
White House vows more federal aid to reduce homelessness in 5 cities and California
Five major U.S. cities and the state of California will receive federal help to get unsheltered residents into permanent housing
1970-01-01 08:00

Harry and Meghan: Agency refuses to hand over photos
Backgrid says it rejected a demand by the couple's legal team to share footage from the pursuit.
1970-01-01 08:00

TikTok creators sue Montana over app ban
A group of TikTok users has sued to overturn Montana's new statewide ban blocking the app, alleging that the law signed this week by Gov. Greg Gianforte violates the First Amendment.
1970-01-01 08:00

Trump campaign knocks DeSantis over Disney’s cancelled Florida expansion
Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign wasted no time in knocking Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the news that Disney is cancelling a $1bn plan to expand its business in Florida. The campaign for the former president to return to the White House sent out a fundraising email on 18 May after the news broke about the shelving of the planned relocation of some thousands of staff to the Orlando area. Headlined: “President Trump is always right”, the email included a Truth Social post from Mr Trump dated 18 April. The post reads: “DeSanctus is being absolutely destroyed by Disney. His original P.R. plan fizzled, so now he’s going back with a new one in order to save face. Disney’s next move will be the announcement that no more money will be invested in Florida because of the Governor.” He continues: “In fact, they could even announce a slow withdrawal or sale of certain properties, or the whole thing. Watch! That would be a killer. In the meantime, this is all so unnecessary, a political STUNT! Ron should work on the squatter MESS!” Walt Disney has pulled the plug on a $1bn office complex in central Florida, following a warning from Disney leadership that billions of dollars in projects were on the line after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis escalated his feud with the company. The development scheduled for construction in the Orlando area was set to bring 2,000 jobs to the region, with 1,000 employees expected to be relocated from southern California. In an email to employees on 18 May, Disney’s theme park and consumer products chair Josh D’Amaro pointed to “changing business conditions” for the cancellation of the 60-acre Lake Nona Town Center project, according to The New York Times, which first reported the move. “I remain optimistic about the direction of our Walt Disney World business,” he added, noting that the company has still planned $17bn in projects over the next decade at its Disney World campus. “I hope we’re able to,” he said. For years, Florida legislators and the governor’s office enjoyed a close relationship with the state’s largest taxpayers, among the state’s largest employers, which has wielded enormous political influence while bringing in billions of dollars to the state each year. Now, the company and DeSantis allies are suing one another, following a year-long feud over opposition to what opponents have called Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law that boiled over into political and legal battles that could shape the company’s business in the state. Moments after a board appointed by Mr DeSantis voted to strip the company’s control of its Florida park, Disney filed a federal lawsuit against the governor and state officials alleging a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” for “expressing a political viewpoint.” The lawsuit follows the governor’s state takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, now the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, made up of conservative activists and DeSantis loyalists, a move that followed Florida Republicans’ punitive measures against the company after its public opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Days later, the board voted to sue Disney in state court. In March, Disney slammed the governor’s “anti-business” approach to the company, which Mr DeSantis has accused of advancing a “woke agenda” while his administration targets LGBT+ people and their families with sweeping laws to control public school education, healthcare access and speech. The governor dissolved a decades-old municipal district that allowed Disney to control its own land use, zoning rules and public services, without putting a tax burden on Florida residents. In effect, Disney taxed itself to foot the district’s bill for its municipal needs. “Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people, and pay more taxes, or not?” Disney CEO Bob Iger said on a conference call with analysts last week. A statement from Disney said the company has decided to pull out of the new campus construction “given the considerable changes that have occurred since the announcement of this project, including new leadership and changing business conditions.” Governor DeSantis’s office said in a statement: “Disney announced the possibility of a Lake Nona campus nearly two years ago. Nothing ever came of the project, and the state was unsure whether it would come to fruition. “Given the company’s financial straits, falling market cap and declining stock price, it is unsurprising that they would restructure their business operations and cancel unsuccessful ventures.” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings released his own statement reading: “It is unfortunate that Disney will not be moving forward with construction of the Lake Nona campus. However, these are the consequences when there isn’t an inclusive and collaborative work environment between the state of Florida and the business community.” He concluded by saying: “We will continue to work closely with our valued partners at Disney.” Read More Disney cancels $1bn Florida theme park extension amid war with DeSantis Ron DeSantis mocked over bizarre video of roaring laughter: ‘A faulty robot’ Pete Buttigieg says GOP falling in ‘delicious’ trap: ‘Coca-Cola, Disney and Bud Light are on the other side’ Ivanka and Jared split over attending Trump 2024 launch – follow live Why was Donald Trump impeached twice during his first term? Four big lies Trump told during his 2024 presidential announcement
1970-01-01 08:00

Ross Stores lifts annual profit forecast on strong demand, easing freight costs
By Ananya Mariam Rajesh Ross Stores on Thursday raised its annual profit forecast after upbeat quarterly results, buoyed
1970-01-01 08:00

GOP pauses Blinken contempt push after gaining access to classified Afghanistan cable
The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee says he is pausing an effort to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress now that the State Department is letting him view a redacted classified cable from U.S. diplomats in Kabul sent shortly before the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan
1970-01-01 08:00

G-7 to Chase Russia’s Diamonds While Stopping Short of Total Ban
Group of Seven countries will agree to work together to track Russian diamonds, but stop short of slapping
1970-01-01 08:00

Mexico's Supreme Court rules tourist train, other projects are not issues of national security
Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled the government cannot simply decree that tourist trains or other public work projects are issues of “national security,” because that violates the public's right to information
1970-01-01 08:00

Miley Cyrus wants you to know her album 'Endless Summer Vacation' is not all about Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus's 2023 single "Flowers" -- a track off her latest album "Endless Summer Vacation" -- became the fastest song to cross one billion streams on Spotify in May following its January release.
1970-01-01 08:00

Online Luxury Retailer Farfetch Surges as Consumers Keep Splurging
Farfetch Ltd shares jumped as much as 23% in after-hours trading following financial results that beat Wall Street’s
1970-01-01 08:00

Alex Smith has massive concerns Bears fans should listen to
Alex Smith was very clear with his concerns about head coaches with a defensive background and young quarterbacks, and Chicago Bears fans should pay attention.Alex Smith will forever be known as the quarterback the San Francisco 49ers took No. 1 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft instead of Aaron Rod...
1970-01-01 08:00

Police: Louisville man planned bank shootings, placed phone in pocket to livestream
The man who killed five co-workers at a Kentucky bank had made plans for the shooting, according to police
1970-01-01 08:00