Articles by Mike Heuer

Technology

Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo named Madagascar prime minister amid protests

Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina appointed Gen. Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the island nation's prime minister to address protests mostly led by young adults. Rajoelina recently aired his concerns about a potential coup attempt, and Monday appointed Zafisambo as prime minister to quell anti-government protests, according to Al Jazeera. The military general's appointment also comes a week after the Madagascar government's dissolution amid protests by the youth-led movement called Gen Z Mada in the island nation situated off Africa's southeastern coast. Local police fired tear gas Monday into crowds of protesters in the nation's capital of Antananarivo and have confronted protesters in Toliara and Antsiranana aka Diego Suaraz, Al Jazeera reported. Gen Z Mada leaders oppose Zafisambo's appointment and gave Rajoelina 48 hours to resign his presidency, the BBC reported. "As long as Rajoelina remains in power, we will continue the struggle," Gen Z Mada leaders said in a prepared statement. The BBC said Rajoelina appointed the military general as prime minister to help ensure Madagascar's military will continue to support his presidency and to end the protests. Repeated disruptions in power and water services triggered the protests Sept. 25. The protests since have expanded to include opposition to corruption, inflation and a high rate of unemployment. At least 22 have died and more than 100 were injured during the protests, according to the United Nations. Government officials in Madagascar dismissed the reported casualty figures as "rumors and misinformation, the BBC reported. Zafisambo was Madagascar's military cabinet director within the prime minister's office until the president named him the country's prime minister. The youth-led Madagascar protests occurred as many Generation Z youth have triggered anti-government protests from Nepal in Asia to Peru and Paraguay. Generation Z refers to those who were born from 1997 through 2012 and is noted for its widespread use of digital media, according to Britannica.

Technology

Marjorie Taylor Greene airs support for ACA tax credit extention

Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Rep. Marjorie Taylor, R-Ga., wants to negotiate with congressional Democrats to extend health insurance tax credits for working Americans and their families. The conservative Georgia Republican aired her strong opposition to the Affordable Care Act but said not extending tax credits that expired with the 2025 fiscal year budget on Sept. 30 would double health insurance premiums for those enrolled in ACA plans, The Guardian reported. "The ACA made health insurance unaffordable for my family after it was passed, with skyrocketing premiums higher than our house payment," Greene said Monday evening in a post on X. She said she is "not a fan" of the ACA, but its political reality makes it necessary to extend the expired tax credits. "I'm going to go against everyone on this issue because when the tax credits expire, this year my own adult children's insurance premiums are going to double, along with all the wonderful families and hard-working people in my district," Greene said. Instead of "towing the party line or playing loyalty games," Greene said is "disgusted" that health insurance premiums would double for policies obtained through health insurance exchanges that were established via the ACA. "I'm a Republican who won't vote for illegals to have any taxpayer-funded healthcare or benefits," Greene added. "I'm America only!!!" She criticized the Biden administration for allocating what she said was $30 billion to Israel in 2024 and hundreds of billions to Ukraine since 2022. She also criticized congressional leaders for not addressing the expiring ACA tax credits. "All our country does is fund foreign countries and foreign wars," Green said, "and never does anything to help the American people!!!" She said Americans "don't hate your government enough" and urged others to work with her to "do something about the absolutely insane cost" of health insurance for U.S. citizens and legal residents. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., dismissed Greene's comments by saying she was not in the respective House committees where the expiring ACA tax credits and other healthcare issues were discussed. "Congresswoman Greene does not serve on the committees of jurisdiction to deal with those specialized issues," Johnson told media on Tuesday. "She's probably not read that in on some of that because it's still been sort of in [the] silos of the people who specialize in those issues," he explained. Johnson said House Republicans intend to take up the matter when the House resumes session on Oct. 14.