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April 23, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
U.S.
- Fox News agrees to pay $787.5 million to Dominion for spreading election lies
- U.S. to Extend Humanitarian Stay for Ukrainians Who Entered via Mexico Border (Reuters)
- The Supreme Court temporarily restores full access to key abortion medication (Washington Post)
- Billionaire Harlan Crow Bought Property From Clarence Thomas. The Justice Didn’t Disclose the Deal. (ProPublica)
- Ethics Watchdog Urges Justice Department Investigation Into Clarence Thomas’ Trips (ProPublica)
- Florida Gov. DeSantis said he may put a prison next to Disney parks amid dispute (NPR)
- Election defamation lawsuits go far beyond Fox and Dominion (NPR)
- Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launches 2024 presidential bid (CNN)
WORLD
- Sudan crisis: Further fierce fighting as clashes spread (BBC)
- As Ukraine’s LGBTQ soldiers fight on the front line, acceptance grows in the conservative country (NBC)
- Severe heatwave engulfs Asia causing deaths and forcing schools to close (Guardian)
For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.
U.S.
Fox News agrees to pay $787.5 million to Dominion for spreading election lies
Fox News reached a last-second settlement with Dominion Voting Systems on Tuesday as the case raced toward opening statements… Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems is the largest publicly known defamation settlement in US history involving a media company…. Dominion still has pending lawsuits against right-wing TV networks Newsmax and OAN, as well as against Trump allies Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and Mike Lindell.
U.S. to Extend Humanitarian Stay for Ukrainians Who Entered via Mexico Border (Reuters)
The Biden administration will allow Ukrainians who entered the United States last year at the Mexico border to renew their humanitarian status, giving them continued access to government benefits like health insurance and food stamps.
The Supreme Court temporarily restores full access to key abortion medication (Washington Post)
The Supreme Court on Friday temporarily restored full access to a key abortion medication, giving itself more time to review a lower court decision that suspended approval of a pill used in more than half of all abortions in the United States.
Billionaire Harlan Crow Bought Property From Clarence Thomas. The Justice Didn’t Disclose the Deal. (ProPublica)
The transaction is the first known instance of money flowing from Crow to the Supreme Court justice. The sale netted the GOP megadonor two vacant lots and the house where Thomas’ mother was living.
Ethics Watchdog Urges Justice Department Investigation Into Clarence Thomas’ Trips (ProPublica)
In pushing to kick-start an inquiry into Thomas’ lavish travel provided by a GOP megadonor, the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center wrote that the ethics issue has “historic implications far beyond one Supreme Court justice.”
Florida Gov. DeSantis said he may put a prison next to Disney parks amid dispute (NPR)
The dispute between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney has ratcheted up this week. The governor said he might build a prison next to their theme parks near Orlando.
Election defamation lawsuits go far beyond Fox and Dominion (NPR)
While the newly settled defamation suit by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News may be the highest-profile case about lies and conspiracy theories spread about the 2020 presidential election, more than a dozen similar cases are also making their way through the legal system…. Together, they could have a lasting impact by building a body of case law to enforce serious consequences for harassing or lying about elections and the people who keep them running smoothly….
Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launches 2024 presidential bid (CNN)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer, described himself as a truth-teller who will “end the division” as he launched his bid for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination on Wednesday in Boston. Kennedy used his campaign launch speech to lambast school and business closures during the coronavirus pandemic and to insist that government and media “lie to us.”
WORLD
Sudan crisis: Further fierce fighting as clashes spread (BBC)
Fierce clashes have been reported across Sudan as fighting between rival armed factions continues to spread. The escalation came on the second day of clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries which have now left at least 59 dead.
As Ukraine’s LGBTQ soldiers fight on the front line, acceptance grows in the conservative country (NBC)
…in apparent recognition of their services, Ukrainian lawmakers recently tabled draft legislation that would recognize same-sex relationships and address the lack of inheritance, medical and other rights for the partners of LGTBQ soldiers killed or wounded fighting pro-Moscow forces. The greater visibility of gay and lesbian military personnel appears to be a catalyst for acceptance in wider society, and opinion polls show attitudes are changing….
Severe heatwave engulfs Asia causing deaths and forcing schools to close (Guardian)
Extreme temperatures described as ‘worst April heatwave in Asian history’ as records threatened in India, China, Thailand and Laos
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