Germany approves the export of air-defense missiles to Saudi Arabia, underlining a softer approach
BERLIN (AP) — The German government has approved the export of air-defense missiles to , underlining a softening of its hard line of recent years toward arms exports to the kingdom.
Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit on Wednesday confirmed a report by news magazine Der Spiegel that Germany’s Security Council, made up of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and several other ministers, approved the export of 150 air-to-air missiles for the Iris-T air defense system at the end of 2023.
The government
For IRS, backlogs and identity theft are still problems despite funding boost, watchdog says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS is still too slow in processing amended tax returns, answering taxpayer phone calls and resolving identity theft cases, according to an within the agency.
While there is “cautious optimism” for an agency that has excavated itself from tens of millions of backlogged tax returns with new federal funding, the report states “the IRS has a tall mountain to climb to achieve its goals of rebuilding the agency, modernizing its systems, and providing the quality service taxpayers deserve.”
The federal tax collector needs
Air Arabia resumes flights to Afghanistan after halting them 2 years ago as Taliban captured Kabul
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban government in Afghanistan on Wednesday confirmed the resumption of Air Arabia flights to Kabul’s international airport, two years after service stopped following the collapse of the Western-backed government.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation said the first Air Arabia flight landed Wednesday.
In a post on X, the ministry said there will be one daily flight between Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and Kabul.
All international airlines halted flights to Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in August 20
Kosovo files human smuggling charges against 27 Kosovars
Greece accuses multinationals of ‘greedflation,’ expands price controls to baby formula
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s center-right government announced price controls on baby formula Wednesday, accusing multinational suppliers of imposing unjustifiably high prices on the country’s consumers.
A 7% profit cap on formula will take effect in March and follows a series of similar initiatives .
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused major supermarket suppliers of taking advantage of high inflation to further hike prices.
“The battle to tame high prices and to impose more competition rules in favor of the consumer is a constant battle,”
Toronto property taxes set to increase 10.5 per cent in 2024: Budget Chief
Property taxes are set to increase by 10.5 per cent this year in Toronto, according to budget chief Shelley Carroll.
In a press conference, Carroll said the nine per cent increase to property taxes and 1.5 per cent increase to the City Building Fund, which is a levy that supports capital projects, is a result of a $1.8 billion shortfall due to chronic underspending in city services.
“I feel strongly that we cannot keep kicking that can down the road. We need to get
Property services company FirstService makes three small acquisitions in the U.S.
TORONTO — Property services company FirstService Corp. says it has closed three small acquisitions in the U.S.
Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Under the first deal, the company says its First Onsite Restoration business has acquired DryPatrol LLC, which is based in Dayton, Ohio.
DryPatrol provides commercial restoration services in Dayton and the surrounding region.
FirstService also says its Paul Davis Restoration business has acquired two of its existing franchised operations.
The first serves the Denver metropolitan area, while the other covers urban markets across
Music streams hit 4 trillion in 2023. Country and global acts – and Taylor Swift – fueled the growth
Listened to more music last year? You’re not alone.
The global music industry surpassed 4 trillion streams in 2023, a new single-year record, Luminate’s 2023 Year-End Report found.
Global streams were also up 34% from last year, reflective of an increasingly international music marketplace.
Stateside, three genres saw the biggest growth in 2023: country (23.7%), Latin (which encompasses all Latin musical genres, up
Music streams hit 4 trillion in 2023 with country, global acts – and Taylor Swift – fueling the growth
Listened to more music last year? You’re not alone.
The global music industry surpassed 4 trillion streams in 2023, a new single-year record, Luminate’s 2023 Year-End Report found.
Global streams were also up 34% from last year, reflective of an increasingly international music marketplace.
Stateside, three genres saw the biggest growth in 2023: country (23.7%), Latin (which encompasses all Latin musical genres, up
Biden’s education chief to talk with Dartmouth students about Islamophobia, antisemitism
HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s education chief praised Dartmouth College’s culture Wednesday for encouraging diverse perspectives and giving students a voice as a way to navigate difficult topics like the .
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona came to Dartmouth for a conversation billed as a chance to discuss with students the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses with students. But the small group, which included Muslim and Jewish students, rarely spoke about that, and instead, many highlighted examples of campus life where