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The UK’s interior minister accuses police of favoring pro-Palestinian protesters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s interior minister has accused the country’s largest police force of being more lenient toward pro-Palestinian demonstrators than other groups, deepening a political feud sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.In a highly unusual attack on the police, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said London’s Metropolitan Police force was ignoring lawbreaking by “pro-Palestinian mobs.” She described demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in Gaza as “hate marchers.”Pro-Palestinian protests have been held in London and other British cities every weekend since the war began more than a month ago. The government has criticized organizers for planning a march on Saturday because it is Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War I, when many in Britain pause to remember the victims of war.The march is a day before the main Remembrance Sunday commemorations, when King Charles III, senior politicians, diplomats, military leaders and veterans attend a wreath-laying ceremony at ...

Japanese automaker Nissan’s profits zoom on strong sales, favorable exchange rates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Nissan’s profit zoomed up more than 10-fold in July-September from a year earlier, boosted by a weak Japanese yen and strong vehicle sales around the world.The Japanese automaker, allied with Renault SA of France, reported a 190.7 billion yen ($1.3 billion) profit in the last quarter, up from 17.4 billion yen the year before. Quarterly sales surged 25% to 3.15 trillion yen ($20.9 billion), the company said Thursday.Nissan Motor Co., which makes the Leaf electric car, Infiniti luxury models and Rogue sport-utility vehicle, got a solid boost from the weak yen, as did its Japanese rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. The weak yen generally helps the results of Japanese exporters by raising the value of their overseas earnings when they are converted into yen. The U.S. dollar has been trading at about 150 yen lately, up from 130 yen and 140 yen levels last year.The one regional market where Nissan’s sales struggled was China, where demand for electric vehicles is s...

Thousands fall ill in eastern Pakistan due to heavy smog, forcing closure of schools, markets, parks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Toxic gray smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore, forcing authorities to shut schools, markets and parks for four days, officials said Thursday.The decision came after the country’s second-largest city was repeatedly ranked the world’s most polluted city. Doctors advised people to wear face masks and stay at home. Residents said many people were coughing and having breathing problems.“Wearing of marks and staying at home are the two easiest solutions to avoid getting rushed to hospitals with respiratory-related diseases, infections in eyes and skin diseases,” said Salman Kazmi, a doctor at Lahore’s main Mayo Hospital, where thousands of people were treated for such ailments this week.On Thursday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air approached 450, considered hazardous. Experts say the burning of crop residue at the start of the winter wheat-planting season is a key ca...

Biden goes to Illinois auto plant saved by union agreement, a sign his policies are helping workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden went to Chicago on June 28 to give a landmark speech on “Bidenomics, ” only to learn in private during the trip about a soon-to-close auto factory, news that was a challenge to his vision for the country.The prospect of a shuttered Stellantis plant in the small city of Belvidere became an immediate priority for Biden. He ordered up an economic analysis and spoke to company officials about the plant, according to White House officials. The president wanted to show that his policies could deliver for workers, rather than repeat the decades of factory closures that had gutted parts of the Midwest and fed into a deep political divide.On Thursday, Biden will visit Belvidere to showcase that same auto plant, which has reopened as part of the settlement of a targeted strike by the United Auto Workers union. The reopening “goes to the heart of who he is, the heart of his vision for the country and how he’s led,” said Jen O’Malley Dillon, White Hou...

Holiday job postings down from last year amid slowing economy: Indeed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

TORONTO — Canadian postings for seasonal holiday jobs are down 30 per cent from a year ago so far, according to Indeed, amid a softening economy and cooling labour market.“There’s been an overall cooling of employer hiring appetite over the past year. And it’s pretty similar in seasonal work and other areas of the economy as well, said Indeed senior economist Brendon Bernard.Overall Canadian job postings are also down 30 per cent from last year, though they’re up 18 per cent from pre-pandemic, Indeed said in a report released Thursday. “Seasonal recruitment started slow in September this year, and while it picked up in October, it wasn’t enough to close the gap,” the hiring site said.Meanwhile, holiday postings were around the same level as pre-pandemic. As a result, Indeed said holiday postings represent a smaller share of overall postings than they did in 2019. While the slowing macroeconomic environment is likely to blame for overall lower postings, the slowdown in ho...

MoPac shut down after rollover crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin-Travis County EMS said the southbound lanes of MoPac in North Austin were shutdown Thursday morning after a rollover crash. According to ATCEMS, the single-vehicle crash happened on MoPac just north of the Highway 183 intersection around 1:50 a.m. ATCEMS said one adult was taken to the hospital with critical life-threatening injuries. The adult was the only person in the car and the only patient, according to ATCEMS.Austin Police shut down MoPac after Nov. 9 crash. (Photo courtesy: Antonio Perez)Austin Police shut down MoPac after Nov. 9 crash. (KXAN: Lauren Ryan)Drivers should expect southbound lanes to closed and chose other routes, ATCEMS said.A witness told KXAN they saw the car flip several times after it hit a median.

First look at UAlbany's renovated Broadview Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- The UAlbany men's and women's basketball teams spent last season as nomads. They played home games off campus, and practiced on what used to be a pool, as they waited for the renovations to the new Broadview Center to be complete. Wednesday, they were rewarded for their patience. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The women's team practiced on the Broadview Center court for the first time, while both teams got their first looks at their new locker-rooms. The men's team will practice in the Broadview Center next week. The arena underwent $12 million worth of upgrades, and it shows. It features seating upgrades, a new video board, and a lot more space. The Danes are blown away by the additions. "We've been allowed to come in here as the process has been going on but I specifically said I don't want to see it until it's fully done," said senior guard Kayla Cooper. "When I came in here this morning I was so hap...

13 athletes sign NLI at Shenendehowa High School

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, NY (NEWS10) -- Many high schools in the Capital Region held signing days for athletes on Wednesday. At Shenendehowa High School, 13 athletes signed their national letters of intent to take their talents to the collegiate level. The list of athletes, and where they are headed, can be found below. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! First NameLast NameSportCollege or UniversityKasiaBarlettaGirls VolleyballUAlbanySabrinaKinkaidGirls VolleyballUAlbanyEmilyBaumesSoftballUmass LowellNataliaColoneSoftballLongwood UniversityBreHayesSoftballSt. Thomas AquinasJosieBullockGirls LacrosseUniversity of TampaCarrieBennettGirls LacrosseLemoyneEvaPflommGirls LacrosseSienaTaylorTallmadgeGirls LacrosseRhode Island CollegeFreddyHicksBoys LacrosseU of AlbanyTaylorJourdanaisGirls SoccerLaSalle UniversityEllaMcDonaldGirls SoccerUniveristy at BuffaloBriannaBoomhowerField HockeyWingate University

Trade of electric and hybrid cars continues to rise in 2022

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

Between 2017 and 2022, the trade of electric and hybrid cars in the EU registered a staggering increase. In 2022, 42% of the total number of cars imported were electric or hybrid, indicating an increase of 35 percentage points (pp) compared with 2017. The change in exports was also clear with a 24 pp increase in 2022 (26% of the total number of cars exported) from 2017 (2% of the total).Non-plug-in hybrid cars went from 6% of total car imports and 0.4% of car exports in 2017 to 21% and 13%, respectively, in 2022. Full electric cars represented 15% (+14 pp compared with 2017) of car imports and 9% of exports (+8 pp) in 2022, plug-in hybrid cars represented 7% (+6 pp) of car imports and 4% of exports (+3 pp). In terms of value, in 2022, the EU spent a total of €37.0 billion on imports from extra-EU countries on hybrid and electric cars, an increase of 27%, compared with 2021 (€29.1 billion). Imports of non-plug-in hybrid cars were worth €16.0 billion, followed by full electric ca...

Europe can combat antisemitism without weakening free speech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:33 GMT

European governments must resist the urge to react to the conflict in Gaza by cracking down on freedom of speech and on the right to demonstrate peacefully, writes Juan García-Nieto. Recently, the French government attempted to implement a blanket ban on all demonstrations in support of Palestine and against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Other countries in Europe, like Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom have regretfully followed in France’s footsteps and curtailed the right to free speech and the right to peaceful assembly. Standing up against antisemitism and hate speech is vital, but it should not lead European countries to clamp down on civil rights affecting all citizens. Since the tragic terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October and the brutal siege to which the Israeli Defence Forces have subjected the Gaza Strip, European governments have been divided on how to react to this latest iteration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. EU states are in agreement, ho...