China officials in trying to attract more oversea visitors, on Tuesday revealed its expanding its visa-free transit policy, allowing Americans and other eligible foreign travelers to stay in parts of the country as long as 240 hours, or 10 days.China’s National Immigration Agency announced the measure, which is effective immediately, on its WeChat account, saying passport holders from 54 countries are eligible. They include countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia, as well as the U.S. and Canada.Previously, travelers could stay in China visa-free for as long as 72 to 144 hours depending on where they visited, as long as they...
San Francisco Jury Found Tech Consultant Guilty Of Second-Degree Murder in Stabbing Death of Cash App Founder Bob Lee
A San Francisco jury on Tuesday found a tech consultant guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, which carries a sentence of 16 years to life, rejecting the defendant’s claim that he had acted in self-defense.Jurors took seven days to deliver their verdict against Nima Momeni in the April 4, 2023, death of Lee, a beloved tech mogul who was found staggering on a deserted downtown street, dripping a trail of blood and calling for help. Lee, 43, later died at a hospital.“We’re happy that Nima Momeni will not be on the streets,...
Filipina Who Won a Last-Minute Reprieve from an Indonesian Firing Squad Seeks Clemency
A Filipino woman who spent years on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, and who was nearly executed by firing squad in 2015, said Wednesday she’s happy to be back in the Philippines but is asking its president to set her free.Mary Jane Veloso spent almost 15 years in prison but won a last-minute reprieve that allows her to serve the rest of her sentence in the Philippines and will lead to her testimony exposing how a criminal syndicate duped her into being an unwitting accomplice and drug courier.“What’s important is I be given clemency so that I can be with...
Chelsea FC Release Statement after Mykhailo Mudryk Tests Positive for Banned Substance
Chelsea Football Club has confirmed that the Football Association (FA) recently contacted Mykhailo Mudryk regarding an adverse finding in a routine urine test.In a statement shared on their official X handle, Chelsea said: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that the Football Association recently contacted our player, Mykhailo Mudryk, concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.“Both the club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme, and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.“Both Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities...
Ukraine Star Mykhailo Mudryk Faces Ban After Alleged Failed Doping Test
Chelsea and Ukraine star Mykhailo Mudryk has allegedly failed a doping test, according to Tribunaua, a top Ukrainian sports news media outlet. The report, posted on Tribunaua’s official X handle, states: “Mykhailo Mudryk failed a doping test. The test was taken at the end of October. The backup sample is expected to be opened in the coming days. The Chelsea and Ukraine player is currently facing a ban.” If found guilty, Mudryk could face a ban, which would be a serious blow to his professional football career. Mudryk has been struggling with Chelsea this season, playing only 7 matches in...
Nissan, Honda Confirm Collaboration Discussion, Denies Merger Talk.
Japanese automakers Nissan Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. confirmed Wednesday that they are discussing closer collaboration but denied reports they have decided on a merger.Nissan’s share price soared more than 22% in Tokyo after reports citing unnamed sources said it might merge with Honda to form the world’s third-largest automaking group. Honda’s share price fell as much as 3%.The reports said that Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors Corp. was included in the talks.All three Japanese automakers announced in August that they planned to share components for electric vehicles like batteries and jointly research software for autonomous driving to adapt better to...
Wisconsin Community Members in Disbelief, Held Candle Night for School Shooting Victims
Community members in Wisconsin continued to wrestle with grief and called for change in the aftermath of a school shooting that killed a teacher and a student and wounded six others.Several hundred people gathered outside the Wisconsin State Capitol for a vigil Tuesday night to honor those slain at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison the day before, with some passing candles to each other and standing close against the winter chill.Among those in attendance was Naomi Allen, 16, who was in a nearby classroom Monday when a 15-year-old girl attacked people in a study hall before fatally shooting herself.“It’s doesn’t matter...
Female Teenager of A Christian School Killed Teacher, Student, Wounded Others in A Wisconsin Shooting.
A 15-year-old student of Abundant Life Christian School identified as Natalie Rupnow, killed a teacher and another teenager with a handgun in Wisconsin.Madison Police chief Shon Barnes at a press conference on Monday night revealed that the female student also wounded six others, including two students who were in critical condition.A teacher and three students had been taken to a hospital with less serious injuries, and two of them had been released by Monday evening.“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. … We need to figure out and try to piece...
“My Departure From Syria Was Neither Planned Nor Did It Occur During The Final Hours Of The Battles.” — Ousted Syrian Leader Assad
Bashar al-Assad, ousted Syrian dictator planned to keep fighting rebel forces in the country before Russia evacuated him, according to a statement attributed to him released Monday.Assad on his telegram account stated: “My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles.”He disclosed that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of Dec. 8 — the day the rebels entered Syria’s capital.The 59-year-old dictator said that as rebel forces swept through the city, he moved north to Lattakia in coordination with Russian allies “to oversee combat operations.” It was at the nearby...
Ukraine’s Security Service Claims Assassination of Russian General Sanctioned For Chemical Weapons Use.
Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility Tuesday for killing the head of Russia’s chemical, radiological and biological weapons unit, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov.The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) was behind the detonation of an explosive device planted in a scooter next to the entrance of an apartment building in Moscow, according to a Ukrainian source briefed on the matter who was granted anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about sensitive operations.The blast on Tuesday morning killed Kirillov and his assistant, who was not identified, according to Russian officials.Russian officials did not immediately respond to Ukraine’s claim of responsibility for the...