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Solomon Islands leader visits Beijing, highlighting US-China rivalry in South Pacific

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Leaders of the Solomon Islands and China on Monday promised to expand relations that have fueled unease in Washington and Australia about Beijing’s influence in the South Pacific.Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare met Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the country’s No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang. Sogavare and Li presided over the signing of agreements on police, economic and technical cooperation.“We are here to further boost relations,” Sogavare told Li following a ceremony at which a Chinese military band played the Solomon Islands national anthem.The Solomon Islands, 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, has been China’s biggest success in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific. Sogavare’s government switched official recognition in 2019 to Beijing from Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy claimed by the mainland’s ruling Communist Party as part of its territory.“Solomon Islands, sir, has a lot to learn from China’s d...

Egypt’s inflation rate sets record high at 36.8% in June, official data show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s annual inflation rate set a record high in June, as the most populous Arab country continues to battle price hikes and a depreciating currency, the Egyptian statistics bureau said Monday.The annual inflation rate reached 36.8% last month, up from 33.7% recorded in May, according to data released by the state-run Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics.Prices in Egypt rose across many sectors, from food items and medical services to housing and furniture following the Russia-Ukraine war, which unleashed a wave of inflation across the globe.In Egypt, food and beverage prices, the main drivers of inflation, rose by 64.9% in June over the same time last year, the data released Monday showed. Grains, meat, poultry, fish, and fruit were among the products with the biggest price spikes.The inflation rate last month more than doubled compared to June 2022 when it was at 14.7%.Egypt, a country with over 105 million people, is the world’s largest wheat importer. Mo...

Thousands of children’s bikes recalled over handlebar issue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

Watch Video: Recall issued for popular children’s bike over handlebar issueFederal regulators have recalled more than 84,000 woom children’s bicycles over an issue in which the handlebar can potentially become detached from the rest of the bike.The recall applies to all woom Original bike models manufactured from 2018 to 2021, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.About 84,000 bikes — designed for children ages 18 months to 14 years old — were sold in the U.S., and more than 500 in Canada, the agency said.The safety commission received at least 77 reports of woom handlebar stems becoming detached or loosened, resulting in 19 injuries including bruises, cuts and abrasions.On its website, woom said the recalled bikes have a “one-bolt stem clamp design.”The recalled bikes, which retail for anywhere between $200 and $530, were sold at local stores — and through woom’s website and Amazon.com — between September 2018 and March 2022, according to t...

Surgen nuevos detalles sobre la enorme grieta en la viga de soporte de montaña rusa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

RALEIGH, Carolina del Norte — Una investigación en curso del Departamento de Trabajo de Carolina del Norte descubrió que una gran grieta en la columna de soporte de una imponente montaña rusa había sido visible durante al menos una semana antes de que el parque de diversiones cerrara por reparaciones.“Parece que entre seis y 10 días antes, se tomaron algunas fotografías que muestran el comienzo de la grieta y luego, obviamente, el viernes pasado, la cosa empeoró por completo”, dijo el viernes el comisionado laboral Josh Dobson en una entrevista a The Associated Press.El parque de diversiones Carowinds, con sede en Charlotte, fue investigado esta semana después de que apareció un video en internet de una montaña rusa en funcionamiento con una gran grieta en una de sus columnas. Las imágenes de Fury 325, conocida como una “giga montaña rusa” debido a su espectacular altura de 325 pies (99 metros), mostraban una viga de soporte clave doblándose con la parte superior visible...

‘Don’t put it off’: Cost concerns aren’t keeping Gen X, boomer travelers from the great getaway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

This summer, WTOP is taking you on a tour and exploring how adults 50 and older are spending their travels.They may not be doing it for the ‘Gram, the likes or their followers, but older adults are visiting top travel destinations, and they’re not letting recent inflation get in the way of checking items off in their bucket lists.“Don’t wait,” said Sally Matts of Waldorf, Maryland. “Don’t think you can keep putting things off, because you never know.”Matts, 71, has become an avid traveler since her retirement. She is a Road Scholar travel ambassador who has been on nine trips planned by the nonprofit organization, which provides education travel programs for those 50 and older. With an upcoming trip to Spain this fall, Matts is among older adult travelers who plan to take trips, despite inflation limiting some globe-trotters.Matts agreed that travel has always been expensive, but she believes that even when inflation subsides, prices w...

Denver weather: Hot and mostly dry week, fire concern

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) —  Denver weather will move into a pattern of sunshine and hot temperatures reaching the 90s for most of this week. Winds will also be gusty, so fire danger is a concern. Weather today: Hot and breezyWe are heating up to the low 90s this afternoon, which is seasonal for this time of the year. There will be mostly sunny skies and breezy winds, but an isolated storm chance is possible through the evening. The wind is the main concern with the hot temperatures meaning high fire danger.The storm chance is at 20% Monday and a low severe risk, but there could be a few storms along the Eastern Plains with strong winds and hail. Looking ahead: Summer HeatHot, dry, and breezy winds continue for most of the week.An isolated storm chance returns Friday and for the weekend. This will help to cool temperatures a bit with highs in the 80s.

WingAI app uses artificial intelligence to revolutionize online dating experience

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WSVN) — Dating in the digital age can be a daunting task, with the challenge of striking up a conversation with a complete stranger. Recognizing this common struggle, Tyler Henkel, a software engineer, has developed a solution to help single people navigate the complexities of online dating.Henkel, who noticed a prevalent issue with generic and uninspiring opening messages, decided to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist users in making meaningful connections. He created an app called WingAI that serves as a virtual wingman on popular dating platforms.“I could tell that a lot of guys struggle with crafting compelling messages on dating apps. Their go-to lines, such as ‘Hey, what’s up?’ or ‘How’s it going?’ often fail to stand out,” explained Henkel. The app, which primarily targets male users, but also caters to women, aims to enhance the dating experience by generating personalized icebreaker ...

Senator Chuck Schumer calls for FDA investigation into high caffeine content of PRIME Energy drinks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

New York (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on the US Food and Drug Administration to investigate the high caffeine content of PRIME Energy drinks, which he claims are being targeted to children as “one of the summer’s hottest beverages for kids.”Schumer said cans of PRIME Energy drinks contain more than double the caffeine of a can of Red Bull and six times more caffeine than a can of Coca-Cola. He warned parents the drink is gaining popularity on social media. The company does not recommend the drinks for anyone under the age of 18, according to information on its website. Schumer claimed marketing for the beverage is tempting for minors.Speaking at a news conference in New York on Sunday, Schumer said, “This stuff called PRIME … at just 12 ounces PRIME has an eye-popping level of caffeine and that’s giving parents and doctors the jitters for the kids that are targets. Here’s the other problem, most parents haven’t even heard of this stuff that their kids are ...

Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak exchange warm words despite Ukraine tensions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

LONDON — Joe Biden told Rishi Sunak he “couldn’t be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally,” as the pair met briefly ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Vilnius.In a sit-down that ran to just 40 minutes, the U.S president and British PM reaffirmed what Biden called “rock solid” relations between the two countries — despite a number of geopolitical splits straining the coveted “special relationship.”The U.S. decision to arm Ukraine with cluster bombs — a controversial munition — opened a rift among NATO countries ahead of the summit, which kicks off Tuesday in Lithuania. Sunak said over the weekend that the U.K. “discourages” use of the weapons.The U.K. and U.S. also appear at odds over Ukraine’s aim to join NATO, a key theme of this week’s summit. In an interview Sunday, Biden said Ukraine is “not ready” to join NATO and that membership could only be considered once the war is over — whereas...

Dutch PM Mark Rutte is quitting politics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday he would leave politics after the next election, following his government’s collapse last Friday.“On Sunday I decided that I will not be available as a leader for the VVD in the upcoming elections,” Rutte told the Dutch parliament Monday. After the Cabinet collapse late last week, Rutte said he still had the “energy and ideas” to continue, but this weekend he decided to put an end to his 17 years as leader of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). “I do this with mixed feelings, with emotions,” he said. “I love the team dearly. But it feels right.” As one of Europe’s veteran leaders, Rutte has been linked with a number of top jobs outside the Netherlands, including at NATO and the EU. But Rutte said Monday that he’s not interested in an international top job.Rutte will stay on as a caretaker prime minister until the elections in November. He said that “restraint is appropriate”...