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UK resists calls to label China a threat following claims a Beijing spy worked in Parliament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The British government on Monday resisted calls to label China a threat to the U.K. following the revelation that a researcher in Parliament was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying for Beijing.U.K. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said Britain should avoid calling China a “foe” or using language that could “escalate” tensions.“China is a country that we do a lot of business with,” Badenoch told Sky News. “China is a country that is significant in terms of world economics. It sits on the U.N. Security Council. We certainly should not be describing China as a foe, but we can describe it as a challenge.”Tensions between Britain and China have risen in recent years over accusations of economic subterfuge, human rights abuses and Beijing’s crackdown on civil liberties in the former British colony of Hong Kong.Britain’s governing Conservatives are divided on how tough a line to take and on how much access Chinese firms should have to the U.K. economy. More hawk...

Europe’s economic outlook falls as high prices plague consumer spending

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Union has lowered its forecast for economic growth this year and next, saying inflation is taking a heavy toll on people’s willingness to spend in shops — while higher interest rates are sharply restricting the credit needed for investment and purchases. The revised forecast Monday from the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, comes as fears of recession grow and as the European Central Bank faces a key decision this week on whether to keep raising rates, which are aimed at getting inflation under control.The 20 countries that use the euro currency are expected to see growth of 0.8% this year instead of 1.1% projected in the spring forecast, the commission said. For next year, growth expectations were lowered to 1.3% from 1.6%.“Weakness in domestic demand, in particular consumption, shows that high and still increasing consumer prices for most goods and services are taking a heavier toll than expected,” a commission st...

India and Saudi Arabia agree to expand economic and security ties after the G20 summit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India and Saudi Arabia agreed Monday to expand trade and security ties, two days after their leaders and others attending a Group of 20 summit announced a new railways and port corridor deal that will link India, Middle East and Europe.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in New Delhi and chaired a meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. The two leaders discussed issues ranging from energy security, trade and investment to defense, health care and food security, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.The India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council, established in 2019, serves as a platform between the two countries to increase ties.During last week’s G20 summit, India, Saudi Arabia, the United States, the European Union and other countries announced an ambitious rail and shipping corridor that will link India with the Middle East and Europe in a bid to stren...

Trudeau expected to leave India Tuesday morning after plane breaks down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

NEW DELHI — The Canadian Armed Forces sent a plane yesterday evening to pick up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is stranded in India after the plane he arrived on was grounded because of technical issues. A press secretary for the prime minister’s office says Trudeau is expected to leave New Delhi Tuesday morning, local time. Mohammad Hussain says they’ll keep the public updated as the situation remains fluid. The lockdown in New Delhi lifted at midnight following the G20 leaders’ summit, but Trudeau and his Canadian delegation remain after his plane broke down. The prime minister’s office says a component on the plane has to be replaced, with the problem being discovered during the pre-flight check as the Canadian delegation was waiting at the airport to board the flight. The prime minister’s office says Trudeau wants to be at the Liberal caucus retreat that starts Wednesday in London, Ont, with the Canadian Armed Forces doing their best to get the delegation back to...

North Korean train presumably carrying leader Kim Jong Un departed for Russia, South Korea media say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A North Korean train presumably carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has departed for Russia for a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean media said Monday.Citing unidentified South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday.The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports. Japan’s Kyodo news agency cited Russian officials as saying that Kim was possibly heading for Russia in his personal train. South Korea’s Presidential Office, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service didn’t immediately confirm those details.U.S. officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confron...

Lee remains a major hurricnane, unleashes heavy waves on northern Caribbean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (WFLA) — Hurricane Lee barreled over open waters Monday morning just northeast of the Caribbean, unleashing heavy swell on several islands as it regained some strength and expanded in size.The Category 3 storm is not forecast to make landfall and is expected to stay over open waters through Friday. Late Sunday, it was centered about 340 miles north of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 120 mph and it was moving northwest at 7 mph.(WFLA)Last week, Lee strengthened from a Category 1 storm to a Category 5 storm in just one day.“We had the perfection conditions for a hurricane: warm waters and hardly any wind shear,” said Lee Ingles, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan.By Saturday night, it had slowed to a Category 2 hurricane, but began restrengthening Sunday. Lee is expected to strengthen further in upcoming days and then weaken again, the U.S. the National Hurricane Center said.).Breaking waves o...

Ravena downs Catskill 47-6 in season opener

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

RAVENA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ravena dominated in its week 1 game against Catskill 47-6. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! The offense showed its dominance scoring five touchdowns in the first quarter providing a lot of cushion that proved to be too much for Catskill to overcome. The defense also shined early in the game. That unit scored on a pic six by Mason Carkner to go up 14-6. When the second half came around the defense kept Catskill scoreless and scored another touchdown to seal the win.

Shen uses huge first half to push past Niskayuna

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Shenendehowa head football coach Brian Clawson said Wednesday he was excited to see how his team would come out in its' season opener with Niskayuna. It's safe to say Clawson liked what he saw out of his guys Saturday afternoon, as the Plainsmen dropped 28 first-half points, en route to a 28-12 victory. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! "I mean, the first half was awesome," said Clawson. "Obviously the opening kickoff, you know, they scored on that. So, we really responded to adversity right there. Our offense was clicking on all cylinders. Our defense kind of held them in check in that first half. And especially, if you look at where they (Niskayuna) started the ball, they were inside their own territory for the whole first half."Clawson and the Plainsmen, runners-up in Class AA each of the last two seasons, knew they'd be in for a battle, even with the Silver Warriors coming in from Class A. Nisky, the reigning...

Shaker ignites in second half to power past Averill Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It was a tale of two halves between the Averill Park and Shaker football teams Saturday morning in Latham. After the two sides combined to score nine points through the first two quarters, they erupted for 37 over the final 24 minutes of game action. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! The Blue Bison finished strong, though, in their home opener, scoring 18 unanswered points to close the game and fend off the upset-minded Warriors, winning 30-16.A defensive battle broke out in the opening frame; the score remained 0-0 at the conclusion of the quarter, but Shaker was set up with favorable field position to start the second stanza after a fumble recovery by Rhys Lewis deep in A-P territory.Blue Bison quarterback Marcus Snipes turned that into six points, connecting with Matt Bennett on a fourth down and long situation for a 15-yard TD strike. Bennett managed to just get his foot down in the back of the end zone for an acro...

Ahead of SOTEU, Commission highlights its main actions of the past year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:46 GMT

Ahead of President von der Leyen's State of the Union address on 13 September 2023, the Commission has released an overview of its work and achievements over the past year.This comprehensive publication describes the EU's actions in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and our efforts to cut the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels, as well as the progress on other Commission's political priorities.It details the Commission's actions taken to strengthen the EU's prosperity and resilience through NextGenerationEU and RePowerEU, to accelerating the implementation of the European Green Deal and realizing Europe's digital decade.It also contains an overview of the EU's engagement with partners across the world, and its trade agenda in particular, and highlights the initiatives taken to strengthen the pillars of European democracy and build a Union of equality.All the latest information about the 2023 State of the Union address can be found on the dedicated SOTEU web...