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On board a Philippine patrol in contested South China Sea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

ABOARD BRP MALABRIGO (AP) — When two Philippine coast guard vessels set out to patrol the volatile South China Sea recently, they had to face more than China’s growing territorial ambitions. The patrols are a constant battle against sun, sea, stress and gnawing isolation. The Associated Press joined a recent voyage, which provided a glimpse of what it’s like for Filipino coast guard personnel to work on the front lines of multiple geopolitical conflicts in one of the world’s most fiercely contested seas.The BRP Malabrigo and BRP Malapascua, Japanese-built 44-meter (144-foot) patrol ships, planned to make a circuit of disputed islands, islets and reefs claimed by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands, some occupied by Philippine garrisons and some by Chinese military installations.China has rapidly built up its military presence in the area in recent years, pushing back other claimants like the Philippines and building artificial islands with airstrips and military garrisons. The ri...

Sweden’s king, queen visit Baltic neighbor Estonia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia began a three-day state visit to Estonia Tuesday — their first official visit to the former Soviet repubic in more than 30 years. Estonian President Alar Karis and his wife welcomed the Swedish king and queen at Tallinn’s central Freedom Square with full military honors, and an enthusiastic crowd of adults and children alike waved the Estonian and Swedish flags.The president’s office said the visit, to both Tallinn and the second city of Tartu, “underscores the close friendship between Estonia and Sweden, all the more so given that it is taking place during the 50th anniversary of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s accession to the throne.” The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — all former Soviet republics that are members of the European Union and NATO — are Sweden’s neighbors across the Baltic Sea and have close business and political ties with Stockholm. Estonia also has historical links to Sweden, as the sm...

Tim Hortons parent Restaurant Brands reports Q1 profit and revenue up from year ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

TORONTO — Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported a first-quarter profit of US$277 million, up from US$270 million a year earlier, as its revenue also climbed higher.The parent company of Tim Hortons, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says the profit amounted to 61 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, up from 59 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year.Revenue totalled US$1.59 billion, up from US$1.45 billion in the first three months of 2022.On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands says it earned 75 cents per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 64 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year.Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of 64 cents per share, according to estimates compiled by financial markets data firm Refinitiv.In addition to Tim Hortons, Restaurant Brands includes Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Firehouse Subs.This report by The Canadian Press was first published ...

Canelo Álvarez returning home to Guadalajara to fight Ryder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Fighting in his native Guadalajara for the first time in 12 years has presented some different challenges for Saúl Álvarez, like finding out just how many tickets he needs to accommodate family and friends.“Canelo” Álvarez is one of the best boxers in the world and he will return home on Saturday to face British rival John Ryder at the Akron Stadium in the western Mexican city. He hasn’t fought in Guadalajara since June 2011, when he defeated British fighter Ryan Rhodes.Back then, Álvarez’s career was on the rise. In March of that year, he won his first world title, the World Boxing Council welterweight belt.Now he comes home as a more mature boxer who has already won world titles in four different weights classes and was the unified champion at three of those.That’s why it shouldn’t be surprising that the bout at the Akron Stadium sold out in a matter of hours, leaving “Canelo” with the prospect of both preparing himself for the fight and attend...

Millennial Money: Trusts can aid those with mental illness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chances are, some of these individuals will be inheriting wealth at some point.If a family member’s mental health issues may interfere with their ability to manage finances, answering these questions could help them create long-term financial stability.HAVE I SET UP A TRUST?Setting up a trust is one way to transfer wealth to a loved one and create financial stability for them. A trust enables you to leave specific instructions for trustees about how to care for your loved one and distribute assets.Trusts can be especially helpful for transferring assets to loved ones who have a mental illness but are still able to function independently. While these loved ones are often independent, they may still have difficulty managing assets on their own, says Lillie Nkenchor, an attorney who does estate planning in New York. One examp...

Small business owners balance rising costs with keeping customers happy: survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

Almost a third of Canadian small business owners raised prices by more than 10 per cent in 2022 to offset rising costs, a survey found — and the trend is continuing this year.The survey by Ownr, a small business and legal management platform backed and operated by RBCx, found that so far in 2023, more than 23 per cent of small business owners have raised prices by more than 10 per cent. “The two major concerns for entrepreneurs right now are both cash flow issues and then the backdrop of inflation,” said Derek Hopfner, chief revenue officer at Ownr. Inflation has been moderating from last year’s highs, but remains elevated, with a reading of 4.3 per cent in March. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada is holding interest rates high in its bid to fight inflation.Some of the other pressures most acutely facing small firms right now are labour supply and cost, borrowing costs and supply chain issues, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ monthly Business Barometer...

4 fatally shot in California in latest US mass killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

MOJAVE, Calif. (AP) — Four people were found fatally shot inside an RV in a small Mojave Desert community over the weekend, authorities said, yet another act of deadly violence that keeps the U.S. on a record pace for mass killings this year.The victims were three women and a man, authorities said Monday. There were no immediate arrests, but two people were being sought for questioning as “persons of interest” and there was no ongoing threat to others in the unincorporated community of Mojave, said Lori Meza, a spokesperson for the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.It is the 19th mass killing of 2023, the most through the end of April of any year since at least 2006, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. A mass killing is defined as the slaying of four or more people other than the assailant.This year has set a record pace with roughly one a week. Among the latest violence, a 38-year-old man remai...

At least 6 dead, more than 30 hospitalized in I-55 crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

DIVERNON, Ill. (AP) — A windstorm in central Illinois kicked up dangerous clouds of blinding dust off farm fields Monday, causing numerous crashes that killed at least six people on Interstate 55, police said.The late morning crashes involved 40 to 60 cars and multiple tractor-trailers, two of which caught fire, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said.He said at least six people died, all in the northbound lanes, and more than 30 people on both sides of I-55 were transported to hospitals with injuries.“The only thing you could hear after we got hit was crash after crash after crash behind us,” said Tom Thomas, 43, who was traveling south to St. Louis.I-55 was shut down in both directions in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of St. Louis, and likely won't reopen until Tuesday.Starrick told reporters that it was a spring version of a “whiteout situation” typically seen in winter snowstorms. Gov. J.B. Pritzker described the scene as “horrific.”“The cause of the c...

Loneliness declared an epidemic, poses risks as deadly as smoking, surgeon general says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Widespread loneliness in the U.S. poses health risks as deadly as smoking a dozen cigarettes daily, costing the health industry billions of dollars annually, the U.S. surgeon general said Tuesday in declaring the latest public health epidemic.About half of U.S. adults say they’ve experienced loneliness, Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an 81-page report from his office.“We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It's like hunger or thirst. It's a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing,” Murthy told The Associated Press in an interview. “Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and that's not right. That's why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.”The declaration is intended to raise awareness around loneliness but won't unlock federal funding or programming devoted to combatting the issue.Research shows that Americans, who h...

Global company expands footprint in Round Rock

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Toppan Photomasks Inc., a global company headquartered in Round Rock that specializes in manufacturing a key component in the semiconductor chip process, signed an agreement with the city to invest in modernizing its facility. Round Rock City Council unanimously approved to pay the company a $1.25 million incentive if Toppan meets the requirements of investing at least $185 million into its facility and creating 50 new high-paying jobs. The incentive money will be paid out in three separate payments over the course of six years. History of Toppan Photomasks in central Texas Toppan Photomasks first moved into Round Rock back in 1986 and recently moved its headquarters to the city in 2020. The company has locations in Dresden, Germany, Shanghai, China and Icheon, South Korea. "We chose Round Rock as our headquarters and pride ourselves on being a good community partner by investing in steady growth over the years, which in turn has allowed us to expand the ...