France Deploys Thousands of Police as Widespread Protests Continue
Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:31s - Published
France Deploys Thousands of Police as Widespread Protests Continue
France Deploys , Thousands of Police , as Widespread Protests Continue .
'The Independent' reports that French protestors
have continued to march against President
Emmanuel Macron's deeply contentious pension bill.
.
'The Independent' reports that French protestors
have continued to march against President
Emmanuel Macron's deeply contentious pension bill.
.
The widely unpopular pension bill
would see the retirement age in
France pushed back two years.
.
The government also rejected demands
by union leaders that the government
reconsider the bill, deepening the crisis.
After rejecting union demands, the government said that
it would stand firm on the pension bill and push
back the age of retirement for millions of people.
After rejecting union demands, the government said that
it would stand firm on the pension bill and push
back the age of retirement for millions of people.
We have proposed a way out
... and it's intolerable that we
are being stonewalled again, Laurent Berger, Head of the CFDT union, via 'The Independent'.
'The Independent' reports that Macron claims the changes are
necessary to keep France's finances in balance, while critics
counter that other approaches could achieve the same goal.
'The Independent' reports that Macron claims the changes are
necessary to keep France's finances in balance, while critics
counter that other approaches could achieve the same goal.
The protests, which began back
in January, have evolved into
widespread anti-Macron sentiment.
This sentiment intensified after
the government invoked special powers to
pass the bill without a parliamentary vote.
According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, authorities have anticipated a "very serious risk to public order" amid the ongoing unrest.
'The Independent' reports that 13,000 police will be
deployed to quell nationwide protests that have
already included clashes with police and vandalism.
The presidents of France and Brazil - both wearing white open-necked shirts - have been pictured smiling warmly at each other and embracing, with social media.. Sky News
US Consumer Confidence , Shaken Amid High Prices , and Lingering Recession Fears.
'The Independent' reports that consumer
confidence in the United States continues to
hold steady despite high prices and declining
optimism regarding the short-term future.
'The Independent' reports that consumer
confidence in the United States continues to
hold steady despite high prices and declining
optimism regarding the short-term future.
On March 26, the Conference Board research group
released its consumer confidence index, which
measures Americans' outlook for the next six months.
The index tracking consumer
confidence fell to 104.7 in March
from a revised 104.8 in February.
The index measuring short-term expectations
for income, business and the overall job
market fell to 73.8 from 76.3 last month.
'The Independent' reports that
any number below 80 could signal
the potential for a recession.
At the same time, consumers'
view of current conditions improved
to 151 from 147.6 last month.
The month before, consumers'
optimism regarding current
conditions had been at 154.9.
Economists pay close attention to consumer
spending as it accounts for approximately
70% of the United States' economic activity.
Last month, the Conference Board's
index saw larger declines, falling from
106.7 from a revised 110.9 in January.
At the time, economists had forecast
that the index was going to stay
steady from January to February.
The index tracking short-term
expectations fell from 81.5
in January to 79.8.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
US Relations With Israel, Decline Following , UN Ceasefire Vote.
On March 25, the United Nations
Security Council passed a resolution
demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. .
On March 25, the United Nations
Security Council passed a resolution
demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. .
'The Independent' reports that the resolution calling for a
truce during the month of Ramadan and the release of all
Hamas' hostages was passed by 14 nations on the council.
Relations between the U.S. and Israel have deteriorated
since Washington made the rare decision to abstain
from the vote, effectively allowing the resolution to pass.
Relations between the U.S. and Israel have deteriorated
since Washington made the rare decision to abstain
from the vote, effectively allowing the resolution to pass.
Israel's prime minister
Benjamin Netanyahyu called off a planned visit to
Washington D.C. in protest of the U.S. decision.
Israel's prime minister
Benjamin Netanyahyu called off a planned visit to
Washington D.C. in protest of the U.S. decision.
Netanyahu reportedly accused the U.S. of
"retreating," and called the new resolution , "a clear departure from the consistent U.S. position
in the Security Council since the beginning of the war.”.
Netanyahu reportedly accused the U.S. of
"retreating," and called the new resolution , "a clear departure from the consistent U.S. position
in the Security Council since the beginning of the war.”.
The U.S. decision comes after months of pressure on
the Biden administration to take action as the death toll
in Israel's offensive in Gaza has now exceeded 32,000. .
The U.S. decision comes after months of pressure on
the Biden administration to take action as the death toll
in Israel's offensive in Gaza has now exceeded 32,000. .
The decision also comes amid widespread concerns over Israel's plan to invade the Gazan city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinian refugees are sheltering.
The decision also comes amid widespread concerns over Israel's plan to invade the Gazan city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinian refugees are sheltering.
'The Independent' reports that the U.S. had
previously blocked three attempted Security Council
resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The outlet reports that the U.S. has vetoed 89 resolutions
brought before the Security Council since 1945,
over half of those resolutions were critical of Israel.
Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign minister,
said that there would be no halt
in fighting in a post on X.
The state of Israel will not
cease fire. We will destroy
Hamas and continue to fight until
the last of the hostages returns home, Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign minister, via 'The Independent'.
The state of Israel will not
cease fire. We will destroy
Hamas and continue to fight until
the last of the hostages returns home, Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign minister, via 'The Independent'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Solar Panel Breakthrough , Could Make Renewable Energy , More Commercially Viable.
'The Independent' reports that a new
'miracle material' is behind a mass produced
solar panel with significantly increased efficiency. .
Perovskite has the potential to revolutionize the renewable energy
industry, however, its transition to commercial applications
has been hampered by durability and reliability issues.
A team led by Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology believes the vacuum process could allow
next-gen solar panels to become viable in the commercial market.
Vacuum-based processes
have proven themselves in
industry for many decades, Ulrich W. Paetzold, Professor at the Institute of Microstructure Technology and Light Technology Institute at KIT, via 'The Independent'.
Although they can decisively
advance the commercialization
of solar cells, they are heavily
underrepresented, Ulrich W. Paetzold, Professor at the Institute of Microstructure Technology and Light Technology Institute at KIT, via 'The Independent'.
'The Independent' reports that solar cells made with a
combination of silicon and perovskite have been shown
to generate more energy than traditional silicon cells.
'The Independent' reports that solar cells made with a
combination of silicon and perovskite have been shown
to generate more energy than traditional silicon cells.
According to Chinese solar technology firm Longi,
their silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell is nearly
30% more efficient than the best silicon cells.
Another startup in China claimed to have reached a
silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell breakthrough that
would allow them to begin mass production in 2023.
Another startup in China claimed to have reached a
silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell breakthrough that
would allow them to begin mass production in 2023.
At the same time, UK startup Oxford PV has also
announced plans to make the perovskite tandem cells
available commercially with a production facility in Germany. .
At the same time, UK startup Oxford PV has also
announced plans to make the perovskite tandem cells
available commercially with a production facility in Germany. .
Details of the latest breakthrough in this
next-gen technology were published in the
journal 'Energy & Environmental Science.'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
SpaceX's Third Test of Its , Starship Succeeds Ahead, of Crewed Lunar Mission.
'The Independent' reports that SpaceX's third test of its
Starship has ended successfully, with the spacecraft
falling to Earth somewhere in the Indian ocean. .
The successful test follows two
failed tests which lasted only a few
moments before ultimately exploding.
The third test saw the Starship successfully launch,
separate from its booster, arrive in space, open its
payload door and then fly halfway around the Earth.
This means that the test successfully
accomplished all of the major tests
SpaceX had laid out prior to launch.
Starship is the largest and most
powerful rocket ever built, with
a towering height of 397 feet. .
CEO Elon Musk said prior to launch that the
company had made thousands of upgrades and
fixes to improve the chances of a successful test.
CEO Elon Musk said prior to launch that the
company had made thousands of upgrades and
fixes to improve the chances of a successful test.
The spacecraft launched from
the southern tip of Texas
near the Mexican border. .
The spacecraft launched from
the southern tip of Texas
near the Mexican border. .
The test flight outperformed previous
tests, reaching an altitude of 100
miles and nearing orbital speed.
'The Independent' reports that NASA is heavily invested in
the success of Starship, as the spacecraft plays an integral
role in the agency's plan to return astronauts to the moon.
The highly anticipated missions will
mark the first crewed missions to the
moon since last century's Apollo program.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Oppenheimer's Christopher Nolan , Looking at Huge Bonus , Following Oscars Success.
'The Independent' reports that Christopher Nolan is poised
to recieve a massive bonus from the overwhelming
success of his Oscar-winning film 'Oppenheimer.' .
'The Independent' reports that Christopher Nolan is poised
to recieve a massive bonus from the overwhelming
success of his Oscar-winning film 'Oppenheimer.' .
The film took home seven awards from
the 96th Academy Awards ceremony.
The film took home seven awards from
the 96th Academy Awards ceremony.
Among those seven awards were Best Picture,
Directing, Actor in a Leading Role (Cillian Murphy)
and Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Downey Jr). .
Among those seven awards were Best Picture,
Directing, Actor in a Leading Role (Cillian Murphy)
and Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Downey Jr). .
'Oppenheimer' also won awards
for Best Cinematography,
Film Editing and Original Score.
After releasing on July 19
last year, the film raked in , $958 million worldwide.
An upcoming rerelease at 1,000 cinemas
following the movie's Oscars success is projected
to drive the film beyond the $1 billion threshold. .
An upcoming rerelease at 1,000 cinemas
following the movie's Oscars success is projected
to drive the film beyond the $1 billion threshold. .
According to a report by 'Variety,' Nolan is rumored to
take home over $100 million, based on a combination of , “salary, backend compensation, box-office escalators
and a bonus for this twin Academy Awards.”.
According to a report by 'Variety,' Nolan is rumored to
take home over $100 million, based on a combination of , “salary, backend compensation, box-office escalators
and a bonus for this twin Academy Awards.”.
Despite garnering critical success
throughout his career, this was
Nolan's first career Oscar win. .
Previously, Nolan had earned
nominations for 'Dunkirk' in 2017,
'Inception' in 2010 and 'Memento' in 2001. .
Previously, Nolan had earned
nominations for 'Dunkirk' in 2017,
'Inception' in 2010 and 'Memento' in 2001. .
Previously, Nolan had earned
nominations for 'Dunkirk' in 2017,
'Inception' in 2010 and 'Memento' in 2001. .
'The Independent' reports that 'Oppenheimer' has already
become the highest-grossing Best Picture winner since
'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' in 2003
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Protests took place across France after President Emmanuel Macron passed controversial pension reform legislation without parliament’s vote. French police and protestors battle each other with tear..