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☆ SXSW decision to end US Army sponsorship spotlights political tightrope for festival organizers amid Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model,” read an official statement shared on the SXSW website. In 2023, The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) announced that their “Irish Artists Pledge to Boycott Israel” had passed 1,500 signatories, including Kneecap. SXSW isn’t the only music festival that has seen artists pull out over sponsorships since the Israel-Hamas war began. Obviously, we pulled out of SXSW because it was literally sponsored by the American army, but we’re not f–kin’ ridiculous either.”The SXSW festival began in 1987. Greg Abbott took to social media to comment on the SXSW protesters, prompting the festival to publicly disagree with the governor.

Persons: Jamie Dobson, “, Selena Gomez, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Mark Cuban, Israel, Kneecap, Rich Peppiatt, Liam Óg Ó, Ó Cairealláin, Jj Ó, Justin Bettman, Boycott Israel ”, Dan Lambert, Lambert, Robert MacPherson, Greg Abbott, Don’t, ” Abbott, don’t, ”, Governor Abbott Organizations: CNN, Southwest, Hamas, SXSW, US Army, U.S, Army Futures Command, US Army Futures Command, Army, Hollywood, Irish, Palestine Solidarity, Barclays Bank, Barclays, Live, Reuters, Texas Gov Locations: Israel, Austin, The Texas, Palestine, Ireland, The Ireland, Gaza, Texas

☆ Analysis, fits for all 58 NBA Draft picks from John Hollinger and Sam Vecenie
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( John Hollinger | Sam Vecenie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +109 min

He’s going to be a killer rebounder, monster screener and will consistently establish his position even against some of the stronger NBA players. I’m done doubting Edey, even as an NBA player. As an enormous ballhandler with serious touch and incredible vision as a passer, Topić is clearly an NBA player, even if it doesn’t all translate. Shannon is an elite athlete, but the NBA game requires more nuance, especially if he continues to be an inconsistent shooter. However, I also think he’s more than just a floor spacer on offense in spot-up situations and potentially as an off-ball scorer.

Persons: Read Sam Vecenie’s, Sam Vecenie, John Hollinger, Zaccharie Risacher, Zaccharie, Risacher, he’s, he’d, —, Saddiq Bey, De’Andre Hunter, Jalen Johnson, Dejounte Murray, Alexandre Sarr, Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, Myles Turner, Wembanyama, Holmgren, Nic Claxton, Kyle Kuzma, Flagg, Reed Sheppard, Sheppard, Sheppard isn’t, he’ll, Lonzo, Tyrese Haliburton, savants, Houston couldn’t, He’s, Donovan Clingan, Ron Holland, Holland, haven’t, don’t, Aaron Gordon, Cade Cunningham, Trajan Langdon, Tidjane, it’s, Mark Williams, Miles Bridges, Jarrett Allen, Deandre Ayton, Clingan, Ayton, Robert Dillingham, Dillingham, Tyrese Maxey —, Maxey, Trae Young, Ja Morant, Morant, Young, Dennis Schröder, Mike Conley, Zach Edey, Edey, I’m, Joel Embiid, Zach Kleiman, It’s, Devin Carter, Matas, Cody Williams, Williams, isn’t, We’re, Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Nikola Topić, Nikola Djurišić, Topić, “ Vasa, Shai Gilgeous, Alexander, Carter, Carlton “ Bub ” Carrington, Bub Carrington, Carrington, White, Will, Kel’el Ware, Ware, doesn’t, Wood, There’s, Thomas Bryant, Orlando Robinson, Bam Adebayo, Philadelphia 76ers Jared McCain, Duke Vecenie’s, Jared McCain, McCain isn’t, Seth Curry, McCain, Dalton Knecht, He’ll, Knecht, Will Hardy, Erik Spoelstra, Tristan da Silva, Tristan da Silva’s, da Silva, Jett Howard, Da Silva, Johnny Furphy, Ja’Kobe Walter, Walter, Gary Trent Jr, Bruce Brown, Isaiah Collier, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jaylon Tyson, Tyson, Yves Missi, Yves Missi’s, Clint Capela, Zion Williamson, Missi, Jonas Valančiūnas, Larry Nance Jr, DaRon Holmes, Holmes, Jaylin Williams, Zeke Nnaji, A.J, Johnson, Jackson, Giannis, Kyshawn George, Kyle Anderson, George, Washington, George ., Dadiet, evaluators, Tobias Harris, Harris, Dillon Jones, Jones, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Nikola, rebounder, Minnesota Timberwolves Terrence Shannon Jr, Terrence Shannon, Shannon, Bart Torvik’s, Buddy Hield, Jimmer Fredette, Chris Duarte, Ochai Agbaji, Matisse, Marshon Brooks, Quincy Pondexter, Lazar Hayward, Davon Reed, Carrick Felix, Orlando Johnson, Hield, Phoenix Suns Ryan Dunn, Ryan Dunn, I’ve, Herb Jones —, Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr, Herb Jones ’, Hollinger, Joanna Gaines, Utah Jazz Isaiah Collier, Collier, Kris Dunn, Baylor, Creighton Vecenie’s, Baylor Scheierman, closeouts, didn’t, Toronto Raptors Jonathan Mogbo, Francisco Vecenie’s, Jonathan Mogbo, Utah Jazz Kyle Filipowski, Kyle Filipowski, Kristaps, Nikola Jokić, Brook Lopez, Duke, Milwaukee Bucks Tyler Smith, Tyler Smith, Smith, let’s, AJ Johnson, Christian Wood, Bobby Portis, Tyler Kolek, Jalen Brunson, Antonio didn’t, Juan Núñez, Juan Núñez’s, Monte Morris, — Morris, McConnell, Sergio Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Núñez, Klintman, Ajay Mitchell, UC Santa Barbara Vecenie’s, Mitchell, Wells, wasn’t, Oso, Ighodaro, Nikola Vučević, Philadelphia 76ers Adem Bona, Adem Bona, Bona, Paul Reed’s, Charlotte Hornets K.J, Simpson, Simpson isn’t, AJ Griffin, Djurišić, Pelle Larsson, Pelle Larsson’s, Larsson, Duncan Robinson, Jamal Shead, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Beverley, Shead, I’d, Kyle Lowry, Cam Christie, Christie, Nickeil Alexander, Walker, Max, Antonio Reeves, Reeves, He’d, Nate Duncan, hadn’t, That’s, Jordan Hawkins, San Antonio Spurs Harrison Ingram, Harrison Ingram, Ingram, Newton, Tristen Newton, . Indiana Pacers Enrique Freeman, Enrique Freeman, Paul, Millsap, Freeman, Melvin Ajinça, Quentin Vecenie’s, Ajinça, Trent, Cam Spencer, Spencer doesn’t, Spencer, Luke Kennard’s, Boston Celtics Anton Watson, Gonzaga Vecenie’s, Anton Watson, He’s switchable, Watson, James, Bronny James, that’s, Still, LeBron James, Kevin McCullar Jr, Kevin McCullar, Ulrich Chomche, Ariel Hukporti, Tristan Vukčević, Khalifa Diop, Karlo Matković, Marko Simonovic, Luke Hales Organizations: Hawks, Atlanta, Perth Wildcats, Defense, NBA, Wizards, Kentucky, Wildcats, UCLA, Tyrese, Iowa State, Stephon, Spurs, Ignite, League, Pistons, Deandre, Minnesota Timberwolves, 76ers, Dillingham, Purdue, IMG, intel, Grizzlies, Edey, Memphis, Colorado, Sunrise, Lithuanian GM, Bulls, Crvena Zvezda Vecenie’s, Mega, Red Star, doesn’t, Oklahoma City, Providence Vecenie’s, Sacramento, Kings, Washington Wizards, Blazers, Carlton, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Philadelphia 76ers, Duke, McCain, Philadelphia, Sixers, Tennessee, Lakers, NCAA Tournament, Baylor, Houston, Denver Nuggets, Suns, Dayton Vecenie’s, Nuggets, Denver, Ilawarra Hawks, Jackson, Bucks, Miami, New York Knicks, Ratiopharm Ulm, Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Weber State, Golden State Warriors, Illinois, Wolves, Phoenix Suns, Virginia Vecenie’s, Alabama, Mavericks, Dallas, Utah Jazz, USC, Trojans, Jazz, Baylor Scheierman, Celtics, Hoop, Toronto Raptors, Francisco, Raptors, Brook, Utah, Milwaukee Bucks, Marquette, Mikal Bridges, . Indiana Pacers, SAS, Kansas, San Antonio Spurs, today’s NBA, Ratiopharm, Detroit Pistons, Cairns, UC Santa Barbara, Belgian, Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington, Washington State, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, G League, Rockets, Miami Heat, Arizona, SAC, Summer League, Minnesota, Pelicans, Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, North Carolina Vecenie’s, Stanford, Ingram, Pacers, UConn, Akron Vecenie’s, Louisiana Tech, MAC, Dallas Mavericks, Saint, Boston College Vecenie’s, Boston College, Boston Celtics, Gonzaga, Los Angeles Lakers, G, NBA Academy Africa, NBA Academy, Melbourne United Locations: Zaccharie, Indiana, Washington, Kentucky, Iowa, Haliburton, Sheppard, Connecticut, San Antonio, Detroit, Portland, Dillingham, Minnesota, Memphis, Colorado, Lithuanian, Chicago, Oregon, Miami, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Utah, California, Atlanta, Orleans, Oklahoma, Dayton, Denver, Fla, Swiss, Dadiet, New York, Shannon, Kansas, Alabama, Virginia, Collier, Boston, Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, Marquette, He’s, Europe, Spain, Spanish, Ratiopharm Ulm, Núñez, NY, OKC, Arizona, Philly, Charlotte, ORL, North, Newton, Akron, Ajinça, Africa, DAL, Cleveland

☆ Snapchat is rolling out new safety tools aimed at protecting teens from sextortion
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The company on Tuesday announced a set of new safety features, including expanded warning pop-ups that appear when a teen receives a message from someone they don’t share mutual friends with or have in their contacts. And Snapchat will now prevent the delivery of friend requests for teens to or from an account that they don’t share mutual friends with that is also located in regions often associated with scammers. Meta in April also announced new features aimed at combating sextortion, including informing users when they’ve interacted with someone who engaged in financial sextortion. Now, when a user blocks another account, any new accounts created on the same device will also automatically be blocked. The updates build on Snapchat’s existing teen safety features, which include a “Family Center” where parents can supervise the behavior of 13- to 17-year-old users, and mechanisms for removing age-inappropriate content.

Persons: New York CNN —, aren’t, ” Snapchat, Jacqueline Beauchere, sextortion, they’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Meta, Prevention Locations: New York

☆ A New Option to Treat Sleep Apnea: Weight-Loss Drugs
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Sue Clasen kept trying to manage her sleep apnea. The CPAP’s mask felt bulky and irritating — she just couldn’t sleep with it on. But when she took it off and fell asleep, her husband soon nudged her awake: Her snoring, a common symptom of sleep apnea, was so loud it woke the whole room up. The worst of her sleep apnea symptoms have vanished. More Americans with obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of the disorder, may soon turn to weight-loss drugs.

Persons: Sue Clasen, Clasen, nudged

☆ Israel is renewing its ban on Al Jazeera under its controversial media law
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Israeli government is seeking to extend its controversial ban on the Al Jazeera news network in the country, after a court upheld the ban but shortened it by 10 days. Al Jazeera condemned the move as a “dark day for democracy” that sets a concerning precedent for other international media outlets operating in Israel. On Tuesday, a Tel Aviv District Court ruled that the ban on Al Jazeera could stand but was to be shortened to 35 days, meaning it will expire on Sunday. Israel has claimed that Al Jazeera “harms Israeli security,” and has a “close connection” with Hamas, the militant group it is waging war against in Gaza. “Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel’s security and incited against IDF soldiers.

Persons: Israel, Jazeera, Al Jazeera, Benjamin Netanyahu, Al, “ Al, ” Netanyahu, Walid Omary, Al Jazeera’s, ”, Weeks, Yitzhak Amit, It’s Organizations: CNN, Al, Qatari, Tel, Court, Israeli Ministry of Communications, Hamas, IDF, Reuters, Associated Press, Haaretz Locations: Al Jazeera, Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, “, “ Al Jazeera, Al, Al Jazeera’s Jerusalem, Jerusalem

☆ Israel’s seizure of AP equipment shows its hostile posture toward the free press
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Benjamin Netanyahu-led country on Tuesday took the outrageous step of seizing a camera and other video equipment used by The Associated Press to broadcast a live feed of Gaza — a decision the country only reversed amid severe backlash from free press advocates and following a White House request. And on Tuesday, it used that same law to target the AP, ostensibly confiscating its equipment because it provided its video feed to Al Jazeera, one of its thousands of global clients. A screenshot taken from AP video showing a general view of northern Gaza as seen from Southern Israel, before it was seized by Israeli officials on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. While Israel bowed to pressure on Tuesday and returned the AP’s equipment, the government notably offered no public apology to the renowned wire service. As the AP noted after its equipment was returned Tuesday, the underlying issues are still unresolved.

Persons: New York CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Adrienne Watson, Watson, “, Israel, Shlomo Karhi, Al Jazeera, ” Organizations: New York CNN, The Associated Press, White, State Department, Government, Israel, National Security, AP, Qatari, Al, AP Israel, Israel’s Locations: New York, New York CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Al Jazeera, Southern Israel

☆ Israel shuts down live camera facing Gaza under its restrictive new law
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Jon Passantino | Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“We urge the Israeli authorities to return our equipment and enable us to reinstate our live feed immediately so we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world.”The Israeli military regularly classifies areas around Gaza as “closed military zones,” restricting movement there. The AP’s live feed provided a view of actions in Gaza, where no independent journalists are able to operate because of Israeli and Egyptian restrictions on entry to the strip. The Associated Press and Foreign Press Association did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment. In a statement, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi accused the AP of violating its new law by providing a feed to its thousands of news clients, including Al Jazeera. “The camera that was confiscated illegally broadcasts on the Aljazeera channel live the northern Gaza Strip, including the activities of the IDF forces and endangers our fighters,” Karhi said in a statement.

Persons: ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Shlomo Karhi, Al Jazeera, ” Karhi Organizations: CNN, Associated Press, Foreign Press Association, United Nations, Israeli, Al, IDF, AP Locations: Gaza, Al Jazeera

☆ A Trump judge and Biden’s Justice Department agree that a Texas map is illegal. But that doesn’t mean it will change
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A county redistricting plan in Texas that a Donald Trump-appointed judge deemed “a clear violation” of the Voting Rights Act is back before a notoriously conservative appeals court. After the 2021 Census, the Republican-led county commission broke up that district, locking in four majority-white districts instead. Their opponents argue that Congress did not intend for multiple “classes” of minorities to be considered together when assessing a map’s Voting Rights Act compliance. Black and Latino voices ‘extinguished,’ judge saysThe 2021 map split up the long-established Precinct 3, spreading those minority voters across the four total commission precincts. “It would be devastating for minority voters as devastating as it was for Galveston’s Black and Latino voters.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Biden, Jeffrey Vincent Brown, –, ”, Valencia Richardson, Christian Adams, ‘, ” Brown, Brown, Mark Henry –, Henry, Robin Armstrong, Armstrong, Adams, Circuit “, Elena Kagan, …, ” Chad Ennis –, ” Ennis, Hilary Harris Klein Organizations: CNN, Republican, 5th, Campaign, “, Senate, Justice Department, Galveston Republicans, Interest Legal Foundation, Circuit, Southern Coalition for Social Justice Locations: Texas, Galveston’s County, Galveston County, White, Galveston, Louisiana, Mississippi, ”

☆ Kendrick Lamar and Drake Battled Toe to Toe. The Winner Is Old School Hip-Hop. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Laurence Ralph | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The rap battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar is about more than whatever personal beefs these two men have with each other. What sets this rap battle apart from previous high-profile hip-hop feuds is its magnitude and implications for popular music. If Drake, who has become the face of rap’s mainstream pop faction, has lost this battle, that setback is not his alone. Mr. Lamar’s ability to write layered and intricate lyrics has long been lauded. Mr. Lamar’s apparent decision to remove copyright protections for “Not Like Us” has also enabled a wide dissemination of the track, allowing content creators to monetize posts featuring the song.

Persons: Drake, Kendrick Lamar, ”, Lil Baby, Lamar’s Organizations: Spotify

☆ In India’s 2024 election, BJP’s main opposition appears increasingly weak in face of Modi juggernaut
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Helen Regan | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

Supporters of India's opposition party, Indian National Congress, during an election rally in Puducherry on April 15, 2024 R. Satish Babu/AFP/Getty ImagesDemocracy under threat? Dipam Bhachech/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Modi worked his way through the ranks of the BJP, establishing himself as a respected politician. Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images Modi hugs French President Emmanuel Macron after a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, on June 3, 2017. Brent Lewin/Bloomberg/Getty Images India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 22, 2023. Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images Modi offers a toast during a State Dinner with President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, on June 22, 2023.

Persons: ”, Narendra Modi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Indira Gandhi, Gandhi, ” Hazari Lal Rajput, Satish Babu, Modi, Modi’s, Matthew Abbott, Hiraben, Damodardas, Dipam Bhachech, Lal Krishna Advani, Subhas Chandra Bose, Kalpit Bhachech, Kalpit, Negi Yasbant, Amit Dave, Ajit Solanki, Kevin Frayer, Saurabh Das, AP Modi, Manish Swarup, Lucas Jackson, Barack Obama, Adrien Helou, Reuters Modi, Adnan Abidi, Stringer, Mark Zuckerberg, David Paul Morris, Marco Longari, Angela Merkel, Tobias Schwarz, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Platiau, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, India's, Jair Bolsonaro, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Amit Shah, Money Sharma, Boris Johnson, Phil Noble, Anthony Albanese, Brent Lewin, Pedro Ugarte, Joe Biden, Doug Mills, Paul Mashatile, Jacoline, Imtiyaz Khan, Amr Alfiky, Arati Jerath, “, it’s, Rahul Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira, India’s, Jawaharlal Nehru, gunning, ” Modi, shouldn’t, Mohammad Irfan, —, Arvind Kejriwal, Altaf Qadri, Kejriwal, Atishi, you’re, Jerath, Gandhi ‘, ’ Modi, Christophe Jaffrelot, CNN Modi, Rasheed Kidwai, Rahul, Diptendu Dutta, Mamata Banerjee, Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, ” Kidwai, ” Jerath Organizations: CNN, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Indian National Congress, Getty, Democracy, Modi’s BJP, Pew, New York Times, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Modi, Hospital, Narendra, India Today, AP, India's, Madison, Garden, Reuters, Washington , D.C, French National Space Agency, of Yoga, Meta, Facebook, Bloomberg, European, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kyodo, British, Summit, Qudos Bank, White, Anadolu Agency, Anadolu, United, United Arab Emirates, Developmental Inclusive Alliance, Indian, Aadmi Party, Delhi, AAP, Aam Aadmi Party, All, Trinamool, West, All India, Congress, “, “ Democracy Locations: India, Uttar Pradesh, Ramlila, Puducherry, Modi’s, Sydney, Australia, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Ahmadabad, Varanasi, New Delhi, United States, Washington, Washington ,, Toulouse, France, Xian, AFP, Menlo Park , California, U.S, Pretoria, South Africa, China, Berlin, Paris, Rashtrapati, Russian, Brasilia, Glasgow, Red, Ayodhya, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, INDIA, Delhi, India’s, Lok Sabha, Atishi, ”, Manipur, Siliguri, West Bengal, Tamil

The video was broadcast earlier this week by the Al Jazeera television network. Al Jazeera said at least two of the three men seen in the blurry videos were waving white flags before being shot at. Al Jazeera said both shootings took place close to each other on a beachfront southwest of Gaza City. Palestinians and human rights groups say the Israeli military has used disproportionate or indiscriminate force in its Gaza offensive, leading to heavy civilian casualties. They say that even when such killings are caught on video, military investigations rarely result in indictments of the soldiers involved.

Persons: Al Jazeera Organizations: JERUSALEM, Al, Health Ministry, Hamas Locations: Al Jazeera, Gaza, Israeli, Al, Gaza City, Israel, israel

Since 1979, global heat waves are moving 20% more slowly — meaning more people stay hot longer — and they are happening 67% more often, according to a study in Friday's Science Advances. The study found the highest temperatures in the heat waves are warmer than 40 years ago and the area under a heat dome is larger. From 1979 to 1983, global heat waves would last eight days on average, but by 2016 to 2020 that was up to 12 days, the study said. Eurasia was especially hit harder with longer lasting heat waves, the study said. “Those heat waves are traveling slower and so slower so that basically means that ... there's a heat wave sitting there and those heat waves could stay longer in the region," Zhang said.

Persons: Wei Zhang of, Gabriel Lau, ”, Lawrence, Michael Wehner, Zhang, Kathy Jacobs, Jennifer Francis, ” ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: Wei Zhang of Utah State University, Princeton University, North, Lawrence Berkeley, Lab, University of Arizona, Climate Research, Associated Press Locations: Eurasia, Africa, North America, Australia, AP.org

More than two years later, only four states — Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Hawaii — have opened stations funded by the program. The Biden administration says the federal charging program is on track. The grants will fund 47 EV charging stations and related projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including 7,500 charging ports. But even some of the government’s own experts say 500,000 public chargers won’t be enough to meet Biden’s ambitious climate goals. The availability of charging stations is key to persuading Americans to buy EVs.

Persons: Liam Sawyer, Sawyer, ”, Joe Biden, Biden, Shailen Bhatt, “, ” Bhatt, “ We’re, ″, Gabe Klein, Bhatt, Tesla, Mike DeWine, DeWine, Preeti Choudhary, Loren McDonald, you’re, ” ___ Daly, John Organizations: —, Ford, Allegheny National Forest, Pilot Travel, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Democrat, Transportation, Walmart, Joint Office of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Alternative Fuels Data, Energy Department, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Energy, Institute, University of Chicago ., Republican Gov, Ohio, Department of Transportation, Public Utilities Commission, “ Locations: Ohio, Indianapolis, Pennsylvania, Columbus , Ohio, London , Ohio, — Ohio, New York , Pennsylvania, Hawaii, U.S, Maine , Vermont, Colorado, Puerto Rico, America, California, Washington, St, Detroit, AP.org

☆ Are Glue Traps Too Cruel to Use in the Fight Against Mice and Rats?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Sarah Maslin Nir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When New Yorkers concern themselves with rodents, they typically focus on how to kill them. The bill would ban the sale and use of what are known as glue boards — cheap, sticky traps that can be strewed around construction sites or tossed under kitchen cabinets and forgotten. If the legislation is successful, New York would join a growing list of places that passed bans recently, like Scotland and Ojai, a city in California with a population of about 7,500, which made glue traps illegal this month. In January, Representative Ted W. Lieu, a Democrat who represents Los Angeles, introduced the Glue Trap Prohibition Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. “We don’t need to lose our humanity just because we don’t like having as many rodents in our midst as we currently do.”

Persons: Ted W, ”, Harvey Epstein Organizations: Democrat, U.S . House, Representatives, State Assembly Locations: Albany, New York, Scotland, Ojai, California, Los Angeles, U.S, Manhattan’s, State

China’s economy has struggled to recover from severe self-imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic that it lifted only at the end of 2022. But Xi said that China was again contributing to world economic growth in the double digits percentage-wise. China's economy has been bogged down by a crisis in its property market in which builders are struggling under mountains of debt, and buyers are paying off loans on apartments that may never be completed. Other issues, such as an aging population and high youth unemployment, are prompting China's leaders to lean more heavily on boosting export manufacturing to make up for weak demand at home. “The respective successes of China and the United States create opportunities for each other," Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Xi, ” Xi, Stephen A, Biden, Donald Trump, “, Craig Allen, China's, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen Organizations: BEIJING, U.S, Communist Party, China's, Xinhua News Agency, Blackstone . Trade, U.S ., China Business Council, Apple, Xinhua Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, United, Washington, San Francisco, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, People's Republic, United States

Clocks may have to skip a second — called a “negative leap second” — around 2029, a study in the journal Nature said Wednesday. “We are headed toward a negative leap second," said Dennis McCarthy, retired director of time for the U.S. Without the effect of melting ice, Earth would need that negative leap second in 2026 instead of 2029, Agnew calculated. In 2012, some computer systems mishandled the leap second, causing problems for Reddit, Linux, Qantas Airlines and others, experts said. Then add in the “weird” effect of subtracting, not adding a leap second, Agnew said.

Persons: ”, Duncan Agnew, “ It’s, Agnew, Dennis McCarthy, Judah Levine, McCarthy, timekeepers, ” Levine, ” McCarthy, Levine, “, It’s, it’s, ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: Nature, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, U.S . Naval, National Institute of Standards, Technology, “, Linux, Qantas Airlines, Tech, Google, Amazon, Associated Press Locations: San Diego, AP.org

BANGKOK (AP) — Vietnamese automaker VinFast announced Tuesday that it plans to sell its electric vehicles in Thailand and said it had tied up with auto dealers to open showrooms in the country. VinFast, which only began exporting its EVs last year, faces stiff competition in Thailand from Chinese automakers like BYD. The Thai EV market is small but growing fast, buoyed by incentives and subsidies from the government. VinFast hopes to start selling both its electric scooters and electric SUVs in the country in the next two months, Vu Dang Yen Hang, chief executive officer of VinFast Thailand, told The Associated Press. But the EV market remains small, accounting for only 0.5% of EV sales worldwide in 2022.

Persons: VinFast, Tesla, Vu Dang, Hang, Pham Nhat Vuong, EVs, Vuong Organizations: Thai EV, Associated Press, Research, EV, Green SM, Nasdaq, General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co, AP Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok, Thai, EVs, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ukraine, United States, North Carolina, India, Laos, U.S

The Biden administration greenlit the seventh large offshore wind project in the United States Tuesday. Danish wind energy developer Ørsted and the utility Eversource plan to build a 924-megawatt project, Sunrise Wind, 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Montauk, New York. This month, the companies opened the nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm. They announced their financial commitment to the Sunrise Wind project when the Interior Department issued its decision. The Biden administration wants enough offshore wind energy to power 10 million homes by 2030.

Persons: greenlit, Ørsted, Chuck Schumer, Biden, Deb Haaland Organizations: Biden, Interior Department, U.S, Sunrise, Associated Press Locations: United, Montauk , New York, York, Montauk, Fork, AP.org

With anti-immigrant rhetoric on the rise and a contentious election ahead, some donors see the Girl Scouts as wading too readily into politically controversial waters. “It’s our job.”While Troop 6000 has found plenty of sympathetic supporters, “there are some donors who would prefer their dollars go elsewhere,” says Maskara. So, when the mayor’s office floated the idea of starting a troop at the Midtown shelter, the Girl Scouts were ready. The Girl Scouts have not been immune to the backlash, nor is it the first time they’ve shouldered criticism from conservative donors. While Troop 6000 has not been deterred, Maskara says that many of her peers in the nonprofit world have been fearful to publicly support newcomers.

Persons: —, it’s, ”, Meridith Maskara, “, that’s what’s, Giselle Burgess, Burgess, Maskara, Horace W, Steven, Alexandra Cohen, who’ve, “ We’re, That’s, Beatriz de la Torre, they’ve, Eve Stotland, Marissa Tirona, ” _____ Sara Herschander Organizations: Girl Scouts, of, New, Girl Scout, Girl Scouts —, Central America, Scouts, New York Times, Trinity Church Wall, Goldsmith Foundation, Alexandra, Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Scout, Trinity Church and Brooklyn Org, New York Community Trust, New York City, Immigrants and Refugees, Associated Press, Philanthropy Locations: midtown Manhattan, New York, South, U.S, New York City, Greater New York, Midtown Manhattan, Queens

Palm Sunday commemorates the Christian belief in the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when he was greeted by cheering crowds waving palm branches that they set out on the ground along his path, according to the Bible. The procession of Jesus into Jerusalem is described by the four Gospel writers in the Bible. Some ceremonies in German-speaking countries used to include a figure of Jesus riding a donkey, Encyclopedia Britannica says. The figure is called a “ Palmesel,” or German for “palm donkey,” according to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, which on its site recounts how worshippers would lay palms on the ground before the Palmesel during lively processions. Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land mark Palm Sunday by holding Masses and processions retracing Jesus’ triumphal entry.

Persons: Jesus, Joanne M, Pierce, Zechariah, Christ, ” Pierce, John, Matthew, Hosanna, David ! Blessed, ”, It's, They're, Ash Organizations: College of, Britannica, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, New, Old City

Six years ago, Illinois farmer John Ackerman didn't hire any contract workers at all. He enjoys mentoring young people, but says it's felt harder lately to justify hiring inexperienced workers when contract workers do the same hard, physical jobs faster and better. Climate change affects all farm workers, but advocates and researchers say this is a reason to focus particularly on these workers. The USDA data showed an uptick in the number of farms using migrant labor, both within farms that already hired contract workers and overall. He’s tried reaching out H-2A workers on nearby farms, but says their supervisors won’t let them talk to him.

Persons: John Ackerman didn't, Ackerman, it's, Alexis Guild, Rebecca Young, ”, Jennifer Vanos, Abigail Kerfoot, Luis Jimenez, farmworkers, Jimenez, He’s, won’t, “, Jed Clark, he's, Stephanie McBath, ” McBath, “ it’s, ” Bruce Cline, Scott Kuegel, ” Jimenez, Dorany Pineda, Joshua A, Bickel, Melina Walling Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, Farmworker, Arizona State University, Centro de, Alianza Agrícola, “, National Association of State, of Agriculture, Associated Press Locations: Illinois, U.S, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, Crofton , Kentucky, Owensboro, AP.org

Ten nonprofits serving young people in Detroit will get an unusual, lasting gift as part of a campaign started by Lisa Ford and her husband, Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor Co. Endowments are funds a nonprofit can invest and the annual financial returns from those investments can go into the nonprofit’s budget. Detroit-area nonprofits may apply in June, when Michigan Central Station will reopen, and ten selected organizations will each receive $500,000 to launch an endowment. The Children's Foundation will manage the nonprofits’ endowments and offer them guidance and technical support over two years. Lisa Ford said the idea for creating endowments for youth nonprofits evolved out of their commitment to supporting a robust and vibrant future for the city and the automotive industry.

Persons: Lisa Ford, Bill Ford, ’ ”, Andrew Stein, ”, ” Ford, Todd Ely, Ely, ” Ely, Meadow Didier, Stein Organizations: Ford Motor Co, Children’s Foundation, Michigan Central, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Harvard, Foundation, Children’s, Endowments, Internal Revenue Service, University of Colorado, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Children's, Ford, Associated, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Detroit, Michigan, University of Colorado Denver

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. weather agency is sounding a “red alert” about global warming, citing record-smashing increases last year in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures and melting of glaciers and sea ice, and warning that the world's efforts to reverse the trend have been inadequate. “The latest State of the Global Climate report shows a planet on the brink. Fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts.”The latest WMO findings are especially stark when compiled in a single report. WMO said the impact of heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and tropical cyclones, exacerbated by climate change, was felt in lives and livelihoods on every continent in 2023. And so, nothing gets done.”___Borenstein reported from Washington, D.C.___The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations.

Persons: ”, Celeste Saulo, “, ” U.N, Antonio Guterres, Topping, Jonathan Overpeck, wasn’t, Saulo, Kathy Jacobs, Andrew Weaver, ’, ___ Borenstein Organizations: GENEVA, World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Service, University of Michigan School for Environment, Sustainability, University of Arizona, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Washington , D.C, Associated Press Locations: “ State, Paris, Copenhagen, British, Washington ,, AP.org

NOORDWIJKERHOUT, Netherlands (AP) — Theo works weekdays, weekends and nights and never complains about a sore spine despite performing hour upon hour of what, for a regular farm hand, would be backbreaking labor checking Dutch tulip fields for sick flowers. Photos You Should See View All 60 Images“You could also buy a very nice sports car," for the price of the robot, Visser said Tuesday — its makers say the robot costs 185,000 euros ($200,000). “But I prefer to have the robot because a sports car doesn’t take out the sick tulips from our field. Yeah, it is expensive, but there are less and less people who can really see the sick tulips,” he added. Theo van der Voort, who gave his name to the robot at WAM Pennings farm, and who retired after 52 years hunting for sick flowers, is impressed.

Persons: — Theo, ”, Allan Visser, Visser, ” Visser, Erik de Jong, Theo van der, “ Organizations: H2L Robotics Locations: Netherlands

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is pressing ahead with a plan to use the profits generated from billions of euros of Russian assets frozen in Europe to help provide weapons and other funds for Ukraine, a senior official said Tuesday. The move comes as Ukraine runs dangerously low on munitions, and U.S. efforts to get new funds for weapons have stalled in Congress. A small group of member countries, notably Hungary, refuse to supply weapons to Ukraine, so these windfall profits would be divided up. The European Central Bank, or ECB, has warned in the past against seizing Russian assets as this could undermine confidence in the euro currency and EU markets. But Borrell said that no assets would be taken, only the windfall profits they make.

Persons: Josep Borrell, “, ” Borrell, Borrell, Alexander De Croo Organizations: Ukraine, EU, European, Parliament, European Central Bank, ECB, Belgian Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, Brussels, Ukraine, U.S, Russian, Belgium, Hungary, russia, ukraine

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