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China says US arms sales to Taiwan are turning the island into a ‘powder keg’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s defense ministry said Thursday that the U.S. should stop interfering in both Taiwan and the South China Sea, saying U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are making the situation more dangerous.Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party is “turning Taiwan into a weapons depot and a powder keg,” said Senior Col. Wu Qian, the defense ministry’s top spokesperson.He spoke less than two months ahead of a presidential election in which Taiwan voters will choose between the ruling party, which favors a stronger defense and close ties to the U.S., and opposition parties that advocate improving ties with China as the best way to reduce tensions.“Taiwan’s security depends on the peaceful development of cross-strait relations instead of a few pieces of U.S.-made weapons,” Wu said at a monthly news conference. The 160-kilometer (100-mile) -wide Taiwan Strait runs between Taiwan and China’s east coast.China claims the self-governing island as its territory an...

A Pakistani province aims to deport 10,000 Afghans a day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani province is setting targets for police to arrest and deport hundreds of thousands of Afghans who are in the country illegally, officials said Thursday. The measure is part of a nationwide crackdown following a sharp decline in the expulsion of Afghans living in Pakistan without legal permission. Near the Chaman border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, local residents were protesting against new travel visa requirements aimed at cutting down on illegal immigration that have disrupted traffic in the area.Some of those targeted for deportation had apparently gone to remote areas in Pakistan to avoid arrest, authorities said. “Instructions have gone to police to arrest Afghans living in Pakistan illegally,” said Jan Achakzai, spokesperson for the government in southwestern Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. He said authorities have been asked to deport 10,000 Afghans a day.Achakzai made his comment days after authorities at the two key northwes...

CIBC reports Q4 profit up from year ago, raises quarterly dividend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

TORONTO — CIBC reported its fourth-quarter profit rose compared with a year ago and raised its dividend.The bank says it will now pay a quarterly dividend of 90 cents per share, up from 87 cents per share.The increased payment to shareholders came as CIBC said it earned $1.48 billion or $1.53 per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 31 compared with a profit of nearly $1.19 billion or $1.26 per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue totalled $5.84 billion for the quarter, up from nearly $5.39 billion a year earlier, while the bank’s provision for credit losses amounted to $541 million, up from $436 million in the same quarter last year.On an adjusted basis, CIBC said it earned $1.57 per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of $1.39 per diluted share a year earlier.Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of $1.53 per share, based on estimates compiled by financial markets data firm Refinitiv.This report by The Canadian Press was first pu...

Germany arrests French woman who allegedly committed war crimes after joining IS in Syria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities said Thursday they had arrested a French woman who allegedly committed war crimes is Syria after joining the Islamic State extremist group.Germany’s federal prosecutor said the woman, who was only identified as Samra N. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested Tuesday in the western city of Trier.The woman is suspected of having participated as a member of two foreign terrorist organizations as a teenager, the prosecutor’s statement said.She allegedly traveled to Syria in September 2013, where she first joined Jabhat al-Nusra and married one of the group’s fighters according to Islamic rites. In November 2013, the couple joined the Islamic State extremist group.While in Syria, N. allegedly tried to persuade people living in Germany to also go to Syria to become a member of Jabhat al-Nusra. She also temporarily took in a woman who had been persuaded to leave the country in this way. The suspect ran the household for her husban...

YouTube Canada reveals top content creators, trending videos of 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

What do a self-taught contortionist, a gamer, a chef, a comedian and a parkour expert all have in common?They were all named the top Canadian content creators in YouTube’s year-end report released on Thursday morning.Despite their seemingly disparate disciplines, Head of Communications for YouTube Canada, Zaitoon Murji, says the top creators all possess a spirited approach to sharing their passions.“I think the recipe (for YouTube success) is truly being able to take your passion or your expertise and connect with viewers on a personal level,” Murji told CityNews.“The top Canadian creators this year were able to do that, whether it was their passion in cooking or parkour or gaming, they’ve been able to build a content business on something that they are extremely passionate about and that’s something that viewers are able to connect with.”Top Canadian creatorsAnna McNultyCorey TongeIron Chef DadKallmekrisMatt LaroseTop breakout creatorsCorey...

Biden administration proposes biggest changes to lead pipe rules in more than three decades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

Most U.S. cities would have to replace lead water pipes within 10 years under strict new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency as the Biden administration moves to reduce lead in drinking water and prevent public health crises like the ones in Flint, Michigan and Washington, D.C.Millions of people consume drinking water from lead pipes and the agency said tighter standards would improve IQ scores in children and reduce high blood pressure and heart disease in adults. It is the strongest overhaul of lead rules in more than three decades, and will cost billions of dollars. Pulling it off will require overcoming enormous practical and financial obstacles.“These improvements ensure that in a not too distant future, there will never be another city and another child poisoned by their pipes,” said Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and clean water advocate.The Biden administration has previously said it wants all of the nation’s roughly 9 million lead pipes to be removed, ...

Inflation in Europe falls to 2.4% as interest rates pack a punch. But the economy has stalled

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Europeans again saw some relief as inflation dropped more than expected to 2.4% in November, the lowest in more than two years, as plummeting energy costs have eased a cost-of-living crisis but higher interest rates squeeze the economy’s ability to grow.Inflation for the 20 countries using the euro currency fell from an annual 2.9% in October, according to numbers released Thursday by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency. It’s a far cry from the peak of 10.6% in October 2022 as an energy crisis left Europe’s households and businesses struggling to make ends meet.The new figure is close to the European Central Bank’s inflation target of 2% following a rapid series of interest rate hikes dating to summer 2022. But the tradeoff is stalled economic growth.Much-watched core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, fell beyond analysts’ predictions — to 3.6% this month from 4.2% in October. It raises expectation...

WATCH: Underwater video shows stuck Navy plane's tires touching coral reef

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — Tires from a large airplane that's been stuck in a Hawaii bay for more than a week are resting on parts of a reef, according to video the U.S. Navy released Wednesday as it figures out a plan to remove the aircraft.There were no injuries to the nine people who were on board when the plane landed Nov. 20 in shallow water just offshore of Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Honolulu. The Navy is investigating what caused the plane to overshoot a runway.In this image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy, Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU-1) conduct an underwater survey of the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. The U.S. Navy said the underwater footage shows two points where the large plane is touching coral in the Hawaii bay. It's been more than a week since the Navy plane overshot a runway and landed in shallow water j...

Lights tested ahead of Trail of Lights opening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Organizers at the Trail of Lights tested out the bulbs at the trail at Zilker Park on Wednesday. They said the lights worked. The holiday display runs from Dec. 8 to Dec. 23. KXAN's Britt Moreno will emcee the opening ceremony on Dec. 8. Trail of Lights makes national list of 25 best Christmas light displays The following nights are free admission from 7 to 10 p.m.: Dec. 8Dec. 10Dec. 12Dec. 13Dec. 14Dec. 15Dec. 19Here's a link for tickets and times. Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Austin Trail of Lights Shuttles will operate from two locations:Republic Square Park at 422 Guadalupe St. Toney Burger Event Center on 3200 Jones Rd.Shuttles will operate on the following nights: Dec. 8Dec. 9Dec. 15Dec. 16Dec. 17Dec. 19Dec. 20Dec. 21Dec. 22Dec. 23

UT Austin launches 'Longhorn Lights'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The University of Texas at Austin launched a burnt orange and white holiday light show along the Drag Wednesday night. The university said everyone is invited to drive or walk along the light display along Guadalupe Street, between 21st and 24th Streets, called Longhorn Lights. Longhorn-themed lights show to dazzle the Drag this holiday season "UT takes our role in the City of the Austin very seriously and we've benefiting from that and we try to do what we can to give back," UT President Jay Hartzell said.Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)The display will run ...