Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy slams ‘beasts’ in beheading video
A clip has surfaced on social media that appears to show a Russian soldier beheading a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Meanwhile, Russia has tested an ICBM. DW has the latest.
Temple names former law school dean JoAnne Epps as acting president of the university
Former Temple University law school dean and provost JoAnne Epps has been named acting president of the university. She vowed to focus on safety and enrollment amid spiraling crime near the north Philadelphia campus and other issues during her predecessor’s tumultuous tenure of less than two years.
Epps, who has spent nearly four decades at the university, told The Philadelphia Inquirer before the announcement that she believes she was selected in part for her “ability to sort of calm waters.” The newspaper reported that enrollment is down 14% since 2019.
“I am obviously humbled and excited and really looking forward to being able to make a contribution to the university that I so love,” Epps said in an interview with the paper. She said she will not be a candidate for the permanent position as the university launches a national search for a new president.
PHILADELPHIA MAN STABBED IN NECK, BACK NEAR TEMPLE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
Jason Wingard, Temple’s first Black president, resigned last month after leading the 33,600-student university since July 2021.
Wingard, 51, resigned shortly before a no-confidence vote by the faculty union, with members citing concerns over falling enrollment, financial issues and labor disputes. He had told a panel of state lawmakers a week earlier that Philadelphia’s homicide rate has wrought a climate in which students, faculty, parents and staff are afraid.
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT RESIGNS AS PHILADELPHIA CRIME CONCERNS WREAK HAVOC ON ENROLLMENT
In announcing his resignation, the school vowed to ensure “the highest level of focus” on serious issues facing the institution, “particularly campus safety.”
Temple University police officer Christopher Fitzgerald, 31, was shot and killed near campus earlier this year after pursing three people dressed in black and wearing masks in an area where there had been a series of robberies and carjackings. Two youths were arrested nearby, and an 18-year-old suspect was taken into custody the following morning. The school said Fitzgerald, a father of five, was the first Temple University officer killed in the line of duty.
The university had also recently seen a six-week strike by graduate students who are teaching and research assistants. Members of the graduate student union last month ratified a new contract after overwhelmingly rejecting an earlier agreement and extending their walkout.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/temple-names-former-law-school-dean-joanne-epps-new-president-university
National Grilled Cheese Day: History of the holiday and how to spice up classic sandwich recipe
National Grilled Cheese Day is a light-hearted holiday designed to give Americans time to enjoy their favorite comfort food.
The grilled cheese sandwich is a simple American lunch delicacy that requires a stove, butter, two slices of bread, and cheese.
It is not officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States — but it’s still a time to treat yourself to your favorite meal.
HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE MAINE LOBSTER GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH
Read below to find out the most creative ways for your family and friends to celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day.
National Grilled Cheese Day may be celebrated by yourself, friends and family in various ways to honor American comfort foods; the most common practice is to cook a classic grilled cheese sandwich for lunch or dinner.
The typical method for this recipe would include adding your favorite kind of cheese between two slices of buttered bread and grilling on the stove until it is the perfect shade of brown.
Most people generally enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of homemade tomato soup. For this unofficial national holiday, you could stick with this traditional combination or add different cheeses and bread, as well as a salad or chicken noodle soup.
The possibilities for grilled cheese variations are many — so add creativity to your holiday meal.
You can celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day by visiting your favorite gourmet restaurant to order your favorite kind of grilled cheese sandwich.
STEVE DOOCY’S LASAGNE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH RECIPE: ‘BEST DARN SANDWICH OF MY LIFE’
National Grilled Cheese Day is an unofficial American holiday that highlights the variety of daily comfort foods millions of Americans enjoy.
However, the holiday itself is relatively new. During the late 1990s, the holiday was first created and is now celebrated in a variety of states – but it is not recognized by the federal government.
Historians believe that people have enjoyed grilled cheese sandwiches for centuries. Still, the modern version of the food became popularized after the invention of the bread slicer and the creation of processed cheese during the Industrial Revolution.
These two items made creating simple everyday sandwiches such as grilled cheese easier for millions of Americans.
National Grilled Cheese Day occurs every year on the same date – April 12. The holiday is primarily meant to appeal to Americans who enjoy lunch items, comfort foods and sandwiches.
While the classic grilled cheese is butter, bread and cheese, there are numerous ways you can get creative with your recipes.
In Boca Raton, Florida, New York Grilled Cheese – yes, that’s the name of the restaurant – serves its sandwiches on waffles.
At Melt Bar & Grill located in various parts of Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, you can order a Gourmet Grilled Cheese with brisket, deep-fried macaroni and cheese, pizza rolls and more.
At Clinton Hall in NYC, you’ll find a glazed doughnut filled with melted mozzarella over a pot of hot tomato soup.
No matter where you’re located around the U.S., it’s more than likely you’ll find a grilled cheese that includes some delicious twist.
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If you’re definitely in the mood for something a little more unique than just the classic grilled cheese, try one or all of the following additions to your sandwich.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/national-grilled-cheese-day-holiday-recipe
Maine woman charged with buying dozens of guns that went to CA gangs
A Maine woman has been charged with buying dozens of guns that allegedly were provided to gangs in Southern California last year, federal prosecutors said.
Jennifer Scruggs, 35, of Turner, attested that she purchased 55 guns from three federally licensed firearms dealers in Auburn, Turner and Whitefield for her own use while she was actually buying them for others, law enforcement officials said.
Scruggs, who has been charged with 10 counts of making illegal straw gun purchases, made her first court appearance on Monday, according to prosecutors.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Her attorney declined to comment Tuesday.
The purchases were made over a three-month period last year and were allegedly provided to gang members in California, but Scruggs also reported that two of the guns were stolen from her, law enforcement officials said.
A law enforcement affidavit states two of the guns were recovered by Los Angeles police, and one was fired by a man who shouted, “Crypts,” which was an apparent mistaken reference to the Crips street gang.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/maine-woman-charged-buying-dozens-guns-went-ca-gangs
Live: Biden touts benefits of Northern Ireland peace in Belfast speech
US President Joe Biden is in Northern Ireland on Wednesday to help mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of armed conflict, as a new political crisis tests the strength of that peace. Watch his speech at Belfast’s Ulster University live at 2pm Paris time (GMT+2).
Islanders on brink of creating a playoff party we haven’t seen since 1994
The first instance, in 1994, ranks among the greatest sporting springs in the city’s history.
https://nypost.com/2023/04/12/islanders-may-join-knicks-nets-rangers-devils-in-playoffs/
Gold Tailwinds Rising As It Enters Real-Yield Sweet Spot
Gold Tailwinds Rising As It Enters Real-Yield Sweet Spot
By Simon White, Bloomberg Markets Live reporter and strategist
Real yields should provide an even greater tailwind for gold through the rest of 2023, supported by a weaker dollar and by buying from reserve managers.
Gold is flirting with all-time highs versus the dollar and several other currencies, while it is at its highs versus several more currencies, such as the Japanese yen, the Australian Dollar and the Indian rupee.
Gold is often simplistically taken as an inflation hedge. However, the correlation between gold returns and CPI is very close to zero over the long term. Instead, the interplay between inflation and interest rates — i.e. real rates — is more meaningful for gold.
Gibson’s Paradox stemmed from the observation that real interest rates and gold move inversely to one another (named a paradox by Keynes as it contravened standard economic theory). Gibson’s Rule said that for every percentage point the real fed funds rate was below 2%, gold should rally 8% over the next year.
The data gives a more nuanced answer. The chart below shows the subsequent one-year return of gold (in dollars) for different real-rates buckets. There is more of a parabolic relationship with real rates and gold rather than a straight line.
Real rates (-1% now) are currently very favorable for gold on historical basis.
Furthermore, real rates are set to get even more gold-friendly. CPI fixing swaps and the current level of Fed rates show that the spot real rate is expected to be between 1% and 2% for most of the rest of this year, i.e. in the most favorable bucket for forward gold returns.
If we add to this real buying from reserve managers, the backdrop has fundamental support. It is way too premature to call the end of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency, but it is clear countries are diversifying away from USTs, and some of the gap is being filled by gold.
Add in a dollar downtrend that looks intact for now, and gold should continue to perform well, and quite conceivably start making all-time highs in several more currencies, not least the dollar.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 04/12/2023 – 07:55
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/gold-tailwinds-rising-it-enters-real-yield-sweet-spot
Violence dropped at California middle and high schools over 18 years, UCLA study finds
Researchers at UCLA have found a sharp decrease in violence and victimization at California schools from 2001 through 2019.
The Times podcast: An FBI investigation into college basketball gone wrong
An FBI investigation tried to expose malfeasance in the world of NCAA men’s basketball. Instead, the mirror was turned on the agency itself.
https://www.latimes.com/podcasts/story/2023-04-12/the-times-podcast-fbi-ncaa-basketball