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The Rise and Fall of the Raccoon Dog Theory of Covid-19

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

A new paper by a prominent American virologist has called into question a string of high-profile news reports about the role that raccoon dogs may have played in the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic.Late last month, Jesse Bloom, a computational virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle released a paper in which he analyzed raw genomic data from hundreds of environmental swabs that Chinese scientists collected from cages, carts, and other surfaces at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China. The swabs were collected beginning on January 1, 2020, after Chinese authorities abruptly shut down the market amid the worsening Covid-19 outbreak in the city.The Huanan seafood market’s role in the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic is at the center of a hot debate. Many of the early Covid cases in Wuhan (though not all) have been linked to the market, which was known to sell live animals, including species like common raccoon dogs that are susceptible to infection...

Germany calls China systemic rival, seeks clarity on Russia

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister described China on Wednesday as increasingly becoming a “systemic rival” on the world stage, and urged Beijing to call out Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine.With China’s top diplomat touring Europe this week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called on China to use its global clout to push for peace in Ukraine.But Baerbock and Colonna also said it was time for Europe to decrease its economic and strategic dependency on China.Baerbock said Germany wants to work in partnership with China “everywhere it’s possible” but that it would be naive to ignore the risk of ending up in a position of reliance, including on security issues.“One needs to recognize that we are competitors and, sadly, increasingly also systemic rivals,” she said.Baerbock said Europe’s stance toward China should be “not decoupling, but de-risking, because it’s about our security and freedom, too.”The German ...

Hong Kong amends law to limit foreign lawyers in some cases

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong lawmakers on Wednesday passed an amendment to a law granting the city’s leader the power to bar overseas lawyers from handling national security cases, following a high-profile row sparked by a pro-democracy Hong Kong publisher’s hiring of a British lawyer.The changes will require overseas lawyers who do not generally practice in Hong Kong to obtain permission from the chief executive before submitting applications to represent clients in national security cases in court.The city’s leader will only give approval if there are sufficient grounds to believe the lawyers’ involvement will not contradict the interests of national security, and the decision is not subject to challenge.The bill was passed by a majority in the city’s legislature, filled by mostly Beijing loyalists, with little opposition through a show-of-hands vote. Critics said the changes will leave defendants with even fewer choices when they look for legal representatio...

New York Times: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times Co. (NYT) on Wednesday reported first-quarter earnings of $22.3 million.The New York-based company said it had profit of 13 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 19 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 16 cents per share.The newspaper publisher posted revenue of $560.7 million in the period, falling short of Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $564.4 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NYT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NYTSource

Integrated Electrical Services: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — HOUSTON (AP) — Integrated Electrical Services Inc. (IESC) on Wednesday reported profit of $18.8 million in its fiscal second quarter.On a per-share basis, the Houston-based company said it had net income of 92 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $1.07 per share.The communications and technology company posted revenue of $568.9 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on IESC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/IESCSource

MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc.: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

VONORE, Tenn. (AP) — VONORE, Tenn. (AP) — MasterCraft Boat Holdings (MCFT) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $22.5 million.The Vonore, Tennessee-based company said it had net income of $1.27 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.36 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.04 per share.The sport boats maker posted revenue of $166.8 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $158.4 million.MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc. expects full-year earnings to be $5.05 per share, with revenue expected to be $656 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MCFT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MCFTSource

Toll rises to 5 killed in Tunisia synagogue attack

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The number of people killed after an attack on a synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba during an annual Jewish pilgrimage has now risen to five, Tunisia’s TAP news agency said Wednesday. They include two Jewish pilgrims and three Tunisian police guards. One police guard died from his injuries following Tuesday’s attack, according to a medical official cited by TAP. Four other injured members of security forces were hospitalized in Djerba after they were wounded, including one in critical condition, according to TAP. The Tunisian Foreign Ministry said the civilians killed were a 42-year-old French national and a 30-year-old Tunisian.Israeli authorities and the family identified them as cousins: Aviel Haddad, who held dual Tunisian and Israeli citizenship, and Ben Haddad, who was French. Four civilians were also injured, the Tunisian Interior Ministry said. The attacker was slain by security guards.In a statement, the French foreign ministry expr...

Pakistani judge rules Imran Khan can be held for 8 days

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A judge ruled Wednesday that Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan can be held for eight days. The ruling comes a day after Khan was arrested in Islamabad. His arrest set off clashes between his supporters and police. Angry protesters stormed and set fire to a building housing Radio Pakistan in the northwest on Wednesday as the death toll from the violence rose to four. Khan, who lost power last year but remains the country’s most popular opposition figure, is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. His dramatic arrest on Tuesday deepened the political turmoil.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared in court Wednesday, a day after he was dragged from another court and arrested in Islamabad, setting off clashes between his supporters and police. Angry protesters stormed and set fire to a building housing Radio Pakistan in the northwest as t...

Brink’s: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Brink’s Co. (BCO) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $14.3 million.The Richmond, Virginia-based company said it had net income of 30 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $1.16 per share.The armored car company posted revenue of $1.19 billion in the period.Brink’s expects full-year revenue in the range of $4.8 billion to $4.95 billion.Brink’s shares have increased 17% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 13% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BCO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BCOSource

Kandi Tech: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

JINHUA, China (AP) — JINHUA, China (AP) — Kandi Technologies Group Inc. (KNDI) on Wednesday reported a loss of $29,000 in its first quarter.The Jinhua, China-based company said it had a loss of 1 cent per share.The electric and all-terrain vehicle maker posted revenue of $22.9 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on KNDI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/KNDISource