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Hong Kong police arrest 4 men accused of supporting people overseas endangering national security

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested four men they accused of providing financial support to people who fled overseas and are involved in activities endangering national security, escalating a high-profile crackdown on dissidents in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Police said the four are suspected of using companies, social media and mobile applications to receive funds that they then provided to the people overseas. A police statement did not identify the four suspects or the people they allegedly supported.Local media, including the South China Morning Post, said the four are former members of the now-defunct pro-democracy party Demosisto, which was founded by Nathan Law, an activist who is now based in the United Kingdom. The newspaper Ming Pao carried a photo of former Demosisto chairperson Ivan Lam being escorted by police officers.The Associated Press could not confirm the identities of the four, who authorities said are also suspected of making seditious...

3 killed and 10 wounded at Louisiana block party, one of several shootings over July Fourth holiday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Three people were killed and 10 others wounded in a Louisiana mass shooting, one of several across the nation this week as Americans celebrated the Fourth of July.In Shreveport, Louisiana, one of the injured was in critical condition Wednesday after the gunfire late Tuesday night, Shreveport police Sgt. Angie Willhite said. Others who were injured are expected to survive, she said.No arrests have been made. “We are struggling with getting information from those who were present. We’re not getting a lot of cooperation,” Willhite said.The hope is that some potential witnesses who didn’t wish to cooperate at the scene will contact police later, she added.“We’re going to hope for some quick and immediate cooperation that will lead us to the people we’re trying to find,” she said.Other shootings during the holiday period included one in Washington, D.C., that wounded nine people early Wednesday.The Associated Press

Watchdog unveils guidelines to support mortgage-holders under financial stress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s financial consumer watchdog is warning lenders not to take advantage of Canadian mortgage holders who are facing severe financial stress as interest rates and the cost of living rise.The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says financial institutions need to help provide support to consumers who are facing rising mortgage payments.Mortgage holders with variable-rate loans have faced a higher cost of borrowing as interest rates have marched higher, while those with fixed-rate loans have faced increased costs as their mortgages come up for renewal.In guidelines released today, the federal watchdog did not recommend any specific measures, but says lenders should be guided by the principles of fairness, appropriateness and accessibility.That includes consideration of waiving prepayment penalties, waiving internal fees and costs, not charging interest on interest and extending amortization for the shortest period possible.It says lenders should avoid taking advant...

Bear Grylls goes into the wild with a new batch of celebrities, from Bradley Cooper to Rita Ora

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For his latest role, Bradley Cooper leapt onto a hovering helicopter, rappelled down a 400-foot cliff and pulled himself across a 100-foot ravine in one of the harshest climates in North America. His reward wasn’t an Oscar nomination or a big box office hit. It was a hug from adventurist Bear Grylls and some words of encouragement. “He smashed it,” Grylls says.Cooper is one of several celebrities — including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cynthia Erivo, Russell Brand, Troy Kotsur, Rita Ora, Daveed Diggs and Tatiana Maslany — who put their survival skills to the test in a new season of Nat Geo’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” premiering Friday.“I’m really proud of this season. We’ve had incredible guests who pushed the boundaries in terms of terrain and the challenge,” Grylls told The Associated Press. “When there’s real tough weather with fun people, it’s often really compelling TV.”The series pairs Grylls with a celebrity for 48 hours in a harsh enviro...

The gunman in the Danish mall shooting that killed 3 people is sentenced to a mental health facility

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A 23-year-old man in Denmark who opened fire at a mall last year and killed three people believing the victims were zombies was sentenced Wednesday to detention in a secure medical facility.The Copenhagen District Court convicted the man, who was not identified during the trial because of court rules, of murder and attempted murder in the July 3, 2022 rampage at the huge Field’s shopping center on the outskirts of Copenhagen.Three people died — two 17-year-olds and a 47-year-old Russian man — and a total of 23 people were injured, including those who were hurt in the commotion that followed.Prosecutor Søren Harbo welcomed the verdict and said that ”one must not forget that it was a day that affected many people, several of whom are unfortunately still struggling with physical and psychological consequences.” The court found that the man had planned the attack, noting that he had taken a reconnaissance trip to the mall before the rampage. It also ruled that...

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts as markets worldwide pull back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is drifting Wednesday following a rally that had sent it roaring 16% higher for the year so far.The S&P 500 was 0.1% lower in morning trading and edging down from its highest level since April 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 135 points, or 0.4%, at 34,282, as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was virtually unchanged.Other markets around the world fell more sharply following the latest discouraging signal from China’s economy. Growth in China’s services industry slowed by more than economists expected last month. It’s the latest evidence showing the world’s second-largest economy is stumbling in its recovery following the removal of anti-COVID restrictions.The U.S. economy, meanwhile, has remained stronger than many investors feared. It’s defied predictions for a recession because of a job market that’s remained remarkably solid despite much higher interest rates meant to bring down inflation. A report on Wednes...

Rain and environmental activists affect play on Day 3 at Wimbledon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Rain is again affecting play at Wimbledon on Day 3 of the grass-court tournament, and two environmental activists halted one match as well.Intermittent showers Wednesday forced matches on the outside courts to be suspended twice, while play in the main stadiums was also stopped for a short time because of the weather.Two Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested after disrupting one match by running onto Court 18 and throwing orange confetti onto the grass, before being led off by security. That stopped the first-round encounter between Grigor Dimitrov and Sho Shimabukuro early in the second set, and the rain then came before the confetti could be cleared. The match resumed with the others after the rain delay. The two protestors were arrested “on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage,” the All England Club said in a statement. Wimbledon increased its security in coordination with London police and other agencies for this year’s tournament, in p...

Stalemate: UPS, Teamsters contract talks break down with each side blaming the other

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

Contract negotiations between UPS and the union representing 340,000 of the company’s workers broke down early Wednesday with each side blaming the other for walking away from talks.The Teamsters have imposed several deadlines for United Parcel Service negotiators to make their “last, best and final” offer to its unionized workers in recent days. Union officials said Wednesday that UPS “walked away from the bargaining table after presenting an unacceptable offer” to Teamsters members.UPS told a different story. The package delivery company said it was the Teamsters who abandoned negotiations, “despite UPS’s historic offer that builds on our industry-leading pay.”“We have not walked away, and the union has a responsibility to remain at the table,” the Atlanta company said in a prepared statement.Whichever the case, talks are at a stalemate with the end of the contract — midnight on July 31 — rapidly approaching. Teamster-represented UPS workers voted for a strike authorization ...

Darren Bailey announces run for Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

XENIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Illinois Republican Darren Bailey announced that he will be running for Congress at the Bailey family farm on Tuesday."I humbly ask for your support, I ask for your vote, as together we journey to reclaim our voice, our values and the freedoms that we enjoy here in Southern Illinois," Bailey said.According to a press release, Bailey will be running for Illinois' 12th Congressional seat, which is currently held by Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL). Darren Bailey slammed for using Chicago crime for political gain Bailey has served in the Illinois State House and Senate and lost the Illinois gubernatorial race to JB Pritzker in 2022.

Roller coaster malfunctions at Wisconsin fair, strands riders upside down for hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:30 GMT

(WFLA) – Several visitors at a Wisconsin county fair were in over their heads when a roller coaster malfunctioned, suspending them upside down for several hours.The dizzying incident unfolded Sunday at the Forest County Festival in Crandon, Wisconsin. Authorities said the ride encountered a mechanical failure, suspending eight occupants in an "inverted position." ‘No sense of urgency’: Man who captured crack on roller coaster says First responders raced to the attraction, but the stuck passengers were forced to wait until firefighters with Antigo fire, stationed about 45 minutes away, arrived with extendable ladders.One onlooker took to Facebook saying the eight riders were stuck "hanging upside down for over four hours."All riders were ultimately removed safely. No injuries were reported."Kudos to the little girl at the end who told the fireman to go rescue the older man first because he was struggling," the onlooker added. "That little girl deserves a medal of courage for sure. ...