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Companies claim this is fair use'. I think it's a digital heist

State department also looks into merging some bureaus in Washington amid Trump effort to slash US governmentThe US state department is preparing to shut down a number of consulates that are mainly in western Europe in the coming months and looking to reduce its workforce globally, multiple US officials said on Thursday.The state department is also looking into potentially merging a number of its expert bureaus at its headquarters in Washington that are working in areas such as human rights, refugees, global criminal justice, women's issues and efforts to counter human trafficking, the officials said. Continue reading...

Judge orders reinstatement of Gwynne Wilcox to National Labor Relations Board after her removal by US presidentA federal court ruled that Donald Trump's abrupt firing of a former senior official at the top US labor watchdog was illegal, and ordered that she be reinstated.Gwynne Wilcox was the first member of the National Labor Relations Board to be removed by a US president since the board's inception in 1935. Continue reading...

President's decree claims white South Africans being unjustly discriminated against and orders end to foreign aidThe state department has ordered an immediate pause on most US foreign assistance to South Africa, according to a cable seen by the Guardian, officially implementing a contentious executive order by Donald Trump.The directive, issued on Thursday, implements Executive Order 14204 targeting what the administration called egregious actions" by South Africa. It orders all state department entities to immediately suspend aid disbursements, with minimal exceptions. Continue reading...

US president paused tariffs on Mexican products covered by USMCA and later stayed tariffs on many Canadian imports

Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform by Lunar Outpost landed near the moon's south pole after eight daysA small but rugged robotic moon rover developed by a Colorado company became the first commercial exploration vehicle to touch down on the lunar surface on Thursday.Mission managers were unable to immediately confirm that the landing of the spacecraft it was traveling in had been fully successful. Continue reading...

Groups sue National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) after president bars funds for promotion of gender ideology'Several arts organizations are suing the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) over its new requirements following Donald Trump's executive order barring the use of federal funds for the promotion of gender ideology".The groups, which are seeking funding for projects that support art about or are made by transgender and non-binary people, say they have in effect been unconstitutionally blocked from receiving grants from the agency that was built to promote artistic excellence, despite having received funds for similar projects in the past. Continue reading...

Billionaire Trump ally and Greg Abbot tweet about Frank Zamora, who was let go after refusing to remove pronounsThe Texas governor, Greg Abbott, and, later, Elon Musk showed support on Wednesday for the firing of a state employee who refused to remove his pronouns from his work email signature.Frank Zamora, 31, was let go from his job as a program manager at the Texas real estate commission (TREC) last month because he refused to comply with a mandate from the organisation to employees to remove gender pronouns from email signatures. Continue reading...

Donald Trump has deliberately picked a fight with its northern neighbour. This malign strategy must be stoppedIt is two months since Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as Liberal party leader and Canada's prime minister. After a decade in power, Mr Trudeau had become increasingly unpopular. Two out of three Canadians thought he was doing a bad job. The opposition Conservatives led in almost every poll. With the Liberals staring a 2025 general election defeat in the face, Mr Trudeau's ministers forced him out. His successor will be chosen this Sunday.But then came Donald Trump. Mr Trump wants to strengthen the US at the expense of its neighbours. His hostility to Canada is thus visceral and deep. Without any justification, he promised illegal 25% tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports. As a figleaf for his intentions, he falsely claimed that Canada's 5,000-mile border with the US was an open door for migrants and drugs. He talked, repeatedly and deliberately, of annexing Canada and making it the 51st state. He mocked Mr Trudeau, referring to him as merely a state governor. Continue reading...

Ed Martin, interim US attorney for DC appointed by Trump, threatens law school over diversity initiatives in letter

All-staff email is latest Trump-led assault on agency that runs safety-net program for 73 million AmericansEmployees at the Social Security Administration have been banned from reading news websites on work devices, in the latest assault on the beleaguered agency by the Trump administration and Elon Musk.The all-staff email sent on Thursday morning said that effective today" Social Security Administration (SSA) staff would be prevented from accessing certain websites including online shopping", general news" and sports". Continue reading...

Fires broke out in southern Appalachia this week as a storm from California took casualties in Mississippi and NebraskaExtreme weather conditions continue to threaten parts of the southern plains and midwest on Thursday, after six people were killed earlier this week in a powerful storm that wreaked havoc across multiple states.As damage assessments continued in the south, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) warned of critical fire conditions for parts of south-east New Mexico and western Texas on Thursday. Continue reading...

Investigation is part of a flurry of recent cases brought by new disciplinary committee against students who have expressed criticism of Israel

Dividing household tasks fairly and upending some gender norms along the way is good for everyoneMany moons ago, when I was much less cynical than I am now, I wrote a story for a newspaper about a marriage in which the man stayed home to look after the kids and household while the woman stayed in her higher-paying job.It was a financial decision that made obvious sense for this couple - they'd both had good jobs but had together decided her career was the more promising in the long term, so he stepped back because they wanted an at-home parent while the kids were little, and because they could afford it. It was deemed newsworthy" in a soft kind of way, because in the 1990s it went well against the norm - it was a good illustration of what was possible when you start with a negligible gender pay gap, mutual disrespect for gender norms, and ego-free assessment of which career is best going to provide for the family unit. Continue reading...

Reuters interviews with 11 federal judges in multiple districts reveal mounting concern over their security

Most respondents in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and UK also say Kyiv's exclusion from peace talks is unacceptable

State's Black caucus faces ire of advocates as they demand urgent implementation given hostile political climateAmid the Trump administration's full throated attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, Black lawmakers in California introduced a package of reparations bills to start the new legislative session.Black legislators say these attacks on racial equity make it even more imperative to implement reparations in California, the first state in the US to undertake such a process, which has become a blueprint for other state-level reparations programs. Continue reading...

Social security is a highly efficient safety net. But the president's crypto plans and job cuts leave Americans holding the bagElon Musk said on Joe Rogan's show last week that social security is the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time".Rubbish. In a Ponzi scheme, a con artist lures investors into a fake investment project, pockets the cash, and then gets new investors" to funnel cash to the older ones - until new recruits slow down and the whole thing collapses. Suckers are left holding worthless bags. Continue reading...

Harrowing story of ES', fleeing persecution to seek safety in US, shines light on judges who grant claims at exceptionally low rates - or not at allAt an immigration court in Pearsall, Texas, in front of a judge, government attorneys and a court interpreter, ES shakily recounted the darkest moments of his life.He explained how he had been arrested seven years ago in Turkey, amid his government's crackdown on followers of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. The police officers who detained him accused him of being involved in a terrorist movement, and demanded he reveal the names of his associates, he said. Continue reading...

Member states must stop squabbling over trivial matters - and a firmer stance against states that promote Putin's and Trump's agenda is needed too

Comments by China's foreign ministry mark an escalation in rhetoric following Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs. Plus, Trump posts fresh ultimatum to HamasGood morning.China's ministry of foreign affairs has warned that China will fight to the end" against the US in a tariff war, trade war or any other war" in a stark escalation of rhetoric.How has China responded to US tariffs? It is imposing duties of up to 15% on a range of US agricultural products.What else has the US done? After pausing military aid to Ukraine this week, the US stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv. Continue reading...

An anti-gay slur's at San Diego FC's home debut prompted a strong response from the club. They're not the first ones forced to address a tired tropeIt all started as a bit of a joke, just not a funny one. Now infamous enough to be known as the chant' or the p-word' even in English, historical accounts say the homophobic chant that has remained persistent in Mexican soccer began in Guadalajara. Atlas fans were infuriated by goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez's departure from their team and his eventual return to their rivals Guadalajara. That's when they tweaked a traditional gridiron football ritual, building up noise before belting out an anti-gay slur whenever Sanchez took a goal kick.The chant appeared again - this time with more venom - at a game between USA and Mexico in a 2004 pre-Olympic tournament in Guadalajara. Mexico fans were still smarting from El Tri's loss to the US at the 2002 World Cup. That led to 60,000 Tapatios directing the slur at US goalkeeper DJ Countess during Mexico's 4-0 win. The ugly trend has continued, and grown, despite campaigns from the Mexican football federation, Fifa fines, and efforts from Liga MX, who named a full season after an alternative chant in 2021. Continue reading...

Sports stars have stayed silent about the policies of the new administration. I spoke to someone who knows all about the power - and price - of protestSince Donald Trump took office for his second term, he has taken a blowtorch to America. He has pardoned January 6 rioters, started the gutting of the federal government, eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs, insulted who we thought were the country's allies, and vilified immigrants.While there have been voices of dissent in the sports world - such as former NFL punter Chris Kluwe and soccer coach Jesse Marsch - athletes have largely stayed silent on Trump's policies, a stark contrast to his first term in power. In recent months, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce spoke of their pride in playing in front of Trump at the Super Bowl, while the Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly keen to visit the White House to celebrate their NFL title, a decision supported by Charles Barkley, who believes boycotts make the nation more divided. Continue reading...

To counter the crisis caused by Trump, Friedrich Merz has little choice but to abandon decades of military and economic cautionIn February 1945, three world leaders - Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt and Josef Stalin - met in Crimea for the Yalta conference, to discuss the new world order they would implement after the soon-to-end second world war.Smaller nations were given no say in deciding their fate. The Soviet sphere of influence would infest eastern Europe for decades and US foreign policy dominated the second half of the 20th century. Churchill resisted the end of the UK's global empire and independence for Britain's colonies came piecemeal; they were let go with bitterness.Catherine De Vries is professor of political science at Bocconi University in Milan Continue reading...

If European leaders want to truly support Ukraine they must seize the moment by seizing $220bn in assetsIt is now clear that Donald Trump's administration will betray Ukraine in its fight to resist Russian aggression. Trump himself is either a victim of disinformation or he is a willing participant in an effort to deceive Americans about the causes and consequences of the war.Trump's lies include claiming that Ukraine is equally to blame for the war; that Volodymyr Zelenskyy doesn't have the cards" to end the conflict on favourable terms; and that Ukraine could not have defended itself without US help. Yet the whole world knows that Russia launched an unprovoked invasion, and we all remember the initial weeks, when Ukrainians valiantly defended an 1,800-mile frontline against a supposedly superior army, long before deliveries of western artillery, armoured vehicles and air defence systems arrived. Continue reading...

Democrats introduce resolutions on Senate floor, as Trump veterans affairs chief defends plans to cut 80,000 staffDonald Trump and Justin Trudeau will speak today, Reuters reports, citing a source with knowledge of the matter.The Canadian prime minister condemned Trump's imposition of levies on his country yesterday, saying he was looking to make its economy collapse as part of a plan to incorporate it into the United States. Trump responded with insults, and a warning that he may tighten levies further next month. Continue reading...

Michael Ivory Fletcher alleged to have entered at least seven stores, loaded cart with Lego items and left quicklyA man in California has been charged with nabbing about $25,000 of Lego in two state counties, according to officials.Michael Ivory Fletcher, 32, is accused of stealing the Lego products from Target stores in Walnut Creek and San Ramon between 15 August 2024 and 15 February 2025, according to the Contra Costa district attorney's office. He faces multiple charges of commercial burglary and grand theft. Continue reading...

Trump tells Hamas to release all hostages or it is over for you' as US stops sharing intelligence with Ukraine - key US politics stories from Wednesday at a glanceDonald Trump posted a fresh ultimatum to Hamas, telling the group to release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you".Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye," he wrote in a social media post on Wednesday, in an apparent reference to the beginning of direct talks with the group. Continue reading...

University spokesperson confirms alleged ritual involving Omega Psi Phi is being looked into after Caleb Wilson diedThe death of a 20-year-old Southern University student in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is being investigated by local law enforcement as a possible act of fraternity hazing, school authorities confirmed to the Associated Press on Wednesday.Caleb Wilson, who died on 27 February, was a mechanical engineering junior at Southern University and A&M College and a member of the school's famed marching band. Continue reading...

State senate passes bill as its sponsor suggests shooting someone is more effective and humane than other methodsFiring squads could become Idaho's primary execution method under a bill headed to the governor's desk this week.The Idaho senate passed the bill on Wednesday, and if signed by governor Brad Little, it will take effect next year. Continue reading...

BILLIONAIRES? Yes please!

US president tells group to release all of the Hostages now ... or it is OVER for you' as White House enters negotiationsDonald Trump has posted a fresh ultimatum to Hamas, telling the group to release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you".Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye," he wrote in a social media post on Wednesday, in an apparent reference to the beginning of direct talks with the group. Continue reading...

Officials say slashing of US Department for International Development leaves power vacuum for adversariesHundreds of diplomats at the state department and US Agency for International Development have written to the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, protesting against the dismantling of USAid, saying it undermines US leadership and security and leaves power vacuums for China and Russia to fill.In a cable expected to be filed with the department's internal dissent channel", which allows diplomats to raise concerns about policy anonymously, the diplomats said the Trump administration's 20 January freeze on almost all foreign aid also endangers American diplomats and forces overseas while putting at risk the lives of millions abroad that depend on US assistance. Continue reading...

New York, Chicago, Boston and Denver mayors use platform at Capitol hearing to reject claims about crime and gangsA congressional hearing designed to criticize sanctuary city policies unexpectedly shifted on Wednesday, as a planned attack by Republican lawmakers instead dissolved into a platform that amplified Democratic mayors' arguments about immigration and urban safety.Before a packed room on Capitol Hill, the House oversight committee, led by its Republican chair, James Comer of Kentucky, sought to portray sanctuary cities - a city that touts municipal laws that protect undocumented migrants - as havens for criminal activity and foreign gangs. Continue reading...

Kingsley Wilson disputed innocence of Leo Frank, widely agreed to have been wrongly convicted of girl's 1913 murderThe Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has condemned a past social media post by the Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson that disputed the innocence of Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman whom most historians agree was wrongfully convicted of killing a 13-year-old factory worker and lynched in 1915 during a wave of antisemitism in the US.Leo Frank raped & murdered a 13-year-old girl. He also tried to frame a Black man for his crime," Wilson wrote on X in response to an August 2024 tweet by the ADL marking the 109th anniversary of Frank's lynching. The ADL turned off the comments because they want to gaslight you." Continue reading...

Disney is reportedly cutting staff across ABC News Group and its entertainment network as media layoffs continueThe popular political poll news and analysis website, 538, is being shut down as part of a broader shuttering effort across ABC News and Disney Entertainment, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday night.Disney is reportedly cutting 200 positions across ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, including shutting down the data-driven 538. Continue reading...

Tiffany jewelry worth $770,000 allegedly gulped during arrest will need to be collected ... after they are passed'A suspected thief gulped down two pairs of diamond earrings during his arrest on the side of a Florida Panhandle highway last week, detectives say, leaving them with the unenviable task of waiting to collect" the Tiffany & Co jewelry worth nearly $770,000.An X-ray of the suspect's torso showed what the Orlando police department believed to be the diamond earrings - a white mass shining brightly against the grey backdrop of his digestive tract. Continue reading...

Lawyers for Brad Sigmon said he chose a death by firing squad because he thought lethal injection would be tortuousSouth Carolina's supreme court has rejected what is likely the final appeal of convicted murderer Brad Sigmon, clearing the way for his execution by firing squad on Friday.Sigmon's lawyers wanted to delay his death so they could get a fuller hearing in court to learn more information about the drug South Carolina uses in lethal injections. Sigmon said that lack of information forced him to choose to be shot to death. The state also has an electric chair, but Sigmon said he didn't want to suffer being cooked alive by electricity. Continue reading...

Southern California Edison accused over Eaton fire, which killed 17 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structuresLos Angeles county is suing Southern California Edison, alleging the utility's equipment sparked January's deadly Eaton fire.The fire was one of several major blazes that tore through the region starting on 7 January. It killed at least 17 people in the Altadena area of Los Angeles, and destroyed more than 9,400 structures. Continue reading...

As the White House handpicks members of the press pool, questions for the president amount to fluffy valentinesYou know we're in trouble when Fox News emerges as the great defender of freedom of the press. But such was the case when Jacqui Heinrich, a senior political correspondent at Fox, responded to the news that Trump's White House would now handpick the reporters who get to cover the president in small settings, with the post: This move does not give the power back to the people - it gives power to the White House." Heinrich was specifically responding to press secretary Karoline Leavitt's Orwellian claim that letting Donald Trump choose who would cover him was designed to restore power back to the American people".The fruits of the new policy were richly on display during the sickening scene that unfolded in the Oval Office last week. If the president and JD Vance's disgraceful treatment of Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasn't bad enough, there was the unprecedented role that the press" played in the unseemly drama. Continue reading...

Nigel Higgins said to have given assurances about CEO days after child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's death in 2019The Barclays chair Nigel Higgins's assurances that Jes Staley had no particular relationship" with Jeffrey Epstein, days after the child sex offender's death in 2019, convinced the City regulator that there was no reason to investigate the bank's chief executive, a court has heard.Jonathan Davidson, a former director of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), made the comments during a hearing of Staley's legal challenge against the UK regulator on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Trump administration has frozen funding for key conservation programs to protect vulnerable species

Trump is getting comfortable in power. And Democrats are nowhere to be seenWhat was the point of Donald Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday night? The annual speech - called the State of the Union" address in every year except the one just after the president's ascent to office - has long been a somewhat outdated bit of political theater, an event light on policy specifics and heavy on messaging in an era in which political messaging's most effective venues have long since moved online.It's perhaps even less clear what a speech to Congress is supposed to mean for this president, who has proven himself so indifferent to constitutional limits on his power - or for this Congress, which has shown itself so willing to abdicate its own constitutional responsibilities. It seems, like so many of the formalities of American politics do now, a bit like a phantom limb: something that Americans keep feeling for long after it has been excised. How long will it be, one wonders, until everyone stops bothering to go through the motions? Continue reading...