Cuba Gooding Jr settles rape lawsuit ahead of civil trial
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr reaches settlement with rape accuser, just as civil trial was about to start.
2023-06-06 23:18
Linda Yaccarino: the advertising executive Musk picked as new Twitter CEO
(Reuters) -Linda Yaccarino began her role as Twitter's new CEO on Monday, about a month after Elon Musk named her
2023-06-06 23:17
UBS sees agreement on Credit Suisse loss guarantee by June 7 - SEC filing
ZURICH (Reuters) -UBS expects to finalize its agreement with the Swiss government to cover up to 9 billion Swiss francs
2023-06-06 22:51
Texas sheriff recommends criminal charges over DeSantis migrant flights
The sheriff of Bexar County, Texas is recommending criminal charges against those involved with flights that sent 49 mostly Venezuelan migrants from El Paso to Martha’s Vineyard last year, what was widely derided as a political stunt orchestrated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. A statement from the sheriff’s office says it has completed an investigation launched last September and recommended several counts of unlawful restraint, both misdemeanors and felonies, to the office of the Bexar County district attorney. “At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DA’s office. Once an update is available, it will be provided to the public,” the statement said. The sheriff’s office has not named suspects. The flights faced international scrutiny following allegations that migrants and their families, who were in the country with legal permission, were deceptively lured into planes out of state after they were processed in the US after crossing the southern border with Mexico, with their asylum cases pending in Texas. “What infuriates me the most about this case is that here we have 48 people who are already on hard times, they are here legally in the country at that point,” sheriff Javier Salazar said in a statement announcing the investigation last year. “They have every right to be where they are, and I believe they were preyed upon – somebody came from out of state, preyed upon these people, lured them with promises of a better life, which is what they were absolutely looking for, with the knowledge that they were going to cling to whatever hope they could be offered ... to just be exploited and hoodwinked into making this trip,” he said. A federal lawsuit filed by attorneys for a group of migrants last year alleges that the DeSantis administration supervised a “fraudulent and discriminatory scheme” to collect migrants and fly them, unannounced, hundreds of miles out of state. The lawsuit alleges the governor and members of his administration targeted immigrants who were recently released from shelters with false promises of job opportunities, education and financial assistance before they landed on the island with only volunteer support from local groups and emergency assistance from state agencies. The lawsuit includes two unnamed defendants who “targeted” many of the people who boarded the flights, as well as three other unnamed defendants who participated in the alleged scheme, who “manipulated them, stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process and equal protection under the law,” according to the complaint. Those allegations mirror claims from migrants who spoke with reporters about the ordeal, including multiple allegations that a woman identified only as “Perla” was central to an alleged effort to coerce migrants to board the planes, providing cash and McDonald’s gift cards to help recruit others. Mr DeSantis has taken credit for the flight, and his administration has supported legislative efforts to secure $12m in funding for similar operations. The administration has spent more than $1.5m on such flights, according to state records. The sheriff’s announcement follows more migrant flights from Texas to California, which California Attorney General Rob Bonta has likened to “state-sanctioned kidnapping.” Officials and civil rights attorneys are investigating whether the DeSantis administration was also behind those flights; Mr Bonta has stated that the migrants had what appeared to be Florida government documents. “We are also evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants,” he said in a statement this week. “While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting.” The Independent has requested comment from the DeSantis administration. Read More DeSantis news – latest: Casey DeSantis nicknamed ‘Walmart Melania’ over anti-woke leather jacket California officials probe ‘state-sanctioned kidnapping’ of migrants flown in on private jet False promises, a legal investigation and a mystery woman: Unanswered questions about Ron DeSantis's migrant flights
2023-06-06 22:16
Maria Sherman appointed AP's music writer, based in Los Angeles
Maria Sherman has been named The Associated Press’ music writer, a key position responsible for delivering news on a beat of global significance for the news cooperative
2023-06-06 21:54
Mental Floss’s ‘The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words’ Features Fun Slang, Strange Phrase Origins, and More
Sure, all books are filled with words—but not quite like this.
2023-06-06 21:23
Millennial Money: Does ESG actually do any good?
Both sides of the political spectrum have their say about ESG: It’s either just a label that costs more, or it’s saving the world
2023-06-06 20:57
Emirates looks at placing new order for long-haul jets
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Emirates President Tim Clark said on Tuesday the airline may order more Airbus A350, Boeing 777X or 787
2023-06-06 20:56
Blinken expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, a US official told CNN, the latest step toward rapprochement between the US government and the de facto leader of a key US ally.
2023-06-06 20:54
Debt ceiling package does little to address America's major fiscal problems
Although it's named the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the compromise debt ceiling package that President Joe Biden signed into law this past weekend doesn't do much to fix the nation's enormous financial challenges.
2023-06-06 20:51
Robert Hanssen: The fake job that snared FBI agent who spied for Moscow
Agents who helped to bring down one of the most notorious Cold War spies tell us how they did it.
2023-06-06 20:21
Nestle trials giving cash to coffee farmers who grow beans sustainably
By Maytaal Angel LONDON Nestle is piloting a scheme to give cash to coffee farmers who grow beans
2023-06-06 20:15