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☆ Many Trump associates faced prison. Unlike Cohen, many got pardons
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Now Christie, like Cohen, is a former Trump associate trying to take the former president down. Cohen is rare in the universe of Trump associates since he both turned on Trump and went to prison. Many of the other Trump aides and associates who faced jail eventually got pardons or clemency and still support the former president. Trump’s pardon helped Bannon avoid prosecution in the border wall scheme, but Bannon may yet go to prison. Trump issued the Flynn pardon shortly after losing the 2020 presidential election.

Persons: Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Charles Kushner, Kushner, –, Chris Christie, Christie, Jared Kushner, Trump’s, Cohen, Trump, Manafort, Paul Manafort, Manafort –, He’s, Bannon, Steve Bannon, Pardoning Bannon, Navarro, Peter Navarro, he’s, Stone, Flynn, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Rikers Trump, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Jonathan Karl, Cohen’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, New, New Jersey Gov, US, Manafort, Republican, Convention, Trump White House, Department of Justice, ABC News Locations: New York City, New Jersey, Mexico, Russia

☆ Top Republican donors fund group doxxing pro-Palestinian college students
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The contributors listed on the tax return include billionaire Republican megadonor Jeff Yass, who Accuracy in Media said gave it $1 million. The family foundation of shipping supply magnate Richard Uihlein is also identified on the tax return, which says the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation gave $10,000. According to its tax return, Accuracy in Media said it received $15,000 from the Coors brewing family's charitable foundation. But AIM president Adam Guillette told CNBC Yass had been misidentified, and he did not give to the organization. Nonprofit groups are not required to release their donors' names publicly, but they are required to report to the IRS the names of donors who gave $5,000 or more.

Persons: Claudine Gay, Pat Greenhouse, Jeff Yass, Richard Uihlein, Ed Uihlein, Milstein, Adam Milstein, Adolph Coors, Peter H, Janine, John Harvard, Joseph Prezioso, Adam Guillette, Guillette, Phil Headley, Uihlein, Israel, Ben Curtis Organizations: Harvard, Harvard University, Boston Globe, CNBC, Media, Foundation, Milstein Family Foundation, Internal Revenue, Coors, Adolph Coors Foundation, Molson Coors, Susquehanna International Group, Pro, Harvard University in, Afp, Getty, IRS, CNBC Yass, JBS, Company, AIM, Nonprofit, Independent Women's, South, IWF, Amazon, Project Veritas, Harvard College Locations: Yass, Uihlein, Harvard University in Cambridge , Massachusetts, South Carolina, Israel, Gaza, Harvard University in Cambridge

☆ Meet the doomsayers waiting for the economy to crash
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"The one thing that our economy is going to be guaranteed is a wartime economy," Daniel told Business Insider in an interview. Interest in ultra-bearish takes on the market or the economy is on the up based on raw search data. Google searches for "stock market crash" have jumped 17% over the last quarter, while searches for "economic crash" have surged 15%, according to search analytics firm Glimpse. In both communities, users are sounding the alarm on all sorts of apocalyptic scenarios for the economy, with some predicting a stock market crash, housing market crash, or a total collapse of the US financial system. "Others may not be as lucky and could be constrained by them, and that could color their outlooks for the stock market and the economy."

Persons: —, Daniel, subreddit, Freddie Smith, Smith, aren't, Jonathan Rose, he's, Rose, there's, that's, Richard Sylla Organizations: Service, Genesis Gold, US, Northwestern Mutual, New York University Locations: Washington ,, Reddit, Florida

☆ Could your buy now, pay later loans affect your credit score? Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But there's one place they're notable absent: your credit report. Earlier this year, Apple became the first major BNPL provider to start reporting all user account information to a credit reporting agency. Providers including AfterPay, Affirm and Klarna already report some loans to the credit bureaus and experts say more are likely to follow, paving the way for a consumer's BNPL history to factor into their credit history and ultimately their credit score. (One of the main aspects of a credit score comes down to your history of paying bills on time.) When BNPL credit reporting could sting

Persons: Klarna, Liz Pagel, BNPL, Wells, Tim Quinlan, Ethan Dornhelm, TransUnion's, Silvio Tavares, Tavares, Pagel Organizations: Apple, Adobe Analytics, CNBC, Finance Locations: TransUnion, Wells Fargo

☆ The US can do one big thing to weaken the dollar and put pressure on China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US could use a simple tool to strategically weaken the US dollar for economic gains. A reduction in the federal deficit would help tame inflation and weaken the US dollar. AdvertisementThat's why a weakening US dollar is music to the ears of American corporations, trade partners, and policymakers. That agreement devalued the US dollar, stabilized trade with Japan, and helped reduce the US trade deficit. A balanced Federal budget would help them achieve that scenario without putting the economy at risk.

Persons: —, It's, isn't, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Swiss, America's, China, Accord Locations: Europe, China, Japan, Asia

☆ 4 flight attendants smuggled millions in drug money out of the US using the crewmember lane at JFK, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Using this status, they could access a special security lane at John F. Kennedy International Airport without undergoing typical passenger screening procedures. Advertisement"Flight attendants are ideal for smuggling bulk cash" for this reason, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent wrote in the indictments. Related storiesThe pair believed the money was the proceeds of narcotics trafficking and needed to be transported, according to the indictment. AdvertisementHe said the investigation "exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airline security industry" and has "illuminated methods that narcotics traffickers are utilizing."

Persons: —, — Charlie Hernandez, Sarah Valerio Pujols, Emmanuel Torres, Jarol Fabio, John F, Damian Williams, Hernandez, Pujols, Torres, Fabio, HSI, Ivan J, Arvelo Organizations: Service, Business, US, Office, of, Transportation Security Administration, Kennedy, Homeland Security Investigations, Pujols, Customs, Border, JFK, Delta Airlines, NBC News, Delta Locations: New York, Dominican Republic, Southern, of New York

Thankfully, there are still a few avenues for how to get Billy Joel tickets for his 2024 concert tour and remaining MSG shows. We've got you covered if you're looking for how to buy tickets to Billy Joel's 2024 concert tour. Here's our breakdown of the "Billy Joel in Concert" 2024 tour schedule, purchasing details, and original and resale ticket prices. Billy Joel 2024 tour scheduleBilly Joel's 2024 concert tour is well underway, with only a few more chances to see him play at Madison Square Garden before his residency concludes. How to buy tickets for Billy Joel's 2024 concert tourYou can currently buy standard original tickets for Billy Joel's 2024 concerts through Ticketmaster.

Persons: Billy Joel, We've, Billy Joel's, Joel, you'll, Sting's, Sting, Billy Joel hasn't, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Louis, Chris Isaak Organizations: Business, New, Madison, Garden, year's, Ticketmaster, MSG, Sting, Cardiff Locations: Madison, New York City, United States, Las Vegas , Nevada, Vienna, Chicago, Denver, Cleveland, St, Louis, Inglewood, San Antonio, Las Vegas, York City, NY, Seattle, WA, Cardiff, Wales, CA, Antonio, Denver ,, Cardiff , Wales

☆ Cicadas 2024: What to expect from the 2024 periodical cicada emergence and how to prepare
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The insects will infiltrate a much bigger geographical area than similar occurrences in most years because they’re part of the dual emergence of two particular periodical cicada broods. Although the full-scale emergence isn’t underway yet, experts have some guidance on how to prepare for cicada season. A periodical cicada that has just shed its outer skeleton crawls among holes dug by emerging cicada nymphs on May 20, 2021, in Takoma Park, Maryland. A young tree in Takoma Park, Maryland, is draped in netting in May 2021 to protect its small branches from being damaged by periodical cicadas laying their eggs in them. It’s not clear why periodical cicadas evolved to emerge every 13 or 17 years.

Persons: Louis —, Chip Somodevilla, “, ”, Paula Shrewsbury, ” Shrewsbury, John Lill, sapling, Lill, Jason Whitman, Shrewsbury, They’re Organizations: CNN, Naturalists, Southern, University of Maryland, North, George Washington University, US Food and Drug Administration Locations: Chicago, Nashville, St, Northern Illinois, Takoma Park , Maryland, North America, United States

☆ A woman is trying to free her fiancé from prison after 49 years behind bars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Thomas Lake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

According to a trial transcript, two friends of Durrett also testified they’d heard Ezra make similar statements. Durrett didn’t implicate Ezra until months after the crime — and after he, Durrett, had been charged with the murder. And although she has been “madly in love” before, Christine said she’d never felt such pure love as she does with Ezra. But the older man said the younger man couldn’t love her because he didn’t even love himself. A few days later he told Christine about another man who needed her help.

Persons: Alexa, ”, “, Christine, Christine Roess, Smokey Robinson, Van Morrison, he’d, Ezra, Morris Weitz, Thomas Durrett, Durrett, they’d, didn’t, ” Durrett, Ezra Bozeman’s, ” Christine Roess, she’d, ” Christine, Ezra Bozeman, Christine Roess Ezra, Dana Kelly, Kelly, Teddy Pendergrass, Edwin Hawkins, Christine Roess “ Alexa, I’ve, Team Free Ezra —, —, Josh Shapiro, I’ll, Yusef Organizations: CNN, Fortune, Laurel Highlands, Team Free, Department of Corrections, Savage Locations: Philadelphia, Bozeman, Pittsburgh, Laurel Highlands, Laurel, couldn’t

☆ My teenage daughter and I went on vacation just the two of us. It helped us better connect.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Amy Bizzarri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWhen I reflect on my teenage years, I remember the peer pressure, the pimples, and the sting of social awkwardness. Now, as a parent to a teenage girl, I often worry she feels the same way. I wonder if she feels like we can't connect and that I couldn't possibly relate to what she's going through. Before the trip, I asked my daughter what she thinks is appropriate phone usage while on a family vacation and we set guidelines together. It helped us better connect as mother and daughter.

Persons: —, she's, Here's, Hollywood Roosevelt Organizations: Service, Business, Sony Pictures Studios, Grauman, Hollywood, Hollywood Museum, Universal Studios Hollywood, Sony Pictures Locations: Los Angeles, Tom Sawyer's

☆ Opinion: As Trump trial opens, attorneys have to make deft first moves
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Editor’s Note: Norman Eisen is a CNN legal analyst and editor of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.” He served as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the first impeachment and trial of Trump. CNN —I will be joining the line Monday morning to witness opening statements in the first-ever criminal trial of a former American president. As a trial lawyer, I always would rather the jury hear about any problems with witnesses from me first, together with the solution. If the DA wants to build a bridge for the jury into what Trump was thinking, Blanche wants to preemptively destroy it. But before that I’ll be back to you with an evaluation of how both sides did for the next installment of my trial diary.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Trump, CNN —, Norm Eisen, Donald Trump –, Juan Merchan, Alvin Bragg’s, Matthew Colangelo, Susan Hoffinger, Joshua Steinglass, it’s, It’s, –, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker –, Todd Blanche, he’s, Blanche, Cohen, Daniels, I’ll Organizations: CNN, Norm Eisen Journalists, Justice Department, New York, American Media, National Enquirer Locations: American, Manhattan

☆ Middle East Crisis Senior Israeli Military Official Offers to Resign After Oct. 7 Intelligence Failures
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Mr. Netanyahu said in a social media post that his government would “act by all means” against any such move. The sanctions, if imposed, would not hold up the military aid that was just approved in Congress. The Israeli military disciplined three of the unit’s commanders after the investigation. Human rights organizations have long accused the Israeli military justice system of whitewashing wrongdoing and the military of acting with impunity. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the six months of war, according to Gazan health officials.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu, Axios, Netzah Yehuda, Leahy, Yehuda, Omar Abdelmajed Assad, “, Assad’s, Biden, Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant, Antony J, Blinken, Jacob J, Lew, Gallant, Mick Mulroy, ”, ” Natan Odenheimer, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: West Bank, Biden, Netzah, Jewish, Israel, Pentagon, State Locations: States, Gaza, Israel, Israel’s, Iran, U.S, United States

☆ Opinion: I’ve been a criminal attorney for decades. Here’s what I think about the case against Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Joey Jackson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Editor’s Note: Joey Jackson is a criminal defense attorney and a legal analyst for CNN and HLN. Prosecutors say they were no such thing, but were rather reimbursement to Cohen for a $130,000 payment he made on Trump’s behalf to former adult actress Stormy Daniels. Trump has said that prosecutors have “no case” against him. Expect prosecutors to talk about that freely, as they did during jury selection. Team Trump could say that he is completely innocent and the state’s case is built upon a pack of lies with no factual basis.

Persons: Joey Jackson, Alvin L, Bragg, Donald J, Joey Jackson Jeremy Freeman, CNN Trump, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Trump, Prosecutors, ”, John Edwards, Edwards, he’s, —, they’ve Organizations: CNN, Trump, Prosecutors, Democratic Locations: Manhattan, New York, Independence

☆ I'm the parent of an only child and people can be judgmental. They don't know what we went through to have her.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Laura Amoriello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Stuck in the extended position on the leg machine, I couldn't believe small talk at the gym could go so awry. When she went to speak to the doctor, my body knew: it was over. The doctor told me the egg was not in the uterus. We have an only child for a reasonIt seemed almost quaint to decide whether to have another child after the grief of losing two pregnancies. AdvertisementIn a perfect world, I would have told the gym lady, "With all due respect, it's none of your business."

Persons: I've, We'd, Let's, Olivia, —, doesn't, There's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: San Antonio

☆ Cicadas 2024: What to expect from the Brood XIII and Brood XIX emergence of cicadas
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The 13-year group, known as Brood XIX, or the Great Southern Brood, is the largest periodical cicada brood, stretching across the southeastern United States. The Northern Illinois Brood, or Brood XIII, emerges every 17 years. Periodical cicadas are smaller and mostly black, with bright red eyes and orange-tinged wings and legs. Billions of cicadas are expected this spring as two different broods — Broods XIX and XIII — emerge simultaneously. However, predictions of a cicadapocalypse — in which Brood XIII and Brood XIX show up at the same place at the same time — are probably an exaggeration.

Persons: hasn’t, Thomas Jefferson, —, “, ”, Jonathan Larson, don’t, XIII —, Jason Bergman, ” Larson, We’re, Chris Simon, XIII haven't, Chip Somodevilla, Larson, Cheney Orr, ” Simon, Kate Golembiewski Organizations: CNN, Southern, Northern Illinois, University of Kentucky, Midwest, University of Connecticut, Reuters Locations: United States, Indianapolis, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky , Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina , Georgia, Alabama , Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Columbia , Maryland, America, Chicago

☆ How not to cry while cutting onions, according to the experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Everyone claims to have the best trick to cut back on tears when cutting onions, but CNN talked to experts to see which ones are worth their salt. There are several effective ways to reduce stinging in the eyes and cut back on tears when chopping onions, experts say. Protect your eyes with gogglesYes, they look dorky, but goggles are a foolproof method, Thiel said. “I’ve noticed that wearing contacts (instead of glasses) makes a big difference when I’m cutting an onion,” Thiel said. The enzyme that converts amino acids in onions to cause the stinging feeling works well at a specific pH range, he said.

Persons: Abbey Thiel, “ It’s, ” Thiel, Bryan Quoc Le, Thiel, ”, “ I’ve, “, Le, ” Le Organizations: CNN, Food, Pacific Lutheran University Locations: Parkland , Washington

Red carpet photographs are able to convey indelible moments of celebrity magnetism and spectacular glamour. But no step-and-repeat can bottle the crackling anticipation, the eruption of victory, the sting of loss or the quiet exchange between individuals amid a sea of superstars like these candid shots from the audience at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony. Inside the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, our photographer captured moments viewers may not have caught otherwise. These images offer a peek at the year’s most celebrated actors and filmmakers interacting with one other, and not the camera, as we usually see them. Whether that be Florence Pugh looking intently at Christopher Nolan as she rests her hand gently on his arm; Messi the Border collie sitting poised and unfazed as a man, who is lying on the floor, claps faux paws in his face; Colman Domingo and Danielle Brooks leaning over a seated Da’Vine Joy Randolph with wowed expressions; or Lily Gladstone, Emma Stone and Ramy Youssef standing inches apart, gripping each other, their faces nearly touching.

Persons: Florence Pugh, Christopher Nolan, Messi, Colman Domingo, Danielle Brooks, Joy Randolph, Lily Gladstone, Emma Stone, Ramy Youssef Organizations: Theater Locations: Los Angeles

☆ McDonald’s prices are up, so lower-income consumers are eating at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“It’s a challenging consumer environment,” said Ian Borden, McDonald’s CFO, noting that many consumers are trying to manage inflation, higher interest rates and dwindling savings. That includes their spending on food at restaurants such as McDonald’s, fast-food restaurants that historically prize value and affordability as core business values. According to February inflation data in the Consumer Price Index, food at home prices grew 1% year over year, while restaurant prices rose 4.5% over the last year. But the current surge in restaurant prices has flipped the script from a year ago, when it was cheaper to dine out. At that time, restaurant prices were up 8.4% and grocery prices were up 10.2% year over year.

Persons: “, ”, Ian Borden, ” Borden, Borden, McDonald’s, Dollar Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumers, Company, Dollar General, Walmart Locations: New York, United States

☆ Foot Locker's post-earnings plunge could be setting up a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The company's long-term goal, as part of Foot Locker's "Lace Up" turnaround plan, is to achieve $350 million in operating cost savings. Digital sales now represent nearly 20% of Foot Locker's total sales, Dillon said on the call. Still, the bright spots were not enough to block out the sting from Foot Locker's guidance. By store, in North America, same-store-sales were up 4.8% at Foot Locker and 6.9% at Kids Foot Locker. A Foot Locker store near the Times Square neighborhood of New York, US, on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

Persons: Locker, —, Mary Dillon, Dillon, we've, Foot, FactSet, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Bing Guan Organizations: Nike, Revenue, SG, Wall Street, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: North America, —, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Pacific, New York

☆ Want an A-lister like Rihanna to perform at your wedding? Here's how much it could cost you.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Advertisement"If you can afford it, why wouldn't you fly in your favorite artist to perform your favorite songs rather than simply listening to covers?" He had Beyoncé perform at a celebration for his daughter's 2018 wedding, and the next year had The Chainsmokers and Chris Martin at his elder son's wedding festivities. "Generally speaking, you will never beat the thrill of having a major artist perform at your wedding. That means stars may be more amenable to playing at a wedding or corporate party than previously.

Persons: Rihanna, Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant, —, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump, India's, Mukesh Ambani, hasn't, Stuart McNeill, Craig David, Elton John, Nile Rodgers, Lady Gaga, Flo Rida, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Kardashian, Chris Martin, it's, Ambani, Beyoncé, Alison Laesser, Alison Bryan, Keck, Usher, you'd, McNeill Organizations: Service, Business, Knightsbridge, Davos, Keck, Spotify, Apple, Forbes Locations: Gujarat, India, Baden, Chicago, New York, Dubai

Our experts answer readers' insurance questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess insurance products). This week, a reader paid half the cost of their brother's funeral out of their own pocket. He had life insurance, with the money going to my mother and my two adult kids. Try saying something like, "I didn't have the chance to prepare for my brother's funeral expenses financially. You weren't wrong to ask, and you certainly weren't wrong to assume your brother's life insurance would cover the funeral costs.

Persons: —, didn't, Dear, what's, I'm, weren't, isn't Organizations: Business, Service Locations: Florida

☆ How Rick Beato struck YouTube gold with his ‘Everything Music’ channel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

I first heard about Beato after stumbling onto his YouTube channel. During the pandemic, for example, many music fans migrated to the internet to watch various forms of music because live music was off-limits. “I still feel at 60 the same way I did when I was 14,” he said recently in a YouTube video. His face lights up when he talks about his family on his YouTube channel. “My YouTube Channel was a way to honor my parents and leave something for my kids.

Persons: Rick Beato, Instagram, Beato, ”, Pat Metheny, Sting, Jimi Hendrix, he’s, it’s, “, you’re, He’s, Rick, —, Mike Rowe, Jobs, ” Rowe, I’ve, I’m, “ Woo, Bach, Brad Mehldau, Keith Williams, Williams, ” Beato, Dick Cavett, Keith Jarrett, Jarrett, John Coltrane, Beato regaled Jarrett, awestruck, ” Jarrett, Steve Gadd, Chuck Mangione, Oscar Peterson, Music —, Nina, Dylan, Lennon, Layla, Eric Clapton, polychords, Taylor Swift’s “, Paul Allen, Everybody, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Rick Beato's, Melissa Golden, John Blake Organizations: CNN, YouTube, Costco, Twitter, Facebook, Berklee College of Music, Eastman School of Music, Ithaca College, New, Conservatory, Music, Ithaca, Microsoft, Intelligence Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, London, Berlin, New Jersey, Fairport, Rochester , New York, Italian, New York, Ithaca, Atlanta, Silicon Valley

☆ Hard Lessons Make for Hard Choices 2 Years Into the War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Steven Erlanger | David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has the capacity to keep Kyiv supplied with the weapons, technology and intelligence to fend off a takeover by Moscow. But Washington is now perceived around Europe to have lost its will. That is the essence of the conundrum facing Ukraine and the NATO allies on the dismal second anniversary of the war. The sanctions that were supposed to bring Russia’s economy to its knees — “the ruble almost is immediately reduced to rubble,” President Biden declared in Warsaw in March 2022 — have lost their sting. Income from oil exports is greater than it was before the invasion.

Persons: Russia’s, Biden, — Organizations: Kyiv, NATO Locations: Ukraine, United States, Moscow, Washington, Europe, Warsaw, Russian

☆ US agents fooled a yakuza boss into giving them weapons-grade plutonium he thought would be sold to Iran: court docs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | Haven Orecchio-Egresitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US officials say they arrested a Japanese crime boss trying to sell nuclear fuel. The documents said Takeshi Ebisawa thought the fuel would go to an Iranian nuclear-weapons program. AdvertisementUS agents say they tricked a Japanese crime lord into handing over nuclear fuel to them in an audacious sting operation. They said the DEA fooled Ebisawa into believing he was selling them a shipment of plutonium and uranium to help Iran to build nuclear weapons. AdvertisementThey say Ebisawa was invited onto a video call with somebody posing as an Iranian general as part of the ruse.

Persons: Takeshi Ebisawa, —, Ebisawa, Damian Williams, Somphop Singhasiri Organizations: Service, Business, Department of Justice Locations: Iranian, Iran, Brooklyn, Myanmar, Thailand, Burma

☆ ‘Dune: Part Two’ review: Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya headline a sequel that feels as if it’s walking in sand
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —If David Lynch’s 1984 “Dune” movie raced through the book, the second half of director Denis Villeneuve’s version at times moves as if it’s walking in sand, figuratively as well as literally. The technical wizardry, which earned the 2021 film six Oscars, certainly lends itself to big-screen consumption, and Warner Bros. (like CNN, a unit of Warner Bros. Other new players include Christopher Walken and Florence Pugh as the emperor and his daughter, Léa Seydoux, and briefly, Anya Taylor-Joy. Warner Bros. PicturesWith composer Hans Zimmer’s muscular score (and the overall sound) working overtime, Villeneuve is at his best when depicting the fascistic power of the Harkonnens and their sprawling military machine. “Dune” premieres March 1 in US theaters.

Persons: David Lynch’s, Denis Villeneuve’s, Frank Herbert’s, Paul Atreides, Mahdi, – Paul, Stellan, Rabban, Dave Bautista, Austin Butler, Elvis, Sting, Butler, Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Anya Taylor, Joy, Léa, Hans Zimmer’s, Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, ” There’s, Lady Jessica, Rebecca Ferguson, “, “ Wonka, callow, Javier Bardem, Dune’s ”, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Zendaya, Warner Bros, Villeneuve Locations: Hollywood’s

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