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French Magazine Sparks Outrage Over Racist Depiction of Black Lawmaker

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French Magazine Sparks Outrage Over Racist Depiction of Black Lawmaker

PARIS — A conservative French journal is below hearth after it revealed a fictional narrative and illustration depicting a French lawmaker as an enslaved African who was put up for public sale within the 18th century.

The legislator, Danièle Obono, an anti-racism activist who’s Black and was born within the former French colony of Gabon, known as it “an insult to my historical past, to my household and ancestral histories, to the historical past of slavery,” and described it as a “political and racist assault.”

The seven-page fictional narrative, revealed this week within the journal Valeurs Actuelles, had a collection of photos, together with one of Ms. Obono with chains round her neck. By Saturday, French politicians from throughout the political divide had criticized the journal for its extremely offensive portrayal of Ms. Obono.

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“This revolting publication requires unambiguous condemnation,” Prime Minister Jean Castex wrote on Twitter. President Emmanuel Macron despatched Ms. Obono a message of help.

On the far proper, Wallerand de Saint-Simply, a prime official in Marine Le Pen’s Nationwide Rally Social gathering, wrote on Twitter that what the journal had performed was unjustified. “The political combat doesn’t justify this kind of humiliating and hurtful illustration of an elected consultant of the republic,” he wrote.

Yves de Kerdrel, the journal’s managing editor till 2018, stated the story was “explosive,” and contributed to the “normalization of racism.” The present editors of the journal, a weekly aimed toward right-wing and far-right readers, denied that the story was racist, however issued an apology.

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“I remorse that folks might need thought that we have been racist,” Tugdual Denis, the deputy editor of the journal, advised the French channel BFMTV on Saturday. “We’re nonconformist, we’re politically incorrect. That’s the DNA of this paper.”

The story was half of a collection of brief summer time narratives depicting up to date political figures in earlier historic intervals and written by an nameless creator utilizing the pseudonym Harpalus.

In it, Ms. Obono returns to the 18th century and finds herself in a small village in present-day Chad. At first, she is delighted to “reconnect along with her roots.” However she quickly turns into disillusioned by the village’s “patriarchal order,” and falls into the inter-African slave commerce.

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The story then recounts how Ms. Obono is taken to markets the place enslaved Africans are bought, however discovered no consumers: “Danièle didn’t discover a purchaser, with out understanding whether or not she ought to rejoice or lament, and never with out feeling, absurdly, a small blow to her satisfaction.”

The story ends when Ms. Obono is purchased by a French cleric, freed and brought to a monastery in France to recuperate from the expertise.

In a telephone interview, Ms. Obono stated she refused to learn the entire story and known as it, “a degrading and demeaning illustration of myself and 18th-century Africa.” The journal’s editors stated their purpose was to remind readers that slavery in Africa had not solely been perpetrated by Europeans, but additionally by Africans.

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Ms. Obono, 40, is a seasoned left-wing activist who has lengthy been concerned in anti-racist organizations. Critics have accused her of exaggerating the scars left by colonization in addition to France’s participation within the slave commerce, a topic that is still delicate within the nation.

In a press release, the journal’s editors stated that they had chosen as an instance Ms. Obono within the narrative as a result of she had contributed to the “ideological enterprise of the falsification of historical past.”

Ms. Obono stated that the journal’s story was half of a “revisionist technique well-known among the many far-right, which goals to reduce duty for the trans-Atlantic slave commerce and its political, financial and social penalties.”

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Valeurs Actuelles, a small, common newsmagazine established in 1966, has typically been accused of offensive protection.

Passionate news enthusiast with a flair for words. Our Editorial Team author brings you the latest updates, in-depth analysis, and engaging stories. Stay informed with their well-researched articles.

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Alaska $1300 Stimulus Check May 2024 – Stimulus Checks for Everyone? Payment Dates & Eligibility

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Alaska $1300 Stimulus Check May 2024 – Stimulus Checks for Everyone? Payment Dates & Eligibility

Citizens of Alaska are going to receive an important stimulus check which will alleviate to a large extent their financial woes.

The $1300 Stimulus Check May program is a courtesy by the state’s Permanent Fund Dividend. It will be a great support for the residents of Alaska in their difficult times.

The Alaskan support program has been rolled out to reduce the financial difficulties of the people of Alaska who are finding it difficult to meet their basic expenses. The $1,300 stimulus check which will be rolled out in May 2024 is open for all Alaska permanent residents who do not have any recent criminal records and meet the eligibility requirements.

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The stimulus checks are aimed to improve the quality of life of residents of the state of Alaska by affording financial security and enabling them to get essential support when they need it most. The eligible candidates are advised to visit the official website of the Alaska Revenue Department to get to know about the latest updates.

Alaska $1300 Stimulus Check May 2024

$1300 Stimulus Check May 2024 is a gift from the Alaska Revenue Department to enable the eligible residents of Alaska to get vital and much needed support during the time of financial crisis. The project is especially beneficial for persons who are finding it difficult to pay for their bills and facing a financial emergency. The stimulus will serve as a timely infusion of funds that will reduce their burdens.

Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend 2024

Article$1300 Stimulus Check May 2024
DepartmentDepartment of Revenue, Alaska
Benefit NamePermanent Fund Dividend
Amount$1300
Applicable inAlaska, USA
Payment DateMay 2024
CategoryGovernment Aid
Official Websitehttps://pfd.alaska.gov/

$1300 Stimulus Check May 2024 Latest Update

The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) website has stated that eligible Alaskans can hope to get their next stimulus payments on 16th May 2024. The program is a part of the financial support initiative launched for the state of Alaska by the Government of America and the funds are channeled via the Permanent Fund Dividend program, which is managed by the Alaska Department of Revenue.

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Citizens can check their eligibility status on the official website from 8th May 2024 and in case their claim is marked as “eligible-not-paid,” they can expect to get the money directly into their Bank accounts on the specified dates. Citizens are encouraged to visit the Permanent Fund Dividend’s official website for more information and updates.

Also Read: New Hampshire Is Raising Legal Age Of Marriage To 18 Without Exceptions

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New Hampshire Is Raising Legal Age Of Marriage To 18 Without Exceptions

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New Hampshire Is Raising Legal Age Of Marriage To 18 Without Exceptions

The New Hampshire House has passed a bill to raise the minimum age for marriage from the present 16 years to 18 years without any exceptions. The bill, which has been designated as SB 359, will now be sent to the Governor for his signature.

If approved by the Governor, New Hampshire will become the 12th state to have a law that bans marriage under the age of 18 with no exceptions.

New Hampshire To Raise Minimum Marriage Age to 18

The New Hampshire House voted 192-174 to pass the bill SB 359 on Thursday, raising the legal age for marriage from 16 years to 18 years. The bill has a long and eventful history and has been sent to Gov. Chris Sununu for approval.

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Bill 359 clearly states that

“no person below the age of 18 years shall be capable of contracting a valid marriage, and all marriages contracted by such persons shall be null and void.”

Presently, the legal age for marriage is 16 years.

The bill will also nullify the current legal options for minors to marry.

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The current laws, RSA 457:6, permit parents and guardians of persons between 16 and 18 to approach a family court to grant permission for the marriage.

The petition also requires the involvement of the Division for Children, Youth, and Families and allows the court to interview with each minor getting married without their parents present. SB 359 would eliminate this process.

If the law is signed by the governor, it will make New Hampshire one of 12 states that have banned marriage under 18 with no exceptions. The other states which have such a law in place include Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New York.

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Maine permits marriage for 16- and 17-year-olds with written consent from their parents, legal guardians, or custodians. However, this will become nullified in New Hampshire if SB 359 becomes law.

The bill was advocated for years by Rep. Cassandra Levesque, a Barrington Democrat. In 2018, the idea of raising the marriage age to 18 years from the then stipulated 14 years was first proposed by Levesque, then 19 and not yet a state representative. However, the House and Senate Republicans agreed to pass a bill to raise it to 16 instead. Levesque won her first election to the House and continued to advocate raising the marriage age to 18 years.

Levesque argued that raising the marriage age will prevent situations that can be exploited by others.

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Levesque, in the House Calendar introducing SB 359, said,

“The committee found that this bill is important to be in law because we know that age of majority does not amount to maturity, and that there is a greater risk of human trafficking and domestic violence without these protections.”

However, the bill was opposed by Republican lawmakers. Rep. Margaret Drye, a Plainfield Republican, argued that the marriage was a beneficial option for those under 18 in certain circumstances like an unexpected pregnancy.

Also Read: Ontario Sunshine List 2024 Reveals Why People Can’t Afford To Buy A Home

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Ontario Sunshine List 2024 Reveals Why People Can’t Afford To Buy A Home

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Ontario’s Sunshine List Reveals Why People Can’t Afford To Buy A Home

Ontario Sunshine List is released every year and it reveals the salaries of public sector workers who take home a salary in excess of $100,000. This year the list features 300,570 names which is 30,000 higher than last year of public sector employees with salaries over $100,000. The Ontario Sunshine list also features five employees working at the Ontario Power Generation who are among the top 10 earners with the province’s highest salary nearing $2 million.

Ontario had passed the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act in 1996 under the Mike Harris government and the stated aim of the act was to make the government more transparent and accountable. The $100,000 limit was a big deal then.

However the $100,000 in 1996 in relative terms in 2024 will be equivalent to $180,564.97. If you remove 300,570 people on this year’s Ontario Sunshine List for that salary threshold there you drop 279,781 names. In other words there will be many people who will not be able to own a house without help from family or an inheritance.

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In a nutshell it means that employees who take home a six figure salary package will still feel the pinch of Canada’s affordability crisis. The soaring inflation and rising cost of living a $100,000 salary doesn’t guarantee financial security in many parts of the country.

Also, to maintain the $100,000 threshold today, the province should have adjusted it to $55,381.73 in 1996. Ontario has fixed a threshold of $100,000, while the threshold varies in other provinces. Alberta, for example, has set a threshold of $125,888 for government employees and $150,219 for people in public sector bodies.

Not much information is available for the federal government, but a Canadian Taxpayers Federation access-to-information request revealed that 110,593 employees in the federal public service earned $100,000 or more in 2023.

There are a couple of options for Ontario and other governments with non-indexing disclosure requirements. Resetting the threshold to a number that makes more sense today and then continuing to index the threshold going forward seems feasible.

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We also don’t need to reveal the names of all individuals. The government could report aggregated salary ranges by job title rather than disclosing specific names below a second, lower threshold. This would maintain government accountability and transparency by still disclosing who the highest earners are.

As it stands, we have a list that publishes the names and salaries of potentially hundreds of thousands of people who could not afford to buy a house. This doesn’t seem aligned with the original intent of the disclosure act.

Some features of the Ontario Sunshine List 2024 are as follows:

  • The highest paid employee took a pay check of $1.9M
  • Public sector employees were paid salaries in excess of $100K
  • The Ontario Sunset list top position is held by Kenneth Hartwick, CEO of the electricity Crown Corporation with a salary of $1.93 million followed by chief strategy officer Dominique Miniere $1.2 million and chief projects officer Michael Martelli drawing $1 million as salary.
  • Public sector workers were paid counting in Bill 124 compensation
  • 2024 budget revealed that Ontario deficit will triple
  • CEOs of the Hospital for Sick Children and the University Health Network figured in the top 10 list and each drew a salary of $850,000 each while CEO of the provincial transit agency, Metrolinx drew a salary of $838,097.
  • 17 professors or associate professors at the University of Toronto drew a salary in excess of $500,000

Caroline Mulroney, president of the Treasury Board, stated in a release,

“The largest year-over-year increases were in the hospitals, municipalities, and services, and post-secondary sectors, which together represented approximately 80 percent of the growth of the list.”

Also Read: Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum Says Wants to Hire Student Protesters Backlash Underway

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