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UAW says over 1,000 workers at VW plant in Tennessee have signed cards seeking union representation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — More than 1,000 workers at Volkswagen’s Tennessee factory have signed cards authorizing a vote on representation by the United Auto Workers, the first plant in the nation to reach that milestone in the UAW’s quest to organize more than a dozen nonunion factories.The union says in a statement Thursday that the VW workers signed on in less than a week. The factory in Chattanooga employs about 3,800 people who make the VW ID.4 electric vehicle and the Atlas family of gas-powered SUVs. It could become the first test of the union’s strategy to simultaneously try to organize the nonunion plants. The UAW statement says workers have complained about mistreatment by management including mandatory overtime on Saturdays, and they are seeking higher pay. A message was left Thursday seeking comment from VW.In November, VW gave workers an 11% pay raise at the plant. The raises came after UAW members ratified new contracts with Detroit automakers. The union says VW...

A China, EU summit exposes divisions over Ukraine, trade and subsidies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The leaders of China and the European Union held talks Thursday that focused on their disputes over trade, subsidies and a deep divide over the war in Ukraine. Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing with the two European presidents, Ursula von der Leyen from the EU Commission and Charles Michel from the EU Council. The European Union is calling on China to improve market access to address an annual trade imbalance of more than $200 billion between the two sides. China is unhappy with an EU investigation into subsides for electric vehicles and possible EU restrictions on technology exports. The EU has urged China to use its influence with Russia to help bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. Von der Leyen said the two sides need to manage their differences responsibly.“China is the EU’s most important trading partner,” she said in opening remarks posted on the commission’s website. “But there are clear imbalances and differences that we must address.”Xi said ...

An appreciation: How Norman Lear changed television — and with it American life — in the 1970s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — In many American living rooms, the 1960s didn’t really begin until Jan. 12, 1971.That was the night the comedy “All in the Family” debuted, almost instantly changing television and American society with it. Creator Norman Lear, who died at age 101 on Tuesday, was the man behind that transformation.The series introduced the brash bigot Archie Bunker, his “dingbat” wife Edith, his feminist daughter Gloria and his liberal son-in-law Mike “Meathead” Stivic. From their house in the New York City borough of Queens, they co-existed loudly and watched the world spin uncontrollably.Archie Bunker, portrayed by Carroll O’Connor, embodied the “American Way” — as most middle-aged white Americans understood it at the time — and watched in confused exasperation as “others” redefined it.Coming out of a tumultuous decade of fundamental change, and smack in the middle of a contentious war overseas, these realities were hardly foreign to most Americans. They just rarely saw...

Journey, Def Leppard announce tour, stop in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Two of rock music's biggest bands are teaming up and going on a stadium tour in 2024.Rock legends Journey and Def Leppard will be hitting the stage together for a co-headlining tour. Def Leppard announced the tour on X Thursday morning saying the two bands will head to 23 cities.Of those cities, Denver will be the last show of this iconic tour. On Sept. 8, 2024, Journey and Def Leppard will be performing at Coors Field.Fans of the American and English rock bands can jam out to hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’" and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” below the lights of the Colorado Rockies home stadium. Tribute band recreates the Beatles’ 1964 Red Rocks show Journey consists of Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka and Todd Jensen.Def Leppard consists of Rick Savage, Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell.To see this once-in-a-lifetime show, fans must register for presale. On the tour's website, fans can register for early ac...

Miami Dolphins extend OL Austin Jackson through 2026 season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins have agreed to a three-year contract extension with offensive lineman Austin Jackson, locking in the former first-round pick until 2026.Miami selected Jackson with the 18th pick out of Southern California in 2020, originally to play left tackle. He has also played right guard and moved to right tackle last season.Jackson is having a breakout season despite a slow start to his career, mostly because of injuries. An ankle injury early last season caused him to miss all but two games, despite showing promise and improvement.Jackson has started every game this year on an offensive line that has dealt with a plethora of injuries. Miami has started eight different offensive line combinations this season, but Jackson has been consistent as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side protector.According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson was the highest rated right tackle in the NFL in Week 13, when the Dolphins rushed for 123 yards in a 45-15 win over ...

CNN to host two GOP presidential primary debates in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

By CNN Staff(CNN) — CNN will host two Republican presidential primary debates next month in Iowa and New Hampshire – states that hold the first contests in the race for the 2024 GOP nomination, the network announced Thursday.The events will provide Republican voters an opportunity to hear the governing philosophies of the leading candidates seeking to challenge the likely Democratic presidential nominee, President Joe Biden, in November.The first debate will take place on January 10 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, less than a week before Iowa caucusgoers weigh in on the Republican presidential race. The second debate will be January 21 at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire.To qualify for participation in the Iowa debate, candidates must receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNN’s standards for...

Tampa teen faces murder charge in mass shooting on Halloween weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A 14-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 20-year-old during a Halloween weekend mass shooting that left two people dead and 16 injured in Tampa’s Ybor City, officials said.“This defendant is a perfect example of why we must take a strong stance against juvenile gun violence in our community,” Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez said during a Wednesday night news conference announcing the charges.The teen is also charged with attempted aggravated battery and attempted murder in connection to the shooting, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said. He said bullets and shell casings connected the teen to the 20-year-old victim, Harrison Boonstoppel.The shooting happened after an argument broke out between two groups in the early morning hours of Oct. 29 as people were celebrating Halloween in one of Tampa’s entertainment districts.Later that day, detectives arrested Tyrell Stephen Phillips, 22, who was charged with second-degre...

Denmark bans Quran burnings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

The Danish parliament on Thursday banned Quran burnings over security concerns, after hundreds of incidents this year roiled the country.“This is about the security of Danes and Denmark,” Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said after the parliament passed the law.Since July, there have been more than 500 reported demonstrations “with the burning of Qurans or flags,” Hummelgaard said Thursday, according to Danish media. “There is no doubt that they have only been held to generate very negative reactions against Denmark,” he added. Under the new law, burning the Quran becomes a criminal offense, subject to a penalty of up to two years in prison, Danish media reported. 94 parliamentarians backed the law and 77 opposed it. Rasmus Paludan, from the Danish far-right political party Hard Line, has been at the forefront of the controversies. The anti-Islam politician has repeatedly burned the Quran in Copenhagen and Stockholm.In January, Swedish med...

Blocking Ukraine aid would be ‘Christmas present’ for Putin, UK’s David Cameron warns US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron gave the hard sell on continued United States support for Ukraine as he toured Washington on Thursday.Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Cameron acknowledged that politicians on both sides of the Atlantic are asking why they should focus on “challenges overseas” amid turmoil at home.But, speaking after Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked fresh funding for Ukraine, the former British prime minister said Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country marked “the worst example of one state invading and wrecking the sovereignty of another state that we’ve seen since the Second World War.” And he urged Americans to “recognize that European security is also American security” — or risk handing a gift to Russia and China.“We should pass this money to the Ukrainians, we should back them and make sure that it’s Putin that loses — because if that money doesn’t get voted through, there are...

UK’s James Cleverly blasts Meta’s encryption push

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

LONDON — British Home Secretary James Cleverly has some stern words for Meta after the company said it had started rolling out encryption on its Messenger service. Government ministers, law enforcement agencies and some child protection groups have warned the move will make it more difficult to remove child sexual abuse material from the platform and to prosecute child abusers.Cleverly said on Thursday he was “incredibly disappointed Meta has not listened – especially when we have worked together to make great progress in tackling other online harms.” In a statement the minister said that the rollout lacked “appropriate safety measures” and “would empower child sex abusers and hamper the ability of the police and National Crime Agency to bring offenders to justice.” “We know that end-to-end encryption can be implemented responsibly in a way that is consistent with public safety” said Cleverly, but added that the move represents “a significant step back.”When Suella Braverman wa...