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Biden, Xi meeting is aimed at getting relationship back on better footing, but tough issues loom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping head into their big meeting at a country estate on Wednesday hoping to stabilize U.S.-China relations after a period of tumult, but the U.S. president also is prepared to confront his counterpart on difficult issues such as trade, Beijing’s burgeoning relationship with Iran and human rights concerns.The two leaders, who will meet on the sidelines of a summit of Asian-Pacific leaders, last spoke a year ago. Since then, already fraught ties between the two economic superpowers have been further strained by the U.S. downing of a Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the continental U.S. and over differences on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, China’s hacking of a Biden official’s emails and other incidents.The two leaders are in California for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, but will hold their one-on-one talks at Filoli Estate, a country house and museum about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Fran...

UK government meets pledge to halve inflation this year as rate falls to 2-year low of 4.6%

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Inflation in the U.K. dropped sharply in October to its lowest level in two years, largely because last year’s steep rise in domestic energy bills following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dropped out of the annual comparison, official figures showed Wednesday.The Office for National Statistics said consumer prices in the year to October were 4.6% higher than the year before, much lower than the 6.7% recorded in the previous month.The decline means Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to halve inflation this year has been met. Sunak made the pledge soon after becoming prime minister when inflation was more than 10%.“I did that because it is, without a doubt, the best way to ease the cost of living and give families financial security,” he said. “Today, we have delivered on that pledge.”Meeting the pledge — one of five set out by Sunak on taking office — will provide some comfort to his Conservative government, which is trailing the main opposition Labour ...

EU and Neighbourhood countries commit to enhanced fisheries management control in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

Among the main measures, the EU and neighbouring countries agreed within the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) to launch new tools to keep track of the activities of all fleets fishing in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and sharing the various multiannual management plans (MAPs). The new mechanism will follow up on cases of non-compliance through appropriate and proportionate measures. To consolidate joint efforts in the Mediterranean and make sure the measures deliver on the ground, a European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) patrol vessel will be deployed permanently still this year.At the 46th annual meeting of the GFCM, which took place between 6-10 November in Split, the EU and neighbouring countries agreed to reinforce the level playing field in control and management of fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. This is a key step in ensuring that all operators involved in fisheries follow the same standards, based on the principles of the ...

Dear Abby: The co-worker who was supposed to leave is still here, and things are not getting better

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I am a 20-year-old gay man. I recently started a new job in which I thought I’d be replacing an aging co-worker who is supposed to be retiring.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I don’t know what’s in my husband’s trailer, but I want it gone Advice | Dear Abby: I brought up my moral issue with the restaurant, and this man exploded at me Advice | Dear Abby: These men hijacked our sentimental lunch. Am I wrong to be upset? Advice | Dear Abby: The bride is my best friend, but I’m not comfortable with her plan Advice | Dear Abby: At 3 a.m. there were two strange girls in my house Every time I have mentioned anything to her about her retiring, she has corrected me, saying she’s only going to cut back to a day or two a week. When I was hired, I was told she’d be gone in a month.I’m uncomfortable because she is politically conservative, deeply religiou...

Single family residence in Palo Alto sells for $3 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

750 Wildwood Lane – Google Street ViewA house located in the 700 block of Wildwood Lane in Palo Alto has new owners. The 1,496-square-foot property, built in 1950, was sold on Oct. 30, 2023, for $3,000,000, or $2,005 per square foot. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and two baths. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. Additionally, the home is equipped with a one-car garage.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:On Channing Avenue, Palo Alto, in January 2023, a 2,468-square-foot home was sold for $3,100,000, a price per square foot of $1,256. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,779-square-foot home on the 2000 block of Channing Avenue in Palo Alto sold in August 2022, for $3,570,000, a price per square foot of $1,285. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.In July 2022, a 1,424-square-foot home on Channing Avenue in Palo Alto sold for $3,370,000, a price per square foot of $2,367. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathroo...

Dubai International Airport, world’s busiest, on track to beat 2019 figures before virus lockdowns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Passenger numbers at Dubai International Airport this year will eclipse the passenger figures for 2019, showing the strong rebound in travel after the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns that grounded aircraft worldwide, a top official said Wednesday. The airport, the world’s busiest for international travel and home of the long-haul carrier Emirates, has had 64.5 million passengers pass through its cavernous concourses through the third quarter of this year. That puts it on track to reach 86.8 million passengers for the full year, which would exceed its 2019 figure of 86.3 million passengers. It had 66 million passengers last year.The airport’s busiest year was 2018, when it had 89.1 million passengers.“So for the end of the year, current predictions, 86.8 million, a little bit shy of the pre-pandemic numbers,” Griffiths told The Associated Press in an interview at the Dubai Air Show. “But actually, hopefully, by the end of ...

Towns scores 33, sends Timberwolves past Warriors after early ejections in tourney game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When the NBA created the In-Season Tournament as a way to inject playoff-level intensity into regular-season games, the scuffle between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves that resulted in three early ejections on Tuesday night may not have been what the league had in mind.With the game still scoreless and not yet two minutes old, Golden State’s Draymond Green was ejected after putting Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert in a headlock. Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, who got into a shoving match that resulted in Thompson’s jersey being ripped, were also tossed.Once the dust settled, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 33 points, sending Minnesota to a 104-101 tournament victory over Golden State. The Wolves have won seven straight games for their longest win streak since 2004.“We just found a way to win ugly in a game that was pretty ugly,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “All credit to (the Warriors), those guys, they wer...

McCoy helps Hawaii open season with 82-66 victory over Hawaii Hilo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Justin McCoy scored 15 points and Hawaii opened its season with an 82-66 victory over Hawaii Hilo on Tuesday night.McCoy made 6 of 11 shots with three 3-pointers for the Rainbow Warriors, adding six rebounds. Freshman Tom Beattie had 12 points and four rebounds off the bench. Noel Coleman scored 10.Charles Elzie III scored a career-high 23 to lead the Vulcans. He sank 8 of 15 shots with three 3-pointers. Kalique Mitchell pitched in with 15 points and nine rebounds. Amiri Crowder had 11 points off the bench on 5-for-7 shooting with a 3-pointer.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource

Verhaeghe, Stenlund score 3rd period goals as Panthers beat Sharks 5-3

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe and Kevin Stenlund scored 1:03 apart in the third period and the Florida Panthers rallied past the San Jose Sharks 5-3 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win.Sam Reinhart scored his 12th goal, tied for second-most in the NHL behind Toronto’s Austin Matthews and Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor, who lead the league with 13. Reinhart also added an assist for his fifth straight multi-point game.Ryan Lomberg and Aleksander Barkov also scored for Florida, which beat San Jose for the 10th consecutive time.Matthew Tkachuk had two assists to extend his point streak to seven games.“I think everyone’s stepping up,” Verhaeghe said. “We have a lot of guys in and out of the lineup. Everyone’s playing well. … Every win is kind of a total team win. Everyone is contributing in a different way.”Tomas Hertl and Luke Kunin scored 1:10 apart earlier in the third to give San Jose a 3-2 lead. Hertl’s goal was the 206th of his career, tying him with ...

Hands off our Camembert! France kicks up a stink over draft EU recycling law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:24 GMT

Former French President Charles de Gaulle warned years ago: “How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?” Brussels should have listened. French cheesemakers are rallying against a proposed EU recycling law, accusing Brussels of endangering one of the country’s most prized traditional foods. The draft law aims to phase out single-use packaging in favor of recycled materials. But French cheese producers fear the new regulation poses a threat to traditional packaging, such as Camembert’s distinctive wooden box.French media have seized on the cheesemongers’ concerns, accusing the EU of threatening France’s “gastronomic treasures,” saying that certain cheeses would inevitably lose their “geographic indication” seal and warning that up to 2,000 jobs could be affected.French Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurence Boone has joined the chorus of concerned voices, warning Brussels that it risks a PR disast...