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Hong Kong leader defends new election rules even though biggest pro-democracy party can’t join race

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader defended the rules for upcoming local elections as open and fair Tuesday after an electoral overhaul effectively barred the city’s remaining pro-democracy activists from joining the race. The city’s largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, will be absent in December’s district council election for the first time since its establishment in 1994. Party chair Lo Kin-hei said he and other members could not secure enough nominations under the new rules authorities introduced to ensure that “patriots administer Hong Kong.” Other smaller groups from the camp had the same problem. Chief Executive John Lee said at a weekly news briefing that candidates have to respect the decisions of the people they sought nomination from.“It is up to you to ensure that you can convince the person you want to convince,” he said. The district councils were the last major political representative bodies chosen by the public. Under the electoral overhau...

Swimmer Felipe Ribeiro paints nails as reminder of bipolar disorder, wins gold at Pan Am Games

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Every stroke of swimmer Felipe Ribeiro in the pool at the Pan American Games reminded the Brazilian of the bipolar disorder he dealt with ahead of competing in Chile.The nails of the 25-year-old are painted black, except for his pink-colored ring fingers.Mental health and how athletes deal with it have become top of mind for athletes, coaches and sports executives alike, even more so since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when American superstar gymnast Simone Biles skipped several title defenses in an attempt to protect herself. A talking point at the athletes’ village, Ribeiro’s painted nails have invited some of his competitors and teammates to hear about his story. Only months ago, that included thoughts of self-harm, sleep deprivation and impulsiveness. Still, he won three gold medals at the largest multi-sport event on the continent, all in relays: 4 x 100 meters freestyle, 4 x 200 freestyle and mixed 4 x 100 freestyle.“I went through a tough time in the begin...

A trial of New Zealand tourism operators in the volcanic eruption that killed 22 people ends

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A trial of New Zealand tourism operators accused of safety breaches after 22 people died in a 2019 volcanic eruption ended Tuesday with the last remaining defendant found guilty on one count. The three-month, judge-only trial against 13 groups already saw six plead guilty and six have charges against them dismissed. The charges were brought by regulators and carried fines as a maximum penalty.White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its Indigenous Māori name Whakaari, was a popular tourist destination before the eruption. There were 47 tourists and tour guides on the island when superheated steam erupted, killing some people instantly and leaving others with agonizing burns. The final remaining defendant in the trial was Whakaari Management Ltd., the holding company for the island’s owners: Andrew, James and Peter Buttle. Judge Evangelos Thomas found the company guilty on one charge, saying it had failed to do a risk assessment despit...

A UN envoy says the Israel-Hamas war is spilling into Syria, adding to growing instability there

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Israel-Hamas war is spilling into Syria, fueled by growing instability, violence and a lack of progress toward a political solution to its 12-year conflict, the United Nations special envoy for the country said Monday.Geir Pedersen told the Security Council that, on top of violence from the Syrian conflict, the Syrian people now face “a terrifying prospect of a potential wider escalation” following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and the ongoing retaliatory military action.“Spillover into Syria is not just a risk; it has already begun,” the U.N. envoy for Syria said.Pedersen pointed to airstrikes attributed to Israel hitting Syria’s airports in Aleppo and Damascus several times, and retaliation by the United States against what it said were multiple attacks on its forces “by groups that it claims are backed by Iran, including on Syrian territory.”With the region “at its most dangerous and tense,” he said, “fuel is being added to a tinderbox that was a...

WeHo Halloween Carnaval returns after 4-year hiatus, thousands expected to attend

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

After a four-year hiatus, the west Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is returning Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The city will celebrate on a one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and North La Cienega Boulevard. “We want a good time! We want to party! We want to dance!” said Tay Ray, who will be celebrating Halloween at the WeHo Carnaval. The free event will feature a stage at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and North San Vicente Boulevard with a live DJ set, food trucks, and celebrations at businesses, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues throughout the city. “In a lot of ways it’s a whole new generation in west Hollywood looking forward to this,” said Councilmember Chelsea Byers. WEHO Halloween Carnaval set to return on Tuesday.The stretch will be closed until Wednesday as thousands of Halloween-dressed party goers are expected to gather for the celebrations. “Leave any big bags at home, or bring a clear tote bag just so it’s e...

Steph Curry continues hot start with 42-points in Warriors win over Pelicans

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

NEW ORLEANS — Steve Kerr has seen Steph Curry play hundreds of games and witnessed just as many sizzling shooting streaks. But none of his MVP runs or championship stunners compare to the hot start Curry is riding right now.“No,” Kerr said, asked if he’d ever seen Curry off to this hot of a start. “I don’t know what his numbers are but he’s he’s white hot. It’s amazing watching him. I mean he looks better than ever at 35.”Curry’s 42-point game on Monday led the Warriors to a landslide 130-102 win over the New Orleans Pelicans (2-1) on Monday night to move Golden State to 3-1 on the season.He was 7-of-13 from 3 and 15-of-22 from the field in a performance that juiced an already eye-popping start to the season in which he’s shooting 47.1% from 3, averaging 33.5 points in 32 minutes per game.The numbers only tell part of the story. Just four games in, Curry diversified the ways he commands games. Against the Sacramento K...

Bay Area family says U.S. citizen is stuck in Gaza

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

(KRON) – American citizens stuck in Gaza are being told to try and cross the border into Egypt, according to one Bay Area family that says their grandmother is stuck in Gaza. The family says their grandmother has tried that, but the border was bombed and closed. KRON4 spoke with their immigration attorney in San Francisco, who is filing a lawsuit this week.The immigration attorney says this is one of many American families who are having a hard time helping U.S. citizens return home from Gaza. Now he, along with other lawyers, is planning to file a lawsuit against the U.S. government. Hawaii-bound United plane returns to SFO due to woman going into labor The Bay Area family says their 81-year-old grandmother who went back to visit her homeland for the first time in three decades is stuck there after Gaza and that border were bombed."We're terrified,” said Dina Abseiso, a relative of the woman. “We feel dehumanized. We are confused. We live here just as any other American expecting...

Nurses hold rallies at Santa Clara County hospitals seeking better working conditions

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

(BCN) -- Nurses and supporters are holding rallies at three Santa Clara County health facilities on Monday as part of a day of action calling on county leaders to support improved working conditions for nurses and better-quality care for patients, the Registered Nurses Professional Association said.The first rally was at 9 a.m. at St. Louise Regional Hospital, Front Entrance Courtyard, 9400 No Name Uno, Gilroy. At 12 p.m. a second rally was held at O'Connor Hospital, Cafeteria Lawn, 2105 Forest Ave, San Jose. Later in the day, protesting nurses and their supporters gathered at 3 p.m. at Valley Medical Center Main Hospital, Renova Park Plaza, 751 S Bascom Avenue, San Jose.More than 3,750 nurses in the Santa Clara County Health and Hospital System - represented by the Registered Nurses Professional Association - are currently in contract negotiations with the county. Their last contract expired on Sunday. Contract negotiations provide an opportunity for nurses to push for improvements...

Stock market today: Asian shares trade mixed as investors look ahead to economic data

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Tuesday as investors looked ahead to a week that could see more swings in financial markets, including key reports on U.S. consumer confidence and the job market. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 reversed course and added 0.3% in afternoon trading to 30,796.81. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.1% to 6,780.70. South Korea’s Kospi lost 1.3% to 2,280.48. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 1.0% to 17,059.78, while the Shanghai Composite declined 0.4% to 3,008.37.Japan’s central bank changed its language on yields Tuesday, allowing the yields on its 10-year government bonds to increase above 1%, calling it “a reference point” instead of a more rigidly set cap. “The Bank judges that it is appropriate to increase the flexibility in the conduct of yield curve control so that long-term interest rates will be formed smoothly in financial markets in response to future developments,” the Bank of Japan said in a statement.At the end of...

Cutting-edge AI raises fears about risks to humanity. Are tech and political leaders doing enough?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:39:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Chatbots like ChatGPT wowed the world with their ability to write speeches, plan vacations or hold a conversation as good as or arguably even better than humans do, thanks to cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems. Now, frontier AI has become the latest buzzword as concerns grow that the emerging technology has capabilities that could endanger humanity. Everyone from the British government to top researchers and even major AI companies themselves are raising the alarm about frontier AI’s as-yet-unknown dangers and calling for safeguards to protect people from its existential threats.The debate comes to a head Wednesday, when British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts a two-day summit focused on frontier AI. It’s reportedly expected to draw a group of about 100 officials from 28 countries, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and executives from key U.S. artificial intelligence companies including OpenAI, Go...