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New Zealand leader plans to ban cellphone use in schools and end tobacco controls in first 100 days

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s new prime minister plans to ban cellphone use in schools and repeal tobacco controls in the ambitious agenda he released Wednesday for his first 100 days in office.Christopher Luxon outlined 49 actions he said his conservative government intended to take over the next three months. The first new law he planned to pass would narrow the central bank’s mandate to focus purely on keeping inflation in check, he said. That would change the Reserve Bank’s current dual focus on low inflation and high employment.Many of the actions in the 100-day plan involve repealing initiatives from the previous liberal government, which had been in office for six years. The new efforts include a plan to double renewable energy production.Luxon said many of the measures were aimed at improving the economy. Many of the plans are proving contentious, including the one to repeal tobacco restrictions approved last year by the previous government. Those ...

A Hong Kong Court hears final arguments in subversion trial of pro-democracy activists

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court started hearing the final arguments Wednesday of some of the city’s best-known pro-democracy activists tried under a law imposed by China’s ruling Communist Party to crush dissent.The activists’ subversion trial is the biggest prosecution yet under such law. They may face up to life in prison if convicted.The defendants were among 47 activists arrested in 2021 under the sweeping national security law imposed following massive anti-government protests four years ago. They were charged in connection to an informal 2020 primary election to pick candidates who could win the territory’s Legislative Council.Prosecutors accuse the activists of trying to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by securing a majority to veto budgets.In court, Wednesday, Prosecutor Jonathan Man argued that unlawful means to subvert state power didn’t necessarily imply the use of force or physical violence. “(In) the 21st century, social...

When the European Parliament made a difference in the Middle East

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

Picture shows Edward McMillan-Scott (left), Palestine Presidential candidate Dr Mustafa Barghouti (centre) and John Kerry (right) who led the US Election Observer Mission to the January 2005 polls.As I write the diplomatic world’s voices rise to unprecedented levels of anguish, struggling to prolong the temporary pause in the Israel/Gaza conflict, following the ghastly terrorist attack on the kibbutz on 7 October. This is because the conflict is now widely seen as a war on children, not on Hamas. It is also seen as a failure of the democratic process, which still has shallow roots across the Middle East, writes Edward McMillan-Scott.I was one of the longest-serving Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament (2004-2014) and my portfolio was Democracy and Human Rights. This gave me a leading role in the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, founded in 2004 and the only body in which Israelis participated alongside EU and Arab parliamentarians. Parliamentary Assembly of the Union ...

Southern California woman speaks after being dragged by Costco purse snatcher

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

A Southern California woman who was hospitalized after being dragged by purse snatchers outside a Costco is speaking out as the thieves remain at large.The victim, identified only as a 37-year-old woman, was targeted on Sunday night in the parking lot outside of a Costco in the City of Industry, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.The woman and two friends were loading items into her car when an SUV suddenly pulled up. A suspect jumped out and attempted to grab her purse. She refused to let go of her bag so the thief started punching her. She was then dragged about 50 yards through the parking lot and onto Hanover Road where she fell off, authorities said.The 37-year-old victim of a violent purse snatching on Nov. 26, 2023 in the City of INdustry speaks from her hospital bed at Pomona Valley Hospital on Nov. 28, 2023. (KTLA)The parking lot of the Costco in the City of Industry where a woman was dragged by a purse snatcher's vehicle on Nov. 28, 2023. (KTLA)T...

Daly City woman arrested on suspicion of robbery, child endangerment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

SAN MATEO – A 24-year-old woman was arrested Monday night on suspicion of kicking a loss prevention agent at the Hillsdale Shopping Center and later leading police in a pursuit, all while she was accompanied by her 1-year-old child and a 15-year-old relative, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Suspect arrested in double stabbing at San Mateo bar Crime and Public Safety | Coast Guard calls off search for man swept into ocean near Half Moon Bay Crime and Public Safety | Don Horsley, former San Mateo County sheriff and supervisor, dies Crime and Public Safety | Redwood City man arrested on suspicion of trying to meet teen for sex Crime and Public Safety | Daly City man who molested child relative found guilty on 11 charges The incident unfolded around 5:40 p.m. at the Macy’s, located at 301 Hillsdale Mall, according to the San Mateo Police Department.The woman tried to steal cosmetics and...

Pair of turnovers lead to Warriors’ heartbreaker against Sacramento Kings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

SACRAMENTO — Two turnovers in the game’s final 44 seconds cost the Warriors a win in Sacramento on Tuesday night. The Warriors lost 124-123 to the Kings on Malik Monk’s fadeaway banked jumpshot, squandering a 24-point lead they held in the first half. With that, the Kings won Group C of the in-season tournament.The Warriors had a four-point lead with 44 second remaining. But Steph Curry was picked off by Monk, who hit a 3-pointer. The next possession, Draymond Green passed a ball out of bounds that led to Monk’s game winner. The Warriors had 18 turnovers.Until the second half, it was plausible that the Warriors could win Group C of the in-season tournament. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier in the night ensured that the Warriors would have to beat the Kings by at least 12 points to win Group C and advance in the in-season tournament. That all went out the window as the Warriors committed 31 personal fouls and the Kin...

Man arrested for DUI, hit-and-run in Thanksgiving crash that killed Concord 86-year-old

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

(KRON) -- A 19-year-old Concord man was arrested and charged in connection with a crash that killed an 86-year-old man on Thanksgiving night, the Concord Police Department said. The crash happened at around 6:49 p.m. on Oak Grove Road. The elderly victim died at John Muir Hospital. Damian Lopez-Avelino was arrested and charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing serious bodily injury, hit-and-run with injury and driving a motor vehicle while unlicensed. Lopez-Avelino is now being held at the Martinez Detention Facility with no bail. "This event was truly a tragedy for our community and we are committed to working with our partners at the District Attorney's Office to bring justice to the victims and their families," Concord police said.

Oilers edge Golden Knights 5-4 in a shootout for third straight win

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists and added the shootout winner as the Edmonton Oilers got a measure of revenge for last year’s second-round playoff loss to Vegas, defeating the Golden Knights 5-4 on Tuesday night.“We’ll take wins any way we can get them at this point. Obviously it would be nice to close it out up two with five minutes to go — you expect to close that out — but we will take the win any way we can,” McDavid said.“Definitely there is momentum in our room. I think we can feel it. I think what we have seen out of our last three (games) and it is something to build off of,” he said.McDavid has recorded 12 points in his last three games. The Oilers captain has jumped from 108th in the NHL scoring race to a tie for ninth in the span of nine days.“There is a lot less frustration with him than there was two weeks ago,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “But other guys, too. When you win games and get some offense, everyone just feels better a...

The NBA’s tournament quarterfinals are set, with Pacers, Bucks, Lakers and Kings set to host

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Khris Middleton had a thought pop into his head immediately after Milwaukee topped Miami to finish group play in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament with an unbeaten record.“We’re going to Vegas,” he said.Maybe. But not yet. Middleton didn’t know he’d skipped one important step — the quarterfinals.Hey, some people are evidently still learning the tournament format. It gets simple now, though, with the inaugural event down to its final eight teams. In the Eastern Conference, it’ll be Milwaukee hosting New York on Dec. 5 and Indiana playing host to Boston on Dec. 4; in the Western Conference, it’ll be the Los Angeles Lakers hosting Phoenix on Dec. 5 and Sacramento — thanks to a huge comeback over Golden State — playing host to New Orleans on Dec. 4.The winners go to Las Vegas for semifinal games on Dec. 7, and those winners play Dec. 9 to be the first team to hoist the NBA Cup and win $500,000 per player, $250,000 for those on two-way deals.“It’d ...

Monk’s late basket leads the Kings past the Warriors 124-123 to win In-Season Tournament group

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:25 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Malik Monk hit a fadeaway with 7 seconds left and the Sacramento Kings rallied late to beat the Golden State Warriors 124-123 on Tuesday night and advance to the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament. The Kings won their group with a 4-0 record and will host New Orleans next week in the quarterfinals. Sacramento needed a win or a loss by 11 points or fewer but ended up with the victory thanks to a furious comeback fueled by two late turnovers by the Warriors.Andrew Wiggins’ tip-in put Golden State up by five with 59 seconds left. But De’Aaron Fox hit a free throw and Monk hit a 3-pointer following a turnover by Stephen Curry.Draymond Green turned it over on the next possession, setting the stage for Monk’s go-ahead shot. The Warriors had no timeouts left and Curry missed a 3 at the buzzer to give Sacramento its first win in three tries against Golden State this season.Fox led the way with 29 points, with Monk and Kevin Huerter adding 21 apie...