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US does not want 'rapid acceleration' in India energy imports from Russia
Lavrov, who flew from meetings in China, will see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Friday, the Russian foreign ministry said on Twitter. Russia has long been India's biggest supplier of defence equipment, despite growing purchases from the United States in the past decade.
- Country:
- United States
The United States will not set any "red line" for India on its energy imports from Russia but does not want to see a "rapid acceleration" in purchases, a top U.S. official said on Thursday during a visit to New Delhi. Lured by steep discounts following Western sanctions on Russian entities, India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian crude oil since the country invaded Ukraine in late February. That compared with some 16 million barrels for the whole of last year, data compiled by Reuters shows.
"Friends don't set red lines," Daleep Singh, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics, told reporters, adding however that its partners in Europe and Asia had been urged to cut their reliance on "an unreliable energy supplier". Singh spoke ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's arrival in the Indian capital for a two-day trip. Lavrov, who flew from meetings in China, will see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Friday, the Russian foreign ministry said on Twitter.
Russia has long been India's biggest supplier of defence equipment, despite growing purchases from the United States in the past decade. Defence analysts say Russian supplies are more cost-competitive and vital for India as it faces a superior Chinese military. Singh said the United States was ready to help India diversify its energy and defence supplies. India is the world's third biggest oil importer and consumer.
"We stand ready to help India diversify its energy resources, much like is the case for defence resources over a period of time. But there is no prohibition at present on energy imports from Russia," he said. "What we would not like to see is a rapid acceleration of India's imports from Russia as it relates to energy or any other exports that are currently being prohibited by us or by other aspects of the international sanctions regime."
A U.S. government official earlier told Reuters that Washington had no objection to India buying Russian oil, provided purchases were made at cheaper-than-market rates. Russia is offering a discount of $35 a barrel to price levels prior to the start of the Ukraine war, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
Indian Oil Corp, the country's biggest crude refiner, has an option to buy up to 2 million tonnes, or about 15 million barrels, of Urals-grade crude oil from Russia's Rosneft this year. RUPEE-ROUBLE PAYMENTS
Singh also said the United States does not want its allies helping resurrect the rouble, which nosedived immediately after the war began but has recovered in recent days. "We would not like to see mechanisms that are designed to prop up the rouble or to undermine the dollar-based financial system, or to circumvent our financial sanctions," he said.
Reuters has reported that India and Russia are trying to work out a rupee-rouble payments mechanism to maintain trade between them. India and China count Russia as a friendly nation and neither has condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine. While India has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on the war, China has in some cases sided with Moscow.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after a meeting with Lavrov on Wednesday that Moscow and Beijing were "more determined" to develop bilateral ties and boost cooperation. Singh said the growing Beijing-Moscow bonhomie meant that Russia could not be expected to come to India's rescue in case of any future border escalations between India and China.
"Russia is going to be the junior partner in this relationship with China," he said. "And the more leverage that China gains over Russia, the less favourable that is for India." (Additional Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani, William Maclean and Jane Merriman)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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UK PM Boris Johnson calls on world to wean off Russian oil, gas | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1985421-us-does-not-want-rapid-acceleration-in-india-energy-imports-from-russia | 2022-03-31T16:14:40 | en | 0.968186 |
Biden taps oil reserve for 6 months to control surging gas prices
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is ordering the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, the White House said Thursday, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Biden was to formally announce the release in remarks on his administration’s plans to combat rising gas prices.
The White House said Biden would also call on Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but aren’t producing. He also intends to invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles.
The White House characterized the release of the petroleum as a bridge until output increases from domestic producers. Administration officials estimate that average production will grow by 1 million barrels daily this year and an additional 700,000 barrels daily in 2023.
FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on Covid-19 in the United States in the South Court Auditorium on March 30, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The move by Biden shows that oil remains a key vulnerability for the U.S. at home and abroad. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically, while also adding billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian war chest as it wages war on Ukraine.
The release of reserves in the U.S. would create pressures that could reduce oil prices, though Biden has already twice ordered releases from the strategic reserves without causing a meaningful shift in oil markets.
Part of Biden's concern is that high prices have not — so far — coaxed a meaningful jump in oil production. The planned release is a way to increase supplies.
The markets reacted quickly with crude oil prices dropping more than 3% on Thursday morning to roughly $104 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago, with supplies failing to keep up with demand as the world economy has begun to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of the country's usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.
Republican lawmakers have said the problem rests with the Biden administration being hostile to oil permits and the construction of new pipelines such as the Keystone XL. Democrats have countered that the country needs to move to renewable energy such as wind and solar that could reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and Russian President Vladimir Putin's leverage.
"I think the administration’s anti-fossil fuel views are sort of like a religion," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told Punchbowl News in a Thursday interview. "They’re kind of unconnected with the needs of not only our country but the world. This policy is driven by the hard left, which the president almost never crosses. And, until that policy changes, we’re gonna have a problem."
Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve "capital discipline" amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.
The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.
The Biden administration in November announced the release of 50 million barrels from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.
According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25.
News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.
___
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Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/biden-planning-to-tap-us-oil-reserve-to-control-surging-gas-prices | 2022-03-31T16:14:42 | en | 0.963303 |
Blue Origin launch: Orlando couple successfully takes historic ride to space
VAN HORN, Texas - A Central Florida couple can now call themselves astronauts.
On Thursday, Sharon Hagle, CEO of SpaceKids Global, and her husband Marc Hagle, president and CEO of Tricor International, successfully flew as part of a 6-person crew on Blue Origin's latest space flight as part of the New Shepard program.
The launch from Van Horn, Texas was put on hold at the original liftoff time but was cleared minutes later.
The crew included Party America CEO Marty Allen, teacher and entrepreneur Jim Kitchen, Commercial Space Technologies President Dr. George Nield and Blue Origin chief architect of its suborbital rocket, Gary Lai. Lai replaces ‘Saturday Night Live’ comedian Pete Davidson after he dropped out of the voyage.
This is the company’s fourth human flight and 20th flight overall for the New Shepard program.
A Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches from Launch Site One in West Texas north of Van Horn on March 31, 2022. - The NS-20 mission carries Blue Origins New Shepard Chief Architect Gary Lai, Marty Allen, Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, Jim Kitchen, and D
Passengers of the automated capsule soared to an altitude of 66 miles, feeling a few minutes of weightlessness before parachuting into the desert.
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Jeff Bezos, who founded Amazon six years before Blue Origin, was on his company’s debut launch in July. The second, in October, included William Shatner — Captain James Kirk of TV’s original "Star Trek." The late Leonard Nimoy’s daughter sent up a necklace with a "Vulcan Salute" charm on the Oct. 13 flight in honor of the show’s original Mr. Spock.
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Private U.S. companies had a multitude of launches in 2021, signaling the year of space tourism finally taking off. Virgin Galactic kicked it off in July, sending up its billionaire founder, Richard Branson, followed by Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Click here for the latest Central Florida news, Florida stories and local headlines.
Advertisement | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/blue-origin-launch-orlando-couple-successfully-takes-historic-ride-to-space | 2022-03-31T16:14:48 | en | 0.90523 |
OPEC holds special meeting to ditch IEA data - source
- Country:
- United Kingdom
OPEC on Thursday held an unusual brief extraordinary meeting to ditch the International Energy Agency from its list of trusted data contributors, an OPEC source said on Thursday.
The meeting followed a regular policy decision meeting.
Earlier this week, OPEC experts recommended ditching the IEA and choosing consultancies Rystad and Wood Mackenzie instead, in yet another sign of a hardening standoff with the West.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Blue Origin New Shephard space flight photos: Liftoff and landing
VAN HORN, Tex. - The total space flight took less than an hour, but preparations have been underway for much longer.
Six people were launched 66 miles into space Thursday morning from Texas where they experienced a few minutes of weightlessness before safely parachuting back down to Earth. It was the fourth human space flight for Blue Origin's New Shepard program.
Below are some photos from the rocket launch and landing in Van Horn, Texas.
Advertisement | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/blue-origin-new-shephard-space-flight-photos-liftoff-and-landing | 2022-03-31T16:14:55 | en | 0.962108 |
Cong workers in J’khand stage protest against fuel price hike
As part of the nation-wide protest of the Congress against fuel price hike, the Jharkhand unit of the party on Thursday staged demonstrations in different parts of the state.In Ranchi, the protesters marched from Congress Bhavan to Albert Ekka Chowk, some of them ringing bells and beating drums on their way.Speaking on the occasion, state Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha said that petrol and diesel prices have increased by Rs 5.60 per litre in the last nine days.
- Country:
- India
As part of the nation-wide protest of the Congress against fuel price hike, the Jharkhand unit of the party on Thursday staged demonstrations in different parts of the state.
In Ranchi, the protesters marched from Congress Bhavan to Albert Ekka Chowk, some of them ringing bells and beating drums on their way.
Speaking on the occasion, state Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha said that petrol and diesel prices have increased by Rs 5.60 per litre in the last nine days. Oil prices have been on the rise since March 22 after remaining stable for 137 days owing to assembly elections in five states.
Prices of all basic commodities -- such as pulses, cooking gas and household items -- have increased manifold due to rise in fuel prices, he said.
''We have registered our protest by ringing bells and banging utensils in all blocks and districts of the state. We hope the protest will awaken the deaf government at the Centre,” Sinha said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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- Albert Ekka Chowk
- Ranchi
- Rakesh Sinha
- Congress
- Jharkhand
- Sinha
- Congress Bhavan
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Congress president Sonia Gandhi urges government to end influence of Facebook, other social media giants on electoral politics in India. | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1985426-cong-workers-in-jkhand-stage-protest-against-fuel-price-hike | 2022-03-31T16:14:55 | en | 0.946859 |
California won’t require parents with guns to tell schools
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. - Even in California, home to some of the nation’s strictest firearms laws, a bill requiring parents to tell school officials if they keep guns in the house went too far to move ahead in the Legislature.
It failed Wednesday in its first committee vote after facing opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and National Rifle Association, two groups rarely on the same page, as well as two organizations representing rank-and-file law enforcement officers.
It died even after Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino promised to drastically amend his bill if it survived a committee vote. He and supporters said it could help prevent mass shootings and other firearms tragedies, but only two of seven members of the panel voted for it.
"Those go so far beyond my core beliefs in civil liberties that I just can’t associate an ‘aye’ vote," said Sen. Dave Cortese, a fellow Democrat who has pushed for many criminal justice reforms.
Senate Education Committee’s Democratic Chairwoman Connie Leyva also opposed the measure.
"I believe a better approach is by addressing student mental health," Leyva said. "This is an important issue, a critically important issue, but this bill is not the answer."
Among its many restrictions, California limits the size of ammunition magazines to 10 bullets, outlaws firearms that fall into its definition of assault weapons, imposes strict purchase and waiting period requirements, and requires background checks for people buying ammunition.
There are about a dozen gun bills pending in the Legislature this year, according to Gun Owners of California, most notably a measure that would let private citizens sue gun makers to stop them from selling assault weapons. A related bill also attempts to make it easier for people to sue gun companies for liability in shootings that cause injuries or death.
MORE: California AG, San Francisco DA team up against 'ghost gun' sellers
Another measure would require firearm dealers to have a digital video surveillance system on their business premise, while several bills would bar gun sales on government property.
Four Assembly bills are aimed at unregistered "ghost guns," including one that would restrict the use of 3D printers.
As written, Portantino’s bill would have required parents or guardians with a student in a public or charter school to annually disclose if they have any firearms at home, who owns them, how they are stored, and describe the student’s accessibility to them.
The bill also would have required school officials, working with law enforcement, to search a student’s on-campus property like backpacks and lockers for firearms if they learned of a credible violent threat. They would also have been required to search the student’s electronic devices for clues.
"What’s next, having parents report swimming pools in their backyards and prescription drugs in their medicine cabinets?" asked Roy Griffith, legislative director of the California Rifle and Pistol Association.
Portantino acknowledged that legitimate gun owners must already register their weapons with the state, and said he would amend his bill to "focus on unregistered guns" without saying if he expected parents to declare illegally held weapons.
Portantino said he intended to narrow his bill to exclude elementary schools, and to include language "making sure we’re clear that this is about credible, violent threats, not about idle chatter."
No schools, school districts or school employees came forward to support being required to collect information from parents about firearms possession, Leyva noted.
"I cannot support a requirement that schools interject themselves into issues best left for the Department of Justice or other law enforcement," she said.
Portantino said the U.S. has had more than 1,300 school shootings since 1970, with more than 160 of them in California. He said in many cases there are warning signs, and the information required in his bill would help school and law enforcement officials prepare for and prevent shootings.
Portantino cited statistics that nearly 70% of school shootings involve a gun taken from the student’s home or the home of a friend or relative. And he said that more than 90% of attacks are planned in advance and in many instances follow threatening or concerning communications.
Two Democratic senators on the seven-member committee voted to move the bill along despite what both acknowledged were needed changes.
"The status quo is unacceptable. After all these tragedies, we always say our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been hurt. And we pledge to try to do something to make it not happen again," argued Sen. Steve Glazer in emotional support.
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"Even in the quiet of this hearing room I can still hear the cries of family and parents," he added. "I can see the tears flowing down their faces. I can hear their memorial prayers about a young life cut short." | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/california-wont-require-parents-with-guns-to-tell-schools | 2022-03-31T16:15:01 | en | 0.975518 |
Ukraine says most Russian forces have left Chernobyl nuclear plant
Energoatom said these workers had flagged earlier on Thursday that Russian forces were planning to leave the territory. "The information is confirmed that the occupiers, who seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and other facilities in the exclusion zone, have set off in two columns towards the Ukrainian border with the Republic of Belarus," it said in a statement.
- Country:
- Ukraine
Most of the Russian forces that occupied the Chernobyl nuclear power station after invading Ukraine have left the defunct plant and only a "small number" remain, Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom said on Thursday.
Though Russian troops seized control of Chernobyl soon after the Feb. 24 invasion, the plant's Ukrainian staff continued to oversee the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and supervise the concrete-encased remains of the reactor that exploded in 1986, causing the world's worst nuclear accident. Energoatom said these workers had flagged earlier on Thursday that Russian forces were planning to leave the territory.
"The information is confirmed that the occupiers, who seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and other facilities in the exclusion zone, have set off in two columns towards the Ukrainian border with the Republic of Belarus," it said in a statement. It said a small number of Russian troops remained at Chernobyl, but did not specify how many. Russian forces have also retreated from the nearby town of Slavutych, where workers at Chernobyl live, it said.
In a separate online post, Energoatom said the Russian side had formally agreed to hand back to Ukraine the responsibility for protecting Chernobyl. It shared the scan of a document setting out such an arrangement and signed by individuals it identified as a senior staff member at Chernobyl, the Russian military official tasked with guarding Chernobyl, and others. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the document. There was no immediate comment from the Russian authorities, who have denied that its forces have put nuclear facilities in Ukraine at risk.
Ukraine has repeatedly expressed safety concerns about Chernobyl and demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops, whose presence prevented the rotation of the plant's personnel for a time. Earlier on Thursday, the head of Energoatom urged the U.N. nuclear watchdog to help ensure Russian nuclear officials do not interfere in the operation of Chernobyl and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, which is also occupied by Russian soldiers.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1985430-ukraine-says-most-russian-forces-have-left-chernobyl-nuclear-plant | 2022-03-31T16:15:03 | en | 0.960071 |
Chicken breast, ground beef, pork prices set to surge higher
Meat and poultry prices are largely expected to continue their climb in the U.S. this year, but pricier cuts like steak should level out, according to a new analysis.
Meat and fish counter at Diablo Foods, a local supermarket in Lafayette, California, May 25, 2021. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Evercore ISI issued a protein inflation note this week, projecting that most protein prices are forecasted to increase "substantially" due to the higher feed costs, with chicken breast reaching as high as 70% year-over-year in the first half of 2022.
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The analysis said pork and ground beef could climb as high as 20% year-over-year during the same period.
However, inflation for pricier cuts like steak is expected to level off or even drop, as consumers shift their buying patterns to more affordable products due to their budgets getting squeezed.
FUEL PRICES HITTING AMERICA'S FARMERS HARD AS SOME FEAR FOR THEIR FUTURE
Evercore's analysis showed that cost of ribeye and chicken wings could each drop by around 15% in the first half of this year.
"Chicken and hamburger prices are expected to continue rising, while steak prices will likely moderate," said David Palmer, who is a senior managing director of Evercore and leads the firm's Restaurant and Food Producers team.
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The report pointed to the rising costs of grain that are used to feed livestock, such as wheat, soybeans and corn, as a significant factor contributing to increases in protein prices. Wheat, in particular, skyrocketed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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"We also note that beef is the least exposed to grain volatility (from the Russia/Ukraine war) as feed makes up roughly ¼ of production cost versus 50%+ for pork and 70-80% for chicken," Palmer told FOX Business.
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Pemex refining targets to be cut while refineries modernized, president says
- Country:
- Mexico
Mexico is temporarily reducing the refining targets of state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) while it modernizes its oil refineries, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday.
Lopez Obrador's comments come after sources told Reuters earlier this month that Mexico's oil exports would remain high for the rest of the year, despite plans announced by Pemex to slash them to refine more crude domestically.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Advertisement | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1985436-pemex-refining-targets-to-be-cut-while-refineries-modernized-president-says | 2022-03-31T16:15:11 | en | 0.920246 |
LGBTQ advocates sue state of Florida, DeSantis over law on gender identity, sexual orientation in education
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - An LGBTQ advocacy group on Thursday sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to block a new law forbidding classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in Kindergarten through third grade.
The law has catapulted Florida and DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, to the forefront of the country's culture wars. Critics argue that its true intent is to marginalize LGBTQ people and their families.
The challenge filed in federal court in Tallahassee by the National Center for Lesbian Rights on behalf of Equality Florida and Family Equality alleges the law violates the First Amendment and other provisions of the U.S. Constitution.
RELATED: Gov. DeSantis signs bill prohibiting gender identity, sexual orientation instruction in grades K-3
A statement announcing the lawsuit says the law deliberately employs broad terms and invites arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement, empowering parents to be roving censors who can sue school boards for damages based on any perceived violation.
The law states: "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." Parents would be able to sue districts over violations.
DeSantis and other Republicans have repeatedly described the rules as reasonable, saying children should learn about sexual orientation and gender identity from their parents, not in schools.
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"We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination," the governor said when he signed it into law this week.
Many critics have said the law’s language, particularly the phrases "classroom instruction" and "age appropriate," could be interpreted so broadly that discussion in any grade could trigger lawsuits, creating a classroom atmosphere where teachers would avoid the subjects entirely.
Intense public backlash followed the bill's introduction in Florida's Republican-controlled legislature this year, with the White House, Hollywood celebrities, students, Democrats and LGBTQ advocates condemning the policy. Legal challenges have been expected.
The suit says the law is unconstitutionally vague and discriminatory and violates First Amendment rights to free expression. The filing seeks to block the law from taking effect and also names Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and other education officials as defendants.
"Already, our children have told us that they are afraid that they will not be able to talk about their parents at school," Dan and Brent VanTice, parents of two first-grade students, said in the statement announcing the suit. "We are heartbroken that our children are already feeling isolated and stigmatized by this law."
RELATED: Biden marks Transgender Day of Visibility with new actions to expand ‘X’ gender marker availability
Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association union, said the law is politically motivated because elementary schools, especially in kindergarten through third grade, do not teach about these subjects and have state curriculum standards guiding classroom lessons.
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The law adds fuel to a persistent feud between DeSantis and Democratic President Joe Biden, who tweeted after DeSantis signed the bill this week that "My Administration will continue to fight for dignity and opportunity for every student and family — in Florida and around the country." Biden's education secretary has said his agency will be monitoring for any federal civil rights violations that result. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/lgbtq-advocates-sue-state-of-florida-desantis-over-law-on-gender-identity-sexual-orientation-in-education | 2022-03-31T16:15:13 | en | 0.954298 |
GLOBAL MARKETS-Oil plunges, global stocks fall as risk appetites flag
Global stocks fell on Thursday as recession concerns and the Russian-Ukranian war curbed demand for risky assets, while oil prices plunged over $5 on news that the United States may release some of its emergency oil reserves. With Thursday's drop, U.S. and European stocks are set for their worst quarterly performance since the first quarter of 2020, when the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic briefly sent the global economy into a tailspin.
Global stocks fell on Thursday as recession concerns and the Russian-Ukranian war curbed demand for risky assets, while oil prices plunged over $5 on news that the United States may release some of its emergency oil reserves.
With Thursday's drop, U.S. and European stocks are set for their worst quarterly performance since the first quarter of 2020, when the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic briefly sent the global economy into a tailspin. Quarter-end rebalancing of portfolios boosted demand for bonds and held down yields, though a closely-watched part of the U.S. Treasury yield curve flattened a touch again. The yield curve, which inverted briefly on Tuesday, is flirting with inversion again in what is seen as a reliable harbinger of a recession.
"There’s going to be some money coming out of equities, into fixed income, especially because equities have had quite a spectacular rebound in the last few weeks,” said Guillaume Paillat, multi-asset portfolio manager at Aviva Investors. "The yield curve is telling us that the economy’s going to slow and effectively maybe bonds, given that they’ve sold off so much, are a bit more attractive here compared to equities,” he said, adding that he does not anticipate a recession and still expects markets to benefit from re-opening following COVID-19 lockdowns.
The MSCI World Equity index was down 0.23%, while Europe's STOXX 600 eased 0.47%. By late morning in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.26%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite were little changed.
For the quarter, the S&P 500 is on track to have dropped over 3%, its worst showing in two years, while Europe's STOXX 600 is set to have lost over 6%, also its worst performance since the start of 2020 when it plunged 23%. Global stocks had rallied earlier in the week as investors saw signs of progress in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. But optimism petered out after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that no quick resolution is expected and the country prepared for new Russian attacks.
In Europe, inflation data showed record-high price rises in France in March and a 7% year-on-year rise in Italy, following elevated readings from Germany and Spain a day earlier. Surging price pressures in many major economies have sealed expectations that central banks will raise interest rates and borrowing costs. This has in turn stoked concerns in countries including the United States that aggressive policy tightening will tip the economy into a recession.
Indeed, even though European government bond yields are down on the day, the German 10-year yield is set for its biggest monthly rise since 2009. The 10-year Treasury yield, which also dipped to 2.323% on Thursday, is on track for its biggest gain in any quarter since the start of 2018.
Oil prices nursed deep losses following news that the United States was considering releasing up to 180 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve as part of a move to lower fuel prices. U.S. crude fell 4.65% to $102.81 per barrel and Brent was at $108.28, down 4.56% on the day.
Oil prices had surged since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February and the United States and allies responded with hefty sanctions on Russia, the second-largest exporter of crude. The euro was down 0.4% at $1.1108, having been boosted earlier in the week by hopes for peace in Ukraine.
The dollar was little changed against the yen, with the pair at 121.36. The yen has stabilised after falling to its lowest since 2015 on Monday on news that the Bank of Japan will buy an unlimited amount of 10-year government bonds for four days this week to keep yields low. Rising U.S. yields have lifted Japanese yields even though inflation in Japan is below the central bank's target.
Gold edged lower, but was still set for its biggest quarterly rise since the third quarter of 2020. In keeping with softer investor risk appetites, Bitcoin lost 0.92% to $46,636.42.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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UK PM Boris Johnson calls on world to wean off Russian oil, gas | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1985441-global-markets-oil-plunges-global-stocks-fall-as-risk-appetites-flag | 2022-03-31T16:15:18 | en | 0.966191 |
Russian troops leaving Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine operator says
LVIV, Ukraine - Russian troops were leaving the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and heading towards Ukraine's border with Belarus, the Ukrainian nuclear operator company said.
The operator, Energoatom said that the Russian military was also preparing to leave Slavutych, a nearby city where power plant workers live.
Energoatom also said reports were confirmed that the Russians dug trenches in the Red Forest, the 10-square-kilometer (nearly four-square-mile) area surrounding the Chernobyl plant within the Exclusion Zone, and received "significant doses of radiation."
The Russian troops "panicked at the first sign of illness," which "showed up very quickly," and began to prepare to leave, the operator said. The claim couldn't be independently verified.
Energoatom said the Russians have signed a document confirming the handover of the Chernobyl plant and stating that the plant’s administration doesn’t have any complaints about the Russian troops who were "guarding" the facility.
"It turns out that the occupiers ‘guarded’ the station for more than five weeks, and even so well that there are no complaints," Energoatom said in a statement on Telegram.
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Mexican president says to discuss energy plans with U.S. envoy Kerry
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his meeting on Thursday with U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and U.S. energy sector executives would set out why Mexico's government was moving to strengthen the country's state-run energy companies.
Speaking at a regular news conference, Lopez Obrador said he would be explaining why Mexico was taking steps to bolster national power company the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Intend to remain engaged with China on issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard our interests: Govt
- Country:
- India
The government on Thursday said it carefully monitors all developments relating to the Brahmaputra river, including plans by China to develop hydropower projects, and has consistently conveyed its concerns to Chinese authorities, urging them to ensure that interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas.
In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's interests and takes all necessary measures to protect them.
On whether China has constructed many big dams at the source of Brahmaputra, he said the government carefully monitors all developments relating to the river, including plans by China to develop hydropower projects. ''A hydropower project at Zangmu was declared fully operational in October 2015. In its 12th Five Year Plan for the period 2011-2015, China planned to develop three more hydropower projects (Jiacha, Dagu and Jiexu) on the main stream of Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region. Of the three, the first unit of the hydropower project at Jiacha was operationalised in August 2020,'' Muraleedharan said in his written reply.
''It is understood that the Dagu Hydropower project is partly operationalised. In March 2021, China adopted its 14th Five Year Plan which mentions plans for hydropower development on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra river,'' he said.
As a lower riparian state, with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, the government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, Muraleedharan said.
''Government has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas,'' he said.
India and China have established an Expert-Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers in 2006, Muraleedharan noted.
''Various issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed with China under the ambit of this institutionalized Expert-Level Mechanism as well as through diplomatic channels. We intend to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard our interests,'' he said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Assembly polls: BJP Central observers to visit four states after Holi weekend | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1985450-intend-to-remain-engaged-with-china-on-issue-of-trans-border-rivers-to-safeguard-our-interests-govt | 2022-03-31T16:15:34 | en | 0.957395 |
France eyes grain stocks release in world food security plan
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiative, called "FARM", last week at a meeting of G7 countries held to discuss the month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain trade and sent crop prices soaring. To bolster grain supplies for import-reliant developing countries, France wanted to "launch a discussion among exporters ...
- Country:
- France
France wants countries with surplus grain stocks to consider releasing supplies as part of a plan to shield poorer countries from the impact of the war in Ukraine on food staples, a French official said on Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiative, called "FARM", last week at a meeting of G7 countries held to discuss the month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain trade and sent crop prices soaring.
To bolster grain supplies for import-reliant developing countries, France wanted to "launch a discussion among exporters ... to potentially increase their production or mobilise large existing stocks," the official at France's presidential office told reporters. France, which holds the rotating European Union presidency, sees the United Nations' World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) helping to coordinate the allocation of extra supplies to countries facing urgent needs, the official said.
The food security initiative had the backing of the G7 and will now be discussed with G20 nations including China and India, which have amongst the largest grain stocks in the world, the official said. The subject will be raised with Chinese President Xi Jingping during an EU-China summit on Friday, and will also be discussed at a special meeting of the FAO on April 8, the official added.
The French government has joined international institutions in warning of a possible food crisis in developing countries in the year ahead if the Ukraine conflict drags on and causes lasting disruption to crop production and exports. India has already increased its exports of wheat in recent months and has held talks about supplying countries like Egypt and Lebanon that usually source most of their wheat from Ukraine and Russia.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Russia's war in Ukraine may 'fundamentally alter' global economic, political order - IMF | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1985459-france-eyes-grain-stocks-release-in-world-food-security-plan | 2022-03-31T16:15:41 | en | 0.951108 |
Nepal PM Deuba to travel to India on Friday on his maiden visit with 50-member delegation
A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday finalised Deubas delegation that includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal, Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahendra Ray Yadav, Pariyar said.
Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will be accompanied by a 50-member delegation when he embarks on his maiden visit to India on Friday to further strengthen the multifaceted, age-old and cordial ties between the two countries. This will be Deuba's first foreign visit since he assumed office in July last year for a record fifth time.
The Prime Minister's entourage will include his spouse Arzoo Deuba, four cabinet rank ministers, government secretaries, high officials and a business delegation, totalling 50 members, the Prime Minister's press chief Govinda Pariyar told PTI. A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday finalised Deuba’s delegation that includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal, Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahendra Ray Yadav, Pariyar said. ''The visit will further strengthen the multifaceted, age-old, and cordial ties between Nepal and India,'' the ministry said on the Prime Minister's 3-day visit. The team will also include secretaries in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Water Resources, Health and Population, Agriculture and Physical Planning. Deuba will hold delegation-level talks with his Indian counterpart and also meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Prime Minister Modi will host a luncheon in honour of his Nepal counterpart.
During his stay in New Delhi, Prime Minister Deuba will also address a gathering of business leaders.
He is also scheduled to visit the holy city of Varanasi before wrapping up his trip on April 3.
Earlier in January, he was scheduled to travel to India to participate in a business summit in Gujarat. However, the trip was cancelled after the summit was postponed due to the growing cases of COVID-19.
Deuba and Modi had met in Glasgow, Scotland in November last year on the sidelines of the UN climate conference and had ''fruitful talks'' on many aspects of India-Nepal friendship.
Deuba had thanked his Indian counterpart for providing support to Nepal in essential medical supplies and vaccines in its fight against the pandemic during their first meeting in Glasgow.
During the meeting, overall matters of the bilateral relations were discussed.
Deuba's visit is taking place soon after Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi's three-day tour to Nepal from March 25 to March 27.
Nepal has recently appointed senior economist Shankar Prasad Sharma as its ambassador to India.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Shanghai to expand lockdown to most residents as COVID cases rise
Residents living in buildings where positive cases were found will remain under lockdown for 10 more days, while those in the same housing compound or neighbourhood will face shorter extensions of restricted movement. The remaining residents who live in areas classified as low risk will be free to leave their homes, but are urged to work from home and to reduce outings and gatherings, it said.
- Country:
- China
Shanghai is set to put the vast majority of its residents under COVID lockdown from Friday, as it expands curbs to include the western half of the city and extends restrictions in the east where people have already been forced to stay home since Monday.
The Chinese commercial hub, home to 26 million people, is on the fourth day of a 10-day lockdown that was to cover the city in two phases, with first the east and then the west entering lockdowns of five days each. The stay-at-home measure in the financial and industrial districts in the east began on Monday and was due to lifted at 5 a.m. on Friday.
However, the city government late on Thursday said it would lift the curbs in stages instead. Residents living in buildings where positive cases were found will remain under lockdown for 10 more days, while those in the same housing compound or neighbourhood will face shorter extensions of restricted movement.
The remaining residents who live in areas classified as low risk will be free to leave their homes, but are urged to work from home and to reduce outings and gatherings, it said. Restaurants will only be allowed to provide take away services and non-essential businesses such as bars and libraries will remain shut, it added.
"We request the public to continue to support and cooperate with the city's epidemic control work," the Shanghai government said. "We will further optimize and adjust the prevention measures according to the epidemic situation." Affected residents turned to social media and chat groups to discuss the new measures and many believed they were set to be locked in for longer. "Is there any neighbourhood in Pudong that has no positive cases?," quizzed one user on the Weibo platform using a term which means east of the river.
WEST BRACES FOR LOCKDOWN The city government also said the lockdown would expand to areas west of the city's Huangpu river from Friday, prompting residents in those areas to scramble on Thursday to stock up groceries.
In central Shanghai, vegetable sellers and butchers hawked their wares from behind barriers and on sidewalks. Restaurants hoping to cut losses advertised deep discounts through chat groups on social media. "Lockdown super deal! 50% off on steaks", advertised a pamphlet from a high-end steak house.
Shanghai's daily tally of infections eased for the first time in about two weeks, authorities said on Thursday. It reported 5,298 locally transmitted new asymptomatic cases and 355 symptomatic cases for Wednesday, versus corresponding figures of 5,656 and 326 the previous day.
Shanghai makes up almost 80% of local asymptomatic cases across China for Wednesday, and about 20% of those with symptoms. "INADEQUATELY PREPARED"
The outbreak, and the curbs against it, have disrupted life for residents and businesses. U.S. electric car maker Tesla is extending a production halt at its Shanghai factory for at least two days, following an output suspension since Monday, two sources told Reuters.
Volkswagen's Shanghai joint venture with SAIC Motor will suspend work at its factory between April 1 and 5, reversing an earlier decision to maintain some production. Many residents have vented frustration on social media with videos and images of crowded quarantine centres, while seeking help with medical treatment and buying food.
In a letter to residents, the city government thanked them for their efforts and sacrifices, especially as some spent a long time in quarantine and lockdown. But it urged them to keep co-operating to rein in the virus. City government official Ma Chunlei, however, acknowledged at a daily news conference that the city could have done more, adding that authorities were trying to improve distribution of food and issues with securing medical help.
"Our knowledge about the highly contagious Omicron variant has been insufficient, we were inadequately prepared for the fast-rising number of infected patients, and our control measures have not been up to speed," he said. Still, even though some in Shanghai have questioned how practical China's strategy of "dynamic clearance" is, the approach will not be relaxed, state news agency Xinhua has said, saying it was essential to protect lives and health.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Health News Roundup: EU plans to buy measles, polio vaccines for Ukraine refugees; Pfizer-BioNTech seek U.S. OK for second COVID booster for 65 and older and more | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/1985383-shanghai-to-expand-lockdown-to-most-residents-as-covid-cases-rise | 2022-03-31T16:15:56 | en | 0.97212 |
8 new cases added to AP's COVID-19 tally
Andhra Pradesh added eight fresh COVID-19 cases to its tally, which has now touched 23,19,532.According to the latest bulletin, 45 infected persons got cured, raising the total recoveries to 23,04,551.As no fresh fatality was reported, the death toll remained at 14,730. The number of active cases came down to 251, the bulletin added.This month, AP reported only three COVID-19 deaths, two on March 1 and another on March 12.
- Country:
- India
Andhra Pradesh added eight fresh COVID-19 cases to its tally, which has now touched 23,19,532.
According to the latest bulletin, 45 infected persons got cured, raising the total recoveries to 23,04,551.
As no fresh fatality was reported, the death toll remained at 14,730. The number of active cases came down to 251, the bulletin added.
This month, AP reported only three COVID-19 deaths, two on March 1 and another on March 12. This was the lowest toll count since the pandemic began in March 2020.
In the last 24 hours, six districts reported zero cases and six more registered one each. One district added two new cases.
Seven districts in the state now have less than 10 active cases each. Only two districts have more than 60 each while four have less than 25 each.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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‘Unbox Me’ campaign gives visibility to lives of transgender children
A new UN initiative aims to promote greater inclusion and acceptance of transgender children, and to advocate for their rights.
The Unbox Me campaign was launched by UNAIDS ahead of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, observed this Thursday, 31 March.
Ahead of #TransDayOfVisibility, @UNAIDS launches an initiative to raise awareness among parents, teachers and the wider community about gender identity during childhood.
— UNAIDS (@UNAIDS) March 30, 2022
The Unbox Me campaign advocates for the rights of transgender children. https://t.co/o7ToRtsft3 pic.twitter.com/N9AZF8TERn
The goal is to raise awareness among parents, teachers, and the wider community about gender identity during childhood.
Expressing identity freely
“Many of us take our gender identity for granted, but for many children it is not so easy. It’s a matter of daily survival, a daily struggle,” said Mahesh Mahalingam, UNAIDS Director of Communications and Global Advocacy.
“Children all around the world must be supported in expressing their identity freely,” he added.
Unbox Me is centred around a common experience for children, many of whom have boxes or hiding places where they store prized possessions and trinkets.
Box of dreams
These hidden objects can reveal a lot about the child, such as who they really are, their likes, and their dreams for the future.
For some transgender children, hiding treasures in a box can become a way of hiding their identity from disapproving eyes, UNAIDS said. Unbox Me helps to give them visibility.
Stigma, discrimination and criminalization tend to make transgender and gender-diverse people invisible, the agency added, with extreme forms of discrimination leading to even the denial of the existence of gender-diverse people.
Acceptance and inclusion
The Unbox Me campaign originated in India, where more than 90 per cent of transgender people leave their homes, or are thrown out, by the age of 15. Many end up living on the street with no money or education, or relying on sex work.
The campaign is now going global as its theme of acceptance and inclusion is universal.
Around the world, transgender people are often marginalized and suffer discrimination and violence. As a result, they are nearly 35 times more at risk of acquiring HIV than other adults, according to the UN agency, which is working to stamp out the virus, and end AIDS, by the decade’s end.
© UNSPLASH/ Ehimetalor Akhere UnuabonaTrans rights protest In London, United Kingdom.Criminalized
Currently, some 24 countries criminalize and prosecute transgender people. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments even instituted gender-specific mobility days during lockdowns, which resulted in some transgender people being arrested for going out on the “wrong” day.
UNAIDS works closely with the transgender community, civil society organizations and governments to decriminalize transgender people, secure their rights and ensure that they have access to health, education and social protection, as well as protection from abuse and exploitation.
Collaboration and support
The Unbox Me campaign is part of an ongoing collaboration between UNAIDS and the advertising agency FCB India.
Last year, they partnered on a successful short film called ‘The Mirror’, about a young boy looking in the mirror and dressing up as a woman.
The film was part of the #SeeMeAsIAm campaign and served to raise awareness among parents, teachers and the community, about gender identity in childhood, which the current campaign builds on.
“In India, children usually have a box which they use to store their most precious possessions, but in the case of transgender children they need to hide their box of treasures, since some of their most precious possessions don’t fit the gender norm that society expects them to conform to,” said Swati Bhattacharya, FCB India’s Creative Chairperson, who conceptualized Unbox Me.
So far, the campaign has garnered support among the education community in India, UNAIDS has reported.
Teachers in many schools across the country are using the boxes featured in the campaign as a conversation starter to raise awareness about gender identity.
Many prominent Indian personalities and community leaders have also participated in the campaign, including film director Zoya Akhtar and television anchor Barkha Dutt.
Visit UN News for more.
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- United | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/1985389-unbox-me-campaign-gives-visibility-to-lives-of-transgender-children | 2022-03-31T16:16:14 | en | 0.953342 |
Mumbai records 42 COVID-19 cases, zero fatalities
The city thus witnessed 84.54 per cent fewer new cases and 94.11 per cent fewer fatalities compared to the previous month.A day before, Mumbai had reported 42 new COVID-19 cases and zero fatalities.In March, the city has recorded zero fatalities on 27 out of 31 days.
- Country:
- India
Mumbai on Thursday reported 42 new COVID-19 cases, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release.
The city reported zero new pandemic-related fatalities for the fourth day in a row. The city's caseload rose to 10,57,995, while the death toll remained unchanged at 19,559. In March 2022, the city recorded 1,527 new coronavirus infections and four fatalities, against 9,882 new cases and 68 fatalities in February. The city thus witnessed 84.54 per cent fewer new cases and 94.11 per cent fewer fatalities compared to the previous month.
A day before, Mumbai had reported 42 new COVID-19 cases and zero fatalities.
In March, the city has recorded zero fatalities on 27 out of 31 days. Also, the new daily COVID-19 cases remained below 100 since March 2.
Presently, Mumbai has 280 active COVID-19 patients and the case positivity rate is 0.002 per cent. In the last 24 hours, 15,144 COVID-19 tests were carried out, taking the tally of tests conducted so far to 1,66,22,455.
With 64 patients recovering during the day, the tally of recoveries reached 10,38,156.
The city's rate of recovery is 98 per cent.
The caseload doubling rate is 14,951 days, while the overall growth rate of COVID-19 cases for the period between March 24 to 30 was 0.005 per cent.
As per the bulletin, 40 of the 42 new COVID-19 patients were asymptomatic, and only two of them were hospitalized while none was put on oxygen support.
Only 15 of 26,228 hospital beds are occupied in the city.
The metropolis is free of sealed building and containment zones.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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India-Nepal hold 9th round of Line of Credit review meeting in Kathmandu
The 9th India-Nepal Line Of Credit (LoC) review meeting was held in Kathmandu on 29 March 2022, a release from Indian Mission in Nepal stated.
- Country:
- Nepal
The 9th India-Nepal Line Of Credit (LoC) review meeting was held in Kathmandu on 29 March 2022, a release from Indian Mission in Nepal stated. "The meeting was aimed at reviewing the progress of projects being undertaken in Nepal under the Government of India's (GoI) LoCs, ensuring better project implementation and more effective utilization of the large amount remaining under the said LoCs," the release stated.
From the Indian side, the meeting was led by Sridharan Madhusudhanan, Joint Secretary (Development Partnership Administration - I), Ministry of External Affairs, and comprised of officials from the Embassy and the EXIM Bank. From the Nepal side, the meeting was led by Ishwori Prasad Aryal, Joint Secretary (International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division), Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal (GoN) and included officials from several departments involved in the execution of projects under the Government of India's Lines of Credit.
The LoC review meeting was preceded by the inauguration of substations under the Modi-Lekhnath Transmission Line and Substations Project in Laha Chowk, Kaski district, Nepal on 28 March 2022. The project, being financed under an LoC of USD 250 million (LoC II), involves the construction of a 42 km long power transmission line and its associated substations at New Modi, LahaChowk and Lekhnath in the central part of Nepal.
The USD 20 million project is being executed by KPTL Ltd and ABB India. The substations package is completed while the transmission line package is likely to be completed soon. The inauguration was done by Pampha Bhusal, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal in presence of senior GoN officials, an Indian delegation and local representatives.
The LoC review meeting was followed by a workshop conducted by EXIM Bank of India in Kathmandu on 30 March 2022. Joint Secretary Sridharan Madhusudhanan gave the opening remarks, which were followed by detailed discussions between LoC project contractors and representatives from GoN departments implementing the LoC projects. The workshop was aimed at familiarizing stakeholders in Nepal with India's LoC policy framework and guidelines and under Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS).
The Workshop also discussed specific issues facing the GoI LOC projects in Nepal. During the Workshop, EXIM Bank of India also shared its experience of implementing projects in other countries and suggested ways toward better utilization of GoI LoCs in Nepal, the release further stated. The government of India's LoC portfolio is more than USD 30 billion, spread across more than 60 partner countries. In Nepal, it includes four LoCs worth USD 250 mn, USD 550 mn and USD 750 mn, totalling USD 1.65 billion. These LoCs are dedicated to the execution of infrastructure development projects and post-earthquake reconstruction projects as prioritized by GoN.
So far, these LOCs have financed 40+ road projects, another 9 projects in hydropower, transmission lines and irrigation, and several others in housing and reconstruction. Many of these projects are already completed, including some iconic and major projects. Development of Power Transmission infrastructure has acquired particular salience in GoI LoCs in Nepal, with major projects such as Koshi Corridor (220 kV), Modi Lekhnath (132 kV), Solu Corridor (132 kV) and the Dhalkebar Bhittamod (400 kV) projects. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/1985320-india-nepal-hold-9th-round-of-line-of-credit-review-meeting-in-kathmandu | 2022-03-31T16:16:33 | en | 0.9596 |
Pak opposition cries foul after no-trust vote deferred
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lambasted National Assembly Deputy Speaker Sadiq Sanjrani for deferring no-confidence motion against Imran Khan and adjourning the assembly till April 3.
- Country:
- Pakistan
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lambasted National Assembly Deputy Speaker Sadiq Sanjrani for deferring no-confidence motion against Imran Khan and adjourning the assembly till April 3. Speaking with the media outside the National Assembly with Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sharif said, "Speeches were meant to happen in the National Assembly, and it was under Speaker to decide on no-confidence motion within 4-days. However, the Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, Sadiq Sanjrani when he saw that none of the MNAs were ready to question and were ready for the no-trust vote, Sanjarani stood up and ran inside. Everyone saw that, Bilawal and I saw it."
The no-trust vote against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was deferred to April 3 on Sunday and the proceedings of the National Assembly of Pakistan were adjourned till April 3 soon after it was convened to discuss the no-confidence motion against Khan. "I asked the secretary what have you done, he said that the speech was going to happen, had already told the Speaker, whatever Sanjrani did was his will, we already had briefed him. They are not at fault. The Deputy Speaker did not follow the law and procedures," said Shehbaz.
Expressing his frustration over the delay in the no-trust vote, he said, "On March 8 we tabled the motion and today it is March 31, everyone can see how law and democratic values have been demolished. The mandate of 22 crore population has been played in the Assembly. Even the judiciary is watching it, the country is surprised, asking what is happening?" Shehbaz, while hitting out at Imran Khan's tactics to delay the motion, said, "Now, do the selected PM Imran Khan have any political, lawful way is left? If, he still uses conspiracies theory to drag this motion, then it is against the constitution, even Speaker also. He has blotted his name in the history of Pakistan. We had decided that we will not use unparliamentary methods and all the 172 members were present in the Assembly for the no-confidence motion under a united Opposition against Imran Khan -- PPP, PML-N, PML-Q, MQM-P, BAP, ANP."
Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif tabled the no-confidence motion. With this move, Imran Khan became the third Pakistani PM to face the no-confidence motion. After the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government was tabled in the National Assembly with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings were adjourned till March 31. Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) joined hands with the opposition to support them in the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, the Pakistani government lost its majority in the lower house of the Pakistan parliament.
Shehbaz also lambasted Khan over corruption charges and said that he and his family were involved in foreign funding case and they took money from other countries without disclosing it to the Election Commission of Pakistan as well as the State Bank of Pakistan. Opposition parties have said that Khan, who had come to power on the slogan of fighting corruption, was "found hiding crucial information" from the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding foreign funding case.
According to News International, The State Bank of Pakistan's documents handed over to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the PTI foreign funding case show that information about transactions worth more than USD 2 million dollars from 14 different foreign countries and hundreds of millions rupees' local transactions into the party's bank accounts was not provided to the ECP authorities. The report said the documents also show that Imran Khan's PTI received USD 29,800 donations in 2013 from a businesswoman and her Pakistani American husband but their donation was also concealed from the ECP.
Talking about the "threat letter", Shehbaz said that he had asked Imran Khan to bring it in the Assembly and disclose the details of it. Khan had said that a Pakistani envoy posted in a foreign country wrote the memo that he flashed on March 27 at a PTI rally and termed it "threatening", sources told Geo News.
Shehbaz termed all these tricks and gimmicks of Imran Khan to save his chair, however, he added that days of him as Prime Minister is over and the writing is on the wall for him. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/1985321-pak-opposition-cries-foul-after-no-trust-vote-deferred | 2022-03-31T16:16:40 | en | 0.978798 |
Putin signs decree on switching gas payments to Rubles for unfriendly countries
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the procedure for the fulfillment of obligations to Russian natural gas suppliers by foreign buyers, which stipulates that all contracts for pipeline gas deliveries with companies registered in unfriendly countries must be settled in rubles.
- Country:
- Russia
Moscow [Russia], March 31 (ANI/Sputnik): Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the procedure for the fulfillment of obligations to Russian natural gas suppliers by foreign buyers, which stipulates that all contracts for pipeline gas deliveries with companies registered in unfriendly countries must be settled in rubles. The decree applies only to Gazprom's pipeline deliveries, and Russian government commission on foreign investment will be able to issue permits for non-ruble gas payments.
New rules for the sale of Russian gas to "unfriendly countries" will come into effect on April 1, Putin said. "If such payments [in rubles] are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers. With all the ensuing consequences," he said.
Existing contracts for the purchase of Russian gas will be stopped if they refuse to pay in rubles, Putin said. "No one is selling us anything for free. And we are not going to do charity either. That is, the existing contracts will be stopped," he said.
Russia is a responsible supplier and will continue to supply gas in volumes and at prices stipulated by existing contracts, Putin said, noting that these prices are several times lower than current spot prices. Having frozen Russia's currency accounts, the West actually received part of the Russian gas for free, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with government members on the development of the aviation industry.
"In fact, what is happening, what has already happened: we supplied European consumers with our resources, in this case, gas, they received it, paid us in euros, which they themselves then froze. In this regard, there is every reason to believe that we supplied part of the gas supplied to Europe virtually free of charge," Putin said. (ANI/Sputnik)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/1985324-putin-signs-decree-on-switching-gas-payments-to-rubles-for-unfriendly-countries | 2022-03-31T16:16:48 | en | 0.961928 |
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, with sharply higher prices for food, gasoline and other necessities squeezing Americans’ finances.
The figure reported Thursday by the Commerce Department was the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982. Excluding volatile prices for food and energy, so-called core inflation increased 5.4% in February from 12 months earlier.
Robust consumer demand has combined with shortages of many goods to fuel the sharpest price jumps in four decades. Escalating the inflation pressures, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted global oil markets and accelerated prices for wheat, nickel and other key commodities.
The inflation spike took a toll on consumers, whose spending in February rose just 0.2%, down from a much larger 2.7% gain in January. Adjusted for inflation, spending actually fell 0.4% last month.
The Federal Reserve responded this month to the inflation surge by raising its benchmark short-term interest rate by a quarter-point from near zero, and it’s likely to keep raising it well into next year. Because its rate affects many consumer and business loans, the Fed’s rate hikes will make borrowing more expensive and could weaken the economy over time.
Michael Feroli of JPMorgan is among economists who now think the Fed will raise its key rate by an aggressive half-point in both May and June. The central bank hasn’t raised its benchmark rate by a half-point in two decades, a sign of how concerned it has become about the persistent surge in inflation.
On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.6% from January to February, up slightly from the previous month’s increase of 0.5%. Core prices rose 0.4%, down from a 0.5% increase in January.
Gas prices have soared in the past month in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion, which led the United Kingdom and the Biden administration to ban Russia’s oil exports. The cost of a gallon of gas shot up to a national average of $4.24 a gallon Wednesday, according to AAA. That’s up 63 cents from a month ago, when it was $3.61.
Thursday’s report follows a more widely monitored inflation gauge, the consumer price index, that was issued earlier this month. The CPI jumped to 7.9% in February from a year ago, the sharpest such increase in four decades.
Many economists still expect inflation to peak in the coming months. In part, that’s because price spikes that occurred last year, when the economy widely reopened, will begin to make the year-over-year price increases appear smaller. Yet Fed officials project that inflation, as measured by its preferred gauge, will still be a comparatively high 4.3% by the end of this year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/a-key-inflation-gauge-sets-40-year-high-as-gas-and-food-soar-3/ | 2022-03-31T16:16:55 | en | 0.965779 |
Russian Foreign Minister arrives in India amid Ukraine crisis
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in New Delhi on the first high-level visit by a Russian leader to India since Moscow's war against Ukraine which began last month.
- Country:
- India
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in New Delhi on the first high-level visit by a Russian leader to India since Moscow's war against Ukraine which began last month. "Welcoming the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov as he arrives in New Delhi for an official visit," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.
Lavrov, who arrived on Thursday on a two-day official visit, is expected to meet and hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday. The Russian Foreign Minister reached New Delhi after his two-day visit to China.
New Delhi has seen a flurry of visits by foreign leaders over the past fortnight. China's foreign minister Wang Yi had visited India last week. Russian Foreign Minister this week participated in two multinational meetings on Afghanistan along with representatives from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Lavrov also held meetings with representatives from China and Pakistan and attended a separate meeting of the "Extended Troika" with special Afghan envoys from China and the US. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/1985359-russian-foreign-minister-arrives-in-india-amid-ukraine-crisis | 2022-03-31T16:16:56 | en | 0.97127 |
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, with sharply higher prices for food, gasoline and other necessities squeezing Americans’ finances.
The figure reported Thursday by the Commerce Department was the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982. Excluding volatile prices for food and energy, so-called core inflation increased 5.4% in February from 12 months earlier.
Robust consumer demand has combined with shortages of many goods to fuel the sharpest price jumps in four decades. Escalating the inflation pressures, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted global oil markets and accelerated prices for wheat, nickel and other key commodities.
The inflation spike took a toll on consumers, whose spending in February rose just 0.2%, down from a much larger 2.7% gain in January. Adjusted for inflation, spending actually fell 0.4% last month.
Yet Americans’ overall incomes rose 0.5% in February, the highest gain since November and up from just 0.1% in January. Wages and salaries jumped 0.8%, the most in four months.
Businesses have been raising pay to attract and keep employees — a trend that is benefiting workers but also giving employers cause to raise prices to offset their higher labor costs. That cycle is helping fuel inflation.
Last month, food costs climbed 1.4%, the most in nearly two years. Energy costs spiked 3.7%, the biggest such increase since October.
The Federal Reserve responded this month to the inflation surge by raising its benchmark short-term interest rate by a quarter-point from near zero, and it’s likely to keep raising it well into next year. Because its rate affects many consumer and business loans, the Fed’s rate hikes will make borrowing more expensive and could weaken the economy over time.
Michael Feroli of JPMorgan is among economists who now think the Fed will raise its key rate by an aggressive half-point in both May and June. The central bank hasn’t raised its benchmark rate by a half-point in two decades, a sign of how concerned it has become about the persistent surge in inflation.
On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.6% from January to February, up slightly from the previous month’s increase of 0.5% and matching the highest monthly figure since 2008. Core prices rose 0.4%, down from a 0.5% increase in January.
Gas prices have soared in the past month in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion, which led the United Kingdom and the Biden administration to ban Russia’s oil exports. The cost of a gallon of gas shot up to a national average of $4.24 a gallon Wednesday, according to AAA. That’s up 63 cents from a month ago, when it was $3.61.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden is expected to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil a day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve in an effort to reduce gas prices.
Thursday’s report follows a more widely monitored inflation gauge, the consumer price index, that was issued earlier this month. The CPI jumped to 7.9% in February from a year ago, the sharpest such increase in four decades.
Many economists still expect inflation to peak in the coming months. In part, that’s because price spikes that occurred last year, when the economy widely reopened, will begin to make the year-over-year price increases appear smaller. Yet Fed officials project that inflation, as measured by its preferred gauge, will still be a comparatively high 4.3% by the end of this year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/a-key-inflation-gauge-sets-40-year-high-as-gas-and-food-soar-5/ | 2022-03-31T16:17:01 | en | 0.96848 |
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, with sharply higher prices for food, gasoline and other necessities squeezing Americans’ finances.
The figure reported Thursday by the Commerce Department was the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982. Excluding volatile prices for food and energy, so-called core inflation increased 5.4% in February from 12 months earlier.
Robust consumer demand has combined with shortages of many goods to fuel the sharpest price jumps in four decades. Measures of inflation will likely worsen in the coming months because Thursday’s report doesn’t reflect the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which occurred Feb. 24. The war has disrupted global oil markets and accelerated prices for wheat, nickel and other key commodities.
Squeezed by inflation, consumers increased their spending by just 0.2% in February, down from a much larger 2.7% gain in January. Adjusted for inflation, spending actually fell 0.4% last month. The decline partly reflected a shift away from heavy spending on goods to a focus on services, such as health care, travel and entertainment, which consumers had long avoided during the worst of the pandemic.
Spending on such services grew 0.6%, the most since July, while purchases of autos, furniture, clothes and other goods dropped 2.1%. Many economists had previously suggested that a shift away from goods purchases might loosen supply chain snarls and cool inflation. But prices are still rising rapidly for goods, including a 1.1% increase in February.
Americans’ overall incomes rose 0.5% in February, the highest gain since November and up from just 0.1% in January. Wages and salaries jumped 0.8%, the most in four months.
Businesses have been raising pay to attract and keep employees — a trend that is benefiting workers but also giving employers cause to raise prices to offset their higher labor costs. That cycle is helping fuel inflation.
Last month, food costs climbed 1.4%, the most in nearly two years. Energy costs spiked 3.7%, the biggest such increase since October.
The Federal Reserve responded this month to the inflation surge by raising its benchmark short-term interest rate by a quarter-point from near zero, and it’s likely to keep raising it well into next year. Because its rate affects many consumer and business loans, the Fed’s rate hikes will make borrowing more expensive and could weaken the economy over time.
Michael Feroli of JPMorgan is among economists who now think the Fed will raise its key rate by an aggressive half-point in both May and June. The central bank hasn’t raised its benchmark rate by a half-point in two decades, a sign of how concerned it has become about the persistent surge in inflation.
On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.6% from January to February, up slightly from the previous month’s increase of 0.5% and matching the highest monthly figure since 2008. Core prices rose 0.4%, down from a 0.5% increase in January.
Gas prices have soared in the past month in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion, which led the United Kingdom and the Biden administration to ban Russia’s oil exports. The cost of a gallon of gas shot up to a national average of $4.24 a gallon Wednesday, according to AAA. That’s up 63 cents from a month ago, when it was $3.61.
Michael Pearce, an economist at Capital Economics, estimated that the gas price spike will cost Americans an annualized $100 billion in March.
Americans will likely dig into their savings to cover the higher gas costs in the near term, he said. “But if higher gasoline prices are sustained, that will eventually weigh on spending in other areas.”
On Thursday, President Joe Biden is expected to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil a day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve in an effort to reduce gas prices.
Thursday’s report follows a more widely monitored inflation gauge, the consumer price index, that was issued earlier this month. The CPI jumped to 7.9% in February from a year ago, the sharpest such increase in four decades.
Many economists still expect inflation to peak in the coming months. In part, that’s because price spikes that occurred last year, when the economy widely reopened, will begin to make the year-over-year price increases appear smaller. Yet Fed officials project that inflation, as measured by its preferred gauge, will still be a comparatively high 4.3% by the end of this year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/a-key-inflation-gauge-sets-40-year-high-as-gas-and-food-soar-6/ | 2022-03-31T16:17:07 | en | 0.969293 |
Stalemate over EU-China investment deal dramatic reversal of fortune
Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the present stalemate over the EU-China investment deal is a dramatic reversal of fortune.
- Country:
- China
Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the present stalemate over the EU-China investment deal is a dramatic reversal of fortune. The bilateral relationship between Brussels and Beijing has deteriorated as the April 1 meeting approaches. Last week, diplomats met in Brussels to plan the agenda for the next summit: the main topic was Russia's war on Ukraine, and how to persuade China to help Ukraine, not if, but how, reported The HK Post.
Another hot topic will be China's coercive measures against EU member Lithuania over the latter's decision to create a Taiwanese representative office, which has led to a World Trade Organization complaint against Beijing. "We realize we are in a delicate moment with China," EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis remarked recently, referring to the next virtual summit between Brussels and Beijing on April 1. For both sides, the meeting comes at an inconvenient and unpleasant time.
The EU's 27 member states are "rethinking" their ties with Beijing in light of Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine and China's unwillingness to criticize it in a "new global environment." Ratification of the widely lauded EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) appears to be less assured than ever before and is unlikely to happen in recent times, reported The HK Post.
Since the end of discussions in December 2020, the EU-China investment deal has had a bumpy road. Members of both the former Trump and new Biden administrations in the US condemned the agreement at the time, claiming that it did not go far enough to address China's use of forced labour, among other concerns. The agreement's ratification began to unravel soon after, in March 2021, when the EU sanctioned four Chinese officials implicated in Xinjiang detention facilities.
Beijing retaliated by implementing a slew of punitive penalties against various EU officials and agencies, prompting Brussels to put the ratification talks on hold in May, reported The HK Post. "We cannot overlook the larger backdrop of ties between the EU and China," Dombrovskis remarked at the time.
To make matters worse, the investment deal's most ardent supporter in Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, has now resigned, further putting the historic EU-China investment agreement in jeopardy. Currently, the Chinese propaganda machinery is busy pumping out articles claiming "EU should not let 'external influences' derail the agreement, asking it to abandon its "cold war mentality". (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/1985406-stalemate-over-eu-china-investment-deal-dramatic-reversal-of-fortune | 2022-03-31T16:17:07 | en | 0.950622 |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2022 Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/ap-top-business-news-at-713-a-m-edt-9/ | 2022-03-31T16:17:14 | en | 0.82511 |
BRIEF-Macron And Le Pen Seen Leading 1st Round Of France's Presidential Election -IFOP-Fiducial Poll
Rolling IFOP-Fiducial 2022 for Paris Match, LCI and Sud Radio: * MACRON AND LE PEN SEEN LEADING THE FIRST ROUND OF FRANCE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND QUALIFYING FOR RUN-OFF
* MACRON SEEN WITH 28%, LE PEN 21%, MELENCHON 15.5%, ZEMMOUR 11%, PECRESSE 10%, OF VOTE IN FIRST ROUND OF FRANCE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION * MACRON SEEN WINNING FRANCE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RUN-OFF WITH 54% OF VOTE VS LE PEN
Survey of 2,995 respondents conducted between March 28-31; margin of error between +/- 1.4 and 3.1 pts. (Gdansk Newsroom)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Advertisement | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985313-brief-macron-and-le-pen-seen-leading-1st-round-of-frances-presidential-election--ifop-fiducial-poll | 2022-03-31T16:17:15 | en | 0.766141 |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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U.S. envoy to U.N. to visit Moldova, Romania to see Ukraine refugee efforts
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will travel to Moldova and Romania this weekend to see efforts to help refugees arriving from Ukraine, the U.S. mission to the United Nations said in a statement.
According to the United Nations more than 600,000 Ukranians have fled to Romania and another 388,000 to Moldova since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Russia says it is carrying out a "special military operation" that aims to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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- Romania
- Russia
- U.S.
- Linda Thomas-Greenfield
- Moldova
- Ukraine
- United Nations
- Ukranians
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UN seeks $4.4 bln in 'unconditional' aid for Afghanistan
The United Nations appealed for $4.4 billion in "unconditional" humanitarian aid for Afghanistan on Thursday, saying 9 million people faced famine and that families were selling children and organs to survive.
The United Nations appealed for $4.4 billion in "unconditional" humanitarian aid for Afghanistan on Thursday, saying 9 million people faced famine and that families were selling children and organs to survive. The humanitarian situation has "deteriorated alarmingly" since the Taliban takeover in August and the economy has "all but collapsed", U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, opening the high-level pledging conference.
But in a nod to donors' concerns, he also called for the reopening of schools for all students in Afghanistan "without discrimination", after the Islamist rulers' decision to ban girls from secondary education. "Some 95 percent of people do not have enough to eat. Nine million people are at risk of famine. UNICEF estimates that a million severely malnourished children are on the verge of death, without immediate action," he said in a video message.
"People are already selling their children and their body parts in order to feed their families," Guterres said, drawing on a report earlier this month by the World Food Programme. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, speaking from Doha after talks in Kabul this week, said: "I had the firm impression that the door for dialogue with authorities remains open, they want to find a constructive way to work with us.
"They don't necessarily know how to work with the international community, including the complex question of girls' education. I hope we can resolve this problem in the future." At Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital in Kabul he had seen tiny malnourished children and newborns sharing ventilators. The level of human suffering left him "speechless", Griffiths said.
Ahead of the drive, Britain pledged 286 million pounds ($374 million) for Afghanistan, where six out of every 10 Afghans need aid, much of it food. "We need to work through the UN to deliver real change for the Afghan people, upholding their rights and holding the Taliban to account," British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.
The U.N. says funds under the appeal - three times the amount requested in 2021 and only 13% funded so far - go directly to aid agencies and none are channelled through the de facto authorities who swept to power as the last U.S. troops withdrew. Among the first pledges, Germany announced it would provide 200 million euros ($221.46 million) while Qatar said it would donate $25 million.
The United States pledged $204 million, the ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced. "The Taliban will not control our humanitarian funding," she said. (Additional reporting by Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai, Editing by William Maclean and Nick Macfie)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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SAPO temporarily suspends indefinite bandh
- Country:
- India
The Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) on Thursday 'temporarily suspended' the indefinite bandh in force in the southern part of Kohima district restricting the movement of vehicles to Manipur.
The SAPO had initially imposed 72 hour bandh from March 21 midnight which was extended as indefinite bandh from March 24 midnight.
The decision to temporarily suspend the indefinite bandh against Manipur was taken unanimously after holding deliberation with its governing body and frontal organizations on Thursday, stated a release issued by SAPO president Kevipodi Sophie and general secretary Swelul Pucho here.
SAPO unanimously decided to temporarily suspend the indefinite bandh from 12 Noon based on the Tenyimi Peoples' Organization (TPO) ''Ultimatum on Manipur to withdraw police forces from Kezoltsa and request to SAPO to lift the blockade thereof''.
TPO is the apex body of several Naga tribes in Manipur and Nagaland.
It also considered the fervent request of the Angami Public Organization (APO), an apex body of the Angami community, to lift the bandh for the upcoming golden jubilee celebration of APO scheduled for April 8.
SAPO has been demanding upholding of the ''Arbitration Undertaking'' initiated by Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation (TPO) and signed in 2017 by the three contending parties in the land dispute of Kezoltsa/Koziirii/Kazing/Dzükou area viz the SAPO, Mao Council (MC) and Maram Khullen.
They had unambiguously agreed that the dispute shall be resolved by Naga Customary way and on traditional ownership.
SAPO has also been asking the Manipur Government to withdraw its armed personnel from the disputed area in Kezoltsa bordering the two states.
Stating that the relaxation and lifting of indefinite bandh is a temporary measure, SAPO said if the Manipur government ''fails'' to adhere to the ultimatum served by TPO then it will initiate its own course of action.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985333-sapo-temporarily-suspends-indefinite-bandh | 2022-03-31T16:17:41 | en | 0.948793 |
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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrives in India
- Country:
- India
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in India on Thursday on a two-day official visit, his first trip to the country since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine last month.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Lavrov will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Friday.
A media advisory on Lavrov's visit issued by the Ministry of External Affairs has not mentioned any meeting between the Russian foreign minister and the prime minister.
People familiar with the preparations for the talks said India is also likely to press for ensuring timely delivery of various military hardware as well as components of the S-400 missile systems by Russia.
The Russian foreign minister arrived in India after concluding a two-day visit of China.
His visit to India coincides with that of US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India. EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific Gabriele Visentin visited New Delhi this week.
Unlike many other leading powers, India has not yet criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms in condemning the Russian aggression.
However, last Thursday, India abstained on a resolution pushed by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which was seen as reflective of its neutral position on the conflict.
India has been pressing for the resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.
Modi has held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7.
Modi had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice.
Last week, Jaishankar said in Parliament that India's position on the Ukraine conflict has been ''steadfast and consistent'' and that it has been seeking immediate cessation of violence.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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French police say operation underway in Lille
- Country:
- France
French police said an operation was underway in the northern French city of Lille on Thursday and urged the public to stay clear of Avenue Willy Brandt.
La Voix du Nord newspaper initially reported that the operation followed reports of a man armed with a kalashnikov rifle. It later said the weapon was believed to be a fake.
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Turkish prosecutor requests transfer of Khashoggi trial to Saudi Arabia
A Turkish prosecutor called on Thursday for the trial in Istanbul of Saudi suspects over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to be halted and transferred to Saudi authorities, a move which comes as Turkey seeks to mend ties with Riyadh. Khashoggi's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul four years ago triggered a global outcry and put pressure on Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A Turkish prosecutor called on Thursday for the trial in Istanbul of Saudi suspects over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to be halted and transferred to Saudi authorities, a move which comes as Turkey seeks to mend ties with Riyadh.
Khashoggi's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul four years ago triggered a global outcry and put pressure on Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A U.S. intelligence report released a year ago said the prince had approved the operation to kill or capture Khashoggi, but the Saudi government denied any involvement by the crown prince and rejected the report's findings.
Turkish officials said they believe Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the crown prince, was killed and his body dismembered in an operation which President Tayyip Erdogan said had been ordered at the "highest levels" of the Saudi government. The killing and subsequent accusations strained ties between the two regional powers and led to an unofficial Saudi boycott of Turkish goods, which cut Ankara's exports to Riyadh by 90%.
Erdogan now seeks better ties with states which had become bitter rivals in recent years, including Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Israeli and UAE leaders visited Ankara in recent months, but progress with Cairo and Riyadh has been slower. Erdogan said last month he hoped to take "concrete steps" with Riyadh soon.
The Istanbul court where the 26 Saudi suspects have been on trial in absentia for nearly two years said on Thursday it would ask for the Justice Ministry's opinion on the request to transfer proceedings, and set the next hearing for April 7. In 2020, Saudi Arabia jailed eight people for between seven and 20 years for Khashoggi's murder. None of the defendants was named in what rights groups described as a sham trial.
At the time, Ankara said the verdict fell short of expectations, but has since softened its tone as part of the broader attempt to repair ties. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told broadcaster A Haber on Thursday that judicial cooperation between the two countries had improved. Khashoggi's fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who attended the court session, said in a statement later she was "heartbroken" by the prosecutor's request.
"No good will come of sending the case to Saudi Arabia," she said. "We all know the authorities there will do nothing. How do we expect the killers to investigate themselves?" SAUDIS SOUGHT TRANSFER
Last year the Turkish court rejected requests to add the U.S. intelligence assessment of Prince Mohammed's role to the case file. It then asked for details of the Riyadh trial from Saudi authorities to avoid defendants being punished twice. The Turkish prosecutor said Saudi authorities responded by asking for the case be transferred, and pledging to evaluate the accusations against the 26 defendants.
The request should be accepted, the prosecutor said, because the defendants were foreign citizens, the arrest warrants could not be executed and their statements could not be taken, leaving the case in abeyance or suspension. The crown prince told The Atlantic monthly in an article published this month that he felt his own rights had been violated by the accusations against him as any person should be considered innocent until proved guilty.
Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International secretary general, said that Turkey was "betraying" Khashoggi and justice. Callamard was the former U.N. special rapporteur for extrajudicial summary or arbitary executions and carried out the investigation that found Saudi officials "planned and perpetrated" Khashoggi's killing.
"Nothing surprising though," she said on Twitter about the prosecutor's request. "Turkey is after all one of the worse jailers of journalists and cannot be counted on," Callamard said, describing the move as "spineless".
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Saudi king receives new pacemaker battery, leaves hospital - royal court | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985343-turkish-prosecutor-requests-transfer-of-khashoggi-trial-to-saudi-arabia | 2022-03-31T16:18:05 | en | 0.9684 |
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Lebanon's cenbank chief stays away from corruption hearing -state media
A lawyer for Salameh presented a preliminary defence of his client against the charges at Thursday's hearing, the NNA reported. Separately, a judicial source said Investigative Judge Nicolas Mansour set bail of 500 billion Lebanese pounds - roughly $20 million - for Salameh's younger brother Raja, who has been detained since March 17 on charges of helping his brother launder the proceeds of illicit enrichment.
Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salameh on Thursday did not attend a judicial hearing he was summoned to last week after being charged with corruption, and the judge scheduled a new hearing for June, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. Salameh has previously denied the charge of illicit enrichment brought against him on March 21. A lawyer for Salameh presented a preliminary defence of his client against the charges at Thursday's hearing, the NNA reported.
Separately, a judicial source said Investigative Judge Nicolas Mansour set bail of 500 billion Lebanese pounds - roughly $20 million - for Salameh's younger brother Raja, who has been detained since March 17 on charges of helping his brother launder the proceeds of illicit enrichment. A lawyer for Raja Salameh previously has said the charge against his client was unfounded. On Thursday, one of Raja Salameh's lawyers said he had appealed against the "amount of the bail."
Prosecutor Ghada Aoun, who charged the Salameh brothers, appealed against Mansour's decision to allow Raja Salameh to be released on bail, a senior judicial source said, adding that Raja Salameh remained in custody. Lawyer Nizar Saghieh of watchdog NGO Legal Agenda told Reuters that Riad Salameh had the legal right to skip Thursday's session and have his lawyer present a defence.
Riad Salameh did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The governor's wealth is also being investigated in at least five European countries, sparked by a Swiss probe into alleged embezzlement of $330 million at the central bank.
Five European countries, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco and Belgium on Monday froze 120 million euros in assets that German prosecutors said was tied to the embezzlement probe. The 71-year-old has previously attributed his wealth to investments he made while a banker at Merrill Lynch before he became governor in 1993. Salameh's tenure has faced increased scrutiny since Lebanon's 2019 financial implosion.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Lebanon's Fransabank closes all branches after judicial order, source says
Lebanon's Fransabank closes all branches after judicial order, source says
Lebanon Cabinet approves electricity reform plan -Al Jadeed TV | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985345-lebanons-cenbank-chief-stays-away-from-corruption-hearing--state-media | 2022-03-31T16:18:13 | en | 0.976308 |
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UN special envoy on Myanmar meets with ASEAN counterpart
The top UN envoy dealing with the crisis in Myanmar met on Thursday with her counterpart from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to discuss their joint efforts to promote peacemaking in the strife-torn nation.Cambodias Foreign Affairs Ministry said Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn briefed Noeleen Heyzer, the visiting special envoy on Myanmar for the UN secretary-general, about his recent mission to Myanmar in his capacity as ASEAN special envoy.Prak Sokhonn described plans for a consultative meeting on humanitarian assistance for Myanmar in early May, the ministry said in a statement.
The top UN envoy dealing with the crisis in Myanmar met on Thursday with her counterpart from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to discuss their joint efforts to promote peacemaking in the strife-torn nation.
Cambodia's Foreign Affairs Ministry said Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn briefed Noeleen Heyzer, the visiting special envoy on Myanmar for the UN secretary-general, about his recent mission to Myanmar in his capacity as ASEAN special envoy.
Prak Sokhonn described plans for a consultative meeting on humanitarian assistance for Myanmar in early May, the ministry said in a statement. Hundreds of thousands of people in Myanmar have been made homeless by army operations meant to quash opposition to military rule.
Myanmar has been under military rule since February 2021, when its army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The takeover was met with massive resistance, which has since turned into what some UN experts have characterized as civil war.
The United Nations and ASEAN have sought diplomatic solutions to the crisis, but with little to show for their efforts. The UN is hamstrung by the ability of China and Russia, Myanmar's top allies, to veto any serious coordinated action to restrain the generals.
ASEAN's efforts have been virtually ignored by the military government, even though Myanmar belongs to the 10-member regional body.
ASEAN reached a five-point consensus on Myanmar last April. It called for the immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties.
Prak Sokhonn is currently ASEAN's special envoy because Cambodia is the group's chair this year. In January, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen became the first head of government to visit Myanmar since the army seized power.
With no concessions offered by his Myanmar counterpart, Hun Sen expressed pessimism after his return that any progress toward peace could be made this year.
Prak Sokhonn said that during his own March 21-23 visit, he stressed “three urgent priorities, namely: making steps toward ending violence, facilitating the distribution of humanitarian assistance, and building trust and enabling environment.” He also told Heyzer of the challenges he faces, saying the different political actors in Myanmar are not ready for talks and are still strongly determined to continue their struggles, especially through armed struggle, the ministry said. “It is obvious there is no quick fix to problems that are so deeply rooted in the country, in the society, in the mind of people,” it said.
Heyzer did not immediately comment on their meeting.
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7 inmates shot dead, 12 hurt in failed jailbreak in Myanmar | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985360-un-special-envoy-on-myanmar-meets-with-asean-counterpart | 2022-03-31T16:18:21 | en | 0.961295 |
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SC directs Sharad Yadav to vacate his bungalow by May 31
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the former union minister Sharad Yadav to vacate the official bungalow allotted to him as a Member of Parliament in Lutyens Delhi till May 31, 2022.
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- India
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the former union minister Sharad Yadav to vacate the official bungalow allotted to him as a Member of Parliament in Lutyens Delhi till May 31, 2022. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Sanjiv Khanna and Surya Kant granted time till May 31 to Yadav to vacate his bungalow, on humanitarian grounds. It has asked Yadav to furnish an undertaking within a week to the effect that he will vacate the bungalow by then.
The bench said that in the event of failure to submit the undertaking within a week, Yadav will have to vacate the premises immediately in compliance with an order of the Delhi High Court. "Having heard the counsel, we are of the view that the end of justice would be met purely on humanitarian grounds, if the time to vacate the premises is granted to the petitioner under May 31, 2022 subject to his filing an undertaking that he shall vacate on or before the said date. The undertaking shall be filed within a period of one week from today failing which the petitioner shall lose the benefit of this order and would be liable to vacate immediately as per the order of the High Court," the order of the apex court stated.
Yadav, disqualified from Rajya Sabha membership in December 2017, had approached the apex court seeking to retain his bungalow and challenged the Delhi High Court's March 15 order by which it asked him to vacate the government bungalow in 15 days. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Yadav, argued that it may be possible to resolve the matter at this stage if reasonable time is granted to the petitioner to vacate the premises.
He added that having due regard to the fact that Yadav is in serious medical condition at present, he seeks to vacate the premises by May 31, 2022, and would file an undertaking to this effect. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, claimed that for the past 15 days Yadav has been attending public functions.
He said that a week's time may be granted to vacate the premises but at the most, the court can grant time till the end of April. Earlier, the top court had asked the Centre to consider on "humanitarian grounds" plea of Yadav to retain his bungalow, where he has been residing for the last 22 years, till July this year.
It had asked the ASG to take instructions from the government and consider the matter on humanitarian grounds. Earlier, ASG Jain had said the government is facing a shortage of houses for MPs and Ministers, which turned more acute after the expansion of the Cabinet.
Filing the appeal through advocate Javedur Rahman, Yadav in his appeal against the High Court order said that his challenge to the Rajya Sabha Chairperson's decision disqualifying him is still pending before the High Court and that he could not be evicted from the bungalow given his "grave health conditions" till a final decision is rendered by the High Court. Yadav had challenged the High Court which directed him to vacate within 15 days a government bungalow here on the ground that he was disqualified as a Rajya Sabha MP in 2017 and so there can be no justification for retaining it.
It had directed Yadav to hand over the bungalow at 7, Tuqhlak Road to the government within 15 days saying more than four years have elapsed since he was disqualified as an MP. The petition by the 75-year-old Yadav said he is in the "unfortunate position" where he has suffered great prejudice as almost his entire tenure has elapsed without him being able to represent his state in the Rajya Sabha.
Yadav's appeal in the top court stated, "He is not receiving any salary or other perquisites and now his sole residential accommodation where he has been residing for the last 22 years are sought to be taken away without him having had an effective hearing on merits before any judicial authority." His case "deserved sympathetic treatment" on account of his ill health, stated the plea, adding that he has been hospitalised 13 times since July 2020 and was last discharged in February.
It further said, "As such, the impugned order directing relocation will require exertion, stress, and exposure to the general public and place the life of the petitioner in peril.' He said his current term in the Rajya Sabha is expiring on July 7, 2022, at the end of which, he would in any event be required to vacate the residential accommodation. "As such, no grave prejudice would be caused to the Respondents (Centre) if the Petitioner is allowed to continue in his residential accommodation till the end of his term," added the plea.
The plea which, as an interim relief, has sought a stay on the High Court order of March 15, said Yadav has challenged the order of disqualification by way of a writ petition. The petition said Yadav was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha on December 4, 2017, in terms of Paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution for purportedly having given up the membership of his party. Yadav was then an MP of Bihar's ruling JD(U), which had sought his disqualification for attending an opposition rally in Patna.
The High Court order had come on an application filed by the Centre seeking to lift a stay on the vacation of the government bungalow occupied by him in the national capital as he was disqualified as an MP. It had said until and unless Yadav's disqualification is set aside, he has no right to occupy the government accommodation. The High Court had added that the provision of perks, including residential accommodation are provided to the functionaries of the state to enable them to discharge their duties.
Yadav had approached the High Court in 2017 challenging his disqualification from Rajya Sabha on several grounds, including that he was not given any chance to present his views by the House chairman before he passed the order. (ANI)
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Ben Shapiro is making good on a recent pledge.
In the days surrounding corporate Disney’s allergic reaction to new Florida legislation restricting gender and sexual preference instruction from K-3 classrooms, the DailyWire founder casually mentioned that his company would start making kids’ content as an alternative to “woke” Disney.
It wasn’t just a flip comment.
Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boreing, who co-founded the conservative media shingle with Shapiro in 2015, announced Wednesday at a company town hall that it will “invest a minimum of $100 million over the next three years into a line of live-action and animated children’s entertainment on its streaming platform.” He said Daily Wire kids’ content will start appearing in Spring of 2023.
It’s too early for programming details, but Daily Wire said Eric Branscum and Ethan Nicolle of “VeggieTales” and The Babylon Bee will lead kids content development.
“Americans are tired of giving their money to woke corporations who hate them,” Boreing said. “They’re tired of giving their money to woke media companies who want to indoctrinate their children with radical race and gender theory. But they want to do more than just cancel them. They want alternatives. The Daily Wire is giving them those alternatives.”
Boreing teased the town hall topic by tweeting: “The magic has left the kingdom. It’s time to build new things we can believe in.” Video of the entire meeting is below:
Before its passage, Disney chief Bob Chapek initially had a tepid response to what critics call Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill — which passed and was signed earlier this month — then reversed course after a vocal protest and staged walkout by employees. With that, Chapek and Disney adopted a more aggressive opposition stance.
“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law,” read the statement, posted on the Walt Disney Company’s Twitter page March 28. “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to acheive that.”
This is not the first time The Daily Wire has stepped into the middle of a Disney politics-of-culture controversy. When Disney canceled “Mandalorian” star Gina Carano for posting mainstream conservative views on social media, Shapiro announced that Daily Wire was launching into filmmaking — starting with a multi-picture deal with the former MMA star. Their first attempt, “Terror on the Prairie,” releases this summer. | https://www.thewrap.com/ben-shapiros-daily-wire-investing-100-million-kids-content-disney/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:32 | en | 0.96165 |
It's been a weird couple of years for the movie industry. Streamers are winning Oscars, theatrical releases have been in the theaters for very short times (or not at all), and a person actually got slapped onstage at the Academy Awards ceremony.
But movies themselves have been more plentiful than we might have imagined, and the quality of those movies has, in many cases, been top-notch.
How do we know? Because our movie reviewer, Bruce Miller, tells us every week in his Movies in a Minute feature, which is available to you as a subscriber.
In case you missed it, Bruce’s videos from recent weeks have included:
‘Jackass Forever: “If you're a longtime fan of the series, it will seem like a class reunion. Times may have changed, but the people haven't. And sometimes that's just comforting to know."
‘Marry Me’: “Cat Valdez is perfect for Jennifer Lopez. ... it shows all of the essence she wants to project and none of the woman who lives behind it.”
The Oscar for Best Supporting Actress: “The sure thing this year is Ariana Dubose from 'West Side Story'.”
People are also reading…
Bruce has been a longtime movie and TV critic, and his video reviews are quick, informative, and charming. You’ll find his latest, and also his past work, on our movies page.
Don’t forget to look for Movies in a Minute starting Thursday nights on nptelegraph.com
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The family of Bruce Willis announced Wednesday that the actor is stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with the cognitive disorder aphasia, but new reporting suggests that Willis’ health decline was affecting his work on the set of recent films.
In January of 2020 on the set of the film “Hard Kill,” actress Lala Kent told the Los Angeles Times that Willis twice missed his cue to fire a gun. The actress said she asked the film’s director, Matt Eskandari, to remind Willis to say his line before firing the gun, but on two takes Willis fired the gun before delivering the line, taking the actress by surprise. “Because my back was to him, I wasn’t aware of what was happening behind me. But the first time, it was like, ‘No big deal, let’s reset,’” she said.
In recent years, Willis had been making a slew of direct-to-video films, and the director of one of those films – “Out of Death” director Mike Burns – told the LA Times that he was asked to compress Willis’ work in the summer of 2020. “After the first day of working with Bruce, I could see it firsthand and I realized that there was a bigger issue at stake here and why I had been asked to shorten his lines,” Burns told the Los Angeles Times, as he revealed he was tasked with capturing about 25 pages of dialogue for Willis in just one day of filming.
Burns said he was reluctant to direct another Bruce Willis movie, but was assured by one of Willis’ associates that the actor was in a better place. When he showed up on set to start shooting “Wrong Place” in October of 2021, Burns said, “I didn’t think he was better; I thought he was worse … After we finished, I said: ‘I’m done. I’m not going to do any other Bruce Willis movies.’ I am relieved that he is taking time off.”
The LA Times reports that an actor traveling with Willis would feed the actor lines through an earpiece, and most action sequences featuring Willis’ character were shot using a body double.
Aphasia is characterized by the loss of ability to understand or express speech, and “White Elephant” director Jesse V. Johnson told the LA Times that Willis was “not the Bruce I remembered” when they were shooting the film in April of 2021.
Johnson said when he approached the actor’s team with concerns, “they stated that he was happy to be there, but that it would be best if we could finish shooting him by lunch and let him go early.” Johnson was offered the chance to direct two additional movies with Willis, but declined. “We are all Bruce Willis fans, and the arrangement felt wrong and ultimately a rather sad end to an incredible career, one that none of us felt comfortable with.”
The 67-year-old actor’s family made his health problems public on Wednesday, but said his aphasia diagnosis was recent. “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” the statement began. “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.” | https://www.thewrap.com/bruce-willis-gun-firing-lines-cut-aphasia-problems/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:38 | en | 0.990995 |
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Hundreds in U.S. Congress urge Raimondo, Tai to include Taiwan in Indo-Pacific pact
Two hundred members of Congress urged U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to include Taiwan in a proposed Indo-Pacific economic plan, according to a letter seen by Reuters, amid concerns the island claimed by China could be left out. Taiwan has voiced its desire to be a "full member" in the forthcoming Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), one part of the Biden administration's effort to counter what it says is Beijing's increasing economic and military coercion in the region.
Two hundred members of Congress urged U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to include Taiwan in a proposed Indo-Pacific economic plan, according to a letter seen by Reuters, amid concerns the island claimed by China could be left out.
Taiwan has voiced its desire to be a "full member" in the forthcoming Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), one part of the Biden administration's effort to counter what it says is Beijing's increasing economic and military coercion in the region. The administration has said that the still fledgling IPEF aims to be inclusive, but it has not publicly detailed any membership plans. IPEF is intended as a flexible economic framework that would align members on supply chain resiliency, infrastructure, export controls, clean energy and other issues.
Asked during a closed-door meeting with members of the Senate Finance Committee last week if Taiwan would be included in IPEF, Raimondo responded that the administration was not contemplating their inclusion at this time, according to two sources with knowledge of the meeting. The Commerce Department referred a Reuters request for comment on Raimondo's remark to the White House National Security Council, which said: "No decisions have been made on membership. We continue to consult with partners in the region and Congress."
Some analysts argue Taiwan's participation in the plan could make countries in the region hesitant to join for fear of angering Beijing, which opposes the idea as a tool for Washington to try to contain China's rise. "As Taiwan is a major economy in the Indo-Pacific region, we strongly believe that Taiwan should be invited to participate in the IPEF," the representatives, including Republicans Mike McCaul, Liz Cheney, and Elise Stefanik, and Democrats Ted Lieu, Ro Khanna, and Elissa Slotkin, said in a March 30 letter to the two Cabinet officials.
The letter was posted on the official Congress website of Democratic Congressman Albio Sires, who also signed it. Taiwan's de-facto embassy in Washington declined to comment on Raimondo's remark, but a spokesman said: "Regarding IPEF, Taiwan continues to exchange views with the U.S. through existing economic and trade mechanisms and channels."
Tai is due to testify publicly before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985363-hundreds-in-us-congress-urge-raimondo-tai-to-include-taiwan-in-indo-pacific-pact | 2022-03-31T16:18:38 | en | 0.960224 |
Caitlyn Jenner is now a contributor at Fox News. The former Olympian will make her first appearance on “Hannity” Thursday night.
As a contributor, Jenner is expected to offer commentary and analysis for programs across Fox News Media platforms.
“I am humbled by this unique opportunity to speak directly to Fox News Media’s millions of viewers about a range of issues that are important to the American people,” Jenner said in a statement.
In a statement of her own, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said: “Caitlyn’s story is an inspiration to us all. She is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community and her illustrious career spans a variety of fields that will be a tremendous asset for our audience.”
While her role as a contributor is new, Jenner has made various appearances on the network over the last several years. Earlier this month, she discussed transgender athletes on “America Reports.”
Jenner has been a household name for decades.
Prior to joining Fox News, Jenner ran for Governor in California last year during a recall election, however the recall (of Gavin Newsom) failed.
The longtime Republican supported Donald Trump in his 2016 bid for the White House, but publicly split with him in 2017 when he announced he was banning transgender individuals from serving in the Military. Jenner came out as transgender in 2015. | https://www.thewrap.com/caitlyn-jenner-fox-news-contributor/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:44 | en | 0.972426 |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2022 Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/ap-top-business-news-at-950-a-m-edt-16/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:44 | en | 0.82511 |
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app. | https://sportspyder.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/articles/39005792 | 2022-03-31T16:18:47 | en | 0.738227 |
In a competitive situation, Apple Original Films has landed “Project Artemis,” a new film from Apple Studios that will star Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson and will be directed by Jason Bateman.
The original feature is written by Rose Gilroy will be produced for Apple by Apple Studios. In addition to starring, Johansson will serve as producer under her These Pictures banner, and Bateman will direct and produce through Aggregate Films. Jonathan Lia and Keenan Flynn will produce alongside Johansson for These Pictures.
Plot details for “Project Artemis” are being kept under wraps, but it marks an exciting pairing of stars and filmmaker. Evans and Johansson worked together for years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and were originally set to reteam for the Apple romantic comedy actioner “Ghosted” before Johansson had to drop out due to scheduling difficulties. Ana de Armas replaced Johansson in that feature, which is directed by Dexter Fletcher and currently in production.
Evans next stars in the Russo Brothers-directed spy thriller “The Gray Man” for Netflix opposite Ryan Gosling.
Bateman made his feature directorial debut with the 2013 feature “Bad Words” and subsequently helmed the 2015 film “The Family Fang.” Recently he’s been directing a bevy of episodes of his Netflix series “Ozark,” for which he won an Emmy awrd for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in 2019. He also directed and starred in the initial episodes of the HBO miniseries “The Outsider,” more than proving he’s an exciting and adept filmmaker in his own right.
Apple is coming off its historic Best Picture win for “CODA,” which it acquired out of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. | https://www.thewrap.com/chris-evans-scarlett-johansson-jason-bateman-project-artemis-apple-movie/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:50 | en | 0.964166 |
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2022 Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/ap-top-business-news-at-959-a-m-edt-17/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:50 | en | 0.82511 |
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app. | https://sportspyder.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/articles/39006423 | 2022-03-31T16:18:53 | en | 0.738227 |
Reports that man pursued in Lille is armed with gun are wrong - police
- Country:
- France
French police said on Thursday that reports that a man who was being pursued by police in Lille, northern France, was armed with a gun are wrong.
La Voix du Nord newspaper initially reported that a police operation followed reports of a man armed with a Kalashnikov rifle. It later said the weapon was believed to be a fake.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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- Nord
- Kalashnikov
- France
- Lille
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Advertisement | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985365-reports-that-man-pursued-in-lille-is-armed-with-gun-are-wrong---police | 2022-03-31T16:18:51 | en | 0.981184 |
CNN+ is diving into the Jussie Smollett case in a new documentary that will explore the events leading up to the actor’s conviction for lying to police about a 2019 attack.
“Chicago vs. Jussie Smollett” will be the first of the platform’s new FLASHDoc series, a documentary unit exploring timely and topical pop culture stories. Each documentary will be a standalone. Along with the announcement of project, CNN+ also released a trailer, which you can watch above.
Smollett, who is Black and gay, claimed he was assaulted on the streets of Chicago after making a Subway sandwich run in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2019. Earlier this month, he was convicted of lying to police about the attack. However, Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout the three-year ordeal. Though he was sentenced to five months in jail for the conviction, he has already been released pending his appeal.
The logline for the documentary says Smollett’s name “has become synonymous with a hoax that underscored the larger cacophony of racism, homophobia, and political fissures in America.”
“But behind the former ‘Empire’ star’s stranger-than-fiction saga is a rarely discussed character: the city of Chicago, which had been undergoing its own racial reckoning surrounding the 2014 murder of Laquan McDonald and subsequent coverup,” the description continues. “The Smollett incident pulled Chicago – and its justice system – into a whirlwind of closed-door decisions, pointed fingers, and unanswered questions about crime, punishment, and revenge just as the distrust in law and order was rising to crescendo.”
The documentary is expected to feature never-before-broadcast footage from the night of the alleged attack, as well as the interrogation-room confession by the Osundairo brothers that ultimately led to the charges against Smollett.
Interviews with key figures from the investigation will also be included. Some of those interviews are: Smollett’s brothers, JoJo and Jocqui Smollett; Eddie T. Johnson, former superintendent of the Chicago police department; Kim Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney; Dan Webb, special prosecutor; and Tamara Walker and Heather Widell, defense attorneys for Smollett.
“This film offers a provocative and nuanced perspective of a saga that for three years has dominated headlines like no other story,” Eric Johnson, Executive Producer, Program Development for CNN, said in a statement. “Everyone knows something about this story, but our film explores how the frenzy surrounding Smollett exposed historic fault lines within Chicago’s politics, ultimately leading to infighting, media gamesmanship and the question of justice versus revenge.”
Johnson executive produces. Emily Taguchi serves as supervising producer. “Chicago vs. Jussie Smollett” will debut on CNN+ Friday. | https://www.thewrap.com/cnn-jussie-smollett-case-documentary/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:56 | en | 0.960496 |
By ZEKE MILLER and JOSH BOAK
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve, according to two people familiar with the decision, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies have imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement could come as soon as Thursday, when the White House says Biden is planning to deliver remarks on his administration’s plans to combat rising gas prices. The duration of the release hasn’t been finalized but could last for several months. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the decision.
High oil prices have not coaxed more production, creating a challenge for Biden. The Democratic president has seen his popularity sink as inflation reached a 40-year high in February and the cost of petroleum and gasoline climbed after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The markets reacted quickly to the likely release from the strategic reserve with crude oil prices dropping 6% on Thursday morning to roughly $101 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago as supplies have not kept up with demand as the world economy began to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of the country’s usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.
Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve “capital discipline” amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.
The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.
The Biden administration in November announced the release of 50 million barrels from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.
According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25.
News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.
___
Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/biden-planning-to-tap-oil-reserve-to-control-gas-prices-7/ | 2022-03-31T16:18:56 | en | 0.968599 |
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app. | https://sportspyder.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/articles/39006819 | 2022-03-31T16:18:59 | en | 0.738227 |
Even Michael Bay admits that yes, he should have stopped making “Transformers” movies.
The blockbuster filmmaker was hand selected by producer Steven Spielberg to bring the Hasbro toy line to life with 2007’s “Transformers,” and then he ended up directing four additional sequels. The franchise hit a nadir with 2017’s “Transformers: The Last Knight,” which grossed $500 million less than the previous installment (2014’s “Age of Extinction”) and effectively put the series on ice.
“I made too many of them,” Bay admitted to Unilad UK in a recent interview. “Steven Spielberg said, ‘Just stop at three.’ And I said I’d stop. The studio begged me to do a fourth, and then that made a billion, too. And then I said I’m gonna stop here. And they begged me again. I should have stopped. [But] they were fun to do.”
Bay peppered in other projects in between “Transformers” movies like 2013’s dark comedy “Pain & Gain” and 2016’s war film “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”
Paramount Pictures tried a spinoff route with the “Transformers” franchise with 2018’s prequel “Bumblebee,” which starred Hailee Steinfeld and was made on a smaller scale. That film grossed $468 million worldwide.
Currently the franchise is being somewhat rebooted with “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” which stars Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback and is directed by Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”). The film is another prequel, this time set in 1994 Brooklyn, and is due for release in June 2023.
Bay, meanwhile, most recently directed the Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II-led actioner “Ambulance” which opens in theaters this weekend. After “The Last Knight,” he made his first Netflix movie with 2019’s “6 Underground.” | https://www.thewrap.com/michael-bay-too-many-transformers-movies-steven-spielberg/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:03 | en | 0.96538 |
DULUTH, Minn. — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Spar has arrived at its new home port in Minnesota after undergoing a year of maintenance. The arrival Wednesday in Duluth comes as members of Congress are pushing for another heavy icebreaker on the Great Lakes. Spar was built in Marinette, Wisconsin, and replaces Alder, which left the port last summer. Spar will break up ice for vessels on Lake Superior and northern Lake Michigan. On its journey to Duluth, Lt. Cmdr. Joel Wright said his crew encountered thick ice in Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior as well as ships stuck in ice.
For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Wisconsin Public Radio. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/coast-guard-cutter-arrives-at-new-home-port-in-minnesota/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:03 | en | 0.962582 |
CNS presents Best Marching Contingent Trophy for Republic Day Parade- 2022
Whilst a joint winner with the IAF 2013, this is the first time that the Indian Navy contingent has been adjudged as the winner by a panel of judges comprising of senior retired officers from each of the three Services.
- Country:
- India
Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff presented the Best Marching Contingent Trophy for Republic Day Parade- 2022 to personnel of the Naval Contingent on 31 Mar 22.
Whilst a joint winner with the IAF 2013, this is the first time that the Indian Navy contingent has been adjudged as the winner by a panel of judges comprising senior retired officers from each of the three Services.
The contingent was led by Lt Cdr Aanchal Sharma with Lt Shubham Sharma, SLt Suryakant, and SLt Avantika as platoon commanders and comprised 96 young sailors. The composite Naval Band of 72 personnel was led by Vincent Johnson MCPO I Musician (Hon SLt).
The trophy was received by the Contingent Commanders and Gunnery Instructors in presence of CO, INS India, and CO, INS Chilka who were instrumental in training the contingent.
(With Inputs from PIB)
- READ MORE ON:
- Republic Day Parade
- Indian Navy
- R Hari Kumar
- Aanchal Sharma | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985371-cns-presents-best-marching-contingent-trophy-for-republic-day-parade--2022 | 2022-03-31T16:19:03 | en | 0.964885 |
NBCUniversal is developing a fictional series based on the beind-the-scenes goings on in wrestling culture with producers from the WWE. It’s titled “Pinned.”
The show is being described as an “adrenalized upstairs-downstairs soap that gives a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional wrestling promotion and the unforgettable characters that populate it,” per NBCU. “‘Pinned’ offers a front-row seat into the eccentric wrestling culture and the mayhem that exists between the locker room and the boardroom.”
NBCU hasn’t landed on a platform for the show, which comes from the UCP studio branch of the company.
Craig O’Neil is writer and executive producer. Tom Rinaldi also executive produces.
Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn and Chris Kaiser are EPs for WWE.
“Pinned” is the second show with WWE involvement to make big news this week. On Wednesday, Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster were announced as co-showrunners of “The United States of America Vs. Vince McMahon.” The McMahon show is set in the ’90s and focuses on when the WWE boss was “indicted by the U.S. government for allegedly supplying anabolic steroids to WWE talent, stood trial after refusing to take a plea, but was unanimously acquitted by the jury,” per the logline from WWE and Blumhouse.”
The McMahon series is from WWE and Blumhouse Television. | https://www.thewrap.com/nbc-wrestling-series-pinned-wwe/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:09 | en | 0.965577 |
By ED WHITE
Associated Press
One of the four men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is testifying in his own defense. Thursday’s testimony comes a day after prosecutors rested their case and the trial moved closer to the finish line in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Twenty-four-year-old Daniel Harris is from suburban Detroit. Harris began explaining his brief time in Marines after graduating from high school. Harris, Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home in 2020 in response to tough COVID-19 restrictions and disgust with government. Defense attorneys claim the group was engaged in a lot of crazy talk but no conspiracy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/defendant-takes-witness-stand-in-gov-whitmer-kidnap-trial-2/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:09 | en | 0.956112 |
Burkina Faso minister: 36 months "realistic" for transition to democracy
Burkina Faso's foreign minister said on Thursday a 36-month period of transition to democracy proposed by the country's military junta was "realistic" given its stated objective to restore security to the country.
"It is a realistic period," said Olivia Rouamba, who was appointed by the junta.
West African regional bloc ECOWAS had called on the junta to shorten the transition period or risk sanctions.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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- West African
- junta
- Burkina Faso's
- ECOWAS
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West African court orders lifting of some sanctions against Mali | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985373-burkina-faso-minister-36-months-realistic-for-transition-to-democracy | 2022-03-31T16:19:11 | en | 0.939031 |
The Razzie Awards have reversed their decision to stand by their “Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in 2021” award. “After much thought and consideration, the Razzies have made the decision to rescind the Razzie Award given to Bruce Willis, due to his recently disclosed diagnosis,” a statement by co-founders John Wilson and Mo Murphy says.
“If someone’s medical condition is a factor in their decision making and/or their performance, we acknowledge that it is not appropriate to give them a Razzie.” Willis’ family announced on Wednesday that the actor had been diagnosed with the cognitive disorder aphasia and was stepping away from acting.
The Razzie Awards came under fire on Wednesday for refusing to rescind the special award for Willis, and for making an inflammatory Tweet. “The Razzies are truly sorry for #BruceWillis diagnosed condition,” the parody awards ceremony wrote on Twitter. “Perhaps this explains why he wanted to go out with a bang in 2021. Our best wishes to Bruce and family.”
What a difference a day makes.
In addition, the organization took the opportunity to rescind another previous nomination – Worst Actress for Shelley Duvall in “The Shining.”
“As we recently mentioned in a Vulture Interview, extenuating circumstances also apply to Shelley Duvall in ‘The Shining.’ We have since discovered that Duvall’s performance was impacted by Stanley Kubrick’s treatment of her throughout the production. We would like to take this opportunity to rescind that nomination as well.”
Murphy said in February that she would take back Duvall’s nomination if given the chance. “Knowing the backstory and the way that Stanley Kubrick kind of pulverized her, I would take that back.” | https://www.thewrap.com/razzie-awards-rescind-bruce-willis-award-shelley-duvall-nomination/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:15 | en | 0.977987 |
BERLIN (AP) — The operator of Frankfurt Airport said Thursday that it is selling its minority stake in China’s Xi’an Airport after failing to expand its business in the huge Chinese market.
Fraport AG said it is selling its 24.5% stake in the airport’s operating company to Chang’an Huitong Co. Ltd. for 1.11 billion yuan ($175 million).
CEO Stefan Schulte said Xi’an “gave us an opportunity to showcase our expertise in airport management,” with passenger numbers more than quadrupling to over 40 million per year over the 14 years since Fraport acquired its stake.
“We always regarded our minority stake in Xi’an as a starting point for expanding our business in China,” Schulte said in a statement.
“However, this never materialized in Xi’an or at any other Chinese airport,” he added. “Consequently, we have now decided to cease our activities in the Chinese market.”
Fraport said the Xi’an operating company, Xi’an Xianyang International Airport Co. Ltd., expects the transaction to be concluded during the second quarter.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/frankfurt-airport-owner-sells-stake-in-chinas-xian-airport/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:15 | en | 0.943711 |
Journalist moves Delhi HC challenging ED's decision of not allowing her to travel abroad
Journalist Rana Ayyub on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court challenging the Enforcement Directorate's decision of not allowing her to travel abroad and being stopped at the airport on her way to London.
- Country:
- India
Journalist Rana Ayyub on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court challenging the Enforcement Directorate's decision of not allowing her to travel abroad and being stopped at the airport on her way to London. The journalist sought directions from the court to enable her to travel out of India. She also sought quashing of lookout circular issued against her, if any.
Rana Ayyub's lawyer mentions the matter on Thursday before the bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi stated that She was stopped at the Airport from flying to London as she is accused in an alleged money laundering case, which is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The matter is likely to come up for hearing on Friday (tomorrow).
The plea states that, on March 29, 2022, the petitioner arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to board an Air India flight to London, Heathrow, scheduled to depart at 14:25 hours, to attend events about the global problem of cyber attacks on women journalists, as well as to deliver a keynote speech on the status of journalism in India. However, at around 12 noon, the Petitioner was detained in a room adjacent to the immigration counter, and she was informed that the immigration officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs were seeking clarifications regarding some "remark" on the Petitioner's file.
The petitioner was then informed, over the course of the next hour, that the officers of MHA have instructions from the Enforcement Directorate to not allow the Petitioner to board her flight to London, and the immigration stamp on her passport was stamped as "Cancelled", plea alleges. Petitioner Journalist alleges that she has been harassed, humiliated, and insulted by the mala fide action of the Respondents, and the organisers of the journalist events in London and Italy have also suffered losses and experienced grave inconvenience and disturbance due to the arbitrary detention of the Petitioner at the airport on March 29, 2022.
The petitioner is required professionally to frequently travel across the globe, and unreasonable, arbitrary, and mala fide restrictions on such travel is a direct violation of the Petitioner's right to free speech and expression, and right to practice her profession, as a member of the global and national media fraternity, plea read. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985382-journalist-moves-delhi-hc-challenging-eds-decision-of-not-allowing-her-to-travel-abroad | 2022-03-31T16:19:19 | en | 0.973529 |
By HALELUYA HADERO
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — An independent group formed by former and current Amazon workers is trying to organize a company warehouse in New York City, a David and Goliath scenario that could lead to the retail giant’s first unionized facility in the U.S.
Workers at an Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island will determine whether or not they want to form a union, with the vote count expected to begin as soon as Thursday.
The count for a separate worker organizing effort is expected to begin as soon as Thursday in Alabama, where the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union faces a tough challenge in a re-do election to unionize Amazon workers in the city of Bessemer. The union said that election had a turnout rate of about 39%, with only 2,375 of the nearly 6,100 eligible workers voting through mail-in ballots.
In New York, the nascent Amazon Labor Union has led the charge in a fierce labor fight, where the nation’s second-largest private employer has made every effort to fend off labor organizers and Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon employee who now leads the fledging group.
The warehouse in Staten Island employs more than 8,300 workers, who pack and ship supplies to customers based mostly in the northeast. A labor win is considered an uphill battle. But organizers believe their grassroots approach is more relatable to workers and could help them overcome where established unions have failed in the past.
Meanwhile, Amazon has pushed back hard. The retail giant held mandatory meetings, where workers were told unions are a bad idea. The company also launched an anti-union website targeting workers and placed English and Spanish posters across the Staten Island facility urging them to reject the union.
New York is more labor-friendly than Alabama, where the other union election is being held. But some experts believe that won’t make much of a difference in the outcome of the Staten Island election, citing federal labor laws that favor employers, and Amazon’s anti-union stance.
“The employer is the same, and that’s the key thing,” said Ruth Milkman, a sociologist of labor and labor movements at the City University of New York. “Amazon is resisting this with everything it’s got.”
The ALU said they don’t have a demographic breakdown of the warehouse workers in Staten Island and Amazon declined to provide the information to The Associated Press, citing the union vote. Internal records leaked to The New York Times from 2019 showed more than 60% of the hourly associates at the facility were Black or Latino, while most of managers were white or Asian. But it’s unclear how the facility’s high turnover rate may have shifted things.
Amazon workers often travel from across the New York metro area by subway and then take a 40-minute long public bus ride to get to the warehouse. At a nearby bus stop, organizers have put up signs encouraging workers to vote in favor of the union. “WE’RE NOT MACHINES WE’RE HUMAN BEINGS,” one reads, a nod to worker complaints about long shifts and the company’s “time off task” tool that dings employees for taking too many breaks.
Among other things, Staten Island workers are seeking longer breaks, paid time off for injured employees and an hourly wage of $30, up from a minimum of just over $18 per hour offered by the company. A spokesperson for Amazon said the company invests in wages and benefits, such as health care, 401(k) plans and a prepaid college tuition program to help grow workers’ careers.
“As a company, we don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”
ALU organizers say they’re optimistic about their chances at pulling off a win, but challenges remain.
To hold the election, organizers collected signatures from about 30% of eligible voters, which is the legal threshold. Typically, unions attempt to secure support from 60% or more of eligible workers before filing for an election. This is done to buffer any loss of support that might happen when employers ramp up efforts to persuade workers not to unionize.
Connor Spence, ALU’s vice president of membership, said organizers chose not to pursue that strategy because of high turnover.
“That strategy only works at smaller companies with lower turnover,” Spence said.
ALU also lacks official backing from major unions, which are traditionally well-staffed and well-financed. Smalls, the leader, said his group has spent $100,000 it raised since it formed last year. As of early March, he said it had only about $3,000 left in its account and was operating on a week-to-week budget.
Unite Here, an international union representing workers in hospitality and other industries, and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, a separate union affiliated with RWDSU, have pitched in and given organizers office space, additional volunteers and a lawyer to help with legal filings. Local community groups have also been reaching out to workers, making art for the ALU and raising money. As the election neared, organizers put together a potluck that fed up to 400 workers and held a rally to drive more enthusiasm.
Pro-union employees also ramped up efforts. Michelle Valentin Nieves, a warehouse employee, says she’d been quietly supporting the union push but around the time the ALU secured an election, she decided to be more public, staying late after her shifts to hand out pro-union flyers. She said her organizing was met with hostility by some Amazon managers.
“I get the death stares,” said Nieves. “Some people have just stopped speaking to me.”
Already, organizers have filed several complaints with the NLRB against the company, citing unfair labor practices, including surveillance of pro-union employees.
Other warehouse workers like 22-year-old Elijah Ramos said they planned to vote against the union, doubting the ALU can get Amazon to agree to higher wages and other benefits. Ramos said he believes organizers don’t have enough experience to represent him.
Although he thinks a union could bring good things, Ramos said it also might constantly butt heads with the company and create more complications.
“It’s better to deal with what we have now than to deal with something where we don’t know what they’re going to do,” he said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/grassroots-labor-group-takes-on-amazon-in-nyc-union-fight-3/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:21 | en | 0.969221 |
Seth Meyers is pretty sure that U.S. House members aren’t actually doing cocaine regularly and having orgies, as Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn alleged they are earlier this week. But that’s mostly because Meyers doesn’t think they’re physically or mentally capable.
On Monday, Cawthorn claimed in an interview that since arriving in Washington, he’s been invited to orgies by fellow Republicans, some of whom who did cocaine in front of him. And while late night host Stephen Colbert has some ideas on who Cawthorn was referring to, Seth Meyers was skeptical.
“Come on man, you really expect us to believe that Congress could plan and execute an orgy?” Meyers joked. “At best, I could see them announcing an exploratory committee that would begin to investigate the feasibility of an orgy at a later date. And then it would grind to a halt, because one faction would say they wouldn’t go unless the orgy was carbon neutral. And then Joe Manchin would say he’s only gonna vote for the orgy if there was money for coal in it.”
You can watch Meyers’ full thoughts on Cawthorn’s claims in the video here and above.
Meyers then admitted that, if Cawthorn’s claims are actually true, he would probably be impressed.
“Also, I got to say, if they were having orgies and doing cocaine, I would actually find that impressive,” he added. “I mean they’re all 70 and 80 years old. If you told me Chuck Grassley was snorting blow and boning nonstop, I’d be like ‘Damn! Maybe he’s more with it than I thought.’ Also, Chuck Grassley, just gonna say it, pretty good name for an adult film star.”
That said, Meyers added that he definitely doesn’t want Cawthorn to name names, because “all those names go with faces we know.”
Joking aside, Meyers did take a moment to point out just how odd the claims are.
“This is truly an amazing turn in the evolution of the Republican party,” he said. “They whipped up their base into believing crazy s—, that base then elected a bunch of crazy people who believe that crazy s—, and now those crazy people are accusing their fellow Republicans of engaging in wild, drug-fueled sex parties. This whole group of pro-Trump toadies is just so weird and loathsome.” | https://www.thewrap.com/seth-meyers-mocks-cawthorns-cocaine-and-orgies-claim-i-would-actually-find-that-impressive-video/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:21 | en | 0.972181 |
El Salvador's central bank cuts 2022 growth forecast to 3.2% from 4%
- Country:
- Argentina
El Salvador's central bank reduced on Thursday its economic growth forecast for 2022 to 3.2% from 4%.
Douglas Rodriguez, president of the central bank, cited the increase of raw material prices and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict as factors for the changes.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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- Ukraine
- Russia
- El Salvador's
Advertisement | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985388-el-salvadors-central-bank-cuts-2022-growth-forecast-to-32-from-4 | 2022-03-31T16:19:26 | en | 0.906273 |
Apple released two first-look photos on Thursday of Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser in the psychological thriller “Black Bird.”
The six-episode series, which is developed and executive produced by “Mystic River” author Dennis Lehane, will premiere the first two episodes globally on Friday, July 8, with a new episode available each Friday. It’s is adapted from the true crime memoir “In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption” by James Keene and Hillel Levin.
Egerton stars as Jimmy Keene, a high school football hero and decorated policeman’s son who’s convicted of dealing drugs. When he’s sentenced to 10 years in a minimum security prison, he is given a choice: enter a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Hauser), or serve his full sentence with no possibility of parole. Keene opts to try to get Hall to confess where he buried the bodies of several young girls before his appeal goes through, but Keene has no idea if what Hall tells him is the truth.
Get a glimpse of what that’s like in the image at the top of the page, and immediately below:
The ensemble cast includes Sepideh Moafi, Greg Kinnear and Ray Liotta.
The first three episodes are directed by Michaël R. Roskam, who also serves as executive producer. Lehane, Egerton and Roskam executive produce alongside Richard Plepler through his EDEN Productions; Bradley Thomas, Dan Friedkin and Ryan Friedkin executive produce through Imperative Entertainment; Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert executive produce through EMJAG Productions; and Kary Antholis also executive produces, along with the book’s author James Keene. Jim McKay and Joe Chappelle also direct. The limited series is produced for Apple TV+ by Apple Studios. | https://www.thewrap.com/taron-egerton-and-paul-walter-hauser-face-off-in-first-look-photos-for-apples-black-bird/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:28 | en | 0.950891 |
ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi said Thursday that he had received assurances from Russia’s leader that Europe would not have to pay for natural gas in rubles as demanded, similar to pledges that Germany received, and diffused fears that Moscow would cut off supplies that are used for heating and electricity.
Draghi said Russian President Vladimir Putin assured him during a 40-minute phone call Wednesday evening that “existing contracts remain in force. … European companies will continue to pay in dollars and euros.”
Putin announced last week that Russia will demand “unfriendly” countries pay for natural gas only in Russian currency, instructing the central bank to work out a procedure for buyers to acquire rubles in Russia. That sent already high gas prices even higher amid fears it could be a prelude to a natural gas shutoff, which could disrupt Europe’s economy and hurt Russia’s finances. The Group of Seven major economies, including Italy and Germany, agreed to reject the demand.
The Italian leader indicated that Russia still had a desire for payments in rubles but that it might handle the currency conversion. Draghi said Putin gave a lengthy explanation of how to both maintain the payments in euros in dollars while satisfying Russia’s “indication of payments in rubles.’’
Draghi said he referred the discussion to experts and that analysis was underway “to understand what it means,” including whether “European companies can continue to pay as foreseen, if this means something for the ongoing sanctions.”
“The feeling is one I have had since the beginning, that it is absolutely not simple to change the currency of payments without violating the contracts,” Draghi said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz received similar assurances from Putin on Wednesday evening. Scholz had asked for further details of the process, which involves payments to a Russian bank not subjected to sanctions, his office said.
Italy’s Draghi also told the foreign press corps that Europe is pushing for a cap on gas prices with Russia, saying its payments are funding the war in Ukraine and the prices being paid by Europe are out of line with the global market.
“We — Germany and Italy, along with other countries that are importers of gas, coal, grains, corn — are financing the war. There is no doubt,’’ Draghi said. “For this reason, Italy along with other countries, are pushing for a cap on the price of gas. There is no substantial reason that the price of gas is so high for Europeans.”
Draghi noted that Russia has no other market for its gas, giving Europe room to maneuver. Asked about the risk that Russia would respond by turning off the taps, Draghi said, “no there is no danger.”
The prospect of continued gas deliveries in exchange for euros drew a cautious welcome from German industry.
“It’s good news at least in the short term, because Russian gas deliveries can’t be replaced in the short term,” Achim Dercks, the deputy managing director of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told RBB24 Inforadio on Thursday.
He noted that companies are concerned that any cutoff would affect industry in particular, “but ultimately that would have severe economic effects for us all.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/italy-russia-wont-seek-payment-in-rubles-for-natural-gas-2/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:27 | en | 0.974019 |
”His brand is permanently tarnished,“ one top talent agent said
Will Smith’s status as one of the world’s biggest movie stars is likely to take a significant hit in the wake of his slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, Hollywood experts said, even if he continues to find work and appeal to his fans.
“I think he’s mortally wounded,” one top talent agent told TheWrap of the Smith fallout, calling the onstage assault and his subsequent speech in accepting the Best Actor Oscar an “almost unbelievable level of narcissism.”
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A second talent agent agreed. “He just cost himself a premium,” the agent told TheWrap. “His brand is permanently tarnished.”
What went from a shocking TV moment-turned-meme has now become a full-blown crisis for the newly minted Oscar winner. The public has not been shy in calling Smith’s slap what it is — an assault — and he has now drawn stiff rebuke from other stars and top Hollywood players, suggesting potentially serious consequences for his career.
The first big test of Smith’s perceived star status will be Antoine Fuqua’s “Emancipation,” a runaway-slave drama starring Smith that Apple Studios bought for $120 million. The film, currently in postproduction, was expected to be released later this year as a likely Oscar contender. But Apple may decide to hold the movie depending on if the Academy chooses to suspend or expel Smith. (A rep for Apple did not respond to a request for comment.)
But may top Hollywood agents and producers are not terribly optimistic about Smith’s near-term prospects to bounce back from this very public misstep — especially given his recent track record at the box office.
Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock noted that prior to the Oscars, Smith was already seeing his box office returns follow “the typical trajectory of an aging movie star.” Without a consistent franchise like Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible” to support him, Smith was appearing in films like the panned Netflix sci-fi thriller “Bright” and Paramount’s 2019 box office bomb “Gemini Man,” which got a tentpole-level marketing spend on top of its $138 million budget but only grossed $175 million worldwide.
The exceptions to Smith’s box office decline came from IP-driven films either from his past or from the Disney behemoth, with the 2019 remake of “Aladdin” starring Smith as Genie topping $1 billion worldwide. And just before the pandemic in January 2020, Smith’s “Bad Boys for Life” grossed $206 million domestic and $426.5 million worldwide for Sony Pictures, standing only behind “American Sniper” as the second-highest grossing January release in box office history.
One producer behind studio franchises said that Smith will still find work at the studio level, but wondered if his biggest franchises are behind him. The producer noted that Tom Cruise managed to bounce back from the public relations disaster when he manically jumped on Oprah Winfrey’s couch in 2005, but that same path may not be available for Smith.
“Post-couch jumping incident, Tom Cruise had a solid, guaranteed successful ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise with the four films in that franchise that followed the incident,” the producer said. “None of Smith’s franchises are nearly as solid. ‘Men in Black’ didn’t come back after the last one.”
Another agent said Smith has opened the door for other actors to fill what would’ve been his roles.
“This just became his Tom Cruise/Mel Gibson moment, where he’s always going to be a star, but he just went from A+ to A and gave people like Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Tom Holland a clearer lane,” this agent said.
A-list movie stars like Smith command huge salaries — Smith earned $20 million for “Aladdin” in 2019, and $17 million for “Bad Boys For Life” in 2020 — and are expected to deliver massive box office to justify those salaries. According to box office database The Numbers, Smith’s lifetime box office grosses is $6.5 billion worldwide in 29 films.
Some crisis PR experts told TheWrap they were more optimistic about Smith’s prospects, even while arguing that his reputation has changed overnight. Though Smith took nearly a full day after the Oscars to publicly apologize to Rock, they called his apology “well done” and something that “checked the boxes” for a response to a scandal such as this.
“He’s unquestionably a very talented entertainer and actor, and he’s built a whole lot of good will throughout his career, so people are going to be open to forgiving him and redeeming himself,” Evan Nierman, founder of Red Banyan crisis PR firm said. “He is going to work again, he’s going to continue to get acting jobs, and if he handles himself properly in the coming weeks and months, this will be a stain on his career, but it’s one that will be surmountable, and his future still looks bright.”
Nierman added: “He’s not going to get canceled because of what happened at the Oscars that night. Because Will Smith is too big to fail.”
Mark Macias, owner of Macias PR and a crisis consultant, noted that Smith had done irreparable damage to his public image — and make it less likely for him to be cast in certain kinds of projects. “This is going to be sticking in front of people for a long time,” he said. “I can’t get over how quickly he ruined his reputation. He was always speaking about love.”
Beyond “Emancipation,” Smith is attached to sequels to both Netflix’s “Bright” and Sony’s “Bad Boys for Life,” neither of which have shooting scripts, as well as an STX project from David Leitch called “Fast & Loose.”
Other projects are even earlier in the development process, including a movie that his Westbrook Entertainment is producing at Sony’s Screen Gems about his song “Summertime” and the just-announced “I Am Legend” sequel for Warner Bros. with Michael B. Jordan attached.
“Other than ‘Bad Boys 4,’ I think those will all die,” the first agent told TheWrap of Smith’s list of upcoming projects. “The key to any movie star, regardless of era, gender, race, etc. is that the audience finds them relatable and in some sense, that they want to be the star. I think that is no longer possible with Smith.”
Still, the agent noted that Smith could follow a path similar to Gibson’s in seeking out non-studio projects. “He’s going to continue to work, but more in the foreign sales model,” the agent said.
What about Smith’s business dealings? In January, Smith’s Westbrook Inc. landed a $600 million valuation and sold a minority stake to Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs’ media company Candle Media — an investment that may have been hurt by Smith’s current career prospects. While Smith has been attached to many of the company’s hits, Overbrook has also produced dramatic reboot Peacock’s “Bel Air,” Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” and the YA “To All the Boys” film franchise that are less tied to Smith’s personal brand.
One talent manager told TheWrap: “It definitely hurt the Westbrook value and that capital raise won’t be worth the same. That valuation is based on a clean image, and that’s not the same anymore.”
A rep for Candle Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While some argue it’s too early to tell how Smith’s company on the whole might be impacted, others say he’ll have a hard time setting up new projects for at least the next few months as he works to rehabilitate his image.
“I’m not giving Westbrook any projects. And I may even blow up the ones that I have that are currently in negotiations. What’s Westbrook without Will? Nothing,” one agent told TheWrap. “I think he’s not setting up many — if any — new projects at least until the fall.”
Bock was more optimistic about Smith’s long-term prospects, particularly in familiar franchise projects. “There’s still enough of a widespread interest to see Smith in another ‘Bad Boys’ film or another ‘I Am Legend’ for studios to move forward on those projects, though they might wait a little longer before moving it into active development,” he said. “At least for the next six months or so, Smith’s going to go on an apology tour all over Hollywood, but I could see in a couple years a lot of moviegoers deciding to let it go if the trailers start coming out for ‘Bad Boys 4.'”
And as part of that comeback effort, many expect Smith to do a sit-down with someone like Oprah Winfrey as part of the long tradition of regaining public acceptance. It’s widely expected that he’ll address the issue on his own turf with wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk” show on Facebook Watch. (Reps for Smith did not respond to requests for comment.)
Any rehabilitation efforts may have to wait until after the Academy determines what disciplinary measures it will take against the star, a process that the organization said on Tuesday could take “a few weeks.” That may prolong the coverage and commentary on the slap, as everyone from Oscars hosts Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer to stars like Jim Carrey and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar have now condemned his actions.
“If I were advising him, I would get him on TV as soon as possible to create new images of Will Smith on film,” Nierman said. “He’s going to have to come prepared and humble himself and show people that he truly regrets what he did.”
Jeremy Fuster contributed to this report. | https://www.thewrap.com/will-smith-career-future-oscars-slap/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:34 | en | 0.967827 |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Man charged in Michigan Gov. Whitmer kidnapping plot takes stand, repeatedly denies role in any conspiracy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/man-charged-in-michigan-gov-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-takes-stand-repeatedly-denies-role-in-any-conspiracy/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:34 | en | 0.823518 |
Will give permission to re-open Nizamuddin Markaz for Ramzan: Delhi Police to HC
The Delhi Police on Thursday informed the Delhi High Court that it will give permission for the reopening of Nizamuddin Markaz to enable devotees to offer prayers during Ramzan after it remained shut since March 2020 when a Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The Delhi Police lawyer said this before Justice Jasmeet Singh, who will hear on April 1 the application by Delhi Waqf Board seeking to open the mosque during Shab-e-Barat and Ramzan.
- Country:
- India
The Delhi Police on Thursday informed the Delhi High Court that it will give permission for the reopening of Nizamuddin Markaz to enable devotees to offer prayers during Ramzan after it remained shut since March 2020 when a Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Delhi Police lawyer said this before Justice Jasmeet Singh, who will hear on April 1 the application by Delhi Waqf Board seeking to open the mosque during Shab-e-Barat and Ramzan. The application was filed in the Board's 2021 petition which sought the reopening of the premises on the ground that even after unlock-1 guidelines permitted religious places outside containment zones to be opened, the Markaz -- comprising the Masjid Bangle Wali, Madarsa Kashif-ul-Uloom, and attached hostel -- continues to be locked up.
On March 16, the high court had allowed the reopening of three floors of Nizamuddin Markaz for Shab-e-Barat subject to various conditions. The high court had earlier asked the petitioner, represented through advocate Waqeeh Shafiq, to file an application before the SHO of Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station seeking permission to open the other three floors of Nizamuddin Markaz to enable devotees to offer prayers during the two occasions. In a letter addressed to the petitioner, the Delhi Police said that opening of the mosque would be permitted on the same terms and conditions which were laid down by the high court while permitting offering of prayers there for the occasion of Shab-e-Barat. In the communication, the police also asked the Board to re-install missing CCTV cameras at the entrance of the premises and put up a notice board specifying the conditions for the entrance of foreign devotees. It had removed the restriction of 100-person limit on one floor and said it has been agreed that the management of the mosque will ensure that COVID-19 protocols and social distancing will be followed while allowing devotees to enter the mosque to offer namaz.
The senior lawyers for the petitioner and the managing committee of the mosque had then highlighted that Delhi Police remained silent on the arrangement to made during Ramzan. The Delhi Police lawyer had stated that the modalities for Ramzan would be worked out after Shab-e-barat.
The central government, in its affidavit, opposed full re-opening of the Nizamuddin Markaz and stated that only a few people may be allowed to offer prayers on certain religious occasions.
The counsel for the Delhi Waqf Board argued that the mosque, which is under the lock of Delhi Police, should be opened as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has now lifted all restrictions that were imposed on account of the pandemic. Several FIRs were registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, the Foreigners Act and various provisions of the penal code in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat event held at the Nizamuddin Markaz and the subsequent stay of foreigners there during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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China to give 1 trillion yuan tax rebates to small firms - CCTV cites cabinet meeting | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985396-will-give-permission-to-re-open-nizamuddin-markaz-for-ramzan-delhi-police-to-hc | 2022-03-31T16:19:34 | en | 0.967245 |
By ED WHITE
Associated Press
One of four men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is testifying in his own defense and denying any role in a wild conspiracy to get her before the 2020 election. Daniel Harris repeatedly said “absolutely not” when asked by his lawyer if he agreed to abduct Whitmer. Thursday’s testimony comes a day after prosecutors rested their case and the trial moved closer to the finish line in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Harris, Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home in 2020 in response to tough COVID-19 restrictions and disgust with government. Defense attorneys claim the group was engaged in a lot of crazy talk but no conspiracy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/man-tells-jury-i-never-agreed-to-kidnap-to-gov-whitmer-2/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:40 | en | 0.95768 |
FACTBOX - What has changed in Hungary during Orban's 12-year rule
Hungary's Constitutional Court later annulled parts of that law. Critics say new electoral rules have helped cement Fidesz' power by favouring large parties, redrawing electoral districts and granting the right to vote to ethnic Hungarians across central Europe, most of whom tend to support Orban.
- Country:
- Hungary
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party face their first closely-contested election on April 3 after three consecutive landslide victories since 2010. During his 12-year rule Orban has faced international criticism over democratic standards, media freedom and minority rights.
Following is an overview of his top policies. CONTROL OVER THE MEDIA
Orban has transformed Hungary's media landscape, which has led to accusations of curbing media freedoms from the European Union and pro-democracy groups, a charge his government denies. His government tightened its grip over state media, including broadcast media, turning them it into a pro-government mouthpiece, critics say.
Advertising money channelled to pro-government outlets has helped create more loyal media coverage in the private media, while several private media outlets have been shut or taken over by government-friendly owners. In 2021, Hungary ranked 92th on the World Press Freedom Index, down from 56th in 2013. CHECKS AND BALANCES
Armed with Fidesz' two-thirds majority, Orban passed a new constitution in 2011 and changed hundreds of laws. During its first term, Fidesz made hundreds of judges retire under laws the EU said violated its rules. Hungary's Constitutional Court later annulled parts of that law.
Critics say new electoral rules have helped cement Fidesz' power by favouring large parties, redrawing electoral districts and granting the right to vote to ethnic Hungarians across central Europe, most of whom tend to support Orban. Orban loyalists are also in charge of key institutions, including the chief prosecutor and the head of the media authority.
ECONOMY Under Orban's rule, Hungary repaid in 2013 all outstanding debt owed to the International Monetary Fund following a bailout during the global financial crisis and its debt regained investment grade status three years later.
His government reined in fiscal deficits and public debt until the coronavirus pandemic reversed the trend, with Orban's pre-election spending spree in 2021 and this year widening the shortfall further. Europe's highest tax on banks, nationalisation of some private pension funds and a tax on telecoms, energy and retail companies, most of them foreign-owned, helped bolster government finaces but led to clashes with Brussels.
With businessmen close to Fidesz acquiring large chunks of these strategic sectors, Hungarian ownership increased, with Orban saying earlier this year banking, media and energy sectors became majority Hungarian-owned. IMMIGRATION
Hungary built a fence on its southern border after the 2015 migration crisis and imposed some of Europe's toughest asylum rules. Rejecting immigration as a solution to Hungary's demographic decline, Orban pledged to boost birth rates with the help of family-friendly taxation instead. The tax incentives have fuelled a housing boom and surging home prices. CURBS ON ACADEMIC FREEDOMS AND NGOs
Orban's government has cracked down on some non-governmental organizations and tightened controls over academic institutions. As a result, Open Society Foundations, founded by Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros, shut its Budapest office in 2018 and moved to Berlin, while a leading liberal school, the Central European University, moved to Vienna in 2019.
ENTRENCHED CHRISTIAN VALUES Orban has cast himself as a defender of Hungary's cultural identity against Muslim immigration and a protector of Christian values against a so-called "gender and LGBT ideology" and Western liberalism.
Over the past 12 years, the government has redefined marriage as the union between one man and one woman in the constitution, and limited gay adoption and transgender rights. In June 2021 parliament passed a law banning from schools materials seen as promoting homosexuality and gender change, which drew criticism from the EU and rights groups who argued that it stigmatized the LGBTQ community.
EAST AND WEST Under Orban, the EU and NATO member has pursued an "Eastern opening" to Russia and China and he has advocated Moscow's interests within the EU.
He condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 and supported EU sanctions against Moscow, but he has avoided personal criticism of Putin and strongly opposes banning Russian energy shipments saying that would wreck the economy.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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UK PM Boris Johnson calls on world to wean off Russian oil, gas | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985402-factbox---what-has-changed-in-hungary-during-orbans-12-year-rule | 2022-03-31T16:19:42 | en | 0.960267 |
By ED WHITE
Associated Press
One of four men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is testifying in his own defense and denying any role in a wild conspiracy to get her before the 2020 election. Daniel Harris repeatedly said “absolutely not” when asked by his lawyer if he agreed to abduct Whitmer. Thursday’s testimony comes a day after prosecutors rested their case and the trial moved closer to the finish line in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Harris, Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer at her vacation home in 2020 in response to tough COVID-19 restrictions and disgust with government. Defense attorneys claim the group was engaged in a lot of crazy talk but no conspiracy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/man-tells-jury-i-never-agreed-to-kidnap-to-gov-whitmer-3/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:46 | en | 0.95768 |
President Kenyatta satisfied with modernization of Kenya’s military training
President Kenyatta said the Government has also undertaken far-reaching reforms to support the welfare of the security forces and facilitated them to effectively keep the country safe and secure.
- Country:
- Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed satisfaction that the Government's investment in the modernization of training has equipped the country's security forces with adequate skills to deal with the challenges of an ever-evolving security environment.
President Kenyatta said the Government has also undertaken far-reaching reforms to support the welfare of the security forces and facilitated them to effectively keep the country safe and secure.
"…public investments in the security sector have secured the modernization not only of the training of our security forces but have also ensured that our training is abreast with the challenges of an ever-evolving security environment.
"We have also undertaken far-reaching reforms to support your welfare and to facilitate you to best discharge the high burden of responsibility that has been bestowed upon you," the President said.
President Kenyatta spoke on Thursday at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru County, where he commissioned the first cohort of graduate general service officer cadets that has undergone a one-year professional training at the academy.
At the same time, the Head of State appreciated the leadership of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) for their commitment to ensuring that the training provided to Kenyan troops adequately prepares them to operate effectively in both the contemporary and future security environments.
"I am pleased to note that the National Defence University-Kenya, a fully chartered university, is now fully up and running; and it is prepared to commence academic and professional development of the personnel across our entire security sector," the President said.
He expressed hope that the cooperation in education and training will strengthen the cohesion of the country's security organs and foster the multi-agency approach to operations that has proved very successful in addressing security matters.
In furtherance of the cooperation with other nations in fostering a more secure region, President Kenyatta commended the Kenya Military Academy for continuously training cadets from other countries.
"Today, I welcome the training of cadets from South Sudan as well as the commencement of an exchange programme of cadet training between the KDF and the defence forces of the Republic of Mozambique amongst many other existing cooperation arrangements.
"This is the true spirit of Pan Africanism where our training experiences enhance interoperability in multi-national engagements. Fundamentally, these partnerships will foster peaceful relations within our region and beyond," President Kenyatta said.
Noting that the security threats the country faces cannot be defeated by military might alone, the President urged Kenyans from all walks of life to work together in securing the country by strengthening national unity and observing the values of tolerance and brotherhood.
"Moreover, the prosperity of a nation depends on how peace, security, governance and sound economic and financial policies are brought to bear for the advancement of its society. These values need to permeate all sectors of our society in equal measure," President Kenyatta said.
The President congratulated the commissioned officer cadets for successfully completing the rigorous one-year training programme and advised them to strictly uphold the values and ethos that make the KDF a globally respected military.
Speaking during the occasion, the Kenya Military Academy Commandant Major-General Fatuma Ahmed said the institution provides value-based training with the aim of producing highly qualified military officers.
"Your Excellency, this academy being a centre of excellence, provides value-based training to ensure the officers commissioned are professionally, physically, intellectually, socially and morally-oriented to military life," said the Commandant.
The commissioning parade was attended by Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and senior military officers led by Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi as well as other senior Government officials.
(With Inputs from APO)
- READ MORE ON:
- Kenya Military Academy
- Uhuru Kenyatta
- Kenya | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985409-president-kenyatta-satisfied-with-modernization-of-kenyas-military-training | 2022-03-31T16:19:50 | en | 0.965177 |
By MATT OTT
AP Business Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain at historic lows.
Jobless claims rose by 14,000 to 202,000 for the week ending March 26, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The previous week’s tally of 188,000 claims was the fewest since 1969. First-time applications for jobless aid generally track the pace of layoffs.
The four-week average for claims, which compensates for weekly volatility, fell to 208,500 from 212,000 the previous week.
In total, 1,307,000 Americans were collecting jobless aid for the week ending March 19, the fewest since December 1969.
Employers added a robust 678,000 jobs in February, according to recent government data, the largest monthly total since July. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.8%, from 4% in January, extending a sharp decline in joblessness to its lowest level since before the pandemic erupted two years ago. The government reports March jobs data on Friday, and analysts forecast that the U.S. economy gained 477,500 jobs for the month.
Job openings hovered at a near-record level in February, little changed from the previous month, continuing a trend that Federal Reserve officials see as a driver of inflation. There were 11.3 million available jobs last month, matching January’s figure and just below December’s record of 11.4 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday.
The number of Americans quitting their jobs was also historically high, at 4.4 million, up from 4.3 million in January. More than 4.5 million people quit in November, the most on records dating back two decades.
The Federal Reserve launched a high-risk effort two weeks ago in an effort to tame the worst inflation since the early 1980s, raising its benchmark short-term interest rate and signaling up to six additional rate hikes this year.
The Fed’s quarter-point hike in its key rate, which it had pinned near zero since the pandemic recession struck two years ago, marks the start of its effort to curb the high inflation that followed the recovery from the recession. The rate hikes will eventually mean higher loan rates for many consumers and businesses.
The central bank’s policymakers have projected that inflation will remain elevated at 4.3% through 2022.
Also Thursday, an inflation gauge closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, with sharply higher prices for food, gasoline and other necessities squeezing Americans’ finances.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/more-americans-apply-for-jobless-benefits-layoffs-still-low-3/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:53 | en | 0.965449 |
Kerala HC reserves order in case against Malayalam actor Dileep in connection with 2017 actress assault
Kerala High Court reserved its order in a case against Malayalam actor Dileep where he allegedly conspired to murder the investigation officials probing the 2017 actress assault case.
- Country:
- India
Kerala High Court reserved its order in a case against Malayalam actor Dileep where he allegedly conspired to murder the investigation officials probing the 2017 actress assault case. The court made it clear that it will pronounce the verdict within one week. This is in regard to the petition filed by Dileep, seeking to quash the FIR of the case.
The prosecution has undertaken not to file the final report in this case before that. Single Bench of Justice Ziyad Rahman AA heard the arguments of both prosecution and the petitioner for three days.
Crime Branch of Kerala Police had registered the case against Dileep and five others on January 9. The case was registered after some audio clips of Dileep and other accused surfaced in which Dileep and others allegedly threatened the investigating officials. Film director, Balachandra Kumar has also given his statement against Dileep in the matter.
The case was registered under Sections 116 (abetment), 118 (concealing design to commit offence), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) r/w Section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Earlier in November, Balachandra Kumar had leveled a series of allegations against Dileep in connection to the case. He had shared audio recordings which led to new conspiracies in the case against actor Dileep.
Dileep was also accused of conspiring with others to murder the police officials who have been investigating the actor assault case. The actress, who worked in Tamil and Telugu films, was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men, who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985410-kerala-hc-reserves-order-in-case-against-malayalam-actor-dileep-in-connection-with-2017-actress-assault | 2022-03-31T16:19:58 | en | 0.97811 |
LONDON (AP) — OPEC and allied oil producers including Russia have decided to stick to a modest increase in the amount of crude it pumps to the world.
The move Thursday supports higher prices even as the Biden administration readies an attempt to lower them by releasing oil from strategic reserves.
The group, known as OPEC+, chose to stay on its schedule of gradual increases to restore production cuts made during the depths of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
In May, OPEC said it would add 432,000 barrels per day. That’s slightly up from 400,000 barrels in previous months, with officials saying they’re revising baseline production levels.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
LONDON (AP) — OPEC and allied oil producers including Russia are deciding how much crude to pump to the world Thursday, with expectations for only a modest increase despite pleas for more. High oil prices are fueling inflation in the U.S. and other countries and cushioning the blow of Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Analysts expect the group, known as OPEC+, to stay on its schedule of gradual increases to restore production cuts made during the depths of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
So far, that steady pace has meant adding 400,000 barrels per day at the start of each month. Beginning in May, the level is to be adjusted slightly upward to 432,000 barrels because of revised baseline production levels, according to the August edition of OPEC’s official monthly bulletin.
The modest monthly increases have not helped ease spikes in the price of oil tied to rebounding global demand for fuel for cars, trucks and airplanes. The war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, the world’s largest oil exporter with some 12% of global supply, have also fed higher prices over fears its flows might be disrupted.
Oil prices have a major influence on how much U.S. drivers pay at the pump for gasoline. To combat high gas prices — averaging $4.24, up $1.38 from a year ago — U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels per day from strategic petroleum reserves, with an announcement expected as soon Thursday.
In November, the White House announced the release of 50 million barrels in coordination with other countries, and after the war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed on an additional release of 60 million barrels.
Oil prices slumped on expectations of a new release, but analysts at UniCredit bank said the impact of such moves on prices “is usually short-lived.” That’s because reserves are finite, and the production shortfall is open-ended. Once reserves fall below a certain level, the market might fear they would be insufficient to combat a further shortfall and prices would go up.
Higher oil prices also mean more export earnings and tax revenue for the Russian government, cushioning to some extent the crushing sanctions imposed on Russian banks and companies as well as the impact of foreign companies shuttering their businesses in the country.
Some buyers are avoiding Russia’s oil even though Western sanctions permit banks to process energy payments. Buyers don’t want to be associated with the war or are afraid a sudden tightening of sanctions could leave them with Russian oil they can’t sell.
Also boosting prices is the inability of some OPEC+ members to fulfill their production quotas. OPEC’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have spare production capacity but have held off increasing their output and upsetting the group’s agreed-upon allotments.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE voted for a U.N. resolution calling for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine but have stressed that they see the role of OPEC+ as stabilizing world oil markets and separate from international politics.
The United Arab Emirates’ energy minister doubled down on OPEC’s alliance with Russia. He said Russia, with its 10 million barrels of oil a day, is an important member of OPEC+.
“And leaving the politics aside, that volume is needed today,” Suhail al-Mazrouei said Monday. “Unless someone is willing to come and bring 10 million barrels, we don’t see that someone can substitute Russia.”
The United States, European nations, Japan and others have been calling on Gulf Arab oil producers to do more to help bring down oil prices. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson this month visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where he raised the issue.
The Brent crude international benchmark rose to nearly $140 — from $90 before the start of the war — before falling back. On Thursday, U.S. oil traded down 4.5%, at $102.90, while Brent slipped 3.7%, to $109.28.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/opec-sticks-to-modest-boost-in-oil-despite-war-jitters-2/ | 2022-03-31T16:19:59 | en | 0.954445 |
LONDON (AP) — OPEC and allied oil producers including Russia decided Thursday to stick to a modest increase in the amount of crude they pump to the world, a step that supports higher prices even as the Biden administration plans to try to lower them by releasing oil from strategic reserves.
The group, known as OPEC+, said it would add 432,000 barrels per day in May, as it works to gradually restore production cuts made during the depths of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s slightly up from 400,000 barrels in previous months, with officials saying they’re revising baseline production levels.
The alliance has been unmoved by pleas from oil-consuming countries to pump more oil as energy prices soar, fueling inflation worldwide. High prices have helped Russia — the world’s largest exporter with 12% of the global market — offset some of the economic pain from Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. and European sanctions have dealt a severe blow to Russia’s economy but contain exceptions for energy payments. That is a U.S. concession to European allies who are much more dependent on Russian energy than the U.S., which has banned the import of Russian oil. Europe by contrast gets 40% of its natural gas and 25% of its oil from Russia, and officials there have shied away from a boycott, instead aiming to reduce dependency through conservation and boosting wind and solar energy as fast as they can over the next several years.
Oil prices have risen as global demand rebounded for fuel for cars, trucks and airplanes. The war pushed them ever higher over fears Russian oil might be lost to the market if sanctions tighten.
They have a major influence on how much U.S. drivers pay at the pump, with crude oil accounting for about half the price of a gallon of gas. To combat high gasoline prices — averaging $4.24, up $1.38 from a year ago — U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels per day from strategic petroleum reserves, with an announcement expected as soon Thursday.
Diesel fuel for trucks, farm equipment and factories has also jumped in price, to a U.S. average of $5.25 per gallon, up $2.02 from a year ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
In November, the White House announced the release of 50 million barrels in coordination with other countries, and after the war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed on an additional release of 60 million barrels.
Oil prices slumped on expectations of a new release, but analysts at UniCredit bank said the impact of such moves on prices “is usually short-lived.” That’s because reserves are finite, and the production shortfall is open-ended. Once reserves fall below a certain level, the market might fear they would be insufficient to combat a further shortfall and prices would go up.
U.S. oil prices were down 6.3%, to $100.99, while international benchmark Brent crude dropped 5.6%, to $107.50.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/opec-sticks-to-modest-boost-in-oil-despite-war-jitters-4/ | 2022-03-31T16:20:05 | en | 0.962352 |
Kerala HC reserves order in case against Malayalam actor Dileep in connection with 2017 actress assault
Kerala High Court reserved its order in a case against Malayalam actor Dileep where he allegedly conspired to murder the investigation officials probing the 2017 actress assault case.
- Country:
- India
Kerala High Court reserved its order in a case against Malayalam actor Dileep where he allegedly conspired to murder the investigation officials probing the 2017 actress assault case. The court made it clear that it will pronounce the verdict within one week. This is in regard to the petition filed by Dileep, seeking to quash the FIR of the case.
The prosecution has undertaken not to file the final report in this case before that. Single Bench of Justice Ziyad Rahman AA heard the arguments of both prosecution and the petitioner for three days.
Crime Branch of Kerala Police had registered the case against Dileep and five others on January 9. The case was registered after some audio clips of Dileep and other accused surfaced in which Dileep and others allegedly threatened the investigating officials. Film director, Balachandra Kumar has also given his statement against Dileep in the matter.
The case was registered under Sections 116 (abetment), 118 (concealing design to commit offence), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) r/w Section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Earlier in November, Balachandra Kumar had leveled a series of allegations against Dileep in connection to the case. He had shared audio recordings which led to new conspiracies in the case against actor Dileep.
Dileep was also accused of conspiring with others to murder the police officials who have been investigating the actor assault case. The actress, who worked in Tamil and Telugu films, was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men, who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1985412-kerala-hc-reserves-order-in-case-against-malayalam-actor-dileep-in-connection-with-2017-actress-assault | 2022-03-31T16:20:05 | en | 0.97811 |
By ISABEL DEBRE
Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The world’s fair in Dubai, a tech-saturated site teeming with talking robots and solar canopies, sought to be the future.
Now, it’s history.
The pandemic-delayed Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirates closes on Thursday after eight years of anticipation, over $7 billion in investment, 240 million hours of labor and six months of festivities.
The fate of the fairgrounds is clear. Some national pavilions will be demolished. A few will remain, like an enormous lacework dome and the UAE’s soaring falcon-shaped pavilion. Other buildings will be rebranded for a new business district soon to rise from the site.
But the deeper legacy of the event proves more elusive.
When Dubai won the bid to host Expo in 2013, it felt like a rebirth. Just four years earlier, the glitzy city-state suffered a real-estate crash in the Great Recession, rescued by a $20 billion bailout from oil-rich Abu Dhabi.
As property prices roared back, the Expo — the first world’s fair in the Middle East — appeared to signal Dubai’s troubles were behind it. Officials offered bright predictions. The “world’s greatest show” would draw 25 million visitors. It would generate $33.4 billion in investment until 2031. It would help Dubai push into the top tier of global financial centers.
But, in the end, the billions of dollars, frenzy of fantastical construction projects and barrage of publicity proved powerless against the coronavirus pandemic, which forced Dubai to postpone the event a year.
“It definitely fell short of what officials would have wanted,” said James Swanston, an economist at Capital Economics. “There were extremely optimistic assessments about Expo driving the next five to 10 years of growth in real estate and business, and COVID disrupted that.”
Dubai raced to widespread vaccination so it could open its borders and relax virus restrictions — earning it a reputation as a party haven for tourists escaping lockdowns back home.
The fair since has logged a staggering, albeit murky, total of 23 million visits — fueled by repeated visits of those already living in the city. Public sector employees got six days paid leave to visit. Schoolchildren regularly descended on Expo for field trips.
While concert lineups included just a few starry names, such as Coldplay and Alicia Keys, culturally specific crowd-pleasers succeeded in drawing diverse and rabid fan bases. K-pop stars, Bollywood singers and a beloved Iranian pop diva lured thousands.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us,” said 37-year-old Samiya Awan, a Pakistani resident of Dubai and Expo fanatic who volunteered at three national pavilions. “I am coming here every day, even if I’m not volunteering, I’m coming with my kids.”
But the event brought scrutiny as well.
As the FIFA World Cup has for host Qatar, Expo has shined a light on the troubles of migrant laborers. Many low-paid Expo workers have told of plunging into debt to cover recruitment fees, having their passports confiscated and struggling to afford food while toiling at the multibillion-dollar fair.
However, no companies or countries ultimately heeded calls by the European Parliament to withdraw their involvement in Expo over human rights concerns. Dubai has counted on the event to raise its international profile and offer a jolt to its economy as it bounces back from the pandemic.
“Bringing the world to Dubai and showcasing Dubai to the world has been one of the successes of this event,” said Tarek Fadlallah, chief executive at Nomura Asset Management Middle East.
Other analysts note that while Dubai increasingly has elbowed its way onto the world stage in recent months, that may have less to do with Expo’s allure than the government’s pandemic response and major reforms.
The UAE has changed its weekend to align with the West, allowed unmarried couples to legally live together and eased visa restrictions and foreign investment rules. Gambling appears to be next. As hordes of well-heeled foreigners flock to the emirate, the prices of luxury properties and villas have surged.
“I wouldn’t give Expo all the credit for residential property price increases,” said Sapna Jagtiani, a director at S&P Global Ratings. “It was mostly driven by how the UAE managed the pandemic and high net-worth individuals moving to the country.”
Dubai may no longer have a major global event but observers say the city’s business-friendly rules and absence of sanctions and politics will buoy the emirate in its Expo comedown. That’s especially true as Russia’s war on Ukraine has pushed oil prices to multi-year highs and stirred economic turmoil in the region.
“We have a lot of oil money that finds its way to Dubai real estate,” Jagtiani added. “It’s considered a safe haven where investment flows whenever there’s conflict.”
However, concerns linger that the end of Expo could aggravate Dubai’s debt and oversupply problems if demand fails to materialize for the expected flood of new hotel and housing construction. Rising interest rates loom as well.
“It may not blow up in the same way as 2009, but it could raise concerns about debt repayments where Abu Dhabi has to step in again,” Swanston said.
But while uncompleted white elephant projects still litter Dubai, others more successful have propelled growth and transformed swaths of its vast deserts into gleaming new developments.
Whether the Expo site has a lasting impact remains to be seen, even as crowds rushed in for the final few hours of the party.
“I’ve heard a lot of mixed feedback about how good or how bad the Expo was, how it didn’t meet certain expectations,” said Khaled Iskandar, a Palestinian architect visiting the site for the fourth time this week. “Personally … I was in awe.”
___
Associated Press writer Malak Harb in Dubai contributed to this report.
___
Follow Isabel DeBre on twitter at www.twitter.com/isabeldebre.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/ap-news/2022/03/31/partys-over-dubais-monthslong-expo-2020-comes-to-a-close-3/ | 2022-03-31T16:20:11 | en | 0.952391 |
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