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Showing posts from April, 2023

Pakistan police allege 2 clerics raped boy in seminary

Pakistani police say they have arrested two Muslim clerics for allegedly raping a 10-year-old boy in a religious school in eastern Punjab province MULTAN, Pakistan -- Pakistani police arrested two Muslim clerics for allegedly raping a 10-year-old boy in a religious school in eastern Punjab province, officials said Sunday. Chaudhry Imran, a spokesman for the Khanewal district police , said the attack happened Saturday when the boy's uncle went to visit his nephew and arrived to find him being raped by a cleric in a side room of the school while another cleric waited. Imran said a complaint was filed by the boy's uncle alleging the 10-year-old was abused by two clerics in the seminary where he has been studying for the last year. Imran said police did an initial investigation and then arrested two suspects. He said the boy was admitted to a local hospital suffering trauma and physical injuries. The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually abu

FIM announces new Women’s World Championship for 2024

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In a special press conference on Saturday at the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix, Dorna Sports and the FIM unveiled this new championship. The FIM Women’s World Championship will take place over six rounds in 2024 in Europe and will be part of the World Superbike support bill. The series will be a single-make championship, though no manufacturer has been lined up. It is hoped the level of bike will be close to Supersport level. Unlike the FIM Women’s European Championship, which races at Supersport 300 level, the Women’s World Championship is being billed as a “final destination” for female racers rather than a talent cup to help progress young riders up the ladder. FIM President Jorge Viegas said: “Since it’s the first time ever we are going to start since 1904, we are going to start next year with the FIM’s Women’s World Championship. “We gave a lot of thought, we had a lot of demand. As we do already in motocross, enduro and trials, we are starting a women’s world championshi

Europe's economy barely grows as inflation pinches consumers

The European economy has scraped out meager growth of 0.1% in the first three months of the year FRANKFURT, Germany -- The European economy scraped out meager growth of 0.1% in the first three months of the year, barely gaining momentum after dodging a winter recession as challenges persist from inflation that corrodes people’s willingness to spend. Friday’s less-than-stellar figure follows disappointing growth estimates from the U.S. a day earlier that kept alive fears of a looming recession in the world’s largest economy . The 20 countries that use the euro currency picked up speed in the first quarter after zero growth in the last three months of 2022. The eurozone avoided a winter recession thanks to mild weather that alleviated pressure on natural gas supplies. European governments and utilities also scrambled to line up additional sources to heat homes, generate electricity and power factories after Russia cut off most supply to the continent over its war against Ukraine. Industr

Schumacher: F1 would still prosper without Verstappen

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Ralf Schumacher says Formula 1 would continue to thrive even if Max Verstappen follows through on his threat to quit the sport. The reigning World Champion has in recent weeks been vocal in his criticism of the direction F1 is heading in, having stated his opposition to the Sprint weekend format. Verstappen has also criticised the proposed expansion of the F1 calendar to 25 races, which the sport's powerbrokers seem keen to follow through on. The Dutchman is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but says he could walk away from F1 if he feels there are too many additions and revisions to its current format. Schumacher told Sky Deutschland that he understood Verstappen's displeasure with elements of F1's current state, highlighting several complaints that arose after the number of restart procedures at the Australian Grand Prix. "I agree with [Verstappen] on that point. It's a huge burden for the driver," said Schumacher, who won six Grands Prix

Kenya case sparks memories of worst cult-related mass deaths

At least 90 bodies have been found at the ranch of a Kenyan pastor who is accused of telling his followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus At least 90 bodies have been found at the ranch of a pastor in Kenya who is accused of telling his followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus, and the death toll could rise with the Kenya Red Cross Society saying 213 people are missing. It has sparked memories of some of the world's worst cases of cult-related mass deaths . JONESTOWN More than 900 men, women and children died when American preacher and Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones orchestrated a ritual of mass suicide and murder by ordering followers to drink a cyanide-laced grape drink at their jungle settlement in Guyana in 1978. The settlement and the cult deaths gained worldwide infamy as Jonestown. Although the deaths were initially referred to as mass suicide, survivors claimed some followers were shot, injected with poison, or forced to drink the beverage by

Youngkin meets with Taiwan's leader during trade mission

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has met with the president of Taiwan to discuss mutual trade and investment initiatives and other business matters RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin met with the president of Taiwan on Monday to discuss mutual trade and investment initiatives and other business matters, his office said, and he signed an executive order establishing an economic development office in Taipei. The visit by Youngkin, who has been considered a possible 2024 presidential contender and has not publicly ruled out a run, came on Day 1 of his first international trade mission — and amid heightened tensions between the United States and China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and treats dealings between U.S. and Taiwanese officials as a challenge. Following his meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, the Republican governor, along with the rest of the Virginia delegation, is also expected to visit Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, as the trade mission continues this week

Lead in the water: How some of America's water became too dangerous to drink

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Nearly 60 million Americans may not know they’re drinking from toxic metal in present day, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. Nearly 60 million Americans may not know they're drinking from toxic metal in present day, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. The U.S. currently holds approximately 9.2 lead service lines underground, according to a recent survey released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. faces crisis after crisis in the country's water infrastructure system, lead service lines continue to be a silent and deadly consequence – a decision determined by U.S. engineers more than 150 years ago. Volunteers distribute pallets of bottled water to residents at the Abundant Life Church of God in Benton Harbor, Mich., Oct. 19, 2021. Bloomberg via Getty Images History The engineering concept was originally initiated in the Ancient Roman era – lead pipes were designed to channel clean water into its city and sweep ou

Elephant dies at Pakistani zoo days after procedure

Pakistani officials say an ailing elephant who underwent a critical medical procedure by a team of international experts earlier this month has died KARACHI, Pakistan -- An ailing elephant who underwent a critical medical procedure by a team of international veterinarians earlier this month has died at a Pakistani zoo, officials said Saturday. Noor Jehan, 17 years old, was brought to Karachi with three other elephants more than a dozen years ago. She died after an accident just days after the procedure performed by a team of experts based in Austria to assess her condition, said Kanwar Ayub, a top official at the Karachi zoo. Syed Saifur Rehman, the top local government official in Karachi, said city and zoo administrators did all they could to comfort the long-ailing elephant after the procedure this month. “Sadly we could not save Noor Jehan despite making all efforts including bringing in a team of foreign experts for her treatment,” he said. Videos of Noor Jehan leaning her head

Arsenal fixtures: Final six games in Premier League title race after Southampton draw

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Arsenal's pursuit of Premier League glory took another bump as they slumped to a 3-3 draw with Southampton on Friday. Having built a reputation for throwing away leads recently, the Gunners had to come from behind this time around but, all that heart aside, the reality is three straight draws have well and truly opened the door to Manchester City. Here's who Mikel Arteta's side will face in their final six Premier League Game s of the season as they target a first title since 2003/04. Manchester City vs Arsenal It's another meeting between Arteta and Guardiola / Michael Regan/GettyImages Has anyone told you how big a game this is? Because, y'know, in the context of the Premier League title race, it's pretty defining. The Gunners could establish a large lead at the top of the table by avoiding defeat at the Etihad and with City in such unstoppable form right now, anything other than a loss will be a great result. 26/04/2023 - Manchester City v Arsenal (20:00) -

WH analysis of GOP deficit plan: job losses, poorer kids

The White House has gone through House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s plan to trim the deficit and its conclusion is that “the math is simple, but unforgiving." WASHINGTON -- The White House says the math in House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's plan to trim the federal deficit is "unforgiving” —- estimating a deep 22% cut to non-defense spending that would leave children poorer , veterans sicker, families hungrier and housing more expensive. “There is no escaping the pain to working families and our economic future,” White House budget director Shalanda Young concludes in a draft of an analysis obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday. President Joe Biden and GOP lawmakers are engaged in a tense showdown over federal finances, Republican House Speaker McCarthy insisting on spending cuts as a condition to raise the government's legal borrowing authority while Democrat Biden wants to keep budget talks separate from the critical debt limit action. McCarthy has criticized Biden

Teen pleads guilty in Iowa teacher's beating death

One of two Iowa teenagers charged in the beating death of an Iowa high school teacher has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder One of two Iowa teenagers charged in the beating death of an Iowa high school teacher has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Willard Miller changed his plea to guilty Tuesday morning and admitted that he served as a lookout while prosecutors say Jeremy Goodale beat 66-year-old Nohema Graber, their Spanish teacher at Fairfield High School. Prosecutors said the evidence shows that both Miller and Goodale struck Graber with a bat. Miller admitted helping plan and carry out the killing but denied ever hitting Graber. Investigators have said the attack was possibly regarding a dispute over grades in Graber's class. Graber's body was found in a Fairfield park in November 2021 hidden under a tarp, wheelbarrow and railroad ties. Fairfield is a town of about 9,400 people that’s some 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Des Moines. Prosecutors agreed to rec