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Book sales, a lure for money and more takeaways from the AP investigation into Supreme Court ethics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a monthslong inquiry, which included reviewing tens of thousands of pages of documents from more than 100 public records requests, The Associated Press has examined what happens behind the scenes when Supreme Court justices travel to colleges and universities for lectures and other events. The AP learned the identities of donors and politicians invited to events with justices, details about the perks that have accompanied the school visits and information about how school trips have helped advance books sales.Some of the key takeaways:BOOK SALESThe documents reveal how university visits are a convenient way for justices to sell their own books. That’s especially true in the case of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a prolific author who has kept the court’s most active travel schedule over the past decade, according to the records reviewed by the AP.Emails and other documents show that Supreme Court staff members have been directly engaged in facilitating book sales by a...

Live Updates | Lithuania and allies beef up security for NATO summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Follow along for updates on the summit of the NATO military alliance in Lithuania’s capital:What to know: — Turkey’s decision to end opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership boosts summit— Sweden’s rocky road from neutrality toward NATO membership— What is NATO doing to help Ukraine in the war with Russia?— Ukraine, defense plans and Sweden’s membership top summit agenda—— Lithuania and several of its allies have beefed up security for the NATO summit, with as many as 12,000 troops backed by warships, air defense systems and artillery deployed for the two-day meeting. Lithuanian authorities say almost 50 foreign delegations with 2,400 representatives are gathering in Vilnius, including 40 presidents or prime ministers and up to 150 other high-ranking politicians.Germany supplied Patriot missile defense for the summit that starts Tuesday, while Spain provided short- to medium-range NASAM ground systems.The summit in Lithuania’s capital is being hel...

Spain’s right-wing opposition leader puts Socialist prime minister on defensive in election debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s right-wing opposition leader put Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on the defensive in an election TV debate that saw both leaders accusing each other of pacting with parties they deem dangerous for Spain.The debate late Monday between Popular Party leader Alberto Feijóo and Sánchez, watched by some 6 million, was the first and only between the two main candidates ahead of July 23 elections. Most polls tip the Popular Party, or PP, to win the elections but it will likely need the support of the extreme right-wing party Vox to form a majority.Such a victory would bring an end to the Socialist-led leftist minority coalition in power since 2019, and see yet another European country swinging to the right.The 100-minute unruly debate featured both leaders interrupting and accusing each other of telling lies and misleading voters. Experts in Spain say debates rarely shift voter intention.Sánchez tried repeatedly to get Feijóo to confirm or deny that he would ent...

Panda twins born in South Korea for the 1st time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A giant panda has given birth to twin cubs at a theme park in South Korea.Ai Bao gave birth to the cubs, both female, last Friday at the Everland theme park near Seoul, the park’s operator, Samsung C&T resort group, said in a statement Tuesday.It’s the first time that panda twins have been born in South Korea, the resort group said.Both Ai Bao and her newborns are in good health, it said.Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 at one time to more than 1,800 in the wild and captivity. The life expectancy of a giant panda in the wild is about 15 years, but in captivity they have lived to be as old as 38. The South Korean resort group said it will observe the cubs’ health and growth conditions to determine when to unveil them to the public. Meanwhile, the group said it will use social media to show off the cubs.Ai Bao and her male mate,...

Inside the AP’s investigation into the ethics practices of the Supreme Court justices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Associated Press examination of the ethics practices of the U.S. Supreme Court relied on documents obtained from more than 100 public records requests to public colleges, universities and other institutions that have hosted the justices over the past decade.Here’s a look at how the reporting was done:To conduct its review, the AP surveyed local news stories and social media and obtained data from ScotusTracker, a website that logged justices’ activities, to develop a list of appearances over the past 10 years.In late 2022 and early this year, the AP submitted records requests to the public institutions on that list, citing individual state statutes that require the disclosure of certain documents to the public.The requests sought a broad range of information, including details about any contracts or riders for the appearances; transportation to and from events as well as food and lodging; the recording policy for the event; and any gifts or honorarium discussed ...

Paraguay’s president-elect begins Taiwan visit that’s meant to foster closer ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Paraguay’s president-elect, Santiago Pena, landed in Taipei on Tuesday for a visit meant to reinforce relations between Taiwan and one of its few remaining diplomatic allies.Pena, who takes office next month, is to meet with top political leaders including President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President William Lai, who is also the governing Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate in the January presidential election.Pena promised during his campaign to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.Paraguay is one of only 13 countries that recognize Taiwan as a country and do not have diplomatic relations with China.Beijing, which considers self-governed Taiwan a breakaway province, prohibits its diplomatic partners from having formal ties with Taipei.Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies are generally smaller countries in Central America, the Caribbean and South Pacific, along with Eswatini in southern Africa and Vatican City.China has intensified its campaign to win o...

Kevin Huerter hosts year two of the Huerter Basketball Camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's safe to say Kevin Huerter had a successful first season with the Sacramento Kings, helping to end the longest playoff drought in major pro sports at 16 seasons, while averaging a career high 15 points per game. This week Huerter is back where it all started, passing on his basketball wisdom to some young Capital Region ballers. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Kevin is hosting year two of the Huerter Basketball Camp at the Impact Athletic Center in Halfmoon. Sessions run from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM all week, for campers of all ages. For the Shenendehowa grad, running a camp like this at home continues to be a dream come true. "It means a lot, to be honest," said Huerter. "Basketball camps, especially in the summer, were things that I always did growing up. Me and my brother, other people from our town, our AAU team, it was a great way to meet other players from around the area and obviously get to ...

Albany Pop Warner making kids strong and fast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's that time of year again when Albany Pop Warner holds its annual strength and conditioning workout camp. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The camp is at Foley Field, and kids ages six to twelve are eligible to participate. This is an outlet for kids to get back in shape before football season kicks off in the fall. Last season Albany Pop Warner brought home Super Bowls in the age groups 8u, 10u, and 12u. The 8u team is the two-time defending champion, 10u is the current defending champ, and 12u is the three-time defending champion.You can register on the Albany Pop Warner Facebook page, and to end the week, they will be holding Friends and Family day on July 14.

Ukrainians and Belarusians help turn Warsaw into hub of creative arts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

Yulia Krivich is part of a burgeoning community of artists from around the former Soviet Union that has helped turn the Polish capital into a major hub of creative talent, especially after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of her native Ukraine.Krivich, who has lived in Poland for more than a decade, now organizes exhibitions, workshops and other events at Warsaw's Museum of Modern Art with the aim of confronting what she sees as the collective trauma of Russian colonialism."We came here (to the museum) on the third day of the invasion and stayed. We like to call it the occupation of the Museum of Modern Art and the director is happy with the occupation," Krivich, 34, joked."We came here to make banners for a protest at the Russian embassy and stayed," she said.Even before Russian troops poured into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Poland had been hosting thousands of migrants from the east, including people who fled a Moscow-backed uprising in eastern Ukraine and turmoil in Belarus ...

Horoscopes July 11, 2023: Justin Chambers, try something new

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:58 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Justin Chambers, 53; Dina Eastwood, 58; Lisa Rinna, 60; Richie Sambora, 64.Happy Birthday: This is a year of giving and taking. Getting along with others will make your life easier and encourage you to spend more time with like-minded people. Don’t fear what you don’t know; open your mind to information and try something new. Loyalty, dedication and finishing what you start will pay off. Your numbers are 4, 12, 22, 26, 31, 42, 49.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Express yourself, ask questions and sign up for something within your budget that puts a smile on your face. Choosing what’s best for you will make a difference in how you view others and the world. Romance is favored. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Be open-minded and considerate. Focus on something that benefits you instead of trying to convince others to share your beliefs. Give everyone the same freedom you wish for yourself. A steady pace will get you where you want to go. 3 st...