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Showing posts from March, 2022

Elon Musk — officially the world's richest man — says he thinks 'Putin is significantly richer than me'

  Elon Musk said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is richer than he is.  Musk became the richest person in the world in 2021, passing Amazon's Jeff Bezos.  Musk made the comments about Putin in an interview with Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of Axel Springer.

NEW POLL: Biden Approval on Economy Gets Absolutely Clobbered, Down to Record-Low 33 Percent

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President Joe Biden’s approval rating on the economy has reached a record-low, in a brand new poll out Sunday morning. According to the latest survey from NBC News , only 33 percent of Americans approve of the president’s handling of the economy, compared with 60 percent who disapprove. That number represents a seismic shift from a year ago, when 52 percent approved of Biden on the economy, and just 43 percent disapproved. The numbers almost precisely mirror the answer the answer to this question: Do you think your family’s income is a) falling behind b) staying about even c) going up faster. Sixty-two percent believe their income is falling behind, while 31 percent believe it is staying about even. In all, 38 percent of Americans, according to the NBC poll, believe that Biden and his policies are most to blame for inflation, while 28 percent believe the pandemic is primarily responsible, and 23 percent blame corporate price increases. Overall, NBC News puts Biden’s ap

A Recession Warning Sign? Part of U.S. Yield Curve Inverts for First Time Since 2006

Treasuries slumped anew to send a widely-watched part of the U.S. yield curve to its first inversion in 16 years. The curve is flattening as investors bet the Federal Reserve will tighten policy rapidly enough to risk a sustained slowdown in growth. U.S. five-year yields climbed nine basis points to 2.63%, rising above those on 30-year bonds. Shorter maturities have been selling off faster than their longer-dated peers this year as investors ratchet up expectations the Fed will hike rates to combat inflation. The spread between five- and 10-year Treasuries inverted earlier this month.  

India is snapping up cheap Russian oil, and China could be next

Since the beginning of March, five cargoes of Russian oil, or about 6 million barrels, have been loaded and are bound for India – set to be discharged in early April, said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler. “This is about half the entire volume discharged last year — a significant uptick,” he told CNBC. If China also buys oil from Russia – also widely expected to be discounted – it could have some impact on crude prices, analysts said. “Urals crude from Russia is being offered at record discounts,” the International Energy Agency said on March 17.  

End of free Covid testing could put vulnerable at risk, say UK experts

Come the end of March, the lights will dim on the UK’s Covid epidemic. Despite infection levels rising , cases will plummet, as free lateral flow and PCR tests are stopped for the majority of people in England, with other countries in the UK also set to reduce free testing in the coming weeks and months. But while the government has argued it is time to manage Covid as we do other infectious diseases such as flu , scientists have warned ending community testing could put vulnerable people at risk and undermine efforts to understand the virus. From 1 April, symptomatic testing will be free only for certain groups, such as hospital patients and social care staff. However, the Department of Health and Social Care has yet to give details on which other groups will be eligible. After a winter of “flow before you go”, the change in policy seems dramatic.  

ISIS claims responsibility for deadly shooting attack in Israel

Police said Sunday that gunmen killed at least two Israelis and wounded several others in what officials described as a "terrorist attack" in the central Israeli city of Hadera. Militant group ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack. The big picture: The shooting took place as Secretary of State Tony Blinken visits the country to attend a historic series of meetings with the foreign ministers of Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in southern Israel. Driving the news: Sunday's attack began around 9pm local time, when the two assailants started shooting with automatic weapons on a group of police officers and civilians, according to police . Officers from a special police unit who were at a nearby restaurant responded to the scene when they heard gunshots and killed the two perpetrators, police said. The two attackers were cousins from the Arab city of Umm el-Fahm in Israel, police said. Israeli officials claim the attacker

Jada Pinkett Smith Has Been Open About Her Alopecia — Here's What She's Said About Hair Loss

A joke made at the expense of Jada Pinkett Smith was at the center of the most surprising moment of 94th annual Academy Awards . Before he presented the award for Best Documentary on Sunday, Chris Rock diverged from the subject at hand to discuss this year's Best Actor nominees, which included Pinkett Smith's husband Will Smith . That led him to make a seemingly random crack comparing the shaved hairstyle of Pinkett Smith to Demi Moore 's buzzed Navy service member in G.I. Jane . Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes while the audience laughed nervously. Then, in the night's most unscripted moment, the King Richard star — who would go on to win the Best Actor Oscar — walked up to Rock and "smacked" him across the face and told him to "leave my wife's name out of your f--king mouth" once he was back in his seat. Viewers and the audience at the Dolby Theatre were stunned, uncertain what sparked Smith's anger. It turns out Rock's joke

White House deputy press secretary tests positive for Covid

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House’s principal deputy press secretary, said Sunday that she has tested positive for Covid. Jean-Pierre traveled with President Joe Biden on his trip last week to Europe. “I last saw the President during a socially distanced meeting yesterday,” she said in a statement, “and the President is not considered a close contact as defined by CDC guidance. I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency.” Press secretary Jen Psaki also recently tested positive for Covid, as did Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris. “Thanks to being fully vaccinated and boosted, I have only experienced mild symptoms,” Jean-Pierre said. “In alignment with White House Covid-19 protocols, I will work from home and plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of a five-day isolation period and a negative test.”  

Canada's Trudeau rebuked by some members of European Parliament for treatment of convoy protesters

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with scathing rebuke from some Members of European Parliament (MEP) last week after he delivered a speech to the European Union . Independent Croatian MEP Mislav Kolakusic accused Trudeau of engaging in "dictatorship of the worst kind" because of how his government treated the peaceful Freedom Convoy in February. "Under your quasi-liberal boot in recent months," said Kolakusic, "we watched how you trample women with horses, how you block the bank accounts of single parents so that they can't even pay their children's education and medicine, that they can't pay utilities, mortgages for their homes."  

Coach K, Duke get one more swing at North Carolina in Final Four game for the ages | Opinion

When North Carolina ruined his big goodbye to Cameron Indoor Stadium, Mike Krzyzewski stomped to the microphone and told the crowd it was “unacceptable.”  That was three weeks ago, when Krzyzewski losing his final game in college basketball’s most storied rivalry was going to be a big part of the story of his final season, no matter how it ultimately ended.  When the NCAA Tournament brackets came out on Selection Sunday, the notion of Duke and North Carolina playing one more time was never even mentioned. Given the seeds and the opponents and the distance to get there, it seemed so far off as to be an alternate galaxy.  But maybe we should have had more faith in this sport, which somehow figures out how to deliver the most ridiculous drama. Because on Saturday night in New Orleans, the 98th and most definitely final Duke-North Carolina meeting in the Krzyzewski era will happen with a berth in the national championship game on the line .  

Uber to start listing NYC taxi cabs: Talking Tech podcast

  Big news for Uber, the ride hailing app. Uber announced that it is going to start listing New York City taxi cabs on its platform, which is pretty astonishing considering for the longest time apps like Uber and Lyft have been at odds with cab companies over the same business, helping customers get to where they need to go. You can read more about this on a story that's on money.usatoday.com. According to the Associated Press, Uber is partnering with a couple tech companies, Creative Mobile Technologies and Curb, and the plan is to eventually have all the taxi cabs in New York City available on its app, so if you're in New York City and you pull up the Uber app, you'll be able to not only see the drivers for Uber, but you'll also get to see the various taxi cabs that are available.

'Shocked and heartbroken': 14-year-old dies in fall from massive drop tower in Florida

  A 14-year-old boy who was riding " the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower " in Orlando, Florida, died in a shocking fall from the attraction as witnesses watched in horror on Thursday. Following the tragic incident, loved ones remembered the boy — Tyre Sampson — as an aspiring athlete, a good student and a caring son. Two lawyers, including nationally-recognized civil rights attorney Ben Crump, announced they would be representing the family. Deputies received a 911 call and responded to ICON Park shortly after 11 p.m. where witnesses said someone had fallen from the Free Fall ride, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Tyre was transported to a hospital where he died from his injuries. Several witnesses called 911 to report what they saw: A woman told a dispatcher that Sampson was face down, wasn’t responsive and appeared to have broken his arms and legs. Another man told a 911 dispatcher that the teen had no pulse.

Chinese officials confirm no survivors in crash of China Eastern Airlines flight with 132 aboard

BEIJING — Chinese authorities officially confirmed Saturday that there were no survivors in the crash of a China Eastern Airlines flight earlier this week with 132 people on board. The announcement by an official of the Civil Aviation Administration of China at a late-night news conference was followed by a brief moment of silence. Investigators have identified 120 of the victims through DNA analysis, state media reported. The flight from the city of Kunming in southwestern China was flying at 29,000 feet on Monday when it suddenly nosedived into a mountainous area, shortly before it would have started its descent to the airport in Guangzhou, a provincial capital and export manufacturing hub near Hong Kong on China’s southeastern coast.  

Volcano erupts in the Philippines triggering evacuations

 An eruption of Taal Volcano in the Philippines prompted evacuation recommendations by the national volcanology institute on March 26

Celebrities wear Ukraine colors at Oscars

 On the Oscars red carpet, Diane Warren and Jamie Lee Curtis wore blue ribbons showing support for Ukraine.

Manchin to vote for Ketanji Brown Jackson, likely ensuring she will be the first Black woman on Supreme Court

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Manchin to vote for Ketanji Brown Jackson, likely ensuring she will be the first Black woman on Supreme Court Dylan Wells USA TODAY Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said Friday that he intends to vote yes on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court, effectively guaranteeing she will be confirmed and become the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court. "After meeting with her, considering her record, and closely monitoring her testimony and questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, I have determined I intend to vote for her nomination to serve on the Supreme Court," Manchin said. "I am confident Judge Jackson is supremely qualified and has the disposition necessary to serve as our nation’s next Supreme Court Justice," he added.  

Was it a gaffe or an escalation? Biden prompts concern after saying Putin 'cannot remain in power'

  Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other aides tried to walk back the comment, saying Biden wasn't trying to promote regime in Russia

Brutally honest rankings of Oscars 2022 best song performances, from Billie Eilish to Beyonce

  Music and passion were definitely the fashion at Sunday’s Academy Awards. While music is only an ancillary aspect of the annual salute to movies, live performances are still an anticipated thread in the show. Four of this year’s nominees performed their best original song contenders, while the fifth, Van Morrison for “Down to Joy” from “Belfast,” couldn’t attend due to his touring schedule overseas. But this Oscars did score a bonus performance due to the unending popularity of the song not  nominated from the animated “Encanto” – “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Here’s a look at the performances from the most uninspiring to the most electric:

Elite Eight winners, losers: Get ready for blue blood Final Four; Saint Peter's runs out of gas

  CHICAGO — The Final Four is set. And it's all blue bloods.  Kansas and North Carolina join Duke and Villanova in advancing to the final weekend of the men's NCAA Tournament, painting the outlook in New Orleans extremely blue with four of the sport's kingpin programs all vying for a national title. Kansas turned on the jets in the second half against Miami  after falling behind by six at the half and looked dominant in claiming the Midwest Regional. Coach Bill Self is back in the Final Four – his fourth   as a head coach -- and the Jayhawks will be a favorite as the last remaining No. 1 seed since Gonzaga and Arizona lost in the Sweet 16 and Baylor was upset in the second round.  North Carolina didn't need any halftime adjustments; the Tar Heels were dominant from the tip in sending Saint Peter's home to New Jersey.  That sets up a highly anticipated Duke vs. UNC rematch. The rivals have never met in the Final Four.  A look at the winners and losers from S

A place for us': Why Ariana DeBose's Oscar win is a major victory for LGBTQ community

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Wanda Sykes promised us – and therefore me, specifically – a gay Oscars show . And we certainly got a welcome gay-as-can-be moment on the Oscars stage. Ariana DeBose capped a stunning awards season by winning the best supporting actress award for her role as Anita in " West Side Story " – becoming the first openly queer Afro-Latina to win an acting Oscar .  "Now you see why, that Anita says, 'I want to be in America,' because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true," DeBose said in her acceptance speech. "And that's really a heartening thing right now." "Heartening," yes – and also quite necessary. LGBTQ people around the country are fighting for equitable treatment and opportunity not just in media, but in healthcare, politics and especially education. More: Oscars 2022: 'CODA' wins best picture, Will Smith and Jessica Chastain take acting honors The queer community in the U.S. is under attack.

Ukrainian official says Russia is trying to split country in 2; Blinken walks back Biden regime remark: Live Ukraine updates

A top Ukrainian official accused Russia of trying to split Ukraine into two countries, drawing a comparison to North and South Korea. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, said Sunday that Russia was making "an attempt to create North and South Korea in Ukraine,"  Reuters reported. “The occupiers will try to pull the occupied territories into a single quasi-state structure and pit it against independent Ukraine,” Budanov said in a statement released by the Defense Ministry. But he said Ukrainian guerrilla warfare would prevent that from happening. Russia has said its invasion is focused on recognizing the independence of Ukraine's Donbas region, which has been partially controlled by Russia-backed separatists since 2014. The Russian Defense Ministry said last week Moscow had accomplished that goal, and would be moving to secure the "liberation" of Donetsk and Luhansk, two areas within Donbas. Budanov's comments came a day

Oscars 2022: 'CODA' wins best picture, Will Smith and Jessica Chastain take acting honors

  "That was the greatest night in the history of television."  Chris Rock and Will Smith  exchanged words – and a memorable slap  – on a wild Oscar night that also handed out some awards to the best films of last year . The heartwarming Apple TV+ dramedy "CODA"  won best picture at the 94th Academy Awards  while Smith and Jessica Chastain took home the top acting prizes. Led by Ukrainian-born actress Mila Kunis, the Oscars also stood in solidarity with those under Russian attack in Ukraine . "We'd like to have a moment of silence to show our support for the people of Ukraine currently facing invasion, conflict and prejudice within their own borders," read a card presented onscreen.

Ohio cop Nicholas Reardon cleared in fatal shooting of teenager Ma’Khia Bryant

Bryant was killed in April by Columbus police officer Nicholas Reardon as she swung a knife at a young woman, just seconds after pushing another woman to the ground. Bryant was Black and Reardon is white. Police were responding to a 911 call made from Bryant’s foster home about a group of girls threatening to stab members of the household. The killing led to a Justice Department review of the police department in Ohio’s capital city. Bryant was shot four times and died from her injuries. The coroner listed the cause of death as a homicide — a medical determination used in cases where someone has died at someone else’s hand, but not a legal finding. It doesn’t imply criminal intent. Bryant’s killing further heightened tensions in Ohio’s capital city  over fatal police shootings of Black people , and also cast a light on the state’s foster care system.  

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff during a tour of the Denver Mint

  Yellen: COVID-19 aid funds will help U.S. withstand Ukraine war economic turmoil

Elementary school student tells Biden remote schooling made it 'hard to learn about stuff

President Biden traveled to Philadelphia Friday, where he toured Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School and spoke with students, one of whom expressed gratitude for the return of in-person learning and physical interaction with her friends. "I want to say thank you to you for letting us go back to school because in computer it was hard to learn about stuff," the student told Biden. "And in person you can see our friends and hug them and can learn more in person."  

Russia-Ukraine war latest news: conflict at ‘turning point’, says Zelenskiy; fears Belarus could join invasion – live

  Russian forces edging closer to capital, satellite images show; US tells the UN that Russia has a history of using chemical and biological weapons , after Russia warned about the potential for the ‘uncontrolled spread of bio agents’ What we know on day 17 of the Russian invasion Full report: Russia widens attack to more cities EU leaders announce intention to collectively rearm in face of Putin threat Ukraine renews effort to deliver supplies and evacuate Mariupol Tell us: how have you been affected?

Why seniors may face $10.5 billion more in Social Security taxes in 2022

Although it may come as a surprise for many seniors, Social Security benefits are sometimes taxed on the federal level. In fact, seniors lose billions of dollars each year due to the taxes they owe on their retirement benefits. And the amount they'll have to pay will be much higher in 2022. In fact, according to The Senior Citizens League , retirees will collectively pay an extra $10.5 billion in taxes on their retirement benefits in 2022 compared to the amount paid in 2021. That is based on the 2021 Social Security Trustees Report, indicating that the program will collect more than $45 billion in revenue in 2022, up from $34.5 billion in 2021. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER:    The Daily Money delivers our top personal finance stories to your inbox Seniors will owe a lot more in Social Security taxes in 2022 According to The Senior Citizens League, there's one big reason retirees will pay more than $10.5 billion in additional Social Security taxes in 2022 than they ow

GM partners with utility companies to use future EVs to power homes

n Tuesday, GM announced a collaboration with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The two will test the use of GM's EVs as on-demand power sources for homes in PG&E’s service area in California. PG&E, which is a utility company that serves 16 million people across Northern and central California, is taking the lead in the pilot, but GM said the intention is to make this capability national as soon as possible. “GM’s collaboration with PG&E further expands our electrification strategy, demonstrating our EVs as reliable mobile sources of power," GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. "Our teams are working to rapidly scale this pilot and bring bidirectional charging technology to our customers." Bidirectional charging GM has said it will have more than 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by the end of 2025. GM promises to bring 30 new EVs to market on its Ultium Platform, a combined EV architecture and propulsion system, that will un

'It's not fun:' Soaring gas prices are walloping Americans but hitting lower-income hardest

 Lee Bryant, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was already struggling to meet expenses because he lost his job as a human resources manager for a department store chain during the pandemic and had to take a lower-paying supervisory position at a rival company.

Uber adding a surcharge to rides, food deliveries to help drivers cope with high gas prices

Uber customers can expect to pay a surcharge on their rides and delivery orders in the coming weeks to help ease the pain at the pump for drivers.  The surcharge costs are based on the average trip distance and increase in gas price in each state.   "Beginning Wednesday, March 16, consumers will pay a surcharge of either $0.45 or $0.55 on each Uber trip and either $0.35 or $0.45 on each Uber Eats order, depending on their location – with 100% of that money going directly to workers’ pockets," according to a Friday statement from Liza Winship, Uber’s head of driver operations in the U.S. and Canada.  Uber will reassess the surcharge after 60 days.   

International Women's Day and small business: What's changed in the past 30 years?

March is Women’s History Month, and March 8 is International Women’s Day. I started my first business in 1986. In so many ways, it’s better to be a woman in business today than 30 years ago, but we still have a long way to go to make the American workplace – including small businesses – truly female friendly. As a woman who’s been in the business world for three decades, I thought this would be a good time to look what’s changed for female small business owners and entrepreneurs, what hasn’t changed, and, alas, what’s gotten worse. Here goes: What’s changed for the better? Expectations of what women can accomplish. My first job in San Francisco included fundraising. Many of those interviewing me didn’t believe a woman could raise funds, especially from wealthy men. Now, it is (generally) understood that a woman can succeed in virtually any field.  

Joe Buck will leave Fox Sports, join ESPN to become voice of 'Monday Night Football

  The new voice of "Monday Night Football" will link up with his old teammate from their former network. Joe Buck, formerly the lead play-by-play voice for Fox Sports' NFL broadcasts, has joined ESPN to handle play-by-play duties for ESPN's only NFL broadcast, Buck's wife Michelle Beisner-Buck confirmed Friday  in an Instagram post . The New York Post had reported earlier in the day that Fox had allowed Buck to speak to ESPN and that Buck was expected to jump to the network for "Monday Night Football" duties. Beisner-Buck is currently a features reporter for ESPN, and her stories air during "Monday Night Countdown," the show that precedes the game.

Dollar General creating 10,000 new jobs in 2022

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  Discount retail chain Dollar General plans on hiring another 10,000 workers by the end of the fiscal year as it continues expanding. The company announced Friday that filling the new positions for stores, distribution centers and its private fleet of drivers will mean a 6% boost to its current workforce, as it plans for opening another 1,110 locations.

Ukraine invasion: US gas prices jump as oil surges

Prices at the pump have climbed 23 cents nationwide over the course of the week despite efforts by several governments to quell the rise in oil.   Friday's prices, up 11 cents from Thursday, marked the single largest day increase, since 2016, according to AAA data.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS The average price of a regular gallon of gasoline increased to $3.84, which steadily climbed over the week from $3.61 on Monday, according to AAA data.  Prices are up $1.08 compared to this time last year, inching closer to costing $4 on average for a regular gallon of gasoline.  

Pentagon wants Moscow back channels to prevent nuclear escalation

  When Gen. Mark Milley emerged from six hours of tense talks with his Russian counterpart in Helsinki last September, the Joint Chiefs chair looked almost buoyant . Or at least as chipper as the gruff soldier of more than 40 years ever gets in public. “When military leaders of great powers communicate, the world is a safer place,” Milley said, striking an optimistic tone. Now, just five months later, with Russian military forces pummeling Ukraine from the air, land and sea, Milley’s paean to a common understanding with Moscow is virtually dead. But his relationship with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces, is at the center of a highly sensitive behind-the-scenes effort to prevent the biggest war in Europe in generations from spinning into a wider conflict. It’s a situation that became more urgent on Sunday, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear forces on high alert after a series of what he called “aggres

Pentagon sets up hotline with Russia to avert Ukraine ‘miscalculation’

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  The Pentagon has established a new hotline with Russia’s ministry of defense to prevent “miscalculation, military incidents and escalation” in the region as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine advances, a US official told Reuters on Thursday. The US says it has no troops in Ukraine but it and Nato allies in Europe are worried about potential spillover, including accidents, as Russia stages the largest assault on a European state since the second world war. Russia’s war in Ukraine: complete guide in maps, video and pictures Read more The US and its allies are also channeling millions of dollars’ worth of weaponry to Ukraine’s armed forces, which are using the arms against Russian troops, despite Moscow’s warnings against foreign interference. “The Department of the Defense recently established a de-confliction line with the Russian ministry of defense on March 1 for the purposes of preventing miscalculation, military incidents, and escalation,” a senior US defense official sai

Russian billionaires lose $80 billion in wealth

Sanctions on oligarchs, along with the collapse of the Russian ruble, have swiftly brought the end of an era for an entire class of Russian elites. Two megayachts have already been seized over the past day — Alisher Usmanov’s 500-foot Dilbar and Igor Sechin’s 280-foot Amore Velo. Russia’s top billionaires have lost more than $80 billion in wealth in recent weeks, with more to come as sanctions and seizures start to bite. The economic turmoil surrounding President Vladimir Putin ’s invasion of Ukraine has erased about a third of the wealth of Russia’s 20 richest billionaires in recent weeks, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The impact of sanctions on oligarchs, along with the collapse of the Russian ruble and economy and global outrage over Ukraine, have swiftly brought the end of an era for an entire class of Russian elites around the world.  

Navy recovers stealth F-35 from South China Sea

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The U.S. Navy said Thursday it has recovered the stealth F-35C fighter jet that fell into the South China Sea after a crash landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in late January. The jet's resting place in international waters had fueled speculation that China might want to attempt its own salvage operations of the world's most advanced stealth fighter jet. On Jan. 24 while conducting regular flight operations in the South China Sea the jet crashed on the carrier's deck while attempting a landing. It ultimately slid off of the deck into the ocean waters and seven sailors, including the pilot, were injured in the crash. The Navy said shortly after the incident that it would attempt to recover the jet that ultimately was located at a depth of more than two miles.  

Live updates: Macron says Putin ‘refuses’ to halt attacks

  PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he has again asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Ukraine, but that Putin won’t do it. “At this point, he refuses,” Macron wrote in Twitter post. He confirmed that he had spoken to Putin on the phone earlier on Thursday and said he will continue the dialogue to prevent “more human tragedy.” “We must prevent the worst from happening,” Macron also said in his post. Dialogue has to continue to “protect the (civilian) population, to obtain good will gestures ... to put an end to this war,” Macron said. ___ BREST, Belarus — A Ukrainian official who attended talks with Russians on Thursday said that “regrettably, we haven’t reached results we were hoping for,” but emphasized the importance of humanitarian corridors, saying that many cities have been besieged by the Russian troops and are experiencing a dramatic shortage of food and medicines.

Over a dozen injured, 5 seriously, in a Maryland residential building fire, explosion, officials say

 An explosion that wrought "catastrophic damage" Thursday to a garden-style four-story building in Silver Spring, Maryland, has left over a dozen injured, five seriously, a Montgomery County Fire Department public information officer said. Firefighters immediately made several rescues, said spokesperson Pete Piringer. All priority-one patients have been transported or are in transit to a hospital, he said.  "I think there were people we were looking for and I think they've been accounted for," said Piringer. "Again, that's preliminary, but we did make several rescues." The fire department was called in for an explosion at the apartment around 10:30 a.m., Piringer said. Firefighters encountered heavy fire, he said.  Piringer said the four-story apartment building, which had between 12 and 18 units, sustained heavy structural damage. Though the fire has been contained, fire personnel have evacuated nearby buildings. There are currentl

Russia-Ukraine war scams hitting you via email, phone, and social media

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is nearly 6,000 miles from our border, but it’s likely already affecting you here at home. You probably see a hit to your 401(k) and financial portfolio . As those go down, gas prices are going up . Tap or click here for simple ways to find the best gas prices in your area. Whenever there's an event of mass impact, hackers, scammers, and thieves take advantage of the situation. Note that scammers will contact you via calls, text, email, or social media. If you have anyone older in your family, they are very susceptible to falling for these scams. Share this post with them on your social media or email this post with a link. Here's a list of scams we can expect to see as the Russia-Ukraine war heats up:  

Fitbit recalls 1 million Ionic smartwatches sold at Target, Best Buy, Amazon, Kohl's for burn risk

Fitbit issued a product recall for about 1 million of its Ionic smartwatches because the device's battery could overheat and pose a burn risk to users. According to a statement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Fitbit received at least 115 reports in the U.S. of the lithium ion battery used in the watch overheating. The agency said it received 78 reports of burn injuries, with four reports of second-degree burns and two reports of third-degree burns. In an emailed statement to USA TODAY, Fitbit said incidents like this are "very rare" and do not impact the company's other smartwatches or fitness trackers.  

Biden says making more goods in the US, like cars and chips, will lower inflation. Can his plan work?

  Inflation, which is at a 40-year high, is a top concern among Americans across the political spectrum and played a prominent role in President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address .   After touting economic gains since he took office, Biden said that “too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills.”

Russia's wealthiest man - worth almost $22 billion - hit by EU sanctions because of his ties to Putin, Russian officials

  Alexei Mordashov, Russia's richest man and largest shareholder of Severstal, one of Russia‘s biggest steelmakers, has been blacklisted by the Europe Union as of Monday. Mordashov is also chair of Severgroup, which the EU said controls television stations that promote Moscow’s policies of destabilizing Ukraine. The EU also said Rossiya Bank, in which Mordashov is a shareholder, is the “personal bank” of senior Russian officials who have profited from the occupation of Crimea. On Monday, the EU announced sanctions against presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov and 24 other Russians, including politicians, businessmen, top managers and journalists close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Gas prices in many US cities will hit $5 in 'weeks.' Some are already higher

  Get ready to pay even more at the pump – perhaps as much as $5 per gallon or more . Some consumers are already paying more than that:  The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in San Francisco hit the $5 mark Thursday. That's the first time a U.S. city has hit an average that high, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at fuel-savings app GasBuddy. But the entire state of California will likely hit  that mark in the next week or two, and major citiesnationwide will likely follow suit, De Haan told USA TODAY. "Some large cities could hit $5/gal but not yet immediately," he said. Gas prices topping $4 per gallon by Memorial Day had been predicted prior to Russia's attack on Ukraine.  Gas prices are rising: What can Biden do to lower costs at the pump amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine?

'It could happen tomorrow': Experts know disaster upon disaster looms for West Coast

  It's the elevators that worry earthquake engineering expert Keith Porter the most.  Scientists say a massive quake could strike the San Francisco Bay Area at any moment. And when it does, the city can expect to be slammed with a force equal to hundreds of atomic bombs. Porter said the shaking will quickly cut off power in many areas. That means  unsuspecting people will be trapped between floors in elevators without backup power . At peak commute times, the number of those trapped could be in the thousands.

Gas prices are up. What can Biden do to lower costs at the pump amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine?

President Joe Biden has warned that defending freedom in Ukraine will cost Americans, and many are starting to feel the pinch at the pump . The national average price for gasoline hit $3.66 a gallon on Wednesday, up 34% from a year ago, according to AAA.  "I will do everything in my power to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump," Biden said last month .  

'Bombs, bombs, bombs': Ukrainian refugees describe harrowing journey to Poland

 MEDYKA, on the Ukraine-Poland border — For the second time in less than a decade, Europe is on the front lines of a major refugee crisis and facing chaotic scenes of dislocation, impassable crowds, overflowing trains and a seemingly endless supply of vulnerable and exhausted women, children and the elderly carrying all they can to temporary destinations and

Black and brown refugees are once again being turned away in Europe amid Ukraine migrant crisis

The United Nations expects more than 4 million people to leave Ukraine in what could become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. The head of the U.N. Refugee Agency has acknowledged some refugees fleeing Ukraine have faced "a different treatment" at the border. Europe’s swift response to refugees from Ukraine contrasts sharply with responses to refugees from conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Libya and Yemen, experts say.  

Ukraine says pact reached with Russia to create safe corridors backed by cease-fires for evacuations, aid: Live updates

Ukraine said it has agreed with Russia to create safe corridors backed by cease-fires to evacuate civilians and deliver aid as a second round of negotiations began Thursday amid  Russia's ferocious assault  on its neighbor. Officials from both nations are meeting in Belarus as the war entered its second week. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine accept “demilitarization," declare itself neutral and drop its bid to join NATO.  Earlier Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Putin for 90 minutes and now believes “the worst is yet to come," a Macron aide told France24. Putin reportedly vowed to conduct an “uncompromising fight" in Ukraine. Ukraine’s major cities have come under heavy bombardment, a senior Defense Department official said Thursday. About 90% of the 150,000 combat forces Putin deployed to Ukraine’s borders are now inside the country, said the official, who described military movements on condition of a

Snoop Dogg could be facing a potential lawsuit from Uber Eats driver

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Snoop Dogg  is facing a potential lawsuit from an Uber Eats driver. Read More: The biggest moments from the Super Bowl Halftime Show 2022 On his Instagram story last month, Snoop complained about an Uber Eats driver who allegedly failed to deliver his order. Snoop’s video message, included a message exchange with the driver, his name and other personal information including his photo and license plate number. Snoop also said the driver “from fucking Uber Eats didn’t bring my fucking food. Talking about he arrived. ‘This is not a safe place.’.. where my food at n****? You got all my goddamn money, punk.” According to  CBS Los Angeles , the Uber Eats employee now plans to file a lawsuit. “There’s my picture there and also there is my first name. After I saw the video, I’m kind of like, I have high anxiety and I fear for my family’s safety. I contacted the customer many times and I followed the protocol by the book,” the driver, named Sayd, said. In the messages, the employ

Snoop Dogg Now Owns Death Row’s Music Catalog — With Some Exceptions

Earlier this month, it was reported that Snoop Dogg had acquired Death Row Records’ brand , but was still hammering out negotiations for the accompanying catalog. Today, Billboard reports that he’s officially completed those negotiations and now owns the masters for both of his albums under the label, Doggystyle and The Doggfather , as well as those for his 213 associates Daz Dillinger and Kurupt, along with Lady of Rage and the compilations and soundtracks Death Row released throughout the ’90s. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, that impressive collection of music does not include a few of the most well-known Death Row releases . Dr. Dre’s The Chronic is set to be returned to Snoop’s longtime collaborator sometime next year (August at the latest), while Tupac Shakur’s seminal classic All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (as Makavelli) have already reverted to Amaru Entertainment and the Tupac estate. Snoop might not miss those exc
  R ick Ross is bridging the gap between local law enforcement and the community. Georgia's South Fulton Police Department, based out of College Park, Ga., shared on their Instagram page on Sunday (Feb. 27) that Rozay bought lunch for one of their captains. The law enforcement agency, located in the Atlanta metro area, shared the post on their Facebook as well on Friday (Feb. 25), which is when Ross' act of generosity appears to have actually taken place. "Look who bought Captain R. McCain lunch today at Subway on Old National Highway," the post began. "The BOSS Rick Ross, @richforever He said no Police Officer will ever pay for lunch if he is around. We need more like him. Thanks To The BOSS Rick Ross! #CommunityPolicing #SouthFultonStrong 💪🏽 Read More: Rick Ross Pays for Police Officer's Lunch - XXL | https://www.xxlmag.com/rick-ross-pays-police-officer-lunch/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral R ick Ross is bridging the gap between l

Rick Ross Cut Down His Own Trees After Someone Tried to Charge Him $10,000

Sometimes bosses need to take care of their own business.  Taking to his Instagram Stories over the weekend, Rick Ross gave fans an inside look at his lumberjack aspirations, after he decided he needed to chop down 10 massive oak trees on his property for the sake of his farm animals . The task seemed straight forward enough for Rozzay, but he when he got a quote of $10,000—$1,000 for each tree—from an outside contractor, he knew he needed to take matters into his own hands.  “I just told my homie, ‘You go to Home Depot and you go get me the biggest motherfuckin’ saw there is with a big chain, and you crank that motherfucker. Imma cut the trees down.’ You heard me? The thing about business, I’m hands on so Imma handle my own… Hold on, I need someone to hit Kanye and tell Kanye I need some of them boots, I’m going to cut the tree down. I need some boots. Yeezy! I need them boots, baby!” Shortly after his declaration, Ross could be seen rocking a large cowboy-esque hat as

Diddy Retells His 15 Cockroaches Story as a Way to Motivate People

  Diddy is again circling back to his now-infamous cockroach story as a way to motivate others. “When I woke up, I swear to God I had like 15 roaches on my face,” the hip-hop mogul recalls in a new video. “Don’t ask me how I know it was 15, but I promise you it was more than 15. But I don’t wanna really like bug you out. All over my face and I said, ‘Never again.’ I said, ‘Never again’ and I fucking did it.” He went on to say, “And if I did it, you can do it. … Fuck that, look at this shit I’m looking [at].”  Diddy went viral for speaking about the experience last summer in an Instagram post that saw him eating some mango in a pool against the backdrop of the ocean. “At that moment I said hell no, I refuse to live like this. Work hard, believe in your crazy dreams…AND NEVER SETTLE!” he wrote at the time.