French president Emmanuel Macron wins re-election: a victory with deep challenges Mathias Bernard, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA) Emmanuel Macron’s decisive victory over Marine Le Pen in the second round of France’s presidential election on 24 April 2022 is no surprise. For more than a year, opinion polls had been predicting it. As early as April 2021, the leading … [Read more...] about French president Emmanuel Macron wins re-election: a victory with deep challenges
Calling Russia’s War in Ukraine ‘Genocide:’ Does it Matter?
By Jonathan S. Tobin When President Joe Biden used the word genocide to describe Russia’s actions in Ukraine, it raised some eyebrows. But it didn’t generate the same kind of pushback some of his other previous unscripted remarks about that conflict, such as his call for regime change in Moscow or his threats to use chemical warfare against Russia. Nevertheless, the White … [Read more...] about Calling Russia’s War in Ukraine ‘Genocide:’ Does it Matter?
GOOFY KILLS MICKEY
Republicans have learned they can do pretty much whatever they want. No matter how devious and corrupt their actions are, Republicans can do it plain and clear in the open and get away with it. Ron DeSantis has learned from Donald Trump that if you’re the leader of your party, which he is in Florida (for now), the rest of his party will follow. No questions asked. Florida … [Read more...] about GOOFY KILLS MICKEY
Exclusive-Twitter set to accept Musk’s $43 billion offer – sources
Published by ReutersBy Greg Roumeliotis NEW YORK (Reuters) -Twitter Inc is poised to agree a sale to Elon Musk for around $43 billion in cash, the price the CEO of Tesla has called his "best and final" offer for the social media company, people familiar with the matter said. Twitter may announce the $54.20-per-share deal later on Monday once its board has met to recommend the … [Read more...] about Exclusive-Twitter set to accept Musk’s $43 billion offer – sources
France’s Macron beats Le Pen to win second term
Published by Reuters UKBy Mimosa Spencer, Juliette Jabkhiro and Layli Foroudi PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron defeated his far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Sunday by a comfortable margin, securing a second term and heading off what would have been a political earthquake. Cheers of joy erupted as the results appeared on a giant screen at the Champ de Mars park … [Read more...] about France’s Macron beats Le Pen to win second term
Weed is legal, now it’s time for clemency | Sheneman
Published by NJ.comA year and a half ago, New Jersey voters resoundingly voted in favor of legalizing adult-use recreational marijuana, this past Thursday it finally became a reality. There are common-sense safeguards in place to make sure medical users have priority should supply become limited, that large commercial growers don’t swallow the market and that the communities of … [Read more...] about Weed is legal, now it’s time for clemency | Sheneman
Macron or Le Pen: France faces stark choice for president
Published by ReutersBy Mimosa Spencer, Juliette Jabkhiro and Layli Foroudi PARIS (Reuters) -The French voted on Sunday in an election that will decide whether pro-European Union, centrist President Emmanuel Macron keeps his job or is unseated by far-right eurosceptic Marine Le Pen in what would amount to a political earthquake. Opinion polls in recent days gave Macron a solid … [Read more...] about Macron or Le Pen: France faces stark choice for president
The Sounds of Nature: Vying for UNESCO World Heritage Status
While each of our five senses can induce strong memories and evoke strong emotions, the sense of smell is said to be the strongest and quickest memory inducer. “Certain smells can trigger vivid memories almost instantaneously,” writes Christian Roemer in "Memory and the Senses: Which One Is Strongest?" It certainly is the case with this writer. When I smell the scent of … [Read more...] about The Sounds of Nature: Vying for UNESCO World Heritage Status
Republican Kevin McCarthy under fire after audio shows he discussed urging Trump to resign
Published by ReutersBy David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, came under fire from some of his fellow party members, after an audio recording showed him saying that then-President Donald Trump should resign over the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. The comments, which McCarthy had denied hours … [Read more...] about Republican Kevin McCarthy under fire after audio shows he discussed urging Trump to resign
The Deepwater Horizon disaster was not a “spill”
The Deepwater Horizon disaster began on 20 April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico south of Louisiana on a BP-operated oil drilling rig. First came the explosion that killed 11 people in a 126 person crew. Two days later, on 22 April 2010, the oil rig capsized. Once that happened, "the damaged pipe below the rig began spewing oil into the surrounding water." This was not a … [Read more...] about The Deepwater Horizon disaster was not a “spill”
CNN+ is being axed one month after its launch
R.I.P CNN+. Warner Bros. Discovery is shutting it down April 30, a month after its highly touted launch which included CNN+ getting Chris Wallace from Fox News. Was it a concept that was killed to soon or a concept that should never have gone from concept to reality? Warner Bros. Discovery is shutting down CNN+ as of April 30, marking one of the company’s first … [Read more...] about CNN+ is being axed one month after its launch
Putin claims victory in Mariupol, U.S. to send more guns and money
Published by ReutersBy Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the biggest battle of the war in Ukraine on Thursday, declaring the port city of Mariupol "liberated" after nearly two months of siege. However, hundreds of fighters and civilians in dozens of bunkers were still holed up inside a huge steel works. Putin ordered his troops … [Read more...] about Putin claims victory in Mariupol, U.S. to send more guns and money
A big night for India’s Sikh community and its North American diaspora
I’m visiting Delhi after an 8 year absence. My heart and head are reeling from the sounds and sights of this beloved ancient city crowded with old forts, Muslim mosques, Churches, Hindu temples and Sikh Gurudwaras (temples). Thursday night is a big night for India’s Sikh community, which includes expatriates who are now among the most successful people in the United … [Read more...] about A big night for India’s Sikh community and its North American diaspora
Putin’s Ukraine war is alarming Kremlin insiders
Russian President Vladmir Putin's war with Ukraine has produced big favorable polling numbers in Russia. But Kremlin insiders are worried about the war and it's longterm impact on Russia, Bloomberg News reports. And Putin? His mind is made up to continue the war and his hold on power remains secure. Almost eight weeks after Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, … [Read more...] about Putin’s Ukraine war is alarming Kremlin insiders
Netflix shares plunge as subscribers drop
Published by AFPSan Francisco (AFP) - Netflix shares lost a quarter of their value Tuesday after the company revealed its ranks of subscribers shrank in the first quarter of this year. It was the first time in a decade that the leading streaming television service had lost subscribers. The company blamed the quarter-over-quarter erosion to suspension of its service in Russia … [Read more...] about Netflix shares plunge as subscribers drop
TESTICULAR TUCKER
Once again, I’m not making this up. On last Friday’s Tucker Carlson Tonight, or whatever that show’s called, its host, Tucker Carlson, talked about testicles. Is it just me, or is Tucker kinda obsessed with men? I’m detecting a pattern here. He has a new documentary coming out titled, “The End of Men.” There is a trailer full of muscular topless men that looks more like an … [Read more...] about TESTICULAR TUCKER
How the image of a besieged and victimized Russia came to be so ingrained in the country’s psyche
Russia sees itself as a perennial target. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images Gregory Carleton, Tufts University The range of anti-Russian measures taken by countries around the world since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is virtually unprecedented and hearkens back to the darkest days of the Cold War. They’ve assumed many forms but … [Read more...] about How the image of a besieged and victimized Russia came to be so ingrained in the country’s psyche
America: Still ‘A Nation of Immigrants’
A little less than five years ago, The Moderate Voice (TMV) published a five-part series titled “Reflections of a ‘Nation of Immigrants." The series was a compilation of stories submitted by TMV contributors and regular readers who themselves or their ancestors immigrated to “The Land of Promise.” The stories share how they and their ancestors became part of our “melting … [Read more...] about America: Still ‘A Nation of Immigrants’
How Does the Russian- Ukrainian War End?
There are many different possible scenarios about how the Russian-Ukrainian war might end. The main factor standing in the way of a settlement is the fact that Putin cannot lose face, unless he dies or is deposed, both of which seem unlikely. Thus far, Russian troops have performed abominably, being unable to conquer Kviv or any major city aside from Kherson. They have … [Read more...] about How Does the Russian- Ukrainian War End?
What We Get Wrong About Putin’s Motivations. And Money.
Seven weeks into the Ukrainian invasion our collective media is still wasting time kvetching about Putin's personal wealth, yachts-yachts-yachts, and the oligarchs surrounding him: like any of these will move the needle on his decision making. Such speculation is pointless. We know how in autocracies the lackeys misinform the dictators. Even our own mini-autocrat, our last … [Read more...] about What We Get Wrong About Putin’s Motivations. And Money.