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The Big Myth About “Free” Markets That Justified History’s Greatest Heist

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

RAND Corporation experts, panelists, and other guests attend the ribbon-cutting of the new RAND Corporation headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., on April 14, 2005.Photo: Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty ImagesThe bank robber John Dillinger is one of history’s most famous thieves, absconding with the equivalent today of about $7 million. You’d think that if someone had stolen $7 million on each of 7 million separate crime sprees, you would have heard about it, right? But you would be wrong.In 2020, the RAND Corporation, a think tank in Santa Monica, California, released a study with the humdrum title “Trends in Income From 1975 to 2018.” RAND itself resides at the center of America’s establishment. In the decades following its founding after World War II, it was largely funded by and served the needs of the military-industrial complex. Daniel Ellsberg was working at RAND when he leaked the Pentagon Papers, which he had access to because RAND possessed several copies.Incr...

The killing of an opposition supporter in Zimbabwe was by ruling party followers, witnesses say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — This week’s deadly attack on a Zimbabwean opposition supporter was the work of ruling party followers, witnesses said Friday, underlining fears of a violent buildup to this month’s general election.The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, or CCC, party had publicized the death Thursday of Tinashe Chutsunge in an attack while on his way to a rally in the capital, Harare, and blamed it on supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party. On Friday, witnesses told The Associated Press that Chitsunge was beaten and stoned to death as he tried to flee from dozens of men wearing ZANU-PF party T-shirts in the Glen View township. At least 15 other people were injured in the attack, the witnesses said. Police said they have arrested 10 people in connection with Chitsunge’s death but gave no details about their identities or a possible motive, including any links to ZANU-PF. The killing of CCC supporter Chitsunge came in the same week that party leader Nelson Ch...

Greek authorities meet on migration as arrivals by land and sea are increasing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s government met on Friday to try to improve coordination on migration as a group of 102 migrants crossed by land from Turkey and other parts of the Mediterranean country saw a spike in arrivals by sea. The ministers for merchant marine, police and migration discussed joint action, a government statement said but provided no details.In the northeastern Evros region, police said the 102 migrants — 55 Syrians, 46 Iraqis and a Lebanese woman — were found near the Turkish border and taken to an asylum-seeker registration center. The group included 53 children.At the other end of Greece, the coast guard said 49 migrants were rescued from a boat that had run out of fuel, following an alert from Italian authorities. A merchant ship was diverted to pick up its occupants 175 kilometers (109 miles) off the southwestern town of Pylos.Out of that group, 47 were transferred to a coast guard boat bound for the southern port of Kalamata, while a 21-year-old...

DigitalBridge: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (DBRG) on Friday reported a loss of $8.7 million in its second quarter.On a per-share basis, the Boca Raton, Florida-based company said it had a loss of 14 cents. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and restructuring costs, were 6 cents per share.The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 10 cents per share.The provider of asset management services to NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. posted revenue of $424.9 million in the period, which beat Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $315.5 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on DBRG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/DBRGSource

Police investigating 'incarceration room' at Denver middle school

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Police are looking into an alleged "incarceration room" at a Denver middle school, FOX31 has learned.Members of the Denver Public Schools board said Thursday that a staff whistleblower exposed the room at McAuliffe International School. The room had locks on doors and windows to prevent anyone inside from leaving. Cop, man exchange gunfire thinking each is the ‘bad guy’ Police told FOX31 on Friday that they received a complaint, and an investigation is underway.The whistleblower shared photos of the room, which were distributed by members of the Board of Education. One of the photos shows what is described as a barrel bolt latch on the outside of room 121E. Another shows a padlock on a window.“Students of color were locked in this room multiple times last year,” the anonymous whistleblower stated in an email, according to Board of Education Vice President Auon'tai Anderson.'Seclusion rooms' prohibited in Denver schoolsDenver Public Schools prohibits rooms like this...

Colorado fugitive captured in Florida was leading posh lifestyle and flaunting his wealth

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

A career fraudster who escaped from a federal prison in Colorado nearly five years ago was captured this week while moving into a $1.5 million house near the ocean on Florida’s Gold Coast, federal officials said Friday.Federal marshals arrested Alan Todd May, 58, at the house in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday while movers unloaded a U-Haul truck. He was wearing a Rolex watch at the time of the arrest, and drove a high-end Mercedes, according to investigators had been surveilling him.It was an anonymous tipster who led authorities to May — who was living under the name “Jacob Turner” — after spotting a published photo of him at a posh fundraiser. The photo, which showed him wearing a pink shirt, pink blazer and pink-tinted glasses, was published on the website of the Palm Beach Daily News.This fugitive wasn’t exactly keeping a low profile.May “was living a lavish lifestyle where he was flaunting his wealth in high society down in south Florida,” Katrina Crouse, chief deputy U.S. marshal ...

Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies team up with USCG to rescue runaway boat after driver falls off

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WSVN) – In a daring rescue operation, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputies Fernandes and Constant from the Marine and Environmental Lands Unit responded to a call for assistance from the United States Coast Guard regarding a runaway vessel.On July 30, the vessel’s driver had fallen overboard but was promptly rescued by a Good Samaritan. Despite the Coast Guard’s attempt to stop the vessel using prop fowling devices, their efforts were unsuccessful.Deputy Constant sprang into action and managed to intercept the runaway vessel, matching its speed, which was approximately 41 mph, inside a curve. This strategic maneuver allowed Deputy Fernandes to leap aboard the vessel and take control, ultimately preventing any further danger or potential harm.The quick and skillful actions of Deputies Fernandes and Constant resulted in a successful rescue, showcasing the dedication and expertise of Pinellas County law enforcement personnel in handling emer...

Two arrested after daylight shooting in Roxbury

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

Two men were arrested in Roxbury Friday after a shooting in the Codman Park area off Townsend Street. The incident happened around 11 a.m. Friday morning, with several shots apparently fired at an apartment complex. One person was shot in the hand, according to Boston police. Glass in the doors of the apartment units at 59 and 61 Codman Park was also shattered. Police said they are these are separate incidents.Police said a video of the incident showed two people in distinctive clothing, which both suspects were wearing when they were pulled over while heading toward Walnut Avenue. They were arrested, and police said a firearm was also recovered.On scene, multiple evidence markers were spotted on the pavement and bullet casings were visible on the ground. Investigators were seen entering both the 59 and 61 Codman Park units, with a larger police presence visible in the area around the apartment complex.Police said the person who was shot took themselves to a hospital with non-life-t...

Amazon deforestation at six-year-low in Brazil after plunging 66% in July

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

(CNN) — Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 66% last month compared to July 2022 and is now at its lowest rate in six years, according to preliminary data released by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) on Thursday.Nearly 500 square kilometers (193 square miles) of rainforest were cleared in July, a significant fall from the 1,487 square kilometers (574 square miles) cleared last July.There has been a sharp decline in deforestation since Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was inaugurated as president in January. Lula has pledged to end deforestation, which had increased rapidly under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, said government policies, including increasing surveillance and fining perpetrators, has played a big role in bringing rates of deforestation down.“It is the end of the expectation of impunity,” Silva told journalists at a news conference announcing the results. “When you see the increase in op...

Be a part of the overtourism solution. Here are some ways

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:10 GMT

Scott Hartbeck | TravelPulse (TNS)Seemingly not a day goes by without a story about overtourism showing up in the news.Just last week, the Acropolis in Athens became the latest place to wave the white flag of surrender.To prevent the global treasure from being overrun beyond recognition, the Greek government has announced that they will now institute a range of new actions aimed at curbing the crowds.These measures include the rolling out of new e-tickets, entry time slots, special entrance zones aimed at reducing bottlenecks and new access lanes intended to accelerate the movement of tour groups.The Acropolis joins Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Venice, Hawai’i and scores more places that have been pushed to the brink of being “loved to death” by (mostly) well-meaning travelers.So what should we do?Well, we aren’t going to stop traveling any time soon, right? I know I’m not and I’ve got a feeling if you are reading this, you aren’t going ...