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Hong Kong pollster plans to limit questions on sensitive topics, including Tiananmen crackdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — One of Hong Kong’s most reputable sources for public opinion data is limiting its survey scope, including on sensitive topics such as the Tiananmen crackdown. The change, on the heels of a risk assessment done by the government, would likely muffle access to information showing changes in public sentiment toward the city.Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute announced Tuesday it tentatively decided to cancel about one-fourth of its regular survey questions, and use about one-third of the remaining ones only for internal reference, academic research, and commissioned services, rather than releasing them for public use. The announcement came two weeks after the release of its report about the anniversary of China’s crackdown on the 1989 pro-democracy protests was canceled due to the Hong Kong government’s risk assessment. The institute’s CEO, Robert Chung, told the Associated Press in an email reply Wednesday that the government’s risk ev...

Champions League second qualifying round draw

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Draw on Wednesday for the second qualifying round of the Champions League:Champions PathFirst LegJuly 25-26Žalgiris Vilnius (Lithuania) or Struga (North Macedonia) vs. Galatasaray (Turkey)Ballkani (Kosovo) or Ludogorets (Bulgaria) vs. Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia) or Valmiera (Latvia)Raków Czestochowa (Poland) or Flora Tallinn (Estonia) vs. Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) or Qarabağ (Azerbaijan)KÍ Klaksvík (Faeroe Islands) or Ferencváros (Hungary) vs. Häcken (Sweden) or The New Saints (Wales)HJK Helsinki (Finland) or Larne (Northern Ireland) vs. Molde (Norway)Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) or Preliminary Round Winner vs. Copenhagen (Denmark)Farul Constanța (Romania) or Sheriff (Moldova) vs. Hamrun Spartans (Malta) or Maccabi Haifa (Israel)Aris Limassol (Cyprus) vs. Partizani (Albania) or BATE Borisov (Belarus)Urartu (Armenia) or HŠK Zrinjski (Bosnia-Herzegovina) vs. Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) or Swift Hesper (Luxembourg)Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) vs. Astana (Kazakhst...

Who is under a slight risk for severe storms on 1st day of summer?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The summer solstice is starting with a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day as storms will begin to fire up Wednesday afternoon east of the metro and move across the plains overnight. After a long stretch of wet weather, the workweek started off with two dry and warm days, with Denver almost hitting 90 degrees. However, the storms have returned. 11 new Colorado laws go into effect in July The Pinpoint Weather team has been warning about the return of heavy rain and hail.What does a slight risk for severe storms mean?On Wednesday, parts of the metro and the Eastern Plains are under a slight risk of a severe storm. But what does that mean exactly?According to the National Weather Service, a storm under the slight risk category means that there is increased confidence that some areas will see storms that produce damaging winds, severe hail and a potential tornado.NWS said storms with this risk can happen a few times a year.LocationAccording to the Pinpoint Weather team, the fo...

Bulgaria offers EU two candidates for vacant commissioner post

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

SOFIA — The incoming Bulgarian government picked two candidates to fill the country’s open slot for a European commissioner: Iliana Ivanova and Daniel Lorer.Ivanova is a member of the European Court of Auditors and a former member of the European Parliament from 2009-2012. She has the backing of the center-right GERB party of former European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.Lorer is a former minister of innovation with a background in the IT sector. He has the support of the anti-corruption alliance of parties We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s Gabriel stepped down from her post as European commissioner for research, culture and youth in May to form a government at home. Gabriel struck a deal on the next government by agreeing to rotate the job of prime minister with physicist Nikolay Denkov, a leader of the anti-corruption alliance bloc.Gabriel was in Brussels this week to meet with former colleagues and European Commission President Ursula von der Le...

PMQs scorecard: Starmer attacks Sunak over the ‘Tory mortgage penalty’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from today’s session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.What they sparred about: Rising mortgage rates were the only game in town, as Labour’s Keir Starmer pressed Rishi Sunak on whether the U.K. is facing a “mortgage catastrophe” — and what he will do about it. Sunak argued the best way to support homeowners was to lower inflation, which remains stubbornly high. You should expect to hear more about … the “Tory mortgage penalty.” Starmer has coined the term to directly connect Britain’s spiraling mortgage rates to the government. Also expect to hear more about: Sunak’s wealth in the lead up to the next election. Starmer had a few swipes at the mega-rich PM, pointing to his property in California and use of a helicopter. It’s worth pointing out Starmer isn’t exactly on the breadline either. Happy anni...

Column: Could Chicago Cubs ace Marcus Stroman start for NL in the All-Star Game?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

All-Star voting tabulations released Tuesday provided a clue to the Chicago Cubs’ chances of sending a position player to the Midsummer Classic in Seattle.No one was higher than fifth at their position, so barring a late surge of votes the next two days, none of your favorite Cubs will be in the starting lineup.Dansby Swanson, who led all shortstops in WAR on Tuesday, could be selected as a reserve, and manager David Ross also mentioned Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki as possibilities, while lobbying for Christopher Morel to get an invite to the Home Run Derby.But the Cubs’ only sure bet for Seattle appears to be pitcher Marcus Stroman, who threw seven shutout innings Tuesday in a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.Stroman, who improved to 9-4 with his seventh straight win, leads the National League with a 2.28 ERA, while his 14 quality starts leads the majors. Home runs by Tucker Barnhart and Mike Tauchman helped the Cubs to their ninth win in 11 games and their fourth s...

Underwater noises heard in desperate search for submersible missing with 5 aboard near Titanic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

By PATRICK WHITTLE and HOLLY RAMER (Associated Press)A Canadian military surveillance aircraft detected underwater noises as a massive operation searched early Wednesday in a remote part of the North Atlantic for a submersible that vanished while taking five people down to the wreck of the Titanic.A statement from the U.S. Coast Guard did not elaborate on what rescuers believed the noises could be, though it offered a glimmer of hope for those lost aboard the Titan as estimates suggest as little as a day’s worth of oxygen could be left if the vessel is still functioning.Meanwhile, questions remain about how teams could reach the lost submersible, which could be as deep as about 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) below the surface near the watery tomb of the historic ocean liner. Newly uncovered allegations also suggest there had been significant warnings made about vessel safety during its development.Lost aboard the vessel are pilot Stockton Rush, the CEO of the company leading the e...

Indian Prime Minister Modi showcases yoga and his country’s cultural diplomacy on the UN lawn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Paying tribute at a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined a crowd of diplomats and dignitaries for a morning yoga session Wednesday at the United Nations, kicking off the public portion of his U.S. visit by calmly flexing India’s cultural reach. With a checkerboard of made-in-India yoga mats covering the U.N. headquarters’ spacious north lawn, Modi stopped and bowed at a statue of the assassinated Indian independence leader. Then Modi took a seat on the rostrum as a cloud-filtered sun glinted off the adjacent East River and the flags of the world body’s member nations rippled in the breeze.The event honors the International Day of Yoga, which Modi persuaded the U.N. to designate in 2014 as an annual observance. The leader of the world’s most populous nation arrived in New York on Tuesday for a trip that will offer plenty of time to discuss global tensions. But starting out by highlighting an ancient pursuit of inner tranquility is...

Israeli settlers torch Palestinian homes, cars to avenge deadly shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hundreds of Israeli settlers on Wednesday stormed into a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank, setting fire to dozens of cars and homes to avenge the deaths of four Israelis killed by Palestinian gunmen the previous day, residents said.The settler attack came as the Israeli military deployed additional forces across the occupied West Bank, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to build 1,000 new settler homes in response to the deadly shooting.The moves threatened to further raise tensions after day days of deadly fighting in the West Bank.Residents in Turmus Ayya said some 400 settlers marched down the town’s main road, setting fire to cars, homes and trees. Mayor Lafi Adeeb said some 30 houses and 60 cars were partly or totally burned.“The attacks intensified in the past hour even after the army came,” he said. At least eight Palestinians were hurt during the ensuing clashes, which the army tried to disperse by firing rubber bullets and...

What was Hungary’s role in freeing Ukrainian POWs from Russia? The European Commission wants to know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:31 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Hungary’s government will be asked to provide explanations and details about its role in the transfer to the country of 11 Ukrainian prisoners of war freed by Russia, the European Union’s executive arm said Wednesday.The liberation of the POWs has created further tensions between Ukraine and Hungary’s government, which is led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and is one of the most friendly toward Moscow of the EU’s 27 nations. Budapest has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the bloc’s sanctions against Russia.Ukraine has blamed Hungary for barring access to the prisoners, and the country’s foreign ministry said it wasn’t informed about the negotiations leading to their liberation.“It is very important that the relevant Hungarian authorities involved in this case, and active in this case, explain to their Ukrainian counterparts what happened, how it happened, what was the role of Hungary, who was involved, who was not involv...