Things To Do In SW Florida

By BYRON TAU, GARANCE BURKE and DAKE KANG, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers and activists across the political spectrum called on American tech firms to stop selling surveillance equipment to Chinese police and for Congress to examine the issue after The Associated Press reported that U.S. technology had played a far greater role than previously known in enabling human rights abuses by Beijing.

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Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri told AP he wanted to summon tech companies before Congress to address how their technology exports were used. Hawley, a longtime critic of U.S. technology companies, bemoaned Silicon Valley’s general lack of cooperation with Congress on that and similar inquiries. read more

By JOHN LEICESTER and NICOLAS GARRIGA

PARIS (AP) — A lifelong fan of “Tomb Raider,” French gamer Romain Bos was on tenterhooks when an update of the popular video game went online in August.

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But his excitement quickly turned to anger.

The gamer’s ears — and those of other “Tomb Raider” fans — picked up something amiss with the French-language voice of Lara Croft, the game’s protagonist.

It sounded robotic, lifeless even — shorn of the warmth, grace and believability that French voice actor Françoise Cadol has given to Croft since she started playing the character in 1996. read more

By ALI SWENSON, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — YouTube will offer creators a way to rejoin the streaming platform if they were banned for violating COVID-19 and election misinformation policies that are no longer in effect, its parent company Alphabet said Tuesday.

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In a letter submitted in response to subpoenas from the House Judiciary Committee, attorneys for Alphabet said the decision to bring back banned accounts reflected the company’s commitment to free speech. It said the company values conservative voices on its platform and recognizes their reach and important role in civic discourse. read more

Port Canaveral is set to bathe in the spoils of another record year of cruise traffic with a fiscal budget for 2026 projected to hit nearly $240 million in operating revenue.

More than $200 million of that is from cruise-related income from a record projected 9 million passenger movements, which counts people both when they get on and off a ship, as well as a parking fee increase from $17 to $20.

Overall operating revenue is projected to hit $237.4 million, with operating expenses to hit $159.2 million leaving $78.3 in operating income. After nonoperating revenue and expenses, the port would end the year with a net position of $72.1 million.

“Keep in mind, every dollar that we make here at the port is reinvested back into the port in projects, infrastructure, etc.,” said port chief financial officer Jeff Long.

The budget also includes a proposed $258 million to be spent on capital projects, including $98 million to continue projects begun in 2025 such as redoing the parking garages on the north side of the port. read more

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower on Wednesday as a seemingly relentless rally on Wall Street takes at least a pause.

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The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% for a second straight, modest loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 171 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4%. All three are still near their all-time highs, which were set on Monday.

It’s a slowdown following the U.S. stock market’s blistering run since hitting a low in April, fueled by hopes that President Donald Trump’s tariffs won’t derail global trade and that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates several times to boost the U.S. economy. The rally was so big that it raised concerns about stock prices shooting too high and becoming too expensive, particularly if the Fed does not deliver as many cuts to rates as traders expect. read more