Latest news with #Grillo
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Memorial Day weekend travel: These Texas gas stations have the cheapest gas prices
Millions of Americans are preparing to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend. Are you prepared for one of the busiest holidays of the year? And are you looking for a way to save money at the gas pump? Here's what to know if you're traveling on the road this holiday. According to AAA, 3.7 million Texans will travel over the Memorial Day holiday period between Thursday, May 22 and Monday, May 26, a 3% increase from 2024. This is the third straight year of record-breaking travel for this holiday statewide. About 45.1 million Americans will travel for the holiday weekend, a 3.1% increase from 2024 and a new national record for this holiday period, AAA data shows. It surpasses the previous record of 44 million set in 2005. Galen Grillo, AAA Texas vice president and general manager, says Texans should expect some relief at the pump, but pay more at the airport. 'Texans continue to prioritize travel with family and friends after the pandemic," Grillo said. "This year, consumers will get some price relief at the gas pump, car rental counter, and when flying internationally, but they will spend more on domestic flights, hotels, cruises and tours compared to 2024.' The current average for Texas gas prices is $2.77, while the national average is $3.19. According to GasBuddy, here are the top 10 places to get cheaper fuel during Memorial Day weekend: Circle K Houston: $2.09 per gallon Valero San Antonio: $2.12 per gallon Speedy Stop Lumberton: $2.17 per gallon Shell Willis: $2.19 per gallon Valero San Antonio: $2.22 per gallon Sam's Club McAllen: $2.24 per gallon Sam's Club McAllen (7601 N 10th St): $2.27 per gallon Circle K Socorro: $2.27 per gallon Valero Beaumont: $2.27 per gallon AAA recommends leaving during the following times: Before noon on Thursday, May 22nd. Before 11 a.m. on Friday, May 23rd. Before noon on Saturday, May 24th. Before 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 25th. Before 2 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday of May. This year, it falls on May 26. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Memorial Day travel: Where to find the cheapest gas prices in Texas
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
AAA expects record 3.7M Texans to travel Memorial Day weekend. See best times to travel
Millions of Americans are preparing to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend. Are you prepared for one of the busiest holidays of the year? Here's what to know if you're traveling this holiday. According to AAA, 3.7 million Texans will travel over the Memorial Day holiday period between Thursday, May 22 and Monday, May 26, a 3% increase from 2024. This is the third straight year of record-breaking travel for this holiday statewide. About 45.1 million Americans will travel for the holiday weekend, a 3.1% increase from 2024 and a new national record for this holiday period, AAA data shows. It surpasses the previous record of 44 million set in 2005. Galen Grillo, AAA Texas vice president and general manager, says Texans should expect some relief at the pump, but pay more at the airport. 'Texans continue to prioritize travel with family and friends after the pandemic," Grillo said. "This year, consumers will get some price relief at the gas pump, car rental counter, and when flying internationally, but they will spend more on domestic flights, hotels, cruises and tours compared to 2024.' According to AAA data, here are the top domestic destinations for Americans this upcoming Memorial Day weekend: Orlando Seattle New York Las Vegas Miami Texans are expected to travel by car more than by plane for Memorial Day weekend due to several factors. Some key reasons for this trend include: Lower gas prices: According to Gasbuddy, Texas gas prices are lower than last year, making road trips more affordable. Convenience and flexibility: Driving allows travelers to avoid airport crowds, flight delays, and baggage restrictions while offering more control over their schedules. Popular road trip destinations: Many Texans are heading to beach towns like Galveston or between metro areas such as Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio, which are easily accessible by car. Post-pandemic travel preferences: Texans continue to prioritize family and friend gatherings, and road trips provide a more comfortable and social travel experience. Airports are gearing up for a surge in travelers as AAA forecasts 3.61 million air passengers this holiday weekend, a 1.8% rise from 2024 and a 12.3% increase compared with 2019. Over 39 million drivers are expected to hit the road for the Memorial Day holiday. It's a 3% increase from last year and a 4.6% boost from 2019. The current average for Texas gas prices is $2.72, while the national average is $3.15. Here are the cities that have the cheapest gas while traveling in Texas: According to GasBuddy, here are the top 10 places to get cheaper fuel during Memorial Day weekend: Exxon (Beaumont): $2.29 per gallon Texaco (Houston): $2.29 per gallon Mobil (Houston): $2.29 per gallon Shell (Willis): $2.29 per gallon Valero (Baytown): $2.29 per gallon 7-Eleven (Corpus Christi): $2.32 per gallon Super 1 Foods (Texarkana): $2.33 per gallon Stripes (Pharr): $2.34 per gallon Walmart (Hidalgo): $2.34 per gallon Circle K (Pharr): $2.34 per gallon AAA recommends leaving during the following times: Before noon on Thursday, May 22nd. Before 11 a.m. on Friday, May 23rd. Before noon on Saturday, May 24th. Before 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 25th. Before 2 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday of May. This year, it falls on May 26. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: AAA: Record 3.7M Texans expected to travel during Memorial Day weekend
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
French Ambassador calls for cooperation in climate change, culture, education, and innovation with India
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): Anne Grillo, Director General for Global Affairs and G7/G20 Sous-Sherpa at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Friday concluded her visit to India, according to an official press release. Her visit highlighted the strong partnership between India and France, with plans for continued cooperation in areas such as climate change, culture, education, and innovation. Grillo visited India from May 14-16 to strengthen Indo-French cooperation. During her visit, she co-chaired the Governing Council meeting of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) alongside Dr PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, according to an official press release. Grillo emphasised the importance of building resilient infrastructure to combat climate change 'France is proud to have co-chaired the CDRI since 2024. Climate change is a reality all over the world. If we build ill-adapted infrastructure today, we are putting our future at risk. France is continuing its commitment to global action by hosting the CDRI's international conference on 6th and 7th June, on the side-lines of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) being held in Nice, France,' Grillo stated during the CDRI meeting. Established at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, the CDRI is a multilateral platform bringing together governments, UN bodies, financial institutions, private sector actors, and research organisations to enhance resilience across key infrastructure sectors, including energy, transport, housing, health, and water. Headquartered in New Delhi, the coalition is currently co-chaired by India and France for the 2024-2026 term. The French Ambassador visited the French Institute in India, Lycee Francais International de Delhi, and Alliance Francaise de Delhi, highlighting Indo-French synergies. She also interacted with participants of the 'We are the Ocean' festival, an initiative co-organised by the French Institute, the Alliance Francaise, and the French Development Agency in the lead-up to UNOC-3. The festival aims to spark dialogue on sustainability, ocean conservation, and cross-border innovation. Grillo held high-level bilateral meetings with Indian officials, including Suman Bery, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog; Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Ministry of External Affairs; Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa to the Prime Minister; and Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture to discuss bilateral cooperation in global governance, climate, culture, education, and energy transition and preparations for the India-France Year of Innovation in 2026. The dialogue also touched on key multilateral priorities, including the upcoming multilateral agenda, including the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, COP30 in Belem, and the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, alongside France's upcoming G7 Presidency in 2026. Grillo also co-chaired the Indo-French steering committee for the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum project with Vivek Aggarwal. It aims to transform the historic North and South Blocks of New Delhi into a world-class museum retracing 5,000 years of Indian history, with a surface area of 155,000 square metres. France, invited to lend its expertise drawn from renowned projects such as the Grand Louvre, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Grand Palais, is supporting the initiative through a comprehensive feasibility study conducted by France Museums Developpement (FMD), set to continue through 2025, added the release. Grillo concluded her visit by delivering the keynote address at France Alumni Day 2025 in Delhi, which marked the third edition of the initiative in India. The event brought together Indian alumni of French institutions and representatives from French businesses operating in the country. This year's edition focused on women's employment and leadership, providing a platform for alumni working in this space to share insights and promote best practices to support gender equity in professional settings. (ANI)
Singapore Law Watch
16-05-2025
- Health
- Singapore Law Watch
S'pore must be wary of synthetic drugs amid worst overdose epidemic in history: Veteran journalist
S'pore must be wary of synthetic drugs amid worst overdose epidemic in history: Veteran journalist Source: Straits Times Article Date: 16 May 2025 Author: Andrew Wong British journalist Ioan Grillo has reported on the drug scene from Mexico for more than two decades. Synthetic drugs like fentanyl have become so potent that illegal drug producers are intentionally weakening the dosage to prevent the drugs from killing their customers, said a veteran British journalist. Englishman Ioan Grillo has reported on the drug scene from Mexico for more than two decades and is in Singapore to speak at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs, which takes place at Furama RiverFront Hotel from May 15 to 17. Used as a painkiller, fentanyl – a Class A controlled drug in Singapore – is estimated to be up to 100 times more potent than morphine. It killed 76,000 people in the US in 2023, and 48,422 in 2024. In his opening address at the forum, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the threat of synthetic drugs is coming closer to home, after reports emerged in March that Malaysia had found traces of fentanyl in its sewage systems. Tapping his experiences with drug cartels in Mexico, Mr Grillo said fentanyl has killed so many people that it is actually bad business for drug sellers. He said: 'Because you're killing off your customers. So they're trying to find ways to mix it up with other drugs or tranquillisers.' Mr Grillo said that 20 years ago, he would be able to have a conversation with a drug user or addict. But the effects of synthetic drugs are more pronounced, such that he can barely make sense of his conversations with drug users today. He said: 'The addicts today are completely zombified, and an incredible number of people are dying from these drugs. This may be the worst overdose epidemic in history.' He added that modern synthetic drugs could be manufactured so purely that the doses are exponentially higher than that of drugs in the past. Speaking to The Straits Times on May 14, Mr Grillo said the revolution towards synthetic drugs has surfaced in Asia and will pose a bigger problem than traditional plant-based drugs, like cannabis. He said: 'If you look at it – the biggest problem in Asia is methamphetamine, and it is a synthetic drug. (Suppliers) have found big markets in the Philippines, in Malaysia, and it's the biggest problem in Singapore.' Annual statistics from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) show that methamphetamine was the most commonly abused drug in Singapore in 2024. In its 2024 report, the United Nations-backed International Narcotics Control Board said a rapid expansion of synthetic drugs is becoming a global public health threat. These drugs, which are cheaper to make, mean greater profits for producers and traffickers. In 2021, CNB uncovered the first known attempt to traffic fentanyl in its pure form into Singapore after seizing 200 vials containing about 20mg of the opioid in a scanned package from Vietnam. To solve the global drug problem, former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy adviser Kevin Sabet said governments should tackle drug problems on the local level first. Mr Sabet, a drug policy scholar, will also speak at the Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs. He told ST that in Singapore's case, deterrence in the form of strict drug legislation seems to be working. But he warned that the global consensus against drug abuse has been challenged in recent years by those who lobby for legislative changes and softer attitudes towards narcotics. Said Mr Sabet: 'One of the things I'm extremely worried about is the movement to legalise drugs. It's coming from a multibillion-dollar movement that is very smart, calculated, and running in non-governmental organisations around the world.' He pointed out that a key goal for the movement is to break the global consensus against drug abuse and argued that countries cannot lose sight of the need to work together. He cited Thailand's experience with decriminalising the recreational use of cannabis in 2022, before reversing its decision after a public backlash. Mr Sabet said the movement targeted Thailand, arguing that cannabis could be used for medicinal purposes and somehow convincing the authorities to go ahead with the move. He said countries should not be swayed by such rhetoric. Said Mr Sabet: 'Instead, focus on a comprehensive approach and see prevention and recovery as your North Star. 'And do not succumb to those who tell us that we can simplify our way out of the drug problem by making drugs safer to use, or encouraging even more drug use.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
S'pore must be wary of synthetic drugs amid worst overdose epidemic in history: Veteran journalist
SINGAPORE - Synthetic drugs like fentanyl have become so potent that illegal drug producers are intentionally weakening the dosage to prevent the drugs from killing their customers, said a veteran British journalist. Englishman Ioan Grillo has reported on the drug scene from Mexico for more than two decades and is in Singapore to speak at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs, which takes place at Furama RiverFront Hotel from May 15 to 17. Used as a painkiller, fentanyl – a Class A controlled drug in Singapore – is estimated to be up to 100 times more potent than morphine. It killed 76,000 people in the US in 2023, and 48,422 in 2024. In his opening address at the forum, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the threat of synthetic drugs is coming closer to home, after reports emerged in March that Malaysia had found traces of fentanyl in its sewage systems. Tapping his experiences with drug cartels in Mexico, Mr Grillo said fentanyl has killed so many people that it is actually bad business for drug sellers. He said: 'Because you're killing off your customers. So they're trying to find ways to mix it up with other drugs or tranquillisers.' Mr Grillo said that 20 years ago, he would be able to have a conversation with a drug user or addict. But the effects of synthetic drugs are more pronounced, such that he can barely make sense of his conversations with drug users today. He said: 'The addicts today are completely zombified, and an incredible number of people are dying from these drugs. This may be the worst overdose epidemic in history.' He added that modern synthetic drugs could be manufactured so purely that the doses are exponentially higher than that of drugs in the past. Speaking to The Straits Times on May 14, Mr Grillo said the revolution towards synthetic drugs has surfaced in Asia and will pose a bigger problem than traditional plant-based drugs, like cannabis. He said: 'If you look at it – the biggest problem in Asia is methamphetamine, and it is a synthetic drug. (Suppliers) have found big markets in the Philippines, in Malaysia, and it's the biggest problem in Singapore.' Annual statistics from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) show that methamphetamine was the most commonly abused drug in Singapore in 2024. In its 2024 report, the United Nations-backed International Narcotics Control Board said a rapid expansion of synthetic drugs is becoming a global public health threat. These drugs, which are cheaper to make, mean greater profits for producers and traffickers. In 2021, CNB uncovered the first known attempt to traffic fentanyl in its pure form into Singapore after seizing 200 vials containing about 20mg of the opioid in a scanned package from Vietnam. To solve the global drug problem, former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy adviser Kevin Sabet said governments should tackle drug problems on the local level first. Mr Sabet, a drug policy scholar, will also speak at the Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs. He told ST that in Singapore's case, deterrence in the form of strict drug legislation seems to be working. But he warned that the global consensus against drug abuse has been challenged in recent years by those who lobby for legislative changes and softer attitudes towards narcotics. Said Mr Sabet: 'One of the things I'm extremely worried about is the movement to legalise drugs. It's coming from a multibillion-dollar movement that is very smart, calculated, and running in non-governmental organisations around the world.' He pointed out that a key goal for the movement is to break the global consensus against drug abuse and argued that countries cannot lose sight of the need to work together. He cited Thailand's experience with decriminalising the recreational use of cannabis in 2022, but later reversed its decision after a public backlash. Mr Sabet said the movement targeted Thailand, arguing that cannabis could be used for medicinal purposes and somehow convincing the authorities to go ahead with the move. He said countries should not be swayed by such rhetoric. Said Mr Sabet: 'Instead, focus on a comprehensive approach and see prevention and recovery as your North Star. 'And do not succumb to those who tell us that we can simplify our way out of the drug problem by making drugs safer to use, or encouraging even more drug use.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
