Ron DeSantis government bans new advanced African American history course
Florida officials have blocked the introduction of a new advanced-level high school course that teaches African American history.
Governor Ron DeSantis' administration said the proposed course "lacks educational value and is contrary to Florida law".
The course is being rolled out in a pilot programme by the US College Board to 60 high schools across the country.
Officials did not specify what law the course breaks.
The Florida Department of Education outlined its intent to block the course in a 12 January letter to the College Board, writing that the course violates state law.
World Uyghur Congress loses legal challenge against UK authorities
The World Uyghur Congress has said it is disappointed to have lost a legal challenge against UK authorities for not launching a criminal investigation into the importation of cotton products manufactured by forced labour in China’s Xinjiang province but would continue to fight for accountability.
The WUC took the home secretary, HM Revenue and Customs and the National Crime Agency (NCA), to the high court, claiming an unlawful failure or refusal to investigate imports from Xinjiang, allegedly home to 380 internment camps used to detain Uyghurs and people from other Muslim minorities.
It said 85% of Chinese cotton was grown in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and the “vast majority” was manufactured in facilities under “conditions of detention and forced labour”, implicating UK companies that imported from certain Chinese firms.
Dutch to ban unhealthy designer pets
The Netherlands wants to ban pets such as flat-faced dogs and cats with folded ears, which look sweet but suffer "miserable" health problems, the government said on Friday.
Dutch Agriculture Minister Piet Adema said he would seek to outlaw the ownership of the designer breeds and to ban photos of them in advertising or on social media.
"We make life miserable for innocent animals, purely because we think they are 'beautiful' and 'cute'," Adema said in a statement.
"That is why today we are taking a big step towards a Netherlands where no pet has to suffer from his or her appearance."
How China's AI is automating the legal system
China continues to pour massive resources into developing artificial intelligence that will have a greater reach into everyday life and functions of the state. Now, even Chinese courts are using AI to assist with making legal decisions.
A court in the city of Hangzhou located south of Shanghai started employing AI in 2019. The judge's assistant program called Xiao Zhi 3.0, or "Little Wisdom," first assisted in a trial of 10 people who had failed to repay bank loans.
Previously, it would have taken 10 separate trials to settle the issue, but with Xiao Zhi 3.0, all the cases were resolved in one hearing with one judge and a decision was available in just 30 minutes.
Expert: Packed station during bullet train delay grew ‘dangerous’
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
January 20, 2023 at 18:35 JST
Less than two months after a crowd crush in Itaewon in Seoul killed 159 people, terrified passengers at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo feared a similar occurrence was about to take place.
“I thought it would become a second Itaewon. I had a fear of death,” one male passenger said of the congestion on Dec. 18 during a lengthy bullet train delay.
On that day, Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) suspended the operation of the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations for about four hours because of a power outage.
Israel’s democracy on the brink amid supreme court showdown with Netanyahu
Israel’s highest court this week ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire a key ally, a dramatic move amid an unprecedented confrontation between his government and the judiciary.
The High Court ruled 10-1 on Wednesday that it was unreasonable for Aryeh Deri, leader of the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party Shas, to serve as a minister. He was appointed interior and health minister just three weeks ahead of the ruling.
But so far, Netanyahu has not taken any action, as political tensions mount. Israel media reported Friday Deri and Netanyahu are in the midst of negotiations over the situation.
No comments:
Post a Comment