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Florida’s university system under assault during DeSantis tenure, report by professors’ group says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Academic freedom and independent governance have been under political and ideological assault in Florida’s university system during the tenure of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to a report by the American Association of University Professors released this month.The threat to Florida’s higher education system accelerated this year with the takeover of New College of Florida in Sarasota by partisan DeSantis supporters, according to the report from an AAUP committee. New College has become a focal point of a campaign by DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, to rid higher education in the state of what he calls left-leaning “woke” indoctrination on campuses.Additionally, the appointments of GOP politicians to the boards that govern Florida’s higher education system have made them compliant to the wishes of the Republican governor, the report said.A veteran University of Florida faculty member told the AAUP...

Romanian court rejects influencer Andrew Tate’s request to return assets seized in trafficking case

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A court in Romania on Monday rejected a request by influencer Andrew Tate to return assets that were seized during investigations into the case in which he is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.The Bucharest Tribunal’s decision can be appealed within 48 hours. Tate’s lawyer, Eugen Vidineac, told The Associated Press he has applied to appeal.The decision comes nearly a year after Tate, his brother Tristan and two Romanian women were arrested near Bucharest. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in June. They have denied the allegations.After their arrest, Romanian authorities seized 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches and cash in several currencies. The vehicles included a Rolls-Royce, a Ferrari, a Porsche, a BMW, an Aston Martin and a Mercedes-Benz. Authorities said the assets were worth an estimated 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million).Romania’s anti-organized crime agency said at the time that ...

Former New Jersey Senate president launches 2025 gubernatorial bid

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A former top Democratic lawmaker on Monday announced a bid for governor of New Jersey, touting his credentials as a union ironworker and longtime legislator who worked to pass a minimum wage indexed to inflation, paid family leave, and a number of other measures. Steve Sweeney, 64, posted a video online to announce his political comeback bid to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the 2025 election. Sweeney served as the state Senate president from 2010 to 2022, unexpectedly losing a reelection bid to Republican Ed Durr in 2021.In his campaign launch, Sweeney leaned heavily into his career history, first as an ironworker, then as a labor leader and legislator. He opened the announcement by saying that his daughter Lauren, who was born with Down syndrome, provided the “spark” for him to seek public office. “I will always put New Jersey’s kids, working families, and seniors first,” he said. “You know that’s who I’ll fight for because that’s wh...

Dutch official says Geert Wilders and 3 other party leaders should discuss forming a new coalition

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The far-right party led by Dutch election winner Geert Wilders should open negotiations with three other parties on forming a new government, the official appointed to investigate possible coalitions said Monday.Ronald Plasterk, who acted as the “scout” in two weeks of preliminary talks, said it was “too early” to say how long it might take to form a new government amid significant policy differences between some of the parties.Wilders’ Party for Freedom won 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house of the Dutch parliament in the Nov. 22 election, making it the biggest party and putting the veteran anti-Islam lawmaker in pole position to form the next ruling coalition.Plasterk said that Wilders should hold coalition talks with New Social Contract, a reformist party formed over the summer that won 20 seats, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, which was led by outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and the Farmer Citizen Movement, or...

No. 2 oil-producing US state braces for possible end to income bonanza in New Mexico

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A windfall in government income from petroleum production is slowing down but far from over in New Mexico as the nation’s No. 2 oil production state grapples with how much it can effectively spend — and how to set aside billions of dollars for the future in case the world’s thirst for oil falters.The state is headed for a $3.5 billion general fund surplus for the year running through June 2025, according to a new forecast Monday. New Mexico’s annual state government income has swelled by nearly 50% over the past three years, driven largely by oil an natural gas production in the Permian Basin, the most prolific shale-oil producing region in the country that extends across southeastern New Mexico and portions of western Texas.The state will draw in a record-setting $13 billion — exceeding annual spending obligations by one-third, economists from four state agencies said in a presentation to a legislative panel. Monday’s forecast anticipates 2.2...

Police violated protesters’ rights in Wet’suwet’en pipeline blockades, Amnesty says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

VANCOUVER — A report by Amnesty International says police in British Columbia conducted arbitrary arrests and “aggressive surveillance, harassment and intimidation” of First Nations protesters blocking a pipeline project.The 94-page report documenting protests linked to a 78-kilometre segment of the Coastal GasLink liquefied natural gas pipeline says the RCMP violated protesters’ rights to free speech and peaceful assemblyThe report released today says some protesters were held for multiple days before bail hearings and some Indigenous participants appeared “in shackles in their underwear” in front of a judge.It also says protesters from the First Nation faced race- and gender-based discrimination in the handling of the protests on Wet’suwet’en territory in central B.C., between 2019 and 2023.The report says RCMP raids on protesters in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were “disproportionate,” involving dozens of officers “armed with sem...

Europe agreed on world-leading AI rules. How do they work and will they affect people everywhere?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

LONDON (AP) — European Union officials worked into the late hours last week hammering out an agreement on world-leading rules meant to govern the use of artificial intelligence in the 27-nation bloc. The Artificial Intelligence Act is the latest set of regulations designed to govern technology in Europe destined to have global impact.Here’s a closer look at the AI rules:WHAT IS THE AI ACT AND HOW DOES IT WORK? The AI Act takes a “risk-based approach” to products or services that use artificial intelligence and focuses on regulating uses of AI rather than the technology. The legislation is designed to protect democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights like freedom of speech, while still encouraging investment and innovation. The riskier an AI application is, the stiffer the rules. Those that pose limited risk, such as content recommendation systems or spam filters, would have to follow only light rules such as revealing that they are powered by AI. High-risk system...

Trial for accused Highland Park parade shooter to begin in February

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

CHICAGO — A judge in Lake County set a trial date Monday for the man accused of the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade.Proceedings are set to begin in February 2024 and Robert Crimo III is planning to represent himself.Crimo III, who prosecutors say opened fire on crowds of people watching the parade in 2022, is facing more than 100 charges, including dozens of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges.Seven people were killed, dozens were hurt and countless others were traumatized in the shooting.Crimo III pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held without bond. Father of Highland Park parade shooting suspect receives jail time, probation in guilty plea agreement Crimo's father, Robert Crimo Jr., is serving a 60-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to several counts of reckless conduct. He sponsored his son's application for a FOID card, which allowed him to by the firearms.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Solis to potentially testify in Ed Burke trial as prosecution plans to rest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

CHICAGO -- Prosecutors are using recordings made by ex-alderman turned FBI mole Danny Solis to make their case against the once powerful Ed Burke.Prosecutors decided months ago to not to put Solis on the stand. Burke's attorneys told the judge they will call Solis to the stand and plan to question him for hours about the recordings alone.Jurors have heard the conversation between Burke and Solis from the Spring of 2017.Prosecutors say "tuna" was business for Burke's private law firm from developers of the Old Post Office. "I think I've got some good news. I talked to Skydell today," Solis says in the recording. Burke responded."So, did we, uh, land the tuna? If we land the tuna, there certainly will be a day of accounting, you can count on that," Burke replied.Over the weekend, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion to prevent Solis' testimony, arguing that the defense is simply calling Solis to discredit him.The defense said its questioning of Solis will add context to the secre...

'Mind blown': Delta passengers shocked to learn about airline's 'secret' trading cards

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:13:35 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Forget about baseball players or Pokémon characters: Today’s hottest trading cards are printed with Delta jets.Last month, a Delta passenger named Sarowar Ahmed went viral on TikTok after filming himself asking the captain of his flight for a “trading card” — only for the captain to immediately direct him to the first officer, who handed over two glossy cards printed with photos of Boeing 737 aircraft.“My friend told me that pilots have trading cards and she thought maybe I’d already have them since I’m a frequent flyer, but I definitely did not know about it,” Ahmed told Nexstar. “So I had to try it out myself.” An image provided by Delta shows trading cards from the carrier's current collection. (Delta Air Lines)News of Delta’s trading cards also came as a shock to viewers on TikTok, where the video has amassed over 24 million views since late November.“THEY HAVE TRADING CARDS?!” one commenter responded, summing up the general sentiments of hundreds of other viewe...