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Fiji is deporting leaders of a South Korean sect that built a business empire in the island country

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fijian authorities on Thursday said they were in the process of deporting six leaders of a South Korean religious sect that a decade ago moved hundreds of followers to Fiji and built a series of thriving businesses into an empire.But authorities said they were only able to apprehend four of the principals of the Grace Road Church, and that senior director Daniel Kim and another man were on the run. It’s unclear how the deportations will affect the estimated 400 South Korean adherents who remain in Fiji and the hundreds of local Fijians they employ. Grace Road businesses are prominent across the island country and include farms, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and dentists.The sect first moved to Fiji under Daniel Kim’s mother, Shin Ok-ju, who told her followers that Fiji provided a safe haven from impending war and famine. She is currently imprisoned in South Korea after being found guilty of various crimes, including holding followers ca...

Police comb the UK and put airports on alert for an escaped prison inmate awaiting terrorism trial

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British police hunted across the country on Thursday and put ports and airports on alert for a former soldier who escaped from a London prison while awaiting trial on terrorism charges.Opposition politicians demanded to know how Daniel Abed Khalife managed to slip out of medium-security Wandsworth Prison and why he was not being held at a maximum-security facility.Khalife, 21, is accused of planting fake bombs at a military base and of violating Britain’s Official Secrets Act by gathering information “that could be useful to an enemy.”He was discharged from the British army after his arrest earlier this year and had denied the allegations. His trial was set for November.Police said Khalife was dressed in a kitchen uniform of white T-shirt and red checkered trousers when he escaped from the overcrowded Victorian prison in south London.Opposition politicians linked the escape to years of austerity under the Conservative Party, which has governed Britain since 2010. Many ...

Australian minister says invasive examinations were part of reason Qatar Airways was refused flights

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Transport Minister Catherine King said on Thursday that invasive gynecological examinations conducted on passengers at Doha’s international airport in 2020 were part of the reason she refused to allow Qatar Airways to double its services to Australia.King has faced intense questioning over why she decided on June 10 not to allow the airline to double its current 28 flights per week to Australia.She said the decision was made in the “context” of women being examined in 2020 by authorities at Hamad International Airport in Doha who were trying to find the mother of a newborn baby found dumped in a trash can.Women on a number of flights leaving Doha were invasively examined, including 13 on a flight to Sydney. “There is no one factor that I would point to that swayed my decision one way or the other,” King told reporters.“Certainly, for context, this is the only airline that has had something like that where that has happened,” she said.“I was not ...

The UK is rejoining the European Union’s science research program as post-Brexit relations thaw

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain is rejoining the European Union’s $100 billion science-sharing program Horizon Europe, the two sides announced Thursday, more than two years after the country’s membership became a casualty of Brexit.British scientists expressed relief at the decision, the latest sign of thawing relations between the EU and its former member nation.After months of negotiations, the British government said the country was becoming a “fully associated member” of the research collaboration body U.K.-based scientists can bid for Horizon funding starting Thursday and will be able to lead Horizon-backed science projects starting in 2024. Britain is also rejoining Copernicus, the EU space program’s Earth observation component.“The EU and U.K. are key strategic partners and allies, and today’s agreement proves that point,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who signed off on the deal during a call with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday. “We will contin...

Russian officials say 5 drones were shot down, including 1 that targeted Moscow

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

Five drones were shot down over three Russian regions overnight, with one targeting the capital, officials said Thursday. There were reports of no casualties. Meanwhile, Russia launched a fourth day of air attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Izmail, located on the Danube river. Oleh Kiper, regional Governor of Odesa, said infrastructure was damaged in the attack, including grain silos, and one person was injured. The attack came one day after a Russian missile struck a busy market in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk, killing 17 and wounding at least 32. The attack overshadowed a two-day visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, aimed at assessing Ukraine’s 3-month-old counteroffensive and signaling continued U.S. support for the fight. One drone targeted Moscow, but was shot down southeast of the city without causing any damage or injuries, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.Two more drones were shot down over the southern region of Rostov, which borders Ukraine, said ...

The long road winding down at the World Cup, where semifinals await Team USA

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — This seemed so far away in the beginning. There was a week of training camp in Las Vegas for USA Basketball to get through, then a week in Spain, then a week in Abu Dhabi, the group stage of the World Cup, then the second round, then the quarterfinals. They’ve flown 14,000 miles, eaten more than 100 meals away from home, played 11 games, posed for countless photos.All for this. The medal round at the Basketball World Cup is here.The U.S. plays Germany on Friday night in the World Cup semifinals, with a berth in Sunday’s gold-medal game awaiting the winner. It’s a rematch of an exhibition from three weeks ago, when the U.S. rallied from 16 points down to win 99-91. Germany hasn’t lost since and is the only team still unbeaten in this tournament.“Everything that we’ve done in preparation for the last five and a half weeks has been to get to this point,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s not like we’re all of a sudden going to give them a Knute Rockne speech,...

5 things to know this Thursday, September 7

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy almost Friday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect yet another hot and humid day a full week into September. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Saratoga Springs police say there is an arrest warrant out for Charles Ross. He is accused of videotaping women in the city while they were out for a run. Meanwhile, a Gloversville man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly emerging from a wooded area and attacking a woman on the Rail Trail in Gloversville. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. Arrest warrant out for man accused of videotaping womenSaratoga Springs police said there is an arrest warrant out for Charles Ross. He is accused of videotaping women in the city while they were out for a run. 2. Gloversville sex offender arrested for alleged Rail Trail attackA Gloversville man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly emerging from a woode...

Shen football led by tantalizing offensive trio heading into 2023 season opener

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Friday night marks the return of 1st & 10, and the debut game of the week features a cross-class battle between reigning AA runner-up Shenendehowa and A champion Niskayuna. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The Silver Warriors made a Week 0 statement, winning 47-0 over Section III's Auburn. But Friday is Shen's season opener, and the Plainsmen, led by one of the top offensive trios in Section II, are ready to show what they're made of in 2023."Sometimes you can just feel confidence, and you can feel that comin' off this team," said senior quarterback and second-year starter Michael Whatley. "We feel like we can do a lot of damage. I think there's no doubt in our minds we can compete with anybody in the section."And there shouldn't be any doubt the Plainsmen can compete with the best the section has to offer; they've proven they can by reaching back-to-black Class AA Super Bowls.But this year the question...

UAlbany head coach Greg Gattuso to miss matchup with Hawaii

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- The UAlbany football team touched down in Hawaii on Tuesday, preparing to take on the Rainbow Warriors this Saturday. But they're doing so without their head coach. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Head coach Greg Gattuso did not make the trip to Hawaii due to illness. Associate head coach and offensive coordinator Jared Ambrose will assume head coaching duties in Gattuso's absence. Gattuso was at Monday's practice in Albany and spoke with the media. Ambrose told the media Wednesday Gattuso started felling under the weather on Tuesday morning, and opted not to fly with the team. He was considering flying out separately on Wednesday, but was feeling too ill to do so. The Danes are looking to move to 2-1 against an 0-2 FBS opponent in Hawaii, still looking for their first win. Kickoff is set for 11:59 PM on Saturday.

Commission facilitates activities of cross-border associations in the EU

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:58 GMT

The Commission has adopted a proposal to facilitate the cross-border activities of non-profit associations in the EU. The proposal will improve the functioning of the internal market by removing legal and administrative obstacles for non-profit associations which operate or wish to operate in several member states. This proposal promotes the role of non-profit associations in creating economic and societal value in the EU and enables a level playing field between associations. The Commission's proposal introduces an additional legal form of European Cross-Border Association (ECBA) into the national legal systems of member states, which is specifically designed for cross-border purposes and will reduce the legal and administrative burden regarding the recognition and creation of non-profit associations carrying out activities in another member state. Once established in a member state, an ECBA will be automatically recognized and able to carry out activities in all member states, inc...