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Senator Ted Cruz slams US agency for ‘collusion’ with EU on Big Tech rules

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

U.S. Republican Senator Ted Cruz called for details on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) work with its European counterparts in a letter to FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan on Tuesday.The conservative Texas lawmaker criticized Khan and other FTC staff for meeting with European Commission officials to discuss incoming EU rules designed to rein in Big Tech companies, which are largely U.S.-based.“It is one thing for the EU to target U.S. businesses,” the letter said, but “it is altogether unthinkable that an agency of the U.S. government would actively help the EU” on its digital platform regulation.The FTC’s “collusion with foreign governments not only undermines U.S. sovereignty and Congress’s constitutional lawmaking authority,” Cruz’s letter said, “but also damages the competitiveness of U.S. firms and could negatively affect the savings of millions of Americans who hold stock in those companies” through pension plans. T...

EU top diplomat is happy Spain’s women ‘are learning to play football as well as men’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

Top diplomat? More like the top un-diplomat.Spanish EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday further fueled a sexism storm which has clouded Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, saying he was happy our women “are learning to play football as well as men, and that in itself is already very good news.”Borrell recalled Andrés Iniesta’s winning goal for the Spanish men’s team in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa before making his ill-timed remark, which landed with a thud just days after Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales sparked a sexism outcry by giving victorious player Jenni Hermoso an unwanted kiss on the lips. For Borrell, it was far from the first time the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs has put his foot firmly in his mouth.Sunday’s World Cup final win over England was the first time the Spanish women’s team had lifted the global trophy. Recriminations have followed Rubiales̵...

The drowning death of a former White House chef who was working for the Obama family has been ruled an accident

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

(CNN) — The drowning death of a former White House chef who was working for the Obama family has been ruled an accident, a spokesperson with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said.Tafari Campbell, 45, was found dead last month in Edgartown Great Pond on the south shore of Martha’s Vineyard, state police said.He had been paddleboarding the night before and was reported missing after he went into the water and didn’t resurface, a news release from Massachusetts State Police said at the time.He went “into the water, appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerged and did not resurface,” police said. Another paddleboarder on the pond with him witnessed him go under the water, according to the release.Campbell “was employed by former President Obama and was visiting Martha’s Vineyard at the time of his passing,” state police said.The Obamas were not at their Martha’s Vineyard residence at the time o...

Yankees losing streak by the numbers: 9 in a row puts them in rare company

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

The Yankees are historically bad right now.Their ninth-consecutive loss Tuesday night marked their longest losing streak in more than four decades, and another defeat Wednesday against the Washington Nationals would clinch their worst stretch in over a century.The bats are struggling. The pitching is sputtering. And any hope for an improbable playoff run has largely dwindled.The streak began with back-to-back losses to the Miami Marlins, continued with consecutive sweeps by the Atlanta Braves and rival Boston Red Sox, and extended Tuesday with a two-hit performance at home against the lowly Nationals.Here is the Yankees’ losing streak by the numbers:1982: That’s the last time the Yankees lost nine in a row. They finished 79-83 and missed the playoffs that season.1913: A loss Wednesday night would give the Yankees their first 10-game losing streak since 1913. That was the 11th season in franchise history and the first since the team changed its name from Highlanders to Ya...

Massachusetts rent control supporters say ballot question is valid as opposition mounts

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

Legal memos are starting to fly in the early battle over a ballot question that would repeal Massachusetts’ ban on rent control, with the latest arguing the proposed question meets constitutional muster and should appear before voters in 2024.After real estate, property owner, landlord, development, and fiscal associations sent letters to Attorney General Andrea Campbell in opposition to a ballot question that would hand municipalities the power to regulate rents and fees, a lawyer representing the original drafters is striking back.Attorney Gerald McDonough said it is not surprising that the real estate industry, “which has extracted untold profits from our communities and reaped the gains of housing inflation, opposes the initiative petition.”“Those interests who have realized the most benefit from the housing emergency and the ongoing inflation in residential rents are trying to stop the public from voting on the Tenant Protection Act, on speculative rationales before any municip...

Teen charged with fatal stabbing in Lynn

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

A teenage suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal stabbing in Lynn on Tuesday evening, Essex County DA Paul Tucker and Lynn Police Chief Chris Reddy announced in a release Wednesday.The teenage victim, who’s identity is being withheld pending notification of the family, was stabbed in the Alpha Convenience Store at 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to the the DA’s office. Shortly after, the stabbing was reported to a nearby fire station, and the victim was transported to Salem Hospital where they died.Authorities reported two suspects were in custody Tuesday night, according to a previous release from the DA’s office.As of Wednesday, one teenage suspect was charged with murder for the stabbing, the release said. The suspect is expected to be arraigned as an adult in Lynn District Court.A second teen, who the DA’s office said will not be identified because he is a juvenile, is being charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in connection w...

Five injured after wall collapse at Bedford residential construction site

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

A wall collapse at a residential construction site in Bedford Wednesday morning left five people injured, including one with life-threatening wounds, local authorities said.Bedford Interim Fire Chief Paul Sheehan and Police Chief John Fisher said first responders received a call at 7:35 a.m. for a wall collapse and entrapment at 61 Dunster Road.Local firefighters and police responded and found “multiple people trapped under a wall, with a bystander administering lifesaving first aid,” authorities said.“Five people were extricated by first responders and transported to area hospitals for treatment. One person is believed to have life-threatening injuries. A Bedford firefighter was treated for injuries at the scene,” authorities said in a statement.A Bedford building inspector “initially believed” the incident occurred due to improper construction techniques, authorities said.“The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has arrived on the scene and will conduct a follow-...

Multi-vehicle collision impacts traffic on northbound I-805

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A multi-vehicle collision backed up traffic on northbound Interstate 805 Wednesday morning.At 6:43 a.m., Caltrans San Diego announced the left three lanes south of El Cajon Boulevard were blocked due to a crash. Stolen motorhome located with East County license plate-reading cameras Shortly after 7 a.m., SkyFOX captured the scene with a tow truck appearing to take off with the last two vehicles involved in the incident. California Highway Patrol could also be seen at the crash site.Traffic in the area was significantly backed up.Around 7:17 a.m., Caltrans announced those lanes have since reopened.Details surrounding the multi-vehicle collision are limited at this time.

Who’s in, who’s out, who’s boycotting: The 8 candidates expected onstage for the first GOP debate

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Donald Trump won’t be on the Republican debate stage Wednesday. But the former president is driving the conversation on and off the debate stage anyway. Trump supporters including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will be in Milwaukee. There are questions about how many of his campaign surrogates will be allowed into Fox News’ spin room. The network has restricted their access unless they are the guests of another media organization. Eight other candidates met the donor and polling qualifications to be onstage, according to the Republican National Committee. For those who didn’t, missing the debate could be a decisive moment in their campaigns. Conservative radio host Larry Elder has said he plans to sue the RNC over being left out, despite what he says is proof that he qualified for the debate. It also wasn’t immediately clear what Miami Mayor Francis Suarez — who didn’t make the cut — would do, following his Iowa State Fair comments that he might ...

Tesla owner warning others after being locked out of car, account hacked

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:40 GMT

Since he bought his Tesla nearly four years ago, Usama Haider has been a big, unofficial promoter of the brand. “It’s the best commuter car I’ve owned,” he said. “I would tell my family and friends about the benefits and some of them bought Teslas too.”Not having to fill the tank with gas in the fully electric car is one benefit. But he also loves the technology.“It does everything for you, it’s easy to use.” But that convenience came at a cost recently. It started after he noticed a strange charge, from Tesla, on his credit card account.“I then go into my Tesla account, through the app, and I am logged out of it.”The Tesla app is used by owners to access the car and someone had changed Haider’s account details, including the email associated with it. “Basically, through the app, you can do anything and everything through the car.”As a backup, owners are given a key card which looks much like a credit card.“If you’re logged out of the app you need to have that key card,” Haide...