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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China as part of efforts to sooth strained relations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Beijing on Thursday for meetings with Chinese leaders as part of efforts to revive relations that are strained by disputes about security, technology and other irritants.Yellen planned to focus on stabilizing the global economy and challenging Chinese support of Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, Treasury officials in Washington told reporters ahead of the trip.The secretary was due to meet with Chinese officials, American businesspeople and members of the public, according to Treasury officials. They gave no details, but said Yellen wouldn’t meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Yellen follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Xi last month in the highest-level U.S. visit to Beijing in five years. The two agreed to stabilize relations but failed to agree on improving communications between their militaries.Yellen earlier warned against economic decoupling, or disconnecting U.S. and Chinese industry and markets. Busines...

Wagner chief Prigozhin is in Russia weeks after mutiny, president of Belarus says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is in St. Petersburg and his Wagner troops have remained at the camps where they had stayed before a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, the president of Belarus said Thursday.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko helped broker a deal for Prigozhin to end his rebellion on June 24 in exchange for amnesty and security guarantees for himself and his soldiers and permission to move to Belarus.However, few details of the agreement have emerged, and the whereabouts and futures of the Wagner company’s chief and his private army have remained unclear. The Kremlin has refused to comment on Prigozhin’s location or movements since the abortive revolt.After saying last week that Prigozhin was in Belarus, Lukashenko told international reporters Thursday that the mercenary leader was in St. Petersburg and Wagner’s troops still were at their camps.He did not specify the location of the camps, but Prigozhin’s merc...

The Australian government distances itself from Donald Trump Jr.’s postponed tour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s center-left government distanced itself Thursday from the postponement of Donald Trump Jr.’s speaking tour in Australia.His promoters said the eldest son of the former U.S. president was deferring visits to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane because his Australian visa was only approved on Wednesday, 24 hours before he was to board a flight.“It seems America isn’t the only country that makes it difficult for the Trumps,” said Turning Point Australia, a local version of the U.S. conservative political organization.Some conservatives accuse Australia’s Labor Party administration of delaying Trump Jr.’s visa process.But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was not responsible for Trump Jr.’s change of plans.“Donald Trump Jr.’s visa was dealt with in the normal way and, like anyone else, he was entitled to come here,” Albanese said. “The deferral of his travel is a matter for him.”More than 20,000 people had joined an online ...

Nigeria triggers national response plan for annual deadly floods; 14 states on alert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The Nigerian government has activated its national response plan ahead of what’s expected to be another round of annual flooding related to climate change, with several states seen as hotspots on alert, authorities told The Associated Press on Thursday.After last year’s floods that killed more than 600 people, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency said it has begun to work ahead of what’s predicted to be another dangerous deluge. The agency has sought air support from the country’s air force and has activated its offices for quick response across the country, spokesman Manzo Ezekiel said.“As it is, the (flooding) outlook is still very gloomy and we are doing our best to raise awareness and get the various agencies to prepare accordingly,” said Ezekiel.The West African nation suffers deadly flooding every year often as a result of ignored environmental guidelines and inadequate infrastructure. However, last year’s floods worsened...

No more free coffee on your birthday? Companies rein in customer rewards programs – here’s why

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Reward programs, including birthday freebies and discounts, have long been a way for brands to build loyalty and incentivize spending. But now some companies are becoming a bit more stingy — and customers are taking notice.Last fall, for example, many balked at Dunkin’s decision to stop offering a free drink on their birthday and instead give them triple loyalty points on their purchase. On June 1, Sephora started requiring a $25 minimum purchase for online customers looking to claim a free gift and 250 loyalty points during their birthday month. And Red Robin added a dine-in only and $4.99 minimum purchase requirement for customers to get their free birthday burger.Changes to birthday rewards or redemption requirements aren’t new. Starbucks, which gives its rewards members a free drink or food item for their birthdays, progressively limited the timeframe for redeeming that gift over the years — from 30 days, to one week, to four days and, finally, to just th...

Toronto home sales and prices up from last June, down from May: TRREB

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

Toronto homebuyers that snapped up a property last month paid more on average than they did a year ago but less than they would have if they closed the deal in May, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board said Thursday.The Ontario housing board made the same observation about last month’s sales figures and attributed the trends to a mix of market conditions that have left interest in buying a home high but mortgage rates tough to grapple with and supply tight.“Home sales were hampered last month by uncertainty surrounding the Bank of Canada’s outlook on inflation and interest rates,” Paul Baron, the board’s president, said in a press release.“Furthermore, a persistent lack of inventory likely sidelined some willing buyers because they couldn’t find a home meeting their needs. Simply put, you can’t buy what is not available.”While 2023 opened with buyers sidelined as interest rates climbed and prospective sellers spooked from selling the...

ValleyCats ascending the East ahead of All-Star break

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Tri-City ValleyCats have been steadily clawing their way up the Frontier League East standings. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! With just four games remaining before the All-Star break, manager Pete Incaviglia likes what he's seen out of his squad in the first half of the season."I mean, obviously we'd love to be in first place," said Incaviglia. "But we're right in the thick of things, and right where we need to be. We need to continue to get better as a ball club. I'm very pleased with the way we're playing. I'm very pleased with the product on the field, and how the guys go about their business and compete every day."After posting just an 8-9 record in May, the ValleyCats ramped up their play in June to the tune of a 17-9 mark. And following an 18-4 beatdown of the Empire State Greys at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Wednesday night, they improved their overall record to 28-19.Tri-City now finds itse...

Jalen Pickett preparing for Summer League debut with Nuggets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

DENVER (NEWS10) -- The NBA's Summer League is underway, and Jalen Pickett is preparing to make his debut with the Denver Nuggets. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The former Siena Saints standout guard, who transferred to Penn St. University to finish out his collegiate career, has a few Summer League practices with the reigning NBA champs now under his belt.The team opens up its' Summer League schedule Friday against Albany Academy graduate Andre Jackson Jr. and the Milwaukee Bucks. It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Pickett after being selected with the 32nd overall pick in the NBA Draft, but it sounds like the reality that he's made it to the league is finally starting to set in."I think seeing Jamal (Murray) out here was definitely that moment, like, "wow, this is really Jamal Murray...NBA experience,"" said Pickett. "I can't wait to get the guys here, and everything. This Summer League experience has been great s...

Russian ex-arms dealer freed for Brittney Griner to run for far-right party

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

A Russian arms dealer freed last December in a prisoner swap for US basketball star Brittney Griner has been chosen as the candidate of a far-right party for a seat in a Russian regional legislature, state news agency RIA reported on Sunday (2 July).Viktor Bout (pictured), once dubbed "the merchant of death" by the United States, served 10 years of a 25-year sentence in US prisons on arms dealing charges until his release in the prisoner exchange with Griner, an Olympic gold medallist.RIA cited an official in Russia's ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR)'s local organization as saying that Bout had been nominated as a candidate for the legislative assembly of the Ulyanovsk region in central Russia.Bout was arrested by U.S. agents during a sting in Thailand in 2008. The US Department of Justice described him as one of the world's most prolific arms dealers who had sold weapons across the globe to terrorists and America's enemies for decades. Bout always denied the charge...

Ask Amy: I don’t want him giving my wife such extravagant gifts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:48 GMT

Dear Amy: I wanted to ask if I’m being too uptight or if I have a right to feel upset regarding my wife and her ex.They have been divorced for eight years now and share three teens/young adults.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: Our real estate agent has become a scary stalker Advice | Ask Amy: The stay-at-home mom is clueless about my responsibilities Advice | Ask Amy: My husband sulks when I say we can’t afford these things Advice | Ask Amy: I’m sickened by my granddaughter’s cheerleading, and her parents won’t listen Advice | Ask Amy: Their false ‘service animal’ claims are selfish and risky We have been married for almost six years. He is remarried as well.He gets her very expensive gifts for Christmas, her birthday or “just because.”This really bothers me, and I don’t feel it is acceptable nor appropriate.I am 60 and my wife is 45. Her ex is a couple of years young...