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Georgia’s government abandons Putin-style bill that triggered huge protests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

Georgia’s government has “decided to unconditionally withdraw” a controversial bill that sparked massive protests, according to a statement published Thursday. The government’s U-turn came after thousands of Georgians took to the streets of the country’s capital Tbilisi for two days of protests, waving EU flags and facing down riot police armed with water cannons and tear gas. The contentious legislation would have required all organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents.The Georgian law was widely viewed as inspired by Vladimir Putin’s regime in Moscow: In 2012, the Russian president signed off on legislation tightening controls on civil rights groups funded from abroad, which was seen as an attempt to crack down on dissent; last June, the Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, approved another bill imposing draconian restrictions on individuals and organizations “under foreign influ...

‘Stop the boats’ now second-biggest concern of UK Tory voters — poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

LONDON — “Stopping the boats” — Rishi Sunak’s bid to sharply reduce irregular migration routes — is now the second-biggest concern among 2019 Conservative voters, according to a new poll.It ranks above cutting NHS surgery waiting lists and accident and emergency response times, the study carried out by Public First for Universities U.K. shows.The findings, shared with POLITICO’s London Playbook, demonstrate why Sunak has made reducing the numbers of people making the dangerous crossing of the English Channel a priority.They come in the week his government unveiled a new Illegal Migration Bill aiming to make it easier to detain and deport people arriving in the country through irregular means.The plan has drawn sharp drawn criticism from both the United Nations refugee agency and the European Union who have warned it risks violating international law. But Sunak argued Wednesday that “stopping the boats is not just my priority, it’s the people’s priority.”The polling ...

Debate heats up over North County school district's curriculum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- The Carlsbad Unified School District voted 5-0 to approve an ethnic film studies class for freshmen in the face of public criticism. The class will allow 30-35 students to opt in for an intro film studies class focused on Hollywood stereotypes, cultural appropriations and early Hollywood contributions made to the film industry by people of color. During the board meeting, protesters complained the class was an extension of critical race theory.   National School District pressed to address teacher’s arrest “Teaching children, one is inherently oppressing while the other is inherently oppressed, what does that achieve?” questioned one woman during the public comment section. The gymnasium was far more crowded than a normal education meeting, and those in favor of the ethnic film class outnumbered those against in public comments. “Carlsbad values culture, we celebrate that which makes us unique,” said one supporter. The class will be offered to freshme...

Indonesia unveils construction site of new capital city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

PENAJAM PASER UTARA, Indonesia (AP) — Orange-red ground has been broken in the jungle of East Borneo, where the Indonesian government has begun construction of its new capital city. Officials promise a “sustainable forest city” that puts the environment at the heart of development and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2045. But the project has been plagued by criticism from environmentalists and Indigenous communities, who say it degrades the environment, further shrinks the habitat of endangered animals such as orangutans and displaces Indigenous people that rely on the land for their livelihoods.Indonesia began construction of the new capital in mid 2022, after President Joko Widodo announced that Jakarta — the congested, polluted current capital that is prone to earthquakes and rapidly sinking into the Java Sea — would be retired from capital status. Plans for the new capital — about twice the size of New York City — are grandeur. Officials tout the creation of a futuristic green city...

Why is Indonesia moving its capital from Jakarta to Borneo?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Jakarta is congested, polluted, prone to earthquakes and rapidly sinking into the Java Sea. Now the government is in the process of leaving, moving Indonesia’s capital to the island of Borneo.Indonesian officials say the new metropolis will be a “sustainable forest city” that puts the environment at the heart of the development and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2045. But environmentalists warn that the capital will cause massive deforestation, threaten the habitat of endangered species such as orangutans and imperil the homes of Indigenous communities.While access to the new capital’s site is usually limited, The Associated Press was allowed to tour parts of the site to view construction progress in early March. Here’s a look at why the capital is moving, the government’s plans and why activists are worried about how it will impact the environment, endangered species and Indigenous communities located near the project site. WHY IS IND...

Georgia withdraws foreign agent bill after days of protests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgia’s ruling party said Thursday it is withdrawing a draft law from the parliament criticized as potentially stifling media freedom and civil society, after several days of massive protests against it in the capital. The Georgian Dream party and and its allies said they were withdrawing the proposed law, citing “controversy in society” it triggered. The bill would have required media and nongovernmental organizations that receive over 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as “agents of foreign influence.” The move comes after several days of mass protests in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. The demonstrations culminated on Wednesday night, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the city center. Police brutally dispersed the rally, using water cannons and tear gas, and 133 protesters have been arrested, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. Lawmakers said in a statement on Thursday morning that “consultat...

Report: Malaysian ex-PM Muhyiddin facing graft charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was grilled Thursday by anti-graft agency officials for a second time in a matter of weeks and reportedly will be charged over alleged corruption connected with awarding of government contracts while he was in office. The agency chief, Azam Baki, told the national Bernama news agency that Muhyiddin, 75, will be charged in court Friday. He did not give details. The agency said it will issue a statement later in the day.A large crowd of supporters gathered outside the agency building Thursday, chanting “Fight! Fight!” and “Allahu Akbar (God is great)” as they accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government of political persecution. Muhyiddin, 75, got out of his car and prayed with his supporters before he went into the building. In a Facebook statement hours earlier, he denied rumors that he had been arrested Wednesday while playing golf. He said he was summoned to the anti-graft agency but didn’t say ...

Chicago Daily Almanac

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

Thursday-Friday snowfall potential differs from north to south across northern Illinois. Thursday begins a chilly mid-March period for Chicago.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

Israel/Palestine: Statement of the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the latest developments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:39 GMT

The European Union and its member states are deeply concerned by the increasing violence and extremism in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, which are leading to appalling numbers of Israeli and Palestinian victims, including children. The situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is a great cause for concern.We call on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to de-escalate the situation and to refrain from actions that will increase the already high level of tension. Settlements are illegal under international law. Israel must stop settlement expansion, prevent settler violence, and ensure the perpetrators are held accountable. Military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law. There must be an immediate end to terror attacks, which should be condemned by everyone, and to practices that support them. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip requires further easing of restrictions. The status quo of the Holy Sites ...