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Kim Jong Un’s trip to Russia provides window into unique North Korean and Russian media coverage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The world is largely relying on North Korean and Russian media for information about the unusual train journey of leader Kim Jong Un to meet with President Vladimir Putin at a space facility. While news gathering is, to varying degrees, constrained by both authoritarian governments, the coverage by the countries’ respective media this week is providing a window into the neighbors’ unique news environments and how the summit is being presented to people in North Korea and Russia.The coverage shown to North Koreans is meant, like all media efforts there, to reflect the government’s propaganda needs. The country’s reporters have no higher aim than glorifying Kim for Koreans and the world.But Kim’s trip to Russia, where foreign and local media have more access and leeway than in Pyongyang, has challenged how the North Korean media portray one of Kim’s most important diplomatic moves in years.There are no independent television channels left in Russia since...

Wave of teacher absences forcing Vegas-area school closures deemed an illegal strike, judge finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge on Wednesday ordered a teachers union to put an end to teacher absences that have forced Las Vegas-area school closures and that she said are “very clearly a strike,” amid a contract battle in a state where it is illegal for public employees to walk off the job.Since Sept. 1, unexpected staff shortages have led eight schools to cancel classes for the day and two others to combine classes, according to the Clark County School District, the largest in Nevada and the fifth-largest in the nation with about 295,000 students. One school had 87% of its teachers call in sick on the same day.“The idea that this can be ignored, that these are sick call-outs, and that they are actually due to someone being sick is preposterous,” Clark County District Judge Crystal Eller said in a hearing. If the union fails to stop the strike, penalties could include a fine of up to $50,000, as well as jail time or termination for striking members and union leaders.The Clark County Edu...

A crane has collapsed at a China bridge construction project, killing 6 people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A tower crane collapsed at a bridge construction project in southwest China, killing six people and injuring five others, authorities said.The collapse happened Wednesday in Jianyang city during work to build an expressway bridge over the Tuo River, the city’s transportation bureau said in a short statement posted on its social media account.Jianyang is in Sichuan province near Chengdu, the provincial capital. An investigation into the cause of the collapse was underway.The Associated Press

Brazilian Indigenous women use fashion to showcase their claim to rights and the demarcation of land

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Indigenous women in Brazil’s capital Brasilia showcased their creations during a fashion event as part of the Third March of Indigenous Women to claim women’s rights and the demarcation of Indigenous lands.Under a huge white marquee, models in headdresses, necklaces and traditional attire strutted along a catwalk lined with green foliage to the cheers of a couple of hundred onlookers, many of whom had their smartphones out to share the event on social networks.Kajina Maneira da Costa, from the Nukini people in Acre state, near the border with Peru, said she was nervous before taking to the stage, but was proud to be representing her people.“There still exists a lot of prejudice. It’s not normal to see an Indigenous fashion show,” the 19-year-old said.Kitted out in a bright yellow dress and headdress, Célia Xakriabá, a federal lawmaker from the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais, said on stage that the event was about “decolonizing fashion.”“Today we showed t...

Father of imprisoned reporter Evan Gershkovich calls on world leaders to urge Russia to free him

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The father of imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich called on world leaders meeting at the United Nations next week to stand up for freedom of the press and urge Russia to release him.Mikhail Gershkovich came to U.N. headquarters with his wife and daughter at the invitation of U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Wednesday to spotlight his son’s nearly six months in a Russian prison on charges of espionage, which the Journal’s lawyers call “patently false.”Their appearance came a day after the paper’s lawyers asked the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to urgently issue an opinion that Evan has been arbitrarily detained by Russia on the false charges. The request says “Russia has failed to produce a shred of evidence in support of its accusations” since the 31-year-old journalist was arrested on March 29 on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, almost 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow.Mikhail Gershkovi...

Family tied up, held at gunpoint during alleged home robbery in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

(KTLA) — A family in Orange County, California was held at gunpoint earlier this week by four armed robbers who allegedly broke into their home, used a stun gun on one of the victims, tied them up, and demanded to know where they kept their valuables, authorities announced Tuesday.  Officers with the Westminster Police Department responded to the 8900 block of Pebble Beach Circle on Sept. 11 around 10:40 p.m. after a woman called 911 and whispered that she needed help.  When police arrived at the residence, they spotted four male suspects armed with handguns running from the home.  One of the suspects, now identified as 29-year-old Banning resident Danny Sommay, was taken into custody outside the residence after throwing his firearm over a brick wall. The gun, a 9mm handgun, was recovered and found to be loaded and had been reported stolen, a Westminster Police news release stated.  K-9 Yoda helps catch escaped Pennsylvania inmate Inside the home, police found five victi...

Silver Alert discontinued for 75-year-old woman in San Antonio

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (KXAN) -- A Silver Alert was discontinued shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday for a 75-year-old woman.The woman was previously last seen Monday in San Antonio, and the Silver Alert was then discontinued Wednesday.No other details were released after the alert was discontinued.

The White Bear Avenue Parade is back on after four years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

Despite financial difficulties, the White Bear Avenue Parade is back.It has been four years since the East Side St. Paul parade last took place. In 2020 and 2021, the parade was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And in 2022, financial concerns were the main reason for its cancellation, according to Lisa Theis, executive director of the Greater East Side Community Council.The biggest cause of financial stress was paying for the St. Paul Police Department to provide security.“We used to pay about $5,000 … but this year it’s about $14,000,” Theis said.Recent policy changes have required event organizers to provide the overtime pay for every officer “from commander to lieutenant,” Theis said.These nearly tripled expenses were the main cause for Theis and the business association to decide on shortening the parade route. The route has typically started going north up White Bear Avenue from Ivy Avenue before ending at Aldrich Arena. This year, the parade will be starting at Sherwood ...

Guilty pleas in fatal Richmondville shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

RICHMONDVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two people have admitted to killing a 21-year-old man inside a Richmondville home in 2022.The Schoharie County District Attorney's Office said Devon Hunter and Jeffrey McGough plead guilty to the charges of Manslaughter, Robbery, and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Connor Delaney, 21, was shot and killed inside a home on Hite Road in January 2022. A dog was also killed.Sentencing is scheduled for November.

Cannabis rollout delays causing financial woes to farmers and retailers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:53 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A Cannabis Control Board hearing in Albany this week made it clear that the delay in the cannabis rollout has caused financial hardships for some business owners and farmers.“We spent our son’s college tuition, and there’s people who spent millions of dollars…we are trying to hold on,” one advocate said during Tuesday’s hearing. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Some legal experts like Ryan McCall, Deputy Cannabis Practice Chair for Tully Rinckey PLLC, said that farmers have been struggling the most since they have a lot of inventory with not enough places to sell what they’ve grown.“Right now, the most marginalized class is the farmers,” McCall said. “The people who were one of the original people who were able to get the license and really kick off New York State Cannabis.”Thomas Marcellino, part-owner of Amsterdam Cannabis, said he has already hired employees but hasn’t been able to offer them a start date due to the...