Washington Post reportedly facing financial struggles, 'on a pace to lose money this year'

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The Washington Post is reportedly "on pace to lose money this year" after years of profitability during the Trump era. 

Following the constant news cycle during the Trump presidency, business at the "Democracy Dies in Darkness" paper's business has stalled so much so that their "5 by 25" initiative to reach five million digital subscribers by 2025 may be out of reach, sources told The New York Times.  "The organization is on track to lose money in 2022, after years of profitability, according to two people with knowledge of the company’s finances," the Times wrote Tuesday. "The Post now has fewer than the three million paying digital subscribers it had hailed internally near the end of 2020, according to several people at the organization. Digital ad revenue generated by The Post fell to roughly $70 million during the first half of the year, about 15 percent lower than in the first half of 2021, according to an internal financial document reviewed by The New York Times." Sources allege to the Times that Washington Post CEO and publisher Fred Ryan, who was hired by the paper's owner Jeff Bezos, "floated… the possibility of cutting 100 positions" in the newsroom, potentially in the form of "hiring freezes."  WASHINGTON POST'S DAVE WEIGEL LEAVING PAPER THIS YEAR FOR DIGITAL MEDIA START-UP SEMAFOR

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 15 : Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan speaks during a 2019 Pulitzer Prize announcement ceremony in the newsroom at the Washington Post office on Monday, April 15, 2019 in Washington, DC.  (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The Post told the Times that the paper not only is not reducing head count but may expand the newsroom and "exploring positions that should be repurposed to serve a larger, national and global audience." According to the Times, the spokesperson "said the document showing ad revenue declines depicted an incomplete picture of The Post’s business, but she declined to detail how." THE WASHINGTON POST'S WEEK FROM HELL The Times alleged the financial downturn has fueled "frustration internally" with top executives "concerned" that Ryan "hasn’t moved decisively enough to expand coverage" and that under his leadership, marketing efforts were being halted. "Mr. Ryan’s focus on productivity and office attendance in the newsroom has also been a source of tension. He has expressed his belief to members of his leadership team that there were numerous low performers in the newsroom who needed to be managed out," the Times wrote. "He has monitored how many staff members come into the office, and has weighed new measures to compel people to return to work, including threats of firings, several people at The Post said."

Washington Post Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan speaks during a book discussion with former Iranian prisoner Jason Rezaian at the Washington Post headquarters, on January 23, 2019 in Washington, DC.  (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Ryan has reportedly "expressed annoyance" with Post leaders about the apparent lack of productivity, noticing how fewer meetings took place on Fridays as one measurement. The publisher "has also grown increasingly frustrated" that Post staffers have not been working from the office at least three days per week, a policy rolled out by the paper earlier this year following the pandemic.  "In recent weeks, Mr. Ryan asked for disciplinary letters to be drafted and sent to employees who had not made any appearance in the office this year, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions," the Times wrote. "He ultimately decided that the letters should not be sent, and that the people should be called instead. The Post spokeswoman said Mr. Ryan welcomed employee input on the return-to-office policy." WASHINGTON POST BOSS DENOUNCES ‘ATTACKING COLLEAGUES’ IN MEMO TO STAFF AS WARFARE ON TWITTER ENSUES Some employees, according to the Times, have pushed back against Ryan, stressing about the "grave concerns" about the return-to-work policy in a letter sent to him, writing "Such decisions are extremely personal and consequential… and we urge management to allow employees to make these decisions without fear of punishment from their employer."

A Washington Post piece, "DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw makes sure reporters feel the burn," focuses on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' press secretary, Christina Pushaw.  (ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Executives at The Post have mulled over buying other news organizations including "The Associated Press, The Economist and The Guardian," sources told The Times, and that Ryan has prioritized the paper’s ability to "covering new areas rather than acquiring rivals." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The report also claims that Bezos has been more hands-off in recent years, going from having a "regular presence" at the Post before the pandemic to rolling back from what used to be his ever-other-week Zoom calls, which became "less frequent" but that he's "still engaged, however, weighing in during budgeting season and participating in calls." The Post spokesperson told the Times it is "absolutely false" to suggest Bezos is less interested in the paper. 

A spokesperson for the Post declined to further comment. 

Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to joseph.wulfsohn@fox.com and on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.

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LAWRENCE JONES: America's children are facing 'unprecedented challenges' as new school year begins

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Fox News host Lawrence Jones broke down the challenges facing America's education system on "Cross Country."

LAWRENCE JONES: We're taking a hard look at the state of our education in this nation. The students in our lives are facing unprecedented challenges as this school year begins.  EX-FAIRFAX COUNTY TEACHER ON GENDER TRANSITION TRAINING: "PARENTS RIGHT ARE BEING OBSTRUCTED LEFT AND RIGHT"

School districts are offering incentives and pay raises to get more teachers into the classroom before August.    (FNC)

We see the consequences of the pandemic in the form of massive learning lapses. We have a youth mental health crisis now deemed a national emergency, but COVID emergency funds approved for education back in 2021 are still sitting unspent. Not to mention, we're in the midst of a nationwide teacher shortage. We know the struggles, but what about the solution? CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

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This article was written by Fox News staff.

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Time for Covid reality check after 1 mn deaths this year: WHO

GENEVA: The World Health Organization’s Covid chief said Friday it was time for a reality check on the virus after the millionth death from the disease this year. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead Covid-19, said the toll was “heartbreaking” because the tests, treatments, vaccines and public health measures to control the disease were all available. “Given we’re in the third year of the pandemic, it’s… all the more so tragic given that we have the tools that can actually prevent these deaths,” she told a live interaction on the WHO’s social media channels. “A lot of us have become numb to the numbers. “We need a reality check. We really need to take stock of where we are. We should not be in a position with 14,000 or 15,000 people dying every week. We just shouldn’t.” Van Kerkhove insisted that the pandemic was not over, but it could be brought to an end while people continue to live their daily lives. “We just need to put a little extra thought into that, of being a bit more careful,” she said. “A lot of people are talking about living with Covid. But we need to live with this responsibly. “A million deaths this year is not living with Covid. Having 15,000 deaths per week is not living with Covid-19 responsibly.” Nearly 6.45 million deaths have been reported to the WHO since the virus was first detected in China in late 2019. More than 5.3 million new cases were reported to the UN health agency last week. “These are huge numbers, and that’s an underestimate,” said Van Kerkhove, with home testing not being reflected in surveillance data. “We do see this virus circulating really intensely around the world. “The virus is not going away, unfortunately.”

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Former Planned Parenthood president explains why she will not be masking her kids this school year

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In a major about-face, former Planned Parenthood president Dr. Leana S. Wen explained in a Tuesday piece for The Washington Post that she and her family have moved past severe COVID-19 restrictions.

Last fall on CNN, Wen was still saying that masks serve as a "very powerful layer of protection" and until every student is vaccinated and other external measures are in place, the U.S. was "nowhere near" ready to allow children to learn mask-free. Now, as schools begin to reopen again, she said, "I accept the risk that my kids will probably contract covid-19 this school year, just as they could contract the flu, respiratory syncytial virus and other contagious diseases." She noted that with the current variant, "covid in our family will almost certainly be mild" and that "we’ve made the decision that following precautions strict enough to prevent the highly contagious BA.5 will be very challenging."  She illustrated how harsh restrictions have ultimately had their own consequences.

The debate on COVID-era masks has polarized the nation.  (iStock)

FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CRITICIZED FOR ‘BAFFLING,’ ‘ANTI-SCIENCE MEMO’ ON MASKING "Masking has harmed our son’s language development, and limiting both kids’ extracurriculars and social interactions would negatively affect their childhood and hinder my and my husband’s ability to work," she explained. Wen recounted that after taking a great many cautionary measures earlier in the pandemic, "it wasn’t easy to change my mind-set to accept covid-19 as a recurring risk. But the high transmissibility of new variants meant that we would have to pay an increasingly high price if our goal was to keep avoiding the virus." She acknowledged that dealing with some level of risk is ultimately part of living a normal life.  "I began trying to think of the coronavirus as I do other everyday risks, such as falls, car accidents or drowning," she noted. "Of course I want to shield my children from injuries, and I take precautions, such as using car seats and teaching them how to swim. By the same logic, I vaccinated them against the coronavirus. But I won’t put their childhood on hold in an effort to eliminate all risk."

FILE PHOTO: A child wears a face mask on the first day of New York City schools, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. September 13, 2021.  (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo)

PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPLEMENTING COVID RESTRICTIONS MEET FEROCIOUS COMMUNITY PUSHBACK As a result, she stated that her family has "eased back on our precautions," noting that "We see other families indoors, without masks or testing, and have resumed traveling and attending events." Her kids in particular, who have spent chunks of their youth in a pandemic, will be returning to normal their lives, "Now that they are fully vaccinated, we do not plan to limit their activities, and — like most parents in their school — will not be masking them in the classroom." Yet she acknowledged that what works for her family is not necessarily what should be prescribed for everyone. "To be clear, my family’s decision not to mask our kids should not be mislabeled as being antimask; we would never stigmatize other parents and caregivers for the difficult choices they must make," she explained. "Rather, my approach to this school year reflects the evolution of the pandemic and the acknowledgment that avoiding covid-19 cannot be the singular metric of people’s overall health and well-being." Wen previously came under fire last July when she suggested life needs to be made "hard"for Americans who were not vaccinated, and that those who refused to get the shots should face weekly testing.

Boy and his teddy bear both in protective medical masks sits on windowsill and looks out window.  (iStock)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP When the CDC relaxed mask guidance for the vaccinated in May 2021, Wen worried that an "honor system" for enforcing it would allow unvaccinated people to lie about their status and put the vulnerable at risk.

In early 2022, however, Wen's statements began to soften when she supported states dropping school mask mandates claiming, "The science has changed."

Alexander Hall is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Alexander.hall@fox.com.

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45 killed in armed attacks on streets of Sweden this year

STOCKHOLM 

Contrary to its reputation as being one of the most peaceful countries in the world, Sweden saw over 250 armed attacks this year, resulting in the killing of at least 45 people, police data shows.

A total of 251 armed attacks were carried out in the first eight months of 2022, in which at least 45 people were killed and 67 injured.

Organized crime has risen in the Scandinavian country over the last few years.

According to the record, in 2019 a total of 360 shootings took place, in which 45 people were killed and 126 others wounded. This figure increased to 379 – 47 people lost lives and 126 wounded – in 2020.

Sweden faced the same problem in 2021 and crime syndicates carried out 344 armed attacks, killing 45 and wounding 115 others.

On June 2, right-wing parties in the Swedish parliament – Riksdag – tabled a no-confidence motion against Justice and Interior Minister Morgan Johansson due to the "inability to prevent the increasing armed conflicts of crime syndicates and gangs in recent years."

In response, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said she would step down if the minister was ousted.

The opposition parties, however, failed to gather majority backing for the motion against Johansson.

Last June, Gothenburg police's Ulf Bostrom sounded the alarm that the problem is gigantic, and that even the police were unable to protect the victims.

As parties in Sweden prepare for the upcoming elections scheduled for next month, the fight against criminal gangs has topped the agenda.

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.

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Over 2,000 race-based discrimination cases reported in Germany last year

More than 5,600 people filed discrimination complaints last year — and 37 percent of those cases were of discrimination in the workplace, a report by Germany's anti-discrimination agency says.

Since 2019, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency publishes annual reports about its activities. (Reuters)

More than 2,000 cases of racist discrimination were reported in Germany last year, according to a new report by the country’s top anti-discrimination agency.

The country’s anti-discrimination commissioner, Ferda Ataman, said the figures are alarming and called for stronger legal measures.

“People in Germany still experience discrimination every day, especially in the job market and in everyday business and when looking for accommodation, and sometimes by public authorities or on the street," Ataman said.

“I also want people to know their rights and that discrimination is illegal. I want to make the German Equality Law better known and show how discrimination can be specifically prevented,” she added.

According to the report, over 5,600 people filed discrimination complaints, 37 percent of those cases were of discrimination in the workplace.

Some 9 percent of those complaints were filed by people who experienced discrimination or disadvantages due to their religion.

READ MORE: Denied jobs, hijab 'discrimination unveiled' in the Netherlands, Germany

Anti-Discrimination Agency

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency offers consultation to people who in their professional or private lives have experienced discrimination on grounds of their ethnic origin, religion, belief, sexual identity, age, disability or their gender.

To meet a significant increase in enquiries, the Anti-Discrimination Agency set up a service centre last year to provide new and expanded telephone consultation services.

"It is very important to me that we can better help affected people in Germany,” Ataman said.

"We also notice from the results of our study that the law that we have at the moment does not always help enough, unfortunately the anti-discrimination agency only has the opportunity to make a legal assessment," she added.

Ataman said "the current anti-discrimination law is very weak, people have to go to court alone if they want to go to court."

"But what we can do as an anti-discrimination body is we can ask for a statement from the employer, or from the other person involved, we can try to help them reach a settlement, but in order to take legal action, people have to make that decision themselves and, for now, we can only give them a legal opinion,” she added.

Since 2019, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency publishes annual reports about its activities.

READ MORE: Muslim woman wearing headscarf attacked in Germany

Source: AA

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Implementation of 20 thousand billion Tomans construction projects in provincial trips last year

"Solat Mortazavi" in an interview with an economic reporter, stating that good resources have been allocated to construction projects in provincial trips, said: Last year, 20 thousand billion Tomans were allocated for the implementation of construction projects related to the approvals of provincial trips.

Pointing out that 126% of the approvals of 1400 for the provision of resources have been completed, he pointed out: in the first three months of this year, due to the government's focus on providing resources for subsidies, current salaries and debts of the previous government, we could not get suitable figures for construction projects related to travel. Assign a province.

The executive vice president added: Now, 12 thousand billion tomans worth of bonds and public resources have been allocated, and resources and credit forecasts have also been made from other sources for all projects.

Mortazavi emphasized: From the sources of Article 56, good credits of up to 30 thousand billion tomans have been predicted so that the executive bodies can reach a conclusion with the operating banks, and the division of work has also been done.

He stated: 15 thousand billion tomans were predicted from the oil clearing area, and a part of it has been realized, and approximately 30 thousand billion tomans of good resources have been predicted for this year, and we hope that it will be realized in construction projects.

The vice president stated: It is expected that in 1401, 100% of programs and projects related to provincial trips will be implemented from public resources, Article 56 and social responsibility of the Ministry of Petroleum, but more efforts should be made from the internal resources of executive bodies.

Mortazavi said: Allocation of credit for provincial projects is considered in proportion to the size of the provinces, but we emphasize that the resources should be distributed fairly among the provinces.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/implementation-of-20-thousand-billion-tomans-construction-projects-in-provincial-trips-last-year/?feed_id=11532&_unique_id=62fb39303a9ac

Afghan Taliban mark first year in power

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered the Afghan capital Kabul, culminating a dramatic series of territorial gains, which also ended 20 years of US-led military invasion in the war-torn country.

A chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces continued until August 31, 2021 with tens of thousands of people rushing to Kabul's airport hoping to be evacuated on any flight out of Afghanistan. (Reuters)

The Taliban have marked the first anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan with a national holiday.

"We fulfilled the obligation of jihad and liberated our country," said Niamatullah Hekmat on Monday.

He is a fighter who entered Kabul on August 15 last year just hours after then-president Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

Exactly a year ago, the group captured Kabul after their nationwide lightning offensive against government forces ended 20 years of US-led military invasion.

A chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces continued until August 31, with tens of thousands of people rushing to Kabul's airport hoping to be evacuated on any flight out of Afghanistan.

Images of crowds storming the airport, climbing atop aircraft – and some clinging to a departing US military cargo plane as it rolled down the runway – aired on news bulletins around the world.

READ MORE: How smouldering discontent affects the Taliban rule in Afghanistan

Authorities have so far not announced any official celebrations to mark the anniversary, but state television said it would air special programmes.

Taliban fighters, however, expressed happiness that their movement was now in power.

"The time when we entered Kabul, and when the Americans left, those were moments of joy," said Hekmat, now a member of the special forces guarding the presidential palace.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee1XYE14GCY[/embed]

A year in power

While Afghans acknowledge a decline in violence since the Taliban seized power, many Afghans continue to struggle to steer through many challenges, including rising prices.

"People coming to our shops are complaining so much of high prices that we shopkeepers have started hating ourselves," said Noor Mohammad, a shopkeeper from Kandahar, the de facto power centre of the Taliban.

For Taliban fighters, however, the joy of victory overshadows the current economic crisis. 

"We might be poor, we might be facing hardships, but the white flag of Islam will now fly high forever in Afghanistan", said a fighter guarding a public park in Kabul.

READ MORE: Top Taliban leader hails 'freedom' in rare appearance to mark Eid

Source: AFP

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Philadelphia school district mandates masks for first 10 days of school year, pre-k must mask up all year

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The School District of Philadelphia is mandating that students and staff wear masks for the first 10 days of the school year, and is requiring that pre-kindergarten attendees mask-up all year.

Officials from the school district and city made the announcement in a letter to parents on Friday, stating that after the first 10 days of the school year, from Aug. 29 through Sept. 9, most schools will go mask-optional.

The letter states that when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 community transmission level is high, students and staff will be required to wear masks in schools. When the level is medium, masking is "strongly recommended."

Students and staff at the district's Pre-K Head Start program, the district's income-driven pre-kindergarten program for ages 3-5, will be required to wear a mask for the entire 2022-2023 school year, according to the announcement.

FOX NEWS POLL: MORE CONCERN OVER CORONAVIRUS THAN MONKEYPOX

Students play outside at recess as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Reuters/Hannah Beier)

"For the first 10 days of the new school year – from August 29 through September 9 – all students and staff will be required to wear masks while in school, regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level," the announcement reads. "Students and staff at PreK Head Start programs are still required to wear masks at all times, regardless of the Community Level."

There are also instances when an isolated mask requirement might be implemented, such as a school-wide or classroom COVID-19 outbreaks, or when returning from extended breaks and holidays. 

The district is also implementing a "mask to stay" program, stating that students and staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 can stay in school but must wear a mask for 10 days.

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE APPEAL DISMISSED

Students return to school as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Reuters/Hannah Beier)

If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they are required to isolate at home for at least five days, but can return to school afterward if they're symptom-free "but must wear a high-quality (N95 or KN95) mask for an additional 5 days and must eat in a designated area," the announcement reads.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News medical analyst and professor of medicine at New York University Langone Medical Center, said there's "no public health value" in making students and staff mask-up for the first 10 days of the school year.

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A student reflects her lunch bag on a wall in a hallway as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Reuters/Hannah Beier)

"The whole thing is, mandates aren't working at all. So, you know, they just obscure the question about whether there's any public health value in actually doing any of this. I mean, I think if you're at a high risk, there is. So if I was in an area with a lot of spread, and I was at high risk, I might choose to wear a mask indoors. But there's no evidence that these mandates doing anything.

Siegel added that "mandates for ten days are like a sign of hypocrisy."

Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.

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Fourth Peru PM resigns in year as probes target President Castillo

Fast News

Anibal Torres says he is quitting over "personal reasons" amid multiple criminal probes centered on Pedro Castillo, leader of the Andean country which is no stranger to political upheaval.

Anibal Torres (R) first served as Pedro Castillo's justice minister, and then took over prime ministerial portfolio after three previous PMs had come and gone. (Reuters Archive)

Peru's Prime Minister Anibal Torres has resigned, becoming the fourth to step down in a year under embattled President Pedro Castillo.

In a letter sent to Castillo, who has survived two impeachment votes in 12 months and is the target of five criminal investigations, Torres said on Wednesday he was stepping down "for personal reasons."

Torres posted a copy of the letter, in which he wished Castillo success, on Twitter.

His resignation will trigger an automatic cabinet reshuffle.

Torres, 79, first served as Castillo's justice minister, and then took over the prime ministerial portfolio in February after three previous prime ministers had come and gone.

Political upheaval

The country has had seven interior ministers since Castillo took over in July 2021 –– a high turnover even for a country that is no stranger to political upheaval.

In five days of 2020, Peru had three different presidents.

Leftist Castillo –– a rural school teacher who unexpectedly took power from Peru's traditional political elite in elections last year –– has been under nonstop fire from his right-wing rivals.

He also finds himself in the crosshairs of the attorney general's office, with investigations into alleged public tender corruption and claims that Castillo plagiarised his university thesis.

Peruvian presidents can be investigated while in office, but cannot be charged.

Opinion polls show that three-quarters of Peruvians disapprove of Castillo's management of the country.

Source: AFP

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