US moves to seize 2 Abramovich jets over Russia sanctions
The U.S. obtained a warrant to seize two jets owned or controlled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, as tensions between Washington and Moscow increase.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave on Monday signed a warrant of seizure for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and a Gulfstream G650ER, according to documents released by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams’ office. Cave found probable cause that the aircraft are subject to seizure and forfeiture, she said in the two-page document.
The aircraft are valued at more than $400 million together, according to the U.S.
Abramovich violated U.S. sanctions by re-exporting the aircraft to Russia without a required license, a U.S. Commerce Department official claimed in a letter Monday. The Boeing has remained in Dubai since March, while the Gulfstream has been in Moscow since then, according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit.
The seizure effort comes amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and as U.S. officials renew a push for sanctions against Abramovich after his trip to Kyiv to revive peace talks failed.
—Bloomberg News
Florida Gov. DeSantis seeks control over universities, targeting tenure and ‘politicized’ classes
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Republican allies are seeking more influence in university classrooms, targeting tenure, waging a battle against “politicized” courses and contemplating a significant change in how professors are hired across the state.
DeSantis says he is bringing accountability to higher education and ensuring universities aren’t indoctrinating students with what he and other GOP leaders see as a liberal bias.
But the governor’s agenda is also prompting a backlash from the United Faculty of Florida, a union that represents more than 25,000 faculty members across the state.
A toxic political climate is hurting the reputation of Florida’s universities and making it harder to recruit the best teachers, said Andrew Gothard, president of the United Faculty of Florida.
“What we clearly see is a shift toward authoritarianism and we are seeing it manifesting in higher education — an assault on tenure and free speech,” he said.
—Orlando Sentinel
Radio Mambi sold to new media group with ties to national Democrats
MIAMI — Two Latina entrepreneurs — backed by a slew of investors — have negotiated a $60 million deal with TelevisaUnivision to buy 18 Spanish-language radio stations across 10 U.S. cities, including Miami’s Radio Mambi, a fixture of South Florida’s conservative Cuban community.
The massive buy is the first for the newly created Latino Media Network, a Latina-owned and operated media company that has raised close to $80 million, a figure the group says amounts to the largest capital raised by a Latina-led startup in U.S. history.
“With minority media on the decline, now is the time to be investing in more resources to create content for Latinos by Latinos,” said co-founder Stephanie Valencia, chair of LMN’s board.
Valencia, who worked at the White House under former President Barack Obama as a special assistant to the president and principal deputy director of public engagement, is launching Latino Media Network along with Jess Morales Rocketto, the former director of civic engagement for the National Domestic Workers Alliance. They are both in the leadership of Equis Research, a polling firm focused on outreach and civic engagement of U.S. Latinos.
—Miami Herald
Ukraine cautious as Turkey, Russia push Black Sea grain deal
Turkey and Russia have reached a tentative deal to restart shipments of Ukraine’s agricultural products from a key Black Sea port, but Kyiv remains skeptical of the proposed pact, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has offered military help to clear mines off the coast of Odesa and escort grain ships but Ukraine has yet to endorse the plan, worried that removing defenses could leave the vital port open to Russian attack, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that aren’t yet public. Turkey hopes that a United Nations endorsement of the proposal could allay security concerns, the people said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv wasn’t invited to talks on the deal set for Ankara this week. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is scheduled to visit the Turkish capital Wednesday for discussions, said Monday he’s optimistic that military officials can work out a solution.
The Kremlin’s invasion has cut off shipments of grain and other farm products from Ukraine, threatening millions of people in its traditional markets with food shortages. Moscow has denied responsibility for the disruption but demanded relief from U.S. and European sanctions limiting its exports of fertilizer and agricultural products.
—Bloomberg News
