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General attorney warns public against festive firing ahead of Tawjihi exam results
By Rana Husseini - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
Students celebrate the announcement of Tawjihi results in Amman (Photo by Osama Aqarbeh)
AMMAN — The general attorney’s office on Wednesday issued a warning to the public to refrain from festive firing in conjunction with the announcement of the results of the General Secondary Certificate Examination (Tawjihi) on Thursday.
The President of the General Attorney’s Office Judge Yousef Thiabat said the authorities will not tolerate any incident of festive shooting and anyone “who commits such violations will be legally prosecuted”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
“I have instructed the prosecutors in various parts of the Kingdom to arrest any individual who possesses an unlicensed gun or fires live ammunition to celebrate the Tawjihi exams,” Thiabat said.
The veteran judge stressed that the ultimate aim of his office is to “ensure the safety and security of our society and to avert any deaths that could result from festive firing”.
According to Petra, 39 people were arrested last year for firing live ammunition to celebrate the Tawjihi results.
“None of the 39 individuals were released until they served their four-month sentence,” Petra reported.
The Public Security Directorate (PSD) has also pledged in the past to arrest any individual who violates the law by firing live ammunition during weddings, graduation and other celebratory occasions.
The PSD vowed to keep any case involving the discharge of live ammunition open until the perpetrators are identified and prosecuted.
Nearly 50 per cent of reported incidents involving live ammunition result in the deaths or injuries of innocent victims, PSD officials stated in August.
The PSD also urged the public to actively contribute to the eradication of this worrying phenomenon and announced that a WhatsApp number (0797911911) has been dedicated to reporting such incidents.
This platform guarantees confidentiality, and a prompt follow-up on any of the images and videos sent in the report, he said.
According to the Criminal Information Department (CID) 2023 report, there were 1,998 reported gunfire incidents in the Kingdom, including 69 cases where the perpetrators were allegedly minors.
The CID report stated that 79 cases were registered as causing a threat to public safety. The report did not list the number of fatalities and injuries.
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AMMAN — As part of its nationwide campaign to combat festive firing and confiscate unlicensed firearms, the Public Security Department (PSD)
AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a June Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a university student to three months after convicting him
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https://jordantimes.com/news/local/general-attorney-warns-public-against-festive-firing-ahead-tawjihi-exam-results
| 2024-01-31T23:29:38Z
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Man City confirm big-money Laura Blindkilde Brown signing from Aston Villa as they look to keep chase with Emma Hayes' Chelsea in WSL title raceJames HunsleyManchester CityManchester City WomenLaura BlindkildeWomen's footballWSLManchester City have completed the signing of Laura Blindkilde Brown from Aston Villa, with the midfielder penning a three-and-a-half year deal.Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues belowCity confirm Blindkilde Brown signingMidfielder pens three-and-a-half year dealCity also complete Pritchard and O'Hanlon deals
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https://www.goal.com/en-ug/lists/man-city-laura-blindkilde-brown-signing-aston-villa-emma-hayes-chelsea-wsl-title-race/blt3f10b15dbde43581
| 2024-01-31T23:29:39Z
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Tobe, the son of Nollywood actress Omoni Oboli, is engaged to his fiancée, Marelle.
Ms Oboli announced this on her Instagram page on Wednesday, expressing her overflowing joy.
Tobe, the actress’s first son, proposed to Marelle on a cold winter night.
The 45-year-old actress married Nnamdi Oboli in 2000 at 22, and they have three sons: Gozi, Chizi and Tobe.
The actress described Marelle as someone deeply in love with the new family and expressed gratitude to God for being too good to her family.
She wrote: “My heart has been bursting with joy, and I can’t keep it to myself. It was a cold winter night when our son Tobe asked the love of his life, Marelle, to marry him. We are so thankful for the gift of this perfect and gorgeous daughter.
“Thank you, Tobe @tobeoboli, for choosing a wife that shares our family’s values. We absolutely love our new family, and God has been too good to us.
“Marelle @marelle.b wanted a simple diamond ring with three stones and trusted @bozdiamonds to deliver exactly what she requested. Online aunties and uncles, we have a wedding to plan.”
Ms Oboli’s colleagues took to the post’s comments section to congratulate her and her son.
Kiekie, Ini Edo, Obi-Cubana, and others were among the actresses and actors who sent congratulations.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/664093-actress-omoni-obolis-son-is-engaged.html
| 2024-01-31T23:29:39Z
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New reports show a big academic recovery after schools reopened. But not for all students. Stanford professor Sean Reardon tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly how the pandemic worsened education inequality.
Copyright 2024 NPR
New reports show a big academic recovery after schools reopened. But not for all students. Stanford professor Sean Reardon tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly how the pandemic worsened education inequality.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krwg.org/national-news/2024-01-31/u-s-students-are-starting-to-catch-up-in-school-unless-theyre-from-a-poor-area
| 2024-01-31T23:29:39Z
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Puppy Bowl 2024: Meet the adorable dogs competing in the 20th anniversary event
LOS ANGELES - Forget about Taylor Swift.
Sunday, Feb. 11 marks the 20th anniversary of America's real favorite pastime: Puppy Bowl.
Puppy Bowl XX will feature 131 puppies from 73 shelters across the country who are all looking forward to showing off their moves.
"Puppies are taking over the show's production by operating the cameras and lighting, directing from the control room, stage managing on the studio floor," Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement.
Ahead of the game, here's your chance to meet the players from Team Ruff and Team Fluff who will be playing for the "Lombarky" Trophy:
Team Ruff:
Team Fluff:
Hosted by Beth Stern, the Great American Rescue Bowl airs on Great American Family Channel on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 11, from noon-2 p.m. ET.
Puppy Bowl XX will also feature special needs puppies
Six puppies with special needs will be introduced including Riddle who suffers from a neurological condition called cerebellar hypoplasia and Mr. Bean who is a two-legged Papillon.
All of the Puppy Bowl dogs are also available for adoption.
READ MORE:
- Super Bowl 2024: All you need to know
- Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs, 49ers to square off in Las Vegas showdown
- Super Bowl: Can Taylor Swift arrive in time to see Chiefs, Travis Kelce play?
- Super Bowl 2024: Ticket prices hit mind-boggling highs
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https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/puppy-bowl-2024-meet-the-adorable-dogs-competing-in-the-20th-anniversary-event
| 2024-01-31T23:29:39Z
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LONGDING, 30 Jan: The Longding battalion of the Assam Rifles, in collaboration with the Wancho Cultural Society, organised a Wancho indigenous sports event here on Tuesday as a precursor to the upcoming Oria festival.
Promotion and preservation of indigenous games like bamboo stilts fight, bamboo climbing, javelin throw, bamboo push, bamboo trap dance, and tug of war were the major focus of the event, which saw the participation of more than 150 sportspersons from over 12 villages. (DIPRO)
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https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2024/01/31/wancho-indigenous-sports-event-organised/
| 2024-01-31T23:29:38Z
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Southern Gaza has seen the heaviest fighting over the past few weeks. But bombing has restarted in the north and the humanitarian situation has worsened there.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Southern Gaza has seen the heaviest fighting over the past few weeks. But bombing has restarted in the north and the humanitarian situation has worsened there.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/as-israel-resumes-bombing-in-the-north-thousands-of-gazans-face-desperate-conditions
| 2024-01-31T23:29:40Z
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Texas sues 5 cities, including Denton, over marijuana policies
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against 5 Texas cities for policies regarding marijuana possession and distribution.
The lawsuits were filed by the State of Texas against Denton, Austin, San Marcos, Killeen and Elgin. The cities have adopted amnesty and non-prosecution policies about marijuana.
Paxton argues the policies violate Texas law.
"I will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists deliberately violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities," said Attorney General Paxton in a statement.
The lawsuits point to section 370.003 of the Texas Local Government Code, which says "the governing body of a municipality [or a] municipal police department … may not adopt a policy under which the entity will not fully enforce laws relating to drugs" and the Texas Constitution, which says cities with more than 5,000 residents cannot pass any ordinance inconsistent with the state's Constitution.
Each lawsuit named the mayors and several officials in each city.
Denton's Proposition B, a referendum to end citations and arrest for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, overwhelmingly passed in November 2022.
READ MORE: Denton votes to decriminalize small amounts marijuana
The lawsuit calls for a trial where Denton could be ordered to repeal the ordinance and fully enforce state drug laws.
In a news release announcing the lawsuits, Paxton said he will continue to seek accountability for the "rogue district attorneys" who opt not to prosecute certain crimes.
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https://www.fox4news.com/news/texas-sues-5-cities-including-denton-over-marijuana-policies
| 2024-01-31T23:29:42Z
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5 ways I faked bespoke fitted storage on a budget in my new kitchen – and made the most of every inch
Champagne kitchen storage tricks on a lemonade budget
When we were renovating our kitchen last year, balancing the budget was a constant challenge. I dreamed of a fully bespoke kitchen, but with a huge pot of money going towards the building work (we extended into the garage and put in a huge wall of sliding doors out to the garden), that was simply out of our price range.
Instead, we opted for off-the-shelf units from Howdens, fitted by our builders. We planned the layout carefully and as we wanted a kitchen without wall cabinets, storage space was at an absolute premium. We had to get very clever with the cupboard and drawers we had to max out every last centimetre.
My career in interior magazines has meant spending the last 20 years getting a sneak peek around some of the UK's most gorgeous kitchens – both in kitchen showrooms and while styling makeovers and reader's homes. I've seen some pretty amazing kitchen storage systems over the years, and these inspired some of the solutions I came up with for my own space.
1. Bi-fold cupboard door
When designing the kitchen, my heart was set on having an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinets. We couldn't squeeze that exact configuration into the room without losing too much cupboard space in the adjacent run of units, so I had to compromise on that side, and go for an L-shaped layout there instead.
We fitted a magic corner below the worktop, but we were stuck on how we could make use of the space above without visually interrupting the run of tall units.
We filled the space above the worktop with pantry-style kitchen shelving to make the most of the storage potential, and then I asked our builder to create a bi-fold door. This nifty hack means the door folds back fully flat against the wall so that it doesn't impede too much on the worktop below, whilst allowing easy access to the shelving. The builder made the bi-fold solution from two narrow doors, joined with a piano hinge (like this continuous hinge from B&Q), and they are kept neatly in place with magnetic latches.
2. Pull-out rail for cleaning kit
We had just enough space for a tall, narrow unit at the end of our run of floor-to-ceiling cabinets, but we didn't have enough money left in the pot for a smart pull-out larder system. The builders suggested just padding out each side of the run to fill the space, but I didn't want to lose an inch of potential storage, so we added a narrow cupboard which I've used for to organise cleaning supplies and kit.
Shelves below house cleaning products and I've fixed this pull-out wardrobe rail from Amazon at the top, with hooks on which I hang kit such as the dustpan and brush, mop heads and other essentials. It saves me trying to scrabble in the back of the cupboard, and is a great way to keep these things close to hand.
3. Hidden peninsula storage
I would have loved to have squeezed in a kitchen island packed with storage (a kitchen big enough is on my bucket list), but I had to accept that I didn't have enough space. As an alternative, we have a smart peninsula idea that serves as a breakfast bar and zones the room.
The back corner was going to end up being wasted space (a magic corner didn't fit with the configuration of drawers we wanted on the working side of the kitchen), but we've made use of it by turning it into a cupboard that's accessed from the seating side of the peninsula.
What looks like a single panel under the breakfast bar is split into two, with a door that's operated on a hidden push latch. We use the cupboard to stash away the posh china and serveware that we don't use daily and don't need constant access to.
4. Pan drawers
I loved the deep pan drawers we had in our last kitchen (that was also from Howdens), but we struggled with keeping pan lids organised. Having lusted after beautiful wooden peg board drawer storage in a bespoke kitchen showroom we visited, I've created a budget-friendly version using this expandable drawer organiser from Amazon.
It works brilliantly to organise kitchen drawers and keeps my pan lids neatly lined up (I like them in tidy size order and have to rearrange if one of my teenage twins has messed them up!). Eventually I'd like to upgrade it to a wooden board like this oak peg board from Ebay when I've saved some pennies.
5. Lazy susan drinks station
This idea is not so much a hack, but it is a brilliant addition to our larder. I fully recommend a turntable as a brilliant budget buy to organising a kitchen cupboard. To allow quick and easy access to everything I need for making hot drinks, I store coffee, tea bags, sugar, drinking chocolate and teaspoons in jars on top of this Lazy Susan from Amazon.
These nifty kitchen storage hacks are just a few of the kitchen features that make my life easier every day. It's well worth taking the time when you're planning your new kitchen (or during a kitchen decluttering mission), to find some simple solutions that don't cost much, but will make your space more efficient.
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Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.
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How to reuse an old mattress in the garden – 7 genius ways to repurpose yours
Not sure what to do with your old mattress? It might just prove an unexpected garden saviour...
By Kayleigh Dray
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JK Rowling's giant leylandii hedge is causing chaos in Edinburgh – this is how big they can actually grow
How big do leylandii grow? Really? JK Rowling learned the hard way...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Aldi is selling an £8 alternative to the Mrs Hinch-approved SonicScrubber – it's a cleaning caddy essential
Make cleaning a breeze with this must-have tool
By Jullia Joson
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https://www.idealhome.co.uk/kitchen/editors-fitted-kitchen-storage-hacks
| 2024-01-31T23:29:43Z
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Black Marketeer NPC Guide – Location, Appearance & Inventory
The Black Marketeer NPCs in Palworld, while a bit scary, are actually one of the more useful NPCs in the game. Here is how to find them.
While Palworld has a lot of Pals in it, the game also has a surprising amount of different human NPCs. Respawn points often boast Skilled Islanders, Explorers, or Travelers sitting at campfires with stories to tell, and Wandering Merchants appear all across the map. Additionally, there are wandering bands of hostile enemies such as Syndicate Members or The Free Pal Alliance Devotees.
However, there are NPCs in Palworld that may not be as obviously accessible. This includes the Black Marketeers, scary NPCs that, as their nefarious appearance would suggest, sell ‘totally legally obtained’ Pals and buy anything in a Pal Sphere.
Related: How To Unlock All Fast Travel Points In Palworld Immediately
What Do Black Marketeers Look Like In Palworld
Black Marketeers are by far one of the most visually distinct human characters in the game, as there is no mistaking them as a regular Villager. Their hood, mask, and general demeanor all indicate they are up to no good.
All Black Marketeers have the same dialogue when talked to about trading in any sort of Pal, stolen or prohibited included, as if to say “I am not at all worried about the PIDF finding me”. It feels very reminiscent of Nurse Joy in Pokémon.
In any case, after talking to the Black Marketeer, you can then buy a variety of Pals with mysterious origins or even sell your own Pals (or humans, disturbingly enough) to him for a pretty decent price depending on their level, rarity, and stats.
How Buying & Selling From The Black Marketeer Works
It’s worth going over a few things that have to do with the Black Marketeer’s whole process. For one, you don’t need to bring the Pals you want to sell ‘with’ you to the Marketeer. This is because, as soon as you go to the ‘Sell’ Tab in the Marketeer’s menu, you’ll see it lets you choose from all the Pals you’ve caught, including the ones in your Palbox.
Additionally, while this is a pretty decent way to make money in Palworld, there are a lot of other uses for duplicate Pals from having them work at the base to butchering them for resources and of course using them in the Pal Essence Condenser. So, be very sure you don’t want them before you sell your Pals to this guy, as it’s pretty clear he’s not going to be utilizing these Pals for the most ‘wholesome’ projects.
What is In The Black Marketeer’s Inventory
The Black Marketeer doesn’t have a ‘defined’ stock of Pals. Instead, it seems like they rotate after a certain amount of time (likely every time a full in-game day passes).
Other than that, the Pals selected as part of his inventory don’t seem to follow any sort of logic that we can see. So, when you visit a Black Marketeer, you’ll have no way of knowing if he’ll be offering standard Pals for between 3,000 to 5,000 Gold or if he’ll sell extra rare Pals at 10,000 to 15,000 Gold.
Some have theorized that the area the Marketeer is located at may impact the prices of the Pals the Marketeer sells. But if it does, it doesn’t impact it every time, as we’ve been to the one near Mount Obsidian and have been offered Pals at a meager 4,000 to 6,000 Gold. Also, be careful trying to go and check out the Black Marketeer’s inventory with a friend in an online server, as he only sells one copy of each Pal per day before ‘selling out’.
All Black Markeeter Locations
Black Marketeers don’t move. Once you find where one is located, that NPC will always be there. From our findings, there are about 8 different Black Marketeers spread throughout the islands of Palworld, as it seems like the developers wanted to make sure there was one in just about every quadrant of the map.
In the image above, each of the skull-with-horns icons denotes a Black Marketeer location, though be aware some of them are found in Mineshafts too, so if you go to the right spot and can’t find him, that’s likely why.
If you’re finding the back-and-forth travel time to check the Black Marketeer’s stock to be a bit much, you can also actually weaken and capture a Black Marketeer like any other human in Palworld and bring him back to your home base to keep him and his stock close by. Though, be aware, these NPCs are level 40, and capturing them (or even just lowering their health) is going to take some real work as well as an open Base Pal slot.
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https://www.gamepur.com/guides/black-marketeer-npc-guide-location-appearance-inventory
| 2024-01-31T23:29:43Z
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New Liverpool hero Conor Bradley left in sheer disbelief after match-winning performance in mauling of ChelseaPeter McVitieGettyConor BradleyLiverpoolLiverpool vs ChelseaPremier LeagueLiverpool starlet Conor Bradley felt like he was 'in a dream' after scoring his first senior goal as he put in an incredible display against Chelsea.Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues belowBradley was the star in Liverpool winGot his first senior goal for the RedsSpoke of 'dream' performance vs Chelsea
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https://www.goal.com/en-ug/lists/new-liverpool-hero-conor-bradley-disbelief-match-winning-performance-chelsea/blt3dbe90282b83a3c8
| 2024-01-31T23:29:45Z
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Laws on abortion are out of step with public opinion. One Republican legislator in Tennessee is working to establish exceptions to his state's strict abortion laws, but he faces a tough battle.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Laws on abortion are out of step with public opinion. One Republican legislator in Tennessee is working to establish exceptions to his state's strict abortion laws, but he faces a tough battle.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krwg.org/npr-politics/2024-01-31/a-tennessee-lawmaker-helped-pass-a-strict-abortion-law-hes-now-trying-to-loosen-it
| 2024-01-31T23:29:45Z
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Syphilis reaches 1950s levels in US, while other STD rates show mixed trends
NEW YORK (AP) - The U.S. syphilis epidemic isn't abating, with the rate of infectious cases rising 9% in 2022, according to a new federal government report on sexually transmitted diseases in adults.
But there's some unexpected good news: The rate of new gonorrhea cases fell for the first time in a decade.
It's not clear why infectious cases of syphilis rose 9% while gonorrhea dropped 9%, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, adding that it's too soon to know whether a new downward trend is emerging for the latter.
RELATED: America's most bed bug infested cities may surprise you
They are most focused on syphilis, which is less common than gonorrhea or chlamydia but considered more dangerous. And while it continues to have a disproportionate impact on gay and bisexual men, it is expanding in heterosexual men and women, and increasingly affecting newborns, too, CDC officials said.
Total cases surpassed 207,000 in 2022, a 17% increase and the highest count in the United States since 1950, according to data released Tuesday. The count includes not only the most infectious stages of the disease but also latent cases and cases in which pregnant women passed syphilis on to their babies.
Syphilis is a bacterial disease that can surface as painless genital sores but can ultimately lead to paralysis, hearing loss, dementia and even death if left untreated.
RELATED: Respiratory illnesses remain 'elevated' throughout much of country: CDC
New syphilis infections plummeted in the U.S. starting in the 1940s when antibiotics became widely available and fell to their lowest by 1998.
About 59,000 of the 2022 cases involved the most infectious forms of syphilis. Of those, about a quarter were women and nearly a quarter were heterosexual men.
"I think it's unknowingly being spread in the cisgender heterosexual population because we really aren’t testing for it. We really aren't looking for it" in that population, said Dr. Philip Chan, who teaches at Brown University and is chief medical officer of Open Door Health, a health center for gay, lesbian and transgender patients in Providence, Rhode Island.
The report also shows rates of the most infectious types of syphilis rose not just across the country but also across different racial and ethnic groups, with American Indian and Alaska Native people having the highest rate. South Dakota outpaced any other state for the highest rate of infectious syphilis at 84 cases per 100,000 people — more than twice as high as the state with the second-highest rate, New Mexico.
South Dakota's increase was driven by an outbreak in the Native American community, said Dr. Meghan O’Connell, chief public health officer at the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Nearly all of the cases were in heterosexual people, and O'Connell said that STD testing and treatment was already limited in isolated tribal communities and only got worse during the pandemic.
RELATED: Cancer cases increasing in US, but overall deaths decreasing, new research shows
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last year convened a syphilis task force focused on stopping the spread of the STD, with an emphasis on places with the highest syphilis rates — South Dakota, 12 other states and the District of Columbia.
The report also looked at the more common STDs of chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Chlamydia cases were relatively flat from 2021 to 2022, staying at a rate of about 495 per 100,000, though there were declines noted in men and especially women in their early 20s. For gonorrhea, the most pronounced decline was seen in women in their early 20s as well.
Experts say they're not sure why gonorrhea rates declined. It happened in about 40 states, so whatever explains the decrease appears to have occurred across most of the country. STD testing was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and officials believe that's the reason the chlamydia rate fell in 2020.
It's possible that testing and diagnoses were still shaking out in 2022, said Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
"We are encouraged by the magnitude of the decline," Mermin said, though the gonorrhea rate is still higher now than it was pre-pandemic. "We need to examine what happened, and whether it's going to continue to happen."
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/syphilis-reaches-1950s-levels-in-us-while-other-std-rates-show-mixed-trends
| 2024-01-31T23:29:46Z
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Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/broadway-legend-hinton-battle-who-originally-played-scarecrow-in-the-wiz-has-died
| 2024-01-31T23:29:46Z
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Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:DRETF – Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 516,200 shares, a growth of 11.1% from the December 31st total of 464,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 9,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 55.5 days.
Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust Trading Down 1.1 %
Shares of OTCMKTS DRETF traded down $0.09 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $8.06. 8,701 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,743. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $8.02. Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust has a twelve month low of $5.40 and a twelve month high of $12.63.
Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust Cuts Dividend
The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.062 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 30th. This represents a yield of 9.12%. Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 99.84%.
About Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust
Dream Office REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. Dream Office REIT is a premier office landlord in downtown Toronto with over 3.5 million square feet owned and managed. We have carefully curated an investment portfolio of high-quality assets in irreplaceable locations in one of the finest office markets in the world.
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https://www.com-unik.info/2024/01/31/dream-office-real-estate-investment-trust-otcmktsdretf-short-interest-update.html
| 2024-01-31T23:29:48Z
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Tom Kerridge has been blasted for charging £19.50 for a jacket potato - with some punters claiming he's "taking the p***".
The 50-year-old Masterchef star boasted about the lunchtime light dish which comes with a cheese and ham filling. It is being sold at his The Coach gastro pub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Kerridge, 50, boasted: “This month’s features Raclette with Sauce Reform, and let me tell you it is a work of art.” However, Chris Kelly fumed: “For £20 it should be. Fancy Spudulike.”
READ MORE: Want more showbiz? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
READ MORE: Want more TV? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
An online wag added: “These chefs are taking the p*ss now. What’s next? Luxury beans on toast? But TV presenter Lisa Snowdon, 52, was clearly a fan as she posted: “Yum.”
The dish is listed as 'The Coach Baked Potato 'Raclette' with Sauce Reform' on the restaurant's website. But customers ripped into the potato, with one fuming: "But it's a baked potato."
Another complained: "These chefs are taking the p*** now. What's next? Luxury beans on toast?". A third commented: "For £20 it should be a Fancy Spudulike."
It's not the first time the TV chef has come under fire because of his dishes. Punters laid into his £32 fish and chips meal, being sold at Kerridge's Bar and Grill inside the posh Corinthia London hotel.
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here
Tom posted a picture of the classic British pub grub on Instagram. The posh plate is served up with tartare sauce and minty mushy peas.
He captioned it: "I know my fish and chips are always a hot topic, and in my opinion, you absolutely can't beat a good fish and chippy tea. The fish and chips at @kerridgesbandg is a real crowd pleaser.
"But if you'd rather give them a go yourself, check out my recipe." Some didn't like it – with one Instagram commenter saying: "Looks like something you'd get in the frozen aisle. Poor."
The celebrity chef replied: "Sad post mate. Cheer up buddy, say something nice, don't be a d***. It's not a good look." Burn!
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/tom-kerridge-slammed-taking-p-32015516
| 2024-01-31T23:29:48Z
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Trackdown: Help find Steven Skalij, charged with sexual assault of minors
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas - In this week’s Trackdown, White Settlement police are looking for a man who is charged with sexual assault of minors.
Steven Skalij was arrested on one case, but his $500,000 bond was lowered to $100,000.
He made that bond, even as police were learning of other victims.
They now need help finding him.
"Steven Skalij got two felony warrants for sexual assault of a child. Very serious allegations here. We actually made an arrest back in October," White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook said. "However, he posted bond on that case and after we continued our investigation, we determined there were additional victims."
Police said Skalij had agreed to turn himself in, but he never showed up.
"On these types of offenses, we need to make sure that there's not additional victims out there or that he has the ability to re-offend. So the more quickly that we can bring him into custody, then we can bring justice to these families," Cook said. "He used to reside in our community. We also know that he used to have a construction business in our community as well. We think that someone will recognize him."
MORE: Trackdown Stories Here
Cook said they need help from the public to find Skalij.
"We think someone knows him, knows where he's at. Please give us a tip so we can get him into custody. If he sees this, he needs to do the right thing, turn himself in. He had agreed to turn himself in to our sergeant, but then when it came down to coming in, he never showed up," Cook said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 817-246-4973 or Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS.
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https://www.fox4news.com/news/trackdown-steven-skalij-sexual-assault-of-minors
| 2024-01-31T23:29:48Z
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You are here
JTB welcomes Indian film industry delegation
By JT - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) hosts the Indian media delegation, involving 52 journalists, newspaper editors-in-chief, influencers from the film industry, and magazine editors. (Petra photo)
AMMAN — The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) hosted a media delegation from India, involving 52 journalists, newspaper editors-in-chief, influencers from the film industry and magazine editors.
The visit, planned from Tuesday to Friday, aligns with JTB’s strategic plan to showcase Jordan’s tourist and archaeological wonders to an international audience, a JTB statement said on Wednesday as reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The JTB highlighted the importance of attracting influential figures from the film industry worldwide to explore Jordan’s historical, cultural and natural sites, for international film production.
The media delegation’s itinerary included visits to iconic locations such as Wadi Rum, Aqaba and Amman, during the filming of segments of the international Indian film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”.
The JTB, recognising the potential of the Indian market as one of the most promising for boosting tourism to Jordan, provided crucial support for the film crew.
The Royal Film Commission (RFC), responsible for logistical services for international film productions in Jordan, ensured a seamless experience by offering comprehensive information on filming procedures, obtaining necessary permits, identifying suitable locations and assisting with customs clearance for technical equipment.
Director General of the JTB Abdelrazzaq Arabiyat stressed that hosting the Indian media delegation underscores the joint interests of the tourism and film industries in Jordan.
He highlighted the investment opportunities available in Jordan, a symbol of stability and security in the region, boasting tourism components, climate diversity, a prime geographical location and authentic hospitality.
Director General of the RFC Mohannad Bakri referred to the close connection between the tourism and film sectors. Filming in Jordan showcases its picturesque locations and distinctive culture, serving as a powerful tool for marketing Jordan as a top-tier tourist destination, he added.
The delegation expressed admiration for the richness of Jordan’s tourism offerings and historical heritage, praising the warm and generous Jordanian hospitality.
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AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein, the Regent, on Tuesday visited the Royal Film Commission (RFC) and reviewed its activities and services in
AMMAN — The Royal Film Commission (RFC) and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) on Sunday signed a cooperation agreement to or
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https://jordantimes.com/news/local/jtb-welcomes-indian-film-industry-delegation
| 2024-01-31T23:29:49Z
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Tell Canadian politicians not repeat Alberta’s energy nightmare – send a message now
OTTAWA, Ontario (LifeSiteNews) — Famous Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson has praised pro-life and pro-freedom Member of Parliament (MP) Leslyn Lewis after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made disparaging comments about her in the House of Commons.
On January 30, Peterson defended Lewis after she was targeted by Trudeau in Parliament for calling for Canada to leave the United Nations because the organization undermines national sovereignty and citizens’ personal autonomy, also mentioning her previously meeting with Member of European Parliament (MEP) Christine Anderson.
“Keep it up, Dr. Lewis @LeslynLewis You’ve got a clear head and a straight-arrow soul,” Peterson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Keep it up, Dr. Lewis @LeslynLewis You’ve got a clear head and a straight-arrow soul. https://t.co/SxvIvs6ORM
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 30, 2024
Peterson’s encouragement came in response to Trudeau’s condemnation of Lewis and her pro-freedom work in Parliament the day before.
During the question period, Trudeau had accused Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre of “muzzling his own caucus.”
“This one is just too easy,” Poilievre responded, laughing. “He had to muzzle a member from Newfoundland who called for an end to his leadership, joining another senator who did the same.”
Poilievre’s comments refer to Newfoundland MP Ken McDonald walking back his statement that Trudeau should undergo a leadership review, just one day after making the initial suggestion.
However, instead of answering Poilievre, Trudeau took aim at Lewis, saying, ” In terms of standing up for his caucus, the leader across the way will not even mention the fact that the person sitting three seats to his left dined with a far right Conservative German politician and wants to abolish the United Nations.”
Trudeau says today Poilievre is “muzzling” his caucus, to which the Tory leader replies “this one is just too easy: he walked right into it,” refers to Lib MP McDonald recanting his call for leadership review. The PM answers by attacking Leslyn Lewis and her meeting with MEP… pic.twitter.com/RLZcJYiFs1
— Noé Chartier (@NChartierET) January 29, 2024
This is hardly the first time Lewis has been attacked for her pro-freedom stance. Earlier this month, several Liberal MPs took to social media and mainstream media outlets this month to bash Lewis for endorsing a House of Commons petition demanding that Canada “urgently” withdraw from the United Nations and its subgroup, the World Health Organization (WHO).
Similarly, in March 2023, Lewis, along with Colin Carrie, and Dean Allison, were denounced by leftists for meeting with MEP Christine Anderson, who was accused by liberals of having “racist” views.
The backlash following their meeting was so severe that reporters questioned Poilievre if he would remove the three MPs for their actions.
Poilievre responded that he would not, adding, “Right now, what I’m more concerned about is the vile and racist views of the prime minister, who after over half of his adult life dressed up in vile racist costumes so many times that he cannot remember them all.”
Indeed, Lewis seems well accustomed to being bullied by Trudeau and his party, pointing out that their actions are further proof that the party is falling apart.
“The PM is unravelling, @JustinTrudeau’s obsession with a 2nd year Member of Parliament at a time when Canadians are suffering financially is proof that he’s desperately falling apart!” she posted on X.
The PM is unravelling, @JustinTrudeau’s obsession with a 2nd year Member of Parliament at a time when Canadians are suffering financially is proof that he’s desperately falling apart! https://t.co/xzdv8RnasD
— Dr. Leslyn Lewis (@LeslynLewis) January 30, 2024
Lewis’ comments come after months of abysmal polling for the Liberal Party as Canadians seem to have had enough of Trudeau and his government.
While McDonald has now walked back his statement, he has not been the only member of the Liberal Party to condemn Trudeau’s leadership. In November, Liberal Senator Percy Downe wrote that the Liberal Party needs to look for another leader.
As for Lewis, she is pro-life and has consistently called out the Trudeau government for pushing a globalist, anti-life agenda on Canadians.
Early last year, Lewis noted that the WEF is “not our government” and that Canadians did not “sign up” to be attached to one of its charters. Lewis herself helped alert Canadians to the fact that Trudeau’s Liberal government signed onto the WEF charter in 2020.
Tell Canadian politicians not repeat Alberta’s energy nightmare – send a message now
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https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/jordan-peterson-praises-pro-life-pro-freedom-mp-leslyn-lewis-after-shes-targeted-by-trudeau-in-parliament/
| 2024-01-31T23:29:49Z
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Call of Duty: MW3 Season 2 Release Date, The Walking Dead Crossover, and Launch Trailer
Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone’s Season 2 brings a slew of new content for players to enjoy as they jump in for even more mayhem.
The reason that players have stuck around for so long in Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone is because of the first full season of content they could grind through. As expected, the game’s getting a second season, adding even more for players to consume in the coming months.
When it was first released, players jumped into Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone headfirst and never looked back. The game’s core three modes offer more than enough to keep anyone occupied for hundreds of hours. We’ve still not seen everything there is to see in Zombies Mode, and we’ve put more hours into it than some JRPGs we’ve finished. Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone Season 2 looks to be bringing so much more to the table, making these games impossible to escape.
Related: How to Revive Teammates in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies
When is the Release Date for Call of Duty: MW3 & Warzone Season 2?
The release date for Call of Duty: MW3 & warzone Season 2 is February 7, 2024. It’s unclear exactly what time the new season will go live because Activision Blizzard hasn’t confirmed those details at the time of writing.
We’d expect the game’s servers to go down for a large portion of the day. Then, players will need to download an update before they can successfully get into Season 2. Players should bear in mind that this could cause some errors to occur, so they shouldn’t count on being able to play on the day the season launches.
What is the Call of Duty: MW3 & Warzone Season 2 The Walking Dead Crossover?
The Walking Dead crossover in Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone is a set of Operator skins that allow players to take on the roles of Rick and Michonne from the popular TV and comicbook series. These skins will probably be available to use in all game modes, meaning players can make the most of them once they get them.
The only aspect of this crossover that’s unclear at the time of writing is how players will get them. We suspect they might be premium skins players must pay for in addition to the Battle Pass for Season 2. However, given how much they’ve been advertised in the lead up to the season’s launch, they could also be included in the Battle Pass.
Are There New Modes in Call of Duty: MW3 & Warzone Season 2?
Yes, Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone Season 2 adds Stash House 6v6, Vista 6v6, and Departures 6v6 game modes to multiplayer, as well as Operation Tin Man to War Mode, and Hordepoint, Overgrown, Overrun, and Overloaded modes to Zombies Mode.
This is only what has been revealed for the season so far. There could be much more to Season 2 that we’re not aware of yet. Activision Blizzard could even choose to keep the bulk of the details to itself until the day the season launches.
What’s in the Call of Duty: MW3 & Warzone Season 2 Battle Pass?
At the time of writing, the Battle Pass for Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone Season 2 hasn’t been revealed. However, as seen in the trailer above, it looks like players will be able to get their hands on a new animated Ghost skin as well as Rick and Michonne from The Walking Dead.
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https://www.gamepur.com/guides/call-of-duty-mw3-season-2-release-date-the-walking-dead-crossover-and-launch-trailer
| 2024-01-31T23:29:49Z
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The Governor of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has signed into law Executive Order 001 of 2024 on the safe handling and storage of harmful substances in the state.
This is coming after the explosion that rocked Ibadan on 16 January in which five people lost their lives, 77 were left injured and many properties were destroyed.
During the brief signing ceremony held at his private office on Wednesday, Mr Makinde said the move was necessary to prevent a recurrence of the Bodija explosion where explosives were stored in a residential area.
The governor urged companies or individuals with harmful substances stored in residential areas in the state to notify the state government.
He said failure to comply with the provisions of the executive order shall constitute an offence and shall be punishable by the law.
Mr Makinde, who was also at the ground zero of the explosion site, disclosed that structural integrity tests on affected buildings have been concluded, adding that the official report is expected next week.
The governor disclosed that most patients hospitalised due to the explosion have been discharged, with only one person awaiting surgery.
“We have also continued our engagement with the affected community and we are working towards supporting them to resume their normal lives.
“We have scheduled an expanded meeting for Tuesday, 6 February, after which we will outline the next steps our administration will take on this issue,” Mr Makinde said.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/664080-ibadan-explosion-makinde-signs-executive-order-on-harmful-substance-handling-storage.html
| 2024-01-31T23:29:49Z
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Tottenham x UFC?! Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou makes bizarre MMA threat after bad-tempered victory over BrentfordJames HunsleyGetty ImagesTottenham HotspurPremier LeagueAnge PostecoglouNeal MaupayTottenham Hotspur vs BrentfordBrentfordBrennan JohnsonAnge Postecoglou challenged his Tottenham players to sort out their differences with Brentford in a UFC ring after a full-blooded win on Wednesday.Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues belowSpurs and Brentford in heated clashNorth London side prevail 3-2Postecoglou makes UFC comment
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https://www.goal.com/en-ug/lists/tottenham-ufc-spurs-boss-ange-postecoglou-bizarre-mma-threat-bad-tempered-victory-brentford/blt461ce8ae5451caa2
| 2024-01-31T23:29:51Z
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NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with constitutional scholar Philip Bobbitt about the effort from House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Copyright 2024 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with constitutional scholar Philip Bobbitt about the effort from House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krwg.org/npr-politics/2024-01-31/constitutional-scholar-says-gop-charges-against-mayorkas-dont-meet-impeachment-bar
| 2024-01-31T23:29:52Z
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NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with constitutional scholar Philip Bobbitt about the effort from House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Copyright 2024 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with constitutional scholar Philip Bobbitt about the effort from House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/constitutional-scholar-says-gop-charges-against-mayorkas-dont-meet-impeachment-bar
| 2024-01-31T23:29:53Z
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How to Download & Play Silent Hill: The Short Message on PS5
Silent Hill: The Short Message is a free-to-play Silent Hill game that was shadowdropped, and fans are eager to get their hands on it.
During the January 2024 State of Play, Sony and Konami announced and released Silent Hill: The Short Message, a new entry in the series that fans are incredibly eager to get their hands on. The trouble is, it’s not easy to find on the PlayStation Store.
While Sony and Konami aren’t companies known for shadowdropping games, the January 2024 State of Play event saw both join forces to bring a new free-to-play horror game to the table. Silent Hill: The Short Message combines elements of several horror franchises, including Hideo Kojima’s own P.T. and gives fans of the franchise something to dig into while they await the highly anticipated Silent Hill 2 Remake. Of course, since it’s a Silent Hill game nothing is simple.
Related: Silent Hill F debuts with a disturbing, body-horror filled teaser
How Do You Download & Play Silent Hill: The Short Message
At the time of writing, Silent Hill: The Short Message isn’t available on the PlayStation Store. We will update this section of the article as soon as it’s live. The game won’t appear anywhere else because it’s a PlayStation exclusive and is part of a deal between Sony and Konami to help support the marketing for Silent Hill 2 Remake.
As of January 31, 2024, it appears as though the PlayStation Store could actually be broken. We’ve been searching for the words “Silent Hill” ever since this game was announced and nothing is showing. However, before the State of Play concluded, we could get a result for Silent Hill 2 Remake. It’s possible that the sheer number of people searching for the game has crashed the search function.
To find the game, fans will need to launch the PlayStation Store on their PS5 and search for “Silent Hill” or “The Short Message.” This will bring up the game among their results, and they’ll be able to download it from there. If fans can’t find it though the search bar function, they should try looking in the built-in Free-to-Play menu on the home page of the PlayStation Store. Since the game is free, it’ll appear in there.
Silent Hill: The Short Message is Available Now
Silent Hill: The Short Message is a free-to-play game in the Silent Hill franchise that tells the story of a young woman who is searching for her friend using text messages sent to her phone. She’s in an endless corridor and must solve puzzles to get through to a new area and progress to her goal.
The walls are littered with messages that reveal the protagonist’s insecurities. This will form a big part of the story. For those who aren’t aware, all Silent Hill games examine the intricacies of each main character and their flaws, which the town personifies. This is why Silent Hill is different for everyone.
The game was leaked in December 2022, and the trailer makes it look almost exactly as the details in this leak suggested it would. While nothing came of those leaks around the time they were made, many who said they were close to the project insisted it was scrapped. The title’s release confirms that at least some elements were preserved or reworked.
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https://www.gamepur.com/guides/how-to-download-play-silent-hill-the-short-message-on-ps5
| 2024-01-31T23:29:56Z
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NPR Politics Lawmakers grilled the CEOs of top social media companies in a hearing today By Dara Kerr Published January 31, 2024 at 3:21 PM MST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 3:45 During a contentious hearing, lawmakers demanded that social media companies do better to protect children online. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krwg.org/npr-politics/2024-01-31/lawmakers-grilled-the-ceos-of-top-social-media-companies-in-a-hearing-today
| 2024-01-31T23:29:58Z
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Shares of Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESEA – Get Free Report) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $27.73 and traded as high as $40.41. Euroseas shares last traded at $39.82, with a volume of 87,040 shares changing hands.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Euroseas from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, January 20th.
View Our Latest Analysis on Euroseas
Euroseas Stock Performance
Euroseas (NASDAQ:ESEA – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The shipping company reported $4.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.01 by $1.06. The business had revenue of $52.32 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $43.66 million. Euroseas had a net margin of 60.14% and a return on equity of 46.99%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Euroseas Ltd. will post 14.19 earnings per share for the current year.
Euroseas Announces Dividend
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Saturday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 7th. Euroseas’s payout ratio is 12.69%.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Euroseas
Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Millennium Management LLC lifted its position in Euroseas by 57.1% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 136,234 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $3,256,000 after acquiring an additional 49,492 shares during the period. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new position in Euroseas in the third quarter worth about $807,000. Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new position in Euroseas in the first quarter worth about $766,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Euroseas in the third quarter worth about $551,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in Euroseas by 20.7% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 63,078 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $1,508,000 after buying an additional 10,800 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 2.75% of the company’s stock.
About Euroseas
Euroseas Ltd. provides ocean-going transportation services worldwide. The company owns and operates containerships that transport dry and refrigerated containerized cargoes, including manufactured products and perishables. As of May 02, 2023, it had a fleet of 18 vessels, including 11 feeder and 7 intermediate containerships with a cargo capacity of approximately 56, 061 twenty-foot equivalent unit.
Further Reading
- Five stocks we like better than Euroseas
- 5 Top Rated Dividend Stocks to Consider
- What is a bear market rally? Examples and how they work
- How to Invest in the Best Canadian Stocks
- 7 best bear market ETFs to battle a decline
- What is the Hang Seng index?
- 10 best sugar stocks to buy now
Receive News & Ratings for Euroseas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Euroseas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
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https://www.com-unik.info/2024/01/31/euroseas-nasdaqesea-stock-crosses-above-200-day-moving-average-of-27-73.html
| 2024-01-31T23:29:58Z
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Family Guy’s steamiest scenes - lingerie, lap dance and Bill Clinton affair
From stripping off to strip teases, carwash chaos to bikini babes, the hit animated series Family Guy has featured a number of raunchy scenes throughout it's 22 season run
Family Guy first aired back in 1999 and the controversial cartoon has had a number of steamy scenes and scandalous storylines throughout the years.
The adult animation has been part of a number of scandals which has earned the production a loyal fanbase along with many disapproving critics.
The show's tongue in cheek attitude and on the nose script make it what it is, along with the wild moments that leave fans with their jaws on the floor.
Check out some of the show's steamiest scenes and most raciest moments, from Lois Griffin's infamous makeover to her affair with Bill Clinton, from Bonnie's past career as a stripper to bikini scenes in the back garden.
READ MORE: Bianca Censori poses braless in wet top and thong as Kanye West flogs t-shirts
Soaking Up The Sun
Model Behaviour
Lois Gets A Makeover
When Joe Met Bonnie
Out On The Town
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/us-showbiz/gallery/family-guys-steamiest-scenes-lingerie-32015432
| 2024-01-31T23:29:58Z
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Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/expected-to-be-a-big-deal-alzheimers-drug-is-pulled-after-disappointing-sales
| 2024-01-31T23:29:59Z
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Symbols of the Middle East: Decoding cultural, functional significance of Wusum marking system
By Saeb Rawashdeh - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
Camel and sheep with wasum, or tribal symbols, marked on their bodies seen on petroglyps (Photo of Majeed Khan)
AMMAN — Across the Middle East, multiple Bedouin groups use a system of markings called Wusum (singular: Wasm), frequently encountered in the shape of animal brands or petroglyphs, as well as lines and dots, or a combination of the two, and sometimes take on geometric shapes such as circles and squares, noted Koen Berghuijs from Leiden University in The Netherlands.
“Comparable to the concept of a signature, Wusum operate on and refer to various levels of different but closely intertwined modes of social organisation, including families and tribes,” Berghuijs explained, adding that Wusum are frequently encountered in archaeological surveys throughout the Near East but have so far not received much scholarly attention.
Wusum petroglyphs can be found in Socotra, Yemeni, Saudi deserts and the Levant.
According to Berghuijs, for most archaeologists, Wusum form a type of petroglyphs that appear to be idle derivatives of modern-day camel brands and, because of that, are deemed the result of bedouin pastime practices not worthy of further investigation.
“In general, all that can be said about Wusum is that their meaning is open to many interpretations and in the majority of cases, their significance goes beyond being merely indicative,” the Dutch scholar underlined.
During his pioneering field research in oral poetry and narratives from central and southern Nejd, Dutch scholar and diplomat Marcel Kurpershoek documented a bedouin sheikh’s perspective on the nature of contemporary Wusum: According to him, Wusum is like a personal name or a family name and it distinguishes tribe from tribe.
Nowadays, Wusum indeed occur mainly as animal brands to indicate ownership; examples of such brands can still be observed among camel herds in the region, Berghuijs said, adding that in the 19th century, however, Wusum were utilised in a much wider range of contexts and appear to have played important roles in bedouin societies.
“Ethnographic sources, oral traditions and travellers” accounts not only feature a rich variety of marking applications but also demonstrate the economic and sociopolitical dimensions of Wusum,” Berghuijs underlined, adding that the marking practices recorded by these early explorers and scholars demonstrate that Wusum were indelibly connected with various aspects of the bedouin life, including territoriality, access to natural resources and matters of identity.
The first European to note the existence and use of Wusum as animal brands was a famous Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
During his travels in the deserts of Arabia and Syria between 1810 and 1812, Burckhardt observed that: “All the Bedouin camels are marked with a hot iron, that they may be recognised if they straggle away, or should be stolen. Every tribe and every taifé, or family of a tribe, has its own particular mark. This is generally placed on the camel’s left shoulder or its neck.”
Not only was the shape of the wasm indicative of the associated social group, but also its position on the animal in question. Common locations included the camel’s nose, forehead, cheeks, neck, shoulders, hips, legs and buttocks, Burckhhardt testified.
Wusum marking practices formed an important part of 19th century bedouin life, stressed Berghuijs, noting that the markings, whether applied to animals or burials, were simultaneously physical representations of abstract sociopolitical relations and identities; a direct link with mythical ancestors from which hereditary status was derived; and expressions of (temporary) claims to resources, all bound together in a single wasm.
“The tentative of dating of Wusum petroglyphs from the Jebel Qurma region offers a new way of identifying [post-] Ottoman era human presence and activity in the area, and perhaps the Near East at large,” Berghuijs explained.
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AMMAN — “The question of why there are no gazelles represented in the petroglyphs [designs pecked into a stone surface] remains puzzling,” s
AMMAN — The annual Jordanian Camel Race Festival, which took place in Disah (Wadi Rum desert), concluded on Thursday.The two-day festi
“Jordanian weaving is the work of artists. It is something to be fully experienced. You must see it, touch it, feel it and live with it. These pieces are so beautiful it is sometimes hard to imagine they were made for hard use.”
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https://jordantimes.com/news/local/symbols-middle-east-decoding-cultural-functional-significance-wusum-marking-system
| 2024-01-31T23:29:59Z
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The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has set aside the suspension of Augustine Agada, the chairperson of the Benue State chapter of the party.
Mr Agada was suspended on Monday by APC Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson of the APC, Felix Morka, announced the revocation of the suspension on Wednesday in a statement.
The NWC directed the chapter to stay in action pending a review by the national body.
“The party has directed that the said suspension and all related actions in the matter be, and are hereby, set aside pending further review and decision of the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on the matter.
“Therefore, Mr Augustine Agada remains a bonafide member, and the Chairman of the Benue State Chapter, of our party,” the statement reads in part.
Crisis-ridden party
The Benue APC has been in crisis for a couple of months. There are speculations that the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, have been locked in a supremacy battle for the control of the party.
Mr Agada, who is believed to be in the camp of Mr Akume, has been at loggerheads with the governor.
Mr Alia, 56, ditched his cassock last year and emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He won the election on the back of a mass following.
Analysts believe that Mr Akume, a former governor of the state, provided the political structure that ultimately propelled the APC back to power in the state.
Last year, a group of federal lawmakers, loyal to Mr Akume, called for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu as they accused the governor of marginalising the members of the ruling party in the state.
Also, last week the APC candidate for Benue South Senatorial District in the 2023 General Elections, Daniel Onjeh, petitioned the national headquarters of the party, accusing Mr Agada of anti-party activities.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/664090-apc-nullifies-suspension-of-partys-chairperson-in-benue.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:00Z
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How to Fish in Eastward Octopia DLC
Fishing in this pixel RPG gone farming game is actually harder than I expected.
Farming sims must have a fishing minigame, and Eastward Octopia delivered a unique fishing minigame with its style. But with all new things comes the effort of having to learn how they work. As a farmer, you’re supposed to fish. By definition, a farmer is a person who owns and manages a farm. So, if there happens to be a lake or river on your farm, you have to take care of the fish in it.
While some might argue that feeding algae to the fish might be a nicer way to look after your body of water, Eastward Octopia goes hard on the cooking recipes. And there is no way I’m going through all that cooking without some fish. However, as much as I like to sit quietly by a fishing rod and wait for the fish to catch my bait before calling it a day, Eastward Octopia doesn’t agree with my version of fishing.
It seems it would much rather shove this wiggly blue circle at my face and have me do the hard work. Since I had to bite the bait of Eastward’s fishing mechanic and chew it on my own, here’s a guide on how the fishing minigame works and how to use bait in Octopia.
How Eastward Octopia’s Fishing Minigame Works
To fish in Eastward Octopia, move the bobber around the circle until it’s near one of the fish. Then, press the Fish/Reel button to drop it inside the body of water. Once the fish swims by it, press the Fish/Reel button again to start the tug-of-war game.
The key to getting a fish’s attention without causing it to swim to safer waters is to cast the line in front of them, but at a safe distance to not spook them. Once you’ve cast your line, keep it frozen until the fish bites.
Then, chase the fish around the circle’s outline by moving in the same direction as they’re moving. When you’re just on its tail, press the Fish/Reel button. You’ll have to do this three times before successfully catching fish in Eastward Octopia.
How Bait Works in Eastward Octopia
After the third day, you can purchase Bait from William in Eastward Octopia. Bait doesn’t make the fishing minigame easier; instead, it resets the fish swimming in the water.
So, let’s say you kicked off your morning with a quick fishing trip, and you’ve either emptied the lake or had every fish run away because your fishing skills suck. You don’t need to get your bearings and go fish somewhere else. Just use bait to reset the fish swimming in the body of water.
Related: 10 Best Upcoming DLC Releases For 2024
This also works to get fish of a different rarity. If you want blue or pink fish to spawn and are stuck with a lake full of whites, you can use bait in Eastward Octopia to get a new set of fishies.
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https://www.gamepur.com/guides/how-to-fish-in-eastward-octopia-dlc
| 2024-01-31T23:30:02Z
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The dueling contests surrounding the Nevada Republican's nominating process has led to voter confusion. And with it, an outcome many in the state saw as inevitable: Trump is the de facto winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
The dueling contests surrounding the Nevada Republican's nominating process has led to voter confusion. And with it, an outcome many in the state saw as inevitable: Trump is the de facto winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krwg.org/npr-politics/2024-01-31/nevadas-gop-nominating-process-is-confusing-and-already-yielded-a-likely-winner
| 2024-01-31T23:30:04Z
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From the occupied West Bank, an emergency hotline assists rescue efforts in Gaza By Aya Batrawy Published January 31, 2024 at 3:39 PM MST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:17 NPR visits an emergency hotline center in the West Bank assisting first responders in the Gaza Strip. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/from-the-occupied-west-bank-an-emergency-hotline-assists-rescue-efforts-in-gaza
| 2024-01-31T23:30:05Z
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How to Make Shrimp Dumplings in Eastward Octopia
Cooking is fun, unless you’re being blackmailed into it by a grumpy visitor. Here’s how to make Shrimp Dumplins in Eastward Octopia.
Eastward Octopia goes surprisingly hard on the cooking mechanic for a farming sim game. In fact, most of your quests will be tied to your cookbook, so you better get comfortable with it. Cooking is great for getting some extra stamina — or replenishing the entire stamina bar you just depleted trying to understand how fishing works. And though Sam seems to have an inexhaustible stock of bread she gobbles up every morning, it doesn’t hurt to give John a meal a day.
Soup and Grilled Sweet Potatoes might be enough for him, but they’re definitely not enough for Lee, the grumpy villager who occasionally comes by Octopia. Because you were kinda rude when he first arrived — and by you, I mean Solomon — you can give him a peace offering in the form of food. Specifically, Shrimp Dumplings. While that does sound like a tasty meal, sourcing all the ingredients to cook Shrimp Dumplings isn’t nearly as appealing. In this guide, I’ll help you cook Shrimp Dumplings in Eastward Octopia.
Related: 10 Best Upcoming DLC Releases For 2024
How to Get All Ingredients to Cook Shrimp Dumplins in Eastward Octopia
To cook Shrimp Dumplings, you’ll need three ingredients: Shrimp, Carrots, and Flour. Let’s see how you can gather each one in Eastward step by step.
How to Get Shrimp in Eastward Octopia
To get Shrimp in Eastward Octopia, go fishing just south of your farm and look for blue fish swimming around the fishing minigame circle.
The reason you want to keep an eye out for blue fish instead of white or pink is because Shrimp only spawns in that color. If you’re not getting blue fish, either try a different river or pond or use a bait to reset the fishing minigame circle and fill it with new fish.
How to Get Carrot in Eastward Octopia
Carrot Seeds are the easiest ingredient you can source to make Shrimp Dumplings in Eastward Octopia. You just have to head to William’s Trading Post in Octopia’s city center, purchase a few, and grow them on your farm.
How to Get Flour in Eastward Octopia
To get Flour in Eastward Octopia, purchase Wheat seeds from William’s Trading Post, grow Wheat on your farm, and Mill it with Yuyuu’s help.
Wheat takes three days to grow, so plan accordingly so you don’t fail Lee’s Shrimp Dumplings quest. Once it’s fully grown, just take it to Yuyuu, pay the 50 salts fee, and get this quest done.
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https://www.gamepur.com/guides/how-to-make-shrimp-dumplings-in-eastward-octopia
| 2024-01-31T23:30:08Z
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Luke Littler enters the rock ’n’ roll bedlam of Premier League Darts on Thursday night with a brash dismissal of Michael van Gerwen’s warning he was joining the “big boys” club.
On the eve of his debut in the travelling circus which will export his outlandish talent across seven countries in 17 weeks, Luke the Nuke wasn’t standing for any of Clog Almighty’s mind games. Not only can the boy wonder handle his opponents on the oche – he has beaten six world champions, past and present, in as many weeks – but 17-year-old Littler is happy to play them at their own game.
As the eight-player cast lined up at the Principality Stadium to promote the curtain-raiser at the Utility arena in Cardiff, the only things shining more brightly than Littler’s report card were the pitch glow lamps. In a repeat of the PDC World Championship final, Littler meets Luke Humphries, his conqueror at Ally Pally, in the first phase of the mini-knockout tournament.
READ MORE: Peter Wright’s ‘try harder’ comments about ‘lower-ranked darts players’ leaves fans fuming
BUY NOW : Premier League Darts preview – on sale now for Luke Littler's debut campaign
Apart from chancers flogging fake copies of his autograph on auction websites, and the schedule being so busy that he hasn’t had a chance to take his first driving lesson despite turning 17 a couple of weeks ago, nothing seems to bother him. Van Gerwen knows how to season the pot, and MVG – who pipped the Warrington whizkid in a pulsating Dutch Masters final last weekend – said of Littler: “He’s had a fabulous last two months – but it’s only two months, yeah?
"He needs to do it for a very long time. He's got everything to be a top 10 player in the next 20 years, but you still have to do it. He is still young.”
How do you think Luke Littler will fare in the Premier League? Let us know in the comments section.
Asked if he felt protective of a precocious young talent, Van Gerwen shrugged: “Really? Of course not. Welcome to the big boys. He is not a youth player any more. Those days are gone. Of course, he’s still only a kid, but now you have got to battle against each other on the stage and there cannot be any mercy whatsoever.
“It’s not hard at the moment because he doesn’t have any scars. Whatever he does, being a runner-up is good, winning is good. Whatever he does, whatever he says, everybody loves everything about him.
Premier League Darts Preview 2024
Kebab-loving Luke Littler took the World Championships by storm. Now the teen sensation is taking his talents around the UK and Europe as he faces the big boys in the Premier League.
Venues will be packed out to see the new darting icon take on the biggest names in the sport - Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwin, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall over the next few months.
Our special Premier League preview charts Littler's astronomic rise, turns the spotlight on his rivals for the coveted title, includes an exclusive column from James Wade, interviews with legends of the game, current Premier League players and PDC chairman Eddie Hearn - and it tells you everything you need to know about the tournament.
“But during a game, if he looks at his watch and says, ‘How can I miss again?’, in five years’ time they will boo you. That’s the way darts works now. At the beginning everything goes well, but then everything gets normal. Guys like him only get born once in so many years and he’s a special talent, of course, but he still has to do it every year. He is with the big guys now.”
Hitting back, with the deft touch of a drop-shot rather than a haymaker, Littler’s response was glorious. “Big boys league? Surely I am one of them now! I have joined them in the Big Boys League. This is what I have signed up for – to play with the best of the best. I am looking forward to playing these boys week-in, week-out.”
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He even politely declined Humphries’ offer of senior players acting as his minders on the road to shield him from exploitation. “I am grateful for what Luke has said,” he responded. “But I know what’s in line, I know I can handle it all myself.”
Humphries, who hopes to be playing Littler on the big stage “for the next 20 years”, said: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Even if he beats me in our next 10 meetings in a row, I got the one that mattered the most - the World Championship trophy.”
Thursday’s games (7pm, Sky Sports): Peter Wright v Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price v Nathan Aspinall, Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith, Luke Humphries v Luke Littler.
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/darts/luke-littler-darts-van-gerwen-32014929
| 2024-01-31T23:30:09Z
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Extreme Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXTR – Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 12,480,000 shares, an increase of 5.1% from the December 31st total of 11,880,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,350,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.3 days.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Rosenblatt Securities lowered their price objective on Extreme Networks from $35.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Oppenheimer lowered Extreme Networks from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. Lake Street Capital downgraded Extreme Networks from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $23.00 target price on shares of Extreme Networks in a research report on Thursday, December 28th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Extreme Networks in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $29.71.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on EXTR
Extreme Networks Price Performance
Extreme Networks (NASDAQ:EXTR – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 1st. The technology company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.05. Extreme Networks had a net margin of 6.88% and a return on equity of 112.23%. The firm had revenue of $353.14 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $349.95 million. Equities analysts forecast that Extreme Networks will post 0.89 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Buying and Selling at Extreme Networks
In other Extreme Networks news, CEO Edward Meyercord sold 28,443 shares of Extreme Networks stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.10, for a total value of $486,375.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,090,354 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,645,053.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 3.32% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Extreme Networks
Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY increased its holdings in Extreme Networks by 5.2% during the second quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 6,937 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $181,000 after buying an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Extreme Networks by 49.8% in the 4th quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,781 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 592 shares in the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its position in Extreme Networks by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 18,200 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $474,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management increased its holdings in shares of Extreme Networks by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 12,341 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $299,000 after purchasing an additional 638 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westover Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in Extreme Networks by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Westover Capital Advisors LLC now owns 161,860 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $3,919,000 after acquiring an additional 716 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.95% of the company’s stock.
About Extreme Networks
Extreme Networks, Inc delivers cloud-driven networking solutions that leverage the powers of machine learning, artificial intelligence, analytics, and automation.
The company designs, develops, and manufactures wired and wireless network infrastructure equipment and develops the software for network management, policy, analytics, security, and access controls.
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https://www.com-unik.info/2024/01/31/extreme-networks-inc-nasdaqextr-sees-significant-growth-in-short-interest.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:08Z
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Iran warns US against threats after deadly attack on troops
By AFP - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
This handout photo taken and released by the Iraqi Interior Ministry on January 28 shows a section of the border concrete wall, along the border with Syria in the Iraqi area of Al Baghouz, on the day of its inauguration (AFP photo)
TEHRAN — Iran on Wednesday warned the United States not to threaten it, after Washington said it decided on a response to an attack that killed three American troops in an outpost near the northeastern borders with Syria.
"America must stop using the language of threat and projection and focus on a political solution," Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, according to the official IRNA news agency.
"Iran's response to threats is decisive and immediate," he added.
The killing of American troops in a drone strike on Sunday marked the first US military losses to hostile fire in the region since the Israeli war on Gaza war broke out on October 7.
US President Joe Biden, who blamed “radical Iran-backed militant groups”, said he had decided on a response but insisted that he was not seeking a wider war in the Middle East.
The White House warned that “multiple actions” could be taken in retaliation for the attack but gave no further details.
On Wednesday, Gen. Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said threats by American officials “will not go unanswered”, IRNA reported.
“We are not looking for war, but we are not afraid of war,” said Salami.
Iran has denied any links to the attack on the US troops and said it was not seeking an “expansion” of conflict in the Middle East.
Regional tensions have intensified since the Hamas-Israel war, drawing in Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
The Islamic republic has previously said it sees a “duty” to support what it calls “resistance groups” in the region but insists they are “independent” in decision and action.
Related Articles
TEHRAN — Iran on Tuesday summoned the British ambassador to Tehran to protest against London's "accusations" against the Islamic republic, s
TEHRAN — Any country that attacks Iran will become the "main battlefield", the Revolutionary Guards warned Saturday after Washington ordered
TEHRAN — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard unveiled an intermediate range ballistic missile on Tuesday capable of travelling at hypersonic speeds o
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https://jordantimes.com/news/region/iran-warns-us-against-threats-after-deadly-attack-troops
| 2024-01-31T23:30:09Z
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Lawmakers grilled the CEOs of top social media companies in a hearing today By Dara Kerr Published January 31, 2024 at 3:21 PM MST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 3:45 During a contentious hearing, lawmakers demanded that social media companies do better to protect children online. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/lawmakers-grilled-the-ceos-of-top-social-media-companies-in-a-hearing-today
| 2024-01-31T23:30:12Z
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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the people of the Ebonyi South Senatorial District to vote for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Silas Onu, during Saturday’s by-election in the district.
Atiku made the call in a statement by his media office on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting the election to replace David Umahi, who vacated the seat to take up a ministerial position.
Mr Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was inaugurated as works minister on 21 August last year.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, said in the statement he earlier posted on his Facebook page, that the people of the district, the Senate and Nigeria stand to gain from Mr Onu’s multiple set skills and the vibrancy of his youth.
“It is my appeal to voters in the Ebonyi South senatorial district to give their unalloyed support to Barrister Silas Onu and, by so doing, vote for the Peoples Democratic Party in Saturday’s by-election. The people of Ebonyi South Senatorial District, the Senate and indeed Nigeria stand to gain from Silas Onu’s multiple set skills and the vibrancy of his youth,” he said.
The former VP also said his appeal goes beyond Ebonyi State and that it connects all the 35 constituencies and nine states affected by court-ordered by-elections.
Read Atiku’s statement
PRESS RELEASE
Atiku backs Silas Onu, other PDP candidates in Saturday’s by-election
The by-election arising from outstanding voting into various legislative positions in the 2023 General Election is billed for Saturday.
These elections that cover a wide range of polling units and a few constituencies shall be the last effort by the respective voters in the affected electoral wards to conclude their franchise in the last General Elections.
It is my appeal to voters in the Ebonyi South senatorial district to give their unalloyed support to Barrister Silas Onu and, by so doing, vote for the Peoples Democratic Party in Saturday’s by-election. The people of Ebonyi South Senatorial District, the Senate and indeed Nigeria stand to gain from Silas Onu’s multiple set skills and the vibrancy of his youth.
My appeal goes beyond Ebonyi State and connects with voters in all the 35 constituencies and nine states affected by court-ordered by-elections.
I do hope that voters in these states, which include Ebonyi, Yobe, Borno, Kaduna, Benue, Ondo, Taraba, Lagos and Kebbi, shall make a bold statement in the forthcoming election by putting a stamp of rejection on the ruling All Progressives Congress for having made insecurity and impoverishment a policy of the state in all the affected polling units.
Our country stands at the cusp of a new beginning, and the decisions that voters in the elections on Saturday shall make will determine how ready we are, as a people, to provoke the march to economic and national recovery.
I would also like to advocate for a peaceful election this Saturday and urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the opportunity of this by-election to redeem itself of the fraudulent and shambolic elections of 2023.
I want to specifically urge members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party and, indeed, agents of other political parties participating in the elections to conduct themselves according to the laid down regulations on the day of the election. -AA
Released By:
Atiku Media Office
Abuja
31st January, 2024.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/664104-atiku-backs-silas-onu-other-pdp-candidates-in-saturdays-by-elections.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:12Z
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Spec Ops: The Line Delisting Explained – Can You Still Download?
Spec Ops: The Line has been delisted from all digital platforms, but it’s still possible for fans to get into and play it.
The game with one of the most infamous twists, Spec Ops: The Line, has been delisted from all major digital storefronts. However, it’s still possible for fans to pick up a copy and play it, even through the digital platforms that no longer sell it.
Developer Yager’s Spec Ops: The Line is one of the most memorable games of the PS3 and Xbox 360 era because of the way it reframes everything players have been doing for the majority of their playtime with a single twist. While it’s a cult classic, that’s not enough to save it from being delisted from Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Microsoft Store. Even though it’s no longer available to purchase digitally, eager fans can still grab a copy and dive into the story to experience what blew people away when it was first released.
Related: Tencent Invests in Spec Ops: The Line Developer Yager
Why Was Spec Ops: The Line Delisted?
The reason that Spec Ops: The Line was delisted from digital storefronts is that license agreements with the developer, publisher, or those storefronts ended without being renewed. This means those license deals could be brokered once again to bring the game back to each storefront, but it’s not clear if that’s what Yager and publisher 2K want.
There was no official announcement of the game’s delisting. Instead, websites such as Eurogamer reported on the individual storefront versions being delisted and contacted 2K for clarification, which is when the true extent of the news was revealed.
At the time of writing, the Steam page and Microsoft Store pages for Spec Ops: The Line all state that the game is unavailable to purchase. The PlayStation Store page appears to have been taken down. It’s not unusual for these pages to remain live since they link out to other products fans may want to purchase.
Can You Still Download Spec Ops: The Line?
Yes, it’s still possible to download Spec Ops: The Line even though it’s been delisted by viewing the transactions or downloads for the relevant platform and choosing to download it again. As soon as we heard the news that the game was being delisted, we launched the PlayStation Store on our PS3, opened our transactions, which showed every game purchased on the store, scrolled down until we found Spec Ops: The Line, and downloaded it.
We only had it in our transactions because the game was available through PS Plus almost a decade ago at the time of writing. We claim every game on the service for this very reason and recommend everyone with it does the same. All subscribers who had the service on PS3 should also check their transactions just in case they picked it up.
On Steam and the Microsoft Store, the process is much easier. Fans can open their previously downloaded game libraries and download the game from there. 2K has confirmed that Spec Ops: The Line will remain available to download for all those who have previously purchased it on a digital storefront. Anyone who didn’t is out of luck, though.
Where Can You Buy Spec Ops: The Line?
It’s possible to buy a copy of Spec Ops: The Line from most third-party video game stores online. In the UK, reputable resale company CEX has copies costing between £3.50 and £6. The game is also available on eBay worldwide, allowing anyone to pick up a physical copy to play on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. We checked Amazon, but surprisingly, there are no copies available.
We expect the price of physical copies of the game to soar now that it’s unavailable on digital storefronts. This is because scarcity creates a market with a desire for a product, and resellers will go out of their way to make a profit in any way they can. If fans want to get a copy of the game, they should do it sooner rather than later.
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https://www.gamepur.com/guides/spec-ops-the-line-delisting-explained-can-you-still-download
| 2024-01-31T23:30:14Z
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Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.krwg.org/npr-politics/2024-01-31/trump-says-vp-pick-wont-impact-the-race-so-whats-he-looking-for-in-a-running-mate
| 2024-01-31T23:30:16Z
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The dueling contests surrounding the Nevada Republican's nominating process has led to voter confusion. And with it, an outcome many in the state saw as inevitable: Trump is the de facto winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
The dueling contests surrounding the Nevada Republican's nominating process has led to voter confusion. And with it, an outcome many in the state saw as inevitable: Trump is the de facto winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/nevadas-gop-nominating-process-is-confusing-and-already-yielded-a-likely-winner
| 2024-01-31T23:30:18Z
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Astrid Wett was “nearly decapitated” in the Anfield stands after a shot was fired at her face.
The adult content star is no stranger to attending Chelsea matches. Wett, 23, was spotted in extraordinary circumstances on television following a mis-fired attempt on goal by Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez on Wednesday night.
Nunez’s effort rocketed off the crossbar and over in the eighth minute. Replay footage showed the ball travelling with terrifying speed towards those sitting behind the goal - one of whom was Astrid.
READ MORE: Dr Eva Carneiro now – what Chelsea doctor is doing nine years on from Jose Mourinho row
BUY HERE: Premier League Darts preview - on sale now ahead of Luke Littler's debut
She could be seen panicking and moving away from the oncoming ball as the man next to her parried it away. And the hilarious scenes sparked savage responses from fans on social media.
One X user wrote: “We were so close to greatness,” while another admitted: “That would've genuinely made my day.”
A third joked: “He definitely did that on purpose,” while a fourth added: “Nunez is a legend.”
The influencer must have had a good internet connection inside the stadium as she caught wind of the tweets and confirmed that it was in fact her sitting behind the goal. “Nunez has just nearly decapitated me in the stands and you guys are laughing,” she fumed.
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Wett later got her revenge against the Uruguayan striker by mocking him for his penalty miss. Nunez became just the third player in the last eight seasons to hit the post three times in one season after his spot-kick.
His effort cannoned off the post, denying him his eighth goal of the season. And Astrid was left screaming with joy as she yelled: “You’re f***ing s***,” before cackling again.
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/astrid-wett-darwin-nunez-shot-32015682
| 2024-01-31T23:30:19Z
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The First of Long Island Co. (NASDAQ:FLIC – Get Free Report)’s stock price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $12.32 and traded as high as $12.94. First of Long Island shares last traded at $12.65, with a volume of 206,250 shares traded.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Separately, StockNews.com upgraded First of Long Island from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 20th.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on FLIC
First of Long Island Trading Down 3.5 %
First of Long Island Dividend Announcement
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 29th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.99%. First of Long Island’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 71.79%.
Insider Activity at First of Long Island
In other First of Long Island news, EVP Christopher J. Hilton purchased 16,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $11.11 per share, for a total transaction of $183,315.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president now directly owns 30,786 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $342,032.46. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 6.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FLIC. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in First of Long Island by 96.3% in the 4th quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 2,770 shares of the bank’s stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 1,359 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in shares of First of Long Island by 249.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,262 shares of the bank’s stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 3,041 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of First of Long Island during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $110,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in shares of First of Long Island by 110.0% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 9,454 shares of the bank’s stock worth $114,000 after acquiring an additional 4,952 shares in the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company purchased a new stake in shares of First of Long Island during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $124,000. 52.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
First of Long Island Company Profile
The First of Long Island Corporation operates as the holding company for The First National Bank of Long Island that provides financial services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, consumers, municipalities, and other organizations. The company offers business and small business checking, personal checking, negotiable order of withdrawal, interest on lawyer, escrow service, rent security, personal and nonpersonal money market, savings, time deposit, holiday club, and individual retirement accounts.
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https://www.com-unik.info/2024/01/31/first-of-long-island-nasdaqflic-shares-pass-above-two-hundred-day-moving-average-of-12-32.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:19Z
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UN warns Gaza faces humanitarian 'collapse' as battles rage
By AFP - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
Children sit near tents at a make-shift shelter for Palestinians who fled to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday amid the ongoing Israeli offensive against the besieged enclave (AFP photo)
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories — Artillery fire pounded southern Gaza early on Wednesday as Israel said it has begun flooding Hamas tunnels and mediators sought a halt to the nearly four-month war.
The focus of the fighting in recent weeks has been Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza Strip's main city, where an AFP correspondent reported constant air strikes and shelling overnight.
The health ministry recorded at least 125 deaths across the territory in the latest Israeli strikes.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called his organisation's Palestinian refugee agency the "backbone" of Gaza aid on Wednesday after several countries suspended funding over Israeli claims 12 UNRWA staffers participated in the October 7 surprise attacks.
"Yesterday, I met with donors to listen to their concerns and to outline the steps we are taking to address them... UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza," Guterres told a UN committee on Palestinian rights.
UN agency chiefs said a bitter row over the main aid agency for Palestinians could "have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza".
Major donors, including Israel’s top ally the United States and Germany, have suspended funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over accusations that several staff members were involved in the October 7 surprise attack that sparked the war.
Withholding the funds was “perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza”, the heads of the UN agencies said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile mediation efforts gathered pace following a Sunday meeting of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials that produced a proposed framework for a new truce and hostage release.
A Hamas official told AFP that a delegation headed by the group’s leader Ismail Haniyeh “will be in Cairo today or tomorrow [Wednesday or Thursday]” to discuss the proposal.
Following Hamas’s October 7 surprise attack, the Israeli military launched a withering air, land and sea offensive that has killed at least 26,900 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.
‘Constant fear’
In Khan Yunis, the Hamas government media office said there were “dozens of air raids” overnight and vast areas have been reduced to a muddy wasteland of bombed-out buildings.
According to witnesses, artillery shells hit the area of Nasser Hospital, the city’s largest, where the UN humanitarian agency OCHA has said thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on social media platform X that “Israeli shelling and gunfire continue” around another hospital in Khan Yunis.
Staff and patients at the Red Crescent’s Al Amal Hospital “and thousands of displaced people, primarily children and women, live in constant fear and anxiety”, it said.
Israel accuses Hamas of operating from tunnels under hospitals in Gaza and of using medical facilities as command centres, a charge denied by the Palestinian group, designated a “terrorist” organisation by the European Union and the United States.
The Israeli military said it had begun flooding the tunnels with water in a bid to “neutralise the threat of Hamas’ subterranean network”.
An AFP journalist witnessed people fleeing Khan Yunis on Tuesday as explosions sounded nearby.
“We left Nasser Hospital... under tank fire and air strikes. We didn’t know where to go,” said one woman.
“We’re out in the cold, left to fend for ourselves.”
Negotiations
Qatar, which helped broker a previous truce and hostage release in November, voiced hope an initial deal now being negotiated might lead to a permanent ceasefire.
The Hamas official said the group is “open to discussing all issues, including prisoner exchange and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip”, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
The official reiterated Hamas’s demand for “a comprehensive and complete cessation of [Israel’s] aggression” and the withdrawal of its troops from Gaza.
Violence involving Iran-backed allies of Hamas across the Middle East has surged during the Hamas-Israel war, also drawing in US forces in the region.
President Joe Biden said Tuesday, without offering details, that he had decided on a response to a recent drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan.
But “I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East,” Biden said. “That’s not what I’m looking for.”
A pro-Iran group in Iraq, Kataeb Hizbollah, said it would halt attacks on US “occupation forces, in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government”.
The United States and Britain have also launched a campaign of air strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have carried out repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Houthis on Wednesday said they had fired “several” missiles at a US warship, hours after the US military said it had shot down another anti-ship missile over the vital trade route.
Related Articles
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories — Intense fighting raged on Saturday in the Gaza city of Khan Yunis, the main theatre of conflict where
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories — Heavy fighting raged in Gaza on Sunday amid a fierce row over the United Nations agency for Palestinia
THE HAGUE — The UN's top court on Friday said Israel must do all it can to prevent genocide in its war with Hamas and allow aid into Gaza, a
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https://jordantimes.com/news/region/un-warns-gaza-faces-humanitarian-collapse-battles-rage
| 2024-01-31T23:30:19Z
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The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, declined to hear the bail applications filed by Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, and his co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu. They are remanded in detention over allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Ndifon, who is a professor.
The trial judge, James Omotosho, held that the bail applications of the duo would be taken after the testimony of the star witness, identified as TKJ. The judge said the decision was taken to protect to protect the witness.
Defence counsel, Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had pleaded with the court that the bail applications of his clients be taken shortly after Lucy-Ogechi Chima, an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), finished testifying as a prosecution witness and was discharged from the witness box.
But responding, the judge, Mr Omotosho, said, “I must take the statement of the victim witness first before considering bail for the defendants so that there won’t be interference.”
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until Thursday for continuation of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ndifon was, on 25 January, re-arraigned alongside Mr Anyanwu on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.
Mr Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed by the ICPC on allegation that he called one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Mr Ndifon to threatened her.
NAN earlier reported that representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) were in court to observe the proceeding.
Besides, other women groups like Nigerian League of Women Voters, Womanifesto, among others, also sent representatives to the court.
Mr Omotosho earlier stood down the matter to allow the court clear other cases fixed for the day.
Ater the court reconvened, the judge warned journalists against publishing the name or photograph of the star witness who was alleged to have been threatened.
“I want us to limit what we publish generally. Let us go within the ambit of the law to protect the witness,” he said.
He also warned against unguided publication against the defendants “because they are still presume innocent.”
Mr Omotosho then made an order that journalists must not reveal the identity of the witness.
“In order to protect the dignity of the alleged victim, I hereby made an order that the identity of the victims shall not be maintained.
“For the purpose of this trial, the name of the victim shall be called TKJ,” he declared.
ICPC investigators testimony
Meanwhile, while giving her testimony, the ICPC investigator said a forensic analysis done on Mr Ndifon’s phone revealed that there were several nude pictures from many contacts.
Ms Chima, who was led in evidence by the commission’s prosecuting lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, claimed that a diploma student (name withheld based on the order of court to protect the victim) of the university sent pornographic photographs of herself to him through his mobile telephone at different times.
“We saw so many nude photos of so many contacts, including the contact of TKJ.
“TJk was of particular interest to the investigation because TJk’s case is a case we observed that nude pictures were requested by the 1st defendant as currency for admission for the diploma class, transiting to the LLB Class.
“We sought to confront the 1st defendant with our findings and he refused to give his statement.
“We left him and decided to go on a fact-finding mission to Calabar where we interacted with a student with the aid of a lecturer who identified him for the team,” Ms Chima.
She added that the 2nd defendant, a lawyer, called the victim witness to shun the ICPC’s invitation.
Ms Chima said, “The victim witness told us that she received a strange call from a lawyer and friend of the 1st defendant who told her not to honour the invitation of the ICPC. We confronted him and he denied it.
“He also made a statement denying he called the victim witness.
“But a forensic report on the call log and other information from the network provider showed the contrary. He actually called the victim witness.
“Being a suspect in the matter we retrieve his phone from him. He signed a consent form for the retrieval of his phone.
“The forensic unit and response from the service provider revealed that the 2nd defendant’s call to our witness known as TKJ was for 679 seconds.
“It also revealed that TKJ’s number was forwarded by the 1st defendant to the 2nd defendant.“
She told the court that while the phones of the first and second defendants were with the commission, Mr Ndifon approached his service providers for a SIM swap, claiming his phone was missing.
She alleged that Mr Ndifon did that to tamper with the commission’s investigation.
The PW1 also informed the court that while the allegation of sexual harassment had been concluded, that of financial misappropriation was ongoing.
She said, “My lord, we have an investigation ongoing against him on the financial impropriety allegation while we have concluded that on sexual harassment.“
Documents used during the course of her investigation were tendered by the prosecution counsel and they were admitted as evidence by the trial judge.
The PW1 was also cross-examined by the defence counsel before the witness was discharged from the witness box and matter adjourned until Thursday.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the University of Calabar suspended Mr Ndifon over allegations of sexual harassment last August.
It followed a peaceful rally held by female students of the law faculty of the institution against Mr Ndifon, a professor, whom they accused of harassing them.
Background
Mr Ndifon denied the allegations. He told PREMIUM TIMES that the protest was sponsored by lecturers in the faculty who did not like his style of leadership.
The university relieved Mr Ndifon of his position as the dean of law faculty and also suspended him from the school via a letter from the university Registrar, Gabriel Egbe, according to a statement from the school’s public relations department.
The statement said the university Vice-Chancellor, Florence Obi, was dissatisfied with Mr Ndifon’s response to a query on the sexual harassment allegations.
(NAN)
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/664075-sexual-harrassment-court-defers-hearing-of-unical-professors-bail-icpc-witness-testifies.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:22Z
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NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Vivian McCall, reporter for The Stranger, about recent raids in Seattle's gay bars. Members of the city's LGBTQ-plus community are looking for answers.
Copyright 2024 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Vivian McCall, reporter for The Stranger, about recent raids in Seattle's gay bars. Members of the city's LGBTQ-plus community are looking for answers.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/seattles-queer-community-is-furious-after-gay-bars-were-raided-over-the-weekend
| 2024-01-31T23:30:24Z
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SANTA FE, N.M. — (AP) — Actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a rehearsal on a movie set in New Mexico.
Court documents filed Wednesday show Baldwin entered the plea in state district court in Santa Fe, waiving an arraignment Thursday that was scheduled to take place remotely by video conference.
Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie “Rust,” was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin says that he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger, and the gun fired.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.boston25news.com/entertainment/alec-baldwin-pleads/QOQTTYQASATAGFBEOOWTAU7JB4/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:27Z
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AFEX, leading commodities player in Africa, has unveiled its 2024 commodities outlook, forecasting that this year, global commodity prices are going to be on a downward trend due to factors, such as, improved supplies and the expiration of certain trade policies. AFEX pointed out that this trend was bound to significantly pose a downside or upside risk to commodity prices globally. Making this known during the company’s hybrid event to unveil its 2024 annual commodities outlook hosted at its Lagos office, recently, the Vice President, Financial Markets of AFEX, Oluwafunto Olasemo, disclosed that the annual commodities outlook was a key literature that analyses critical socio-economic factors shaping the demand and supply dynamics of commodities, with a view to highlight challenges and opportunities inherent in the market, while providing an accurate forecast that potentially steers price and volumes for the 2024.
Olasemo explained that energy prices were expected to drop by five per cent in 2024 and then further decrease by 0.7 per cent in 2025. Similarly, the AFEX vice president noted that agriculture commodities are projected to decrease by two per cent in 2024 and three per cent in 2025, provided that the Middle East conflict de- escalates. Speaking further on the report, Olasemo explained that the report forecast that domestic commodity prices were expected to rise consistently throughout 2024. According to him, key export commodities like cocoa and sorghum are projected to rise by 50 per cent and 20 per cent respectively, underpinned by declined production, while key consumption commodities like maize and paddy rice are projected to rise by 25 per cent and 40 per cent despite a four per cent increase projection on production of paddy rice.
Olasemo said: “The outlook is an indispensable component of the commodities market, dictating trading flows and movement across the physical market and secondary market players. This year, the commodities market will see a complex balance amidst geopolitical, economic, and environmental factors, which will on one hand demand continual monitoring and strategic adaptation, and on the other spur vigilance on the part of market stakeholders and policy makers. “In managing the complexity of these factors, there is a pressing need to enhance domestic agricultural production, streamline trade policies, and establish strategic reserves to cushion against market volatility and ensure food security. “Similarly, there perhaps isn’t a better time to look to alternative investments as a hedge against potential windfalls than now.”
A key recommendation of the report for boosting agriculture productivity is pivoting from traditional food production systems and adopting sustainable farming practices such as diversified crop rotation, which serves to optimise soil capacity and increase productivity, which in turn has been seen to boost farming income by 21 per cent. The report is now available for download on afex.africa.
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https://newtelegraphng.com/afex-forcast-substantial-price-slash-in-commodity-prices/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:27Z
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A look from Maui six months after devastating wildfires By Debbie Elliott Published January 31, 2024 at 4:39 PM CST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Listen • 5:06 As we approach the six-month anniversary of the Maui fires, we look at the biggest issues that people on the island are still facing. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.ketr.org/2024-01-31/a-look-from-maui-six-months-after-devastating-wildfires
| 2024-01-31T23:30:27Z
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New hospitality concept The Social Hub to open first UK hotel in Glasgow
The Social Hub opens as a four star hotel with extended stay and student rooms in Glasgow this April.
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Social Hub Glasgow will be the eighteenth property to open in Europe for the Amsterdam-based company founded by entrepreneur Charlie MacGregor, who grew up in Edinburgh. The hospitality company currently properties in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain catering to a diverse community of travellers, students, business people and locals. Their "hybrid hospitality concept" combines a hotel, extended stay and student rooms with spaces to work and meet, such as large co-working facilities, meeting and event spaces, a large kitchen, restaurants, bars, and gyms alongside a schedule of events, workshops and social moments available to community members.
An investment of over £90 million will bring 80 jobs to the Merchant City at the 494 room newly built 20,000 square-metre building. The Social Hub Glasgow will feature one of the city’s largest rooftop bars as well as a stylish, laid-back restaurant and bar serving a range of international and locally-inspired food and drink options throughout the day. A shop will also offer grab-and-go food options as well as essentials and local products.
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The average nightly room rate for a hotel stay will be £105. There will also be extended stay studios featuring in-room kitchenettes. Within The Social Hub, students can book a variety of rooms with access community events, kitchen, onsite laundry, study spaces, gym membership, monthly linen and room cleaning services, high-speed WiFi and free bike rentals with discounts for the bar, restaurant and shop.
CEO & Founder of The Social Hub, Charlie MacGregor, said: “I am so proud to be launching The Social Hub in the country I grew up in and where I began my professional career, getting hands-on experience and inspiring a business model that evolved into what is now The Social Hub. As pioneers in the hybrid hospitality industry, I am excited to be back home and to see the impact our Glasgow Hub will bring to the community through our spaces and experiences, ones that blur the boundaries of traditional hospitality offerings through our relentless ambition to create a better society, together with all those who walk through our doors.”
Their co-working space will have space for up to 222 workers daily. The Social Hub Glasgow will offer flexible memberships for dedicated desks or space in 20 private offices with flexible meeting rooms. Membership includes use of the gym and access to networking events and workshops. Eight flexible meeting and event spaces totalling 1,500 square-metres are also available to hire.
The Social Hub Glasgow, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ;
Phone 0141 536 0788
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https://www.glasgowworld.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/new-hospitality-concept-the-social-hub-to-open-first-uk-hotel-in-glasgow-4500538
| 2024-01-31T23:30:27Z
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SANTA FE, N.M. — (AP) — Actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a rehearsal on a movie set in New Mexico.
Court documents filed Wednesday show Baldwin entered the plea in state district court in Santa Fe, waiving an arraignment Thursday that was scheduled to take place remotely by video conference.
Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie “Rust,” was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin says that he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger, and the gun fired.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wftv.com/entertainment/alec-baldwin-pleads/QOQTTYQASATAGFBEOOWTAU7JB4/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:27Z
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(JTA) — For decades after World War II, a famed Jewish house of study in Poland was consigned to oblivion.
The Nazis set fire to thousands of books stored at the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva in 1939, the popular story went, leaving no trace of its enormous library even as its students were sent to their deaths.
But while Lublin’s Jews were murdered, that great bonfire never occurred, according to Lublin local Piotr Nazaruk, who researches the city’s Jewish history at the Grodzka Gate-NN Theater Center. Nazaruk was fascinated by a set of mysteries cloaking the Lublin Yeshiva, once among the largest Jewish educational institutions in the world, whose yellow building still stands in the former Jewish quarter — now mostly empty of Jews.
“We’ve all seen images of books being burned by the Nazis during the war,” Nazaruk told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “But if this yeshiva and its library were so famous, and it was such a prestigious thing for the Nazis to destroy it, why are there no traces — no photos or documents — actually proving that it happened?” And if there were no fire, might those books still be available today, in attics, private collections and on the shelves of people unaware of their tragic provenance?
There are about 40 Jews in Lublin today, but over 40,000 lived there before the Holocaust, roughly one third of the city’s population. Nazaruk, who is not Jewish, became fascinated with Poland’s Jewish history over 10 years ago. He happened upon a series of Yiddish newspapers at a library in his hometown of Biała Podlaska, north of Lublin. The discovery inspired him to study Yiddish.
“For me, this Jewish, Yiddish-speaking world of prewar Poland is almost like a parallel universe,” he said. “It happened in places that I know, on streets I walk. It was like discovering a hidden history of places I know very well.”
Nazaruk threw himself into investigating the disappearance of the Lublin Yeshiva Library. He had on his side other skeptics of the bonfire story, including Adam Kopciowski, a Lublin historian at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University who found five of the yeshiva’s books at the former Chevra Nosim synagogue — Lublin’s only surviving prewar synagogue — in the early 2000s.
Nazaruk found press reports, dated after Lublin’s liberation by the Russian army in 1944, that indicated the library had survived. Then, one slow afternoon at work, he was scrolling through the digital archive of the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw and came across a treasure trove: 130 books with Lublin Yeshiva stamps.
That discovery began a quest to reunite the books that once belonged to the Jewish library, estimated to hold between 15,000 and 40,000 volumes at the dawn of World War II. Nazaruk now feels sure that most of the historic collection was not burned, but instead scattered across the globe.
Over the past three years, he has amassed a digital catalog of 850 books with stamps identifying their roots at the Lublin Yeshiva Library. The vast majority of these cannot be physically returned to Lublin, since they are now the property of public and private collections worldwide — from Warsaw and Jerusalem to New York, Prague and elsewhere.
Only 10 of the lost volumes have made their way home. In addition to the five found by Kopciowski, two were returned by Berlin’s Freie Universität in 2022, and three more found by an Israeli who personally delivered them to Lublin in December.
Together with Lublin’s small remaining Jewish community, Nazaruk is planning a public display for these 10 books in the former yeshiva building.
His project belongs to a recent trend of “memory activism” in Poland, according to Geneviève Zubrzycki, a sociologist who researches nationalism and religion at the University of Michigan. Education about the mass murder of Polish Jews did not start until the 1980s, when the Soviet Union fell and Poland began a process of democratization. Even then, silence about the past prevailed for decades in many small towns of Galicia once filled with Jews.
“Ninety percent of Polish Jewry was exterminated, and those who survived very often decided not to return to Poland,” Zubrzycki told JTA. “So if you have few Jews left in Poland to talk about their experience, and you have a large Polish population who remembers their [own] suffering — and that suffering is also folded into a socialist narrative that’s imposed by the Soviets — it leaves very little for Jewish memory-making.”
Although some books on the Lublin Yeshiva Library’s shelves dated back to the 16th century, the yeshiva itself lived less than 10 years.
The school opened in 1930 under the leadership of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, who planned a new kind of yeshiva to raise the prestige of the Torah student. His goal was not only to offer the highest caliber of religious education, but also to house students in a modern institution with respectable dormitories and lecture halls, showers, good meals and an infirmary.
“Before Lublin, boys in yeshivas usually lived in very poor conditions, they ate poorly,” said Nazaruk. “Being a yeshiva student was not like being in some prestigious university.”
With the help of donations from Jewish communities across Poland and abroad, Shapiro rapidly built one of the largest Jewish libraries in Poland. A New York rabbi, Benjamin Gut of the Chasam Sopher synagogue, sent an estimated 4,000 books and $1,000 to Lublin. After Shapiro died in 1933, the library also absorbed his own private book collection.
Lublin was a vital center of Jewish culture in Poland and home to a significant share of Jews since the early 1600s. Under the Nazis, the city became a center of mass extermination and its Jewish population was obliterated. About 5,000 Jews settled there after the Holocaust, but most left in the late 1940s, after local Poles killed Holocaust survivors in the Kielce Pogrom of 1946 and antisemitism in the Soviet Union convinced many there was no future for Jews in Poland.
In the war’s aftermath, a widespread story about a Nazi bonfire emerged to explain the disappearance of the Lublin Yeshiva Library . This account, cited by researchers and historians over the years, has been traced to a note reportedly published in a Nazi youth magazine titled “Die Deutsche Jugend-Zeitung.”
The newspaper allegedly boasted that the library’s books were devoured by a fire lasting 24 hours, while a Nazi band played military music to “cover the cries of the Jews.” But no one has ever seen that magazine in person, according to Nazaruk. The first reference to it appears in Hatsofe, a newspaper in British-mandate Palestine, in 1941.
The spectacle of book burnings was typically photographed, filmed and used to supply propaganda for Nazi newsreels. But if a Lublin Yeshiva Library fire was indeed reported in a “Die Deutsche Jugend-Zeitung,” it was never corroborated by any other Nazi newspapers or German authorities.
Nazaruk said it’s unclear how the rumor started. But it is known that the Germans tasked Rabbi Aron Lebwohl, a yeshiva graduate, with cataloging the library — an indication that they did not plan to destroy it. Lebwohl worked on this inventory until he was murdered at Majdanek in 1942.
Several Nazi organizations were interested in cataloging and looting Jewish collections for their own purposes, according to Daniel Lipson, a librarian at the National Library of Israel.
“Many were interested in antisemitic scholarship — starting to study the Jewish people that no longer existed, as they hoped would happen,” Lipson told JTA.
Nazaruk reasons that the yeshiva’s collection was carefully stored and prepared for transport to Germany. When the Russians marched into Lublin and the Germans fled, he believes, the books were abandoned.
How the books were dispersed through the world is a question that Nazaruk is still piecing together. Kopciowski has theorized that many were destined for Prague, where the Germans were amassing a collection of artifacts looted from Jewish communities across Europe. Lublin books may also have been pillaged by the Russian army, which took as many as 2 million books — including Jewish books and manuscripts — to the Soviet Union, according to journalist Anders Rydell.
Nazaruk has ascertained that over 100 Lublin Yeshiva books were shipped to Warsaw, where the Jewish Historical Institute was established in 1947 and where he first uncovered a collection of volumes with yeshiva stamps.
Another 100 have been identified at the National Library of Israel. At the end of the war, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem sent scholars to trace famous archives of Jewish books in Europe and bring them to Israel. The Central Committee of Polish Jews handed about 85,000 books to the Hebrew University, including an uncertain number from the Lublin Yeshiva Library, Lipson said.
Many of the Lublin Yeshiva books that arrived in Israel are likely still undocumented. The Hebrew University kept some books from Poland at the National Library of Israel but distributed the rest to smaller libraries, schools and synagogues across the country.
Nazaruk expects that much of the library’s collection has ended up in private hands. He frequently sees Lublin Yeshiva books crop up in online auctions, fetching prices from $200 to $11,000 — far out of budget for his research project.
He believes that his digitally reconstituted library of 850 books is just the tip of the iceberg.
“A few years ago, most people thought that the entire collection was destroyed,” he said. “Eight hundred books is maybe 5% of the original holdings — so on the one hand it’s not a lot, but on the other hand, it proves that probably thousands more are still around.”
Nazaruk’s scavenging resembles other efforts to revive Jewish history across Poland. Since the early 2000s, about 40 festivals of Jewish culture have been instituted in cities and towns across the country, many of them organized by non-Jews. According to Zubrzycki, this revival points to a nostalgia among some Polish groups for a past of which by Jews are a symbol — in a country where living Jews are sparse.
“Many [of those leading the revival] are practicing Catholics, but they want to recover this kind of pluralism that no longer exists in Poland,” said Zubrzycki. She noted that Poland is about 95% ethnically Polish today, one of the most homogeneous states in the world. “They feel that recovering the Jewish history of Poland is a way to build multiculturalism.”
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https://www.jta.org/2024/01/31/global/the-lublin-yeshiva-library-was-thought-to-be-destroyed-by-the-nazis-then-its-books-started-turning-up
| 2024-01-31T23:30:27Z
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Darwin Nunez broke an unwelcome Premier League record during Liverpool’s comfortable win against Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were in red-hot form as they put Chelsea to the sword, winning 4-1 at Anfield. Goals from Diogo Jota and a first senior goal for Conor Bradley in the first-half were followed by Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz both netting in the second half.
But there was one glaring name who wasn’t on the scoresheet, and it’s become an all too familiar occurrence for Nunez, who had 11 shots during the game – the most for any Liverpool player since 2003/04. But it was the Uruguayan’s knack for hitting the woodwork which is the most unbelievable stat from the game.
READ MORE: Conor Bradley 'shows Darwin Nunez how to finish' with class Liverpool goal vs Chelsea
READ MORE: Astrid Wett 'nearly decapitated' in Chelsea crowd as Liverpool shot fires at her face
Nunez hit the woodwork an incredible four times – the most by any player in the Premier League since Opta records began in 2003/04. The 24-year-old saw two efforts tipped onto the bar and post by Djordje Petrovic in the Chelsea goal in the first-half before he smashed the post from a penalty just minutes after Liverpool had taken a two-goal lead.
In the second half, Nunez clinched the record, as he thundered a header against the bar from just six yards out when it seemed easier to score. The £85million man had one of the most wasteful performances ever seen by a striker to the relief of Mauricio Pochettino, whose side could’ve been on the end of a huge scoreline.
What did you make on Darwin Nunez’s performance? Let us know in the comments section.
Premier League Darts Preview 2024
Kebab-loving Luke Littler took the World Championships by storm. Now the teen sensation is taking his talents around the UK and Europe as he faces the big boys in the Premier League.
Venues will be packed out to see the new darting icon take on the biggest names in the sport - Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwin, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall over the next few months.
Our special Premier League preview charts Littler's astronomic rise, turns the spotlight on his rivals for the coveted title, includes an exclusive column from James Wade, interviews with legends of the game, current Premier League players and PDC chairman Eddie Hearn - and it tells you everything you need to know about the tournament.
Even Ally McCoist on TNT Sports’ commentary quipped that Nunez must not be on a goal bonus, he said: “I tell you what Nunez is. He is some watch and he is a bag of tricks. You can't take your eyes off him. He just has to score there. I wonder if he is on a crossbar bonus!”
Liverpool’s victory keeps them five points ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table, though Pep Guardiola’s men do have a game in hand. The Reds head to the Emirates on Sunday as they look to find a repeat of their 2-0 FA Cup victory earlier this month.
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/darwin-nunez-woodwork-prem-record-32016134
| 2024-01-31T23:30:29Z
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Great Lakes Advisors LLC raised its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN – Free Report) by 3.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 114,650 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,420 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLC’s holdings in Accenture were worth $35,210,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First National Bank of Hutchinson lifted its holdings in Accenture by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 1,132 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $349,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. lifted its holdings in Accenture by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 4,535 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $1,399,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Accenture by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 917 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Blue Chip Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Accenture by 6.6% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Chip Partners LLC now owns 532 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $164,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Main Street Financial Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of Accenture by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 2,826 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $872,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. 70.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, CAO Melissa A. Burgum sold 3,010 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $371.80, for a total transaction of $1,119,118.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,193 shares in the company, valued at $3,417,957.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Melissa A. Burgum sold 3,010 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $371.80, for a total transaction of $1,119,118.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,193 shares in the company, valued at $3,417,957.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 9,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $314.68, for a total value of $2,832,120.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 26,830 shares in the company, valued at $8,442,864.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 31,995 shares of company stock worth $11,254,950 over the last ninety days. 0.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Accenture Stock Down 0.9 %
Accenture (NYSE:ACN – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.17 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.08% and a net margin of 10.65%. The business’s revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.08 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 12.22 EPS for the current year.
Accenture Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.29 per share. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.40%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 17th. Accenture’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.82%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of research analysts have recently commented on ACN shares. BNP Paribas raised shares of Accenture from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $440.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Mizuho started coverage on shares of Accenture in a research note on Tuesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $426.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Accenture from $365.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Accenture from $350.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Accenture from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $361.63.
Check Out Our Latest Report on ACN
About Accenture
Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.
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https://www.com-unik.info/2024/01/31/great-lakes-advisors-llc-grows-holdings-in-accenture-plc-nyseacn.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:29Z
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France reduces crowd numbers for Paris Olympics opening ceremony
By AFP - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony, shown in this mock-up illustration released by organisers, will break tradition by taking place on the River Seine (AFP photo)
PARIS — The French government announced on Wednesday that it had slashed the crowd size for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics this July amid security and other organisational worries.
The traditional opening parade for the Games is set to take place in boats on the river Seine on July 26, the first time a summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium.
After months of speculation about the number of people permitted to watch the flotilla, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the France 2 channel on Tuesday “around 300,000” ticketed fans would attend.
That is half the 600,000 that Darmanin had suggested in 2022 and is even smaller than the most recent estimates of 400-500,000, underlining the complexity of securing an event over six kilometres of river.
“I know that we have the best security forces in the world and that we will succeed in showing not only that we can win medals [at the Olympics] but that we can play host to the world without any problems,” Darmanin told the channel.
The idea of a spectacular open-air parade with hundreds of boats gave cold sweats to many in the French security establishment because of the difficulty of controling the crowds and the risk of terror attacks.
Organisers and the Paris mayor’s office had initially imagined up to 2 million people in attendance, a source close to the negotiations told AFP.
Authorities have also had difficulties in persuading historic Parisian booksellers who line the river from temporarily removing their kiosks in order to make space for spectators.
The artistic director in charge of the ceremony, theatre director Thomas Jolly, told AFP last week that contingency plans were in place in the event of a direct terror threat or severe weather.
“We have lots of different plans, but the location for the ceremony will remain the Seine,” he said.
Darmanin said that 100,000 tickets had been sold for the best vantage points on the lower banks of the river, while another 200,000 would be given free access to the upper banks.
The figure of 300,000 people did not include others “who live and who will be able to rent to have parties along the Seine”, Darmanin added, referring to the hundreds of buildings that overlook the famed waterway.
The open-air boat parade is in keeping with promises to make the Paris Olympics “iconic”, with the local organising committee keen to break from past traditions in the way it stages the world’s biggest sporting event.
The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics ceremony is generally considered to be the most spectacular in history while the 2012 London ceremony, overseen by “Trainspotting” director Danny Boyle, won rave reviews for showcasing Britain’s quirky side.
The huge opening ceremony in Paris with hundreds of thousands of free tickets was also part of the organisers’ vision of a “people’s Olympics” that would be widely accessible to the public.
That ambition has been undermined by high ticket prices for the sport, particularly for the athletics, leading to criticism from many Parisians.
The head of the Paris capital region, Valerie Pecresse, welcomed Wednesday’s downgrade of the opening ceremony to 300,000 people — still several times the number who usually witness the Olympics parade in an athletics stadium.
“It seems to us to be a much more reasonable level that provides security and safety for spectators as well as for travellers on public transport,” she said of the figure.
One senior French security figure told AFP recently that organisers had had “eyes bigger than their stomachs” when planning the opening and that their initial crowd estimates were “too high”.
France was placed on its highest alert for terror attacks in October after a suspected terrorist burst into a school in northern France and stabbed a teacher to death.
The country has been consistently targeted by extremists over the last decade, particularly from the Daesh group, while Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza is seen as exacerbating domestic tensions.
“The terror risk is extremely strong,” Darmanin added on Wednesday.
The Olympics are set to take place from July 26-August 11 followed by the Paralympics from August 28-September 8.
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https://jordantimes.com/news/sports/france-reduces-crowd-numbers-paris-olympics-opening-ceremony
| 2024-01-31T23:30:30Z
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Scientists have found that spiderwebs can be used to capture environmental DNA, which reflects the animal population of an area. The technique may help track the biodiversity of an ecosystem.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Scientists have found that spiderwebs can be used to capture environmental DNA, which reflects the animal population of an area. The technique may help track the biodiversity of an ecosystem.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/spiderwebs-could-offer-a-snapshot-of-an-ecosystem-study-shows
| 2024-01-31T23:30:30Z
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The budding love story featuring music superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce took an unexpected turn into the world of political conspiracy theories this week after the team advanced to the Super Bowl.
Myriad baseless rumors emerged on social media — everything from claims that Swift has played a part in Pentagon psychological operations to the idea that she and her two-time Super Bowl champion boyfriend are key assets in a secret plot to help President Joe Biden get reelected in 2024. Another variant: That the Chiefs’ success was rigged as part of the plan for the game on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
Political and media figures on the right, including former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, political activist Laura Loomer and One America News Network host Alison Steinberg, have amplified the allegations.
The claims are ludicrous and may well reflect the fear on the right that someone as famous as Swift, whose landmark Eras Tour is the first tour to cross the billion-dollar mark, could indeed influence the presidential race should she urge her legion of fans in one direction.
Pop culture and politics have long been entwined. The entertainment industry has been a deep well of political contributions. And candidates often try to draft on the celebrity of stars to add to their own allure.
The potency of the impact is less clear. In Swift's case, there is some proof that she can at minimum generate more voter registration.
In September, Swift posted a short message on her Instagram account encouraging her 272 million followers to register to vote. The post led to more than 35,000 registrations on the nonpartisan nonprofit Vote.org.
Swift’s massive fan base gives her a powerful voice. An SSRS poll conducted in October 2023 found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults called themselves at least casual fans of the singer, with 8% saying they’re big fans. The poll also found that 8 in 10 U.S. adults said they had heard of her relationship with Kelce and the majority of those familiar with it considered it a real relationship, rather than a publicity stunt.
“Pop culture people identify with this stuff, they pay attention to it. And that’s what moves politics now. It’s attention and identity,” Joel Penney, an associate professor at Montclair State University whose research includes the intersection of politics and pop culture, said. Indeed, Donald Trump's improbable march to the presidency in 2016 was propelled in part from the celebrity he gained as a reality television star.
But the false claims about Swift are of such an extreme nature that they will test the limits of how potent a conspiracy theory can be. Penney sees the recent deluge of posts aimed at Swift as an attempt to preemptively blunt her impact by discrediting her.
Penney said Swift's influence could prove a difficult force to contend with, especially if she publicly supports Biden, as she did in the 2020 race.
The attacks on Swift could also galvanize young voters who want to rally around her.
“Young people are fighting their political battles through a language drawn from pop culture,” said Henry Jenkins, a professor at the University of Southern California who also studies politics and pop culture. “That’s what connects them. That’s what they’re engaged with.”
Both Swift and Kelce have made public statements about politics and other issues that put them at odds with the far-right.
Swift broke her long-standing refusal to discuss her political views in 2018 when she announced in an Instagram post that she would be voting for Tennessee's Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and Democratic House incumbent Rep. Jim Cooper. She also slammed then-U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican candidate, citing Blackburn's opposition to certain LGBTQ+ rights and her vote against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. Blackburn won election to the Senate.
In 2020, Swift endorsed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in an interview with V Magazine, noting that "under their leadership, I believe America has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs."
Kelce faced criticism in September for appearing in an ad promoting the double dose of the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ad was part of a partnership with Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that developed a vaccine in response to the pandemic and has since become a common mark for anti-vaccine activists and conspiracy theorists.
Pop culture figures and the industry that surround them have been enmeshed in political campaigns long before the duo some fans refer to as Swelce. Former President Bill Clinton first appeared on MTV during his 1992 campaign while he was still governor of Arkansas. Major stars including Johnny Cash, Mary Tyler Moore and Willie Nelson endorsed former President Jimmy Carter more than 40 years ago when he made his second run for the White House. Ronald Reagan got his start in politics after a career as an actor.
“That question of, does this stuff work in pop culture? It absolutely can,” Penney said. “And it does. And history has shown that.”
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.boston25news.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-super/P45XZZBSCJEQ4DHZ74IUMRPVMY/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:33Z
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The National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has upturned the suspension of the Benue State Chairman of the party, Mr Augustine Agada.
Agada was said to have been suspended by his ward executive, Ehaje Ward 1, Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
However, reacting to the situation, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka said, “The attention of the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to media reports of the purported suspension of the Party’s Chairman in Benue State, Mr Augustine Agada, by Party executives in his Ehaje Ward 1, Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
“The Party has directed that the said suspension and all related actions in the matter be, and are hereby, set aside pending further review and decision of the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on the matter.
“Therefore, Mr Augustine Agada remains a bonafide member, and the Chairman of the Benue State Chapter, of our Party.”
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https://newtelegraphng.com/apc-leadership-overrules-suspension-of-benue-party-chairman-agada/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:33Z
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Laws on abortion are out of step with public opinion. One Republican legislator in Tennessee is working to establish exceptions to his state's strict abortion laws, but he faces a tough battle.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Laws on abortion are out of step with public opinion. One Republican legislator in Tennessee is working to establish exceptions to his state's strict abortion laws, but he faces a tough battle.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.ketr.org/2024-01-31/a-tennessee-lawmaker-helped-pass-a-strict-abortion-law-hes-now-trying-to-loosen-it
| 2024-01-31T23:30:33Z
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The budding love story featuring music superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce took an unexpected turn into the world of political conspiracy theories this week after the team advanced to the Super Bowl.
Myriad baseless rumors emerged on social media — everything from claims that Swift has played a part in Pentagon psychological operations to the idea that she and her two-time Super Bowl champion boyfriend are key assets in a secret plot to help President Joe Biden get reelected in 2024. Another variant: That the Chiefs’ success was rigged as part of the plan for the game on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
Political and media figures on the right, including former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, political activist Laura Loomer and One America News Network host Alison Steinberg, have amplified the allegations.
The claims are ludicrous and may well reflect the fear on the right that someone as famous as Swift, whose landmark Eras Tour is the first tour to cross the billion-dollar mark, could indeed influence the presidential race should she urge her legion of fans in one direction.
Pop culture and politics have long been entwined. The entertainment industry has been a deep well of political contributions. And candidates often try to draft on the celebrity of stars to add to their own allure.
The potency of the impact is less clear. In Swift's case, there is some proof that she can at minimum generate more voter registration.
In September, Swift posted a short message on her Instagram account encouraging her 272 million followers to register to vote. The post led to more than 35,000 registrations on the nonpartisan nonprofit Vote.org.
Swift’s massive fan base gives her a powerful voice. An SSRS poll conducted in October 2023 found that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults called themselves at least casual fans of the singer, with 8% saying they’re big fans. The poll also found that 8 in 10 U.S. adults said they had heard of her relationship with Kelce and the majority of those familiar with it considered it a real relationship, rather than a publicity stunt.
“Pop culture people identify with this stuff, they pay attention to it. And that’s what moves politics now. It’s attention and identity,” Joel Penney, an associate professor at Montclair State University whose research includes the intersection of politics and pop culture, said. Indeed, Donald Trump's improbable march to the presidency in 2016 was propelled in part from the celebrity he gained as a reality television star.
But the false claims about Swift are of such an extreme nature that they will test the limits of how potent a conspiracy theory can be. Penney sees the recent deluge of posts aimed at Swift as an attempt to preemptively blunt her impact by discrediting her.
Penney said Swift's influence could prove a difficult force to contend with, especially if she publicly supports Biden, as she did in the 2020 race.
The attacks on Swift could also galvanize young voters who want to rally around her.
“Young people are fighting their political battles through a language drawn from pop culture,” said Henry Jenkins, a professor at the University of Southern California who also studies politics and pop culture. “That’s what connects them. That’s what they’re engaged with.”
Both Swift and Kelce have made public statements about politics and other issues that put them at odds with the far-right.
Swift broke her long-standing refusal to discuss her political views in 2018 when she announced in an Instagram post that she would be voting for Tennessee's Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and Democratic House incumbent Rep. Jim Cooper. She also slammed then-U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican candidate, citing Blackburn's opposition to certain LGBTQ+ rights and her vote against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. Blackburn won election to the Senate.
In 2020, Swift endorsed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in an interview with V Magazine, noting that "under their leadership, I believe America has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs."
Kelce faced criticism in September for appearing in an ad promoting the double dose of the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ad was part of a partnership with Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that developed a vaccine in response to the pandemic and has since become a common mark for anti-vaccine activists and conspiracy theorists.
Pop culture figures and the industry that surround them have been enmeshed in political campaigns long before the duo some fans refer to as Swelce. Former President Bill Clinton first appeared on MTV during his 1992 campaign while he was still governor of Arkansas. Major stars including Johnny Cash, Mary Tyler Moore and Willie Nelson endorsed former President Jimmy Carter more than 40 years ago when he made his second run for the White House. Ronald Reagan got his start in politics after a career as an actor.
“That question of, does this stuff work in pop culture? It absolutely can,” Penney said. “And it does. And history has shown that.”
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wftv.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-super/P45XZZBSCJEQ4DHZ74IUMRPVMY/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:33Z
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(New York Jewish Week) — After a legal saga that has endured for more than two years and drawn public attention to antisemitic street violence in New York City, all five of the men who attacked Joseph Borgen while he was en route to a pro-Israel rally in 2021 have received court sentences.
The last assailant, Mohammed Said Othman, 29, was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in state prison for attempted gang assault, and up to four years for assault in the third degree as a hate crime, both felonies. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Borgen’s assault by a group of men in Midtown Manhattan drew international attention and left him needing surgery on his wrist. Since then — in a string of court hearings that have prompted discussion of how severely hate crimes suspects should be punished — four of his five assailants have been sentenced to prison. A fifth was put on probation, but violated the terms of his release and landed in jail.
The assault in May 2021 occurred at the conclusion of the last round of conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the court proceedings and debates around it have stretched into the current war. Today, antisemitism is again spiking in New York City and pro-Palestinian rallies have returned as a near-daily fixture on the city’s streets — many of them by the same groups that protested in 2021.
“It sends a strong message moving forward that Jewish blood isn’t cheap and all hate crimes, for that matter, shouldn’t be treated lightly,” Borgen told the New York Jewish Week outside the New York State Supreme Court in downtown Manhattan following the sentencing.
Borgen, who said he was “content with the sentencing,” is pursuing a civil case against the five attackers. But he also expressed relief that the criminal proceedings were finished.
“We’ve got a civil case to take care of,” he said. “But now this is all said and done.”
He added that he hopes to “kind of take a step back, take a deep breath and hopefully just push forward, keep fighting for the Jews.”
Said Othman, from Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to the charges in September. After his release from prison, he will be under supervision, similar to parole, for three years. He told Judge Felicia Mennin, “I realize what I did was wrong,” and apologized to Borgen, his family and the Jewish community.
“This is not the example I want to go by for my son,” Said Othman said, with his supporters seated in the courtroom behind him. Borgen’s supporters sat across the aisle, many wearing kippahs and hats with the slogan “Justice for Joey.”
Mitch Silber, director of the Community Security Initiative, which coordinates security for local Jewish communities, applauded Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for prosecuting the attackers.
Silber, who attended the sentencing, said the prosecutions had “possibly kept the lid on violence in New York” following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. While there have been a number of street attacks in New York since Oct. 7, the rallies have not seen attacks on Jews.
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The 2021 conflict, which lasted less than two weeks, saw a number of violent incidents connected to street demonstrations. In addition to the attack on Borgen, pro-Palestinian activist Saadah Masoud was sentenced to federal prison for attacking a Jewish pro-Israel counter-protester, Matt Greenman, in May of 2021.
Police have also stepped up their presence at demonstrations this year due to the violence in 2021.
“The fact that there are consequences for attacking a Jew in New York City for no other reason than being a Jew has reverberated after 10/7,” Silber told the New York Jewish Week in the courtroom. “Yes we’ve seen protest activity, yes we’ve seen antisemitic incidents, but we haven’t seen any type of dramatic gang assaults like we saw in May of 2021.”
Borgen’s assault happened on the evening of May 20, 2021, after the attackers left a pro-Palestinian protest at Times Square around 7 p.m. As they walked up Broadway, they encountered Borgen, who was wearing a kippah. The assailants chased Borgen down the street, and Said Othman grabbed him, threw him to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face. The group then kicked and pepper sprayed Borgen while he was on the ground, and made antisemitic remarks.
Ahead of the rally, the defendants coordinated their plans to attend and discussed how to conceal their identities. Assailant Mohammed Othman, 26 — who received a 5 1/2-year sentence in state prison — said he would not let the rally remain peaceful, while Said Othman said he wanted to burn an Israel flag, according to a statement from Bragg’s office on Wednesday.
Another attacker in the case, Mahmoud Musa, 25, was sentenced to seven years in state prison in November. The two other defendants received lighter sentences.
“These defendants violently targeted and assaulted another individual simply because he is Jewish,” Bragg said in the statement. “While this office will always support the right to peacefully protest and engage in open dialogue, these multi-year prison sentences make clear that physically attacking someone because of their religion is never acceptable.”
Said Othman, Masoud and other demonstrators who have been prosecuted for antisemitic hate crimes have demonstrated with the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, which organizes frequent anti-Israel demonstrations in the city. The group has led rallies that have blocked traffic in recent weeks and targeted institutions including the Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer hospital. The group regularly calls for Israel’s destruction and endorsed the Oct. 7 attack.
At the conclusion of the sentencing, Borgen said he feels the city has not gotten safer since his assault. The protesters during the current conflict “are the same group that attacked me,” he told the New York Jewish Week.
“They’re still going around the city, doing whatever they want to do,” he said.
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https://www.jta.org/2024/01/31/ny/last-of-joey-borgens-attackers-sentenced-to-3-years-for-2021-antisemitic-assault
| 2024-01-31T23:30:33Z
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President Bola Tinubu has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to keep its flames burning against the scourge of internet crimes and other acts of corruption.
He gave the charge in Abuja on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at a one-day public engagement on youth , religion and fight against corruption and the launch of Fraud Risk Assessment Project for Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs organized by the EFCC.
The President pointed out that the disturbing contagion of cybercrimes has been a challenge and slur on the image of the nation and the EFCC should spare no effort in tackling it more frontally. “Our country is not a nation of fraudsters and the pejorative reference to internet crimes as the “Nigerian scam” across the world is unfair, untenable and unacceptable. Cybercrimes
The President pointed out that the disturbing contagion of cybercrimes has been a challenge and slur on the image of the nation and the EFCC should spare no effort in tackling it more frontally. “Our country is not a nation of fraudsters and the pejorative reference to internet crimes as the “Nigerian scam” across the world is unfair, untenable and unacceptable. Cybercrimes, to all intents and purposes, are a global phenomenon. Today’s world is run real time on the internet. Governance, businesses, institutions and even individual domestic affairs are dependent on the internet. Cyber criminals are, therefore, a threat to the rest of the world. This is why no effort or expense should be spared in confronting the evil. I want to assure the EFCC that the government will continue to offer its support in its quest to kill the dragon that internet offences have become”, he said.
Tinubu, who spoke through Vice President Kashim Shettima, expressed government’s determination to give corruption hard tackles, stressing that “we cannot be focused on growth and development and at the same time offer
Tinubu, who spoke through Vice President Kashim Shettima, expressed government’s determination to give corruption hard tackles, stressing that “we cannot be focused on growth and development and at the same time offer any breathing space to corrupt practices. No nation grows without breaking the fangs of corruption. The EFCC has been duly instructed to do its job at all times without any extraneous considerations. The Renewed Hope agenda of our government is impervious to corruption. We should all join hands together to move Nigeria in a new direction of purpose.”
Tinubu spurred the EFCC not to be dismayed by throw backs coming from some sections of the society regarding its consistent fight against internet crimes and other corrupt practices, pointing out that government is “ aware of all the foul cries and unwarranted accusations against the lawful efforts of the Commission to bring fraudsters to book. We cannot fold our hands and watch our youths descend into morbid criminalities”.
EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in his Opening Remark, took a retrospective look at the efforts and profile of
EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in his Opening Remark, took a retrospective look at the efforts and profile of the Commission over the years in tackling the monster of corruption and noted that, though much ground had been covered by the EFCC in the areas of convictions and recoveries, the un-abating trend of corrupt practices across the country called for serious concerns. To address the situation, he called for greater emphasis on prevention of crimes through well-thought-out and coordinated efforts of the Commission.
“Indeed, proactive implementation of effective and coordinated policies against corruption remains the best guarantee for public security, economic development, and the effective functioning of public and private institutions. The recalibration of the Commission’s prevention strategy seeks to promote proactive deterrence and greater inclusivity in terms of participation of all stakeholders. Our motivation is to see how corruption, whether in ministries and agencies of government, in the ivory towers, or the private sector, could be prevented before it occurs”, he said.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/664101-tinubu-to-efcc-sustain-fight-against-internet-crimes.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:33Z
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Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/trump-says-vp-pick-wont-impact-the-race-so-whats-he-looking-for-in-a-running-mate
| 2024-01-31T23:30:36Z
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Loris Karius’ gorgeous WAG Diletta Leotta announced the pair have hidden their engagement for months in an emotional social media post.
The ex-Liverpool and Newcastle United goalkeeper has seemingly been performing better off than on the pitch with the German’s most infamous moments being his 2018 Champions League final nightmare for Liverpool and losing to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final with Newcastle United in his only appearance for the club to date.
Unlike his career, Karius’ romance with his 32-year-old Catania-born presenting partner has been blossoming. The couple welcomed their first child in August last year before Karius popped the question earlier this year.
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Diletta posted to her 9million followers on Instagram a couple of pictures of her and Karius when they got engaged. Including the German sat at the foot of their bed with a love heart made out of petals, and another of him planting a kiss on her forehead while holding her baby bump.
Captioning the post, Diletta – a model and TV presenter – wrote: “Vi devo dire una cosa.. I said yes! I’ve waited a few months to tell you because Loris and I wanted to live as much as possible the emotions of Aria’s birth but now we’re ready to dedicate ourselves to this new big milestone together as a family!
Do you follow Loris Karius and Diletta Leotta on Instagram? Let us know in the comments section.
Premier League Darts Preview 2024
Kebab-loving Luke Littler took the World Championships by storm. Now the teen sensation is taking his talents around the UK and Europe as he faces the big boys in the Premier League.
Venues will be packed out to see the new darting icon take on the biggest names in the sport - Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwin, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall over the next few months.
Our special Premier League preview charts Littler's astronomic rise, turns the spotlight on his rivals for the coveted title, includes an exclusive column from James Wade, interviews with legends of the game, current Premier League players and PDC chairman Eddie Hearn - and it tells you everything you need to know about the tournament.
“Do you know the phrase ‘When you’re happy pay attention’’, in the moment captured in these photos I was the happiest woman in the world, with Loris and with Aria who was arriving”.
Karius returned to English football last season when he joined Newcastle, but the 30-year-old has yet to feature again for the club since him one and only appearance that merited him a runners-up medal at Wembley.
Despite Nick Pope sustaining a long-term injury last year, Martin Dubravka, who was cup-tied for the Carabao Cup final, has taken over as Eddie Howe’s first-choice keeper, with Karius sitting on the bench since November after previously watching on from the stands.
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/diletta-leotta-loris-karius-engagement-32015957
| 2024-01-31T23:30:39Z
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A new tax collection structure was recently announced by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS ) with the hope to achieve voluntary compliance and efficient administration, Abdulwahab Isa reports
In earnest, the Federal Government has swung into action in the implementation of 2024 N28. 7 trillion fiscal budget. Robust revenue earnings would be required from parastatals and agencies in the execution of capital components and recurrent sides of the budget. To ensure a paradigm shift from the past, the Federal Government not only handed out revenue target to revenue agencies, there was a memo, which also urged MDAs to remit their internally generated revenue (IGR) 100 per cent to the sub-recurrent account sub-component of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). The new policy was communicated to MDAs by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, via a circular dated December 28, 2023. As always the case, revenue targets had been given to a few agencies gifted with the potential of generating maximum revenue. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) under the watch of Dr. Zach Adedeji is a frontline agency relied on by the government for the execution of 2024 budget deliverables.
N19.4 trn tax target in 2024
In the 2024 fiscal year, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was given a revenue target of N19.4 trillion. The Service’ revenue target in 2024 is higher than the 2023 revenue collection figure of N12. 374 trillion by over N7 trillion. Unfazed by the target, FIRS’ helmsman, Dr. Adedeji, last week, rallied FIRS eggheads to 2024 strategic management retreat for top management officials of the Service. The occasion had Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Mr. Edun, and Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, amongst the top dignitaries in attendance at the unveiling of FIRS’s new structure. Speaking at the occasion, Edun said he was confident in Zach sur- passing N19.4 trillion revenue target, given his past achievements, records in the previous assignments.
“The emphasis of this administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of course, is to grow the economy. But given what is going on around the world – the high, elevated and sustained increase in interest rates, borrowing as we always say is not the way to go. “The emphasis is on internally generated revenue, it’s on mobilisation; on equity as opposed to debts. Our tax is most previously very low, less than 10 per cent of GDP. “Others even in Africa have much higher levels and it is that higher level that I am sure the FIRS chairman and the rest of you are committed to taking us. “We do have a tax policy, fiscal policy and tax reform committee. The commitment of that committee is that, together with the FIRS changes and improvements, it will move the tax to GDP ratio to 18 per cent in the first place in the next couple of years.
“I’m sure you will not only achieve that target, but that you will surpass it based on the strategies you are going to come up with here today. “You do have a new structure. The chairman wants to leave things better than he met it, and he is immediately trying to, as he says, have a customer-centric structure that works better and leaves no one behind; one that makes sure that the essence of tax is not limited to just a few but that everybody pays their fair share,” Wale Edun stated at the unveiling of FIRS new structure last week in Abuja.
Customer-Centricism
The new management of FIRS has come up with a new template for realising efficient tax administration. At the retreat last week, Adedeji unveiled a tax revenue generating strategy based on ‘Customer-centric’ principle. He said it represented a paradigm shift, specifically designed to streamline processes and enhance efficiency in the Service tax operations. He spoke of the FIRS structure, saying:” We are not merely adapting to change; we are leading it. The forthcoming structure, set to kick off from February 2024, embodies our dedication to modernise and digitise the tax administration landscape in Nigeria. “In our pursuit for a more efficient and contemporary tax administration methodology, we are embracing an integrated tax approach, leveraging technology at every step. This approach positions FIRS at the forefront of innovation, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our taxpayers in a rapidly changing world.
“The structure advocates for a comprehensive approach to taxpayer services, consolidating our core functions and support under one umbrella. By tailoring our services to specific taxpayer segments, we aim to simplify the taxpayer experience. No more complexities, no more overlaps— just a seamless and user-friendly interaction for every taxpayer. “In a groundbreaking move, we are shifting away from traditional tax categorisation. Instead of maintaining different departments for distinct tax categories, the new structure formulates tax- payer segments based on thresholds. This tailored approach ensures that taxpayers are guided and serviced according to their specific needs, eliminating confusion and redundancy in tax administration,” Adedeji said. The FIRS’ new road map, Adedeji said, put tax payers in the centre of tax efficiency by crown- ing tax payers as king of the tax value chain.
Voluntary compliance
In the new FIRS, greater emphasis would be applied to voluntary tax compliance principles. However, there will also be consequences for not complying with tax payment. In an interview with the newsmen at the event, Adedeji spoke to tax compliance, just as he ruled out option of tax increments. “Our focus is to drive voluntary compliance. In a few minutes by God’s grace, we will be unveiling the new organizational structure we have. What we have done in general, is to move from functional or unit type of tax to customer centric. What this means is that, today we have VAT or stamp duty offices. “The way we are structured today does not allow us to develop expertise in what we want to do. So we are moving from that kind of functional or unit tax to customer centric. Having large, small and medium tax and service is also categorised as a support group. What will that do for us? Because our key role as a revenue collecting agency is to take care of our customers; the taxpayers. “So we have a large small and medium tax office, what that would mean is that instead of having VAT, Withholding tax etc office, we would have a one stop shop for taxpayers, we will have one tax office, when you go to the office, these categorizations will be done by the threshold of your turn over.
“All types of taxes will be done at that one stop shop. And we want to use that to drive voluntary compliance because the focus cannot be on litigation investigation, those ones will just be 10% of our strategy. The way to drive this voluntary compliance is that there will always be consequences for non compliance. Our duty is to provide an effective tax collection system, we are not a revenue generating agency but a revenue collecting agency,” he said. Strategies for tax revenue target The Service netted N12.3 trillion in 2023. It was given a higher revenue target threshold of N19.4 trillion in 2024. Adedeji ruled out increments of taxes paid. Rather, he said he would expand the tax next and increase the tax base. He gave tips on how he planned to realize the target without increasing the taxes. “If you listen to Mr. President very well, he said no further tax burden. Our focus is to make sure that we have a climate that is going to increase tax without increasing tax rates.
Our focus is actually to improve our effectiveness in the collection, which we are doing here today; to drive for industry compliance. “Number two is to expand the base, third is to make sure that we have a good economic environment that makes the company prosper. And when the base is big, the same percentage will give you more taxes. And that is our target. On expansion of the tax base, he said the informal sector is a very critical sector of the econo- my and will be given priority. “If you listen to Mr. The President’s speech on economic direction, it’s to make informal sector formal. Why do you call it informal sector? It’s because they are not registered. Today we advise that everybody will have NIN, which makes them register. “We identify them, the owner of those businesses. So our focus is not to go and be a taxing informal sector; Our focus is actually to bring the informal sector to formal .
When you go abroad they are tailoring, there are shoemakers. And here you call them informal. So, our focus should be, how do we bring all these vocational skills? How do we get them registered? “How do we put them in such a way that the government can actually deal with them and would make them formal? So the focus should not be, let’s go and tax in- formal. The focus should be, let’s move the informal sector to the formal sector by registering them, to improve their skill and then we can then tax them as informal,” Adedeji clarified.
Last line
With a paradigm shift in tax approach by the Service, which includes but not limited to voluntary tax compliance, making tax payments a one stop shop, aided by enhanced technology applications, FIRS is on a good footing to surpass its revenue target.
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https://newtelegraphng.com/customer-centrism-evaluating-firss-strategy-for-tax-efficiency/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:39Z
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Southern Gaza has seen the heaviest fighting over the past few weeks. But bombing has restarted in the north and the humanitarian situation has worsened there.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Southern Gaza has seen the heaviest fighting over the past few weeks. But bombing has restarted in the north and the humanitarian situation has worsened there.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.ketr.org/2024-01-31/as-israel-resumes-bombing-in-the-north-thousands-of-gazans-face-desperate-conditions
| 2024-01-31T23:30:39Z
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Hargreaves Lansdown plc (LON:HL – Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 757.79 ($9.63) and traded as high as GBX 764.60 ($9.72). Hargreaves Lansdown shares last traded at GBX 764.60 ($9.72), with a volume of 598,091 shares.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
HL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Shore Capital restated a “buy” rating on shares of Hargreaves Lansdown in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Hargreaves Lansdown from GBX 711 ($9.04) to GBX 616 ($7.83) and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of GBX 1,055 ($13.41).
Get Our Latest Stock Report on HL
Hargreaves Lansdown Trading Up 0.4 %
Hargreaves Lansdown Company Profile
Hargreaves Lansdown plc provides investment services for individuals and corporates in the United Kingdom and Poland. The company offers stocks and shares individual savings accounts (ISAs), fund and share accounts, and junior and lifetime ISAs. It also provides pension services, including self-invested personal pensions (SIPP), junior SIPPs, annuities, and drawdown; share dealing services; fund dealing; and cash management services.
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https://www.com-unik.info/2024/01/31/hargreaves-lansdown-lonhl-share-price-passes-above-200-day-moving-average-of-757-79.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:39Z
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — Former President Donald Trump met with leaders of the Teamsters Union in Washington Wednesday as he tried to chip away at President Joe Biden's organized labor support heading into a likely general election rematch.
Trump participated in a roundtable with the union's executive board, its president and members as he works to win over the blue-collar workers who helped fuel his 2016 victory and who are expected to play a major role in November, particularly in critical Midwestern swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Speaking to reporters after what he called “a very productive meeting," Trump acknowledged the union typically backs Democrats, but said of a possible endorsement, “Stranger things have happened."
“Usually a Republican wouldn’t get that endorsement,” he said. “But in my case it’s different because I’ve employed thousands of Teamsters and I thought we should come over and pay our respects."
“As you know, a big part of the voting bloc votes for me."
Union members tend to vote Democratic, with 56% of members and households backing Biden in 2020, according to AP VoteCast. And Biden has already received significant organized labor backing with early endorsements from the AFL-CIO and others. But Trump is hoping to cut into that support as he casts himself as pro-worker and tries to exacerbate divisions between union leaders and some rank-and-file members.
Days before the meeting, he called on members of the United Auto Workers to oust their president, Shawn Fain, after the group endorsed Biden.
“Shawn Fain doesn’t understand this or have a clue,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. “Get rid of this dope & vote for DJT. I will bring the Automobile Industry back to our Country.”
Trump aides, before Wednesday's meeting, said the fact that it was taking place was a win in and of itself. For the first time, the union has been holding a series of roundtable discussions with candidates from both parties as it weighs its decision, expected following the summer party conventions.
“Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as president,” Teamsters president Sean O’Brien had said in a statement. “Our union wants every candidate to know that there are 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide whose votes will not be taken for granted. Workers’ voices must be heard.”
O’Brien later described the conversation with Trump as “pleasant” and “direct,” but said the union was a long way from making a decision. He said it has additional questions for Trump and for Biden, who has yet to set a similar meeting. He said the Teamsters will poll members over the coming weeks.
He acknowledged that Trump has the support of many members.
“There's no doubt about (it)," he said, “there is union support for President Trump. And there's always union support for President Biden,” But even as he praised Biden's record he, added: “What you've done in the past doesn't guarantee your future with us. We want to know what you're going to do for our members moving forward.”
Biden has long billed himself as the most labor-friendly president in history, and went so far as to turn up on a picket line in the Detroit area during an autoworkers' strike last fall. Campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said Biden "looks forward to meeting with the Teamsters and earning their endorsement," but that the timing of a meeting remains to be announced.
On Thursday, Biden will travel to Michigan, where he plans to meet with United Auto Workers members, according to a campaign official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a trip that had not been formally announced.
Earlier this month, the Teamsters' O’Brien met privately with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club, where the two discussed issues including right-to-work laws that allow those in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying dues and fees. They also posed for a side-by-side photo, both flashing thumbs-up signs, that Trump posted online.
In an interview with Fox Business after the meeting, O’Brien said, “We put our cards on the table. It was a very matter-of-fact meeting."
“He claimed he was, you know, 100% ... supportive of unions, but history obviously, you take a look back and there’s certain issues that we have with him,” the union president said.
During Trump's presidency, the National Labor Relations Board reversed several key rulings that had made it easier for small unions to organize, strengthened the bargaining rights of franchise workers and provided protection against anti-union measures for employees.
The Supreme Court's conservative majority — including three justices that Trump nominated — overturned a decades-old pro-union decision in 2018 involving fees paid by government workers. The justices in 2021 rejected a California regulation giving unions access to farm property so they could organize workers.
While the Teamsters endorsed Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, O'Brien stressed the union has “a very diverse membership. And our members vote.”
Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University, said that in the past unions almost automatically endorsed Democratic candidates. But this year, he said, unions like the Teamsters have required candidates to outline their positions and show how they will support rank-and-file workers.
The message to candidates: “If you don’t help labor and you don’t help my position, you’re not going to get my endorsement,” Wheaton said.
He estimates about 30% to 40% of Teamsters members voted for Trump in 2020, even though the union endorsed Biden.
“You need to do your due diligence and listen, and let them have the option and ability to say what they want,” said Wheaton.
This is not the first time Trump has tried to woo union members. In September, he traveled to Michigan while his Republican rivals separately held a debate and tried to win over autoworkers by lambasting Biden's electric vehicles push in the midst of a strike. During his speech, Trump urged the UAW to endorse him, directly appealing to Fain from the floor of a non-unionized auto parts plant.
Fain instead called Trump a “scab,” a derogatory term for workers who cross union picket lines and work during a strike, as he endorsed Biden.
“This November we can stand up and elect someone who stands with us and supports our cause, or we can elect someone who will divide us and fight us every step of the way,” Fain said.
Teamsters members include UPS drivers, film and television workers, freight operators, members of law enforcement and other government workers.
Biden already has the backing of the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which rolled out their endorsements together last June.
While overall union membership rates nationwide fell to an all-time low in 2023, the country's largest unions have nonetheless built sprawling get-out-the-vote efforts, which Biden is counting on to help turn out his supporters in pivotal swing states.
The campaign of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump’s last remaining GOP rival, did not respond to a request for comment about whether she intends to meet with the Teamsters.
O'Brien said they hadn't received a response from her. Given what he called her past anti-union comments, he said, “It doesn't surprise at all.”
___
Krisher reported from Detroit. Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wftv.com/news/after-teamsters/MFQ3Q7HGKBXSUOBP5ZMZF6VJR4/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:39Z
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(JTA) – A suburban Minneapolis school district is facing a federal investigation for Islamophobic discrimination after suspending two Muslim students who chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The case at Edina Public Schools has divided local Jews and Muslims and is the latest in an expanding list of Title VI investigations relating to the Israel-Hamas war by the U.S. Department of Education. Investigations of two other educational institutions were also announced on Wednesday.
“From the river to the sea” is a common chant at pro-Palestinian rallies and has sparked debate. Some Jewish groups say the phrase is antisemitic for endorsing the elimination of the state of Israel, while pro-Palestinian groups say it is a peaceful call for coexistence.
One member of Congress, Democrat Rashida Tlaib, was censured for using it. Another, Republican Elise Stefanik, said it was a call for genocide at a congressional hearing that led to the resignations of two elite university presidents.
The investigation in Edina will pit those dueling perceptions against each other. Other Title VI complaints, filed on behalf of Jewish students, have argued that schools and universities must take disciplinary action against students who use phrases like it.
Taken together, the cases may compel the federal government to determine whether such phrases create a hostile environment for Jewish students — or whether disciplining students who use it constitutes anti-Muslim discrimination.
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, filed the complaint in November after two high school students were suspended for chanting the phrase during an Oct. 25 pro-Palestinian walkout. CAIR-MN’s director, Jaylani Hussein, confirmed to JTA that the investigation was in response to the organization’s complaint.
CAIR-MN said it filed the complaint because the students were disciplined “for participating in protests and speaking up for Palestine.” It alleged that other students who have “expressed similar sentiments” were not suspended.
“For those of us who are using that phrase, it is contextualized in the way we see it: 75 years of occupation,” Hussein told TC Jewfolk, a local Jewish publication. Hussein also organized a protest of an Edina school board meeting in December to push back against the suspensions; the protesters chanted the phrase at the meeting.
“Anyone who believes that this is a way to have a violent approach to the freedom of Palestinians, that’s not what we’re calling for, not chanting for,” he said. “But everyone has the right to interpret things on their own.”
In a statement to JTA, the Edina school district said it has “unwavering support” for students’ rights to free speech and assembly. The district added that it also has “strong policies prohibiting any type of discrimination” for categories of people protected by state law.
“Our core beliefs in Edina Public Schools are grounded in the inherent dignity of all people,” the statement said. “We value and appreciate the diversity of all of our students. Edina Public Schools deeply condemns islamophobia and antisemitism. We will not tolerate hateful or inappropriate comments or behaviors and will work diligently to provide a safe and inclusive environment for our students and staff.”
The district has said it considers the phrase “From the river to the sea” to be antisemitic, and that it disciplined the students on those grounds after repeatedly warning them not to use the phrase. The walkout was reportedly preceded by an Instagram post saying Israel’s war in Gaza constituted ethnic cleansing and genocide. The post reportedly read, “Not speaking up is giving the green light to the Zionists.”
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas says it did not push the district to suspend the students. But its director, Steve Hunegs, told JTA in a statement, “We appreciate that the school district upheld their code of conduct and protected their Jewish students from antisemitism.”
Another JCRC staffer told TC Jewfolk he also considers the phrase antisemitic and “a Hamas chant with genocidal consequences.”
The Department of Education does not comment on ongoing investigations but has said that it opens investigations for every qualifying complaint it receives and that opening an investigation does not mean the complaint has merit.
The other Title VI investigations announced this week both involve allegations of antisemitic speech during pro-Palestinian rallies, and in statements. Both complaints — regarding the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Binghamton University in New York — were filed by the same person: Jewish conservative activist Zachary Marschall, editor-in-chief of the right-wing college watchdog website Campus Reform. He has no personal connection to either school.
These investigations are the fifth and sixth to be prompted by Marschall, who has filed 21 complaints against universities alleging antisemitic discrimination since Oct. 7. Excerpts of the Wisconsin and Binghamton complaints published on his own website indicate that they both relate to activism by campus chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine.
The Wisconsin complaint concerns student activists who chanted “Glory to the martyrs” and “Liberate the land by any means necessary” in the days after the attacks. It also refers to a statement from the school’s SJP chapter that cast doubt on reports of Hamas terrorists raping Israelis. The statement added, “It is the right of any colonized and oppressed people to pursue liberation from their oppressors, including through armed resistance.”
By failing to take more decisive action against the students who used this language, Marschall wrote in his complaint, the university had failed to protect Jewish students.
“‘Martyrs’ in this context are terrorists who were killed attempting to murder Jews and it is obvious that ‘by any means necessary’ includes brutality such as the murder, torture, and rape that occurred on October 7,” he wrote in the complaint, as related by Campus Reform. (Marschall has declined to make the full text of his complaints available to JTA.)
In response, a UW-Madison spokesperson told JTA that the university “condemns antisemitism in all its forms.”
The spokesperson added, “The complaint against UW–Madison was not filed by a member of our community but instead by an outside organization that has filed complaints against several other institutions of higher education.”
Marschall’s Binghamton complaint, similarly, cites what he calls “very clear threats to Jewish students” and names an Oct. 25, 2023, SJP-led “Walk out for Palestine” protest where one student was recorded saying, “Israel is worse than Nazi Germany.”
A Binghamton spokesperson told JTA the school is cooperating with the investigation and “does not tolerate antisemitism or discriminatory acts directed at any individual based on their race, religion, national origin or other protected categories.”
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https://www.jta.org/2024/01/31/united-states/should-schools-suspend-students-for-chanting-from-the-river-to-the-sea-a-federal-investigation-in-minnesota-will-test-the-issue
| 2024-01-31T23:30:39Z
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — Former President Donald Trump met with leaders of the Teamsters Union in Washington Wednesday as he tried to chip away at President Joe Biden's organized labor support heading into a likely general election rematch.
Trump participated in a roundtable with the union's executive board, its president and members as he works to win over the blue-collar workers who helped fuel his 2016 victory and who are expected to play a major role in November, particularly in critical Midwestern swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Speaking to reporters after what he called “a very productive meeting," Trump acknowledged the union typically backs Democrats, but said of a possible endorsement, “Stranger things have happened."
“Usually a Republican wouldn’t get that endorsement,” he said. “But in my case it’s different because I’ve employed thousands of Teamsters and I thought we should come over and pay our respects."
“As you know, a big part of the voting bloc votes for me."
Union members tend to vote Democratic, with 56% of members and households backing Biden in 2020, according to AP VoteCast. And Biden has already received significant organized labor backing with early endorsements from the AFL-CIO and others. But Trump is hoping to cut into that support as he casts himself as pro-worker and tries to exacerbate divisions between union leaders and some rank-and-file members.
Days before the meeting, he called on members of the United Auto Workers to oust their president, Shawn Fain, after the group endorsed Biden.
“Shawn Fain doesn’t understand this or have a clue,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. “Get rid of this dope & vote for DJT. I will bring the Automobile Industry back to our Country.”
Trump aides, before Wednesday's meeting, said the fact that it was taking place was a win in and of itself. For the first time, the union has been holding a series of roundtable discussions with candidates from both parties as it weighs its decision, expected following the summer party conventions.
“Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as president,” Teamsters president Sean O’Brien had said in a statement. “Our union wants every candidate to know that there are 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide whose votes will not be taken for granted. Workers’ voices must be heard.”
O’Brien later described the conversation with Trump as “pleasant” and “direct,” but said the union was a long way from making a decision. He said it has additional questions for Trump and for Biden, who has yet to set a similar meeting. He said the Teamsters will poll members over the coming weeks.
He acknowledged that Trump has the support of many members.
“There's no doubt about (it)," he said, “there is union support for President Trump. And there's always union support for President Biden,” But even as he praised Biden's record he, added: “What you've done in the past doesn't guarantee your future with us. We want to know what you're going to do for our members moving forward.”
Biden has long billed himself as the most labor-friendly president in history, and went so far as to turn up on a picket line in the Detroit area during an autoworkers' strike last fall. Campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said Biden "looks forward to meeting with the Teamsters and earning their endorsement," but that the timing of a meeting remains to be announced.
On Thursday, Biden will travel to Michigan, where he plans to meet with United Auto Workers members, according to a campaign official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a trip that had not been formally announced.
Earlier this month, the Teamsters' O’Brien met privately with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club, where the two discussed issues including right-to-work laws that allow those in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying dues and fees. They also posed for a side-by-side photo, both flashing thumbs-up signs, that Trump posted online.
In an interview with Fox Business after the meeting, O’Brien said, “We put our cards on the table. It was a very matter-of-fact meeting."
“He claimed he was, you know, 100% ... supportive of unions, but history obviously, you take a look back and there’s certain issues that we have with him,” the union president said.
During Trump's presidency, the National Labor Relations Board reversed several key rulings that had made it easier for small unions to organize, strengthened the bargaining rights of franchise workers and provided protection against anti-union measures for employees.
The Supreme Court's conservative majority — including three justices that Trump nominated — overturned a decades-old pro-union decision in 2018 involving fees paid by government workers. The justices in 2021 rejected a California regulation giving unions access to farm property so they could organize workers.
While the Teamsters endorsed Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, O'Brien stressed the union has “a very diverse membership. And our members vote.”
Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University, said that in the past unions almost automatically endorsed Democratic candidates. But this year, he said, unions like the Teamsters have required candidates to outline their positions and show how they will support rank-and-file workers.
The message to candidates: “If you don’t help labor and you don’t help my position, you’re not going to get my endorsement,” Wheaton said.
He estimates about 30% to 40% of Teamsters members voted for Trump in 2020, even though the union endorsed Biden.
“You need to do your due diligence and listen, and let them have the option and ability to say what they want,” said Wheaton.
This is not the first time Trump has tried to woo union members. In September, he traveled to Michigan while his Republican rivals separately held a debate and tried to win over autoworkers by lambasting Biden's electric vehicles push in the midst of a strike. During his speech, Trump urged the UAW to endorse him, directly appealing to Fain from the floor of a non-unionized auto parts plant.
Fain instead called Trump a “scab,” a derogatory term for workers who cross union picket lines and work during a strike, as he endorsed Biden.
“This November we can stand up and elect someone who stands with us and supports our cause, or we can elect someone who will divide us and fight us every step of the way,” Fain said.
Teamsters members include UPS drivers, film and television workers, freight operators, members of law enforcement and other government workers.
Biden already has the backing of the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which rolled out their endorsements together last June.
While overall union membership rates nationwide fell to an all-time low in 2023, the country's largest unions have nonetheless built sprawling get-out-the-vote efforts, which Biden is counting on to help turn out his supporters in pivotal swing states.
The campaign of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump’s last remaining GOP rival, did not respond to a request for comment about whether she intends to meet with the Teamsters.
O'Brien said they hadn't received a response from her. Given what he called her past anti-union comments, he said, “It doesn't surprise at all.”
___
Krisher reported from Detroit. Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.boston25news.com/news/after-teamsters/MFQ3Q7HGKBXSUOBP5ZMZF6VJR4/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:39Z
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You are here
Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan and wife get 14 years jail in graft case
By AFP - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks during an interview with AFP at his residence in Lahore on March 15, 2023 (AFP photo)
ISLAMABAD — Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was sentenced on Wednesday to 14 years in jail on a graft charge, a day after he was given a 10-year prison term in verdicts handed down just a week before national elections.
Khan and his wife were found guilty of graft in a case involving gifts he received while premier, after he was Tuesday handed 10 years in a case related to leaking state secrets.
Pakistan goes to the polls next Thursday in a ballot already marred by allegations of rigging, with Khan barred from running and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party subject to a massive crackdown.
"Another sad day in our judicial system history, which is being dismantled," a party spokesman told media.
It was not immediately clear if Khan's sentences were to run consecutively or concurrently following a trial held inside the jail where he has been detained for much of the time since his arrest in August.
But his lawyer, Salman Safdar, confirmed to AFP he had been sentenced alongside his wife, Bushra Bibi, who had been on remand throughout the trial.
Intazar Hussain Panjutha, one of Khan's legal team, said Bibi had surrendered herself to authorities.
Bibi, a faith healer who met Khan when he approached her for spiritual guidance, rarely appears in public and only wearing a face-covering hijab when she does.
The pair married in 2018, months before Khan was elected prime minister.
About 127 million Pakistanis are eligible to vote next Thursday, with Khan and his PTI at the centre of debate despite being squeezed out of the limelight.
On Tuesday a bomb blast claimed by the Islamic State group near a PTI rally killed four people and wounded six others in the Balochistan provincial capital of Quetta.
PTI said three of its activists had been killed in the blast, just hours after Khan was sentenced.
Buried by court cases
Since being ousted in 2022, Khan has been buried by court cases he claims have been triggered to prevent his return to office after a campaign of defiance against Pakistan's military king makers.
The 71-year-old had accused the powerful military, with whom he ruled in partnership for much of his tenure, of orchestrating his ouster in a US-backed conspiracy.
When Khan was first arrested in May last year, riots broke out across the country.
But his street power was killed by a military crackdown that saw thousands of supporters detained, 100 of whom are facing closed-door military trials, and dozens of senior leaders forced underground.
“You have to take revenge for every injustice with your vote on February 8,” Khan said in a statement posted on his X profile reacting to his 10-year sentence on Tuesday.
“Tell them that we are not sheep that can be driven with a stick.”
As a result of the ongoing crackdown, PTI has moved most of its campaigning online, where it has been bogged down by state-imposed internet blackouts.
The party founded by former cricket star Khan has also been stripped of its cricket bat election symbol, in a nation where literacy lags, making icons vital for identifying candidates on ballot papers.
Nawaz Sharif, head of one of the two dynastic parties that have historically helmed Pakistan, has returned from self-imposed exile and seen his myriad convictions dissolve in the courts.
Analysts say it is a sign the three-time former prime minister is the favoured candidate of the military, which has directly ruled Pakistan for just under half its history.
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ISLAMABAD — Former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party accused intelligence agencies on Tuesday of being responsible
LAHORE, Pakistan — Several thousand pro-government protesters demanded on Monday the resignation of Pakistan’s top judge for releasing Imran
LAHORE — Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan called for nationwide "freedom" protests on Sunday, after his brief arrest and detentio
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https://jordantimes.com/news/world/pakistan-ex-pm-imran-khan-and-wife-get-14-years-jail-graft-case
| 2024-01-31T23:30:40Z
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New reports show a big academic recovery after schools reopened. But not for all students. Stanford professor Sean Reardon tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly how the pandemic worsened education inequality.
Copyright 2024 NPR
New reports show a big academic recovery after schools reopened. But not for all students. Stanford professor Sean Reardon tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly how the pandemic worsened education inequality.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.knau.org/2024-01-31/u-s-students-are-starting-to-catch-up-in-school-unless-theyre-from-a-poor-area
| 2024-01-31T23:30:42Z
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A look from Maui six months after devastating wildfires By Debbie Elliott Published January 31, 2024 at 1:39 PM AKST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:06 As we approach the six-month anniversary of the Maui fires, we look at the biggest issues that people on the island are still facing. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kdlg.org/2024-01-31/a-look-from-maui-six-months-after-devastating-wildfires
| 2024-01-31T23:30:43Z
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So, if Musk isn’t worth the maximum $55.8 billion value of the package, how much is he worth? It’s a thorny question without an easy answer in the notoriously complex world of executive compensation.
McCormick's ruling bumped Musk out of the top spot on the Forbes list of wealthiest people. The magazine on Wednesday lopped $25 billion off his net worth, reducing it to $185.3 billion, putting him behind fashion and cosmetics magnate Bernard Arnault and family.
Critics have argued for years that CEO pay packages are exorbitant. The median compensation for a CEO of an S&P 500 company was valued at $14.8 million, according to the latest AP CEO pay survey for 2022 conducted with the executive compensation research firm Equilar. It would take the typical worker at one of those companies more than 185 years to earn what their chief executive reaped in just 12 months.
In 2018, Tesla estimated the value of Musk's compensation package at $2.28 billion, topping the previous highest package of $1.39 billion given to Blackstone's Steven Schwarzman 10 years earlier, according to Equilar. The value of Musk's package has grown as Tesla's stock price increased. By comparison, in 2022 the median worker at Tesla made $34,084.
Under Musk's pay plan, he received a chunk of stock options each time Tesla's market value rose by $50 billion. Ultimately, he would have the chance to buy nearly 304 million shares for $23.34 each. Tesla has met each of the performance hurdles since the package was awarded. Its stock is trading at roughly $191 compared with $21 at the start of 2018.
The judge determined that Tesla’s board lacked independence from Musk. His lawyers said the package needed to be rich to give Musk an incentive not to leave — a line of reasoning the judge shot down.
“Swept up by the rhetoric of ‘all upside,’ or perhaps starry eyed by Musk’s superstar appeal, the board never asked the $55.8 billion question: ‘Was the plan even necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals?’” McCormick wrote.
Musk's fans would argue that he shouldn't be paid like other CEOs because he isn't like other CEOs. He and Tesla are practically inseparable, so keeping him as CEO is key to the company's growth. He built the company from an idea to the most valuable automaker in the world, last year selling more electric vehicles than any other company. His star power gets free publicity, so the company spends little on advertising. And he has forced the rest of the auto industry to accelerate plans for electric vehicles to counter Tesla's phenomenal growth.
To figure out how much to pay their CEO, corporate boards often start by looking at how much their rivals are paying theirs: They need to pay enough to attract and keep the talent.
General Motors, for example, considers executive salaries at 3M, Boeing, Ford, IBM and other huge companies, and uses complex formulas to determine CEO compensation. For GM CEO Mary Barra, part of that depends on how GM’s stock return compares to its peers and how much progress the company makes on electric vehicles.
In 2022, Barra earned total compensation that GM valued at $29 million. That included $2.1 million in salary. Ford CEO Jim Farley's compensation was valued at $22 million that year.
Even though Tesla makes automobiles, investors often lump its stock in with Big Tech stocks. They’re the companies disrupting industries and people’s ways of life.
Plus, Musk is closely identified with Tesla the way Meta Platforms’ Mark Zuckerberg or Apple’s Tim Cook are with their companies. Pay packages at Big Tech companies are among the largest in the U.S.
Cook’s compensation was valued at $63.2 million for 2023, mainly due to stock awards valued at nearly $47 million. A year earlier, he earned total compensation valued at roughly $99 million.
In the nuanced world of executive compensation, these numbers don’t indicate how much a CEO actually takes home, they’re just an estimate of the compensation package's value. The final value may exceed or fall far below those figures because it is tied to stock.
Corporate law experts say any new compensation package for Musk will likely be challenged in court unless Tesla's board either resigns en masse or follows a meticulous process to protect shareholders by passing a substantially smaller package.
“This is just a mess for them,” said Charles Elson, a retired corporate law professor and founder of the corporate governance center at the University of Delaware. “They kowtowed to this apparent superstar with poor results.”
Elson, who has followed the court for more than three decades, said this is the first time he can remember a judge invalidating an executive compensation plan at a public company.
Lawyers for Musk and the directors had countered that the plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent, and that it was blessed by a shareholder vote.
Shareholders who approved Musk’s deal, Elson said, were unaware that Musk essentially was negotiating with himself. “If the shareholders were aware of that, they may well have not approved it.”
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https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/a-court-rejected-elon-musks-558b-pay-package-what-is-he-worth-to-tesla/CAOWWHLV7JHOPBNEPXVACCNQ6M/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:43Z
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Unlocking the Potential of Wireless Spectrum for Next-Generation Networks
3 min readThe future of wireless technology and its impact on various industries relies heavily on the availability of licensed spectrum. A recent white paper published5G Americas, titled ‘The Evolution of 5G Spectrum,’ emphasizes the importance of releasing more licensed spectrum to ensure U.S. leadership in technology, mobile communications, and the economy. While the rollout of 5G-Advanced and future 6G networks is on the horizon, the development of a comprehensive roadmap for new commercially available spectrum is crucial.
The white paper highlights the significance of the upper mid-band spectrum, ranging from 7.125-15.35 GHz, in leveraging existing infrastructure for increased capacity. This spectrum range, especially below 10 GHz, is considered balanced in terms of capacity and coverage for licensed mobile operations. Additionally, mmWave bands play a critical role in deployments in dense urban areas, busy streets, entertainment venues, and fixed wireless access deployments. Furthermore, sub-THz bands offer extensive bandwidths that can cater to specialized use cases.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has identified various usage scenarios, including immersive experiences, next-generation healthcare monitoring, human-machine interfaces, and Joint Communications and Sensing (JCAS), that require high data rates and wide-area coverage. The wireless industry needs access to more spectrum to support emerging applications such as extended reality (XR), connected cars, and the metaverse.
As 5G-Advanced networks are expected to introduce several new features, network operators are looking to monetize their investments. These features include advanced support for extended reality (virtual reality, cloud gaming, augmented reality), improved performance for existing networks, advanced positioning capabilities, enhanced sidelink, and new device types. Additionally, 5G-Advanced enables network management and deployment capabilities, including enhanced coverage and network performance, along with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for efficient network management.
Looking ahead, the freeze of 3GPP Release 18, branded as 5G-Advanced, is expected in March 2024. This will pave the way for relevant features to enter the marketthe end of 2024 and further commercialization in 2025 and beyond.
In conclusion, unlocking the potential of wireless spectrum is crucial for the success of next-generation networks. The development of a comprehensive roadmap for commercially available spectrum and the identification of new bands are integral to ensure rapid commercialization and maintain U.S. leadership in technology and mobile communications. With the right spectrum, the possibilities for innovation and transformative applications are endless.
FAQ:
Q: What is the importance of licensed spectrum in the future of wireless technology?
A: Licensed spectrum is crucial for the future of wireless technology as it allows for increased capacity and coverage, enabling the development of new applications and services.
Q: What spectrum range is considered balanced for licensed mobile operations?
A: The upper mid-band spectrum, ranging from 7.125-15.35 GHz, is considered balanced in terms of capacity and coverage for licensed mobile operations.
Q: How do mmWave bands contribute to wireless deployments?
A: mmWave bands are important for deployments in dense urban areas, busy streets, entertainment venues, and fixed wireless access deployments.
Q: What are sub-THz bands used for?
A: Sub-THz bands offer extensive bandwidths and are suitable for specialized use cases.
Q: What are some examples of emerging applications that require more spectrum?
A: Examples of emerging applications include extended reality (XR), connected cars, and the metaverse.
Q: What features will be introduced in 5G-Advanced networks?
A: 5G-Advanced networks will introduce features such as support for extended reality, improved network performance, advanced positioning capabilities, enhanced sidelink, and integration of artificial intelligence for network management.
Q: When is the freeze of 3GPP Release 18 expected?
A: The freeze of 3GPP Release 18, branded as 5G-Advanced, is expected in March 2024.
Definitions:
Licensed spectrum: Spectrum allocatedregulatory bodies to specific entities for exclusive use in wireless communication.
mmWave bands: Millimeter wave bands, which refer to high-frequency radio waves with wavelengths between 1 and 10 millimeters.
Sub-THz bands: Sub-Terahertz bands, which refer to frequency bands below the Terahertz range.
Immersive experiences: Digital experiences that fully immerse a user in a virtual or augmented environment.
Joint Communications and Sensing (JCAS): A technology that combines communication and sensing functionalities for various applications.
Extended reality (XR): An umbrella term that encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR).
Related links:
– 5G Americas
– International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
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https://www.opp.today/health/unlocking-the-potential-of-wireless-spectrum-for-next-generation-networks/313779/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:43Z
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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Edison Ehie, the chief of staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, less than two days after Mr Ehie was sworn into office.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Wednesday, following an ex-parte application brought by the Inspector-General of Police.
Mr Ehie is accused of being involved in the 29 October 2023 arson at the Rivers House of Assembly complex, Port Harcourt, which occurred during an attempt by some lawmakers to initiate an impeachment proceeding against Governor Fubara.
The court also issued a warrant of arrest against five others – Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter, also known as Rambo – over the same accusation.
Mr Ehie was the speaker of a four-member faction of the assembly. The faction, which is now defunct, was loyal to Mr Fubara in the feud between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is the FCT minister.
Mr Ehie resigned as the factional speaker and member of the assembly to pave the way for the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to take control of the assembly as part of a controversial peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu between Messrs Fubara and Wike.
The police suspect that Mr Fubara’s allies carried out the arson at the assembly complex in order to prevent the impeachment plot against the governor.
The Rivers State Government later demolished the complex, claiming that the structure had become defective following the arson.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, remanded Chime Ezebalike, Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod over similar accusation of invading, vandalising and burning down of the Rivers assembly complex.
Mr Ehie was not listed among the defendants in the case which is being prosecuted by the police.
In the suit before Justice Nwite, Mr Ehie and the other defendants are accused of conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder, and murder of a superintendent of police, Bako Agbashim, and five other police informants, according to Punch newspaper.
Another Court bars arrest of Ehie
While a federal court ordered his arrest, a State High Court in Port Harcourt granted an application filed by Mr Ehie against his arrest by the police.
Mr Ehie, in the application, asked the court to restrain the police and other security agencies from arresting, detaining and harassing him over his alleged involvement in the burning of the Rivers assembly complex, the Nation newspaper reported.
The judge, Sika Aprioku, granted the application before adjourning the matter to 6 February for a hearing.
As of the time of this report, it was unclear which of the court orders the police would honour. Both courts are of equal powers.
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/664085-rivers-crisis-more-troubles-for-fubara-as-court-orders-arrest-of-his-top-aide.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:44Z
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The entrance of Dangote Refinery into the Nigeria market has elicited excitement from stakeholders who have expressed joy and proffered suggestions over the commencement of crude refining by the privately owned refinery, SUCCESS NWOGU writes
A new dawn
The commencement of crude oil refining by the Dangote Refinery on Friday January 12, 2024, has elicited both excitement and caution by industry operators and other Nigerians. They stated that it will be a positive game changer in the energy sector, industrialisation, socio-economic, business activities and the corporate sector of Nigeria and Africa. According to them, it will also positively improve the lives of Nigerians and that of other West African countries. It had been an unpleasant narrative that Nigeria, one of the leading producers of crude oil globally, for many years, did not have a functional refinery and so depended solely on importation of refined petroleum products for its domestic needs. Nigeria’s dependence on importation not only cost the country trillions of dollars, but also depleted its foreign exchange, put pressure on the available resources, increased inflation, impeded business growth and employment generation as well as negatively impacted on the living standard of Nigerians and on the psyche of the nation. The fuel importation regime and the consequent ‘subsidy abracadabra’ that held Nigeria in the jugular almost strangulated and snuffed life out of the hemorrhaging and emancipated nation, that was almost living on life-support.
$24.9bn fuel import in 2022
Afrinvest in 2023 said that over the last five years, Nigeria’s crude oil and gas imports rose by a cumulative annual growth rate of 21.1% to $24.9 billion in 2022 due to the non-functional of local refineries among other factors. However, Reuters disclosed that Nigeria spent $23.3 billion on petroleum products’ imports in 2022. While the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its October 2022 Economic Report said Nigeria spent a total of $12.44 billion on the importation of petroleum products between January and October 2022. An analysis of the apex bank’s economic report for the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, showed that $4.21 billion was spent on petroleum products’ import and that the nation spent a total of $12.44 billion on oil imports in the first 10 months of 2022. According to the data, the quantity of foreign exchange expended on the importation of petroleum products into Nigeria in 2021 was $1.04bn while it was $1.32bn in 2020. More findings also showed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves was on a downward trend in recent months, falling to a low of $39.77bn on February 15, 2022 from $40.54bn at the end of 2021.
The apex’s bank’s data on sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for forex showed that $45.76m was utilised in January 2021 for fuel imports; $64.67m in February, and $142.31m in March. Forex for fuel import transactions reduced to $77.96m in April and $85.64m in May but increased to $86.42m in June. In addition, the country utilised $83.73m in July and $103.70m in August for petroleum products importation while $66.66m was used for fuel imports in September, $74.01m in October, $82.65m in November and $131.25m in December.
N13.7 trillion on petrol subsidy in 15 years –NEITI
According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Federal Government spent N13.7 trillion ($74.386 billion) on fuel subsidies in 15 years, between 2005 and 2020. NEITI Executive Secretary and National Coordinator, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji dis- closed this in a report he presented to the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the fuel subsidy regime between 2013 and 2022 in Abuja He revealed in the report submitted to the House committee chaired by Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu that the subsidy payments in 2005 were N351 bil- lion ($2.66 billion); 2006 was N219.72 billion ($1.70 billion); 2007 was N236.64 billion ($1.89 billion); 2008 was N360.18 billion ($3.03 billion); 2009 was N198.11 billion ($1.60 billion), and 2010 was N416.45 billion ($2.76 billion). The report further stated that the payment for 2011 was N1.9 trillion ($12.18 billion); 2012 – N690 billion ($4.34 billion); 2013 – N495 billion ($3.11 billion); 2014 – N482 billion ($2.92 billion); 2015 – N316.70 billion ($1.62 billion); 2016 – N99 billion ($0.39 billion); 2017 – N141.63 billion ($0.44 million); 2018 – N722.30 billion ($2.36 billion), 2019 – N578.07 billion ($1.88 billion), and finally, 2020 – N134 billion ($0.37 billion).
In May 2016, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) being the sole importer of petroleum products, took over, making deductions from the sale of domestic crude, which it termed under-recovery. Orji in the report noted that subsidy payment expected from NNPC in 2018, was N2.294 trillion including subsidy of N722.257 billion, and N138.945 billion for pipeline repairs and management costs; N28.329 billion for crude and product losses and N998.285 billion being balance that NNPCL should have remitted, while actual remittance stood at N897.922 billion, leaving outstanding (unremitted fund) of N100.363 billion for 2018. He added that in 2019, the sum of N2.145 trillion comprising subsidy of N518.074 billion, and N126.664 billion for pipeline repairs and management costs; N31.844 billion for crude and product losses and N1.498 trillion being the balance that NNPCL should have remitted, but actual remittance stood at N821.563 billion, leaving outstanding (unremitted fund) of N170.675 billion for 2019; while in 2020, payment of subsidy was worth N133.74 billion, and N54.49 billion for pipeline repairs and management cost; N133.06 billion for crude and product losses.
According to the report, Domestic Crude Allocation for 2018 was 107.63 million barrels, out of which 13.581 million barrels (13%) were delivered to the refineries, 94.045 million barrels (87%) were exported under the Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement and that NNPCL was expected to make remittances within 90 days.
Fuel pricing regime
Findings show that a litre of fuel was sold in 1978 for N0.5 during the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo. It was sold for N.02 in 1982 during the civilian regime of late President Shehu Shagari. It was sold for N0.20 in 1984 and 1985 respectively during the military administration of General Muhammad Buhari; between 1986 and 1989 it sold for N0.395 during the regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Ba- bangida (IBB). Under IBB still in 1990 it sold for N0.60 (IBB), 1991 for N0.70, 1992 for N3.25, and 1993 for N11.00. While between 1994 and1998 it was sold for N11.00 and during the administration of late General Sani Abacha in 1998, it was sold for N11.00 and during the Abacha and General Abdulsalami Abdusalami, and 1999 it sold for N20.00. Also during the administration of Abdul- salami and civilian administration of Obasanjo. Under Obasanjo in 2000, it went for N22.00; 2001 for N26 00; 2002 for N30.00; 2003 for N40; 2004 for N55.00; 2005 for N60.00; 2006 for N65 00; 2007 for N70.00 (Obasanjo and late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
While between 2008 and 2010 it sold for N65.00 (Yar Adua); 2010 for N65.00 and under former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan between 2012 and 2014 it went for N120.00; 2015 for 145.00 (Jonathan and the civilian administration of Buhari); and 2016 it sold for N145.00 (Buhari).
Sudden removal of fuel subsidy
The price spiraled when on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his inaugural speech, unilaterally announced the removal of fuel subsidy, this led to the skyrocketing of fuel prices and the concomitant hardship on Nigerians as well as dislocation of socio-economic and business activities. It jumped from N145 per litre to the current price regime oscillating between N580 and N700 depending on the part of the country it is sold. Following the announcement, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) directed its fuel stations nationwide to dispense fuel between N480 and N570 per litre.
NNPCL justifies rise in fuel prices
Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, while speaking to journalists af- ter a closed-door meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja, recently, said the rise in the petroleum pump prices in the country was as a result of ‘market forces’. He stated that with the deregulation of the oil sector, market realities will force the price of petrol up sometimes and at other times force it down. He said: “We have the marketing wing of our company. They adjust prices depending on the market realities. “This is really what is happening; this is the meaning of making sure that the market regulates itself so that prices will go up and sometimes they will come down also. This is what we have seen, and in reality, this is what (how) the market works. “When you go to the market, you buy the product; you come to the market, you sell it at the prevailing market prices. Nothing to do with supply. We don’t have supply issues. There is a robust supply. We have over 32 days of supply in the country.
Yes, what I know is that the market forces will regulate the market. “Prices will go down sometimes; sometimes, it will go up. But there will be stability of supply, and I’m also assuring Nigerians that this is the best way to go forward so that we can adjust prices when market forces come to play.” While the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, attributed the rise in price to the global crude oil price increase. He said: “As a regulator, I told you back in May (2023) that we are not going to be setting prices. The market will determine itself, and as you saw back in early June when prices came out, it was based on the cost of importation plus other logistics of distribution and, of course, the profit margin by the importer. “This market is deregulated; it is open to all participants. As I mentioned yesterday, when I was in Lagos, we have about 56 marketing companies that applied and obtained licenses to import.
“So, when you say market forces are working, basically, what it is that you buy, you con- sider the price of crude going up. A couple of weeks ago, the price of crude was hovering around $70/barrel. Now it’s hovering around $80/barrel. “So, the crude price also drives the product price. You know, because the importers are importing, they are basing it on the cost of importation plus the freight and other cost elements in terms of local distribution.”
World Bank on subsidy removal
The World Bank (WB) which strongly pitched for fuel subsidy removal to the Federal Government said after the removal that Nigeria’s government will save a total of N11 trillion from the fuel subsidy removal implementation. It, however, noted that the policy would push more people into poverty in Nigeria if the government did not provide palliatives to alleviate the effect of the reforms. The Bretton Woods Institution, in its report: Nigeria Development Update (NDU), stated that over four million people were pushed into poverty between January and May 2023. According to the report, titled; ‘Seizing the Opportunity’, the World Bank advised the country to implement a comprehensive reform package that encompasses a range of complementary measures, including a new social compact to protect the poor and most vulnerable, to maximise the collective impact on growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.
“The removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange (FX) management reforms are crucial measures to begin to rebuild fiscal space and restore macroeconomic stability, and the opportunity should be seized to take further, necessary policy reform steps,” the report noted. “In the first part of 2023, Nigeria’s economic growth weakened, and real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth fell from 3.3 per cent in 2022 to 2.4 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in Q1 2023. The challenging global economic context has put pressure on Nigeria’s economy. “However, domestic policies play a major role in determining Nigeria’s economic performance and resilience to further external shocks. The previous mix of fiscal, monetary, and exchange rate policies, including the naira redesign programme, did not deliver the de- sired improvements in growth, inflation, and economic resilience.
“The new government has recognised the need to chart a new course and has already made a start on critical reforms, such as the elimination of the petrol subsidy and reforms in the FX market. “With the petrol subsidy removal, the gov- ernment is projected to achieve fiscal savings of approximately N2 trillion in 2023, equiva- lent to 0.9 per cent of GDP. These savings are expected to reach over N11 trillion by the end of 2025.”
Subsidy withdrawal impact
World Bank said the recent reforms would have a more direct effect on the poor and vulnerable. It stated that in the immediate term, the removal of the petrol subsidy caused an increase in prices, adversely affecting the poor and economically insecure Nigerian households. It suggested that while the policies are being implemented, measures should be activated to lessen the effect on the poor. It said: “Petrol prices appear to have almost tripled following the subsidy removal. The poor and economically insecure households, who directly purchase and use petrol as well as those that indirectly consume petrol, are adversely affected by the price increase. “Among the poor and economically insecure, 38 per cent own a motorcycle and 23 per cent own a generator that depends on petrol. Much more use petrol-dependent transportation. “The poor and economically insecure households will face an equivalent income loss of N5, 700 per month, and without compensation, an additional 7.1 million people will be pushed into poverty.”
It added: “Similarly, the move to harmonise the FX windows will help to improve the efficiency of the FX market, unlock private investment, and reduce inflationary pressures, but it is crucial to complete this important reform by removing FX restrictions, clearly communicating how the new FX regime will operate, and implementing supportive monetary and fiscal policies.” Nigerian Country Director of the global lender, Shubham Chaudhuri, said: “Nigeria should now seize the opportunity to implement a robust, large-scale cash transfer programme to provide quick relief to the poor, near poor, as well as low-income households, which are most directly affected by higher petrol prices, as part of a broader compact to redirect scarce fiscal resources towards development priorities.”
Apparently, to assist Nigeria address some of the consequential challenges, it allowed Nigeria to secured $800 million from the bank to scale up its national social programme ahead of the removal of its costly but popular subsidies on petrol in June, as the then Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed. Ahmed had in 2022 said that Nigeria had set aside N3.36 trillion ($7.3 billion) to spend on fuel subsidies until June 2023, and that after that there would be no provision for fuel subsidy.
IMF’s angle
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), while commending the Federal Government for fuel subsidy removal, advised that efforts must be activated to protect poor citizens from the high cost of living crisis. The Washington-based lender urged the Federal Government to complement the fuel subsidy removal with a set of policies that could help lower inflation and protect the most vulnerable citizens. Assistant Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF, Era Dabla-Norris, at a press briefing session titled, ‘Fiscal Monitor.’ stated these during the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco. Dabla-Norris said, “The first is to protect the most vulnerable from the (high) cost of living, and there’s a number of targeted programmes that can be ramped up and the poor, the really vulnerable populations, are protected. “A set of other policies, macroeconomic policies are needed to durably bring inflation down. In the case of Nigeria, the revenue-to-GDP ratio is quite low relative to other emerging markets and developing countries. So efforts will need to be made to increase revenue collection in an efficient manner. Our research shows that countries like Nigeria have large untapped tax potential.”
IPMAN cries out
… as 60 per cent marketers are rendered redundant Speaking on the development the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), NNPC Depot, Ore Western Zone of Nigeria, Engineer Shina Amoo, decried the harsh effects of the subsidy removal and revealed that some IPMAN members had converted their filling stations to car parks, car marts, abattoirs, and event centres. He also said that about 60 per cent of his members are now redundant, since the decision of the FG to remove payment of fuel subsidy on petrol. According to him, ‘‘life has become unbearable for many marketers, following the attendant sky rocketed fuel tenure.’’ He further noted that the hardship was as a result of low sales as many marketers cannot break even. Amoo lamented that many of them were having issues with their banks, which have continued to decline credit facilities to them. He revealed that some marketers have even fled the country because of business failure and financial frustration. The IPMAN Chairman stated that before deregulation, they bought fuel at an ex-depot price of N172 and sold at N190 or N195 as pump price but now, the ex-depot price has skyrocketed, explaining that before deregulation, they bought a truck of fuel for less than N9m but now, it is sold to them at about N26m.
Amoo said, “Deregulation is the best regime in our sector but the problem with this current regime is that our refineries are not working. Dangote Refinery, which we believe will open is not ready. “All our government-owned depots are abandoned. All the pipelines are vandalised. There is no solution to the free flow of the product in the country. We are still on importation. That is what we are facing now. More than 60 per cent of independent marketers are seriously affected. We are not doing something, we just go to work. “We are now selling a ridiculous volume. There is nothing much we are doing. They are selling to us at ex-depot prices the pump price they sell at their stations and we are expected to compete favourably with them.Whereas we also incur transportation costs and other costs. “As we sell N600, they sell N580.
Which customer will patronise us when he can get it at N580 as we sell N600? “Before they removed subsidies, for example, two or three years back now, many of us could not enjoy the advantages of our licenses, meaning, we had not been getting the product from government depots officially. Many of us had been buying at premium up and down. “Now that there is deregulation and subsidy has been removed, we expected an advantage of getting the product from the private depot owners at ex-depot prices. But as I talk to you, many of the private depot owners are selling to us at their pump price rate as ex-depot price. “With this development, many of our members are out of business. What we are looking out for is how the government can come to our aid and allow independent marketers to operate.”
Dangote Refinery enters
Dangote Oil Refinery is a 650,000 barrels per day (BPD) integrated refinery complex sitting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria and is projected to employ over 100,000 persons. The complex also has a 435 megawatt power station, deep seaport and fertiliser unit. It is also said to be designed for 100 per cent Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other crudes. The Pipeline Infrastructure at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is the largest anywhere in the world, with 1,100 kilometers to handle 3 Billion Standard Cubic Foot of gas per day. The Refinery alone has a 435MW Power Plant that is able to meet the total power requirement of Ibadan DisCo. The refinery will meet 100% of the Nigerian requirement of all refined products and also have a surplus of each of these products for export. Dangote Refinery is a multi-billion dollar project that will create a market for $21 billion per annum of Nigerian Crude. It cost about $19 billion to build after years of delay – above initial estimates of between $12 billion and $14 billion.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
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https://newtelegraphng.com/dangote-refinery-expected-positive-game-changer-in-energy-sector/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:45Z
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Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.ketr.org/2024-01-31/broadway-legend-hinton-battle-who-originally-played-scarecrow-in-the-wiz-has-died
| 2024-01-31T23:30:45Z
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Even when compared with other CEOs, who routinely get paid roughly 200 times more than their typical employees, Elon Musk’s pay package was eye-opening.
A judge in Delaware on Tuesday struck down the package that Tesla established for Musk in 2018, ruling that the process was "flawed" and the price "unfair." Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick called the package "the largest potential compensation opportunity ever observed in public markets by multiple orders of magnitude."
So, if Musk isn’t worth the maximum $55.8 billion value of the package, how much is he worth? It’s a thorny question without an easy answer in the notoriously complex world of executive compensation.
McCormick's ruling bumped Musk out of the top spot on the Forbes list of wealthiest people. The magazine on Wednesday lopped $25 billion off his net worth, reducing it to $185.3 billion, putting him behind fashion and cosmetics magnate Bernard Arnault and family.
Critics have argued for years that CEO pay packages are exorbitant. The median compensation for a CEO of an S&P 500 company was valued at $14.8 million, according to the latest AP CEO pay survey for 2022 conducted with the executive compensation research firm Equilar. It would take the typical worker at one of those companies more than 185 years to earn what their chief executive reaped in just 12 months.
In 2018, Tesla estimated the value of Musk's compensation package at $2.28 billion, topping the previous highest package of $1.39 billion given to Blackstone's Steven Schwarzman 10 years earlier, according to Equilar. The value of Musk's package has grown as Tesla's stock price increased. By comparison, in 2022 the median worker at Tesla made $34,084.
Under Musk's pay plan, he received a chunk of stock options each time Tesla's market value rose by $50 billion. Ultimately, he would have the chance to buy nearly 304 million shares for $23.34 each. Tesla has met each of the performance hurdles since the package was awarded. Its stock is trading at roughly $191 compared with $21 at the start of 2018.
The judge determined that Tesla’s board lacked independence from Musk. His lawyers said the package needed to be rich to give Musk an incentive not to leave — a line of reasoning the judge shot down.
“Swept up by the rhetoric of ‘all upside,’ or perhaps starry eyed by Musk’s superstar appeal, the board never asked the $55.8 billion question: ‘Was the plan even necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals?’” McCormick wrote.
Musk's fans would argue that he shouldn't be paid like other CEOs because he isn't like other CEOs. He and Tesla are practically inseparable, so keeping him as CEO is key to the company's growth. He built the company from an idea to the most valuable automaker in the world, last year selling more electric vehicles than any other company. His star power gets free publicity, so the company spends little on advertising. And he has forced the rest of the auto industry to accelerate plans for electric vehicles to counter Tesla's phenomenal growth.
To figure out how much to pay their CEO, corporate boards often start by looking at how much their rivals are paying theirs: They need to pay enough to attract and keep the talent.
General Motors, for example, considers executive salaries at 3M, Boeing, Ford, IBM and other huge companies, and uses complex formulas to determine CEO compensation. For GM CEO Mary Barra, part of that depends on how GM’s stock return compares to its peers and how much progress the company makes on electric vehicles.
In 2022, Barra earned total compensation that GM valued at $29 million. That included $2.1 million in salary. Ford CEO Jim Farley's compensation was valued at $22 million that year.
Even though Tesla makes automobiles, investors often lump its stock in with Big Tech stocks. They’re the companies disrupting industries and people’s ways of life.
Plus, Musk is closely identified with Tesla the way Meta Platforms’ Mark Zuckerberg or Apple’s Tim Cook are with their companies. Pay packages at Big Tech companies are among the largest in the U.S.
Cook’s compensation was valued at $63.2 million for 2023, mainly due to stock awards valued at nearly $47 million. A year earlier, he earned total compensation valued at roughly $99 million.
In the nuanced world of executive compensation, these numbers don’t indicate how much a CEO actually takes home, they’re just an estimate of the compensation package's value. The final value may exceed or fall far below those figures because it is tied to stock.
Corporate law experts say any new compensation package for Musk will likely be challenged in court unless Tesla's board either resigns en masse or follows a meticulous process to protect shareholders by passing a substantially smaller package.
“This is just a mess for them,” said Charles Elson, a retired corporate law professor and founder of the corporate governance center at the University of Delaware. “They kowtowed to this apparent superstar with poor results.”
Elson, who has followed the court for more than three decades, said this is the first time he can remember a judge invalidating an executive compensation plan at a public company.
Lawyers for Musk and the directors had countered that the plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent, and that it was blessed by a shareholder vote.
Shareholders who approved Musk’s deal, Elson said, were unaware that Musk essentially was negotiating with himself. “If the shareholders were aware of that, they may well have not approved it.”
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.boston25news.com/news/court-rejected-elon/5YYLNCCZ4KCLV7AAFN75PBS3CA/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:45Z
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Even when compared with other CEOs, who routinely get paid roughly 200 times more than their typical employees, Elon Musk’s pay package was eye-opening.
A judge in Delaware on Tuesday struck down the package that Tesla established for Musk in 2018, ruling that the process was "flawed" and the price "unfair." Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick called the package "the largest potential compensation opportunity ever observed in public markets by multiple orders of magnitude."
So, if Musk isn’t worth the maximum $55.8 billion value of the package, how much is he worth? It’s a thorny question without an easy answer in the notoriously complex world of executive compensation.
McCormick's ruling bumped Musk out of the top spot on the Forbes list of wealthiest people. The magazine on Wednesday lopped $25 billion off his net worth, reducing it to $185.3 billion, putting him behind fashion and cosmetics magnate Bernard Arnault and family.
Critics have argued for years that CEO pay packages are exorbitant. The median compensation for a CEO of an S&P 500 company was valued at $14.8 million, according to the latest AP CEO pay survey for 2022 conducted with the executive compensation research firm Equilar. It would take the typical worker at one of those companies more than 185 years to earn what their chief executive reaped in just 12 months.
In 2018, Tesla estimated the value of Musk's compensation package at $2.28 billion, topping the previous highest package of $1.39 billion given to Blackstone's Steven Schwarzman 10 years earlier, according to Equilar. The value of Musk's package has grown as Tesla's stock price increased. By comparison, in 2022 the median worker at Tesla made $34,084.
Under Musk's pay plan, he received a chunk of stock options each time Tesla's market value rose by $50 billion. Ultimately, he would have the chance to buy nearly 304 million shares for $23.34 each. Tesla has met each of the performance hurdles since the package was awarded. Its stock is trading at roughly $191 compared with $21 at the start of 2018.
The judge determined that Tesla’s board lacked independence from Musk. His lawyers said the package needed to be rich to give Musk an incentive not to leave — a line of reasoning the judge shot down.
“Swept up by the rhetoric of ‘all upside,’ or perhaps starry eyed by Musk’s superstar appeal, the board never asked the $55.8 billion question: ‘Was the plan even necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals?’” McCormick wrote.
Musk's fans would argue that he shouldn't be paid like other CEOs because he isn't like other CEOs. He and Tesla are practically inseparable, so keeping him as CEO is key to the company's growth. He built the company from an idea to the most valuable automaker in the world, last year selling more electric vehicles than any other company. His star power gets free publicity, so the company spends little on advertising. And he has forced the rest of the auto industry to accelerate plans for electric vehicles to counter Tesla's phenomenal growth.
To figure out how much to pay their CEO, corporate boards often start by looking at how much their rivals are paying theirs: They need to pay enough to attract and keep the talent.
General Motors, for example, considers executive salaries at 3M, Boeing, Ford, IBM and other huge companies, and uses complex formulas to determine CEO compensation. For GM CEO Mary Barra, part of that depends on how GM’s stock return compares to its peers and how much progress the company makes on electric vehicles.
In 2022, Barra earned total compensation that GM valued at $29 million. That included $2.1 million in salary. Ford CEO Jim Farley's compensation was valued at $22 million that year.
Even though Tesla makes automobiles, investors often lump its stock in with Big Tech stocks. They’re the companies disrupting industries and people’s ways of life.
Plus, Musk is closely identified with Tesla the way Meta Platforms’ Mark Zuckerberg or Apple’s Tim Cook are with their companies. Pay packages at Big Tech companies are among the largest in the U.S.
Cook’s compensation was valued at $63.2 million for 2023, mainly due to stock awards valued at nearly $47 million. A year earlier, he earned total compensation valued at roughly $99 million.
In the nuanced world of executive compensation, these numbers don’t indicate how much a CEO actually takes home, they’re just an estimate of the compensation package's value. The final value may exceed or fall far below those figures because it is tied to stock.
Corporate law experts say any new compensation package for Musk will likely be challenged in court unless Tesla's board either resigns en masse or follows a meticulous process to protect shareholders by passing a substantially smaller package.
“This is just a mess for them,” said Charles Elson, a retired corporate law professor and founder of the corporate governance center at the University of Delaware. “They kowtowed to this apparent superstar with poor results.”
Elson, who has followed the court for more than three decades, said this is the first time he can remember a judge invalidating an executive compensation plan at a public company.
Lawyers for Musk and the directors had countered that the plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent, and that it was blessed by a shareholder vote.
Shareholders who approved Musk’s deal, Elson said, were unaware that Musk essentially was negotiating with himself. “If the shareholders were aware of that, they may well have not approved it.”
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wftv.com/news/court-rejected-elon/5YYLNCCZ4KCLV7AAFN75PBS3CA/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:45Z
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Fire managers in the region plan to conduct pile burns in the coming days and weeks.
On the Coconino National Forest, crews today planned to ignite more than 1,300 acres at Willard Springs north of Munds Park.
Smoke will likely be minimal but could impact Interstate 17.
On the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, officials will burn 40 acres of timber and slash about 2 miles northeast of Lakeside today or tomorrow with light smoke potentially impacting local highways.
In addition, managers on the Prescott National Forest plan to begin a month-long series of pile burns Thursday in Prescott, Chino Valley and elsewhere.
They say it’ll reduce wildfire danger in the wildland-urban interface where communities border forest lands.
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https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2024-01-31/pile-burns-planned-throughout-northern-arizona
| 2024-01-31T23:30:49Z
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James Maddison hilariously got his revenge on ‘s***house’ Neil Maupay, who earlier trolled his celebration.
Maupay gave Brentford the lead away at Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League clash on Wednesday night as he bundled in Guglielmo Vicario’s parried save from Ivan Toney’s effort.
The Bees striker ran off to the corner flag to celebrate his 15th minute strike, and brought out a darts celebration usually seen from Maddison and his Spurs team-mates in a p*** boiling move. But Maddison soon got his revenge as the Lilywhites came flying out of the blocks to turn their one goal half-time deficit around to a 3-1 lead just 10 minutes into the second-half.
READ MORE: Neil Maupay's 's***house' darts celebration to Spurs fans as he trolls James Maddison
READ MORE: Conor Bradley 'shows Darwin Nunez how to finish' with class Liverpool goal vs Chelsea
In the celebrations for Brennan Johnson’s goal and Spurs’ second of the night, Maddison and the Welshman were spotted imitating and laughing at Maupay’s arrow-throwing technique.
Fans on social media lapped up Maddison’s revenge, one comment on Twitter read: “This game is pure entertainment”. A second wrote: “Love this”, a third added: “Maupay must be angry right now”, while a fourth said: “Life comes at you fast”.
Do you think Tottenham can challenge for the Premier League title? Let us know in the comments section.
Maupay spent most of the first-half winding up Spurs’ players, including Maddison, who he had a heated exchange with shortly after mimicking his celebration. But the Frenchman wasn’t laughing at full time. Brentford did get a goal back through Toney with over 20 minutes of normal time left to play, but Ange Postecoglou’s side were able to hold onto the three points which sees them climb above Aston Villa and into 4th place.
On his clash with Maupay, Maddison cheekily told reporters after the game: "I just said to him, he hasn't scored enough goals of his own in the last few years to have his own celebration, so he had to copy mine. Short story, ended well for us." Maupay couldn't help but fire back one more shot of his own on Instagram too.
But Maddison got the final word, posting three pictures on his own Instagram of Maupay's celebration, himself celebrating, and the final score. Even 17-year-old sensation Luke Littler replied to his pal saying: "Yes sirrrr", with a shush emoji for Maupay.
Spurs are now just three points behind Manchester City in second place, who also picked up three points on Wednesday night with a 3-1 win over Burnley. Postecoglou’s side take on Everton next in the early kick-off on Saturday.
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/james-maddison-darts-celebration-maupay-32015764
| 2024-01-31T23:30:49Z
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Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kdlg.org/2024-01-31/broadway-legend-hinton-battle-who-originally-played-scarecrow-in-the-wiz-has-died
| 2024-01-31T23:30:49Z
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Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie “Rust,” was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin says that he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger, and the gun fired.
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https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/alec-baldwin-pleads-not-guilty-to-involuntary-manslaughter-charge-in-fatal-film-set-shooting/QTJO4SVSUFBXXF6DHO4IV2WI34/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:49Z
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Hayek Kallen Investment Management lifted its position in shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS – Free Report) by 21.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,355 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,980 shares during the quarter. Hayek Kallen Investment Management’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $920,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Great Lakes Advisors LLC lifted its position in Walt Disney by 25.7% in the 3rd quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 1,573,971 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $127,570,000 after acquiring an additional 321,565 shares in the last quarter. KLCM Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Walt Disney by 8.0% in the 3rd quarter. KLCM Advisors Inc. now owns 89,848 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $7,282,000 after acquiring an additional 6,650 shares in the last quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC bought a new stake in Walt Disney in the 3rd quarter valued at $4,717,000. Marco Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Walt Disney by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Marco Investment Management LLC now owns 68,059 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $5,516,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Motco lifted its position in Walt Disney by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter. Motco now owns 80,650 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $6,537,000 after buying an additional 5,912 shares in the last quarter. 61.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $103.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $125.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Seaport Res Ptn reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Friday, October 6th. Rosenblatt Securities cut their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $114.00 to $112.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $122.00 to $110.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $109.40.
Walt Disney Stock Performance
Shares of NYSE:DIS traded down $0.12 on Wednesday, reaching $96.82. 3,244,385 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,737,188. The company has a fifty day moving average of $92.39 and a 200-day moving average of $87.52. The Walt Disney Company has a twelve month low of $78.73 and a twelve month high of $118.18. The company has a market capitalization of $177.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 75.72, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40.
Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The entertainment giant reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.15. Walt Disney had a net margin of 2.65% and a return on equity of 7.31%. The firm had revenue of $21.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.37 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.30 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that The Walt Disney Company will post 4.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Walt Disney Announces Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 11th were issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 8th. Walt Disney’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.44%.
Insider Transactions at Walt Disney
In other news, Director Amy Chang purchased 1,078 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 7th. The stock was bought at an average price of $92.69 per share, with a total value of $99,919.82. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 6,216 shares in the company, valued at approximately $576,161.04. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 18,788 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.99, for a total value of $1,747,096.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 33,586 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,123,162.14. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Amy Chang acquired 1,078 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $92.69 per share, with a total value of $99,919.82. Following the purchase, the director now owns 6,216 shares in the company, valued at $576,161.04. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
About Walt Disney
The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners.
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https://www.com-unik.info/2024/01/31/hayek-kallen-investment-management-purchases-1980-shares-of-the-walt-disney-company-nysedis.html
| 2024-01-31T23:30:49Z
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(LifeSiteNews) –– The Federal Court judge who ruled last week that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government’s use of the Emergencies Act (EA) to quash the truckers’ Freedom Convoy in 2022 was unconstitutional, is a Liberal-appointed and well-respected judge with decades of experience.
Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley, 74, is a longtime resident of Ottawa and once served as assistant deputy justice minister under then-Attorney General Anne McLellan, before he was appointed to the Federal Court in 2003, which was Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s last year in office.
Mosley admitted that at the start of the court proceedings, he “had not reached a decision on any of the four applications,” noting he was “leaning to the view the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act was reasonable.”
“I considered the events that occurred in Ottawa and other locations in January and February 2022 went beyond legitimate protest and reflected an unacceptable breakdown of public order,” he added.
He also observed how it was civil rights lawyers who ended up changing his mind about the case.
Mosley also said that he had, and continues to have, “considerable sympathy for those in government who were confronted with this situation,” and that had he “been at their tables at that time I may have agreed it was necessary to invoke the Act.”
Last Tuesday, Canada’s Federal Court announced that the use of the EA by the Trudeau government in early 2022 to shut down Freedom Convoy, which was calling for an end to COVID mandates, was a direct violation of the nation’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and thus was “not justified.”
The January 23 decision by Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley saw the judge write, “Having found that the infringements of Charter sections 2(b) and 8 were not minimally impairing, I find that they were not justified under section 1.”
The legal victory follows a lengthy court battle that was launched by the Canadian Constitution Foundation and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association along with many applicants, including some provincial governments such as Alberta that all argued the use of the EA was a violation of rights.
The ruling was celebrated by prominent conservative Canadian politicians and independent media pundits alike.
However, the Trudeau government last week said it will appeal the federal court’s decision.
Despite Mosley’s ruling, Canada’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner, in April of 2022, while speaking to Québec daily Le Devoir, claimed the Freedom Convoy protests was the start of anarchy in Canada.
“What we saw on Wellington Street here was the beginning of anarchy where certain people decided to take other citizens hostage, to take the law into their own hands,” he said.
In early 2022, the Freedom Convoy saw thousands of Canadians from coast to coast come to Ottawa to demand an end to COVID mandates in all forms. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Trudeau’s government enacted the EA on February 14, 2022.
During the clear-out of protesters after the EA was put in place, one protester, an elderly lady, was trampled by a police horse, and one conservative female reporter was beaten by police and shot with a tear gas canister.
Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23.
The EA controversially allowed the government to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in assemblies the government deemed illegal.
An investigation into the use of the EA, as per Canadian law, was launched by Trudeau. However, it was headed by Liberal-friendly Judge Paul Rouleau, who led the Public Order Emergency Commission. This commission was stuck to investigate the Liberal government’s unprecedented use of the EA against the anti-mandate Freedom Convoy protest. Unsurprisingly, the commission exonerated Trudeau’s use of the EA.
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https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/judge-who-ruled-against-trudeaus-use-of-emergencies-act-a-long-serving-liberal-appointee/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:49Z
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You are here
Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of POWs
By AFP - Jan 31,2024 - Last updated at Jan 31,2024
This handout photo taken and released by the Ukrainian presidential press service on Thursday, shows a Ukrainian former prisoner of war speaking on the phone as he stands with servicemen following a prisoner exchange (AFP photo)
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia and Ukraine traded hundreds of prisoners of war on Wednesday, just a week after Moscow said Kyiv had shot down a plane carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers to an exchange.
The crash of a Russian military cargo plane near the border with Ukraine, which Russia said killed 65 Ukrainian POWs, had thrown doubt on future prisoner swaps between the two sides.
But in a series of coordinated announcements Wednesday, both sides hailed the latest agreement to free more than 400 people captured during the course of the two-year war.
Russia's defence ministry said 195 of its soldiers were freed, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 207 people, both soldiers and civilians, had returned to Ukraine.
"Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what," Zelensky said in a social media post.
Russia's defence ministry said "195 Russian servicemen... were returned home".
The exchange was brokered by the United Arab Emirates, which has played a role in several previous swaps, Moscow said.
Ukraine said the youngest soldier returning home was 20, while the oldest was 61.
The freed Ukrainians include those who fought in Mariupol and on Snake Island, a scrubby rock in the Black Sea that secured worldwide fame when the Ukrainians stationed there issued an expletive-laden radio message to Russian attackers.
50th swap
The announcement of the swap, in a flurry of statements and photos released simultaneously by Moscow and Kyiv, contrasted sharply with the rhetoric surrounding last week's crash.
Zelensky has accused Moscow of “playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners” while Moscow says Ukraine committed a “terrorist act”.
Uncertainty remains after the Russian plane was crashed in a fireball in the western Belgorod region on January 24.
Moscow says it was ferrying 65 Ukrainian POWs on the way to a scheduled exchange.
President Vladimir Putin said it was “obvious” Ukraine shot it down and claimed Kyiv knew dozens of its soldiers could have been on board.
On Wednesday, he said a US Patriot system was used to down the plane.
“This has already been established by forensics,” Putin said in a televised appearance.
Ukraine has not outright denied Moscow’s version of events, but questioned whether captured Ukrainian soldiers were actually on board and said Moscow never told it in advance that POWs would be flown near the border.
Officials in Kyiv have called for Moscow to publish photos of the dead POWs’ bodies or provide other evidence to back up its claims.
Wednesday’s exchange, which took place exactly a week after the plane was shot down, was the 50th swap between the two sides since Russia invaded in February 2022, Kyiv said.
Ukraine said more than 3,000 POWs have now been returned. A similar number of Russians have also been freed, with most exchanges based on a one-for-one format.
Thousands who have been captured or surrendered throughout the near two-year war are thought to still be in captivity.
‘Not stopping’
On the battlefield, both sides reported ongoing fights for territory across the sprawling frontline.
Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesman for Ukraine’s army, said Ukraine’s forces were “firmly on the defensive” in the eastern Donetsk region.
“The enemy does not stop trying to surround Avdiivka,” he said in an interview with state TV.
Russian forces have been trying to capture the strategic town, which Ukrainians see as a symbol of resistance, for months.
Ukraine also said Russia fired drones and missiles overnight in the latest aerial bombardment.
On the diplomatic front, Kyiv is hoping for a breakthrough this week over unlocking 50 billion euros ($54.2 billion) of aid from the EU.
EU leaders will meet on Thursday to discuss future support for Kyiv, hoping to reach a final agreement over a massive four-year financial aid package that was blocked by Hungary last year.
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https://jordantimes.com/news/world/russia-and%C2%A0ukraine%C2%A0exchange-hundreds-pows
| 2024-01-31T23:30:50Z
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The Super Eagles are entitled to pocketing a whopping $30,000 each for getting past the group stage of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. Jose Peseiro’s side finished second in Group A behind the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea.
The previous arrangement, according to SCORENigeria, was for each player to be paid a $5,000-a- match bonus to the final. It has since been jettisoned with a lump sum payment for each round of the competition.
The team will get an additional bonus for the Round of 16 victory against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Jose Peseiro’s side will take on the Black Antelopes of Angola in a quarter-final fixture at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, tomorrow.
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https://newtelegraphng.com/eagles-get-30-000-each-for-qualifying-from-group-stage/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:51Z
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NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with constitutional scholar Philip Bobbitt about the effort from House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Copyright 2024 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with constitutional scholar Philip Bobbitt about the effort from House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.ketr.org/2024-01-31/constitutional-scholar-says-gop-charges-against-mayorkas-dont-meet-impeachment-bar
| 2024-01-31T23:30:51Z
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JACKSON, Miss. — (AP) — Mississippi could allow Medicaid coverage earlier in pregnancy in an effort to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in a poor state with the nation's worst rate of infant mortality.
With wide bipartisan support, the state House passed a bill Wednesday to allow up to 60 days of “presumptive eligibility” for Medicaid, starting July 1. This means a pregnant woman's outpatient medical care would be paid by Medicaid as her application for coverage by the government insurance program is being considered.
Processing Medicaid applications can take weeks, and physicians say early prenatal care is important.
House Medicaid Committee Chairwoman Missy McGee of Hattiesburg pointed out that Mississippi has high rates of fetal mortality, infant mortality and maternal mortality.
“I think this will go a long way in helping moms and babies be healthy ... and give babies the best shot for a healthy life," McGee said.
Mississippi ranks worst in the U.S. for infant mortality, with Black infants nearly twice as likely as white ones to die over the past decade, according to a report unveiled Jan. 18 by the state Department of Health.
Presumptive Medicaid eligibility during pregnancy would be based on questions about income, asked by health care providers such as employees of county health departments. If a woman's Medicaid application is ultimately rejected because her income is too high, Medicaid would still pay health care providers for services they provided during the time of presumptive eligibility.
McGee said presumptive eligibility could cost the Medicaid program just under $600,000 a year.
Medicaid is funded by federal and state governments, with the federal government paying at least 50% of costs in all states and a higher share in poorer states. The federal government pays for nearly 77% of Medicaid expenses in Mississippi.
In Mississippi, Medicaid coverage for pregnant women 19 and older is based on income. A woman who is in that age category and has no dependents can earn up to about $29,000 and qualify for Medicaid during pregnancy. A pregnant woman in that age category who has three dependents can earn up to $59,700 and qualify.
Mississippi Medicaid coverage is available to all income levels for those who are pregnant and younger than 19.
Democratic Rep. John Hines Sr. of Greenville said earlier eligibility for Medicaid coverage during pregnancy could help the state in recruiting OB-GYNs.
“Where we are right now is that we are last in everything," Hines said. "This is a step toward making Mississippi a better place.”
The bill passed the House 117-5. It moves to the Senate for more work in coming weeks. Republicans control both chambers.
About 41% of births in the U.S. and 57% in Mississippi were financed by Medicaid in 2022, according to the health policy research group KFF. Only Louisiana had a larger share of births covered by Medicaid that year, at 61%.
In 2023, Mississippi extended postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to a full year, with Republican Gov. Tate Reeves saying the change was part of a "new pro-life agenda" to help mothers in a state where abortion is tightly restricted.
____
Associated Press/Report For America reporter Michael Goldberg contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.boston25news.com/news/health/mississippi-eyes/JFYXHUZVW6GAJQVPRL4G47FATY/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:52Z
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JACKSON, Miss. — (AP) — Mississippi could allow Medicaid coverage earlier in pregnancy in an effort to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in a poor state with the nation's worst rate of infant mortality.
With wide bipartisan support, the state House passed a bill Wednesday to allow up to 60 days of “presumptive eligibility” for Medicaid, starting July 1. This means a pregnant woman's outpatient medical care would be paid by Medicaid as her application for coverage by the government insurance program is being considered.
Processing Medicaid applications can take weeks, and physicians say early prenatal care is important.
House Medicaid Committee Chairwoman Missy McGee of Hattiesburg pointed out that Mississippi has high rates of fetal mortality, infant mortality and maternal mortality.
“I think this will go a long way in helping moms and babies be healthy ... and give babies the best shot for a healthy life," McGee said.
Mississippi ranks worst in the U.S. for infant mortality, with Black infants nearly twice as likely as white ones to die over the past decade, according to a report unveiled Jan. 18 by the state Department of Health.
Presumptive Medicaid eligibility during pregnancy would be based on questions about income, asked by health care providers such as employees of county health departments. If a woman's Medicaid application is ultimately rejected because her income is too high, Medicaid would still pay health care providers for services they provided during the time of presumptive eligibility.
McGee said presumptive eligibility could cost the Medicaid program just under $600,000 a year.
Medicaid is funded by federal and state governments, with the federal government paying at least 50% of costs in all states and a higher share in poorer states. The federal government pays for nearly 77% of Medicaid expenses in Mississippi.
In Mississippi, Medicaid coverage for pregnant women 19 and older is based on income. A woman who is in that age category and has no dependents can earn up to about $29,000 and qualify for Medicaid during pregnancy. A pregnant woman in that age category who has three dependents can earn up to $59,700 and qualify.
Mississippi Medicaid coverage is available to all income levels for those who are pregnant and younger than 19.
Democratic Rep. John Hines Sr. of Greenville said earlier eligibility for Medicaid coverage during pregnancy could help the state in recruiting OB-GYNs.
“Where we are right now is that we are last in everything," Hines said. "This is a step toward making Mississippi a better place.”
The bill passed the House 117-5. It moves to the Senate for more work in coming weeks. Republicans control both chambers.
About 41% of births in the U.S. and 57% in Mississippi were financed by Medicaid in 2022, according to the health policy research group KFF. Only Louisiana had a larger share of births covered by Medicaid that year, at 61%.
In 2023, Mississippi extended postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to a full year, with Republican Gov. Tate Reeves saying the change was part of a "new pro-life agenda" to help mothers in a state where abortion is tightly restricted.
____
Associated Press/Report For America reporter Michael Goldberg contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wftv.com/news/health/mississippi-eyes/JFYXHUZVW6GAJQVPRL4G47FATY/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:52Z
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Jorge Rubiano arrived alone in Chicago, but his pain and trauma came with him.
For months, he tried to find steady work. For months, he's been sleeping in a crowded temporary shelter, worrying about his wife and mother back in Colombia. Are they safe? Did I make the right decision?
He recalls a frightening phone call with his wife in Colombia, cut short when the bus she was riding on was being robbed.
Rubiano, 43, is also haunted by memories of his harrowing journey to Chicago, during which he says he was kidnapped for a month, before escaping.
He left his country, he says, over a land dispute in which the government threatened his life.
"I'm still in between two dangers," Rubiano says in Spanish. "If I return it's very possible they kill me, and if I stay I don't know what can happen here."
More than 30,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in Chicago since August of 2022 — most of them from South and Central America. They are fleeing the collapse of their economies, a lack of food and jobs, and violence back home.
Many came here on a bus from Texas, sent by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who said Chicago — and other so-called sanctuary cities that embrace immigrants — would provide much-needed relief "to our small, overrun border towns."
The buses haven't stopped since.
Migrants fleeing hardship, danger, fear and loss
Interviews with more than 30 people reveal the emotional toll migrants face, and the efforts of individuals and organizations that are trying to fill the gaps of a frayed mental health system.
Some of those efforts are catching the attention of leaders in other big U.S. cities also coping with large influxes of newly-arrived migrants.
For many, their journeys here were terrifying. A young girl who fell into a river, her pregnant mother struggling to hold her small hand, so the current wouldn't whisk her away. Women who were forced to have sex with gang members to get from country to country. People who walked over the dead in the jungle, or are wracked with guilt over the sick and injured left behind.
Their stories have unfolded across Chicago: in the quiet space of a therapist's office, at an informal healing circle in the back of a store, with a nurse at a folding table propped up outside a police station.
But for many migrants, taking care of their mental health might not be a priority.
"They're in survival mode," says Sharon Davila, a school-based social worker who has screened migrant families. "They need their basic needs met. The number one thing is they're looking for jobs."
Just getting in front of a therapist or a social worker can be extremely difficult for even the most savvy and persistent. With a shortage of mental health workers, wait lists for an appointment can be months long.
Layer on being new to this country, speaking a different language, and having no health insurance. Getting help can seem impossible.
Therapist Susie Moya worries about a mental health crisis brewing for many migrants.
"Right now it's on the back burner," says Moya, who has worked with migrants on Chicago's Lower West Side. "But I'm thinking a year from now when these families are settled in. Who is going to be providing that support?"
Informal support, with a side of soup
It's a Monday night in the back room of an insurance agency on the Southwest Side. About 20 migrants have arranged their chairs in a circle. Each person takes a turn describing how they feel on a scale of one to 10, as social worker Veronica Sanchez gently encourages them to share why.
Warm homemade chicken soup and arepas await them for dinner.
A woman says her husband got deported, and she's heartbroken that she left her children behind. A man says he worked several days that week, but never got paid. Another says he is grateful to God for bringing him to America, but he misses his mom, dad and brothers.
Finding work and reuniting with family is important, Sanchez tells them. But right now she's concerned about their mental health.
"Maybe we have answers. Maybe we don't. But when you open up a safe space where you can share your sorrows... you don't feel so alone," Sanchez says in Spanish.
Sanchez understands the migrants' desperation. She comes from a long line of pottery makers in Mexico. Sanchez was just four years old when her father left to work in Cicero, a suburb outside Chicago. She didn't see her father for almost seven years, until they were reunited as a family in Cicero.
Those memories fuel her work with the healing circle. "When I was talking to them, it really came from the heart," Sanchez says. "I was seeing the migrants' faces, that they were so scared."
Informal support groups like this one have popped up around Chicago in shelters, storefronts, churches and schools, led by volunteers or mental health professionals.
Many of these support groups don't last long. Volunteers get burned out. Migrants prioritize other needs. Or the city moves them from place to place.
The costs of ignoring loss and trauma
Some volunteers and mental health providers emphasize that not every migrant might be experiencing severe trauma.
But for many, trauma can have lasting impact. Trauma can change the wiring in a person's brain and make someone more vulnerable to depression and anxiety.
Daily or ongoing stressors can add up to what Chicago psychologist Laura Pappa calls "little t trauma" — like not feeling welcomed right away.
"A lot of people come here seeking the American dream and they realize that that's not there," says Pappa, who came to the U.S. from Argentina as a teen. "A lot of people were not expecting that, how hard it is on this side. I've had a lot of parents who've come alone and ask themselves, was it worth it?"
It can be hard to persuade migrants to seek help, however. There's a stigma about the need for mental health care in many immigrant communities, particularly among Latino men, Pappa says.
But, she adds, the stigma is easing as talking about emotions becomes more common.
Training the front-line workers in shelters
One effort to provide faster help involves training hundreds of peoplewho don't have a medical background, but work in city-run shelters. These front-line workers, such as case managers and shelter supervisors, are learning to lead support groups called Café y Comunidad charlas — coffee and community talks.
The initiative is led by the Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health, the University of Chicago's Crown Family School, and Lurie Children's Center for Childhood Resilience.
The idea is to help migrants feel less isolated and try to prevent the most extreme outcomes, such as suicide.
"We have to help people the minute they arrive," explainsAimee Hilado, an assistant professor at UC's Crown School and chair of the coalition. "That's actually going to promote healing down the line."
Case manager Albert Ayala has led a charla in the ballroom of a downtown shelter. He recalls moments of joy, such as when a woman said she was searching for love — and hands shot up hoping to catch her attention.
Ayala says he's watched migrants who arrive scared and shy blossom after attending a charla.
"We try to tell them we're no different from you," says Ayala, who is Mexican American. "Your dream is possible."
Leaders in Philadelphia and San Jose have reached out asking how to replicate the effort, Hilado says.
Outside his shelter, Rubiano, the migrant from Colombia, says he hasn't attended one of these support groups. He says he tries to keep busy working on his English skills. And he recently found a full-time job in a supermarket.
He longs for his family, and for the chance to bring them here — once there is a stable life he can offer them.
WBEZ is part of the Mental Health Parity Collaborative, a group of newsrooms covering stories on mental health care access and inequities in the U.S. The Collaborative's partners include The Carter Center, the Center for Public Integrity and newsrooms in select states across the country.
WBEZ's Manuel Martinez contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 WBEZ
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https://www.knau.org/npr-news/2024-01-31/for-chicagos-new-migrants-informal-support-groups-help-ease-the-pain-and-trauma
| 2024-01-31T23:30:55Z
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Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
|
https://www.kdlg.org/2024-01-31/expected-to-be-a-big-deal-alzheimers-drug-is-pulled-after-disappointing-sales
| 2024-01-31T23:30:55Z
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“I'm as red as they come. I'm as conservative as they come. Sometimes I have to do what's best for the people so, yes, that's why I invited him,” Conaway said in an interview with The Associated Press.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier Wednesday that Biden would visit sometime in February. She said the White House and local officials were still hashing out timing for Biden's long-awaited trip.
The Feb. 3, 2023, derailment forced thousands of people from their homes near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Area residents still have lingering fears about potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled in the crash and from the vinyl chloride that was released a few days after the crash to keep five tank cars from exploding.
The absence of a visit by Biden, who is campaigning for reelection in November, had become a subject of persistent questioning at the White House, as well as among residents in East Palestine. Some residents have said they felt forgotten as time marched by and as they watched Biden fly to the scenes of other disasters, such as the wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui and hurricanes in Florida.
East Palestine resident Joe Bethuy, a 36-year-old steelworker and a Republican, said he was disappointed in the Biden administration’s handling of the derailment and the president's delay in visiting, adding that all he had to do “was show up just for an hour or something.”
Bethuy and friend Jeremy Smith, who moved to East Palestine after the derailment, spoke to an Associated Press reporter inside Sprinklz on Top, a downtown diner.
“I don’t know what the point is really," Smith said of Biden's visit. “It’s kind of a year late.”
Several weeks after the derailment, former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine and criticized the federal response under Biden as a "betrayal." He also donated cleaning supplies and Trump-branded bottled water. Trump currently is the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump criticized Biden for planning to visit “a year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER. I know those great people, I was there when it counted, and his reception won’t be a warm one."
The Biden administration defended its response right after the toxic freight train derailment, even as local leaders and members of Congress demanded that more be done. The White House said then that it had "mobilized a robust, multi-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio," and it noted that officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies were at the rural site within hours even though Biden didn't immediately visit.
Asked at the end of last week about a potential Biden visit to Ohio, Jean-Pierre said he would visit “when it is appropriate or helps ... the community for him to be there.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s in a rural area, urban area, suburban area, red state, blue state, the president has always been there to ... assist and be there for the community,” Jean-Pierre added. “So, when it is helpful, he certainly will do that.”
Though the administration has defended its response, Biden has not declared a federal disaster in East Palestine, which remains a sticking point for residents. Such a declaration would unlock additional federal funding and assistance that people could apply for to help rebuild their lives.
But state and federal officials say a federal disaster declaration has not been issued because they are designed to help cover unmet needs no one is paying for after a disaster. In this case, there are not as many unmet needs in the government's eyes because Norfolk Southern is paying the bills and compensating residents for the damage to their homes and businesses.
Biden ordered federal agencies to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the derailment and appointed an official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to oversee East Palestine's recovery.
Norfolk Southern has estimated that it will cost the company more than $1.1 billion to remove all the hazardous chemicals, help the community and deal with lawsuits and related penalties. Insurance will likely cover much of that, but the total is expected to grow.
Reforms have been proposed in Congress but the bill calling for federal standards for trackside detectors that help spot mechanical problems, additional inspections by qualified workers and at least two people on every freight train crew has stalled. The railroads have lobbied against several of the provisions they believe aren't related to this crash, and many Republicans pushed to wait until after the final National Transportation Safety Board report on the derailment later this year.
“In the past, there have been times when Congress stood up against the railroad lobby and stepped up on railroad safety. They should do that now,'' Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a call with reporters Wednesday.
___
Associated Press writers Josh Funk in Omaha, Neb., Patrick Orsagos in East Palestine, Ohio, and Matthew Daly in Washitngton contributed to this report.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
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https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/biden-accepts-mayors-invitation-to-visit-east-palestine-ohio-a-year-after-train-derailment/WQN6Z2K7TFGNVINBNZNBHP2D2U/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:55Z
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The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr.Doris Uzoka- Anite, and Minister of State For Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, are holding talks with local manufacturers of needles and syringes to discuss the medium-term and long-term solutions to permanently resolve the challenges affecting the manufacturing sector. The meeting is preparatory to an executive order by President Bola Tinubu seeking to stop the exit of manufacturing firms from the country. Recall that for some time, manufacturing firms have been leaving the country, citing inclement environment as their reasons for their exit. The importation of almost all goods and services has gravely affected local manufacturers in Nigeria who suffer as a result of the unfair competition.
This may end soon with the renewed determination by government to empower local manufacturing of goods, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. In the last few months major pharmaceutical companies have exited the shores of the country due to certain harsh economic realities leading to extreme hikes in pharmaceutical products and consumables, but in a swift response, the President says this will soon end.This will be done through an executive order which will incorporate practical solutions, quick wins, and medium-term and long term solutions to completely and permanently resolve the challenges confronting manufacturing in the country.
The meeting between the needles and syringes manufacturers in Nigeria and the two ministers is to find quick fixes to manage the evolving situation. Some of the measures may also require a reduction or out- right ban on the importation of syringes and needles into the country. Five companies are presently still operating in the country and they want practical and immediate solutions towards clearing up the bottlenecks challenging the sector that will give hope of growth prospects. All policies will be incorporated in the executive order for solutions on how the country can get these problems completely and permanently solved.
It would be recalled that early this year, Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing (JSM), once celebrated as Africa’s syringe manufacturing company, declared temporary redundancy in its operation in Nigeria. The firm, which opened operation in Nigeria’s South-south region of Awa in the Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, said the decision was made following “unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations.” JSM, which is reputed to be the largest syringe manufacturing venture in Africa, was inaugurated in 2017 by former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
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https://newtelegraphng.com/fg-holds-meeting-with-manufacturers-of-needles-syringes/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:57Z
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Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
|
https://www.ketr.org/2024-01-31/expected-to-be-a-big-deal-alzheimers-drug-is-pulled-after-disappointing-sales
| 2024-01-31T23:30:58Z
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The Clippers’ statement win over Boston earned them the top spot in these NBA Power Rankings, but their loss to another strong team in the Cavaliers shows how bunched up things are at the top of the board.
1. Los Angeles Clippers (30-15, Last Week No. 5). Put all the “they have to stay healthy” or “can Harden do it in the playoffs” caveats you want on this team, the fact is they are 27-8 over their last 35, with a +9.7 net rating in January. Their blowout win over the Celtics in the Garden highlighted everything they are doing right (even if they caught Boston on an off night). The Clippers have to be considered legitimate title contenders, even if those of us who picked them as such in the past can still see the scars. Paul George is on the bubble for being selected as an All-Star Game reserve, but as he’s been playing through a sore groin, he might be okay missing a weekend back in Indianapolis to get some rest.
2. Boston Celtics (37-11, LW 3). Boston has won 9-of-12, but those three losses are to the Bucks, Nuggets and now Clippers — three other top contenders. Porzingis was out with a tweaked ankle for the loss to the Clippers and it underscores his importance to the team (and how well that trade has worked out) — he is averaging 19.4 points a game, shooting 35.8% from 3, playing solid defense in the paint, and the Celtics outscore opponents by 11 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court. He just needs to show he can do this in big playoff games. There are no big playoff previews this week as the Celtics face the Lakers and Grizzlies.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (28-16, LW 6). Evan Mobley was back from his knee surgery and in the starting lineup Monday, playing 20 minutes in an impressive win over the Los Angeles Clippers, he hit 5-of-7 shots from the floor for 10 points. Darius Garland is expected to make his return from a fractured jaw on Wednesday night. The Cavaliers thrived with those two out and it’s on J.B. Bickerstaff and company to ensure the floor spacing, ball movement and success this team had recently isn’t lost adjusting to the return of Mobley and Garland. It’s a bit of a soft spot in the schedule to work them in with games against the Pistons, Grizzlies, Spurs, Kings and Wizards up next.
4. New York Knicks (31-17, LW 8). New York is 14-2 in January with a +15.8 net rating, both league best records. OG Anunoby has been a hand-in-glove fit with Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks — New York as a 100.2 defensive rating with him on the court (basketball-reference numbers) and with that are outscoring teams by 25.2 per 100 possessions in those minutes. Anunoby has transformed the team’s defense — and they likely will get Mitchell Robinson back before the end of the season. That defense will travel into the playoffs and make New York a threat against any team they face. Fun showdown with the high-powered Pacers offense on Thursday.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (33-14, LW 7). Tuesday night’s win over Oklahoma City is the kind of victory Minnesota needs to stay on top of the West — the Timberwolves are in first but with Denver, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers all just one game back in the loss column. Anthony Edwards should be a lock to make it as an All-Star reserve (announced Thursday), and while Rudy Gobert has a strong case that he should join Edwards in Indianapolis, it feels like he could be a victim of the numbers game. The Timberwolves head out on the road next Tuesday until the All-Star break.
6. Denver Nuggets (33-15, LW 2). This ranking could be too low for a team that has won 7-of-9, including beating the Bucks, 76ers, and Celtics in that stretch (their one loss this week was to the red-hot Knicks). One interesting rotation wrinkle: In the big games, Michael Malone has leaned less on his traditional bigs in the non-Jokic minutes — DeAndre Jordan nor Zeke Nnaji — and leaned more into the athletic combo of Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson. That could be a postseason trend. Jokic was voted an All-Star starter, and while Jamal Murray deserves a spot he’s likely going to be on the wrong side of a numbers game (too many good guards in the West).
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (32-15, LW 1). It’s just a one-off, bad night, the kind of “flush it” game that every team has a few of during a season. That said, lose to the Detroit Pistons and you do not get to hold on to the top spot in these rankings. OKC then lost a second game in a row, this time to the Timberwolves, with Chet Holmgren struggling in both, shooting 6-of-20 across the two games. With Victory Wembanyama playing much better since being moved to center and having the training wheels taken off, Holmgren’s grasp on the Rookie of the Year award is much more tenuous. ROY is going to be a real race through the end of the season.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (29-17, LW 4). Everyone is on edge waiting for the real news on Joel Embiid’s knee (he is out Thursday but details from his MRI are scarce). Embiid had missed the previous two games with a knee issue (including the one in Denver, again) and wasn’t moving well at all against Golden State before the acute injury. If the priority is the playoffs for the 76ers, can they convince Embiid to ignore the MVP/All-NBA 65-game threshold and just get healthy and focus on the postseason? Embiid’s status for the All-Star Game also feels up in the air, and Tyrese Maxey deserves to get in as a reserve guard in the East. It’d be a harsh snub if he didn’t.
9. Milwaukee Bucks (32-15, LW 9). It’s only been one game, but Doc Rivers is already starting to put his stamp on the team — they looked better in a loss to Denver than in some recent wins. The transition defense was better, as was their effort and scrambling in the half-court — it’s that end of the floor Rivers has to improve if the Bucks are going to be a postseason threat. Rivers’ attempted turnaround will continue on the road with games at Portland, Dallas, Utah (on the second night of a back-to-back) and Phoenix this week.
10. Phoenix Suns (27-20, LW 10). Phoenix has gone 2-2 so far on its seven-game road trip, and while the team has cooled off there are positives. Grayson Allen might be at the top of the list, who has found a comfort level as a shooter playing next to multiple stars and is hitting 48.9% of his 5.4 3-pointers a game. On the flip side, the concern about the Suns in the fourth quarter remains — they are -168 in the fourth quarter this season, 50 points worse than second-worst Miami. With games against the Nets, Wizards and Hawks this week, the Suns hope to avoid any fourth quarter drama.
11. Indiana Pacers (27-21, LW 12). After missing 10-of-11 games with a strained hamstring, Tyrese Haliburton was back on the court against Boston but looked rusty (and ran into an athletic defense), shooting 5-of-16 on the night, but with 10 assists. Expect Haliburton to be out there every game he can — he can only miss three more games this season to qualify for All-NBA. If Haliburton makes All-NBA — and right now he certainly is on pace to — his max salary contract goes up by more than $40 million over five years. That’s a lot of motivation to be out there. We finally get to see more Haliburton and Pascal Siakam this week against the strong defense of the Knicks, but then the not-so-strong defenses of the Kings and Hornets.
12. Sacramento Kings (27-18, LW 15). Sacramento has a legitimate case for two All-Stars — Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox — but at best will wind up with one, and maybe zero. This isn’t fair, but there are more deserving players than spots in the West, and there will be disappointment. It may be easier for Sabonis to get into the front court, but it is up to the coaches now (they vote for the reserves). The roller coaster that is the Kings season is up right now, having won four in a row (three on the road). That road trip gets tougher with the Heat, Pacers and Cavaliers coming up.
13. Dallas Mavericks (26-21, LW 14). Luka Doncic is on a tear — and Hall of Fame point guard and former Dirk Nowitzki teammate Jason Kidd is singing his praises. “He’s better than Dirk. He’s in the atmosphere of MJ, the best to ever do it, LeBron, Kobe. And so, just to appreciate what this young man’s doing at the age of 24, [it] is something that Dallas has never seen.” Doncic’s run included him dropping a historic 73 on the Hawks.
HISTORIC 73-POINT NIGHT FROM LUKA DONCIC 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2024
🔥 73 PTS
🔥 25/33 FGM (75.8%)
🔥 15/16 FTM
🔥 8 3PM
He becomes the 4th player in NBA history to score 73+ points and the first ever to score 70+ on 75% or higher from the field. pic.twitter.com/Afm9cyJung
14. New Orleans Pelicans (26-21, LW 11). Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have legit All-Star cases, but it feels like both will not make the cut in a crowded West. The Pelicans went 7-7 in January, but considering the fact the team had the toughest schedule in the league for the month (based on opponent winning percentage) that’s not terrible. There are winnable games this week as the Pelicans face the Rockets, Spurs, and Raptors.
15. Orlando Magic (24-23, LW 17). Paolo Banchero îs on the bubble for making the All-Star Game out of the East, and considering the offensive load he has had to carry for a team surprising everyone, he should make it. But... it’s up to the coaches. Banchero will play in the Rising Stars game, at least. Orlando has dropped 8-of-11 and is on the road this week against the Spurs, Timberwolves, Pistons and Heat.
16. Los Angeles Lakers (24-25, LW 16). After losses to the Rockets and Hawks, frustration in Laker nation is reaching a fever pitch, complete with cryptic Tweets (are we still calling them Tweets?) from LeBron James. The Lakers will not do anything radical right now — Darvin Ham will not be fired, LeBron James will not be traded — but expect them to do something. Expect the pressure to build on GM Rob Pelinka to do something at the deadline if the losses pile up this week — and Los Angeles faces Boston and New York next.
⌛️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 31, 2024
17. Utah Jazz (24-25, LW 18). Utah has the league’s worst defense over their past five games. The Jazz have lost 5-of-7, meaning this team will be a seller at the trade deadline with Kelly Olynyk being the name we hear is most likely to be moved. Jordan Clarkson also could be in a new home after Feb. 8. The Jazz are home for 8-of-9 games coming up, but it’s not going to be easy to turn things around this week against the 76ers, Bucks and Thunder.
18. Miami Heat (24-23, LW 13). Adding Terry Rozier to the rotation has not turned around Miami’s losing streak (he has started slowly in South Beach), they have dropped seven in a row and slid into the play-in (No. 7 seed as of today). Nothing is working, the Heat have the worst offense and the third worst defense in the league over those past seven games. It feels like a long shot Jimmy Butler gets an All-Star nod, too. There are some tough games coming up this week (Kings, Clippers), but also a winnable one against Washington that could break the streak.
19. Chicago Bulls (22-26, LW 19). Coby White got thrust into a bigger playmaking role than expected this season (with Lonzo Ball out and Zach LaVine injured for a stretch) and he has thrived. White is averaging 18.7 points, shooting 39.1% from 3, plus adding 5.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds a game — all career highs. He’s under contract for two more seasons after this one at a very reasonable $24.9 million total, he’s going to be part of whatever is next in Chicago. Hornets, Kings and Timberwolves on the schedule for the Bulls this week.
20. Houston Rockets (22-24, LW 20). Dillon Brooks was back in the spotlight this week, getting under the Lakers Jarred Vanderbilt’s skin and seeing him ejected, then smacking LeBron in the head and earning a flagrant. That said, Brooks has been a strong signing for the Rockets, averaging 13.9 points a game on a solid 58.1 true shooting percentage, and hitting 38.8% from 3. Plus, Brooks has brought his pesky defense to Houston. Starting Sunday in Minnesota, Houston has 6-of-7 on the road.
21. Golden State Warriors (20-24, LW 21). It’s not so much the counting stats — 8.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7 assists a game in his last five — it’s the quality of ball movement and defense. Suddenly Andrew Wiggins looks better and can play next to Jonathan Kuminga with Green at center. The bottom line is that the Warriors have been +16.6 per game in the last five games when Green was on the court. Don’t expect any big moves from the Warriors at the trade deadline, because what move is out there that makes this team a contender or dramatically changes their season? The hard questions come this offseason (starting with Klay Thompson and his new contract).
22. Atlanta Hawks (20-27, LW 22). While the Hawks are struggling, it’s going to be hard to leave Trae Young off the All-Star team considering these numbers: 27 points and 10.9 assists a game, shooting 36.8% from 3. Young should be headed to Indianapolis for the big game. Atlanta looked like a sure-fire seller at the trade deadline a few weeks ago, but the buzz now is leaning toward them keeping Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic, at least until the offseason. The Hawks have won a couple of games in a row and face off against the West this week in the Suns, Warriors, and Clippers.
23. Brooklyn Nets (19-27, LW 24). Ben Simmons made his return, playing 18 minutes off the bench against the Jazz, shooting 5-of-5 from the floor and finishing with 10 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds (and he was +27 for the night). It’s a good sign... and then came news he would miss the team’s next game with a knee contusion. Brooklyn has moved from buyer to seller at the trade deadline, with point guard Spencer Dinwiddie appearing the most likely player to be moved. The team reportedly wants to hold on to Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton.
24. Memphis Grizzlies (18-29, LW 25). Quietly, while nobody was looking, the Grizzlies have gone 8-7 January with the fifth-best defense in the NBA in that stretch. The Grizzlies are doing it with Jaren Jackson Jr. and company protecting the paint. The offense still struggles, but the team has a -1.1 net rating for the month and is playing respectable basketball despite all the drama and players out. Tough week of games ahead: Cleveland, Golden State, Boston, and New York.
25. Toronto Raptors (17-30, LW 23). Toronto has already traded two big names and they aren’t done yet — expect Bruce Brown to be in a new home by Feb. 8, a lot of teams are interested. Gary Trent Jr. and others could be on the move as well. As for the rest of the season, the Raptors would never use the word “tank,” but they owe a top-six protected pick to the Spurs and currently have the sixth-worst record in the NBA. You can see where things are headed.
26. San Antonio Spurs (10-37, LW 26). If the West were not so deep with talent this season, Victor Wembanyama would have to be seriously considered for an All-Star spot — he’s been that good of late. Instead, he will be in Friday’s Rising Stars game, and expect him to be in one of the events (most likely the Skills Challenge) on Saturday night. The Spurs are home this week to face the Magic, Pelicans and Cavaliers.
27. Portland Trail Blazers (14-33, LW 27). Malcolm Brogdon was a hot name in the NBA trade circuit for a while, but the Trail Blazers are comfortable hanging onto him, and with that are keeping their price high (thinking they could just trade him in the offseason). So far, no team has come up to match that price. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe (if healthy) will take part in the All-Star Friday night Rising Stars game, which will be Scoot’s third straight year in the game (two with the G-League Ignite). Brutal week ahead for Portland, facing the Bucks then two games against the Nuggets in Denver.
28. Washington Wizards (9-37, LW 29). The Wizards are 2-1 under interim coach Brian Keefe and to hear the players tell it, the change at the top has mattered. Here is Jordan Poole talking about what’s different under Keefe. “Guys are just more connected. We’re being played to our strengths right now. I’d say we made a couple of defensive coverages a couple of games ago that were huge for us. And guys have bought in, so it makes it easier to compete night in and night out.” It’s going to be tough to keep the good vibes going this week against the Clippers, Heat and Suns, plus with trade rumors swirling around this team. Expect deals in the next week.
29. Detroit Pistons (6-40, LW 30). Winners of two-of-three — including beating the Hornets — the Pistons are out of the cellar of these rankings, something I wasn’t sure would happen this season. Their other win was a major upset of the Thunder – and that one was without Cade Cunningham in the lineup. Jalen Duren has stepped up as an anchor for this team of late, providing a scoring presence in the paint. It will be tough to keep the good vibes going this week against the Cavaliers, Clippers and Magic.
30. Charlotte Hornets (10-35, LW 28). Lose to Detroit and you fall behind them in the rankings. With Terry Rozier now in Boston (a good trade for Charlotte, that pick has value) and LaMelo Ball missing a couple of games with a sprained ankle, a lot has fallen on rookie Brandon Miller — and he has stopped up and played well, including scoring 29 against the Knicks. The game before, P.J. Washington stepped up with 43 against the Jazz. None of that has led to wins for a team that feels like it’s heading towards major shakeups this offseason.
|
https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/pbts-week-15-nba-power-rankings-clippers-take-over-top-spot-knicks-rising-fast
| 2024-01-31T23:30:58Z
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SANTA FE, N.M. — (AP) — Actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a rehearsal on a movie set in New Mexico.
Court documents filed Wednesday show Baldwin entered the plea in state district court in Santa Fe, waiving an arraignment Thursday that was scheduled to take place remotely by video conference.
Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie “Rust,” was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin says that he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger, and the gun fired.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.whio.com/entertainment/alec-baldwin-pleads/QOQTTYQASATAGFBEOOWTAU7JB4/
| 2024-01-31T23:30:58Z
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