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MTA continues upping legislative role, with coming anti-MCAS ballot question campaign

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

On the cusp of potentially beginning an initiative petition process to end the MCAS graduation requirement, the MTA is not the organization it once was — the increasingly larger, stronger union is transitioning into an ever-more active legislative agent.“Our evolution more recently, in the last decade, the MTA has become a central actor in helping advance policies for public schools and colleges as well,” said MTA President Max Page. “Doing that by fighting for educators’ voice at work, their working conditions, as well as fighting for the broader common good to support our students and their families.”In the last few years, Page pointed out, the union has been active in the successful fights for the Fair Share Amendment, Massachusetts millionaire’s tax passed by ballot measure in 2022; the Student Opportunity Act, an influx of education funding passed through the Legislature in 2019; and a state bill expanding paid family medical leave and ...

Orioles reset: With playoffs looming, Baltimore believes it’s learned from last year’s near miss

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

The Orioles might be young, but they’re not new to this.Sure, this group has never been this good. But many of the players in Baltimore’s clubhouse went through a pressurized stretch run last year.The 2022 Orioles entered September two games back of a wild-card spot, but the magic the club found in the summer waned as it missed the postseason by three games. Anthony Santander, one of the veterans who braved the rebuild, believes knowing what it feels like to compete for a playoff spot — and to fall short of one — will help down the stretch as the Orioles look to win their first American League East title since 2014.“I think last year’s experience really helped us,” Santander said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “We’ve been through a stretch here where we’ve been in first place for a while. I think the important thing is to just take it day by day, continuing to work hard each and every day with that preparation. ...

UN nuclear watchdog report seen by AP says Iran slows its enrichment of near-weapons-grade uranium

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

VIENNA (AP) — Iran has slowed its enrichment of uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels, a report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen by The Associated Press said Monday. The confidential report comes as Iran and the United States are negotiating a prisoner swap and the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen in South Korea. Slowing its enrichment of uranium could serve as another sign that Tehran seeks to lower tensions between it and America after years of tensions since the collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has 121.6 kilograms (268 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%, a far-slower growth than in previous counts. An IAEA report in May put the stockpile of 60% uranium at just over 114 kilograms (250 pounds). It had 87.5 kilograms (192 pounds) in February.Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran has mainta...

Japan’s top court orders Okinawa to allow a divisive government plan to build US military runways

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Supreme Court on Monday dismissed Okinawa’s rejection of a central government plan to build U.S. Marine Corps runways on the island and ordered the prefecture to approve it despite protests by locals who oppose the American troops’ presence.Monday’s ruling upheld a high court ruling in March that the central government’s plan and its instruction for Okinawa’s approval are valid. It will move forward the suspended construction at a time Okinawa’s strategic role is seen increasingly important for the Japan-U.S. military alliance in the face of growing tensions with China. Japan’s central government began the reclamation work at the Henoko area on the eastern coast of Okinawa’s main island in 2018 to pave the way for the relocation of the Marine Corps Futenma air station from a crowded neighborhood on the island. The government later found out about 70% of the reclamation site is on soft ground, and submitted a revisi...

Moroccans protest after Algeria acknowledges deadly shooting at a group on water scooters

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria’s Defense Ministry has acknowledged that its forces fired on a group of people on water scooters who strayed into Algerian waters from Morocco, and that a body was later found. The shooting has provoked national anger in Morocco.The North African neighbors have no diplomatic relations and their maritime border has been closed since the 1990s because of long-running disputes over the territory of Western Sahara, among other issues. But deadly confrontations in the sea are unusual.Moroccan media say Algerian forces killed two vacationers in the incident last week. France says a French citizen was among those killed and another French citizen was detained.A protest was planned Monday in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to denounce the killings.The Algerian Defense Ministry said in a statement late Sunday that coast guard units last Tuesday intercepted three water scooters that had clandestinely entered Algerian waters.“Given the increased activity of drug tr...

The first Africa Climate Summit opens as hard-hit continent of 1.3B demands more say and financing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The first African Climate Summit is opening with heads of state and others asserting a stronger voice on a global issue that affects the continent of 1.3 billion people the most, even though they contribute to it the least.Kenyan President William Ruto’s government and the African Union launched the ministerial session on Monday while more than a dozen heads of state began to arrive, determined to wield more global influence and bring in far more financing and support. The first speakers included young people, who demanded a bigger voice in the process.“For a very long time we have looked at this as a problem. There are immense opportunities as well,” Ruto said of the climate crisis, speaking of multibillion-dollar economic possibilities, new financial structures, Africa’s huge mineral wealth and the ideal of shared prosperity. “We are not here to catalog grievances.”And yet there is some frustration on the continent about being asked to develop in cleane...

The trial opens of a Russian-born Swedish citizen charged with collecting information for Russia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The trial opened Monday of a Russian-born Swedish citizen charged with collecting information for the Russian military intelligence service GRU for almost a decade.Sergey Skvortsov, 60, is accused of “gross illegal intelligence activities against Sweden and against a foreign power,” according to prosecutor Henrik Olin who has identified the foreign power as the United States.Skvortsov was arrested in November together with his wife in a predawn operation in Nacka, outside Stockholm. Swedish media reported that elite police rappelled from two Black Hawk helicopters to arrest the couple.Skvortsov has been in custody since his arrest and denies any wrongdoing, according to his defense lawyer, Ulrika Borg. His wife was released without charge following an investigation by Sweden’s security agency.The trial is being held at the Stockholm District Court. It is the second trial in recent years of people accused of spying on Sweden for Russia and its military intellig...

UAW’s clash with Big 3 automakers shows off a more confrontational union as strike deadline looms

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — A 46% pay raise. A 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay. A restoration of traditional pensions.The demands that a more combative United Auto Workers union has pressed on General Motors, Stellantis and Ford — demands that even the UAW’s own president calls “audacious” — are edging it closer to a strike when its contract ends Sept. 14. The automakers, which are making billions in profits, have dismissed the UAW’s wish list. They argue that its demands are unrealistic at a time of fierce competition from Tesla and lower-wage foreign automakers as the world shifts from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. The wide gulf between the sides could mean a strike against one or more of the automakers, which could send already-inflated vehicle prices even higher.A potential strike by 146,000 UAW members comes against the backdrop of increasingly emboldened U.S. unions of all kinds. The number of strikes and threatened strikes is growing, involving Hollywood ...

Albany man found dead after altercation in VT apartment

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man was found dead in a Rutland, Vermont, apartment after reports of a physical altercation, according to Rutland City Police. Police say Santonieo Miller, 35, was pronounced dead, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Saturday, Rutland Police responded to 50 Cherry Street Apartment 2 for an active physical altercation. Upon arriving, officers found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The man, identified as Miller, was pronounced dead at the residence.The death is under investigation. Members from the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search team are leading the investigation, along with the Rutland City Police Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (802) 773-5894.

Commission opens Digital Europe Programme to Türkiye

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:43 GMT

The European Commission signed an association agreement for the Digital Europe Programme with Türkiye. Following the signatures, and upon the completion of the related ratification processes, the association agreement will enter into force. Businesses, public administrations and other eligible organisations in Türkiye will be able to access the calls of the Digital Europe Programme, a programme with an overall budget of €7.5 billion in the 2021-2027 period. In particular, participants from Türkiye will be able to take part in projects that deploy digital technologies across the EU in specific areas such as artificial intelligence, and advanced digital skills. They will also be able to set up Digital Innovation Hubs in Türkiye.With this association agreement, the European Union and Türkiye will reinforce their strong links in the field of digital technologies – with potential benefits arising from Türkiye's capabilities and assets in the areas covered by the Digital Europe Programme,...