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Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after pleading guilty to a terrorism charge over a foiled bomb plot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong man was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison after pleading guilty to a terrorism charge under a Beijing-imposed national security law for his involvement in a foiled plot to bomb court buildings. Prosecutors said Ho Yu-wang, 19, was the plot mastermind who planned to manufacture explosives and target court buildings in 2021. The plot, involving mostly secondary students back then, was foiled due to a police investigation, while no bombs were made and no casualties occurred, the prosecution earlier said. Police said they raided a guesthouse room in 2021 and seized equipment believed to be used for making explosives. They also alleged Ho had written notes saying that his goal was to destabilize Hong Kong, promote conflicts between the central government and others, and build up a resistance group.Two other defendants received a jail term of up to six years for an alternative charge.Ho is a lesser-known activist in the semi-autonomous city’s pro-democ...

Texas has arrested thousands on trespassing charges at the border. Illegal crossings are still high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

EAGLE PASS, Texas (AP) — Before settling in New York City like thousands of other migrants this year, Abdoul, a 32-year-old from West Africa, took an unexpected detour: Weeks in a remote Texas jail on local trespassing charges after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. “I spent a lot of hours without sleeping, sitting on the floor,” said Abdoul, a political activist who fled Mauritania, fearing persecution. He spoke on the condition that his last name not be published for fear of jeopardizing his request for asylum.Starting in March, Texas will allow police to arrest migrants who enter the state illegally and give local judges the authority to order them out of the country. The new law comes two years after Texas launched a smaller-scale operation to arrest migrants for trespassing. But although that operation was also intended to stem illegal crossings, there is little indication that it has done so.The results raise questions about the impact arrests have on deterring immi...

High levels of respiratory illnesses spreading across Southern California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

If it appears that everyone around you is sick, the increase is due to a trio of illnesses spreading widely and sickening families across Southern California.Dr. Ali Jamehdor at Dignity Health said there was a 33% increase in patients coming in with respiratory illnesses compared to the same time last year. Nearly one in four L.A. County residents have fallen ill in December alone, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health."This year, more than any other year, we are seeing more of influenza, RSV and COVID, higher than what we've seen in years past,” explained Jamehdor.Across the state, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes the level of flu-like illnesses, which include non-flu viruses such as coronavirus, is considered high. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is peaking earlier than usual, and the flu might follow suit, the CDC warns. (Getty Images)How long your omicron symptoms last depends on several factors, including your age, vaccination sta...

Familiar problems haunt Sharks as losing streak grows to six games

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

The San Jose Sharks had their losing streak extended to six games on Wednesday and once again a disastrous second period proved to be the main culprit.Leading by one, the Sharks allowed three unanswered goals in the second period, including two in 13 seconds, in what became a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena.“I think we played good hockey for the first 25-30 minutes,” Sharks center Mikael Granlund said. “They scored one goal, and then one right after.“We’ve got to be mentally stronger with those kinds of situations. After that, our game went down.”Fabian Zetterlund scored his 10th of the season in a first-period goal as San Jose took its first lead in a game since beating the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 on Dec. 12. But the Kings capitalized on two Sharks turnovers near the start of the second period to take a 2-1 lead.Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun had a pass intended for Alexander Barabanov inside the Kings zone intercepted by Kevin Fia...

Things to do in the DC area: New Year’s last-minute reservations, kid-friendly activities … and more!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

There’s much to do in the D.C. area in the coming days, and WTOP has you covered with our weekly roundup of area events worth anticipating.Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D.C. area.Le Diplomate on New Year’s Eve. (Photo courtesy John Robinson/Le Diplomate)Looking for last-minute reservations to make for New Year’s? WTOP has you covered with this list of local restaurants that are offering special menus to celebrate the finale of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.Start the year off right with Le Diplomate on 14th Street Northwest. On New Year’s Eve, the French restaurant is offering a cocktail party with a raw bar, caviar station, cheese and charcuterie, plus made-to-order crepes and a live DJ. Tickets are $275 per person with the event running from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.In an interview with WTOP, Le Diplomate General Manager Peter Koll said that some additional highlights will include absinthes, a large selection of champagnes and a large cro...

El origen cruel del Día de los Inocentes, una tradición (muy diferente a la actual) que se celebra hace más de 1.500 años

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

(CNN Español) — ¿Preparado para gastar (y recibir) una buena dosis de bromas? Puede que disfrutes como un niño el Día de los Inocentes que se celebra en Latinoamérica y España sin saber que, en el origen de esta celebración, lo que hay es una historia oscura de crueldad y muerte que nada tiene que ver con el humor, pero sí mucho con la inocencia.Herodes, los Reyes Magos y el relato bíblico de una matanza cruelEl origen cristiano del Día de los Inocentes hay que buscarlo en el Evangelio de Mateo, uno de los libros del Nuevo Testamento en el que se relata la vida de Jesús.Resulta que unos sabios provenientes de Oriente —a quienes posteriormente conoceríamos como los Reyes Magos— anunciaron que estaba por nacer el mesías que, según las profecías, llegaría a ser el rey de Israel. Y que tenían intención de ir a adorarlo.Herodes el Grande —entonces rey de Judea por mandato del Imperio romano— les dijo que, cuando lo encontraran, le avisaran dónde estaba para poder ir él también a ad...

5 formas sencillas de mantener tu cerebro alerta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

(CNN) —  A medida que termina el año, la gente tiene la vista puesta en 2024 y en los cambios que traerá. Los más emprendedores pueden incluso estar pensando en iniciar cambios en forma de resoluciones o intenciones.Pero para los menos decididos, puede ser difícil encontrarlas. Con tantas opciones, ¿por dónde empiezas y en qué áreas de crecimiento te concentras?Aquí tienes una idea: empieza con lo que te motiva: el cerebro. Informa cómo actuamos, cómo nos sentimos y cómo procesamos toda la información que nos rodea; y lo que sucede en el cerebro también afecta al cuerpo.La octava temporada del podcast Chasing Life con el Dr. Sanjay Gupta ha tratado sobre el cerebro en algunos de sus innumerables estados, incluido el cerebro organizado , el cerebro menopáusico y el cerebro deprimido .A continuación se presentan cinco de los principales consejos cerebrales de los invitados al podcast para ayudar a mantener a todos alerta y concentrados en 2024.Priorizar el descanso cerebralDesca...

Chris Driedger makes 37 saves in NHL return as Kraken hold off Flames 2-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Making his first NHL start in nearly 20 months, Chris Driedger made 37 saves to backstop the Seattle Kraken to a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.Kailer Yamamoto and Alex Wennberg scored for Seattle (13-14-9). The Kraken extended their points streak to seven games (5-0-2) and moved ahead of Calgary in the Pacific Division standings.Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary (14-16-5).Driedger, 29, had lost all three of his NHL appearances against the Flames.His biggest stop, keeping the game tied, came on a Flames two-man advantage in the second period when he went from post to post to rob Elias Lindholm at the side of the net after he had been set up for a one-timer by a cross-crease pass from Connor Zary.At the other end, Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves.Tied at 1, the game-winner came off the stick of Wennberg six minutes into the third when he took a pass from Jared McCann and zipped a quick shot that beat Markstrom inside the post on the short sid...

Owens, Presley help No. 22 Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 31-23 in Texas Bowl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Rashod Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Brennan Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in No. 22 Oklahoma State’s 31-23 victory over Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night.Ollie Gordon II, the Doak Walker Award winner, added 118 yards rushing to finish the season with 2,062 yards of offense and help Oklahoma State (10-4) reach double-digit wins for the second time in three seasons after finishing 12-2 in 2021. Alan Bowman had 402 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.Oklahoma State led by 18 at halftime but a 51-yard field goal by Randy Bond got the Aggies to 31-23 with about five minutes to go. The Cowboys missed a 47-yard field goal with 17 seconds to go and the Aggies (7-6) had another chance to score. But Marcel Reed’s pass was intercepted near the end zone by Kendal Daniels on the last play of the game.Jaylen Henderson started at quarterback for the A...

Kevin Fiala, Kings bounce back from slow start, deal Sharks their 6th straight loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:30 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe had two goals, Kevin Fiala scored after being benched in the first period and the Los Angeles Kings overcame a poor start and beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1 on Wednesday night.Trevor Lewis and Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for the Kings, who have won four of their last five games. David Rittich made 24 saves, following up a 4-1 win and near-shutout in his season debut against San Jose on Dec. 19 with another strong performance.Fabian Zetterlund scored and Kaapo Kahkonen allowed five goals on 40 shots as the Sharks lost their sixth straight game. Fiala made amends after being benched for the final 8:58 of the first period following his poor pass that led to San Jose’s opening goal. He scored on a breakaway 2:57 into the second.Lewis put Los Angeles ahead 13 seconds later by scoring on a backhand shot from close range.Dubois wrapped up the scoring in the second by scoring for the second straight game, and Kempe struck twice in the third, including a preci...