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California universities evacuate students from Israel, citing war risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

(BCN) -- Following government warnings about the dangers of being in a war zone, California universities and colleges have safely evacuated their students who were attending study abroad programs in Israel. The future of those programs for the rest of the school year remains uncertain.The U.S. State Department recently has categorized Israel as a Level 3 travel risk, which urges U.S. citizens to "reconsider" their travel and presence in the country "due to terrorism and civil unrest" in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's current retaliations in Gaza. The Level 3 ranking and family concerns were enough for the University of California and the California State University systems to take action. Level 4, the worst potential ranking, is an outright travel ban. White House directs Homeland Security and FBI to monitor rise of antisemitism at colleges UC's Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) reported that its students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem have left Is...

France vows a ‘merciless fight’ against antisemitism after anti-Jewish graffiti is found in Paris

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Tuesday vowed a “merciless fight” against surging antisemitism after residents of the French capital discovered anti-Jewish graffiti on buildings in several districts.The discovery comes weeks into the Israel-Hamas war in which thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed and hundreds of Israelis have been taken hostage by the militants in Gaza.“The situation in the Middle East does not justify antisemitism,” Borne told the National Assembly during a regular questioning session. “Nothing ever excuses antisemitism … my government is determined to wage a merciless fight against it.”Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, French authorities have registered 857 antisemitic acts, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Tuesday. “That’s as many acts of antisemitism in three weeks as there have been so far this year,” he said.Darmanin said police and judicial authorities have opened several investigations...

Steelers left wondering about flags that are thrown and not thrown and fines that come either way

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

On a weekend where Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Tyrod Taylor and Kenny Pickett joined the growing list of injured quarterbacks, Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson went off on referee Alan Eck’s crew for not flagging Jacksonville’s Adam Gotsis for the hit that sent Pickett from the game with bruised ribs.“Y’all are supposed to be protecting us,” Johnson fumed following the Steelers’ 20-10 loss to the Jaguars that was peppered with unusual calls and curious non-calls alike. “That’s our quarterback. He got slammed.”Johnson accused the officials of tilting the game in Jacksonville’s favor and suggested they “should get fined for making terrible calls.” He even hinted the crew “must’ve got paid good today or something. They wanted them to win. Everything was in their favor.”Johnson considered Gotsis’ slam of Pickett much worse than the hit Pittsburgh’s Keanu Neal put on Trevor Lawrence that drew a roughing the passer penalty earlier ...

Largest Christian university in US faces record fine after federal probe into alleged deception

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The country’s largest Christian university is being fined $37.7 million by the federal government amid accusations that it misled students about the cost of its graduate programs.Grand Canyon University, which has more than 100,000 students mostly in online programs, faces the largest fine of its kind ever dealt by the U.S. Education Department. The university previously denied any wrongdoing and says it’s being unfairly targeted in retaliation for an ongoing lawsuit.An Education Department investigation found that Grand Canyon lied to more than 7,500 current and former students about the cost of doctoral programs.As far back as 2017, the university said its doctoral programs would cost between $40,000 and $49,000. The department found that less than 2% of graduates completed programs within the range, with 78% paying an additional $10,000 to $12,000.The additional cost came from “continuation courses” that were needed to finish dissertation requirements, the depar...

Grupo Simec: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Grupo Simec SAB de CV (SIM) on Monday reported net income of $105.6 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Guadalajara, Mexico-based company said it had net income of 64 cents.The steel producer posted revenue of $554.2 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SIM at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SIMSource

Israeli airstrikes level apartments in Gaza refugee camp, as ground troops battle Hamas militants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A flurry of Israeli airstrikes Tuesday on a refugee camp near Gaza City leveled apartment buildings, leaving craters where they once stood, as ground troops battled Hamas militants across northern Gaza and attacked underground compounds. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said at least six airstrikes destroyed a number of apartment blocks in Jabaliya, and it reported a large number of casualties but did not immediately provide details.The Israeli military said Tuesday it carried out a wide-scale strike in Jabaliya on Hamas infrastructure “that had taken over civilian buildings” and that tunnels under the buildings collapsed. It said the strikes killed a large number of Hamas militants, including Ibrahim Biari, who it said oversaw operations in the northern part of the strip.Israel said two of its soldiers were killed in fighting in northern Gaza, the first military deaths reported since the ground offensive into the tiny Mediterranean territory accelerate...

ACLU of Virginia plans to spend over $1M on abortion rights messaging

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia says it is making a financial investment unprecedented in its history for this year’s election cycle because of the implications November’s legislative races will hold for abortion access and other policy decisions in the state.The organization — which supports abortion rights and does not issue candidate endorsements — plans to spend just over $1 million through Election Day on direct mail, digital ads and volunteer outreach to highlight candidates’ positions on abortion in five Senate districts and six House districts. “We’ve never proceeded with this kind of investment and focusing on these races in this way. And we think it’s really critical because what happens this year determines whether abortion, reproductive rights will be safe for Virginians. And not only Virginians, but people from all over the South who are traveling to Virginia to access care,” Mary Bauer, the group’s executive director, sai...

Ohio State RB Miyan Williams lost for the season due to injury. WR Emeka Egbuka (ankle) practicing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An injury requiring surgery has put an end to the season for Ohio State running back Miyan Williams, coach Ryan Day said Tuesday.Day declined to discuss specifics of Williams’ injury. The fourth-year back was unavailable for the third-ranked Buckeyes (8-0) last Saturday at Wisconsin with no explanation. The previous week he rushed for a season-high 62 yards and a touchdown in the win over Penn State.“Miyan’s done a lot of great things for us,” Day said. “It’s a big hit for the team.”Williams and No. 1 back TreVeyon Henderson have battled injuries in their Ohio State careers, including this season.Henderson returned after missing three games and was terrific against Wisconsin, rushing for 162 yards and a touchdown and adding four pass receptions for 45 yards.He and Williams were expected to be a combo this season, but they have rarely been available at the same time.The Buckeyes are nursing some other key injuries.Quarterback Kyle McCord was limping on his...

Bud Light brewer confident it can win back US drinkers, but sales are still down after backlash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

Anheuser-Busch InBev said Tuesday that revenue growth in most of its global regions was offset by a drop in North American sales in the third quarter, in a sign of continuing fallout from a promotion with a transgender influencer.The world's largest brewer and parent company of Bud Light said its revenue climbed 5% to $15.6 billion for the July-September period. That was in line with Wall Street's estimates, according to analysts polled by FactSet. But revenue in the United States tumbled 13.5%. Bud Light sales plunged in early April amid a conservative backlash after the brand sent a commemorative can to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light also angered supporters of transgender rights who felt it abandoned Mulvaney. Top spots to drink local hard cider around Denver U.S. retail dollar sales of Bud Light were down 29% in the four weeks ending Oct. 21 compared to same period a year ago, according to Nielsen data compiled by Bump Williams Consulting. They are down nearly...

Police: Miami woman arrested after threatening to kill partner, assaulting her with saucepan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:48 GMT

A Miami woman is facing multiple charges, including robbery, battery, and assault with a deadly weapon, following an incident that allegedly unfolded due to a dispute.Roquanda Veronica McKay,35, and the victim, who have been in a romantic relationship for approximately one year and seven months and have lived together for about eight months, reportedly engaged in an argument on Monday at their Miami-Dade residence. The dispute escalated when McKay armed herself with a saucepan and struck the victim in the head with it, according to the arrest report. She also reportedly grabbed a nightstand and hurled it at the victim. Police said McKay then armed herself with a knife and began cutting their bedroom mattress.The victim started recording McKay, who allegedly snatched the victim’s cellular phone from her hands. McKay left the residence with the victim’s property but returned later. At that point, McKay reportedly placed a knife on the victim’s neck and threatened to ...