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Hong Kong newspaper to stop publishing drawings by prominent cartoonist after government complaints

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong newspaper announced Thursday it will stop publishing drawings by the city’s most prominent political cartoonist after they drew government complaints, in another example of restrictions on speech and media after a Beijing-led crackdown.Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao did not explain why it is ending its 40-year partnership with Wong Kei-kwan on Sunday. Wong, better known by the pen name Zunzi, told The Associated Press the decision was made through mutual consultation.“Everyone knows why publication has to be halted, but no one will ‘confirm’ the reason,” he said in a text message to the AP with two emojis showing a laughing face.His comic drawings caricatured Hong Kong society’s frustrations since before the then-British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.The newspaper has not responded to requests for further comment. Wong said he feels the city’s freedoms of speech and expression are shrinking but that he will continue to create as long a...

CU Boulder graduation to be held rain or shine Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — The University of Colorado Boulder spring graduation ceremony is being held Thursday morning at Folsom Field. The ceremony will go on rain or shine.As of 6 a.m., it is raining in Boulder and the National Weather Service said rain could continue throughout the morning. Hail piles up on Johnstown street, damages cars in Erie Four years ago in 2019, it snowed overnight and during the commencement ceremonies. Folsom Field was covered in about three inches but the ceremony was not canceled.On Thursday, 9,538 graduates will receive diplomas.  Graduation begins at 8:30 a.m. and should last about an hour and a half.   

School bus collides with pole in Pinecrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

A Miami-Dade County school bus was seen smashed into a power pole, Thursday morning. Fire rescue responded to the scene at Southwest 88th Street and South Dixie Highway.According to Pinecrest Police, there were no students on the bus at the time, just a driver who was checked out on the scene. No one needed to be transported to the hospital and the scene remains active.It is believed the bus was in an accident with a vehicle that also demonstrated damages. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Miami-Dade Schools PD searching for 12-year-old girl last seen at elementary school in North Miami

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department posted a missing person’s flyer on Twitter after a 12-year-old girl was last seen at Natural Bridge Elementary School located in North Miami.Officials said Katherine Rijo Mendez left the school around 2:30 p.m. in a newer model white Handa Accord, Wednesday.The 5-foot-3 girl weighs 115 pounds and has red hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket, a white-uniformed polo-styled school shirt and a black Puma bookbag.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to call the M-DPS police department, contact Detective Michael Beauchamp at 305-955-COPS (2677) or call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).

Fresh blow for Erdoğan, as rival pulls out of Turkey election amid sex tape scandal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

Turkish opposition candidate Muharrem İnce announced Thursday he was pulling out of the presidential race, in a surprise move just three days before the election. İnce’s withdrawal is set to benefit the main opposition candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who is currently neck and neck with longtime President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the polls — and it could even allow Kılıçdaroğlu to claim outright victory in the first round.“I’m withdrawing from the race. I am doing this for my homeland,” İnce said at a press conference, according to Bloomberg. Earlier Thursday, the Ankara public prosecutor’s office said it was opening an investigation after a sex tape allegedly showing İnce surfaced on social media.İnce denied the authenticity of the footage late Wednesday, saying the video was “fake” and part of a “conspiracy.”İnce, who is currently polling around 2 percent according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls, has been diverting votes from t...

France votes to fly EU flags on public buildings across the country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

PARIS — The French National Assembly voted Wednesday to make it mandatory to fly the EU flag on town halls in France, in a move that has riled Euroskeptics at home.The bill, which was tabled by President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, was approved in a tight vote in parliament, with 130 lawmakers voting in favor and 109 against.In France, the star-spangled European flag is often seen flying alongside the French tricolor in many ministries, town halls and public buildings, but it has been voluntary and left to the discretion of local officials. Wednesday’s decision will make it compulsory to fly the flag for towns and cities with a population of over 1,500.Parliamentary debates ahead of the vote were acrimonious with MPs belonging to Marine Le Pen’s far-right party National Rally accusing the government of trampling on French identity.  “Macron’s MPs are showing their scorn for the French people … There are only three colors that the French bow to in their schools, in cere...

UK confirms it’s delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

LONDON — The U.K. has delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine in a move which grants Kyiv the ability to strike targets in Russian-occupied Crimea.Britain’s Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told the House of Commons Thursday that the Storm Shadow missiles, promised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in February, “are now going into or are in the country itself” and will complement other long-range systems already gifted to the country including HIMARS and Harpoon missiles.“The donation of these weapons systems gives the Ukrainians the best chance to defend themselves against Russia’s continued brutality, especially the deliberate targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, which is against international law,” Wallace said.The Storm Shadow missiles, jointly developed by Britain and France, have arrived in time for Ukraine’s long-anticipated spring counter-offensive against Russian forces. They have a range of about 560 kilometers — the necessary range to strike deep into Russian-occupie...

UK gives cruise missiles to Ukraine; Kyiv delays counteroffensive as it waits for more weapons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

By SUSIE BLANN and JILL LAWLESS (Associated Press)KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The British government said Thursday that it sent long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine to help drive out Russia’s occupying forces, an announcement made as Kyiv said it had delayed a long-expected spring counteroffensive while awaiting the delivery of more Western weapons.Britain is donating Storm Shadow missiles, a conventionally armed deep-strike weapon with a range of more than 250 kilometers (150 miles), U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told lawmakers in the House of Commons.The air-launched missiles would allow Ukrainian forces to target locations deep behind the front line, including in Russia-occupied Crimea. The invaded country has pledged not to use them to attack Russia itself, U.K. media reported.Wallace said the missiles “are now going into or are in the country itself.” He didn’t say how many were being provided.The announcement came shortly after Ukrainian President ...

More Americans file for jobless claims, but job market remains healthy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

By MATT OTT (AP Business Writer)The number of Americans filing for jobless claims last week rose to its highest level in four months, though the labor market remains healthy by historical standards.Applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending May 6 rose by 22,000 to 264,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s up from the previous week’s 242,000 and the highest since January 14. The weekly claims numbers are seen as representative of the number of U.S. layoffs.The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, rose by 6,000 to 245,250.For the week of April 29, the total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose by 12,000 from the previous week to 1.81 million.American workers are enjoying unusual job security despite rising interest rates, economic uncertainty and fears of a looming recession.

Chicago Bears 2023 schedule: Latest leaks and reports before tonight’s official NFL announcement at 7 p.m.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:42 GMT

The Chicago Bears will announce the dates and times of their 2023 games at 7 p.m. Thursday as part of the NFL’s schedule release.Bears single-game tickets and executive suites for home games at Soldier Field will go on sale after the announcement. A presale for season ticket holders and fans on the season ticket priority list will begin at 7 p.m., followed by sales to the public at 8:30 at chicagobears.com/tickets.The Bears know their home and road opponents in 2023.Along with playing home and away NFC North games against the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, the Bears will host the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.The Bears will go on the road to play the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns.The NFL will air its schedule release show at 7 p.m. on NFL Network. The league announced its five international games...