Latest news with #Dona
Borneo Post
27-04-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Unimas, SSPCA, SOS unite to tackle campus stray issues
Dona (third right) presents a token of appreciation to Wee (centre) during the Pet Walk 2025 event, witnessed by Jee (third left) and other invited guests. – Photo by Jude Toyat KUCHING (April 27): The Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) and Save Our Strays (SOS) will partner with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in May to address the issue of stray animals on its campus through an awareness and control initiative. SSPCA president Datin Dona Drury-Wee said that the initiative will focus on raising awareness about the proper care of campus strays. A key component of the collaboration is the implementation of a Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return (CNVR) programme aimed at managing and curbing the stray animal population within Unimas grounds. 'In the next month SSPCA and SOS will also start our work with Unimas to create greater awareness about the care for their campus strays, as well as a Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return programme (CNVR) to curb the growth of the stray population there,' she said in her speech during the Pet Walk 2025 event at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) foyer here today. Dona emphasised that events like The Pet Walk are not only fun and memorable, but also highlight the importance of responsible pet ownership, compassion, and community engagement. 'We are holding this in the month of April to commemorate World Stray Animal Day, and we would like to remind members of the public that stray animals do not ask to be abandoned and left on the streets, it is our human responsibility to ensure that all animals are taken care of. 'If you do not wish to have an uncontrollable number of pets, then you must neuter or spay your animals to prevent unwanted litters,' she stressed. She also highlighted SSPCA's ongoing efforts in supporting the 'One Health' approach, which focuses on the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment, especially in combating rabies. 'We all work together on the principal of One Health, to eradicate rabies and achieve the global target of zero human deaths by 2030. 'Remember, by protecting your pets through vaccination, you are also protecting your family and neighbours from rabies,' she said. The Pet Walk 2025 saw more than 800 participants and over 150 pets joining the event, which was co-organised with Pertubuhan Komuniti Progresif Kuching (PKPK). Dona expressed her gratitude to all participants, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who contributed to the event's success. 'Together, we are making a difference — one pawprint at a time,' she added. The event was officiated by Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong and attended by PKPK chairman and organising chairman Ryan Jee, DVSS deputy director Dr Nicholas Jenek and Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia technical manager Dr Eddie Tan, as well as local media fraternity and other pet lovers.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona Governor Hobbs signs stolen valor bill protecting veteran achievements
The Brief A stolen valor bill was signed by Governor Hobbs on April 18. Retired Master Sergeant Jack Dona says watching the bill navigate through the state legislature was frustrating at times but worth it to make sure people are not embellishing their past. The bill is named after Dona's late father, Master Sergeant Orlando Dona. PHOENIX - As the end of the current Arizona legislative session draws near, a bill to penalize those who commit acts of stolen valor was signed by Governor Hobbs. The bill penalizes anyone who falsifies military records or awards for personal or political gain. Veterans say it is a relief after an up and down journey to get the bill through the legislature and to the Governor's desk. What they're saying "Overall, this is a great victory for, and a bipartisan victory, for veterans, military retirees, and even those who are serving today," said Retired Master Sergeant Jack Dona. Dona says seeing the stolen valor bill turned into law would be an honor as the legislation bears the name of his late father, Master Sergeant Orlando Dona. "On behalf of my entire family, we thank the legislature, in particular Walt Blackman and Shawnna Bollick," said Dona. Anthony Anderson who has been behind the Guardian of Valor and Stolen Valor movement, says he's happy about the bill passing the finish line but is upset about the bill passing the finish line. The backstory Anderson was referencing a decision by Senator Wendy Rogers to block the bill in committee, citing the need for amendments. A news release from the Arizona Senate Republicans claims Rogers, "championed changes to the new bill but Anderson and Dona say they think those claims are false. "I've helped other states get laws like this passed and I've never seen a battle like this," said Anderson. "I would like to emphasize from the time Wendy Rogers killed the bill in her committee to the time it crossed a senate floor for a vote, she was not involved in the process. She's stealing valor from the stolen valor bill, if you want to be honest about it." Representative Blackman authored the original stolen valor bill introduced this session. Senator Bollick brought forth a striker bill after Blackman's bill was blocked by Rogers. What they're saying Blackman issued the following statement ahead of the signing: He also honored his colleagues, saying, "I'm extremely thankful to Senator Shawnna Bolick (LD2) for her leadership and hard work in moving this bill forward. I'm also grateful to Senator Analise Ortiz for ensuring this legislation received the vote it deserved. Their commitment to bipartisan collaboration helped make this possible." "This legislation is not about me," he continued. "It's about every veteran who earned their place, their rank, and their recognition. My hat is off to them, and I'm proud to stand with them." Dona says the hurdles this bill went through were frustrating to see. "You want to talk about why people are fed up with politics and fed up with politicians," said Dona. Why you should care He says the stolen valor bill should send a message to anyone who even considers exaggerating their military past. "If you are an elected official or you're thinking about running for office or you have in some way embellished, doctored, or claimed military service and have received substantial benefit for it, you better come clean," he said. The stolen valor law would go into effect 90 days after the final day of this session.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN says 400,000 Palestinians displaced since Gaza ceasefire ended
UN figures indicate that a significant number of people have been internally displaced in the Gaza Strip since the resumption of fighting there more than three weeks ago. "It is estimated that nearly 400,000 people have been displaced in Gaza following the breakdown of the ceasefire," the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said in a post on X on Friday. More than 2 million people live in the densely populated coastal territory. The Israeli army regularly calls on people to leave areas where it wants to take action against the Islamist Hamas group – recently, for example, the majority of residents of the city of Rafah. Fighting meanwhile continued with an Israeli airstrike on a house in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, killing 10 members of the same family, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Friday. Several others were injured, the report added. No further details about the casualties were initially available. The Israeli military said it was reviewing the report when asked for comment. WAFA also reported that two people were killed and others injured in a separate Israeli strike on a group of individuals in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip. Gazans flee expanding strikes, suffer from shortages According to the UN, around 90% of the population of the Gaza Strip have been displaced since the beginning of the war following the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. During a two-month ceasefire at the beginning of the year, many internally displaced persons returned to their home towns. Israel resumed the massive attacks in mid-March after no agreement could be reached with Hamas on the conditions for an extension of the ceasefire. For more than a month, Israel has not allowed any vital humanitarian aid into the sealed-off strip in order to put pressure on Hamas. UNRWA's X post stated this was "by far the longest blockage of aid and commercial supplies since the start of the war." Aid organizations say the suffering of the civilian population is being significantly exacerbated as a result. They warn urgently against turning humanitarian aid into a weapon of war. The Israeli government insists that stocks of food in the Gaza Strip will last for several more weeks, but points out the supplies are under the control of Hamas. Egypt, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia condemn blockade Foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia once again sharply criticized Israel's blockade. "The entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza must not be conditional on a ceasefire. We call for pressure on Israel to ensure aid reaches the civilian population in Gaza," Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on Friday. The ministers also warned against any forced displacement of Palestinians. In mid-March, several Arab nations presented the United States with a reconstruction plan for Gaza. The plan, drafted by Egypt, came in response to comments made by US President Donald Trump in February suggesting that the 2 million Palestinians from Gaza could be permanently resettled in other countries. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atti added that Cairo, together with Qatar, is working on an agreement to secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. According to Israel, 59 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas militants, of whom only 24 are believed to still be alive. UN office: Gaza conditions 'incompatible' with life The UN in Geneva expressed grave concern about Israeli actions in Gaza, saying the continued existence of Palestinians as a group was in jeopardy. "In light of the cumulative impact of Israeli forces' conduct in Gaza, the office is seriously concerned that Israel appears to be inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life increasingly incompatible with their continued existence as a group in Gaza," Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, told reporters on Friday.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 of Wall Street's Favorite Stocks Worth Investigating and 1 to Turn Down
Wall Street has set ambitious price targets for the stocks in this article. While this suggests attractive upside potential, it's important to remain skeptical because analysts face institutional pressures that can sometimes lead to overly optimistic forecasts. Luckily for you, we at StockStory have no conflicts of interest - our sole job is to help you find genuinely promising companies. Keeping that in mind, here are two stocks where Wall Street's excitement appears well-founded and one where consensus estimates seem disconnected from reality. Consensus Price Target: 4,563% (67.9% implied return) Founded in California in 1982, Malibu Boats (NASDAQ:MBUU) is a manufacturer of high-performance sports boats and luxury watercrafts. Why Is MBUU Risky? Demand for its offerings was relatively low as its number of boats sold has underwhelmed Performance over the past five years shows each sale was less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 29% annually Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management's past and current investment decisions At $24.50 per share, Malibu Boats trades at 7.6x forward price-to-earnings. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than MBUU. Consensus Price Target: 12,284% (85.7% implied return) Founded in 2010, Workiva (NYSE:WK) offers software as a service product that makes financial and compliance reporting easier, especially for publicly traded corporations. Why Could WK Be a Winner? ARR growth averaged 19.5% over the last year, showing customers are willing to take multi-year bets on its offerings Sales outlook for the upcoming 12 months implies the business will have more momentum than most peers Software is difficult to replicate at scale and leads to a stellar gross margin of 76.7% Workiva is trading at $61.91 per share, or 4x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Consensus Price Target: 1,988% (116% implied return) Born from the 2020 merger of Rubicon Project and Telaria, Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI) operates the world's largest independent sell-side advertising platform that automates the buying and selling of digital advertising inventory across all channels and formats. Why Is MGNI a Good Business? Impressive 33.7% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it's winning market share this cycle Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 77.3% over the last five years outstripped its revenue performance Strong free cash flow margin of 24.8% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently, and its rising cash conversion increases its margin of safety Magnite's stock price of $9.38 implies a valuation ratio of 9.6x forward price-to-earnings. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Comfort Systems (+751% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona veterans outraged amid controversy over blocked stolen valor bill
The Brief There's an ongoing controversy involving a bill targeting acts of stolen valor at the Arizona State Legislature. HB 2030 aims to increase penalties for Arizonans who claim military honors they never earned, or those who alter official military documents. The bill was blocked by State Sen. Wendy Rogers. "It was the equivalent of a slap in the face," said one veteran. PHOENIX - Politicians and veterans in Arizona are speaking out amid a controversy involving a stolen valor bill that was blocked by State Senator Wendy Rogers. The backstory Per our first report on the bill, HB 2030 (also known as the "Stolen Valor Act") aims to increase penalties for Arizonans who claim military honors they never earned, or those who alter official military documents. On Jan. 15, Republican State Representative Walt Blackman (R-Dist. 7) introduced the bill, with strong support from veterans. On Feb. 11, the bill passed unanimously in the house, and was eventually sent to the State Senate's Judiciary and Elections Committee. The committee is chaired by State Sen. Rogers (R-Dist. 7), and the bill was held up for a month in the committee before it received a hearing. During the hearing, State Sen. Rogers put the bill on hold. What State Sen. Rogers Said State Sen. Roger released a statement on the matter, which reads: "After the bill was transmitted to the Senate for consideration, I asked Senate staff to reach out to Rep. Blackman's staff requesting we amend the bill to mirror federal law, so there would be no conflicts or confusion in tackling these crimes. I was informed he was not willing to compromise. I again directed Senate staff to let his staff know that I was including the bill on Wednesday's Senate Judiciary & Elections Committee agenda in case he had a change of heart. Neither Rep. Blackman nor his staff communicated that he was willing to work on an amendment. Instead, he continues a smear campaign, omitting the fact that a repeated good faith effort was made to work with him on this legislation. Sadly, it appears Rep. Blackman let a personal vendetta get in the way of honestly fighting for combat veterans." Dig deeper The bill's sponsor said Rogers, who is an Air Force veteran herself, blocked the bill for personal reasons: State Rep. Blackman's political rival, Steve Slaton, who ran against him and lost in the primary election, was endorsed by State Sen. Rogers despite allegations of stolen valor. Meanwhile, some Arizona veterans, like retired Army Master Sergeant Jack Dona, say they are outraged. What Dona Said "It was the equivalent of a slap in the face," said Dona. Dona, along with his father Orlando, spent decades serving the country. "It's just bad politics," Dona said. "It's the stuff that people are tired of, they're disgusted with." Dona said State Sen. Rogers hired him in 2024 to vet Slaton's record. "I determined that it was likely a case of stolen valor," Dona said. Slaton claimed to be Cobra helicopter pilot in Vietnam, but records show he was a mechanic. "[Slaton] lost his primary," said Dona. "I thought that was the end of it." At the hearing, Dona said more than 70 veterans showed up to support the bill, but never got to testify. "What are we saying as a society, as a people, if we cannot protect the very people who put on a uniform and write a check to the people of the United States that I promise that I will give, even up to my life, to protect the constitution and your freedom?" Dona said. What Could Come Next State Sen. Shawna Bolick (R-Dist. 2) has since invoked Arizona's striker amendment to switch her bill with HB 2030. Meanwhile, State Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Dist. 14) said he is optimistic that Rogers and Blackman will reach a deal. "As far as procedure and process, this bill will end up going in a pretty normal timeframe and speed, as far as making it to the governor's desk," said State Senate President Petersen. State Rep. Blackman said Rogers had plenty of time to discuss any amendments with him, and believes she is either not good at her legislative job or is simply lying. Blackman also said Rogers' claims that HB 2030 doesn't mirror the federal Stolen Valor law is inaccurate, and said he doesn't believe she read the bill if she is not aware of the constitutional clearance it has gone through. Blackman went on to say the bill expands on the federal law in ways that he feels will help Arizona veterans. Blackman said he believes some legislators are slow-rolling the bill, and Dona is urging fellow veterans to not let that happen. "You should get on the horn, and you should burn up the phone lines," said Dona. "E-mail them, be vocal, because that's the only thing that they understand. The only thing that they understand is we, the people, speaking out peacefully."
