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Taiwan’s vice president leaves on Paraguay trip amid Chinese efforts to isolate the island

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s vice president left Saturday on a trip to Paraguay to reinforce relations with his government’s last diplomatic partner in South America at a time when China is stepping up efforts to isolate the self-ruled island democracy.William Lai’s trip includes stops in San Francisco and New York City, which Beijing criticized Washington for allowing. The mainland’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory and says it has no right to conduct foreign relations.Lai was due to attend the inauguration of Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Peña on Tuesday.Lai said he would meet officials of other governments ”so that the international society understands Taiwan is a country that persists in its democracy, human rights and freedom and actively takes part in international affairs.”Paraguay is part of a dwindling group of 12 governments that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. They are mostly small, poor countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Ta...

6 dead, more than 50 rescued from capsized migrant boat in the English Channel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Six people died and more than 50 were rescued when a boat carrying migrants capsized Saturday in the English Channel, according to French authorities. The Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea initially reported that six of those rescued were in critical condition. One individual later died after being transported by helicopter to a Calais hospital, and an update confirmed the deaths of five others who were ferried to shore by boat.“This morning, a migrant boat capsized off Calais,” French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on social media. “My thoughts are with the victims.” The deaths come as Britain’s ruling conservative party has sought to stop crossings of small, often unseaworthy, boats with a variety of policies that have come under fire for failing to stem the flow of migrants. French authorities noted a marked increase in attempted crossings from the coast since Thursday during the onset of milder weather. British authorities said 7...

SIU investigating death of man who fled police in Peterborough

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

The province’s police watchdog is looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 28-year-old man in Peterborough. Peterborough police say an officer observed a vehicle being driven erratically on Parkhill Road East just after 2 p.m. on Friday. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle sped off. A short pursuit ensued but was discountined due to public safety.A short while later police received a call about a crash at a Volkswagen dealership in the area of Towerhill Road and Chemong Road. When officers arrived they found it was the same man who had fled police minutes earlier.According to the Special Investigations Unit, the man entered the dealership and became involved in an interaction with one of the employees. “When officers entered the dealership, the man – who appeared to be armed – consumed a substance,” the SIU said in a statement. “At some point, the man went vital signs absent and first-aid was administered.”...

Ballot count underway as Malaysian leader Anwar seeks to shore up his rule in vital state elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Ballot counting was underway after voting ended Saturday in crucial state elections in Malaysia, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s multi-coalition government is seeking to reinforce its position against a strong Islamic opposition.Anwar and his wife were among the early birds who cast their votes at a school in their hometown in northern Penang state. Nearly 9.8 million people, or half the country’s electorate, are eligible to elect 245 assembly members in six states that account for more than half of Malaysia’s gross domestic product. As of 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) or two hours before voting ended, the Election Commission said turnout was between 60% and 70% in each of the states. The final turnout has not been tallied but it appeared lower than the overall target of 85% by the commission. The poll results will be known later Saturday. The polls are widely viewed as an early referendum both on Anwar’s leadership and the strength of the Islamist opposition ...

Russian warplane on training mission crashes in Kaliningrad, killing its pilots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian warplane crashed in Russia’s Kaliningrad region on Saturday during a training mission, killing the two pilots on board.“The Su-30 aircraft crashed in a deserted area. The flight was carried out without ammunition. The crew died,” local military authorities said.According to officials, a technical malfunction was the likely cause. Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, positioned between NATO member states Poland and Lithuania.The Su-30 fighter jet has been used extensively during Russia’s action in Ukraine.The Russian air force has suffered a string of crashes that some observers have attributed to a higher number of flights amid the fighting in Ukraine. Last month, two Russian fighter jets crashed while on training missions — one into the Pacific and one into the Sea of Azov.The Associated Press

He’s ‘just Ken’ but will the ‘Barbie’ movie change his popularity?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

On and off the big screen, it’s Barbie’s world and Ken is just living in it.As reflected in Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster movie that tackles the legacy Mattel’s famous doll, Barbie has always been more popular than Ken. For every Ken doll sold today, there’s generally eight to 10 Barbies sold, according to Jim Silver, a toy industry expert and CEO of review site of TTPM.It’s unclear if Warner Bros’ “Barbie,” which was also co-produced by Mattel, will increase Ken production and sales. But Silver noted that the movie “gave Ken more attention than Ken has received” in decades.Ken was first introduced back in 1961, two years after Barbie hit store shelves. But he hasn’t had nearly the same impact on the Barbieverse since.“Barbie’s world is about Barbie. And (to some), Ken may be an accessory of sorts,” said Ed Timke, an assistant professor of advertising and public relations at Michigan State University, pointing to years of marketing ...

Small town Socorro's big impact on Texas history and the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

SOCORRO, Texas (KTSM) — In the quaint town of Socorro, Texas, a hidden gem of historical significance awaits discovery. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro linked Mexico City to northern New Mexico, spanning approximately 1,600 miles and acting as a conduit for trade and cultural exchange. It passed right through Socorro, and historian and President of the Cultural Heritage Society of the Camino Real Al Barego asserts the trail's history should not be confined to exhibits and museums but rather experienced as a vibrant part of everyday life.'We want to continue talking about it, telling about it, experiencing it every day," Barego said.From southern Chihuahua to Mexico City, half of the road is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, encompassing 55 sites and six entire cities along its route. ‘TEXAS’ Outdoor Musical showcases Panhandle story in unique Palo Duro Canyon setting There's an intriguing tale of a peculiar bridge along the way named "Quita Calzones.""It's called somet...

Wildfire near Lockhart burns estimated 300 acres, 50% contained

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A grass fire sprang up Friday in Caldwell County, according to the Austin Fire Department, which said crews from Travis County were headed there to help fight it.The fire is near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. It's called the Boggy Creek Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported. MAP: More than 2,500 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year The fire was estimated at 300 acres and is 50% contained as of 8:15 a.m. Saturday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.Shortly before 3:30 p.m. Friday, AFD said the fire broke containment lines, and additional resources from Austin and Travis County are en route to assist.Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Wa...

Zeynep Tufekci: Why haven’t we made it safer to breathe in classrooms?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

Two years ago, we got a chance to assure parents and teachers, in any future epidemic, that the air in classrooms was safer, making it easier for children to attend school in person and avoid learning loss and isolation.In March 2021, Congress allocated $122 billion for schools to cope with the COVID pandemic and its aftermath — to hire tutors, retain teachers or improve their facilities. Public health and clean air advocates hoped that this would lead to widespread improvements in classroom ventilation and air quality, to help ward off future pathogenic threats and reduce problems like dust, allergens and wildfire smoke.But only about 34% of school districts said they used any of the money to upgrade their heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, according to a recent survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 28% more installed in-room air cleaners, 8% said they installed ultraviolet lights — a more expensive and complicated method — and the rest r...

Twin Cities seen as a model for taming inflation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:41 GMT

No place in the U.S. has put inflation in the rearview mirror quite as fast as the Twin Cities.In May, St. Paul-Minneapolis became the first major metropolitan area to see annual inflation fall below the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. Its 1.8% pace of price increases was the lowest of any statistical region that month.That’s largely due to a regionwide push to address one of the most intractable issues for both the Fed and American consumers: rising housing costs. Well before pandemic-related supply-chain snarls and labor shortages roiled the economy, and drove up consumer prices, the city of Minneapolis eliminated zoning that allowed only single-family homes and since 2018 has invested $320 million for rental assistance and subsidies.That helped unleash a boom in construction of apartments and condos in the region that proved to be a powerful antidote against inflation, given that the cost of shelter accounts for more than a third of the overall U.S. consumer-price index. Minneapo...