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CNN —Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was freed from Russia late last year after being wrongfully detained, was harassed Saturday by a man described as a social media “provocateur” at a Dallas airport. A source familiar with the incident told CNN that around 9:30 am CT, Griner was at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport traveling with Phoenix Mercury teammates on their way to a game. CNN has reached out to local law enforcement and the DFW airport about the incident. “We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players,” the statement reads. We demand better.”Unlike in the NBA, WNBA teams are not permitted to use charter planes for travel, CNN previously reported.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Griner, Viktor Bout –, ”, Biden, “, Brianna Turner, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, ” Colas Organizations: CNN, WNBA, Dallas Fort Worth International, Phoenix Mercury, DFW, “, Twitter, NBA Locations: Russia, Dallas, of, America

☆ Fighting escalates in Sudan's capital after ceasefire expires
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ceasefire between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had started on May 22 and expired on Saturday evening. Beyond the capital, deadly fighting has also broken out in Darfur in the far west of Sudan, already grappling with long-running unrest and huge humanitarian challenges. There was no comment from the army, which has been using war planes to target the RSF spread out across the capital. Fighting in the capital has led to widespread damage and looting, a collapse in health services, power and water cuts, and dwindling food supplies. Hemedti's whereabouts are unclear though he appeared in video footage with his troops in central Khartoum earlier in the fighting.

Persons: Sara Hassan, Witnesses, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Khalid Abdelaziz, Ahmed Tolba, Hatem Maher, Omar Abdel, Aidan Lewis, Frances Kerry, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rapid Support Forces, Darfur Bar Association, Thomson Locations: Khartoum North, Sudan, Khartoum, Darfur, Saudi, U.S, DUBAI, Sudan's, North Darfur, Saudi Arabia, United States, Bahri, Omdurman, Jeddah, Dubai, Razek, Cairo

☆ Khartoum region under bombardment as Sudan's rivals talk
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KHARTOUM, May 14 (Reuters) - Shelling and air strikes pounded parts of Sudan's capital on Sunday with little sign that warring military factions were ready to back down in a conflict that has killed hundreds despite ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia. Shelling struck Bahri and air strikes hit Omdurman early on Sunday, according to a Reuters reporter and witnesses. "There were heavy air strikes near us in Saliha that shook the doors of the house," said Salma Yassin, a teacher in Omdurman. The fighting has killed hundreds of people, sent 200,000 into neighbouring countries as refugees, displaced another 700,000 inside Sudan triggering a humanitarian catastrophe and threatens to draw in outside powers and destabilise the region. The house became unsafe and we don't have enough money to travel out of Khartoum.

☆ Victoria's Secret is bringing back its infamous fashion show as a movie, 4 years after canning it after criticism of its lack of diversity and inclusion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Victoria's Secret is releasing a movie in the fall. The movie is a reimagining of the brand's famous fashion show, which was axed in 2019. The show was canceled after it came under increasing criticism for its lack of diversity and inclusion. Victoria's Secret has been discussing the return of its fashion show for some time. "This film is the ultimate expression of the Victoria's Secret brand transformation," Raúl Martinez, creative director at Victoria's Secret, said in a statement to the press.

☆ Arab League set to readmit Syria as relations with Assad normalise
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, May 7 (Reuters) - The Arab League is expected to readmit Syria at a meeting of foreign ministers on Sunday, a spokesperson for the League said, consolidating a regional push to normalise ties with President Bashar al-Assad. The decision was expected to be adopted at a closed meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League's headquarters in Cairo, said Gamal Roshdy, spokesman for the Arab League's secretary general. Syria's membership of the Arab League was suspended in 2011 after a bloody crackdown on street protests against Assad that led to a devastating civil war, and many Arab states pulled their envoys out of Damascus. Recently, several Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have re-engaged with Syria in high-level visits and meetings, though some, including Qatar, remain opposed to full normalisation without a political solution to Syria's conflict. Arab states have been trying to reach consensus on whether to invite Assad to an Arab League summit on May 19 in Riyadh to discuss the pace of normalising ties and on what terms Syria could be allowed back.

[1/6] A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters, to discuss the Sudan and Syrian situations, in Cairo, Egypt May 7, 2023. It was taken at a closed meeting of foreign ministers at the Arab League's headquarters in Cairo, said Gamal Roshdy, spokesman for the Arab League's secretary general. While Arab states including the United Arab Emirates have pushed for Syria and Assad's rehabilitation, others, including Qatar, have remained opposed to full normalisation without a political solution to the Syrian conflict. Syria's membership of the Arab League was suspended in 2011 after a crackdown on street protests against Assad that led to a devastating civil war, and many Arab states pulled their envoys out of Damascus. Recently, Arab states have been trying to reach consensus on whether to invite Assad to an Arab League summit on May 19 in Riyadh to discuss the pace of normalising ties and on what terms Syria could be allowed back.

The bodies were found at a property in Henryetta, a city about 90 miles from Oklahoma City, authorities said. The bodies were found “not in the residence, but just on the property,” Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Gerald Davidson told reporters Monday. “Our hearts are hurting, and we have considered what would be best for our students in the coming days,” the school system said. The school system added that classes would not be canceled and that students would have access to mental health professionals and faith-based clergy. “Please continue to keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.”A vigil for the “families affected by this tragedy” was scheduled for Monday evening, the school system said on Facebook.

☆ Texas: 5 people fatally shot, including 8-year-old, suspect at large, San Jacinto County Sheriff says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Raja Razek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

CNN —A suspect is at large after five people, including an 8-year-old, were fatally shot in a Cleveland, Texas, home, according to San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers. Authorities found the victims Friday night after receiving a harassment report about 11:30 p.m. local time, the sheriff told CNN affiliate KHOU. Multiple people were shot around the residence, Capers said. There were 10 people inside the home at the time of the shooting, according to the sheriff. The victims range in age from 8 years old to about 40, Capers told reporters early Saturday morning.

CNN —A woman delivering for DoorDash in Florida was attacked and kidnapped before being rescued by her family members, police say, and a male suspect has been arrested. Family members then called police, and officers were dispatched to the hotel. The victim’s family, who had been tracking her phone, arrived at her location and rescued her from the car, authorities said. Joseph Killins has been charged with armed kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, armed sexual battery and aggravated battery with a weapon, authorities said. Killins was then arrested late Friday night and charged with the DoorDash delivery driver’s kidnapping and battery, among others.

☆ Disney employee accused of taking videos up park guests’ dresses and skirts for years is fired and arrested
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Raja Razek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Then-employee Jorge Diaz Vega, 26, allegedly told authorities in an interview that he had “been taking videos up the dresses/skirts of unknown females in the Disney World theme parks for approximately six years,” according to the affidavit. Diaz Vega, who worked at the lightsaber store, told authorities he had what he estimated to be over 500 such videos on his phone and showed “multiple examples of the videos” to detectives, according to the affidavit. “The videos were of multiple females who all appeared to not know they were being video recorded,” the affidavit states. She “was not aware at the time the incident took place, and she was not told of the identity of the male,” authorities say in the affidavit. CNN has attempted to reach Diaz Vega directly for comment.

CNN —The Texas Senate passed a bill Thursday requiring each public school classroom to display a copy of the Ten Commandments, a move that drew backlash from civil liberty advocates who say lawmakers should not dictate what religious materials students are exposed to. The legislation, which passed the state Senate on a 17-12 vote, will now head to the state’s House of Representatives. “This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year,” the bill reads. Senate Bill 1396 also passed with a 17-12 vote. “Parents should be able to decide what religious materials their child should learn, not the (Texas legislature),” the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said in a statement.

☆ Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens are married
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Raja Razek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —USA Gymnastics star and world champion Simone Biles and NFL player Jonathan Owens are married. Both shared images on social media Saturday announcing their marriage, and Biles now includes “Owens” in her full name on Instagram and Twitter. “I do,” Biles wrote on social media Saturday. “Officially Owens.”“My person, forever,” Owens wrote in a post of his own. Owens told Texas Monthly in 2021 that the Covid-19 shutdown created time for them to get to know each other better.

The regular army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) issued statements accusing each other of failing to respect the ceasefire. "We have not received any indications here that there's been a halt in the fighting," United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a news briefing in New York. The fighting has triggered what the United Nations has described as a humanitarian catastrophe, including the near collapse of the health system. Fighting also raged in the west of the country, the United Nations said. [1/7] Satellite image shows a closer view of a burning building at the Merowe Airbase, Sudan, April 18, 2023.

CNN —The Arkansas House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would require social media companies to verify their users’ ages and confirm that minors have permission from a parent or guardian before opening an account. The bill, dubbed the Social Media Safety Act, was passed by an overwhelming vote of 82-10, according to a tweet from the House account, and adds to the swell of efforts by state and federal lawmakers to regulate social media platforms and protect children online. If the Arkansas bill is signed into law, social media companies would be required to use third-party vendors to verify Arkansas residents’ ages – regardless of whether or not they are minors. For users younger than 18, the platform must obtain the consent of their parent or guardian in order to open an account for them. Similar bills have also been proposed in Connecticut and Ohio, where the legislation would require a guardian’s consent for minors younger than 16 to have accounts.

Sheikh Mohammed, who became president and Abu Dhabi ruler last year after running the U.S.-allied OPEC oil producer for years, named his brother Sheikh Mansour as UAE vice president, alongside Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This appeared to further centralise power in Abu Dhabi, which is the political capital by virtue of its immense oil wealth, of the UAE federation of seven emirates. Abu Dhabi has held the presidency since the founding of the UAE federation by Sheikh Mohammed's father in 1971. Sheikh Mohammed, known as MbZ, had been grooming his son in positions of authority in security - including intelligence - economy and governance, analysts say. Earlier this month, Sheikh Tahnoun was named chair of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, among the world's largest sovereign wealth funds.

☆ Aramco affirms support for China's energy secrutiy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Saudi Aramco Base Oil Company JSC FollowMarch 26 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco (2223.SE) affirmed on Sunday its support for China's long-term energy security and development, the company's CEO Amin Nasser said in remarks made before a forum in Beijing. Nasser said that the company has partnerships and emission-reducing technologies with China to make lower carbon products. Reporting by Omar Abdel-Razek, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Iraq, OPEC stress need to coordinate to stabilise prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO, March 19 (Reuters) - Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais stressed the need to coordinate among oil-exporting nations to ensure prices do not fluctuate and impact both exporter and consumer countries, the Iraqi government said in a statement. Iraq is one of the founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Reporting by Omar Abdel-Razek; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Victoria's Secret is resurrecting its famous fashion show in 2023 after a 4-year hiatus and a total brand revamp
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Victoria's Secret is bringing back its famous runway show this year after a four-year hiatus. The lingerie retailer canceled the show in 2019 after criticism, scandal, and lagging sales. Victoria's Secret has previously said the show would eventually return, but never set a date. Victoria's Secret began airing an annual fashion show beginning in 1995. Consumer tastes had begun to change, shifting away from the push-up bras and sexpot style defined by Victoria's Secret and toward more comfortable bralettes and sports bras.

☆ Parade — the inclusive underwear brand beloved by Gen Z and self-styled as 'the internet's favorite' — is coming to Target
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Mary Hanbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Inclusive underwear brand Parade is launching at 400 Target stores this week. The brand is popular with younger consumers, but wants to grow its reach away from its Gen Z core. Self-described as the "Internet's favorite brand," Parade has built itself up around its community of Gen Z nano influencers, who promote and offer feedback on new items. "Our ambition is to be the leading underwear brand for all people," cofounder and CEO Téllez told Business of Fashion. Insider reached out to both Target and Parade for further comment, but did not immediately hear back.

☆ Egypt's Sisi seeks to tamp down media clash with Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Hatem Maher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia along with other energy-rich Gulf states has long provided crucial funding to Egypt, upping support after Sisi took power nearly a decade ago, and as an acute financial crisis took hold last year. "The mean, the scoundrels and the nouveau-riche have no right to insult their masters," he wrote, drawing on derogatory stereotypes and claims of historical superiority. Another well-known Saudi commentator, Ali Shihabi, later tweeted: "Egypt is a black hole that will never close unless the govt is able to make material structural reforms." Tawfik's article has been removed from Al Gomhuria's website and replaced by an editorial lauding Egyptian-Saudi relations as "historic and eternal". Additional reporting by Nadine Awadalla and Aziz El Yaakoubi, Writing by Aidan LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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