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☆ Russia will have to rely on nukes, cyberattacks, and China since its military is being thrashed in Ukraine, US intel director says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Chris Panella | John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia's military losses in Ukraine will leave it reliant on "asymmetric" options, the US intel director said. Discussions on Russia's relationship with China have also been ongoing, including speculation that Beijing might be considering sending lethal aid to Russia. In late February, a top Pentagon official told lawmakers Russia had lost the war and will emerge from war in Ukraine a "shattered military power." "Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been a strategic defeat. Russia's military is going to have to be rebuilt," George Barros, a military analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told Insider in September.

☆ The 4 Americans who were attacked after crossing the Mexican border were traveling to get a tummy tuck procedure, relatives say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Chris Panella | Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two of the four Americans kidnapped in Mexican are dead, while the other two were found alive. Relatives told CNN and ABC News the group traveled for one of them to get a tummy tuck procedure. Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal said the other two Americans were found alive in Tamaulipas, according to Latinus journalist Claudio Ochoa Huerta. Obrador confirmed at a press conference Monday that the group was abducted on March 3 in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, near the Rio Grande and southern US border with Brownsville, Texas. It was originally reported by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that the group traveled to buy medication.

☆ Kim Jong Un's mysterious sister, Kim Yo Jong, issued a rare public threat to the US on her brother's behalf, hinting that she might be gaining influence
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kim Jong Un's sister threatened the US against intercepting North Korean missile tests on Tuesday. Kim Yo Jong comments come as the US and South Korea ramp up military and combat drills. It's a rare public warning from Kim Yo Jong — and a sign she could be gaining more influence in her brother's government. Kim Jong Un has appointed a variety of women to prominent roles in his regime. Meanwhile, tensions have ramped up in the area as the US and South Korean militaries conduct training exercises nearby.

☆ Hitler's nephew fought in the US Navy in WWII, but he had to get special permission from the president and FBI to do it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hitler's nephew fought in the US Navy in WWII but had to receive permission from the president and FBI. In a letter to FDR, William Hitler asked for the chance to fight "against tyranny and oppression." After the war, William changed his last name to Stuart-Houston and lived a quiet life in New York. In the letter, William identified himself as "the nephew and only descendant of the ill-faced Chancellor and Leader of Germany," according to Warfare History Network. After the war, William remained in service until 1947.

☆ NBA roundup: Red-hot Knicks outlast Celtics in double OT
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Julius Randle added 31 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who also received 29 points and 11 rebounds from RJ Barrett. Jayson Tatum had 40 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Celtics, who have lost their last two home games. Bennedict Mathurin scored 17 points, Myles Turner added 16 and Chris Duarte had 15 for Indiana. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 points for Charlotte, which dropped its third straight. Walker Kessler (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Kelly Olynyk (15 points, 10 rebounds) each had double-doubles in the loss.

☆ US Justice Dept warns of steeper penalties for firms that fall foul of messaging policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Chris Prentice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MIAMI, March 3 (Reuters) - Companies may face steeper penalties for misconduct if they lack policies around employees' use of personal cell phones and messaging apps, a top U.S. Justice Department official said on Friday. The agency will evaluate how companies have crafted policies around the use of such platforms and how they have directed employees on those policies. Use of such platforms, including ephemeral messaging apps, can complicate government investigations into wrongdoing if companies do not retain the records. That is an issue that prosecutors will address as they investigate wrongdoing, Polite told Reuters in an interview. "They will be required to report back to us on an annual basis about both the design and implementation of those policies," Polite said.

☆ US Justice Dept to take on corporate policies for personal devices, messaging apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Chris Prentice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MIAMI, March 3 (Reuters) - A top U.S. Justice Department official on Friday will announce details of the agency's plans to scrutinize companies' policies around employee use of personal devices and messaging apps when investigating potential misconduct. Those probes have led to hefty penalties for firms including JPMorgan Chase & Co , Barclays (BARC.L), Bank of America (BAC.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N). The agency has more recently opened similar probes into other firms including BlackRock Inc. Polite will also discuss details of a new Justice Department policy aimed at getting companies to tie compensation and bonuses to compliance. He and other officials have been rolling out a series of new policies aimed at tackling corporate crime and encouraging companies to be more proactive in reporting misconduct to the government.

☆ See inside the marble-lined, $15 million luxury apartment Putin reportedly bought for his suspected lover
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin is famously secretive about his personal life, he's been rumored to be in a relationship with Alina Kabaeva for years. Russian President Vladimir Putin carries a bouquet of red roses during a ceremony at the Red Square, in Moscow, on November 4, 2022. Contributor/Getty ImagesIt's unclear when the couple got together but rumors have been circulating since at least 2008, The Project reported. Putin was previously married to Lyudmila Shkrebneva from 1983 to 2014. Despite the couple having two daughters, a biographer speculated the marriage may have been problematic and loveless.

☆ Ukrainian commander says there are more Russians attacking the city of Bakhmut than there is ammo to kill them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Ukrainian commander said fighting in Bakhmut is "critical" and there are more Russians than ammo. The head of Russia's mercenary Wagner group said the city is almost surrounded by Russian forces. Reuters reported that Nazarenko told the radio station that Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut have less ammo than there are Russian troops attacking the city. Insider previously reported that Bakhmut was being referred to as "the meat grinder" by soldiers. A retired US Marine fighting alongside Ukrainian forces said a fighter's life expectancy on the front lines in Bakhmut was around 4 hours.

☆ AOC blamed a campaign staffer for failing to pay for thousands of dollars in Met Gala goodies until after ethics investigators got involved
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blamed a campaign staffer for not paying Met Gala invoices on time. Her office only paid for the rented dress and accessories after the Office of Congressional Ethics asked about them. The staffer, who is no longer employed by AOC, acknowledged responsibility, saying "it fell off my radar." The ethics office's investigators found that AOC's office didn't pay bills for the rentals and services until after the investigators asked about it. According to the interviews, the AOC staffer acknowledged responsibility, saying the unpaid invoices "fell off my radar."

☆ Russia used drones to attack civilians, including a child, waiting for aid in a line outside a school, Ukrainian officials allege
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia used drones to attack civilians, including children, waiting for aid, Ukraine officials say. The attack reportedly happened in the Kherson region. The incident is the latest reported Russian attack on Ukrainian civilians during the year-long brutal war. According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office released a statement accusing Russian drones of attacking a group of civilians who were waiting for help outside a school. Russian officials announced a full retreat from Kherson in November 2022.

☆ A Florida lawmaker thinks the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill doesn't go far enough — and is pitching a major expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Chris Panella | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Florida GOP state representative filed a proposal expanding the state's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill. The bill, HB 1223, would prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity up to eighth grade. The bill's creator, GOP Rep. Adam Anderson, said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel that the bill "promotes parental rights, transparency, and state standards in Florida schools." LGBTQ advocacy groups, such as Equality Florida, condemned the bill. DeSantis and Florida Republicans responded by stripping Disney of its special tax district and taking control of the area around Disney World.

In a statement, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite called the charges a "groundbreaking" effort to prevent the misuse of so-called 10b5-1 trading plans. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also announced civil insider trading charges against Peizer in a parallel action. Executives can use trading plans under rule 10b5-1 as a defense against insider trading charges by planning to sell shares in advance at predetermined times. In a recent case, the SEC in September charged Cheetah Mobile Inc's (0C9y.F) CEO and its former president with insider trading in connection with a trading plan. The SEC in December voted to make changes to the insider trading programs to address concerns over abuse.

☆ NASA imagery reveals China's Mars rover hasn't moved in months as Chinese scientists scramble to save the mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Chris Panella | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

NASA imagery from Mars shows that China's rover hasn't moved in months. Chinese scientists are scrambling to make contact, according to the South China Morning Post. China's rover, Zhurong, could be covered in dust and drained of energy, like NASA's InSight lander. Arrows highlight the location of China's Zhurong rover in March 2022, September 2022, and February 2023. A photo showing the back of China's Zhurong rover from its landing spot on Mars' Utopia Planitia following a May 15, 2021 landing.

☆ Ukrainian soldiers say they caught a Russian medic forced to operate a tank, highlighting the dysfunction in Putin's army
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian soldiers told the NYT they captured a Russian medic who was forced to operate a tank. The lack of skilled troops comes after a stinging defeat for Russia in a major tank battle. The Ukrainian soldiers told The Times that the medic had been reassigned to drive the tank during a three-week battle near Vuhledar in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials told the Times it was the biggest tank battle of the war so far and a decisive victory for Ukraine. A year into the war, Russia continues to face various setbacks, like unskilled troops, high losses, and limited resources.

☆ Russia will emerge from the Ukraine war a 'shattered military power,' top Pentagon official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia will emerge from war in Ukraine a "shattered military power," a senior Pentagon official said. Colin Kahl told lawmakers that Russia lost the war — echoing a similar remark by the top US general. He added that US military support for Kyiv has been, and will continue to be, flexible and dynamic. "They intended for Russia to emerge out of this war a great power in a multi-polar world — they will emerge from this conflict a shattered military power," he added. His remarks in November, and again on Tuesday, echo what other top US officials and generals have said in stating that Russia has already lost and failed in Ukraine.

☆ More of Russia's soldiers have died in Ukraine — a war Putin thought would be over in days — than in all its wars since World War II combined, new analysis finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

More Russian soldiers have died fighting in Ukraine than in all of Russia's wars since World War II combined. Putin originally thought the war would be over in days, but Russia has failed in its objectives. According to a brief from the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), between 60,000 and 70,000 Russian soldiers have been killed on the battlefield in Ukraine. When Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2022, Putin originally believed he could capture Kyiv in a matter of days. But Russian generals seriously overestimated Russia's military and underestimated Ukrainian forces, resulting in poor strategy, command failures, and completely mismanaged logistics.

Law firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP FollowNEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has hired a former New York prosecutor with expertise in cryptocurrency and cyber crimes to lead its enforcement unit, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam in the statement described McGinley as a "leader in combatting modern financial fraud". "His background as a prosecutor with unique experience in commodities, crypto, and cyber-crimes and frauds makes him an ideal person to lead the CFTC’s enforcement team," Behnam said. McGinley, whose appointment is effective immediately, replaces the CFTC's acting director of enforcement and veteran CFTC official Gretchen Lowe. Reporting by Chris Prentice Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Winners at the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/10] Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, Quinta Brunson, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams and William Stanford Davis accept the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series award for "Abbott Elementary" during the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 26, 2023. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, Feb 26 (Reuters) - These are the key winners of the 29th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for the best performances in film and television in 2022, handed out at a streamed ceremony on Sunday:BEST MOVIE CAST"Everything Everywhere All At Once"BEST MALE ACTOR, MOVIEBrendan Fraser, "The Whale"BEST FEMALE ACTOR, MOVIEMichelle Yeoh, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"BEST FEMALE SUPPORTING ACTOR, MOVIEJamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”BEST MALE SUPPORTING ACTOR, MOVIEKe Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"BEST FEMALE ACTOR, TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIESJessica Chastain, “George and Tammy”BEST MALE ACTOR, TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIESSam Elliot, “1883”BEST FEMALE ACTOR, TV DRAMAJennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”BEST MALE ACTOR, TV DRAMAJason Bateman, “Ozark”BEST FEMALE ACTOR, TV COMEDYJean Smart, “Hacks”BEST MALE ACTOR, TV COMEDYJeremy Allen White, “The Bear”BEST TV DRAMA ENSEMBLE“The White Lotus”BEST TV COMEDY ENSEMBLE“Abbott Elementary”Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NBA roundup: Kings edge Clippers 176-175 in 2OT
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Kawhi Leonard scored 44 points and Paul George added 34 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. Russell Westbrook scored 17 points and dished out 14 assists in his debut with the team. Brunson was held to 13 points and shot 6-of-20 after averaging 32.5 points in his final eight games before the All-Star break. Andre Drummond (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Nikola Vucevic (13 points, 10 rebounds) both notched double-doubles for Chicago. Chris Paul scored 16 points and Josh Okogie added 15 as Phoenix won for the 12th time in 16 games.

☆ Florida's new education bill would force state colleges to shut down diversity programs and remove some majors entirely
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Florida's new bill would force state colleges to shut down diversity programs and some majors. The bill is the latest effort from Florida GOP to restrict statewide education. If passed, the bill would force state colleges to remove "from its programs any major or minor in Critical Race Theory, Gender Studies, or Intersectionality, or any derivative major or minor of these belief systems." Universities would also be prohibited from funding or supporting any "programs or campus activities" that "espouse diversity, equity, and inclusion or Critical Race Theory," the bill says. Ron DeSantis' recent budget, which he calls the 'Framework for Freedom," would block state universities from using funding to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

☆ Timelapse map shows how close Russia came to taking Kyiv and how Ukraine reclaimed its land over a year of war
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new timelapse map from AP shows how close Russia came to taking Kyiv and how Ukraine fended them off. Putin believed he could capture Kyiv in a matter of days, underestimating Ukraine's military. After a year of war, the conflict is focused on a hard fight in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Insider previously reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin thought Russia could capture Kyiv in about two days, but he seriously overestimated Russia's military. While the war in Ukraine has ebbed and flowed over time, the battle for Kyiv stands as one of the first testaments to Ukraine's resilience and Putin's failure.

☆ Ukrainian forces are training on fast and well-armed Leopard tanks in Spain, prime minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian forces are training on Leopard tanks in Spain, according to the Spanish Prime Minister. Leopard tanks are notable for their firepower, armor, and speed on various terrains. Sanchez revealed that the arrival of Leopard tanks in Ukraine would correspond with the return of trained soldiers. Spain is one of several countries to pledge to send tanks to Ukraine. The British are presently training Ukrainian forces on Challenger tanks in southwestern England, and last month, US Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced that the US military was training Ukrainian troops in Germany, the Associated Press reported.

☆ NATO is seeing signs China might help Russia wage its war, but the US has threatened 'serious consequences' if it does
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NATO's chief said Wednesday that there are "some signs" China may send lethal aid to Russia. The US has repeatedly threatened "serious consequences" if China further involves itself in the war. Stoltenberg then called the potential of China sending lethal aid a "blatant violation of international law." "We reinforced there that, again, there will be consequences for China should this partnership with Russia further deepen," Singh said. Blinken also said that the US has seen China "provide non-lethal support to Russia for use in Ukraine."

☆ Russia will resort to drafting college students to throw more troops at the front lines, Ukrainian intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia is preparing to draft college students to the front lines in its war in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian intel, universities have set up "notification offices" to inform students. "Notification offices" are already being set up to help draft the students and ship them to the frontlines, Ukrainian intelligence alleged. The intel also said that full-time students are being assigned to work at these notification offices "without their consent or even prior notification." The draft efforts will continue through the next few months, but will finish by the spring, Ukrainian intel said.

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