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At US Antarctic base hit by harassment claims, workers are banned from buying alcohol at bars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — From Sunday, workers at the main United States base in Antarctica will no longer be able to walk into a bar and order a beer, after the federal agency that oversees the research program decided to stop serving alcohol.McMurdo Station will not be going entirely dry, the National Science Foundation confirmed. Researchers and support staff will still be able to buy a weekly ration of alcohol from the station store. But the policy shift could prove significant because the bars have been central to social life in the isolated environment. The changes come as concerns grow that sexual misconduct has been allowed to flourish at McMurdo. An investigation by The Associated Press last month uncovered a pattern of women who said their claims of harassment or assault were minimized by their employers, often leading to them or others being put in further danger.In some of the cases outlined by the AP, alcohol played a role. But the NSF told the AP the changes invol...

A government shutdown is nearing this weekend. What does it mean, who’s hit and what’s next?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is just days away from a shutdown that will disrupt many services, squeeze workers and roil politics as Republicans in the House, fueled by hard-right demands, force a confrontation over federal spending.While some government entities will be exempt — Social Security checks, for example, will still go out — other functions will be severely curtailed. Federal agencies will stop all actions deemed non-essential, and millions of federal employees, including members of the military, won’t receive paychecks.A look at what’s ahead if the government shuts down on Oct. 1.WHAT IS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?A shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass some type of funding legislation that is signed into law by the president. Lawmakers are supposed to pass 12 different spending bills to fund agencies across the government, but the process is time-consuming. They often resort to passing a temporary extension, called a continuing resolution or CR...

NY Attorney General Letitia James has a long history of fighting Trump, other powerful targets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Letitia James fixated on Donald Trump as she campaigned for New York attorney general, branding the then-president a “con man” and ″carnival barker” and pledging to shine a “bright light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings.”Five years later, James is on the verge of disrupting Trump’s real estate empire after a judge ruled Tuesday that he defrauded banks, insurers and others by exaggerating the value of assets on paperwork used for deals and securing loans.The ruling shifts control of some of Trump’s companies to a court-appointed receiver, meaning he could lose control of prized properties like Trump Tower, a sprawling suburban estate, office buildings and more.For James, a Democrat, it’s just the latest joust with a powerful foe.Here’s a look at her political background and some of her biggest cases:LAWSUITS AGAINST TRUMPJames began investigating Trump just about as soon as she took office as attorney general in 2019. She launched several lawsuit...

Biden making defending democracy a touchstone in his reelection campaign – and a rejoinder to Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, President Joe Biden stood in early 2022 at the literal epicenter of the insurrection and accused Donald Trump of continuing to hold a “dagger” at democracy’s throat. Biden closed out the summer that same year in the shadow of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, decrying Trumpism as a menace to democratic institutions.And that November, as voters were casting ballots in the midterm elections, Biden again sounded a clarion call to protect democratic institutions, warning that their underpinnings remained under threat. Biden on Thursday will make his fourth in a series of presidential addresses about the state of democracy, a cause that is a key motivator and a touchstone for him as he tries to remain in office even in the face of low approval ratings and widespread concern from voters about his age. The location for this speech, as was the case for the others, was deliberately chosen: It will be near Arizona State Unive...

House Republicans are set to make their case for Biden impeachment inquiry at first hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have insisted for months that they have the grounds to launch impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden. On Thursday, they will begin formally making their case to the public and their skeptical colleagues in the Senate.The chairmen of Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means will hold the opening hearing of their impeachment inquiry by reviewing the constitutional and legal questions surrounding their investigation of Biden and what they say are links to his son Hunter’s overseas businesses. “Based on the evidence, Congress has a duty to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden’s corruption,” Rep. James Comer, the Oversight chairman, said in a statement this week.Comer added that the committee plans to “present evidence uncovered to date and hear from legal and financial experts about crimes the Bidens may have committed as they brought in millions at the expense of U.S. interests.”It’s a high-stakes opening act for Republicans ...

TikTok says it regrets Indonesia’s decision to to ban e-commerce sales on social media platforms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Chinese-owned app TikTok on Thursday said it regretted the Indonesian government’s decision to ban e-commerce transactions on social media platforms, particularly the impact it would have on the millions of sellers who use TikTok Shop.But TikTok Indonesia said in a statement they will respect the regulations and laws that apply in Indonesia and “will take a constructive path forward.”“We deeply regret the government’s announcement, especially how it will impact the livelihoods of the six million sellers and nearly seven million affiliate creators who use TikTok Shop,” said the statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday.Indonesia banned goods transactions on social media platforms such as TikTok in a bid to protect small businesses from e-commerce competition, accusing them of predatory pricing. Indonesia’s Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Monday announced the decision after a meeting with President Joko Widodo. The ban ”is to prevent the domin...

Search underway for suspects who forcibly stole dog from woman in North Hollywood 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

Authorities have launched the search for two suspects after they brazenly stole a woman’s dog early Tuesday morning. Information from a Los Angeles Police Department release indicates that officers with the North Hollywood Division responded to a radio call of a robbery in the 11000 block of Burbank Boulevard just after 12:45 a.m. “The investigation revealed that a victim entered the business with her dog on a leash,” LAPD said in a release. “Shortly after, two suspects entered the business and, seemingly unprovoked, attacked the victim and used bodily force to remove the dog from her possession.” The dog has been identified as an 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake. (LAPD)The dog has been identified as an 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake. (LAPD)The dog has been identified as an 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake. According to photos released by the LAPD, Drake has a zig-zag mark on his back. The suspects have bee...

Orange County woman allegedly stole over $200,000 through rental scams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

An Orange County woman was arrested for allegedly stealing over $200,000 through home rental scams.The suspect was identified as Surong Li, 29, from Irvine, according to the Irvine Police Department.Authorities said Li told victims she was a property manager and facilitated home lease agreements with clients.In some instances, the rental properties she was representing were fraudulent or not actually available.In other cases, Li collected funds from her victims for a lease, but never transferred the money to the property owners.By using these methods, Li managed to steal over $200,000, police said. Li was arrested on multiple charges including grand theft, possession of a fake identification, and theft by false pretense.Investigators believe there may be additional victims of Li who have yet to come forward. They’ve released photos of the suspect for public identification.An Irvine woman, Surong Li, 29, was arrested after she allegedly stole over $200,000 from victims through realty...

Billy from 'Saw X' creeps into KTLA live report 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

A normal live shot on the KTLA 5 News was interrupted by a creepy guest on Friday.Billy the Puppet from the “Saw” movie series, who is known for his frightening rhetoric of riding on a tricycle and asking victims if they “want to play a game,” rode his classic trike behind KTLA 5's Kimberly Cheng as she reported on concerns over new UCLA dormitory sizes.Billy the Puppet from the "Saw" horror film franchise creeps into KTLA's Kimberly Cheng'slive shot in Westwood on Sept. 22, 2023. (KTLA)This is not the first time Billy has made a public appearance promoting the new installment in the “Saw” franchise; he has “hacked” several social media pages poking fun at moviegoers’ insatiable demand for new content, and the film series has just released a new advertisement that takes inspiration from a 2021 AMC Theaters ad featuring Nicole Kidman. “Saw X” hits theaters on Sept. 29.  

San Jose Sharks defenseman injured in preseason loss to Anaheim Ducks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

The San Jose Sharks scored first before they allowed four unanswered goals and had a veteran defenseman leave the game due to injury in a 4-2 preseason loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday at Honda Center.Forward Justin Bailey, in Sharks camp on a professional tryout, scored a power-play goal at the 9:36 mark of the first period as he collected a rebound in front of the Anaheim net and beat Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal. But Anaheim responded with even-strength goals by Pavel Mintyukov, Chase De Leo, and Brett Leason, with Leason’s goal at the 8:16 mark of the second period giving Anaheim a 3-1 lead.Brock McGinn then scored for Anaheim just 23 seconds into the third period, as Sharks goalie Georgi Romanov allowed four goals on the first 19 shots he faced.Nathan Todd scored for the Sharks with 13:35 left in regulation time for San Jose (1-2-0), which also lost 4-2 to the Ducks on Tuesday at SAP Center.Sharks defenseman Radim Simek was hurt with just under four minutes left in the first...