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Caribbean Export and Republic Bank extend co-operation MOU to empower caribbean businesses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

Republic Bank Financial Holdings Limited and the Caribbean Export Development Agency have officially extended a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing economic growth and creating jobs throughout the region. The landmark MOU, which was originally signed in Trinidad in March 2022, combines the resources and expertise of these two major Caribbean business organisations to enhance the global competitiveness of Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in CARIFORUM states through a referral system. By extending this agreement, both entities have renewed their commitment to boosting commerce regionally andinternationally, while offering MSMEs much-needed practical advice, training, and support on how to access export markets. Executive Director of Caribbean Export, Deodat Maharaj, outlined the significant value of the ongoing strategic partnership. He said: "In today's globalised and rapidly evolving business landscape, the importance of fostering robust public-pri...

EU, US, DRC, Zambia and Angola sign agreement for extension of Lobito Corridor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

The EU has agreed a major new strategic partnership on critical raw materials value chains with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.It was signed at the Global Gateway Forum which took place in Brussels on 26 October.EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the further development of the “Lobito Corridor”, together with the US, DRC, Zambia, Angola, the African Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation.The transport corridor will connect the southern part of the DRC and the north-western part of the Republic of Zambia to regional and global trade markets via the Port of Lobito in Angola.The MoU outlines the collaboration between the different partners involved and defines roles and objectives for the development of the Lobito Corridor. The partnership draws from financial resources and technical know-how to accelerate the development of the transport route, including investments in digital access a...

'A lot of butts here': Matt Stafford's wife slams Blueface for conduct at Rams game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

Kelly Stafford, the wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, is in a war of words with rapper Blueface.This all stemmed from Sunday's home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Video posted to the L.A. native rapper's Instagram story showed about three women taking off their shorts and then dancing in thong underwear. As the women bent over to show more, Blueface threw cash at them.This caught the attention of Stafford's wife, who slammed the rapper on her podcast "The Morning After."Stafford felt Blueface, whose real name is Johnathan Jamall Porter, turned the suite into a strip club-like atmosphere. Rapper Blueface and fiancee Jaiyden Alexis celebrating their engagement at the Los Angeles Rams game on Oct. 22, 2023. Instagram: Blueface“My nephews, who are older, have Instagram. They were at the game, and they were like, ‘Oh, my gosh. Look what’s going on here.’ They found it,” she explained. “And my daughters are sitting right next to them. They were like, ‘Mommy, th...

Gen Z far more likely to fall for online scams than seniors, Google expert says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

Phishing remains one of the biggest threats to our online security."90 percent of data breaches start with phishing," said Michael Sinno, a security enginner at Google.He drops the surprising study that Gen Z is three times more likely to fall for an online scam than their grandparents. In fact, last year, scammers made off with more than $200 million dollars from people under 20. That's up from $8 million in 2017."Young people are spending more and more time online in different apps in different ways and scammers are honestly adjusting to learn their habits," said Sinno.Scams are often financially motivated. Criminals want personal information like social security numbers, credit cards, and bank details. Don't assume you aren't a target.Your first line of defense: education. Just knowing how to spot a bougus email, text or link can protect you from becoming a victim."If you’re not sure of the link, don’t click it," said Sinno.Instead, contact the company directly using a trusted ph...

Man Dies in Head-On Semi-Truck Crash on Highway 43 [Bakersfield, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

42-Year-Old Male Driver Killed in Head-On Big-Rig Accident near Panama LaneBAKERSFIELD, CA (October 27, 2023) – A fatal head-on collision involving a semi-truck occurred on Highway 43, early Wednesday afternoon.At approximately 12:15 p.m. on October 25th, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the incident location just north of Panama Lane.According to initial reports, the driver of a southbound Kia Soul crossed into the northbound lanes, directly in the path of an oncoming Freightliner. The collision caused the Kia to spin out and overturn on its side on the western shoulder.The 42-year-old male driver of the Kia, hailing from Bakersfield, sustained severe injuries and was declared deceased at the scene by medical personnel.Conversely, the 32-year-old semi-truck driver from Delano suffered minor injuries.In response to the accident and for the purposes of cleanup and preliminary procedures, Caltrans temporarily shut down Highway 43 between Panama Lane and the State Rout...

Jacob Morales Dies in Pedestrian Accident on Anderson Road [Edinburg, TX]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

16-Year-Old Teen Pronounced Dead after Pedestrian Collision on FM 1423EDINBURG, TX (October 27, 2023) – Jacob Morales lost his life Friday night, in a pedestrian accident that occurred on Anderson Road. The incident unfolded at approximately 8:00 p.m. on October 20th, just south of Anderson Road, near FM 1423.Officers say the driver of a white Chevrolet Silverado was traveling in a northward direction when the vehicle collided with Morales, who was walking in the same northbound lane. The driver of a black GMC Sierra, following closely behind the Chevrolet, also struck the pedestrian who had fallen onto the roadway.Due to the extent of injuries sustained, medics later pronounced 16-year-old Morales, of Donna deceased. Both drivers involved in the accident remained at the scene and fully cooperated with the ensuing investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that Morales was wearing dark-colored attire in an area with insufficient lighting.As of now, no charges have been filed,...

Pac-12 collapse: Is the costly San Ramon production studio an asset or liability?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

Long before the Pac-12’s legal dispute, before the collapse and the Comcast scandal and even before the Los Angeles schools fled for a greener pasture, commissioner George Kliavkoff decided to shutter the conference office and relocate the Pac-12 Networks’ production studio.Kliavkoff eventually settled on office space in the East Bay city of San Ramon. The conference declined to disclose contract terms but said the move would save millions of dollars per year in rent.For some, the timing was curious. Kliavkoff committed to a multi-year lease on 42,000 square feet that began this summer — before he had secured a media rights deal that would keep the conference together.All these months later, the Pac-12 has imploded, 10 schools are leaving, two have been left behind and everyone is seeking clarity on the Pac-12’s assets and liabilities.Is the San Ramon production facility the former or latter? At the very least, it stands as one of the most confounding aspects of th...

Man killed in Richmond freeway crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

RICHMOND — A man died Friday morning after his pickup truck went down an embankment on Interstate 580 and crashed into a tree, the California Highway Patrol said.The man’s name was not immediately released.The crash happened about 6:50 a.m. Friday on westbound I-580 east of the Harbour Way offramp.The CHP said the man’s Toyota Tacoma hit a sign pole on the right shoulder before going down an embankment and crashing into a tree.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Man running across Interstate 580 hit by 3 vehicles, dies Crashes and Disasters | California Uber driver accused of killing woman pushing stroller now faces murder charge Crashes and Disasters | ‘Can’t make any sense of it’: Baby delivered after fatal hit-and-run crash in San Jose dies Crashes and Disasters | Driver killed in solo crash on Soquel San Jose Road Crashes and Disasters | Oakland pedestrian killed af...

Consumer group says records show California insurance commissioner drafted proposed market fix with industry lobbyists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

A consumer group says California’s Department of Insurance communications obtained through a records request show the commissioner’s proposed fixes to the state’s troubled home insurance market announced last month were drafted in private discussions with insurance lobbyists.Consumer Watchdog’s records request, aimed at pulling back the curtain on a failed closed-door legislative effort to address insurance market concerns, yielded only three emailed documents totaling 20 pages. Those late-August emails to and from Deputy Insurance Commissioner Michael Martinez, various insurance lobbyists and representatives of the governor and legislative leaders include draft language of a bill that never materialized, but is similar to a proposal Commissioner Ricardo Lara later announced Sept. 21.“These documents prove Commissioner Lara’s deal with the insurance industry is an outrageous fraud on the public that will make Californians pay vastly more for insur...

How a single year of Elon Musk turned Twitter into a husk of its former self

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:16:50 GMT

By Brian Fung and Clare Duffy | CNNNew York  — It’s been one year to the day since Elon Musk completed his purchase of Twitter for $44 billion and set the company, along with its employees and users, off on a whiplash-inducing series of twists and turns.Twelve months on, the company barely resembles its former self — and not only because Musk renamed it “X” and did away with its iconic blue bird branding. Through a dizzying and haphazard barrage of changes, Musk has transformed a profitable company once regarded as the world’s go-to source for breaking news and political commentary into a widely ridiculed platform that’s fighting just to break even and crippled by debt; that’s struggling to manage spam and disinformation; that’s alienated some of its biggest advertisers and users; and that’s casting about for purpose.Even as Musk — and new CEO Linda Yaccarino — push their vision for X as an “everything app,” the company has seemingly no clear path back to prominence or respectabilit...