TGI Fridays has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company intends to use the bankruptcy process to explore alternatives to ensure its long-term viability. The process will affect the parent company, which operates 39 restaurants, but not its franchisees. The company secured funding to allow all locations to continue operation while it navigates bankruptcy. The chain, which began in 1965, experienced significant financial struggles from the pandemic and never fully recovered.
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Anthony Scaramucci, former White House communications director under Donald Trump, expressed strong resentment towards his former boss in an interview, saying he would like to confront Trump physically if not for the president’s Secret Service protection. Scaramucci, known also as the Mooch, was only in the White House for 11 days and had no previous qualifications for his position. Despite this and going through a scandal involving a taped phone call with a New Yorker reporter, he claims it was not the reason he was fired. Since leaving the White House, he has rebranded himself as a political heavy-hitter through the British podcast The Rest is Politics: US. Despite understanding why some would vote for Trump, Scaramucci condemns the president as racist and a fascist.
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Pastor Gus Booth from Warroad Community Church in Minnesota drew criticism for blending politics and religion during a recent sermon. Strongly condemning the Democratic Party from the pulpit, Booth expressed support for the Republican Party and urged congregants to vote accordingly. The sermon drew mixed reviews, with some appreciating Booth’s words and others finding them shocking and distressing. The pastor’s actions have stirred debate over the legality of his actions, as churches are tax-exempt and are not legally meant to influence political views. However, Booth believes he retains his right to freedom of speech, even inviting an IRS investigation, as he has been sending recorded sermons to the IRS for years.
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The United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has withdrawn from a Montreal conference that included the founder of a designated terror group, Samidoun. Charlotte Kates, founder of Samidoun, had been set to participate in the inaugural “Coordinating Council 4 Palestine” conference. Albanaese’s withdrawal followed outcry from Jewish leaders over her plans to speak at the event, given her alleged antisemitic remarks and planned involvement with a terror group leader. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has asked for her dismissal from her UN role, and there have been calls to bar her from entering Canada. Kates, based in Vancouver, is a leader of Samidoun, which was designated a terror entity by Canadian and US authorities due to ties with another terror group.
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Over 100 BBC staff members have accused the broadcaster of giving Israel favorable coverage in its reporting on the war on Gaza, criticizing it for a lack of “accurate evidence-based journalism.” The letter addressed to the director general and CEO also stated that failing to hold Israel accountable for its actions has resulted in the systematic dehumanization of Palestinians. The signatories included anonymous BBC staff and over 200 from the media industry, alongside historians, actors, academics, and politicians. They have urged the BBC to fulfill its editorial commitments, including challenging Israeli claims and providing historical context. The BBC defended its coverage, stating that it is transparent about any limitations in its reporting.
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The article predicts that Vice President Kamala Harris will win the 2024 U.S. presidential election against Donald Trump, becoming the first woman and person of Asian heritage to hold the office. To support this forecast, the author notes Harris’s extensive fundraising efforts, her successful campaign, and the demographic diversification in the U.S. The article also mentions the gender gap in voting, according to which Harris has a significant lead over Trump among women. The author acknowledges this prediction could be incorrect but urges readers to vote for Harris to ensure victory.
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A US federal judge has backed an Ohio law requiring voters to prove their citizenship, controversially overruling his previous rejection of the legislation in 2006. Judge Christopher Boyko deemed the potential for “random challenges” over voters’ names, appearances or accents to be limited by the amended statute, which only allows precinct election officials to challenge voters. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio is now urging naturalised citizens to ensure they bring their citizenship documentation in case they’re challenged in their bid to vote.
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Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is investigating whether former President Donald Trump violated state law by making a statement about former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney that could be construed as a death threat. During an interview, Trump made a comment about Cheney having “guns trained on her face,” which Mayes said her office is analysing for potential legal implications. Cheney responded to Trump’s comment by accusing him of behaving like a dictator and threatening those who oppose him.
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During a rally in Milwaukee, Donald Trump experienced microphone problems and suggested he might “knock the hell out of people backstage”. The crowd had chanted “fix the mic” after Trump encountered several issues with his microphone during his speech. In response, Trump simulated fellatio on the microphone stand, causing shock and disbelief on social media. The View’s Ana Navarro called Trump unfit for office, while others called his behaviour “unhinged.” Trump later complained about the weight of a wireless microphone an aide gave him. The Trump campaign has yet to comment on the event.
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Pilot Col. Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo ejected from an operational F-35B stealth fighter jet when he became disoriented due to multiple system failures during a storm, according to a Marine Corps investigation. The aircraft’s radios, transponder, air navigation system, and helmet-mounted display began to fail due to an “electrical event”. The investigation found Del Pizzo’s decision to eject was “ultimately inappropriate,” as other instruments remained partially operational. Although he lost his command post in Arizona as a result of the incident, no punitive action was taken against Del Pizzo. The mishap occured over a year ago, and the report’s delay has sparked concerns about potential systemic issues with the aircraft.
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John Q. Hosedrinker