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Fijian prime minister ‘more comfortable dealing with traditional friends’ like Australia than China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Fiji’s prime minister said Wednesday on a visit to Australia’s capital that his government was “more comfortable dealing with traditional friends” such as Australia as China pursues closer security ties in the Asia-Pacific region.Sitiveni Rabuka and Australia’s Anthony Albanese met during the Fijian’s first state visit to Australia since he most recently came to power in December last year. The 75-year-old former army colonel and coup leader had previously been Fiji’s prime minister from 1992 until 1999.Rabuka sided with Australia in what he described as the “rivalry” and “one-upmanship“ between the United States and China.“We’re more comfortable dealing with traditional friends, that we have similar systems of government, that our democracies are the same brand of democracy, coming out of the Westminster system,” Rabuka told reporters.“Our justice system, our policing system — we’re more comfortable with friends that we have had ov...

Jackson State University community remembers student shot and killed on-campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. — A balloon release was held Tuesday at Jackson State University in Mississippi to remember a 21-year-old man shot and killed on campus who was from Country Club Hills.Jaylen Burns was just months away from graduating with a degree in Industrial Technology at Jackson State University. ‘A light to everybody’: Student from Chicagoland killed in shooting at Jackson State University But Jackson, Mississippi police said Burns died after being shot multiple times at an apartment complex on campus Sunday.Burns graduated from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills before heading to JSU.His father said witnesses told him his son was just trying to break up a fight."I was just in disbelief, I was crying, my wife was crying," Jason Burns, Jaylen's father, said. "I just didn't understand it."University classmates, staff and family members held a balloon release Tuesday to honor Jaylen.

School board approves sports bra for female runners during practice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The school board in Guilderland voted on a policy to change the dress code to allow female students wear a sports bra as a shirt during athletic practices. The vote passed 8 to 1 to allow it. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! During public comment Tuesday night, many pointed out that male athletes practice shirtless in order to stay cool while running. The new policy states students must continue to comply with standard dress code requirements once outdoor sports practice is complete.

Victim's family outraged after defendant in deadly hit-and-run gets probation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A victim's family is outraged after finding out a St. Louis man charged in a deadly 2020 hit-and-run won't serve any prison time.It happened in October 2020 on North Broadway near Bellefontaine Cemetery.On Tuesday, a St. Louis city judge sentenced Anthony Allen Jr. to seven years of probation for running over Shanell Jamison, 37, and leaving the scene of the crime. Police said Jamison was trying to cross the street when Allen hit her with his white Dodge Avenger.Jamison's sister, Candice, said the family is devastated because they don't feel justice was served. When should Missouri expect the first snow? "My niece and nephew, they really miss their mom," Jamison said. "They just want their mom back. And I know she can't come back. So, they want justice."Her husband, Jonathan Crews, was very critical of the St. Louis City justice system."St. Louis does not know how to prosecute cases," Crews said. "The attorneys, those judges down there. It's getting real gimmicky. The ...

Israel, Hamas point fingers after hospital destroyed in bombing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

FOX 2 is following the very latest out of the Middle East in the war between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of people are dead after a Gaza hospital was bombed Tuesday in one of the deadliest attacks of the war thus far.The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says at least 500 people are dead following the blast.The Israeli government denies hitting the hospital. Senior Advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Mark Regev said they are investigating the incident."Israel does not target places like hospitals," Regev said. "They're not a target for us, and we wouldn't have deliberately hit a hospital."Israel continues to target Hamas militants. They're also urging Palestinian civilians to evacuate Gaza. In central Gaza, strikes leveled an entire block of homes near a refugee camp. They also killed a top Hamas military commander. Ayman Nofal was in charge of Hamas activities in the central Gaza Strip. He's the most high-profile Hamas militant known to have been killed so far.Israel has blocked water, f...

Hundreds of fans line up to meet Jason Momoa at Des Peres Schnucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

DES PERES, Mo. - Movie star Jason Momoa kicked off his St. Louis tour Tuesday afternoon at a Des Peres Schnucks.Momoa’s on a six-state tour promoting his new vodka, Meili. Hundreds of fans lined up outside the Schnucks to grab a photo and buy an autographed bottle of vodka.“We are huge superhero fans with an 8-year-old,” Denise Berlekamp said.Momoa will be making stops Wednesday at two more St. Louis locations: the Crestwood Dierbergs and Total Wine & More in Chesterfield. St. Louis County Council passes tax freeze for seniors Kirkwood’s Logan Echols began lining up about two hours before the start of Tuesday’s event."I’m here to meet a celebrity for the first time,” Echols said. “I’m a little nervous.”One fan, Zach Welty, brought some gifts of his own to give to the star actor.“I know he’s into skull art, so I brought some skull art coins for him,” Welty said. “I’m hoping to gift him with it and bless him with it. It would be a cool guy to have my art in his collection.”Momoa...

Woman waiting weeks for unemployment back pay after winning appeal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A north St. Louis County resident who won a battle against Missouri unemployment officials says she’s not getting a fair deal.Taylor Brown won her case on appeal to get unemployment benefits. But that was a month ago, and she still hasn’t received the money she’s entitled to.“I have been waiting. This is going on week four. I’ve been unable to receive any kind of explanation, any kind of time frame, just anything from Missouri unemployment,” she said.Brown was released from her job in a call center in June of this year. Her employer said it was for bad conduct related to the job. The Missouri Department of Employment Security denied her benefit based on that allegation from her employer.She appealed to a department tribunal and won. St. Louis County Council passes tax freeze for seniors “What that means is that although I was at one point disqualified, that was overturned. And all of the weeks that I filed for unemployment are due to me,” Brown said.She say...

Interstate 70 westbound reopens after seven-vehicle crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

Westbound Interstate 70 is open in Lakewood after a two-hour closure caused by a seven-vehicle crash that injured multiple people, according to Lakewood police.The crash occurred when a semitruck traveling westbound on I-70 swerved across three lanes of traffic and went down an embankment, said Lakewood Police spokesperson Lindsey Lee. Six other vehicles were involved in the crash and multiple people were transported to local hospitals with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, Lee said. The cause of the crash is under investigation.The interstate was closed between the Colorado Mills Parkway and West Colfax Avenue exits from approximately 6:25 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., when one lane reopened, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Car theft suspect killed in Silverthorne police shooting Crime and Public Safety | I-70 eastbound in Eagle reopened after crash Crime and Public Safety | ...

Orange County vigil held to mourn death of Muslim child murdered in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

A vigil was held in Orange County Tuesday evening, bringing dozens of people together to mourn the death of Wadea Al-Fayoum, a 6-year-old Muslim child in Illinois who was stabbed and killed in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime.The vigil was held at the Islamic Center of Orange County in Garden Grove and was hosted by several Islamic civil rights and advocacy groups."We are here remembering this boy, but at the same time asking for islamophobia to stop being spread in Orange County," said Hassan Mukhlis of the Islamic Society Of Orange County.Last week, Wadea and his mother were allegedly attacked by Joseph M. Czuba, 71, the family's landlord in Plainfield, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Wadea was stabbed more than two-dozen times and died from his injuries. His mother was stabbed more than 30 times and is in critical condition, but is expected to survive.This undated photo shows Wadea Al-Fayoume. (CAIR-Chicago via AP)Czuba was arrested and charged with first-degree ...

Long Beach searching for volunteers to participate in Día de los Muertos parade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:07:21 GMT

The City of Long Beach is searching for volunteers to participate in this year's Día de los Muertos parade.The parade is scheduled to take place in downtown Long Beach on Nov. 4, and volunteers from local businesses, nonprofit organizations and community groups are being sought to partake in the event.Among the positions that need filled, the City is looking for banner walkers, crowd control, registration teams and other miscellaneous roles that will be crucial for the parade to go off without a hitch. This is the 8th annual Día de los Muertos celebration in Long Beach, which celebrates the culture and tradition of the indigenous communities of Mexico and Latin America.The celebration features traditional music, dance, food, clothing and arts and crafts.Those interested in lending their time for the event are urged to sign up and register as a volunteer. Registering ahead of time is required and submissions can be submitted online.Additional information can also be obtained by conta...