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Leclerc asks for patience from F1 drivers as rain threatens to hit Belgian GP at Spa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc urged his fellow Formula One drivers not to complain if wet conditions affect racing at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.With rain expected at Spa-Francorchamps, Leclerc says impatience should never influence safety on a circuit where two drivers from other racing series have died from crashes in the past four years.Because this weekend has a sprint-race format on Saturday, qualifying for Sunday’s race takes place on Friday with only one practice session. It means a heavy downpour could potentially curtail that lone practice and send drivers into qualifying without any track time.“(Safety) needs to be the priority,” Leclerc said Thursday. “First of all, us drivers, we shouldn’t complain if we don’t have any laps if it’s not safe to do so, with everything that has happened (in the past).”When Leclerc won the first race of his F1 career at the Belgian GP in 2019, it was the day after F2 driver Anthoine Hubert died following a multi-car crash...

Trump charged with new crimes in classified documents case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

Special counsel Jack Smith has brought three new felony charges against former President Donald Trump, including explosive claims that he asked an employee of his Mar-a-Lago club to delete security camera footage sought by investigators probing his handling of classified documents.In a 60-page superseding indictment unveiled Thursday, prosecutors also accused Trump of possessing a highly classified war plan that he shared with people lacking security clearances months after his presidency ended. And prosecutors added a third defendant: Carlos De Oliveira, a worker at Mar-a-Lago who is accused of joining Trump and aide Walt Nauta to seek the destruction of the security footage.The additional charges are another stunning chapter in prosecutors’ case against the former president, who has repeatedly professed that he “quickly” shared all security camera footage from his estate with the government.Trump now faces two new obstruction-of-justice charges related to the alleged attempt to er...

Japan raises alarm over China’s military, Russia ties and Taiwan tensions in new defense paper

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese government stepped up its alarm over China’s assertiveness, warning in a report issued Friday that the country faces its worst security threats since World War II as it plans to implement a new strategy that calls for a major military buildup.The 2023 defense white paper, approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet, is the first since the government adopted a controversial new National Security Strategy in December, seen as a break from Japan’s postwar policy limiting the use of force to self-defense.China, Russia and North Korea contribute to “the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II,” according to the 510-page report. It says China’s external stance and military activities have become a “serious concern for Japan and the international community and present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge.”On Thursday, Russian and Chinese delegates joined North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyong...

Hong Kong’s leader may be barred from a key economic summit. The city says that breaks conventions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong government on Friday called on the United States to invite its city leader to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, after reports that Washington would bar the top official from the major economic summit — a move likely to intensify China-U.S. tensions. On Thursday, the Washington Post quoted anonymous U.S. officials to report the White House’s decision to bar Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee from attending the economic leaders’ meeting in November. The reported move could undermine ongoing efforts to restore dialogue between Washington and Beijing after their relations have sunk to a historic low.Lee is one of the Hong Kong officials sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 after the enactment of a Beijing-imposed national security law. The tough law has prosecuted and silenced many of leading pro-democracy activists in the city following the massive 2019 pro-democracy protests. Growing numbers of young professionals have responded to the erosion of Hong...

French luxury group Kering to buy 30% stake in Valentino for 1.7 billion euros cash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

MILAN (AP) — French luxury conglomerate Kering has reached a cash deal to purchase a 30% stake in Italian fashion house Valentino for 1.7 billion euros from a Qatari investment firm.With the purchase, Kering is seeking to shore up its revenue stream as it struggles to turn around former powerhouse Gucci. Kering on Thursday reported first-half revenues of 10.1 billion euros, up 2%, as Gucci sales stagnate. Under the deal announced Thursday, Kering has the option to buy 100% of Valentino no later than 2028. The partnership could lead to the Qatari investment firm, Mayhoola, becoming a shareholder in Kering, as well as other potential “joint opportunities,” the statement said.Kering Chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault expressed admiration for “the evolution of Valentino under Mayhoola ownership,” which Kering said turned Valentino “into one of the most admired luxury houses in the world.”“I am very pleased of this first step in our collaboration with Mayhoola to develop Valentino a...

Sudan conflict brings new atrocities to Darfur as militias kill, rape, burn homes in rampages

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Amna al-Nour narrowly escaped death twice. The first was when militias torched her family’s home in Sudan’s Darfur region. The second was two months later when paramilitary fighters stopped her and others trying to escape as they tried to reach the border with neighboring Chad.“They massacred us like sheep,” the 32-year-old teacher said of the attack in late April on her home city Geneina. “They want to uproot us all.”Al-Nour and her three children now live in a school-turned-refugee housing inside Chad, among more than 260,000 Sudanese, mostly women and children, who have fled what survivors and rights groups say is a new explosion of atrocities in the large western region of Sudan.Two decades ago, Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias against populations that identify as Central or East African. Fears are mounting that that legacy is returning with reports of widespread killings, rapes and destruct...

Aid group official warns that impasse at the UN on border crossing puts 4.1 million Syrians at risk

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — An impasse at the United Nations over a border crossing with Syria’s last rebel-held enclave is putting 4.1 million Syrian there in danger, the president of the International Rescue Committee warned this week.David Miliband’s comments came more than two weeks after the U.N. Security Council failed to renew the mandate for the Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Syria and Turkey, which secures aid for Syrians in the enclave.The vast majority of people in northwestern Syria live in poverty and rely on aid to survive — a crisis that was further worsened by a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria in February. The earthquake killed more than 50,000 people, including over 6,000 in Syria, according to the United Nations. The quake also displaced hundreds of thousands of others.“The people of northwest Syria can ill afford a new wave of suffering, having lived through the trauma of the earthquake,” Miliband told The Associated P...

EU agri-food exports back at their April 2022 level amid curtailed trade

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

After the record high exports in March 2023, the EU agri-food trade slowed down in April 2023. Overall, EU exports remained at €17.8 billion in April 2023 due to higher exports prices, while EU imports were at €13bn resulting in an agri-food surplus of +€4.8bn. These are the main findings of the latest monthly agri-food trade report published today by the European Commission.In April 2023, a reduction in imports was observed across most products. Reduced imports were observed from Russia, Argentina, China, the Philippines and Moldova. On the other hand, imports of sugar and isoglucose have increased significantly. The most imported goods in value continued to be oilseed and protein crops, fruit and nuts, and coffee, tea, cocoa and spices.The top three destinations for EU agri-food exports between January and April 2023 remained the United Kingdom, the United States, and China.The top three countries of origin of imports between January and April 2023 were Brazil, the United Kingdom ...

The top 10 most expensive home sales in Hayward, reported the week of July 17

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

A house in Hayward that sold for $2.3 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Hayward in the past week.In total, 10 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.2 million. The average price per square foot was $580.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of July 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $875,000, detached house in the 700 block of Hampton RoadThe property in the 700 block of Hampton Road in Hayward has new owners. The price was $875,000. The house was built in 1960 and has a living area of 1,570 square feet. The price per square foot is $557. The house features three bedrooms and two bathrooms.Hampton Road9. $900,000, single-family house in the 100 block of Laurel AvenueThe 1,386 square-foot detached house in the 100 block of Laurel Avenue in Hayward has been sold. The transfer of ownership was set...

Mets trade closer David Robertson to Marlins for two minor leaguers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets began the process of dismantling the team with the largest payroll of all-time late Thursday night, trading closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins for two teenage minor leaguers.The Mets, who began the season with a $353 million payroll, beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 to improve to 48-54. They are seven games behind the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds, who are in a virtual tie for the last two NL wild-card spots.The trade results in a savings of nearly $6.75 million for the Mets. The Marlins pay the $3,548,387 remaining of Robertson’s $10 million salary. New York’s luxury tax bill is reduced by $3.19 million.“We didn’t have visions of this at the start of the season,” Mets general manager Billy Eppler said.The Marlins, with the seventh-lowest payroll in the majors at a little more than $91 million, are a half-game behind the Phillies and Reds after going 7-13 this month.Robertson warmed up in the eighth inning of a tie game before ...