Latest news with #Kates
Global News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Still no decision on hate charges for B.C. woman 1 year after praising Hamas attack
Canadian Jewish groups are questioning why B.C. prosecutors have taken more than a year to decide whether a woman who made explosive comments at a Vancouver rally last year should face hate crime charges. Vancouver police arrested Charlotte Kates and recommended she be charged with wilful promotion of hatred and public incitement of hatred for an April 29, 2024 speech at the Vancouver Art Gallery in which she praised the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel as 'heroic and brave.' Kates further led the crowd in a chant of 'Long live Oct. 7,' and called for the delisting of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and several other groups as terrorist organizations, describing them as 'resistance fighters' and 'heroes.' Kates' own group, the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, was later itself declared to be a terrorist entity by the Canadian government. Story continues below advertisement 1:58 Police raid Vancouver home of international coordinator of declared terrorist group But despite the Vancouver police recommendation, the B.C. Prosecution Service has yet to decide whether or not to approve charges 13 months later. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Aron Csaplaros, B.C. regional manager for B'nai Brith Canada, called the delay 'concerning.' 'It's really in the hands of the BC Prosecution Service and the attorney general of British Columbia to approve charges, because for the charge of wilful promotion of hatred, the attorney general or the deputy attorney general does have to sign off on that charge,' he said. 'This ongoing inaction raises serious questions about enforcement and protections for vulnerable communities in general, not just the Jewish community.' In a statement, BC Prosecution Service communications counsel Damienne Darby said the 'matter remains under charge assessment, and I am unable to provide a timeline for completion.' Story continues below advertisement Former Crown prosecutor Rob Dhanu, K.C., who is not involved with the case, questioned why the prosecution service has yet to make a decision. 2:20 Iran gives human rights award to B.C. activist 'Here, the smoking gun, so to speak, is the video. And the video essentially shows what Ms. Kates said at that time. So the evidence is straightforward,' he said. 'The prosecution service has not really provided any real reason as to why this case is taking so long to determine whether it should be charge-approved or not.' Dhanu said if it proceeded to trial, the case could hinge on whether prosecutors could prove that Kates' statements went beyond an expression of opinion, and into incitement. 'Section 319 of the (Criminal) Code is very specific in that the Crown has to have evidence to show there is a likelihood because of that hate speech is that the peace will be breached,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'Really, it is Ms. Kates expressing her opinion, it is not a black-and-white case in terms of the facts. For instance, if Ms. Kates said, well look, Israel doesn't have the right to exist, and to facilitate that, we should be attacking synagogues, we have a very direct cause and effect where we can see why people would follow what she's saying and follow what she is asking for. Here it's far more grey.' Global News is seeking comment from Samidoun. — with files from Rumina Daya
Epoch Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Tariffs Haven't Yet Triggered Inflation, and Economists Are at Odds as to What's Next
Many economists have forecast that President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs would, by driving up the cost of imports, revive inflation. The most recent data, however, indicate that the rate of price increases has remained subdued thus far. Some analysts see the rate of inflation reported in April, which was the Analyzing the tariffs announced as of April 2, Yale University's The current state of the supply chains is similar to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Willy Shih, a professor at Harvard Business School, 'That means the [current] drop-off in trade is even more severe than the pandemic,' Shih stated. 'One very important parallel to what happened with COVID is we saw this delayed response where the consumers didn't really feel the impact of some of the things that were happening in the trade lanes, and the cut off of imports, until a little bit longer, just because of the time it takes to flow through the supply chain.' Since April, however, Trump has entered into trade negotiations with several countries, including a A Cooling Economy and Tight Money Supply 'The economy has been gradually cooling, affecting both the labor market and inflation rates,' Stephen Kates, financial analyst at Bankrate, told The Epoch Times. 'Wage growth is slowing, while grocery and gasoline prices are declining, and the rise in shelter costs has moderated.' Related Stories 5/19/2025 5/19/2025 However, Kates predicts higher prices are coming soon, with surveys from the Federal Reserve banks of Dallas and Philadelphia indicating that companies plan to start hiking prices for consumers by May or June. 'I anticipate inflation will peak between 3 percent and 4 percent over the next year, which, although better than the peak in 2022, remains a challenge for inflation-weary consumers,' Kates said. But consumers are now less tolerant of price increases than they were three years ago, he added, which will put pressure on companies to absorb at least some of the additional costs from tariffs. On May 17, Trump pressured Walmart, America's largest retailer, not to raise prices. 'Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, 'EAT THE TARIFFS,' and not charge valued customers ANYTHING,' Trump This was in response to Walmart's announcement that it would raise prices on tariffed goods starting in late May. In contrast to those who predict rising inflation from tariffs, economists from the monetarist school argue that inflation is a function of the money supply, which is currently restrictive and will drive inflation down. 'All the talk about tariffs and inflation is misguided,' Steve Hanke, professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, told The Epoch Times. 'The new tariffs will change relative prices, but inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon,' he said, quoting a 1963 comment by economist Milton Friedman. Historically, high inflation (i.e., typically above 4 percent per year) has been preceded by significant increases in the money supply in countries around the world, Hanke said. 'In the case of the United States, the money supply has flatlined since the summer of 2022, and is growing at a subpar rate relative to the Fed's 2 percent inflation target,' he said, predicting that with the currently 'anemic' growth in America's money supply, 'inflation will hit the Fed's 2 percent target in 2025, or might even fall below.' A 'Relatively Closed Economy' The impact of tariffs is also a function of how reliant America is on imports, which may be significantly less than many people might expect. A Despite how often shoppers see product labels that say 'made in China' or 'made in Mexico,' the United States 'remains a relatively closed economy,' the report states. 'In fact, the vast majority of goods and services sold in the United States are produced domestically,' it says. One reason for this is that even for products labeled as foreign-made, the price to consumers also includes the value added within the United States, such as domestic transportation, wholesale and retail costs, and associated markups. Even in the case of clothing, with large components of foreign value added, the majority of the retail price—70 percent, on average—is due to domestic sources. For consumer products, the report states, about 9 percent of the retail price is due to import content; for products bought by businesses, the import content is significantly higher—about 38 percent. Consequently, the impact of an across-the-board 25 percent tariff on all imports would be much larger on investment goods, or about a 9.5 percent price increase, than on consumption goods, about 2.2 percent. Meanwhile, awaiting clarity on where inflation is headed, the Fed has taken a wait-and-see approach to adjusting interest rates. Inflation Expectations 'Largely Stable' While speaking at a conference of Federal Reserve directors in New York on May 14, Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson 'Whether tariffs create persistent upward pressure on inflation will depend on how trade policy is implemented, the pass-through to consumer prices, the reaction of supply chains, and the performance of the economy,' Jefferson stated. 'Short-term inflation expectations have increased in both survey- and market-based measures, but I think it is notable that most measures of longer-run inflation expectations have been largely stable.' While much focus has been on Trump's trade policies, Jefferson said, the Fed is also looking at the impact on the economy from other factors, including immigration policy, deregulation, and the budget process. Reviewing April's inflation numbers, he highlighted that the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation was down from its peak above 7 percent in mid-2022. Core PCE inflation in April, which excludes volatile consumer energy and food prices, was at 2.6 percent, up slightly from March's annualized rate of 2.3 percent but down from April 2024, he said. 'The Federal Reserve plans to maintain the federal funds rate in the range of 4.25–4.50 percent for the next few months, with the first rate cut currently expected in September,' Kates said. If Trump can successfully negotiate lower tariff barriers and Congress can cut spending and reduce deficits in the current budget, this will go a long way toward bringing inflation down below the Fed's 2 percent target, he said. According to Hanke, however, in order to keep inflation under control, 'Trump and the GOP should insist, as President Reagan did, that Congress and the Fed embrace 'stable money.' The only way to do that is to embrace the Quantity Theory of Money,' which states that the general price level in an economy is directly proportional to the amount of money in circulation.
Memri
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Leaders Of Designated Terror Organization Samidoun Call Murder Of Young Couple By Pro-Palestinian At Jewish Event In Washington, D.C. 'Only Logical' – Adding 'Yes – To Globalize The Intifada'
Following the murder of a young Jewish couple, both employees of the Israeli Embassy, outside the Capital Jewish Museum last night, the founder and international coordinator of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network expressed support for the murder and blaming "Israel's crimes in Gaza" for it. Samidoun is affiliated with the designated terrorist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and in October 2024 was designated terrorist by the U.S., Canada, and other countries. It raises funds for the PFLP. Khaled Barakat, founder of both Samidoun and Masar Badil, the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, and a member of the latter's executive committee, has been identified by the U.S. government as a senior member of the PFLP. He is also designated terrorist by the U.S. and Canada. A Canadian citizen, Barakat has been residing in Beirut for several months after being designated in Canada in October 2024. Charlotte Kates, Barakat's wife, is Samidoun's international coordinator. Kates was arrested in May 2024 following her speech at a rally in Vancouver, British Columbia in which she expressed support for Hamas, the PFLP, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Lebanese Hizbullah and demanded that they be removed from Canada's terror list. In August 2024, Kates traveled to Iran to accept Iran's "Eighth Annual Islamic Human Rights And Human Dignity Award," presented in Tehran on August 4 by the secretary general of the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The following day in Tehran, she gave a detailed interview to Iran's Ofogh TV, discussing her arrest. Kates traveled to Lebanon to attend the funeral of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah in February 2025 and so far appears to still be there. Barakat and Kates (Source: May 18, 2018) Below are statements by Barakat and Kates about last night's murder: Samidoun Founder Khaled Barakat: "Israel's Crimes In Gaza Are Responsible For The Killing Of Its Representatives In Washington"; "We Affirm That The Occupation Is The Original Crime, And That Those Who Seek To Criminalize The Reactions While Remaining Silent On The Massacre Are Complicit In The Ongoing Crime" In a report published on the website of Masar Badil, aka the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, following the murder, Barakat was quoted as saying: "[T]he shooting incident that occurred in the U.S. capital, Washington, targeting employees of the 'Israeli' embassy, is a natural consequence of the Zionist entity's crimes in the Gaza Strip." He added: "This explosion of anger in the heart of the U.S. capital is neither isolated nor random, but one of the manifestations of pain and deep rage stemming from the international community's disregard for the suffering of Palestinians, and its complicity in shielding the killers and granting them impunity. We affirm that the occupation is the original crime, and that those who seek to criminalize the reactions while remaining silent on the massacre are complicit in the ongoing crime." Samidoun International Coordinator Charlotte Kates: "People Will Act When There Is No Accountability Whatsoever Imposed Upon That Genocidal Regime [Israel]"; "It's Only Logical That People Will Find Alternative Means Of Imposing Consequences" – "And Yes, To Globalize The Intifada" On her X account, Samidoun International Coordinator Charlotte Kates wrote: "Urging everyone to avoid speculation about 'false flags' whenever an incident occurs that people find inconvenient for media." She added in the past that "basic actions of 'legal' protest are being criminalized." In subsequent messages, she went on to write: "It should surprise literally no one that people will act when there is no accountability whatsoever imposed upon that genocidal regime," i.e. Israel, and that "it's only logical that people will find alternative means of imposing consequences." She concluded: "And yes, to globalize the intifada."
Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
If you want to save money, move to Tennessee. Here's how the other 49 states match up.
It can be tougher to save money in the Northeast than in the South or Midwest, a recent Bankrate analysis found. Bankrate identified how easy it is to save money across the US using household income growth, tax burdens, and other measures that can affect one's ability to put away money. "The lower the tax rates, the more likely you're going to be to save, and the ability to save is more important than your ability to actually earn in some of those money markets or CDs," Stephen Kates, a financial analyst for Bankrate, told Business Insider. Bankrate found Tennessee to be the easiest state to save in, followed by Missouri and Texas. Tennessee and Texas don't have income taxes. Kates said Tennessee also did well for its local economy and employment growth rate. "Southern states, Midwestern states, they have got the lower cost of living," Kates said. "Some of them have the lower taxes or no taxes, and that does go a long way." You can hover over the map below to see how each state ranked, where 50 means it's the toughest state to save. We also included the figures Bankrate used to determine the ranking. Many Americans have already migrated South to take advantage of a cheaper cost of living. Vered DeLeeuw moved from California to Memphis, Tennessee, and enjoyed the live music scene, a more relaxed life, and the area's affordability. "Groceries, restaurants, and even utilities are less expensive and Tennessee has no state income taxes," DeLeeuw told Business Insider. "Having a lower cost of living enables us to save significantly more each month compared to in California, where we could barely save anything." While it can be easier to build up savings in the South, Bankrate found Hawaii to be the hardest state to save money in. New Jersey and California were also challenging states. California's high cost of living and taxes can make it relatively harder to save money, Bankrate found. "It hurts the real income growth rate over time," Kates said. Fabiana Muñoz, a freelance writer and author, moved to Florida after living in different places in California, including San Francisco. "While paying far too much to rent just one room, I struggled to picture myself building a life here in the long run," Muñoz wrote about San Francisco. Danielle-Ann Kealohilani Rugg, who moved back to Hawaii from Oregon, told Business Insider Hawaii's cost of living is a con. She said rent in Oregon for a three-bedroom, two-bath home with a yard was $1,500, while her rent in Hawaii "for a slightly larger home" was $3,550. "I may earn more money in Hawaii, but it's offset by the cost of living in Hawaii being much greater than in Oregon," she said. Living in a state where it's harder to save doesn't mean it's impossible to do so. Still, Kates said you have to prioritize saving in your budget. Kates said having a direct deposit to your savings or investment account can help with being disciplined and consistent. Kates said there are other factors beyond saving money that people think about when choosing where to live, such as how close a location is to family or things that are important to someone's lifestyle. "If people are thinking about, 'Where do I want to live? How do I want to live?' It's important to think about can you get a job? Is that job going to have the ability for my income to grow? Am I going to be able to save? But you want to be able to, outside of that, have a good lifestyle. For different people that may involve different things," Kates said.
Memri
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Canadian Activist Charlotte Kates of U.S. and Canadian-Designated terrorist group Samidoun Praises Nasrallah at His Beirut Gravesite in Hizbullah TV Interview: We Should All Strive to Live Up to His Example; Highlights U.S. Campus Activism
Canadian activist Charlotte Kates, international coordinator of Samidoun, was interviewed by Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah–Lebanon) at the gravesite of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah on the outskirts of Beirut. In the interview, she praised Nasrallah as a 'great figure of our era' and said that everyone should strive to live up to the example he set. Kates discussed Samidoun's designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group and a terrorist entity by both the United States and Canada in October 2024. She also addressed the case of Helyeh Doutaghi, who was fired from her position at Yale Law School due to her ties to Samidoun. Kates spoke at length about the role of campus activism in advancing the Palestinian cause, citing a video call event hosted by Columbia University, Resistance 101, hosted by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) student group, in which she and her husband, Khaled Barakat, participated. Notably, Columbia University activist arrested by ICE and slated for deportation for his support of terrorist groups, Mahmoud Khalil, has been identified as a leader of CUAD at the time. The interview was posted on the English-language website of Al-Manar TV on April 18, 2025. Kates was arrested in April 2024 on hate speech charges following remarks she made at a Vancouver rally, in which she glorified the October 7 attacks and Palestinian terrorist organizations. On November 15, 2024, her home was raided by Vancouver police in connection with the same case. Khaled Barakat is the founder of Samidoun and a leader within Masar Badil, an organization closely affiliated with Samidoun. He has been identified by the United States as a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. A Canadian citizen, Barakat has been residing in Beirut for several months following his terrorist designation by Canada. Kates traveled to Lebanon to attend the funeral of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah in February 2025 and, as far as it appears, has not returned to Canada since.
