A G-20 finance meeting communique is unlikely again amid war
The Group of 20 finance ministers will likely again fail to issue a communique this week after they finish meeting in Washington, continuing the tensions over the last year on how to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The traditional consensus statement isn’t expected when their meetings wrap up Thursday on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s Spring Meetings because of disagreements on how to refer to the war, according to people familiar with the situation who asked not to be identified.
The likely outcome will be another “chair’s summary,” which India would issue because it holds the G-20 presidency this year. The last meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs — which took place in in Bengaluru, India, in February — ended with only a chair’s summary as well.
That February outcome was a step back from a joint statement agreed by all G-20 members at November’s leaders’ summit in Bali, Indonesia.
At the end of the February meeting, Russia and China disagreed with two paragraphs on the war that had been cleared by all participants in November.
The standoff continued at a meeting of G-20 foreign minsters in March, which also ended without consensus after China and Russia refused to join other members in a statement in which most of them condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
—Bloomberg News
Feds launch criminal probe into ‘AGGA’ dental device and its inventor
Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance, or “AGGA” dental device, following a recent KFF Health News-CBS News investigation, according to a motion filed in federal court.
Multiple lawsuits allege the device has caused grievous harm to at least 20 patients and the FDA is now investigating its safety, KFF Health News and CBS News have reported.
The AGGA is a retainer-like device promoted by some dentists as an option for expanding adult patients’ jawbones, beautifying their faces, and curing common ailments like sleep apnea. The lawsuits have alleged patients suffered damaged gums, eroded bone, and, in some cases, lost teeth.
The criminal investigation of the use of the AGGA was revealed in a court motion that seeks to delay the largest of the lawsuits “pending the outcome of any criminal proceedings.” The motion was filed this month by attorneys for AGGA inventor Dr. Steve Galella, his company, the Facial Beauty Institute, and AGGA manufacturer Johns Dental Laboratories, who said the investigation is being conducted “for the purpose of potentially bringing criminal charges” against their clients.
The attorneys said in their court filing that there is “no doubt” the investigation arose from the KFF Health News-CBS News coverage of the AGGA.
—CBS News
NPR quits Twitter after being labeled ‘state-affiliated media’
NPR has become one of the first media organization’s to voluntarily leave Twitter after falsely being labeled “state-affiliated media” last week.
The public radio outlet “paused” tweeting last week after the label was affixed to its accounts.
“NPR’s organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by implying that we are not editorially independent,” it said in a statement.
NPR had 52 Twitter accounts for its various programs and channels. Its main account has 8.8 million followers.
The privately owned nonprofit receives less than 1% of its annual budget from the federally funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting. PBS and the BBC were given the same label.
“The downside, whatever the downside, doesn’t change that fact,” CEO John Lansing said in an interview. “I would never have our content go anywhere that would risk our credibility.”
—New York Daily News
US Sen. Baldwin seeking reelection in battleground Wisconsin
WASHINGTON — Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin is running for a third term, she said Wednesday, setting up another battleground Senate race next year.
Baldwin is the latest Senate Democrat to announce a reelection bid ahead of a year where the party will be defending more than double the number of seats Republicans will be. The party is relying on incumbents like Baldwin, as well as Pennsylvania’s Bob Casey, who announced a reelection campaign earlier this week, to try to hold on to narrow one-seat majority.
Her announcement comes a week after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a Democratic-backed candidate, won a seat on the state Supreme Court by 11 points over a GOP-backed candidate. Abortion rights was a top issue in that race, and one that Baldwin will likely emphasize in her campaign. EMILY’s List, an advocacy group that promotes Democratic women who support abortion rights, endorsed Baldwin on Wednesday.
Republicans have signaled that they will target Baldwin, who won her last election in 2018 by 11 points. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson won a third term in the state last year by 1 point.
—CQ-Roll Call
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