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UK appeals court rules that plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A British court ruled Thursday that a government plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda in an attempt to deter migrants from making risky journeys across the English Channel is unlawful.Court of Appeal judges said Rwanda could not be considered a “safe third country” where migrants could be sent.The government is likely to challenge the ruling at the U.K. Supreme Court.The Conservative government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to “stop the boats” -– the overcrowded dinghies and other small craft that make the journey from northern France carrying migrants who hope to live in the U.K. More than 45,000 people arrived in Britain across the Channel in 2022, and several died in the attempt.The U.K. and Rwandan governments agreed more than a year ago that some migrants who arrive in the U.K. as stowaways or in small boats would be sent to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed. Those granted asylum would stay in the East African country rather than re...

French police officer who shot 17-year-old under investigation for ‘voluntary homicide’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

NANTERRE, France (AP) — French prosecutors said magistrates will investigate a police officer who shot and killed a 17-year-old driver for “voluntary homicide,” following two days of violent fires and violent protests. Overnight, protesters set cars and public buildings ablaze in Paris suburbs and unrest spread to some other French cities and towns, despite increased security efforts and the president’s calls for calm.The killing of 17-year-old Nahel during a traffic check Tuesday, captured on video, shocked the country and stirred up long-simmering tensions between young people and police in housing projects and other disadvantaged neighborhoods around France. Nanterre prosecutor Pascal Prache said that based on an initial investigation, he concluded that “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.”Two magistrates have been named to lead the investigation, he said. Under the French legal system, which differs from the U.S. and British systems, magistrates of...

Woman’s leg is amputated after being trapped under a moving walkway in a Thai airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A woman’s leg had to be amputated in a Thai airport after it was trapped by a movable walkway Thursday, officials said.The 57-year-old Thai passenger was due to board a morning flight from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport to the southern Nakhon Si Thammarat province when she was caught by the walkway in the airport’s Terminal 2. A medical team there eventually had to cut her left leg off from above the knee, according to the airport’s officials.“On behalf of the Don Mueang International Airport, I’d like to express my deepest condolences regarding the accident,” Don Mueang Airport Director Karun Thanakuljeerapat said during a news conference. “I’d like to insist that we will ensure that no such accident will happen again.”He said the airport will be fully responsible for the woman’s medical costs and will be open for negotiations on other compensations. The medical team at the hospital she was initially sent to informed Karun that they could not reattach...

Expect a hot, smoky summer in much of America. Here’s why you’d better get used to it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

The only break much of America can hope for anytime soon from eye-watering dangerous smok e from fire-struck Canada is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from a southern heat wave that has already proven deadly, forecasters say.And then the smoke will likely come back to the Midwest and East.That’s because neither the 235 out-of-control Canadian wildfires nor the stuck weather pattern that’s responsible for this mess of meteorological maladies are showing signs of relenting for the next week or longer, according to meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center. First, the stuck weather pattern made abnormally hot and dry conditions for Canada to burn at off-the-chart record levels. Then it created a setup where the only relief comes when low pressure systems roll through, which means areas on one side get smoky air from the north and the other gets sweltering air from the south. Smoke or heat. “Pick you...

Boris Johnson’s allies tried to stymie probe into his partygate lies, UK lawmakers say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A committee of British lawmakers on Thursday slammed allies of Boris Johnson in Parliament for trying to interfere with their investigation into whether the former prime minister lied about rule-flouting parties in his office during the coronavirus pandemic.The House of Commons Privileges Committee said senior Conservatives, including past Cabinet ministers under Johnson, “took it upon themselves to undermine procedures of the House of Commons.”It said Johnson allies — including former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and ex-House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg — mounted “vociferous attacks” on the committee on social media, radio and television. The forums for the attacks included shows hosted by Dorries and Rees-Mogg themselves on a right-wing news channel, the panel said.They and several other legislators called the ethics probe into Johnson a “kangaroo court,” a “witch hunt” and a miscarriage of justice – echoing language used by the embattled former prime minis...

US guitar maker Fender opens flagship store in Tokyo banking on regional growth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Fender, the guitar of choice for some of the world’s biggest stars from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton, is opening what it calls its “first flagship store” in its 77-year history.The American guitar manufacturer has chosen for its location Tokyo’s Harajuku, a hot spot for Japanese youngsters who love animation, outlandish fashion and, of course, American music. The store was unveiled to reporters Thursday ahead of its official opening Friday. Asia-Pacific is on track to become the biggest music market in the world by 2030, and more stores are planned for the region, Fender says. The company’s revenue in Japan has recorded double-digit percentage growth each year since 2015.“I’ve played various brands, but what I like about the Fender is its power to help you play at more than 100% of your ability, letting you become aware of your potential and take up new challenges,” said Erino Yumiki, a guitarist, songwriter and one of the world’s many Fender artists.“Sometimes mu...

125 Sudanese army soldiers held by paramilitary force are freed, Red Cross says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday it had facilitated the release of 125 Sudanese army soldiers held captive by the country’s rival paramilitary force.The soldiers walked free on Wednesday, the ICRC said, as the violent conflict between the army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, enters its 11th week. Fighting between the rival forces broke out on April 15 and has killed more than 3,000 people, the country’s Health Ministry said. Over 2.5 million people have been displaced, according to the latest U.N. figures.The freed men — 44 of whom were wounded — were transported from the capital, Khartoum, to the city of Wad Madani, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the south, the ICRC said in a short statement. It remains unclear where the 125 men were being held.“This positive step means that families will be celebrating Eid-al Adha with their loved ones,” said Jea...

Finance ministers of Japan and South Korea agree to resume currency swap agreement as ties warm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and South Korea agreed Thursday to revive a currency swap agreement for times of crisis, in the latest sign of warming ties as the countries work to smooth over historical antagonisms.Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki announced the agreement after meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Choo Kyungho. It was the first time the two countries have held annual financial talks in seven years, though Suzuki and Choo also met in South Korea in May.Suzuki told reporters that the 3-year currency swap agreement would help reinforce trust in the financial stability of the two countries as a fallback in an emergency. But he emphasized that Japan is fully prepared to deal with fluctuations in the Japanese yen, which has weakened sharply against the U.S. dollar in the past year. The $10 billion swap arrangement expired in 2015 and had not been renewed. Largely symbolic, it allows the South Korean and Japanese central banks to exchange currencies for each country̵...

Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán throws 24th perfect game in MLB history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Since arriving in the big leagues six years ago, Domingo Germán has been anything but perfect.Until now.The New York Yankees right-hander pitched the 24th perfect game in major league history Wednesday night, retiring every Oakland batter in an 11-0 victory over the Athletics.It was the first perfect game since Seattle Mariners ace Félix Hernández threw one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15, 2012. There were three that season — but none since until Germán finished off the first no-hitter in the majors this year.He joined Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998) and David Cone (1999) as Yankees to pitch perfect games. Larsen’s gem came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.“So exciting,” Germán said through a translator. “When you think about something very unique in baseball, not many people have an opportunity to pitch a perfect game. To accomplish something like this in my career is something that I’m going to remember forever.”Com...

ValleyCats' Carson McCusker signs with Twins; team falls to Boomers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:32 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In Carson McCusker's final at-bat of Tuesday's 16-9, shootout win over the Schaumburg Boomers, he fittingly hit his second home run of the game. Little did he know...that'd be his final at-bat as a Tri-City ValleyCat. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The 25-year-old outfielder had his contract purchased by the Minnesota Twins Wednesday afternoon, bringing an end to a successful three seasons in the capital region. This year was shaping up to be McCusker's best yet. He was leading the Frontier League in batting average, hitting .433. He was also tops in the league in runs batted in with 51, and second in home runs with 17. As gaudy as those numbers are, and as deserving of an opportunity with an MLB organization as he's been, the news still caught McCusker off-guard."I heard probably an hour (after) being at the field today," said McCusker. "Pete (Incaviglia) came in and announced it. Honestly, I was sh...