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Pride and pain for Biden as his son Hunter reaches a plea deal after 5 years of investigation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden had just six words to offer after his 53-year-old son Hunter pleaded guilty to federal tax offenses in a deal that is also likely to spare him time behind bars on a weapons charge.“I’m very proud of my son,” he said.That pride has been accompanied by pain, and for the president’s family, both have been on public display. Republicans have worked to use Hunter Biden’s actions — and his acknowledged struggle with addiction — as an anchor to try to drag down his father.As a parent, Joe Biden has tried to keep his son close; they speak almost every day. Hunter was at his father’s side on a recent trip to Ireland, on the lawn of the White House with other family members for the Easter egg roll and in the bleachers with his mom and dad as his daughter graduated from college last month. But out of public view, a five-year criminal investigation was coming to a conclusion, with a plea deal announced Tuesday that resolves the probe into the taxes and fore...

Cooperation or competition? China’s security industry sees the US, not AI, as the bigger threat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — After years of breakneck growth, China’s security and surveillance industry is now focused on shoring up its vulnerabilities to the United States and other outside actors, worried about risks posed by hackers, advances in artificial intelligence and pressure from rival governments.The renewed emphasis on self-reliance, combating fraud and hardening systems against hacking was on display at the recent Security China exhibition in Beijing, illustrating just how difficult it will be to get Beijing and Washington to cooperate even as researchers warn that humankind faces common risks from AI. The show took place just days after China’s ruling Communist Party warned officials of the risks posed by artificial intelligence.Looming over the four-day meet: China’s biggest geopolitical rival, the United States. American-developed AI chatbot ChatGPT was a frequent topic of conversation, as were U.S. efforts to choke off China’s access to cutting-edge technology.“This new technol...

In The News for Wednesday, June 21, 2023: What do Canadians think about wildfires?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 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 Wednesday, June 21, 2023 …What we are watching in Canada …More than one in four Canadians told a polling firm this week that they have been affected by the record-setting wildfires that have rocked much of Canada over the spring, and more than three in four say they think there are more fires now than in the past.But, 23 per cent of Americans said they have been directly or indirectly affected by fires this year.In Alberta, where the fires have been particularly troublesome for two months, almost 40 per cent of respondents said they had been affected by the fires.The Leger poll surveyed 1,500 Canadians and 1,000 Americans online between June 16 and 19.It comes just after Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an updated summer forecast that predicts the conditions that led to the spring wildfire catastrophe ...

One in four Canadians say they have been affected by wildfires this year: poll

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

OTTAWA — More than one in four Canadians told a polling firm this week that they have been affected by the record-setting wildfires that have rocked much of Canada over the spring, and more than three in four say they think there are more fires now than in the past.The Leger poll comes just after Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an updated summer forecast that predicts the conditions that led to the spring wildfire catastrophe are not going to let up in July and August.“Canadians have experienced a hot and dry spring,” said Environment Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Armel Castellan.“Current seasonal forecasts suggest the anomalously hot conditions will continue across the country this summer.”He said that means the risk of a high number of wildfires, more evacuations and smoke-filled skies continues.There have been more than 2,700 wildfires in Canada so far this year, which have burned 59,000 square kilometres of forest and other land. ...

After escaping violence and persecution, LGBTQ refugees find peace in Canada

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

Paul Canary Kanyamu says life felt like “hell on Earth” before he escaped violence and found refuge in Canadaabout two months ago.“I was punched, I was pushed into a ditch, my leg was broken and I was brutally assaulted countless times,” the 26-year-old, who was born in Uganda and identifies as gay, recalls in an interview about the years he spent in East Africabefore his arrival to Vancouver.“I was brutally assaulted by my own parents and the community. They threatened to kill me through poisoning. It was really, very sad time.”Despite how difficult it is to tell their stories, the human rights activist and other LGBTQ refugees say they want Canadians to learn more about how brutally the community is being persecutedaround the world.Earlier this year, Uganda became the latest country to passan anti-gay bill making it a crime to identify as gay, and imposing tough sentences, including the death penalty in some cases.The CEO of Rainbow Railroad, a ...

‘There’s just sorrow:’ Bus driver says rides must continue in wake of deadly crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

DAUPHIN, Man. — Doug Westhouse sits straight behind the wheel of a 12-passenger bus driving along a rural Manitoba highway waiting for the next call for a ride. The coordinator and driver for Grand Plains Handivan in Greenview, Man., slows the hefty vehicle down as an oncoming semi-trailer truck passes by on Highway 5.He says he’s been thinking a lot about another minibus, not much larger than the one he drives, that crashed with a semi last week on the same road. Fifteen seniors on the bus were killed.“There’s just sorrow,” Westhouse says.The bus was heading south on Highway 5, carrying a group of seniors from Dauphin and the surrounding area to a casino Thursday, when it crossed the Trans-Canada Highway and went into the path of the truck near the town of Carberry, some 190 kilometres to the south. Health officials have said 10 others on the bus, including the driver, were in hospital. Five were in critical condition.“Being familiar with that corner, it’s a dangerous corner,” says...

Tackling B.C.’s largest ever wildfire means letting some of it burn, province says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

Mark Healey, an incident commander with the BC Wildfire Service, says he took a 2 1/2 hour flight over the southern flank of the enormous Donnie Creek fire in northeastern British Columbia.“I never saw either end of the fire,” says Healey, who’s in the middle of a two-week stint managing what is B.C.’s largest ever wildfire. At 5,500 square kilometres, it is almost as big as Prince Edward Island.Tackling it demands a shift in tactics. Instead of striving to extinguish the vast blaze, the BC Wildfire Service is focused on protecting homes and infrastructure, while letting other areas burn. The service says it may be winter before the fire is out.With a perimeter of more than 900 kilometres, the fire is burning across a remote area about 160 kilometres north of Fort St. John, where the forests and vegetation are thick and numerous roads are only available in the winter, Healey says.He says those factors add to the challenge of ensuring the safety of more than 2...

Daily horoscope for June 21, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Leo.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, June 21, 2023:You are intelligent, intense and focused, and you have many talents. You are sociable and like to be busy. This is a year of reflection and learning for you. (Some will teach.) Explore philosophies that will give you a better self-awareness and get you closer to the true meaning of your life.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★This is a wonderful day to socialize with others and enjoy playful activities with kids. Accept all invitations to the arts, sports events and hanging out with others. This is also a great date day! Your bottom line is you want to have fun! (You’re very convincing today.) Tonight: Socialize!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Be open to entertaining friends and loved ones at home today. It will be a success. Any gathering at your home will be upbeat and joyful. Financial discussions could ultimately benefit your family or your ...

Russia rejects UN help as death toll from breached dam rises

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

Moscow declined United Nations offers to help residents affected by the flooding from the breached Kakhovka Dam, the world body said on Sunday (18 June), as the death toll rose and filthy water has forced the closing of beaches in southern Ukraine.The collapse of the Moscow-controlled dam on 6 June unleashed floodwaters across southern Ukraine and Russia-occupied parts of the Kherson region, destroying homes and farmland, and cutting off supplies to residents.The death toll has risen to 52, with Russian officials saying 35 people had died in Moscow-controlled areas and Ukraine's interior ministry saying 17 had died and 31 were missing. More than 11,000 have been evacuated on both sides.The UN urged Russia to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law."Aid cannot be denied to people who need it," Denise Brown, UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Ukraine, said in a statement.Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the Soviet-era dam, under Russian control ...

Miss Manners: What I failed to teach my 5-year-old has become a problem

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:22 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Ten years ago, I was a working single mom to a loving, but rather difficult, 5-year-old boy.Not having enough bandwidth for everything, I decided to pick my battles in raising him. I focused on the behaviors that were the most important to me, like being punctual, contributing to household chores, sending thanks for gifts and thinking about others’ feelings.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Why do they text me these boring pictures? Advice | Miss Manners: My party guest criticized my hosting to my face Advice | Miss Manners: Should I announce my tipping intentions upfront? Advice | Miss Manners: I was hurt that her caffeine fix was more important than my child’s party Advice | Miss Manners: A neighbor was inexcusably rude to our new acquaintance Other things, like table manners, I let go, hoping that he would pick them up by observation, and if not, that I could teach ...