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Australian women lose bid to sue Qatar Airways over 2020 strip searches

Australian women lose bid to sue Qatar Airways over 2020 strip searches

Judge dismisses case because women not searched on the aircraft, says they could seek damages from the airport operator. A group of Australian women who were strip-searched at Doha’s main international airport have lost a legal bid against Qatar Airways. In early October 2020, the female passengers were ordered to disembark their flight to Sydney and subjected to gynaecological examinations to check whether they had given birth. The body searches were part of an investigation into the whereabouts of the mother of a newborn baby who was found abandoned in a plastic bag in a bin at a toilet in one of the terminals of Hamad International Airport. The women later launched legal action seeking damages over alleged “unlawful physical contact”, false imprisonment and mental health impacts. An Australian court on Thursday dismissed the case because the women were not searched on board the aircraft, citing a well-worn international convention covering airline liability. Federal Court Justice John Halley indicated they could instead amend the claim to seek damages from the operator of the airport. In September last year, Australia’s government cited the “invasive” examinations as a reason to block Qatar Airways from operating more flights into the country. The airline said Australia’s decision was “very unfair”. Following the incident, Qatar’s then-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who since became the prime minister, had expressed his “deepest sympathies with the women impacted by the search at the airport” and renewed the Gulf state’s apology to them. “The incident is considered a violation of Qatar’s laws and values,” he said at the time, adding that the officials involved had been referred to the public prosecutor. Adblock test (Why?)

Will oil prices keep rising, and how will that affect inflation?

Will oil prices keep rising, and how will that affect inflation?

The increase this year, driven by geopolitical tensions and supply shocks, could hamper efforts to rein in inflation. Oil prices are at their highest level in months and central banks are keeping a close eye on the markets. For the first time since October, Brent crude, the international benchmark, topped $91 a barrel last week. That threatens a rise in gasoline prices in the United States and elsewhere, reigniting fears over inflation. The increase in prices has been driven in part by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Supply shocks after several output cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies are also pushing prices up. Zimbabwe has launched a new currency. Plus, McDonald’s buys back its Israeli restaurants. Adblock test (Why?)

FBI director warns of ‘elevated’ public, national safety; pushes for increased funding

FBI director warns of ‘elevated’ public, national safety; pushes for increased funding

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday will warn of an “elevated threat” to U.S. public safety and national security while advocating for an increased budget. “Looking back over my career in law enforcement, I’d be hard-pressed to think of a time where so many threats to our public safety and national security were so elevated all at once,” Wray will say to the House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Thursday afternoon. “But that is the case as I sit here today. This is not a point when we can let up.” Wray will argue at the hearing that the federal agency needs fiscal support to “tackle these threats” to keep American citizens safe. “This is by no means a time to let up or dial back. This is a time when we need your support the most — we need all the tools, all the people, and all the resources required to tackle these threats and to keep Americans safe,” Wray will say. HOUSE BRACES FOR BATTLE OVER RENEWING CONTROVERSIAL FISA SURVEILLANCE TOOL Wray will say that the FBI’s “immediate concern” is that individuals will draw inspiration from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East and carry out terrorist attacks in the U.S. He will point to the Russia Concert Hall terrorist attack that left 144 people dead in the worst assault on Russian soil in two decades. “…Our most immediate concern has been that individuals or small groups will draw twisted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home. But now increasingly concerning is the potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, akin to the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russia Concert Hall a couple weeks ago,” he will say. Wray will push for Congress to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which monitors foreign nationals overseas and is set to expire on April 19. “…An absolutely indispensable tool for Congress can give us in our fight against foreign adversaries is the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,” he will say. “It’s critical in securing our nation, and we’re in crunch time.” FBI DIRECTOR SAYS CHINESE HACKERS ARE ‘POISED TO ATTACK’ AS INFILTRATIONS REACH ‘FEVER PITCH’ Section 702 has been both credited with preventing terror attacks on U.S. soil and accused of being a vehicle for spying on U.S. citizens. The FBI has been accused of improperly using Section 702 to spy on Black Lives Matter protesters in the summer of 2020 as well as people who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The FBI director will warn that budget cuts to the agency would affect more than just FBI operations; they would directly impact partners in state and local law enforcement. “Every day, FBI agents, analysts and professional staff are working shoulder to shoulder with thousands of task force officers from hundreds of different police departments and sheriffs’ offices all over the country on our FBI-led task forces,” Wray will say. “On top of that, we provide technology and expertise, valuable investigative leads like DNA matches, and cutting-edge training to law enforcement nationwide to help them keep our communities safe.” “So cuts to us are cuts to our partners — state and local law enforcement agencies and officers who are on the ground, putting themselves in the line of fire — often quite literally,” Wray will say.

Biden admin pressured Snopes to change its fact-check rating on rumored gas stove ban, internal emails show

Biden admin pressured Snopes to change its fact-check rating on rumored gas stove ban, internal emails show

EXCLUSIVE: Biden administration officials successfully pressured fact-checking website Snopes to alter its rating on a fact check it conducted regarding a potential federal ban on gas stoves, according to internal communications. In early January 2023, Snopes issued a “mixture” rating on the claim that the Biden administration was considering a ban on gas-powered stovetops, citing comments made by a senior official overseeing product regulations. Shortly before the fact check, Richard Trumka Jr., a member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), said such a ban was “on the table.” “This is a hidden hazard,” Trumka told Bloomberg at the time. “Any option is on the table. Products that can’t be made safe can be banned.” A month earlier, Trumka said regulating gas stoves needs to be a priority “whether it’s drastically reducing emissions or banning gas stoves entirely” because of their climate and health impacts, CBS News reported. BIDEN OFFICIALS EXPLORED CRACKING DOWN ON GAS STOVES EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN, EMAILS SHOW But Snopes, which originally gave its “mixture” rating as a result of Trumka’s statements, changed the rating to “false,” stating the CPSC is “not currently considering a ban on gas stoves.” Snopes’ updated article included additional comments from the CPSC and downplayed Trumka’s earlier statement. However, Snopes only altered its article after pressure from the CPSC to do so, according to emails exchanged between CPSC and White House communications officials and obtained by watchdog group Functional Government Initiative (FGI) through an information request. BIDEN ADMIN IS PREPARING TO TARGET AMERICANS’ GAS FURNACES AMID STOVE CRACKDOWN “Sent over tough letter to this writer yesterday when the initial claim was rated as ‘mixed,’” CPSC communications director Pamela Rucker Springs wrote in an email to White House assistant press secretary Michael Kikukawa Jan. 11, 2023, linking to the updated Snopes fact check. Kikukawa responded enthusiastically, saying the alteration would be “so helpful going forward.” “As a routine matter, whenever CPSC identifies factually inaccurate coverage in any media outlet, we contact the outlet to request a correction. That’s what occurred in this circumstance,” Springs told Fox News Digital when asked about the Snopes fact check alteration. “We were glad to see accurate reports that the administration is not trying to ban gas stoves – and never has,” Kikukawa added. BIDEN’S ENERGY SECRETARY MET WITH CHINA-CONNECTED GROUP FUELING GAS STOVE BANS IN US Trumka’s comments, meanwhile, sparked widespread outrage among consumer advocates, Republicans and some Democrats. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., even introduced the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, which would bar federal dollars from going toward regulatory efforts to ban gas stoves.  Amid the outrage, Trumka walked back his comments about opening the door to a ban, saying in a social media post that “CPSC isn’t coming for anyone’s gas stoves.”  In addition, CPSC Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric issued a statement clarifying that he was not “looking to” ban gas stoves, and the White House said President Biden would not support a gas stove ban. In March 2023, the CPSC did issue a request for public information about the health impacts of gas stoves, which ultimately resulted in no regulatory action. “A commissioner appointed by President Biden wanted to ban gas stoves, and he got caught, provoking a public outcry,” said FGI researcher and spokesperson Peter McGinnis. “So, the CPSC staff leaned on Snopes, seeking to counter the narrative by splitting hairs about commission processes. “And the White House finds this ‘helpful.’ Helpful with what? This goes beyond dysfunction — the government using sympathetic media to censor inconvenient news,” McGinnis said. “The American people deserve both to keep their gas stoves and to know the truth about what regulations government officials are considering.” Snopes did not respond to requests for comment.

Bipartisan senators push back as key Dem signals doom for TikTok bill

Bipartisan senators push back as key Dem signals doom for TikTok bill

Senators on both sides of the aisle are pushing back after Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., poured cold water on hopes a House-passed bill that would require social media app TikTok to divest from China would ever reach the Senate floor. “I’m not surprised at all. This is exactly what I predicted would happen,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told reporters. He was reacting to recent comments from Cantwell, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. After the House bill passed with an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives last month, it was referred to the Commerce Committee in the Senate rather than being expedited in the same fashion. This puts the measure under Cantwell’s purview as chairwoman, and she is charged with scheduling markups and potential hearings.  PENCE WORRIES TIKTOK BILL COULD GET LOST IN ‘FOG OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS,’ URGES SENATE VOTE The Washington Democrat had already signaled what some feared would be a long process, indicating her interest in holding several public hearings regarding the TikTok bill. However, she reportedly shared new detailed criticisms of the bill with reporters Monday, suggesting it would not hold up to judicial scrutiny.  Cantwell claimed the measure “could be better,” Punchbowl News reported. “You also can’t, as a Congress, just decide one day, ‘Ah!’ And pass a law. Well, you can, I just don’t know if it’ll hold up in court. “Let’s get something that can be upheld.” She notably has her own proposal regarding TikTok, called the GUARD Act, which she said would allow the executive branch, specifically the Department of Commerce, to regulate apps owned by foreign adversaries, such as TikTok. The measure would not force divestment from China.  MCCONNELL SAYS TIKTOK BILL DESERVES ‘URGENT ATTENTION’ AMID CHINA SECURITY THREAT CONCERNS Asked by Fox News Digital if she still planned to hold hearings on the House-passed measure, Cantwell said, “We’re trying to figure out our schedule for that. So, we’ll let you know soon.” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, criticized the suggestion, telling Fox News Digital, “It’s the right thing for national security, and looking for excuses is embarrassing.” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, further claimed the bill was designed to be taken to court and prompt a quick decision.  “It’s anticipating court action and making sure that it’s done very quickly,” he said.  Citing his conversations with the Department of Justice and the legal advice provided by it, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said the approach “taken in the House bill [is] threading the needle appropriately,” pushing back on Cantwell’s remark.  GOP PLANS TO GRIND SENATE TO A HALT IF DEMOCRATS TABLE MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL “I think it’s clearly constitutional and passes all the tests of legal sufficiency,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Fox News Digital. “Selling assets is a common remedy that’s used by the Justice Department in antitrust suits and is applied to a variety of other kinds of situations.” Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., reiterated that he wants to see a vote on “a bill that separates TikTok and the Chinese government connection.” Representatives for Cantwell did not provide comment in response to the criticisms.  Hawley suggested again that lobbying from Big Tech was likely behind stalling on the TikTok measure, telling reporters, “TikTok does not want that bill to move across the Senate floor. “And, therefore, it’s highly unlikely to move across the Senate floor.”  DEM SENATORS VOICE CONCERNS OVER ISRAEL WAR STATUS AS BIDEN ATTEMPTS ‘CHALLENGING’ BALANCE WITH PROGRESSIVES Several reports last month from Politico revealed that several former Cantwell staffers now lobby lawmakers on behalf of the social media app, which prompted both questions and criticism given her position charting the bill’s trajectory through the Commerce Committee.  TikTok did not provide comment to Fox News Digital.  However, Hawley said he isn’t willing to accept the TikTok bill never reaching the chamber floor for a vote.  He claimed that if the Commerce Committee tries “to bottle it up,” he might seek to bring the TikTok bill to the floor by asking “for unanimous consent to set a vote and have a debate.” GOP SENATORS CONVINCE SPEAKER JOHNSON TO DELAY MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLE DELIVERY Asked if he thinks the measure would ever be brought to the floor, Warner told Fox News Digital, “I believe we need to work on something that is a national security threat and has been overwhelmingly supported.” Fetterman expressed optimism, saying he believes a vote on forcing TikTok to divest will eventually happen.  Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., noted it would be a decision for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as the leader of the upper chamber.  Schumer didn’t answer Fox News Digital when asked if he plans to ever bring the House-passed bill to the floor. “I can tell you that it’s important that we either have them divest or we’re probably going to have to find a process in which they are eliminated from the platforms,” Rounds said. 

Is our fiercely tribal politics just a distortion of reality?

Is our fiercely tribal politics just a distortion of reality?

We live in extremely polarizing times. Can anyone really dispute that? The two major presidential candidates are calling each other a threat to democracy. Donald Trump says Joe Biden is pulling the strings to have him jailed in the hush money case. Joe Biden says Donald Trump is a dictator in waiting. HOW NPR WENT ‘OFF THE RAILS’ TO KNEE-JERK LIBERALISM–ACCORDING TO A CURRENT TOP EDITOR Biden says Trump’s election would lead to a national ban on abortion. Trump says Biden’s election would mean Democrats would keep aborting babies through the ninth month and even after birth. Trump says Biden has opened the borders in ways that will lead to a crime surge across the country. Biden says Trump torpedoed a tough border security bill because he’d rather have the issue than a solution. Most Republicans believe Trump that the 2020 election was stolen. Most Democrats believe that is a big lie. Trump says the Jan. 6 defendants are hostages who are being held illegally. Biden says they were rightfully convicted for attacking police officers and trying to overturn the election. There are exaggerations, distortions and outright falsehoods in these and many other statements. But they are believed or disbelieved based largely on pure partisanship. And nasty personal attacks have become so routine in this social media age that they are almost the price of admission. But what if these are just a limited set of players – journalists, pundits, operatives, influencers and trolls – who are poisoning the atmosphere?   Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen, co-founders of Axios, explore that question in a thought-provoking piece: “What if we’ve been deceived into thinking we’re more divided, more dysfunctional and more defeated than we actually are?” They’ve come up with a phrase –”reality distortion bubble” – to describe the world we live in. WHY TRUMP IS DEFERRING TO THE STATES, AFTER WEIGHING AN ABORTION BAN AT 15 WEEKS They don’t deny that “deep divisions” exist. They say the loudest voices are amplified, which has been true going back to the earliest days of talk radio. But when I think of ordinary people in my life – by which I mean those who are not political or media junkies, and live relatively normal lives – I’m reminded that they don’t walk around with their fists up and use Facebook mainly for family and pet updates. This is particularly true when I escape the Beltway hothouse. Here’s how Axios puts it:  “No, most Christians aren’t white Christian nationalists who see Donald Trump as a God-like figure. Most are ignoring politics and wrestling with their faith. “No, most college professors aren’t trying to silence conservatives or turn kids into liberal activists. Most are teaching math, or physics, or biology. “No, most kids don’t hate Israel and run around chanting, ‘From the river to the sea.’ On most campuses, most of the time, students are doing what students have always done. “No, most Republicans don’t want to ban all abortions starting at conception. No, most Democrats don’t want to allow them until birth. “No, immigrants who are here illegally aren’t rushing to vote and commit crimes. Actual data show both rarely happen — even amid a genuine crisis at the border. “No, most people aren’t fighting on X. Turns out, the vast majority of Americans never tweet at all. [What??] “No, most people aren’t cheering insults on Fox News and MSNBC in the evening. Turns out, less than 2 percent of Americans are even watching.” Anticipating complaints that they are “naive,” the authors concede that politics on the Hill, especially in the House with its miniscule majority, are dysfunctional. I’d say that dramatically understates the case. Crucial aid to Israel and Ukraine has been stalled for months because of petty partisanship. Marjorie Taylor Greene is talking about toppling another speaker, Mike Johnson, six months after her ally Kevin McCarthy got the boot. This is sheer chaos. VandeHei and Allen make the intriguing point that politics has infested everything, from football to beer to Target. And, yes, there’s blame on both sides: “The acceptance of former President Trump’s language and tactics by so many Republicans can be partly explained by this reality distortion phenomenon. His base often feasts off edge-case outrages — wacky liberal professors saying wacky things, illegal immigrants committing brutal but isolated crimes, surges in shootings in specific cities… SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE’S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY’S HOTTEST STORIES Similar edge cases pulse through liberal channels and the word police. This helps explain how ‘LatinX’ went mainstream, then got dumped.” So there’s not much of a market for celebrating actual progress in various realms, especially since we’re still fighting about the origins of COVID. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Maybe people will grow sick of the perpetual polarization and rediscover that there’s more that binds us than separates us. But I don’t see it happening anytime soon.