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This weekend

• Sports ~ Watch exhilarating rugby matches featuring Leinster vs. Toulouse, with a key battle against Antoine Dupont, and Stade Rochelais vs. Exeter Chiefs, where both teams excel in total carries and Exeter can learn from Gloucester's tactics for victory.
• Tv Show ~ "Love & Death," an HBO Max mini-series starring Elizabeth Olsen, explores the true crime story of suburban mom turned ax murderer Candy Montgomery, focusing on her affair, the murder trial, and featuring strong performances, while the real events remain a compelling mystery.
• Movie ~ "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" is a film adaptation of Judy Blume's novel that explores female experiences through the challenges faced by the young protagonist Margaret Simon and her mother Barbara, offering a nuanced portrayal that resonates with older audiences.

Jerry Springer Dies at 79

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Who was Jerry Springer?

Jerry Springer was a legendary talk-show host, former mayor of Cincinnati, and broadcast journalist who was best known for his dramatic syndicated talk show, The Jerry Springer Show.

How did Jerry Springer die?

Jerry Springer died peacefully at his home in Chicago on Thursday morning following a brief illness, according to his representative, Bradley Singer.

What was Jerry Springer’s impact on pop culture?

Jerry Springer had a significant impact on ’90s pop culture, hosting his salacious talk show which received stellar ratings and memorably featured audience members chanting his name. He also played a scandalous TV host in the film Ringmaster, made cameos in numerous films and TV shows, hosted several other shows, and even had his own podcast.

What was Jerry Springer’s background and career?

Jerry Springer was born in London, but immigrated to the US with his family when he was a child. He studied political science at Tulane University and kick-started his broadcast career by hosting his own segment at a local college radio station. He served as a political writer and commentator throughout his career, received a law degree from Northwestern University, and worked at a law firm. He also served as a member of the Cincinnati City Council and as the mayor of Cincinnati.

What was Jerry Springer known for?

Jerry Springer was known for his uncanny ability to connect with people and his dramatic, often controversial talk show which mediated contentious conflicts between couples, friends, and family members that often culminated in physical altercations. He was also a political commentator, lawyer, and TV host who made a significant impact on ’90s pop culture.

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More on Entertainment

• ​Get ready for maximalist action and intriguing character relationships in Amazon Prime Video's new series, "Citadel." Follow former spy Mason Kane on a mission to retrieve a briefcase from his agency's enemy headquarters in New York City with the help of instructions from Bernard Orlick in this compact, glossed-up action series. With creators envisioning multiple series, "Citadel" is worth watching for those who love spy-adventure series.

Dropbox Announces Layoffs

Cloud storage giant Dropbox has announced layoffs of 16% of its staff, or roughly 500 employees, due to slowing growth and the "AI era of computing finally arriving." This comes after the company laid off 315 employees in January 2021. The layoffs were announced in a memo from CEO Drew Houston and in an SEC filing, which noted that the company will incur charges of approximately $37 million to $42 million in connection with layoffs.

Despite being profitable and reporting Q1 results in line with or above expectations, Houston said that the company is choosing to cut jobs and invest in new areas to keep up with the pace of change. The slowdown in growth is due in part to the natural maturation of existing businesses, but also to economic downturns putting pressure on customers and, in turn, the business.

Critics warn that AI will lead to more job losses, and some might see it as an easy excuse for Dropbox to cut costs to keep investors and the market optimistic. Impacted staff will be notified and finished with work by tomorrow, according to Houston.

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More on Tech News

• ​Artificial intelligence poses a major threat to the 2024 presidential election, as AI-generated audio, images, and videos of candidates could distort reality and blur the line between real and fake news. Several AI programs exist to generate such content, but solutions such as using technology to sign and record content sources or developing a contextualization engine for real-time fact-checking have been suggested to combat the issue.
• ​Tesla's defense lawyers are arguing that statements made by Elon Musk regarding the security of their Autopilot software cannot be trusted as they could be deepfakes, as part of their defense in a lawsuit claiming Tesla was responsible for the death of an engineer at Apple, who died in a crash in 2018 while driving a Tesla Model X. This case raises concerns about the use of deepfakes and the ongoing debate around the safety and reliability of autonomous driving technology.

Headline Roundup

Italy's Power Mafia Boss Arrested: Police have captured Pasquale Bonavota, the alleged leader of Italy's most powerful mafia family, the 'Ndrangheta, who has been on the run since 2018. Bonavota, who was wanted on a murder and mafia association warrant, is reportedly one of the defendants in an ongoing "maxi-trial" with over 300 participants related to organized crime. The 49-year-old was arrested at a cathedral in the city of Genoa and was carrying a fake ID at the time of his capture. The 'Ndrangheta had dominated the cocaine market in Europe and had an estimated annual turnover of around $60bn, exceeding that of the better-known Sicilian Cosa Nostra and Camorra groups.

Iran Seizes Marshall Islands Tanker: Iran's navy has seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker after it collided with an Iranian boat in the Gulf of Oman, injuring several crew members. The US Navy had earlier reported that Iranian forces had seized a tanker in the Gulf of Oman, but the vessel was not identified. The seized tanker had been en route from Kuwait to Houston and was near the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical oil chokepoint. The US Navy's call for the tanker's immediate release was ignored. The seizure has increased tensions between Iran and the West, particularly the US, which has increased sanctions against Iran. This seizure marks at least the fifth time that Iran has unlawfully seized commercial vessels in the past two years.

UK Nurses' Strike Partly Illegal: The High Court of Britain has declared part of a strike due to take place next week by thousands of nurses to be illegal. The Royal College of Nursing had planned to walk out for two days from 8 pm GMT on 30 April. However, the Court has ruled that the six-month strike mandate granted by members expires at midnight on 1 May. For the first time, the strike would have included nurses in emergency rooms, cancer wards and intensive care. A number of other public sector employees are involved in pay disputes with the government, which has offered a 5% raise this year, plus a lump sum payment for 2022-23.

US Economy Slows Sharply

The US economy slowed sharply from January through March, decelerating to just a 1.1% annual pace as higher interest rates hammered the housing market and businesses reduced their inventories. The nation’s gross domestic product weakened after growing 3.2% from July through September and 2.6% from October through December. This has been attributed to the impact of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive drive to tame inflation, with nine interest rate hikes over the past year. The surge in borrowing costs is expected to send the economy into a recession sometime this year.

But consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity, remained resilient, growing at a 3.7% annual pace, the fastest such rate in nearly two years. Spending on goods, in particular, was solid: It rose at its fastest pace since the second quarter of 2021. One key question is whether consumer spending will weaken over time as there are concerns surrounding retail sales as the first quarter of the year ended. Retail sales had enjoyed a strong start in January but in February and again in March, sales tumbled, suggesting that consumers were tiring.

Many economists say the cumulative impact of the Fed’s rate hikes has yet to be fully felt. The central bank’s policymakers are aiming for a so-called soft landing: Cooling growth enough to curb inflation, yet not so much as to send the world’s largest economy tumbling into a recession. Yet it seems there is widespread skepticism that the Fed will succeed, as an economic model used by the Conference Board, a business research group, puts the probability of a U.S. recession over the next year at 99%.

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More on Economy and Business

• ​Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has reported a $5.7bn profit for the first quarter of the year, driven by the success of its artificial intelligence (AI) business. The company is exploring ways to introduce AI agents to billions of people, and is set to release generative AI Meta products in the coming months, which can instantly create sentences and graphics. With just under three billion monthly users, the social media giant is one of the most popular platforms in the world.
• ​Proposed gambling reforms, including a mandatory levy, tougher checks, and limiting online slot stakes have drawn criticism for causing a year-long delay in implementation, during which more gambling addicts may die. The proposals received mixed reactions, with MPs and campaigners supporting them, but experts and campaigners criticizing them for not curbing advertising, and delaying the reform process until summer 2024.
• ​Microsoft's planned acquisition of games maker Activision Blizzard has been blocked by the UK competition regulator, citing concerns over fair competition. Both companies strongly responded, with Microsoft calling the decision "bad for Britain" while Activision said "the UK is clearly closed for business." The rejection highlights the UK's challenges in attracting and scaling up large Silicon Valley-style corporations.

Ethiopia's Peace Talks Begin

The Ethiopian government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) have started peace talks in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The talks come at a crucial time for Ethiopia, as it has recently experienced heightened ethnic tensions and violence. The mediation is being conducted by Kenya and Norway, and the discussions are receiving generally positive feedback from many who hope that peace will be achieved soon. However, some analysts, including Abbas Mwalimu, argue that more needs to be done to achieve lasting peace, such as revising the current Constitution to unify Ethiopia.

One of the key concerns is the incorporation of regional military fighters into the national army, which has sparked tension. Ibrahim Rahbi suggests that the Ethiopian government must manage the process carefully to prevent further conflict. However, the OLA's ceasefire before meaningful negotiations has been called for by the American-Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC). The OLA has grown in numbers in recent years, but some experts assert it lacks the organization and weaponry to pose a serious threat to the Ethiopian government.

Overall, the peace talks offer hope for Ethiopia, and both sides are committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict. While tensions persist, any progress towards peace is a step in the right direction.

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More on African News

• ​The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is reportedly in talks with Senegal to host the company's first event in Africa, with the 15,000-capacity Dakar Arena identified as the most likely destination. Lawrence Epstein, the UFC's COO, said the company sought to make the first event accessible to local fans, and that Nigeria was also high on the list of potential venues. The UFC sees introducing the sport to Africa as crucial to continuing its global expansion, which began with UFC 286 held at London's O2 Arena.
• ​Climate change has made the ongoing agricultural drought in the Horn of Africa 100 times more likely, leading to catastrophic impacts such as tens of thousands of deaths, crop loss, and water insecurity. The absence of the short rains period is due to the influence of La Niña, while future extreme dry conditions are expected as the world continues to warm.
• ​Kenyan pastor Ezekiel Odero, leader of the New Life Prayer Centre and Church, has been arrested over allegations of mass killing of his followers, with claims that 'holy' pieces of cloth sold by the church can heal any sickness. The church has been shut down and over 100 people evacuated, while Kenyan President William Ruto has promised a crackdown on extremist religious leaders in the country. The arrest comes shortly after another cult leader in the same region was detained for brainwashing church members to starve themselves to death, leading to the death of over 100 followers.

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