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China calls for a cease-fire in Myanmar fighting but will continue its own border drills

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Beijing called for a cease-fire in Myanmar after a coalition of ethnic fighters seized several crossings along Myanmar’s border with China in the past month.However, China will continue live-firing drills on its side of the frontier aimed at “testing the mobility, border control abilities and firepower capabilities of the military units so that the People’s Liberation Army is ready for any emergency,” the army newspaper PLA Daily said on Sunday. Myanmar heavily relies on trade with China, especially for importing manufactured goods and exporting agricultural products. Unrest in Myanmar’s border region has been a constant irritant to China, which nevertheless backed the military leaders who seized power in the Southeast Asian nation in 2021 from an elected government. Yet China is highly wary of conflicts spilling over the shared border that is already rife with drug trafficking and people smuggling. Cybercrime targeting Chinese victims has become a major concern...

Australia commits another $168 million to monitoring migrants freed from indefinite detention

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government on Monday committed an additional 255 million Australian dollars ($168 million) in funding for police and other law enforcement officials to monitor 141 migrants freed when a court ruled their indefinite detention was unconstitutional.The new funding over two years reflects an increase in the workload of law enforcement officials due to government concerns of a heightened community risk posed by those released following a landmark High Court decision on Nov. 8. That ruling said the government could no longer detain indefinitely foreigners who had been refused Australian visas, but could not be deported to their homelands and no third country would accept them.The migrants released due to the High Court ruling were mostly people with criminal records. The group also include people who failed visa character tests on other grounds and some who were challenging visas refusals through the courts. They include refugees and stateless peo...

Beijing court begins hearings for Chinese relatives of people on Malaysia Airlines plane

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A Beijing court began compensation hearings Monday morning for Chinese relatives of people who died on a Malaysia Airlines plane that disappeared in 2014 on a flight to Beijing, a case that remains shrouded in mystery after almost a decade. Security was tight around the Chinese capital’s main Chaoyang District Intermediary Court and no detailed information was immediately available. Police checked the identities of journalists onsite and sequestered them in a cordoned-off area. Reporters were able to see relatives enter the court but were unable to speak with them before the hearing began. Various theories have emerged about the fate of the plane, including mechanical failure, a hijacking attempt or a deliberate effort to scuttle it by those in the cockpit, but scant evidence has been found to show why the plane diverted from its original route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The Boeing 777 with 227 passengers and 12 crew aboard is believed to have plunged into th...

Environmental protesters board deep-sea mining ship between Hawaii and Mexico

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Greenpeace activists have boarded a deep-sea mining ship in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico and said Sunday they’ll stay to protest exploration the ship is conducting to support activity that would destroy marine life.Australian-owned The Metals Company, whose subsidiary runs the ship, accused the protesters of endangering the crew and breaking international law.The escalating conflict comes as international demand for critical minerals found on the seafloor grows, but an increasing number of countries say more research is needed into the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining.Greenpeace began the protest Thursday by positioning kayaks beneath the ship, Coco, for up to 10 hours at a time to block it from deploying equipment to the water.In response, the company’s CEO Gerard Barron threatened an injunction on Saturday afternoon — according to correspondence shared by Greenpeace and reviewed by The Associated Press — alleging protesters broke int...

Stock market today: Asian shares mostly decline, as investors watch spending, inflation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares retreated Monday as investors awaited updates on consumer spending and inflation in the U.S. and other nations. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dipped 0.4% in morning trading to 33,479.71 after the producer price index in October came in a little higher than expected, at 2.3%. In China, industrial profits declined less than last year, at minus 7.8% in October. “While conditions have been improving, it also indicates that recovery has been slow. From the series of economic data lately, recovery momentum has also been on-and-off,” Yeap Jun Rong, a market analyst at IG, said in a commentary. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.0% to 17,382.28, while the Shanghai Composite lost 0.8% to 3,017.79. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.4% to 7,009.50. South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.2% to 2,491.20. Several central banks in the region are holding policy meetings this week, including the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank of Korea and Bank of Thailand. While analy...

Lane restrictions on major downtown artery starting Monday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

The replacement of a century-old water main will result in lane restrictions to a major downtown artery starting Monday.Southbound University Avenue will be reduced to a single lane between College Street and Queen Street West for most of the next seven months in order to complete several infrastructure projects, among them the replacement of a 150-year-old water main.The City says construction may need to pause during the coldest part of winter from late December until early February when traffic restrictions will be lifted and all southbound lanes will be opened.The work on the southbound lanes is expected to be completed by summer 2024.In addition, Ontario Line construction will occupy two northbound lanes on University Avenue between Queen Street West and Armoury Street until early December at which time the northbound route will be reduced to one lane until that project is completed in 2026.“During construction, drivers are advised to plan their travel in advance, choose ...

3 injured in crash involving CTA bus on South Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

CHICAGO — A crash involving a CTA bus on the city's South Side has left three people injured, according to Chicago fire officials.Fire officials say the crash happened in the 8600 block of South Stony Island Avenue on Sunday night. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines A man and a woman injured in the crash were taken to the hospital in fair condition and another man was transported in critical condition.Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash or if any other vehicles were involved.Fire officials did not provide details on the exact time the crash occurred.

Police investigate several armed robberies involving white SUV

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

CHICAGO — A rash of armed robberies around the city on Sunday evening has Chicago police searching for answers. According to police, six robberies unfolded between 2:07 p.m. and 6:27 p.m. in several neighborhoods around the city. Officers say at least five of the armed robberies involved a group of men in a white SUV.  Work to begin on winterized tent camp in Brighton Park despite resident pushback The first robbery unfolded just before 4:30 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Armitage Avenue in the city's Hermosa neighborhood. Police say a woman was standing outside in the area when a white SUV pulled up and six men got out. Two of the men then robbed the victim at gunpoint.Another robbery took place just over an hour later in the 2300 block of West 42nd Place in New City. Police say a man and a woman were outside when a white SUV pulled up and four men got out and approached them on foot. Two of the men then held the victims up at gunpoint, stole their property and battered...

UAlbany men's basketball stomps Siena to reclaim Albany Cup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The University at Albany men's basketball team dominated crosstown rival Siena on Sunday night, claiming the Albany Cup with a convincing, 86-51 victory. The 35-point win is the largest margin of victory in any previous Albany Cup game (Division I era). Coach Dwayne Killings:"I thought we were trying to make a statement today. It wasn't necessarily about the Albany Cup, but it was about what we are trying to do for our program… What you saw was a bunch of kids who've been working, trying to figure this thing out, playing hard for each other, with each other… I thought we were the best team on the floor today." Key Stat LinesAmar'e Marshall had the best game of his collegiate career, finishing with 33 points. He also led the team in rebounds, finishing with eight.Point guard Sebastian Thomas continued to be a key piece for the Great Danes, dropping 14 points and dishing out four assists, which was tied for the team lead with ...

Westland Hills decorating trees for passed family

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:35 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -For its third year, the Westland Hills Baseball and Softball Park turning its field into a haven of Christmas trees. 108 of these "Angels in the Outfield" lighting the night as families remember those not with them anymore.The Our Angels Remembered fundraiser came to light after a board member of Westland Hills took part in a similar event from Cambridge. The festivities helping Dan Farrell heal after his mom passed in 2017. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "There were 20, 30, trees there, but it was cathartic to really be a part of that. To be able to kind of be closer to her at the holidays. So, we wanted to start it then. Covid happened, we needed to delay it," explained Farrell.Now, hundreds of families coming to Albany to take part in its own tradition. One family lost a sister just three weeks ago and felt this was the right place to come. "Relatives, my son, my nieces, my sister’s daughters all play...