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EU warns China that European public could turn more protectionist if trade deficit isn’t reduced

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The European Union’s top foreign policy official warned Friday that public sentiment in Europe could turn more protectionist if the region’s trade deficit with China is not reduced.Josep Borrell, the EU high representative for foreign affairs, called for improved access for European companies that want to export to or invest in China. He said that political leaders in Europe could face pressure from voters to disengage from the world’s second-largest economy. “And we don’t want to disengage and much less, much less, to decouple from China,” Borrell said in a speech at Peking University, one of China’s top schools.The EU trade deficit with China topped $17 billion in September, bringing the total for the first nine months of the year to $170 billion, according to Chinese trade figures released Friday.Borrell, who held talks later Friday with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, is the latest EU official to visit China as the two sides lay the...

Takeaways from AP’s reporting on Antarctica’s burgeoning krill fishery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

ABOARD THE ALLANKAY off Antarctica (AP) — The frigid waters around Antarctica are emerging as a major battleground between industry and activists as advances in technology and new demand for krill as a dietary supplement drive more and more fishing of the shrimp-like crustacean.That has some scientists warning that stricter controls must be put in place so krill can continue its vital role as a buffer against climate change and sustenance for whales, penguins and other marine mammals. But any further action is mired in geopolitical wrangling as Russia and China look to quickly expand catch limits in the remote waters.Two Associated Press journalists spent more than two weeks at sea in March aboard a conservation vessel operated by Sea Shepherd Global to take a rare, up-close look at the world’s southernmost fishery.___This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.___WHAT IS KRILL?Tiny but bountiful, Antarctic kril...

French media say a teacher was killed and others injured in a rare school stabbing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French media say that a teacher has been killed and children injured in a stabbing in a school in northern France.French President Emmanuel Macron is heading to the scene in the city of Arras.Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin says that the attacker was arrested.French broadcasters France Info and BFM report that the attacker was a former student and that a teacher and two others were injured. Such school attacks are rare in France. A vice president of the lower house of parliament, Naima Moutchou, said the National Assembly “expresses its solidarity and thoughts for the victims, their families and the educational community as we learn that a teacher has been killed and several others have been injured.”The Associated Press

Climate change sees IOC aim to choose hosts of 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics at same time next July

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

MUMBAI, India (AP) — The International Olympic Committee cited concerns over climate change on Friday for its wish to pick two Winter Olympics hosts next July — putting Salt Lake City quickly into play for the 2034 edition.IOC president Thomas Bach said the Olympic body aims to pick hosts for both the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games at its meeting on the eve of the Paris Games next year.Sweden, Switzerland and France have been working on possible bids for the 2030 edition and Salt Lake City officials have long targeted 2034. That would avoid the United States hosting back-to-back Olympics after the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.The double award proposal by the Bach-chaired IOC executive board must get approval by the full membership at their annual meeting that opens Sunday. That should be a formality.The IOC has declining options for Winter Games hosts with Bach suggesting only 15 national Olympic committees across three continents meet the criteria: that they have at least 80% of ex...

Stock market today: World shares slip, oil prices soar on growing concern over the Israel-Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — World shares slipped and oil prices soared Friday on deepening concern over the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. futures edged lower, auguring more losses after a retreat Thursday driven by rising bond yields. Oil prices gained about $3 early Friday after Israel’s military ordered hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City to evacuate ahead of a possible ground offensive. The directive followed what the United Nations said was a warning from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza within 24 hours.Since their summertime leap and subsequent regression a couple weeks ago, crude oil prices have been jolted by the fighting in Gaza. The worry is the violence could lead to disruptions in the supply of petroleum.A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude gained $2.97 to $85.88 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It slipped 58 cents to settle at $82.91 on Thursday. Brent crude, the international standard, surged $2.98 to $89.01...

Tens of thousands protest after Muslim prayers across Mideast over Israeli airstrikes on Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of Muslims demonstrated Friday across the Middle East in support of the Palestinians and to protest against the Israeli airstrikes pounding the Gaza Strip, underscoring the risk of a wider regional conflict erupting as Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion there. From Amman, Jordan, to Yemen’s capital, Muslims poured out onto the streets after weekly Friday prayers. At Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Israeli police had been permitting only older men, women and children to the sprawling hilltop compound for prayers, trying to prevent the potential for demonstration as tens of thousands attend on a typical Friday. An Associated Press reporter watched police allow just a Palestinian teenage girl and her mother into the compound out of 20 worshippers who tried, some of them even over the age of 50. Young Palestinian men who were refused entry gathered at the steps near Lion’s Gate, their eyes downcast, until police shouted at them and sheph...

Israel orders unprecedented evacuation of Gaza City as possible ground offensive looms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

Israel’s military told Palestinians on Friday to evacuate Gaza City and head to the southern part of the besieged territory, an unprecedented order ahead of an expected ground invasion against the ruling Hamas militant group.The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse would be calamitous. Hamas, which staged a shocking and brutal attack on Israel nearly a week ago and has fired thousands of rockets since, dismissed it as a ploy and called on people to stay in their homes.The evacuation order, which includes Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, sparked widespread panic among civilians and aid workers already running from Israeli airstrikes and contending with a total siege and a territory-wide blackout.“Forget about food, forget about electricity, forget about fuel. The only concern now is just if you’ll make it, if you’re going to live,” said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, as she broke into heaving sobs.The ...

Will clouds ruin your view of the Oct. 14 solar eclipse?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Tens of millions in the Americas will have front-row seats for Saturday's rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun – but what viewers actually see will depend on how close they are to the path of the eclipse, and how clear the skies are on Oct. 14.What's called an annular solar eclipse — better known as a ring of fire — will briefly dim the skies over parts of the western U.S. and Central and South America. MAP: Where, when and how to get the best view of the 2023 annular eclipse As the moon lines up precisely between Earth and the sun, it will blot out all but the sun’s outer rim. A bright, blazing border will appear around the moon for as much as five minutes, wowing skygazers along a narrow path stretching from Oregon to Texas in the U.S.The celestial showstopper will yield a partial eclipse across the rest of the Western Hemisphere.A look at forecasted cloud coverage in the video player above (times are CT) shows that some vantage points along the path of annula...

Medicare Part B premiums to rise by 6 percent in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

(The Hill) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the monthly Medicare Part A and B premiums for 2024 on Thursday, with the costs set to go up by six percent next year.CMS would go up by $9.80 from $164.90 to $174.70 in 2024 and the annual deductible for Medicare Part B beneficiaries will go up from $226 to $240 as well. This price increase comes after Medicare Part B premiums went down for the first time in more than 10 years in 2023.Medicare Part B covers medically necessary services and preventive services which include mental health services, some outpatient prescription drugs, ambulance services and durable medical equipment.The premium announced on Thursday falls in line with what the Medicare Board of Trustees estimated the 2024 premium would be earlier this year."The increase in the 2024 Part B standard premium and deductible is mainly due to projected increases in health care spending and, to a lesser degree, the remedy for the 340B-acquired drug p...

Cold front brings gusty winds, cooler weekend weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's cold front day!Low clouds, drizzle and mist could slow the morning commute some, but sunshine will make an appearance later today helping temperatures soar into the low 90s. This autumn heat comes ahead of our next cold front, expected to enter the Hill Country late morning before reaching the Austin-metro by early afternoon. Gusty northerly winds will hit first, followed by a drop in humidity and temperatures tonight into the weekend.Gusty winds follow this afternoon's cold frontHumidity plummets behind incoming cold frontAustin City Limits Music Festival forecastSunny days and brisk fall nights can be expected this weekend into early next week. Our next rain chance looks to arrive late next week - stay tuned for updates.Annular solar eclipse SaturdayThe weather looks great for local viewing of the annular solar eclipse midday Saturday. Expect mostly sunny skies, low humidity and cool temperatures. Full information on the eclipse is below: Annular solar ecli...