Latest News
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Vice President Vance is the winner of CPAC's straw-poll for 2028 Presidential election.
The 'Conservative Political Action Conference is the top pick?this year? for?the next?U.S. A straw poll conducted on Saturday revealed that the next president of the United States will be Vice President?JD Vance. Vance was chosen by 53% of the attendees at this year's CPAC Convention. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was ranked'second' with 35%, at CPAC. This is a major gathering for Republican lawmakers, activists, and presidential hopefuls. CPAC, who is holding the event this year in Grapevine Texas, attracts a large number of conservative Republicans. The straw poll it conducts each year is not necessarily a reliable indicator of who will be the nominee. The poll is a snapshot into where the 'energy' currently lies in core supporters of Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement. Trump is not eligible to run again in 2028, as he is currently serving his second term. (Reporting and editing by Sergio Non, David Gregorio, and Nathan Layne from Grapevine Texas)
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Kuwait airport damaged by drones. Radar system damaged. No casualties reported
Kuwait 'International Airport 'was targeted by multiple drone attacks Saturday, causing significant damage to the radar system, but resulting in no injuries, according to state news agency KUNA, citing Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority. Later, the spokesperson for the authority said that the attacks were perpetrated by Iran and its proxies as well as the armed groups it supports. Kuwait's fire department, meanwhile said a??fire? that broke out??? in fuel tanks at an airport on Wednesday after a previous drone assault had been extinguished AFTER 58 CONSECUTIVE HOURS, KUNA reported??on Saturday?. Tehran launched strikes on Israel, as well as on Gulf Arab states that host U.S. military bases. Israel has launched attacks on Hezbollah fighters who are aligned with Iran in Lebanon. The Houthis of?Yemen have started launching missiles against Israel to?support Iran.
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Sources say that Italy's Poste wants to meet with Telecom Italia over the takeover bid
Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed on Saturday that Poste Italiane?has requested a meeting at which the chief executive of the postal services group, Matteo Del Fante, could present its 10.8 billion euro ($12 million) cash and share bid for the former telephone monopoly. Poste, a state-backed conglomerate, announced last Sunday a plan to privatize TIM and create a digital champion in the country. This would strengthen the control of critical data for households and corporations by the government. The offer was not previously agreed upon with TIM. Sources said Del Fante had sent a request to TIM directors asking for an opportunity to present the offer. Poste, which offers services in logistics, payments, broadband, insurance, and financials, forecasts 700 million euro of annual benefits from the merger. Poste would gain control over TIM's network of data centres and its cybersecurity division Telsy. This deal would expand Poste's digital services for consumers, large businesses, and governments. Sources said that TIM's 'directors' will discuss Del Fante’s request during a meeting scheduled for Sunday. They added that the presentation of the bid 'was expected to happen in the next few weeks'. Poste and TIM declined to comment. On Sunday, TIM directors will also be expected to select advisers who will help them assess?Poste bid. Sources said that the TIM board will also decide on a?premature termination of a contract with Inwit for a long term, similar to a move made by Swisscom?s?Fastweb?. Poste is TIM’s?leading shareholder with 27%?of its ordinary share capital. This stake will drop to close to 20% when TIM converts special shares that it has outstanding in ordinary stock.
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The thieves steal 12 tons KitKat bars from Europe
Nestle, a Swiss food giant, said that thieves stole the truck carrying 12 tons of KitKat bars in Europe. Nestle's KitKat said that the truck carrying 413 793 bars of their new chocolate range set out from central Italy to distribute the chocolate across Europe but never arrived at its final destination, Poland. The vehicle as well as the merchandise are still missing. Nestle has not revealed where the truck went missing. In a separate announcement, KitKat said that the bars missing can be traced via a unique batch code. Anyone who scans the batch numbers of?the stolen bars will receive instructions on how?to contact KitKat. KitKat stated that "cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of every size." (Writing and editing by Dave Graham)
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Bloomberg News reports that Saudi pipeline bypasses Hormuz and pumps 7 million barrels per day of oil.
Bloomberg News reported that Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, which circumvents the Strait of Hormuz and pumps?oil to its full capacity of 7 million barrels per day, according to a source familiar with the issue. Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia exports 5 million barrels of crude oil a day from its Yanbu port, located on the?Red Sea. The country also exports 700,000 to 900,000 barrels per day in oil products. Could not verify the report immediately. Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil company, did not immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Aramco CEO Amin Nasser had earlier told reporters on a March earnings call that it was expected the East-West pipe to reach its full capacity 7 million bpd within the next few days as customers reroute. Conflict in the Gulf Region, triggered by U.S. The conflict in the Gulf region,?triggered by?U.S. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. This has trapped a fifth of the world's oil supplies and liquefied gas, sending crude oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. (Reporting and editing by Jan Harvey in Bengaluru, and Joe Bavier.)
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Ford's US carrier arrives in Croatia to repair
The U.S. aircraft carriers Gerald R. Ford and the USS Enterprise, which were deployed to U.S.-Israeli missions against Iran, have anchored at Split, Croatia, for repairs and maintenance. On March 12, the 'Ford', the world's biggest carrier and newest ship, was supporting Operation Epic Fury in the Red Sea when a fire in its laundry room caused three injuries. A?U.S. Officials at the time confirmed that nearly 200 sailors were also treated for smoke-related issues. It took several hours to put out the fire, which affected 100 sleeping berths. The warship was deployed for nine months, and took part in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean before arriving in the Middle East. During its deployment, it has experienced plumbing issues affecting nearly 650 toilets. The Ford temporarily stopped in Souda bay on the Greek Island of Crete. The U.S.-allied NATO country of Croatia approved the arrival of this Ford earlier in the week. The U.S. Embassy in Croatia released a statement that said, "During its visit, the USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to host a number of?local leaders and 'key officials to reaffirm and strengthen the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Croatia." The carrier is staffed with more than 5,000 soldiers and has 75 military aircraft, including fighter planes like the F-18 Super Hornet. It also boasts an advanced radar system to control air traffic and navigate. (Reporting from Split by Antonio Bronic; Writing by Aleksandar Vaovic; Editing and proofreading by Joe Bavier).
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Bickert, Meta's former content policy chief and now Harvard professor, will be teaching at Harvard.
Monika Bickert is Meta's longtime chief of content policy. She oversaw the writing and enforcement Facebook's policies and played a role in determining how to approach user safety. Bickert, who wrote an internal post on Friday that was viewed by, said she would stay with Meta until August to 'work on a plan of transition with Kevin Martin. He oversees Meta's Global Policy Team. Bickert, who is Meta's head of content policy, has been the public face of Meta during controversies surrounding its handling political content and teen health. She joined Facebook in 2012 as a former federal prosecutor. The company changed its name later to Meta. She wrote: "Yes, we are a business, and we make profit. But the idea that 'we do'so' at the cost of people's well-being or safety is a misunderstanding of where our commercial interests lie," in 2021, after documents were leaked by former Meta employee Frances Haugen. Joel Kaplan, Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer, praised Bickert in a statement. (Reporting and editing by Peter Henderson, William Mallard, and Jeff Horwitz)
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FAA stops traffic at Washington airports due to odor
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted all traffic at three of the main airports in the Washington, DC area late on Friday night after an odor was detected by a Virginia air-traffic control facility. The FAA stated that the odor forced them to evacuate Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR - Approach Control TRACON which controls the airspace of numerous airports around the Washington region. Around 6:40 p.m.?EDT, the FAA announced ground stops at Reagan Washington National Airport and?Washington Dulles. Baltimore, and smaller airports located in Charlottesville, Richmond, and Charlottesville. The odor from the Warrenton facility, Virginia, has caused traffic to be snarled for the second time within two weeks. According to someone briefed about the issue, the burning smell was similar to the one that caused the FAA to stop air traffic on March 13. On March 13, the FAA announced that it had stopped work due to a chemical smell associated with a circuitboard that was overheating. Flightradar24 is a website that tracks flights. It said that inbound 'flights were holding or diverting. Since 6:40 pm EDT, there has not been a departure from the airports. The FAA said an update would be?expected at around 8 p.m. FlightAware reported that 25% of flights were delayed at Baltimore, National and Dulles. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
After being located by the Mexican Navy, two humanitarian aid vessels safely reach Havana
The Mexican Navy reported that two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico reached Havana safely on Saturday. They had been delayed by bad weather, and were briefly reported as missing.
After authorities watched their final approach, the navy confirmed that the sailboats had docked in Cuba's capital. The Mexican Navy reported earlier that a maritime surveillance plane spotted the sailboats after they were reported missing on Thursday. They were located on 'Friday, about 80 nautical miles (148km) northwest of Cuba. The crews said they were in good shape but that the 'unfavorable' weather conditions, especially winds, had slowed them down. The two boats were part of a convoy that was delivering food, medicine and baby formula to the Caribbean’s largest island. This is despite a U.S. blockade of oil shipments, which has caused power outages to worsen.
A spokesperson for Nuestra América Convoy stated that the vessels were continuing their journey towards Havana. The convoy is on track to fulfill its mission - delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid for the Cuban people.
The sailboats that were supposed to arrive between March 24 and 25 in Havana, Cuba, have not arrived since they left Isla Mujeres on Saturday.
U.S. Coast Guard told French Press Agency AFP that the boats were found on 'Friday but later retracted its statement saying a search is still 'under way. This caused confusion.
Nuestra America, or "Our America", is a coalition of nearly 300 organizations, including non-governmental groups and political parties, from over 30 countries. The group has sent approximately 20 tons of aid to Cuba by air and sea, including bicycles, solar panels, food, medicine, and solar panels. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier; Alistair Bell; Rod Nickel, Natalia Siniawski. Additional reporting by Dave Sherwood in Mexico City.
(source: Reuters)