Fiji Holds First Election in Eight Years

Reuters
US designates PFAS chemicals as Superfund hazardous substances
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday designated a pair of widely used industrial chemicals as hazardous substances under the country's Superfund program, accelerating a crackdown on toxic compounds known as "forever chemicals." The rule will require companies to report leaks of two of the most commonly used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and help pay to clean up existing contamination. The EPA separately last week announced its first-ever drinking water standards to guard against PFAS pollution.
10m ago
Reuters
Spain's Basque separatist party Bildu could win regional ballot
A Basque separatist party with origins in the political wing of the now-defunct armed group ETA could win a regional election in Spain's Basque Country for the first time on Sunday, with potential implications for the shaky national government. Opinion polls show the left-wing pro-independence EH Bildu with a narrow lead over the moderate right-wing nationalist PNV that has long governed the northern region - one of Spain's, and Europe's, wealthiest.
14m ago
Associated Press
American Express profits jump 34%, helped by jump in new customers, higher spending
Credit card giant American Express posted a 34% jump in its first quarter profits on Friday, helped by more customers spending on its namesake cards as well as more customers keeping a balance on the cards. The jump in profits for AmEx came largely from higher cardmember spending on their accounts as well as more balances collecting interest. AmEx takes a small percentage of each transaction spent on their cards as a fee from merchants, which was its primary business model for decades.
18m ago
Politico
Conservative enclaves quit California's oldest city alliance
At least five cities have voted to end their membership with the League of California Cities over policy disputes.
19m ago
NBC News
Alternate jurors and key legal arguments on tap in Trump hush money trial
Jury selection will continue — and could conclude — Friday in former President Donald Trump's historic New York criminal trial.
21m ago
Reuters
Blinken says China is Russia's primary military complex supplier
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised on Friday Chinese support for Russia's defence industry, saying Beijing was currently the primary contributor to Moscow's war in Ukraine though its provision of critical components for weaponry. Speaking at a news conference capping the end of a gathering of G7 foreign ministers on the Italian island of Capri, Blinken said Washington had made it very clear to Beijing and others that they should not be aiding Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
23m ago
The Conversation
From sumptuous engravings to stick-figure sketches, Passover Haggadahs − and their art − have been evolving for centuries
A scholar highlights some of the most interesting versions of the Passover text and how they’ve met communities’ changing needs around the world.
28m ago
CBS News
Paris police reportedly detain man behind bomb threat at Iran consulate
Paris police cordoned off an area around an Iranian consulate amid reports of a man threatening to detonate a bomb, but a suspect was quickly detained.
29m ago
AFP
Hindu nationalist Modi the favourite as India votes
India began voting Friday in a six-week election with an all but assured victory for Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a weakened opposition is pushed to the sidelines."I urge all those voting... to exercise their franchise in record numbers," he wrote in a post on X as the election began.
35m ago
Associated Press
EPA designates 2 forever chemicals as hazardous substances, eligible for Superfund cleanup
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday designated two forever chemicals that have been used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances, an action intended to ensure quicker cleanup of the toxic compounds and require industries and others responsible for contamination to pay for its removal. Designation as a hazardous substance under the Superfund law doesn’t ban the chemicals, known as PFOA and PFOS. The EPA then may require cleanups to protect public health and recover costs that can reach tens of millions of dollars.
35m ago
The Conversation
Are tomorrow’s engineers ready to face AI’s ethical challenges?
Ethics is often neglected in engineering education, two researchers write, despite mounting questions about how to responsibly design artificial intelligence programs.
38m ago
The Conversation
How Trump is using courtroom machinations to his political advantage
The number of prospective jurors saying they can’t be fair to Trump because of who he is does not bode well for the defendant, a legal expert observes,
39m ago
The Conversation
South Korean President Yoon faces foreign policy challenges after the National Assembly election
The South Korean leader seeks to strengthen ties with the US and Japan. But he might be hamstrung by domestic concerns.
39m ago
The Conversation
Caring for older Americans’ teeth and gums is essential, but Medicare generally doesn’t cover that cost
There is ample evidence that poor oral health plays a role in many chronic diseases.
39m ago
Reuters
Nigerian court adjourns Binance and executives' tax evasion trial to May 17
A Nigerian court on Friday adjourned a tax evasion trial against cryptocurrency exchange Binance and two of its executives to May 17 after the matter was stalled because the exchange has not been formally served with the charges. Binance and its executives Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crime compliance, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan who is a regional manager for Africa, face four counts of tax evasion.
39m ago
The Conversation
Getting a good night’s rest is vital for neurodiverse children – pediatric sleep experts explain why
Sleep habits can be improved by making shifts in both daytime and evening routines.
40m ago
Associated Press
Tesla recalling more than 3,000 of its 2024 Cybertrucks due to faulty pedal
Tesla is recalling more than 3,000 of its newly launched 2024 Cybertrucks because of the possibility that a pedal can get stuck and cause the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash. Tesla said that the accelerator pedal pad may dislodge and become trapped by the interior trim. The National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration said that the recall involves model year 2024 Cybertrucks made between Nov. 13, 2023 and April 4, 2024.
40m ago
The Conversation
Wild turkey numbers are falling in some parts of the US – the main reason may be habitat loss
Wild turkeys were overhunted across the US through the early 1900s, but made a strong comeback. Now, though, numbers are declining again. Two ecologists parse the evidence and offer an explanation.
40m ago
CBS News
Stocks waver and oil prices rise after Israeli missile strike on Iran
Direct conflict between Israel and Iran, which threaten global oil supplies and could drive up energy costs, has investors on edge.
46m ago
CNN
China’s growing love of luxury watches remains strong, despite economic headwinds
Asian - and particularly Chinese - watch enthusiasts attended this year’s Watches and Wonders fair in large numbers, eager to be inspired by the best new designs.
51m ago

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Fiji Holds First Election in Eight Years

Latest Stories

US designates PFAS chemicals as Superfund hazardous substances

Spain's Basque separatist party Bildu could win regional ballot

American Express profits jump 34%, helped by jump in new customers, higher spending

Conservative enclaves quit California's oldest city alliance

Alternate jurors and key legal arguments on tap in Trump hush money trial

Blinken says China is Russia's primary military complex supplier

From sumptuous engravings to stick-figure sketches, Passover Haggadahs − and their art − have been evolving for centuries

Paris police reportedly detain man behind bomb threat at Iran consulate

Hindu nationalist Modi the favourite as India votes

EPA designates 2 forever chemicals as hazardous substances, eligible for Superfund cleanup

Are tomorrow’s engineers ready to face AI’s ethical challenges?

How Trump is using courtroom machinations to his political advantage

South Korean President Yoon faces foreign policy challenges after the National Assembly election

Caring for older Americans’ teeth and gums is essential, but Medicare generally doesn’t cover that cost

Nigerian court adjourns Binance and executives' tax evasion trial to May 17

Getting a good night’s rest is vital for neurodiverse children – pediatric sleep experts explain why

Tesla recalling more than 3,000 of its 2024 Cybertrucks due to faulty pedal

Wild turkey numbers are falling in some parts of the US – the main reason may be habitat loss

Stocks waver and oil prices rise after Israeli missile strike on Iran

China’s growing love of luxury watches remains strong, despite economic headwinds