Indian court allows survey of a 17th-century mosque to see if it was built over a Hindu temple
An Indian court says officials can conduct a scientific survey of a 17th-century mosque in northern India to determine if it was built over Hindu temple
2023-08-03 14:53
Swiss Inflation Slows Further as SNB Mulls September Rate Hike
Swiss inflation slowed to the lowest rate in one and a half years, testing the determination of Swiss
2023-08-03 14:52
Is Lizzo canceled? Netizens furious as singer is sued for fat-shaming and sexual harassment by former dancers
Lizzo was sued by three of her former backup dancers for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment
2023-08-03 14:50
Booming West End Lifts Rents for London Landlord Shaftesbury
Rising rents for space in London’s West End helped offset the impact of soaring interest rates for landlord
2023-08-03 14:46
Bank of England set to join Fed in raising interest rates again amid high UK inflation
The Bank of England is set to raise interest rates for the 14th time in a row to a fresh 15-year high and keep the door open for further increases as it tries to tamp down persistently high inflation
2023-08-03 14:28
Israeli protesters are calling for democracy. But what about the occupation of Palestinians?
Israel is being rocked by a wave of mass protests calling for the country’s democracy to be upheld
2023-08-03 14:26
7-Eleven vigilantes: Footage shows store workers beat down brazen shoplifter who threatened to shoot them
The unidentified shoplifter walked into a California store with a 20-gallon garbage can and started collecting fistfuls of tobacco goods
2023-08-03 14:25
Former Maryland college town mayor pleads guilty to 140 child pornography charges
The former mayor of a Maryland college town pleaded guilty Wednesday to 140 charges stemming from child pornography possession and distribution, prosecutors said.
2023-08-03 14:23
Did WWE ruin Logan Paul vs Nate Diaz boxing bout? Former MMA fighter spills beans
There was a 'very interesting and attractive offer' for Nate Diaz to fight Logan Paul, but the former MMA fighter lost interest in it when WWE became involved
2023-08-03 14:23
'Kanye was right about Lizzo' trends as old video of rapper talking about embattled singer goes viral
Lizzo has been embroiled in controversy recently after three of her former backup dancers accused her of sexual harassment and fat-shaming
2023-08-03 14:20
Lizzo's comments on BTS resurface as backlash against singer grows amid allegations of abuse and sexual harassment
Lizzo met BTS members V, Jimin, J-Hope and Jungkook at a 2021 Harry Styles concert
2023-08-03 14:18
Disney governing district in Florida axes diversity and inclusion programmes as DeSantis row with company rages
Diversity, equity and inclusion programs were abolished Tuesday from Walt Disney World's governing district, now controlled by appointees of governor Ron DeSantis, in an echo of the Florida governor's agenda which has championed curtailing such programs in higher education and elsewhere. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District said in a statement that its diversity, equity and inclusion committee would be eliminated, as would any job duties connected to it. Also axed were initiatives left over from when the district was controlled by Disney supporters, which awarded contracts based on goals of achieving racial or gender parity. Glenton Gilzean, the district's new administrator who is African American and a former head of the Central Florida Urban League, called such initiatives “illegal and simply un-American”. Gilzean has been a fellow or member at two conservative institutions, the James Madison Institute and the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network, as well as a DeSantis appointee to the Florida Commission on Ethics. “Our district will no longer participate in any attempt to divide us by race or advance the notion that we are not created equal," Mr Gilzean said in a statement. "As the former head of the Central Florida Urban League, a civil rights organization, I can say definitively that our community thrives only when we work together despite our differences.” An email was sent seeking comment from Disney World. Last spring, Mr DeSantis, who is running for the GOP presidential nomination, signed into law a measure that blocks public colleges from using federal or state funding on diversity programs. Mr DeSantis also has championed Florida's so-called “Stop WOKE” law, which bars businesses, colleges and K-12 schools from giving training on certain racial concepts, such as the theory that people of a particular race are inherently racist, privileged or oppressed. A federal judge last November blocked the law’s enforcement in colleges, universities and businesses, calling it "positively dystopian.” The creation of the district, then known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build a theme park resort near Orlando in the 1960s. Having a separate government allowed the company to provide zoning, fire protection, utilities and infrastructure services on its sprawling property. The district was controlled by Disney supporters for more than five decades. The DeSantis appointees took control of the renamed district earlier this year following a yearlong feud between the company and Mr DeSantis. The fight began last year after Disney, beset by significant pressure internally and externally, publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call “Don’t Say Gay.” As punishment, Mr DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by Republican lawmakers and appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services for the sprawling theme parks and hotels. Disney sued Mr DeSantis and his five board appointees in federal court, claiming the Florida governor violated the company’s free speech rights by taking the retaliatory action. Before the new board came in, Disney made agreements with previous oversight board members who were Disney supporters that stripped the new supervisors of their authority over design and development. The DeSantis-appointed members of the governing district have sued Disney in state court in a second lawsuit stemming from the district’s takeover, seeking to invalidate those agreements. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP Read More Florida father tried to remove ‘Arthur’ book from schools because it could ‘damage souls’ DeSantis says DC jury would ‘convict a ham sandwich’ if it was Republican Republican National Committee boosts polling and fundraising thresholds to qualify for 2nd debate Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
2023-08-03 14:16
