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☆ Opinion: What Britain’s first Asian prime minister, Rishi Sunak, meant to my family
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Opinion Sunder Katwala | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

He has a place in history books as the first British Asian prime minister — but now also as the prime minister to suffer one of the heaviest election defeats in Britain’s modern political history. “I would like to see him carry on as prime minister — but the country also needs a change of government,” Dad said. He became prime minister just seven years after becoming an MP — shorter than any other recent occupant of Downing Street. Again, on becoming prime minister, Sunak personally had a much better public reputation than his Conservative Party. Diversity at the topSunak as a Hindu was the first ever British prime minister to practice a non-Christian faith.

Persons: Sunder Katwala, Read, Rishi Sunak’s, Sunder, Sunak, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss’s, Dad, ” Dad, “, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, Theresa May, Richard Pohle, dented Organizations: British, CNN, Conservative Party, Sunak, Britain, Brexit, National Service of, Reuters, Commonwealth, Reform, Downing, Twitter, Wales Locations: Downing, Britain, India, Covid, London, France, British, Scotland

☆ Euro rises after France's first-round vote, yen struggles
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The euro rose on Monday after the first round of France's snap election put the far-right in pole position, though by a smaller margin than projected, while a downgrade to Japan's first-quarter growth figures knocked the yen lower. "They (RN) have actually performed a little bit worse than what was expected," said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The yen struggled to gain ground against a broadly weaker dollar, and was last 0.05% lower at 160.93 per dollar. That could lead to a cut to the Bank of Japan's growth forecasts in fresh quarterly projections due later this month and affect the timing of its next interest rate hike, analysts said. Elsewhere in Asia, the Chinese yuan - also a victim of stark interest rate differentials with the U.S. - was last 0.02% higher at 7.2981 per dollar in the offshore market.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Carol Kong, Michael Brown, CBA's Organizations: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Reserve, New Zealand, Bank of, U.S Locations: Japan, Asia

☆ CNN anchor: ‘As long as there are sharks in the ocean, I’ll be diving in’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Boris Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Yet, there are arguments that the potential problems caused by shark feeding tourism are outweighed by the benefits. When it comes to migratory patterns, the science is limited but points to shark feeding having a negligible effect on their movement. As long as there are sharks in the ocean, I’ll be diving in – hoping to cherish them in person. CNNOpponents of shark feeding will also point to several fatal accidents during shark dive tours, including one late last year. As long as there are sharks in the ocean, I’ll be diving in — hoping to cherish them in person.

Persons: Boris Sanchez, Anderson Cooper, you’re, I’m, it’s, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Central, Tiger, chum, Zoological Society, Saturn Locations: Washington , DC, Bahamas, bonito, –, Australia, —

☆ US employers want more part-time workers. Here’s what that means
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“So far, the labor market has adjusted slowly, and the unemployment rate has only edged up. The industries that were most likely to advertise part-time work as of May were beauty and wellness; personal care and home health; retail; food preparation and service; and sports, Indeed said. During the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009, part-time work rose sharply, according to research from the San Francisco Fed. “There was this rise in part-time work when the economy and the labor market were doing well coming out of the pandemic,” Culbertson told CNN. The US Labor Department releases June figures gauging the state of the labor market, including monthly job growth, wage gains and the unemployment rate.

Persons: Mary Daly, ” Daly, Daniel Culbertson, ” Culbertson, Alicia Wallace, Friday’s, Jerome Powell, John Williams Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, Washington CNN — Companies, Labor Department, Federal Reserve, San Francisco Fed, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of, CNN, Commerce Department, Commerce, P Global, Institute for Supply Management, European Central Bank, US Labor Department, Constellation Brands, Constellation Brands . New York Fed, US Commerce Department, New York Fed Locations: Washington, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, Constellation Brands .

☆ Rogue to Victim: What Australia Sees in Julian Assange
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, received a hero’s welcome even before he was set to arrive back in his home country of Australia on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a felony charge of violating the U.S. Australian politicians sprinted to publish statements supporting a plea deal that gained him his freedom. Kevin Rudd, the former prime minister who is now Australia’s ambassador to the United States, even joined him in the U.S. courtroom on the Pacific island of Saipan. That Mr. Assange’s case concluded in a distant outpost — the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a commonwealth tied to America through post-World War II imperialism — seemed fitting. He ended his standoff with the American government far from Washington, 14 years after he published classified military and diplomatic documents, revealing secret details about U.S. spycraft and the killing of civilians during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Persons: Julian Assange, Kevin Rudd, Assange’s Organizations: WikiLeaks, . Espionage, America, spycraft Locations: Australia, United States, U.S, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Washington, Iraq, Afghanistan

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday walked free after pleading guilty in a U.S. court in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific, to a felony charge for publishing U.S. military secrets. As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. is bound to withdraw its extradition request and recommended a sentence to time already served, with no additional fines issued. The WikiLeaks organization posted a statement on the X social media platform saying that Assange was due to fly to his native Australia. "Regardless of the views that people have about Mr. Assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. There's nothing to be gained by his continues incarceration, and we want him brought home to Australia.

Persons: Julian Assange, Assange, Barry Pollack, Chelsea Manning, Mr, Pollack, Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, London's, Stella Assange Organizations: Wednesday, U.S, U.S ., WikiLeaks, Bombardier Global Locations: U.S, Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan, Australia, Bangkok

☆ Fed officials are talking down the chance of rate cut this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —At the beginning of the year, Federal Reserve officials projected they would cut interest rates three times this year. The labor-force participation rate has leveled off after a post-Covid boom, and the US immigration policy rate may soon become more restrictive, limiting potential new labor market participants. “Reducing our policy rate too soon or too quickly could result in a rebound in inflation, requiring further future policy rate increases to return inflation to 2% over the longer run.”Investors weren’t happy to hear it. That’s why not taking preemptive action when it’s not necessary is so important.”Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee has also been particularly hawkish in his views. He also said rate hikes are “certainly not off the table.”Like Bowman and Kashkari, New York Fed President John Williams said rate hikes aren’t part of his baseline outlook.

Persons: Michelle Bowman, she’s, ” Bowman, Bowman, ”, Dow, Mary Daly, Daly, ” Daly, “ We’re, it’s, Austan Goolsbee, Goolsbee, Neel Kashkari, John Williams, he’s Organizations: London CNN —, Federal Reserve, Exchange, London ., Federal, Market, Nvidia, San Francisco Fed, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, Chicago Fed, Minneapolis, Kashkari , New York Fed, Commerce Department Locations: London, San Francisco, Kashkari , New

☆ Julian Assange Pleads Guilty to Espionage, Securing His Freedom
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a felony charge of violating the U.S. Espionage Act, securing his freedom under a plea deal that saw its final act play out in a remote U.S. courtroom in Saipan in the Western Pacific. He appeared in court wearing a black suit with his lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, and Kevin Rudd, the Australian ambassador to the United States. His family and lawyers documented his journey from London to Bangkok and on to Saipan, capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth. They posted photos and videos online from a chartered jet.

Persons: Julian Assange, Jennifer Robinson, Kevin Rudd, Mr, Assange, Stella Organizations: WikiLeaks, . Espionage Locations: Saipan, Western, Australian, United States, Australia, London, Bangkok, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S

☆ Assange Agrees to Plead Guilty in Exchange for Release, Ending Standoff With U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Glenn Thrush | Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, agreed to plead guilty on Monday to a single felony count of illegally obtaining and disclosing national security material in exchange for his release from a British prison, ending his long and bitter standoff with the United States. Mr. Assange, 52, was granted his request to appear before a federal judge at one of the more remote outposts of the federal judiciary, the courthouse in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, according to a brief court filing made public late Monday. It was a fitting final twist in the case against Mr. Assange, who doggedly opposed extradition to the U.S. mainland. The islands are a United States commonwealth in the middle of the Pacific Ocean — and much closer to Mr. Assange’s native Australia, where he is a citizen, than courts in the continental United States or Hawaii. Shortly after the deal was disclosed, WikiLeaks said that Mr. Assange had left London.

Persons: Julian Assange, Assange, doggedly, ” Matthew J, McKenzie Organizations: WikiLeaks, United, Australia “, Justice Locations: United States, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Britain, U.S, Assange’s, Australia, Hawaii, London

☆ Dollar steady ahead of inflation reading; yen teeters toward 160
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar was steady on Monday as traders looked ahead to fresh clues on the U.S. inflation path that will likely influence interest rates, while talk from Japanese authorities did little to temper the yen's decline back the round number of 160. The dollar was steady on Monday as traders looked ahead to fresh clues on the U.S. inflation path that will likely influence interest rates, while talk from Japanese authorities did little to temper the yen's decline back the round number of 160. The yen weakened to 159.94 per dollar in early trade on Monday, its lowest since April 29, when the yen touched a 34-year low of 160.245 leading to Japanese authorities spending some 9.8 trillion yen to support the currency. "The combination of slowing activity, a loosening labor market and slower inflation readings make us increasingly confident that the Fed will begin reducing policy rates in September," Citi said. The Australian dollar was last at $0.6640 and the New Zealand dollar was little changed at $0.6113.

Persons: Masato Kanda, Carol Kong, Emmanuel Macron, Christopher Wong Organizations: Bank of, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Reuters, Citi, Fed, National, New Zealand Locations: Japan, U.S

☆ Satellite imagery may provide missing puzzle piece in Easter Island saga
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Hundreds of monumental stone heads dot the coastline of the remote Pacific island of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island. Terry HuntThe rock gardens had covered up to 21.1 square kilometers (8.1 square miles) and could have sustained up to 17,000 people, previous research suggested. Archaeologists have identified the remains of rock gardens on which islanders would have grown sweet potatoes and other crops. “This finding was the result of integrating new remotely sensed data, data not available when we did our original study.” He wasn’t involved in the new research. In fact, when Europeans first make contact with Rapa Nui people, they only report seeing maybe 3,000 or 4,000 people and report that people were in good spirits,” Davis said.

Persons: Jared Diamond, ”, Dylan Davis, Davis, School’s Lamont, Terry Hunt, ” Davis, Rapa, ” Ladefoged, wasn’t, Christopher Stevenson, ” Stevenson, Carl Lipo, What’s Organizations: CNN, Columbia, Observatory, New Zealand’s University of Auckland, School of, Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University Locations: Rapa Nui, Rapa, Chile, Pitcairn, Washington

☆ The US job market is fiercely competitive and student debt is a huge problem. I'm glad I left for Australia.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

My parents, who still live in the US, always talked about how much we could save if I went to university in Australia. AdvertisementIn Australia, I've benefited from financial support from my parents and partner. I don't pay rent or utilities except for WiFi. I don't think my job outcome would have been as good if I were in the US. My parents plan on coming back to Australia when they retire, so I am very much looking forward to that.

Persons: —, Aolin Xu, I've, I, they're, Australia doesn't, Ernst & Young Organizations: Service, Business, University of New, UNSW, Australian, US, Ernst & Locations: Australia, Washington, Canada, America, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Bali, Malaysia, EY

☆ I left the US for Australia. Here are the differences I've spotted in the culture and job market.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementIn Australia, I've benefited from financial support from my parents and partner. I don't pay rent or utilities except for WiFi. AdvertisementI also think that this culture has allowed me to feel less pressure to go out and I've performed better academically. I don't think my job outcome would have been as good if I were in the US. My parents plan on coming back to Australia when they retire, so I am very much looking forward to that.

☆ Pacific Indigenous leaders have a new plan to protect whales. Treat them as people
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Jared Formanek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Along with the Māori of New Zealand and groups from the Cook Islands, Indigenous leaders from Tahiti, Tonga, Hawaii, and Easter Island signed the He Whakaputanga Moana treaty. In the coming months, she plans to engage with various countries throughout the Pacific to discuss whale personhood legislation. The Cook Islands office said it had “yet to receive a formal submission” from indigenous leaders on the declaration’s implementation. Māori King Tūheitia Pōtatau and Tou Travel Ariki, Cook Islands President of the House of Ariki, at the signing of the He Whakaputanga Moana declaration in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. This came after a global ban on commercial whaling was instituted by the International Whaling Commission in 1986.

Persons: Mere, “, Tūheitia Pōtatau, Josh Baker, ” March’s, ”, Takoko, Britain’s King Charles III, Moana, Māori, Michelle Bender, ” Bender, Carlos Duarte, Ralph Chami, Chami, Miguel Medina, ” Chami, Duarte, Emily Charry Tissier, Charry Tissier, ” Duarte Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Easter, Conservation, Fund, Nature, Conservation International Aotearoa, Ocean Initiative, New Zealand, Nations, New, Commonwealth, CNN, RNZ, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, ’ Office, International Whaling Commission, Ocean, King Abdullah University of Science, Technology, Bahia, Natural, Getty, “, International Monetary Fund, Initiative, United Nations Locations: Hong Kong, Rangitukia, New Zealand’s, Cook, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Hawaii, Moana, Rarotonga, Atlantic, New, Te Whānau, Pacific, Samoa, Whanganui, “, Zealand, , New Zealand, Wellington, Seattle, Japan, Washington ,, Bahia Malaga, Colombia, AFP

☆ How the USA’s shock cricket triumph reflects a global sporting and geopolitical transformation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

A national cricket team that most Americans didn’t even know they had beat one of the sport’s global powers Pakistan, for whom the game is a national obsession. “There is this pivot from global north to global south,” said Chadwick. The first ever international fixture was between the United States and Canada in 1844 in New York. The World Cup is being carried in the US on Willow TV, a streaming service that is also available on cable systems for an extra fee. The global game, soccer, has several times hubristically tried to conquer the US and it’s taken years to reach its current level with strong pro leagues the MLS and the NWSL.

Persons: didn’t, ”, Monank Patel, Corey Anderson, “ It’s, “, Peter Della Penna, Donald Trump, Narendra Modi, Simon Chadwick, “ You’ve, You’ve, It’s, Virat Kohli, Germain, LIV, Modi, Chadwick, Donald Bradman, Michael Jordan, Pakistan –, Saurabh, Milind Kumar, hubristically, it’s, Della Penna, you’re, ” Della Penna Organizations: CNN, team, Cricket, Pakistan, USA Cricket, New Zealand, Indian, , Indian Premier League, Major League Cricket, IPL, US, America, United Arab Emirates, Manchester City, Paris Saint, Formula One, Hindu, FIFA, Beijing, Bowlers, Down, England, Elite US, Willow, MLS, England’s Premier League, Manchester United, Arsenal, tailgates, Women’s National, TV, South Locations: Pakistan, United States, Caribbean, Texas, American, America, Long, , New York, India, Australia, Nassau County, Ahmedabad, Gulf, United Kingdom, Europe, East, South Asia, British, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zealand, England, North Carolina, Manchester, Qatar, Paris, Germain . Middle, Saudi Arabia, Los Angeles, There’s, Canada, New York, Sri Lankan, California, New Delhi, China, Belgium, Commonwealth

☆ Sitiveni Rabuka: Fiji Prime Minister wins bronze medal at the Oceania Athletics Championships
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka proved his days of sporting prowess aren’t yet behind him as he won a bronze medal in shot put at the Oceania Athletics Championships on Wednesday. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka/FacebookSporting success is nothing new to Rabuka. The politician represented Fiji in the decathlon at the 1974 Commonwealth Games and played rugby union for his country, according to Reuters. The Peoples Alliance party leader was elected Fiji’s Prime Minister in 2022, leading a successful coalition government. In 2018, during a break from politics, he managed the Pacific Islands rugby union team during its European tour.

Persons: Sitiveni Rabuka, ” Rabuka, Suluweti Organizations: CNN — Fiji, Oceania Athletics, Facebook, Games, Reuters, The Peoples Alliance, Pacific Islands rugby Locations: Suva, Fiji

☆ The D-Day landings, in pictures
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

With him were soldiers from the US Army's 1st Infantry Division, cold and soaked from the choppy waters. It is one of the most widely reproduced photos from the Normandy landings, which laid the foundation for the Allied defeat of Germany in World War II. This year marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history. There were many Allied casualties that day — around 4,440 Allied troops were confirmed dead, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, with more than 5,800 troops wounded or missing. "The coast of France this morning was certainly no photographer's party," he told Winship.

Persons: Robert F, Sargent, Higgins, Thomas Winship, Samuel Chase, Winship Organizations: US Coast Guard, US Army's 1st Infantry Division, Coast Guard Combat, Commission, Allies Locations: Normandy, France, Germany

☆ Moscow derides peace summit; Ukraine says using Western weapons to strike Russia could be a game changer
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has poured scorn on Ukraine's attempts to invite its former Soviet allies to a forthcoming peace summit in Switzerland, saying the invitation had been rejected by its neighbors. "Kyiv and its Western handlers actively sought to attract representatives from the countries of the global South and East. Russia jealously guards its influence over the CIS, which includes Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Western countries have tried to strengthen their relations with several member countries of CIS, much to Russia's disdain. Russia is sensitive over what it sees as Western encroachment on its own backyard, particularly as the CIS' membership has dwindled in recent years.

Persons: Ilham Aliyev, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Vladimir Putin, Emomali Rahmon, Alexander Lukashenko, Mikhail Galuzin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Galuzin, — Holly Ellyatt Organizations: Commonwealth of Independent States, Tass, CIS, Commonwealth, CNBC, Russian, Georgia Locations: Turkmenistan, Russian, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Soviet, Switzerland, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, CIS, Baltic States, Soviet Union, Moldova, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ What is D-Day? How the Normandy landings led to Germany’s defeat in World War II
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —June 6, 2024 marks 80 years since D-Day, the first day of the Normandy landings that laid the foundations for the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The Allied troops’ invasion was coordinated across air, land and sea, in what can be described as amphibious landings. On D-Day alone, around 4,440 Allied troops were confirmed dead, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), with more than 5,800 troops wounded or missing. Because Omaha Beach was the bloodiest landing beach, the US Army lost the most men in the amphibious landings. Within minutes of reaching Omaha Beach, 16 of these men were killed and four were wounded.

Persons: –, France –, ’, Adolf Hitler, “, ”, Bedford’s, Bedford, Hitler Organizations: CNN, Royal British Legion, Canadian, Cotentin Peninsular, Omaha Beach, Juno, Allied, Pas de, Allies, Commission, Omaha, US Army, Bedford, Foundation, US Department of Defense, Western Allies, US, German Nazi, Third Reich, Victory Locations: Normandy, Nazi Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Utah, Omaha, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, Poland, Europe, Fortitude, Pas de Calais, Cotentin, British, Gold, Pas, Germany, Bedford , Virginia, Omaha Beach, Paris, Nazi, German, Reims

☆ US has the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income nations. Norway has zero
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

And the rate of maternal deaths among Black women in the United States remains even higher, at nearly 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, the new report shows. Meanwhile, half of the high-income nations in the new report had fewer than 5 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and one country recorded zero maternal deaths: Norway. The three nations with the lowest maternal death rate were Norway with zero, Switzerland with a rate of 1 death per 100,000 live births and Sweden with about 3 deaths per 100,000 live births. The US maternal mortality rate fell from 32.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 to 22.3 per 100,000 in 2022, according to data from the CDC. “Maternal deaths are a preventable problem, and this problem can be solved.

Persons: ”, Munira Gunja, ” Gunja, “, Dr, Laurie Zephyrin, Dimes, —, –, Tochi, Michelle Owens, ” Owens, “ ACOG, Christopher Zahn, ” Zahn, Sanjay Gupta, Roe, Wade Organizations: CNN, Commonwealth Fund, International Program, Health, ”, US Centers for Disease Control, Organisation for Economic Co, CDC, World Health Organization, “, Commonwealth, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians, CNN Health Locations: United States, Norway, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Covid, U.S, United Kingdom, Long Island , New York, Jackson , Mississippi, States, Commonwealth

CNN —The UK ambassador to Mexico was quietly fired earlier this year after pointing a rifle at a local embassy employee, the Financial Times reported Friday. The incident was captured in a video shared on social media. When asked for details, the UK embassy in Mexico deferred CNN’s questions to the British foreign office. The UK government website indicates that Benjamin is no longer an envoy. Mexico - which holds presidential, national and local elections Sunday - faces rampant violent crime, with sky-high crime and homicide rates.

Persons: Jon Benjamin, Benjamin, “ Jon Benjamin Organizations: CNN, Financial Times, British Foreign, Commonwealth, Development Locations: Mexico, British, Durango, Sinaloa

☆ Dollar steady; ether fuels crypto rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Cryptocurrencies rallied, led by a surge in ether on growing anticipation of an impending approval of spot ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Against the yen , the dollar rose 0.07% to 156.37 in the early Asian session. However, the still-stark interest rate differentials between the U.S. and Japan maintained the appeal of the yen as a funding currency. Still, the cautious Fed rhetoric has so far done little to significantly alter the market pricing for rate cuts, with investors betting on two cuts this year beginning September. Analysts said the latest crypto rally came on the back of speculation that an approval of spot ether ETFs by the U.S. SEC could be imminent, following in the footsteps of the listing of bitcoin ETFs earlier this year.

Persons: Cryptocurrencies, Carol Kong, Bitcoin, Tony Sycamore Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, U.S, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of Australia's, IG Locations: Japan

☆ Youngkin Vetoes Measures to Remove Tax Breaks for Confederate Heritage Group
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Anna Venarchik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Glenn Youngkin of Virginia vetoed on Friday two bills that would have revoked tax exemptions for the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a century-old organization that has often been at the center of debates over the state’s Confederate past and its racial history. In doing so, Mr. Youngkin sided with fellow Republicans in the legislature who almost unanimously opposed the bills and the efforts by the state’s Democrats to curtail the Commonwealth’s relationship with Confederate heritage organizations. The bills had nearly unanimous Democratic support in both chambers of the legislature. The organization’s property tax exemptions were added to the state code in the 1950s, during segregation and when the Commonwealth maintained a closer relationship with the group. The organization’s Virginia division is also exempt from paying recordation taxes, which are levied when property sales are registered for public record.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin Organizations: Confederacy, Confederate, Democratic, Commonwealth, organization’s Locations: Virginia, organization’s Virginia

☆ Gold prices set for second weekly gain on Fed rate-cut optimism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices appeared set for a second consecutive weekly gain on Friday, after recent U.S. inflation data fueled expectations that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates this year. The dollar index was down 0.6% for the week so far, against its rivals, making gold less expensive for other currency holders. "The upward bias for gold prices may remain, with the recent run in U.S. economic data offering room for the Fed to consider earlier rate cuts in 2024 while geopolitical tensions rock on. Bullion is known as an inflation hedge, but higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold. "Gold prices may correct lower as markets look to re‑establish the historical relationship between gold and the U.S. dollar.

Persons: Yeap Jun Rong, haven't, Bullion Organizations: Co, Federal, Fed, U.S . Federal Reserve, U.S ., Commonwealth Bank of Australia Locations: Bangkok, Thailand

☆ David McBride: Former Australian military lawyer who exposed alleged war crimes jailed for leaking documents
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | Angus Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

However, during proceedings against McBride, the court heard that he did not bring the documents to the media’s attention to highlight the alleged war crimes. “David McBride leaked documents to our national broadcaster which contained credible evidence of war crimes committed by Australian forces in Afghanistan. Pender and others pointed out that no one had yet been prosecuted over Australia’s alleged war crimes in Afghanistan – except the man who had brought it to the country’s attention. Australian Federal Police officers raided the ABC offices in Sydney in 2019 seeking documents as they pursued potential charges against the journalists behind the story. The Australian Federal Police is working with the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) to investigate potential charges.

Persons: CNN —, ”, David Mossop, David McBride, McBride, Mark Davies, Brereton, Mossop, “, ” McBride, Justice Mossop, ” Mossop, McBride’s, Kieran Pender, “ David McBride, Pender, Australia’s, “ Will, Peter Greste, Greste, ” “ David, ” Greste, he’ll, Anthony Albanese, “ I’m, Mark Dreyfus Organizations: CNN, Australian Army, Canberra, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, Australian Defense Force, Australian Special Air Service, SAS, Human Rights Law, Australian, Journalists, Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth, Public Prosecutions, ADF, AFP Locations: Afghanistan, Egypt, Sydney, New South Wales

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