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Report: Car bombing near Syria’s Damascus wounds 5 officers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A car bombing close to a police station near the Syrian capital wounded five officers on Wednesday, state media reported. The reports, citing the Interior Ministry, did not provide further details on the explosion in the neighborhood of Barzeh, just north of Damascus. The state SANA news agency circulated photos of a charred car with investigators assessing the damage.A pro-government radio station cited a police source and said the car that exploded was a “private vehicle.” No group immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. The explosion comes as Syrian President Bashar Assad is making strides in restoring ties with the Arab world. Syria was readmitted into the Arab League on Sunday following a 12-year suspension. On Tuesday, the Syrian and Saudi foreign ministries announced the reopening of their diplomatic missions.The Associated Press

Toyota’s profits rise as global chips supply crunch subsides

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota’s January-March profit edged up 3% from the previous year on robust sales as a chips supply crunch gradually eased. Toyota Motor Corp. racked up 552.2 billion yen ($4 billion) in quarterly net profit, up from 533.8 billion yen ($3.9 billion), according to results released Wednesday. Quarterly sales soared nearly 20% to 9.69 trillion yen ($72 billion).For the fiscal year ended in March, profit at Japan’s top automaker fell 14% on-year to 2.45 trillion yen ($18 billion). But it’s forecasting profit to rise 5.2% for the current fiscal year to 2.58 trillion yen ($19 billion).Automakers worldwide have been hurt by a shortage of computer chips and other auto parts because of restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic that crimped production in various countries.Toyota said soaring raw material costs also hurt its bottom line.The automaker’s sales for the fiscal year that ended in March rose across global regions, including Japan, the United States, Europe and other mar...

In The News for May 10 : Wildfires continue to rage throughout Alberta

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 10 …What we are watching in Canada …The Alberta government says fire danger continues to be extreme in most of the province except the Rockies, where lower danger levels were expected.Some areas have experienced cooler temperatures and some rain, but the government says a return to hot and windy conditions is expected in the coming days.Indigenous Services Canada said Tuesday that nine First Nations were under threat by active wildfires.One of them was Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, about 360 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, where 1,600 people were forced to leave after fire destroyed 45 structures and power infrastructure.As of early Wednesday morning, Alberta’s wildfire status dashboard was reporting 81 active wildfires in the province, including 27 listed as out of control.Firefighters from Yukon, Britis...

Imran Khan due in court as Pakistan braces for more violence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan braced for more turmoil a day after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was dragged from court in Islamabad and his supporters clashed with police across the country. The 70-year-old opposition leader is expected in court later Wednesday for a hearing in which a judge will be asked to approve keeping him in custody for up to 14 days.Khan, who lost power last year but remains the country’s most popular opposition figure, is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. The arrest deepened political turmoil and sparked violent demonstrations. At least one person was killed in the southwestern city of Quetta, and dozens were wounded in various parts of the country. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party called for demonstrators to remain peaceful hours after mobs angered over the dramatic arrest set fire to the residence of a top army general in the eastern city of Lahore.Khan was appearing in court on multiple graft charges brought by ...

Fire danger continues to be ‘extreme’ in most parts of province: Alberta government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

The Alberta government says fire danger continues to be extreme in most of the province except the Rockies, where lower danger levels were expected.Some areas have experienced cooler temperatures and some rain, but the government says a return to hot and windy conditions is expected in the coming days.Indigenous Services Canada said Tuesday that nine First Nations were under threat by active wildfires.One of them was Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, about 360 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, where 1,600 people were forced to leave after fire destroyed 45 structures and power infrastructure.As of early Wednesday morning, Alberta’s wildfire status dashboard was reporting 81 active wildfires in the province, including 27 listed as out of control.Firefighters from Yukon, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec have arrived in Alberta to help, and the government said late Tuesday that crews were also expected from New Brunswick, Oregon and Alaska.This report by The Canadian Press was first...

Municipalities asked Alberta’s United Conservatives to keep aerial wildfire fighters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

EDMONTON — Alberta’s 2019 decision to cancel funding for an elite wildfire-fighting crew in 2019 came despite pleas to keep the Rapattack program from at least three municipalities, including one that has since been evacuated during this spring’s blazes.“Rapattack is a pivotal program in the fight against wildfire and without them communities will be losing a valuable resource,” wrote Jim Hailes, then mayor of Fox Creek, to Devin Dreeshen, then the United Conservative forestry minister. Fox Creek’s 1,700 residents are expected to be out of their homes until at least Wednesday. Rapattack firefighters are rappelled from helicopters to douse wildfires while they still only covered a few hectares. They could extinguish small fires before they merge and clear landing spaces for other helicopters to bring in crews and gear.There were once 63 such firefighters stationed around the province before the government cancelled the program in 2019, saving $1.4 millio...

German chancellor, state officials meet for migration summit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has invited top officials of the country’s 16 states for a summit Wednesday on the growing number of asylum-seekers and the lack of housing and spaces in schools or kindergartens for them.The federal government and the states have been arguing for months over who gets to pay for the rising costs.In addition to the more than 1 million Ukrainians who came to Germany last year looking for shelter from Russia’s war on their country, the number of asylum-seekers is also up steeply. Ukrainians receive refugee status in Germany immediately and don’t need to apply for asylum.In 2022, more than 244,000 people applied for asylum in Germany. In the first four months of this year, 101,981 people applied for asylum — an increase of 78% compared with the previous year, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. Experts estimate that up to 300,000 migrants could apply for asylum in Germany this year.Many of those now arriving...

Give STL Day

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

https://www.givestlday.org/

Daily horoscope for May 10, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. EDT today (4:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Capricorn into Sagittarius.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, May 10, 2023:You have enormous energy and drive, which you often use to benefit others because you are a determined idealist. You set high standards for yourself and others. Simplicity is the key to life this year. Take charge of your health. Physical exercise will be important. Stay grounded and levelheaded.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★For some reason, people seem to know personal details about your private life today. Be aware of this in case you have to do some damage control. We all have secrets and skeletons in our closets. (Especially those who claim they don’t.) Tonight: Patience.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★You will feel happier today if you can change your routine or do something different. You want a little excitement in your life! Ideally, you would love to...

Spain considers ending or curbing controversial 'golden visa' scheme

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:42 GMT

Spain may end its "golden visa" programme that gives residency rights to foreigners investing in real estate. This is according to the leader a left-wing political party negotiating with the government on the issue.Inigo Errejon, the leader of the Mas Pais political party, told reporters that his party and the Social Security Ministry had reached an agreement to end the program. The programme allows property buyers who spend at least €500,000, as well as their families, to receive a three-year residence permit.Errejon stated that "Spanish citizenship can't be bought" and added that the golden visas have led to an "brutal rise" in housing prices, forcing locals from their neighborhoods without creating new jobs.The ministry refused to confirm any plans to end the program. Officials familiar with the discussions said that no agreement has yet been reached, as the ministry is still studying the proposals of political parties.El Pais reported earlier on Monday (8 May) that Spain is cons...