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McCarthy, Taiwan president meet as China protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

By Michael Blood, Lisa Mascaro and Ellen Knickmeyer | Associated PressSIMI VALLEY — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy welcomed Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen for a historic meeting on U.S. soil Wednesday, in a politically sensitive session underscoring U.S. lawmakers’ growing support for her self-ruled island as tensions rise with rival China.McCarthy and Tsai briefly shook hands when her SUV pulled up to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library under the Southern California sun. Giant wooden doors closed behind them as they walked inside for what were to be several hours of meetings with Democratic and Republican members of Congress, cameras transmitting the show of high-level partnership to China and the world.The two made no comment as small crowds of demonstrators waved signs, both for Taiwan and for China’s claim to the island.For Tsai, this was the most sensitive stop on a weeklong journey meant to shore up alliances with the U.S. and Central America. China views a...

Roomba escapes Michigan nail salon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

St. Clair Shores business owner Jenny Nguyen was not thinking about anything but enjoying some fresh air Monday, April 3 when she propped open the front door of her A.J. Nails & Spa business in the 9-Mack business district.A robotic vacuum escaped from A.J. Nails & Spa on Monday. (Submitted photo)A little later that afternoon, she realized her Roomba autonomous robotic vacuum had exited the building and was nowhere to be found in the immediate area.“We opened the door and I realized later the vacuum was missing,” said Nguyen. “I thought it must have just gone out the front door.”Nguyen’s friend Lynsie Melton posted about the escaped vacuum on Facebook and asked St. Clair Shores residents to be on the lookout for the round, white Roomba in the area near Mack Avenue and Nine Mile Road.Early that evening, a resident noticed the vacuum near 9 Mack Drive and Doremus Street. She had seen the Facebook post and returned it to the front of A.J. Nails & Spa even though it was...

Cruise ship believed to be the world’s most expensive coming to Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

When the supposed most expensive luxury cruise ship ever built sails into Los Angeles Harbor early next year, she will have onboard a prized art collection with the first Fabergé egg permanently on display at sea along with something else that California probably hasn’t seen — or sniffed — in the 31-year history of Regent Seven Seas: a vessel barely out of the shipyard.That rare new-ship smell awaits cruisers boarding the Seven Seas Grandeur on Jan. 8 from San Pedro’s World Cruise Center. When the future fleet flagship welcomes her first embarking passengers out of L.A., the $545-million vessel will have only completed four itineraries. For the fifth, this one starting in the shadow of a just-turned 60-year-old Vincent Thomas Bridge, Grandeur will go back to Miami the same way she came: a 16-night sail through the Panama Canal.The Italian-built, 746-passenger ship is a sister to Seven Seas Splendor, which debuted in 2020, and the 2016-christened Seven Seas Explorer. And what a lovel...

Aggressive turkeys reportedly ‘following’ and ‘intimidating’ Massachusetts residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

Aggressive turkeys have reportedly been “following” and “intimidating” residents in Dedham, south of Boston, according to police who posted safety tips as turkey breeding season ramps up this spring.Breeding season is from March to May, leading to a jump in turkey activity around the region and incidents involving humans.“Animal Control has received a few reports of turkeys, ‘following’ and ‘intimidating’ residents — as well as a USPS letter carrier,” Dedham Police wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.“The increase in activity is due to male turkeys establishing dominance amongst their (male) peers; the increase in intimidation and aggression towards humans is due to turkeys having become habituated around humans — because humans are feeding them — whether intentionally or unintentionally,” police added.Related ArticlesLocal News | The pets she lost in the fire: Caterina Scorsone fans mourn her cats and dog Local News | Alex the Great (Rabbit) takes his furry bows...

These California reservoirs are nearly full thanks to super soaker storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

(KRON) -- California's reservoirs had incredible transformations this winter as atmospheric rivers soaked the state with rainwater. Impressive new data released by the California Department of Water Resources on Wednesday shows the state's second-biggest reservoir, Lake Oroville, is currently at 83% capacity, with 2.9 million acre-feet of water. The largest reservoir in the state, Lake Shasta, is at 85% capacity. San Luis Reservoir near Gilroy is up to the brim, at 99% capacity, while Cachuma Reservoir in Santa Barbara County is at 98% capacity. reservoirs-april-2023DownloadThe Department of Water Resources wrote Tuesday, "Storms California has experienced this year have led to one of the largest snowpacks on record. While these winter storms have helped the snowpack and reservoirs, we’re preparing with local agencies for the upcoming Spring snowmelt season."Reservoirs look dramatically different this April compared to the past three years, when a severe drought left the state parch...

Mexico’s president calls charges against Trump political

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Wednesday he opposes the criminal charges filed against former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting they were brought for political reasons during an electoral campaign. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the charges filed in New York against Trump, who is campaigning to regain the presidency in the 2024 election, represented “the degradation of due respect for the law.”“I don’t agree with what they are doing to former President Trump,” López Obrador said at his morning news briefing. “I do not know if crimes were committed, it’s not my place.” “Supposedly legal, judicial issues should not be used for political, electoral purposes,” he said. “Don’t make up crimes to affect adversaries.”López Obrador had a strangely warm relationship with Trump in 2019 and 2020, despite the former U.S. president’s frequent criticisms of Mexico and migrants, and his plans to build a wall between the two countries.In fact, López Ob...

UK to house 500 asylum seekers on barge docked off Dorset

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Some 500 asylum-seekers in the U.K. will be housed on a barge docked off the south coast of England, the British government said Wednesday of its latest measure aimed at discouraging migrants from crossing the English Channel in small unseaworthy boats. The housing plan is part of a broader effort by the Conservative government to curb migration and cut hotel bills that cost taxpayers 2.3 billion-pounds ($2.9 billion) a year amid a backlog of hundreds of thousands of asylum cases. It could take months before the barge, currently in Italy, is anchored at Portland, off the Dorset coast. The government’s plan could face legal challenges along with other forms of opposition. Human rights groups said the barge would be a cruel place to house vulnerable people fleeing war and the idea should be scrapped along with a plan to move thousands of migrants to barracks at unused military bases.“Confining hundreds of people in isolation on a barge is just more of the political...

Podence of Wolves charged for allegedly spitting at opponent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Wolverhampton forward Daniel Podence was charged by the English Football Association on Wednesday for allegedly spitting at Nottingham Forest striker Brennan Johnson during a Premier League game.The alleged incident took place in the 90th minute of the 1-1 draw on Saturday. It was not seen by the on-field match officials or picked up by the video assistant referee, so Podence played on until full time.He had come on as a substitute and scored Wolves’ equalizer.Johnson said in a post-match interview that he thought “some sort of spit came towards my face.”Podence has until April 12 to respond to the charge.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Hospital: Treatment, discharge of woman who died appropriate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A woman who died after being discharged from a Tennessee hospital and forced to leave despite her pleas for more help received appropriate medical treatment, the hospital said, but changes were being made to security procedures.The findings from an internal investigation by Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville over its treatment of 60-year-old Lisa Edwards were released Tuesday, news outlets reported. Security officers at the hospital called police Feb. 5 saying that Edwards had been evaluated and discharged, but was refusing to leave. Four responding police officers were investigated for repeatedly ignoring her pleas for help as they accused her of faking illness.The Knox County District Attorney’s office said it would not press criminal charges against the officers after an autopsy determined that Edwards died of a stroke and that “at no time did law enforcement interaction cause or contribute to Ms. Edwards’ death.”A video released by police s...

Former Vice President Mike Pence won’t appeal order to testify in Justice Department’s Jan. 6 probe, spokesman says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence won’t appeal order to testify in Justice Department’s Jan. 6 probe, spokesman says.Source