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Influencer arrested over TikTok video satirizing wealthy Emiratis in Dubai shows limits on freedoms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An online influencer has been arrested in Dubai over a satirical TikTok video in which he portrays a brash Emirati on a spending spree inside a luxury car showroom. The comedic sketch, in which he tosses stacks of bills at bewildered employees and offers to buy the most expensive car — a $600,000 Ferrari SF90 — poked fun at the lavish lifestyles on display in the city, known for its gleaming skyscrapers and over-the-top tourism attractions.Dubai is more socially lenient than much of the Middle East, with a relaxed dress code, bars and clubs serving alcohol — and even a local comedy scene. But vaguely worded laws forbid any speech, including journalism and satire, that is deemed critical of authorities or insulting to the United Arab Emirates, the federation of sheikhdoms that includes Dubai.The influencer, Hamdan Al Rind, who refers to himself as the “Car Expert” online, is a UAE resident of Asian nationality. He boasts over 2.5 million followers o...

Most populous US states and city ask for census corrections over misplaced ship and missed students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

A misplaced naval ship in California. Overlooked college students in New York City. Missed inmates in Texas.These are some of the reasons why the two most populous states and the largest city in the U.S. filed last-minute requests for corrections to their 2020 census figures right before the deadline at the end of last month. California, Texas and New York City were joined by a dozen and a half other stragglers, including Illinois and New Orleans, that made down-to-the-deadline appeals over the numbers that help determine political power and the annual distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal funding.In total, nearly 200 requests for corrections were filed by local, state and tribal governments through two programs started by the U.S. Census Bureau to give governments opportunities to have their population totals reviewed and corrected if need be.If successful, any corrections will be applied only to future population estimates used for the rest of the decade in determining federal ...

Millions of Chicagoans under tornado warning as multiple tornadoes touchdown in in the area during rush hour Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

Maximum Heat Index Forecasts:CONTINUE READING

Austin falls on the road 2-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Pedro Vite scored in the first minute and Sergio Córdova accounted for the only goal of the second half to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-1 victory over Austin FC on Wednesday night.Córdova used a pass from Ryan Gauld in the 72nd minute to score the winner for the Whitecaps (7-7-7). It was his first goal this season for Vancouver after scoring nine times for Real Salt Lake last season.Vite used an assist from Brian White to score for a fourth time this season and give Vancouver the lead.Rodney Redes notched his first career goal for Austin (8-9-5), scoring the equalizer unassisted two minutes into the second half.Yohei Takaoka finished with one save for the Whitecaps. Brad Stuver had two saves for Austin.Austin returns home to host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. Vancouver will host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.

Multinational companies upbeat about investing in Bao'an district, South China's Shenzhen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

Photo shows the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, which is under construction in south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo courtesy of Guangdong Provincial Communications Group Co., Ltd.)Representatives of more than 160 famous multinational companies, foreign consulates and international chambers of commerce attended the 2023 Shenzhen-Zhongshan Joint Investment Promotion Conference in Bao'an district of Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province on 28 June, People's Daily Online.During the activity, Bao'an district briefed the guests on the development plan for the Jiuwei International Headquarters Area.The Jiuwei International Headquarters Area is located near the Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, while connecting to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It plans to develop into a "headquarters courtyard" for Fortune Global 500 companies by seizing the opportunities delivered by the fast growth of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.Aaron Finley, a director from Del...

A global NATO is not helpful to global security

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

Over the years, while claiming to be a regional defensive alliance, NATO has been hyping up regional tensions and creating bloc confrontation. NATO has publicly stated on many occasions that it remains a regional alliance and does not seek a geographical breakthrough. Asia lies beyond the geographical scope of the North Atlantic and has no need for a replica of NATO. However, NATO, as a military organization of the North Atlantic, has been bent on going east into the Asia-Pacific, interfering in regional affairs and inciting bloc confrontation. This calls for high vigilance among countries in the region. The attitude of the majority of countries in the region is very clear. They oppose the emergence of military blocs in the region. They don’t want NATO’s replica of bloc confrontation around the world. And they certainly will not allow any Cold War or hot war to happen again.At the 2022 Madrid summit, NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept, claiming that NATO allies will address togeth...

Piedmont resident robbed after returning home from bank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

PIEDMONT – A Piedmont resident was robbed after returning home from a bank Wednesday afternoon, according to police.The incident happened around 5 p.m. in the area of Rose and Echo avenues, the Piedmont Police Department said in a community alert. Two masked and hooded suspects walked up to the victim’s car, broke out a window and grabbed her purse.Police said the victim struggled with the suspects and suffered minor injuries as a result of the broken glass.The suspects drove away in a silver-colored BMW and were last seen heading toward Piedmont Avenue.The victim told police she believed the suspects followed her home from a bank in Oakland.Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 510-420-3000.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Stolen car strikes, kills bicyclist in Oakland; driver flees scene, remains at large Crime and Public Safety | Pamela Price defends embattled second-in-command, calls report about him ...

Fired employee sues San Jose tech company for anti-Asian bias

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) – A San Jose tech company is facing a $20 million discrimination lawsuit. A former employee claims he was fired from Lumentum for pointing out biases against Asians.Andre Wong worked for Lumentum for 20 years. But he says his long career ended with termination after he brought up concerns of anti-Asian bias. Now, he wants to make sure more people are aware of the issue in hopes of preventing it.“I felt frustrated,” he said. “I felt like I was banging my head against the wall.” More Bay Area tech layoffs on the way That’s how Wong described what it felt like to watch people he trained rise to leadership positions at the tech firm. Wong created a facial recognition product that brought in nearly $1 billion in revenue. Still, he says he was overlooked for every promotion.“As that product line became more and more successful I found myself reporting to this revolving door of white managers who I had to train and introduce to my contacts,” he told KRON4.In 2021,...

Espinoza propels Earthquakes to 2-0 victory over Sounders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Cristian Espinoza scored on a first-half penalty kick and assisted on a second-half goal by Miguel Trauco to lead the San Jose Earthquakes to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night.Espinoza picked up his 11th goal of the season, scoring after a foul in the 19th minute to give the Earthquakes (8-7-8) the lead.Espinoza had an assist on Miguel Trauco’s insurance goal in the 65th minute. It was Trauco’s third netter this season.JT Marcinkowski finished with two saves to earn the clean sheet for San Jose.Stefan Cleveland made his second start of the season for the Sounders (10-8-5), after starting goalkeeper Stefan Frei entered concussion protocol in the Sounders’ last match. Cleveland had one save.Seattle returns home to host FC Dallas on Saturday. San Jose is idle.____AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportSource

Vite, Cordova send Whitecaps to 2-1 victory over Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:12 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Pedro Vite scored in the first minute and Sergio Córdova accounted for the only goal of the second half to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-1 victory over Austin FC on Wednesday night. Córdova used a pass from Ryan Gauld in the 72nd minute to score the winner for the Whitecaps (7-7-7). It was his first goal this season for Vancouver after scoring nine times for Real Salt Lake last season.Vite used an assist from Brian White to score for a fourth time this season and give Vancouver the lead. Rodney Redes notched his first career goal for Austin (8-9-5), scoring the equalizer unassisted two minutes into the second half.Yohei Takaoka finished with one save for the Whitecaps. Brad Stuver had two saves for Austin.Austin returns home to host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. Vancouver will host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.____AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportSource