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Japanese automaker Toyota and energy company Idemitsu to cooperate on EV battery technology

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in future electric vehicles.The deal is an important step for Toyota Motor Corp., which has promised to speed up its battery EV offerings and catch up after having fallen behind rivals like Tesla and China’s BYD. Toyota lags partly because of its success in hybrids, like the Prius, that are equipped with both gasoline engines and battery-powered motors.Toyota, with its production finesse, and Idemitsu, which owns technologies in materials, said they are aiming for successful commercialization of all-solid-state batteries in 2027 or 2028, followed by full-scale mass production.“With repeated efforts involving trial and error, we have succeeded in developing a material that is more stable and less prone to crack,” Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato told reporters in Tokyo, after ...

Russian President Putin arrives in Kyrgyzstan on a rare trip abroad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday on a rare trip abroad for the Russian leader who was indicted earlier this year by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Ukraine.Putin was to meet with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on Thursday. He will take part on Friday in the Commonwealth of Independent States summit, which Kyrgyzstan is hosting. The leaders of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will also attend the summit. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will skip it, as Yerevan’s relationship with Moscow has frayed amid mutual accusations.It is the first time this year that the Russian president has traveled outside Russia and Russian-held territories of Ukraine. Earlier this year, Putin visited the partially occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson, as well as the annexed Crimean Peninsula.In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the deportati...

Stock market today: Asian shares rise with eyes on prices, war in the Middle East

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday as investors awaited the release of U.S. consumer price data and kept a cautious watch on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 1.8% to finish at 32,494.66. Sydney’s S&P/ASX 200 inched up less than 0.1% to 7,091.00. South Korea’s Kospi added 1.1% to 2,477.54. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 2.2% to 18,283.66, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.9% to 3,106.21. “Recent remarks from FOMC members have leaned dovish, suggesting that the Fed might maintain current short-term rates,” Anderson Alves at ActivTrades said in a report, referring to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s action on interest rates.Tensions in the Middle East are under the spotlight, with a possible escalation if nations like Lebanon or Iran are drawn in, which would set off significant movement in U.S. Treasuries, he said. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 4,376.95 for its fo...

Sri Lanka says it has reached an agreement with China’s EXIM Bank on debt, clearing IMF funding snag

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka says it has reached an agreement with the Exim Bank of China on key terms and principles for restructuring its debt, a key step toward unlocking a second instalment of a $2.9 billion package from International Monetary Fund aimed at rescuing the island nation from a dire economic crisis.The finance ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday that the agreement covers $4.2 billion in outstanding debt and is an important step toward Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.The statement said the deal provides the necessary fiscal space for Sri Lanka to implement its economic reform agenda. “The Sri Lankan authorities hope that this landmark achievement will provide an anchor to their ongoing engagement with the official creditor committee and commercial creditors, including the bondholders,” it said. Authorities hope this will anchor their debt restructuring program and facilitate approval of the next tranche of IMF financing of about US$334 million.An...

More Canadians support using notwithstanding clause in ‘parental rights’ debate: poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

OTTAWA — Nearly half of Canadians say they support their province using the notwithstanding clause to ensure that schools tell parents if their child wishes to use a different name or pronoun, a new poll suggests, and more people support that idea than oppose it. New data also suggest a majority of Canadians believe teachers should have to notify parents of such changes. Just under half said that should be the case even if a child tells their teacher they don’t feel safe informing their parents.Polling firm Leger recently asked Canadians a series of questions regarding the ongoing debate around “parental rights.”The phrase, which refers to parents’ desire to be involved in the decisions of their children and of schools, has gained increasing traction in Canada over the past year.Many people who use the term say they are concerned about lessons kids are learning on the topics of gender identity and sexual orientation. Those pushing the issue have also been cri...

Blustery, wet autumn storm to churn Lake Michigan and substantial rainfall totals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

The weekend is to find Chicago in a tight pressure gradient between the backside circulation of the eastbound storm and a broad area of Canadian high pressure.  The full-fetch (i.e. "full length of Lake Michigan") and t 30+ mph wind gusts expected to develop are to churn Lake Michigan as vigorously as in any previous situation this fall.  This could build waves that top 12 ft.—so this WON'T BE THE WEEKEND to plan Lake Michigan outings.  What's more, temps riding these winds into the area as they sweep across the still warm waters of Lake Michigan set the stage for some lake effect showers Sunday and Monday. Some less populated regions reach their peak in September, while the southernmost states peak in mid-November. New England, including Northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and northwestern Maine, attracts approximately ten million visitors annually to enjoy the autumn beauty, while parts of New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania experience peak foliage later in October.

2.88 million non-fatal work accidents in the EU in 2021

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

In 2021, nearly 2.88 million non-fatal work accidents in the EU resulted in workers being absent from work for four days or more, up by 6% compared with 2020 (+150 941 accidents). This increase is probably linked to the economic recovery that followed the 2020 general slowdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 3 347 work-related accidents in 2021 were fatal (0.1% of the total number of accidents), indicating a decrease of 11 cases compared with 2020.Information on work-related accidents is often analysed based on their severity, meaning the number of full calendar days the victim is unfit for work due to an accident at work.  In 2021, as in 2020, accidents that led to 7–13 days' absence from work were the most frequent type of accident, reaching a total of 761 988 (26% of the total). Accidents that resulted in 1–3 months of absence from work were the second-most frequent type in 2021 (543 076; 19% of the total number of accidents). The less severe types of accidents (4-6 d...

11 Best CBD Oils for Pain Relief, Anxiety & Sleep: Full-Spectrum & Broad- Spectrum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

Sponsored ContentAuthor: Jamila KhanJamila is an avid researcher of all things cannabis-related with a passion for creating content in several niches, particularly the cannabis-related niche. She has written over several hundred articles on all the latest trends in edibles, vaping, strains and related products.Welcome to our comprehensive guide on CBD oil, where we delve into the science behind this natural wonder, uncovering its potential benefits and uses.CBD oil might hold the key to whether you’re seeking relief from chronic pain or anxiety or simply looking to enhance your overall wellness.Overall, we can say that the best CBD oil is FOCL’s Full Spectrum CBD Drops product. But we can’t sum up this massive industry in just one item, so get ready to explore how this potent plant extract could revolutionize your health routine. 10 best CBD oil products, go!Best CBD Oils: FirstookFOCL Full Spectrum CBD Drops – Best overall“Good Vibes” Energy Tincture – Best low TH...

Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my dinner guest’s unseemly request?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have a friend I sometimes invite over for dinner. Invariably, when I offer him seconds, he’ll say “no thanks, but I’ll take it home.” The same thing happens if I offer him a beer or soda — “No thanks, but I’ll take it home.”Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I suspect this girl is not really my fiance’s niece. Should I demand the truth? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m afraid she’ll get us kicked out of the restaurant. Any advice? Advice | Dear Abby: All these years later, I freak out when I hear her name Advice | Dear Abby: My wife now ‘doesn’t remember’ our crucial conversation Advice | Dear Abby: What I said about his girlfriend got back to her It doesn’t feel right to me and I’m not sure how to express that I’m offering this now, not as a doggie bag. Or should I stop offering him seconds?He does...

Single family residence in Danville sells for $1.7 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:07:54 GMT

393 Squirrel Ridge Way – Google Street ViewA house located in the 300 block of Squirrel Ridge Way in Danville has new owners. The 1,941-square-foot property, built in 1997, was sold on Sept. 11, 2023. The $1,655,000 purchase price works out to $853 per square foot. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and three baths. Additionally, the house includes an attached two-car garage. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by a pool.Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include:On Antelope Ridge Way, Danville, in June 2023, a 2,402-square-foot home was sold for $1,930,000, a price per square foot of $803. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In October 2022, a 2,643-square-foot home on Sweetpea Court in Danville sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $795. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,624-square-foot home on the 100 block of Gerbera Street in Danville sold in July 2022, for $2,490,000, a price per square foot of...