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Xi, Putin back ‘peace talks’ for Ukraine war — but blame NATO and make no offer to withdraw

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for “peace talks” and “responsible dialogue” over Ukraine in a joint statement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin — but also criticized sanctions, blamed NATO expansion for the conflict and made no offer to withdraw invading forces. Released on the second day of Xi’s state visit to Moscow, which has so far underscored his close friendship with Putin, Xi’s joint statement with the Russian leader shows Beijing’s wholesale adoption of Russia’s narratives.“Russia reiterates efforts to resume peace talks as soon as possible, which is praised by the Chinese side,” said the statement, carried by China’s Xinhua news agency. “Russia welcomes China’s willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the Ukraine crisis through political and diplomatic means.”Reverting to the Kremlin line that NATO expansion sparked the conflict — rather than Russi...

Italy and Belgium’s red-tape row snarls Qatargate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

MILAN — It’s been four months, and the authorities still haven’t gotten to them.Italian and Belgian officials are locked in a protracted standoff over how — and where — to investigate two key suspects in the widening corruption probe infiltrating the European Parliament.In one case, Milan judges have been waiting months for more documents to arrive from Belgium before deciding whether to hand over Monica Bellini, an accountant suspected of helping Pier Antonio Panzeri — a former EU lawmaker — launder Qatari bribes to current Parliament members.In another, judges in Naples have now punted twice on whether to transfer to Belgium Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, an alleged member of the Brussels bribery ring, with the defendant’s lawyers arguing the arrest warrant is riddled with ambiguities and that Belgium’s prison system is inhumane.Further complicating the matter: Italian investigators are also circling Bellini. But they have thus far stuck to investigating less-central figures around...

TikTok updates rules; CEO on charm offensive for US hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

By KELVIN CHAN (AP Business Writer)LONDON (AP) — TikTok went on a counteroffensive Tuesday amid increasing Western pressure over cybersecurity and misinformation concerns, rolling out updated rules and standards for content as its CEO warned against a possible U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned video sharing app. CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. congressional lawmakers, who will grill him about the company’s privacy and data-security practices and relationship with the Chinese government. Chew said in a TikTok video that the hearing “comes at a pivotal moment” for the company, after lawmakers introduced measures that would expand the Biden administration’s authority to enact a U.S. ban on the app, which the CEO said more than 150 million Americans use.“Some politicians have started talking about banning TikTok. Now this could take TikTok away from all 150 million of you,” said Chew, who was dressed casually in jeans an...

Energized by World Baseball Classic, Gleyber Torres returns to Yankees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

TAMPA — As Gleyber Torres got reacclimated to life with the Yankees on Tuesday, the second baseman could only rave about his experience at the World Baseball Classic.Torres, no longer sporting the beard he wore during the international tournament, played for Venezuela. The Caracas native and his fellow countrymen lost to the United States — who are playing in Tuesday’s WBC final against Japan — in the quarterfinal, but Torres cherished every second of the opportunity.“Amazing, the best moment of my life playing baseball,” he said. “It was really great, the atmosphere, the people, the energy was really amazing.“The energy when you play in those situations is just unreal.”Torres went to say “no, not even close” when asked if he’s had a comparable experience on the field, though he added he’s yet to play in a Fall Classic in the Bronx.“I don’t know how a World Series is in New York,” he cont...

Bruins notebook: Derek Forbort expected to miss rest of regular season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

Bruins’ management knew it needed to shore up its defensive depth for the playoffs. It is already being tested.Coach Jim Montgomery said on Tuesday that penalty kill workhorse Derek Forbort is not expected to return before the end of the regular season.The exact nature of Forbort’s injury has not been detailed by the club, but the defenseman left the March 16 game in Winnipeg when he blocked a shot on the PK. The puck appeared to catch Forbort on the right foot or ankle, where there is no padding. If it’s a broken bone, the usual timeline for such an injury is four-to-six weeks, the front half of which would bring him to the start of the playoffs. The post-season is scheduled to begin on April 17.The good news is that Forbort will not require surgery, said Montgomery.All hockey players’ jobs are hazardous, but it is especially true for a player like Forbort, who makes a good part of his living on the PK , requiring him to eat a lot of pucks. He leads the team...

Canadian marketing of unhealthy food to kids ‘astonishing’: study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

Marketing strategies for unhealthy food and beverages geared toward children in Canada is cause for concern, according to new research.A new study funded by Heart & Stroke and carried out by the University of Waterloo compiled data from over 2,000 restaurants and 800 food stores nationwide. It looked at different tactics companies use to market their products directly to children.Leia Minaker, the author of the report, says researchers were “astonished” by how frequently children are the targets of ads.“While we expected to see marketing to kids in Canadian stores, we were surprised by the breadth of techniques employed by food and beverage marketers,” she said.New research from @UWaterloo reveals #Marketing2Kids is ubiquitous in point-of-sale locations across Canada, like grocery stores, restaurants and corner stores.Read more: https://t.co/IoXzFDF9p3.#cdnpoli #cdnhealth @envwaterloo @LeiaMinaker pic.twitter.com/Ap34T9h3Rb— Heart & Stroke (@HeartandS...

Edmonton zoo says 47-year-old Asian elephant Lucy is too sick to be moved

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Valley Zoo is releasing medical information about an elephant in its care named Lucy after animal rights groups protested for years that she should be moved to a sanctuary.The zoo says it has been working closely with the animal advocacy group Free the Wild since October 2022.It says most visiting experts agreed that the 47-year-old Asian elephant is unfit to travel.In a news release, it says Lucy is to remain at the zoo, where she has been living for more than 45 years.The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals turned to the legal system in Canada to move Lucy to a sanctuary in the United States.In 2012, PETA took the case to the Supreme Court, where the application was dismissed.The Edmonton Valley Zoo says Lucy has severe condition of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels in her blood and tissues, which makes her breathe solely from her mouth.The experts also discovered a uterine tumour that is common in female elephants that have never given birt...

Def Leppard drummer recovering from attack outside hotel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he recovering from an attack earlier this month outside a Florida hotel.Allen, who was in South Florida to perform a show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, was attacked while taking a smoke break outside the the Four Seasons hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach.Police arrested a 19-year-old man, but said they don’t have a motive for the attack. They did not identify either the suspect, or Allen, in the police report.But in a social media post, Allen, 59, said he’s thankful for all the support he has received from this fans. He said he’s also relieved that his wife, Lauren, wasn’t with him when the incident occurred, and that they are now “working on recovering in a safe space.”Police said the assailant was hiding behind a pillar outside the hotel while Allen was smoking a cigarette. The man ran at Allen, knocking him to the ground.According to the police report, a woman saw Allen fall and ran to help him. The man then a...

Supreme Court rules for deaf student in education case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday for a deaf student who sued his public school system for providing an inadequate education. The case is significant for other disabled students who allege they were failed by school officials. The case the justices ruled in involves Miguel Luna Perez, who attended public school in Sturgis, Michigan. Perez’s lawyers told the court that for 12 years the school system neglected the boy and lied to his parents about the progress he was making, permanently stunting his ability to communicate.The justices ruled that after Perez and his family settled a complaint against the school system — with officials agreeing to pay for additional schooling and sign language instruction — they could pursue money damages under a different federal law. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in a eight-page opinion for the court that the case “holds consequences not just for Mr. Perez but for a great many children with disabilities and their parents.” It ...

Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old: ‘I thought I had died’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:40 GMT

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A Virginia teacher who was shot and wounded by her 6-year-old student said it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day.“I just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he pointed the gun directly at me,” first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner said during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie about the student. “It’s changed me. It’s changed my life.” She said she’s still in shock and can’t make sense of it, in a portion of the interview that was aired Tuesday morning on “Today.”“I’m not sure when the shock will ever go away because of just how surreal it was and the vivid memories I have of that day. I think about it daily. Sometimes I have nightmares,” she said.Speaking publicly for the first time since the Jan. 6 shooting, Zwerner said in a portion of the interview that was aired Monday on “NBC Nightly News” that she’s had a challenging recovery....