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Chinese President Xi calls for Ukraine peace talks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Thursday for peace talks over Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to him to “bring Russia to its senses,” but Xi gave no indication Beijing would use its leverage as Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic partner to press for a settlement.Xi gave no sign China, which declared it had a “no limits friendship” with Moscow before last year’s invasion, had changed its stance since calling for peace talks in February.“Peace talks should resume as soon as possible,” Xi said. He called on other governments to avoid doing anything that might “make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control.” Beijing, which sees Moscow as a partner in opposing U.S. domination of global affairs, has tried to appear neutral in the conflict but has given Putin diplomatic support and repeated Russian justifications for the February 2022 attack. Xi received an effusive welcome from Puti...

Rabbit out of a hat on Easter? Heat have pulled such late-season personnel moves before

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

As the clock ticks down to their final days of eligibility for the season, the reality with Miami Heat two-way players Orlando Robinson and Jamal Cain is that it’s not over until it’s over.Twice in the past three years, the Heat have used the final days, even hours, of their regular season to sign a G League prospect to a multiyear standard contract.In 2019, Kendrick Nunn was added the final day of the season after Rodney McGruder was waived three days earlier. And in 2021, Omer Yurtseven was signed with two days remaining in the regular season.The differences in both cases was there was a standard roster spot available to cast such future thought. For the Heat to do the same with Robinson, Cain or another G League prospect by their Easter Sunday deadline, a roster spot would have to be opened prior to Sunday’s regular-season finale against the visiting Orlando Magic.Otherwise, Robinson and Cain would become restricted two-way free-agents in the offseason.Already t...

Italy’s Berlusconi diagnosed with leukemia, doctors say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

ROME (AP) — Doctors for Italian former Premier Silvio Berlusconi say he is being treated for a lung infection that suggests he has a “chronic blood condition” that is a kind of leukemia.Berlusconi’s personal physician, Alberto Zangrillo, signed off on a medical bulletin issued Thursday afternoon that said Berlusconi “has had for some time” leukemia in a “persistent chronic phase.” The 86-year-old media mogul who served three terms as Italy’s premier and now serves in the Senate was admitted to Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital on Wednesday for treatment of what aides indicated was a respiratory problem stemming from a previous infection.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.ROME (AP) — Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is alert and in stable condition during his second day in intensive care at a Milan hospital, a close political ally said Thursday, adding that he couldn’t confirm Italian media reports that Berlusconi had been diagnosed...

Greece to send more arms to Ukraine, but sets limits

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece has pledged military assistance to Ukraine for “as long as it takes” but officials cautioned that the country needs to keep much of its Russian-made weaponry for its own defensive needs.Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov visited Athens Thursday as part of regular meetings with officials from NATO countries. He was promised more artillery and small arms ammunition shipments, access to Greek hospitals for wounded military personnel and additional Soviet-era BMP infantry fighting vehicles.Greece “will provide every support to Ukraine at this very important, crucial stage of the war,” Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said during a joint appearance with Reznikov. “We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes — that’s a very clear position that we have taken from the outset.”Military officials said Greece has also provided trainers for Ukraine’s special forces and tank operators, as a contribution to the massive milita...

Troubles shadow lingers as N Ireland marks 25 years of peace

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Peter Olphert was 14 when Irish Republican Army gunmen killed his father. Forty years later, he says it’s time to set aside the past.Mark Thompson lost his brother to British Army bullets, another victim of “the Troubles” that wracked Northern Ireland for three decades. He thinks society can’t move forward until it confronts unfinished business and holds some of those responsible to account.This month marks 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement largely ended bloodshed that left 3,600 people dead, some 50,000 wounded and thousands bereaved. Northern Ireland is observing the anniversary with a reunion of key peace process players and a visit from U.S. President Joe Biden.The peace accord may have stopped the fighting, but deep divisions remain over the conflict’s legacy — making it hard for some of Northern Ireland’s 1.9 million people to move past it. And Britain’s exit from the European Union has only complicated matters, creating poli...

Eight sheltered but more spaces needed as Vancouver seeks rooms for displaced campers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

VANCOUVER — A handful of homeless people set up tents overnight along a stretch of Vancouver’s Hastings Street that was cleared Wednesday in a co-ordinated effort by city officials and Vancouver police.Mayor Ken Sim ordered the long-standing encampment removed after the city’s police and fire chiefs warned of escalating crime and an unacceptable fire risk.At the camp’s peak, about 180 structures covered the sidewalk along the busy street.Now there are questions about where the displaced residents will go, and many have vowed to return to the only place they feel safe as soon as enforcement lifts.Vancouver city manager Paul Mochrie has said there are not enough shelter spaces to accommodate everyone, but a statement issued Wednesday night from Sim’s office said eight people had asked for accommodation and it had been supplied.The statement says “shelter space availability is fluid” but pledged to continue to work with government partners to “...

Bottle battle: Boston talks of banning tiny bottles of booze

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — The little bottles of booze at Huntington Wine and Liquor are displayed prominently at the front counter of the Boston store, some stacked neatly in display cases, others tossed haphazardly in trays.Steven Rubin, whose family has owned the store since 1970, estimates that they account for up to 15% of his sales.“They are a major part of our business, and have a high profit margin,” he said.But he might be on the verge of losing those sales.Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo has proposed banning city liquor stores from selling the bottles that hold from 50 to 100 milliliters (1.7 to 3.4 fluid ounces), which he says would address both alcohol abuse and excessive litter.“The fact that this handled even one of these two issues would have been enough for me,” Arroyo said at city hall hearing on the issue on Monday. “The fact that it plays in both of these issues I think is an overwhelming reason to move forward with something like this.”The little bottles are favored by p...

Ana Bailão to support moving Science Centre to Ontario Place if elected mayor

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

The future of Ontario Place is top of mind for a couple of Toronto mayoral candidates who are revealing their plans for the space should they be elected.Former councillor Ana Bailão announced Thursday morning she would support relocating the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place. She says the move would free up the land the Science Centre currently occupies and make room for new housing.If elected, Bailão says she would approve building 5,000 new homes, including 1,500 affordable homes, on the city-owned land where Science Centre sits.“By building new homes here, residents would be able to live close to where they work with access to transit on the Ontario Line and Eglinton Crosstown,” reads a release from Bailão’s campaign.“To accelerate progress on housing we need to be bold and innovative. This is a smart solution for Ontario Place.”The province is proposing a 65,000 square metre private entertainment, water recreation and wellness centre for the s...

IMF head expects less than 3% global economic growth in 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund chief said Thursday the world economy is expected to grow less than 3% in 2023, down from 3.4% last year, increasing the risk of hunger and poverty globally.Kristalina Georgieva said growth is expected to remain around 3% for the next five years, calling it “our lowest medium-term growth forecast since 1990, and well below the average of 3.8% from the past two decades.”She said slower growth would be a “severe blow,” making it even harder for low-income nations to catch up.“Poverty and hunger could further increase, a dangerous trend that was started by the COVID crisis,” she said.Georgieva’s comments at a Meridian-Politico event come ahead of next week’s spring meetings of the IMF and its sister lending agency the World Bank in Washington, where policymakers will convene to discuss the global economy’s most pressing issues.The annual gathering will take place as central banks around the world continue to raise interest r...

Here’s a quick glance at unemployment rates for March, by province

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:32 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s national unemployment rate was 5.0 per cent in March. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets):_ Newfoundland and Labrador 10.3 per cent (9.9)_ Prince Edward Island 6.6 per cent (7.3)_ Nova Scotia 5.7 per cent (5.7)_ New Brunswick 5.8 per cent (6.3)_ Quebec 4.2 per cent (4.1)_ Ontario 5.1 per cent (5.1)_ Manitoba 4.7 per cent (4.7)_ Saskatchewan 4.7 per cent (4.3)_ Alberta 5.7 per cent (5.8)_ British Columbia 4.5 per cent (5.1)This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2023.The Canadian Press