13 h. ago Diver convicted of freeing sharks off Florida coast says he was surprised by presidential pardon

A boat captain convicted of theft for freeing 19 sharks from a fisherman’s longline off Florida says he felt like he was living in an alternate universe for the past five years

Politics

21 h. ago Potential location of Trump’s presidential library revealed in new report

Negotiations reportedly underway with Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton over 100-year lease

Politics

41 h. ago College board reverses decision on hiring University of Florida president over DEI concerns

Santa Ono was rejected after questions about his earlier support of DEI initiatives and later disavowal of themConservatives on a state college board reversed a decision to hire the experienced academic Santa Ono to lead the University of Florida, despite his efforts to distance himself from previous support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and past criticism of Donald Trump.The 10-6 vote followed a contentious meeting of the Florida board of governors on Tuesday when members argued over Ono’s record, including accusations he failed to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests last year while he was president of the University of Michigan. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago University of Florida board rejects hiring Michigan’s president over his changing of DEI policy

The State University System Board of Governors’ 6-10 vote came after hours of contentious debate and grilling of Ono over his previous position on diversity, equity, and inclusion

Politics

44 h. ago University of Florida board rejects hiring Michigan’s president after he changed DEI policy to appease Trump

The State University System Board of Governors’ 6-10 vote came after hours of contentious debate and grilling of Ono over his previous position on diversity, equity, and inclusion

Politics

67 h. ago Florida man sues Universal for $50,000 after Harry Potter ride malfunctions

Casey Causey claimed to have suffered “mental anguish” after he was injured on a park ride known as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in July 2023

Politics

2 d. ago Texas becomes latest state to push for political control over ‘woke’ universities

The legislation marks the latest effort among Republican-led states to reshape higher education institutions

Politics

2 d. ago Nato to force UK to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP to appease Trump, say sources

Starmer bound to accept Mark Rutte’s higher target after announcing ‘Nato-first’ defence strategy, insiders sayDefence sources believe that Britain will be forced to sign up to a target of lifting defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 at this month’s Nato summit after a campaign by the alliance’s secretary general to keep Donald Trump onboard.One senior insider said Britain would “without a doubt” sign up to a proposal from the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, to lift allies’ defence spending, which would represent a real-terms increase of about £30bn from the Labour government’s plan. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago ‘I visited Orlando’s newest £7bn theme park and one new thing blew everyone away'

Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe in Florida has opened its doors – with five new worlds to explore within – so naturally I went along to sample the magical delights

Economics

6 d. ago John Thrasher, former Florida State president and state House speaker, dies at 81

John Thrasher, a former Florida State University president and longtime state lawmaker, has died

Events

8 d. ago Not so Epic? Universal’s $6 billion new theme park slammed over ‘lack of shade’ and ‘not enough rides’

Several reviewers have complained about being unable to escape the sun at Epic Universe and others complain that parts of it are ‘boring’

Economics

9 d. ago Trump’s flattery and bullying of Putin have been equally ineffective – and it’s obvious why | Rajan Menon

Putin has tied his political survival to the war, and he believes Russia is winning. The US president will not make progress on peace until that changesRajan Menon is senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Saltzman Institute of War and Peace StudiesThree-plus years into the war in Ukraine, much remains uncertain, including when the bloodshed will cease and on what terms. But we can be sure about one thing: although no one took seriously Donald Trump’s boast that he would end the war within 24 hours – perhaps not even Trump himself – it’s now evident that his efforts to stitch together a political settlement have failed. Last weekend’s Russian drone and missile strikes against Ukraine, reportedly among the largest since the full-scale invasion began, show us that the conflict isn’t likely to come to a sudden end.That’s because Vladimir Putin remains committed to his goal of conquering Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces. So far, he controls virtually all of...

Politics

1 week ago Drastic cuts under way bending US national security council to Trump’s will

Staff to be cut as office meant to formulate national security policy is reduced to implementing the president’s ideas, under watch of trusted aidesThe Trump administration started to dramatically overhaul the White House national security council on Friday, preparing to reassign hundreds of staff and consolidating power with aides trusted by the president, according to people familiar with the matter.The changes involved downsizing the NSC to about 150 from 300 staff and cutting a number of committees. Most NSC staff are drawn from other parts of the administration including the Pentagon and the state department, and were expected to be sent back to their home agencies. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Inside Epic Universe: Photos unveil Universal’s $6 billion Florida park as it finally opens to the public

At the center of Epic Universe is Celestial Park. From here, guests access The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe

Economics

2 w. ago Trump announces $25bn in funding for Golden Dome missile defense project – US politics live

Funding for Trump’s missile defense shield idea to protect the US from long-range strikes included in tax bill facing opposition from some RepublicansThese are challenging days for Florida governor Ron DeSantis, the man who would have been king. Barely two and a half years since his landslide re-election and anointment as “DeFuture” of the Republican party in a fawning New York Post cover, he stands isolated from the national political stage, feuding with his once blindingly loyal Florida legislature, and limping towards the finish line of his second term with an uncertain pathway beyond.It has been, in the view of many analysts, a fall of stunning velocity and magnitude. And while few are willing to completely rule out a comeback for a 46-year-old politician who was the darling of the Republican hard right until he dared to challenge Donald Trump for his party’s 2024 presidential nomination, it is also clear that everything has changed.He’s lost the ability to push things through. ...

Events

2 w. ago Trump appears to have failed to get Republican holdouts behind tax bill – US politics live

Trump reportedly also told House Republicans ‘don’t fuck around with Medicare’; RFK Jr and Marco Rubio grilled by Senate commitees These are challenging days for Florida governor Ron DeSantis, the man who would have been king. Barely two and a half years since his landslide re-election and anointment as “DeFuture” of the Republican party in a fawning New York Post cover, he stands isolated from the national political stage, feuding with his once blindingly loyal Florida legislature, and limping towards the finish line of his second term with an uncertain pathway beyond.It has been, in the view of many analysts, a fall of stunning velocity and magnitude. And while few are willing to completely rule out a comeback for a 46-year-old politician who was the darling of the Republican hard right until he dared to challenge Donald Trump for his party’s 2024 presidential nomination, it is also clear that everything has changed.He’s lost the ability to push things through. He’s lost that lust...

Politics

2 w. ago RFK Jr pressed on defunded medical research in tense Senate hearing – live

Trump’s health secretary earlier called for other nations to withdraw from the World Health OrganizationThese are challenging days for Florida governor Ron DeSantis, the man who would have been king. Barely two and a half years since his landslide re-election and anointment as “DeFuture” of the Republican party in a fawning New York Post cover, he stands isolated from the national political stage, feuding with his once blindingly loyal Florida legislature, and limping towards the finish line of his second term with an uncertain pathway beyond.It has been, in the view of many analysts, a fall of stunning velocity and magnitude. And while few are willing to completely rule out a comeback for a 46-year-old politician who was the darling of the Republican hard right until he dared to challenge Donald Trump for his party’s 2024 presidential nomination, it is also clear that everything has changed.He’s lost the ability to push things through. He’s lost that luster he had that at one time ...

Science

2 w. ago Israel says ‘external pressure will not divert’ it after UK pauses trade talks – Israel

Israel foreign ministry spokesperson accuses Britain of ‘anti-Israel obsession’ after UK pauses trade talks over blockade of GazaPhilippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of Unrwa, the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees, has been speaking to Euronews.He said US President Donald Trump has the unique power to force Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “change the situation” in Gaza.I do believe that President Donald Trump has the necessary influence to change the situation in Gaza and make sure that the siege be lifted and that the population get access to the assistance it deserves.It’s an outrage that we are confronted by a situation of starvation when it comes to Gaza. It’s a completely fabricated one. We are in a situation where hunger and food are being weaponised for political and military purposes What is needed in Gaza is a massive, unhindered, uninterrupted assistance of supply to make sure that we are reversing the trend of the spreading hunger. Continue...

Politics

2 w. ago Ron DeSantis’s fall from grace: ‘He’s completely crashed to the ground’

Florida governor stands isolated from Trump and is feuding with Republicans at home – is he drifting to irrelevance?These are challenging days for Florida governor Ron DeSantis, the man who would have been king. Barely two and a half years since his landslide re-election and anointment as “DeFuture” of the Republican party in a fawning New York Post cover, he stands isolated from the national political stage, feuding with his once blindingly loyal Florida legislature, and limping towards the finish line of his second term with an uncertain pathway beyond.It has been, in the view of many analysts, a fall of stunning velocity and magnitude. And while few are willing to completely rule out a comeback for a 46-year-old politician who was the darling of the Republican hard right until he dared to challenge Donald Trump for his party’s 2024 presidential nomination, it is also clear that everything has changed. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Nicușor Dan, the maths prodigy who beat an ultranationalist for Romanian presidency

Bucharest’s crusading mayor appeals for ‘specialists, civil society, new people’ to help him deliver changeEurope elections live – latest updatesRomania’s new president, a modest but driven maths prodigy who made a name for himself fighting corrupt property developers in Bucharest before becoming the capital’s crusading mayor, is expected to keep his country firmly on its pro-European track.Nicușor Dan won Sunday’s rerun against the ultranationalist George Simion by a convincing seven-point margin – despite only entering it after the original vote, won by another far-right firebrand, was cancelled over fears of Russian meddling. Continue reading...

Politics