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Statistics Canada says merchandise trade surplus $972 million in March

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country posted a merchandise trade surplus in March of $972 million as imports fell more than exports.The agency says the surplus compared with a revised deficit of $487 million in February. The initial reading for February released last month had indicated a surplus of $422 million.The reading for March came as total imports for the month fell 2.9 per cent to $62.6 billion, the lowest level observed since March 2022.Imports of consumer goods fell 11.0 per cent, mainly because imports of pharmaceutical products dropped 31.8 per cent. Imports of electronic and electrical equipment and parts lost 5.2 per cent.Meanwhile, total exports fell 0.7 per cent to $63.6 billion, the lowest level since February 2022. Exports of energy products dropped 5.9 per cent in the month, mainly because of lower exports of crude oil as both prices and volumes were lower in March.In volume terms, overall imports were down 5.3 per cent in March, while exports edged up 0.1 ...

In Ukraine’s forests, fighters race to prepare for next push

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

SOMEWHERE IN CENTRAL UKRAINE (AP) — The fighters depart at dawn, single-file, rifles slung, compasses in hand, and disappear like chameleons into the lush greenery of central Ukraine’s dense forests.They’re training for a long-anticipated campaign that Ukraine hopes will shift the momentum of its war with Russia. It’s a crash course in new assault tactics for the National Guard squad, a mix of volunteers whose ages range from 22 to 51. The squad is part of a brigade that’s been chosen to prepare for a counteroffensive, and it’s had just a few months to train on new skills and incorporate new recruits. By their own admission, the servicemen have outdated weapons, and many feared not enough training or resources. But they said when the time comes, they will be ready to fight.The Associated Press joined a unit of the Stalevy Kordon or Steel Border, a brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard. Over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, the war’s front lines have been all but static for months,...

Griner using new platform for greater good in return to WNBA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner caught a flight to Washington, D.C., to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, landed back at Phoenix around 4 a.m. and was up five hours later for the start of training camp.After going through her first workout with the Phoenix Mercury, she hopped on a plane to New York to attend the Met Gala, schmoozing with Usher, Patrick Mahomes and Dwyane Wade before returning to the desert. Griner didn’t get back until after 1 a.m. and was back on the court with the Mercury later that morning.“It’s been a whirlwind,” Griner said Wednesday at the Mercury’s media day. “I have a lot of respect for the stars that do that. It’s not me. I don’t how they do it. It was amazing, two big honors to be able to go and be there, but I’m taking a big nap today.”Griner mostly kept a low profile since a nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges ended with a prisoner swap in December. Now that the WNBA season is just ...

India army patrols streets to defuse clashes in remote state

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

GUWAHATI, India (AP) — The governor of a remote Indian state issued orders allowing district magistrates to shoot protesters, as soldiers patrolled the streets and enforced a curfew after thousands of people clashed, causing deaths and damage to homes and vehicles, officials said Thursday.Internet services were also suspended for five days in northeastern Manipur state bordering Myanmar to stop rumors from spreading on social media, according to N. Biren Singh, the state’s top elected official.The army has moved nearly 9,000 people from violence-hit districts to other areas after protesters vandalized shops and businesses, including hotels, and set some homes on fire, said an army officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.Violence rocked the area for nearly three hours on Wednesday and was brought under control by the army overnight, the Press Trust of India news agency said.To prevent more violence, state Governor Anusuiya Uikey ...

Texas bill allows secretary of state to overturn elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

(The Hill) - Texas lawmakers advanced a bill this week that would allow the secretary of state, who is handpicked by the governor, to overturn the results of an election in the state's largest county and order a new one.The bill targets Harris County, the largest in the state and the third-largest in the U.S., which includes Houston and has a population of around 4.7 million. It would allow the secretary of state, currently Republican Jane Nelson, to order a new election in the county if 2 percent or more of the polling locations ran out of ballot paper for more than an hour.Written to apply to counties with a population over 2.7 million — which only applies to Harris County in the state — the bill follows criticism by Republican lawmakers over polling issues in the county in the 2022 midterm elections. It passed the state Senate on Tuesday, and now must be considered in the House.Democratic-leaning Harris County faced a number of difficulties in the midterm elections, including tec...

California state senator arrested on drunk driving charge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

(KTLA) – California State Sen. Dave Min faces a misdemeanor DUI charge after he was pulled over for driving without headlights on and running through a red light in Sacramento, officials said.According to a statement from the Capitol Protection Section of the California Highway Patrol, CHP officers noticed Min’s silver Toyota Camry traveling southbound just blocks from the State Capitol without headlights around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday.“The officers followed the vehicle to 9th St. at Broadway where they observed the vehicle stop at a red light momentarily but then proceed into the intersection while the light remained red,” the agency said in a statement.Officers pulled over Min and noticed “signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.” He was arrested after officers determined he was over the legal limit, CHP said.It was unclear if he was administered a breathalyzer test.Min was cited for misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence with Blood Alcohol Content .08% or greater. He was book...

Dean's A-List Interviews: Rebecca Ferguson in 'Silo'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

Dean sits down with Rebecca Ferguson her role in 'Silo' which comes to Apple TV+ Friday.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Dean's A-List Interviews: Tim Robbins in Silo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

Dean sits down with Tim Robbins on his role in 'Silo' which comes to Apple TV+ Friday.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Lost dog found over 400 miles from Florida home returns 2 years later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

DADE CITY, Fla. (WFLA) – A dog that went missing from Dade City, Florida, two years ago was reunited with his owners Monday after a good Samaritan picked him up on the other side of the state. Jasmine Noffsinger and her sister spotted Hamm on the street in Pensacola while they were driving home from Starbucks. She said the dog looked thin, and she knew he needed help. "Something told me that we needed to grab him, so my sister pulled over and we got him in the car," Noffsinger said. Giant orange grasshoppers take over Florida home A veterinarian scanned Hamm's microchip. After contacting the company the chip was registered with, the dog's owner was determined to be Patricia DeWit — who lives nearly 450 miles away from Pensacola, in Dade City. When Noffsinger contacted the dog's owner, she said DeWit couldn't believe it. She told Noffdinger that Hamm had been missing since 2021.They agreed to meet in Tallahassee — halfway between Pensacola and Dade City — that same day.Hamm is enjo...

Austin City Council: Nixing parking requirements, addressing flooding issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council will meet Thursday. With dozens of items on the agenda, here's some of what we're watching: Nixing parking requirements Austin City Council could start the process of stripping mandatory parking minimums from its overarching zoning requirements. Council Member Zohaib Qadri put forward a resolution that could change the city’s land development code (LDC).Right now, the city mandates how many parking spots you’re required to have on a property. Transit and affordable housing advocates have for years asked the city to strip those requirements from the LDC to promote different forms of transit and allow for developers and small businesses to utilize land differently.“The science shows that arbitrary parking mandates encourage climate-killing car-dependence, induce suburban sprawl, drive up the cost of housing, and actively discourage new housing development,” Qadri said. READ THE FULL STORY: Austin could get rid of minimum parking requirements city...