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China’s Xi awarded 3rd term as president, extending rule

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping was awarded a third five-year term as president Friday, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the U.S. and others. The endorsement of Xi’s appointment by the ceremonial National People’s Congress was a foregone conclusion for a leader who has sidelined potential rivals and filled the top ranks of the ruling Communist Party with his supporters since taking power in 2012.The vote for Xi was 2,952 to 0 by the NPC, members of which are appointed by the ruling party.Xi, 69, had himself named to a third five-year term as party general secretary in October, breaking with a tradition under which Chinese leaders handed over power once a decade. A two-term limit on the figurehead presidency was deleted from the Chinese constitution earlier, prompting suggestions he might stay in power for life.No candidate lists were distributed, and Xi and those awarded other posts w...

What’s happening at Fukushima plant 12 years after meltdown?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

OKUMA, Japan (AP) — Twelve years after the triple reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Japan is preparing to release a massive amount of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Japanese officials say the release is unavoidable and should start soon. Dealing with the wastewater is less of a challenge than the daunting task of decommissioning the plant. That process has barely progressed, and the removal of melted nuclear fuel hasn’t even started.The Associated Press recently visited the plant. Here’s an update on what’s happening. ___HOW ARE WATER DISCHARGE PREPARATIONS PROCEEDING?During their visit, AP journalists saw 30 giant tanks for sampling and analyzing the water for safety checks. A concrete facility for diluting the water after it is treated and tested is in the final stages of construction. From there, the water will be released via an undersea tunnel.The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, aims to have the faciliti...

Earthquakes at 2 Alaska volcanoes could signal eruption

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A second volcano in remote Alaska is experiencing elevated earthquake activity this week, signaling an increased potential for eruption, officials said.Earthquake activity near Takawangha Volcano increased over the past 48 hours and are continuing, Alaska Volcano Observatory officials said in a news release Thursday.That volcano is west of Anchorage in the western Aleutian islands and about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Tanaga Volcano, which scientists said earlier this week had seen intensified earthquake activity. The Alaska Volcano Observatory raised the alert level to advisory status for Tanaga Volcano late Tuesday after the quakes became vigorous.The observatory on Thursday raised the alert level to watch status for Takawangha Volcano.Analysts at the observatory continue to monitor the situation closely. Up to several earthquakes per minute are occurring under Tanaga Island, where both volcanoes are located, the observatory said. The largest quake over th...

Asian stocks follow Wall St lower ahead of US jobs update

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower Friday ahead of an update on United States employment amid worries about possible further interest rate hikes.Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney declined. Oil prices edged lower.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index fell Thursday by its biggest one-day margin this year after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned rates might be raised faster than expected to cool stubbornly high inflation.Traders looked ahead to U.S. government hiring data Friday following other indicators that show the job market has stayed strong despite repeated interest rate hikes. That’s good for workers, but Fed officials worry rising wages might fuel inflation, which might lead to more rate hikes to cool business activity and hiring.Fed officials are “clearly messaging that rates will move higher,” said Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.9% to 3,246.16 and the Nikkei 22...

Chicago mayoral candidates meet for second forum before runoff election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson went head-to-head in their second forum since February's election.The forum took place at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.Vallas and Johnson were asked about their plans to ensure residents can acquire home ownership access. Vallas said he would consider implementing tax increment financing. "You could issue bonds and the interest that will be freed up when the TIFS retire and you could generate billions of dollars that you can invest in affordable housing," Vallas said. Johnson said he's adamant about not increasing property taxes. "I'm going to make sure that we protect homeownership by not only creating a path to home ownership, but let's make sure that people don't lose their homes because they can't afford them because property taxes continue to be the only way the city can balance its budget," Johnson said.Both candidates committed to making Chicago a safer city, including on public tran...

Men’s basketball: Gophers’ season ends in 70-54 loss to Maryland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

Welp, the Gophers men’s basketball team should choose to remember their win over Nebraska on Wednesday. That’s because their second-round Big Ten tournament game went wayward like most of their last-place regular season.Sixth-seeded Maryland had too much firepower and execution in a 70-54 win over 14th-seeded Minnesota on Thursday in Chicago. Maryland will play No. 3 seed Indiana in the quarterfinals on Friday night.The Gophers (9-22) held Maryland without a basket in a four-minute stretch in each half, but didn’t have enough offense from its primary sources.Thursday was also forgettable for Jamison Battle. The forward, who is leaning toward turning pro before next season, didn’t get on the scoreboard until 28 minutes had expired and he finished with only two points.After playing 40 minutes Wednesday, regular leading scorer Dawson Garcia managed only six pointsFreshman center Pharrel Payne continued to show his development, and he was one point off his season high, with 17 points on...

Albany Community Police Review Board meets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y.(NEWS10) - The Albany Community Police Review Board held their monthly meeting Thursday, and a familiar face raised concerns about an on-going issue: police conduct.   Over a dozen people showed up for the police review board meeting. Among them, Chandler Hickenbottom from Saratoga's Black Lives Matter. Pet adoption event set in Greenwich Only a day after calling for Saratoga's public safety commissioner to resign, she's raising concerns over Albany Police conduct, dating back to protests outside the police south station in 2021.  “I was the first person on Arch Street that was assaulted before they started spraying everyone with expired bear mace. I was the person with the bullhorn that got smashed in the face,” said Hickenbottom.“I wanted to look into the lack of investigation,” continued Hickenbottom.After George Floyd's death at the hands of police, local law j was amended in 2021 in Albany, putting police conduct under the spotlight. This police review b...

Trial in case of handicap parking spot shooting leads to emergency response

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A surveillance video captured what went down on March 5, 2019, from the argument to the shooting in the parking lot. It all happened during an intense courtroom testimony that was interrupted when the accused passed out.Medics responded in the middle of day three of the trial of Larry Thomlison. The 70-year-old defendant seemed to lose consciousness, and the judge ordered the courtroom to be cleared. Thomlinson refused treatment, and the testimony continued over his shooting of an Amazon delivery driver in a St. Charles Target parking lot.Thomlison is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting that paralyzed 25-year-old Jaylen Walker from the waist down. Walker was in the courtroom in a wheelchair, sitting less than 10 feet away from the man who shot him. Police: Accused Schnucks shooter has medical condition, may be with girlfriend FOX 2 spoke with Walker, who, just 17 months after he was shot, indicated he’d forgiven the shooter.“I co...

Metro East neighbors bike cross country so kids can have bicycles  

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

O'FALLON, Ill. - Dave Roberson was 12 years old when he lost his father. A few years later, his mother died. His bicycle helped navigate him through those difficult times.“Biking was a very big part of how I stayed connected with my friends,” Roberson said.He said that cycling has been a great stress reliever.Years later, cycling helped Roberson and his neighbors connect during COVID-19 lockdowns. The connection led Roberson, his neighbor Jesse Rochman and their spouses to launch Roads To Giving.The charity aims to raise money, so bicycles can be purchased for kids. The initial goal is to raise enough money for 100 kids to receive a bike. The hope is that the number will steadily grow. Police: Accused Schnucks shooter has medical condition, may be with girlfriend Roberson and Rochman will spend 40 days pedaling across the country to raise money. They will be traveling approximately 3,000 miles and taking a few periodic days off to rest. The duo will leave San Diego, California on ...

First public meeting held for proposed 100-men shelter in Carondelet 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - More than 100 people filled the basement of the Carondelet Public Library Thursday night to voice their support and their concern about a potential 100-men shelter coming to their neighborhood. The shelter proposed by Peter and Paul Community Services is still in its early stages. PPCS still needs to get 50 percent of nearby homeowners and renters to sign off on a petition to approve the shelter. A petition that Aidan McNamara will not be signing. “Our community cannot hold another 100 people," McNamara said.  Police: Accused Schnucks shooter has medical condition, may be with girlfriend He presented a PowerPoint on behalf of Carondelet Cares, a neighborhood association, against the proposed shelter. “I’m against putting 100 homeless men into a 100 percent residential neighborhood," McNamara said. He said he lived in Carondelet for seven years. He cited a lower home value due to the shelter and safety issues as his main cause for concern.&...