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Arab leaders, joined by Syria’s Assad and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, convene summit in Saudi Arabia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Arab leaders, joined by Syrian President Bashar Assad for the first time in more than a decade, were holding an annual summit Friday in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on Sudan and other conflicts — and a surprise visit by Ukraine’s president.The meeting comes as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pursues regional diplomacy with the same vigor he previously brought to the oil-rich kingdom’s confrontation with its archrival Iran and regional proxies. In recent months, Saudi Arabia has restored diplomatic ties with Iran, is ending the kingdom’s yearslong war against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen and has led the push for Syria’s return to the Arab League, 12 years after its membership was suspended over Assad’s bloody crackdown against Arab Spring protests.The Saudis have even offered to mediate between Ukraine and Russia, following a prisoner exchange deal they brokered last year.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday he has...

Pakistan’s Imran Khan dials down campaign of defiance, allows police search of home for suspects

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan dialed down his campaign of defiance on Friday, saying he would allow a police search of his home over allegations that he was harboring suspects wanted in recent violence during anti-government protests by his supporters. Khan, who is facing about 100 legal cases against him, also appeared before a court in his hometown of Lahore to seek protection from arrest in multiple terrorism cases that authorities have raised against the country’s top opposition leader.He also condemned days of violence in which his supporters attacked public property and military installations after he was dragged out of a courtroom and arrested in a graft case in the capital, Islamabad, last week. At least 10 people were killed in clashes between his supporters and police across the country.The rioting subsided only when Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Khan’s release. Police sought Khan on charges of inciting supporters of his Pakis...

Zelenskyy to attend G7 summit Sunday as world leaders tighten sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies vowed Friday to tighten punishments on Russia for its 15-month invasion of Ukraine, days before President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joins the Group of Seven summit in person on Sunday.“Our support for Ukraine will not waver,” the G7 leaders said in a statement released after closed-door meetings, vowing “to stand together against Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”“Russia started this war and can end this war,” they said. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, confirmed on national television that Zelenskyy would attend the summit.“We were sure that our president would be where Ukraine needed him, in any part of the world, to solve the issue of stability of our country,” Danilov said Friday. “There will be very important matters decided there, so physical presence is a crucial thing to defend our interests.” Zelenskyy on Fri...

WestJet ramping up after reaching deal with pilots, but warns it will take time

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

CALGARY — The WestJet Group says it’s ramping up operations as quickly as possible after reaching a last-minute deal with the airline’s pilots to avert a strike.However, it warns that the full resumption of operations will take time and encouraged travellers to continue to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a tentative agreement to avoid the job action early this morning.The airline had grounded the bulk of its fleet Thursday, including for its Swoop subsidiary, ahead of the strike deadline today.The shutdown affected dozens of routes within Canada and to the U.S. and overseas, while flights at the WestJet Encore regional service and the WestJet-owned Sunwing Airlines were unaffected.WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the agreement with the pilots provides “meaningful improvements to job security and scope, working conditions and wages.”This report by The Canadian Press was...

Britain unveils $1.2B strategy to boost computer chip industry

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government unveiled its long-awaited semiconductor strategy Friday, catching up with similar efforts by Western allies seeking to reduce reliance on Asian production of the computer chips that are essential to modern life. Under U.K. plan, the country’s semiconductor industry will get up to 1 billion pounds ($1.2 billion) in government investment over the next decade. The amount is dwarfed by the U.S. Chips Act, which provides $52 billion in government incentives, and the European Union’s $43 billion euro ($46 billion) chip program. The money provided by the British government will be focused on research and development, design and intellectual property and on cutting-edge compound semiconductors. The first 200 million pounds will be provided between 2023 and 2025. “Our new strategy focuses our efforts on where our strengths lie, in areas like research and design, so we can build our competitive edge on the global stage,” Prime Ministe...

China warns against ‘geopolitical games’ as US announces Blinken trip to Papua New Guinea

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China on Friday warned against the introduction of “geopolitical games” in the South Pacific following the announcement that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Papua New Guinea next week. The U.S. opted to send Blinken after President Joe Biden canceled what was to have been a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as a visit to Australia for a meeting of leaders of the so-called Quad partnership so he can focus on debt limit talks in Washington. The administration has made putting a greater focus on the Pacific region central to its global outreach, largely to counter China’s growing influence there. “China has no objection to normal exchanges and cooperation between relevant parties and Pacific Island countries, and has always advocated that the international community should pay more attention to and support the development and revitalization of the island countries,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing. However, Wan...

Ukraine’s president begins visit to Saudi Arabia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday he had begun a visit to Saudi Arabia, where Arab leaders are holding a summit.Zelenskyy said in a tweet that his aim is to “enhance bilateral relations and Ukraine’s ties with the Arab world.”Among other topics he mentioned were Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a peace “formula,” and energy cooperation.The Associated Press

Hyundai, Kia agree to pay $200 million to settle lawsuit after rise in thefts

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

(The Hill) - Automakers Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc. have agreed to pay roughly $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit after the car companies saw a rise in thefts.“The agreement, which could be valued at approximately $200 million depending on how many customers elect to participate, will provide cash compensation for customers who incurred theft-related vehicle losses or damage not covered by insurance, in addition to reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums, and other theft-related losses,” Hyundai said in a release.Security concerns about certain Hyundai and Kia car models were raised after a viral TikTok challenge highlighted security weak points and showed how to hot-wire the vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration said in February that the social media challenge had led to at least 14 crashes and eight fatalities. Hyundai and Kia rolled out free software updates to shore up the cars’ security, for wh...

More than 30 million drivers don't know if they're at risk from a rare but dangerous airbag blast

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — More than 33 million people in the United States are driving vehicles that contain a potentially deadly threat: Airbag inflators that in rare cases can explode in a collision and spew shrapnel.Few of them know it.And because of a dispute between federal safety regulators and an airbag parts manufacturer, they aren't likely to find out anytime soon.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is demanding that the manufacturer, ARC Automotive of Knoxville, Tennessee, recall 67 million inflators that could explode with such force as to blow apart a metal canister and expel shrapnel. But ARC is refusing to do so, setting up a possible court fight with the agency. Hyundai, Kia agree to pay $200 million to settle lawsuit after rise in thefts NHTSA argues that the recall is justified because two people have been killed in the United States and Canada and at least seven others have been injured by ARC's inflators. The explosions, which first occurred in 2009, have co...

Youth mental health awareness campaign aimed at parents, caregivers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:02:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Public Health and Integral Care Wednesday announced a public awareness campaign aimed at getting parents and caregivers to help children and teens when it comes to mental health. According to APH, there has been a national rise in depression, trauma, and suicidality among youth, which resulted in a declaration of a national state of emergency in children's mental health. APH said those trends are mirrored in Austin and Travis County, which is why APH and Integral Care launched a public awareness campaign called "Ask, Listen, Talk, Repeat." The campaign aims to help parents and caregivers start critical conversations with children and youth about mental health. According to APH, suicide deaths among children and youth in the City of Austin rose by 65% in five years.  Suicide was the underlying cause of death for 33 people aged 24 and younger in 2022.  In that same year, children and youth in Travis County visited emergency departments a total of 40,254 tim...