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2 Chinese navy ships head to Singapore for joint drills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s military has dispatched a pair of navy ships to take part in joint drills with Singapore’s navy and join in a regional maritime security exhibition.The exercises starting Friday in the Southeast Asian city state come amid China’s growing presence in the South China Sea, which it claims sovereignty over virtually in its entirety. Concerns are especially pronounced in the U.S., which on Wednesday joined with forces from the Philippines in major exercises in Philippine waters facing the South China Sea that are likely to anger China. Beijing’s more assertive stance comes as its relations with the U.S. and its allies have hit historic lows.State television’s military channel identified the ships being sent as the guided missile frigate Yulin and the minesweeper hunter Chibi. They will also be present for the May 3-5 IMDEX Asia National Defense and Maritime Security Show, which will feature 25 warships and attendees from 62 countries.Amid China’s effort...

Kiszla: Avs star Nathan MacKinnon deserves better than being done dirty by bad officiating in must-win NHL playoff game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

Center Nathan MacKinnon slammed his stick against the glass so hard the magic shattered, and the thrill of being the defending Stanley Cup champs was gone. These Avs — frustrated, hurting, weary and one lousy loss from elimination in the NHL playoffs — have come unglued.But don’t the defending champs deserve better than being done dirty by inept officiating in a must-win game? MacKinnon gets dragged down for all the hockey world to see and a referee turns a blind eye? What the …“It’s not 1975. I think that’s a trip,” MacKinnon groused Wednesday, unable to comprehend how he could be the victim of a takedown worthy of Roddy Piper without a penalty being whistled.Instead of winning, the defending champs are whining. And that’s not only a problem, but an indicator of how deep in the dumpster the Avalanche’s confidence now resides.But in this case, MacKinnon had a legitimate gripe.The key moment Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to Seattle that put the defending champs on the bri...

Roma pilgrims seek just 'one glimpse' of Pope Francis in Hungary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

When Pope Francis visited Hungary two years ago, Roma pilgrim Csaba Kovesi, accompanied by a cross blessed by Francis and Pope John Paul II, drove around the country calling on people to travel to Budapest to see him.Now Kovesi is on a repeat mission, driving a pick-up resembling a "popemobile" with the cross on display, hoping to convince people to attend an open-air Mass led by Francis in front of parliament on Sunday."We (Roma) who live in this faith would really love to get near him, just get ... one glimpse," said Kovesi as he prepared his pick-up, emblazoned with photos of Francis, for the drive."Faith is the greatest thing in the world and we Roma people think that we can prove our belonging by getting near the greatest man on Earth."Hundreds of thousands of Roma in Hungary live in disproportionate poverty and suffer from prejudice in schools and workplaces, rights activists say. During a visit to Romania in 2019, the pope asked for forgiveness in the name of the Roman Cathol...

Time is running out for the current job-killing citrus impasse between EU and South Africa to be resolved  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

As the second largest exporters of citrus in the world, South African growers have become renowned for delivering top quality fruit to markets across the globe. This has included the European Union (EU), with just over 772 000 tons of world-class citrus shipped to the region last year alone, writes Justin Chadwick.  In order to ensure that citrus exported to the European markets is of the highest quality, local growers have invested massively into research, development, phytosanitary and other quality assurance programmes, totalling R150 million a year. Growers have also invested billions of Rands in the establishment of state-of-the-art packhouses and cold storage facilities to process, pack and export citrus and keep it in top condition as it makes it way to consumers in key markets. As a result, the South African citrus industry has a proven track record in protecting European production from the threat of pest or disease, including False Coddling Moth. Our rigorous Ris...

The city of Liège, Belgium, votes a motion to boycott the state of Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

“The city of Liège follows the good example of cities such as Barcelona and Oslo, which had already taken this decision. Liège is taking a strong stand against Israel’s apartheid policy,” said the leader of the extreme-left party which tabled the motion. “It is regrettable to see how radical forces have managed, through lies, to influence the Liège Municipal Council so that it takes a decision so detached from reality and harmful to the economic interests of Liège, Israel and Palestinians themselves,” reacted Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.The city council of Liège, in Eastern Belgium, voted on Monday (24 April) to boycott the state of Israel. A motion tabled by the Party of Workers of Belgium (PTB), an extreme-left wing and Marxist party, calls for a boycott of the Israeli state, to “temporarily suspend relations with the State of Israel and Israeli complicit institutions until the Israeli authorities end the system of violations of the Palestinian people a...

“Don’t worry about it!” Armenia tries to avoid sanctions for sending EU and US chips to Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

Armenia is trying to play down the importance of a surge in its imports of semiconductor chips and other electronic components from Europe and America. It’s estimated that nearly all the shipments are sent on to Russia for use in missiles and other weapons deployed in the war in Ukraine, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.Armenia cannot deny what it’s been caught doing but it’s certainly doing its best to persuade the European Union and United States that just because it’s helping Russia to evade sanctions, it shouldn’t in turn face secondary sanctions. Information first published in the New York Times has revealed an extraordinary increase in Armenian imports of electronic components, including eight particularly sensitive categories of semiconductor chips.One document seen by the newspaper apparently came from the US Bureau of Industry and Security. It stated that between 2021 and 2022, Armenia’s imports of chips and microprocessors from the US shot up by 515%; from the EU it was...

EU holds ‘open and constructive’ talks with Uzbekistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

At the 17th meeting of the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council, held in Luxembourg, talks were held in an ‘open and constructive atmosphere, according to European diplomats. Ahead of Uzbekistan’s referendum on amending its constitution, the two sides discussed the country’s ambitious programme of political reforms, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.The latest EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council saw further progress in the increasingly positive relationship between the European Union and the Central Asian Republic. On the referendum to amend the constitution, the EU welcomed the opportunity for the people to have their say and stressed its support for meaningful consultation and public debate.The referendum asks voters if they approve of changes affecting some two thirds of the constitution. It estimated that the state’s formal obligations to its citizens will be tripled. It will also lengthen presidential terms of office, enabling President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to seek reelection.The tw...

Man Arrested After Possible Kidnapping Caught On Video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

Los Angeles County Sheriffs on Wednesday arrested a suspect believed to be connected to a possible kidnapping caught on video.The suspect, described as a Hispanic male, was charged with kidnapping and abduction for an incident in the city of Commerce Monday.The surveillance video was shared by the Sheriff’s Dept. and was widely circulated over social media, showing a Hispanic woman on her phone in a residential area, before pistol whipped by a man and thrown into a silver Kia Rio.The woman appeared to be initially approaching the video and attempting to get in before the man exited the car and began the assault. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @sangabrielvalleynewsThe Kia Rio was recovered as evidence in the investigation and the woman believed to be kidnapped, was found several hours later the arrest of the suspect was made.                      ...

Kevon Looney’s big Game 5 puts him in exclusive club with Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

SACRAMENTO — Kevon Looney, Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond are the only three Warriors to accomplish one feat.Looney’s 22 rebounds not only helped lock in the Warriors’ pivotal Game 5 win against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, but lobbed him into an exclusive club with the two Hall of Famers as the only Warriors in history to have multiple 20-plus rebound games in a single playoff series. Chamberlain did it seven times and Thurmond five times.Looney has done it once. Now, with a 20-rebound Game 3 — without Draymond Green — and Wednesday’s game.The Warriors’ big paused at his cramped locker at Golden1 Center to grin when he heard the stat.“Wow,” he said. “Now that’s something I’ll tell my grandkids about.”Looney’s Warriors career hasn’t been defined by individual numbers. His first NBA years were curtailed by hip surgeries, painstaking rehab and seasons spent collecting dust at the ...

The eight most expensive homes that reported sold in Los Gatos the week of April 17

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

A house in Los Gatos that sold for $3.5 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Los Gatos in the past week.In total, nine real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2.2 million, $1,152 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of April 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.8. $687,000, condominium in the 400 block of Alberto WayThe 1,076 square-foot condominium in the 400 block of Alberto Way, Los Gatos, has now been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in April and the total purchase price was $687,000, $638 per square foot. The condominium was built in 1978. The condominium features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.7. $1.4 million, condominium in the 200 block of Pine Wood LaneA sale has been finalized for the condominium in the 200 block of Pine Wood Lane in Los Gatos. The price was $1,375,000 and the new owners took ove...