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b meg starter Cal State University students, faculty and staff rallied this week to voice their concerns and frustrations with what protestors called the CSU management’s suppression of free speech, absence of shared governance and lack of accountability. The CSU chancellor’s office, in a statement, said it takes the concerns seriously — but the students remain at the center of its decision making. Professors, lecturers, counselors, coaches, librarians and students gathered outside of the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Long Beach, urging that trustees prioritize student learning and success in and out of the classroom. “We are the voice of the people and we are here to remind them that we matter,” Vang Vang, California Faculty Association treasurer and Fresno State librarian, said during the rally. “We are the heart and soul of the universities and we will make sure that they hear us every single day.” During the rally, there were speeches from students, faculty and staff. Many said they were done with the trustees’ limit of one minute per speaker for public comment during board meetings, so holding their own public comment offered a space for people to share their experiences at the CSU. CFA members also put on a street theater performance, during which they criticized the actions of CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia and brought attention to issues of limited free speech, how tuition money is being spent, courses being cut and more happening at the 23 campuses across the CSU system. “It was a creative way to express our frustration towards the chancellor’s office,” said Elaine Bernal, a lecturer in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at Cal State Long Beach, who participated in the performance. “They’re not going to listen to use in our one-minute comments, so might as well get really creative with it and really showcase what’s going on inside.” Luis Ortiz, a student at Cal State Long Beach and member of Students for Quality Education, said that he had been coming to the chamber for three years and has felt ignored by the CSU Board of Trustees. “Every single cry for change, tears were shed in that chamber, their backs turned against us but we won’t give up,” Ortiz said. “We don’t do it for ourselves; we do it for the next generation.” In a statement on Wednesday, the CSU Office of the Chancellor said that they acknowledged the concerns expressed by the CFA members and “take them seriously.” “But our collective focus must continue to keep students at the center of our decision-making,” the statement said. “We have a shared responsibility to empower students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve their academic and personal goals, and our faculty and staff play a critically important role in helping the CSU fulfill that promise.” Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members gathered at the CSU Board of Trustees building in Long Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, to voice their concerns with CSU management and other issues happening across the CSU system. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) During the rally on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the CSU Board of Trustees building in Long Beach, the CFA presented a street theater performance sharing their concerns with CSU management and other issues across the CSU system. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) During the rally on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the CSU Board of Trustees building in Long Beach, the CFA presented a street theater performance sharing their concerns with CSU management and other issues across the CSU system. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) During the rally on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the CSU Board of Trustees building in Long Beach, the CFA presented a street theater performance sharing their concerns with CSU management and other issues across the CSU system. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Vang Vang, CFA treasurer and Fresno State librarian, at the rally on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the CSU Board of Trustee building in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members gathered at the CSU Board of Trustees building in Long Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, to voice their concerns with CSU management and other issues happening across the CSU system. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) CSULB student and SQE member Luis Ortiz speaking at the rally on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the CSU Board of Trustees building in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members gathered at the CSU Board of Trustees building in Long Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, to voice their concerns with CSU management and other issues happening across the CSU system. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Protestors also accused the chancellor’s office of silencing and intimidating faculty and students for exercising their free speech and academic freedom on CSU campuses, especially with the new “ Time, Place and Manner” policy that was implemented earlier this year after a rise in pro-Palestininan students setting up encampments and protesting for universities to divest from Israel as the ongoing war in the Middle East continues. The policy restricts face coverings and requires advance written approval for posters, signs, banners and chalking, protestors said. “The CSU is committed to freedom of speech and expression as an essential component of its educational mission,” the chancellor’s office said in a statement. “Through its new systemwide policy, the CSU will ensure that individuals and groups are afforded wide latitude in lawfully exercising the right of free expression and that their constitutionally protected right to free expression is not abridged.” Students and faculty once again brought up the concern of the 34% tuition hike over the next five years , which the board approved last year after much opposition. Raising fees would further disproportionately affect marginalized students – such as native, Black and brown students, students with disabilities, and trans students who are already under tremendous financial strain, protestors said on Wednesday. “I was here last year trying to avoid the tuition hikes but that didn’t work, so I want to know, where is that money going?” said Britneey Ochoa, a student from Cal State Northridge, “because obviously we’re not being shown that, because our campus is not providing anything new for us.” The CSU raised tuition twice in the past 13 years, according to the CSU chancellor’s office. “No university system can sustain financial viability for that length of time without a tuition increase,” the chancellor’s office said in a statement. “The revenue from the tuition increase is essential to provide the CSU with the financial stability it needs to continue to serve students today and in the future, invest in our academic programs, and support our workforce. “In fact, one-third of new tuition revenue from the recent increase is dedicated to financial aid,” the statement added, “ensuring that we can continue to make higher education attainment affordable for all students.” Related Articles

AMMAN — The Jordan Europe Business Association (JEBA), on Sunday called for enhancing economic ties between Jordan and the European Union, describing these relations as a "key driver for advancing trade and investment cooperation." Mohammad Smadi, board member and promotion director of JEBA, highlighted Jordan's strategic position as a gateway for European access to regional markets, noting that this "unique" role offers significant opportunities in vital sectors such as trade, renewable energy and technology, according to the Jordan news Agency, Petra. He highlighted Jordan's reputation as a stable and secure partner, making it an attractive destination for European investment, particularly in strategic industries. Despite regional geopolitical challenges, the Kingdom has maintained its position as a "reliable hub" for foreign investors, he added. Smadi noted that the European Union is Jordan's second largest trading partner, where trade volume reached JD3.2 billion in 2023, pointing out that Jordan's main exports to Europe include phosphates, fertilisers and pharmaceuticals. He also acknowledged that there are still some challenges hindering Jordanian-EU trade, including high transport costs and the "stringent" standards required by European markets. Smadi estimated that untapped opportunities under existing agreements, such as the Jordan-EU Partnership Agreement, amount to some $777 million. To address these challenges, Smadi called for increased efforts to capitalise on these agreements and boost trade. He pointed to Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision, which focuses on increasing exports to Europe by improving product quality, training small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting the green economy and upgrading logistics infrastructure to reduce transport costs. In addition, digital transformation is seen as a "key enabler" for Jordanian companies to enter European markets more effectively. "Jordan is not only a gateway to Europe, but also to regional markets such as the Gulf, Iraq and Syria," said Smadi. He added that initiatives such as the Jordanian Railway Project and the Clean Energy Corridor will improve connectivity between Jordan, the region and Europe, creating even greater opportunities for economic cooperation. To further boost trade ties, Smadi suggested specialised training programmes to help Jordanian companies meet European standards and developing joint digital platforms to streamline trade and reduce customs barriers. He emphasised the crucial role of SMEs, which make up 95 per cent of Jordan's economy, in the Kingdom's modernisation efforts. Smadi noted that JEBA plays a key role in fostering partnerships between the Jordanian and European private sectors by organising investment forums, conferences and providing consultancy services to facilitate market entry. He also announced JEBA's plans to host the first Jordan-European Forum under the theme "Digital and Green Jordan", urging European countries to increase their investments in the Kingdom's strategic and vital sectors in a bid to enhance the Kingdom's role as a regional and international economic hub.DNP Select Income Fund president acquires $19,200 in stockMan United coach Amorim says argument between Hojlund and Diallo a 'very good sign'

Tap Payments & Mastercard Launch World's First 'Click to Pay' Service with Payment Passkey for eCommerceWith a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk

Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pickBiden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes.OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Sira Thienou scored 16 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals and No. 18 Mississippi coasted to an 89-24 win over Alabama State on Saturday. Starr Jacobs and Christeen Iwuala both added 12 points and Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 for the Rebels (5-2), who had a breather after losing to No. 2 UConn by 13 in the Bahamas. Kaitlyn Bryant had seven points to lead the Hornets (2-5), who shot 19% with 33 turnovers and were outrebounded 43-25. Alabama State was 1 of 8 with 11 turnovers in the first quarter, falling behind 24-4. The Hornets were 2 of 11 with seven giveaways in the second quarter when they were outscored 33-6 to trail 57-10 at the half. The Rebels shot 58% with 28 points off turnovers. They scored the first 16 points of the game and the first 24 points of the second quarter. Ole Miss had the last five points of the third quarter and the first seven of the fourth to get the lead to 82-22. The Hornets went 1 of 10 in the final 10 minutes with 10 turnovers. It was Mississippi's third win against teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference with one more to play. The Rebels play at NC State on Thursday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Beazer Homes USA: Still A Great Play As Shares Continue To RiseThe Natick Select Board says it’s not looking to become the state’s next sanctuary city , but new rules up for a vote next week come very close. A debate has flared around what the board seeks to accomplish with its draft policy. Some residents say it gives an impression that the town wants to enact a sanctuary status while others argue it’s to protect immigrants already in town. Board Chairwoman Kathryn Coughlin’s car has also been targeted as tempers escalate, with a suspect defacing her vehicle in spray paint with the message “Deport illegals.” Police are investigating the incident. “Once a legal jurisdiction declares itself a sanctuary city, town, county, or whatever, ICE reserves the right to not coordinate with local police when operating within their jurisdiction,” Coughlin told residents Wednesday night. “We do not want that,” she added. “We want our police chief to know whoever is operating in town we want a safe environment.” Boston , Somerville , Northampton, Amherst Cambridge, Concord, Lawrence and Newton are the state’s eight sanctuary cities. Under Natick’s draft policy, town employees would be barred from inquiring about or collecting information regarding citizenship or immigration status unless required by federal or state law. Detaining a person based on the belief he or she is not in the U.S. legally or that the individual committed an immigration violation would violate the policy. Per a fact sheet published last week, the draft policy “shields town law enforcement personnel from liabilities resulting from local enforcement of federal immigration laws ... and the town from liability should a town employee violate the policy.” The policy does not “offer to provide shelter, housing, legal assistance, or other services to immigrants, documented or undocumented,” “apply to school employees,” nor “ignore ICE warrants or other judicial warrants for the arrest of individuals for criminal behavior.” Officials have highlighted how they must follow a 2017 ruling from the state Supreme Judicial Court that “extends to local law enforcement, and Natick must refrain from arresting or holding a person based on a federal civil immigration detainer.” Detainers , per the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , request that local or state law enforcement “maintain custody of the noncitizen for a period not to exceed 48 hours beyond the time the individual would otherwise be released.” “This has nothing to do with declaring Natick a sanctuary city,” Select Board Vice Chairman Bruce T. Evans said. “It is a misrepresentation of what’s actually happening here.” Coughlin reiterated that “the timing of the rollout of this policy post-election is utterly coincidental” and “is not a reaction to recent elections nor is it in response to fear-mongering.” Between October 2022 and this October, a handful of meetings and emails unfolded between a concerned resident group, police and board leaders, and at times, town administration, Coughlin said. Stakeholders wanted to place a draft policy in front of the board as early as September but the process had been delayed due to other “pressing matters,” she said. Resident Carol Gates slammed the board for its transparency, saying she and many “longtime” neighbors” first heard about the issue in the Herald. She also highlighted how the board spoke about the policy on the day Laken Riley’s illegal immigrant murderer, Jose Ibarra, was sentenced. “Honestly, we felt, many of us, that you must think we are tone-deaf to national news and that we lack compassion for our fellow Americans because that was a brutal day to be announcing this policy.” Gates and other opponents are calling for the policy to be voted on at a townwide referendum. The MetroWest Daily News reported on Monday about Coughlin’s car being vandalized. “Intimidation is not an element of civil discourse,” resident Emily Wormington said. “It is a deterrent to it. Making our unpaid public servants feel unsafe serves only to frighten others regardless of their politics from becoming more engaged in our town.” Coughlin responded: “I have told the press that I will not be commenting. What I would like to say though is that many, most of the people that I know who are against this policy are friends. Most of them are really, really good people ... and I am thankful for that.” “For those who are debating on Facebook about whether it’s a false flag operation,” she added, “I think everyone in this room and everyone in this town can agree that it’s a bad actor.”