Ford Motor is the latest company to walk back some of its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The automaker has taken "a fresh look" at its DEI policies and practices over the past year to take in to account the evolving "external and legal environment related to political and social issues," according to an internal communication that was shared with global Ford employees and posted on X on Wednesday by an anti-DEI activist. Ford confirmed the letter was authentic and said it had no additional comment on the matter. read more
The Supreme Court on Wednesday kept on hold the latest multibillion-dollar plan from the Biden administration that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts. read more
Oakland City Council candidate Charlene Wang had her donation bag stolen on Sunday during her campaign kick off event. Wang and her staff say an unhoused woman grabbed it and walked away. "I very much tried to have a de-escalatory conversation with her to convince her to hand over the bag," Wang said. "Offer her a warm meal at the grocery store, even give her money in exchange for the bag but that did not work out." Video shows Wang and her staff trying to get the bag back. However, the unhoused woman got angry and refused to give it back. The donation bag had around $1,000.
Special counsel Jack Smith has charged former President Donald Trump in a superseding indictment in his federal election interference case. "Today, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a superseding indictment, ECF No. 226, charging the defendant with the same criminal offenses that were charged in the original indictment," a Justice Department spokesperson said Tuesday. "The superseding indictment, which was presented to a new grand jury that had not previously heard evidence in this case, reflects the Government's efforts to respect and implement the Supreme Court's holdings and remand instructions," the spokesperson said. read more
The UN health agency on Monday launched a six-month plan to help stanch outbreaks of mpox transmission, including ramping up staffing in affected countries and boosting surveillance, prevention and response strategies. The World Health Organization said it expects the plan from September through February next year will require US$135 million in funding and aims to improve fair access to vaccines, notably in African countries hardest hit by the outbreak. "The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries can be controlled, and can be stopped," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement. In its latest update on the outbreak, the African Centers for Disease Control reported that as of Thursday, more than 21,300 suspected or confirmed cases and 590 deaths have been reported this year in 12 African countries. read more
"A light rain fell at the Zurich"...A NYT romance novel.