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In India, Vietnam, Biden looks past Russia to imperfect partners

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

By Josh Boak | Associated PressHANOI, Vietnam — President Joe Biden on Monday wrapped up a five-day diplomatic sprint through Vietnam and India that put a spotlight on imperfect partners that he believes will be crucial for global stability in the years to come.The whirlwind visit demonstrated that as Russia’s war on Ukraine plods on with no end in sight, Biden appears to have become more willing to look past differences with complicated allies that he badly needs to keep close for the sake of stability in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East and beyond.Biden closed out his Asia trip in Hanoi on Monday by spotlighting new business deals and partnerships with Vietnam after celebrating the Communist government’s elevation of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.“My message today is quite simple: Let’s keep it up,” Biden said of his desire to keep strengthening the nations’ partnership during a meeting with CEOs. “We ...

Pac-12 chaos: Judge sides with WSU and OSU, brings board business to temporary halt

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

Washington State and Oregon State scored a major victory in court on Monday when a Whitman County (Wash.) judge agreed to their request for a temporary restraining order preventing the Pac-12’s presidents and chancellors from meeting until the court determines the makeup of the board of directors.“That makes everybody equal,” Superior Court Judge Gary Libey said in issuing his ruling a few minutes after 12 p.m.A preliminary injunction hearing to determine which schools have voting rights — all 12, or only the Beavers and Cougars — is expected to be scheduled in the next few weeks.“I am pleased with today’s decision,” Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy said on social media. “As the two remaining Pac-12 members, Oregon State and Washington State must be able to chart a path forward for the Pac-12 — not the members that have chosen to leave it.”Washington State president Kirk Schulz called the decision “a step in the right direct...

Piedmont: Carjacking suspects allow mom to remove infant child from vehicle before stealing it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

PIEDMONT — Carjacking suspects allowed a woman to remove her infant child from the vehicle Sunday morning before stealing it, police said.The vehicle was later recovered in East Oakland and a 19-year-old Rodeo man was jailed, police said.The carjacking happened about 9 a.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of Grand Avenue.Police said a 38-year-old woman was putting her 5-month-old child into a 2018 BMW near her home when two men approached her and demanded her purse, keys and mobile phone.The suspects allowed the woman to remove the child from the BMW before driving it away, police said. No one was injured.Police said officers worked with BMW representatives and were able to track the stolen car. It was traced to several different locations in Oakland throughout the day but was not found by police at any of them.A California Highway Patrol helicopter was brought in to assist officers in the search. About 4 p.m. Sunday the helicopter officers located the BMW at a tire shop in the 8300 ...

At least 2K people feared dead in flooded region of Libya

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

By Samy Magdy | Associated PressCAIRO — Mediterranean storm Daniel caused devastating floods in Libya that swept away entire neighborhoods and wrecked homes in multiple coastal towns in the east of the North African nation. As many as 2,000 people were feared dead, one of the country’s leaders said Monday.The destruction appears greatest in Derna, a city formerly held by Islamic extremists in the chaos that has gripped Libya for more than a decade and left it with crumbling and inadequate infrastructure. Libya remains divided between two rival administrations, one in the east and one in the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments.The confirmed death toll from the weekend flooding stood at 61 as of late Monday, according to health authorities. But the tally did not include Derna, which had become inaccessible, and many of the thousands missing were believed carried away by waters.Video by residents of the city posted online showed major devastation. Entire residen...

Massive sinkhole forms in Pacific Heights after water main break

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A water main break in the area of Fillmore and Union Streets in Pacific Heights has led to the formation of a sinkhole in an intersection, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. PG&E is on the scene attempting to isolate a gas main inside the work area. Once that work is complete, crews will resume work on the water mains, SFPUC said.The sinkhole is disrupting bus service, according to SF Muni. The 22 Fillmore and 45 Union/Stockton lines are rerouting buses around the area, Muni said. Sailboat stuck at Stinson Beach must be removed today Muni is replacing trolley buses with motor coaches, which could result in inbound delays near UCSF, the transit agency advised. City staff are on site at the location and conducting outreach to businesses and homes impacted by the water main break, according to District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani. The water main, which was installed in 1949, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commis...

Oakland's slow 911 dispatch system getting $2.5M boost

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- Oakland city leaders announced a plan to pump $2.5 million of additional funding into the city's beleaguered 911 system. Oakland's emergency dispatch center has been plagued by ongoing problems, including technology failures, a dispatcher staffing shortage, and long wait times for 911 callers. Mayor Sheng Thao said, "Response times have been a long-standing issue for our city, and the current situation is unacceptable. Thanks to additional revenues collected this year, we were able to direct an additional $2.5 million over the next two years to strengthen our 911 response."An Alameda County Civil Grand Jury report warned that Oakland's 911 system was underperforming. The grand jury found that dispatchers were unable to meet state standards that say 90 percent of calls should be answered by a live person within 15 seconds, and 95 percent should be answered within 20 seconds. Violent weekend in Oakland sees 3 homicides, multiple shootings Oakland was r...

Redwood City man arrested for child annoyance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

(KRON) -- A Redwood City resident was arrested for child annoyance, the Redwood City Police Department announced Monday.Redwood City police said they responded to a report of a disturbance at the 1 James bus station on September 8. According to Redwood City police’s investigation at the scene, an adult male grabbed a 16-year-old female around the waist and made sexual statements to her. The suspect, 56-year-old Eric Perry, was located and arrested for child annoyance and a warrant for an unrelated crime, possession of drug paraphernalia. Perry was booked into the San Mateo County Jail. Perry does not match the suspect description from a child annoyance incident that also occurred at 1 James bus station on August 18, police say. That suspect was described as a white male, missing an eye and in his 50s. If anyone has any information regarding either crime, please contact the Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100. For tips regarding any Redwood City cases, pleas...

Main Street Alameda Ferry Terminal closure to begin next month

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

(KRON) -- The Main Street Alameda Ferry Terminal will be closed for refurbishment, starting on Oct. 23, 2023, according to a post on the San Francisco Bay Ferry website. The closure is planned to continue through Jan. 1, 2024. During that time period, ferries will not be stopping at the terminal.The closure is planned as part of a major refurbishment project for the terminal that, according to SF Bay Ferry, includes repair and replacement of existing terminal infrastructure. These upgrades are intended to bring the site into compliance with seismic safety requirements as well as replacement of the current bridge, foundation and gangway. Dreamforce street closures to begin Tuesday Float demolition and replacement is also part of the update, along with improvements to electrical and water utilities. Additional upgrades will include design elements to prepare the terminal for future fleet electrification.The following service changes will be in effect during the duration of the clos...

Lee 'troubled' by Newsom comments about appointing a caretaker to Senate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

(KRON) -- Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) said she is "troubled" by remarks Gov. Gavin Newsom made about appointing an interim replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein, 90, is not running for reelection. Lee, along with Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine), is one of three leading candidates to fill the veteran senator's seat.Newsom has previously stated that if Feinstein were to resign, he would appoint a Black woman to the seat. In an appearance on "Meet the Press" this weekend, Newsom reiterated that position.However, when pressed by the show's host, Newsom said he would not appoint any of the people currently running for the seat, which would preclude Lee from being appointed."I don't want to get involved in the primary," said Newsom in remarks cited by Politico, adding it would be "completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off."While Newsom stopped short of saying outright that he would appoint a caretaker to the seat, he decli...

Trump lawyers seek recusal of judge in DC presiding over federal election subversion case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Donald Trump on Monday asked the federal judge presiding over his election subversion case in Washington to recuse herself, saying her past public statements about the former president call into question whether she can be fair.The recusal motion from Trump’s lawyers takes aim at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama. She has stood out as one of the toughest punishers of Jan. 6 defendants.Source