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The number of people seeking international protection in Ireland in the first three months of this year has risen by more than 2,000 compared to the same time last year. Figures from the Department of Justice show 5,163 people applied for international protection up to 28 March. This represents a rise of 2,170, or 72%, from the same period of time last year when 2,993 applications were made by 28 March 2023. More than one third of those who have applied for international protection so far this year are from Nigeria (1,668) while 416 are from Bangladesh, 400 from Pakistan,...

We graded Alabama's candidates based on their previous 2A voting record, public statements on their constituents owning firearms, and their willingness to focus on 2A issues. Given our research on this criteria, we've assigned the following grades: A - Caroleene Dobson - Running for U.S. House District 2 B - Dick Brewbaker - Running for U.S. House District 2 D - Robin Litaker - Running for U.S. House District 7 F - Terrycina Sewell - Running for U.S. House District 7

Interview with Amber Roman who caught Shohei Ohtani’s first home run as a Dodger at Dodger Stadium last night (Wednesday, April 3). I post it because she was essentially extorted in to giving up the ball to Dodger staff. Security immediately went and got her, took her in to a room, would not allow her husband, or anyone else, to accompany her. They then told her if she did not give them the ball that the Dodgers would not authenticate it and it would be worthless. That there is illegal. The whole thing stinks. I post the pertinent transcript excerpt...

William Wragg, the Tory MP, has admitted involvement in a Westminster honeytrap sexting scandal after he shared colleagues’ phone numbers with a man he met on a gay dating app. Mr Wragg, the vice chairman of the 1922 committee, handed over contact details for Westminster colleagues to a man he met on Grindr, to whom he had sent intimate pictures of himself. The MP for Hazel Grove told The Times, which approached him after speaking to victims who suspected his involvement, that he was “scared” the man “had compromising things on me”. Those colleagues – including several MPs, members of...

Bidenomics was born under a bad sign. Or born under large corporate donor payoffs. In the real world labor market, 2024 has been a deluge of layoffs of the US economy… 1. Everybuddy: 100% of workforce 2. Wisense: 100% of workforce 3. CodeSee: 100% of workforce 4. Twig: 100% of workforce 5. Twitch: 35% of workforce 6. Roomba: 31% of workforce 7. Bumble: 30% of workforce 8. Farfetch: 25% of workforce 9. Away: 25% of workforce 10. Hasbro: 20% of workforce 11. LA Times: 20% of workforce 12. Wint Wealth: 20% of workforce 13. Finder: 17% of workforce 14. Spotify:...

The Athletics, as part of their efforts to relocate to Las Vegas in time for the 2028 season, will play their home games for the 2025-27 seasons at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, the team announced on Thursday. The deal includes an option for a fourth season. The A's lease with the City of Oakland is set to expire at the end of this season, yet the A's rejected a five-year extension on the lease of Oakland Coliseum. That, plus an apparent desire to retain as much of their local broadcasting revenue as possible (a factor that my have...

New research conducted in mice offers insights into what's going on at the molecular level that could cause people with diabetes to develop Alzheimer's disease. The study adds to a growing body of research on the links between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, which some scientists have called "type 3 diabetes." The findings suggest that it should be possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by keeping diabetes well controlled or avoiding it in the first place, according to researchers. Narendra Kumar led the study. "We think that diabetes and Alzheimer's disease are strongly linked," Kumar said, "and by...

The popular opinion among many on both sides of the aisle about why the 2022 red wave turned into a red trickle is that the overturning of Roe vs. Wade ruined it for the Republicans. To the surprise of no one who's been reading me for a while, I don't agree with the popular opinion. It was 40 years ago this spring that I first volunteered on a Republican campaign. I've seen a few elections. I cannot stress enough how one should never underestimate the ability of the GOP to blow an election simply because the party doesn't execute the...

Polyphenols are powerful plant metabolites known for their antioxidant properties, offering potential health benefits and protection against various diseases. These are found in plentiful amounts in various fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee. Despite their bitter and astringent taste, recent studies indicate that they may hold the key to a range of health benefits, including the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, and age-related sensory decline. Prof. Osakabe remarks, "Although many researchers have conducted polyphenol research for more than 30 years, a major challenge has been to elucidate the mechanisms behind their beneficial health effects." This review attempts to understand the...

Democrats are rallying around the death of an illegal alien who was convicted of murdering an American.After he died last month in federal custody, Democrats are rallying around the death of an illegal alien who was convicted of murder more than two decades ago. Charles Leo Daniel, a Trinidad and Tobago citizen who illegally overstayed his U.S. visa, died due to unknown circumstances on March 7 in the Northwest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. Daniel was first jailed after he was convicted in 2003 of the brutal murder of his landlord roommate with a “bloody...

US CIA Director William Burns going to Egypt this weekend seeking a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas... US Central Command destroying a missile in Yemen... In the Rostov region of southern Russia a massive Ukrainian drone strike attack tonight. More than 40 targets destroyed... "We have been saying it for weeks now: this pattern of attacks is either intentional or indicative of reckless incompetence" Christopher Lockyear of the Doctors Without Borders charity saying numerous Israeli attacks on convoys of aid workers... "No it doesn't just happen" This is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disagreeing with Israeli Prime Minister.......

[H/T Melian]US Intelligence officials have branded Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria as "reckless" and fear a wider war in the Middle East.The CIA has warned Israel that Iran will attack the country in the next 48 hours, it has been reported.Israel killed two Iranian military commanders with a strike on Tehran's consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus this week.Iran vowed that it would take revenge for the attack, and now foreign media is reporting that US intelligence is fearful of an attack on Israel.Tehran is said to be planning a combined attack with a "rain" of drones...

A new U-M study finds a complex interplay between diet, genes, and the gut microbiota that could explain why IBD develops. The newest study builds on previous work that found that a low fiber diet led to a proliferation of mucin degrading bacteria—bacteria that thrive by eating the mucus lining of the intestine. In some people, genetic loss of a cytokine—a protein that affects the immune system—known as interleukin-10 (IL-10) or its receptor, leads to the early onset of IBD. While some of these mice spontaneously developed inflammation in their intestinal tracts as well, the level of severity varied and...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease with irreversible airflow limitation and a leading cause of death worldwide. Many studies have reported that the three major nutrients, namely protein, lipids, and glucose, along with nucleotide metabolites, are closely associated with COPD development and progression. They found levels of lipids are significantly changed in individuals with COPD. Various studies suggested that reversing abnormal lipid metabolism and administration of beneficial lipids might alleviate COPD effects and cardiopulmonary comorbidities. COPD patients have abnormal levels of amino acids and reduced synthesis capacity of antioxidant carnosine. Some studies suggested supplementation with amino...

No Labels, the bipartisan group that had been working toward putting a third-party presidential ticket on the ballot in all 50 states in 2024, announced Thursday that it was ending its efforts. "No Labels has always said we would only offer our ballot line to a ticket if we could identify candidates with a credible path to winning the White House," No Labels CEO and co-founder Nancy Jacobson said in a statement. "No such candidates emerged, so the responsible course of action is for us to stand down." Jacobson said the group will "remain engaged over the next year during...

Michael Jackson's nude photos could be shared with the world after two men who claim he abused them as children sought to unseal court records. Wade Robson, 41, and James Safechuck, 46, claim Jackson repeatedly raped them as young children in the 1980s and '90s at his Neverland ranch and elsewhere. The pair failed in lawsuits against the singer's production companies, which since his 2009 death are owned by his estate, but the suits were revived last year. As part of the case - which could go to trial as early as next year - they are seeking access to...

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene aired speculative concerns regarding Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent political actions, suggesting a potential blackmail situation to explain what she perceives as a radical departure from his known conservative stances.It can be recalled that the Georgia Congresswoman filed a motion to vacate the chair and remove Mike Johnson as House Speaker thanks to his actions over the House Omnibus bill, which will fund the government until September 30.The legislation passed by a 286-134 vote, achieving the necessary 2/3 vote to avoid a government shutdown. Democrats bailed out Johnson after over 100 members of his caucus rebelled.During an...

The Chicago City Club is hosting a panel forum on whether Chicago should make prostitution legal. The forum, titled "Decriminalizing Adult Consensual Sex Work: Ensuring Safety, Rights, and Dignity," is scheduled for noon on April 25 at Maggiano's Banquets, 111 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Panel members are Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, Reyna Ortiz, Chair of the Sex Worker Advisory Group, and Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Little Village). "In light of increasing violence against sex workers, Equality Illinois and the Sex Worker Advisory Group (SWAG) have united to launch a campaign to keep...

During the full-scale invasion, Russian troops damaged or wholly destroyed at least 630 churches, prayer houses, and other religious facilities in Ukraine.

Two men arrested for allegedly trying to lure children into a van were let go after a Chicago area judge released them under the impression that the recently posted no-bail SAFE-T Act prevented the men from being held. The two men detained by police in Cicero were also charged with violating parole and probation, according to CWB Chicago. The two suspects, Kenchi Edwards, 60, and Kraig McCauley, 55, allegedly tried to lure several 14-year-old children into their van with promises of “games” and the promise of meeting a “famous athlete.” The children did not get in the van, and the...