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Japan, German leaders agree to strengthen ties, supply chain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday held the first round of government consultations in Tokyo and agreed to strengthen economic and defense ties to better cope with China’s growing influence and global security concerns. Kishida told a joint news conference after the talks that the sides agreed to strengthen supply chains in minerals, semiconductors, batteries and other strategic areas, in order to “counter economic coercion, state-led attempts to illegally acquire technology and non-market practices,” apparently referring to China. “Japan and Germany, both industrial nations that share fundamental values, need to take global leadership to strengthen resilience of our societies,” Kishida said. Scholz brought six of the 17 Cabinet members for talks with Japanese counterparts, including economy, finance, foreign, interior, transport and defense ministers. They discussed deepening economic and national security cooperat...

Trump expects to be arrested Tuesday as DA eyes charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump said in a social media post that he expects to be arrested Tuesday as a New York prosecutor is eyeing charges in a case examining hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president.Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network early Saturday that “illegal leaks” from the Manhattan district attorney’s office indicate that “THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.”Messages left Saturday with the district attorney’s office were not immediately returned. Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to calls for comment.Trump did not provide any details on social media about how he knew about the expected arrest. In his postings, he repeated his lies that the 2020 presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden was stolen and he urged his followers to “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!” That language evoked ...

Lights out for Philly’s famous Boathouse Row, for now

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

The bright lights of Philadelphia’s famous Boathouse Row — long one of the city’s signature nighttime sights — are going dark, at least for now.Outlining a cluster of historic boathouses along the Schuylkill River near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the twinkly lights reflect off the water and give definition to the unique architecture of each building. “It’s in some ways our postcard shot of Philadelphia,” explained Tara Rasheed of Fairmount Park Conservancy, as indelible as the Liberty Bell or the art museum steps in “Rocky.”Starting Monday, though, the lights will be switched off and taken down as work gets underway on a $2.1 million replacement project. If all goes to plan, a new, upgraded lighting system should be ready for the winter holiday season.The buildings store the long, slender boats used by rowing crews, and have wide garage-door-like bays that open onto ramps that slope down to the water’s edge. Many have steep roofs or Tudor or Victorian-influenced arch...

Pro-Moscow voices tried to steer Ohio train disaster debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Soon after a train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in Ohio last month, anonymous pro-Russian accounts started spreading misleading claims and anti-American propaganda about it on Twitter, using Elon Musk’s new verification system to expand their reach while creating the illusion of credibility.The accounts, which parroted Kremlin talking points on myriad topics, claimed without evidence that authorities in Ohio were lying about the true impact of the chemical spill. The accounts spread fearmongering posts that preyed on legitimate concerns about pollution and health effects and compared the response to the derailment with America’s support for Ukraine following its invasion by Russia.“Biden offers food, water, medicine, shelter, payouts of pension and social services to Ukraine! Ohio first! Offer and deliver to Ohio!” posted one of the pro-Moscow accounts, which boasts 25,000 followers and features an anonymous location and a profile photo of a dog...

Bank failures: Anger in Congress, but division on what to do

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bills were filed, hearings were planned and blame was cast as Congress reacted this past week to the abrupt failure of two banks. A look at what lawmakers are saying and planning as the fallout continues from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.QUICK LEGISLATIVE FIXES UNLIKELYWhile President Joe Biden called Monday on Congress to strengthen the rules for banks to prevent future failures, lawmakers are divided on whether any legislation is needed.Some congressional leaders are skeptical that a closely divided Congress will act at all. “There’s people who are going to choose bills, but I cannot imagine that, with the hold banks have on Republican members of Congress, that we can pass anything significant,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.Republicans say the laws already in place were sufficient to prevent the bank failures, if only regulators had done their job by spotting obvious...

Journalists held over South Sudan president video are freed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan’s National Security Service has released the remaining journalists who had been detained for weeks over a video apparently showing the country’s president urinating on himself during an event.At least seven journalists with the state broadcaster were detained in January following the circulation of the video of President Salva Kiir during the inauguration of a road project.In a statement on Friday, the Union of Journalists of South Sudan said the two remaining journalists had been freed. None of the journalists were charged.The union “will continue to engage with all stakeholders in the country to ensure journalists work in a free and safe environment,” the journalists’ organization said.The South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation footage aired in December and was widely shared online. It showed the 71-year-old Kiir standing during the national anthem and then looking down at what appeared to be a spreading stain, before the camera turne...

Below zero wind chills Saturday, potential rain/snow showers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

Saturday morning's weather forecast shows below zero wind chills for most of the Chicagoland area. Temps will barely go into the mid-20s. Potential rain/snow showers combined with gusty winds. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here SATURDAY NIGHT: Clouds break, snow showers end. Cold and continued blustery. Low 20—with low to mid teens colder inland locations.Temperatures stay chill overnight going into Sunday dropping close to 20 degrees. Expect more sunshine Sunday with temps jumping back into the 40s. Weekend temps will make this the 2nd coldest weekend of 2023 and the coldest weekend here in 8 weeks. The high temp Saturday is to come in nearly 20-deg below normal. Effectively, we have early January-level temps predicted Saturday—evening though we're past mid-March. That's not every year occurrence.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

Man fatally shot in Garfield Park, collapsed in field: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

CHICAGO — A 40-year-old man was shot dead in Garfield Park late Friday night.According to police, the man was standing outside near the 200 block of North Saint Louis Avenue around 10:35 p.m. when an offender in a black SUV began to fire shots at him. Chicago police officer injured near Museum Campus Police say the man began to flee on foot and collapsed in an open field in the 3500 block of West Walnut Street. He was pronounced dead on the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Officials responding to fatal shooting in north Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person died in north Austin after a shooting early Saturday, according to Austin-Travis County EMS. Austin Police said this incident has been reported as a suspicious death.APD said officers responded to a call at 7:03 a.m. for reports of a shooting or stabbing in north Austin.When police and Austin-Travis County EMS officials arrived in the 300 block of Deen Street, one person was found with gunshot wounds. Officials said the individual was confirmed dead at the scene.This is a developing story. Check back with KXAN for updates.

A little rain, a little snow, and lots of chilly air

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Areas of light rain fell over the Hill Country to our southern counties. Rain intensity increased over some of Caldwell and Fayette Counties at 6 a.m. There was some snow over some of Gillespie County with little accumulation outside of the grass/higher elevations. A disturbance over the area is facilitating this precipitation. It will exit out of the eastern counties during the late-morning/early-afternoon.Little accumulation of snow expected this morningThis final weekend of winter will certainly fell like the season. Temperatures will be well below the normal of 74° both today and Sunday as highs won't get out of the 50s.Much colder than normal today and Sunday NEW BLOG: April showers: Here's the outlook for Central Texas Mornings will be colder tomorrow and Monday as minimums fall to mostly the middle to upper 30s.Spring returns on Monday afternoon at 4:24. Highs will peak from the middle 50s to around 60°. There is no rain in the forecast.Warmer weather retu...