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U.S. lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Schumer arrive in China on first such visit since 2019

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

SHANGHAI (AP) — A delegation of U.S. lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer arrived in China on Saturday in the first congressional visit to the country since 2019.The trip comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries and as Chinese and American officials try to lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November. The delegation of six senators, which includes three Democrats and three Republicans, landed in Shanghai in the mid-afternoon. The Republicans were led by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the senior member of his party on the Senate Finance Committee. Schumer is a New York Democrat.A series of high-ranking Biden administration officials have met their Chinese counterparts in Beijing in recent months, but no other U.S lawmakers have made the trip since China lifted its COVID-19 restrictions in December of last year. China said in a statement earlier this week that it hoped the visit would “contrib...

Dear Abby: What I said about his girlfriend got back to her

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

DEAR ABBY: Right after high school, our son joined the military and left home. We are proud of him and keep in touch mostly by phone because he’s stationed across the country.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: The holiday dinner came with an unpleasant surprise Advice | Dear Abby: This family constantly breaks the rules of our potluck Advice | Dear Abby: After this emotional blow, I feel I can’t trust my friends Advice | Dear Abby: I worry people are still judging me for the wedding dance bungle Advice | Dear Abby: After this awkward encounter, my neighbor posted notes about me in the building Since he has been away, he met a young lady on a dating website. I met her briefly on a quick visit. I had concerns about the relationship, and I shared them with my son. She doesn’t drive, works only intermittently and displayed no desire to get to know me in the short time we had for my visit....

Hamas mounts unprecedented surprise attack on Israel, sending fighters and rockets into the country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. The serious invasion on Simchat Torah revived painful memories of the 1973 war practically 50 years to the day, in which Israel’s enemies launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur. Comparisons to one of the most traumatic moments in Israeli history sharpened criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned on more aggressive action against threats from Gaza. Political commentators lambasted the government over its failure to anticipate what appeared to be a Hamas attack unseen in its level of planning and coordination.The Israeli rescue service said that its medics were tending to 16 casualties in southern Israe...

US senators led by Majority Leader Schumer making first congressional visit to China since 2019

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

SHANGHAI (AP) — A delegation of U.S. lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer arrived in China on Saturday in the first congressional visit to the country since 2019.The trip comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries and as Chinese and American officials try to lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November. The delegation of six senators, which includes three Democrats and three Republicans, landed in Shanghai on a U.S. government jet on an overcast and windy afternoon. The Republicans were led by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the senior member of his party on the Senate Finance Committee. Asked about his expectations for the visit, Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he hoped it would be productive.A series of high-ranking Biden administration officials have met their Chinese counterparts in Beijing in recent months, but no other U.S lawmakers have made the trip since China lifted its COVID-19 re...

Pharmacist shortages and heavy workloads challenge drugstores heading into their busy season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

A dose of patience may come in handy at the pharmacy counter this fall.Drug and staffing shortages haven’t gone away. Stores are starting their busiest time of year as customers look for help with colds and the flu. And this fall, pharmacists are dealing with a new vaccine and the start of insurance coverage for COVID-19 shots.Some drugstores have addressed their challenges by adding employees at busy hours. But experts say many pharmacies, particularly the big chains, still don’t have enough workers behind the counter.Chris Adkins said he left his job as a pharmacist with a major drugstore chain a couple years ago because of the stress. Aside from filling and checking prescriptions, Adkins routinely answered the phone, ran the register and stocked pharmacy shelves.“I just didn’t have time for the patients,” he said. “I am OK working hard and working long hours, but I just felt like I was not doing a good job as a pharmacist.”In recent years, drugstores have struggled to fill open p...

A taxiing airplane collides with a Chicago airport shuttle, injuring 2 people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Two people were injured at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Friday evening during an accident on the ground involving an airplane preparing for takeoff and an employee shuttle bus.American Eagle flight 6209 operated by Air Wisconsin Airlines made contact with the bus while the plane was taxiing, American Airlines said in a statement.Two passengers on the shuttle were transported to Ascension Resurrection hospital in Chicago with minor injuries from the accident around 7 p.m., WLS-TV reported. American Airlines said there were no injuries reported aboard the aircraft, while six American Airlines employees were transported to a hospital for evaluation. The exact number of passengers on the flight was not provided.An image on the WLS-TV website showed damage to the nose of the airplane, which the station reported was a 50-seat aircraft loaded with passengers. The airplane was taken out of service and a replacement aircraft flew passengers to Dayton, Ohio, the...

Alozie & Shen defense shine as Plainsmen storm back to upend CBA in "Game of the Week"

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Shenendehowa football team did something Friday night no Section II team had managed to do in almost two years: beat Christian Brothers Academy. And the Plainsmen did so in remarkable, come-from-behind fashion, erasing a 14-point deficit on the road to take down the Brothers 28-14.Shen/CBA has blossomed into one of the most intense rivalries in the section. But since Bob Burns took over as head coach for the Brothers in 2021, the matchup has become one-sided, with CBA winning four straight meetings, including back-to-back Class AA championship victories over the Plainsmen.Friday night's clash was playing out in an eerily similar fashion to last year's Super Bowl that resulted in a 21-0 CBA win. The Brothers came out on homecoming weekend swinging with touchdowns on their second and third drives of the game. Starting quarterback Archie Jones connected with junior wide receiver Aiden Good for a 60-yard score; senior Donald Jones followed that up with a nin...

Daily horoscope for October 7, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDT today (12 noon to 4:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Cancer into Leo.Happy Birthday for Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023:You have strong opinions. You mean what you say and you say what you mean. This year is a time of service for you, especially if you can help a family member. Take care of yourself so you can be a resource to others. Is it time for a makeover?ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★Tread carefully today, especially when dealing with family members, partners and spouses. Tempers will be short. If a conversation starts to get out of hand, move on and go somewhere else. Don’t take the bait. It’s not worth it. Tonight: Play.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★This is the classic day for bickering and quarrels with daily contacts, siblings and relatives. You also might have some power struggles with work colleagues or someone who could be related to a health issue you have, or even your pet....

Miss Manners: What could I have said to this blithe line-jumper?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I recently encountered a very rude line-jumper. I said nothing to her, but wish I had, and I wonder whether Miss Manners can suggest a polite statement for some similar future occurrence.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: My wife insists this is a rule about children’s birthday parties Advice | Miss Manners: I’m stunned by my father’s request for the wedding dinner Advice | Miss Manners: My husband doesn’t like my strategy for dealing with his vexatious relatives Advice | Miss Manners: Don’t they know it’s an insulting thing to say to the bride? Advice | Miss Manners: At what age should one start picking up the tab? At the end of a 6½-hour chemo session for my aggressive cancer, I was waiting for either of the two administrators to complete my paperwork. (Each was with a patient.) A woman, about age 20, entered the area and sat next to me; as a d...

Israeli defense minister says Hamas has started a war against Israel as fighting escalates. ‘Israel will win,’ he says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli defense minister says Hamas has started a war against Israel as fighting escalates. ‘Israel will win,’ he says.Source