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Head of ‘non-political’ B.C. group meets Xi Jinping at gathering of ‘fresh troops’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

The head of a British Columbia-based group that says it is a “non-political” organization helping Chinese integrate into Canadian society travelled to Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping at a government conference this week.Chinese state media videos and photos show Canadian Community Service Association president Niu Hua attending the “10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations,” hosted by the state council’s overseas Chinese affairs office.Niu is seen applauding with the group on Monday during Xi’s entry to the conference, which state media says involved representatives from 130 countries, and is also seen in a group picture with the Chinese leader.Chinese state media says Shi Taifeng — head of the Chinese United Front Work Department’s central committee — told conference attendees that they serve as “an important bridge and bond” between China and the rest of the world.Shi told the groups they are “fresh troops” in China’s effort to develop a “sh...

Lachlan Murdoch explains settlement, says no change at Fox

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News paid $787 million to settle a recent lawsuit on its reporting after the 2020 election to avoid a divisive trial and lengthy appeals process, its parent company’s chief executive said on Tuesday.Lachlan Murdoch, executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp., also noted that a Delaware judge “severely limited” Fox’s defenses against Dominion Voting Systems, which said the network defamed it by airing bogus charges of election fraud that it knew was untrue.Fox Corp. announced Tuesday that it had lost $50 million the previous three months, which it attributed to the lawsuit settlement. Murdoch, who answered questions from financial analysts, was speaking in public for the first time since the case ended and Fox fired its most popular anchor, Tucker Carlson.Murdoch said viewers, and investors, should expect no change in direction from Fox News.“We made the business decision to resolve this dispute and avoid the acrimony of a divisive trial and multi-year ap...

McCarthy: Debt deal needed next week to avoid default

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that a federal debt deal with President Joe Biden is needed by next week if Washington hopes to avert a catastrophic national default as a June 1 deadline nears when money could run short for paying America’s bills.Speaking ahead of a high-stakes meeting with Biden and other congressional leaders at the White House, McCarthy said he sees no reason why all sides can’t come to an agreement quickly over Republican ideas for cutting spending in exchange for raising the debt limit.“I don’t think it’s that difficult,” McCarthy told reporters at the U.S. Capitol.Biden and the Democrats don’t see it that way. The president is insisting that raising the debt limit is nonnegotiable, and with spending restraints addressed separately as part of the annual budget process.All sides were meeting at the White House on Tuesday afternoon with the government at risk of being unable to meet its obligations as soon as Ju...

Trial over deadly Istanbul bombing begins in Turkey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — The trial of 36 people accused over a deadly bombing in central Istanbul last November began Tuesday, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported. On Nov. 13, 2022 an explosion tore through Istanbul’s popular Istiklal Avenue – a busy thoroughfare lined with shops and restaurants – killing six people, including two children, and injuring 99 others. Fifteen of the defendants, including the alleged bomber Ahlam Albashir, were in court for the start of the trial. Another 12 defendants participated via video link from prison. The whereabouts of the remaining nine are unclear. Albashir faces a number of charges related to terrorism. If convicted, she faces up to seven life sentences and an additional 1,900 to 3,000 years in prison. Because the indictment was not read to her in her native Arabic, the presiding judge allowed her to postpone her defense until the next hearing. According to indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s office, Albashir and a man named as ...

US probing reports it killed civilian in recent Syria strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

QORQANYA, Syria (AP) — The U.S. military is investigating reports that it killed a civilian in a recent strike in northwest Syria that meant to target a senior al-Qaida leader, a military official said in a statement Tuesday.Relatives and neighbors of a 60-year-old man killed in the May 3 strike in the village of Qorqanya, a rural area in northern Idlib province, told The Associated Press that he was a farmer who raised sheep, chickens and cattle and had no involvement with armed groups.In an initial statement released the day of the strike, U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, said its forces had “conducted a unilateral strike … targeting a senior Al Qaeda leader.” It did not provide any further details.Maj. John Moore, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said Tuesday that U.S. forces “are in the process of confirming the identity of the individual killed in the strike.”“We are aware of the allegations of a civilian casualty and the outcome of the confirmation process will inform if further...

LIVE: Mayor Lightfoot issues emergency declaration over migrant arrivals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot has issued an emergency declaration in response to the ongoing influx of migrants from Texas.Police sources told WGN News as of Tuesday — there are nearly 500 migrants staying in police station lobbies across the city."All City Department Heads are directed to undertake whatever efforts are feasible pursuant to their powers and duties, and to direct their employees accordingly, to manage thisdeclared emergency," part of the declaration reads.In Section 3, Lightfoot reserves the authority to request the mobilization of the Illinois National Guard by Gov. Pritzker.The local crisis began after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started to send migrants to Chicago and other cities last year.At the end of April, Mayor Lightfoot wrote a letter to Texas Gov. Abbott, stating in part, “We simply have no more shelters, spaces, or resources to accommodate an increase of individuals at this level.”"We have reached a breaking point in our response to this humanitarian crisis p...

One way the NHL Lottery win is already having an impact on the Blackhawks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

CHICAGO — In just a few hours, the enthusiasm around the Blackhawks escalated thanks to a little luck.Already the team is seeing the evidence of that at the box office, where the winning of the NHL Draft Lottery and assurance of the No. 1 overall pick has caused a major spike in ticket revenue.Per the Blackhawks, the team has had close to $5.2 million in sales for season tickets within 12 hours after the results of the lottery were announced. That includes 1,200 new season ticket plans for the 2023-2024 campaign.Excitement has escalated thanks to the Blackhawks' ability to select highly-touted Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. The 17-year-old center has enjoyed incredible success in Canada both in the Western Hockey League and international level, which has made him one of the most highly-touted prospects in the last decade.It's a major boost for the team after attendance expectedly dropped after they announced their rebuilding plans in March 2022. Last season, the Blackhaw...

Texas DPS: Allen mall shooter had 8 'legally obtained' guns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

ALLEN, Texas (KXAN) -- Investigators revealed Tuesday they found eight guns on the shooter who targeted shoppers at a north Texas outlet mall this past weekend, noting that he "legally obtained" all of those weapons. Hank Sibley, a regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, shared that information during an update Tuesday afternoon from Allen, where eight people died Saturday after that mass shooting. Sibley said the shooter had three guns on his person and another five in his vehicle. 3-year-old boy, security guard among those killed in Texas mall shooting He also announced investigators have now cleared the crime scene at the Allen Premium Outlets and returned it to management. On Monday evening, authorities identified all the victims who died. They ranged in age from three to 37. The Associated Press reported that federal agents have been reviewing social media accounts they believe the suspect, Mauricio Garcia, 33, used and posts that expressed interest in ...

Native American groups ask state lawmakers for help at outdated Twin Cities facilities like Ain Dah Yung youth shelter in St. Paul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

Sheri Riemers houses children as young as five years old at the Ain Dah Yung Center’s emergency youth shelter on St. Paul’s Portland Avenue, a 13-room, brick-faced residential property that, after 116 years, could use more than a little TLC of its own.A visible crack in the exterior cement stairway is large enough to squeeze a child’s shoe through. This winter, the shelter’s sinking foundation created a tunnel of sorts, allowing water to seep in through a disjointed back wall and pool in the basement laundry room. Around the same time, a sinkhole formed near the alleyway by a corner of the former garage, which has been converted into a community meeting space.From brick tuckpointing to a section of missing handrail, the 1907 structure’s needs can be summed up in a single word — money.THIS OLD HOUSE on St. Paul’s Portland Avenue is actually a Native American residential community center, offering youth housing/services and other outreach. Multiple ...

Why is the sky hazy in Lake George?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:15 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - If you live in the North Country or Adirondacks, you may have noticed some haze in the sky on Tuesday morning. Warren County says the reason for the cloudy visuals comes from across the northernmost border. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The county Department of Public Health put a notice on Facebook on Tuesday morning highlighting hazy conditions in the sky around some parts of the North Country, turning the sun blurry and the sky pale. The department pointed to wildfires coming from western Canada, with smoke following jet streams to hit the Adirondacks.Over the last week or more, wildfires in and around the Canadian province of Alberta have torched at least 964,000 acres of forest, causing evacuations and creating an enormous amount of smoke. Although north of a different part of the U.S., the smoke finds its way through changing air channels.The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map draws the path, sho...