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China doesn’t want a trade war with the US but will retaliate against further curbs, ambassador says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

China does not want a trade war with the United States but will retaliate against any further U.S. restrictions on technology and trade, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. said.Ambassador Xie Feng criticized U.S. curbs on the sale of microchips and chipmaking equipment to China that were imposed last year by the Biden administration. Beijing has described the measure as part of an effort to “contain” China.“China does not shy away from competition, but the definition of competition by the U.S. side I think is not fair,” Xie said Wednesday at the Aspen Security Forum, a security and foreign policy conference in Aspen, Colorado. “The United States is trying to win by keeping China out,” he said, referring to measures to curb U.S. technology sales to Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei over security concerns.“This is like restricting the other side to wear outdated swimwear in a swimming contest while you yourself (are) wearing a Speedo,” he said.China earlier this month imposed ex...

Man in 20s dead in shooting at townhouse complex in Etobicoke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

A man in his 20s is dead following a late night shooting in north Etobicoke.Emergency crews were called to a townhouse complex on Orpington Crescent, in the area of Kipling Avenue and Albion Road, around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday.Paramedics tell CityNews a man in his 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.There is no word on any suspect information.Orpington Crescent is closed in both directions at Kendleton Drive for the investigation.

2 suicide bombers in Pakistan attack police and government compound, killing 2 and injuring 15

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two suicide bombers attacked a sprawling compound housing a police station and government offices in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least two police officers and wounding 15 other people, police and rescue officials said.The attack occurred in the Bara neighborhood in northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat said. Rescuers said part of the compound collapsed after the bombing, burying a police officer whose body was later retrieved.The explosive vest on one of the suicide bombers detonated when police opened fire after coming under attack, Hayat said.Gunshots were heard after the bombing, said Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the provincial emergency service, and an exchange of gunfire followed. The wounded people included police officers and civilians, officials said.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack. In a statement, he praised the police officers, saying they “thwarted the evil intentions of t...

Pop star Shakira is to face a second tax probe from Spain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Pop star Shakira is facing more trouble from Spain’s tax office after a court near Barcelona said Thursday that it had agreed to open an investigation into a second case of alleged tax fraud by the Colombian singer.Shakira is already set to face trial at a date to be determined for allegedly failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. The entertainer has denied any wrongdoing.Now, a Spanish judge has agreed with state prosecutors to probe two possible cases of tax fraud by Shakira from 2018. The court said it had no information on how much money was in question.Both cases are being handled by a court in the town of Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona.The first case that is set to go to trial hinges on where Shakira lived during 2012-14. Prosecutors in Barcelona have alleged the Grammy winner spent more than half of that period in Spain and should have paid taxes in the country, even though her official...

Biden pushes a strong role for unions in tech jobs, even as potential strikes are on the horizon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is courting unions as a cornerstone of the country’s economic future with a speech at a Philadelphia shipyard on Thursday — just as some major unions are weighing strikes that could disrupt the growth he wants to campaign on in 2024.Tensions are rising between unions and companies about a rapidly evolving economy in which artificial intelligence, clean energy and e-commerce are rewriting some of the basic rules of work. Biden is trying to allay those concerns by saying unions should be part of that future. But the Democratic president also knows from past experience that a strike could harm his reelection chances.Biden has long called on businesses to hire unionized workers, saying that the premium paid will lead to higher quality work. But companies seem reluctant to meet unions’ terms in separate contract talks with script writers, actors, autoworkers and UPS employees. In a speech last month about his economic vision, Biden recall...

A Croatian firefighter has died in a storm that swept the Balkans, bringing the toll to 6 dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A Croatian firefighter has died during a deadly storm that swept the Balkans after a heatwave, brining the death toll to six, officials said Thursday.Emergency services in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia scrambled Thursday to restore electricity and clear the debris left over after Wednesday’s chaos.Meteorologists said the storm was extremely powerful as it was formed after a string of very hot days. Experts say extreme weather conditions are likely fueled by climate change.Elsewhere in Europe, a continuing heat wave caused wildfires and public health warnings. Throughout the Balkan region, authorities reported hundreds of injured, including some seriously, from fallen trees, roof parts or other object blown off by the swirling winds.The firefighter in the eastern Croatian town of Tovarnik died “tragically’ during the storm, the his unit said, revealing no other details.Three more people died on Wednesday in Croatia, one in Slovenia and ...

Didn’t hit the Powerball jackpot? Your ticket may still be a winner. Here’s how

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — They say all good things must come to an end, and that's especially true for the Powerball jackpot, which surpassed $1 billion before being won last night. If your ticket didn't win the jackpot, don't throw it away just yet — it might still have won you some money.While everyone plays for the top prize, there are eight other ways in which you can win while playing Powerball. In fact, your chances of winning any prize are 1 in 24.87.The smallest prize available is $4. To win this, you need to match the red Powerball number, or match one white ball number and the Powerball number. If you opted into Power Play when buying your ticket, your prize could grow to as much as $40. Where have the most Powerball, Mega Millions jackpot tickets been sold? A Power Play, which costs an extra $1 per play, can increase your non-jackpot prize by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. The multiplier is randomly selected before each drawing, and the 10X multiplier is only available when the jackpot is ...

Single ticket in California wins $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

LOS ANGELES (NEXSTAR) - A winning ticket has been sold in California for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion, the sixth largest in U.S. history and the 3rd largest in the history of the game.The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were: white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. The California Lottery said on Twitter that the winning ticket was sold in Los Angeles at Las Palmitas Mini Market. Didn’t hit the Powerball jackpot? Your ticket may still be a winner. Here’s how Thirty-six $1 million-winning tickets and three $2 million einning tickets were sold. The $2 million winners were sold in Florida, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The $1 million winners were sold in:California: 7Connecticut: 1Florida: 4 Illinois: 1Indiana: 1Kentucky: 1Massachusetts: 3Maryland: 2Missouri: 1New Hampshire: 1New Jersey: 2New York: 5Ohio: 1Texas: 4Wisonsin: 1West Virginia: 1Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier estimate of $1 billion to ...

Macron decides to keep French PM in role despite pension unrest and riots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to keep Elisabeth Borne (pictured) in her role as prime minister, an official at the president's office said on Monday (17 July), rejecting pressure to give a new direction to his government after a tumultuous few months.Months of unrest and strikes over Macron's pension reform in the spring as well as five days of riots and looting in French cities earlier this month had fuelled calls among political opponents and some government insiders for a reshuffle.But with no clear candidate to replace Borne, a former technocrat who critics say lacks charisma but supporters say has delivered on many of Macron's campaign pledges already, the French leader decided to keep her at the helm of cabinet."To ensure stability and in-depth work, the president has decided to maintain the prime minister," Macron's office said.The President will also "by the end of the week" provide clues about his plans for the coming months, the official said.French media sa...

Address by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the First Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:17 GMT

BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM! Distinguished heads of delegations! Distinguished Secretary-General!I am indeed pleased to see you all today at the First Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries.We have been looking forward to our historical meeting in the beautiful and unique Jeddah, the symbolic gateway to the holy city of Mecca.I echo the words of gratitude expressed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and ‏His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for initiating this high-profile event and excellent arrangements.Dear participants of the summit!The peoples of Central Asia and the Gulf Region have long been linked by close trade relations, common values and traditions, and most importantly, our sacred religion of Islam.We recall with great pride the incomparable contribution of our great intellectuals and scholars in the development of historical relations b...