Group, Seven, Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Fisheries Co, Pingtan Marine Enterprises, China National Fisheries Corp, Fujian Daily, New York Stock Exchange, Washington , D.C Locations: Washington, China, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, United States, U.S, Oceana, Panama, Belize, ZheJiang, Fujian, Washington ,, Beijing, Investigative@ap.org

☆ Opinion: The Republican debater with only one gear – ‘D’ for ‘dislikeable!’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Opinion Todd Graham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Whether it was due to a less crowded debate stage or the experienced bench of moderators, the third Republican presidential debate held in Miami on Wednesday night was easily the smoothest debate yet. Usually, his moments of brilliance are –— as Senator Tim Scott would probably understand — sandwich-boarded by acts of self-flagellation. He was flat-out great in justifying our support of Ukraine, a debate Christie can win against anyone. As the resident expert of ‘letting little things get to me,’ I understand Haley’s Mr. Hyde. I wrote after the last debate that Haley makes poor decisions when something (or someone) gets under her skin.

Persons: Todd Graham, he’s, Chris Christie Mandel Ngan, Chris Christie, Christie, —, Tim Scott, Donald Trump, policymaking, Nikki Haley Mandel Ngan, Nikki Haley, Haley’s Dr, Jekyll, I’ve, Haley, Hyde, ’, Haley rehashes, Vivek Ramaswamy, Haley doesn’t, she’s, Ramaswamy, ”, “, Ron DeSantis Joe Raedle, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Hugh Hewitt, ” Lawless, Hewitt, Tim Scott Mandel Ngan, Mike Johnson’s, Scott, It’s, valueless, it’s, Vivek Ramaswamy Mandel Ngan, Vivek Ramaswamy’s, I’ll, Haley’s, Jill Biden Organizations: Southern Illinois University, Facebook, Twitter, CNN, Getty, New, MAGA, NBC, South, “ Locations: Miami, AFP, New Jersey, Ukraine, China, Florida, Mexico, South Carolina, United States

☆ San Francisco's retail crime may not be as bad as you think
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Early 2022 seemed to be a dire time for San Francisco, with shocking examples of retail crime. But according to a recent report, retail crime in San Franciscio is now 5% below its pre-pandemic norm. Retailers like Whole Foods and Walgreens referenced retail crime as a rationale for shuttering San Francisco stores. A San Francisco Target placed more merchandise under lock and key and increased reporting to police. Of the numerous challenges confronting San Francisco one year ago, retail crime is one that at least seems not to be getting worse.

Persons: —, Elon Musk, that's, there's, San Organizations: San, Service, Walgreens, Billionaire, Criminal Locations: San Francisco, Franciscio, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, Lincoln , Nebraska, Bay

☆ China Unleashes Crackdown on ‘Pig Butchering.’ (It Isn’t What You Think.)
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Feliz Solomon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

It’s called “pig butchering.”Armies of scammers operating from lawless corners of Southeast Asia—often controlled by Chinese crime bosses—connect with people all over the world through online messages. They foster elaborate, sometimes romantic, relationships, and then coax their targets into making bogus investments. Over time, they make it appear that the investments are growing to get victims to send more money. Then, they disappear.

Persons: It’s Locations: Southeast Asia

☆ Opinion | The Laws of Campus Culture War
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

They represent the moral and philosophical foundations for the concrete constitutional rules of culture war that directly apply on campus. One of the most powerful and compelling arguments for free speech in American history was born out of mob suppression. In 1860, Frederick Douglass wrote his “Plea for Free Speech in Boston” after a violent mob shut down an antislavery event. Every college and university — public or private — that receives federal funds has an affirmative duty to protect students’ civil rights. In the recent past, schools have sometimes been too enthusiastic about stopping harassment, defining the term so broadly that university anti-harassment policies actually violate students’ free speech rights.

Persons: George Washington, ”, “, Abraham, ” Washington, Johnson, Watts, they’re, Deactivating, Frederick Douglass, ” Douglass, Biden, Davis, VI, Scott Alexander’s, it’s, — Organizations: State University System of, Justice, Cooper Union, Cornell University, Trees School, . Ohio, Klan, Hamas, Civil, of Education, Cornell, Democratic Locations: State University System of Florida, Palestine, New York City, Ithaca, N.Y, ”, United States, America, Newport, R.I, Texas, Terminiello, Chicago, Brandenburg, ., Ohio, “, Gaza, Florida, Boston, Monroe County

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