Washington, United States — President Joe Biden on Friday called for Russia to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held on espionage charges, while rebuffing a call from the paper's editorial board to expel Russian journalists from the United States. Asked by White House reporters what his message was to Russia regarding Gershkovich, a US citizen, Biden said: 'Let him go.' The Wall Street Journal's board of opinion editors called in a piece published Thursday afternoon for the expulsion of Russia's ambassador to the United States, as well as 'all Russian journalists working here,' describing the move as 'the minimum to expect.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1751154/biden-tells-russia-to-release-us-reporter

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KUALA PILAH, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- The National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) remains committed to promoting the art, culture and identity of each state as the main attraction for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026). Its director-general, Mohd Amran Mohd Haris, said that for this purpose, JKKN is actively carrying out various activities and promotions and preparing engaging content to attract domestic and foreign tourists from next year until 2026. 'Every art department throughout the country plays an essential role in preparing exciting programmes, including through cooperation with state governments.

https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2230349

#bernama

Sentiment among German exporters has rebounded to the highest point seen since the outbreak of war in Ukraine last year, according to a survey by the Ifo economic institute released on Tuesday. The institute's export expectations indicator rose to 6.9 points in April, its highest level since February 2022 and up from 4.1 in March. 'Robust economic development in the US and the encouraging trend in China are increasing demand for German exports,' Klaus Wohlrabe, head of surveys at Ifo, said. 'After a weak start to the year, exports have been able to grow again in the second quarter,' he added.

https://business.inquirer.net/397560/german-export-sentiment-at-highest-level-since-feb-2022-ifo

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Gisborne Boys' High School had a good crack at Napier BHS at the Rectory field on Saturday before falling 29-5 to the visitors. Under new head coach David Russell, Napier worked hard to subdue a committed Gisborne outfit and retain the Football Challenge Cup in the first Super 8 game of the season. Only 10 of Gisborne head coach Duane Hihi's game-day squad had played first 15 rugby at Super 8 level prior to Saturday. 'Defensive lapses and a lack of communication hurt us,' Hihi said. 'We got strong games from our co-captains (openside flanker Braith Ingram and second-five Puna Hihi) and No.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/sport/honours-to-napier-in-super-8-opener

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Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund ( NYSEAMERICAN:GLV – Get Rating ) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, April 12th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be paid a dividend of 0.0597 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.35%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund has decreased its dividend by an average of 6.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/04/12/clough-global-dividend-and-income-fund-declares-monthly-dividend-of-0-06-nyseamericanglv.html

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A dog dressed in a tuxedo attends a Mass at the Body of Christ parish during celebrations marking the feast day of Saint Roch, recognized as the patron saint of dogs, in El Alto, Bolivia, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/077/0006009643?sid=104

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MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has blocked two Filipino female household workers bound for Saudi Arabia by pretending to be going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The women, aged 36 and 37, were intercepted by the bureau's Travel Control and Enforcement Unit when they attempted to depart on a Cebu Pacific flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last Friday, April 14, the BI chief Norman Tansingco said in a statement on Monday.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1758183/bi-foils-bid-of-2-filipinas-to-enter-saudi-arabia-by-pretending-to-be-mecca-pilgrims

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The rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence (AI) and its significant opportunities for Ohio were the focus of a forum held at the University of Cincinnati's 1819 Innovation Hub this month. Led by Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, the Ohio | AI Forum: Cincinnati was presented by OhioX and InnovateOhio. Speaking to a capacity crowd, a forum of AI experts explored its capabilities and discussed how Ohio can prepare for a global innovation economy driven by the constantly evolving technology.

https://www.miragenews.com/husted-heads-ai-panel-at-ucs-1819-innovation-hub-1062827/

#miragenews

SEOUL  -South Korea's jobless rate climbed in July for a second month and hit the highest since January, with job growth its slowest in nearly 2-1/2 years. The unemployment rate rose to 2.8 percent in July on a seasonally adjusted basis, from 2.6 percent in June, Statistics Korea data showed on Wednesday. Its reading of 2.5 percent in May was the lowest since the data series began in June 1999. The number of employed people increased by 211,000 in July from the year before, smaller than a rise of 333,000 in June and the smallest since February 2021.

https://business.inquirer.net/414895/south-korea-unemployment-rate-climbs-to-six-month-high

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They're finishing each other's sentences already. They're sitting side by side at breakfast. They're talking on defense, getting everyone involved on offense, celebrating each other's successes as if this team has been together for years. It hasn't been years. It didn't even take a week. That's a good sign for USA Basketball's men's World Cup team. Getting along as a 12-man unit guarantees nothing in terms of wins, losses and medals, but it was an important first step for the Americans. The team was leaving Las Vegas on Tuesday to start, what it hopes, is a five-week overseas odyssey — a week in Spain, followed by a week in Abu Dhabi, and then, if all goes right, three weeks in Manila for the World Cup.

https://www.mymotherlode.com/sports/basketball-general-news/3205749/analysis-usa-basketballs-world-cup-quest-off-to-a-fast-start-with-bonds-being-forged.html

#mymotherlode

Reuters A boat passes by as the launch of SpaceX Starship was scrubbed at T-40 seconds due to a valve freezing up, during an orbital test mission near Brownsville, Texas, US, on April 17, 2023. SpaceX scrubbed the launch of its powerful Starship rocket on Monday morning due to technical issues. The launch, which marks the first flight test of SpaceX's fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket, was scheduled at 8:20am Central Time from SpaceX' Starbase in the US state of Texas. With just less than a few minutes to go in the countdown, a pressurant valve appeared to be frozen, according to Elon Musk, founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX.

https://www.shine.cn/news/world/2304186297/

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Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong dragged out into the open last week what has long been common knowledge, albeit whispered about behind closed doors: How unscrupulous legislators and local officials have been enriching themselves through tainted infrastructure projects at the expense of Filipino taxpayers. In a television interview, Magalong said: 'I had a chance to talk to several contractors. I asked them assuming that I will take a cut from infrastructure projects, how much will it be? And they said about 10 percent to 15 percent or 20 percent to 25 percent, depending on the decision of the mayors or the lawmakers.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/164720/joining-magalongs-lonely-crusade

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Weightlifting champion Jang Mi-ran, who was named second vice minister of culture, sports and tourism last month, tours Amore Seongsu in eastern Seoul during the opening ceremony for the Korea Summer Beauty Sale on Thursday. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM] If anyone needed yet another reason to visit Korea this summer, the Korea Summer Beauty Sale may be just the thing. The sale is perhaps the country's largest beauty and cosmetics event aimed at attracting overseas travelers to the peninsula.

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/640/0000041028?sid=103

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Metaverse Dualchain Network Architecture ( DNA ) traded 11.1% higher against the U.S. dollar during the one day period ending at 11:00 AM E.T. on April 10th. Over the last week, Metaverse Dualchain Network Architecture has traded down 82% against the U.S. dollar. Metaverse Dualchain Network Architecture has a market capitalization of $324,716.71 and $51,068.58 worth of Metaverse Dualchain Network Architecture was traded on exchanges in the last 24 hours. One Metaverse Dualchain Network Architecture coin can now be purchased for approximately $0.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/04/10/metaverse-dualchain-network-architecture-market-capitalization-hits-324716-71-dna.html

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Iran's Hamed Haddadi gets love from Lebanon's players after the game. Lebanon beat Iran, 81-73, in Haddadi's final game. -FIBA PHOTO MANILA, Philippines-Lebanon will go home in high spirits at the end of its 2023 Fiba World Cup stint following a feel-good 81-73 win over Iran on Saturday night at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta. Wael Arakji scored 21 points and Ali Haidar added 20 as the Lebanese picked up their second victory in the classification phase after dropping all three matches in the opening group stage.

https://sports.inquirer.net/527137/fiba-world-cup-lebanon-spoils-hamed-haddadis-final-game-for-iran

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(2nd LD) crime threats-arrest (2nd LD) Police intensify investigation into surge of copycat crime threats following stabbing rampage(ATTN: UPDATES figure in paras 4,11-13) SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- Police intensified their investigation Saturday into a wave of online posts threatening copycat crimes following a recent stabbing rampage at a department store. On Thursday afternoon, a man drove a car onto a sidewalk and attacked people with a knife at a department store in Seongnam, south of Seoul, leaving 14 people wounded.

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0014114102?sid=104

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VANCOUVER - A spokesperson for the BC Wildfire Service says 80 per cent of the 212 new fires sparked across the province since Wednesday were caused b...

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/08/14/bcws-predicts-stable-forecast-following-persistent-lightning-strikes-across-province.html

#thestar #weather

The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the conviction of a former bank manager found guilty of money laundering in connection with the $81 million stolen by hackers from Bangladesh's central bank in 2016. In a 58-page ruling, the court's First Division dismissed the appeal of Maia Deguito, former branch manager at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), to reverse her conviction. The CA upheld the decision dated Jan. 10, 2019, and the resolution dated Sept. 20, 2019, of the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 149 finding Deguito guilty of eight counts of violating Section 4 (f) of Republic Act No.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1759190/ca-affirms-conviction-of-ex-rcbc-exec-in-81-m-bangladesh-bank-heist

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