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China exports up 8.5% in April in unexpected climb

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese exports grew in April by 8.5% to $295.4 billion compared with a year earlier, in spite of weakening global demand.But imports shrank at a faster pace, with the total slumping 7.9% to $205.2 billion compared to the same time last year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. The Associated Press

Emergency declared, student missing in New Zealand floods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Authorities in Auckland declared a state of emergency Tuesday as flooding again hit New Zealand’s largest city.Further north in the city of Whangārei, a high school student was missing after a school group that was exploring caves got into trouble when floodwaters hit.Fire and emergency crews said they had responded to more than 200 calls, most of them in Auckland. Many were for floodwaters entering buildings, but they had also responded to landslides, falling trees and trapped cars.Severe weather has plagued the North Island this year. In January, four people were killed when floodwaters hit Auckland. In February, 11 people died when Cyclone Gabrielle hit. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a difficult time for the region.“We will get through this. We will support Auckland through it,” he told reporters. “We know that it’s tough coming on top of everything else that they’ve been dealing with, but right now my request to people ...

Dubai main airport sees over 21.2M passengers in early 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai International Airport had over 21.2 million passengers pass through its terminals in the first quarter of the year, potentially nearing numbers it saw before the coronavirus pandemic grounded air traffic around the world. The Dubai airport, the home of the long-haul carrier Emirates, is the world’s busiest for international travel and serves as a bellwether for the global aviation industry. “DXB’s performance in the first quarter has exceeded our expectations and reflects the strong growth in demand that we are continuing to see across our key markets,” Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement, using its three-letter airport code.With China further easing travel restrictions and Saudi Arabia lifting all pandemic restrictions for the yearly hajj pilgrimage, Dubai International Airport likely will see millions more passengers come through the key East-West transit point.The airport said Tuesday it had increased its 2023 ...

Has tip-flation reached its peak?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

Grabbing that lunchtime coffee and sandwich is likely costing you a little more these days as Canadians contend with what’s been dubbed ‘tip-flation.’ Not only are tip expectations higher, the tip prompt screens seem to be popping up more often and in unexpected places. But according to one University of Victoria professor who has conducted research on tipping practices, the tide could be turning. “In the last few years we’ve seen a big shift in where and how we tip in Canada and I think that’s given rise to a lot of reflection among people about what role tipping should play when we compensate people in our country,” said Simon Pek, Associate Professor at the Gustavson School of Business. Earlier this year, an Angus-Reid poll found that the majority of Canadians (59 per cent) would prefer to do away with tipping altogether in favour of a ‘service-included’ model and higher base wages for employees. It is a significant change, according to Pek, who says this perspective ...

Projections: Texas baseball could be on the road to start NCAA tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With two weeks left in the regular season and still mathematically in the Big 12 Conference title race, the Texas Longhorns baseball team has to get some help if they want the regular season title. According to two major college baseball publications, they also need some help to be a regional host in the NCAA tournament.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersBoth D1Baseball.com and Baseball America prognosticators think, as of right now, that the Longhorns are going to hit the road when the regional tournaments roll around in early June. The selection committee will make their picks at 11 a.m., May 29, and the formula for the Longhorns to flip the script is simple — just win. Baseball America periodically updates its projections for the entire field of 64 teams and in their latest update May 3, they have the Longhorns staying close to home, at least. The outle...

Nassau County men convicted of kidnapping, severely beating Schenectady man

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three men were convicted of kidnapping and severely beating a man in Schenectady in October 2021. The Schenectady County District Attorney's Office said Dwayne Henderson, 26, Danny Harrell, 21, and Dieago Harrell, 19, beat up a man and posted the video on Snapchat. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Around 11 a.m. on October 25, 2021, the three men went to the victim's Schenectady home, kidnapped him, and took him to a home on Albany Street. Officials said the victim was held there for 22 hours where he was beaten, stomped on, and a dog was encouraged to bite him several times.The man was abducted after he drove Henderson to the hospital the day before for stomach pains. Henderson gave the victim a bag of drugs that was supposed to go to Danny. Henderson and Danny, however, decided the victim stole the drugs and kidnapped him with the help of Dieago.Police were alerted to the videos on Snapchat an...

Ahoy! Navy Week is celebrated around St. Louis region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The USS St. Louis sailors and the Navy Band Great Lakes took the stage at Whiteside Middle School in Belleville Monday for "Navy Week."“This is Navy Week St. Louis, and we are coming out and performing as much as we can around the area of St. Louis," said Christopher Cornette, Lt. Commander for the U.S. Navy. "Trying to meet the people of St. Louis and let them meet us."Other members of the Navy Band Great Lakes stopped at the Humboldt Academy of Higher Learning in St. Louis and the Missouri Botanical Garden.The middle school students got acquainted with the accompanist and brass section of what Woodrow Wilson once called, “America’s Band.” Check the radar - Severe weather expected “It was great for our kids to hear all the wonderful music and to hear about all the jobs in the United States Navy and also the STEM jobs,” said Monica Laurent, principal of Whiteside Middle School. “It’s very important that we’re preparing our students for the STEM fields.”Meanwhile, at Si...

Family mourns siblings struck and killed on I-170 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - The Missouri State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the deaths of 39-year-old Crystal Bounds and 29-year-old Harvey McGee. The siblings were struck and killed early Saturday morning on northbound Interstate 170, just south of I-70.A patrol spokesperson said it appears the two siblings exited a vehicle and were on the interstate when they were struck. Bounds turned 29 years old on Friday.“You can never prepare for a tragedy like this when you lose two loved ones in one night,” said Howard Bounds, an uncle of the two siblings. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects He said Crystal was a mother of three and a dedicated kindergarten teacher with St. Louis Public Schools before teaching in East St. Louis.McGee was a father of two and worked at the Renaissance Hotel near St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The families are planning a balloon release on the top lot in the rear of the hotel on Tuesday at 7 p.m.Howard said the grievi...

Prosecutors rethink working in St. Louis while trial crises remain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS – FOX 2 has learned that at least one employee in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, who resigned in frustration, has withdrawn that resignation. We’ve also learned about others who left are now thinking about returning.Those ripples started immediately following St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s announcement last that she’s resigning, effective June 1.It’s also important to keep in mind the families impacted by crime, who still fear justice for them, may already be lost.“I’m my son’s voice,” said Neekia Danfort, who wears her son Isaiah’s name on her arm and glasses. “Just to know he’s always with me.”“I don’t think you ever caught him really upset,” she said.Isaiah was killed January 2022 in the Carondelet neighborhood, by a suspect with an AR-type rifle. He was 25. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects The accused shooter, Quinton Roberts, was supposed to go to trial this past April, when Danfort said the prosecutor did not show.“It’...

Overwhelming number of 911 calls during weekend crime spree in St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS - FOX 2 obtained a new video of people openly carrying what appear to be assault-style rifles around 6:30 a.m. Monday in downtown St. Louis. It comes after nearly 20 people were shot and five killed in the city over the weekend, according to police. Police were so overwhelmed with calls that they couldn't answer them all. Passengers on a Gateway Arch Riverboat cruise were stranded on the boat on the Mississippi River Saturday night. They were afraid to go to their cars parked along the riverfront amid the chaos there: reckless driving, cars blocking traffic, and people firing guns. Police admitted they could not respond right away because of an avalanche of calls: 639 calls for service citywide in 12 hours from 3:00 p.m. Saturday to 3:00 a.m. Sunday; 173 calls were in District 4, which includes downtown; 55 of those calls were pending at the same time, according to police.  Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects “Even though we we...