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☆ Live updates: Two American hostages released as Israel-Hamas war rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Arab citizens and permanent residents in Israel make up just over 20% of the country’s population. The roughly 2 million people are distinct from Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza – but they are far from a uniform group. Many have family in the West Bank and Gaza. Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some opposition leaders joined an emergency war cabinet to manage the war. The finance minister is Bezalel Smotrich, who supports abolishing the Palestinian Authority and annexing the West Bank – neither are part of the war cabinet, although they are maintaining their ministerial roles.

Persons: Aya Najame, Najame, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, West Bank –, Read Organizations: West Bank, CNN, Palestinian Authority Locations: Arab, Haifa, Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria

☆ What is Israel's post-invasion plan for Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

No one knows,” Zak told CNN at a military camp not far from the Gaza border. Their unit is part of a massive buildup of Israeli troops and military material on the Gaza border. But a spokesman for the IDF told CNN on Saturday that while they try to avoid civilian casualties, they are inevitable in urban warfare. Rabbi Yitzhak, a military rabbi, has been traveling around the Gaza border, visiting troops and offering his encouragement. He and the other young men he served with have been reunited near the Gaza border, training for what’s to come next – whatever that may be.

Persons: Gaza CNN — Tal, Zak, “, ” Zak, Yoav Gallant, ”, Harel Chorev, ” Chorev, Ronaldo Schemidt, Hasan Alhasan, ” Alhasan, Peter Lerner, CNN’s Lynda Kinkade, Violeta Santos Moura, Tal, Rabbi Yitzhak, Israel, ” Tal, Ivana Kottasova, Fatah, Avi Dichter, Shin Bet, ” Dichter, ’ ”, Alhasan, overreaction, Chorev, we’ve Organizations: Gaza CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Israeli Defense, Tel Aviv University, Gaza City Metro, Middle East, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Humanitarian, Humanitarian Affairs, West Bank, Hamas, Reuters, Palestinian Authority, European Union, Israel, Israeli Security, Palestinian Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Israeli, Kibbutz Beeri, AFP, Egypt, Jordan, Israel's, United States, Europe

Arab citizens and permanent residents in Israel make up just over 20% of the country’s population. His ancestors were evacuated from Iqrit, a village north of Haifa, by Israeli forces during the 1948 war. Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some opposition leaders joined an emergency war cabinet to manage the war. “Some people call it Turkish coffee, some call it Jerusalem coffee or Palestinian coffee or Israeli coffee … when I am in the mood, I call it Palestinian coffee,” he said, watching a spoonful of sugar bubble up from the bottom of the pot. “When I am not in the mood, I call it Jerusalem coffee … to avoid the politics”

Persons: Aya Najame, Najame, “, ” Najame, it’s, ” Ashraf Ashkar, ” Ashkar, Ashkar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, B’Tselem, Smotrich, we’re, ”, Diane Buttu, ’ ”, Buttu, ” Naim Khoury, Ivana Kottasova, CNN Naim Khoury, ” Khoury, ’ Abu Nader, Nader, –, Abu Nader, ” Buttu, there’s Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, West Bank, CNN, “, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian, Palestinian Authority, Israeli Information Center, Human Rights, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: Haifa, Jerusalem, Arab, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, “ Haifa, Nisnas, Iqrit, Territories, Palestinian, Jerusalem’s Old City, Old City, ”, cezve

Tokyo CNN —China has formally arrested a Japanese man who was detained in March, according to officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The arrest of the Japanese national, who was reportedly an employee of a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm, could further rattle foreign businesses in China, which have reported feeling more unsettled this year amid a crackdown on international consulting firms on national security grounds. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the man was an employee of drugmaker Astellas Pharma and was detained in March by Chinese security authorities in Beijing on suspicion of violating the country’s criminal law and anti-espionage law. In May, state security authorities said they had raided several offices of Capvision, an advisory network. The issue has been cited as headache for foreign businesses, some of which were already having trouble convincing workers to relocate to China.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s MOFA, Mao Ning, “, ”, Weeks, Bain, — CNN’s Michelle Toh, Sophie Jeong, Mengchen Zhang Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy, NHK, drugmaker, Pharma, CNN, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of State Security, Mintz Group, American Chamber of Commerce, China’s Commerce Ministry, State Administration of Foreign Exchange Locations: China, Tokyo, Beijing, MOFA, Shanghai, Hong Kong

☆ Options for G7 discussion for a ban on Russian diamonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Enforcement would be government regulated through customs at a single point of entry for rough diamonds and several G7 entry points for polished stones. The proposal said a single entry point would be needed for rough diamonds without specifying where. Antwerp would be the favoured option for Belgium and the city also already handles most of the rough diamond trade. WORLD DIAMOND COUNCILThe World Diamond Council, which includes the world's largest rough diamond producer by value, De Beers, has proposed a version of the ban that is largely self-regulating. Any diamond sellers would then have to include with the stone they sell a declaration called the "G7 Diamond Protocol Declaration" that the diamond is not Russian.

Persons: De Beers, Sellers, De, WDC, Julia Payne, Jan Strupczewski, David Evans Organizations: Reuters, World Diamond Council, Belgian, Export Promotion Council, WORLD DIAMOND, Diamond Council, Russian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Belgium, India, France, BELGIUM, Antwerp, Russian, Botswana, INDIA, Surat, Mumbai, FRANCE

☆ Esports made their 'tense and exciting' debut at this year's Asian Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Esports, or professional video gaming, were an official sport at the Asian Games for the first time. AdvertisementAdvertisementEsports, or competitive video gaming, debuted as an official event at this year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China that concluded earlier this month. Due to the event's popularity, esports tickets were sold on a lottery basis, with more than five million entering the ballot, according to Hangzhou Asian Games data. We're excited to see the landscape of esports events around the world expand," said John Robinson, president of US esport organization 100 Thieves. The Olympic Esports Series is "a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the IOC, and in collaboration with International Federations and game publishers."

Persons: —, esports, Chris Liu, Liu, Esports, JADE GAO, John Robinson, Kim Gwanwoo, WANG ZHAO, Matt Woods, AFK, Grant Rousseau, " Rousseau Organizations: Asian Games, of, EA Sports FC Online, Singapore, Service, Professional, EA Sports FC, South Korea, Team Malaysia, China, Xinhua News Agency, South, Associated Press, Fighter, Getty, Olympic, IOC, International Federations, Guardian, Team Falcons Locations: Hangzhou, China, Thailand, Wuxi, esports, Asia, Pacific, US, South Korea, AFP, Los Angeles

[1/5] Voters are seen at the ballot box at the Old Australian Parliament House, during The Voice referendum in Canberra, Australia, October 14, 2023. "I sincerely hope that Australians, when they walk into that ballot box today, vote 'Yes'," Albanese said in Sydney, according to a transcript. Supporters of the proposal believe entrenching an Indigenous Voice in the constitution would unite Australia and usher in a new era with its Indigenous people, who account for 3.8% of the population and are its most disadvantaged, by most socio-economic measures. Another voter and 'No' campaigner, Greg Mason, doubted the usefulness of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Constitutional change requires a majority of votes both nationwide and in at least four of the six states.

Persons: Tracey Nearmy, Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Michael Mahoney, Sydneysider Geoff Sumner, Greg Mason, Stefica Nicol, Praveen Menon, William Mallard, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Old Australian, House, REUTERS, Aboriginal, Australian, Stefica Nicol Bikes, Thomson Locations: Canberra, Australia, Sydney SYDNEY, Sydney, Torres, Melbourne, Perth, Beach

☆ Australia Voice referendum: Voters urged to 'choose love' as polls show referendum poised to fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A No campaign worker hands out leaflets outside an early voting center on October 4, in Ballina, Australia. “But it’s also about love of ourselves, whether we have the courage to love what Australia is. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty ImagesNo love for Yes campaignHowever, a leading No campaigner mocked Pearson’s speech, accusing the Yes campaign of promoting empty slogans. “The Yes campaign, it’s the vibe. If the referendum fails, Albanese said he will respect the democratic vote of the nation and won’t legislate a Voice to Parliament.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, –, James D, Morgan, Albanese, Stringer, ” Albanese, it’s, Noel Pearson, ”, Pearson, Amar Singh, Rachel Perkins, Lisa Maree Williams, they’ve …, Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Mundine, “, you’ve, ’ ”, there’ll, we’ve, ” Mundine, “ We’re Organizations: Australia CNN, Nations, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, Voice, Australian, Getty, National Press Club, Australian Broadcasting, Indigenous Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Ballina, Uluru, AFP, Sydney

But when Israel called up its reservists and declared war this week, the response was swift and overwhelming. Most reservists were already in Israel at the time of the call-up - the largest such compulsory mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. But many were out of the country, for a variety of reasons, and dropped everything to rush back. "I cannot sit here and study medicine while I know that my friends are fighting and my family needs protection. A former captain in the Israeli army, he immediately acknowledged the call-up, but didn't tell his children what he was doing.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Rush, Israel, Yonatan Steiner, Nimrod Nedan, L.K, Yonatan Bunzel, Bunzel, Yedidya Shalman, Oren Saar, it's, there's, Alexander Cornwell, Helen Coster, Krystal Hu, Gabriella Borter, Crispian Balmer, Andrius, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, El Al, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Sderot, DUBAI, New York, Lebanon, kibbutzes, Lithuania, India, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Thailand, El, WhatsApp, New York City, Rome

☆ Tech bosses and workers are joining up to fight in Israel and say it's their 'duty to protect our country'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Israel's tech CEOs and workers are volunteering and being conscripted for military service. They've said it's their duty to "protect our country" after the "bloodiest day in Israel's history." "I want to be part of the people who are protecting our country," Israeli startup CodiumAI CEO Itamar Friedman, who has reported for reservist duty, told The Wall Street Journal . People have been rushing into military service," he added. Israel has compulsory military service, with all male citizens over the age of 18 required to serve 32 months in the armed forces.

Persons: They've, —, Itamar Friedman, Shmuel Chafets, Armis, Amitai Ratzon, Israel Organizations: Hamas, Service, Gaza, Wall Street, Bloomberg, Target Global Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza

For nearly three decades – from fiscal years 1974 to 2002 – Israel was the top recipient of U.S. aid, the longest-standing duration for a top aid recipient dating back to 1946, according to figures from ForeignAssistance.gov. While 2003 to 2020 saw the most aid going to either Iraq or Afghanistan, Israel nevertheless remained a top three aid recipient throughout that time. In 2021, U.S. obligations to Israel amounted to $3.31 billion, a figure that saw Israel returning to the top spot among aid recipients that year. Almost all U.S. aid to Israel recently has been military aid rather than economic aid, in the form of Foreign Military Financing grants – U.S. grants and loans to Israel for acquiring U.S. military equipment and services. Israel saw that rate peak at 30.5% in 1975, but it has slowly been descending since.

Persons: Biden, Gerald R, Ford, Israel, – Israel, Christine Wormuth, Kevin McCarthy’s, Israel’s Rafael, – Organizations: United, Foreign Military Financing, U.S, Congressional Research Service, CRS, Israel Defense Forces, Defense Systems, Raytheon, Raytheon Rafael, Protection Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Boeing, Israel, World Bank, Russia, USAID . Missile Locations: Israel, U.S, United States, Egypt, ForeignAssistance.gov, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, – Israel

Their mother is Narges Mohammadi, a woman whose name has become synonymous with the fight for human rights in Iran – a battle that has cost this activist almost everything. “This period was and still is the era of greatest protest in this prison,” Mohammadi told CNN in written responses to questions submitted through intermediaries. Now, those same women are experiencing sexual assault and harassment against themselves.”‘Systemic’ abuse of women detaineesIn her letter and responses to CNN, Mohammadi details incidents of sexual violence against her and other female detainees at different facilities dating back to 1999. Political prisoners and women held on criminal charges were assaulted by security forces, prison authorities and medical personnel, she says. Mark Esplin/CNNAli, like his father, is resolute, saying his mother must keep going “for Iran, for our future.”“I am really proud of my mom,” Ali told CNN.

Persons: Ali, Narges, Mohammadi, Bella, ” Mohammadi, “, Majid Asgaripour, ”, Taghi Rahmani, Taghi, Mark Esplin, Rahmani, “ Kiana, It’s, ” Ali, CNN Ali, ” Kiana, Kiana Organizations: CNN, Evin, Fascists, Reuters Locations: Iran, Tehran, Evin, France, Paris

☆ Opinion: Paris’ bedbug bedlam
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

He formerly was a foreign correspondent for The New York Times and Paris correspondent for CBS News. But conquering the city’s bedbug infestation, too, could prove to be an Olympian challenge. The deputy mayor of Paris has also asked Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to take it on. A French government survey found that at least 11% of all French households reported having a bedbug infestation between 2017 and 2022. The tried-and-true solution to combating bedbugs is as old as Paris itself.

Persons: David A, CNN —, David Andelman, Élisabeth Borne, Borne, they’re, ”, Mathilde Panot, bedbugs, ” Panot, who’d, Anne Hidalgo, Emmanuel Gregoire, implore Borne, Gregoire, Hidalgo, they’ve, Charles de Gaulle, Jean, Michel Berenger, Dior, Mayra Peralta, “, Rue de Solferino, you’ve Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Maison, Legion, French Socialist Party, David Andelman CNN, Paris, bedbugs, Metro, Paris’s, French National, France Insoumise, Paralympic, EnVi Media, PUNAISES RUE DE, Rue de Locations: Paris, Paris’s, France, Seine, Le, “, Rue

☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak scraps major high-speed rail link; plans to phase out smoking
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used his headline speech at the close of the conference to reassert his authority and outline a number of new policies. Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMANCHESTER, ENGLAND — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday unveiled a raft of new policies aimed at shoring up waning support for his Conservative Party ahead of next year's General Election. Sunak used the decision to position himself as the change candidate, saying that he would "fundamentally change" the country. "For the first time in the lifetime of this project, we will have cut costs," Sunak said. watch nowCritics on both sides of the political spectrum have accused the prime minister of stifling the countries' long-term prospects in the interests of short-term political gain.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Mayor Andy Street, Andy Burnham, BBC Sunak Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty Images, Conservative Party, Conservative Party Conference, Westminster, West, Mayor, Conservatives, Labour, BBC Locations: Getty Images MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, Manchester, England, Birmingham, Greater Manchester, London

☆ Asian Games: Premature celebration from South Korean skater costs team gold medal and military service exemption
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Winning a gold medal is a big deal. Jung was part of the three-man South Korean team taking part in the men’s 3,000m speed skating relay final at the Huangzhou Asian Games in China on Monday. The 27-year-old, who was skating the final leg of the race, approached the finish line just ahead of Taiwan’s Huang Yu-Lin. Thinking that he had the gold medal sealed, Jung chose to raise his hands aloft and not reach for the finish line. The mandatory duty can be waived for some athletes, in particular, those who win an Olympic medal or a gold medal in the Asian Games.

Persons: Jung Cheol, Jung, Taiwan’s Huang Yu, Lin, Huang, pip Jung, ” Huang, “, ” Jung, Wang Zhao, Choi Organizations: CNN, South, Korean, Taiwan, Reuters, Getty, Asian Locations: China, Taiwan’s, Taiwan, South Korea, India, AFP, South, Aichi, Nagoya, Japan

☆ Putin marks anniversary of annexation of Ukrainian regions as drones attack overnight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday insisted that the residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed a year ago "made their choice — to be with their Fatherland." A concert was held in Red Square on Friday to mark the anniversary, but Putin did not participate. Serhii Borzov said that air defenses shot down 20 drones over his central Ukrainian region, but that a "powerful fire" broke out in the town of Kalynivka when a drone struck an unspecified infrastructure facility. Russia's Defense Ministry said Saturday that it had shot down nine Ukrainian rockets fired at its southern Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. Drone strikes and shelling in the Russian border regions are a regular occurrence.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Malashko, Serhii Borzov, Vyacheslav Gladkov Organizations: Senezh, Russia's, Commission, Russia's Defense, Ukraine, EU Foreign Affairs, Security, Gov, Romania's Ministry of National Defense, Romanian Army, NATO, Belgorod Gov, Local Locations: Russia, Solnechnogorsk, Moscow region, Moscow, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Red Square, Ukraine, EU, Odesa, Russian, Ukraine's, Matviivka, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Ukrainian, Kalynivka, Romania, Galati, Tulcea, Belgorod, Russia's Bryansk, Pogar

☆ Australia Voice referendum: Cherbourg, a community built on racial segregation, looks to the future
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

“We’ve got around 260 people waiting on our waiting list,” said Cherbourg Council CEO Chatur Zala. “My community is very, very confused,” said Mayor Elvie Sandow, from her air-conditioned office in the center of Cherbourg. Hilary Whiteman/CNNZala said Cherbourg Council has made gains in recent years, since Mayor Elvie was elected in 2020. “The highest employment rate of any Indigenous community,” he boasted. At the end of the day, I am the voice of Cherbourg because I’m the elected mayor for this community.”I am the voice of Cherbourg because I’m the elected mayor for this community.

Persons: Australia CNN —, “ We’ve, ”, Chatur Zala, –, Elvie Sandow, “ They’re, they’ll, “, “ They’ll, Hilary Whiteman, Erin Johnston, ” Johnston, Michael Blair, Andy Roache, Anthony Albanese, Cherbourg Aunty Ruth Hegarty, Aunty Ruth, Betty McKenzie, You’re, ” Aunty Ruth, Ruth, we’re, Aunty Ruth Hegarty, Moira Bligh, Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Blair Gilchrist, that’s, aren’t, it’s, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Richard Milnes, ” Price, “ It’s, Warren, It’s, Jacinta Nampijinpa, CNN Zala, Mayor Elvie, Zala, They’ve, Elvie, “ I’m, I’m, Elvie Sandow Zala, “ That’s, he’ll Organizations: Australia CNN, Torres Strait Islanders, ” Cherbourg, CNN, Australian Electoral Commission, AEC, Indigenous, Nations, Queensland Museum, Opium, Advance, Labor, Conservative Political, Conference, Tourists, Shed, Mayor, Digital Service Center Locations: Cherbourg, Australia, Queensland, Brisbane, Mitchell, Northern, ”, Trust, Canberra, Gujarat, India

☆ Russia to begin drafting soldiers from occupied regions of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's fall draft begins October 1 and seeks to call up 130,000 new soldiers to fight in the war. The Kyiv Independent reported eligible men from occupied regions of Ukraine will be drafted. Russian state media claims no conscription has previously occurred in occupied Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's Defense Ministry announced Friday that its upcoming conscription campaign will for the first time include eligible men from four occupied regions in Ukraine. Russian men aged 18-27 are required to enlist for a year of mandatory military service.

Persons: —, Putin, shams, France24, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Kyiv Independent, Service, Defense, CNN, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, Government of, Russian Federation Locations: Ukraine, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Russian, Russia

☆ Evergrande’s chairman has been detained. The company will struggle to survive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But that plan now looks to be in peril, after police detained its chairman as well as staff at a financing subsidiary. Previously China’s second biggest real estate company, Evergrande’s default in 2021 ignited a crisis in the property sector that continues to weigh on the wider economy. It said it needed to reassess the terms of the restructuring plan, in part because sales had been weaker than expected. “The debt restructuring can’t really happen if Evergrade can’t issue new debt or equity, and it doesn’t seem like it can,” Magnus said. As for Magnus, he believes Evergrande’s time as an independent company is over.

Persons: Evergrande, Xu Jiayin, Hui Ka Yan, ”, George Magnus, Bobby Yip, ” Magnus, “, Tyran Kam, Fitch, Kam, Yicai, What’s, Magnus, “ They’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sunday, Oxford University’s China, SOAS University of London, Shenzhen government’s, CNN, Fitch Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, United States

☆ Asian Games: South Korea's Esports stars target medal success -- and a military exemption
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

For South Korean male participants, winning a gold medal in the Asian Games or Olympic Games not only brings honor but also grants them a military exemption. However, the mandatory duty can be waived for some athletes, in particular those who win an Olympic medal or a gold medal in the Asian Games. Seven games will be featured as official medal events at the 19th Asian Games, building on the success of the pilot event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. The venue for the Asian Games esports competitions is state-of-the-art and an impressive sight to see. With its inclusion as an official Asian Games medal event, the possibility of esports becoming a part of the Olympic Games is a topic of growing debate.

Persons: Suga, Oh, Wang Zhao, Son Heung, ” Shin, ”, esports, ” Kim Sa, “, ” Lee Kyung, Kwak, hyouk, it’d, ” Kwak, Thailand’s Teedech, Lee Sang, –, Michael Chow, Yoonjung Seo, Michael Jordan, ” Chow, Faker, JUNG YEON, Philip Fong, Rowan Crothers, “ I’m, I’ll, ” Crothers, Jess Bolden, Chow, Niko, Young Organizations: CNN, Gaming, Hangzhou Asian Games, Asian Games, Games, BTS, Asian, Getty, Premier League soccer, Tottenham Hotspur, Marine Corps, Republic of Korea Marine Corps, “ Times, CNN Sport, FIFA, Hangzhou, South Korea, Believer Company, Riot, South, Team Korea, League, “ League, SK Telecom, Riot Games, Microsoft Studios, Xbox, Studios, International Federation of, Phonographic Industry, EA Sports FC Online, PUBG, of Valor, of, Olympic, International Olympic Committee, Maekyung Media, Paralympic, IOC, Kodikara, International Federations, Niko Partners Locations: South Korea, Hangzhou, AFP, Seogwipo, Jeju, Republic of, Seoul, esports, Jakarta, South, . South Korea, Palembang, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Suga, a member of K-pop supergroup BTS, began fulfilling his mandatory military duty Friday as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service in the country. Suga, 30, became the group’s third member to start carrying out their military duties. BTS’s management agency, Big Hit Music, said that Suga later began commuting to a workplace designated under the country’s alternative military service system. Political Cartoons View All 1173 ImagesLocal media reported Suga’s alternative service was likely related to a shoulder surgery that he underwent in 2020. Those performing alternative service are subject to three weeks of basic military training and can choose when to take it, according to the Military Manpower Administration.

Persons: — Suga, Jin, “ I’ll, ” Suga, Suga, “, ” Organizations: Big, Military Manpower Administration Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, North Korea

☆ Xi'an Jiaotong University: Top Chinese university scraps English tests in move cheered by nationalists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In a notice Wednesday, the Xi’an Jiaotong University in the capital city of Shaanxi province said students will no longer need to pass a nationwide standardized English test – nor any other English exams – to be able to graduate with bachelor’s degrees. But in recent years, some universities have downgraded the importance of English, either by replacing the national College English Test with their own exams or – as in the case of the Xi’an Jiaotong University – dropping English qualifications altogether as a graduation criteria. For some liberal-leaning Chinese, the downgrade of English is symbolic of China’s inward turn and a tightening of ideological control. “We need English to understand the world. These days, if you don’t understand English, you’ll still fall behind in the scientific and technological world,” a Weibo user said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ”, Mao, Xi, it’s, Weibo, don’t, you’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Jiaotong University, English, College English, Jiaotong, Weibo, World Trade Organization Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shaanxi, Weibo, Shanghai, Taiwan

☆ China Evergrande shares tumble 25% after wealth management staff detained
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Shares of embattled developer China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) plunged 25% on Monday after police detained some staff at its wealth management unit, suggesting a new investigation that could add to the property company's woes. During protests by disgruntled investors at Evergrande's Shenzhen headquarters in 2021, Du Liang was identified by staff as general manager and legal representative of Evergrande's wealth management division. "Recently, public security organs took criminal compulsory measures against Du and other suspected criminals at Evergrande Financial Wealth Management Co," police in the southern city of Shenzhen said in a social media statement on Saturday night. Earlier this month, Evergrande said it had delayed making a decision on offshore debt restructuring from September to next month to allow holders of its debt more time to consider its restructuring plan.

Persons: Aly, Evergrande, Du Liang, Du, Donny Kwok, Anne Marie Roantree, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, China Evergrande, HK, Evergrande's Shenzhen, Financial Wealth Management, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG KONG, Lincoln

☆ Australian Indigenous Voice: Three generations of First Nations men share their views on Australia's referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now 94, Anderson says a Yes vote isn’t just important for him but the country. “By talking and walking together as a nation and as a society, we will share a common destiny,” he said. Wharton said he wants “liberation, freedom and restitution” delivered through negotiation by the hundreds of Aboriginal nations with people occupying their land. Nick Harvey-Doyle is studying in New York and is calling for a Yes vote. Sykes, who died in 2010, was the first Black Australian to study at Harvard, and fought for a Yes vote in the 1967 Referendum.

Persons: Uncle Bob Anderson, Elder, ”, Anderson, Hilary Whiteman, Wayne Wharton, “, Wharton, “ I’ve, ” Wharton, Nick Harvey, Doyle, Elder Anderson, that’s, Doyle Harvey, Roberta Sykes, Sykes, Harvey, don’t, aren’t, Jonathan PIlkington, they’ll, what’s, he’s Organizations: Australia CNN —, First Nations, Nations, CNN, Aboriginal, Brooklyn, New York, New York University, Australian, Harvard, Australian Voice, Australian Electoral Commission, Torres Strait Locations: Brisbane, Australia, New York, New South Wales

☆ China police detain some Evergrande wealth management staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Police in southern China have detained some staff at China Evergrande Group's wealth management unit, suggesting a new investigation that could add to the property giant's woes. During protests by disgruntled investors at Evergrande's Shenzhen headquarters in 2021, Du Liang was identified by staff as general manager and legal representative of Evergrande's wealth management division. China Evergrande did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday outside of normal business hours. The police said the investigation into the financial management unit was ongoing and urged investors to report any further financial crimes.

Persons: Aly, Du, Du Liang, China Evergrande, Moody's, Laurie Chen, David Kirton, Tom Hogue Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Rights, Police, China, Financial Wealth Management, Evergrande's Shenzhen, Reuters, HK, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Rights BEIJING, China's

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