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☆ Iranian officials spent weeks helping Hamas plan its attack on Israel, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian officials co-created plans for Hamas' attack on Israel. Israeli authorities say 700 people have been killed and 1,500 wounded by Hamas strikes this weekend. Hamas and Hezbollah have vowed to fight for Israel's destruction, per the Journal, with Hezbollah leaders praising the attacks by Hamas. Israeli authorities say at least 700 people have been killed and 1,500 wounded by Hamas' strikes this weekend, with some taken hostage. The last significant escalation in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Hamas was in 2014, leaving 2,200 Gaza residents dead.

Persons: —, IRGC, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Street Journal, Palestinian Health Ministry, Service, Israel, Palestinian, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, CNN, Israeli Defense Force, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Associated Press, West Bank, UN, Human Rights, The Washington Post Locations: Israel, Beirut, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Israel's, —, South Africa, The

CNN —A series of powerful earthquakes struck western Afghanistan on Saturday killing at least 100 people and wounding more than 500 others, according to the UN’s humanitarian office, as the nation reels from another natural disaster at a time of deep economic crisis. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Herat city in the western Herat province – the third largest in Afghanistan. The initial quake was also felt in neighboring provinces of Badghis and Farah and was followed by multiple aftershocks. A deadly quake in March struck northeastern Afghanistan, sending residents fleeing from their homes as it brought down entire buildings and triggered devastating landslides. And a 5.6 magnitude earthquake on January 17, 2022 struck Badghis, another western province near Herat bordering Turkmenistan, killed more than 20 people and reduced hundreds of brick homes to rubble.

Persons: Farah, “, OCHA, Mohsen Karimi Organizations: CNN, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, UN, Getty, Bank Locations: Afghanistan, Herat, Herat province –, Badghis, Herat City, AFP, United States, freefall, New Delhi, Khost, Pakistan, Turkmenistan

☆ Rahile Dawut: US condemns China's reported life sentence of Uyghur scholar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The United States has condemned China’s reported sentencing of prominent Uyghur academic Rahile Dawut to life in prison, calling for the immediate release of the scholar known for documenting folklore and traditions of the Muslim minority in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. A renowned scholarRahile Dawut is known as a foremost scholar of Uyghur culture, who focused her work on folklore and religious anthropology, including documenting Uyghur pilgrimage to religious shrines throughout Xinjiang. Through her collaborations with international researchers, guest lecturing and teaching, she is credited by international academics with fostering a greater global understanding of Uyghur culture and making key contributions to preserving and documenting Uyghur heritage and architecture. In 2007, Rahile Dawut founded a center focused on folklore at Xinjiang University, where she was a professor. According to San Francisco-based Dui Hua, Rahile Dawut was tried in 2018 of for “splittism” or political separatism – a crime of endangering state security.

Persons: China’s, Dawut, Rahile Dawut, ”, Rahile, Matthew Miller, “, Dawut’s, San, Hua, –, Rahile Dawut’s, Ilham Tohti, OSUN Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Hua Foundation, Rights, United Nations, UN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC, People’s, The State Department, Xinjiang University, American Anthropological Association, Beijing’s Minzu University, Open Society University Network Locations: United States, China’s, Xinjiang, China, People’s Republic of China, San Francisco, ”

☆ How a Google loophole lets drug dealers hijack nearly any website — including our own
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Nor does it always appear to pay attention to other signals webmasters code in asking Google not to index their search results. It's why someone advertised how to buy cocaine and fentanyl in Pittsburgh on a National Institutes of Health website. It directs searchers to the Telegram user who offered to sell Insider cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines. The proliferation of drug ads in search results lands amid a growing upswell of discontent with what some users and website owners say is the declining quality of Google Search. For now, a simple Google search leads prospective drug buyers to markets on Telegram.

Persons: Jake Swearingen, Jane, Ted Kubaitis, Katherine Long, Monica Barratt, Barratt, Kubaitis, Davis, Timothy Mackey, Mackey, Erin Lalor, Eric Schwartzman, They're, Zack Onisko, Dribbble Organizations: Google, Food and Drug Administration, Interpol, United Nations, Food, FDA, Ontario, UN, Drugs, US Postal Service, Cash, Telegram, Scottish, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, Cleveland Clinic, Drug, Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation, IRS, Tricare, Alabama Department of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, University of California, University of Chicago, The New York Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, The Washington Post, UC San Diego's Global Health, Data, Alcohol, Drug Foundation, East Tennessee University Locations: Ontario, Canada, cryptocurrency, Fresno , California, Pittsburgh, Clairton , Pennsylvania, New York, Dayton , Ohio, Goodlettsville , Tennessee, Alabama, Maine, Seattle

☆ UN Worried About Vietnam Arrest of Energy Expert After Biden's Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Francesco GuarascioHANOI (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights office has expressed concern about the arrest of a Vietnamese green energy expert, who had collaborated with U.N. and U.S. agencies, just days after President Joe Biden signed business and human rights deals with Hanoi on a visit. Hanoi police on Sept. 15 detained Ngo Thi To Nhien, Executive Director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET), an independent think tank focused on green energy policy, Reuters reported last week citing a charity and a source. She "has participated in international and national events, including consultations organized by UNDP on the topic of energy transition," the UNDP in Vietnam confirmed in an email message to Reuters. Vietnam's government has not issued any public statement about Nhien's arrest, and did not reply to requests for comment. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said Manh had a strong alibi which was disregarded.

Persons: Francesco Guarascio HANOI, U.N, Joe Biden, Ngo Thi, Nhien, Le Van Manh, Phil Robertson, Manh, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Michael Perry Organizations: Vietnam Initiative for Energy, Reuters, UN, Human Rights, World Bank, United Nations, USAID, LinkedIn, UNDP, European, Asia Locations: Hanoi, United States, Vietnam

FILE PHOTO-Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland February 27, 2023. Hanoi police on Sept. 15 detained Ngo Thi To Nhien, Executive Director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET), an independent think tank focused on green energy policy, Reuters reported last week citing a charity and a source. Nhien had worked for the World Bank, with the United Nations Development Programme and the United States aid agency (USAID), according to her profile on LinkedIn. She "has participated in international and national events, including consultations organized by UNDP on the topic of energy transition," the UNDP in Vietnam confirmed in an email message to Reuters. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said Manh had a strong alibi which was disregarded.

Persons: Volker Turk, Denis Balibouse, U.N, Joe Biden, Ngo Thi, Nhien, Le Van Manh, Phil Robertson, Manh, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Michael Perry Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights, REUTERS, Rights, Vietnam Initiative for Energy, Reuters, UN, World Bank, USAID, LinkedIn, UNDP, European, Asia, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, Rights HANOI, Hanoi, United States, Vietnam

☆ Death Toll From Floods Reaches 11,300 in Libya's Coastal City of Derna
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - At least 11,300 people have died and another 10,100 are missing from the coastal city of Derna one week after Storm Daniel hit northeastern Libya, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Saturday. An estimated 170 people have been killed as a result of the flooding elsewhere in the country, and more than 40,000 people have been displaced, the UN report said, citing the latest data from International Organizaton for Migration. Figures are expected to rise as search-and-rescue efforts continue to look for survivors.

Persons: Storm Daniel Organizations: UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, UN Locations: CAIRO, Derna, Libya

☆ Death toll from floods reaches 11,300 in Libya's coastal city of Derna
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - At least 11,300 people have died and another 10,100 are missing from the coastal city of Derna one week after Storm Daniel hit northeastern Libya, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Saturday. An estimated 170 people have been killed as a result of the flooding elsewhere in the country, and more than 40,000 people have been displaced, the UN report said, citing the latest data from International Organizaton for Migration. Figures are expected to rise as search-and-rescue efforts continue to look for survivors. Writing by Adam Makary. Editing by Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Storm Daniel, Adam Makary, Jane Merriman Organizations: UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, UN, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Derna, Libya

☆ How knockoffs took over America
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But these fake products have major financial and societal impacts that can lead to lost sales, jobs, and livelihoods. US Customs and Border Protection officers inspect boxes of counterfeit products at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport complex. Edward Berthelot/GettyWhy sales of counterfeit goods have soaredE-commerce has been a breeding ground for knockoffs. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to the US Sentencing Commission , the maximum sentence for selling counterfeit goods is 10 years in prison. In 2020, Amazon established its Counterfeit Crimes Unit, which works with brands to identify and remove counterfeit products.

Persons: Daniel Shapiro's, Hugo Boss, counterfeiters, Spencer Platt, Getty, Shapiro, Jason Armond, Gabrielle Chanel, Michael Kors, Gucci, Chanel, Zers, Edward Berthelot, Superfakes, They've, Wang Zhao, I'm, counterfeits, It's Organizations: Service, Red, Puma, Fila, eBay, US Department of Homeland Security, International Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Economics, Customs, Border Protection, Los, United States Intellectual, United Nations Office, Drugs, UN, Seaport, Economic Cooperation, Development, US Chamber of Commerce, US Customs, Protection, US, Commission, Nike, Amazon Locations: Wall, Silicon, Manhattan, Los Angeles, Long, Beijing, Europe, China

☆ Permanent Mission of North Korea to U.N. defends Pyongyang's nuclear weapons as sovereign right
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoSEOUL, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The Permanent Mission of North Korea to the United Nations has criticized the U.S. for having nuclear weapons and urged it to stop "sharing nuclear" or "beefing up extended deterrence," state media KCNA reported on Saturday. While criticizing the U.S. over the AUKUS alliance and the Nuclear Consultative Group with South Korea, Pyongyang defended its nuclear weapons as an "exercise of sovereignty." DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Its nuclear force will never be a threat to those countries respecting its sovereignty and security interests," the permanent mission said. Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: United Nations Kim Song, Mike Segar, Hyunsu Yim, Leslie Adler, Sandra Maler Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, . Security, REUTERS, Nuclear, South, NPT, DPRK, UN Office, Democratic People's, Thomson Locations: China, Russia, North Korea, U.N, New York City , New York, U.S, SEOUL, South Korea, Pyongyang, DPRK, Vienna, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

☆ Sudan: 280 children evacuated from Khartoum orphanage amid intense fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Two hundred and eighty children between the ages of one month and 15 years were evacuated from a Khartoum orphanage that was affected by the heavy combat in Sudan’s capital, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. The children from the Mygoma Orphanage in Khartoum have had no access to proper healthcare since fighting broke out on April 15 in Sudan. They were evacuated to the south of Khartoum in an operation facilitated by the ICRC on Wednesday. The ICRC said it obtained security guarantees from warring parties to ensure the safe passage for the children and the orphanage staff. Almost 14 million children are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support in Sudan, the highest number ever recorded in the country, UNICEF said.

Persons: Cross, “, Christophe Sandoz Organizations: CNN, International Committee, ICRC, Reuters, Sudanese, UNICEF, International Organization for Migration, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: Khartoum, Sudan, Sudan Jean

CNN —Thousands of homes in Haiti have been flooded following heavy rains over the weekend, leaving at least 42 people dead and 85 injured, according to a statement released by the country’s Civil Protection Agency on Monday. The intense rainfall caused several rivers throughout Haiti to overflow, which in turn sparked flash floods, flooding, rockslides and landslides, according to a United Nations report. Richard Pierrin/AFP?Getty ImagesA view from the area after flooding in the Portail Leogane, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on June 4, 2023. People make their way through puddles while walking in the middle of a street littered with garbage following heavy rains in Port-au-Prince. Ariana Cubillos/APA view from the area after flooding in the Portail Leogane, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on June 4, 2023.

Persons: Ariel Henry, Richard Pierrin, Guerinault Louis, Prince, Ariana Cubillos Organizations: CNN, Civil Protection Agency, United, Haitian, Getty, Anadolu Agency, Food, UN, of Humanitarian Affairs, “ Locations: Haiti, United Nations, Nippes, South, East, North, Petit, Goâve, AFP, Port, Prince, Caribbean

“According to the information we have in Khartoum, 50% of hospitals have been out of action in the first 72 hours,” said Abdalla Hussein, the Médecins Sans Frontière operational manager for Sudan. On Wednesday, Japan said it was preparing to send its military to evacuate nationals from Sudan. Smoke rises during clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, Sudan, on Wednesday. The RSF denied the claims, blaming Sudan’s armed forces for committing the crimes while wearing RSF uniforms. The armed forces have denied involvement in the violations, and reiterated accusations that the RSF has committed crimes against humanity.

Stringer/ReutersThe RSF denied those reports, telling CNN in a statement that it “will never assault any UN staff or employees. Meanwhile, tense efforts to establish a ceasefire have ramped up, with the UN calling for rival factions to end their hostilities. Satellite imagery of the smoke plume at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday. The Sudanese Armed Forces later issued conflicting statements on a proposed 24-hour ceasefire, intended to go into effect later on Tuesday. Both sides had previously agreed to a three-hour ceasefire on Sunday, and again on Monday, with fighting resuming afterward, Perthes said.

[1/6] Workers carry a mix of seized cocaine and coca paste with industrial waste to produce cement slurry to be used in a construction, at a waste treatment plant at an undisclosed location, in Ecuador February 10, 2023. REUTERS/Karen ToroQUITO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Huge quantities of seized drugs in Ecuador are presenting the Andean country with an unlikely new construction material: cocaine. The amount of drugs seized in Ecuador almost doubled in 2021 versus the previous year to more than 210 tonnes, mostly cocaine, according to the country's police. So far some 350 tonnes of crushed cocaine and coca paste - a cocaine precursor - seized between 2021 and 2022 have been used to fill the hole, according to plant technicians. Some 83 tonnes of cocaine are waiting to be encapsulated.

☆ Malawi police find more bodies near mass grave that contained 25 Ethiopians
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Four more bodies of suspected illegal migrants from Ethiopia have been found near the site of a mass grave in northern Malawi that contained the remains of 25 Ethiopian nationals, according to police in the southern African country. The four bodies were discovered a day after the corpses of 25 Ethiopian migrants were exhumed from a mass grave in northern Malawi’s Mzimba district. The 25 victims were males aged between 25 and 40 years, police found. Malawi's Minister of Homeland Security, Jean Sendeza visited Mtangatanga forest where villagers discovered a mass grave with 25 bodies, and five more bodies were found after further search around the forest. More than 200 illegal migrants were intercepted in the last eight months, he stated, adding that 186 of them were Ethiopian nationals.

☆ China may have committed 'crimes against humanity' in Xinjiang, UN report finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-31 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong (CNN) China has committed "serious human rights violations" against Uyghur Muslims in its northwestern region of Xinjiang , which may amount to "crimes against humanity" according to a long-awaited report released Wednesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Separately on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China "rightfully rejects" the report, which it called "invalid and illegal." "The extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups ... may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity," according to the report. What's nextThroughout the past four years, the international community within the UN has done little about the allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Omer Kanat, executive director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project, called the report a "game-changer for the international response to the Uyghur crisis."

☆ This 26-year-old negotiated his $120,000 salary by finding out how much his coworkers make—here's how
▼ + stars: | 2021-11-22 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this installment, a 26-year-old shares how he makes $120,000 working as a software engineer in San Diego, California. How he tapped his future coworkers for negotiation helpBy the time he interviewed and got the job offer with the electronics maker, Parepalli felt like he was in a good place to negotiate salary. Parepalli joined the company in November 2020 at a base salary of $120,000 a year. He often has informal discussions about pay, and personal finance in general, with his coworkers over coffee or at lunch. Overall, he says his company "is really transparent about pay," which was "really shocking" at first: "I think they try to imbue this in every new hire.

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