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Hong Kong and Macao: EU publishes annual report on political and economic developments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

The European Commission and the High Representative have today adopted their latest annual reports on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in the Macao Special Administrative Region during the year 2022.The annual report on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region illustrates the continued erosion of Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, democratic principles, and fundamental freedoms that were supposed to be protected until at least 2047. These developments cast further doubt on China's commitment to the “one country, two systems” principle. In 2022, the EU was Hong Kong's third-largest trading partner in goods.The annual report on political and economic developments in the Macao Special Administrative Region shows a growing focus on national security that bears the risk of undermining fundamental freedoms in Macao and eroding the “one country, two systems” principle and Macao's high degree o...

Massive mudslide sends firefighters running for safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

Firefighters in San Bernardino County found themselves running to safety after encountering a massive, boulder-filled mudslide barreling towards them Sunday as heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Hilary battered the area.  KTLA learned that crews at Fire Station 99 in the Forest Falls area heard a loud noise that they went to check out.  Video then shows the fast-moving debris field racing down the hill, taking out trees and anything in its path as crew members turn and run back down the rocky terrain to safety.Video captured a massive mudslide in Forest Falls that temporarily trapped firefighters at the station on Aug. 20, 2023. (OnScene TV)Firefighters seen running from a massive mudslide in Forest Falls brought on by heavy rains on Aug. 20, 2023. (OnScene TV)Fortunately, no one was injured but the mudslide, which can be seen winding its way down the hillside and across the road stranded firefighters at the station until the road can be cleared.  

Trio leads St Louis City to 6-3 romp over Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nicholas Gioacchini and Samuel Adeniran both scored twice, Eduard Löwen had three assists and St. Louis City breezed to a 6-3 victory over Austin FC on Sunday night as the league returned to action after a five-week layoff for Leagues Cup play.Defender Tim Parker scored his fourth goal of the season, using an assist from Löwen in the 22nd minute to give St. Louis City (14-8-2) a 1-0 lead.Gioacchini stretched the lead to 2-0 at the half when he scored in the second minute of stoppage time with an assist from Löwen.Gioacchini scored his 10th goal of the season — unassisted — five minutes into the second half to push the expansion club’s lead to 3-0.Austin (9-10-5) got on the scoreboard in the 61st minute on a penalty kick by Sebastián Driussi. It was Driussi’s sixth goal this season.Adeniran answered in the 72nd minute for St. Louis City, scoring unassisted for a 4-1 lead.Will Bruin used an assist from Jon Gallagher to score for a second time this season t...

Espinoza scores lone goal in Earthquakes’ 1-0 win over Whitecaps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Cristian Espinoza scored late in the first half and Daniel de Sousa Britto made it stand up as the San Jose Earthquakes edged the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 on Sunday night as the league returned to action after a five-week hiatus for Leagues Cup play.Neither team scored until Espinoza found the net in the 43rd minute, using an assist from Jeremy Ebobisse to score his 12th goal of the season. Espinoza is in a four-way tie for second place in the race for the Golden Boot, one behind the 13 goals of reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC.San Jose (9-7-8) also beat Vancouver (8-8-7) 2-1 in March and has won three straight in the series. The Earthquakes are 7-2-3 in their last 12 matches with the Whitecaps with both losses on the road. San Jose is 2-0-2 in its last four on the road after going 0-11-4 in its previous 15.Daniel totaled seven saves to earn the clean sheet for the Earthquakes. Yohei Takaoka did not have a save for the Whitecaps.The Whiteca...

This Week: US home sales, Nvidia earns, durable goods orders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:HOUSING MARKET BAROMETERThe National Association of Realtors releases its July tally of existing U.S. home sales Tuesday.Economists project that sales of previously occupied homes slowed slightly last month from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.12 million. A near-historic low number of homes on the market nationally and rising mortgage rates have kept many would-be homebuyers on the sidelines this year. Sales in June slowed to the slowest pace since January.Existing home sales, in millions, seasonally adjusted annual rate:Feb. 4.55March 4.43April 4.29May 4.30June 4.16July (est.) 4.12Source: FactSetON A ROLLWall Street expects another strong quarterly snapshot from Nvidia.Analysts predict the chipmaker will report Wednesday that its fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue rose sharply compared to the same quarter last year. Nvidia, which in May hit a $1 trillion market capitalization...

Sophia Smith scores go-ahead goal as Portland edges North Carolina 2-1, takes over top spot in NWSL

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

Sophia Smith wasted little time in her return from the Women’s World Cup, scoring the go-ahead goal one minute after taking the pitch as a second-half substitute in Portland’s 2-1 victory over North Carolina on Sunday in Portland, Oregon.The win lifted Portland (8-4-4) over North Carolina (8-6-2) in the league standings, with 28 points to 26 points for the Courage, and capped the league’s weekend return to action after breaking for the Women’s World Cup.Smith, a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and reigning NWSL MVP, chased down a pass from Morgan Weaver and converted from short range in the 69th minute.The Thorns were a player down for most of the match after Kelli Hubly was shown the red card in the 17th minute. North Carolina took advantage when Tyler Lussi converted the free kick. The goal was allowed following a VAR review.Portland tied the score in the 41st minute when Hannah Betfort right-footed a shot from the right side of the six-yard ...

Giakoumakis, Guzan lead Atlanta United to 2-0 win over Sounders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Giorgos Giakoumakis scored a goal in each half, Brad Guzan saved two shots to earn a clean sheet and Atlanta United defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-0 on Sunday night as the league returned to action after a five-week layoff for Leagues Cup play. Giakoumakis helped Atlanta United (10-7-8) grab the lead for good when he took a pass from defender Brooks Lennon and scored in the 11th minute. Giakoumakis added an insurance goal in the 65th minute, using Thiago Almada’s assist to score for a 12th time this season. Giakoumakis is in a four-way tie for second place, one behind the 13 goals of reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC. Almada has 11 assists this season, second only to the 12 of FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta.Atlanta United earned its second victory in its last 13 matches away from home. It is the first road win for either club in the series. Three of the five previous meetings ended in draws and both teams owned 2-1 victories at home. Atlanta Unite...

Women’s World Cup champion Spain poised for long run among soccer elite with talented young team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Newly crowned Women’s World Cup champion Spain has established itself for a long run among soccer’s elite with its young and talented roster of rising stars.La Roja defeated England 1-0 in Sunday’s final for their first major tournament title. Over the course of the month-long event, Spain played through the turbulence of last year’s player rebellion and the injury-diminished role of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas. Aitana Bonmati, at just 25 years old, solidified her credentials as a top midfielder, and 19-year-old forward Salma Paralluelo proved to be a rising global star. “I know that this is the dream we’ve had since we were little. So right now it is difficult to comprehend. But when we get home, we’ll really know what we did,” Paralluelo said. “It’s something huge.”Spain joined Germany as the only two nations to win both men’s and women’s World Cup titles and Bonmati spoke about inspiring a g...

Bahamas stuns Argentina, moves closer to Paris Olympic basketball berth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Argentina (AP) — Bahamas has never sent its men’s basketball team to the Olympics. The island nation is one step closer to changing that.Eric Gordon scored 27 points, Buddy Hield added 17 and Bahamas stunned Argentina 82-75 to win one of the five Olympic pre-qualifying tournaments that were wrapping up around the world Sunday.The win sends Bahamas into another Olympic qualifying tournament in July 2024, one that will bring with it a chance to qualify for next summer’s Paris Games. Deandre Ayton had 10 points and 21 rebounds for Bahamas in the win over Argentina.Argentina — Olympic champions in 2004 — will miss the games for the first time since 2000.Other pre-qualifying tournament winners Sunday included Cameroon, Bahrain, Croatia and Poland.Cameroon was an 80-74 winner over Senegal to win in Nigeria; Bahrain finished 5-0 in a tournament in Syria; Croatia got 22 points and 11 rebounds to beat Turkey in another final; and Poland got past Bosnia and Herzegovina 76...

You can keep your money! Tory voters less keen on foreign investment, according to poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:28 GMT

LONDON — Conservative voters are now more protectionist in their views about foreign investment than Labour or Liberal Democrat voters, according to polling seen by POLITICO.The figures are a part of a set of polling results which show that the British public as a whole has grown wary of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Britain, particularly from China.New polling from communications and advisory firm Hanbury Strategy revealed that the average 2019 Labour voter was 51 percent positive about a foreign firm buying a British firm, while a 2019 Conservative voter was 47 percent positive.The average Lib Dem voter was 56 percent positive, according to the poll.The polling also shows that 39 percent of Conservative voters think overseas companies should not own British companies, compared to 33 percent of Labour voters and 33 percent of Lib Dem voters.Just 27 percent of Brits surveyed said they would be optimistic about foreign interests taking over a domestic company.Sentiment was sim...