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Statistics Canada reports retail sales up 0.1% in June at $65.9 billion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.1 per cent to $65.9 billion in June, lifted by sales at new car dealers.The agency says core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers — fell 0.9 per cent in June.Retail sales rose in three of the nine subsectors, led by a 2.5 per cent gain at motor vehicle and parts dealers as sales at new car dealers added 2.9 per cent. Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors rose 0.3 per cent, lifted by higher prices at the pump in June.Meanwhile, sales at general merchandise stores fell 1.4 per cent and food and beverage retailers saw a drop of 0.9 per cent.In volume terms, retail sales fell 0.2 per cent in June.Statistics Canada says its early estimate for retail sales in July points to a gain of 0.4 per cent for that month, though it cautioned that the figure would be revised.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2023.The Canadian Press

Germany is moving forward with a plan to ease its citizenship rules as it seeks to attract workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany plans to ease citizenship rules under legislation approved Wednesday by the Cabinet, a project that the government contends will bolster the integration of immigrants and help an economy that is struggling with a shortage of skilled workers.The legislation passed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ministers still requires approval from the lower house of parliament, where the socially liberal three-party coalition has a comfortable majority. It could take effect in January, depending on how quickly that happens.The government plans to make people eligible for citizenship after five years in Germany, or three in case of “special integration accomplishments,” rather than eight or six years at present. German-born children would automatically become citizens if one parent has been a legal resident for five years, down from eight years now.Restrictions on holding dual citizenship will also be dropped. In principle, most people from countries other than European Unio...

Suburban man accused of stealing $200K 1962 Porche during vehicle theft spree

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — A suburban man was arrested after allegedly stealing a Porche amid a theft spree.On Monday at around 10:30 a.m., officers responded to a theft call in Ingleside of the 1962 Porsche, which is worth approximately $200,000.Following a preliminary investigation, police allege Chris Nelson, 34, of unincorporated Lake Villa, began the spree by steeling a small minibike.Police said Nelson drove the minibike to a restaurant in the 500 block of Park Avenue in Fox Lake, where he then allegedly stole a golf cart.Nelson is accused of driving the golf cart to a residence in the 28300 block of Brandenburg Road, located in Ingleside, and then stealing a four-wheeler there.After riding around on the four-wheeler for "a bit," police allege he returned to the same address to steal the Porche.Police said Nelson drove the Porche to a business in Wauconda, where he left it behind the business and allegedly stole another vehicle.Following a countywide alert being issued for his arrest...

India successfully lands its Chandrayaan-3 rover on the moon, near the south pole

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India was counting down to landing a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole Wednesday — an unchartered territory that scientists believe could hold important reserves of frozen water and precious elements.A lander with a rover inside was orbiting before attempting to touch down on the lunar surface, creating an agonizing wait for India’s space scientists in the southern city of Bengaluru. India is making its second attempt in four years to join the United States, the Soviet Union and China in achieving the landmark. India unexpectedly got into a race with Russia, which had planned to land its Luna-25 spacecraft in the same lunar region on Monday. But Luna-25 crashed into the moon after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit. It would have been the first successful Russian lunar landing after a gap of 47 years. Russia's head of the state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos attributed the failure to the lack of expertise due to the long break in lunar research that foll...

In a world first, India lands a spacecraft near the moon's south pole

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India on Wednesday made history as it became the first country in the world to land its spacecraft near the moon’s south pole, an uncharted territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water, and the fourth country to achieve a moon landing.A lander with a rover inside touched down on the lunar surface at 6:04 local time, sparking cheers and applause among the space scientists watching in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru. After a failed attempt in 2019, India now joins the United States, the Soviet Union and China in reaching this milestone.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the historic landing from South Africa, where he is participating in the BRICS nations summit. “India is now on the moon. India has reached the south pole of the moon — no other country has achieved that. We are witnessing history,” Modi said as he waved the Indian tri-colored flag.India’s successful landing comes just days after Russia’s Luna-25, which was...

'Screaming in the woods': Bear attacks, injures child playing near New York home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. (WPIX) – A child was attacked and injured by a bear while playing in the backyard of a New York home on Tuesday, according to police and witnesses.A neighbor who lives near the site of the attack described the terror he heard coming from the children involved."Screaming in the woods, very loud screaming. 'Call 911.' My wife heard that," said the neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous.The attack took place outside of a home in Westchester County, where the child had reportedly been playing with a little girl. The house is also surrounded by a wooded area, according to the neighbor."I didn’t know if the children were playing or it was something real, so I decided to go over," the neighbor said. Watch: Bears keep taking dips in Los Angeles area pools The man told Nexstar's WPIX that he immediately sprang into action, choosing to drive the short distance because he had a feeling a large animal could be involved. He was right. Upon arrival, he saw two frighte...

Austin company unveils humanoid robot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The future has arrived in the form of a robot resembling a human, ready to take on any task and transform the way we work.Apptronik has unveiled Apollo, the world’s first commercial humanoid robot.For the last seven years, the Austin-based startup company has been out of the limelight and in the lab, working day after day to design this robot. RELATED: Austin-based startup designing humanoid robot with NASA Now, Apptronik is ready to take off with their creation, which could alter the way we live."We're excited to show the world what we're capable of building and the amazing work that's happening right here in Austin,” Apptronik co-founder and CEO Jeff Cardenas said.Back in 2016, Apptronik was founded by Cardenas and three other men within the human-centered robotics lab at the University of Texas at Austin.Since its inception, the robotics company has grown and expanded to 85 employees, who’ve helped design over 10 unique robots.This has all culminated in Apollo, ...

KXAN Investigates: Texas program to fight pregnancy substance use

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The in-depth reporting from KXAN Investigates will receive a new spotlight that viewers can interact with Wednesday morning.Investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree will bring back their new weekly show to focus on some of the top trending stories reported by the station’s investigative journalists. KXAN Investigates: Texas prison heat illnesses, new school safety rules People can watch the live stream starting at 9 a.m. in this story and on the KXAN News Facebook page. The stories that Wiley and DuPree will discuss more in-depth Wednesday will include:Data from the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee released in December shows substance use is one of the leading factors in pregnancy-related deaths, contributing to 8% of deaths. That’s why the Texas Department of State Health Services is focusing on opioids and other substance use. Nine participating hospitals are working together with community organizations...

PragerU among educational lesson plans allowed in Texas schools, company says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, PragerU announced it is now an educational vendor in Texas, according to a video posted to its website. The company said that means teachers have the options to use its lessons in classrooms.Texas is the second state, after Florida, to approve material from the conservative nonprofit to be used in schools, according to its release. The Hill reported in Florida, the videos aren't required content but "aligns to Florida's revised civics and government standards and can be used as supplemental materials." The approval did not come from Texas Education Agency or the State Board of Education, it came from the Texas Comptroller's Office, according to the TEA.In Texas, the use of PragerU content is similar. The "State Board of Education has authority under new statute to review and approve commercially available instructional material, such as those sold by PragerU. We welcome all publishers to participate in the SBOE's review and approval process," the TEA said....

'Harmful to public schools': Over 100 Texas chaplains issue letter of opposition to school chaplain bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100 Texas chaplains issued a letter Tuesday urging school board members in the state to keep chaplains out of public schools. The letter, organized by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Interfaith Alliance and Texas Impact, asks school board members to reject the opportunity to recruit government-approved chaplains to public schools to “provide support, services, and programs for students." The opportunity is part of Senate Bill 763, which was passed by the Texas Legislature this year. Citing mental health concerns, Texas to allow chaplains as uncertified school counselors The bill is set to take effect on Sept. 1. The new law requires districts to vote on whether or not to create chaplaincy programs. The chaplains who signed the letter said the chaplaincy programs are an "affront to the religious freedom rights of students and parents as well as church-state separation, and the programs would take funding away from trained mental health ...