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China fines Deloitte $30.8 million over audit failings

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The Beijing office of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has been fined $30.8 million for failing to adequately audit a Chinese state-owned asset management company whose former head was sentenced to death on corruption charges.The office also was ordered to suspend operations for three months for mishandling audit and other work at China Huarong Asset Management Co. in 2014-19, the Ministry of Finance announced Friday.Deloitte was fined 211.9 million yuan ($30.8 million), the ministry said. It said Huarong was fined a total of 800,000 yuan ($116,000) and 13 employees were fined a total of 250,000 yuan ($36,000) for their role in faulty audits.Huarong is one of four entities created in the 1990s to buy nonperforming loans from state-owned banks. They expanded into banking, insurance, real estate finance and other fields.Huarong’s former head, Lai Xiaomin, was sentenced to death on 2021 on charges of embezzlement and taking bribes in exchange for investments, construction contra...

Thailand’s opposition party unveils policies and candidates

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

PATHUM THANI, Thailand (AP) — Thailand’s main opposition party on Friday paraded its slate of parliamentary candidates and outlined its policy pledges in a well-choreographed show of confidence ahead of the approaching general election.Several thousand supporters clad in red cheered and waved banners as the 400 candidates of the Pheu Thai party marched behind flag-bearers into an indoor university stadium on the outskirts of Bangkok, where they took their seats on stage.Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is expected to dissolve Parliament by Monday, shortly before its term expires, triggering polls likely to be scheduled for early May.Pheu Thai is closely linked to Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister ousted by a military coup in 2006. Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon who upended tradition-bound Thai politics with populist policies, is despised by the military and ruling conservative establishment, whose influence he threatened. He now lives in exile to avoid a prison ter...

Death toll rises, locals pick up pieces after Cyclone Freddy

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Authorities are still getting to grips with the scale of Cyclone Freddy’s destruction in Malawi and Mozambique since late Saturday, with over 370 people confirmed dead, several hundreds still missing and tens of thousands displaced.On Friday, Malawi authorities said Freddy killed at least 326 people, with 200 still missing. There are hundreds of evacuation centers set up across the country for survivors. Malawi’s president, Lazarus Chakwera, declared a 14-day national mourning period on Thursday. In Mozambique, authorities said at least 53 were killed since Saturday, with 50,000 more still displaced. It’s expected that the death toll in both nations will continue to climb.Cyclone Freddy dissipated over land late Wednesday after it made second landfall in Mozambique and then Malawi over the weekend and caused mass devastation in several regions, including Malawi’s financial capital, Blantyre.“A lot of areas are inaccessible restricting movement of ...

Ford recalls 1.5M vehicles to fix brake hoses, wiper arms

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 1.5 million vehicles in the U.S. in two actions to fix leaky brake hoses and windshield wiper arms that can break.The largest of two recalls covers nearly 1.3 million 2013 through 2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKX midsize cars. The company says in documents posted Friday by safety regulators that the front brake hoses can rupture and leak brake fluid. That would increase brake pedal travel and make stopping distances longer.Dealers will replace the hoses. Ford will mail owner notification letters starting April 17. They’ll get a second letter once parts are available for the fix.Ford says it’s aware of one crash with no mention of injuries due to the problem.The second recall covers more than 222,000 F-150 pickups from 2021. The windshield wiper arms can break.Dealers will replace the arms if needed. Owners will be notified starting March 27.Associated Press, The Associated Press

Prince Harry sues tabloid for defamation over security story

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Lawyers for Prince Harry asked a judge Friday to rule that a tabloid newspaper libeled the British royal with an article about his quest for police protection when he and his family visit the U.K.Harry is suing Mail on Sunday publisher Associated Newspapers Ltd. over an article alleging he tried to hush up his separate legal challenge over the British government’s refusal to let him pay for police security.During a hearing at the High Court in London, Harry’s lead attorney asked Judge Matthew Nickin either to strike out the publisher’s defense or to deliver a summary judgment, which would be a ruling in the prince’s favor without going to trial.Lawyer Justin Rushbrooke said the facts did not support the publisher’s “substantive pleaded defense” that the article expressed an “honest opinion.” Harry was not in court for the hearing. The prince, also known as the Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan, lost their publicly funded U.K. police protection when they steppe...

Ford recalls 1.5 million vehicles to fix brake hoses, wiper arms

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 1.5 million vehicles in the U.S. in two actions to fix leaky brake hoses and windshield wiper arms that can break.The largest of two recalls covers nearly 1.3 million 2013 through 2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKX midsize cars. The company says in documents posted Friday by safety regulators that the front brake hoses can rupture and leak brake fluid. That would increase brake pedal travel and make stopping distances longer.Dealers will replace the hoses. Ford will mail owner notification letters starting April 17. They'll get a second letter once parts are available for the fix.Ford says it’s aware of one crash with no mention of injuries due to the problem.The second recall covers more than 222,000 F-150 pickups from 2021. The windshield wiper arms can break.Dealers will replace the arms if needed. Owners will be notified starting March 27.

32-hour workweek bill reintroduced in Congress: Will it pass?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The "Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act" was introduced in the House earlier this month, as progressives try for a second time to shorten the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32. The bill, introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), proposes amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to shorten the standard workweek by eight hours for non-exempt employees. (A non-exempt employee is someone who is currently entitled to overtime when they work more than 40 hours in a week.)It would effectively mean either shorter workweeks or more overtime pay for hourly workers. While the law, if passed, wouldn't immediately impact salaried workers in office and tech jobs, Takano told the Washington Post he believed it would contribute to a culture shift across all industries. 33 companies tested a 4-day workweek. None are planning to switch back "The 32-hour workweek discussion is already occurring in certain sectors of the economy. ... Panasonic went to a 32-hour workweek. Kickstarter is a com...

Want better sleep? Avoid these 5 foods before bedtime

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – If you struggle to slip easily into a restful night's sleep you may want to reevaluate what you do before bedtime – including what you eat, experts say.Cleveland Clinic sleep specialist Dr. Michelle Drerup told Nexstar that about 30% of American adults report symptoms of insomnia.You may have even developed sleeping troubles in the past few years – an international study performed across 14 countries from May to July 2020 found a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and nightmares. The researchers determined that nightmares increased by 50% in people who caught the virus in the early months of the pandemic."Most people, if they don't have any sleep difficulties, probably fall asleep within 10 to 20 minutes," Drerup said. "It varies as well. If it takes someone 45 minutes to fall asleep and that's normal for them and they allow enough time, it's not necessarily a problem." Airline investigating after flight attendants allegedly fight over passenger’s request, refuse to wo...

Subway Footlong Pass is back — here's how to get it

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Subway's popular sandwich subscription card, the Footlong Pass, is back — less than a year after its first limited run sold out in hours. While Subway says there are 250,000 passes up for purchase this year, they may still be hard to snag. Shop at Ikea? You may be entitled to part of a $24M class action settlement The Subway Footlong Pass costs $15 and will only be sold to its MyWay rewards members, Subway says. Pass holders will be able to get 50% off one footlong sub one time per day through April.Pass sales begin at 8 a.m. EST March 21. Subway's MyWay Rewards is available in the U.S. and Canada, Subway says.“Subway’s inaugural Footlong Pass showcases all of the things our fans crave from Subway: our footlong subs, everyday value and, of course, exclusive perks for loyalty members,” said Barb Millette, senior director of loyalty & gift cards at Subway. “The first 10,000 passes sold out in a matter of hours, and while we have 250,000 available this time around, we...

27K realtors in Austin part of a competitive real estate market

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:22:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since 1957, there have been more real estate agent and brokers licenses issued to people in Austin than any other city in the state of Texas except for Houston, according to the Texas Real Estate Commission, or TREC, the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating the real estate industry. Chart illustrating the top ten cities where realtor licenses have been issued by the Texas Real Estate Commission In May 2021, Austin resident Caroline Smalley made the decision to leave the corporate world, where she worked in marketing, to start a new career as a realtor."The biggest appeal for me as a working mom is the flexibility, but it's not as easy as a lot of people think," Smalley said.Smalley explained that the unpredictable nature of the market, working late nights and weekends, as well as having a career that is 100% commission based makes it a challenging but rewarding job. Related: A positive in Austin's housing market heading into 2023 According to T...