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☆ On Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil Predicts an Early Spring
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Thousands of revelers gathered at dawn in Punxsutawney, a small town northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate Groundhog Day and watch Phil make his way out of his tree stump to offer his annual weather forecast. Glad tidings on this Groundhog Day. According to legend, if the rodent sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, frigid and blustery weather will persist for six weeks. The first official celebration of Groundhog Day was in 1886, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Groundhog Day, famously featured in the classic 1993 film of the same name starring Bill Murray, draws visitors from around the world, even though the creature's track record is spotty.

Persons: Brendan O'Brien, Phil, Bill Murray Organizations: Reuters, National Centers for Environmental Locations: North America, Punxsutawney, Pittsburgh, America, Pennsylvania, California, Chicago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Nagy left after that season for Chicago, where he spent four years as the Bears' head coach. Only now, Nagy possessed the rare experience of having been an NFL head coach. “I think what you have,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “is that both Nags and Spags are good leaders. “He had success as a head coach,” Mahomes continued, “and he had some times where he didn't have as much success.

Persons: — Patrick Mahomes, Matt Nagy, Nagy, Mahomes, ” Mahomes, “, ” Nagy, Eric Bieniemy, Steve Spagnuolo, Bill O'Brien, Bill Belichick, Steve Wilks, Kyle Shanahan, Andy Reid, they're, haven't, Drue Tranquill, ’, Todd Haley, Dick LeBeau, Reid, ” He's, ” Organizations: KANSAS CITY, Chiefs, Chicago, Bears, NFC, Kansas City, NFL, Rams, Giants, Patriots, 49ers, San, ” Chiefs, Miami, Super, Steelers, Bengals, AFC Locations: KANSAS, Mo, Kansas City, Washington, Las Vegas . New England, San Francisco, Buffalo, Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas

☆ Three Killed, Nine Injured in Construction Collapse at Idaho Airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Federal and local investigators on Thursday were working to determine what caused an airport hangar under construction to collapse in Boise, Idaho, killing three people and injuring nine others. "There was a large-scale collapse of the building, the framework of the building," Hummel said. Local authorities and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were investigating the cause the collapse, Hummel said. A crane at the construction site also fell during the incident, Hummel said. Airport operations were not impacted by the incident, the Boise Fire Department said in a post on X.

Persons: Aaron Hummel, Hummel, Brendan O'Brien, Alex Richardson Organizations: Reuters, Boise Airport, Boise Fire Department Division Chief, Local, U.S . Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Jackson Jet Center, Boise Fire Department Locations: Boise , Idaho, Boise, U.S, Chicago

☆ Japan's Message for Donald Trump: Don't Cut a Deal With China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

Trump, who reached a trade agreement with Beijing in 2019 that later expired, has not mentioned any potential deal with China during his campaign for the 2024 nomination. Two Japanese foreign ministry officials said they fear that Trump may be prepared to weaken U.S. support for nearby Taiwan in pursuit of a deal with China. A Trump aide told Reuters that no recent meetings have taken place between Trump and Japanese officials. "If he is going to cut a deal with China, Japan needs to try and get ahead of the curve and understand its potential role to support its interests in both the U.S. and in China," said Machida. Robert O'Brien, Trump's former national security adviser, also has connections with Japanese officials, two of the sources said.

Persons: John Geddie, Tim Kelly, Yoshifumi, America's, Donald Trump, Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden's, Trump, Xi, Kim Jong Un, they're, Ado Machida, Machida, Shinzo Abe, Aso, Japan's, Shigeo Yamada, Mike Pence, Jim Mattis, Mike Pompeo, Michael Green, Bill Hagerty, Yamada, Hagerty, Robert O'Brien, Trump's, O'Brien, Shigeru Kitamura, Biden, Tsuneo Watanabe, John Bolton, Watanabe, Yukiko Toyoda, Kaori Kaneko, Sakura Murakami, David Brunnstrom, Tim Reid, Ben Blanchard, Laurie Chen, Liz Lee, David Crawshaw Organizations: Trump, Republican, Group, North, Reuters, Fox News, U.S, Steel, Japan's Nippon Steel, U.S ., Liberal Democratic Party, . Studies, University of Sydney, Japan's U.S, Taiwan, Peace Foundation Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Asia, China, Beijing, Tokyo, Iowa, New Hampshire, U.S, Taiwan, Washington, Trump, Taipei

☆ Trump meets with Teamsters as he looks to peel off union voters from Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Story highlights Trump is looking to attract union members, who have traditionally voted Democratic. CNN —Former President Donald Trump Wednesday met with Teamsters union leaders and members in Washington as his campaign tries to drive a wedge between President Joe Biden and one of his most loyal constituencies: organized labor. The Teamsters have twice endorsed against Trump, backing Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden four years later. “We’re not ceding any territory, any group, any demographic to Joe Biden,” one senior Trump adviser said of the campaign’s outreach to working class voters. The group said Biden had been invited to its headquarters on the same day as Trump.

Persons: Trump, Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Sean O’Brien, ”, John Palmer, “, ” Trump, Nikki Haley’s, ” Haley, Olivia Perez, Cubas, –, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, Asa Hutchinson, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, ” O’Brien, Shawn Fain, Sean O'Brien, Sara Nelson, Elizabeth Frantz, Reuters O’Brien, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, O’Brien, Mullin, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, “ We’re, Fain, Cole Scandaglia, ” Fain, ” Biden, Kara Deniz, CNN’s Arlette Saenz, MJ Lee Organizations: Democratic, Teamsters, United Auto Workers, CNN, Biden, Trump, United States Army Veteran, Republican, ” Former South Carolina Gov, GOP, UPS, Arkansas Gov, Teamsters Union, UAW, Capitol, Reuters, Oklahoma Republican, Drake Enterprises, Ford, General Motors, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Transportation, Auto Workers, Automobile Manufacturing Industry Locations: Washington, Michigan , Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Lago, United States, Arkansas, Minnesota, Washington ,, Oklahoma, Vermont, Detroit, Michigan

WASHINGTON (AP) — As he looks past the GOP primary and towards a likely general election rematch against President Joe Biden, Donald Trump will meet with members of the Teamsters Union in Washington Wednesday afternoon as he tries to cut into Biden's support. Trump is hoping to cut into that support as he casts himself as pro-worker and tries to exacerbate longstanding divisions between union leaders and rank-and-file members. While the Teamsters endorsed Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, O'Brien stressed the union has “a very diverse membership. Wheaton estimates about 30% to 40% of its members voted for Trump in 2020, even though the union endorsed Biden. Teamsters members include UPS drivers, film and television workers, freight operators, members of law enforcement and other government workers.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Shawn Fain, “ Shawn Fain, ” Trump, “, Sean O’Brien, ” Biden, Lauren Hitt, Biden “, O’Brien, ”, —, Hillary Clinton, O'Brien, Wheaton, you’re, ” Wheaton, Fain, Nikki Haley, Trump’s, ___ Krisher, Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, GOP, Teamsters Union, Union, Democratic, AP, AFL, United Auto Workers, DJT, Automobile Industry, Workers, Teamsters, Trump, Fox Business, National Labor Relations Board, ”, Cornell University, Wheaton, Republican, UAW, UPS, American Federation of Teachers, American Federation of State, Municipal Employees, Associated Press Locations: Washington, Wisconsin, Michigan, Detroit, California, Wheaton, American Federation of State , County

☆ Scientists thought an ancient tomb had been lost 170 years ago until one expert discovered it practically right in his backyard
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An instructor at Dingle campus of Connecticut-based Sacred Heart University, he's mapping the sites of wedge tombs . "These types of structures are burial places," Mag Fhloinn said, generally dating to around 2,500 to 2,000 BCE. During his searches of the hill, Mag Fhloinn took photographs to create a 3D model. Rotating the 3D model on his screen, Mag Fhloinn saw how well it corresponded with the 1838 drawing. Most wedge tombs face west, particularly to the southwest, Mag Fhloinn said.

Persons: —, Lady Georgiana Chatterton, Raidió, COVID lockdowns, Billy Mag Fhloinn, Fhloinn, RTÉ, Seán Mac, Richard Hitchcock, couldn't, Caimin O'Brien, O'Brien Organizations: Service, Business, Heart University, National Monuments Service Locations: Ireland's Dingle, South, Ireland, Dingle, Connecticut

☆ I visited Mackinac Island, the most beautiful island in the Midwest where no cars are allowed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Molly O'Brien | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mackinac Island is in Lake Huron in Michigan and it feels like it's part of a fairy-tale. The island's Grand Hotel is famous and has fancy dinners, high tea, and some formal dress codes. AdvertisementThere are a few places to stay, but the historic Grand Hotel is worth a visit no matter whatThe Grand Hotel looks gorgeous at sunset. Molly O'Brien for InsiderIt's also worth visiting Mackinac Island State Park, which offers miles of walking trails, woods, and the signature limestone Arch Rock formation. Molly O'Brien for InsiderWhen you're downtown, grab some famous Mackinac Island fudge at one of the sweet shops on the main street.

Persons: —, mack, It's, Molly O'Brien, there's, There's, William Vanderbilt Organizations: Service, Historic Landmark, Surrey Hill, Wings, Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory Locations: Mackinac, Lake Huron, Michigan, Lower, Mackinaw City, Fort Mackinac, Rock

☆ Inflation is finally looking transitory: R.J. O'Brien's Tom Fitzpatrick
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | 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 EmailInflation is finally looking transitory: R.J. O'Brien's Tom FitzpatrickTom Fitzpatrick, R.J. O'Brien managing director of global markets insights, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss historical lessons from Fed decisions, indicators that warrant easing, and more.

Persons: O'Brien's Tom Fitzpatrick Tom Fitzpatrick, R.J, O'Brien

☆ Argentina's President Milei to Visit Israel in Display of Support
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Candelaria GrimbergBUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's President Javier Milei said on Friday he would travel to Israel in the "coming weeks," one of his first overseas trips since the libertarian economist took office last month after pledging strong support for Israel during his campaign. Milei was speaking during a Holocaust remembrance event in Buenos Aires, where he signaled support for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, adding that Argentina would "not remain silent in the face of Hamas terror." Eleven Argentines are among the civilian hostages held by Hamas, Milei said, in captivity since the militant group who rules the Gaza Strip went on a deadly rampage through Israel on Oct. 7. Buenos Aires has a large Jewish community and, before taking office in December, Milei said he intended to convert to Judaism. The World Court ordered Israel on Friday to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians.

Persons: Javier Milei, Milei, Candelaria Grimberg, Brendan O'Boyle, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, Israel, Court Locations: Candelaria Grimberg BUENOS AIRES, Israel, Buenos Aires, Gaza, Argentina, New York City

☆ Explosive Drone Strikes Iraq's Khor Mor Gas Field -Sources
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An explosive drone struck Khor Mor gas field in the Sulaimaniya region of northern Iraq on Thursday, two sources told Reuters, adding the explosion had caused limited damage but no one had been injured. Pearl Petroleum, a consortium of United Arab Emirates-based energy firm Dana Gas and its affiliate Crescent Petroleum, have the rights to exploit the Khor Mor and Chemchemal fields, two of the biggest gas fields in Iraq. In a separate incident earlier in the day, an explosive-laden drone targeting U.S. forces at a base near Erbil airport in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region was shot down by air defences, the region's counter-terrorism service said. Iraq has witnessed near-daily drone and rocket attacks by hardline militias since Israel's war in Gaza began in October, mostly on bases housing troops belonging to a U.S-led military coalition. (Reporting by Timour Azhari; Writing by Enas Alashray and Timour Azhari; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Persons: Dana, Timour Azhari, Enas Alashray, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Pearl Petroleum, United, Dana Gas, Crescent Petroleum Locations: BAGHDAD, Sulaimaniya, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Erbil, Iraq's, Kurdistan, Gaza, U.S

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is laying off about 1,900 employees in its gaming division, according to an internal company memo, just over three months since the tech giant completed its $69 million purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard. Those impacted worked on teams for Activision Blizzard as well as Xbox and ZeniMax — which are also owned by Microsoft. “As we move forward in 2024, the leadership of Microsoft Gaming and Activision Blizzard is committed to aligning on a strategy and an execution plan with a sustainable cost structure that will support the whole of our growing business,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wrote in the memo. The union deal was part of a 2022 agreement with the CWA that helped address U.S. political concerns about the merger’s effects. So far, however, only a small set of Activision Blizzard divisions have formed unions.

Persons: Activision Blizzard, Phil Spencer, Mike Ybarra, ” Ybarra, “, ”, _________________ O'Brien Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Associated Press, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Gaming, Twitter, European Union, The U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Google, Riot, eBay, Communications Workers, CWA Locations: United Kingdom, European, U.S, Canada, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ Mexico High Schoolers Take up Arms After Village Kidnappings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Violence has recently escalated in Guerrero, one of the poorest states in Mexico. In Ayahualtempa, four members of a local family have been missing since Friday when they were kidnapped, the Guerrero state prosecutor's office said. "We're not going to allow them to kidnap us any more, or for people to keep disappearing," Toribio said. This is not the first time minors have been armed in Guerrero, where authorities have struggled to counter powerful drug trafficking gangs. (Reporting by Javier Verdin in Acapulco and Diego Oré in Mexico City, Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Persons: Javier Verdin, Diego Oré, Antonio Toribio, We're, Toribio, Isabel Woodford, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Familia Locations: Diego Oré ACAPULCO, Mexico, Ayahualtempa, Guerrero, Acapulco, Mexico City

☆ Atomic Scientists Keep 'Doomsday Clock' as Close to Midnight as Ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Will DunhamWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Atomic scientists on Tuesday kept their "Doomsday Clock" set as close to midnight as ever before, citing Russia's actions on nuclear weapons amid its invasion of Ukraine, nuclear-armed Israel's Gaza war and worsening climate change as factors driving the risk of global catastrophe. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, as they did last year, set the clock at 90 seconds to midnight - the theoretical point of annihilation. Scientists set the clock based on "existential" risks to Earth and its people: nuclear threat, climate change, and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and new biotechnology. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by scientists including Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer. The clock was first unveiled during the Cold War tensions that followed World War Two.

Persons: Will Dunham WASHINGTON, Rachel Bronson, Bronson, Vladimir Putin's, Sergei Karaganov, Albert Einstein, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Atomic Scientists, Reuters, Hamas Locations: Ukraine, Chicago, Russia, United States, Belarus, Russian, Europe, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza

☆ Top marketers from Popeyes, Kawasaki, and more dish on how they'll maximize the value of their first-ever Super Bowl ads
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewPepsiCo's lemon-lime soda Starry is only one year old, but millions of US consumers will soon see its first-ever Super Bowl ad, as it battles to steal share from stalwarts like 7-Up and Sprite. AdvertisementPopeye's will use its Super Bowl spot to introduce five new chicken wing flavors. First-time advertisers are also looking beyond TVTo justify the high price of a Super Bowl ad, however, marketers invest heavily to keep the conversation going across other channels. And Popeye's, which hopes to drive people to one of its restaurants with a Super Bowl-themed promo, also hopes to extend the campaign beyond the Super Bowl. Highdive is working on BetMGM's first Super Bowl ad this year.

Persons: —, Nielsen, Sami Siddiqui, Michael Smith, Bob O'Brien, O'Brien, Popeye's Siddiqui, Mark Gross, Highdive Organizations: Service, Business, Super, Kawasaki, Popeye's, Kawasaki Motors Corp, Bowl, National Collegiate Athletic

☆ Cameroon Launches Malaria Vaccination Programme in Global Milestone
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - The global fight against malaria took a stride forward on Monday as Cameroon launched the world's first routine vaccine programme against the mosquito-borne disease that is projected to save tens of thousands of children's lives per year across Africa. After successful trials, including in Ghana and Kenya, Cameroon is the first country to administer doses through a routine immunisation programme that 19 other countries aim to roll out this year, according to global vaccine alliance Gavi. Around 6.6 million children in these countries are targeted for malaria vaccination through 2024-25. Rolling out the second vaccine "is expected to result in sufficient vaccine supply to meet the high demand and reach millions more children," the WHO's director of immunization, Kate O'Brien, said at the briefing. This R21 vaccine, developed by University of Oxford, could be launched in May or June, said Gavi's Chief Programme Officer Aurelia Nguyen.

Persons: Mohammed Abdulaziz of, Kate O'Brien, Aurelia Nguyen, Alessandra Prentice, Jennifer Rigby, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters, World Health Organization, WHO, British, GSK, for Disease Control, Prevention, University of Oxford Locations: Cameroon, Africa, Ghana, Kenya

☆ Emma Stone says the sex scenes in 'Poor Things' are necessary: 'I'm not a person that just wants to be naked all the time'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Emma Stone believes the sex in "Poor Things" is needed because it's part of her character's journey. The Yorgos Lanthimos movie follows Bella Baxter, a young woman resurrected by a scientist. AdvertisementEmma Stone is defending the sex and nudity in her new movie "Poor Things." "So much of this was about being true to Bella's experience," Stone said in an interview that aired on Tuesday. Emma Stone as Bella Baxter in "Poor Things."

Persons: Emma Stone, Bella Baxter, —, Yorgos Lanthimos, Stone, Bella, Duncan Wedderburn, Mark Ruffalo, Duncan, Ita O'Brien, O'Brien, Alicia Rodis Organizations: Service, BBC, Searchlight, HBO

Ohio State is hiring former Houston Texans and Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien as its offensive coordinator, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday night. ESPN first reported Ohio State was hiring O'Brien. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day has been Ohio State's primary play-caller since being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach in 2019 to replace Urban Meyer. Brian Hartline was offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes last year, and will remain on staff as wide receivers coach. O'Brien returned to college after being fired by the Texans, joining Nick Saban's staff at Alabama as offensive coordinator for two years.

Persons: Bill O'Brien, O'Brien, Ryan Day, Urban Meyer, Brian Hartline, Kyle McCord, Devin Brown, Deshaun Watson, Joe Paterno, Jerry Sandusky, Nick Saban's, Bryce Young, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Will Howard, TreVeyon Henderson Organizations: Houston Texans, Penn State, Associated Press, ESPN, Buckeyes, Ohio, Urban, NFL, Ohio State, Missouri, Texans, Alabama, Heisman, New England Patriots, Patriots, Kansas State, AP Locations: Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Artificial intelligence is easily the biggest buzzword for world leaders and corporate bosses diving into big ideas at the World Economic Forum’s glitzy annual meeting in Davos. In a sign of ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s skyrocketing profile, CEO Sam Altman is making his Davos debut to rock star crowds, with his benefactor, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, hot on his heels. Illustrating AI’s geopolitical importance like few other technologies before it, the word was on the lips of world leaders from China to France. Here's a look at the buzz:OPENAI OPENING BIG AT DAVOSPolitical Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe leadership drama at the AI world's much-ballyhooed chatbot maker followed Altman and Nadella to the swanky Swiss snows. China, one of the world’s centers of AI development, wants to “step up communication and cooperation with all parties” on improving global AI governance, Li said.

Persons: OpenAI’s, Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, Altman, Nadella, “, OpenAI, Klaus Schwab quizzed, Li Qiang, ”, Li, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Google's Bard, he's, can’t, Julie Sweet, Arvind Krishna, Yann LeCun, LeCun, ____ Chan, Matt O'Brien Organizations: Davos, DAVOS, Bloomberg, Microsoft, ”, European, EU, Accenture, AP Locations: DAVOS, Switzerland, Davos, China, France, Swiss, percolated, afterparties, Europe, Britain, Valley, London, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ Russia Calls Ukraine Peace Meetings 'Pointless', Says Plan Can't Succeed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday that it was increasingly apparent to the world that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's plan to resolve the nearly two-year war had no hope of succeeding and dismissed meetings devoted to it as "pointless and harmful". The fourth in a series of meetings bringing together officials from several dozen countries - but not Russia - was held this week in Davos. "All such meetings ... including the Davos gathering and those to follow it, are pointless and harmful for settling the Ukrainian crisis." Russia is pointedly not invited to the meetings centred on Zelenskiy's peace plan, which calls for withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine, recognition of its 1991 post-Soviet borders and a mechanism to bring Moscow to account. The Swiss government agreed after the latest gathering on Zelenskiy's peace plan to host a global peace summit on Ukraine at Zelenskiy's request.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Andriy Yermak, Dmitry Peskov, Ron Popeski, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, Economic, Kyiv, Staff, Davos Locations: Russia, Davos, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Swiss

☆ Top diplomats meet in Davos on Ukraine 'peace formula'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania's President (not in picture) in Vilnius, Lithuania, on January 10, 2024. Ukraine pushed ahead with its peace formula to end nearly two years of war with Russia with a meeting of national security advisers from around the world in Davos on Sunday. Switzerland, which hosted the NSA representatives, said the Ukraine peace talks aimed to finalise principles "for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine" at the level of national security advisers. The role of the Global South in Ukraine's peace formula talks has come into focus in Davos. It is unclear, however, if countries in the Global South agree with that as a peace formula.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Andriy Yermak, Penny Pritzker, James O'Brien, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Nuhu Ribadu, Yermak Organizations: Lithuania's, Sunday, Economic, U.S, State, Eurasian Affairs, National, NSA Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Davos, Switzerland, Africa, Latin America, East, Asia, Swiss

☆ Bill Belichick is parting ways with the New England Patriots
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Bill Belichick is stepping aside as coach of the New England Patriots. AdvertisementSix-time NFL champion Bill Belichick agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots, ending his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league's Super Bowl era. Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo won a Super Bowl ring playing under Belichick and has interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies since becoming a New England assistant in 2019. Related storiesThe six Super Bowl wins tie Belichick with pre-merger mentors Halas and Curly Lambeau for the most NFL championships. Meanwhile Brady won his seventh Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that same season.

Persons: Bill Belichick, Belichick, Nick Saban, —, Robert Kraft, Kraft, of Famers Don Shula, George Halas, Tom Brady, It's, Jerod Mayo, Mayo, Mike Vrabel, Josh McDaniels, McDaniels, Brian, he'd, Saban, Belichick's, Steve, Halas, Curly Lambeau, Bill Parcells, Brady, haven't, Cam Newton, Mac Jones, Matt Patricia, Jones, Bill O'Brien, Bailey Zappe, didn't, Nick Caserio, Donald Trump Organizations: New England Patriots, Service, Gillette, of Famers, Belichick, Shula, Patriots, NFL, Super, AFC, Cleveland Browns, of Famer, Tennessee Titans, Raiders, Las, Super Bowl, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, U.S, Capitol Locations: Cleveland, New England, Las Vegas

☆ Oldest mosquito fossil comes with a bloodsucking surprise
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Dany Azar/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are killed annually by malaria and other diseases spread through the bite of mosquitoes, insects that date back to the age of dinosaurs. To their surprise, the male mosquitoes possessed elongated piercing-sucking mouthparts seen now only in females. Some flying insects - tsetse flies, for instance - have hematophagous males. "In all hematophagous insects, we believe that hematophagy was a shift from plant liquid sucking to bloodsucking," Azar said. The researchers said while these are the oldest fossils, mosquitoes probably originated millions of years earlier.

Persons: Dany Azar, Handout, " Azar, Azar, André Nel, hematophagy, Nel, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Chinese Academy of Sciences ' Nanjing Institute of Geology, Lebanese University, National Museum of, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Hammana, Paris

Israel largely captured the northern half of Gaza in November, and since a week-long truce collapsed on Friday they have swiftly pushed deep into the southern half. The Israeli military said the central road out of Khan Younis to the north "constitutes a battlefield" and was now shut. Desperate Gazans in Khan Younis packed their belongings and headed towards Rafah. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington expected Israel to avoid attacking areas identified as "no-strike" zones in Gaza. Israel accuses Hamas of putting civilians in danger by operating from civilian areas, including in tunnels which can only be destroyed by large bombs.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Stephane Dujarric, Khan Younis, Antonio Guterres, Philippe Lazzarini, Lazzarini, Israel, Gazans, Jake Sullivan, Mohammed Salem, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Maggie Fick, Andrew Mills, Humeyra Pamuk, Stephen Coates, Rosalba O'Brien, Lincoln Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, United Nations, Islamic, State Department, U.S . National, Street, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Israel, Palestinian, Israel's, Gaza, Khan, Khan Younis GAZA, United States, Gaza's, Rafah, Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Beirut, Doha

☆ Released Israeli hostages ask Red Cross to visit remaining captives
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In an Oct. 7 cross-border attack, Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and seized 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. While the deal was brokered by Qatar, the U.S., and Egypt, the handover of hostages and Palestinian detainees was facilitated by the Red Cross. The released hostages said in their letter that they had endured "harsh conditions" while being held and asked the Red Cross to help secure the immediate release of those still in captivity. They also asked the Red Cross to make visits to verify the health status of the captives, and provide medical assistance and proof of life which they said was urgent. The Red Cross has not commented on the letter, but it has previously called for agreements to allow its teams to check on hostages and deliver medication.

Persons: Abu Mustafa, Emily Rose, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, International Committee, Cross, Thomson Locations: Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Qatar, U.S, Egypt

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