News of the World

[kyonides]

World Bank Mishandled Sexual-Harassment Claims, Internal Tribunal Says

A labor tribunal found the bank ignored allegations of sexual harassment
by a senior official, now a Costa Rican presidential candidate

The World Bank failed to protect two young employees who filed sexual-harassment allegations against a veteran, high-ranking official who is now a presidential candidate in Costa Rica, according to findings released by the bank’s internal labor tribunal.

The World Bank Administrative Tribunal found that senior management under bank President David Malpass and his two predecessors didn’t adequately sanction Rodrigo Chaves. He was demoted—but not fired—despite a documented pattern of harassment that lasted at least four years and involved six women, according to case-related documents that were reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Mr. Chaves left the bank in 2019, weeks after he was demoted, to become Costa Rica’s finance minister.

The labor tribunal, which serves as a judicial forum of last resort for the bank’s 12,000 employees, released the 56-page ruling in June.
...
Mr. Chaves denied that he sexually harassed female colleagues. The complaints likely originated from “cultural differences and behaviors that, for other people, would not be offensive,” he said.
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In 2007, former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz quit over a memo he sent to the human-resources vice president, instructing him to arrange a pay increase and promotion for Mr. Wolfowitz’s girlfriend. Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned as the International Monetary Fund’s managing director in 2011 after he was accused of sexual assault in a New York hotel, although the charges were later dropped.
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Queried by the Journal, Mr. Chaves wrote that the lunchtime allegations referred to subjective perceptions of events that the woman found disturbing, but that there were no sexual advances or physical contact.

In 2013, Mr. Chaves was promoted, becoming country manager of Indonesia, a director-level position.
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In late 2019, the human-resources department imposed an administrative sanction on Mr. Chaves, including a demotion to a nonmanagerial position and a three-year salary freeze, for “inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature.” The department made no mention in its decision letter of sexual harassment, which under bank guidelines would have led to immediate dismissal.
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Four months after Mr. Chaves left the bank to become Costa Rica’s finance minister, the World Bank approved a $157 million loan to help the finance ministry improve Costa Rica’s tax collection and customs operations.
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In addition to its apology, the bank issued a “no rehire” flag and restricted access of Mr. Chaves to the World Bank and informed the IMF security team of those restrictions. The tribunal also ordered the bank to cover the women’s legal fees and costs.

The second round of the presidential elections in Costa Rica will take place on April 3rd, 2022.
Who will be the next Costa Rican President?
Former President Figueres who was involved in the Alcatel scandal?
Or former Finance Minister and lady stalker Chaves?

Zelenskyy representative blames US
other Budapest Memorandum signatories for Ukraine's war

A representative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described signatories to the Budapest Memorandum as a reason Ukraine is at war, citing their failure to hold up their end of the agreement.

"They signed their obligation to protect Ukraine, to provide the security and safety," Fedir Venislavsky, President Zelenskyy's representative to Ukraine's Constitutional Court, told Fox News.

"Which means when Ukraine gave up its nuclear potential … Ukraine was confident the other countries who have signed all of those agreements were going to guarantee its territorial integrity, it's independence and it's sovereignty."

"Unfortunately, we're deeply sorry" the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum and the Charter "did not perform" and "provide the security of Ukraine" and "there is a war because of that going on in our territory," Venislavsky explained.
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In a speech during Qatar's Doha Forum, President Zelenskyy called on the United Nations to do more to intervene in the conflict and aid Ukrainians.

DOJ backs antitrust bill targeting Amazon, Google, Apple

The Justice Department Monday endorsed legislation forbidding large digital platforms such as Amazon and Google from favoring their own products and services over competitors’, marking the Biden administration’s first full-throated support of the antitrust measure.
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The letter, obtained by The Wall Street Journal, expresses support for the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which the Senate’s judiciary panel approved in January in a bipartisan vote, as well as similar legislation moving through the House.

Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Apple Inc. and others oppose the proposed legislation, saying it would make it harder to offer popular services. The bills’ opponents also say it is fair for e-marketplaces, search engines and app stores to profit off their creations’ popularity.

The department’s letter throws its weight behind a different view: that the platforms’ dominant position gives them unchecked power to influence the fate of other businesses, and that restricting the platforms’ conduct would carry significant benefits.
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The Biden administration’s support boosts the prospects for passing the legislation, which has cleared key committees in the House and Senate.

But it still hasn’t received a vote on the floor of either chamber, and it faces industry resistance as well as skepticism on both sides of the aisle.

Biden's stumbles in discussing Ukraine invasion
evoke missteps during botched Afghanistan withdrawal

During a press conference Thursday at a NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, Biden said the U.S. would respond "in kind" if Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan later had to clarify that meant Russia would pay a "severe price," but that "the United States has no intention of using chemical weapons, period, under any circumstances."

During the same conference, Biden declared that "sanctions never deter" and that he never said the economic measures would stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine, despite members of the administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, explicitly stating that the sanctions were meant to deter.
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"And you're going to see when you're there… you're going to see women, young people standing – standing… in front of a damn tank, just saying, 'I'm not leaving. I'm holding my ground,'" Biden said.

A White House spokesperson later clarified: "The president has been clear we are not sending U.S. troops to Ukraine and there is no change in that position."
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During a speech in Poland on Saturday, Biden said Putin "cannot remain in power," signaling a significant change in U.S. policy toward the Kremlin. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later clarified that the U.S. is not looking for regime change in Russia.

In January, a month before Russia launched its invasion, Biden was slammed for appearing to downplay the potential for a "minor incursion" against Ukraine.
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The White House later clarified that a "renewed invasion" of Ukraine "will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies."

Well, if you accused your enemy of using controversial weaponry but later on you stated that you might use them against your foe as well, how exactly are you supposed to be the "good guy" there? Especially if you can be as mean and evil as your counterpart.

Russian oligarch, Ukraine peacekeepers suffer
suspected poisoning after Kyiv meeting

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and at least two senior Ukrainian peacekeepers suffered symptoms from a suspected poisoning attack but have since recovered, according to a report published Monday.

Following a meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv earlier this month, Abramovich and the two senior members of the Ukrainian peacekeeping team, including Crimean Tatar lawmaker Rustem Umerov and a second unnamed individual, began experiencing symptoms that included red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Citing unnamed sources familiar with the incident, the newspaper said it’s not clear who was responsible for the alleged attack, but the victims pointed to hardliners in Moscow trying to sabotage talks to end the war. Abramovich, Umerov and the third officials have since improved in condition and their lives are not in danger following the suspected poisoning, the sources said.

The sources added that Western experts said it was difficult to determine whether the symptoms were caused by a chemical or biological agent or by some sort of electromagnetic-radiation attack.
...

When contacted by Fox News, Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, denied information about the suspected poisoning.

A source at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry also told Fox News that The Journal’s article was the first time they heard about the poisoning and "Minister Reznikov feels good and is working."

'The Flash' star Ezra Miller arrested after Hawaii karaoke incident

Ezra Miller, who stars in the upcoming DC Comics film "The Flash," a reprise from his role in "Justice League," faces disorderly conduct charges after a bar incident in Hilo, Hawaii.

Police arrested Miller, 29, shortly after midnight on Monday, March 28, charging him with disorderly conduct and harassment, the Hawaii Police Department announced in a statement Tuesday.
...
"Miller began yelling obscenities and at one point grabbed the microphone from a 23-year-old woman singing karaoke (disorderly conduct offense) and later lunged at a 32-year-old man playing darts (harassment offense)," the police added. "The bar owner asked Miller to calm down several times to no avail."

Police set bail at $500. Miller provided the bail and was released.

[kyonides]

Russian Ambassador to Syria: Israel is Provoking Us to React

The Russian ambassador complained that Israeli strikes aim to "escalate tensions and allow the West to carry out military activities in Syria."

Just a month after Russia entered Ukrainian territory, and claimed that Donetsk and Lugansk are independent, the Bear can't stop complaining about Israel.

Russian Ambassador to Syria Alexander Efimov warned Thursday that Israeli strikes in Syria are “provoking” Russia to react, in one of the strongest Russian condemnations of Israeli operations in Syria.
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The statement comes amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which Israeli officials have condemned. Israel has also provided hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and opened a field hospital in the country.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid stressed during a conference at Reichmann University on Thursday that Israel has had to balance its security interests in Syria, which are coordinated with Russia, with its moral obligation to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

Earlier this month, the Russian embassy in Israel said that it saw military coordination with Israel in Syria continuing, saying: “Our military officials discuss the practical issues of this substantively on a daily basis. This mechanism has proven to be useful and will continue to work.”

In January, Syrian and Russian military jets jointly patrolled the airspace along Syria’s borders, including near the Golan Heights, with plans to make such flights regularly, the Interfax news agency quoted Russia’s defense ministry as saying.
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The last Israeli airstrike in Syria was reported on March 7 when an alleged Israeli airstrike targeted sites near the Damascus airport and the Al-Assad suburb, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reporting that two of its officers were killed in the strike.

The IRGC warned a few days after the attack that “the Zionist regime will undoubtedly pay the price for such a crime.”

So they criticize Israel for bullying them but they failed to admit that is exactly what they are doing to official Israeli territory as recognized by US government during Donald J. Trump's administration.  If they ever claim that Golan Heights does not belong to Israel, that would also mean that neither Crimea nor Donetsk and Lugansk territorial claims are real as well.

Russians are playing a dangerous and hypocritical game here.
It is basically a "rules for thee but not for me" game.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki plans to leave for an on-air role at MSNBC

President Joe Biden's press secretary, Jen Psaki, is planning to depart the White House to take an on-air role at MSNBC, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC.

Psaki, who has not finalized an agreement with MSNBC, is expected to leave the White House around May, Axios reported.

TV networks have long hired former government spokespeople for their political coverage.

Psaki pushed back on questions about the ethics of courting a media job while being employed as a government spokeswoman.

 Did she get tired of dealing Joe Biden's issues on a daily basis?
I couldn't blame her for that.

[kyonides]

Taliban bans poppy cultivation in Afghanistan

The Taliban leader Mullah Haibutullah Akhundzada banned the cultivation of poppies, opium and other narcotic substances in Afghanistan as of Sunday.

“As per the decree of the supreme leader of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, all Afghans are informed that from now on, poppy cultivation has been strictly prohibited across the country,” the Taliban government’s deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi said.

“If anyone violates the decree, the crop will be destroyed immediately and the violator will be treated according to Sharia law,” he added.

 At first I have no complain against that measure.  Sadly, this might also mean that either Russia or China have agreed to finance the Taliban regime up to some point.  Or they are just hypocrites.

Russian crematoria operating in Mariupol:
'This is the new Auschwitz,' mayor says

The Mariupol City Council on Wednesday accused Russian forces of relying on a mobile crematorium to cover up their alleged war crimes in the southeast port city of Ukraine.

Mariupol, which has been partially occupied for weeks, has been the target of one of the most brutal Russian offensives in Ukraine since the invasion began in February.
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"Russia’s top leadership ordered the destruction of any evidence of crimes committed by its army in Mariupol," the council added in a translated statement, accusing Moscow of reacting to widespread condemnation over mass civilian killings in Bucha.

Humanitarian access to the city has been blocked for weeks, with an estimated 160,000 residents unable to evacuate and lacking access to electricity, heating, health care and water, reported the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense.

Mariupol officials have estimated that roughly 5,000 civilians had been killed, but warned Wednesday that given the size of the destruction caused to the city the death toll could be in the tens of thousands.

The Kremlin agreed to a cease-fire last week after devastating shelling pummeled the strategically important city for more than a month.

Could it be possible they are just worried about some   that might eventually spread across Ukraine?
 Or would that be nothing but mere wishful thinking?

IKEA invests $373 mln in solar park projects in Germany, Spain

Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores worldwide, has bought nine solar photovoltaic (PV) park projects in Germany and Spain for a total of 340 million euros ($373 million) in its push to generate more renewable energy than it consumes.

The world's biggest furniture retailer said on Wednesday it was buying the projects, which would have a combined capacity of 440 megawatts, from German developer Enerparc.

"The expected production ... will be sufficient to cover all IKEA stores and warehouses in the two countries, making the operations of Ingka Group climate positive," it said in a statement.

Usually people would read that and say something like how much they care about the climate stuff.
In my case I would prefer to ask you the following: wasn't it better to let Germany or Spain enjoy all the benefits of those solar park projects instead?  
Just saying.

[kyonides]

DHL cargo plane splits in two after crash landing at Costa Rica airport

Mechanical failure prompted pilot to request emergency landing
shortly after plane took off from Juan Santamaria airport

A Boeing 757-200 cargo aircraft operated by DHL has made a dramatic emergency landing at Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria international airport, skidded off the runway and broke in two, losing its tail.

DHL, part of Deutsche Post AG, said the crew was unharmed and that one member was undergoing a medical review as a precaution.

Images from Costa Rican newspaper La Nacion showed a yellow plane emblazoned with the DHL logo being doused with firefighting foam where it had landed on a grassy field next to a runway. The tail had detached and a wing had broken, the photos show.

The aircraft was bound for Guatemala when it apparently had a failure in the hydraulic system, said Luis Miranda Munoz, deputy director of Costa Rica’s civil aviation authority. The issue prompted the pilot to request an emergency landing shortly after takeoff, he said.
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DHL and airport authorities said they were working together to move the aircraft, although they said it was not affecting operations.

You had to watch how the cargo plane skidded like a pro driver in Fast and Furious for a few seconds.

First of 20 Australian Bushmaster Military Vehicles to Leave for Ukraine

The Australian government has announced that it will gift 20 Bushmaster military vehicles to Ukraine, with the first three leaving Australia on April 8.

Two of the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles will be fitted out as ambulance variants to aid Ukraine’s response to Russia’s invasion.
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“The Bushmaster was built in Australia to provide protected mobility transport, safely moving soldiers to a battle area prior to dismounting for close combat,” a joint statement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Dutton reads.

“The Bushmaster is well suited to provide protection to the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and Ukrainian civilians against mines and improvised explosive devices, shrapnel from artillery and small arms fire.”

Well, it's not much but it's something at least.

Russia Sanctions All 228 Australian Federal MPs, Senators

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is imposing sanctions on all federal Australian members of Parliament in response to the supposedly “unfriendly actions” of the government, which has worked in lockstep with democratic allies to penalise Russian officials over the invasion of Ukraine.

On April 7, the Russian ministry criticised Australian authorities for following the “collective West” in engaging in “Russophobic” actions and imposing sanctions on top leaders of the Russian Federation.

All members of the Australian lower house, upper house, and some state legislatures have been barred from entering Russia, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, and Victorian state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, who is of Ukrainian descent.

The Russian ministry is promising to add more people to the “blacklist” including those from the Australian military, businesses, experts, and media personalities who have “incited negative attitudes” towards Russia.

The announcement comes after Australia announced further sanctions on 67 individuals for their role in the “unprovoked, unjust, and illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

UN suspends Russia from Human Rights Council
following alleged Bucha, Ukraine atrocities

Vote comes after US ambassador called Moscow’s inclusion in the Council a ‘farce’

The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council following global outrage stemming from alleged atrocities recently committed by Russian troops in Bucha, Ukraine.

A total of 93 members of the assembly voted in favor of the measure, while 24 were against and 58 abstained. Those who voted against the resolution included Russia's regional ally Belarus, China, North Korea, Iran and Syria.

"Russia’s actions are beyond the pale," Ukraine's U.N. ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said while introducing the U.S.-initiated resolution before the 193 members of the General Assembly vote. "Russia is not only committing human rights violations, it is shaking the underpinnings of international peace and security."

Russia’s deputy ambassador Gennady Kuzmin urged members to vote "no."

One would initially think that Ukraine is the country that benefits the most from this exclusion but it's Israel who gets the most of this. You see, Russia kept criticizing and voting against Israel for years and especially since the invasion of the Donbass region by Russian troops.

[DerVVulfman]

BIDEN'S SECRET SERVICE DETAIL

EMBROILED IN BRIBERY SCHEME

The Secret Service Agents Assigned to Protect President Biden
and Vice President Harris Involved in a Bizarre Bribery and Infiltration Scheme

Operated by two individuals posing as phony federal agents, a bribery and infiltration scheme compromised at least four Secret Service agents. The two conspirators, Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali, are linked to Pakistan's InterServices Intelligence spy agency and his passport shows recent travel to Iran and Pakistan.

Of the Secret Service agents compromised, one was assigned to First Lady Jill Biden's security detail. Normally, the agents rotate assignments over time, and it is currently unclear whom the agents were assigned to protect when the FBI performed a raid to arrest Taherzadeh and Ali.

Both allegedly gained access codes to all unites within the  DC’s Navy Yard nd claimed to be able to surveil residents’ cellphones. This would include members of Congress who have residents in the area.

EUROPEAN UNION IMPOSES
SANCTIONS ON PUTIN'S DAUGHTERS

The EU has Imposed Sanctions on Two Adult Daughters of President Putin
as Part or New Measures Targeting Russia for the its Invasion of Ukraine.
Sanctions on Russia's Energy Industry to Come.

The EU included Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova in its updated list of individuals facing an assets freeze and travel ban. The two EU officials from different EU member countries spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press because the updated list of sanctions has not been published yet.

The move from the European bloc follows a similar move two days earlier by the United States. In the wake of evidence of torture and killings emerging from war zones outside Kyiv, the EU decided to impose a fifth package of measures in retaliation for Russia’s war.

In addition to sanctions on individuals, the 27-nation bloc also approved an embargo on coal imports. That will be the first EU sanctions targeting Russia’s lucrative energy industry over its war in Ukraine and is estimated to be worth 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) per year, the EU presidency said. The EU has already started working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports.

[kyonides]

US Jury Convicts University of Kansas Professor for Hiding China Ties

A federal jury on Thursday found a former University of Kansas professor guilty of hiding his employment with a Chinese state-run university while conducting research funded by the U.S. government.

Feng “Franklin” Tao, 50, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of false statements out of the eight counts brought against him, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement.

The court did not set a sentencing date.
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According to the indictment, Tao accepted a full-time “Changjiang scholar distinguished professor” position at Fuzhou University in 2018 without informing the University of Kansas, where he was already employed.

Fuzhou University was established in 1958 by the provincial government, China’s Ministry of Education, and the State Administration for Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense, a ministry under China’s State Council.
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Tao also failed to disclose the agreement when filling out his annual reports with the University of Kansas, which requires him to disclose any outside employment that did or could impact duties as a conflict of interest.

The indictment states that Tao lied to the university administrators in December 2018 by claiming to be in Europe when he moved to China to work full-time at Fuzhou University.

[kyonides]

Cayman freezes US$7.3 billion of Russian assets

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, more than 800 asset freeze designations of individuals and entities have been enforced in the Cayman Islands, officials said in a release about the creation of a task force to coordinate the new sanctions regime.

In compliance with their obligations under the Russia (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2020, numerous financial service providers (FSPs) have submitted over 400 compliance reporting forms confirming that assets with an estimated value of US$7.3 billion have been frozen.

The government has created a joint task force to deal with policy amendments required to implement the Russia Sanctions here. The sanctions impact multiple public sector agencies, and this cross-government team is part of Cayman’s pro-active response, officials said. The goal is to provide a central point around policy and communication.

OK, the Western world needs to dissuade Russia from escalating the conflicting to a world war. Still, is it not a robbery to freeze the Russian citizens' assets the way they did it in Cayman Islands? I don't care about Lavrov or Putin but why should they target civilians as well?

At the same time we know that Russia's economy is some sort of stakeholder capitalism where the Kremlin has close ties to the local billionaires. Therefore the line that divides the State and corporations is quite blurred.

[DerVVulfman]

GILBERT GOTTFRIED DEAD AT 67
Celebrities are mourning the death of legendary comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried

According to Mr. Gottfried's representative, he died from a heart abomality called Ventricular Tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy type II.

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert's honor.

Gilbert's career began in the 70s with Saturday Night Live, appeared on the Cosby Show in the 80s along with a memorable performance in Beverly Hills Cop II, and his vocal work was quite recognizable within both Aladdin and as the Aflac duck.

He will be missed.

[kyonides]

Elon Musk sued by Twitter shareholders over delay in disclosing stake

The platform’s shareholder has sued the SpaceX founder, alleging that by not disclosing his stake in the social media company soon enough, Musk kept Twitter’s share price down.

Marc Bain Rasella filed the lawsuit against Musk for alleged securities fraud in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, according to a Bloomberg report.

The suit alleges that Musk was required to disclose his stake in Twitter by March 24, but he did not until April 4.

Twitter shares rose 27% on April 4, to $49.97 from $39.31, after Musk disclosed his stake, which investors viewed as a vote of confidence from the world’s richest person in Twitter.

Former shareholders led by Marc Rasella said the delayed disclosure let Musk purchase more Twitter shares at lower prices while defrauding them into selling at “artificially deflated” prices. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

‘Now I’m pissed’: Secret Service agents outraged
by White House spin over First Dog bites

Secret Service agents were outraged last year by the White House’s attempt to downplay bite injuries caused by then-first dog Major — even trying to get President Biden to personally pay for a coat destroyed by then-first dog Major Biden, newly released documents show.

Secret Service leaders also sought to keep attack details out of official paperwork — at one point rejecting an agent’s “excessively detailed” account to avoid upsetting the first family — after Major bit agents on eight consecutive days.

The records, released in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by Judicial Watch, show that attacks occurred both earlier and later than previously known.

They also show internal discord at the Secret Service, which has been embroiled since last week in a bizarre infiltration scandal that involves at least four agents.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged just one biting incident at a briefing on March 9, 2021, saying that one day earlier “the first family’s younger dog, Major, was surprised by an unfamiliar person and reacted in a way that resulted in a minor injury to the individual.”

 So Major Biden, what made you bite the Secret Service agents?
 Former First Dog Major Biden: Roof! Roof! (Translation unavailable.)

By the way, Cesar Millan was unable to help us with one of his dog psychology lessons.

NJ man targeting Jews warned of ‘blood bath’ before attacking victims: prosecutors

An antisemitic New Jersey man went on a shocking hours-long crime spree targeting Hasidic Jews — having warned his family to expect “a blood bath,” according to police documents.

Dion Marsh, 27, was charged with three counts of attempted murder as well as bias intimidation for allegedly running down two men and stabbing another in the chest on Saturday, Ocean County prosecutors said.

The spree started with a violent carjacking in Lakewood Township just after 1 p.m. — and only ended nearly 10 hours later when he was arrested at home in Manchester, prosecutors said.

Two of his victims — including an Orthodox Jew who was stabbed — were listed in critical but stable condition, police said.

Marsh was identified after an anonymous citizen tipped off cops after recognizing him in security video of the carjacking, according to court documents obtained by NJ.com.

Brooklyn subway terror suspect Frank James
was ‘quiet and moody’ in group therapy

Accused subway terrorist Frank James was so “quiet and moody” that he scared an ex-con who attended group therapy sessions with him, the former jailbird said Wednesday.

Albert Wilder, 57, said he last saw James at the Argus Community headquarters in the Bronx about three months ago.

“He was sitting here and he was quiet and moody,” Wilder said.

“Y’know, when someone looks like they’re in the middle of something and you afraid to talk to them because they’re upset. That was him!”

Wilder, who said he goes to Argus Community as a condition of his release from prison for unspecified crimes, also described James as “a street person.”

“He frequents trains and buses,” Wilder said.

“He always between 219th and 230th street in the Bronx when I see him.”

James is suspected of opening fire on a subway car in Brooklyn during Tuesday’s morning rush, shooting and wounding 10 people and leaving another 19 injured.
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James also blamed Mayor Eric Adams, saying during an extended rant, “Mr. Mayor, I’m a victim of your mental health program.”

[kyonides]

Israel carries out successful laser interception trials

Israel has taken a significant step toward achieving the operational capability of its ground-breaking laser system by carrying out a series of experiments, downing a variety of aerial threats at “challenging ranges,” the Defense Ministry announced Thursday.

The experiments, that were carried out in Israel’s South by the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Research and Development (DDR&D, or MAFAT in Hebrew) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, saw the laser system known as “Iron Beam” successfully intercept a number of aerial targets including unmanned aerial vehicles, mortars, rockets and anti-tank missiles in various scenarios.

The Defense Ministry “has achieved a technological breakthrough in the development of the ‘Iron Beam’ high-power...

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that Israel has become one of the first countries to succeed in developing powerful laser technology at operational standards that can carry out interceptions in operational scenarios.

While Gantz said that it will still take time before it is fully operational, “for the first time ever a powerful laser system has intercepted distant targets. This achievement is because of Israeli innovation, the defense establishment, and the industries that have come together to provide an umbrella of security for the citizens of Israel.”

Rotem told reporters that they were able to intercept a variety of aerial threats “at challenges ranges” for the first time. According to him, the ground system will be able to destroy targets at a range of eight to 10 kilometers (five to six miles) with a laser that goes beyond 100 kilowatts.