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Mexico ends its federal ban on abortion, but a patchwork of state restrictions remains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican Supreme Court decision to end the federal ban on abortion extended a regional trend of increasing access to the procedure, but left in place a patchwork of varying state restrictions.The high court on Wednesday threw out all federal criminal penalties for abortion, in a ruling that will require the federal public health service to offer the procedure to anyone who requests it.That will mean access for millions of Mexicans since the social security service and other federal institutions provide health care to most people who work in the formal economy. Some 20 Mexican states, however, still criminalize abortion. Those laws were not affected by the Supreme Court ruling, but abortion rights advocates will likely ask state judges to follow its logic. Abortions are not widely prosecuted as a crime in Mexico, but many doctors refuse to provide them, citing the law.Celebration of the ruling soon spilled out onto social media.“Today is a day of victory and justi...

Australian police allege a man killed a work colleague before shooting himself

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

PERTH, Australia (AP) — A man who allegedly killed a colleague at an Australian grain silo Thursday was in a critical condition after turning the gun on himself, police said.The 25-year-old allegedly shot a man in his 40s at the silo in the town of Kellerberrin at about 8.40 a.m. and then fled the area, the Western Australia Police Force said.The police force issued an active shooter alert to warn members of the public to remain indoors as a search for the suspect got under way.The gunman was believed to be armed, dressed in camouflage clothing and on the move north of the town, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of Perth, the Western Australia state capital, police said. A suspect was eventually located in a farm paddock about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Kellerberrin, Western Australian Police Regional Commander Rod Wilde said. He was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries, Wilde said.“Police were negotiating. There … had been talking to him for several hours,” th...

Presidential centers from Hoover to Bush and Obama unite to warn of fragile state of US democracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Concern for U.S. democracy amid deep national polarization has prompted the entities supporting 13 presidential libraries dating back to Herbert Hoover to call for a recommitment to the country’s bedrock principles, including the rule of law and respecting a diversity of beliefs.The statement released Thursday, the first time the libraries have joined to make such a public declaration, said Americans have a strong interest in supporting democratic movements and human rights around the world because “free societies elsewhere contribute to our own security and prosperity here at home.”“But that interest,” it said, “is undermined when others see our own house in disarray.”The joint message from presidential centers, foundations and institutes emphasized the need for compassion, tolerance and pluralism while urging Americans to respect democratic institutions and uphold secure and accessible elections.The statement noted that “debate and disagreement”...

Michigan Democrats are lining up to replace Republican Rep. John James in his battleground district

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A battleground House race in Michigan that national Democrats are keying in on to help them flip the chamber in 2024 is growing increasingly crowded with an announcement Thursday by Carl Marlinga that he’ll again challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John James for the seat. Marlinga’s 2024 campaign in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which was announced in a news release provided to The Associated Press, comes after the Democrat lost last year by half a percentage point to James, who had a significant fundraising advantage. In seeking the rematch with James in the suburban district north of Detroit, Marlinga is hoping to extend his party’s recent winning streak in Michigan. Democrats have taken control of the governor’s office and both chambers of the Legislature for the first time in decades, though they fell 1,600 votes short of claiming the 10th District in 2022.National Democrats have already said they will target the GOP-held...

Gabon’s junta says deposed president is ‘freed’ and can travel on a medical trip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon’s ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been under house arrest since he was deposed last week, is free Thursday and can embark on a medical trip, the country’s new military leaders said.Ondimba is “free to move given his state of health,” Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi, spokesman for the transition committee, said on state television a day earlier. “He can, if he wishes, go abroad to carry out his medical checks.” The ousted president’s health was not immediately clear. He had suffered a stroke in late 2018 that kept him from his duties for months. Local television Gabon24 broadcast a meeting late Wednesday between Ondimba and Abdou Barry, head of the UN Office for Central Africa. “I found him in good health,” Barry said on his meeting with the ousted president.The 64-year-old was on Aug. 30 toppled from power amid a resurgence of coups in parts of Africa and shortly after he was declared the winner of a disputed election that would hav...

More than 800 people rescued from floodwaters in Greece after severe rainstorms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — More than 800 people have been rescued over the past two days from floods in Greece, the fire department said Thursday, after severe rainstorms turned streets into raging torrents, hurling cars into the sea and washing away roads.The rainstorms have also hit neighboring Bulgaria and Turkey, leaving 14 people dead in the three countries, including three people in Greece.Fire department spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis said swift water rescue specialists and divers from the department’s disaster response units, as well as the army, were participating in rescue efforts and were trying to reach remote areas despite roads having been washed away.The flooding follows on the heels of devastating wildfires that destroyed vast tracts of forest and farmland, burned homes and left more than 20 people dead.The flooding on Thursday was concentrated mainly in the central towns of Karditsa, where people were reportedly seeking safety from rising water levels on the roofs ...

China will send delegation to North Korea to celebrate its founding as the nations foster ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong will visit North Korea to participate in celebrations for its 75th founding anniversary, which is on Saturday, the North’s state media said Thursday. The report came amid speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is preparing to visit Russia soon for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that could focus on North Korean arms sales to refill Russian reserves drained by its war on Ukraine.The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said the visit by Liu’s delegation comes at the invitation of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party. It didn’t specify the events the Chinese officials would participate in or whether they would meet Kim.North Korea didn’t immediately say whether a Russian delegation was also invited for the celebrations, which are expected to be highlighted by a parade of North Korean militia units. A U.S. official said Monday that Washington expects Kim to make a...

The president of a Japanese boy band company resigns and apologizes for late uncle’s sex abuse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A powerful Japanese entertainment company tarnished by sexual assault allegations against its late founder appointed one of its stars as its new president Thursday after the previous chief resigned and apologized for the abuse young clients suffered over decades.Julie Keiko Fujishima announced she was stepping down as president of Johnny & Associates, the talent agency founded by her late uncle, Johnny Kitagawa. She said the alleged sex abuse had really happened and that she would stay on the company’s board to see through a victim compensation program.“This is what my uncle committed, and as a niece, I want to take responsibility,” Fujishima said solemnly. Noriyuki Higashiyama, a member of a boy group called Shonentai, said he was retiring as an actor and singer to become the new president of Johnny & Associates, a role that will include overseeing compensation for men who were assaulted as children. “A horrendous crime has been committed,” Higashiyama to...

Hurricane Lee to rapidly intensify, expected to become major hurricane by Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane Lee is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph and will continue in that direction through Friday. The storm is located about 965 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands.The NHC said the storm's winds are near 80 mph, with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. Flamingo rescued after Hurricane Idalia nicknamed ‘Peaches’ Rapid intensification is expected to begin later Thursday, the NHC said."While Hurricane Lee's strength remained unchanged overnight, it is expected to start intensifying today. It could be a major hurricane as soon as tomorrow," said WFLA meteorologist Leigh Spann. "The short-term forecast takes the system north of the Caribbean Islands, but the critical turn to the north is still days away. Until it makes that turn to the nor...

3 sailors safe after sharks nearly sink catamaran on round-the-world trip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:55 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Three round-the-world sailors reached land safely Thursday after sharks nearly sank their catamaran in the Coral Sea.Both of the inflatable hulls on their 9-meter (30-foot) boat were damaged in several attacks by what were thought to be cookiecutter sharks — a small species not considered dangerous to people. Aerial photos of the men's rescue showed major damage to the boat, which was nearly submerged and a front section of one hull was completely missing.In this photo provided by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, a partially submerged catamaran is shown during a rescue of 3 sailors in the Coral Sea, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Three sailors from Russia and France were rescued on Wednesday after the inflatable catamaran they were trying to navigate from Vanuatu to Australia came under attack from sharks, authorities said. (Australian Maritime Safety Authority via AP)The Australian Maritime Safety Authority coordinated the rescue of the two Russian an...