Israel's ambassador is ejected from an African Union event
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Israel 's ambassador to Ethiopia was ejected from an African Union event this week and has described it as outrageous.
An Israeli official on Wednesday told The Associated Press the ejection from the annual event commemorating the 1994 Rwanda genocide was at the request of AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to a journalist.
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37 minutes ago
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US House speaker Johnson will travel to Israel June 22
(Reuters) -U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson will travel to Israel to address the parliament on June 22, he said on Wednesday. "Our ties run deeper than military partnerships and trade agreements," Johnson said in an emailed statement. Punchbowl News, which first reported Johnson's plan, said the House Speaker was expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem during the trip. Johnson did not provide further details on the planned trip. Johnson announced the visit as Israel presses on with its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, more than 20 months after it launched its offensive there in response to a deadly incursion into Israel led by Palestinian militant group Hamas. On Tuesday, Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Norway imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel called the action "outrageous" and said the Israeli government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond.
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Florida's execution expansion
Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. The state put ANTHONY WAINWRIGHT to death by lethal injection Tuesday night after he was convicted of the 1994 kidnapping, rape and murder of 23-year-old mother and nursing student CARMEN GAYHEART. The Associated Press reported that Gayheart's mother-in-law, GALE GAYHEART, told reporters after the execution that Wainwright was 'finally brought to justice' and that she wished other family members were still alive to get closure. Wainwright called the court system 'broken,' in a statement he provided through his spiritual adviser and Florida Alternatives to the Death Penalty (which detailed problems it saw with his trial). 'Please continue the fight,' he said, 'because I can promise you they are not going to let up. They will continue to murder if we continue to let it happen.' He added that he hoped his death brought Gayheart's family 'peace and healing.' Wainwright's execution marks the 13th overall during Gov. RON DESANTIS' time in office. Another is set for later this month, of convicted rapist and murderer THOMAS LEE GUDINAS. With these death warrants, DeSantis is on pace to surpass the record eight executions in Florida in a single year that happened under both Republican Gov. RICK SCOTT and Democratic Gov. BOB GRAHAM. A total of 270 people are on death row in Florida, according to the state's Department of Corrections. DeSantis has expanded the death penalty as governor, including in a portion of the illegal immigration law he signed in February that mandated capital punishment for undocumented immigrants convicted of murder. During this year's legislative session, he opened the door to allowing executions to be done by nitrogen gas, hanging or firing squad amid shortages of the drugs used for lethal injection. And ahead of Wainwright's execution Tuesday, DeSantis signed into law a bill that allows the death penalty if a person uses physical force to traffic or rape a child under 12 or someone who's mentally incapacitated. This comes after years of loosening death penalty laws. In 2023, as DeSantis prepared to mount a run for president, he authorized allowing the death penalty to be pursued against child rapists and signed into law a bill that changed the unanimous jury threshold needed to sentence convicted criminals to death. The push came amid fallout from the Parkland mass shooting, in which convicted mass murder NIKOLAS CRUZ received life in prison rather than the death penalty because jurists couldn't agree. Now, the threshold is the lowest in the U.S., requiring eight out of 12 jurists to be in agreement. It's not yet clear whether all the death penalty measures will stand or someday wind up going before the Supreme Court. The child rape law already has a 2008 precedent of being struck down, but that was a narrow decision issued when the court looked different than it does now, with three President DONALD TRUMP appointments. DeSantis hasn't brought up many of the individual executions or how he squares signing death warrants with his stated Catholic faith. Though he's hardly the only Catholic governor to take this position, it conflicts with the church's official stance that it should be abolished. But the record is in line with DeSantis' push for Florida to be a 'law and order' state. It also squares with Trump's positions on expanding the death penalty, which he has said should be extended to drug dealers and others. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... FLORIDA BUDGET CONTINUES TO COME TOGETHER: A deal reached on education: 'State lawmakers agreed on a $29.5 billion K-12 education budget Tuesday, marking a 3 percent increase over current-year spending,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'The deal would set a leaner-than-usual budget compared to years past, with the Legislature settling on smaller boosts for key needs like improving teacher pay and keeping student mental health and school safety funding flat. But after considering possible cuts during session, lawmakers did opt to fund top programs that are major draws for students, like Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, at their current levels.' Property tax nugget: 'Lawmakers are considering $945 million in new K-12 spending for next year, with more than 70 percent of that money generated by property taxes — a significantly higher rate compared to previous budgets,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury and Gary Fineout. 'While DeSantis advocates for property tax relief, Florida appears to be relying on that revenue to help offset declining public-school enrollment with the nation's largest school-choice program booming.' On transportation: The Legislature 'voted to expedite the construction of two express lanes on I-4's busiest stretch in Osceola and Polk Counties and a separate road project that will better connect I-4 to the rest of Osceola County's transportation network,' reports Natalia Jaramillo of the Orlando Sentinel. 'The joint legislative budget commission approved $1.7 billion for the three road projects,' which otherwise weren't set to begin until 2026. On the Pulse Memorial: 'The House and Senate have agreed to budget just over $394,000 toward building a permanent memorial for Orlando's Pulse nightclub shooting that killed 49 people in 2006,' reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. For DeSantis: 'The budget coming together during negotiations among lawmakers is several days late and several million dollars short in key areas,' reports Gray Rohrer of USA Today Network — Florida. IT'S NOT A 'BLACKLIST,' BUT ... Florida's mammoth pension fund has shed roughly $2 billion of assets — most of it since the end of March — from companies that have ties to China, according to CHRIS SPENCER, the executive director of the State Board of Administration. Last year, Florida legislators passed a bill that required the state to divest from any companies that were controlled by the Chinese government or military. Spencer said that resulted in the state selling off $117 million between July 1 and March 31 of this year. But under direction from DeSantis and other state officials, the SBA also began looking to divest itself from companies listed on stock exchanges in China. Spencer said that 'we don't blacklist China,' but the SBA began encouraging its asset managers to move away from investments tied to the country, citing growing 'geopolitical risk.' China is also involved in an escalating trade war with the United States. Florida's SBA has divested $1.89 billion under this new strategy since March 31. Spencer said Florida still has 'exposure' in China but that it will be limited to companies that SBA asset managers have 'convictions' will continue to perform well. DeSantis on Tuesday praised the SBA's effort and contended that it could be a 'model' for the rest of the nation to follow. — Gary Fineout HARD SELL — 'A new group that says it represents data center developers argues the state stands to lose out on a 'multi-trillion-dollar economic opportunity' if it backs Florida Power & Light Co.'s proposed rate-hike request,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie. 'The Florida Energy for Innovation Association made the arguments this week in filed testimony with state regulators as DeSantis on Tuesday argued for maintaining state and local control over where the huge data centers associated with artificial intelligence are built.' DESANTIS SIGNS 'BROOKE'S LAW' — DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill into law that would have online platforms create a way for people to get images and videos removed when their likenesses have been nonconsensually manipulated with AI to create suggestive postures or sexual acts. BROOKE CURRY, the teen the law was named after because of deepfake images of her that circulated, stood by DeSantis as he signed the bill and spoke to the cameras, saying the advocacy work had been 'painful' but also empowered her by turning 'tragedy into purpose.' 'We are here today because we chose not to look away, because we decided silence was not an option,' she said. 'Because we knew that victims of this crime — many of them young, vulnerable and silenced — deserve a voice, justice and a path forward. Brooke's Law is just not just about me, it's about all of us.' LAND CONSERVATION — Environmental groups and state agency representatives praised votes by the governor and Cabinet on Tuesday to conserve more than 76,000 acres in northeast Florida. The state will spend nearly $118 million on conservation easements across much of what is timber company land in Baker, Bradford and Union counties. The Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement that the acquisitions close the final major gap in a 1.6-million acre conservation network linking the Ocala and Osceola national forests. 'North Florida boasts some of the last remaining untouched, wild spaces in Florida. Partnering with private landowners to conserve these lands is a promise to protect our region, ensuring that water resources and wildlife thrive for generations to come,' RICHARD SCHWAB, vice chair of the Suwannee River Water Management District board, said in the DEP statement. — Bruce Ritchie CALIFORNIA VS. FLORIDA — 'DeSantis' office said on Tuesday that the state's Division of Emergency Management offered to send the state guard to California to help with the recent unrest over immigration protests in Los Angeles, an offer that was ultimately declined by California,' reports Julia Manchester of The Hill. 'Newsom's office confirmed that the offer was made from Florida, but that 'guard were not needed in the first place, we declined Governor DeSantis['] attempt to inflame an already chaotic situation made worse by his party's leader.'' DeSantis offered up more details: 'Their response, though, was that somehow us offering help was going to, quote, 'inflame the situation,'' he told Jesse Watters Tuesday on Fox News Channel, per Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski. — 'Hidden charges? Patients often face massive bills when Florida hospitals don't provide costs upfront,' by Cindy Krischer Goodman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. — 'Ron and Casey DeSantis to receive National Review's Bill Buckley Prize,' reports Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski. PENINSULA AND BEYOND — 'The unseen flooding risk in South Florida: Rising water beneath our feet,' reports Alex Harris of the Miami Herald. — ''Everything is uncertain now': Venezuelan travelers blindsided by travel ban,' reports Verónica Egui Brito and Gustavo Ocando Alex for the Miami Herald. CAMPAIGN MODE REPUBLICANS WIN IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS — DEBBIE MAYFIELD won back her old seat in the state Senate while insurance company owner BRIAN HODGERS and former Okaloosa County Commissioner NATHAN BOYLES were elected to the state House. The seats became available after Trump turned to Florida to fill out his administration. DATELINE D.C. COME TO FLORIDA — Sen. RICK SCOTT on Tuesday led a letter from the Florida delegation that encourages the Trump administration to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida's Space Coast. The agency's lease is set to expire in 2028, with plans to build a $500 million new facility. The members promise in the letter that Florida would offer cost savings, a ready workforce and faster innovation. And it would be in the middle of where private contractors have already set up shop. — 'Republicans warn Trump that some deportations go too far,' by Hans Nichols and Andrew Solender of Axios. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN — Rep. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-Fla.) met a Senate icon this week. BIRTHDAYS: Pasco County Tax Collector and former state Sen. Mike Fasano … Cesar Gonzalez of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's (R-Fla.) office ... state Rep. Tae Edmonds.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Turkey to export 48 of its nationally produced fighter jets to Indonesia
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey will export 48 of its nationally-produced KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday, marking the first export deal for the advanced aircraft that is still in the development stage. Erdogan said in an X post that the 48 KAAN fighter jets would be manufactured in Turkey and exported to Indonesia, adding that Indonesia's 'local capabilities' would be integrated into the production process. The Turkish leader didn't elaborate or disclose the financial details of the agreement. The deal came on the sidelines of the defense industry exposition, Indo Defence 2025, in Jakarta, Turkey's Sabah newspaper reported. 'This agreement showcases the progress and achievements of our domestic and national defense industry,' Erdogan said. He also praised Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his role in securing the agreement. Turkey's first indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN successfully completed its maiden flight in 2024. Its first units are expected to be delivered in 2028. The deal came amid growing economic and defense ties between Turkey and Indonesia. Earlier this year, the two countries agreed on the joint development of a Baykar combat-drone factory in Indonesia. Pakistan and Azerbaijan, which also have strong defense ties with Turkey, are reported to be interested in purchasing KAAN fighters. The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
