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Republicans get their IRS cuts, but Democrats say they expect little near-term impact

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are seeking to make good on their campaign promise to rein in the IRS with cutbacks built into the debt ceiling and budget cuts package moving through Congress.The bill rescinds $1.4 billion given to the federal tax collector in the Democrats’ health and energy package that was approved last year on party line votes. The White House says the debt deal also includes a separate agreement to take $20 billion from the IRS over the next two years and divert those funds to other nondefense programs.Democrats expended a lot of political capital to get the IRS more money last year. They faced an onslaught of campaign ads, many of them misleading, about the expected hiring of 87,000 “new agents” to target low- and middle-class Americans. Now, Biden administration officials are offering assurances that the spending cuts secured by Republican negotiators will have minimal impact on the agency’s operations over the next few years. The agency is on cours...

China criticizes US plan for trade deal with Taiwan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s government criticized the United States’ plans to sign a trade treaty with Taiwan and called on Washington on Thursday to stop official contact with the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory.The agreement due to be signed Thursday comes amid increased Chinese efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and bombers near the island, a global center for high-tech industry. American and European politicians have visited Taiwan in a show of support for its elected government.The Chinese foreign ministry accused Washington of violating agreements on the status of Taiwan, which split with the mainland in 1949 after a civil war. The United States has no official relations with Taiwan but has extensive informal ties and multibillion-dollar annual trade.“The United States should stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, refrain from negotiating agreements with Taiwan that have sovereign connotations or official natu...

Thousands to march in Jerusalem Pride parade, first under Israel’s most right-wing government ever

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of people are to march in Jerusalem’s Pride parade on Thursday, an annual event that is taking place this year under Israel’s most right-wing government ever, stacked with openly homophobic members.The march in the conservative city is always tense and tightly secured by police, and has been wracked by violence in the past. But this year, Israel finds itself deeply riven over a contentious government plan to overhaul the judiciary. The plan has torn open longstanding societal divisions between those who want to preserve Israel’s liberal values and those who seek to shift it toward more religious conservatism.Jerusalem’s march is typically more subdued than the one in gay-friendly Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands of revelers pour into the streets for a massive, multicolored party. But Thursday’s parade in Jerusalem is expected to draw bigger crowds than usual in a show of force against the government and its plan to reshape the lega...

‘A start’: Toronto multiplex policy aimed at boosting housing welcomed by observers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

A new policy allowing single family homes to be converted into low-rise multiplexes in Toronto is being hailed by observers as a welcome move, although experts warn it won’t make housing more affordable in Canada’s most populous city right away.Toronto councillors voted in May to amend a zoning bylaw to allow up to four residential units in a multiplex with the aim of increasing housing supply to meet skyrocketing demand. The move could transform up to 70 per cent of what’s known as the city’s “yellowbelt,” where only one single family dwelling per lot was previously permitted. Experts say the change has the potential to address a severe housing shortage but caution that it may not tackle housing unaffordability – at least in the short term. “Increasing density is good but it isn’t definitely the answer to everything,” said Penelope Gurstein, the co-director at the Housing Research Collaborative, which studies affordable housing strate...

Toronto mayoral hopefuls try to pin front runner Olivia Chow on taxes at debate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

A debate between the leading Toronto mayoral candidates saw the front-runner Olivia Chow face repeated attacks from the other contenders over taxes, as the candidates looked to build momentum with less than a month left in the campaign. Taking part in Wednesday’s debate was the former NDP parliamentarian Chow, city councillor Josh Matlow, ex-police chief Mark Saunders, former deputy mayor Ana Bailão, councillor Brad Bradford and former Liberal provincial education minister Mitzie Hunter.The head-to-head portion of the debate saw Chow, who holds a commanding lead in the polls, handle the lion’s share of the other contenders’ questions. Bailão, Saunders, Hunter and Bradford all asked her to disclose how high she would raise property taxes. Chow said building a budget meant first identifying the needs of the city, insisting any increases would be modest.“The question really should be what kind of service are we prepared to put in. We start with a budget with peo...

Argentine meteorologist beomes first female head of UN weather agency

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A leading Argentine meteorologist has been elected as the first female head of the United Nations weather agency.The World Meteorological Organization said Celeste Saulo received the necessary two-thirds backing from member states Thursday.Saulo has served as the director of Argentina’s National Meteorological Service since 2014.An experienced academic and researcher, she succeeds Petteri Taalas, who steps down after two terms as secretary general of the Geneva-based WMO at the end of the year. Saulo joined the WMO’s executive council in 2015.The agency plays a key role coordinating international meteorological work, an issue that has become increasingly prominent due to the weather extremes resulting from climate change. The Associated Press

Stock market today: Global shares mostly rise after House approves debt ceiling deal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global benchmarks were mostly higher Thursday after the United States House of Representatives approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, avoiding a default crisis. France’s CAC 40 gained 0.9% in early trading to 7,163.56, while Germany’s DAX jumped 1.1% to 15,833.44. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.7% to 7,495.59. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures inching up nearly 0.1% to 32,994.00. S&P 500 futures rose 0.2% to 4,197.00. Oil prices rose. Investor enthusiasm was muted by worries about the Chinese economy after disappointing recent data on a recovery in the world’s second largest economy, and a key driver of regional growth. “Following recent disappointing economic data from China, the real economy levered stocks are likely to underperform. If economic data from China continues to miss expectations, more participants could start to forecast a lower China GDP for the quarters ahead,” Anderson Alves at ActivT...

India, Nepal prime ministers meet to deepen ties as China’s influence grows in region

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Nepal’s prime minister held talks with his Indian counterpart on Thursday as India and its rival China bid for influence in the tiny Himalayan nation as part of a greater regional power struggle. Pushpa Kamal Dahal met Narendra Modi in New Delhi during a four-day visit to India, his first trip abroad since taking office last December. After the meeting, the two prime ministers remotely inaugurated several projects, including a cargo railway line and two border checkpoints, and oversaw the signing of a slew of agreements.Modi said they agreed to further deepen their historic ties and “take our relations to Himalayan heights.” He said they agreed to resolve all their outstanding issues, including a border dispute.Dahal said at a joint news conference that they reviewed ongoing projects and discussed ways to further cooperate in connectivity, energy and people-to-people contact.New Nepalese prime ministers traditionally visit neighboring India soon after taking office....

A look inside the Minneapolis-based judging process to (maybe) pick the country’s best cheese

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

Not long ago, 1,318 cheeses from around the Western Hemisphere arrived on the loading docks at Huntington Bank Stadium. Each thought it had what it takes to be crowned Best of Show.The American Cheese Society’s awards, including its championship prize, are among the top domestic recognitions a U.S. cheesemaker can earn. And as of last year, Minneapolis is now the home base for the annual cheese competition.Minnesota dairy farmer and cheesemonger Christine Leonard, left, and cheesemonger Courtney Johnson of Seattle check in boxes of cheese for judging during the American Cheese Society’s annual competition on May 16, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium. Nearly 1,400 cheeses and dairy products were entered into the judging process. (Photo courtesy American Cheese Society)Inside the stadium’s indoor club areas from May 15-19, a group of cheese judges and volunteers evaluated literal tons of dairy over the several-day process. After cheeses arrived and received a temperature check, t...

Bethlehem bounces Yorktown in Class B sub-regional girls lacrosse matchup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:38 GMT

SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The redemption season continues for the Bethlehem Central girls lacrosse team. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! After being upset as the top seed in the Sec. II, Class A postseason tournament last year, the Eagles have responded in 2023 by claiming a Class B sectional championship, and are now headed to the regional round of the state tournament following a 7-6 sub-regional victory over Sec. I's Yorktown at Schuylerville High School Wednesday night.A free-position goal from Bethlehem senior Sophie Klein put the Eagles on the board first at the 21:29 mark of the first half. After Yorktown tied the game up just over eight minutes later, the Bethlehem defense, anchored in the cage by sophomore goalie Madeline Ward, locked down the Huskers' offense, holding them scoreless the remaining 13:21 of the half.The Bethlehem offense capitalized on that drought, going on a 4-0 run in that span that was spa...