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Texas lawmakers set new standards to ban books from schools for sexual content

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas would set new standards and ratings for sexually explicit material in order to ban books from public and charter school libraries, under a bill given final passage by the state Senate late Tuesday night and sent to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.The Texas move is the latest attempt to ban or regulate reading material in conservative states around the country. Critics say the standards set in the Texas bill are too vague, will snag books that are not inappropriate, and that materials dealing with LGBTQ+ subject matter are more likely to be targeted for bans. The bill passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature defines “sexually explicit material” as anything that includes descriptions, illustrations or audio depicting sexual conduct not relevant to required school curriculum, and prohibits it from school libraries.The bill requires the state’s Library and Archives Commission to adopt standards that schools must follow when purchasing books, and a rating system th...

Takeaways of AP report on DEA probe of drug distributor accused of fueling opioid epidemic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nation’s largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping addictive painkillers for nearly four years despite a judge’s recommendation to strip its license for turning a blind eye to thousands of suspicious opioid orders. The case has drawn attention to the involvement of a high-profile consultant the company had hired to stave off punishment and who is now DEA Administrator Anne Milgram’s top deputy.Here are the key takeaways:WHAT’S AT STAKE?A federal administrative law judge in August 2019 found that Morris & Dickson failed to flag thousands of suspicious, high-volume orders from pharmacies and recommended that it lose its license. Failure to follow DEA rules by Morris & Dickson and other major distributors has been blamed for leading to more than 700,000 American overdose deaths in the past two decades.. The company said it overhauled its compliance system, canceled suspicious order...

Stock market today: Asian stocks slide as US debt worries mount

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets slid Wednesday as the U.S. government crept closer to a potentially disruptive default on its debt.Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong declined.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.1% on Tuesday after Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the House of Representatives said, “We’re not there yet” on a deal. That followed a meeting Monday with President Joe Biden that ended with no agreement.“McCarthy’s comments have thrown cold water” on sentiment, said Vishnu Varathan of Mizuho Bank in a report. He said the slide in prices is “paying back for premature optimism around a debt deal.” The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.8% to 3,220.44 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell 0.6% to 30,777.29. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 1.2% to 19,203.05.The Kospi in Seoul retreated less than 0.1% to 2,566.68 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 lost 0.6% to 7,215.40. India’s Sensex opened up 0.2% at 62,140.23. New Zealand and Bangkok gained while Singapore and Jakart...

Rain, winds lash Guam as Typhoon Mawar closes in and residents shelter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at the tiny U.S. territory of Guam on Wednesday as residents with nowhere to go hunkered down to face the devastating winds and torrential rains from what was expected to be the worst storm to hit the Pacific island in decades.The U.S. military sent away ships, residents stockpiled supplies and anyone not living in a concrete house was urged to seek safety elsewhere ahead of the typhoon, which was forecast to arrive as a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph (225 kph) but could possibly strengthen to a Category 5, the most powerful. The last time a Category 5 directly hit Guam was 1962. Forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Guam said they were seeing “almost whiteout conditions” at their office and hearing low rumblings and shaking shutters and doors as the storm intensified Wednesday afternoon.“Stay inside. Trees are coming down; power lines are coming down,” said Brandon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the service. &...

New Chinese ambassador to US taking office amid disputes over trade, access to technology, Taiwan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s new ambassador to the U.S. is taking office amid disputes over trade, access to computer chips and Washington’s support for self-governing Taiwan. Xie Feng arrived in New York on Tuesday and told reporters at JFK Airport that relations between the world’s two largest economies face “serious difficulties and challenges.” “We hope that the United States will work together with China to increase dialogue, to manage differences and also to expand our cooperation, so that our relationship will be back to the right track,” Xie said in remarks delivered in English. The “Taiwan question” would be among the sensitive issues at the top of his agenda, Xie said. Exchanges took a downturn after the Trump administration raised tariffs on key Chinese imports that President Jospeh Biden has since maintained, while blocking Chinese companies from accessing the most cutting-edge computer chip technology. China has meanwhile raised its threats to attack Taiwan with regular incur...

No winning ticket sold for Tuesday’s $55 million Lotto Max jackpot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

There was no winning ticket sold in Tuesday’s Lotto Max $55 million draw.However, three of the four available Maxmillion prizes of $1 million each were won by ticket holders in Quebec, Ontario and the Prairies.The jackpot for the next draw on May 26 will be an estimated $60 million, with six $1 million Maxmillion prizes up for grabs.The Canadian Press

Kosovo must implement Serbia peace deal before it can join NATO

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

Kosovo must implement a Western-brokered peace deal with Serbia if it wants to achieve its goal of joining the NATO military alliance, two US senators visiting Pristina said on Monday (22 May).US Democratic senators Chris Murphy, a member of the foreign relations committee, and Gary Peters, who sits on the armed services committee, urged the two countries to act quickly on the accord reached in March with European Union mediation. They are part of a congressional delegation visiting the Balkans."The pathway (for Kosovo) to NATO and to the European Union runs through an agreement with Serbia. That's a hard fact," Murphy told journalists at the US embassy in Pristina.Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is not recognised as a state by four NATO members: Romania, Spain, Greece and Slovakia.Murphy said the four could be convinced to accept Kosovo in NATO if differences with Serbia were settled. "It is dependent on this agreement being done and implemented," he said.D...

To AI or not to AI? Towards a treaty on Artificial Intelligence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

As AI revolutionizes the world, EU lawmakers aim to regulate it for values and safety preservation. The AI Act, the first law of its kind, is designed to serve EU citizens’ best interests. However, since technologies are available for anyone, and evolving faster than regulations can keep up, a global strategy is needed. The world’s strategy of ‘connecting the unconnected’, faces significant and complex challenges that require addressing on a wider scale. In this context, the EU should consider organizing an international summit to establish core principles for safer AI practices towards a Treaty on Artificial Intelligence, writes Francesco Cappelletti.AI and its concerning trendsDespite being far from a Matrix-like scenario, unregulated and misused AI can create challenges for our societies. It can influence our understanding of information and, as a result, jeopardize a crucial foundation at the heart of our societies: democracy.There are various concerns regarding AI: it could rep...

High-speed pursuit suspects surrender after barricade in Los Angeles County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

Authorities arrested a group of suspects who were barricaded inside a home following a high-speed pursuit in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night.Five occupants were inside the vehicle during the chase. The suspects were initially pulled over for not having a license plate, according to the California Highway Patrol.When officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, they refused to cooperate and sped off.The vehicle was seen traveling at high speeds, hitting 125 miles per hour at times while swerving dangerously amid freeway traffic.Authorities arrested a group of suspects barricaded inside a home following a high-speed pursuit in Los Angeles County on May 23, 2023. (KTLA)The vehicle stopped near West 61st Street and South Grand Avenue when all occupants hopped out of the car and sprinted into the backyard patio door of a home in the neighborhood.After a short time, the suspects barricaded inside the home and surrendered to police officers waiting outside.

CCS, NCS baseball playoffs: Tuesday’s semifinal results, championship matchups

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.North Coast SectionDivision ITuesday’s semifinalsNo. 1 De La Salle 12, No. 12 Pittsburg 9No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter 10, No. 2 San Ramon Valley 1Friday’s finalNo. 3 Clayton Valley Charter (22-5) vs. No. 1 De La Salle (23-5) at Diablo Valley College, 5 p.m.  Division IISaturday’s quarterfinalsNo. 1 Casa Grande 4, No. 9 San Marin 2No. 5 Redwood 8, No. 4 Ukiah 4No. 7 Benicia 9, No. 2 Windsor 1No. 6 Maria Carrillo 8, No. 3 Marin Catholic 7Wednesday’s semifinalsNo. 5 Redwood (19-8) at No. 1 Casa Grande (21-5), 5 p.m.No. 7 Benicia (15-10-1) at No. 6 Maria Carrillo (15-9), 5 p.m.Division IIITuesday’s semifinals...