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Ohio constitution overhaul faces deadline, backlash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An effort by a Republican faction in Ohio to make it harder to change the state constitution faces a critical juncture this week, with action needed in the politically fractured Ohio House where the undertaking has so far stalled.Wednesday is the last day to get the job done if lawmakers mean to put a related ballot measure before voters on Aug. 8, according to the timeline determined by Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the state’s elections chief. However, scenarios could emerge among the plan’s anxious GOP backers to blow past the cutoff without the plan’s proponents relenting.The conflict comes amid similar Republican efforts to restrict direct democracy in Missouri, North Dakota and Mississippi, according to Fairness Project, a Washington-based group that pushes ballot measures across the U.S.In Ohio, a pressure campaign of intense lobbying and attack ads is being led by the anti-abortion Ohio Right to Life, while opposition from high...

UBS to take in Credit Suisse CEO as merger closes in 2 weeks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — UBS said Tuesday it’s bringing the CEO of Credit Suisse on to its executive board and will keep the two banks operating separately “for the foreseeable future” as it moves forward with a high-profile merger expected to close within two weeks.The two Zurich-based banks, longtime rivals, are uniting in a $3.25 billion deal hastily arranged in March by Swiss government officials and regulators after Credit Suisse’s stock plunged and jittery depositors quickly pulled out their money. The merger aimed to stem upheaval in the global financial system after the collapse of two U.S. banks that has shaken confidence in the sector.“This is a pivotal moment for UBS, Credit Suisse and the entire banking industry,” said UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti, who was brought back to the bank to help see the deal through. “Together we will solidify and represent the Swiss model for finance around the world, one that is capital-light, less reliant on taking risk and anchored by stability ...

EIT Climate-KIC moves Ireland towards climate neutrality

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

How do we decarbonize agri-food systems, while ensuring farmer communities are thriving? EIT Climate-KIC is supporting Ireland, a global agricultural heavyweight, to radically transform its food system towards climate neutrality with an innovative approach.Find our press kit here.Decarbonizing agriculture and food production is one of the biggest challenges of this decade. Ireland’s agri-food sector contributes 37% of the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. Yet the country has committed to cut 25% emissions in the agri-food sector by 2030, and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, in line with the EU bloc.Climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation play a key role, but they cannot work as single-point technologies: what we need is large-scale transformation. As EIT Climate-KIC experts join world agri-climate leaders at the Aim4Climate summit in Washington, DC this week, their discussions are going to test and shape the global approach at COP28.About EIT Climate-KI...

Dutch police arrest over 150 soccer fans for chanting antisemitic slogans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

The incident occurred at a metro station close to the capital’s Johan Cruijff ArenA, home of Ajax Amsterdam. Opponents of Ajax Amsterdam often refer to the club as “The Jews” as the team has had several Jewish chairmen and notable players. European Jewish Association chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin thanked the Dutch police ”for their determined and decisive action”. He called on the management of AZ Alkmaar to start an education activity and adopt the IHRA definition principles as a sporting club, writes JNS and European Jewish Press.Police in the Netherlands arrested more than 150 soccer fans on Saturday night (6 May) for chanting antisemitic slogans while making their way to a match in Amsterdam.The incident occurred at a metro station close to the capital’s Johan Cruijff ArenA, home of Ajax Amsterdam.Local news station AT5 said those arrested were AZ Alkmaar supporters.Last year, two Dutch fans responsible for antisemitic graffiti targeting a soccer player were ordered by a judg...

Lakers-Warriors rivalry on display at Crypto.com Arena for game 4 of Western Conference Semifinals

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

The L.A.-Bay Area feud was in full display Monday night outside Crypto.com Arena where the Los Angeles Lakers were hosting the Golden State Warriors in game four of the Western Conference Semifinals.  For some fans, it was more than just bragging rights at stake.  “You have the Bay Area that comes down thinking they own Southern California, but really, SoCal is the spot to be,” Lakers fan Jeremy Dinkin told KTLA. “When you think of California, you think of Southern California. It’s a conflict of power in the state.”  The rivalry between the two teams is even enough to test some marriages.  “All time Lakers fan forever,” Lamarr Boudreaux said.  “The girls are Warrior fans and the boys, they’re Laker fans in our house,” his wife, Ebony Boudreaux, responded. “It’s a house divided.” Then there’s the battle between LeBron James and Steph Curry.  “It’s like the battle of California,” Bakersfield resident James Davidson said.  James and his dad, Ryan, dro...

Protester Arrested For Allegedly Slamming Door On Officer During Council Meeting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

A protester was arrested during a Los Angeles City Council meeting for allegedly slamming a door in the face of an LAPD officer.The May 5 incident occurred after Councilman Kevin de Leon gave a cinco de mayo presentation and protesters began to shout in his direction.Voices could be heard yelling, “f—k you, KDL,” leading to City Council President Paul Krekorian asking security to remove those disrupting the council meeting.“Whoever is shouting, I want them removed right now,” Krekorian said during the meeting disruption.LAPD identified the arrested man as Samson Tafolo, 30, and said he “refused” to leave the chamber, before he and a group eventually left. LAPD alleges that upon leaving, Tafolo slammed the door on an LAPD security services sergeant. The sergeant was treated on-scene by Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, but the alleged injuries did not require him to be taken to a hospital.As LAPD booked Tafolo, they allegedly found a ...

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 3 senior militants, 10 others

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel killed three senior commanders of the militant Islamic Jihad group in targeted airstrikes early Tuesday, the military said. Palestinian health officials said 13 people were killed in all, including the commanders, their wives, several of their children and others nearby.The attacks in densely populated residential areas set the stage for a new round of heavy fighting. They hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were injured, and that ambulances were continuing to evacuate people from the targeted areas.Airstrikes continued in the early hours, targeting militant training sites, Israel said.In the past, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have retaliated for such targeted killings. In anticipation of Palestinian rocket attacks in response to the airstrikes, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of...

Jurado inicia debate el caso de violación atribuido a Donald Trump

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

NUEVA YORK – El jurado popular debatirá desde este martes el caso de violación y difamación contra el expresidente Donald Trump en Nueva York, después de que la defensa y la acusación concluyeron el lunes sus alegatos finales.El juez Lewis Kaplan, que ha presidido el tribunal durante las dos semanas que ha durado el juicio, citó a los miembros del jurado a las 10 a.m. para leerles las instrucciones (principalmente la confidencialidad y no exponerse a programas, lecturas o comentarios que puedan influir en su opinión) antes de dejarlos deliberando sobre la culpabilidad o inocencia de Trump.En esta sesión en que los equipos de defensa y acusación tuvieron la última oportunidad de persuadir al jurado, ambos insistieron en la cuestión de la reputación como la que realmente ha motivado a la escritora E. Jean Carroll a denunciar una supuesta violación que tuvo lugar a mediados de la década de 1990, pero que ella no reveló hasta 2019 en un artículo de prensa.Según Carroll, Trump, que...

La Policía de Londres “lamenta” la detención de 6 manifestantes durante la coronación del rey

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

(CNN) — La policía metropolitana de Londres “lamenta” las detenciones de seis manifestantes antimonárquicos durante la coronación del rey Carlos III, según anunció este lunes en un comunicado.La policía defendió inicialmente las 64 detenciones efectuadas el sábado, después de que muchos acusaran a la policía de haber actuado con mano dura contra los manifestantes liderados por Republic, el mayor grupo antimonárquico británico.El servicio policial admitió que su investigación ha sido “incapaz de probar” que el grupo de seis personas vinculadas a Republic pretendía “atrincherarse”, tras examinar los objetos incautados durante las detenciones del sábado por la mañana.Los agentes utilizaron nuevos poderes para detener al grupo, añade el comunicado, en virtud de la controvertida “Ley de Orden Público” del Reino Unido aprobada recientemente. La nueva ley penaliza la táctica del “encierro”, utilizada habitualmente por los ma...

Expulsan a diplomático canadiense de China en una medida de retaliación

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:42 GMT

(CNN) — China expulsó este martes a un diplomático canadiense en Shanghái, un día después de que Canadá anunciara que expulsaría a un diplomático chino por acusaciones de que estaba implicado en intentos de intimidar a un político canadiense.En un comunicado emitido este martes, el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de China declaró que condenaba enérgicamente la expulsión del diplomático Zhao Wei, residente en Toronto, y que, como “contramedida recíproca”, declararía persona non grata a Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, cónsul del Consulado General de Canadá en Shanghaái.Según el comunicado, se pidió a Lalonde que abandone China antes del 13 de mayo.Canadá tomó este lunes medidas para expulsar a Zhao, y la ministra de Asuntos Exteriores, Melanie Joly, declaró: “No toleraremos ninguna forma de injerencia extranjera en nuestros asuntos internos. Los diplomáticos en Canadá han sido advertidos de que si incurren en este tipo de conducta, serán enviados a casa”.Canadá d...