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US, China agree to discuss export controls as commerce secretary visits to warm up chilly ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said she and her Chinese counterpart agreed Monday to exchange information on U.S. export controls that frustrate Beijing and set up a group to discuss other commercial issues, but neither side appeared ready to make concessions on disputes that have plunged relations to their lowest level in decades.Raimondo joined American officials including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July who have visited China in hopes of reviving chilly relations. They expressed optimism about improving communication but no progress on conflicts over technology, security, human rights and a lingering tariff war.For its part, Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government wants to revive foreign investor interest in China as it tries to reverse a deepening economic slump.Raimondo said she and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao agreed during a four-hour meeting to launch an “information exchange” on export controls. She said they also will set up a “working group” of of...

Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to become a hurricane and move toward Florida, forecasters say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Idalia intensified early Monday and was expected to become a major hurricane before it reaches Florida’s Gulf coast, the National Hurricane Center said Monday, warning of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds in Florida as soon as late Tuesday. Heavy rainfall in western Cuba could produce flooding and landslides, forecasters said, and hurricane-force winds were expected later Monday.At 8 a.m. EDT Monday, the storm was about 90 miles (150 kilometers) off the western tip of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph). The storm was moving north at 8 mph (13 kph) at the time, the hurricane center said.The center’s update also included a hurricane advisory for the Cuban province of Pinar Del Rio.Forecasters said they expected Idalia to become a hurricane later Monday and a dangerous major hurricane by early Wednesday over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Idalia was expected to move northwa...

UK flights are being delayed and canceled as a ‘technical issue’ hits air traffic control

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Thousands of air travelers faced delays on Monday after Britain’s air traffic control system was hit by a breakdown that slowed takeoffs and landings.Flight control operator National Air Traffic Services said it was experiencing a “technical issue” that could delay flights on Monday, the end of a holiday weekend and one of the busiest travel days of the year.The service said it had “applied traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety” and that engineers were working to find and fix the fault. It said U.K. airspace remained open.It did not give an estimate of how long it would take to fix the problem, or what had caused it, but European air traffic authority Eurocontrol warned of “very high” delays because of a “flight data processing system failure” in the U.K.Scottish airline Loganair said there had been “a network-wide failure of U.K. air traffic control computer systems.”“Although we are hopeful of being able to operate most intra-Scotland flights on th...

French ambassador stays in Niger, defying junta, as Macron defends French policy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France’s ambassador is staying at his post in Niger despite being asked to leave by the ruling junta, speaking out firmly against the coup leaders while insisting that France is not Niger’s enemy.Since ousting Niger’s democratically elected president a month ago, the junta has been exploiting grievances among the population toward former colonial ruler France, and has turned to Russian mercenary group Wagner for help.Macron dismissed concerns that standing up to the junta could be dangerous.“Our policy is the right one. It depends on the courage of President Mohamed Bazoum, the commitment of our diplomats, of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite pressure,” Macron told a gathering of French ambassadors in Paris.French Ambassador Sylvain Itte was asked to leave Niger within 48 hours in a letter Friday from the Nigerien Foreign Ministry that accused him of ignoring an invitation for a meeting with the minis...

Judge to decide if father of man accused in parade shooting will stand trial too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois judge is expected to decide Monday whether the father of the man accused of fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago will stand trial himself for helping his son obtain a gun license three years earlier.Prosecutors charged the father, Robert Crimo Jr., under an unconstitutionally vague law and the whole case should therefore be tossed, his lawyer argued at a hearing earlier this month in Waukegan, north of Highland Park where the 2022 shooting took place. If Lake County Judge George Strickland rejects the defense motion to dismiss, Crimo Jr.’s bench trial would start on Nov. 6.The judge said at that earlier hearing that he’d take three weeks to mull a decision and announce his ruling at Monday’s hearing.Crimo Jr. pleaded not guilty earlier this year to seven counts of reckless conduct — one count for each person killed. Each count carries a maximum three-year prison term. Prosecutors had alleged that he...

Man killed in industrial accident in Brampton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

A man is dead following an industrial accident in Brampton on Monday morning.Emergency crews were called to the area of Orenda Road and Dixie Road around 7:30 a.m.Police say a man was pronounced dead at the scene.The Ministry of Labour has been called in to investigate.This is a developing story. More to come.

At least 6 carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago's North and West sides: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

CHICAGO — At least six people were robbed or carjacked within a two-hour span on the city's North and West sides.According to police, the robberies started around 9:45 p.m. Sunday on the 2200 block of West Hirsch. A man and women told authorities that two males approached them, punched the man multiple times and took their personal belongings.Just minutes later, police said a 67-year-old man and 29-year-old woman were approached by three suspects on the 2000 block of North Hoyne, one of them was armed with a gun. The two victims were robbed and the suspects punched the 67-year-old man multiple times.He was transported to St. Mary's Hospital where he is listed in good condition.Around 9:55 p.m., police said robbers attempted to steal a 35-year-old man's belongings on the 2100 block of North Hoyne. The victim refused to comply, resulting in the suspects' punching the man multiple times.Minutes after 10 p.m., police said suspects stole a woman's white SUV on the 1200 block of North Mil...

Judge to decide if father of man accused in Highland Park parade shooting will stand trial too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois judge is expected to decide Monday whether the father of the man accused of fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park will stand trial himself for helping his son obtain a gun license three years earlier.Prosecutors charged the father, Robert Crimo Jr., under an unconstitutionally vague law and the whole case should therefore be tossed, his lawyer argued at a hearing earlier this month in Waukegan, north of Highland Park where the 2022 shooting took place. If Lake County Judge George Strickland rejects the defense motion to dismiss, Crimo Jr.'s bench trial would start on Nov. 6.The judge said at that earlier hearing that he'd take three weeks to mull a decision and announce his ruling at Monday's hearing.Crimo Jr. pleaded not guilty earlier this year to seven counts of reckless conduct — one count for each person killed. Each count carries a maximum three-year prison term.Prosecutors had alleged that he helped his ...

2 men robbed in West Town: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two men were robbed in the city's West Town neighborhood Monday morning, police said. According to police, two men, 28 and 42 were outside near the 1200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue around 4:53 a.m. when they were approached by three individuals wearing ski masks and armed with handguns. At least 6 carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago’s North and West sides: police Police said the armed individuals took their belongings and fled southbound. There were no injuries reported and there is currently no one in custody at this time. Police are investigating the incident.

Most states in South have banned gender-affirming care for trans youth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:12 GMT

(The Hill) -- Gender-affirming treatments, including puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries, are now inaccessible for transgender minors in much of the South because of new laws that heavily restrict or ban such care for youths younger than 18.Since 2021, lawmakers in 12 of the 16 states considered regionally South by the U.S. Census Bureau have passed legislation that prevents medical professionals from administering gender-affirming health care to transgender youths, accounting for more than half of bans enacted nationwide. Laws passed in states including Florida and Missouri also restrict access to care for some transgender adults.Four Southern states — Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia — plus Washington, D.C., have not enacted a law or policy banning gender-affirming health care. That isn’t for a lack of trying, however. Bills that were introduced this year in Virginia and South Carolina failed to advance through the respective state...