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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Advocates are calling out New Mexico’s Democratic governor for disbanding a task force that was charged with crafting recommendations to address the high rate of killings and missing person cases in Native American communities. Political Cartoons View All 1253 Images“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community,” Haaland said when the recommendations were announced. Still, advocates in New Mexico say more work needs to be done to address jurisdictional challenges among law enforcement agencies and to build support for families. The organization wants state officials to outline a clear plan for advancing New Mexico’s response to the problem. Aaron Lopez, a spokesperson for the agency, said the task force's work remains foundational for the state in determining the best strategies for curbing violence against Native Americans.

Persons: Michelle Lujan Grisham’s, Deb Haaland, ” Haaland, “, Aaron Lopez, James Mountain Organizations: —, New Mexico’s Democratic, Coalition, Gov, U.S . Justice, Justice Department, New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, The New, General's, Navajo, Indian Affairs Department Locations: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M, U.S, Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico, Alaska, The, The New Mexico, Arizona, Utah

☆ Water beads: Lawmaker calls for national ban on children’s toy due to health risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Government officials, public health professionals and concerned parents are calling on Congress to ban water beads, a children’s toy that they say poses significant health risks. Water beads are tiny balls made out of extremely absorbent polymer material. Pall also emphasized that water beads have been responsible for 4,500 emergency room visits nationwide since 2017, and that these incidents have grown more frequent. Most recently, the Commission and company Buffalo Games recalled about 52,000 Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits in September. Hoehn-Saric said that, beyond the Commission’s recalls, the CPSC is investigating taking further action regarding potentially harmful chemicals in water beads.

Persons: Frank Pallone Jr, ”, Pallone, they’ve, “, Alex Hoehn, Saric, Harpreet Pall, Pall, ” William Wallace, Pallone’s, Ashley Haugen, ” Haugen Organizations: CNN — Government, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Target, Walmart, Amazon, CNN, Hackensack Meridian Health, Children’s, Consumer, Senate, Republicans, Commission, Buffalo Games Locations: New Jersey, Hackensack

☆ Campi Flegrei: Next door to Vesuvius, another Italian volcano is waking up
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Barbie Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

The most dangerous volcanic threat in Italy right now is one you’ve probably never heard of: Campi Flegrei, or the Phlegraean Fields. The last major eruption of Campi Flegrei was in 1538, and it created a new mountain in the bay. So far in 2023 Campi Flegrei has recorded more than 3,450 earthquakes, 1,118 of which occurred in August alone. There are two hypotheses as to what could be causing the current increase in seismic activity at Campi Flegrei, according to De Natale. Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei area.

Persons: Rome CNN —, Campi, Flegrei, Campi Flegrei, Carlo Doglioni, ”, ” Doglioni, What’s, Giuseppe De Natale, De Natale, ” De Natale, Ivan Romano, Benedetto De Vivo, ” De Vivo, Rosa Russo Iervolino, Luigi di Magistris, of Serapis, bradyseism, Christopher Kilburn, “, Stefano Carlino, ” Carlino, Salvatore Laporta, Natale, ” Natale Organizations: Rome CNN, National, of Geophysics, University of Naples, CNN, Geological Survey, Environment, volcanology, University College London Locations: Rome, Italy, Naples, Capri, Ischia, Pisciarelli, Vesuvius, Yellowstone, Long, California, Toba, Indonesia, Roman, Pozzuoli, Campi, L’Aquila, vulcanology

In a series of reports on countries wanting to join the bloc's ranks, the EU’s executive branch recommended that war-ravaged Ukraine should be permitted to open membership talks, once it’s addressed some shortfalls. “Moldova is the subject of constant destabilization efforts against its democracy,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. For 20 years, the prospect of EU membership has been a powerful driver of pro-democratic reform in aspiring countries. The commission said that it should only start membership talks after more progress is made. The country started its EU membership talks in 2005, but they have ground to a halt in recent years.

Persons: it’s, “, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, von der Leyen, Turkey's, backsliding Organizations: —, European Union, European Commission, Georgia, EU, Kosovo –, Kyiv “ Locations: BRUSSELS, — Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Brussels, Hungary, Slovakia, Balkans, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnian, Turkey, Europe

☆ Here’s why Social Security and Medicare advocates fear Mike Johnson’s speakership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Here’s what’s not up for debate: Social Security and Medicare are in financial trouble, and the nation’s debt is on an unsustainable trajectory. Spending on Social Security and Medicare is projected to soar as the nation ages, putting more pressure on Congress to address the programs. Advocates’ concernsAdvocates, however, argue that lawmakers can hide behind the debt commission and avoid taking individual blame for agreeing to benefit cuts. “The new speaker has made it clear he’s not a friend to seniors, Social Security or Medicare,” said Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. “So if you want to keep Social Security solid, you have to do all that stuff and a lot more.”This story has been updated with additional information.

Persons: Mike Johnson, shivers, Johnson, Here’s what’s, ”, That’ll, it’s, Max Richtman, “, Joe Biden, Biden, Charles Blahous, ” Blahous Organizations: CNN, Social Security, Republican, Medicare, Congressional, Office, American Enterprise Institute, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, George Mason University, Committee, RSC

☆ King Charles’ state visit strategy is changing Britain’s global brand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Max Foster | Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Mombasa, Kenya CNN —A small moment during King Charles’ state visit to Kenya may have defined it. An elderly war veteran was waiting in a wheelchair for his turn to meet the British monarch at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Kariokor cemetery in Nairobi on Wednesday morning. Because anyone back then who had supported the British colonial power became a target for the Mau Mau resistance who were on their own campaign to seize their country back. Some of the 6,000 Africans rounded up in Nairobi by police searching for Mau Mau rebels in April 1953. King Charles’ moves are a progression from the way his mother operated.

Persons: King Charles ’, Graves, Samwel Nthigai Mburia, Charles ’, Elizabeth II, Mburia, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Charles, Samir Hussein, “, ” Mburia, Evelyn Kimathi, Dedan Kimathi, she’d, Evelyn, ” he’d, Mau, Queen Elizabeth II Organizations: CNN’s Royal, Kenya CNN, Commonwealth, Guinness World Records, Royals, “, Uhuru Gardens, Keystone, Hulton, European Union Locations: Mombasa, Kenya, British, Kariokor, Nairobi, Cpl, Ethiopia, Egypt, Myanmar, United Kingdom, ”, Mau Mau, Germany, France

☆ Amazon Executives Discussed How Its Policies Hurt Sellers, FTC Suit Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Dana Mattioli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Since Lina Khan became Federal Trade Commission chair in 2021, she’s taken on Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon, and that’s made her a lightning rod for controversy. WSJ breaks down the battles she’s picked and why she’s willing to lose. Photo illustration: Xingpei ShenAmazon .com executives discussed how its pricing policies had a “punitive aspect” on sellers, according to internal documents quoted in newly unredacted portions of the Federal Trade Commission’s monopoly lawsuit against the company. The commission also said Amazon knowingly raised the number of irrelevant ads on its website to boost profits and alleged that executives intentionally deleted internal messages to thwart the commission’s investigation of the company.

Persons: Lina Khan, she’s, that’s, Shen Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Meta, Microsoft, Federal Trade

☆ Court Sends Stock-Buyback Rule Back to SEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Paul Kiernan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Securities and Exchange Commission has recently been pushing an aggressive regulatory agenda. Photo: Ariel Zambelich/The Wall Street JournalWASHINGTON—A conservative appeals court dealt a setback to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s plan to give investors more information about stock buybacks after business groups challenged the rule. Responding to a May lawsuit by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and two Texas-based business groups, a three-judge panel on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the SEC’s new requirements for share repurchases were “arbitrary and capricious.” The judges agreed with the groups’ assertion that the SEC didn’t adequately explain the rule’s costs and benefits.

Persons: Ariel Zambelich Organizations: Securities, Exchange Commission, Street Journal WASHINGTON, Exchange, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Fifth Circuit, Appeals, SEC Locations: Texas

☆ These redistricting fights could determine which party controls the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Before the court action, Alabama – which is 27% Black – had only one Black-majority congressional district out of seven seats. The case is expected to land before the all-Republican state Supreme Court, where DeSantis appointees hold most seats. A separate federal case in Georgia challenges the congressional map on constitutional grounds and is slated to go to trial next month. UtahThe state Supreme Court, in a case it heard in July, is considering whether it even has the authority to weigh in on map-drawing decisions by the GOP-controlled state legislature. Advocacy groups and a handful of voters are challenging a congressional map that further carved up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County between four decidedly Republican districts.

Persons: “, ”, David Wasserman, Amy Walter, Wasserman, Adam Kincaid, Kincaid, it’s, Nick Seabrook, –, John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Ron DeSantis, Al Lawson, Steve Jones, Jones preliminarily, Andy Barr, Amy McGrath, Barr, Kareem Crayton, Brennan, Gabe Vasquez –, Chris Cooper, Jeff Jackson, Wiley Nickel, Kathy Manning, Don Davis, Valerie Foushee –, Davis, Roy Cooper, Nancy Mace, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Republicans, The, Republican, Black, National Republican Redistricting Trust, University of North, House, US, Gov, Black Democrat, Georgia Republicans, – Democratic, Congressional, Republican –, GOP, Louisiana Republicans, Appeals, Brennan Center for Justice . New, Brennan Center for Justice . New Mexico Republicans, New, New York Republicans, North Carolina, Democrats, Western Carolina University, Foushee, North, Democratic Gov, Supreme, Republican Rep, House GOP Locations: North Carolina, New York , Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, New York, University of North Florida, America, Louisiana, Florida, Black, North Florida, Atlanta, Peach, . Kentucky, Kentucky, Frankfort, Democratic, Brennan Center for Justice . New Mexico, New Mexico, Mexico, Empire, “, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, state’s, Carolina, Charleston, Utah, Salt Lake County, Salt, Texas, Tennessee

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal regulators have approved the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in the Pacific Northwest over the protest of environmental groups and top officials in West Coast states. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave it the green light in a vote on Thursday. The pipeline belongs to TC Energy of Calgary, Canada — the same company behind the now-abandoned Keystone XL crude oil pipeline. The agency’s final environmental assessment revised that number downward by roughly half in calculations contested by environmental groups. In a joint letter to the federal agency the day before its vote, Democratic U.S.

Persons: Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Washington, ”, Audrey Leonard, Leonard, fracking Organizations: —, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, TC Energy, Keystone, Federal Energy Regulatory, Democratic U.S, Senators, Columbia Locations: PORTLAND, Pacific Northwest, West Coast, Idaho , Washington and Oregon, Calgary, Canada, Kootenai County , Idaho, Walla Walla County , Washington, Sherman County , Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Washington , Oregon, California , Oregon

☆ EU asks Meta for more details on efforts to stop Israel-Hamas war misinformation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said it had sent the formal request for information to Meta (META) Thursday. The commission also asked TikTok for more information on the steps it had taken to prevent the spread of “terrorist and violent content and hate speech,” it said, but without referring to the Israel-Hamas war. But the European Commission has made it clear it needs more information. Both companies also have until November 8 to detail how they intend to protect the “integrity of elections” on their platforms, the commission said. It has not announced parallel investigations into Meta or TikTok.

Persons: TikTok, Thierry Breton, Meta, Hideki Yoshihara Organizations: London CNN, European, Facebook, European Commission, Meta, EU, Services, DSA, Twitter Locations: Israel

☆ Yellen Says U.S. Will Fight to Ensure Robust Economic Aid for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

She said the Biden administration was committed to supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes" and would fight to ensure a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Congress enacted "robust" and uninterrupted assistance for the war-torn country. Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko told Reuters on Saturday that Ukraine is finding it harder to secure financial support. Yellen lauded the European Union's plans for a 50 billion euro Ukraine Facility to provide sustained economic and reconstruction support, saying that economic support should have maximum concessionality, meaning low or zero interest rates. WINDFALL PROCEEDS TO AID UKRAINETo ensure additional sources of revenue, Yellen reiterated that she supported "harnessing windfall proceeds from Russian sovereign assets immobilized in particular clearing houses and using the funds to support Ukraine." U.S.-EU collaboration was also crucial regarding economic ties with China, Yellen said, including targeted actions to safeguard national security interests such as restrictions on certain outbound investments in sensitive technologies.

Persons: Andrea Shalal LUXEMBOURG, Janet Yellen, Biden, Yellen, Jim Jordan, Donald Trump, Brussels's, Serhiy Marchenko, Andrea Shalal, Christina Fincher Organizations: . Treasury, Ukraine, U.S, Congress, Hamas, Sky News, Kyiv, Ohio, Republican, EU, Ukrainian, Reuters, UKRAINE Locations: United States, Europe, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, America, Hungary, U.S, Russia, China, Washington

☆ Next EU chief will need cash more than trade wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

What she sidestepped was how to find more cash and convince member states to pay up. Von der Leyen, or her successor, will have to figure out how to pay for enlargement. Von der Leyen tapped into trade frustrations with her pledge to investigate and possibly punish Chinese subsidies for car and battery makers. During her first term, von der Leyen succeeded in connecting the EU with bond investors via the 800 billion euro NextGenerationEU borrowing programme. A second term will require even more finesse to convince EU member states to raise money not just from markets, but from themselves.

Persons: Ursula von der, European Union won’t, der, von der Leyen’s, Greens –, der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Thierry Breton, Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg, Von der, Carlo Bastasin, Von der Leyen, von der Leyen, sceptics, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel’s, Jens Stoltenberg’s, Francesco Guerrera, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, European Union, Bank, EU, European Commission, Socialists, Greens, NATO, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Brookings, handouts, Organisation for Economic Co, Transport, Environment, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Moldova, Western, Brussels, Germany, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Turkey, Georgia, Spain, Poland, United States, China, Ireland, Netherlands, EU, EU’s, Hungary

That same year, Amazon unsuccessfully sought to get her recused from agency probes against the company, arguing she was too biased. The District of Columbia also tried to sue Amazon on antitrust grounds before, but its lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge last year. Experts say the FTC faces a few hurdles in its own case, including convincing the court which slice of the market Amazon is allegedly monopolizing. In a blog post responding to the lawsuit, Amazon General Counsel David Zapolsky accused the FTC of attempting to “gerrymander alleged market” to portray Amazon as something it’s not. The FTC also alleges Amazon keeps sellers dependent on services that have allowed it to collect billions in revenue every year.

Persons: Lina Khan, hasn’t, Khan, Joe Biden, ” Khan, David Zapolsky, “ gerrymander, ”, Neil Saunders, Maurice Stucke, Stucke, Sean Sullivan, they’re Organizations: Federal Trade, Activision Blizzard, FTC, Microsoft, Yale Law, Amazon, of, Walmart, GlobalData, Google, Department of Justice, University of Tennessee, University of Iowa College of Law Locations: California, of Columbia, U.S, monopolization

☆ Chevron Australia workers to restart strikes next week after deal talks falter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Union workers are set to go on strike at Chevron’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Australia next Thursday, in renewed action that could disrupt about 7% of global LNG supply. The proposed deals had contained improvements in pay and other conditions, leading unions to call off strikes at the time. Fresh strikes could again threaten to disrupt production at Chevron’s hugely significant Wheatstone and Gorgon facilities, located near the coast of Western Australia. In separate statements shared with CNN, Chevron and the alliance said they had worked to draft agreements based on recommendations from Australia’s Fair Work Commission. Chevron added that it remained “committed” to a deal and hoped to resolve the last outstanding issues.

Persons: “, ”, Felix Booth, — Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Union, Chevron, Offshore Alliance, CNN, Chevron Australia Locations: Hong Kong, Australia, Western Australia, reneging, ”

Queries about what the move entailed and how extensive its impact on Palestinian aid would be weren't immediately answered. According to the bloc, it has provided humanitarian aid to help meet Palestinians’ basic needs since 2000 through the European Commission’s humanitarian aid department (ECHO) and the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since 2000, ECHO has provided 700 million euros of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The EU’s most populous member, Germany, and its neighbor Austria, also said they were suspending development aid for the Palestinian areas. Germany isn't suspending the humanitarian aid it provides separately via international nongovernmental organizations and the U.N., the Foreign Ministry said.

Persons: “, ”, Oliver Varhelyi, Israel, Varhelyi, weren't, ” Varhelyi, Svenja Schulze, Schulze, Israel “, Germany isn't, Christian Wagner, Alexander Schallenberg, ___ Samuel Petrequin, Geir Moulson Organizations: European Union, EU, European Commission, Palestine Liberation Organization, Humanitarian Affairs, West Bank, Ministry, Palestinian Authority, UNRWA, Development, Foreign Ministry Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Germany, Austria, Oslo, Muscat , Oman, Gaza, Berlin, Austrian, Brussels

☆ Chevron workers at key LNG facilities in Australia vote to restart strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Union members have voted to restart industrial action at Chevron’s liquefied natural gas facilities in Australia, threatening renewed strikes that could disrupt about 7% of global LNG supply. In the past days, the Offshore Alliance had been working with Chevron (CVX) to finalize the agreements, the alliance said in the statement. In Europe, the threat of strikes in Australia had caused a series of spikes in natural gas prices since August. “Persistently high and volatile gas prices will erode European competitiveness, [which is] a longer-term risk,” the credit rating agency wrote. “Gas prices will remain higher in Europe than elsewhere, making energy-intensive sectors like chemicals less competitive.”

Persons: Brad Gandy, “, Wheatstone, Daniel Toleman, Wood Mackenzie, “ It’s, ”, Alex Froley, Russia —, Moody’s Organizations: London CNN — Union, Offshore Alliance, Chevron, Commission, Enterprise, CNN, Fair, ” Workers Locations: Australia, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Norway, LNG, United States, Qatar, Moscow

☆ Second earthquake in a week strikes south of Naples
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Barbie Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Rome CNN —A magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck south of Naples, Italy, on Tuesday, just days after the volcanic region saw its strongest earthquake in 40 years, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Campi Flegrei, also known as the Phlegraean fields, is a volcanic area that encompasses multiple ancient volcanoes that date back 39,000 years. Campi Flegrei experiences a seismic phenomenon known as bradyseism, defined by cycles of uplift and gradual lowering of the ground. The last major eruption of Campi Flegrei was in 1538, which created a new mountain in the bay. So far in 2023, Campi Flegrei has logged 2,868 earthquakes — 1,118 in August alone.

Persons: Campi Flegrei, Flegrei, Campi, Carlo Doglioni, ”, INGV Organizations: Rome CNN, National, of Geophysics Locations: Rome, Naples, Italy, Ischia, Capri

☆ Liverpool VAR: The ‘monumental error’ that put English soccer in crisis mode
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesAt the heart of this is a failure in communication by match officials and a failure to put pragmatism before protocol. There is an acceptance that mistakes will happen, and there have been plenty already this season in the Premier League. The release of the audio of the conversations between the match officials would likely influence what Liverpool does next. In rugby union, fans can listen to discussions between match officials on crucial decisions, making the process clear and open for all. The immediate consequence has been that VAR officials England and Cook have not been selected to feature in this weekend’s Premier League games.

Persons: wasn’t, ”, Mohamed Salah’s, Luis Díaz, Salah, Darren England, Simon Hooper, Hooper, –, Dan Cook, PGMOL, Curtis Jones, Marc Atkins, VARs –, Jurgen Klopp, “, Alan Shearer, Visionhaus, Neil Atkinson, ’, CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, Klopp, Joel Matip, Justin Setterfield, Stephen Taylor Heath, they’ve, ” Taylor Heath, Taylor Heath, Henry Winter, Howard Webb, PGMOL’s, Díaz, Peter Cziborra, Webb, Cook Organizations: CNN, English Premier League, Liverpool, Tottenham, Premier League, Manchester, Spurs, England, Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Sunday, Fulham, Chelsea, Daily Telegraph, BBC, Anfield, JWM Solicitors, CNN Sport, “, Times, Major League Soccer, PA Media, Sky Sports, International Football Association Board Locations: Liverpool, Colombian, England

According to preliminary results released by Slovakia’s Statistical Office at 6 a.m. local time, Robert Fico’s populist SMER party won 23.3% of the vote. While in opposition, Fico became a close ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Victor Orban, especially when it came to criticism of the European Union. Fico previously served as Slovakia’s prime minister for more than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2018. Kuciak reported on corruption among the country’s elite, including people directly connected to Fico and his party SMER. In the Czech Republic, which used to form one country with Slovakia, 71% of people blame Russia for the war.

Persons: Robert Fico’s, Fico, upend, Peter Pellegrini, Hlas, ”, Pellegrini, Slovakia “, “, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Victor Orban, Orban, Jan Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová, Kuciak, Věra Jourová, GlobSec, – Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, NATO, Slovakia’s, SMER, Progressive, Ukrainian, Ukraine, European Union, Russia, Hungary’s, European, Justice, Kyiv Locations: Slovakia, Ukraine, Progressive Slovakia, Slovak, Kyiv, Brussels, Russia, Bratislava, Baltic, Czech Republic, States

☆ Slovakia's election could turn Ukraine's stanchest supporter into a Kremlin ally
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The frontrunner, former Prime Minister Robert Fico, has made no secret of his affinity for the Kremlin during the election campaign. Fico’s left-wing populist SMER party has been leading for months, although opinion polls published earlier this week showed SMER neck-and-neck with the Progressive Slovakia (PS) party. “The approach to Russian war in Ukraine is a divisive line (in the election),” she said. It is also far from certain that the leader of the biggest party will become the prime minister. While in opposition, Fico has also become a close ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Victor Orban, especially when it comes to criticism of the European Union.

Persons: Robert Fico, Slovakia’s, Zuzana Čaputová, Fico’s, Michal Šimečka, Věra Jourová, ”, Peter Pellegrini, Pellegrini, Fico, Ján Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová, Russia ”, OLaNO, Kyiv’s, “, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Victor Orban, Orban Organizations: CNN, European Union, Kremlin, NATO, Progressive, EU, Kyiv, West ., “, Coalition, Republika, Russia, ”, and Solidarity Party, Independent, Ukraine Fico, Hungary’s, Justice Locations: Ukraine, NATO, American, Progressive Slovakia, Slovakia, “ Slovakia, Russia, Russian, Brussels

☆ Five takeaways from the FTC's 172-page antitrust lawsuit against Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Washington CNN —An antitrust lawsuit from 17 states and the Federal Trade Commission this week against Amazon represents the US government’s biggest regulatory challenge yet against the e-commerce juggernaut. The landmark case targets Amazon’s retail platform, alleging that it’s harmed shoppers and sellers alike on a massive scale. Here are five of the biggest highlights and takeaways from the plaintiffs’ 172-page lawsuit. Just this month, the FTC added three Amazon officials to a separate consumer protection case dealing with Amazon Prime. Instead, the plaintiffs have to show that Amazon is part of a well-defined geographic and economic market that it dominates.

Persons: Lina Khan, Amazon, David Zapolsky, ” Khan, Khan, Douglas Farrar, ” Farrar, superstores, ” What’s, Jeff Bezos, “, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, US, Walmart, Target, eBay, Amazon Music, Bloomberg News, CNN, Amazon Prime, FTC Locations: Seattle, United States

☆ Judge assigned to US antitrust case against Amazon recuses himself
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The judge assigned to the US Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com has recused himself from the case, according to a court document filed on Wednesday. Senior Judge John Coughenour was assigned to the case on Tuesday, when the antitrust lawsuit was filed against Amazon in federal court in Seattle. Coughenour, an appointee of Republican former President Ronald Reagan, did not cite a reason for dropping off the case in the court filing. The case has been re-assigned to US District Judge John Chun based on rotation, according to the document. Amazon is facing a series of similar but smaller private consumer cases filed in recent years that are pending in the same US federal court with Judge Ricardo Martinez and the FTC has argued its case should be assigned to the same judge to avoid duplication or conflict.

Persons: John Coughenour, Ronald Reagan, John Chun, Chun, Joe Biden, Judge Ricardo Martinez Organizations: US Federal Trade, Amazon.com, Amazon, Republican, US, Washington, Court of Appeals, FTC Locations: Seattle

☆ Lina Khan vs. Amazon - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Cory Doctorow | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Federal Trade Commission’s chair, Lina Khan, has brought her long-awaited, audacious case against Amazon, signaling the Biden administration’s determination to restore an approach to competition law that has been in decline since the Carter administration. But Amazon is precisely the kind of company that Congress had in mind in enacting America’s many antitrust laws. The robber barons of that era hijacked the economy and politics, but they also faced the constraints of empires grounded in physical goods. Today’s tech barons at huge platforms like Amazon, Google and Meta can deploy anticompetitive, deceptive and unfair tactics with the agility and speed of a digital system. And Amazon is the apex predator of our platform era.

Persons: Lina Khan, Carter Organizations: Federal Trade, Google, Amazon

Kevin Hodges, a partner at law firm Williams & Connolly, was the first member of Amazon's defense team identified in a court document in the case. Amazon General Counsel David Zapolsky, a 24-year veteran of the company's legal department, can turn to a stable of top outside law firms that already represent it. Thomas Barnett, co-chair of the firm’s antitrust practice and a former senior Justice Department official, was involved in the effort. A Covington spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on whether the firm is defending Amazon in the FTC antitrust case. Amazon has also turned to U.S. law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to navigate government scrutiny.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Kevin Hodges, Williams, Connolly, Hodges, John Schmidtlein, David Zapolsky, Lina Khan, Thomas Barnett, Covington, Paul, Weiss, Garrison, Paul Weiss, Andrew Goudsward, Mike Scarcella, David Bario, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Amazon Logistics, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Trade, Amazon.com, Amazon, Williams, U.S . Justice, Microsoft, BP, Big Tech, Alphabet's, Google, FTC, Burling, Department, D.C, Covington, Thomson Locations: Chicago . Illinois, U.S, WASHINGTON, Washington, Mexico, Covington, Rifkind, Wharton

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