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Hong Kong leader defends removal of politically sensitive books in public libraries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader said Thursday the city’s public libraries would not recommend books featuring “bad ideologies” to residents after they pulled titles related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and certain political figures, further shrinking the city’s freedoms. Chief Executive John Lee was addressing a lawmaker’s question about dozens of books in public libraries that were taken down without a clear explanation. Those include publications about the bloody crackdown and others written by pro-democracy politicians and political commentators.Hong Kong is a former British colony that returned to China’s rule in 1997, promising to retain its Western-style freedoms. But the city’s cultural and creative sectors said the city’s freedoms have shrunk since Beijing imposed a tough national security law following massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. Critics said the book pulling would further undermine Hong Kong’s reputa...

India’s top court allows bull-taming sport to continue despite criticism from animal rights groups

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s top court on Thursday ruled to allow the continuation of the bull-taming sport of jallikattu, which is celebrated as cultural heritage in the southern state of Tamil Nadu but criticized by animals rights groups.Five justices held that the state government was taking sufficient steps to reduce the pain and suffering of the animals, and ruled the sport and other bull races in the country could continue.Animal rights organizations had filed court petitions saying jallikattu is a bloodsport and dangerous, with the bulls often attacking their riders and bystanders as they try to escape crowded areas.The sport, which dates back centuries, is extremely popular in Tamil Nadu during the four-day Pongal harvest festival in January in which hundreds of bull vaulters compete in a carnival-like festival.As drums beat and the crowd cheers, a man leaps onto the back of a large bull and hangs on tightly to its hump as the animal bucks and jumps. If he can hold on for three ...

Judge in abortion pill case asks if Mother's Day is 'celebrating illness'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

(The Hill) - A federal appeals court judge on Wednesday questioned a lawyer for Danco, the manufacturer of the brand name abortion pill mifepristone, about whether Mother’s Day is “celebrating illness,” during oral arguments over the drug’s approval.Judge James Ho, an appointee of former President Trump, expressed doubts about the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) use of an expedited process to approve mifepristone more than 20 years ago. The accelerated approval process is typically reserved for medications used to treat serious or life-threatening illnesses.“Pregnancy is not a serious illness,” Ho said, later adding, “When we celebrated Mother’s Day, were we celebrating illness?”Danco lawyer Jessica Ellsworth rejected this premise, noting that the FDA has used the words “illness,” “condition” and “disease” interchangeably when discussing the rule for expedited approval.“I agree, your honor, that is the language that is used in the regulation itself,” Ellsworth said. “But as I s...

Judge rejects attempt by Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend to throw out nondisclosure agreement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

A Florida judge ruled late Wednesday that the ex-girlfriend of Tiger Woods must abide by a nondisclosure agreement she purportedly signed and resolve her lawsuits seeking millions from the golf superstar through private arbitration behind closed doors.Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger, in an 11-page opinion, rejected Erica Herman's attempt to quash the 2017 agreement by saying Woods had committed sexual harassment against her, calling Herman's allegations “vague and threadbare.”“Herman has had the opportunity (to) provide factual specificity for any claim relating to sexual assault or sexual harassment, however, she has not done so,” Metzger wrote.Metzger also said that the evidence shows that a nondisclosure agreement was negotiated between Herman and Woods in 2017, even if her attorney, Benjamin Hodas, now questions whether she actually signed it.At a May 9 hearing, Hodas conceded that Herman signed an agreement, but he said she doesn’t remember ever seeing the one Woods’ attor...

Ten great new restaurants in the east metro suburbs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

So many restaurants open and close in a given month that it’s hard for even us to keep up with all the churn, especially in the suburbs.But as always, some new and notable places have opened recently outside the core Twin Cities.In an attempt to showcase them all in one spot, here are some of our favorite east metro suburban restaurants that have opened within the past year.Änna’s BistroRicotta gnocchi and portobello mushroom with roasted vegetables and crispy polenta were on the entree menu at Änna’s Bistro, a new wood-fired restaurant in Marine on St. Croix, on April 14, 2023. The restaurant opened in summer 2022 in the historic Lumberyard building. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)In the new wood-fired kitchen in Marine on St. Croix that celebrates its first birthday this summer, I’ve found one of my new favorite restaurants in the state.The restaurant, in the historic Lumberyard building, has fewer than 30 seats inside. Walking to the bathroom — which, as owner Änna Hagstrom chron...

Schuylerville fends off Fonda-Fultonville to stay alive in Class B sectionals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Last year the Schuylerville baseball team pulled off a remarkable postseason run, claiming the Sec. II, Class B title as a four-seed. The Black Horses took their first step towards repeating as section champs Wednesday at Shuttleworth Park, but it didn't come without some serious pushback from Fonda-Fultonville. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Schuylerville, owners of the seven-seed in this year's playoff bracket, managed to hang on for a 5-3, opening round victory over the 10th-seeded Braves.It appeared as if the Black Horses would make quick work of Fonda after jumping out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning. But a fifth-inning, two-run shot from left fielder Logan Yaggle changed that, as the senior slugger cut the deficit in half.Schuylerville managed to get one of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame when a misplayed fly ball off the bat of Alex Renner allowed Griffin Brophy to co...

Ballston Spa holds on to top Shaker in Class AA sectionals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- After a run to the Section 2 Class AA title series last year, the Shaker baseball team looked to start a new playoff run on Wednesday. A tough Ballston Spa team had other plans. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Scotties jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two wild pitches in the first inning. Ballston Spa added three more runs in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. The Blue Bison stormed back, but Ballston Spa hung on for a 9-8 win. The Scotties advance to take on top-seeded Shenendehowa on Friday at 4:00 PM.

Siena to host Albany Cup November 26 at MVP Arena

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) –  The Albany Cup is moving back to MVP Arena this winter. The crosstown rivals have mutually agreed to flip venues for the final two matchups of the three-year men's basketball agreement, with Siena now set to host a true home game vs. UAlbany for this coming season's installment on Sunday, Nov. 26, at MVP Arena. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The three-year agreement – which tipped off with a neutral site matchup at MVP Arena last November – initially featured the series continuing with a UAlbany home game during the 2023-24 season, followed by a true Siena home game at MVP Arena in 2024-25. However, out of an abundance of caution due to the arena renovation on UAlbany's campus, the programs agreed to exchange home games for the next two seasons.  The renovation is still scheduled for completion by mid-November of 2023.Individual game tickets to this year's Albany Cup at MVP...

La Salle unleashes early scoring flurry to advance in Class A sectionals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The La Salle Institute baseball team used an early offensive flourish to push past Scotia-Glenville Wednesday afternoon at Greer Field in the opening round of the Sec. II, Class A playoff tournament. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The eighth-seeded Cadets posted 11 runs in the first two innings, and cruised to a 14-1 victory, as they advance to Friday's quarterfinal round.It'll be a battle of the Cadets in the quarters. La Salle (14-7, 11-5) will travel to the top seed in the bracket, Albany Academy. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.Scotia-Glenville concludes its' season with an overall record of 8-12.

Two killed in explosion in northern Spain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:44 GMT

Two people, a woman and a man, died in an explosion that occurred in Orio, inland Spain. The Basque Regional Security Department confirmed this on Tuesday (16 May).The blast occurred around 5:30 pm (1530 GMT), and there were no other injuries at the time, according to a department spokesperson.Local newspaper Diario Vasco reported that authorities in the fishing village of around 6,000 near the French border were investigating this incident for possible gender violence.According to police sources cited by EFE news agency, the initial investigation indicated that a package carried by one of victims was the cause of the explosion.