US stocks surged on Friday, concluding their strongest week of 2024. For the week, the S&P 500 advanced nearly 3.9%, its best performance since November 2023. The NASDAQ soared 5.2%, and the Dow climbed 2.9%.

Global markets this week: Cues to watch

Global markets this week

Differing from the popular belief, Monday has come to be the most productive day of the week while Friday afternoons were found to be the least productive, according to recent study in the US using computer usage data, Money Control reported.

The research was conducted at Texas A&amp;M School of Public Health by analysing the data of 789 employees, including typing speed, mouse activity, and typing errors, over a two-year period.

The findings bring up important questions regarding the potential advantages of flexible work schedules, such as four-day workweeks and hybrid work, as employers look to strike a balance between productivity and worker well-being.

A significant majority of employees still work on-site, despite the growing acceptance of remote and hybrid work modes, highlighting the need for a wider change in work culture.

According to Dr. Taehyun Roh, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, workers used their computers actively from Monday through Thursday, while Fridays saw a considerable decline in productivity.

A secondary survey for Canon USA revealed that, for 28 per cent of workers, Monday is the most productive day, with introverts favouring the beginning of the week in particular for their peak output.

The survey also revealed that workers were less productive in the afternoons and more likely to make mistakes, particularly on Fridays, which was consistent with the declining trend in task completion as the week came to a close.

The director of the Texas A&amp;M Ergonomics Center, Dr. Mark Benden, said that these results provide corporate executives with important insights into enhancing productivity and workplace sustainability.

In a recent study conducted in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland, longer hours worked over fewer days resulted in lower rates of burnout, improved general health, and higher levels of job satisfaction.

Although there may be benefits, widespread adoption of flexible work arrangements is still a work in progress. A work from home research poll from May found that nearly 60 per cent of full-time workers still did all of their work on-site.

&nbsp;
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Differing from the popular belief, Monday has come to be the most productive day of the week while Friday afternoons were found to be the least productive, according to recent study in the US using computer usage data, Money Control reported.

Differing from the popular belief, Monday has come to be the most productive day of the week while Friday afternoons were found to be the least productive, according to recent study in the US using computer usage data, Money Control reported. The research was conducted at Texas A&M School of Public Health by analysing the data of 789 employees, including typing speed, mouse activity, and typing errors, over a two-year period. The findings bring up important questions regarding the potential advantages of flexible work schedules, such as four-day workweeks and hybrid work, as employers look to strike a balance between productivity and worker well-being. A significant majority of employees still work on-site, despite the growing acceptance of remote and hybrid work modes, highlighting the need for a wider change in work culture. According to Dr. Taehyun Roh, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, workers used their computers actively from Monday through Thursday, while Fridays saw a considerable decline in productivity. A secondary survey for Canon USA revealed that, for 28 per cent of workers, Monday is the most productive day, with introverts favouring the beginning of the week in particular for their peak output. The survey also revealed that workers were less productive in the afternoons and more likely to make mistakes, particularly on Fridays, which was consistent with the declining trend in task completion as the week came to a close. The director of the Texas A&M Ergonomics Center, Dr. Mark Benden, said that these results provide corporate executives with important insights into enhancing productivity and workplace sustainability. In a recent study conducted in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland, longer hours worked over fewer days resulted in lower rates of burnout, improved general health, and higher levels of job satisfaction. Although there may be benefits, widespread adoption of flexible work arrangements is still a work in progress. A work from home research poll from May found that nearly 60 per cent of full-time workers still did all of their work on-site. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Least productive day of the week isn’t Monday: Study

In the battle of employees versus commercial real estate giants, it seems the underdogs are winning. One of New York’s biggest office landlords has capitulated to the hybrid working model, declaring Fridays in the office officially “dead forever.”

Mondays and Fridays in Office are ‘Dead Forever': Survey

Amid the ongoing staff shortage crisis, in the United Kingdom, hundreds of companies have resorted to a new tactic to lure and retain workers from Generation Z called “early finish Fridays”. According to a report by online jobs portal Adzuna, there has been a sharp increase in postings which offer shorter days on the last day of the week, Friday and let employees start their weekend early by a few hours.&nbsp;

The extension of weekends, even by a few hours, is a part of the efforts taken by the companies to retain some of the younger employees who are prioritising work-life balance, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, there were more than 1,400 job ads on the UK-based job market statistics and insights firm which cited “early finish Friday” when compared to only 583 in the same month back in 2018, before the pandemic.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, companies have also offered perks like free barista-style coffee and massages to call back their employees working from home back to the office. Notably, the longer weekend perk has been offered more heavily at junior roles while more than 75 per cent of ads are aimed at workers with salaries of up to $49,765.&nbsp;

However, the trend is not all that new as Friday is also known as POETS day, the acronym which is used by workers in the United Kingdom and Australia and stands for “Piss off early tomorrow’s Saturday”. In line with this, workers punch out by 3:30 pm to begin their weekends on Friday afternoons.&nbsp;

In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said the shift reflects the fact that employees are “demanding more” from their employers after the pandemic since work-life balance has come into focus since the pandemic and this trend might be here to stay.&nbsp;

“For jobseekers, a company offering early-finish Fridays signals that they are flexible in their attitude to working hours and care about their employees’ well being - two factors of utmost importance in today’s jobs market,” said Hunter. This comes as the UK is in the midst of one of the tightest labour markets in decades which has led employers to compete for staff.&nbsp;

One of the other factors which could have contributed to this shortage is young people in the UK shifting from work to education during the pandemic as well as the number of people in their 50s taking early retirement. Last month, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, in his Budget speech announced the removal of the lifetime allowance on UK pension savings in an effort to attract older workers back into the job market.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Amid the ongoing staff shortage crisis, in the United Kingdom, hundreds of companies have resorted to a new tactic to lure and retain workers from Generation Z called “early finish Fridays”.

Amid the ongoing staff shortage crisis, in the United Kingdom, hundreds of companies have resorted to a new tactic to lure and retain workers from Generation Z called “early finish Fridays”. According to a report by online jobs portal Adzuna, there has been a sharp increase in postings which offer shorter days on the last day of the week, Friday and let employees start their weekend early by a few hours. The extension of weekends, even by a few hours, is a part of the efforts taken by the companies to retain some of the younger employees who are prioritising work-life balance, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, there were more than 1,400 job ads on the UK-based job market statistics and insights firm which cited “early finish Friday” when compared to only 583 in the same month back in 2018, before the pandemic. Meanwhile, companies have also offered perks like free barista-style coffee and massages to call back their employees working from home back to the office. Notably, the longer weekend perk has been offered more heavily at junior roles while more than 75 per cent of ads are aimed at workers with salaries of up to $49,765. However, the trend is not all that new as Friday is also known as POETS day, the acronym which is used by workers in the United Kingdom and Australia and stands for “Piss off early tomorrow’s Saturday”. In line with this, workers punch out by 3:30 pm to begin their weekends on Friday afternoons. In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said the shift reflects the fact that employees are “demanding more” from their employers after the pandemic since work-life balance has come into focus since the pandemic and this trend might be here to stay. “For jobseekers, a company offering early-finish Fridays signals that they are flexible in their attitude to working hours and care about their employees’ well being - two factors of utmost importance in today’s jobs market,” said Hunter. This comes as the UK is in the midst of one of the tightest labour markets in decades which has led employers to compete for staff. One of the other factors which could have contributed to this shortage is young people in the UK shifting from work to education during the pandemic as well as the number of people in their 50s taking early retirement. Last month, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, in his Budget speech announced the removal of the lifetime allowance on UK pension savings in an effort to attract older workers back into the job market. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Early finish Fridays’: UK companies deploy new tactic to lure Gen Z workers

Employees around the world are not going to work on Fridays. They are trying to work from home, or not work at all. Thursdays are slowly becoming the last day of the work week.

Gravitas: Why employees are not going to work on Fridays

Among the superstitions that have lasted for decades, if not centuries, despite the evolution of modern science is Friday the 13th. The irrational fear of the number 13 is called 'triskaidekaphobia'&nbsp;or&nbsp;' or 'Paraskevidekatriaphobia' and some suggest that it’s linked to the idea that 12 is a number of perfection. Though not believed everywhere, people in the West consider Friday the 13th to be unlucky as they associate it with death and deceit.

It is not a rare phenomenon that 13 and Friday fall on the same day in the Gregorian calendar. It happens every year and sometimes even two or three times in the same year.

It is unclear how Friday the 13th started carrying negative connotations, but there have been various recorded instances throughout history where something ominous has taken place.

Friday the 13th has Biblical roots

The fear seems to have stemmed from the story that Jesus Christ’s last supper and crucifixion took place on Friday.

The Last Supper painting by Leonardo da Vinci shows 13 people gathered on the night before Good Friday – the date of Christ’s death – with Judas the 13th member of the party.

The superstition has resonance with the Norse folklore as well which claims that when 12 gods were partying in Valhalla, Loki arrived uninvited as the 13th guest, and got Balder killed.

Recorded incidents

The first recorded mention was found in a biography of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, who died on Friday the 13th.

‘Friday the Thirteenth', a 1907 book by American businessman Thomas Lawson, also used this premise. It is believed that the book popularised the superstition.

In the novel, an unscrupulous&nbsp;broker&nbsp;takes advantage of the superstition to create a&nbsp;Wall Street&nbsp;panic on a Friday the 13th.

What about other countries?

In Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th (or Martes Trece) is considered a day of bad luck, occurring in months that start on a Thursday.

Greek people also believe Tuesday, and especially Tuesday the 13th, to be unlucky.

In Greek mythology, Ares, the god of war, is associated with Tuesday.&nbsp;Apart from that, there&nbsp;are many unfortunate historical events that have taken place on Tuesday 13th, like the fall of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade on Tuesday, April 13, 1204.

Italy, on the contrary, considers 13 to be a lucky number, which was also the case in ancient Egypt and China.

For Italy, Friday 17th rather than the 13th is the day of bad luck as it has links to Roman numerals (XVII).

According to local beliefs, if one re-arranges the Roman numerals, you will get the word VIXI, which means ‘I have lived’ in Latin, implying death in the present and an omen of bad luck.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Among the superstitions that have lasted for decades, if not centuries, despite the evolution of modern science is Friday the 13th. The irrational fear of the number 13 is called 'triskaidekaphobia' or ' or 'Paraskevidekatriaphobia' and some suggest that it’s linked to the idea that 12 is a number of perfection.

Among the superstitions that have lasted for decades, if not centuries, despite the evolution of modern science is Friday the 13th. The irrational fear of the number 13 is called 'triskaidekaphobia' or ' or 'Paraskevidekatriaphobia' and some suggest that it’s linked to the idea that 12 is a number of perfection. Though not believed everywhere, people in the West consider Friday the 13th to be unlucky as they associate it with death and deceit. It is not a rare phenomenon that 13 and Friday fall on the same day in the Gregorian calendar. It happens every year and sometimes even two or three times in the same year. It is unclear how Friday the 13th started carrying negative connotations, but there have been various recorded instances throughout history where something ominous has taken place. Friday the 13th has Biblical roots The fear seems to have stemmed from the story that Jesus Christ’s last supper and crucifixion took place on Friday. The Last Supper painting by Leonardo da Vinci shows 13 people gathered on the night before Good Friday – the date of Christ’s death – with Judas the 13th member of the party. The superstition has resonance with the Norse folklore as well which claims that when 12 gods were partying in Valhalla, Loki arrived uninvited as the 13th guest, and got Balder killed. Recorded incidents The first recorded mention was found in a biography of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, who died on Friday the 13th. ‘Friday the Thirteenth', a 1907 book by American businessman Thomas Lawson, also used this premise. It is believed that the book popularised the superstition. In the novel, an unscrupulous broker takes advantage of the superstition to create a Wall Street panic on a Friday the 13th. What about other countries? In Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th (or Martes Trece) is considered a day of bad luck, occurring in months that start on a Thursday. Greek people also believe Tuesday, and especially Tuesday the 13th, to be unlucky. In Greek mythology, Ares, the god of war, is associated with Tuesday. Apart from that, there are many unfortunate historical events that have taken place on Tuesday 13th, like the fall of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade on Tuesday, April 13, 1204. Italy, on the contrary, considers 13 to be a lucky number, which was also the case in ancient Egypt and China. For Italy, Friday 17th rather than the 13th is the day of bad luck as it has links to Roman numerals (XVII). According to local beliefs, if one re-arranges the Roman numerals, you will get the word VIXI, which means ‘I have lived’ in Latin, implying death in the present and an omen of bad luck. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Today is Friday the 13th. Know why it is considered unlucky and its origins

Friday the 13th is usually associated with bad luck and various superstitions. But, what exactly are these superstitions? Where have they originated from?

A name has been given to describe the irrational dread of the date: paraskevidekatriaphobia. It means a specialised form of triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number 13.

As per the Georgian calendar, the 13th of any month is slightly more likely to fall on a Friday than any other day of the week.&nbsp; 
It is not a universal superstition.

In Greece and Spanish-speaking countries, it is Tuesday the 13th that is considered a day of bad luck, while in Italy, it is Friday the 17th that is usually associated with bad luck.&nbsp;

The Origin 
While the origin of the superstition is not yet clear. What is known is that both Friday and the number 13 have been regarded as unlucky in certain cultures throughout history.&nbsp;

In his book "Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things," Charles Panati highlights the concept of the cursed back to Norse mythology, when Loki, the god of mischief, gate-crashed a banquet in Valhalla, bringing the number of gods in attendance to 13.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/today-in-history-singapores-first-government-war-between-israel-and-arab-states-and-more-303441#1959-303436">Also read |&nbsp;Today in history: Singapore's first government, war between Israel and Arab states and more</a>

The blind god Hodr was deceived and tricked by Loki into shooting his brother Balder, the god of light, joy and goodness, killing him instantly.

Panati explains how the superstition spread from Scandinavia to the south throughout Europe, becoming well established along the Mediterranean by the start of the Christian era.&nbsp;

Soon, the unsettling power of the numerals was cemented through the story of the Last Supper, which was attended by Jesus Christ and his disciples on Maundy Thursday.&nbsp;

The 13th and most infamous guest to arrive, Judas Iscariot, was the disciple who betrayed Jesus.

This further led to his crucifixion on Good Friday. In the 19th century, Friday 13th became synonymous with misfortune.

Steve Roud explains in "The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland," the combination of Friday and the number 13 is a 'Victorian invention'.&nbsp;

In 1907, the publication of Thomas W. Lawson's popular novel "Friday, the Thirteenth" captured the imagination with its tale of an unscrupulous broker who took advantage of the superstitions around the date to deliberately crash the stock market.

Panati has written, "When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch".&nbsp;

Also, "It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil -- a gathering of thirteen -- and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week."

Ever since Friday, the 13th continues to haunt the imagination of people. However, with time and westernisation, this may turn.

Friday the 13th is usually associated with bad luck and various superstitions. But, what exactly are these superstitions? Where have they originated from? A name has been given to describe the irrational dread of the date: paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Friday the 13th is usually associated with bad luck and various superstitions. But, what exactly are these superstitions? Where have they originated from? A name has been given to describe the irrational dread of the date: paraskevidekatriaphobia. It means a specialised form of triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number 13. As per the Georgian calendar, the 13th of any month is slightly more likely to fall on a Friday than any other day of the week. It is not a universal superstition. In Greece and Spanish-speaking countries, it is Tuesday the 13th that is considered a day of bad luck, while in Italy, it is Friday the 17th that is usually associated with bad luck. The Origin While the origin of the superstition is not yet clear. What is known is that both Friday and the number 13 have been regarded as unlucky in certain cultures throughout history. In his book "Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things," Charles Panati highlights the concept of the cursed back to Norse mythology, when Loki, the god of mischief, gate-crashed a banquet in Valhalla, bringing the number of gods in attendance to 13. Also read | Today in history: Singapore's first government, war between Israel and Arab states and more The blind god Hodr was deceived and tricked by Loki into shooting his brother Balder, the god of light, joy and goodness, killing him instantly. Panati explains how the superstition spread from Scandinavia to the south throughout Europe, becoming well established along the Mediterranean by the start of the Christian era. Soon, the unsettling power of the numerals was cemented through the story of the Last Supper, which was attended by Jesus Christ and his disciples on Maundy Thursday. The 13th and most infamous guest to arrive, Judas Iscariot, was the disciple who betrayed Jesus. This further led to his crucifixion on Good Friday. In the 19th century, Friday 13th became synonymous with misfortune. Steve Roud explains in "The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland," the combination of Friday and the number 13 is a 'Victorian invention'. In 1907, the publication of Thomas W. Lawson's popular novel "Friday, the Thirteenth" captured the imagination with its tale of an unscrupulous broker who took advantage of the superstitions around the date to deliberately crash the stock market. Panati has written, "When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch". Also, "It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil -- a gathering of thirteen -- and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week." Ever since Friday, the 13th continues to haunt the imagination of people. However, with time and westernisation, this may turn.

Friday the 13th: The cultural origins, and everything you need to know

The West has been pressuring Kosovo for months to drop the trade barrier, which has been poisoning already fraught ties with Serbia, a former war foe, since late 2018.

But the "half measure" Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced Thursday was met with disapproval from Richard Grenell, the outspoken US envoy to Kosovo and Serbia who was also recently named President Donald Trump's acting intelligence chief.

"Our position is quite clear: the tariffs must be completely dropped. Mr Kurti is making a serious mistake," he continued.

Under Kurti's plan the tariff, which has become the latest source of animosity between Kosovo and Serbia, would be first lifted on raw materials.

It would then be scrapped in full in April, but only if Serbia also shows signs of goodwill, Kurti said.&nbsp;

The newly-elected premier also received blowback from both allies and opponents at home.

Kurti's key coalition ally, the LDK party, threatened to quit the government if the tariff was not "revoked unconditionally," deputy Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti told local media.&nbsp;

"Can a government that does not enjoy the United States' support govern successfully?" he asked.

Kurti did however get measured support from the EU, who welcomed the "first step" towards resuming the EU-led talks between Serbia and Kosovo.

The tariff dispute has formed the latest chapter in turbulent ties between the Balkan neighbours, who have yet to normalise their relationship since Kosovo, a former Serbian province, broke away in a 1998-99 war led by ethnic Albanian separatists.&nbsp;

Serbia has never recognised the independence that Kosovo declared in 2008 and has lobbied hard to keep it out of global organisations, including the United Nations.

After it was levied in late 2018, the tariff brought EU-led negotiations between the neighbours to a standstill.

The West has been pressuring Kosovo for months to drop the trade barrier, which has been poisoning already fraught ties with Serbia, a former war foe, since late 2018.

The West has been pressuring Kosovo for months to drop the trade barrier, which has been poisoning already fraught ties with Serbia, a former war foe, since late 2018. But the "half measure" Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced Thursday was met with disapproval from Richard Grenell, the outspoken US envoy to Kosovo and Serbia who was also recently named President Donald Trump's acting intelligence chief. "Our position is quite clear: the tariffs must be completely dropped. Mr Kurti is making a serious mistake," he continued. Under Kurti's plan the tariff, which has become the latest source of animosity between Kosovo and Serbia, would be first lifted on raw materials. It would then be scrapped in full in April, but only if Serbia also shows signs of goodwill, Kurti said. The newly-elected premier also received blowback from both allies and opponents at home. Kurti's key coalition ally, the LDK party, threatened to quit the government if the tariff was not "revoked unconditionally," deputy Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti told local media. "Can a government that does not enjoy the United States' support govern successfully?" he asked. Kurti did however get measured support from the EU, who welcomed the "first step" towards resuming the EU-led talks between Serbia and Kosovo. The tariff dispute has formed the latest chapter in turbulent ties between the Balkan neighbours, who have yet to normalise their relationship since Kosovo, a former Serbian province, broke away in a 1998-99 war led by ethnic Albanian separatists. Serbia has never recognised the independence that Kosovo declared in 2008 and has lobbied hard to keep it out of global organisations, including the United Nations. After it was levied in late 2018, the tariff brought EU-led negotiations between the neighbours to a standstill.

Backlash Friday:-Kosovo's partially lift a tariff on Serbian imports while US condemns.

Actor John Witherspoon, who starred alongside rapper Ice Cube in the hit 'Friday'&nbsp;comedy movie franchise, died on Tuesday at the age of 77, his family said.

"We love you "POPS" always and forever," his family said on his Twitter account, referring to another of his roles - John 'Pops' Williams on the long-running sitcom The Wayans Bros.

"He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years," the posting added.

Celebrities including Chance The Rapper, actress Jackée Harry and director Judd Apatow went online to pay tribute to the Detroit, Michigan-born actor and comedian.

"My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King," Academy Award-winning actress Regina King tweeted.

Witherspoon was best known for his recurring role as Ice Cube's father in the comedy trilogy 'Friday,'&nbsp;'Next Friday'&nbsp;and 'Friday After Next'&nbsp;movies.

Witherspoon's manager and family could not be reached for further comment. There were no immediate details on the cause of his death.&nbsp;

Actor John Witherspoon, who starred alongside rapper Ice Cube in the hit 'Friday' comedy movie franchise, died on Tuesday at the age of 77, his family said. "We love you "POPS" always and forever," his family said on his Twitter account, referring to another of his roles - John 'Pops' Williams on the long-running sitcom The Wayans Bros.

Actor John Witherspoon, who starred alongside rapper Ice Cube in the hit 'Friday' comedy movie franchise, died on Tuesday at the age of 77, his family said. "We love you "POPS" always and forever," his family said on his Twitter account, referring to another of his roles - John 'Pops' Williams on the long-running sitcom The Wayans Bros. "He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years," the posting added. Celebrities including Chance The Rapper, actress Jackée Harry and director Judd Apatow went online to pay tribute to the Detroit, Michigan-born actor and comedian. "My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King," Academy Award-winning actress Regina King tweeted. Witherspoon was best known for his recurring role as Ice Cube's father in the comedy trilogy 'Friday,' 'Next Friday' and 'Friday After Next' movies. Witherspoon's manager and family could not be reached for further comment. There were no immediate details on the cause of his death.

'Friday' actor John Witherspoon dies aged 77

A man succumbed to his injuries as an ambulance allegedly failed to reach the accident site in Rajasthan&#39;s Bharatpur where a bus hit the bike.

The accident happened on Friday when a bus hit a bike killing one and injuring two women, who were later taken to a hospital in a rickshaw.

Assistant sub-inspector of police (ASI) Ram Ratan Chaudhary confirmed the incident and said, &quot;We reached the spot after receiving information and a private ambulance was called. The ambulance was taking time to reach the spot so we took them to the hospital in a rickshaw.&quot;

The bus driver is on the run at the moment.

The accident happened on Friday when a bus hit a bike killing one and injuring two women, who were later taken to a hospital in a rickshaw

A man succumbed to his injuries as an ambulance allegedly failed to reach the accident site in Rajasthan's Bharatpur where a bus hit the bike. The accident happened on Friday when a bus hit a bike killing one and injuring two women, who were later taken to a hospital in a rickshaw. Assistant sub-inspector of police (ASI) Ram Ratan Chaudhary confirmed the incident and said, "We reached the spot after receiving information and a private ambulance was called. The ambulance was taking time to reach the spot so we took them to the hospital in a rickshaw." The bus driver is on the run at the moment.

Man dies from ambulance delay in Rajasthan's Bharatpur

China launched a nationwide investigation into its kindergartens on Friday after parents at a Beijing preschool said toddlers had apparent needle marks and were given mysterious pills - sparking outrage days after another daycare scandal.

Security personnel installed a cordon at the gate of the RYB Education New World kindergarten on Friday after dozens of curious onlookers crowded outside the high-end, bilingual Chinese-English nursery, which was still operating.

A day earlier, furious parents had gathered in front of the gate to demand answers from RYB, which is run by a company that started trading on the New York stock exchange in September. Its shares plunged by more than 40 percent in after-hours trading.

China&#39;s official Xinhua news agency said children were also &quot;reportedly sexually molested&quot; but gave no further details.

Li Jing, a mother of a three-year-old girl, told AFP her daughter had not been abused but said other children had explained how they were coerced into taking pills.

&quot;Other kids were saying it&#39;s not to be called taking a pill, but a reward. And the pill is not to be called a pill, but a jelly bean, and is a little secret between the child and the teacher,&quot; Li said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She chose to bring her daughter to school on Friday because she trusted the girl&#39;s teacher, but admitted: &quot;I still feel a bit uneasy.&quot;

The Chaoyang district government said police opened an investigation after parents reported the suspected abuse on Wednesday.

Though authorities have so far declined to confirm or provide more details about the allegations, the incident prompted the education steering committee of China&#39;s State Council, its top administrative body, to call for an &quot;immediate&quot; investigation into kindergartens across the country.

&quot;Lately, many places have had incidents where children have been violated and harmed in kindergartens, which has had an abominable impact and caused major harm to their families,&quot; it said in a circular published on the Ministry of Education&#39;s official website.

&#39;Two white pills after lunch&#39;&nbsp;

The magazine Caixin said eight children had apparent needle marks and that the incidents occurred in two classes with kids aged between two and six. Parents also said children were fed unidentified pills.

&quot;I asked my child after I heard what other parents said and my child said that they had taken two white pills after lunch, and slept after eating the pills,&quot; one father told CCTV outside the school on Thursday.

The kindergarten is located adjacent to a large military base, and rumours flew online that military officials there were involved in sexually abusing the children.&nbsp;

Fun Junfeng, the base&#39;s political commissioner, confirmed in an interview with the PLA Daily that the husband of the school&#39;s director was previously an official there, but said there was so far &quot;no evidence&quot; that military personnel had been involved in the abuse.

&quot;But this is just the first step of the investigation,&quot; he added.

RYB apologised to parents and said it was cooperating with the police investigation.&nbsp;

&quot;We are currently working with the police to provide relevant surveillance materials and equipment. The teachers in question have been suspended,&quot; the company said in a social media statement.

&#39;Severe mistakes&#39;&nbsp;

RYB Education directly operates 80 kindergartens and has franchised another 175 in 130 cities across China for children ranging from newborns to six-year-olds, according to its Nasdaq listing.

It is the third time in just over a year that one of its schools has faced abuse allegations.

RYB already apologised in April and suspended the head of a Beijing kindergarten after admitting that teachers committed &quot;severe mistakes&quot;. The Beijing News had obtained videos showing teachers throwing a child on a bed and kicking another in the back.

The People&#39;s Court Daily reported that two teachers from an RYB kindergarten in northeast Jilin province were sentenced to 34 months in prison for jabbing children in the head, inside their mouths, and on their legs and buttocks with sewing needles in October 2016.

Zhang Zhiqiang came to the Beijing nursery on Friday to cancel his two-year-old daughter&#39;s enrollment after reading about the latest scandal, though she was not among the alleged victims.

He said the school refunded him the 18,000 yuan ($2,725) annual tuition fee.

The &quot;international&quot; class in which children were allegedly abused was even more expensive, parents told AFP, with tuition of more than 5,000 yuan ($760) a month.

The latest allegations came a week after Chinese online travel agency Ctrip suspended two officials after footage emerged of workers abusing toddlers at a company daycare centre in Shanghai.

The clips showed young children of Ctrip employees being roughly handled and punished by being force-fed what parents claimed was spicy mustard at the company&#39;s Shanghai headquarters.

Police detained three daycare staff for suspected abuse.

China launched a nationwide investigation into its kindergartens on Friday after parents at a Beijing preschool said toddlers had apparent needle marks and were given mysterious pills - sparking outrage days after another daycare scandal

China launched a nationwide investigation into its kindergartens on Friday after parents at a Beijing preschool said toddlers had apparent needle marks and were given mysterious pills - sparking outrage days after another daycare scandal. Security personnel installed a cordon at the gate of the RYB Education New World kindergarten on Friday after dozens of curious onlookers crowded outside the high-end, bilingual Chinese-English nursery, which was still operating. A day earlier, furious parents had gathered in front of the gate to demand answers from RYB, which is run by a company that started trading on the New York stock exchange in September. Its shares plunged by more than 40 percent in after-hours trading. China's official Xinhua news agency said children were also "reportedly sexually molested" but gave no further details. Li Jing, a mother of a three-year-old girl, told AFP her daughter had not been abused but said other children had explained how they were coerced into taking pills. "Other kids were saying it's not to be called taking a pill, but a reward. And the pill is not to be called a pill, but a jelly bean, and is a little secret between the child and the teacher," Li said. She chose to bring her daughter to school on Friday because she trusted the girl's teacher, but admitted: "I still feel a bit uneasy." The Chaoyang district government said police opened an investigation after parents reported the suspected abuse on Wednesday. Though authorities have so far declined to confirm or provide more details about the allegations, the incident prompted the education steering committee of China's State Council, its top administrative body, to call for an "immediate" investigation into kindergartens across the country. "Lately, many places have had incidents where children have been violated and harmed in kindergartens, which has had an abominable impact and caused major harm to their families," it said in a circular published on the Ministry of Education's official website. 'Two white pills after lunch' The magazine Caixin said eight children had apparent needle marks and that the incidents occurred in two classes with kids aged between two and six. Parents also said children were fed unidentified pills. "I asked my child after I heard what other parents said and my child said that they had taken two white pills after lunch, and slept after eating the pills," one father told CCTV outside the school on Thursday. The kindergarten is located adjacent to a large military base, and rumours flew online that military officials there were involved in sexually abusing the children. Fun Junfeng, the base's political commissioner, confirmed in an interview with the PLA Daily that the husband of the school's director was previously an official there, but said there was so far "no evidence" that military personnel had been involved in the abuse. "But this is just the first step of the investigation," he added. RYB apologised to parents and said it was cooperating with the police investigation. "We are currently working with the police to provide relevant surveillance materials and equipment. The teachers in question have been suspended," the company said in a social media statement. 'Severe mistakes' RYB Education directly operates 80 kindergartens and has franchised another 175 in 130 cities across China for children ranging from newborns to six-year-olds, according to its Nasdaq listing. It is the third time in just over a year that one of its schools has faced abuse allegations. RYB already apologised in April and suspended the head of a Beijing kindergarten after admitting that teachers committed "severe mistakes". The Beijing News had obtained videos showing teachers throwing a child on a bed and kicking another in the back. The People's Court Daily reported that two teachers from an RYB kindergarten in northeast Jilin province were sentenced to 34 months in prison for jabbing children in the head, inside their mouths, and on their legs and buttocks with sewing needles in October 2016. Zhang Zhiqiang came to the Beijing nursery on Friday to cancel his two-year-old daughter's enrollment after reading about the latest scandal, though she was not among the alleged victims. He said the school refunded him the 18,000 yuan ($2,725) annual tuition fee. The "international" class in which children were allegedly abused was even more expensive, parents told AFP, with tuition of more than 5,000 yuan ($760) a month. The latest allegations came a week after Chinese online travel agency Ctrip suspended two officials after footage emerged of workers abusing toddlers at a company daycare centre in Shanghai. The clips showed young children of Ctrip employees being roughly handled and punished by being force-fed what parents claimed was spicy mustard at the company's Shanghai headquarters. Police detained three daycare staff for suspected abuse.

China launches national kindergarten probe after 'needle marks' on toddlers

President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday, making his first public appearance since military generals took control of Zimbabwe earlier this week.

In a display of defiance, Mugabe, 93, arrived at the ceremony in the capital Harare, dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat, an AFP correspondent reported.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/army-says-progress-made-in-ending-zimbabwe-crisis-24452" target="_blank">Army says progress made in ending Zimbabwe crisis</a>

The generals took over late on Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked and Mugabe&#39;s wife Grace emerged in prime position to succeed her increasingly frail husband.

Zimbabwe was left stunned by the military intervention sparked by the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa, 75.

Analysts say the military leadership was strongly opposed to Grace&#39;s rise, while Mnangagwa has close ties to the defence establishment.

Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks on Friday as the takeover appeared to signal his imminent exit from office after 37 years in power since Zimbabwe won independence from Britain in 1980.

Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed Mugabe, flew back to Harare on Thursday after fleeing the country when he was sacked last week.

Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday

President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday, making his first public appearance since military generals took control of Zimbabwe earlier this week. In a display of defiance, Mugabe, 93, arrived at the ceremony in the capital Harare, dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat, an AFP correspondent reported. Army says progress made in ending Zimbabwe crisis The generals took over late on Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked and Mugabe's wife Grace emerged in prime position to succeed her increasingly frail husband. Zimbabwe was left stunned by the military intervention sparked by the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa, 75. Analysts say the military leadership was strongly opposed to Grace's rise, while Mnangagwa has close ties to the defence establishment. Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks on Friday as the takeover appeared to signal his imminent exit from office after 37 years in power since Zimbabwe won independence from Britain in 1980. Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed Mugabe, flew back to Harare on Thursday after fleeing the country when he was sacked last week.

Mugabe makes first public appearance since army takeover

Actor Mark Salling, who had a supporting role as a high school athlete-turned-singer in the TV series &quot;Glee,&quot; was indicted on Friday on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, officials said.

The 33-year-old Salling agreed to turn himself in on June 3 to face the charges filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the U.S. Attorney&#39;s Office for the region said in a statement.

Representatives for Salling, a Los Angeles resident, and his attorney, did not immediately return calls.

The federal charges against the Texas-born Salling for receipt and possession of child pornography stem from his arrest by Los Angeles police and federal agents on Dec. 29, 2015. He was released on bail of $20,000 and was initially expected to be charged in Los Angeles County court.

But after investigators realized the &quot;scope of the collection&quot; of child porn they had uncovered, the case was handed over to federal prosecutors, the U.S. Attorney&#39;s Office said.

&quot;The traditional stereotype about the kinds of people who commit child sexual exploitation crimes simply doesn&#39;t dovetail with reality,&quot; Joseph Macias, a special agent in charge for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement on the filing of the charges.

Macias added that child pornography suspects can be of &quot;all ages and from all walks of life.&quot;

Salling&#39;s arrest came after investigators received a tip that he was in possession of child porn, Los Angeles police said in a statement at the time.

A laptop, a hard drive and a mobile flash drive from Salling&#39;s home contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography, and investigators continue to review the material, federal prosecutors said.

In the meantime, the charges against the actor center on a still image and three videos of child pornography depicting young girls, the statement said. The two charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Salling on the Fox television show &quot;Glee,&quot; which ran from 2009 to 2015, played Puck, a bully and a football player who shows a softer side when he joins the glee club at his high school.

Before that show, Salling had a number of smaller roles, including a part in 1996 horror film &quot;Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering.&quot;

Actor Mark Salling, who had a supporting role as a high school athlete-turned-singer in the TV series "Glee," was indicted on Friday on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, officials said. The 33-year-old Salling agreed to turn himself in on June 3 to face the charges filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the region said in a statement.

Actor Mark Salling, who had a supporting role as a high school athlete-turned-singer in the TV series "Glee," was indicted on Friday on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, officials said. The 33-year-old Salling agreed to turn himself in on June 3 to face the charges filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the region said in a statement. Representatives for Salling, a Los Angeles resident, and his attorney, did not immediately return calls. The federal charges against the Texas-born Salling for receipt and possession of child pornography stem from his arrest by Los Angeles police and federal agents on Dec. 29, 2015. He was released on bail of $20,000 and was initially expected to be charged in Los Angeles County court. But after investigators realized the "scope of the collection" of child porn they had uncovered, the case was handed over to federal prosecutors, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "The traditional stereotype about the kinds of people who commit child sexual exploitation crimes simply doesn't dovetail with reality," Joseph Macias, a special agent in charge for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement on the filing of the charges. Macias added that child pornography suspects can be of "all ages and from all walks of life." Salling's arrest came after investigators received a tip that he was in possession of child porn, Los Angeles police said in a statement at the time. A laptop, a hard drive and a mobile flash drive from Salling's home contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography, and investigators continue to review the material, federal prosecutors said. In the meantime, the charges against the actor center on a still image and three videos of child pornography depicting young girls, the statement said. The two charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Salling on the Fox television show "Glee," which ran from 2009 to 2015, played Puck, a bully and a football player who shows a softer side when he joins the glee club at his high school. Before that show, Salling had a number of smaller roles, including a part in 1996 horror film "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering."

'Glee' star Mark Salling indicted on federal child porn charges

friday

Friday, News on Friday, stories on Friday, articles on Friday, Friday stories at Wion, Friday news, Friday latest news