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New Chinese ambassador to US taking office amid disputes over trade, access to technology, Taiwan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s new ambassador to the U.S. is taking office amid disputes over trade, access to computer chips and Washington’s support for self-governing Taiwan. Xie Feng arrived in New York on Tuesday and told reporters at JFK Airport that relations between the world’s two largest economies face “serious difficulties and challenges.” “We hope that the United States will work together with China to increase dialogue, to manage differences and also to expand our cooperation, so that our relationship will be back to the right track,” Xie said in remarks delivered in English. The “Taiwan question” would be among the sensitive issues at the top of his agenda, Xie said. Exchanges took a downturn after the Trump administration raised tariffs on key Chinese imports that President Jospeh Biden has since maintained, while blocking Chinese companies from accessing the most cutting-edge computer chip technology. China has meanwhile raised its threats to attack Taiwan with regular incur...

No winning ticket sold for Tuesday’s $55 million Lotto Max jackpot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

There was no winning ticket sold in Tuesday’s Lotto Max $55 million draw.However, three of the four available Maxmillion prizes of $1 million each were won by ticket holders in Quebec, Ontario and the Prairies.The jackpot for the next draw on May 26 will be an estimated $60 million, with six $1 million Maxmillion prizes up for grabs.The Canadian Press

Kosovo must implement Serbia peace deal before it can join NATO

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

Kosovo must implement a Western-brokered peace deal with Serbia if it wants to achieve its goal of joining the NATO military alliance, two US senators visiting Pristina said on Monday (22 May).US Democratic senators Chris Murphy, a member of the foreign relations committee, and Gary Peters, who sits on the armed services committee, urged the two countries to act quickly on the accord reached in March with European Union mediation. They are part of a congressional delegation visiting the Balkans."The pathway (for Kosovo) to NATO and to the European Union runs through an agreement with Serbia. That's a hard fact," Murphy told journalists at the US embassy in Pristina.Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is not recognised as a state by four NATO members: Romania, Spain, Greece and Slovakia.Murphy said the four could be convinced to accept Kosovo in NATO if differences with Serbia were settled. "It is dependent on this agreement being done and implemented," he said.D...

To AI or not to AI? Towards a treaty on Artificial Intelligence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

As AI revolutionizes the world, EU lawmakers aim to regulate it for values and safety preservation. The AI Act, the first law of its kind, is designed to serve EU citizens’ best interests. However, since technologies are available for anyone, and evolving faster than regulations can keep up, a global strategy is needed. The world’s strategy of ‘connecting the unconnected’, faces significant and complex challenges that require addressing on a wider scale. In this context, the EU should consider organizing an international summit to establish core principles for safer AI practices towards a Treaty on Artificial Intelligence, writes Francesco Cappelletti.AI and its concerning trendsDespite being far from a Matrix-like scenario, unregulated and misused AI can create challenges for our societies. It can influence our understanding of information and, as a result, jeopardize a crucial foundation at the heart of our societies: democracy.There are various concerns regarding AI: it could rep...

High-speed pursuit suspects surrender after barricade in Los Angeles County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

Authorities arrested a group of suspects who were barricaded inside a home following a high-speed pursuit in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night.Five occupants were inside the vehicle during the chase. The suspects were initially pulled over for not having a license plate, according to the California Highway Patrol.When officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, they refused to cooperate and sped off.The vehicle was seen traveling at high speeds, hitting 125 miles per hour at times while swerving dangerously amid freeway traffic.Authorities arrested a group of suspects barricaded inside a home following a high-speed pursuit in Los Angeles County on May 23, 2023. (KTLA)The vehicle stopped near West 61st Street and South Grand Avenue when all occupants hopped out of the car and sprinted into the backyard patio door of a home in the neighborhood.After a short time, the suspects barricaded inside the home and surrendered to police officers waiting outside.

CCS, NCS baseball playoffs: Tuesday’s semifinal results, championship matchups

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.North Coast SectionDivision ITuesday’s semifinalsNo. 1 De La Salle 12, No. 12 Pittsburg 9No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter 10, No. 2 San Ramon Valley 1Friday’s finalNo. 3 Clayton Valley Charter (22-5) vs. No. 1 De La Salle (23-5) at Diablo Valley College, 5 p.m.  Division IISaturday’s quarterfinalsNo. 1 Casa Grande 4, No. 9 San Marin 2No. 5 Redwood 8, No. 4 Ukiah 4No. 7 Benicia 9, No. 2 Windsor 1No. 6 Maria Carrillo 8, No. 3 Marin Catholic 7Wednesday’s semifinalsNo. 5 Redwood (19-8) at No. 1 Casa Grande (21-5), 5 p.m.No. 7 Benicia (15-10-1) at No. 6 Maria Carrillo (15-9), 5 p.m.Division IIITuesday’s semifinals...

NCS softball playoffs: How Livermore upset Division II’s top seed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

Division IINo. 5 Livermore 8, No. 1 Redwood 2Livermore’s bats have been torrid throughout the North Coast Section Division II playoffs, scoring 12 runs in the opener against Windsor and another eight in a victory over Antioch.Redwood’s pitching staff had little luck slowing down the Cowboys’ offense as Livermore produced 11 hits, six of which went for extra bases.Junior Jae Cosgriff led the charge, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and a home run with two RBIs. Senior teammate Alizabeth Ruiz tied her for the team lead in RBIs while also going 2 for 4 at the plate.Sophomore Sophie Gerochi was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI for Livermore, which scored four runs in the third inning, one in the fifth and three in the sixth.Complementing the spectacular hitting was excellent pitching. Savanna Froke went the distance, striking out five and walking just one as the team improved to 15-11.Livermore will play Casa Grande at San Marin high school in the final on Friday.No. 2 C...

CCS, NCS softball playoffs: Tuesday’s semifinal results, championship matchups

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.NCSDivision ITuesday’s semifinalNo. 3 California 9, No. 2 Granada 1Wednesday’s semifinalNo. 4 Freedom (18-9) at No. 1 San Ramon Valley (22-5), 5 p.m.Division IITuesday’s semifinalsNo. 5 Livermore 8, No. 1 Redwood 2No. 2 Casa Grande 5, No. 3 Alameda 0Friday’s finalNo. 2 Casa Grande (24-4) vs. No. 5 Livermore (15-11) at San Marin high school, 5 p.m.Related ArticlesHigh School Sports | CCS, NCS baseball playoffs: Tuesday’s semifinal results, championship matchups High School Sports | NCS softball playoffs: How Livermore upset Division II’s top seed High Schoo...

UK inflation falls to lowest level in over a year but food prices remain elevated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Official figures show that inflation in the U.K. has fallen to its lowest level since the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which caused energy and food costs to surge.The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that the consumer price index dropped to 8.7% in the year to April from 10.1% in March, largely because last year’s energy spike in the wake of the invasion dropped out of the annual comparison. The fall took inflation to its lowest level since March 2022, a month after the war began.Though welcome, the fall wasn’t as big as anticipated. The consensus in financial markets was that it would ease back further to 8.3%,The main reason why inflation is consistently running higher than anticipated is that food prices remain elevated. “The rate of inflation fell notably as the large energy price rises seen last year were not repeated this April, but was offset partially by increases in the cost of second-hand cars and cigaret...

German police conduct searches in investigation of climate activists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:34 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Authorities raided 15 properties across Germany on Wednesday and seized assets in an investigation into the financing of protests by the Last Generation climate activist group, prosecutors said.Munich prosecutors said they were investigating seven people, ranging in age from 22 to 38, on suspicion of forming or supporting a criminal organization. They launched the inquiry following numerous criminal complaints they received since mid-2022.Members of Last Generation have repeatedly blocked roads across Germany in an effort to pressure the government to take more drastic action against climate change.In recent weeks, they have brought the traffic to a halt on an almost daily basis in Berlin, gluing themselves to busy intersections and highways. Over the past year, they have also targeted various art works and exhibits. Their tactics have drawn sharp criticism. On Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he thought it was “completely nutty to somehow stick yourself to a painti...