DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Congress just passed a potential TikTok ban. Here’s what happens next
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Congress finalized legislation on Tuesday that could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban, escalating a massive threat to the company’s US operations. What does the TikTok legislation do? The earlier TikTok bill had been passed by the House, but it stalled in the Senate. In a procedural move, House Republicans this month attached the revised TikTok bill to the foreign aid package in hopes of forcing the Senate to vote on the TikTok legislation. Bundling the bill with the foreign aid — a top US priority — fast-tracked the TikTok bill and made it more likely to pass.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, there’s, Will Biden, Jennifer Gay, Mariam Zuhaib, —, TikTok, Shou Chew, ”, Nadine Farid Johnson, ByteDance Organizations: Washington CNN —, Republicans, Senate, White, U.S . Capitol, U.S, TikTok, Columbia University, “ Locations: Israel, Ukraine, United States, Washington, China

☆ What to know about the TikTok ban bill the House passed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —House lawmakers have once again passed legislation that could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban, renewing a massive threat to the company’s US operations. In March, House lawmakers approved a bill that would give TikTok roughly six months to sell. Another factor that’s shaking things up is how House Republicans inserted the TikTok bill into a much larger foreign aid package. Biden endorsed the prior version of the TikTok bill, which suggests he may quickly sign any foreign aid package that includes similar language targeting TikTok. In addition to complying with the legislation, TikTok could challenge it in court and has made no secret that it might do so.

Persons: TikTok, Joe Biden, there’s, who’ve, Washington Democratic Sen, Maria Cantwell, Paul Gallant, Cowen, Gallant, Joe Biden’s, Biden, —, Shou Chew, ”, Nadine Farid Johnson, ByteDance Organizations: CNN —, White, Washington Democratic, Republicans, House, Senate, Inc, Columbia University, “, TikTok Locations: United States, Ukraine, Israel, China

☆ I got my doctorate while raising my 3 and 5-year-old kids. Here are 5 ways I juggled it all and stayed sane.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Nadine Robinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I was working on my doctorate in business administration, raising my 3- and 5-year-old kids, and working part-time. Mornings were a panic as I tried to get the kids fed, dressed, and off to school with a healthy lunch. Once the kids were asleep, I had from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. to clean up the dinner dishes, make lunches, tidy the house, do laundry, and do my doctoral work. Still, I found genuine ways to connect with my kids — like a short board game or an elaborate blanket fort. Related storiesI'd sometimes forgo sleeping for a night to finish my doctoral work if they needed more time with me.

Persons: I'd, Mount Rushmore, I'm, Nadine Robinson Organizations: Service, Business, Mount, Nike, Athabasca University, Sault College

☆ Germany to give Holocaust survivors $236 payout to help them cope with October 7 attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Germany will provide a one-time payment of $236 (€220) to Holocaust survivors, to help them cope with the impacts of the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in southern Israel. Berlin will compensate 113,000 Holocaust survivors in Israel in the form of $27 million (€25 million), according to the German finance ministry. “Many Holocaust survivors were hit particularly hard by the Hamas attacks, whether through the loss of their homes, support systems in the form of care,” a German finance ministry spokeswoman said. The additional funds were aimed at helping the Holocaust survivors ”as quickly as possible (…) in this frightening and hopeless war situation,” the spokeswoman added. The payments are being distributed in Israel in cooperation with the Claims Conference and the Holocaust Survivors Rights Authority of the Israeli government, the German finance ministry said.

Persons: ”, Israel, –, Gideon Taylor, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Ministry of Health, Rights Watch, Oxfam, Conference, Holocaust Survivors Rights Authority, German Finance Ministry Locations: Germany, Israel, Berlin, Gaza

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez's trial to proceed without his wife due to her health issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jonathan Dienst | Dareh Gregorian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Senator Bob Menendez (center right), Democrat of New Jersey, leaves with his wife Nadine Menendez the Manhattan Federal Court, in New York City following his arraignment on March 11, 2024. Sen. Bob Menendez's criminal trial will continue as scheduled on May 6 — but without the New Jersey Democrat's wife and co-defendant Nadine Menendez. Nadine Menendez had requested the postponement earlier this week, and prosecutors said they were fine delaying the trial until the summer. Lawyers for Nadine Menendez argued in a separate motion that a joint trial would "undoubtedly prejudice Ms. Menendez's right to defend herself." In addition to health concerns, Stein said Nadine Menendez needs new attorneys because her current lawyers could end up being called as witnesses related to an obstruction count against her.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Sen, Bob Menendez's, Sidney Stein, Nadine Menendez's, Menendez, Adam Fee, Menendezes, Nadine, Menendez's, —, Stein, Mercedes, Prosecutors Organizations: Manhattan Federal Court, Prosecutors, NBC News Locations: New Jersey, New York City, Jersey, New York, U.S

☆ Germany defends support for Israel in international court against accusations of ‘facilitating genocide’ in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Nadine Schmidt | Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Berlin CNN —Germany has hit back at allegations by Nicaragua that it has been “facilitating genocide” in Gaza, telling an international court on Tuesday that history undergirds German support for Israel. But Germany argued Tuesday that because the “bedrock” of Nicaragua’s case was aimed at Israel and its “alleged violations of international law by Israel,” the ICJ did not have jurisdiction. British lawyer Samuel Wordsworth, who advocated on behalf of Berlin, said the case against Germany is “entirely dependent” upon a “prior finding of breach” of international law by Israel in Gaza. The ICJ is hearing a separate case brought against Israel by South Africa, but has not ruled on whether Israel has breached international law in Gaza. The international court will now consider whether to order the emergency measures requested by Nicaragua.

Persons: Germany’s, Tania von Uslar, Gleichen, Berlin “, “, ’, Von Uslar, ”, ” von Uslar, Netherlands Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, Alain, Samuel Wordsworth, Israel, Israel –, Christian Tams Organizations: Berlin CNN —, Israel, International Court of Justice, UN, German, Office, ICJ, Nicaraguan, UNRWA Locations: Berlin CNN — Germany, Nicaragua, Gaza, The Hague, Germany, Israel, Nazi, Netherlands, French, Berlin, South Africa

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez grills Treasury official on curbing illicit finance a month before bribery trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., at center right, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, center rear, leave Manhattan Federal Court in New York City following his arraignment, March 11, 2024. Sen. Bob Menendez questioned a Treasury Department official Tuesday on curbing illegal finance as he prepares to stand trial in a month with his wife and two other men on federal bribery charges. Menendez also slammed the Biden administration for not stopping Iran under current sanctions from selling its oil to entities in countries including China. "None of that money has gone to Iran, and that money is not going to go directly to Iran," Adeyemo said. His wife, Nadine Menendez, and two of the businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, will be tried with him.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wally Adeyemo, Menendez, Vladimir Putin, Biden, Adeyemo, John Kennedy, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Jose Uribe Organizations: Manhattan Federal, Treasury Department, New, New Jersey Democrat, Bloomberg, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Manhattan, New York City, New Jersey, New York, Ukraine, Iran, China, Venezuela, Israel, Egypt

CNN —Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany amid a dispute over the import of hunting trophies. ”Twenty thousand elephants for Germany, this is not a joke,” Masisi told German tabloid Bild. Lenin Nolly/Sipa USA/AP/FileMasisi told Bild that Germany’s Green party could learn to cohabitate with elephants without hunting them. According to the ministry, Germany is one of the largest importers of hunting trophies in the European Union, and African hunting trophies already require import authorization under current rules. Trophy hunting does not come close to diminishing the elephant population, Masisi told broadcaster Sky News.

Persons: CNN —, Mokgweetsi Masisi, ” Masisi, –, Steffi Lemke, Lenin, Masisi, ”, Murat Ozgur Guvendik, “, ” Botswana’s, Botswana’s, Iris Throm, Mary Rice, Rice, Bild, you’d Organizations: CNN, Green, Getty, Botswana’s Ministry of Environment, Tourism, European Union, Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature, Environmental Investigation Agency, Sky News, Convention, International Trade, Fauna Locations: Germany, Berlin, Botswana, Masisi, Anadolu, Angola, Mozambique

Waldi, the official mascot of the 1972 Olympics, was modeled on a dachshund called Fritz (the real dog in the middle). Courtesy Kerstin Schwartz“The sausage dog is part of Germany’s cultural heritage,” Marion Michelet, chairwoman from the Deutscher Teckelklub Berlin-Brandenburg kennel club and owner of a dachshund called Pepper, told CNN Wednesday. Michelet told CNN that the “abnormalities of the skeletal system” could be seen as a ban on breeding for “any significant size deviation from wolves,” which are the ancestor of all modern-day dogs. Germany’s agriculture ministry denied that the new draft bill would amount to a ban on particular breeds, including the sausage dog. “For 136 years we have not changed our standard breeding practices.”“If the breeding ban happens it would have a significant impact” on dog breeders like her, she said, adding: “I hope it won’t come to that.”

Persons: CNN —, Snoopy, Fritz, Napoleon Bonaparte, Germany’s, Kaiser Wilhelm II, “ Erdmann, ”, Pablo Picasso, Le Chien, Germany's, Kerstin Schwartz, ” Marion Michelet, Pepper, Michelet Organizations: CNN, German Kennel, Bettmann, Olympic, Deutscher Teckelklub Locations: Germany, Brandenburg, Berlin

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., attends a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol to call for the reversal of the Biden administrations Title 42 expansion and proposed asylum transit ban on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is considering running for re-election in November as an independent, two sources who spoke with him directly tell NBC News. He is now making calls to allies about his record and career and is preparing to collect petitions to run in November as an independent, the sources said. But running as an independent would give him more time; in that case, he would need only 800 signatures by June 4 to qualify for the ballot. Several New Jersey Democrats have already filed to run for Menendez's seat, including Rep. Andy Kim and the state's first lady, Tammy Murphy.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Biden, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Andy Kim, Tammy Murphy Organizations: U.S, Capitol, NBC, New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign, Democrat, New Jersey Democrats, Democratic Locations: New Jersey

☆ Neuschwanstein: US man gets life sentence for Germany rape and murder
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Berlin CNN —An American man has been sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a tourist and the attempted murder of her friend – both US citizens from Illinois – in a gruesome attack near one of Germany’s most popular tourist sights. A German court convicted the 31-year-old tourist from Michigan, identified as Troy B., for the attack on the two women near Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. Police officers arrested Troy B. near the scene of the attack. Troy B. attends his sentencing at a court in Kempten, Germany, March 11, 2024. “If it stays that way, our client will definitely have to spend 15 years in Germany before he is extradited.

Persons: Berlin CNN —, –, Troy B, Christoph Schwiebacher, Eva Liu, Kelsey Chang, Liu, Chang, Karl, Josef Hildenbrand, Alexander Stevens Organizations: Berlin CNN, Illinois –, University of Illinois, Prosecutors, Police, Troy Locations: Illinois, Michigan, Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Kempten, Germany, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, German, Straubing, USA, Munich, Europe

☆ Dartmouth basketball’s union vote is just a small part of the campus organizing wave
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The Dartmouth College men’s basketball team achieved a significant milestone last week when they became the first college athletes to vote to join a union. And similar to the 13-2 margin vote in favor of the union at the Dartmouth basketball team last week, the unions are winning these votes overwhelmingly. Organizing athletes still uphill battleThe vote last week by the Dartmouth basketball team rightly got a lot of attention as the first group of college athletes to vote to join a union. Dartmouth basketball players don’t get a scholarship, and the college has announced it will seek to overturn the union vote, arguing that they are not employees. Haskins and Myrthil said they hope the victory of the union vote at Dartmouth will spark union votes on many other teams, including the big dollar programs.

Persons: don’t, Christian Sweeney, “, ”, we’ve, Romeo Myrthil, Cade Haskins, Laura Oliverio, Nadine Formiga, Sian Beilock, CNN’s Poppy Harlow, Dartmouth “, ” Romeo Myrthil, CNN Haskins, Myrthil, they’re, ” Haskins, Haskins, who’s, ‘, ’ ”, Douglas Murphy, CNN “, Murphy, Ed Burns, Dartmouth, he’s, “ You’re, “ Will, ‘ We’ll, ” Burns, “ They’re, Jim Harbaugh, Harbaugh, you’ve, It’s, Robert F, Logan Mann, Mann Organizations: New, New York CNN, Dartmouth College men’s, AFL, Dartmouth men's, Dartmouth, Columbia University, CNN, National Labor Relations Board, California State University, CSU Employees Union, Student Workers, “, NLRB, Dartmouth men’s, Ivy League, Michigan, Alabama, NCAA, University of Michigan, Department, NFL, United Electrical, Machine Workers of America, Dartmouth College Locations: New York, New York City, Dartmouth, Sweden, America, Minneapolis, Columbia, . Michigan, Hanover, N.H

☆ Menendez Is Arraigned for the Third Time in 6 Months
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Tracey Tully | More About Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For the third time in six months, Senator Robert Menendez stood before a judge in Manhattan on Monday to be arraigned on new criminal charges filed as part of an expansive federal bribery investigation. Mr. Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, has previously pleaded not guilty to accepting bribes and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty to obstruction of justice, a charge added last week in an updated indictment against the senator; his wife, Nadine Menendez; and two New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. The new charges come less than two months before the scheduled start of the trial, May 6. The obstruction of justice charge appears to be related to information provided by Jose Uribe, a former insurance broker charged in September in the bribery conspiracy.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Jose Uribe, Uribe Organizations: Benz Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey, Jersey

☆ Review: A ‘Roméo et Juliette’ Is Saved by Its Stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Oussama Zahr | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two weeks ago at the Metropolitan Opera, a superb cast in “La Forza del Destino” outshone a new, somewhat confused staging by Mariusz Trelinski. And now, Bartlett Sher’s handsome yet unconvincing 2016 production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” has returned to the house with a pair of singers in splendid form. Sher’s staging situates the action on a raised platform surrounded by stone facades and colonnades. Beautifully lit by Jennifer Tipton and costumed by Catherine Zuber, the production runs out of ideas quickly. But that doesn’t really matter when you have singers on the order of Nadine Sierra and Benjamin Bernheim in the title roles.

Persons: Mariusz Trelinski, Bartlett Sher’s, Roméo, Juliette ”, Jennifer Tipton, Catherine Zuber, Nadine Sierra, Benjamin Bernheim Organizations: Metropolitan Opera, Forza Locations: “

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez faces new obstruction of justice charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is seen after the senate luncheons in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. New obstruction of justice crimes were added Tuesday to charges against Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife that allege they accepted gold bars, cash and a luxury car in return for favors the senator carried out to assist three businessmen. New charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice were added against Menendez and his wife, Nadine. Attorneys for Bob and Nadine Menendez and the other defendants in the case didn't immediately respond to emails requesting comment. Prosecutors allege that Menendez also caused his lawyer to say in the September meeting that Menendez in 2022 had learned that the payments were loans.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Nadine, Bob, Nadine Menendez, Prosecutors Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, Menendez's, Benz, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey, Egypt, Jersey

☆ Menendez Ally Pleads Guilty in Bribery Case and Agrees to Cooperate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Jose Uribe, a former New Jersey insurance broker charged in what prosecutors have described as a broad bribery scheme involving Senator Robert Menendez, pleaded guilty on Friday in Manhattan. Mr. Uribe had been accused of providing Nadine Menendez, the senator’s wife, with a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for Mr. Menendez’s efforts to intercede in an insurance fraud investigation in New Jersey. As part of his guilty plea, Mr. Uribe also agreed to cooperate fully with prosecutors in their investigation, according to a formal plea agreement signed by Mr. Uribe, his lawyer and prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Uribe is expected to “truthfully and completely disclose all information with respect to the activities of himself and others concerning all matters about which this office inquires of him,” the agreement states.

Persons: Jose Uribe, Robert Menendez, Uribe, Nadine Menendez Organizations: Benz, Southern, of Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, U.S, of New York

☆ Co-defendant in Sen. Bob Menendez corruption case pleads guilty
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jose Uribe leaves the Federal Court, after a hearing on bribery charges, in New York City, U.S. September 27, 2023. A co-defendant in the criminal corruption case against Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded guilty in New York federal court on Friday and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution of the New Jersey Democrat. Menendez's co-defendant Joe Uribe pleaded guilty to seven counts, including conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud, and obstruction of justice. The other defendants in the case — Menendez, the senator's wife Nadine, and two other New Jersey businessmen — are scheduled to stand trial beginning May 6 in Manhattan federal court. The Clifton, New Jersey, resident and other two businessmen men were accused of having a "corrupt relationship" with Menendez and Nadine Menendez.

Persons: Jose Uribe, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez's, Joe Uribe, — Menendez, Nadine, —, Uribe, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana Organizations: New, New Jersey Democrat, Mercedes, Benz, Agriculture Department, Senate Foreign Locations: New York City, U.S, New York, New Jersey, Jersey, Manhattan, Clifton , New Jersey, Egypt

☆ Dubai wants to build the biggest airport in the world. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Miquel Ros | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 63 million more travelers than the world’s current busiest airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, handled in 2022 and nearly 100 million more than Dubai International. philipus/Alamy Stock PhotoThe recent Dubai Air Show, held at a purpose-built venue at Al Maktoum International Airport in 2023, offered some intriguing hints about what’s ahead for DWC – and some insights into Dubai Airports’ long-term strategy. “We have prioritized expansion and investments at DXB to meet our customers’ requirements and plans,” Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO, tells CNN. Changing the business modelNew artist renderings haven't been released in a decade, but Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths says the team will soon be working on ambitious new designs. It will have capacity for 185 million passengers per year, or almost seven times the number it handled in 2022.

Persons: Al Maktoum, it‘ll, that’s, Hartsfield –, let’s, DWC, ’ Al Maktoum, DWC –, ” Paul Griffiths, ”, Griffiths, ” Griffiths, “, haven't, Paul Griffiths, “ We’re, Mohammed bin Rashid, Nadine Itani, Abu Dhabi’s, Foster Organizations: CNN, Al, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World, Dubai Airports, Dubai International, Al Maktoum International, Hartsfield, Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International, Emirates Cargo, UAE, ‘, ’ Al Maktoum International, Dubai Air, Dubai, AFP, Traveller, Emirates, University of Surrey, Hamad International Airport, Kuwait International, Partners, Sharjah International Airport, Air, Riyadh Air Locations: Budapest, Al Maktoum, Dubai, Dubai’s, Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Emirates, England, India, Middle, Europe, Qatar, Muscat , Oman, Bahrain, Gulf, Kuwait, British, Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi

So The New York Times asked more than 5,300 people in the U.S. with this heritage how they describe themselves …No Box to Check: When the Census Doesn’t Reflect YouEgyptian, Iranian, Lebanese, Amazigh, Arab, American. In the 2020 census, “Lebanese” and “Egyptian” were offered as examples for the “white” box on the race question. The other categories were “Black or African American,” “American Indian or Alaska Native,” “Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander” and a variety of Asian ancestries. After all, there’s no agreed-upon set of countries or ethnicities that would fall under a Middle Eastern and North African category. The chart shows these responses after the MENA category was added: 69% chose “MENA,” 15% chose “MENA, White,” 3% chose “Another Race,” 5% chose “White” and 8% chose other combinations.

Persons: Brown, New York Times callout, Biden, ”, —, “, ” Martin Zebari, ” Samera Hadi, ” Imene Said Kouidri, ’ ” Faisal Ali, ” Joseph Hallock, Maya Berry, there’s, Margo J, Anderson, “ You’re, Tiffany Kindratt, ” Khelil, ‘, Dusty Haddad, “ White, Jeffrey S, ” Nadine Naber, Naber, I’m, ” Ceylan Swenson, ” Blake Bachara, ” Amin Younes, We’re, ” Rita Obeid, Barack Obama, It’s, ” Thomas Simsarian Dolan, ” Gabrielle Barbara Guliana, Christina Boufarah, I’ve, ” Michele Magar, ” Soufiane, ” Azita, Moustafa, ” Nawar Organizations: U.S ., New York Times, Arab, Israel, American Community, Management, Federal, Arab American Institute, University of Wisconsin, Census Bureau, Survey, North, Cornell University, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, University of Texas, The Times, Times, Pew Research, University of Illinois, Bureau, West Virginian Locations: Eastern, Sudanese, Southwest, U.S, East, North Africa, United States, Michigan, Gaza, Europe, Lebanese, Alaska, American, MENA, Milwaukee, —, Arlington, America, White, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Lebanon, Iran, N.Y.C, Israel, Turkey, Southwest Asia, Afghanistan, Armenia, West, I’m

☆ German parliament votes to legalize limited recreational cannabis use for adults
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Germany’s lower house of parliament voted to legalize cannabis for limited recreational use among adults on Friday, following a controversial debate about the pros and cons of allowing easier access to the drug. In total, 407 German lawmakers voted in favor of the new regulation; 226 lawmakers voted against and four lawmakers abstained from Friday’s vote. The move makes Germany the third country in Europe – after Malta and Luxembourg – to legalize the drug for recreational use, removing cannabis from the official list of banned substances. The German government said that cannabis would remain illegal for minors and highly restricted for young adults, adding that consuming the drug near schools and playgrounds would be illegal. “Nobody should misunderstand this law: cannabis consumption is being legalized, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous,” Germany’s health minister said.

Persons: –, Karl Lauterbach, ” Lauterbach, “, Tino Sorge, GMA Klaus Reinhardt Organizations: CNN, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, German Medical Associations, GMA Locations: Germany, Europe –, Malta, Luxembourg, Netherlands

☆ After student loan forgiveness, the Education Dept. is sending some borrowers refunds. What to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

So far, almost 3.9 million borrowers have gotten their education debt erased, totaling $138 billion in relief . Under the U.S. Department of Education's income-driven repayment plans, student loan borrowers are entitled to get any of their remaining debt forgiven after 20 or 25 years. The companies earn a fee per borrower per month, which advocates say discourages transparency around loan forgiveness opportunities. "Loan servicers were not tracking the number of qualifying payments, and the automatic forgiveness was not occurring," Kantrowitz said. Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, denied that the companies benefit by veering from the government's orders.

Persons: Joe Biden, Culver City Julian, Mark Kantrowitz, servicers, Nadine Chabrier, Kantrowitz, he'd, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, Biden, who've, Persis Yu Organizations: Culver City, Culver City Julian Dixon Library, Education Department, U.S . Department of Education, U.S . Department, Center for, Lending, The Education, Finance, IRS, Student Loan, Alliance, Student, Protection Locations: Culver City , California, U.S

☆ Andreas Brehme, who won the 1990 World Cup for West Germany, dies aged 63
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Ben Morse | Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Later that year, a unified German soccer team was formed following the country’s unification. Lothar didn’t fancy it [in the 1990 World Cup final]. He was part of the team which finished runner-up in the 1986 World Cup and runner-up in the 1992 European Championships. Andy was our World Cup hero, but for me he was much more than that – he was my close friend and companion to this day. “In 1990 he fired the German national team to the World Cup title with his penalty and became a football legend.

Persons: ” Andreas Brehme –, –, Brehme, ” Brehme, Franz Beckenbauer, West, FourFourTwo, “, ”, Rudi, Völler, Lothar, Matthäus, Lothar didn’t, “ Andreas Brehme, Bernd Neuendorf, Mario Götze, Gerd Müller, Helmut Rahn, Andreas Brehme –, Andreas ’, Andy, Ciao Andi, Otto Rehhagel, Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Sebastian Widmann, ” Kaiserslautern Organizations: CNN, West, Bayern Munich, Argentina, FIFA, FourFourTwo, Bundesliga, FC Kaiserslautern –, Italian Serie, Inter Milan, German Football Association, DFB, Kaiserslautern, Bavarian, Internazionale, UEFA, ” Inter, Real Zaragoza, Devils, German, FCK Locations: West Germany, Rome, German, Italian, Brehme, Italy, Spain, Kaiserslautern

☆ After 35 years, he got $119,500 in student debt forgiven. Then the government refunded him $56,801
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Under the U.S. Department of Education's income-driven repayment plans, student loan borrowers are entitled to get any of their remaining debt forgiven after 20 years or 25 years. Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, refuted that the companies benefit by veering from the government's orders. Shortly after Fox heard that his student loans were forgiven, he received a payment from the government for $56,801. When he told people he was still paying off his student debt, they scratched their heads. Over the decades, based on Fox's records which CNBC reviewed, he paid around $200,000 to his federal student loans.

Persons: Marlon, George, servicers, Nadine Chabrier, Fox, he'd, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, I've, Marlon Fox, overpayments, Biden, Debbie Organizations: Biden, U.S . Department, Center for, Lending, The Education, Student Loan, Alliance, Palmer College of Chiropractic, CNBC Locations: forbearances

☆ Israeli Forces Kill 3 Gunmen in West Bank Hospital, Army Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed three Palestinian gunmen in a hospital in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the army said, adding that one had been suspected of planning an imminent attack like Hamas' Oct. 7 cross-border rampages from the Gaza Strip. There was no immediate Palestinian confirmation of their identities. Voice of Palestine radio reported the killing of three Palestinians at the hospital. The West Bank, among areas where Palestinians seek statehood, has seen a surge of violence since the Oct. 7 attack triggered the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas. (Reporting by Ali Sawafta; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Tom Hogue)

Persons: Ibn Sina, Ali Sawafta, Nadine Awadalla, Tom Hogue Organizations: West Bank, Reuters, Islamic, Palestine, Hamas Locations: RAMALLAH, West, Gaza, Jenin, Islamic Jihad, Israel

☆ No European country more than Germany is going further in clamping down on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Adding to a complex picture, Germany has the largest Palestinian diaspora in Europe, estimated at 300,000. J'rg Carstensen/picture-alliance/dpa/APThere are thought to be around 450 Hamas members in Germany and, like the rest of the European Union, Germany considers Hamas a terrorist organization. There were also reports of people celebrating the Hamas attacks on the streets of Berlin. Spreading propagandaOn November 2, Germany took the step of banning Hamas and all activities linked to the group. Police stand outside a building that houses a synagogue following a pre-dawn attack on October 18 in Berlin, Germany.

Persons: Friedrich Merz, “, Molotov, Jakon Schindler, Schindler, ”, Uli Deck, Der Spiegel, Matthew Levitt, Maja Hitij, Yossi Mekelberg, ’, Germany we’re, Lamya Kaddor, Nadine Schmidt, Sophie Tanno Organizations: CNN, Nazi, Christian Democratic Union, ZDF, Palestine, European Union, Federal Office, Protection, Counter Extremism, Hamas, Police, Brandenburg’s, Act, George Washington University, Israel, Washington Institute for Near East, U.S ., EU, Atlantic Council, IDF, Israel Defensce Forces, Chatham House, West Bank, Reuters, Rights Watch Locations: Israel, Gaza, Germany, Berlin, Europe, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, German, Potsdam, Karlsruhe, Israel American, U.S, Austria, Hamas, East, Africa, Chatham, Palestine, London

Search resuls for: "nadine"

25 mentions found