Author: Ruben Maldonado

Temple Terrace teacher fled her apartment with her son when the ceiling fell in and then found more problems awaited. Temple Terrace teacher Tiera Brown’s life turned upside down in the middle of the night. She told ABC Action News it all started when the sound of water running woke her up. “I flip the light on and in the same moment the light came on, the ceiling collapsed,” Brown said. Without warning, water-soaked insulation and most of the hallway ceiling crashed to the floor. Brown called it a narrow miss. “I am so thankful it did not hit me,”…

It’s ironic that Australia commemorated “Harmony Day” this week. Dreamed up 24 years ago by the Howard government as a local version of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD), it’s supposed to be a celebration of diversity, respect and belonging. Yet there’s been much disharmony in Australia of late, and not just in regards to racial discrimination. For most of this week, and last, the country was preoccupied with Aukus and warmongering, after it was revealed that Canberra had agreed to pay up to A$368 billion (US$246 billion) to the US for a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Aukus – the three-way security tie up between…

Washington (AFP) – The top US diplomat to Afghanistan on Thursday apologized for tweets that suggested struggling Afghan women might find inspiration in African American history and culture — particularly the #BlackGirlMagic social media movement. US envoy Karen Decker tweeted that several of her posts earlier in the week went “awry” despite her “best intentions” when she suggested Afghan women could learn from examples such as pop culture icons Beyonce and Lizzo. Her comments sparked online indignation from users who objected to the seemingly tone deaf comments about the plight of Afghan women, who have seen their rights severely curtailed since…

Russia is nearing the first anniversary of its re-invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and supplying sufficient manpower for the war effort remains a key factor in determining the war’s outcome. For several weeks, Ukrainian officials have been warning of Russia’s impending new offensive and waves of mobilization, which seem to be driving Moscow’s increased recruitment of Central Asian labor migrants through aggressive means and a blatant disregard for the law (Euromaidan Press, January 13; The Kyiv Independent, February 6; see EDM, February 15). The pool of Central Asian migrants who work in primarily low-skilled jobs in Russia is large, and,…

China and five Central Asian countries on Thursday kicked off a first-ever forum on industry and investment cooperation in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province, eyeing greater collaboration in digital economy, energy and agriculture. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China + Central Asia (C+C5) industry and investment cooperation forum, lauding the strategic partnerships between China and the five countries of Central Asia, which have established a new path with a friendly neighborhood and win-win cooperation and a new paradigm for international relations, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi said that China is willing to share with…

Americans are moving to Florida for better weather and lower taxes. While they can likely count on warm temperatures in the years ahead, not everyone will find themselves better off financially. From July 2021 to July 2022, Florida’s population grew to over 22 million people, according to new Census Bureau data. The 1.9% increase was the largest of any US state over this period. Ample job opportunities — evidenced by one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation — and the growth of remote work have made it possible for many Americans to move to the Sunshine State. Many…