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China promotes economic ‘integration’ with Taiwan while militarily threatening the island

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China is promoting new economic opportunities for Taiwanese people while at the same time ramping up military activity around the island it claims as its own.Experts say the “carrots and sticks” approach, which Beijing has employed for years, signals a choice between peaceful “reunification” and military aggression ahead of a Taiwanese presidential election next year.This week, China unveiled a plan for an “integrated development demonstration zone” in its southeastern Fujian province, the closest to self-governed, democratic Taiwan. Taipei strongly rejects China’s sovereignty claims.As part of the plan, Beijing is encouraging Taiwanese companies to list on Chinese stock exchanges and is promising better conditions for Taiwanese investors and a more “relaxed” environment for travel, according to a statement Tuesday by the Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council, China’s Cabinet.“The goal is to build an integrated development demonstration zone...

France sends the army to ensure water to drought-stricken Indian Ocean island of Mayotte

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France is sending military forces to distribute water on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which is facing an unprecedented water crisis prompted by the island cluster’s most severe drought in decades.Troops with the French Foreign Legion and French navy based in the region will work with local authorities to ensure water supplies to local populations, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.Authorities have ordered water cuts two days out of three on Mayotte, a territory northwest of Madagascar that is the poorest part of France. The water woes come on top of migration tensions around people arriving from the neighboring country of Comoros.Residents protested Saturday outside the Mayotte water management headquarters, carrying banners reading “Mayotte is Thirsty!”, according to local media reports. When the water taps are working, families fill up buckets and tubs as they can, but supplies quickly run low, especially in more remote areas....

World Cup referee Yoshimi Yamashita among first women match officials at Asian Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Referee Yoshimi Yamashita will return to Qatar to make more soccer history at the men’s Asian Cup in January after she worked in the country last year at the men’s World Cup.Yamashita is among five female match officials, including two referees, picked Thursday by the Asian Football Confederation to work in Qatar. The tournament runs form Jan. 12 to Feb. 10.It is the first time the AFC has appointed female match officials for its marquee men’s event.Katherine Jacewicz of Australia was also picked among the referees. The assistants selected are Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi of Japan, and Kim Kyoung Min of South Korea.The 24-team Asian Cup will be played in most of the same stadiums as the men’s World Cup, where Yamashita served as the fourth official for six group games.Yamashita was one of three female referees picked by FIFA for the men’s World Cup. Stephanie Frappert of France made history working the Germany-Costa Rica game in t...

Grocer Empire reports Q1 profit and sales up from year ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

STELLARTON, N.S. — Empire Co. Ltd. says it earned $261.0 million in its latest quarter, up from $187.5 million in the same quarter last year, boosted by the sale of its 56 gas stations in Western Canada to Shell Canada.The grocer, which owns Sobeys and Safeway and other banners, says the profit amounted to $1.03 per share for the quarter ended Aug. 5, up from a profit of 71 cents per share a year earlier.Sales in what was Empire’s first quarter totalled $8.08 billion, up from $7.94 billion in the same quarter last year. Same-store sales were up 3.0 per cent, while same-store sales, excluding fuel, were up 4.1 per cent.On an adjusted basis, Empire says it earned 78 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 71 cents per share a year earlier.The average analyst estimate had been for an adjusted profit of 75 cents per share, based on estimates compiled by financial markets data firm Refinitiv.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14...

Chevron reports LNG outage at Australian plant as strike action escalates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — A Chevron Corp. liquefied natural gas plant in Australia reported a production outage Thursday as workers escalated a strike action against facilities that provide more than 5% of global LNG supplies. The U.S. energy giant said in a statement that it was working to resume full production at its Wheatstone facility “following a fault which has impacted about 25% of LNG production.”“The cause has been identified and restart activities have commenced,” the statement said.Chevron’s Wheatstone and Gorgon plants in Western Australia state account for more than 5% of global LNG supply.Chevron did not link the disruption to an escalation Thursday in the strikes at its Wheatstone and Gorgon LNG plants in Western Australia. Around 500 workers at the two Chevron sites have been taking limited strike actions since Sept. 8 in a dispute over wages and conditions.The Offshore Alliance, a partnership between the Australian Workers’ Union and the Maritime Union of Australia that ...

Thursday Forecast: Mostly sunny, low 70s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

Thursday: Mostly sunny, coolest near the lake, E 5-10. High: 72, Low: 68Thursday Night: Mostly clear, calm, E 0-5. Low: 54Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Friday: Mainly sunny, coolest near the lake, SW 5-10. High: 77, Low: 74

Florida officer hits 13-year-old bicyclist with patrol car, critically injuring her

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - A teenager is in critical condition after being struck by a Tampa, Florida, police cruiser Wednesday.The Tampa Police Department said in a news release that a 13-year-old girl was trying to cross a street on a bicycle when she was hit by the officer at 7:40 p.m. The teenager was knocked off her bike and suffered a head injury and a broken leg. She was listed in critical condition Wednesday night. 2 charged after St. Pete robbery turns into police shootout, PCSO says The teenager was struck approximately 75 feet from the nearest crosswalk, according to TPD. The officer stopped and rendered aid until paramedics arrived, TPD said. "Our thoughts are with the teen cyclist who was injured in this unfortunate incident, and we hope for her full recovery," Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement. "We take all accidents involving our officers seriously."The officer was described as a five-year veteran of the department and "though shaken, was not injured in t...

'60 Minutes' will become 90 minutes for several episodes this fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The iconic stopwatch won't be reset, but for six episodes this fall, “60 Minutes” will become 90 minutes.The CBS newsmagazine is stretching on some Sundays when CBS airs an NFL doubleheader, starting Oct. 8. Often, the show doesn't air until 7:30 p.m. on the East Coast those nights (it usually starts at 7 p.m.).This image released by CBS News shows, from left, Sharyn Alfonsi, L. Jon Wertheim, Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega, Anderson Cooper and Executive Producer Bill Owens, from the CBS news series "60 Minutes." (Jai Lennard/CBS News via AP)The request to Bill Owens, the show's executive producer, came from top CBS executive George Cheeks, and predated the strikes that have paralyzed Hollywood and left networks looking for more content. Owens said he needed to weigh whether the three extra hours across the six episodes would dilute the broadcast.“My job is to protect the place,” he said. “I don't ever want to harm a hair o...

Austin City Council: police department data, EMS labor contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council meets Thursday, Sept. 14. Here's some of what KXAN is watching. EMS labor contractThe Austin Emergency Medical Services Association (AEMSA) has voted to approve a new labor agreement with the City of Austin. The agreement will be voted on by Austin City Council on Thursday.According to Selena Xie, president of AEMSA, members voted 93% in favor of the contract with a majority (65%) of its members voting. EMS union votes in favor of new labor contract, City Council to vote Thursday “The City and AEMSA grew to understand and appreciate their respective priorities over the negotiation process, eventually coming to an agreement that focuses on retention that both believe will begin to address long-standing critical staffing shortages,” the city said in a statement before the union vote.Read more on the EMS contract here. Other previously covered itemsClosing loophole that allows windowless apartment bedroomsCity council considers expediting expansio...

Gophers football vs. North Carolina: Keys to game, how to watch and who has edge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

MINNESOTA at NORTH CAROLINAWhen: 2:30 p.m. CT SaturdayWhere: Kenan StadiumTV: ESPNRadio: KFAN, 100.3 FMWeather: 82 degrees, clear skies, 6 mph east windBetting spread: North Carolina, -7Records: Ranked 20th in the nation, North Carolina is after beating South Carolina 31-17 in Charlotte and edging Appalachian State 40-34 in double overtime. Minnesota is 2-0 after it barely beat Nebraska 13-10 and out-muscled Eastern Michigan 25-6.History: The first matchup between the two programs and its two head coaches — Mack Brown and P.J. Fleck.Key matchup: UNC quarterback Drake Maye vs. Gophers defense. Maye is considered a Heisman Trophy candidate and one of the top five prospects in next year’s NFL draft; he will test a Minnesota defense that has been among the top statistical units in the country for the past few years.Who has the edge?Gophers offense vs. North Carolina defense: Minnesota is the only team in the nation to pass more than 40 times in a game (Nebraska) and rush for more than 5...