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☆ Crisis communicators say Trump should smile for his perp walk. He may even want to stage his own.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump is reportedly wondering if he should smile for his perp walk and whether he can be handcuffed. Crisis communicators say "yes" to the smile and "no" to cuffs if he is indicted in New York. If prosecutors decide to march him in front of news cameras for a "perp walk," should he smile? But it's unlikely that the Manhattan district attorney's office will arrange a perp walk for Trump if he's indicted and turns himself in. In that case, Marcucci said he could see Trump organizing a perp walk on his own.

☆ At graveyard of unknown quake victims, Syrians seek news of the missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Khalil Ashawi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/8] A view shows a gravestone reading "unidentified, little girl wearing green sweater" in Arabic inside a cemetery in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria March 4, 2023. "So we wrote down that she was wearing a green sweater, things like that." Hussein shows the images to people who visit looking for missing loved ones. Fadel El Jaber, 65, is searching for three grandchildren missing since their apartment block collapsed in the town of Salqin. Two or three survived, and those three remain missing," Jaber said, standing on rubble.

☆ Putin to welcome Xi to Moscow under shadow of Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a ceremony dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China, in Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia June 5, 2019. Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool via ReutersMarch 20 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will expect Chinese President Xi Jinping to show solidarity against western hegemony when he arrives in Moscow on Monday, while Xi will present China as a global peacemaker intent on brokering an end to the Ukraine war. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has previously made clear he will accept nothing short of Russia's full withdrawal from Ukrainian territory. We welcome China's willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis," Putin said. Ukrainian forces have held out in Bakhmut since last summer in the longest and bloodiest battle of the year-long war.

☆ Iran proposes locations to Saudi Arabia for foreign minister meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian speaks during a news conference in Tehran, Iran March 19, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERSDUBAI, March 19 (Reuters) - The Iranian government has proposed to Saudi Arabia three locations for a meeting at foreign minister level, Iran's foreign minister said on Sunday, citing the latest messages with Riyadh since the countries agreed to re-establish ties. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told a news conference in Tehran his country had agreed to such a meeting, although he did not list the three locations or say when such a meeting might take place. Iran and Saudi Arabia, the region's Shi'ite Muslim and Sunni powers, agreed on March 10 to re-establish relations and re-open embassies within two months after years of hostility. Amirabdollahian signalled Iran was also hoping for steps towards normalising ties with Bahrain, a close Saudi ally.

☆ Iraq and Iran sign deal to tighten border security
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Ahmed Rasheed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani looks on as Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani sign the security agreement that includes coordination in protecting the common borders between the two countries, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 19, 2023. The joint security agreement includes coordination in "protecting the common borders between the two countries and consolidating cooperation in several security fields", a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office said. Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani signed the deal with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, the prime minister office said. "Under the signed security deal, Iraq pledges it would not allow armed groups to use its territory in the Iraqi Kurdish region to launch any border-crossing attacks on neighbour Iran," said an Iraqi security official who attended the signing. Iran has also accused Kurdish militants of working with its arch-enemy Israel and has often voices concern over the alleged presence of the Israeli spy agency Mossad in the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.

At a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said talks with Turkey on the possibility of restoring ties to ambassadorial level would happen at "the appropriate time". Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey would upgrade its diplomatic relations with Egypt to ambassador level "as soon as possible". "There is a political will and directives from the presidents of both countries when they met in Doha ... to launch the path towards a full normalisation of relations," Shoukry said. Consultations between senior foreign ministry officials in Ankara and Cairo began in 2021, amid a push by Turkey to ease tensions with Egypt, the UAE, Israel and Saudi Arabia. As part of that tentative reconciliation, Ankara asked Egyptian opposition TV channels operating in Turkey to moderate their criticism of Egypt.

An Insider review found that his company has sold to foreign governments, including a $228 million dollar contract. What Mills didn't advertise was Pacem's munitions contracts with foreign governments. The company's chief legal officer Joseph Schmitz said all of Pacem's foreign munitions sales are approved by the Department of State. Mills's influence over American military spending while having ties to a munitions company poses the potential for conflicts of interest, an ethics watchdog said. In Congress, Mills sits on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, which oversee military spending and foreign weapons sales.

The chief judge has sole discretion over sealed federal grand jury proceedings. As chief judge, Boasberg is poised to rule on certain legal arguments raised in the grand jury probes, including efforts to restrict witnesses from testifying. Grand jury proceedings are kept from public view. Another special counsel, Robert Hur, was named by Garland in January to look into classified records found at Biden's home in Delaware and former office in Washington. During her tenure as chief judge, Howell regularly heard legal arguments in special counsel investigations.

☆ Saddam's rusting yacht serves as picnic spot for Iraqi fishermen
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I can’t believe that this belonged to Saddam and now I'm the one moving around it," he said. But it was targeted by U.S.-led forces, and later capsized in the Shatt al-Arab waterway as it fell into decay. In the turmoil that followed Saddam’s downfall, the yacht was stripped bare and looted, with everything from its chandeliers and furniture to parts of its metal structure removed. One of three yachts owned by Saddam, the yacht could accommodate up to 200 guests and was equipped with a helipad. U.S. officials estimated in 2003 that Saddam and his family may have amassed up to $40 billion in ill-gotten funds.

☆ 'Guys I lied on my resume': Social media managers are pleading with TikTok viewers to help save their jobs and it's working
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Both videos were posted by social media managers claiming to need views to stay out of trouble with their boss. Clancy's Auto Body Shop in the Fort Lauderdale area has amassed a 224,000 following since posting its first TikTok video in February. The clip was made by the business' social media manager Joel Velazquez, and has over 24 million views as of Friday. Velazquez's on-screen caption read: "Guys I lied on my resume, and got a job doing the social media of this body shop, please blow this up so I don't get fired." According to the clip, her boss asked to see the metrics of the business TikTok account at an upcoming meeting, but Claire had just created the account only 12 hours before.

[1/2] Actor Robert Blake speaks to reporters as he walks to Burbank Courthouse in Burbank, California, U.S. August 29, 2005. A wrongful death lawsuit subsequently filed against Blake by her estate led to a civil court judgment that the actor was responsible for her slaying. Blake contended his wife was a victim of her own checkered past, gunned down by an unknown assailant. Blake's acting work was overshadowed four years later by the Bakley murder, which remains unsolved. A paternity test showed that the father was Blake, not Christian Brando, son of actor Marlon Brando, who Bakley had been dating simultaneously.

☆ U.S. House Republican hardliners unveil spending demands for raising debt ceiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - The hardline U.S. House Freedom Caucus responded to President Joe Biden's $6.8 trillion budget proposal on Friday, with a list of demands including a near freeze on discretionary spending and an end to multiple programs, in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry said the plan would mean a $131 billion spending cut for fiscal 2024, which begins on Oct. 1, and save $3 trillion over a decade. "America will not default on our debts unless President Biden chooses to do so," Perry told reporters at a news conference. "To ensure America does not default on our debts, the House Freedom Caucus is offering a responsible solution." "To president Biden: your budget is dead on arrival," said Representative Byron Donalds, a House Freedom Caucus member.

☆ Syrian woman rescued quake victims, won over those who told her to stay home
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Khalil Ashawi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Salam Mahmoud, a volunteer at the Syria Civil Defence (White Helmets), looks at her mobile phone as she rides in a vehicle, in Idlib province, Syria March 5, 2023. REUTERS/Khalil AshawiIDLIB PROVINCE, Syria, March 8 (Reuters) - Syrian civil defence volunteer Salam Mahmoud had only one thought when she saw the collapsed buildings after the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey. Mahmoud is one of around 300 women in the Syria Civil Defence, also called the White Helmets, a rescue service of more than 3,000 people which operates in insurgent-held northwestern Syria. "All night I was thinking: could there still be children calling for us, could there still be women screaming out." Mahmoud has volunteered with the Civil Defence for five years.

☆ Paramount Global mulls sale of majority stake in BET -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 6 (Reuters) - Paramount Global (PARA.O) is mulling the possible sale of a majority stake in BET Media Group, which includes the BET cable network, BET Studios and VH1, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. BET drew an immediate expression of interest from Byron Allen, whose Allen Media Group's assets include The Weather Channel. A spokesperson for Allen Media Group said it "will be pursuing the acquisition of the network." Paramount also formed BET Studios in 2021 through a partnership with "Black-ish" creator Kenya Barris, actress Rashida Jones and "S.W.A.T" co-creator Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Paramount was exploring a possible sale of BET as it looks to improve its balance sheet.

☆ Long-shot GOP candidate claims he was offered second-place finish at the CPAC straw poll if he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Vivek Ramaswamy alleged that a consultant offered him the chance to buy his way onto a CPAC straw poll. Asked if he agreed to pay to be placed second in the straw poll, he responded: "Absolutely not." Ramaswamy, who has never served in political office, received just 1% of the vote in the unscientific straw poll of potential Republican primary candidates. According to Politico, a Ramaswamy aide said they recalled the phone call offer. The aide claimed the consultant offered to "get tickets and bus a bunch of people in for the straw poll" if they paid "upward of $100,000," per Politico.

☆ Lebanon says it regains UN voting rights after paying dues
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIRUT, March 7 (Reuters) - Lebanon has regained U.N. voting rights after paying dues for 2022 and 2023, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, after the country, which is in deep financial crisis, lost its rights at the world body for the second time in three years. Guterres said Lebanon needed to pay a minimum of some $1.8 million to regain its vote. A foreign ministry statement did not say how much Lebanon had paid. "Lebanon has returned to play its natural role ... in the work and discussions of the United Nations and its specialised committees", it said. Lebanon has been in deep crisis since 2019 when its financial system collapsed as a result of decades of profligate spending, mismanagement and corruption by ruling elites.

☆ Syria says Israeli strike puts Aleppo airport out of service
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIRUT, March 7 (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike knocked Aleppo airport out of service on Tuesday and forced the Syrian authorities to reroute flights carrying aid for those affected by last month's earthquake, Syrian state media reported. The attack caused "material damage" to the airport, SANA cited the source as saying, without mentioning any casualties. Foreign donors including the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Algeria have flown aid into Aleppo airport since the Feb. 6 earthquake, Syrian state media has reported. The attack overnight was Israel's third air strike in Syria this year, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In January, the Syrian army said an Israeli missile attack briefly put Damascus airport out of service.

☆ Tyler Perry Expressed Interest in Buying Majority Stake of BET Media Group From Paramount Global
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Jessica Toonkel | Joe Flint | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tyler Perry is a prolific producer who has made more than a dozen television series and more than 20 movies. Actor and producer Tyler Perry has expressed interest in acquiring a majority stake of BET Media Group from Paramount Global , according to people familiar with the situation. Mr. Perry and Paramount have had a longstanding relationship. The media mogul, who has his own production studio, has an overall deal to create shows for Paramount and also has a minority stake in Paramount’s BET+ streaming service.

Diverse creators are building incubators, their own production pipelines and venues where they can screen work and receive feedback and support each other. Of the 13,252 Oscar nominees since 1929, 6% are from underrepresented ethnicities, a USC Annenberg Inclusion at the Academy Awards report concludes. Located in Atlanta and Los Angeles, it creates collaborative spaces for diverse talent to support each other. As the most underrepresented group in the industry, Latino talent is also keen to change their narrative. There were 32 years without Latino nominees at the Academy Awards, with the most recent shutout in 2002.

☆ Paramount Global mulls sale of majority stake in BET
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 6 (Reuters) - Paramount Global (PARA.O) is mulling the possible sale of a majority stake in BET Media Group, which includes the BET cable network, BET Studios and VH1, a source confirmed. The company believes BET, an entertainment brand focused on the Black community and culture, would attract substantial interest from Black investors or institutions, the source said. Paramount hopes to maintain a minority stake to benefit from any value that might be unlocked by the transaction. Previously, the media company partnered with the actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry to launch the BET+ subscription service in 2019, and he retains a minority stake. It also formed BET Studios through a partnership with "Black-ish" creator Kenya Barris, actress Rashida Jones and "S.W.A.T" co-creator Aaron Rahsaan Thomas.

☆ Paramount Global considers selling majority stake of BET Media Group, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Paramount Global is considering selling a majority stake of BET Media Group, the owner of the BET cable network and studio, VH1, and the streaming service BET+, according to people familiar with the matter. While other assets at Paramount Global are closely intertwined with its flagship streaming service Paramount+, BET has its own streaming service, its own ad sales team, and an investment from actor and producer Tyler Perry. Selling a majority stake in BET Group would allow Paramount Global to get added capital to spend on programming for Paramount+ and Pluto TV, its free ad-supported streaming service. Paramount moved VH1 into BET Media Group in October. BET Media Group is run by BET CEO Scott Mills.

☆ Indonesia's inflation to stay above 5% in first half of 2023, central bank chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The country's inflation has held above 5%, driven by high food prices. Indonesia's inflation will remain above 5% in the first half of 2023 and below 4% in the second half, mainly due to high food prices, central bank governor Perry Warjiyo said on Sunday, warning that the fight to control inflation must continue. "The game is not over, let us together anticipate inflation mainly food inflation," Perry said at an event on Makassar, in South Sulawesi, where he urged local authorities to work with the central government to reduce inflationary pressures. "We must control inflation because it relates to people's prosperity and welfare," he said. "Let's strengthen synergy amongst stakeholders to control inflation."

☆ Cruise ships have named celebrity 'godmothers' including Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth, and Nicole Scherzinger. Here's what the role involves.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Being a cruise ship godmother is a long-standing tradition. Here's where a cruise ship's godmother is and what the role includes. A cruise ship godmother is a long-standing tradition. Several cruise companies, including Norwegian, have a mixture of ship godmothers and godfathers. Naming a cruise ship godmother is also a marketing initiative, celebrities sponsoring ships brings more publicity and build excitement for the launch of a new ship.

In the past 24 hours Ukrainian forces have repelled more than 170 attacks in the five principal sectors of the front line, Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said on YouTube on Thursday night. Ukraine says the city has limited strategic value but wants to exhaust Russian forces. In nearby towns and villages, new trenches had been dug on the roadside 20-40 metres (65-130 feet) apart, a sign that Ukrainian forces were strengthening defensive positions. Russia says its "special military operation" aims to degrade the Ukrainian military and remove what it says is a threat to its own security. The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov and Blinken spoke "on the move" for less than 10 minutes.

SAO PAULO, March 2 (Reuters) - A confirmed case of mad cow disease in Brazil discovered last month is "atypical," the agriculture ministry said on Thursday, adding it will work to lift beef export suspensions swiftly enacted by several countries in Asia. In a statement, the agriculture ministry pointed to an analysis conducted by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that confirmed the unusual case of mad cow disease. The case of mad cow disease, known scientifically as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), was found in a nine-year old bull from northern Para state. Earlier on Thursday, three additional Asian markets - Thailand, Iran and Jordan - slapped temporarily bans on beef imported from anywhere in Brazil. Officials explained that atypical cases of mad cow disease can occur spontaneously in cattle populations and such infections do not depend on ingestion of feed contaminated by abnormal pathogens known as prions.

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