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Japanese leaders mark one year since the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese political and business leaders on Saturday marked one year since the assassination of Japan’s former leader, Shinzo Abe, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledging to tackle pressing political goals as a way of honoring Abe’s wishes.At a Buddhist temple Zojoji in Tokyo, Kishida and his governing Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, as well as representatives from opposition parties and business leaders, attended a closed memorial service hosted by Abe’s widow Akie Abe and the family. Tables were set up at the temple for flower laying by the public later Saturday.Kishida, speaking to reporters Friday as he renewed his tribute to Abe, said he has tackled policies that could not be delayed, “as a way of honoring Mr. Abe’s last wishes.” “I will keep working at it to fulfil my responsibilities.”Amid a national outcry over a botched security, police have tightened their protective measures following a subsequent investigation that found holes in how Abe wa...

NATO summit host Lithuania is a small country with a loud voice, especially when it comes to Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — A pair of colorful children’s scooters rest against the yellow tracks of a battle tank, parked in the shade of skyscrapers in the Vilnius business district. The area, usually busy with cars, cyclists and pedestrians, is closed to traffic and packed with heavy armored vehicles.“Never in its history was Lithuania this safe,” says Jonas Braukyla, an IT engineer, who brought his family to see the U.S.-made Abrams tanks, German Leopards and Marders and other military hardware brought out to project NATO power ahead of an alliance summit next week. “They are even bringing Patriot missile defenses over here. Now we must help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and I hope the summit will bring good news for them.”The two-day summit starting Tuesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders will be the most high-profile international event that Lithuania has hosted since it joined the alliance in 2004, and some locals hope it will be of historic sig...

4 hospitalized in high-speed Woodland Hills crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Four people were critically injured after a violent, high-speed crash in Woodland Hills on Friday night.The collision happened on the 6200 block of North Owensmouth Avenue around 10:37 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.All four victims required extrication — two people from each vehicle, officials said.Citizen video at the scene shows the crash sheared a fire hydrant and left one SUV overturned and a sedan completely destroyed on a sidewalk near a tree.Four people were hospitalized in critical condition after a high-speed crash in Woodland Hills on July 8 2023. (Citizen)Four people were hospitalized in critical condition after a high-speed crash in Woodland Hills on July 8 2023. (Citizen)Four people were hospitalized in critical condition after a high-speed crash in Woodland Hills on July 8 2023. (Citizen)Four people were hospitalized in critical condition after a high-speed crash in Woodland Hills on July 8 2023. (Citizen)Four people were hospitalized in critical c...

Sheikh Talal replaces his suspended brother, keeps Asian Olympic leadership in Al Sabah family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Sabah will replace his suspended brother as president of the Olympic Council of Asia after winning an election by four votes Saturday and taking control of the organization their father created in the early 1980s.Sheikh Talal’s brother, Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, led the 45-nation OCA from 1991 until 2021, when he was barred from Olympic business following his conviction in Geneva for forgery. He denied the charges and has appealed his conviction.The OCA issued a statement saying the outcome “keeps the leadership of the Kuwait-based OCA in the House of the Al Sabah family.”The statement noted the 58-year-old Sheikh Talal is the son of the first OCA president, Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was president from 1982 to 1990, and the younger brother of Sheikh Ahmad. The OCA’s former secretary general, Randhir Singh of India, led the organization on an interim basis from 2021 until the election. ...

Los Angeles plays Phoenix on 3-game road slide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks (7-11, 6-6 Western Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (3-13, 1-10 Western Conference)Phoenix; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles will look to break its three-game road skid when the Sparks take on Phoenix.The Mercury have gone 1-10 against Western Conference teams. Phoenix is 0-8 against opponents with a winning record.The Sparks are 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 4-4 record in games decided by 10 or more points.The teams square off for the third time this season. The Sparks won the last matchup 99-93 on June 3, with Lexie Brown scoring 26 points in the win.TOP PERFORMERS: Brittney Griner is scoring 19.8 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Mercury. Michaela Onyenwere is averaging 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games for Phoenix.Jordin Canada is averaging 13 points, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals for the Sparks. Nneka Ogwumike is averaging 18.8 points over the last 10 games for Los Angeles.LAST 10 GA...

Indiana takes on Dallas, looks to stop 6-game skid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Dallas Wings (8-9, 6-5 Western Conference) at Indiana Fever (5-13, 3-7 Eastern Conference)Indianapolis; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Indiana comes into the matchup against Dallas after losing six in a row.The Fever have gone 1-5 at home. Indiana averages 13.3 turnovers per game and is 2- when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents.The Wings are 2-7 on the road. Dallas ranks ninth in the WNBA with 18.2 assists per game led by Arike Ogunbowale averaging 4.5.The matchup Sunday is the first meeting this season for the two teams.TOP PERFORMERS: Aliyah Boston is shooting 62.1% and averaging 14.8 points for the Fever. Kelsey Mitchell is averaging 17.2 points over the last 10 games for Indiana.Satou Sabally is averaging 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Wings. Ogunbowale is averaging 22.1 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 41.2% over the past 10 games for Dallas.LAST 10 GAMES: Fever: 3-7, averaging 84.2 points, 34.9 rebounds, 18.3 assists, 6.1 steals and 2.5 blocks ...

Williams, Sky to host Howard and the Dream

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Atlanta Dream (8-8, 6-5 Eastern Conference) at Chicago Sky (8-9, 3-8 Eastern Conference)Chicago; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Courtney Williams and the Chicago Sky host Rhyne Howard and the Atlanta Dream in Eastern Conference action.The Sky’s record in Eastern Conference play is 3-8. Chicago ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 20.3 assists per game led by Williams averaging 6.1.The Dream are 6-5 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta ranks second in the Eastern Conference shooting 36.5% from 3-point range.TOP PERFORMERS: Williams is scoring 9.6 points per game and averaging 6.4 rebounds for the Sky. Marina Mabrey is averaging 16.6 points and 3.7 rebounds over the last 10 games for Chicago.Howard is averaging 18 points and 3.5 assists for the Dream. Allisha Gray is averaging 19.3 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 51.2% over the last 10 games for Atlanta.LAST 10 GAMES: Sky: 4-6, averaging 79.5 points, 31.1 rebounds, 20.4 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.6 blocks per game whi...

Collier, Lynx to host Wilson and the Aces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Las Vegas Aces (16-1, 8-1 Western Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (8-9, 7-4 Western Conference)Minneapolis; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Minnesota takes on Las Vegas in a matchup of Western Conference teams.The Lynx have gone 7-4 against Western Conference teams. Minnesota ranks sixth in the WNBA with 7.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Jessica Shepard averaging 2.8 offensive boards.The Aces are 8-1 in conference play. Las Vegas leads the Western Conference with 22.4 assists. Chelsea Gray paces the Aces with 6.4.The two teams match up for the third time this season. The Aces defeated the Lynx 93-62 in their last matchup on June 19. Jackie Young led the Aces with 24 points, and Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 18 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Kayla McBride is averaging 13.1 points for the Lynx. Collier is averaging 25.4 points over the last 10 games for Minnesota.A’ja Wilson is averaging 19.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Aces. Kelsey Plum is averaging 17.9 points o...

Washington faces Connecticut on 3-game road skid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Washington Mystics (10-7, 6-5 Eastern Conference) at Connecticut Sun (13-5, 6-3 Eastern Conference)Uncasville, Connecticut; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Washington will aim to stop its three-game road slide when the Mystics take on Connecticut.The Sun have gone 6-3 against Eastern Conference teams. Connecticut is 1-0 in one-possession games.The Mystics’ record in Eastern Conference action is 6-5. Washington is fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 80.5 points per game and is shooting 41.9%.The teams meet for the third time this season. The Sun won 88-81 in the last matchup on May 23. Alyssa Thomas led the Sun with 22 points, and Elena Delle Donne led the Mystics with 27 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Brionna Jones is averaging 15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals for the Sun. DeWanna Bonner is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games for Connecticut.Tianna Hawkins is averaging 5.7 points for the Mystics. Ariel Atkins is averaging 15.0 points over the last 10 games for Wash...

Preocupa a ambientalistas el muro flotante de boyas en el Río Grande

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

EAGLE PASS, Texas – El gobierno estatal empezó este viernes a desplegar lo que será una nueva barrera flotante en el Río Grande el viernes en la última escalada del esfuerzo multimillonario del gobernador republicano Greg Abbott para asegurar la frontera de EEUU con México, que ya ha incluido el transporte de inmigrantes a estados liberales y autorizar a la Guardia Nacional a realizar detenciones.Docenas de las grandes boyas esféricas estaban apiladas en las plataformas de cuatro remolques de tractores en un parque de la ciudad cerca del río.Pero incluso antes de que las enormes boyas anaranjadas fueran descargadas de los tráileres que las transportaron a la ciudad fronteriza de Eagle Pass, surgieron preocupaciones por el desafío sin precedentes de Abbott a la autoridad del gobierno federal sobre la aplicación de la ley de inmigración.Los defensores de los inmigrantes expresaron su preocupación por los riesgos de ahogamiento y los ambientalistas cuestionaron el impacto en el r...