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Japan court convicts 3 ex-servicemen in sexual assault case brought by former junior soldier

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court on Tuesday convicted three former soldiers in a sexual assault case that authorities had dropped until the victim, a former servicemember, came forward demanding a reinvestigation, prompting a military-wide harassment probe.The Fukushima District Court sentenced the former Japanese army soldiers to two years in prison but suspended the sentences for four years — meaning they won’t actually serve time in prison.The case filed by Rina Gonoi in August 2021 was initially dropped. Nine months later, she came forward — a rare step in a country that often lacks sufficient support for sexual assault victims — and demanded the case be reinvestigated, saying the experience caused her to give up her military career.Her revelation prompted a military-wide investigation into sexual harassment and other abuse allegations in September 2022, and prosecutors reopened her case.The Fukushima court said Tuesday her three former supervisors — Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine a...

Poor countries need trillions of dollars to go green. A long-shot effort aims to generate the cash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A large, long-shot effort is being developed to mobilize money to save Planet Earth.Climate finance experts say trillions of dollars are needed for forestry projects and renewable energies like solar and wind in the developing world, all aimed at slashing pollution from the burning of oil, gas and coal, which cause climate change. The price tag is eye-watering: Investment in energy-transition technologies were $1.3 trillion last year, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, an intergovernmental group, and that needs to at least quadruple to avoid a level of warming that scientists say would be catastrophic. Even rich governments can’t commit that kind of cash, and often struggle to get respective congresses and parliaments to even sign off on modest amounts.Enter a plan to combine the cash-churning power of the private sector with carbon credits, a hot topic of discussion at the annual climate talks taking place in Dubai. “It’...

Stock market today: Asia markets rise ahead of US consumer prices update

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

Asian markets advanced Tuesday following a positive close on Wall Street. Investors are eagerly awaiting a crucial U.S. inflation report later in the day, which will likely set the tone for the Federal Reserve’s final meeting of the year on Wednesday.U.S. futures and oil prices also were higher.Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 added 0.1% to 32,843.70. Data released on Tuesday showed wholesale prices in Japan rose by 0.3% from a year earlier in November, the slowest rate of increase in almost three years. That suggested a moderation in inflationary pressures as the central bank weighs whether or not to relax its ultra-lax monetary policy. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.3% to 16,398.00, and the Shanghai Composite was 0.3% higher, to 2,998.81. Chinese leaders are reportedly holding an annual economic conference that is expected to wrap up Tuesday with pledges to spur stable growth. In Seoul, the Kospi was up 0.4% at 2,535.27. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.5% to 7,235.30.India’s Sensex droppe...

Turkey suspends all league games after club president punches referee at a top-flight match

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish Football Federation has suspended all league games in the country after a club president punched the referee in the face at the end of a top-flight match.MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch late Monday after the final whistle, following a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game against Caykur Rizespor.The referee, who fell to the ground, was also kicked in a melee that occurred after fans also invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.The federation announced it suspended all league games indefinitely after an emergency meeting held to discuss the violence.“This attack is unfortunate and shameful in the name of football,” federation chief Mehmet Buyukeksi said after the meeting.“We say enough is enough,” he added, insisting that all involved in the violence would be punished.Buyukeksi also blamed the attack on a culture of contempt toward referees in Turkey.“Everyone who has targeted referees...

Montana county to vote on removing election oversight duties from elected official

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

Commissioners in a Montana county are expected to vote Tuesday on whether to remove election oversight duties from a clerk and recorder who expressed doubts about the integrity of the election process when she ran for office last year.The Cascade County commission meeting was moved to the fairgrounds in Great Falls to accommodate the anticipated public participation. If the resolution passes, it would take effect immediately.Commissioner Joe Briggs proposed the resolution, noting that since Sandra Merchant was sworn in early this year, the county has received complaints about the way several local elections have been run. Lawsuits have been filed. The library board asked for court-appointed oversight for their mill levy election this summer.“It’s been everything from people not getting ballots that should have to people who got ballots that shouldn’t have in these various elections, so there seems to be some systemic problems,” Briggs said Monday.The issue needs to be settled ...

China’s homegrown C919 aircraft arrives in Hong Kong in maiden flight outside the mainland

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Chinese C919 jet arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday in the Chinese-made plane’s first foray outside of mainland China as its manufacturer prepares to take on Airbus and Boeing in the market for single-aisle commercial aircraft. The C919 and another Chinese-made aircraft, an ARJ21, will be on display at Hong Kong’s international airport until Sunday. The C919 is due to perform a fly-past over the city’s scenic Victoria Harbor on Saturday. The maker of the C919, the Commercial Aircraft Company of China, or COMAC, designed many of the C919’s parts, but some of its key components are still sourced from the West, including its engine.The narrow-bodied airliner was in development for 16 years and received certification in 2022. It has a maximum range of about 3,500 miles (5,630 kilometers) and is designed to carry 158-168 passengers.The Associated Press

Suicide bomber attacks police station in northwest Pakistan, killing 6 officers and wounding 25

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at a police station’s main gate in northwest Pakistan early Tuesday, killing at least six officers and wounding 25 others, officials said. Part of the building collapsed upon impact, local police officer Kamal Khan said. Some militants also opened fire and a shootout ensued for hours between them and security forces before three attackers were gunned down, he said. Several officers were transferred to hospital in critical condition.The attack happened in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, Khan said. The province is a former stronghold of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.The newly formed militant group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP — believed to be an offshoot of the TTP — claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it targeted officers who were at the police station.A larger number...

One year after Qatargate, Ombudsman highlights remaining concerns about Parliament’s new ethics framework

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

Following a series of exchanges with the European Parliament on its post-Qatargate ethics reforms, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly (pictured) acknowledges significant progress in strengthening the rules but concerns remain about their implementation and enforcement. A credible ethics framework requires adequate resources, rigorous implementation and strong enforcement but it is not yet clear that these elements are in place. The Ombudsman urges Parliament to put them in place as quickly as possible to reassure the European public ahead of next June's elections. As the self-regulation model remains largely intact, citizens need to be confident that it can work. The reform package includes some welcome improvements such as a more detailed definition of conflict of interest and the obligation on Members to publish all meetings organised with registered lobbyists and with diplomatic representatives from non-EU countries. Three issues remain of particular concern: Firstly, it is not cl...

South L.A. street food vendors robbed by knife-wielding man

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles.Surveillance video captured the hooded suspect walking up behind a street vendor worker and demanding all their cash.The incident happened on Dec. 8 as the workers at Tacos El Caguamo were set up on East 78th Street.The victim, Jose Segura Romero, becomes emotional when speaking about the ordeal, saying he was wondering whether he would be coming home to his family that night.“He came from behind me and forcefully applied pressure to my neck,” Jose told KTLA in Spanish.A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los Angeles. (KTLA)The suspect's getaway car leaves the scene after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)The victim, Jose Segura Romero, owner of the Tacos El Caguamo food stand. (KTLA)The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los A...

Uber offers festive, holiday-themed party buses in L.A.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:22 GMT

As the holiday season approaches, Uber is giving its customers a chance to ride in style to this season’s parties, festivities, and gatherings. Beginning Monday through Sunday, Dec. 17, customers can book a Festive Fleet with Uber, a holiday-themed party charter bus filled with karaoke, festive lights, Christmas decor, and photo props to help stir up the holiday spirit. Perfect for holiday group gatherings on the go, the holiday-themed charter trips will be available in L.A., New York, Washington D.C., Miami, and Chicago. Riders who book a charter up until Sunday will receive 10% off with promo code “FESTIVE 10.” In addition to the holiday party buses, Uber is also offering several other special holiday offerings including the Gift Hub in the Uber Eats app to easily find and send gifts, Robot Reindeers that will be delivering food for the month of December, and free package returns using Uber Connect.