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☆ Starbucks releases pork flavored coffee in China for Lunar New Year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Who doesn’t like a little braised pork with their coffee? Starbucks (SBUX) is betting on that unusual combination with a new drink released in China to mark the Lunar New Year. The drink combines Dongpo Braised Pork Flavor Sauce with espresso and steamed milk, with extra pork sauce and pork breast meat for garnish, according to the Starbucks delivery app. And while the foods served at New Year feasts vary by region, braised pork makes a frequent appearance. The Starbucks pork latte has quickly gained traction on Chinese social media, with the topic viewed more than 476,000 times on Weibo by the time of publishing.

Persons: Savory Latte, Su Dongpo, it’s, “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Starbucks Reserve, Starbucks Reserve, United, Starbucks, Luckin, Shanghai, Weibo Locations: China, Hong Kong, Weibo, Asia, People, United States, Wuhan

☆ South Korean researchers develop beef-infused rice as sustainable meat alternative
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Imagine eating a delicious, nourishing bowl of beef rice. No, not beef on rice – beef rice. That’s what a team of South Korean researchers are hoping to plate up with their newly developed hybrid rice, grown in a lab with cow muscle and fat cells inside the rice grains. The meat cells then grow on the surface of the rice grain and inside the grain itself. Lean beef currently costs about $14.88 per kilogram, and rice costs $2.2 per kilogram – whereas the beef rice, if commercialized, could cost just $2.23.

Persons: Sohyeon Park, “ Rice, Park, ”, ” Neil Ward, “ Organizations: CNN, South, University of East Locations: University of East Anglia

☆ Israel says two hostages rescued from Gaza in special operation, 128 days after their capture
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Israeli military said Monday it has rescued two hostages during a special operation conducted overnight in Rafah, in southern Gaza. The hostages are 60-year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har, who were both taken 128 days ago during Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel. The two are in good medical condition and have been transferred for Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer, said the Israel Defense Forces. The joint operation was done with the Israeli Security Agency and Israel Police, it said. At least two mosques and around a dozen homes were targeted in the strikes, the Rafah municipality said on Monday.

Persons: Fernando Simon Marman, Louis Har, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: CNN, Sheba Medical, Tel HaShomer, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Security Agency, Israel Police, Palestine Red Crescent Society, ”, United Nations, Israeli Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Tel, Palestine, Egypt, Gaza’s

☆ Indian nationals released after being detained in Qatar on reported spy charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Eight Indian nationals who were detained and sentenced to death in Qatar on reported espionage charges have been released, according to Indian authorities. “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. They had been working for Dahra Global Technologies, a defense services provider based in Qatar, according to CNN News18. Qatar has not publicly addressed the arrest, sentencing and subsequent release of the eight Indian citizens. CNN affiliate CNN-News18 reported at the time that the eight Indians had been detained in August 2022 on spying charges.

Persons: ”, “, Amir, it’s, Narendra Modi’s, Jairam Ramesh, Modi Organizations: CNN, Eight, Dahra Global, External Affairs, Indian Navy, Twitter, Dahra Global Technologies, CNN News18, United Nations Locations: Qatar, India, State

As one of the first countries to the west of the international dateline, Tokyo is a full 17 hours ahead of Las Vegas. The two friends who secured tickets to Saturday’s last show said they started out as NFL fans and became “Swifties” after Kelce and Swift’s romance began. Roke Hiro (left) say they are originally NFL fans and became Swifties after Kelce and Swift began dating. Prior to her win of the coveted award, Swift was tied with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, who along with her all previously won album of the year three times. Speaking at the Tokyo concert on Wednesday, she said she had planned to announce the new album at the Grammys if she won anything – and announce it in Tokyo if she didn’t win.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, Travis Kelce, that’s, Kelce, Hiro, Swifties, Roke Hiro, Saki Toi, Ari Novianti, “, ”, Levi Myers, Seiko Inoue, Tricia Mears, ” “ Travis Kelce, He’s, ” Tricia Mears, CNN Swift, Welch, Patrick Smith, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, she’s, – Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, Bowl, Kansas City Chiefs, dateline, Chicago Bears, NFL, CNN, Chiefs, AFC, Baltimore Ravens, T, “, Department Locations: Tokyo, United States, Japan, Las Vegas, Saitama, Indonesia, Kansas, Baltimore , Maryland

☆ Wynn is almost back in Macao and crushing it in Vegas even before Super Bowl, Chinese New Year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

It appears the strength in the fourth quarter has carried over into the current (first) quarter in all three locations. Macao We're happy to see the strong top-line performance in both Macao locations, even if Wynn Palace's adjusted EBITDAR came up a tad bit short. Total adjusted EBITDAR of $297 million (Wynn Palace and Wynn Macao added together) represents about 85% of Wynn's pre-Covid fourth quarter 2019 level of $348 million in the Chinese special administrative region. Breaking that down, Wynn Palace was still a bit further ahead in its recovery but Wynn Macao is quickly gaining ground. In 2019, Wynn Macao generated $170 million in fourth quarter adjusted EBITDAR.

Persons: —, WYNN, Wynn Al Marjan, Wynn, Al Marjan, Wynn Palace's, EBITDAR, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Pual Yeung Organizations: Wynn Resorts, Vegas, Boston, Club, LSEG, Super Bowl, United Arab Emirates, Wynn, Wynn Macao, Las Vegas, Bowl, Super, Wynn Interactive, Capital, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Macao, Las Vegas, Boston, United Arab, UAE, China, Wynn Macao, EBITDAR, Vegas Las Vegas, Las, Vegas, New York, Michigan

“What we’ve seen with the Taylor Swift tour is something that we’ve not really seen before,” said Richard Clarke, an analyst at investment firm Bernstein. Taylor Swift performs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2015. From Taylor Swift On her birthday in 2019, Swift shared this photo of herself as a child. From Taylor Swift A 13-year-old Swift sings the National Anthem before an NBA game in Philadelphia in 2002. John Mabangalo/Pool/Getty Images Swift performs during a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2009.

Persons: Tokyo CNN —, Taylor, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, we’ve, ”, Richard Clarke, Bernstein, “ It’s, TikTok she’d, curating, Kane Ishiyone, Swift, –, Ishiyone, Richard A, Brooks, Clarke, “, that’s, Christopher Polk, Scott, Andrea Swift, Jesse D, Tim McGraw, Kevin Winter, John Mabangalo, Chad Batka, Bryan Bedder, Larry Busacca, Miley Cyrus, Lucas Till, Hannah Montana, Sam Emerson, Everett, Jonas, Frank Masi, I'm, West, Beyoncé, Jeff Kravitz, Lucy Nicholson, Christopher Morris, Josh Haner, Kevin Mazur, James Taylor, Charles Sykes, Matt Sayles, Mark J, Terrill, Invision, Jimmy Fallon, Douglas Gorenstein, Nicholas Harvey, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Laraine Newman, Bill Hader, Taran Killam, Kristen Wiig, Keenan Thompson, Fred Armisen, Kerry Washington, Betty White, Bradley Cooper, Dana Edelson, Andrea, Ethan Miller, Tim Boyles, Selena Gomez, Jordan Strauss, Mike Coppola, John Shearer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Brandon Urie, Katy Perry, Republic Records Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Will Heath, Seth Wenig, Terence Rushin, David Eulitt, Mitsumasa Etou, Akazawa, haven’t, It’s, Michele Bullock Organizations: Tokyo CNN, People, Kansas City Chiefs, Taylor, Getty, Super Bowl, Chicago Bears, dateline, Vegas, Staples Center, NBA, of Country, Garden, New York Times, New York's Rockefeller Center, Walt Disney Co, Kanye, Madison, MTV, NBC, ACM, Academy of Country, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Universal Pictures, Coachella, Republic Records, New York University, Arrowhead, Chiefs, NET, Tokyo City University, Fuji, Tokyo, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Las Vegas, Philippines, Fukuoka, Japan, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Shibuya, AFP, Asia, Washington, Las Vagas, Los Angeles, West Reading , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, New York, Auburn Hills , Michigan, Newark , New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Frankfurt, London, Arlington , Texas, Tampa, Chicago, Atlanta, Kansas City , Missouri, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Australia, East Coast

☆ Hong Kong officials demand answers for Lionel Messi no-show
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —The Hong Kong government’s repeated requests for Lionel Messi to play in a sell-out soccer match went unanswered Sunday, a city official said, as cheers turned to jeers for the Argentine soccer legend. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government, which provided more than $2 million in grants to the match organizer, also said it was “extremely disappointed” the star did not play. Fans make their feelings clear after Lionel Messi's Hong Kong no-show. ‘We do feel a bit scammed’“Messi mania” had captured Hong Kong with Inter Miami’s arrival on Friday as fans swarmed the Major League Soccer team’s hotel. Meanwhile, the stadium reached full capacity during the Inter Miami’s open training session the evening before the match.

Persons: Hong Kong government’s, Lionel Messi, jeers, –, Messi, Ballon, Kevin Yeung, XFEST, Lionel Messi's, Justin Chin, Yeung, “, ” Yeung, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, ‘, ’ “ Messi, ”, Ada Kam, Luis Suárez Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong, Inter Miami’s, Hong, Hong Kong XI, Culture, Bloomberg, Getty, Inter, Major League Soccer team’s, CNN, Nigeria Locations: Hong Kong, Hong, Argentine, Lionel Messi's Hong Kong, Miami, Inter Miami’s, Tokyo, China, Argentina, Hangzhou, Ivory Coast, Beijing

☆ Foreign-born residents in Japan sue the government for alleged racial profiling
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Saki Toi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Tokyo CNN —Three foreign-born residents in Japan are suing the country’s government over alleged racial profiling, highlighting an ongoing debate about Japanese identity and nationality. The three plaintiffs, all residents of Tokyo, filed the lawsuit in the Tokyo National Court and held a news conference with their lawyers on Monday, according to public broadcaster NHK. One plaintiff came to Japan from India after marrying his wife, and has lived there for more than 20 years, NHK reported. Since then, he has been repeatedly stopped and questioned by police officers on the street, sometimes twice a day. The third plaintiff is an American-born man who said he hoped to raise awareness of the issue among the Japanese population, according to Reuters.

Persons: “, ”, Philip Fong, Nissin, Naomi Osaka –, Karolina Shiino Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, Tokyo National Court, NHK, Aichi, Reuters, Court, Getty, CNN, Pew Locations: Japan, Tokyo, India, Pakistani, American, AFP, Aichi, Nagoya

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —Pakistan’s former leader Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets, his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said in a statement Tuesday. The former prime minister repeatedly alleged that Pakistani officials conspired with the country’s powerful military and the US to remove him from office. Khan has been behind bars since August after he was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to three years in prison. Despite being unable to stand in the upcoming vote, he remains a major political force owing to his widespread popularity. TV stations are banned from running Khan’s speeches, and many of his PTI party colleagues have been arrested.

Persons: Pakistan CNN — Pakistan’s, Imran Khan, Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi Organizations: Pakistan CNN, Cypher, PTI, US State Department Locations: Islamabad, Pakistan, Rawalpindi’s Adiala, Pakistani

☆ China stock market: Calm returns after wild week but big challenges remain
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —It’s been a rollercoaster week for stocks trading in mainland China and Hong Kong. “For a sustained rally in China stocks, we think China will need to address the core of these concerns (predominantly property sector issues and US-China tensions),” the analysts added. In the 7 days to January 24, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking Chinese stocks recorded large inflows of $12.6 billion, according to a Citi survey of global fund managers. Still, investors have been fleeing Chinese stocks over a much longer period because they are worried about the country’s economic prospects. The country is facing the prospect of a vicious cycle whereby lower demand leads to lower investment, lower production and lower income, thus causing even lower demand.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — It’s, Hong, — haven’t, ” Nomura, “, Li Qiang, ”, Li Yunze, Pan Gongsheng, Florence Lo, HSI, Raymond Yeung, ” Yeung Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Shenzhen, ”, Shanghai Financial Exchange, Bloomberg, State, Supervision, Administration Commission, Administration of Financial, Reuters, People’s Bank of China, Citi, Enodo Economics, HSBC, Greater China, ANZ Research Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, United States, Beijing, Davos, Switzerland, Greater

☆ 5 huge challenges facing Apple this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Behind in generative AI. A recent Reuters report noted iPhone sales in China dropped 30% in the first week of the year amid pressure from rival Huawei. Still, Barclays downgraded Apple stock earlier this month citing disappointing iPhone 15 sales in China and softening demand for the latest iPhone. Apple also faces challenges around the upcoming rollout of the Vision Pro headset, which will be its riskiest product launch in years. Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., speaks during a launch event for the new Apple iPhone 15 at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 12, 2023.

Persons: ”, David McQueen, ALY, Dan Ives, Apple, Justin Sullivan, Jitesh, IDC –, that’s, It’s, Siri, McQueen, “, Ming Yeung, Tim Cook, Nic Coury, hasn’t, Brian Fung, Clare Duffy Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Apple, ABI Research, Huawei, Reuters, Apple Watch, International Trade Commission, IDC, Meta, Google, Samsung, Mac, Barclays, Apple Inc, Getty, EU, Markets, Epic Locations: China, Shanghai, Cupertino , California, Milan, Italy, AFP

☆ Kyoto Animation arson: Japan court sentences Shinji Aoba to death for deadly attack on studio
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Francesca Annio | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A man prays after laying flowers near the Kyoto Animation studio building after an arson attack on July 19, 2019 in Kyoto, Japan. On Thursday, the judge ruled that Aoba could judge right and wrong at the time of the incident, according to NHK. The fire marked the worst mass killing in Japan since a 2001 arson attack on a building in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, which killed 44 people. The death toll also surpassed the infamous Tokyo sarin gas attack on a subway in 1995, which killed 13. The Kyoto attack left fans worldwide grieving the loss of life and a studio that claimed to put its employees first and was a major force in the industry.

Persons: Shinji Aoba, Keisuke Masuda, ” Masuda, Aoba, Carl Court, –, Haruhi Suzumiya ”, Violet Evergarden Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Kyoto, NHK, Kyoto Animation, Prosecutors, Amnesty International, Netflix Locations: Kyoto, Japan, United, Tokyo’s Kabukicho

☆ Medibank attack: Australia publicly names and sanctions Russian hacker Aleksandr Ermakov over data leak
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Brisbane, Australia CNN —Australia has publicly named and imposed cyber sanctions on a Russian hacker for his alleged role in a 2022 ransomware attack, in the country’s first use of the penalty. At the time, the Australian Federal Police said investigators knew the identity of the attackers but declined to name them. On Tuesday, the Australian government revealed the name of the individual sanctioned — Russian national Aleksandr Ermakov, 33, an alleged member of the Russian ransomware gang REvil. When the Medibank attack took place later that year, experts said it could have been perpetrated by a REvil member — which Australian authorities confirmed on Tuesday. An initial ransom demand was made for $10 million (15 million Australian dollars).

Persons: Aleksandr Ermakov, “, ” Richard Marles, GCHQ —, Marles, “ REvil, ” Abigail Bradshaw, Medibank, — Organizations: Australia CNN —, Australian Federal Police, Medibank, Australian Signals Directorate, FBI, National Security Agency, NSA, United Kingdom’s, Microsoft, JBS Foods, Russia’s Federal Security Service, REvil, Australian Cyber Security, ” Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Australia CNN — Australia, Russian, United States

☆ South Korea says number of North Korean defectors nearly triples in 2023, including ‘elite’ diplomats
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Gawon Bae | Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea nearly tripled in 2023 compared to the previous two years, authorities said Thursday – including a higher number of youth and members of the North Korean elite. North Korea slammed its already tight borders shut in 2020, plunging the hermit nation into even greater isolation. Only 63 defectors entered South Korea in 2021, and 67 in 2022, according to government data. China, a close ally of Pyongyang, doesn’t consider North Korean defectors to be refugees, instead seeing them as illegal economic migrants. Once back in North Korea, defectors face possible torture, sexual violence, hard labor, imprisonment in political or re-education camps, or even execution by the North Korean state, according to activists.

Persons: ”, Kim, –, Kim Jong Un Organizations: South Korea CNN, North Korean, Korea’s Unification Ministry, Ministry, North, South, North Koreans, doesn’t Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, China, Russia, Pyongyang, North Korea’s, Laos, Myanmar, South Korean, Thailand, North, Korea, North Korean

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —Pakistan and Iran have both conducted strikes on each other’s territories in an unprecedented escalation of hostilities between the neighbors, at a time when tensions have risen sharply across the Middle East and beyond. Iran claimed it had “only targeted Iranian terrorists on the soil of Pakistan” and that no Pakistani nationals were targeted. In 2015, the group claimed responsibility for an attack that killed eight Iranian border guards, with militants reportedly crossing into Iran from Pakistan. Iran’s strikes on Tuesday sparked a diplomatic spat, with Pakistan recalling its ambassador from Iran and suspending all high-level visits from its neighbor. And after Pakistan’s strikes, Iran on Thursday demanded “an immediate explanation” from its neighbor, Tasmin reported.

Persons: Islam –, hideouts, Jaish al, ”, Karim Sadjadpour, Wesley Clark, “, Jaish, CNN What’s, Tasmin, Matt Miller, Washington, “ We’ve, –, Miller, ” Pakistan’s Organizations: Pakistan CNN —, Adl, Justice, Iran’s, Carnegie Endowment, International, US Army, CNN, Hamas, US, National Counterterrorism Center, US State Department, US State, Pakistan – Locations: Islamabad, Pakistan, Pakistan CNN — Pakistan, Iran, Balochistan, Sistan, Baluchestan, restive Baloch, Gaza, Here’s, Pakistan’s Balochistan, Iran’s, Iran’s Sistan, Baluchestan province, Islam, ”, United States, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Red, NATO, Afghanistan, Tehran, Pakistan’s, Iranian, India, ” China

Tokyo CNN —An American airline passenger allegedly bit a female cabin crew member mid-flight on Tuesday, forcing an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight bound for Seattle to return to Tokyo, an airline spokesperson said. Flight ANA 118 departed Tokyo’s Haneda Airport at 9:47 p.m. local time and turned around a little over an hour into its journey, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24. An ANA spokesperson told CNN that the male passenger was detained by police after the plane landed in the Japanese capital. The female flight attendant sustained minor injuries, the spokesperson said. In 2022, two passengers were given hefty fines for hitting and biting crew and other passengers on separate flights with US carriers American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Persons: It’s Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, All Nippon Airways, ANA, Flight ANA, Tokyo’s, CNN, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: American, Seattle, Tokyo, Texas

☆ First Prosecution Witness Testifies Against Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jessie Pang and Edward ChoHONG KONG (Reuters) - The first prosecution witness to testify in a landmark national security case against Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said on Wednesday he had been instructed by Lai to call people to join protests in 2019 and draw the attention of western democracies. The witness, Cheung Kim-hung, said Lai believed a proposed law that would allow people in Hong Kong to be sent to China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party would be used to crackdown on the territory's democracy and freedoms. He told the court that the image of Lai "was all along very clear, who pursued democracy, freedom and was anti-totalitarian". Hong Kong officials say Lai will receive a fair trial. Both Chinese and Hong Kong officials have said the national security laws were vital to restoring stability in Hong Kong.

Persons: Jessie Pang, Edward Cho HONG, Jimmy Lai, Lai, Cheung Kim, Cheung, Hong, Apple, Chan Pui, Yeung Ching, kee, Andy Li, Chan, Edward Cho, Dorothy Kam, Greg Torode, Neil Fullick Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Communist Party, Apple, Next Locations: Edward Cho HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Britain, United States

☆ Japanese brand Uniqlo sues Shein for allegedly copying its viral Round Mini Shoulder Bag
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Japanese brand Uniqlo is suing Shein over claims the Chinese fast-fashion retailer is selling copycats of its viral shoulder bag. Its lawsuit against Shein was filed in Tokyo on December 28 and named three of the brand’s operators — Roadget Business Pte, Fashion Choice Pte and Shein Japan — according to the Fast Retailing statement. The shoulder bag first began circulating on TikTok in 2022 and continued to blow up in popularity through 2023, with video creators praising its versatility, spaciousness and affordability. The most viral TikToks about the bag racked up millions of views, ranging from styling tips to “what’s in my bag” videos, unboxings and haul reviews. In an investor report in the third quarter of 2023, Fast Retailer credited the shoulder bag for sparking “considerable interest on social media” and expanding its customer base among women and younger shoppers.

Persons: Shein, Uniqlo, “, Temu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Retailing, Shein, Company, CNN, Retailer, US Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shein Japan, TikTok, US United States, Chinese

☆ ‘Annapoorani’: Netflix removes Indian movie after backlash by right-wing Hindu groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New Delhi CNN —Netflix has removed an Indian film from its platform after it sparked backlash and protest from right wing Hindu groups – the latest in several recent controversies where India’s entertainment industry has caved to religious pressure campaigns. The movie was released on Netflix on December 29, where it quickly became the streaming platform’s top trending movie in India, according to production studio Zee Entertainment. “We removed this film at the request of the licensor,” a Netflix spokesperson confirmed to CNN in a statement Tuesday. CNN reached out to Zee Entertainment and the film’s director, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. That incident, like the ongoing controversy over ‘Annapoorani,’ prompted a police complaint against Netflix executives.

Persons: ”, Ramesh N Solanki, Lord Ram, Shriraj Nair, Vikram Seth, Narendra Modi’s, ‘, ’, Modi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Netflix, Zee Entertainment, CNN, Hindu IT Cell, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, India, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, – Locations: New Delhi, India, Asia, Indian, Delhi, Mumbai

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday, with Tokyo extending its New Year rally, as China’s central bank kept its one-year policy loan interest rate unchanged. China’s central bank opted to keep its one-year policy loan interest rate at 2.5% on Monday while injecting funds into the financial system. Traders are largely betting on the Fed cutting its main interest rate six or more times through 2024. The airline and other travel-related companies were also hurt by a rise in oil prices, which put pressure on their fuel costs. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude oil rose 10 cents to $72.78.

Persons: Zhaopeng Xing, Raymond Yeung, “, Ernie, Baidu, Lai Ching, Lai, Taiwan’s Taiex, Australia’s, It's, Yemen’s Houthi, Brent Organizations: ANZ, Baidu, Democratic Progressive Party, Dow Jones, UnitedHealth Group, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Traders, Fed, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Cruise Line Holdings, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, China, Taiwan

☆ ‘A hero every day’: He joined Ukraine’s Maidan protests at 16. At 24, he died fighting Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Anna Coren | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —Taras Ratushnyy remembers receiving a phone call from his son Roman during Ukraine’s deadly 2013 Maidan Revolution. Both his parents were previously activists and journalists; his mother Svitlana Povalyaeva, also a writer and poet, took part in the Maidan Revolution alongside her two sons. A young Roman Ratushnyy, who joined the Maidan Revolution at just 16 years old. It was the 10th anniversary of the Maidan protests; Taras had just one day at home before he returned to the battlefield. CNNFighting for a European futureThe Maidan protests were sparked by Ukraine’s then-President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly scrapping a trade deal with the European Union.

Persons: Ukraine CNN — Taras Ratushnyy, Roman, “, ” Roman, Taras, blaring, Svitlana Povalyaeva, Ratushnyy, Volodymyr Zelensky, –, ” Taras, Taras Ratushnyy, Ukraine’s, Viktor Yanukovych, Yanukovych –, Vladimir Putin, —, ”, Efrem, Marci Shore, Molotov, Yanukovych, Roman –, Boris Dralyuk, I’ll, Genya Savilov Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, CNN, European Union, Supporters, Europe, Getty Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Kyiv’s, Europe, Russia, Crimea, Izium, Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast, Moscow, Independence, Russia’s, Maidan, ”, Ukraine’s, Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian, American, AFP

☆ US Osprey aircraft crashes off coast of Japan with eight on board
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Emiko Jozuka | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Tokyo CNN —A US military Osprey aircraft crashed off the coast of Japan’s Yakushima Island in southern Kagoshima prefecture on Wednesday, with eight people on board, according to a spokesperson from the Japan Coast Guard. ET), said the spokesperson, adding the 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters has dispatched a patrol boat and aircraft to the crash area. It is the latest deadly crash to involve an Osprey military aircraft, with numerous accidents reported over the years. In 2022, five US Marines died after their MV-22B Osprey plane crashed during a training mission near Glamis, California. The same year four US service members were killed when their Osprey crashed during NATO training exercises in Norway.

Persons: Cedric Leighton Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Osprey, Japan Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, NATO, CNN, US Air Force Locations: Japan’s, Kagoshima prefecture, Australia, Glamis , California, Norway

☆ Teenage siblings freed from Hamas captivity, only to learn their mother had been murdered
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But when Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, were released together on Saturday, “this dream had been shattered by the fact that she was murdered,” said the siblings’ maternal uncle Ahal Besorai. In total, some 1,200 people, most civilians, were slain by Hamas militants across southern Israel that day. It was amid this chaos and terror that Noam and Alma were separated from their parents and taken hostage by Hamas. Noam, Alma and the third woman in their room shared a diary, but the siblings weren’t allowed to bring it with them during their release, said Besorai. Still, he worries about the toll that captivity has taken on them, and the trauma that may linger.

Persons: Noam, Alma, they’d, ”, Ahal Besorai, “, ” Besorai, Dror, Besorai, Noam –, –, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Locations: Gaza, Alma, Philippines, Israel, Be’eri

A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) vehicle was damaged after its patrol was hit by Israel Defense Forces gunfire, UNIFIL said Saturday. ET) in the area of Aytaroun, in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This attack on peacekeepers, dedicated to reducing tensions & restoring stability in south Lebanon, is deeply troubling,” UNIFIL said Saturday. Remember: Fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed paramilitary group Hezbollah is centered on northern Israel and southern Lebanon — separate from Israel's fighting with Hamas further south, which is centered around Gaza. The group has linked its attacks on Israel to Israel’s targeting of Lebanese territory, and the fighting remains limited to this border region for now.

Persons: Arolodo Lázaro Organizations: United Nations Interim Force, Israel Defense Forces, UNIFIL, IDF, CNN, Hezbollah, Hamas Locations: Lebanon, UNIFIL, Aytaroun, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Lebanese

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