Times Union

The congressional map appears to be tilting more red amid the latest flurry of redistricting developments across the U.S. Virginia's supreme court this week rejected a new districting plan on procedural grounds. It could have helped Democrats pick up as many as four more seats. Other Southern states are moving to erase majority-Black districts as a result of a recent Supreme Court decision. Tennessee this week became the first of those to adopt a new map. With mid-decade redistricting to date, the... Читать дальше...

Use of electric vehicles in Africa is surging, led by Ethiopia, as soaring prices and fuel shortages compel countries to opt for cleaner and cheaper transport. More than 115,000 EVs are now on Ethiopia’s roads, accounting for about 8% of the national fleet. In 2025, it imported a third of Africa’s imports from China, ahead of other major markets in South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria. The country has enough renewable power capacity to support the transition away from fuel-burning engines, but gaps in charging infrastructure... Читать дальше...

A town council in a small north Georgia mountain community passed an ordinance reinstating their police department and restoring the jobs of their police officers two days after the mayor violated the town charter by firing them all. Cohutta Town Council member and vice mayor Shane Kornberg told The Associated Press afterward that the officers were reinstated immediately and will receive back pay. The mayor said he fired the officers because of some comments officers posted on social media. One officer... Читать дальше...

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the Trump administration's decision to impose new sanctions on Cuba. The largest target of the sanctions announced Thursday is GAESA, a business conglomerate run by the Cuban military. The sanctions also affect Moa Nickel, a joint venture with Canada's Sherritt International, which plans to withdraw from Cuba. Economist Pavel Vidal calls the measures "very concerning" for Cuba's economy, which is already struggling. GAESA controls nearly 40% of Cuba’s GDP... Читать дальше...

The U.S. military’s latest strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean has killed two men while leaving one survivor. Video posted on social media Friday by U.S. Southern Command shows a black, boat-shaped image before what appears to be an explosion, followed by a column of fire rising from the ocean. Southern Command said it “immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivor.” The Trump administration’s campaign of blowing... Читать дальше...

Schools and universities across the country are recovering from an outage tied to a cyberattack that knocked down Canvas. The online platform manages exams, course notes, lecture videos and grades. The disruption hit in the middle of finals period for many colleges, a high-stress time when students and instructors rely heavily on the platform. Instructure is the parent company of Canvas and says the platform is available again to most users as of late Thursday. A threat analyst at the cybersecurity... Читать дальше...

A man accused of a firebomb attack on demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, last year has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges. Mohamed Sabry Soliman entered the pleas Thursday in Boulder County District Court. On June 1, Soliman threw two Molotov cocktails at people who were demonstrating in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The attack injured 13 people including an 82-year-old woman who later died. Soliman initially pleaded not guilty to murder and dozens of attempted murder and assault charges. Читать дальше...

Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are debating a plan to reshape a majority-Black congressional district. The move is part of a broader strategy in Southern states after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act. The court found Louisiana relied too heavily on race when creating a second Black-majority district. Tennessee's proposal would break up a Democratic-held district centered on Memphis. Alabama and South Carolina are also considering redistricting changes. President Donald Trump has encouraged the redistricting. Читать дальше...

Ted Turner was a sportsman and visionary media mogul who transformed the Atlanta Braves into a national sensation. He bought the struggling team in the 1970s, broadcast their games nationwide, and turned them into a World Series mainstay by the 1990s. Turner also owned the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. He founded the Goodwill Games, inspired by Olympic boycotts, bringing together athletes from around the world. Turner’s larger-than-life personality and innovative approach set a model for modern sports owners... Читать дальше...

Powerful storms that spawned at least three tornadoes tore through several Mississippi counties. Authorities say the storms damaged nearly 500 homes, knocked down trees and power lines, and injured at least 17 people. There were no immediate reports of deaths. The storms struck late Wednesday. A mobile home park in Bogue Chitto was severely damaged. Krystal Miller and six others, including several young kids, survived the apparent tornado picking up their home and sending it cartwheeling through the air. Читать дальше...