Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
AP-AS-CHINA-TAIWAN-ELECTION
China says world should stick to 'One China' after Tsai win
BEIJING (AP) — China says that the international community should abide by the idea that there is only one China, ruled by the Communist Party, after Taiwan reelected its democratic leader. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a Sunday statement that China hopes the international community will "support the just cause of Chinese people to oppose secessionist activities for 'Taiwan independence' and realize national reunification." Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party won in a landslide Saturday against pro-Beijing Nationalist Party candidate Han Kuo-yu. Her victory speech warned China not to threaten force against the self-governed island.
AP-US-SEVERE-STORMS
Storms sweep southern US, Midwest as death toll rises to 11
HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities blame severe storms sweeping across southern portions of the U.S. and into the Midwest for the deaths of at least 11 people, including two first responders. High winds, tornadoes and unrelenting rain have battered large swaths of the country. Officials say a police officer and a firefighter in Lubbock, Texas, were killed Saturday after being hit by a vehicle at the scene of a traffic accident. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power from Texas to Ohio, sections of flooded highways were closed in Oklahoma and Arkansas and hundreds of flights were canceled at Chicago's airports.
IRAN-PLANE CRASH-THE LATEST
The Latest: Trump expresses support for 'brave' Iranians
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump has called on the Iranian regime to allow human rights groups to monitor protests in the Islamic Republic in the aftermath of the regime acknowledging that it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner earlier this week. Trump expressed his support of the “brave, long-suffering people” of Iran on Saturday via Twitter after hundreds gathered at universities in Tehran to protest the government’s belated acknowledgement of errantly shooting down the plan, killing all 176 passengers aboard. The protesters demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and tried. Police broke up the demonstrations.
ELECTION 2020-NEVADA
Democratic 2020 candidates vie for unions, Latinos in Nevada
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democratic presidential candidates are in Nevada seeking to build relationships with Latino voters and win the coveted endorsement of a powerful casino workers union. Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg pitched themselves Saturday morning to Culinary Union workers, who prize their robust health plans. Both Klobuchar and Buttigieg are running as Midwestern moderates who have warned against liberal plans to move the U.S. to a government-run health insurance system. Later Saturday, Joe Biden spoke to Latinos at a high school in north Las Vegas and assured them that Latinos would have a prominent role in his Cabinet.
AP-AS-AUSTRALIA-WILDFIRES
Firefighter dies as Australia works on long-term battle plan
BURRAGATE, Australia (AP) — A firefighter has been killed by a falling tree while battling the Australian wildfire crisis and the prime minister says his government is adapting and building resilience to the fire danger posed by climate change. The tragedy brings the death toll to at least 27 people in a crisis that has destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched an area larger than the U.S. state of Indiana since September. Four of the casualties are firefighters. The crisis has brought accusations that Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative government needs to take more action to counter climate change. Morrison says his government is developing a disaster risk reduction framework dealing with wildfires, cyclones, floods and drought.
AP-LT-MEXICO-KILLINGS-OF-WOMEN-RED-SHOES
In Mexican capital, red shoes to protest killings of women
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Activists have set hundreds of pairs of painted-red women’s shoes on Mexico City's main square to call attention to the killings of women and girls across the country. Stiletto heels, clogs, even tiny, child-size Crocs. Visual artist Elina Chauvet first realized the piece of performance-protest art in 2009 after her sister was killed by her husband in a domestic violence case. Chauvet says the shoes are about “visualizing absence” and the color red symbolizes both “the blood spilled” and love. On average, 10 women and girls are murdered each day in Mexico. Fewer than 10 percent of those are ever solved.
PUERTO RICO-EARTHQUAKE
Magnitude 5.9 shock again rocks quake-stunned Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A magnitude 5.9 quake has shaken Puerto Rico, causing millions of dollars in further damage along the island’s southern coast, where previous recent quakes have toppled homes and schools. The U.S. Geological Survey says Saturday's quake quake hit 8 miles (13 kilometers) southeast of Guanica at a shallow depth of 3 miles (5 kilometers). Puerto Rico's Electric Power Authority said outages were reported across much of southern Puerto Rico and crews were assessing possible damage at power plants. There are no reports of death or injury, but the governor says nearly 600 buildings were affected.
TV-GABRIELLE UNION
NBC: Change will come to 'America's Got Talent' if needed
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — NBC says it's taking its investigation into Gabrielle Union’s complaints about “America’s Got Talent” very seriously. NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy said Saturday an inquiry that began in December could be completed by the end of January. The executive said he's confident new practices will be put in place if needed. Union, whose movies roles include “Bring It On,” was a judge for one season on “America's Got Talent.” She and another freshman judge, Julianne Hough, weren't asked to return. Union reportedly believes she was fired because she had asked NBC and producers to look into conduct on the set, including racist jokes and remarks.
AP-US-SUPERDOME-SHOOTING
Overnight shooting near Superdome, no injuries reported
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Two people trying to enter an unauthorized area near the Superdome were involved in a shootout with the venue's security officers before fleeing. New Orleans police said Saturday that Superdome security found the two individuals around 3 a.m. and told them to leave the area. At least one person fired a gun that struck a car windshield. The security officials fired back before the pair ran away. Authorities said no one was injured during the shootout. Security at the venue is extremely tight in light of President Donald Trump's plans to attend the College Football Playoff Championship game on Monday between No. 1 LSU and No. 3 Clemson. Events in the Superdome start Monday evening.
AP-US-HANUKKAH-STABBINGS
Pistol permit applications rise in NY community after attack
MONSEY, N.Y. (AP) — The number of people applying for handgun permits has spiked in a New York community shaken last month by a machete attack that injured five men during a Hanukkah celebration. The Journal News reports 73 pistol permit applications have been filed with the Rockland County Clerk's Office since the Dec. 28 attack at a rabbi's home in Monsey, a hamlet northwest of New York City. That compares with 51 applications the office received during the eight weeks prior to the stabbing. An application is the first step in a months-long process that includes fingerprinting, a background check and firearms training.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
