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Feds inspect Springfield factory as part of probe into MBTA’s Chinese contractor

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

Federal transportation officials inspected the embattled Springfield factory where new MBTA subway cars are being assembled, as part of an ongoing probe into whether Chinese contractor CRRC MA complied with federal requirements.CRRC MA spokesperson Lydia Rivera said Tuesday’s visit was a “scheduled review” by the Federal Transit Administration of the company’s Buy America compliance for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Los Angeles Metro Rail projects.“CRRC MA is fully aware of Buy America provisions and meets the requirements,” Rivera said in a statement to the Herald.A Federal Transit Administration spokesperson said “FTA staff are at CRRC’s Springfield facility as part of a Buy America compliance review of federally-funded procurements.”The inspector general’s office of the U.S. Department of Transportation launched an audit of Chinese-state-owned CRRC MA’s $138 million contract with SEPTA — for manufacturing and assembly of 45 new passenger rail cars — o...

ASK IRA: If No. 7 is the ceiling for the Heat, does that put No. 8 or No. 9 into play?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

Q: Ira, the race for the final playoff spot is over. The Heat are now officially in a dog fight with Atlanta, and Toronto. The way the Heat are playing a Nos. 9-10 play-in game against the Bulls is very possible. – Joel, Fort Lauderdale.A: I don’t know about “very” possible. But it certainly is within the realm that the Heat could fall from No. 7 and have to travel for the start of the play-in round on April 11 to either Atlanta or Toronto. These next two games will be telling, at home Saturday against the reeling Dallas Mavericks and then next week’s start of a three-game trip against the Detroit Pistons. Take care of those two, and they should be well enough positioned going into their final three. Of course taking care of business and 2022-23 Miami Heat have been almost contrasting terms. Nothing can be assumed. Just as nothing can be taken for granted.Q: How long before Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley acknowledge that the decision to sign Kevin Love wa...

‘23 Nissan Altima conquers commuter needs and wants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

Price, price and price!In Grasso’s Garage this week, it’s Nissan back with their ever popular Altima. Our tester, the 2023 Altima SR 2.0 VC-Turbo offered front wheel drive capabilities and an array of interior features fit for every driver.Nissan Motor Co. and their vast display of tech and futuristic appearing vehicles, delivers the Altima with good timing. Consumers have written to me over the past few months inquiring about commuter vehicles and getting the price to a realistic amount in this inflated vehicle market. For the Altima, a below $35K base price with the SR package and one that delivers nicely. Keeping in mind that bang for the buck is the objective in this market, this one certainly stands out. “The new Altima possesses a sporting ethos with tremendous visual punch from its aggressive lines, combined with thoughtful details to play in the field of premium products. The design has a great balance of luxury and sport.” mentions David Woodhouse, VP Design, Nissan D...

Tears, anger as Indonesian soccer fears FIFA sanctions

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian soccer players and fans reacted with tears and outrage after the country was stripped of hosting rights for the Under-20 World Cup only eight weeks before the start of the tournament amid political turmoil over Israel’s participation, leaving Indonesian soccer at risk of further sanctions.The youth soccer event was expected to be a rare turn on the global soccer stage for a country that hasn’t been to the World Cup since winning independence. But it was officially canceled Wednesday after two regional governors said they would not allow an Israeli team to play in their territories.FIFA said Indonesia was removed from staging the 24-team tournament scheduled to start on May 20 “due to the current circumstances,” without specifying details.In an emotional meeting with Indonesian youth players and their coach in Jakarta on Thursday, Zainudin Amali, deputy chair of the national soccer association, apologized. Some players were seen shedding tea...

Russia to keep missile test notices under Cold War-era deal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia will continue to give the U.S. advance notice about its missile tests despite suspending the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the two countries, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday.Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’s statement reversed one he made Wednesday, when he said Moscow had halted all information exchanges with Washington envisioned under the 2011 New START nuclear pact, including missile test warnings.But Russia intends to stick by its pledge last month to keep notifying the U.S. about missile tests in line with a 1988 U.S.-Soviet agreement, Ryabkov said. Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended the country’s participation in the New START treaty last month, saying Russia could not U.S. inspections of its nuclear sites at a time when Washington and its NATO allies have openly declared Moscow’s defeat in Ukraine as their goal. Moscow emphasized at the time that it wasn’t withdrawing from the pact altogether and would continu...

AP News in Brief at 6:09 a.m. EDT

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

Ukraine by rail: Inside Zelenskyy’s efforts to buoy a nationZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — The caravan of unmarked vehicles tears across the muddy grass next to the playground. On the merry-go-round, the children stop swinging and spinning. The curious — parents and other residents of this southeastern town — gather around. Car doors swing open, and heavily armed security guards in battlefield fatigues spill out.And just like that, he is among them: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wartime leader and his country’s chief morale officer.This week, Zelenskyy shuttled across the country on a 48-hour train trip to rally soldiers who are battling Russian forces — and, just as important, to buoy the communities often caught in the crossfire. Here, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from the front lines, Zelenskyy came to see for himself the destruction from a Russian attack that damaged dozens of apartments one week ago. The violence hit just steps from the playground and mer...

China renews warnings as Taiwan’s Tsai stops over in US

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — As Taiwan’s president began a stopover in the United States on her way to Central America, China said it was closely watching developments and would “resolutely safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary, and portrays the self-governing island democracy of 23 million people as the most sensitive issue in its increasingly fraught relationship with the U.S. On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China’s furious objections to any interactions between Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. officials. “China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the U.S. and Taiwan,” Mao told reporters at a daily briefing. “China will continue to closely follow the situation and resolutely safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”China has particularly warned that a meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy planned for April 5 in Los...

Russia arrests Wall Street Journal reporter on spying charge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

MOSCOW — Russia’s top security agency has arrested an American reporter for the Wall Street Journal on espionage charges, the first time a U.S. correspondent was put behind bars on spying accusations since the Cold War.The Federal Security Service said Thursday that Evan Gershkovich was detained in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg while allegedly trying to obtain classified information.The Wall Street Journal said it “vehemently denies the allegations” and is seeking Gershkovich’s immediate release. “We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family,” the paper said.The arrest comes amid bitter tensions between the West and Moscow over its war in Ukraine.Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. He was released without charges 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Union’s U...

Thailand uses helicopters to fight mountain wildfires

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities used helicopters Thursday to try to contain a fire that overnight engulfed two mountains on largely undeveloped forest land in a province northeast of the capital Bangkok.The fire broke out Wednesday night in Nakhon Nayok province, 114 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Bangkok, but firefighters could not directly tackle it because the mountains are too steep to safely climb, especially in the darkness of night, provincial Governor Bancha Chaowarin told reporters.“Apart from the wind’s direction, I also have to look after the lives and safety of those conducting the operation. After reviewing the situation, since it is at a mountaintop, we had to retreat to standby and convene over what we can do,” Bancha said late Wednesday night.At least 10 firefighting vehicles were dispatched to battle the blaze, and they were joined Thursday afternoon by at least two helicopters, which surveyed the situation and dumped water.Initial efforts to contain the blaze h...

King Charles III addresses German parliament, meets Scholz

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:25:58 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — King Charles III became the first monarch to address Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday as part of a high-profile visit aimed at bolstering ties between the two European powers.Charles, 74, is on his inaugural foreign trip since becoming U.K. king. He and Camilla, the queen consort, arrived in Berlin on Wednesday. Crowds of well-wishers and Germany’s head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, greeted the couple at the capital’s iconic Brandenburg Gate. They later attended a banquet in their honor at the presidential palace.Pomp and royal glamour aside, the three-day visit has a decidedly political purpose. The U.K. government is trying to mend frayed ties with its continental partners following the painful Brexit process.The fallout has been considerable: Britain’s departure from the European Union’s common market has resulted in trade barriers and labor shortages, and locked the country out of key European science programs....