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Indonesia unveils construction site of new capital city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

PENAJAM PASER UTARA, Indonesia (AP) — Orange-red ground has been broken in the jungle of East Borneo, where the Indonesian government has begun construction of its new capital city. Officials promise a “sustainable forest city” that puts the environment at the heart of development and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2045. But the project has been plagued by criticism from environmentalists and Indigenous communities, who say it degrades the environment, further shrinks the habitat of endangered animals such as orangutans and displaces Indigenous people that rely on the land for their livelihoods.Indonesia began construction of the new capital in mid 2022, after President Joko Widodo announced that Jakarta — the congested, polluted current capital that is prone to earthquakes and rapidly sinking into the Java Sea — would be retired from capital status. Plans for the new capital — about twice the size of New York City — are grandeur. Officials tout the creation of a futuristic green city...

Why is Indonesia moving its capital from Jakarta to Borneo?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Jakarta is congested, polluted, prone to earthquakes and rapidly sinking into the Java Sea. Now the government is in the process of leaving, moving Indonesia’s capital to the island of Borneo.Indonesian officials say the new metropolis will be a “sustainable forest city” that puts the environment at the heart of the development and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2045. But environmentalists warn that the capital will cause massive deforestation, threaten the habitat of endangered species such as orangutans and imperil the homes of Indigenous communities.While access to the new capital’s site is usually limited, The Associated Press was allowed to tour parts of the site to view construction progress in early March. Here’s a look at why the capital is moving, the government’s plans and why activists are worried about how it will impact the environment, endangered species and Indigenous communities located near the project site. WHY IS IND...

Georgia withdraws foreign agent bill after days of protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgia’s ruling party said Thursday it is withdrawing a draft law from the parliament criticized as potentially stifling media freedom and civil society, after several days of massive protests against it in the capital. The Georgian Dream party and and its allies said they were withdrawing the proposed law, citing “controversy in society” it triggered. The bill would have required media and nongovernmental organizations that receive over 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as “agents of foreign influence.” The move comes after several days of mass protests in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. The demonstrations culminated on Wednesday night, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the city center. Police brutally dispersed the rally, using water cannons and tear gas, and 133 protesters have been arrested, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. Lawmakers said in a statement on Thursday morning that “consultat...

Report: Malaysian ex-PM Muhyiddin facing graft charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was grilled Thursday by anti-graft agency officials for a second time in a matter of weeks and reportedly will be charged over alleged corruption connected with awarding of government contracts while he was in office. The agency chief, Azam Baki, told the national Bernama news agency that Muhyiddin, 75, will be charged in court Friday. He did not give details. The agency said it will issue a statement later in the day.A large crowd of supporters gathered outside the agency building Thursday, chanting “Fight! Fight!” and “Allahu Akbar (God is great)” as they accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government of political persecution. Muhyiddin, 75, got out of his car and prayed with his supporters before he went into the building. In a Facebook statement hours earlier, he denied rumors that he had been arrested Wednesday while playing golf. He said he was summoned to the anti-graft agency but didn’t say ...

Chicago Daily Almanac

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

Thursday-Friday snowfall potential differs from north to south across northern Illinois. Thursday begins a chilly mid-March period for Chicago.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

Israel/Palestine: Statement of the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the latest developments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

The European Union and its member states are deeply concerned by the increasing violence and extremism in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, which are leading to appalling numbers of Israeli and Palestinian victims, including children. The situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is a great cause for concern.We call on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to de-escalate the situation and to refrain from actions that will increase the already high level of tension. Settlements are illegal under international law. Israel must stop settlement expansion, prevent settler violence, and ensure the perpetrators are held accountable. Military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law. There must be an immediate end to terror attacks, which should be condemned by everyone, and to practices that support them. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip requires further easing of restrictions. The status quo of the Holy Sites ...

Video captures motorcyclist struck by hit-and-run driver in Newport Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

Video captures the moment a motorcyclist is violently struck by a hit-and-run driver in Newport Beach. The victim, Mike Landry, suffered nearly a dozen broken bones and is still recovering on Wednesday night.Landry tells KTLA he just wants justice after surviving the life-altering crash.“Well, I still can’t walk and it’s been seven months,” said Landry. “I thought I would be walking by now, but it’s not going to happen.”The collision happened July 31, 2022 around 7:45 p.m. and was captured on a dash camera.Landry was riding home from a memorial service on West Balboa Boulevard near 26th Street when the suspect’s Jeep SUV is seen merging behind Landry. Moments later, the SUV violently slams into Landry, running him over before crashing into several parked cars.The suspect then fled on foot after the crash, leaving Landry lying on the road. Dashcam captured the moment Mike Landry was violently run over by an SUV in Newport Beach. (Mike Landry)Mike Landry hospitalized after he was viol...

Australia, Netherlands get wins in World Baseball Classic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Robbie Perkins hit one of Australia’s three homers to beat South Korea 8-7 on Thursday in Group B at the Tokyo Dome.Australia, leading 5-4 in the top of the eighth, put the game away with a three-run shot by Perkins. The blast came off Hyeon-Jong Yang, who had entered in relief in the inning and made only seven pitches and got no one out.Australia went ahead 2-0 in the fifth, but South Korea rallied with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. That came on Euiji Yang’s three-run, line-drive home run to left field.South Korea added another run in the sixth. But Australia scored three in the seventh to take the lead.The seventh inning also featured a three-run homer from Robbie Glendinning, with Australia living off its power game.South Korea scored three runs in its eighth — on five walks and a hit batter — to cut the lead to 8-7 but could not break through in the ninth.NETHERLANDS 3, PANAMA 1TAICHUNG, Taiwan (AP) — The Netherlands, after beating Cuba in...

Battle, Montana St. beat NAU, win 2nd straight Big Sky title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:00 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — RaeQuan Battle scored 25 points and Montana State beat Northern Arizona 85-78 Wednesday night to clinch its second consecutive Big Sky Conference title and an automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Darius Brown II added 11 of his 15 points in the second half and Jubrile Belo scored 14 points for No. 2 seed Montana State (25-9), which has won eight consecutive games and 13 of its last 14. Caleb Fuller made 4 of 6 from the field and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. The Bobcats, who lost 97-62 to Texas Tech in the first round last year, are 0-4 all time in the NCAA Tournament. Jalen Cone converted a three-point play to cap a 12-6 spurt and pull the Lumberjacks within five points — as close as they had been since late in the first half — 70-65 with 4:50 to play but Battle was fouled as he hit a 3-pointer from the right corner 24 seconds later, made the and-1 free throw and Northern Arizona got no closer. Northern Arizona (12-23) went into the game havi...