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Mon May 13 2024 17:00:19 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
swissinfo.ch

Swiss scientists at the Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich have developed a new gel that breaks down alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract before it enters the bloodstream.

The gel has been tested on mice without adverse effects.

The gel converts alcohol into acetic acid without producing harmful by-products.

Clinical trials are still required before the gel can be authorized for human use.

The gel is composed of whey proteins.

Mon May 13 2024 16:56:48 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
breakingdefense.com

Estonia is seriously discussing sending troops to western Ukraine to take over non-direct combat roles.

The Estonian government is analyzing the potential move and prefers to act as part of a full NATO mission.

Estonian President Alar Karis, who is the commander-in-chief, is a key figure in this decision.

Some NATO nations, including Germany and the US, have rejected the idea of sending troops to Ukraine.

The UK has also decided not to send troops, while Lithuania is open to sending troops for training purposes.

Mon May 13 2024 16:25:42 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
salon.com

Michael Cohen testified that the idea to describe the 'Access Hollywood' recording as 'locker room talk' was suggested by Melania Trump.

Cohen stated that Donald Trump credited his wife with drafting the response to the 'Access Hollywood' recording.

The 'Access Hollywood' recording featured Donald Trump boasting of sexual assault.

Cohen paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, and this transaction was falsely recorded as a legal expense.

In 2018, Michael Cohen received a three-year prison sentence for his role in the scheme involving the payment to Stormy Daniels.

Mon May 13 2024 14:20:42 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
breitbart.com

A suspect named Karon Fisher is accused of murdering Steven Anderson on Woodridge Square Drive in Houston, Texas, on May 3.

The suspect allegedly hit Anderson with a car, reversed to hit him again, then stabbed him nine times.

Witnesses called 911, and Fisher was later located and detained by law enforcement.

Fisher has been charged with murder and has a history of previous charges, including evading arrest and prostitution.

The incident was captured on video, showing the suspect's actions before fleeing the scene.

Mon May 13 2024 14:20:23 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
breitbart.com

Peter Navarro was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House January 6 select committee.

Navarro filed for an emergency application with the Supreme Court asking for intervention, but the Supreme Court denied the motion.

Navarro is serving a four-month sentence.

Donald Trump Jr. visited Peter Navarro in federal prison.

Navarro claims his case is about the constitutional separation of powers and executive privilege.

Mon May 13 2024 14:19:27 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
breitbart.com

Jaden Jarmel-Schneider, a paralegal from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, admitted during a trial that some phone call records related to the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump were deleted from case files.

The deleted records included call records between Michael Cohen and Keith Davidson, which were part of the evidence submitted by the prosecution.

The prosecution played a recording in the trial allegedly showing Trump and Cohen discussing 'catch and kill' or hush money payments.

Trump's attorneys contend that the recording was doctored by Cohen, noting that it abruptly ends after Cohen received an incoming phone call 22 seconds later, as per Jarmel-Schneider's testimony.

Defense attorney Emil Bove questioned Jarmel-Schneider about the deletion of some toll records after the defense submitted recordings from 2018 between Keith Davidson and Michael Cohen.

Mon May 13 2024 11:01:34 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
newsweek.com

John McEntee, a former aide in the Trump administration, has been criticized for a TikTok video where he claimed to give fake money to homeless people.

McEntee is currently working on HR for Donald Trump's campaign and is a senior adviser for the Heritage Foundation's 2025 Presidential Transition Project.

The video, which has gone viral with over 7 million views, was posted on the account for The Right Stuff, a dating app for U.S. conservatives co-founded by McEntee.

Under 18 U.S. Code § 480, individuals can face fines and up to 20 years in prison for knowingly distributing counterfeit currency with the intent to defraud.

McEntee was previously fired from the White House in March 2018 after a background check revealed gambling winnings but returned in 2020 as the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office.

Sat May 11 2024 10:16:54 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
telegraph.co.uk

Germany is considering reintroducing conscription for all 18-year-olds to boost its troop numbers in response to Russian military aggression.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is expected to announce the official plans by June, with discussions indicating three potential options.

One option includes a compulsory military year for both young men and women at 18, requiring a change to the German constitution.

Another option involves selective conscription for 18-year-old men through an online form, while the third option focuses on proactive recruitment without conscription.

The German Defence Ministry is skeptical that the goal of increasing armed forces from 180,000 to over 200,000 can be achieved without some form of conscription.

Fri May 10 2024 10:59:38 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
forbes.com

A Ukrainian sport plane drone flew 800 miles into Russia and struck an oil refinery in the city of Salavat.

This event marks Ukraine's longest-range raid to date and an escalation of its deep-strike campaign targeting Russian infrastructure.

The drone used in the attack is a modified version of a sports plane, which can be built from a kit by a middle-class pilot.

Ukraine's intelligence directorate and special operations command have converted two types of locally-made planes into drones: the Aeroprakt A-22 and Aerosor Nynja.

The modified drones are equipped with inexpensive video cameras, simple onboard computers, servos for flight control, and satellite radios for remote operation.

Thu May 09 2024 16:57:17 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
huffpost.com

During the final six months of Donald Trump's presidency, 13 people on federal death row were executed, ending a 17-year federal execution moratorium.

After Joe Biden became president, the Justice Department reinstated the federal execution moratorium and announced a policy review.

A conservative coalition known as Project 2025 released a document advocating for the execution of all federal death row prisoners and expanding the death penalty for certain crimes.

The Supreme Court has historically ruled against the death penalty for rape cases, considering it a violation of constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

There are bills in the House and Senate aimed at abolishing the federal death penalty, with varying levels of support from lawmakers and organizations.

Thu May 09 2024 11:52:31 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
independent.co.uk

A Boeing 737 plane skidded off the runway at Senegal's main airport, resulting in 10 people being injured.

The incident occurred during the early hours of Thursday, and flights at Blaise Diagne airport, near Dakar, were suspended following the event.

Emergency services evacuated passengers, with four individuals taken to hospital due to serious injuries.

The flight, operated by Senegal-based airline Transair, was heading to Bamako with 79 passengers, two pilots, and four cabin crew on board.

An investigation into Boeing is ongoing by the US Federal Aviation Administration due to separate incidents and concerns, including falsified inspection records at a South Carolina plant.

Tue May 07 2024 21:24:24 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
cnbc.com

A federal judge in Florida, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, has indefinitely postponed the criminal classified documents trial of former President Donald Trump.

The trial was initially scheduled to start on May 20, 2024, but the new ruling has vacated that date.

The ruling sets a new slate of pretrial proceedings, with the latest hearing set for July 22, 2024.

The charges allege that Trump willfully retained classified national security records after leaving the White House and then hid them from federal authorities.

Former President Donald Trump is concurrently facing 88 criminal counts in four separate courts, including charges related to falsifying business records and election interference.

Sat May 04 2024 19:58:22 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
lgbtqnation.com

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) shared a message criticizing the support of a transgender girl's parents and accused them of 'child abuse'.

The message shared by Greene was originally posted by Canadian anti-transgender activist Chris Elston, who made a negative prediction about the girl's future.

The transgender girl expressed in a video that she aspires to be in Netflix movies and prove her detractors wrong.

Greene used the incident to promote her bill, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, which aims to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors at the federal level.

The girl in the video stated that the most wonderful thing about her life is her parents realizing she was a girl and being supportive.

Sat May 04 2024 18:11:40 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
booker.senate.gov

U.S. Senators Cory Booker, Charles E. Schumer, and Ron Wyden reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end federal prohibition of cannabis.

The act proposes removing cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances and allowing states to implement their own cannabis laws.

The legislation aims to address the disproportionate impact of the War on Drugs on communities of color and low-income individuals by expunging past convictions for low-level cannabis offenses.

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act includes provisions for public health and safety, such as establishing a Center for Cannabis Products and funding for substance use disorder treatment.

The act also includes measures for restorative and economic justice, such as creating an Opportunity Trust Fund and a Cannabis Justice Office to support communities and individuals affected by previous cannabis laws.

Sat May 04 2024 18:10:50 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
whitehouse.gov

An independent organization of police chiefs from the nation's largest cities reported that violent crime declined across every category in the first quarter of 2024.

Murders decreased by 17% compared to the same period in the previous year.

The American Rescue Plan enabled cities and states to invest over $15 billion in public safety and violence prevention.

The Safer America Plan proposes investing $37 billion to support law enforcement and crime prevention, including funding for 100,000 additional police officers.

The Safer America Plan also includes investing $5 billion in community violence interventions and calls for enacting gun safety reforms such as a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and a universal background check requirement.

Sat May 04 2024 07:18:19 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
jpost.com

National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) are being sued by nine American and Israeli survivors and victims of the October 7 Massacre.

Leaked texts from Boston University's Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter show members celebrating the October 7 massacre and expressing support for Hamas.

Some students in the leaked conversation referred to Hamas terrorists as 'freedom fighters' and expressed a desire for a genocidal war against Israel.

The correspondence between the students in the SJP group dates back to 2021, showing consistent positions supporting violent Palestinian 'resistance'.

The lawsuit filed against NSJP and AMP alleges that they collaborated with Hamas to legitimize the attacks and provide public relations services for the terrorist organization.

Sat May 04 2024 06:46:20 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
nytimes.com

New York City officials have attributed the escalation of demonstrations at Columbia University and other colleges to 'external actors'.

Student protesters have disputed the claim that they are 'outside agitators'.

Universities that experienced protests are preparing for graduation ceremonies this weekend.

The New York Times conducted an analysis of clashes at a pro-Palestinian encampment at U.C.L.A., noting a delayed police response.

Prosecutors in Donald Trump's criminal trial have shifted focus from sensational stories to the examination of invoices and ledger entries.

Sat May 04 2024 06:34:20 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
thebulletin.org

Former President Donald Trump stated in an interview with TIME magazine that he would disband the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR) if reelected.

The OPPR was established by Congress in 2022 to enhance the 'whole-of-government' approach to public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current head of OPPR, retired Maj. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic about the office's goals and its untested status.

In 2018, the Trump administration disbanded the Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, a decision that has been criticized for slowing the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Biden administration has requested $6.2 million in its 2025 budget for the OPPR to coordinate the government's response to future pandemics.

Fri May 03 2024 07:50:46 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
cbsnews.com

The IRS is set to increase audits to crack down on tax evasion and improve revenue for the U.S. Treasury.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel stated that the agency will not increase enforcement on individuals earning less than $400,000 annually.

The Inflation Reduction Act provided the IRS with $80 billion in new funding, which has been used to enhance customer service and enforcement capabilities.

The IRS plans to triple the audit rates for large corporations with assets over $250 million and increase audits tenfold for large partnerships with assets over $10 million.

The IRS workforce has grown to about 90,000 full-time equivalent employees and is expected to expand to about 102,500 in the coming years.

Thu May 02 2024 12:13:48 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
foxnews.com

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) amended rules related to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act to include 'gender identity' and 'termination of pregnancy' in the definition of 'on the basis of sex'.

The rule change requires health insurance to cover elective abortions and transgender surgeries, which some religious groups oppose.

A court has previously told the Biden administration that the government cannot require employers to pay for transgender surgery.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has been accused of not protecting religious freedom in the context of health care regulations.

Health sharing ministries, such as Solidarity HealthShare, offer an alternative to traditional health insurance that aligns with certain religious beliefs.

Wed May 01 2024 18:34:46 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
pbs.org

New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that 'outside agitators' were part of the protests on university campuses.

Mayor Adams mentioned that the New York City Police Department's intelligence division identified individuals who were not students but professional agitators.

During the protests, there was an incident where protesters broke into Hamilton Hall at Columbia University.

Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of peaceful protest and distinguished between protesting and committing a crime, in reference to the break-in at Hamilton Hall.

Mayor Adams suggested that a significant number of those arrested in connection with the protests would not be students from City University of New York or Columbia.

Wed May 01 2024 14:55:26 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
thepinknews.com

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma has banned Democrats from using meeting rooms in the state capitol building after a Drag Story Hour event.

The event, hosted by Democrat representative Lorena Austin and the Arizona chapter of Planned Parenthood, took place in the house basement on April 30.

Speaker Toma accused Representative Austin of misleading the house by hosting the event, which he described as radical activism promoting a 'dangerously perverse ideology'.

Representative Austin defended the event, stating it was educational, inclusive, and involved no minors or offensive content.

The Human Rights Campaign criticized Speaker Toma's decision, calling it a 'disgusting abuse of power'.

Tue Apr 30 2024 17:30:19 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
marijuanamoment.net

The DEA has proposed to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that cannabis has accepted medical use and a lower potential for abuse than Schedule I and II substances.

Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III would allow cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions currently prohibited under IRS code 280E.

The proposed change would also ease research restrictions on marijuana, which currently faces barriers as a Schedule I substance.

The rescheduling process includes a review by the White House Office of Management and Budget and a public comment period before it can be finalized.

Mon Apr 29 2024 09:25:16 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
jpost.com

Anti-Israel protesters in Vancouver praised the October 7 Massacre and several organizations at a rally, demanding their removal from Canada's list of terrorist entities.

Charlotte Kates, international coordinator for the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, led chants and speeches at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Kates criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and opposition leader Pierre Poilievre for their responses to the Hamas-led pogrom and subsequent Israeli operations in Gaza.

The rally included demands to delist Palestinian and Lebanese organizations from Canada's terrorist list and to add Israel and its financial partners instead.

The event in Vancouver was part of a broader call for boycotts and campus occupations, with connections made to movements in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Yemen.

Sun Apr 28 2024 13:00:34 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
euractiv.com

The German far-right party AfD has proposed transforming the European Union into a 'Confederation of European Nations' with limited power.

The AfD's EU election campaign advocates for strengthening national sovereignty and limiting the EU's power to what is deemed necessary.

The party has shifted from a previous stance of exiting the EU to restructuring it, opposing the idea of a 'European superstate'.

The AfD plans to abolish the 'undemocratically elected EU Parliament' and transfer legislative power to the Council, pending reorganization into a confederation.

The AfD supports European coordination on border protection but wants to restore member states' self-determination in asylum and immigration policy.

Fri Apr 26 2024 13:06:10 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
seriouseats.com

Maryland Fried Chicken is a regional dish with many variations, typically involving a simple flour coating and frying in fat.

The dish is traditionally made by frying the chicken in lard, though vegetable oil can be used as a more common alternative.

A common method includes adding a small amount of water to the skillet, covering it to steam the chicken, and then frying uncovered to crisp it.

The recipe often includes making a white gravy in the same skillet after frying, using the browned bits from the chicken.

The dish emphasizes the use of high-quality, free-range chicken and is commonly cooked in a cast iron skillet.

Fri Apr 26 2024 12:53:26 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
newrepublic.com

The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case United States v. Idaho regarding emergency room abortions and the application of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

EMTALA requires hospitals that accept Medicare funding to stabilize patients facing threats to their health, which can include providing abortions when medically necessary.

Idaho's law bans all abortions except those done to prevent death, not to preserve health, and is being challenged for potentially violating EMTALA.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal activist group, is representing Idaho and argues that a fetus should be considered a separate patient under EMTALA.

Since the enforcement of Idaho's law in early January, six pregnant women have been airlifted out of state for emergency care, compared to one in all of 2023.

Fri Apr 26 2024 02:39:42 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
soraai.fun

OpenAI's text-to-video model, Sora, is being showcased through various video demonstrations that are shared on social media.

Sora is capable of generating videos from textual descriptions, but it is not yet available to the public.

The demonstrations include a variety of scenarios such as a base jump over tropical Hawaii waters and a tortoise with a glass body on a black sand beach.

Other scenarios depicted by Sora include a close-up of a white dragon, a dark neon rainforest, and a futuristic shipwreck with cybernetic marine life.

OpenAI is using these demonstrations to gather feedback and demonstrate the potential capabilities of AI-generated video content.

Thu Apr 25 2024 19:59:42 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
huffpost.com

Donald Trump's attorney, Jack Sauer, argued in a Supreme Court hearing that a president could have 'absolute immunity' from prosecution for actions taken while in office.

The argument was made in the context of the Department of Justice's election interference case against former President Trump.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned the extent of this 'absolute immunity', asking if it would cover extreme actions such as ordering the assassination of a political rival.

Justice Elena Kagan inquired whether a president would be immune if they sold the country's nuclear secrets to a foreign power, to which Sauer responded it would likely not be immune unless structured as an official act.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed concern about the potential for future presidents to commit crimes in office without the disincentive of criminal liability.

Thu Apr 25 2024 13:39:28 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
i24news.tv

Mortar shells were fired at a maritime construction site off the coast of Gaza on Wednesday.

The construction site is for a humanitarian pier being built by the United States.

The attack resulted in damage to several pieces of American engineering equipment.

One person was slightly injured during the incident.

The pier is intended to facilitate the delivery of additional humanitarian aid to Gaza via sea route.

Thu Apr 25 2024 10:14:25 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
newrepublic.com

The Biden administration announced policy actions on April 23 aimed at protecting the interests of working people.

Lael Brainard and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su initiated a push for pension fund managers to require companies in their portfolio not to contest union drives.

The Labor Department finalized a regulation requiring financial professionals advising on retirement accounts to act as fiduciaries, prioritizing clients' financial interests.

The Federal Trade Commission banned non-compete clauses in employment contracts to prevent restrictions on workers seeking employment with competitors.

The Labor Department issued a final rule expanding overtime coverage to an additional 4.3 million workers, aiming to preserve the 40-hour work week.

Thu Apr 25 2024 09:49:16 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
npr.org

Boston police arrested over 100 protesters at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College.

Los Angeles Police Department arrested 93 people for trespassing during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Southern California.

At The University of Texas at Austin, police in riot gear arrested dozens of students during a pro-Palestinian protest.

Emerson College officials warned that the encampment could result in law enforcement action due to noise violations and fire hazards.

Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments are occurring at various colleges and universities across the United States.

Thu Apr 25 2024 09:27:49 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
forbes.com

President Biden has proposed in the Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2025, to raise capital gains rates.

The proposed top federal capital gains rate is 44.6%, which would be the highest since the inception of the tax.

The 44.6% rate includes a combination of a raised top ordinary rate to 39.6% and an increased net investment income tax rate by 1.2 percentage points for certain income levels.

The 44.6% rate would apply only to individuals with taxable income above $1 million and investment income above $400,000.

The main proposal is to raise the long-term capital gains and qualified dividends rates to 37% for taxpayers with taxable income above $1 million.

Thu Apr 25 2024 08:30:41 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
abcnews.go.com

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule that would require coal or natural gas power plants to capture smokestack emissions or shut down.

The new rule is part of the Biden administration's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, aiming to eliminate carbon pollution from the electricity sector by 2035 and economy-wide by 2050.

The EPA's rule includes measures to reduce toxic wastewater pollutants from coal-fired plants and manage coal ash in unlined storage ponds.

Coal plants planning to operate beyond 2039 must cut or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032, while those retiring by 2039 have a less stringent standard.

The rule is expected to be challenged by industry groups and states, with concerns over electric grid reliability and the viability of carbon capture and storage technologies.

Thu Apr 25 2024 08:30:41 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
abcnews.go.com

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule that would require coal or natural gas power plants to capture smokestack emissions or shut down.

The new rule is part of the Biden administration's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, aiming to eliminate carbon pollution from the electricity sector by 2035 and economy-wide by 2050.

The EPA's rule includes measures to reduce toxic wastewater pollutants from coal-fired plants and manage coal ash in unlined storage ponds.

Coal plants planning to operate beyond 2039 must cut or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032, while those retiring by 2039 have a less stringent standard.

The rule is expected to avoid 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047 and provide climate and health benefits, but it faces potential challenges from industry groups and states.

Wed Apr 24 2024 16:56:11 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
apnews.com

President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion war aid measure into law.

The aid package includes assistance for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other allies.

The signing marked an end to a prolonged battle with Republicans in Congress.

The Senate passed the aid measure after months of delays and debate.

The legislation aims to support Ukraine in their war against Russia and assist other allies.

Wed Apr 24 2024 09:43:30 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
usatoday.com

The U.S. Congress has passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill with a bipartisan Senate vote of 79-18.

The aid package includes $60 billion to support Ukraine, $17 billion for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and elsewhere, and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific.

The legislation also contains a provision that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company divests from the app.

President Joe Biden has described the legislation as 'critical' and 'urgently needed,' and he intends to sign it into law.

The aid bill's passage concludes a months-long debate in Congress, reflecting differing views within the GOP on the U.S.'s role in the world and the level of support for Ukraine.

Wed Apr 24 2024 08:42:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
atr.org

President Biden has proposed a top marginal rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends of 44.6% in his 2025 budget proposal.

The combined federal-state capital gains tax rate would exceed 50% in many states under the Biden proposal.

Specific combined federal-state capital gains tax rates under the proposal would be 59% in California, 55.3% in New Jersey, 54.5% in Oregon, 54.4% in Minnesota, and 53.4% in New York state.

The Biden proposal includes a provision that would eliminate the stepped-up basis at death, resulting in a mandatory capital gains tax at death.

Biden's 2025 budget is reported to call for approximately $5 trillion in tax increases over the next decade.

Wed Apr 24 2024 07:50:02 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
npr.org

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has voted to ban most noncompete agreements, which typically prevent workers from joining competing businesses or starting their own.

The FTC received over 26,000 public comments before the vote, and Chair Lina Khan cited stories from workers affected by noncompetes during the discussion.

The FTC estimates that about 30 million American workers are bound by noncompete agreements and suggests that banning these could increase wages by nearly $300 billion per year.

The ban on noncompete agreements will take effect later this year, with an exception for existing agreements given to senior executives.

The vote was 3 to 2 along party lines, with dissenting commissioners arguing the FTC is overstepping its authority, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced plans to sue the FTC to block the rule.

Tue Apr 23 2024 10:13:11 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
today.com

On April 23, Jell-O announced two new refrigerated pudding flavors: Churro Delicioso and Mango Sabroso.

Mango Sabroso is Jell-O's first fruit-forward pudding cup in its nearly 130-year history.

Both new flavors, Churro Delicioso and Mango Sabroso, contain zero sugar and are available in packs of four.

The introduction of these flavors follows Jell-O's 2023 rebrand, which included a refreshed logo and packaging.

Pudding consumption in the United States is projected to increase to 152.86 million people in 2024.

Sat Apr 20 2024 21:38:47 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
newsweek.com

The House Freedom Caucus has activated its Floor Action Response Team (FART) to monitor the chamber floor and block any sudden rule changes by the GOP leadership.

The activation of FART is in response to concerns that efforts could be made to remove its members from the powerful House Rules Committee or to raise the threshold for a vote on removing the speaker via a motion to vacate.

The House is expected to vote on three separate bills providing $95 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, with $61 billion of the aid proposed to support Kyiv.

Over $9 billion of the Ukraine aid will take the form of 'forgivable loans'.

Speaker Mike Johnson has stated he will not attempt to increase the number of representatives needed to launch a motion to vacate from its current level of one.

Fri Apr 19 2024 14:17:55 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
apnews.com

Complaints about pregnant women being turned away from emergency rooms increased after states enacted strict abortion laws following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

At Sacred Heart Emergency Center in Houston, a woman miscarried in a restroom toilet in the emergency room lobby.

The woman was refused check-in at the emergency center after her husband asked for help delivering their baby.

The husband called 911 for help after his wife miscarried in the emergency room lobby restroom.

The incidents are detailed in federal documents obtained by The Associated Press, raising questions about emergency pregnancy care in the U.S.

Tue Apr 16 2024 05:06:29 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
lefigaro.fr

Tue Apr 16 2024 04:55:54 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
liberation.fr

The dismantling of the ZAD of the A69 and the eviction of activists opposed to the highway's route began earlier in the week.

Controversy is growing over the methods used by law enforcement against opponents of the construction project.

Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders, visited the site on Thursday, February 22 to observe the situation firsthand.

Since October 2023, activists from various groups, including 'La voie est libre' and the 'National Tree Monitoring Group' (GNSA), have been occupying the site to block the construction of the A69 highway.

A petition submitted to the National Assembly, signed by over 50,000 people, claims the A69 project would cause irreversible environmental damage, including the destruction of 11.7 hectares of woodland (with hundreds of ancient trees) and 22 hectares of wetlands.

Tue Apr 16 2024 04:55:42 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
liberation.fr

The dismantling of the ZAD of the A69 and the eviction of activists opposed to the highway's route began earlier in the week.

Controversy is growing over the methods used by law enforcement against opponents of the construction project.

Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders, visited the site on Thursday, February 22, to observe the situation firsthand.

Since October 2023, activists from various groups, including 'La voie est libre' and the 'National Tree Monitoring Group' (GNSA), have been occupying the site to block the construction of the A69 highway.

A petition submitted to the National Assembly, signed by over 50,000 people, claims the A69 project will cause irreversible environmental damage, including the destruction of 11.7 hectares of woodland (with hundreds of ancient trees) and 22 hectares of wetlands.

Sun Apr 14 2024 12:49:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
truthout.org

Former President Donald Trump spoke at a 'Border 9/11 Gala' at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where he made several claims about the 2024 presidential election.

Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that fraud would affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election and reiterated his stance that the 2020 election was illegitimate.

During his speech, Trump suggested that his support was so strong that the election could be canceled, stating, 'We win that election right now,' while also urging vigilance against election fraud.

Trump made several unsubstantiated claims, including that Democrats support post-birth 'execution' of babies, immigrants will take Social Security benefits, and that the Biden administration directed state-based investigations into Trump's election interference in 2020.

Experts and scholars have discussed strategies to combat disinformation, emphasizing the importance of repetition of facts, critical thinking, and long-term educational approaches to counter falsehoods.

Fri Apr 12 2024 10:50:49 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
bloomberg.com

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Thu Apr 11 2024 12:10:16 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
baijiahao.baidu.com

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Wed Apr 10 2024 11:17:28 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
news.cctv.com

The State Council Information Office of China held a press conference on April 10, 2024, focusing on 'promoting high-quality development' where officials from Shandong province reported on relevant developments.

In 2023, Shandong province's economy achieved simultaneous growth in scale and quality, with a regional GDP of 9.2 trillion yuan.

The output value of high-tech industries in Shandong province exceeded 51% of the total, with the number of business entities reaching 14.74 million.

Shandong province is home to over 200 manufacturing enterprises that are single-item champions and more than 1,000 specialized and innovative 'little giant' enterprises.

Shandong plans to implement a three-year action plan to cultivate new productive forces, including 100 major scientific and technological innovation projects in fields such as integrated circuits and industrial mother machines.

Wed Apr 10 2024 11:14:54 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
abcnews.go.com

Israel's Foreign Minister threatened that Israel would strike Iran directly if Iran launched an attack from its territory against Israel.

The threat follows heightened tensions after the killing of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier this month.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised retaliation against Israel for the consulate attack in Damascus, which killed 12 people.

The strike in Damascus killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, along with other members of the Guard, Syrians, and a Hezbollah militia member.

Israel has not acknowledged its involvement in the consulate strike but has historically targeted Iranian-linked sites in Syria to disrupt cooperation with Hezbollah.

Wed Apr 10 2024 08:29:31 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
apnews.com

The Biden administration finalized strict limits on PFAS chemicals in drinking water on April 10, 2024.

The new rule requires utilities to reduce PFAS to the lowest level they can be reliably measured, aiming to reduce exposure for 100 million people.

This is the first national drinking water limit on toxic PFAS, which are linked to health issues such as cancers and low birth weight.

Water providers will have to test for PFAS chemicals and inform the public when levels are too high, with specific limits set for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion, and three other types at 10 parts per trillion.

Utilities have three years to conduct testing and, if necessary, two additional years to install treatment systems, with some financial assistance available from recent settlements and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Wed Apr 10 2024 05:49:11 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
cnn.com

Wed Apr 10 2024 03:48:55 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
github.com

Wed Apr 10 2024 02:09:13 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
finance.sina.com.cn

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has not shifted towards Quantitative Easing (QE) as its balance sheet expansion relies on re-lending, which allows for better management of interbank interest rates.

China has not moved towards the monetization of fiscal deficits, as the fiscal policy has not breached the 'nominal budget constraint'.

The PBOC's purchase of government bonds is primarily for monetary and fiscal policy coordination, not for providing base money or lowering long-term interest rates.

The current interbank interest rate in China is more likely to tighten than loosen due to the constraints of the exchange rate and the global context of high nominal interest rates.

The PBOC's provision of liquidity through re-lending and reverse repos is expected to continue, and while a reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cut is likely, it may not lead to a significant easing of interbank liquidity if the scale of re-lending exceeds the liquidity released by the RRR cut.

Tue Apr 09 2024 20:58:41 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
news.cnr.cn

A report has been submitted to the relevant authorities regarding the illegal construction of a building.

The top ten floors of the building have been ordered to be demolished.

Before the demolition, an inspection will be conducted to determine if the building meets the required safety standards.

The building's owner has been instructed to halt the use of the building until the inspection and potential demolition are completed.

The incident has highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of construction regulations and the importance of obtaining the proper permits and approvals before commencing construction.

Mon Apr 08 2024 08:17:08 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
newsweek.com

Michael Whatley, the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), included Ukraine with China and Iran as 'aggressive' adversaries of the United States on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures'.

Whatley claimed that Joe Biden's leadership has allowed these countries to feel they can be more aggressive and meddle with U.S. elections, although no evidence was provided to support this claim regarding Ukraine.

Michael Whatley was elected to lead the RNC in March and serves alongside co-chair Lara Trump, who is the daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump.

The U.S. Department of Justice's special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation found that Russia attempted to help Trump win the presidency in 2016, but did not establish that Trump's campaign conspired with Russia.

Ukraine has been engaged in a conflict with Russian aggression since February 2022, and President Biden has been supportive of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, advocating for continued aid to Ukraine.

Sun Apr 07 2024 04:57:30 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
baijiahao.baidu.com

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Sat Apr 06 2024 21:45:59 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
nbcnews.com

Ohio's Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, indicated that the Democratic National Convention's scheduled date may prevent President Joe Biden from appearing on Ohio's general election ballot.

The Democratic National Convention is set to convene on August 19, 2024, which is after the August 7 deadline for certifying a presidential candidate in Ohio.

Frank LaRose suggested two possible solutions: the Democratic Party could move its convention date, or the Ohio state legislature could create an exemption to the deadline.

The deadline for the Ohio state legislature to create an exemption to the statutory requirement is May 9, according to state law.

Despite the scheduling issue, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign expressed confidence that Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states.

Sat Apr 06 2024 12:43:20 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
ladepeche.fr

The symbolic 'victory' of the opponents of the A69 highway between Castres and Toulouse did not ease tensions despite the 'squirrels' descending from the trees at the Crémade in Saïx on Sunday.

The opponents to the A69 managed to halt the tree cutting at the Crémade, known as Crém'arbre, one week before the regulatory date due to an environmental authorization decree dated March 1, 2023, which prohibits cutting from March 31 to September 1 to protect bird nesting season.

The ZAD (Zone to Defend) of the Crémade is calming down, with the concessionaire Atosca fencing the site and gendarmes present during the work, despite two activists reoccupying trees.

A new ZAD named Cal'Arbre has been established at En Calarié behind the industrial zone of En Toulze in Cambounet-sur-le-Sor, leading to several nocturnal incidents, including confrontations between activists and security agents from the Pac cement factory.

The construction company Atosca continues work on the A69 highway and maintains a projected completion date for the end of 2025.

Fri Apr 05 2024 08:10:38 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
foxla.com

U.S. Space Command confirmed that the object initially reported as a meteor sighting was actually a Chinese module.

The Chinese module was used to launch three astronauts in 2022.

The re-entry of the Shenzhou 15 orbital module into Earth's atmosphere caused the fiery display seen by observers.

The module re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the eastern Pacific ocean at approximately 1:43 am Pacific time on April 2.

The space debris from the module was expected to break up over the Pacific Ocean.