— 🇮🇱/🇮🇷 The IDF Spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, is trying to calm down Israelis:

'The directive of the Home Front Command remain unchanged. There is no need to buy generators, store food, and withdraw money from ATMs.

As we have done until today, we will immediately update any change if it is in an official and orderly manner.'

@Middle_East_Spectator

🇮🇷 🇮🇱 Israel's war cabinet and the political and security cabinet will meet tonight.

🔶️ The agenda: Tensions in the north, the expected Iranian response, the negotiations on the hostage deal and increasing the scope of humanitarian aid entering Gaza

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/war-cabinet-to-meet-tonight-on-iran-tensions-gaza-aid/

📎 Faytuks

🇮🇷 📢 🇮🇱 "Israel understands that there will be an Iranian response, and since terrorist attacks through Iranian emissaries are unsuccessful, in Iran they will try to hit Israel directly from their territory", according to Israel's Channel 12

https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/2024_q2/Article-7502bbb8df8ae81027.htm

📎 Faytuks

🍔 🇺🇸 💵 California’s $20 Minimum Wage Forces Mass Layoffs in Fast Food Industry

🔶️ California’s minimum wage hike to $20 per hour was intended to be a boon for fast food workers, but instead, it has wreaked havoc on the industry. With mass layoffs now sweeping through major chains like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut and prices skyrocketing at eateries statewide, the effects of the 25% wage increase have been anything but positive so far.

🔶️ McDonald’s recently announced they will be letting go of over 1,200 employees across the state. They have also drastically increased the prices of their menu items, with a Big Mac combo now costing around $18.

🔶️ The price of a McChicken has gone up 33% in the past year alone. These price hikes have made fast food unattainable for many low-income individuals and families.

https://fosterfollynews.net/2024/04/02/californias-20-minimum-wage-forces-mass-layoffs-in-fast-food-industry/

🍔 🇺🇸 🍟 McDonalds menu from the early 1970s. - Time Capsule Tales

Timeline

1940: McDonald's debuts its first barbecue-themed menu in San Bernardino, California, offering barbecued beef, ham, or pork with french fries for 35 cents.

1948: The restaurant transforms into a walk-up hamburger stand, featuring a simplified menu with four main items: hamburger, cheeseburger, potato chips, and pie.

1949: McDonald's introduces its iconic Triple Thick Milkshakes.

1964: The Filet-O-Fish sandwich is added to the menu.

1968: The Big Mac joins the menu at 49 cents, and Hot Apple Pie is introduced, initially deep-fried.

1970: The Shamrock Shake makes its debut, celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

1971: The Quarter Pounder is introduced in Fremont, California, and later becomes a national menu item in 1973.

1975: The Egg McMuffin is added to the menu for 63 cents.

1979: Happy Meals make their entrance, gaining popularity among parents.

1982: In response to a chicken shortage during the late 1970s, the McRib sandwich is introduced.

1983: Chicken nuggets become a menu staple.

1985: The McRib temporarily disappears, while the McDLT is introduced with fresh lettuce and tomatoes.

1986: McDonald's embraces healthier options by adding salads to the menu.

1992: The fried apple pie is replaced with a baked version.

1995: McFlurries are introduced, adding a sweet treat to the menu.

2010: Oatmeal is added to the McDonald's breakfast menu.

2015: The introduction of All-Day breakfast allows customers to enjoy breakfast items beyond the traditional 10:30 AM cutoff.

https://fxtwitter.com/timecaptales/status/1775602485530353664

📢 🇸🇴 🇪🇹 Somalia has given Ethiopia's ambassador 72 hours to leave the country, and ordered the closure of the Ethiopian consulates in Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, the foreign ministry said.

📎 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

🇮🇷 🇮🇱 Israel evacuates multiple embassies around the world over Iran fears

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-795449

🇻🇦 ❌️ 🇺🇦 Concerns about mobilizing clergy - Zelensky meets with Bishops of the country’s Latin-Rite Catholic churches

🔶️ For their part, the Catholic bishops explained the challenges faced by chaplains in their ministry, and highlighed concerns about the possibility of mobilizing clergy to serve as soldiers. “We emphasised that if parish priests or those responsible for the humanitarian sector, including Caritas and all its units, are mobilised, there will be big problems,” said Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyy, the head of the Commission of Church-State Relations for the country’s Latin-Rite Bishops.

🔶️ The bishops also raised issues concerning ecclesial properties owned by the state and leased to the Church for religious purposes; a recent law requires the Churches to pay market rates on those properties.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2024-04/ukraine-s-president-meets-with-roman-catholic-protestant-leader.html

🇺🇸 🇺🇦 Blinken: ‘Ukraine will become a member of NATO’

📎 Afshin Rattansi

🇪🇨 🏴‍☠️ Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa in a video similar to that of Nayib Bukele's El Salvador:

"We have three weeks left until a popular consultation, one that narcoterrorist groups have already publicly stated that they are against.

They reject extradition, the military presence in prisons, and the strengthening of penalties against their crimes.

But above all, they are against Ecuadorians having peace. We will not give them any respite."

📎 Daniel Noboa

🇯🇵 🤝 🇵🇭 Tokyo in talks with Manila over sending troops to the Philippines

🔶️ Tokyo and Manila have discussed deploying Japanese forces in the Philippines, as the countries near agreement on several security pacts aimed at boosting regional deterrence against China.

🔶️ Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippines ambassador to the US, said the Manila and Tokyo governments were close to signing a “reciprocal access agreement” that would also let their militaries train and exercise in each other’s countries.

🔶️ Deployment of Japanese troops in south-east Asia would mark a major development for Tokyo and Manila, which have significantly strengthened co-operation with the US to counter China.

https://www.ft.com/content/2bf4cb90-bc86-4db2-a0d5-21973f7b2765

https://archive.ph/xbtmH

📊 The more liberal you are, the more likely you are to have poor mental health.

📎 i/o