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☆ With Fate of Ukraine’s Top General in Question, All Eyes Turn to Zelensky
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But the fate of Ukraine’s top commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, now appears to be hanging by a thread — not over his standing in the army, where he is well regarded, but over tensions with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. The president’s frustrations have mounted since it became clear in the fall that Ukraine’s southern counteroffensive, a push that started with high hopes for Ukraine and its backers, had failed. The fighting has since bogged down in bloody, static trench warfare. Should Mr. Zelensky dismiss the general, it could create a host of problems for him both in the war and at home. Although Mr. Zelensky embodies his country’s resistance to Russian aggression to many of his supporters abroad, the general is widely hailed as a hero in Ukraine.

Persons: Ukraine’s, Valery Zaluzhny, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky Locations: Ukraine

☆ Ukraine’s Latest Challenge: Festering Tension Among Top Leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As Ukraine fights against a fierce Russian offensive and its leaders wait to see whether the West will approve more than $100 million in much-needed assistance, the government in Kyiv is dealing with a festering distraction: tumult in its top ranks centered on the fate of the top military commander. Speculation raged on Monday in political and military circles, the news media and online that President Volodymyr Zelensky had fired the commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny, with rumors becoming so widespread that the president’s office was forced to issue a public denial. “There was no dismissal,” the president’s spokesman, Serhiy Nikiforov, told the Ukrainian media. “I cannot say anything else,” he said. When asked whether the president intended to dismiss the general, Mr. Nikiforov replied: “I repeat to you once again — there is no subject of conversation.”The curt response only fueled further speculation that the president’s office had planned to fire General Zaluzhny but backed down after a furious backlash, and on Tuesday the capital was still consumed with whether the general would be staying or going.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Valeriy, Serhiy Nikiforov, ”, Nikiforov, “, curt, Zaluzhny Organizations: Ukraine Locations: Russian, Kyiv, Ukrainian

At Meta, in CEO Mark Zuckerberg's words, 2023 was the "year of efficiency," and the stock jumped almost 200% alongside 20,000 job cuts. AI demand is so great that some tech companies are cutting headcount in parts of the business to invest more heavily in developing AI products. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, appears at the Political Opening of the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, on Aug. 23, 2023. Within tech, a wide variety of companies, big and small and spanning the consumer and enterprise markets, are eliminating jobs. But, he added, there's an "enormous base" of small and mid-sized tech companies across the U.S., and that in some cases contractors, freelancers and overseas workers are being hit particularly hard.

Persons: Peter Kramer, They've, Mark Zuckerberg's, Zeile, Phil Spencer, Franziska Krug, Sundar Pichai, Bob Carrigan, Nigel Vaz, Publicis Sapient, Salesforce, Meta's, " Vaz, Levi Strauss, Bob Bakish, Tim Herbert, Herbert, there's, Vaz, Michael Bloom, Annie Palmer, Jennifer Elias Organizations: Nasdaq, CNBC, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Investors, Activision Blizzard, SAP, Microsoft Gaming, Facebook, Citigroup, Paramount, Commerce Department, Gross Locations: Cologne, Germany, U.S

☆ Ukraine Searches for Answers on Russian Plane Crash
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | More About Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian officials searched for answers on Thursday to the circumstances of a deadly plane crash over the border in Russia, asking for patience from citizens while they investigated Moscow’s claims that Ukraine had shot down a Russian military aircraft carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war. The plane went down in the Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine, killing all onboard, the Russian Ministry of Defense and the regional governor said on Wednesday. The ministry said that the plane had been carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were to be released in a prisoner exchange. The cause of the crash remains unknown, though Ukrainian officials have not denied shooting down the aircraft. They say they cannot confirm that Ukrainian soldiers on their way to a prisoner exchange were aboard the plane.

Persons: Moscow’s, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Russian Ministry of Defense Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Belgorod

It was the middle of the night in early January when a Russian missile streaked in and exploded in the center of Kharkiv, blasting down walls and shattering windows. The next day, people went shopping and to work, ate out in restaurants and clogged the streets with traffic jams, almost as if nothing had happened. But behind the business-as-usual veneer, residents of Kharkiv have been seething. Over the past month, Ukraine’s second-largest city has taken the brunt of Russia’s missile campaign, which has killed and wounded dozens of people, blown up buildings and unnerved everyone. To vent, Kharkiv’s residents have a dedicated outlet: Radio Boiling Over, a new FM station.

Persons: Ukraine’s, It’s Locations: Russian, Kharkiv

With fighting still raging in Ukraine, and a front line that has barely shifted in more than a year, the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, headed on Tuesday to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, amid a swirl of diplomatic discussions about possible peace talks. In his speech, he promoted a Ukrainian peace plan and called for stiffer sanctions on Russia. But in a contrast with his comments to the forum last year, Mr. Zelensky made no direct appeals for weaponry for new offensives on the battlefield. “We need you in Ukraine to build, to reconstruct, to restore our lives,” he told the audience of investors. “Each of you can be even more successful with Ukraine.”

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Organizations: Economic Locations: Ukraine, Davos, Switzerland, Ukrainian, Russia

Now, many are warning that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is capitalizing on the chaos for its own political gain. Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesA tractor displays a banner with the logo of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that reads: "Germany needs new elections!" “Supporting democratic protests like this against traffic light madness will continue to be a concern of our hearts,” one post reads. The traffic light will soon be standing all alone.”The “traffic light” is a reference to Scholz’s coalition government – an allusion to the colors of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens it is comprised of. Far-right coup fantasiesGerman ministers and a domestic intelligence chief have warned how right-wing extremists could try to exploit the farmers’ protests.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sean Gallup, Martin, ” Steven, Björn Höcke, Scholz, Johannes Kiess, ” Kiess, Jens Schlueter, Kiess, Robert Habeck, ” “, ” Habeck, Kay Nietfeld, Stephan Kramer, –, ” Kramer, ”, Nadine Schmidt, Claudia Otto, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Germany CNN — Farmers, Farmers, Getty, Social Democratic Party, SPD, Free Democratic Party, Greens, Germany’s Office, Homeland, Deutsche, University of Leipzig, CNN, “, Ukraine, Tractors, CDU, CSU, Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Locations: Berlin, Germany, Frankfurt, AFP, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Cologne, Bremen, Nuremberg, Munich, Rügen, Pomerania, Thuringia, Berlin ., Dresden, Saxony, Deutsche Bahn, Cottbus, Torgau, London

☆ I'm a wedding planner. Here are 4 trends that will start to disappear in 2024, and 4 you'll see everywhere.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Elisabeth Kramer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As a professional wedding planner, I regularly see trends come and go with each new year. Here are four trends that will start to disappear in 2024 and four that will be more popular. For a joint dance, you can dance with your parent or VIP while the person you married dances with theirs. Shorter and joint dances are nice ways to lower the temperature on one of the most nerve-racking moments of a wedding. Consider why you're having a wedding, and then start riffing on what makes you and the person you're marrying happy.

Persons: we'll, —, I've, I'm, Shorter, it's, Jovana Stojanovic, there's Organizations: Service, Google, Bolyuk

☆ Reaction to the death of former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Fortunately for us, she set her sights a little higher – becoming the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. U.S. SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS"A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O'Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation's first female Justice. SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS“The passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor reminds all of us of what an extraordinary woman and justice she was. JUSTIN DRIVER, PROFESSOR AT YALE LAW SCHOOL AND FORMER LAW CLERK TO O'CONNOR"Today, we lost a towering, trailblazing jurist who dramatically improved our nation. SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY, FORMER CHAIRMAN AND CURRENT MEMBER OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE“Justice O’Connor was the first Supreme Court nominee I had the honor of voting for as a senator.

Persons: Sandra Day O'Connor, BARACK OBAMA, Sandra Day, Michelle, JOHN ROBERTS, SUSAN COLLINS “, Sandra Day O’Connor, ” CRISTINA RODRIGUEZ, O'CONNOR, NANCY PELOSI, O’Connor, EUGENE VOLOKH, JUSTIN, Justice O’Connor, CHUCK GRASSLEY, LARRY KRAMER, iCivics, John Kruzel, Andrew Chung, Scott Malone, Alistaiir Bell, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Stanford Law School, SUPREME, REPUBLICAN U.S, AT YALE, SCHOOL, LAW, UCLA, OF, trailblazer, CIVICS, Thomson Locations: U.S, Arizona, Texas, American, New York

☆ The return of dad fashion matches how Americans feel about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dad fashion is trending again. AdvertisementSo why did those evolve into dad fashion? All of that might explain why dad fashion is once again dominant. Dad fashion seems to show up when consumers are feeling wary — not the worst they've felt, but certainly not the best. These so-called "core cultures" arose on platforms like Tumblr, Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok, in which young fashion consumers are eager to chop up fashion trends into subcultures and become devotees.

Persons: It's, —, You've, Kramer, Bean, Thomaï, Seinfeld, Serdari, that's, Long, you'd Organizations: Service, GQ, New York University, New York Times, Siena College, Biden Locations: TikTok

☆ It's a mistake to pick out one clear winner in the AI arms race, says Richard Kramer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIt's a mistake to pick out one clear winner in the AI arms race, says Richard KramerRichard Kramer, Managing Partner at Arete Research, discusses artificial intelligence following the one-year public anniversary of ChatGPT.

Persons: Richard Kramer Richard Kramer Organizations: Arete Research

☆ I answer the Butterball turkey hotline. I get lots of funny questions on Thanksgiving Day.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Phyllis Kramer is a Butterball Turkey Talk-Line expert based in Aurora, Illinois. AdvertisementI've been talking turkey on the Butterball Talk-Line for 22 years now. AdvertisementSome people assume my job must be easy, but they couldn't be more wrongKramer answers calls to the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. AdvertisementOur average call lasts 3 minutes, and the most common question is how to thaw a frozen turkeyA herb- and citrus butter-roasted Butterball turkey. I always thaw turkey in the refrigerator.

Persons: Phyllis Kramer, She's, —, I've, Kramer, I'm, we're, we've, parsnip, it's, We'll Organizations: Service, Canadian, Foods, Butterball University Locations: Turkey, Aurora , Illinois, Butterball Turkey, Naperville , Illinois

The Russian soldiers turned up at her home close to midnight with an ominous message. “They said, ‘If in two weeks you don’t have a Russian passport, we will talk to you in a different way,’” recalled Evelina, a social worker who until this month lived under Russian occupation in southeastern Ukraine. She didn’t wait to have that conversation. Instead, she bundled a few possessions into a suitcase and left with her teenage daughter, heading for territory controlled by Ukraine. But for the estimated 4 million to 6 million Ukrainians living in Russian-held areas, as Evelina was, the stalemate means something more dispiriting: an occupation with no end in sight.

Persons: “, ’ ”, Evelina Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Europe

☆ Goodyear tune-up may go beyond rotating the tires
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 20, 2023; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; A detailed view of Goodyear Eagle racing tires prior to the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A century is a long time to accumulate bad habits. Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT.O) on Wednesday said it would try to shed some, by selling $2 billion of assets, streamlining its business and paying down debt. As the $4 billion company tidies itself, it could turn out to be worth more in pieces. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Watkins, Matthew O'Haren, Richard Kramer, Elliott, Goodyear, Jonathan Guilford, taints, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Aditya Sriwatsav, Sharon Lam Organizations: Goodyear Eagle, Watkins Glen International, Reuters, Goodyear Tire &, Elliott Investment Management, Electric, United States Steel, Goodyear, X, Alstom, Thomson Locations: , New York, USA

☆ Ukraine Indicts Officials Linked to Efforts to Investigate the Bidens
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | More About Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Those accused include Kostyantyn Kulyk, a former Ukrainian deputy prosecutor general who had drafted a memo in 2019 suggesting Ukraine investigate Hunter Biden, President Biden’s son, for his role serving on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. Also implicated were a current member of Ukraine’s Parliament, Oleksandr Dubinsky, and a former member, Andriy Derkach, who had publicly advocated for an investigation in Ukraine into Hunter Biden. They had also promoted a spurious theory that it was Ukraine, and not Russia, that had meddled in the 2016 presidential election in the United States. The three were indicted on charges of treason and belonging to a criminal organization. The charges refer to “information-subversive activities” and focus on actions in 2019 before the American presidential election.

Persons: Rudolph W, Giuliani, Biden, Kostyantyn, Hunter Biden, Biden’s, Oleksandr Dubinsky, Andriy Derkach Organizations: Hunter Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, United States

☆ Start-Ups With Laser Beams: The Companies Trying to Ignite Fusion Energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Kenneth Chang | More About Kenneth Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In December last year, after years of trying, the National Ignition Facility, or NIF, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory reported that it had finally lived up to its middle name: ignition. For the first time anywhere, a laser-induced burst of fusion produced more energy than that supplied by the incoming lasers. “We’re really excited by the NIF results,” said Kramer Akli, who manages the fusion energy sciences program at the United States Department of Energy. A decade ago, a report by the National Academy of Sciences found much to like in the energy potential of laser fusion but recommended that the United States hold off major investments until ignition was achieved. The sun generates heat and light by jamming — fusing — hydrogen atoms together into helium.

Persons: We’re, ”, Kramer Akli, arth, ould Organizations: National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, National Academy of Sciences Locations: United States

Earlier this month, the university said an initial inquiry found no issues with how the center managed its finances. Despite the hubbub, essentially none of the center's funders have raised public concerns about its work. But tell us how you’re going to puzzle through.”The sudden termination of the center’s research projects prompted some within the movement for racial justice to see good reason to criticize Kendi’s leadership. Kendi agreed many funders were new to racial justice philanthropy in 2020, but said they didn’t usually give to his center. Kendi said most of the center's funders already supported antiracist community organizations.

Persons: Kendi, Grantmakers, it's, Earl Lewis, Andrew W, “, “ missteps, “ There’s, ”, Lewis, It's, Jack Dorsey, Chera Reid, ” Reid, William, Larry Kramer, Reid, Kendi’s, Jenn M, Jackson, ” Jackson Organizations: Boston University, BU Center, Mellon Foundation, University of Michigan Center for Social Solutions, Associated Press, Rockefeller Foundation, ESPN, Netflix, Unity Summit, Flora Hewlett Foundation, Observers, Syracuse University, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Los Angeles, U.S

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — World leaders, CEOs, protesters and thousands of others will soon descend on San Francisco for a global trade summit that could give the battered city a chance to reverse its image of an economic powerhouse now in decline. As host, San Francisco and the city's partners are polishing sidewalks, scrubbing away graffiti and moving homeless people to accommodations indoors. “It shows that San Francisco isn’t dead,” he said, adding he believes “there's an appetite for things to change” despite negative media narratives. This month, Air China resumed direct flights between San Francisco and Beijing after suspending flights just before the pandemic. —-Associated Press journalists Haven Daley in San Francisco and Huizhong Wu in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, London Breed, Breed, —, ”, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Janet Yellen, Karl Kramer, LaunchSquad, Gilbert Manirakiza, Chotto Matte, Kurt Zdesar, San Francisco isn’t, “, Azalina Eusope, ” Eusope, Jennifer Friedenbach, San Francisco, Emily Cohen, Malcolm Yeung, Haven Daley, Huizhong Wu Organizations: FRANCISCO, Economic Cooperation, Francisco's, United Nations, London, Associated Press . California Gov, San Francisco, Fox, Treasury, San, APEC, San Francisco Living Wage Coalition, San Francisco Giants, dreamers, Coalition, Homelessness, city's Department of Homelessness, Air China, Chinatown Community Development Center, Associated Press Locations: San Francisco, Asia, United, Francisco, San, U.S, Israel, Kenya, Chinatown, Malaysian, Tenderloin District, Beijing, Tourism, China, Bangkok

Ms. Vynokur, 26, the hardware store clerk, turned out for the training with a friend after seeing an advertisement on Instagram. “What attracted me is this is only for women,” she said. “As women, we are all on the same level,” she said. Of serving in the military, she said: “Everybody understands the war won’t be over in a month. It does not draft women, though recently it has required that women with medical training register for the draft.

Persons: Vynokur, ”, “ Locations: Kyiv

The family of Major Serhiy Kuznyev sensed something was wrong. He was not answering his phone. Officers in his unit refused to provide information on him. He had always told his family that he was deployed far from the front. “To us, he always said, ‘all is good,’” Anna said in a telephone interview.

Persons: Serhiy Kuznyev, Anna Kuznyeva, ’ ” Anna, “, Major Locations: Ukraine, Russian

☆ Jill Kramer, CMO of Accenture, says disability inclusion should be baked into creative briefs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Julia Hood | Will Wei | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Jill Kramer, chief marketing and communications officer at Accenture, spoke to Insider about the importance of advancing disability inclusion. Kramer is spearheading Accenture's partnership with Disability:IN and TD Bank in a coalition that brings together chief marketing officers and chief communications officers across verticals. "What if we didn't try to one-up each other? But rather work as a coalition to each take on different aspects of representation, inclusion, accessibility of content," Kramer tells Insider. "And by agreeing to do that work across, we would each learn and accelerate faster."

Persons: Jill Kramer, Kramer Organizations: Accenture, TD Bank Locations: verticals

☆ ‘I Am Dreaming It Will Stop’: A Deadlocked War Tests Ukrainian Morale
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | More About Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainians were most hopeful, polls indicated, last winter, in the run-up to the counteroffensive in the south. Trust in government fell from 74 percent in May to 39 percent in October, the period when the Ukrainian offensive began and then petered out, the institute found. Despite months of bloody trench fighting and tens of thousands of casualties, little land has changed hands since. “The boys who are at the front are physically and psychologically tired,” Mr. Tkachyk said. This war will last a long time.”

Persons: Valery Zaluzhny, Andriy Tkachyk, Mr, Tkachyk, “, ” Organizations: Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Ukrainian Locations: Trust, Kherson city, Tukhlia, Ukraine

The emerging fissure between the general and the president comes as Ukraine is struggling in its war effort, militarily and diplomatically. At the same time, skepticism about Ukraine aid has increased in some European capitals and among members of the Republican Party in the United States. Ukraine’s leadership is also worried that the attention of Western allies has shifted to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and away from its war with Russia. “The war in the Middle East, this conflict takes away the focus,” Mr. Zelensky said on Saturday. American officials have hinted that Ukraine was to blame for dispersing its forces too widely; Mr. Zelensky said his army did not receive sufficient weaponry to advance.

Persons: “, Mr, Zelensky Organizations: Republican Party, Hamas Locations: Ukraine, United States, Israel, Russia, Kyiv

With the front line in Ukraine having barely shifted despite months of fierce fighting, Ukraine’s top commander has acknowledged that his forces are locked in a “stalemate” with Russia and that no significant breakthrough was imminent, the most candid assessment so far by a leading Ukrainian official of the military’s stalled counteroffensive. “Just like in the First World War we have reached the level of technology that puts us into a stalemate,” the commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, told The Economist in an interview published on Wednesday. He added that Russian forces, too, are incapable of advancing. The general said modern technology and precision weapons on both sides were preventing troops from breaching enemy lines, including the expansive use of drones, and the ability to jam drones. He called for advances in electronic warfare as a way to break the deadlock.

Persons: Valery Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian

Skinner is running for reelection to the City Council of Johns Creek, an Atlanta suburb of about 85,000. In 2020, they were pivotal in Democrat Joe Biden's close victory over Trump, the Republican incumbent, in the president election. “President Trump is obviously divisive,” said Skinner in a interview, insisting the endorsement “was about the veterans” rather than Trump himself. I don’t want to become Atlanta,” said Kramer, the Johns Creek Republican. Johns Creek is about 52% non-Hispanic white.

Persons: Stacy Skinner, “, Donald Trump, Skinner, ”, Devon Dabney, Betsy Kramer, “ I'm, ” Kramer, “ I’m, Democrat Joe Biden's, Brad Raffensperger, Brian Kemp, Trump, It’s, Sarah Reckhow, Dabney, ” Dabney, Johns, Kramer, I’m, Jason Miller, ” Miller, Allen Sells, “ I’ve, Miller, Sells, Bridget Thorne, She’s Organizations: Veterans, Trump, Republicans, City Council, Republican, Democrat, Republican Party, Georgia, Raffensperger, Michigan State University, Democratic, Civil Rights Movement, Johns, . Census, City Locations: China, Mexico, Johns Creek, Atlanta, Fulton County, Fulton, Georgia's, lockstep, Washington, Georgia, U.S, America, Johns, Black, Boston, ”, Roswell, “

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