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AP gets rare glimpse of jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Jimmy Lai, a former newspaper publisher and one of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy activists, spends around 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in a maximum-security facility while he awaits a trial that could send him to prison for life.In exclusive photos taken by The Associated Press in recent weeks, the 75-year-old Lai can be seen with a book in his hands wearing shorts and sandals and accompanied by two guards at Stanley Prison. He looks thinner than when he was last photographed in February 2021.Lai is allowed out for 50 minutes a day to exercise. Unlike most other inmates, who play football or exercise in groups, Lai walks alone in what appears to be a 5-by-10-meter (16-by-30-foot) enclosure surrounded by barbed wire under Hong Kong’s punishing summer sun before returning to his unairconditioned cell in the prison.The publisher of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, Lai disappeared from public view in December 2020 following his arrest under a ...

Lahaina residents worry a rebuilt Maui town could slip into the hands of affluent outsiders

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Richy Palalay so closely identifies with his Maui hometown that he had a tattoo artist permanently ink “Lahaina Grown” on his forearms when he was 16.But a chronic housing shortage and an influx of second-home buyers and wealthy transplants have been displacing residents like Palalay who give Lahaina its spirit and identity.A fast-moving wildfire that incinerated much of the compact coastal settlement last week has multiplied concerns that any homes rebuilt there will be targeted at affluent outsiders seeking a tropical haven. That would turbo-charge what is already one of Hawaii’s gravest and biggest challenges: the exodus and displacement of Native Hawaiian and local-born residents who can no longer afford to live in their homeland.“I’m more concerned of big land developers coming in and seeing this charred land as an opportunity to rebuild,” Palalay said Saturday at a shelter for evacuees.Hotels and condos “that we can’t afford, that we can’t afford to live...

You’ll never guess who performed with Foo Fighters at Outside Lands

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

The Foo Fighters had a special surprise in store for fans on Day 2 (Saturday, Aug. 12) at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco.The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act, led by Dave Grohl, brought out a special guest star to perform with them.And, no, the guest star wasn’t Steph Curry, the Warriors all-star who many people keep expecting to show up at some point during the three-day festival, which continues through Sunday at Golden Gate Park. (Curry didn’t make an appearance during fellow NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal’s set on Friday, but maybe he will perform with collaborator Tobe Nwigwe on Sunday.)The guest who appeared with the Foos on Saturday night was none other than Michael Buble.No, really. We’re being totally serious.The famed Canadian crooner, known for his stylish work on traditional pop standards and the Great American Songbook, came out onstage during the Foos’ roughly 2-hour set on the festival’s big Lands End stage.Related Artic...

Mountcastle’s hit in the 10th gives Orioles a 1-0 win over Mariners, snaps Seattle’s win streak

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

Seattle Mariners' Ty France, left, talks with former teammate Baltimore Orioles second baseman Adam Frazier during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)(AP/Lindsey Wasson) Seattle Mariners' Ty France, left, talks with former teammate Baltimore Orioles second baseman Adam Frazier during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)(AP/Lindsey Wasson) SEATTLE (AP) — A night dedicated to honoring one of the best pitchers of his generation ended with only one run scored, 19 combined strikeouts and an overpowering right-hander named Félix on the mound at the end.Ryan Mountcastle’s one-out single in the ...

Prince George’s Co. Public Schools give out backpacks during annual ‘Drive and Dash’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

Prince George’s County Public Schools gave backpacks to families in need during their annual Back-To-School Drive and Dash donation event Saturday morning.This year’s Drive and Dash event was sponsored by the Excellence in Education Foundation for PGCPS in collaboration with several different community partners.“We have high-energy volunteers, a lively crowd and lots and lots of backpacks!” exclaimed Raven Hill, PGCPS Assistant Superintendent for Communications & Community Engagement.Hill says this year, there were even more reasons to celebrate the event.“Usually, we are able to give away around 10,000 backpacks at the annual Drive and Dash,” Hill said. “But this year, through the generosity of community partners, we are able to give away 20,000.”She said community partners donated around $97,000 to make it all possible, adding that it’s incredibly important to the district to make sure students start off the school year with the tools they n...

Wiegman is the outlier as the Women’s World Cup highlights a shortage of female coaches

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Sarina Wiegman is in a unique position at the Women’s World Cup, where she’s the only female head coach still in contention for the title.That was the case even before England advanced to the semifinals, by beating Colombia 2-1, with Wiegman also the outlier from the eight teams that reached the quarterfinals. “Of course what we hope is to get more female football coaches at the top level and the balance gets better than it is right now,” Wiegman said. “Of course males are welcome too. There are lots of males who have done a very good job in the women’s game, but if the balance is better that will also inspire other women to start coaching.”Women’s soccer is growing at pace. This World Cup has seen record attendance, rising talent from around the globe and showcased a closing of the gap between the sport’s traditional elite and emerging nations. Yet the disparity in the coaching ranks has also been laid bare. Of the 32 nations that started...

Excompañera de fórmula del asesinado candidato presidencial dice que es un ‘momento inquietante’ para la región y para la democracia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

(CNN) — En una entrevista exclusiva con CNN, Andrea González Náder, excompañera de fórmula del asesinado candidato presidencial Fernando Villavicencio, dijo que la muerte de Villavicencio marca un “momento inquietante” para la región y para la democracia.“Nunca se tiene suficiente tiempo para procesar algo tan impactante y tan aleccionador como el asesinato de un candidato presidencial y tal nivel de violencia, y tan pronto, tan cerca de las elecciones presidenciales”, dijo González Náder a Rafael Romo de CNN en una entrevista en la capital Quito este sábado.ANÁLISIS | Cómo la corrupción y las guerras entre bandas han transformado Ecuador“Creo que este es un momento inquietante para toda la región y eventualmente para la democracia mundial”, dijo.El partido Movimiento Construye de Ecuador nombró a González Náder como su nueva candidata presidencial para las próximas elecciones del 20 de agosto.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner...

Polish government plans referendum asking if voters want ‘thousands of illegal immigrants’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s ruling party wants to ask voters in a referendum whether they support accepting “thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa” as part of a European Union relocation plan, the prime minister said Sunday, as his conservative party seeks to stave off a challenge from the political opposition.Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced the referendum question in a new video published on social media. It indicated that his party, Law and Justice, is seeking to use migration in his general election campaign, a tactic that helped it take power in 2015.The government has previously said it wants to hold the referendum alongside the fall parliamentary election, scheduled for Oct. 15. Leaders have announced two other questions in recent days.Morawiecki said that the question would say: “Do you support the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa under the forced relocation mechanism imposed by the European ...

4 people dead and 1 missing after explosion destroys 3 structures in western Pennsylvania

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

PLUM, Pa. (AP) — Four people were dead and a fifth was unaccounted for following a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others Saturday morning, authorities said.Allegheny County officials said three people were taken to hospitals after the blast shortly before 10:30 a.m. in the borough of Plum, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh.Three people were transported to area hospitals, including one who was listed in critical condition and two who were treated and released. More than 20 firefighters were evaluated, many for heat exhaustion, authorities said.The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office was expected to provide additional information about the deceased victims.Emergency officials suspended operations Saturday night due to weather and concern for the safety of investigators. Crews were expected to resume working at the site on Sunday morning.Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris...

Las Vegas hosts Atlanta after Wilson’s 40-point performance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

Atlanta Dream (15-14, 9-8 Eastern Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (26-3, 15-1 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Sunday, 9 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Aces -17.5; over/under is 175.5BOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas hosts the Atlanta Dream after A’ja Wilson scored 40 points in the Las Vegas Aces’ 113-89 victory over the Washington Mystics.The Aces are 14-0 in home games. Las Vegas scores 94.2 points while outscoring opponents by 14.1 points per game.The Dream are 7-9 on the road. Atlanta is sixth in the WNBA with 8.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Cheyenne Parker averaging 2.4.The teams meet for the third time this season. The Aces won 93-72 in the last matchup on Aug. 2.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilson is scoring 21.3 points per game and averaging 9.7 rebounds for the Aces. Kelsey Plum is averaging 19.4 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games for Las Vegas.Rhyne Howard is averaging 17.7 points and 3.2 assists for the Dream. Allisha Gray is averaging 16.7 points over the last 1...