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Japan marks 100 years since the devastating Great Kanto Quake, with disaster drills nationwide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida staged a televised disaster drill Friday based on a fictional earthquake in the capital region, as his country marked the centennial of the real-life 1923 Great Kanto Quake that killed more than 100,000 people.The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the Sagamihara area southwest of Tokyo on Sept. 1, 1923, just before noon triggered a widespread inferno in the region, causing most of the victims to perish in the fire. The blaze destroyed nearly 300,000 Japanese paper-and-wood homes as the country suffered major social and economic damage just as it was seeking to modernize. In the aftermath, thousands of ethnic Koreans were killed as police and others responded to baseless rumors that Koreans were poisoning wells. The rampage has never fully been acknowledged by the government.Japanese officials are worried another devastating tremblor could happen again. On Friday, the drill simulated the aftermath of a fictional 7.3-magnitude trem...

Rainbows, drag shows, movies: Lebanon’s leaders go after perceived symbols of the LGBTQ+ community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Rainbows, school books, movies and drag shows have all been targeted in Lebanon in recent weeks as politicians, religious leaders and vigilante groups step up a campaign against the LGBTQ+ community in a country that has long shown relative tolerance.At a time when Lebanon is in the grips of one of the world’s worst economic meltdowns in more than a century, the country and its leaders have been deeply split on how to deal with the crisis. Political factions have been so divided they haven’t been able to choose a new president for 10 months.But in recent weeks they united to fight the LGBTQ+ community. Politicians and religious leaders have intensified a campaign that in many ways mirrors the culture wars in the United States, raising alarm over symbols and trends that might normalize queerness as an existential threat to society.It comes at a time when an escalating crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community is also underway elsewhere in the region. In some cases, the targetin...

Venice Film Festival 2023: Eleven EU-supported works nominated for awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

Eleven EU-funded films and projects have been nominated for awards at the 80th edition of the Venice International Film Festival, which starts today. A further two EU-funded films will be screened at the festival.The Promised Land (Bastarden) by Nikolaj Arcel, Dogman by Luc Besson, Comandante by Edoardo De Angelis and Io Capitano by Matteo Garrone made it in the official competition line-up with a chance to take home the Golden Lion award.Paradise is burning (Paradiset Brinner) by Mika Gustafson, Heartless (Sem Coraçao) by Nara Normande Tião and City of the Wind (Ser Ser Salhi) by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir are shortlisted for the Orizzonti competition.A further four projects  that received EU funding are selected under the Venice Immersive section and Giornate degli Autori (formerly Venice Days) section.These works, supported through the MEDIA strand of the Creative Europe programme, were co-produced by highly international teams from several countries in the EU. The winners of ...

EU Cohesion Policy: €86 million for the expansion and upgrade of the Marbella public hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

Nearly €86 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have been allocated to expand and upgrade of the public Hospital Costa del Sol, in the city of Marbella, Spain.Extending the hospital from 100,000 m2 to 160,000 m2, the project will fund the construction of a new building, the revitalisation of the current hospital facilities, and the purchase of advanced medical equipment to improve the hospital's capabilities.Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (pictured) said: “This substantial investment will enhance the health care and well-being of people living in Marbella and in broader province of Malaga. The upgraded and expanded hospital will aptly meet the escalating healthcare demands and foster a culture of improved health outcomes.”Many departments of the hospital will be extended. The project will increase the number of beds, which is low compared to other parts of the region: 83 new bed units will be created to serve the healthcare needs of a populati...

Japan sanctions 3 groups and 4 individuals for supporting North Korea’s missile program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s government announced Friday it will impose sanctions against three groups and four individuals for supporting North Korea’s missile and nuclear development program.Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Friday that the sanctions, in tandem with the United States and South Korea, are in response to North Korea’s attempted launch of a spy satellite Aug. 24 and its firing of two missiles Wednesday, as United Nations Security Council resolutions ban any North Korean launches using ballistic missile technologies. The additional sanctions, approved during Friday’s Cabinet meeting, freeze the assets of the three North Korea-based hacker groups linked to cyberattacks — Andariel, BlueNoroff and Korea Expo Joint Venture — as well as four individuals, three of them based in China, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on two people: a North Korean and a Russian linked to a Moscow-registered firm accused of suppo...

Austin ISD approves plan to add more school resource officers amid new state law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

Editor's note: The article has been updated to reflect the board's vote Monday night.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Board of Trustees for the Austin Independent School District Monday night approved a plan to add more school resource officers to campuses across the district. Officials project they will need more than 100 officers to comply with a new state law requiring armed officers on every campus. According to AISD Interim Superintendent Matias Segura, the district currently has two school resource officers in every high school and one in every middle school, but officers patrol the elementary schools."What we are moving to is a placement for every elementary school and what that will do is give us complete coverage," said Segura. "That will require us to expand our police department by a little over 70 officers, and when you do that you have to add other supervisors and pay for equipment and all the things needed to support that officer."Segura said he believes they will be able to meet t...

Space: Commission and European Satellite Center strengthen Copernicus services to support external and security actions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

The Commission has signed a new contribution agreement with the European Union Satellite Center (SatCen) for the implementation, until 2027, of the Copernicus security service supporting EU external and security actions (or 'SESA': Copernicus Security service to EU External and Security Action). Since 2016, the EU Satellite Center has been implementing the Copernicus Security Service in support of EU external action. This new contribution agreement renews the role of the EU Satellite Center and extends the support of the Copernicus Security Service to the EU's external and security action. The SESA covers new areas, such as the security of EU citizens, humanitarian aid, crises and conflicts, the rule of law, transport safety and security, stability and resilience for development , cultural heritage, international trade and economic diplomacy, as well as challenges such as environmental issues, climate security or health security. These additional application areas have been designed...

Transfer deadline day: The Premier League’s wild spending far from done after $2.5 billion spree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

Premier League teams have spent over $2.5 billion on players in a record outlay during European soccer’s summer transfer window, leaving rival leagues across the continent in their wake.They’re far from finished.Friday is deadline day in the transfer market and many of England’s top teams are still looking to do business to finalize the reshaping of their squads for the first half of the season.That includes English and European champion Manchester City, which is expected to seal the signing of Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton and also sell winger Cole Palmer to Chelsea.Center midfielders are priorities for Liverpool and Manchester United, which is also looking for defensive reinforcements. Tottenham wants a striker.Brighton, meanwhile, could complete one of the most exciting deals of the window as it negotiates to bring in 20-year-old Spain winger Ansu Fati from Barcelona. Clubs are also keen to get rid of some fringe players to reduce the size...

Wilson and the Aces host conference foe Seattle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

Seattle Storm (10-25, 8-9 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (30-6, 15-2 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Saturday, 9 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Seattle plays Las Vegas in Western Conference action Saturday.The Aces are 15-2 in conference games. Las Vegas leads the Western Conference with 28.7 defensive rebounds per game led by A’ja Wilson averaging 7.5.The Storm’s record in Western Conference action is 8-9. Seattle ranks fourth in the WNBA with 35.0 rebounds per game led by Ezi Magbegor averaging 8.1.The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Aces won 79-63 in the last matchup on July 21.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilson is averaging 22 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the Aces. Kelsey Plum is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games for Las Vegas.Magbegor is averaging 14 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the Storm. Jewell Loyd is averaging 24.0 points over the last 10 games for Seattle.LAST 10 GAMES: Aces: 6-4, averaging 87.7 points, 34.7 rebounds, 20.5 assist...

New York plays Connecticut, looks for 4th straight home win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:30 GMT

Connecticut Sun (25-11, 13-4 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (28-7, 14-3 Eastern Conference)New York; Friday, 8 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -7.5BOTTOM LINE: New York will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Liberty play Connecticut.The Liberty have gone 14-3 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York leads the Eastern Conference in rebounding, averaging 38.2 boards. Breanna Stewart leads the Liberty with 9.3 rebounds.The Sun’s record in Eastern Conference games is 13-4. Connecticut scores 83.1 points while outscoring opponents by 4.4 points per game.The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Liberty won 95-90 in the last matchup on Aug. 24.TOP PERFORMERS: Sabrina Ionescu is averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Liberty. Stewart is averaging 23 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks over the past 10 games for New York.DeWanna Bonner is averaging 17.9 points and 5.6 rebounds ...