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☆ Hong Kong protest bomb plot mastermind is jailed for nearly 24 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s high court on Thursday sentenced a man to 23 years and 10 months in prison for being the mastermind of an alleged plot to attack police with explosives during the city’s pro-democracy and anti-China protests in 2019. Another defendant, Wong Chun-keung, the leader of a group known as the “Dragon Slayers” that was active during the 2019 protests, was sentenced to 13 years and six months imprisonment. The long jail terms come amid a protracted national security clampdown by China in the global financial hub, and is the first time the U.N. anti-terrorism ordinance has been used in Hong Kong since 2002. He was convicted of an alternative charge of conspiring to cause explosions that were likely to endanger life or cause significant property damage. The ruling came less than a week before 45 of Hong Kong’s leading democrats face sentencing in a separate national security case for an alleged subversive plot from 2020.

Persons: Ng Chi, Wong Chun, Judianna Barnes, Steve Li, ”, Lai Chun, Hong Kong’s Organizations: United Nations Anti, Hong Kong Locations: HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong

President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate Todd Blanche, one of his criminal defense lawyers, to be deputy attorney general. The statement noted that Blanche has experience working for the Justice Department — something former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Trump's choice for attorney general, does not have. Blanche was Trump's lead lawyer when he stood trial on charges of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment this year. If Blanche's nomination is confirmed before Gaetz's, he could serve as acting attorney general while Gaetz goes through the process. He will also nominate D. John Sauer, who argued Trump's successful immunity case before the Supreme Court, for solicitor general.

Persons: Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, Todd, Trump, Blanche, Justice Department —, Matt Gaetz, Trump's, Juan Merchan, Aileen Cannon, Jack Smith's, Smith ., Tanya Chutkan, Gaetz's, Gaetz, Emil Bove, Emil, John Sauer, John, Antonin Scalia, Sauer's Organizations: Justice Department, Justice, of New York United, of New York United States Attorney’s, Trump, State, Manhattan, White House, U.S, Smith . U.S, Senate, National Security Unit, United States Supreme, Supreme, MAGA Locations: Southern, of New York United States, ., Florida, Missouri

☆ From 'brilliant' to 'dangerous': Mixed reactions roll in after Trump picks RFK Jr. for top health post
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Frank-Thorp-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Frank Thorp V | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Thune ducked a question about whether he would support Kennedy's confirmation, saying that the process "is just getting started" and adding that there would be "a vetting process." Cassidy is currently the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee and is considered a contender for chairing the committee in the next Congress. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said in a post to X that Kennedy was “Dangerous. I will hold any HHS Secretary to the same high standard of protecting and improving public health," Polis added in the later post. A majority of senators must vote in support of a nominee in order for the position to be confirmed.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Sen, John Thune, Thune, it’s, Bill Cassidy, Cassidy, Wisconsin Sen, Ron Johnson, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Missouri Sen, Josh Hawley, Ron Wyden, Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Patty Murray, Murray, Jared Polis, Polis Organizations: Department of Health, Human Services, Republican, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Wisconsin, Big Pharma, RFK, NBC News, Colorado Gov, HHS, FDA, NBC, Republicans, Senate Locations: WASHINGTON, Alabama, Missouri

☆ COP29: Azerbaijan’s leader takes a wrecking ball to climate talks as calls mount for a total ‘overhaul’
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Angela Dewan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —From the moment the US election results rolled in, climate leaders knew Donald Trump would be a blow to the COP29 talks in Baku. Amid the chaos, prominent global climate leaders on Friday issued an open letter calling for a “fundamental overhaul” of the entire UN climate process. COP29 marks the third year in a row that the climate talks have been held in either a petrostate, or economy that relies heavily on oil and gas. World leaders and delegates pose for a "family photo" on day two of the COP29 talks. Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesThe geopolitical chaos comes as global climate leaders scramble to find ways to Trump-proof progress so far, as the president-elect has vowed to again pull the US out of the Paris Agreement.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ilham Aliyev, Sandrine Dixson, —, ”, Alex Scott, they’re, ” Aliyev, Aliyev, Agnès, Joseph Borrell, Azerbaijan’s COP29, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen didn't, Sean Gallup, Trump, Gerardo Werthein, “, Javier Milei’s Organizations: CNN, The, of Rome, United Arab, Getty, New York Times Locations: Baku, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Italy, Paris, France, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Azerbaijan, Armenia

☆ Russians focus on Musk as they assess incoming Trump administration
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —As US President-elect Donald Trump continues to make heads turn with nominations for key roles in his incoming administration, Russians are trying to understand the appointments and what impacts they might have for Moscow. Waltz also described Russia as “a gas station with nukes” in an interview with NPR on November 4. Asked about how they viewed the incoming administration and future relations between old adversaries, people were a little more divided. “Trump said that ‘I will do everything for America’, but he did not say a word about Russia,” Sergey told CNN. But I hope, that there will be a good agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Persons: Donald Trump, Evgeny Popov, Mike Waltz, Donald Trump’s, Waltz, Vladimir Putin, Popov, Trump, Olga Skabeeva, Tulsi Gabbard, Gabbard, ” Skabeeva, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon, ” Elena, “ Trump, ‘, ” Sergey, Vladimir Kostyukevich, Joe Biden, Elena, “, ” Tatiyana, ”, Kostyukevich Organizations: CNN, TV, Duma, Ukraine, NPR, Republican, Kyiv, of, Twitter, America Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Israel, Palestine

☆ Trump’s latest controversial Cabinet pick could have a huge impact on Americans’ health and lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The president-elect’s previous selections for director of national intelligence, attorney general and defense secretary could change the country and the world in the long term. The US Department of Health and Human Services secretary has a massive platform and huge power to influence the information that Americans have and the choices they make. “I guess if you like health and you like people who live a long time, it is the most important position,” Trump said. Christina House/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesAnother health expert and former US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acting director condemned the pick. The highly contagious disease is preventable with two doses of the measles vaccine that most Americans get as kids.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, “, Kennedy, Trump’s MAGA, Kennedy’s ascendency, Bobby ’ Kennedy, ” Trump, Bobby, ”, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Bashar al, Assad, Carlos Barria, Jake Tapper, Indiana Sen, Jim Banks, Jake, Donald Trump, ” Banks, —, ’ Kennedy, he’d “, Dr, Ashish Jha, Covid, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Jha, Christina House, Richard Besser . Besser, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, kindergartners, Mandy Cohen, CNN’s Meg Tirrell, who’s, ” Cohen, Lex Fridman’s, CNN’s Kasie Hunt, don’t, –, ’, won’t, Mitch McConnell — Organizations: CNN, National Institutes of Health, RFK Jr, Trump, US Department of Health, Human Services, Trump’s, Fox News, America, Reuters, Biden, Brown University’s School of Public Health, Republican, Democratic, “ RFK, Los Angeles Times, US Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, CDC, Milken, Health Summit, Trump Cabinet, Senate, FBI, GOP Locations: Lago, Florida, Palm Beach , Florida, Washington, Huntington Park , California

☆ Amsterdam soccer riots: How a toxic mix of antisemitism, racism and xenophobia culminated in violence
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Lauren Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Last week, Israeli soccer fans were attacked in the streets, Palestinian flags ripped off walls and antisemitic slurs yelled during riots. But the timeline of how tensions ignited in Amsterdam is different depending on which community you ask. “It’s really so, so manipulative… It only makes everything worse,” Jaïr Stranders, a local theater director and a board member of the Liberal Jewish Community of Amsterdam told CNN. But in Amsterdam, many local Jewish officials as well as the mayor have urged against using that description. “They are Dutch youth,” he noted, adding that Amsterdam is a city of many nationalities and many values that can peacefully coexist.

Persons: Amsterdam CNN —, “ It’s, it’s, It’s, Sheher Khan, ” Khan, “, Itay Garmy, ” Garmy, Amsterdam Mayor Femke, they’re, David, Benjamin Netanyahu, Geert Wilders, Halsema, Mouneb, Khan, Wilders, Jaïr, Stranders, Netanyahu, ” Stranders, ”, Israel, Said Alawi, “ I’m, Abdelaziz Chandoudi, ” Chandoudi, Mohammed Rasool Organizations: Amsterdam CNN, CNN, Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer, Maccabi, Police, Amsterdam Mayor, Getty, Freedom Party, Union, Maccabi fans, Liberal Jewish, Amsterdam, Senior, Moroccan Locations: Amsterdam, Dutch, Gaza, Netherlands, Europe, Israel, Palestine, ”, Anadolu, Amsterdam’s, Morocco, Noord, Holland

☆ Iranian anti-regime activist who died by suicide buried in Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Warning: This story contains descriptions of self-harm that some readers might find distressingCNN —Iranian activist Kianoosh Sanjari, who died by suicide this week in protest at political imprisonments by the regime, was buried Friday in the capital Tehran. “It is time to act… as Iranians, we should attend his burial with enthusiasm and respect, to honor this noble and tortured individual,” Ronaghi wrote on X. Abdollah Momeni, another Iranian activist, said that when he saw Sanjar’s post, he rushed to meet him, only to find “a white sheet thrown” over his body by Hafez Bridge. On Thursday, the state news agency ISNA reported that a judicial case had been opened by the prosecutor’s office in Tehran regarding Sanjari’s suicide. He was accused of “acting against state security” and “propaganda against the system,” according to the human rights organization.

Persons: Kianoosh Sanjari, Sanjari, “, Ayatollah, Khamenei, ” Sanjari, Fatemeh, Nasreen, Toomaj, ”, Hafez, Kianoosh, ’ Hossein Ronaghi, …, ” Ronaghi, Abdollah Momeni, ” Momeni, ISNA, IranWire Organizations: CNN, Islamic, Amnesty, Persian Service, of America, Service Locations: Tehran, Islamic Republic, Charsou, “, Iranian, Tehran’s, Iran, Washington ,

☆ Peter Thiel says Elon Musk's embrace of Donald Trump helped other Silicon Valley leaders feel safe supporting him
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Peter Thiel attributed recent Trump support in Silicon Valley, in part, to Elon Musk's efforts. Thiel told journalist Bari Weiss that Musk provided "cover" for other tech leaders to support Trump. AdvertisementBillionaire Peter Thiel credited Elon Musk, in part, with helping other tech leaders feel comfortable publicly supporting President-elect Donald Trump. Weiss asked Thiel if the Tesla CEO was "the critical ingredient" that allowed other business leaders to feel safe endorsing the divisive president. Thiel characterized the feeling inside Silicon Valley as one of growing frustration toward "corporate governance" and "how ridiculous it's gotten to manage these ideologically deranged millennial employees."

Persons: Peter Thiel, Trump, Elon, Thiel, Bari Weiss, Musk, —, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Marc Andreessen, David Sacks, Shaun Maguire, Reid Hoffman, Ron Conway, Mark Cuban, Kamala Harris, Weiss, Tesla, Vivek Ramaswamy, It's Organizations: Service, PayPal, Trump, Department of Government, SpaceX Locations: Silicon Valley, Silicon, November's, California, Texas

☆ A Pennsylvania County and the Political Tensions in America
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Philip Montgomery | Michael Sokolove | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Luzerne County is one of many counties in Pennsylvania — and across the country — that shifted to the right this year. Kevin Kraynak, a Luzerne County native, traveled from his home in California to try to get out the vote. Luzerne County became a hotbed of election denialism in 2020, and Pennsylvania is an open-carry state. Just over 152,000 total ballots were cast in Luzerne County — about the same as in 2020. In only one other Pennsylvania county were Trump’s gains greater.

Persons: Biden’s, Donald Trump, Dwayne McDavitt, Trump, Joe Biden, busloads, Democratic canvassers, Kevin Kraynak, “ I’m, ”, Jennifer Ziemba, “ We’re, MAGA, Philip Montgomery, ” Ziemba, “ I’d, Lee Ann McDermott, John, ” Constance Wynn, Wilkes, Wynn’s, Kim Pace, Harris, “, Dave Ragan, ” Pace, John McDermott, Lee Ann, McDermott, Hillary Clinton, “ He’s, ” Lee Ann, Jennifer Ziemba’s, Shelley Meuser, Dan Meuser, Terry Eckert, Adaíris Casado, —, ” Fredelina Paredes, Paredes, didn’t, Elizabeth Torrez, Torrez, Wadan Fernandez, Mr, ” Fernandez, ” Philip Montgomery Organizations: Trump, Amazon, Maxx, Democratic, Luzerne County Republican Party, Republican, The New York Times, “, Electoral, Luzerne County —, The New York, U.S . Army, Army Reserve, Iglesia, Hazleton Locations: Luzerne, Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, Wilkes, Barre, Scranton, Lackawanna County, California, Fort, Harveys Lake, state’s, Plains Township, Hazleton, Dominican Republic, United States

☆ Jared Kushner expected to be pivotal to Trump admin’s Middle East efforts without taking a formal job
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is seen as being pivotal to the incoming administration’s Middle East efforts, even though he is not likely to take a formal job within it, regional diplomats and Trump allies told CNN. Trump’s Middle East team has been taking shape this week after he selected a former Republican governor and a close friend and real-estate developer to take on key roles. Since Trump left office in 2021, Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, have moved to Miami and largely exited politics. Kushner has also maintained relationships with key players in the Middle East, including Israeli officials and leaders in the Arab Gulf. That is the key question,” explained Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator at the State Department, referring to Trump’s longtime friend and real estate developer who will serve as his special envoy to the Middle East.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jared Kushner, Kushner, Trump, Jared, ”, –, ” Kushner, Abraham, Ivanka Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump’s, bin Salman, Israel, “, Kusher, Ghaith Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, Brian Hook, ” Hook, “ Kushner, Mike Huckabee, Steve Witkoff, Kushner –, Aaron David Miller, Rubio, ” Witkoff, Witkoff Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump’s, Republican, White, Abraham Accords, United, United Arab Emirates, Affinity Partners, Washington, Saudi Crown, MBS, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Harvard, Washington Institute, Israel, State Department, CNN International, Former Arkansas Gov Locations: Israeli, Israel, Isreal, United Arab, Gaza, Lebanon, Miami, Arab, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, New Jersey

☆ Trump may end the $7,500 EV tax credit. Elon Musk and Tesla would reap the rewards
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Tesla, the world’s largest maker of EVs, is the only automaker making a profit on its US EV sales. So if the EV tax credit goes away, the price of all EVs might come down. ‘It will only help Tesla’Musk signaled during the campaign that he would support ending the EV tax credit, even if raised the cost of Tesla purchases for American buyers. But the rest of the auto industry wants to keep the tax credit in place. He said that Tesla’s pricing and scale in the EV space “is an apples to oranges when compared to the rest of the auto industry once the EV tax credit disappears.”

Persons: Trump, Elon Musk, Donald Trump’s, Tesla, “, ”, Donald Trump, Jim Watson, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Garrett Nelson, Nelson, Dan Ives Organizations: New, New York CNN, Tesla, EV, Motors, Ford, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, Global, Real, Republican, Reuters, Trump, CNN, CFRA Research, “, Wedbush Securities Locations: New York, Butler , Pennsylvania, AFP, “, Detroit

☆ Argentina's Milei is a VIP at Mar-a-Lago as Trump, Musk embrace his attacks on government spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Michelle Caruso-Cabrera | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Milei also name checked another attendee in the gala crowd: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. A photo Milei posted in September shows Musk sporting a "dark MAGA" hat, Trump's campaign logo written in black on black. Photos from the Thursday gala posted on social media showed Musk, Milei and Trump together, all smiles. The announcement fulfilled Trump's campaign promise to give Musk a major role advising his administration on government spending. Since taking office last December, Milei has cut Argentina's federal spending by 32%, according to the Center for Argentine Political Economy (CEPA).

Persons: Javier Milei, Donald Trump, Milei, Trump, Elon Musk, They've, Musk, they've, Vivek Ramaswamy Organizations: Trump's, SpaceX, Trump, Mar, Department of Government, White, Office of Management, Government Efficiency, Center, Argentine Political Locations: Argentina, Florida, Lago, Trump's

☆ Cramer says an RFK Jr.-run HHS ultimately won't tank junk food and drug industries
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Even with vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tapped to potentially lead the Department of Health and Human Services, CNBC's Jim Cramer said drug and junk food industries aren't necessarily headed for ruin. "Ultimately, if RFK dons jackboots and demands that we don't have vaccines or eat junk food, it probably won't matter," he said. At the same time, Cramer added, Kennedy has taken a hard stance against processed food. Many drug and processed food stocks have already shouldered heavy losses since Trump named Kennedy, including Eli Lilly , Bristol-Myers , Moderna , PepsiCo , J.M. Plus, he continued, drug and junk food stocks aren't particularly good investments during a rate-cutting cycle.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, CNBC's Jim Cramer, Donald Trump, Kennedy, it's, Cramer, Kennedy's, Eli Lilly, Smucker, Mills, he's, Trump Organizations: Department of Health, Human Services, RFK, and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, HHS, Trump, Moderna, PepsiCo, J.M Locations: U.S, Bristol, Myers

☆ I became CEO of a company that has helped millions of kids read—here's my no. 1 piece of career advice
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Ernestine Siu | In Ernestinesiu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali. Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali. "The human being, if given the basics... you are capable of so much more than you really think you are. Dr. Geetha Murali in Vietnam. Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali.

Persons: Geetha Murali, ” Murali, CNBC's, Read, Murali, —, Murali's, , wasn't, Michelle Obama, she's Organizations: UNESCO, CNBC, Indian Army, University of California, South Asian Studies, UC Berkeley Locations: New York, East, India, U.S, biostatistics, Berkeley, Vietnam

☆ Lebanon ceasefire talks intensify as Hezbollah considers new US-Israeli proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hezbollah is considering a US-Israeli ceasefire proposal, sources told CNN, as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group intensify. The US ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, relayed the proposal to the Lebanese government on Thursday night, a Lebanese official familiar with the discussions told CNN. Those efforts were upended when Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a major bombing attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Another Lebanese official familiar with the discussions around the ceasefire told CNN that US President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed the ongoing negotiations, which have been spearheaded by the Biden administration’s special envoy to Lebanon, Amos Hochstein. The US embassy in Beirut declined CNN’s request for comment on the ceasefire negotiations.

Persons: Lisa Johnson, Johnson, Nabih Berri –, –, Israel, Hassan Nasrallah, Donald Trump, Biden, Amos Hochstein, “, CNN’s Organizations: CNN, Lebanese, UN, Lebanese Armed Forces Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Lebanon, Beirut’s, Lebanon’s, Beirut

☆ North Korea orders mass production of attack drones after seeing Russia's tactics up close
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Kim Jong Un has ordered the mass production of attack drones, North Korean media reported. AdvertisementNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the mass production of exploding drones on Thursday, according to North Korean state media. Kovalenko also said there were plans to send Russian drone instructors to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, for further training of North Korean personnel. "North Korea may use these skills for future terrorist actions in the border areas with South Korea," he said. The partnership brings another advantage for North Korea: much-needed live combat experience and technical know-how.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, —, Kim, Kim Jong, AP Kim, Putin, Gavriil, Andrii Kovalenko, Kovalenko, Joseph S, Bermudez Jr Organizations: Service, Business, KCNA, BMW, North Korean, Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service, AP, Reuters, AFP, Ukraine's Center, North, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Korean, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Iran, AFP North Korea, Kursk, Ukrainian, South Korea, Russian, Pyongyang, Korea

☆ Trump called the climate crisis a scam. It could prove a gift to China.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementPresident-elect Donald Trump has long questioned the reality of the climate crisis, describing it as a "scam" and accusing policies to tackle the crisis of destroying US jobs. AdvertisementChina, as part of its "Belt and Road" initiative to grow its global influence, has provided developing countries with renewable energy technologies, including wind farms. AdvertisementThe US lags China as a clean tech economic power. There are also doubts over how much China is willing to take an international leadership role on climate issues. Assuming a leadership role would likely require China to send money to other countries, said Crowther.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Herbert Crowther, we're, Lily McElwee, Xi Jinping, Trump, Daniel Araya, Biden, Joe Biden's, Crowther, Xi Organizations: Service, Eurasia Group, Business, Biden, China Studies, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Trump, Getty, Brookings Institute, International Energy Agency, Reuters Locations: Paris, China, New York, Baku, Azerbaijan, Washington ,, Beijing, United States, Gansu Province, Washington , DC, Brazil

☆ Russia needed armor so badly that its biggest film studio donated 36 Soviet-era tanks that were used as props
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mosfilm's head told Putin that it donated 28 T-55 tanks and eight PT-76 tanks to the defense ministry. Mosfilm's website says the studio has over 190 armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and self-propelled guns, though it described them as being "disguised" as equipment from various periods. Still, Shakhnazarov's statement comes as Moscow has struggled to maintain its inventory of armored vehicles amid heavy losses in the last two years. Figures from Dutch open-source tracking group Oryx say that Russia has lost 10,888 armored vehicles since the war began, including 3,558 tanks. AdvertisementThe Russian Defense Ministry and Mosfilm did not respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Persons: Putin, —, Mosfilm, Karen Shakhnazarov, Vladimir Putin, Shakhnazarov Organizations: Service, Warner Bros, Kremlin, Armed Forces, Royal United Services Institute, Russian Defense Ministry, Business Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Georgia: Protesters storm parliament in breakaway region of Abkhazia over Russia deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Protesters stormed the parliament of the Russian-backed breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia on Friday and opposition politicians demanded the resignation of the self-styled president over an unpopular investment agreement with Moscow. Protesters used a truck to smash through the metal gates surrounding the parliament in the capital Sukhumi. Eshsou Kakalia, an opposition leader and former deputy prosecutor general, said the parliament building was under the control of the protesters. “We will now seek the resignation of the current president of Abkhazia,” he was quoted by Russia’s Interfax news agency as saying. Protesters also broke into the presidential administration offices located in the same building as the parliament.

Persons: Russia’s, Protesters, Maxim Reshetnikov, Kristina Ozgan, Aslan Bzhania, Alexander Ankvab, Raul Khadzhimba Organizations: CNN — Protesters, Protesters, Russia’s Interfax, Russian Economy, Abkhazian, Russian Locations: Russian, Georgian, Abkhazia, Moscow, Sukhumi, ”, Russia, South Ossetia, Georgia, Soviet

☆ Germany's Scholz urges Putin in phone call to open talks with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, r) and Russian President Vladimir Putin look up after several hours of one-on-one talks at a joint press conference. Scholz met the Russian president for talks on the situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare phone call on Friday to begin talks with Ukraine that would open the way for a "just and lasting peace." In a one-hour phone conversation, their first in almost two years, Scholz also demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and reaffirmed Germany's continued support for Ukraine, a German government spokesman said. "He stressed Germany's unbroken determination to back Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression for as long as necessary," the spokesperson added.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Vladimir Putin, Scholz, Germany's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Putin, Donald Trump's, Trump Organizations: Ukraine, U.S, Social Democrats Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, United States

☆ Taco Bell CEO says avoiding this mistake sets successful people apart from most: You have to ask the 'right questions'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Alex Koller | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant credits his leadership success, at least partially, to one piece of advice: "Don't try to be a black belt in everything." "Be a black belt in marketing, and be a brown belt in everything else," Tresvant, who previously held marketing executive roles at Taco Bell, Nike and Sports Illustrated, told LinkedIn's "This is Working" podcast last week. Tresvant received that advice in January upon becoming CEO of Taco Bell — which is owned by fast food giant Yum! Instead of believing he has all the answers, he tries to ask the "right questions" to team members who have expertise that he doesn't, he noted. "I understand I'm not a CFO, but I have a great CFO who can lead the [financial side of the] business."

Persons: Sean Tresvant, you'll, Tresvant, Taco, LinkedIn's, Taco Bell, I'm Organizations: Taco Bell, Nike, Sports, Taco, Brands

☆ Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC make up the Big 4 — here's how they compare
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Big Four — EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC — are the world's largest accounting and consulting firms. AdvertisementDeloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC are the world's largest accounting and consulting firms, known as the Big Four. The Big Four offer companies services such as workforce transformations, reshaping corporate finance portfolios, assurance, valuation, and optimizing the use of technology. AdvertisementThough not as stark a slowdown as Deloitte or EY, growth at PwC still dropped noticeably compared to the 9.9% rise reported for the previous 12 months. In February 2024, it unveiled a tax AI assistant for 2,300 PwC tax professionals in the UK to use.

Persons: PwC, —, Antonia Wade, EY, Ernst & Young, Janet Truncale, Carmine Di Sibio, Jack Taylor, Joe Ucuzoglu, Jim Spellman, Price Waterhouse, Mohamed Kande, Bill Thomas, Liam McBurney Organizations: Deloitte, KPMG, Service, EY, Ernst, Getty, Revenue, Assurance, PwC, Deloitte Deloitte, Deloitte Global, Equity, Nvidia, Google, AWS, Coopers, Street Journal, Big Locations: London, PwC, Asia, Pacific, Amsterdam

☆ North Korea to mass produce self-detonating explosive drones, state media reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Helen Regan | Gawon Bae | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Images published by North Korean state media show Kim and various officials at the launch site. State media reported that drones “of various types precisely hit the targets” as part of the test. Such self-detonating drones, also sometimes referred to as suicide drones, have been widely used to great effect on the battlefield in Russia’s war in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Images released from North Korean state media KCNA show what it said were self-detonating drone during a test of the unmanned aerial vehicles. KCNANorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks with officials as he oversees a test of self-detonating drones, according to state media KCNA.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim, Kim “, “, ”, Kim Jong, KCNA, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, North, US State Department, Russian, CNN North Korean, Korea’s Defense, Agency, South Locations: North Korean, Ukraine, West, Russia, Kursk, Korean, Ukrainian, Pyongyang, ” Moscow, North Korea, Russian, South Korea, Seoul, Korea’s, Ganghwa

☆ Germany’s Scholz calls Putin, ending Western isolation over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The conversation on Friday was the first time Scholz had spoken with Putin in two years. It comes as the German leader gears up for a snap election and Europe waits to hear US President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for ending the war in Ukraine. “He stressed Germany’s unbroken determination to back Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression for as long as necessary,” the spokesperson added. Ukraine said however that phone conversations with Putin brought no added value on the path to achieving a “just peace” in Ukraine. But of course, (it is a) question about how Russia spins it.”Scholz to brief alliesThe Kremlin said Putin had told Scholz Russia was willing to look at energy deals if Germany was interested.

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