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☆ 4 of Russia's deadliest military systems in its war against Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Insider has compiled a list of four of the most effective ones Russia has used so far in the war. Insider has taken a look at four key military systems that Russia has used to do this, from Ka-52 attack helicopters to Lancet drones. Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicoptersA serviceman checks a Russian Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter. It can also be fitted with VIKHR anti-tank missiles, ATAKA missiles, B8V-20 rocket launchers, and IGLA-V anti-aircraft guided missiles, per the site. Danilov said the number of Russian mines was "insane" and stressed the importance Ukraine was placing on saving its front-line soldiers.

Persons: Bradley, Danilov, James Patton Rogers, Forbes, Patton Rogers, Oleksiy Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Airforce Technology, UK Ministry of Defence, US stingers, Forbes, Emergency Services, REUTERS Ukraine's, National Security and Defense, CNN, Presidential, University of Southern, Soviet, State Emergency Service, FAB, REUTERS, Razumkov, New York Times Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Ka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukrainian, University of Southern Denmark, Kharkiv, REUTERS Russia

☆ Her son was an accused cult leader. She says he was a victim, too.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Donie O'Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

The man talking on the tape was her son, Michael Protzman. Michael Protzman got swept up in this alternate reality. We spoke to dozens of Americans whose lives and families have been affected by conspiracy theories, including Protzman’s own family. After Michael Protzman died this summer, some of his followers refused to believe he had passed. Vigrass never imagined that the conspiracy theories her brother was airing at the kitchen table could lead to him to join what she views as a cult.

Persons: CNN’s, O’Sullivan, Anderson Cooper, CNN —, “ John John, … Trump, Joe Kennedy, George Patton, Mussolini … ” Colleen Protzman, Michael Protzman, ”, “, John F, Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump, Kennedy, Junior —, “ He’ll, Trump, Jesus Christ, reemerge, opportunists, Protzman, Michael Brian Protzman, Michael “, Colleen Protzman, Michael, it’s, Sandy, ” Colleen Protzman, —, QAnon, Barack Obama, Rachel Maddow, Donie O'Sullivan, Michal Protzman, didn’t, JFK, Erica Vigrass, Jason, Erica, ‘ I’m, ’ ” Protzman’s, – Protzman, Erica Vigrass ’, Vigrass, ” Protzman, Jason –, They’re, Jesselyn Cook, It’s, Diane Benscoter, General, ” Benscoter Organizations: JFK, CNN, Dealey, Junior, Junior — JFK, WFAA, JFK Jr, Trump, Kennedys, Democratic Party, Michael Protzman CNN, Dallas CNN, Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Capitol, Facebook, Twitter, Hollywood, Unification Church, US Locations: United States, Dallas, JFK, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, Dealey, –

☆ US firm AXT says China unit has initial export permits for key chipmaking metals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The elements of Gallium and Germanium are seen on a periodic table, in this illustration picture taken on July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 22 (Reuters) - U.S. semiconductor wafer maker AXT Inc (AXTI.O) said its Chinese subsidiary Beijing Tongmei had received initial export permits for shipping gallium arsenide and germanium substrates - compounds key to chipmaking - to certain customers. China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday that some Chinese companies had obtained export licences for gallium and germanium products, with more still being reviewed. This came after China's exports of germanium and gallium items plunged in August, the first month of the export controls，customs data showed on Wednesday. There were also no exports of wrought gallium products in August, compared to 5.15 tons in July and 7.67 tons in August in 2022, the data showed.

Persons: Florence Lo, Beijing Tongmei, Tongmei, Amy Lv, Dominique Patton, Tom Hogue, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, AXT Inc, Beijing, China's Ministry of Commerce, China, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, . California, China, Beijing, United States, Washington

☆ Opinion: Musk, McCarthy and Romney are three kinds of leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. A vain and ambitious cigar-smoking bully who wore riding breeches, a polished helmet and boots and carried ivory-handled revolvers, he led troops on successful lightning strikes through German-held territory near the end of World War II. Musk has repeatedly been criticized for enabling and boosting antisemitic content on the platform.”“Isaacson tries to square these two Musks. During Trump’s first impeachment, Romney became the first senator in US history to vote to remove a president of his own party from office. He has been willing to do what he believes to be right — consequences be damned.”The differences between Romney and Trump were many.

Persons: CNN — “ Troy, Hadrian, …, ”, George S, Patton, “, Stephen D, Clay Jones, Elon Musks, Elon, Nicole Hemmer’s, Walter Isaacson, Musk “, Musk, ” “ Isaacson, Isaacson, ” Hemmer, Walt Handelsman, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Joe Biden, “ Trump, impeaching Biden, Norman Eisen, Trump, ” Eisen, Biden, James Antle III, ’, Hunter, McCarthy “, John Avlon, Dennis Aftergut, Lindsey Graham wasn’t, Michelle Lujan Grisham, she’s, Hunter Biden, Robert J, Spitzer, It’s, ” Vladimir, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Frida Ghitis, Putin, vaingloriously, Peter the Great, Sébastien Roblin, Don’t, Romney Francis Chung, AP Sen, Mitt Romney, Romney, Sen, John McCain, Trump’s, Lanhee J, Chen, Lisa Benson, Kate Bahn, ’ I’m, —, Dana Peterson, Erik Lundh, ” Dana Summers, Kunis Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, Jill Filipovic, “ Kutcher, Kunis, Kutcher, Masterson, Danilo Cavalcante, Arick, Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, Jets Phil Hands, Julian Zelizer, Aaron Rodgers ’, ” Don’t, Nick Anderson, Tess Taylor, Tommy Tuberville, Mahnaz, Roxanne Jones, Coco Gauff, Amanda Tyler, Lara Setrakian, Paul Hockenos, Don Lincoln, Sophia Nelson, Tim Scott, Kenneth Branagh, Agatha Christie’s, Hercule Poirot, Noah Berlatsky, Poirot, Branagh, Sara Stewart, Winona Ryder Organizations: CNN, US, Marine Corps, Third Army, Vostochny, Twitter, Defamation League, Agency, Caucus, Republicans, Democrats, White, North, Putin, AP, Senate, Hollywood, Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Peugeot, United Auto Workers, UAW, “, Federal Reserve, Conference Board, Ninth, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, REUTERS, Reuters, Apple, European Union, Jets, Boston Red Sox, The Chicago Cubs, The New York Jets, New York Jets, MetLife, Tribune, Studios Locations: China, Washington, New Mexico, Detroit, Russia’s, South Africa, Hunter Biden’s, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Russia, Ukraine, ”, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Aude, Pennsylvania, Brazil, Cupertino , California, Iran, New Texas, Venice

Just as noteworthy as what they're carrying is what they are not: the disposable Starbucks cup, an icon in a world where the word is overused. Political Cartoons View All 1160 ImagesNow, in an era where concern for sustainability can be good business, the Starbucks disposable cup may be on its way to extinction thanks to an unlikely force: Starbucks itself. At the store where Patton gets her coffee, Starbucks already doesn't serve any in disposable paper or plastic cups. That pushes the limits of what can be done with recycled paper material that holds hot liquids. Since the reintroduction of reusable cups in some stores in July 2021 — reusable cups were not used during much of the COVID-19 pandemic — only 1.2% of worldwide sales in fiscal year 2022 came from reusables.

Persons: — Bethany Patton, Patton, ”, that's, Michael Kobori, It’s, Erin Simon, Simon, Jon Solorzano, ” Solorzano, “ I’ll, Irene Linayao, Aria, Tyler Eglen, Jane Tsilas, Kyle Walker, Valencia Villanueva, it's, “, Peter Prengaman, Manuel Valdes Organizations: Arizona State University ., Starbucks, Wildlife Fund, Arizona State, Starbucks —, AS, Valencia, Associated Press, AP Locations: TEMPE, Ariz, United States, Los Angeles, Europe, Germany, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Arizona, reusables

☆ See inside Starbucks' quest for 'the cup of the future'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Peter Prengaman | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Just as noteworthy as what they're carrying is what they are not: the disposable Starbucks cup, an icon in a world where the word is overused. ASU implemented a "borrow and return" plan that has users dump reusable cups in a bin outside the store. AP Photo/Ross D. FranklinNow, in an era where concern for sustainability can be good business, the Starbucks disposable cup may be on its way to extinction thanks to an unlikely force: Starbucks itself. Currently, ASU students can bring their own reusable cups or are given a reusable cup to wash and return. Since the reintroduction of reusable cups in some stores in July 2021 — reusable cups were not used during much of the COVID-19 pandemic — only 1.2% of worldwide sales in fiscal year 2022 came from reusables.

Persons: — Bethany Patton, Patton, Ross D, Franklin, that's, Michael Kobori, Lindsey Wasson, Erin Simon, Simon, Jon Solorzano, Solorzano, Irene Linayao, Aria, Tyler Eglen, Jane Tsilas, Walker, Kyle Walker, Franklin Valencia Villanueva, it's Organizations: Starbucks, Service, ASU, AP, Arizona State University ., Wildlife Fund, Arizona State, Starbucks —, Franklin Locations: TEMPE, Ariz, United States, Los Angeles, Europe, Germany, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Arizona, reusables, Villanueva

☆ Ukraine may be cracking Russia's frontlines, but now it has to get Russian troops to crack as well
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But Russian troops have been fighting fiercely trenches behind extensive obstacles and minefields. Ukrainian troops have managed to penetrate the first of three Russian fortified belts in southern Ukraine, but for now, the Russian military hasn't cracked. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu exits a trench as he inspects troops in Ukraine in a photo released in December 2022. Russian troops are dug into elaborate trench systems shielded by millions of mines and supported by artillery and attack helicopters. Ukrainian troops work on a US-made Bradley armored vehicle at a secret workshop in the Zaporizhzhia region in July.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, George Patton —, Bradley, Ed Ram, France —, Alexey Malgavko, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Kyiv, Russian, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Royal United Services Institute, Washington, Getty, Sedan, REUTERS, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Nazi Germany, British, France, economize, Zaporizhzhia, American, Russia, Omsk, Forbes

☆ Chinese titanium producers expect boost from new iPhone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 13 (Reuters) - China's titanium producers said on Wednesday they expect stronger demand for the lightweight metal after the launch of a new model of Apple's iPhone with a titanium shell. China accounts for more than 60% of the 240,000 metric tons of titanium and titanium alloys produced globally each year, according to the CNIA. A consumer product "monster" such as the iPhone would help bring wider adoption of titanium in new industries, replacing materials like stainless steel, he added. The titanium shell on the new iPhone is made with an alloy known as Grade 5 Titanium that also contains small amounts of aluminium and vanadium, according to three Chinese titanium producers. "There's a technical barrier to produce titanium alloys and international enterprises such as Apple require high standards.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Zhao Wei, Zhao, Foxconn, Ningwei Qin, Amy Lv, Siyi Liu, Dominique Patton, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Rights, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, Ningwei, Thomson Locations: Lille, France, Rights BEIJING, China

☆ Sen. Tommy Tuberville argues the Navy is 'too woke' because 'people are doing poems on aircraft carriers'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville says the US Navy is too woke, citing a poetry night on an aircraft carrier. "It is absolutely insane the direction we're headed in our military," Tuberville told Fox News. "Secretary [Carlos] Del Toro of Navy, he needs to get to building ships, get to recruiting, and he needs to get wokeness out of our Navy," Tuberville said Wednesday evening on Fox News. AdvertisementAdvertisementSecretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Sen. Jack Reed at an industry conference in Newport, Rhode Island on August 28, 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The service chief of any service has two full-time jobs already.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Carlos, Del Toro, We've, he's, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Jack Reed, Theodore C, Lee Tuberville, Gerald R, Ford, Mike Gilday, Gilday, Ted Lieu, George Patton, Richard, MCS3 Jeanette Mullinax, Chuck Schumer, Tuberville's, They've, Adam Smith of, Abraham Lincoln, Jeff Sherman Tuberville's, Lisa Franchetti, Joe Biden, Franchetti, Eric Smith, Smith, I've Organizations: US Navy, Fox News, Navy, Service, Alabama Republican, CNN, Army and Air Force, The Washington Post, Ford, Senate Armed Services Committee, House Armed Services Committee, Defense, Conference, Navy Reserve, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Marine, Chiefs Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, The, Newport , Rhode Island, Alabama, California, Flanders, Canadian, Adam Smith of Washington

Capital One has revealed its newest airport lounge, an 8,500-square-foot outpost at Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD). Read Insider's guide to the best credit cards with free airport lounge access. The Capital One Lounge at Dulles (IAD) is the issuer's highly anticipated second location, expanding the issuer's reach to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. It's the first credit card-affiliated lounge at Dulles, and the space will likely prove popular for travelers departing from the airport. Premium perks including airport lounge access and statement creditsCheck mark icon A check mark.

Persons: Eero Saarinen, Dulles, H, Will Patton, Chris Dong, it's, Chase Sapphire, Amex, Chase Organizations: Dulles International, Travelers, Capital, Service, Fort Worth International, Dulles, Washington D.C, Capital One, One, Premier, Rhino Brewing Co, Michelin, Acorn, Dulles Airport, Venture, Business, LaGuardia, Reagan Washington National Airport Locations: Washington, Wall, Silicon, Dallas, DFW, Dulles, Virginia, Central Virginia, Denver, Las

☆ Former generals weigh in on how much say the US should have in Ukraine's counteroffensive as Kyiv's frustration with critics boils over
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Ukraine has blamed a lack of equipment and tough defenses while some in the West have put the blame on Kyiv's forces. "Everyone is now an expert on how we should fight," Ukraine's defense ministry said on social media Thursday. He wrote that the general is "extremely talented," but "he has never before" coordinated the kind of operations Ukraine is executing now. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US has reiterated that it will continue to support Ukraine's war effort, even as the counteroffensive is expected to potentially last for at least a couple more months and the conflict possibly for years. In a recent conversation with Insider about Ukrainian operations, Hodges said that the Ukrainians "have recognized that they have to adapt, which is what they're doing."

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, it's, —, Jose Colon, Jack Keane, Keane, Metz, Michael O'Hanlon, George S, O'Hanlon, Hertling, Valery Zaluzhny, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Mick Ryan, Michael Kofman, Franz, Stefan Gady, Ben Hodges, David Petraeus, Mark Milley, Milley, Petraeus, Frederick Kagan, Hodges, Kyiv's, Ryan Organizations: Service, —, PKP, Ukrainian Army, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Army, Institute for, Street, Patton's Third Army, NATO, intel, Army, Foreign Affairs, US Central Command, CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, The Washington Post, American Enterprise Institute, Russia, Nazis Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Europe, Chasiv Yar, Russia, Donetsk Oblast, America, Ukrainian, France, Metz, Vietnam, Korea, US Army Europe, Australian, American, Singapore, Japan, United States, Philippines

Indonesia imported 53,864 metric tons of nickel ore in the first half of 2023, up from 22,503 tons for all of 2022, Indonesian trade data showed. But imports from the Philippines only started in May, and all arrived at Morowali port in a huge nickel processing park run partly by Chinese nickel giant Tsingshan Group, the Indonesian data showed. "But the ore is cheaper by comparison with domestic ore currently and so this will offset some of the rising costs," Mitchell said. The Philippines mined 360,000 tons of nickel in ore in 2022, or 11% of global supplies, according to INSG. Philippines 1.3% grade ore landed at China's Lianyun port surged 20.6% in the past month to $41 a ton, the highest since March, Mysteel data showed.

Persons: Antara, Aneka, Tsingshan, Wood Mackenzie, Andrew Mitchell, Mitchell, Mai Nguyen, Siyi Liu, Fransiska, Enrico dela Cruz, Dominique Patton, Kim Coghill Organizations: PT Vale Indonesia, REUTERS Acquire, Nickel, Tsingshan Group, Study, Imports, Thomson Locations: Sorowako, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Philippines, Jakarta, Morowali, China, China's, Hanoi, Beijing, Manila

☆ Simone Biles: How to watch gymnast go for more history at US Gymnastics Championships
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Coverage of the US Gymnastics Championships will be domestically broadcast on NBC and Peacock while international viewers can watch the event on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel. Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the World Championships in 2019. Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images Biles competes on the balance beam during the US National Gymnastics Championships in August 2013. The world gymnastics championships are then scheduled to take place between September 30 and October 8 in Antwerp, Belgium. Biles is the most decorated gymnast in US history, winning 32 medals across the Olympics and the world championships.

Persons: CNN — Simone Biles, she’s, Biles, –, Alfred Jochim, Peacock, Simone Biles, Laurence Griffiths, Ron, Smiley, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Lintao Zhang, Nellie, Adria, Leslye Davis, Gabby Douglas, Douglas, Donald Miralle, Ezra Shaw, Damir Sagolj, Reuters Biles, Kai Pfaffenbach, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, David Ramos, Emmanuel Dunand, Jimmy Fallon, Donald Glover, Andrew Lipovsky, Michael Phelps, Raisman, Olivia Munn, Trae Patton, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Alex Wong, Bob Levey, Sasha Farber, Eric McCandless, Daniel Dunn, Ulrik Pedersen, NurPhoto, Lionel Bonaventure, Emilee Chinn, Natacha, Cecile Canqueteau, Landi, Shannon Miller, Robert Gauthier, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols, Larry Nassar, Saul Loeb, Joe Biden, Biden, James Corden, Pete Buttigieg, Terence Patrick, Stacy Revere, Jon Durr, “, ” Organizations: CNN, US, NBC, USA, YouTube, Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, Getty, Reuters, White House, Disney, Entertainment, Walt Disney Television, Houston Texans, GK, Tokyo, Los Angeles Times, USA Gymnastics, CBS, Network, Tokyo Games, Olympic Games, Olympics Locations: San Jose , California, Houston, Spring , Texas, Rio de Janeiro, AFP, Tokyo, American, Biles, Antwerp, Belgium

☆ Analysis-Lithium buyers eye cheaper early-stage deals in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Melanie Burton | Scott Murdoch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

So I think there’s going to be some opportunistic acquisitions.”There is already evidence of frenzied deal activity involving pre-producing companies. Develop Global, a base metals explorer backed by diversified miner Mineral Resources, last month proposed to acquire lithium developer Essential Metals for A$152.6 million ($97.98 million). “Even though battery chemistry is evolving and impacting certain metals, lithium is a mainstay and the demand story remains robust. The battery metals landscape, and lithium in particular, looks poised for further M&A activity,” said Gavi Friedland, head of metals and mining at Goldman Sachs in Australia & New Zealand. Mineral Resources is deciding whether to build an Australian lithium battery chemical plant, while Albemarle is expanding production at its Kemerton hydroxide plant and SQM is also building a lithium hydroxide plant.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, acquirers, ”, Kaan, “, Gavi Friedland, Goldman Sachs, Guy Alexander, Buyers, Japan’s Idemitsu, Delta, Tony Chong, Squire Patton Boggs, Jakob Stausholm, Stausholm, ” Dale Henderson Organizations: MELBOURNE, REUTERS, Chile, Albemarle Corp, RBC, Develop, Mineral Resources, Metals, Minerals, Liontown Resources, Climate Capital, Consultancy, EV, Goldman, New Zealand, Resources, ”, Rio Tinto, Patriot Metals, Canada, Reuters Locations: Albemarle Chile, Chile, Australia, Sydney, Andover, Albemarle, Perth, China, U.S, Rio, Canada, Quebec

[1/2] A general view shows the brine pools of Albemarle Chile lithium plant placed on the Atacama salt flat, Chile, May 4, 2023. "It seems like the cheapest way to get lithium units is via the drill bit," said analyst Kaan Peker of RBC in Sydney. "Even though battery chemistry is evolving and impacting certain metals, lithium is a mainstay and the demand story remains robust. The battery metals landscape, and lithium in particular, looks poised for further M&A activity,” said Gavi Friedland, head of metals and mining at Goldman Sachs in Australia & New Zealand. Mineral Resources is deciding whether to build an Australian lithium battery chemical plant, while Albemarle is expanding production at its Kemerton hydroxide plant and SQM is also building a lithium hydroxide plant.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, acquirers, Kaan, ”, Gavi Friedland, Goldman Sachs, Guy Alexander, Buyers, Japan's Idemitsu, Delta, Tony Chong, Squire Patton Boggs, Jakob Stausholm, Stausholm, Dale Henderson, Melanie Burton, Veronica Brown Organizations: REUTERS, Chile, Albemarle Corp, RBC, Develop, Mineral Resources, Metals, Minerals, Liontown Resources, Climate Capital, Consultancy, EV, Goldman, New Zealand, Resources, Tinto, Patriot Metals, Canada, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Albemarle Chile, Chile, MELBOURNE, Australia, Sydney, Andover, Albemarle, Perth, China, U.S, Canada, Quebec

☆ Mzansi Youth Choir: The South African group that brought Simon Cowell to tears eyes next stage of US singing competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jackelyn Prager | Jackie Prager | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —On a stage more than 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) away from the small township of Soweto in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Mzansi Youth Choir was seeing their dreams come true before their eyes. Ever since, the choir has been back in South Africa preparing for the next step of their journey. “Coming to the US to perform on the world’s biggest stage, ‘America’s Got Talent,’ is a dream come true,” choir member Zoe Gulwa, 21, told CNN during a recent interview in Johannesburg. The Mzansi Youth Choir is family away from family,” said Mphahlwa. Trae Patton/NBC via Getty ImagesEyes on the prizeThe Mzansi Youth Choir has performed alongside musical talents including Shakira, Beyoncé and South African flutist Wouter Kellerman.

Persons: ‘, Zoe Gulwa, Jane “ Nightbirde ” Marczewski, Simon Cowell, “, ”, Nightbirde, ” Gulwa, would’ve, they’ll, Marina Zaaiman, Zaaiman, Jannie, Jannie Zaaiman, “ They’ve, Trae Patton, Shakira, Wouter Kellerman, America’s, ” “, Keneilwe Melato, It’s Organizations: CNN, NBC, Getty Locations: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa

Total refinery throughput in the world's second-largest oil consumer was 63.13 million metric tons last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. Production was up slightly from the 14.83 million bpd of oil processed in June. Domestic fuel demand has picked up with the arrival of the summer travel season, notably in gasoline and jet fuel. China's crude oil imports in July pared back from close-to-record levels during the previous month, totalling 43.7 million metric tons, or 10.3 million bpd, according to the customs data. The NBS data on Tuesday also showed China's domestic crude oil production in July was 17.31 million metric tons, or 4.1 million bpd, versus 17.13 million metric tons in 2022.

Persons: Dominique Patton, refiners, Production, Andrew Hayley, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Shandong Haiyou Petrochemical Group, REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Reuters, Zhuochuang, Thomson Locations: Shandong, county, Shandong province, China, BEIJING

☆ Ukrainian soldier credits video-game obsession for his ability to strike Russian targets with drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine is increasingly using small, cheap FPV drones to hit outsize targets. Mykhailo operates the drones using a joystick and a virtual reality headset — hence the video game comparisons. It's not the first time the video game comparison has been made. In an interview with The Guardian earlier this month, a Ukrainian drone operator called Olexandr said: "It's like playing a computer game, you know?" Ukraine is employing many of these cheap FPV drones, which can be made from off-the-shelf commercial drones and kitted out with explosives.

Persons: Mykhailo, Olexandr, Insider's Alia Shoaib, Michael Peck, James Patton Rogers Organizations: Service, Reuters, Russian, Guardian, Air Assault Force, UK's Royal United Services Institute Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia

☆ Australia calls for China to end trade curbs as barley tariffs lifted
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lewis Jackson | Dominique Patton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said on Friday that Chinese restrictions affecting roughly A$20 billion of annual trade as of last May had shrunk to hit about A$2 billion of exports. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office, which has sided with Australia in the trade dispute, declined to comment on China’s move to reduce barley tariffs. FILE PHOTO: Bottles of Australian wine are seen at a store selling imported wine in Beijing, China November 27, 2020. Wine producer Treasury Wine Estate’s shares reversed earlier declines to close 2.7% following the barley decision against an otherwise flat market. Chinese buyers had turned to Canada, France and Argentina to replace Australian barley supplies over the last three years, while Australian sellers shifted exports to feed barley markets in the Middle East.

Persons: Don Farrell, ” Farrell, Anthony Albanese, Florence, Lee McLean, Dennis Voznesenski, ”, Colin Bettles Organizations: SYDNEY, China’s Ministry of Commerce, World Trade Organization, Australian Trade, Labor, U.S . Trade, REUTERS, Wine, WTO, Rabobank, “, Grain Producers Australia Locations: BEIJING, Australia, normalisation, China’s, Canberra, China, Beijing, Canada, France, Argentina

☆ China to lift tariffs on Australian barley as trade ties improve
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Dominique Patton | Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: Bottles of Australian wine are seen at a store selling imported wine in Beijing, China November 27, 2020. Australian Grape & Wine CEO Lee McLean said the barley decision was a very positive step for the country’s relationship with China. “We hope this may provide a template for removing the duties on Australian wine,” he said. Those trade flows are likely to shift again after China drops the tariffs, with its barley buyers expected to begin purchases of the new Australian crop harvested in October for arrival by year-end. ($1 = 1.5223 Australian dollars)($1 = 1.5232 Australian dollars)((This story has been corrected to change the value of Australian barley exports to A$1.5 billion, not A$2 billion, in paragraph 11)

Persons: Florence, Dennis Voznesenski, ”, Colin Bettles, Lee McLean Organizations: China’s Ministry of Commerce, REUTERS, World Trade Organization, Rabobank, “, Grain Producers Australia, WTO, Labor, & Wine Locations: BEIJING, SYDNEY, Beijing, China, Australia, Canberra, WTO, Canada, France, Argentina

☆ China to lift tariffs on Australian barley after 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China and Australia agreed in April to resolve their dispute over barley imports, with Canberra to suspend a case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Beijing's anti-dumping and countervailing duties on barley, while China promised to speed up a review into the tariffs. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said on Wednesday that he was expecting a positive outcome within days. The tariffs will be dropped starting on Saturday, China's Ministry of Commerce said, citing a changing situation in China's barley market without providing further details. Beijing implemented tariffs totalling 80.5% on Australian barley in May 2020, wiping out imports of the grain by the world's biggest beer market, worth as much as A$2 billion ($1.31 billion) a year. Those trade flows are likely to shift again after China drops the tariffs, with its barley buyers expected to begin purchases of the new Australian crop harvested in October for arrival by year-end.

Persons: Jonathan Barrett, Don Farrell, Dominique Patton, Kim Coghill, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, China's Ministry of Commerce, World Trade Organization, Australian Trade, Labor, WTO, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Moree, New South Wales, Australia, BEIJING, China, Canberra, Beijing, Canada, France, Argentina

[1/2] Rob Olan (C), employee of the healthcare investment fund Deerfield Management, departs Federal Court in Manhattan in New York, U.S., May 24, 2017. FollowNEW YORK, Aug 1 (Reuters) - A long-running federal insider trading case based on leaks about planned changes to Medicare reimbursement rates will likely end with no convictions, after the remaining defendants agreed to enter deferred prosecution agreements. In the healthcare case, the Manhattan appeals court said the leaked CMS information did not support fraud and theft charges against Huber, Olan and Blaszczak, though prosecutors could retry them on one or two counts each. In their deferred prosecution agreements, Huber and Olan acknowledged trading on and Blaszczak acknowledged passing advance information about a proposed CMS rule change. The case is U.S. v. Blaszczak et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Rob Olan, Lucas Jackson, Theodore Huber, Robert Olan, David Blaszczak, Prosecutors, Huber, Olan, George Washington, Chris Christie's, Christopher Worrall, Blaszczak, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Blaszczak's, David Patton, Barry Berke, Dani James, Damian Williams, Jonathan Stempel, Conor Humphries, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Deerfield Management, REUTERS, Aetna Inc, Centers, Medicare, Services, Democratic, New, New Jersey Republican, District, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Deerfield, New Jersey, Southern District, Southern District of New York

Former President Donald J. Trump’s team is creating a legal-defense fund to handle some of the crush of legal bills stemming from the investigations and criminal indictments involving him and a number of employees and associates, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The fund, which is expected to be called the Patriot Legal Defense Fund Inc., will be led by Michael Glassner, a longtime Trump political adviser, according to the people familiar with the planning, who were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Another Trump aide who worked at the Trump Organization and then in Mr. Trump’s administration, Lynne Patton, will also be involved, the people said. It is unclear how broad a group of people the legal-defense fund will cover, but one person said it was not expected to cover Mr. Trump’s own legal bills. In recent months Mr. Trump’s political action committee has paid legal bills for him and several witnesses, spending over $40 million on lawyers in the first half of 2023.

Persons: Donald J, Michael Glassner, Trump, Lynne Patton, Trump’s Organizations: Patriot Legal Defense Fund Inc, Trump Organization, Trump

BEIJING/TAIPEI, July 28 (Reuters) - Typhoon Doksuri swept into southern China on Friday, unleashing heavy rain and violent gusts of wind that whipped power lines and sparked fires, uprooted trees, and ripped off part of a stadium roof. REUTERS/Eloisa LopezSocial media video showed power lines sparking and bursting into flames as winds thrashed Jinjiang, a city of 2 million, while in Quanzhou trees were uprooted and left in the middle of roads. FERRY OVERTURNSTyphoon Doksuri has already left a wake of death and destruction as it moved from the Philippines across southern Taiwan. In southern Taiwan, the storm toppled trees and cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes. The storm had cut power to more than 278,000 homes across Taiwan and downed hundreds of trees in Kaohsiung.

Persons: Doksuri, Meranti, Zhuang, Aya, Eloisa Lopez, Bernard Orr, Ryan Woo, Yimou Lee, Dominique Patton, Yuhan Lin, Kevin Huang, Ethan Wang, Michael Perry, Neil Fullick Organizations: Sunday, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS, Eloisa Lopez Social, Residents, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, TAIPEI, China, Fujian, Quanzhou, Anhui, Beijing, Xiamen, Binangonan, Rizal province, Philippines, Jinjiang, Taiwan, Manila, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Shanghai

☆ Some Chinese steel mills ordered to cap output this year - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, July 25 (Reuters) - Several Chinese steel mills have received instructions to cap this year's output at the same level as 2022, five people familiar with the matter and analyst reports said on Tuesday, potentially curbing iron ore demand in the world's top steel market. China has mandated zero output growth in its steel sector for the last two years as it seeks to limit carbon emissions by one of its most polluting industries. China's state planner did not respond to a fax seeking comment on the caps issued at some steel mills. Some mills in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin were notified to keep steel output below the 2022 level, according to reports by local consultancies Mysteel and Fubao on Tuesday, which did not specify the number of mills. However, a dozen mills in northern Chinese cities including Tianjin and Handan contacted by Reuters said they had not yet received any instructions to cap their output.

Persons: Dominique Patton, Chizu Organizations: China Baowu Steel Group, Shanghai Metals, Reuters, Shanghai Futures Exchange, National Bureau, Statistics, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Tianjin, Fubao, Shanghai, Handan, Beijing

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