Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. He's converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Biden says the commutations are consistent with a pause on executions put in place by his administration in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Biden says he couldn't let a new administration resume executions. Trump has talked about subjecting drug dealers and human smugglers to the death penalty. A spokesperson for Trump said Biden's decision is “abhorrent" and a “slap in the face” to victims and their families. House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress. The 37-page report was released Monday by the bipartisan panel after a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The report includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz took part in while representing Florida in the House. Congressional investigators concluded that he violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing and he filed a lawsuit Monday trying to block the report’s release. Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has pleaded not guilty to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution. The Manhattan district attorney formally charged Luigi Mangione last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. Mangione's attorney complained during a brief hearing Monday that statements coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough for him to receive a fair trial. Mangione was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his not guilty plea. Man faces murder charges in the death of a woman who was lit on fire in New York City subway A man is facing murder charges in New York City for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames. Police on Monday said the man, identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, had been taken into custody as a person of interest in the case hours after the woman died. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Jeff Carter said he is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after he had been previously removed in 2018. Transit police apprehended the man hours after the fatal fire. Middle East latest: Defense minister acknowledges Israel killed Hamas leader Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel assassinated Hamas’ top leader last summer and is threatening to take similar action against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. The comments by Israel Katz appeared to mark the first time that Israel has acknowledged killing Ismail Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Iran in July. Israel was widely believed to be behind the blast and leaders have previously hinted at its involvement. In a speech Monday, Katz said the Houthis would meet a similar fate as the other members of an Iranian-led alliance in the region, including Haniyeh. He also noted that Israel has killed other leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, helped topple Syria’s Bashar Assad and destroyed Iran’s anti-aircraft systems. Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland, the ice-covered semi-autonomous Danish territory. That's added to the list of allied countries he’s picking fights with, even before taking office on Jan. 20. Greenland insists it's not for sale and Trump's initial calls to purchase it in 2019 came to nothing. But his latest suggestion comes after the president-elect suggested the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal and that Canadians wanted their county to become the 51st U.S. state. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. Magdeburg mourns Christmas market attack victims as fears swirl of deeper German social divisions MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Mourners are laying flowers near the scene of the deadly Christmas market attack as investigators puzzle over the motive of the suspect and his previous encounters with authorities are scrutinized. At the same time there are fears that the rampage could deepen divisions in German society. A church a short walk from the scene of the attack has become a central place of mourning since the suspect drove a car into the busy market on Friday evening and killed five people. Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency. They say he doesn't fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. How faith communities can be welcoming of believers with disabilities this holiday season and beyond This holiday season, some religious congregations across the U.S. are holding events designed to be accommodating to and inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They range from a “Calm Christmas” in West Virginia to an inclusive Hanukkah in New Jersey. Many disabled people, advocates and families want more houses of worship to know that there are ways to fully incorporate and welcome people with these and other disabilities and their families — and not just during the holidays but year round. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25.Enbridge Appoints New Director to its Board
WATCH: Fallon prices security fence at Butler, Pa. rally at $410TE Connectivity PLC stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsWays To Invest In Gold & Silver: Bullion, ETFs & Mining Stocks Guide Released 12-13-2024 11:24 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: IndNewsWire Gold IRA Companies Bulletin - a highly respected website and newsletter dedicated to news and commentary on precious metals investment - has released a new guide to the most promising ways to invest in gold and silver. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/53834e25314aa4408275a8c216ad7751.jpg Houston, United States - December 13, 2024 - The newly published guide, written by precious metals and commodity trading expert Doug Young, explores the pros and cons of adding gold or silver to one's investment portfolio. The piece discusses how precious metals, particularly gold, provide a sense of security for investors, especially during times of economic uncertainty. More details can be found at https://goldiracompaniescompared.com/gold/investing-in-gold-faqs/what-are-the-best-ways-to-invest-in-gold-silver Physical bullion, the guide suggests, is the most straightforward way to invest in precious metals. Bullion refers to either coins or bars, with the former preferred by those investing smaller amounts. Coins are easy to sell in small amounts while their divisibility and liquidity make them an attractive and flexible investment option. Young explains that bars are more suitable for larger investments. He says, "They come in various sizes, from small one-ounce bars to large 400-ounce bars. Bars often have lower premiums compared with coins, making them a cost-effective option for bulk purchases." Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) - collections of securities that can be bought and sold like stocks - are another way of investing in gold or silver. The guide highlights that ETFs track the price of metals and offer liquidity and ease of trading while eliminating the need for physical storage and insurance. However, there are fees to be paid which can reduce one's returns. Young also discusses mining stocks and their return potential. He writes, "Mining stocks can offer high returns, especially if the company discovers a significant deposit or metal prices surge. However, they also come with higher risks. Factors such as operational issues, geopolitical risks, and fluctuating metal prices can impact the stock's performance." Another option for investors is a Gold IRA - a retirement account that lets the holder invest in precious metals rather than traditional stocks, mutual funds, or bonds. The guide explains that they offer the same tax deferral benefits as conventional IRAs and are attractive for investors because their value tends to move independently of traditional assets. Consequently, gold and silver are often viewed as an effective hedge against inflation. The piece continues by sharing some tips on how to make the most of precious metals investment alongside a list of common mistakes. Failing to do adequate research, not maintaining a diverse portfolio beyond gold or silver, overlooking fees and storage costs, and engaging in speculative trading can often result in big losses. Readers can also follow links within the resource which offer insights and forecasts on the likely price movements of gold and silver over the coming months. These metals have risen in value by over 30% since the start of 2024 - more information can be found at https://goldiracompaniescompared.com More information about Doug Young is available at https://linktr.ee/dougyoung Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Media Contact Company Name: Gold IRA Companies Bulletin Contact Person: Doug Young Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=ways-to-invest-in-gold-silver-bullion-etfs-mining-stocks-guide-released ] Address:3139 W Holcombe Blvd City: Houston State: Texas 77025 Country: United States Website: https://goldiracompaniescompared.com/ This release was published on openPR.
Seafood Market to Grow by USD 150.04 Billion (2024-2028), Report on AI's Impact on Market Trends and Rising Nutrition Awareness - Technavio
WINTER IN THE 1800s: Christmas traditions on display at Hunter's HomeAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.
Thousands Rally After Georgian PM Vows ‘No Negotiations’ With Pro-EU Opposition
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers on Monday that "some progress" had been made in negotiations to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, more than 14 months into the war. His comments in parliament come two days after Palestinian militant groups also talked of progress towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal. In recent days, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States took place in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement that has proven elusive. "Everything we are doing cannot be disclosed. We are taking actions to bring them back. I wish to say cautiously that there has been some progress, and we will not stop acting until we bring them all home," Netanyahu said in parliament, on the same day he took the stand again at his ongoing corruption trial. "I want to say to the families of the hostages: We are thinking of you and we will not give up on your loved ones, who are our loved ones as well." Hostage families have questioned the sincerity of government negotiation efforts, and critics have long accused Netanyahu of stalling in truce talks, prolonging the war partly to appease his far-right coalition partners. On Saturday, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said progress had been made. "The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions," the groups said after they held talks in Cairo. During the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, 251 people were abducted, of whom 96 remain hostages in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the military. Negotiations have faced multiple challenges since a one-week truce in November 2023, with the primary point of contention being the establishment of a lasting ceasefire. Another unresolved issue is the territory's post-war governance. Hamas's armed wing said the fate of some of the captives depends on how Israeli forces carry out their offensive. "If the occupation army advances even a few hundred metres more in some areas where they are already on the ground, it will decide the fate of some of the enemy's hostages," Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week, Netanyahu said: "I'm not going to agree to end the war before we remove Hamas." He added Israel is "not going to leave them in power in Gaza, 30 miles from Tel Aviv. It's not going to happen." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on October 23 that Israel had "managed to dismantle Hamas's military capacity" and eliminated its senior leadership. With those successes, he said, it was time to "get the hostages home and bring the war to an end with an understanding of what will follow." Among the Hamas leaders Israel killed was its political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday, in the first public acknowledgement that Israel was behind the late July death of Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel's military on Monday said three soldiers were killed in northern Gaza, the focus for months of an offensive Israel said aimed to prevent Hamas from regrouping there. In parliament, Netanyahu also warned the Iran-backed Huthi rebels of Yemen, who last week fired two missiles at Israel, including one that injured 16 people in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv on Saturday. "I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of Huthis because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force," he said, "even if it takes time." Israeli warplanes retaliated against ports and energy infrastructure, which the military said contributed to Huthi rebel operations, after a rebel missile badly damaged an Israeli school last week. The Huthis said the Israeli strikes killed nine people. On Saturday, the United States struck targets in Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, hours after the Huthis hit Tel Aviv with a missile. American and British forces have repeatedly struck rebel targets in Yemen this year in response to Huthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea area vital to global trade. Netanyahu also stated that he wanted to sign new peace accords with Arab countries, similar to the "Abraham Accords" negotiated in 2020 under Donald Trump's first United States administration. Those agreements saw Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco establish formal ties with Israel. "Moderate Arab countries view Israel as a regional power and a potential ally. I intend to seize this opportunity to the fullest," he said. "Together with our American friends, I plan to expand the Abraham Accords... and thus change even more dramatically the face of the Middle East." Netanyahu also said that Israel would not allow "terrorist entities to settle close to our communities" near the border with Syria. "It is a fight for our existence, for the state of Israel. We must defend our borders," he said. bur-jd/it/jsaThe Spotlight Series highlights the Marquis resumes and career accomplishments of hand-selected professionals UNIONDALE, N.Y. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marquis Who's Who (MWW), the world's leading biographical publisher, is proud to recognize Spotlight biographees for the fourth quarter of 2024. The Spotlight Series shines a light on a select group of individuals to share their unique bodies of work through exposure on the MWW corporate home page and the official Spotlight website . Spotlight listees exhibit qualities that complement the MWW motto: "Often imitated, never duplicated." These exemplary professionals hold influence, status and proficiency within their fields that mark them as respected and trusted experts. It is Marquis' great honor to celebrate these individuals' accomplishments and highlight their work, influence and impact. Each month, distinguished MWW listees are selected for positions in the Spotlight Series. Listees' Marquis features are carefully curated to share in a convenient location online. These features include highlights, such as Marquis-issued awards and narratives in one of many print or online publications. Each Spotlight feature is introduced by a biography, which provides a snapshot of a listee's career highlights, philanthropic endeavors, and/or career achievements. The Marquis Spotlight Series recognized 15 prominent listees in the fourth quarter of 2024: October 2024 Dr. Lin Morel Founder and Chief Executive Officer Beyond Words Group Inc. Joanne Fern Owner J&S Operated Equipment Rentals Harry H. Kazakian Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer USA Express Legal & Investigative Services Inc. Dr. Joseph G. R. Martinez Regents' Professor (Retired) University of New Mexico Dr. Floyd W. McCoy Professor Emeritus University of Hawaii -Windward November 2024 Jillian C. Bergeron Master Aesthetician and Holistic Healer Dr. Gordon E. MacKinnon Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Educator MacKinnon Psychological Associates Michael Ettinger, Esq. President Ettinger Law Firm James R. Eigenberg County Commissioner Jackson County, Minnesota Victor M. Renteria Secondary School Educator Bowie High School December 2024 Dr. Douglas C. Munski Professor University of North Dakota Dr. Imogene Mathison Mixson Academic Dean (Retired) Wallace State Community College Lea-Ann M. Riddell, RN Manager of Resident Care Steeves & Rozema Dr. Richard Ferrell Associate Professor of Psychiatry Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College Michael Garvich Senior Product Care Engineer Team Leader Electrolux North America Congratulations to these Spotlight listees, who are pillars of the Marquis Who's Who community and examples of the highest standard in their fields and among their professional networks. About Marquis Who's Who ® Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the first edition of Who's Who in America ® , Marquis Who's Who ® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion, and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America ® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians, and executive search firms around the world. Marquis ® publications may be visited via the official Marquis Who's Who ® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com . SOURCE Marquis Who's WhoUS left facing a difficult situation in Syria as rebels make massive advances against Assad regime
Corning retired executive VP Curran sells $2.4 million in stockA characteristic of a Filipino wake is the prolonged waiting period for relatives living overseas. They regale us with stories, alternating between descriptions of the good life overseas with the usual litany of complaints about local conditions, traffic, pollution, non-existent health care, and social services to name a few. At one recent wake, the conversations inevitably took us to Trump’s election, some of the US-based Filipinos admitting they supported Trump and his plans for mass deportation of illegal immigrants. But the consensus, always, is that it’s still better to take a chance, “migrate by hook or by crook,” even when Trump becomes president. When expatriates share their impressions about other Filipinos wanting to migrate, I give the usual reply about financial needs, even while knowing that more and more applicants come from upper-income families (which is why they are so impressive with job and embassy interviews for visas). Then again, the good life is defined by colonial mentality and consumerism, and never mind that all the coveted goods from heaven, are readily available in the Philippines if you have the money. Lately, I’ve thought hard about still another reason why Filipinos leave and this came as I was doing an early morning read about research on horseshoe crabs, of all animals. The article described the work of a Bangladeshi marine biologist specializing in horseshoe crabs, which are among the planet’s oldest living fossils, having been around for nearly 500 million years, antedating even the dinosaurs. Despite the many environmental conditions that endanger horseshoe crabs, they’ve survived and are now being studied because they may offer clues on how humans might be able to improve our fighting chances to survive the climate crisis. A documentary accompanying the article summarized it as “migrate, adapt, survive.” It seems that the hermit crab as well as many other animal species, increase their survival chances by migrating to more challenging environments, where they adapt. Humans, too, migrate, adapt, and survive but in conditions that may be even more hazardous than what animals go through: for example, long desert treks and perilous sea voyages. Filipinos are so much more fortunate, most smuggling themselves into another country on a jet plane. TNT means tourist nang tourist, crossing borders, and reentering the target country endlessly as a tourist, getting a visa upon arrival. Despite leaving on a jet plane, Filipino migration seems to be increasingly spurred not so much by dreams than by despair, gnawing at our psyche daily, everywhere, because it’s become so pervasive. We do hope that in a less corrupt country, we may have some kind of fighting chance. It’s worse for older Filipinos like myself, who have seen so much corruption through the years; reaching the point where it’s hard to think of a government agency that is untouched by corruption. We’re helpless, too, even with all the assistance desks offered in government agencies because we don’t know how far up in the bureaucracy the rot has reached. When I was young, as an activist, I would argue with elders that it’s the system that creates corruption, mainly because of low wages for government workers. I no longer believe that government salaries for many professionals have increased to the point where Filipinos are choosing to work in the public sector because wages and benefits are better. This is especially the case for education and health. Besides better wages and benefits, the government continues to offer opportunities for more income through “rackets,” for example, field trips in public schools. The worst of the worst are the bids and contracts with substandard deliveries, from infrastructure down to medical supplies, textbooks, and IDs. Again, all that citizens ask for is a fighting chance, a level playing field. The rationalizations in government worry me because they run parallel now, in private institutions, where employees also point to their paltry wages as reasons to take “commissions,” to pad or fabricate receipts for reimbursements, or use one of hundreds of other innovative “income-generating” gimmicks. In fact, as someone who now helps out in the private sector, I get to whine about how much more corrupt private companies be compared to the government. The difference is that government corruption, which is stealing our money in the first place, has become much more serious in the amounts of money involved, so brazen in the use of computerized systems to steal by creating new problems that need “fixing.” Because humans have brains to think and to rationalize, we should be more adept with migration, but the Philippine experience shows us that even migration’s fighting chances have been tainted. In the end, we will destroy each other with our deviousness and greed. —————- Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . [email protected]
Canada Post in fight for survival: profSoludo partners Meta for technological advancement of Anambra
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Attorneys for Meta shareholders asked a Delaware judge Monday to sanction the company's former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and fellow Facebook board member and current White House chief of staff Jeff Zients for deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal , despite being told to preserve such records. The plaintiff attorneys contend that Sandberg and Zients used personal email accounts to communicate about key issues relating to their 2018 shareholder lawsuit that alleged Facebook officers and directors violated both the law and their fiduciary duties in failing for years to protect the privacy of user data. “Although Sandberg and Zients received a litigation hold requiring them to preserve documents from these accounts, they both knowingly and permanently destroyed electronically stored information from such sources,” attorneys said in a court filing. The plaintiffs say the former board members were either “reckless or intentional” in destroying documents, noting that Sandberg deleted communications to and from her Gmail account after only 30 days, even after being notified of the “litigation hold” to preserve documents. Zients never disabled an auto-delete function on his email account, even though he, too, received a litigation hold and consulted with lawyers, they said. The plaintiffs argue that Sandberg and Zients should be prohibited from testifying about information they sent or received using their personal email accounts. They also say the burden of proof for any affirmative defense they present should be raised to a standard of “clear and convincing evidence,” instead of the lower standard of a “preponderance” of the evidence. Sandberg was deposed last week. Plaintiff attorney Max Huffman said Zients is “busy” and will be deposed in February “after there’s an effective transition in Washington.” Defense attorney Berton Ashman described the email deletions as “unfortunate” but argued that the plaintiffs have not shown that they were prejudiced in any way. “There’s no intent here to destroy relevant or responsive information,” Ashman told Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster, adding that there no “trove of missing emails.” “There’s no grand scheme or suggestion of bad behavior,” he added. Ashman said the vast majority of emails that Sandberg and Zients sent or received using their personal accounts were also received by other individuals at Facebook. He suggested that any emails that may have been deleted have been made available to the plaintiffs from other sources at Facebook. Huffman, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said Sandberg does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. “She unilaterally controlled what was kept and what was destroyed,” he told the judge. Laster, who is scheduled to preside over a non-jury trial in April, said he wanted to see a transcript of Sandberg’s deposition before ruling on the motion for sanctions. Last year, the judge rejected a defense motion arguing that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the plaintiffs did not first demand that Facebook’s board take legal action before filing litigation themselves. He agreed with the plaintiffs that such a demand would have been futile because of doubts that a majority of the relevant Facebook board members, many with close personal and business ties to Mark Zuckerberg, would be willing to confront the CEO and founder of the company over its privacy failures. Laster noted that, in deciding on a motion to dismiss, he was required to accept the allegations in the complaint as true. The complaint alleges that Facebook officials repeatedly and continually violated a 2012 consent order with the Federal Trade Commission under which Facebook agreed to stop collecting and sharing personal data on platform users and friends without their consent. Facebook later sold user data to commercial partners in direct violation of the consent order and removed disclosures from privacy settings that were required under consent order, the lawsuit alleges. The company’s conduct resulted in significant fines from regulators in Europe and culminated in the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018. That case involved a British political consulting firm hired by Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign that paid a Facebook app developer for the personal information of tens of millions Facebook users. The fallout led to Facebook agreeing to pay unprecedented $5 billion penalty to settle FTC charges that the company violated the 2012 consent order by deceiving users about their ability to protect their personal information.
Ashland rings opening bell at NYSE recognizes 100-year anniversary