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Blasts reported on key bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

Traffic on the strategic Kerch bridge that connects occupied Crimea with Russia was brought to a halt in the early hours of Monday morning after what Kremlin-installed officials called an “emergency” and amid reports of explosions.The bridge, which provides a crucial overland supply route for troops, weapons and fuel to support Russia’s forces in southern Ukraine, is important both practically and symbolically to President Vladimir Putin, who opened it personally in 2018. The bridge was the target of an attack during Ukraine’s counteroffensive last October.Ukraine’s security services published a cryptic poem in which it appeared to claim responsibility for Monday’s incident. “Nightingale, my dear brother; The bridge has gone to sleep again; Once … twice!” the SBU wrote, adding: “P.S. The music is folk. The words are by the Security Service of Ukraine.”Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar recently acknowledged Kyiv’s forces ...

In India, G20 finance chiefs set to address global challenges like climate change and rising debt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations meeting in India on Monday are poised to address critical global economic challenges, including the threats posed by climate change and rising debt among low-income countries.Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the two countries were working together to further the G20 agenda. They spoke after holding talks on the sidelines of the summit, a sign of the importance of their countries’ relationship at a time of tension with China.“The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy and to support developing countries,” Yellen said ahead of the meetings in Gandhinagar, a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Sitharaman said a priority for the G20 and India, which is hosting the summit this year, is strengthening global development banks and reaching a consens...

EU and Latin American leaders hold a summit hoping to rekindle relationship with long-lost friends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Leaders from the European Union and Latin America are gathering for a major summit of long-lost relatives starting on Monday. Whether it will be a joyful meeting of long-lost friends remains to be seen.Their last such encounter was eight years ago. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic and Brazil’s three-year departure from the 33-nation Community of Latin American and Caribbean States — or CELAC — had made the Atlantic Ocean separating the two sides seem wider. And division ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine to trade, deforestation and slavery reparations has given extra spice to a two-day summit that will now already be considered a success if all agree to meet more frequently from now on.The 27-nation EU certainly takes it share of the blame for the estrangement. “For too many years, Europe has been turning its back on what is, without a doubt, by far the most Euro-compatible region on the planet,” said Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares of Spain...

Wildfire Smoke dissipates. Nice Beach Weather. Heat scorches Europe, Geomagnetic Storm Watch and NOAA Launches New Hurricane Forecast Model

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

Blue skies return to ChicagoWe'll start to see bluer skies Monday. Canadian wildfire smoke will keep skies hazy early morning, but smoke is expected to gradually disperse as a cold front continues its trek south through the region. By the afternoon, the Chicago area should see more blue skies and the air quality is likely to greatly improve.A Nice Day For The BeachSunshine, comfortable temperatures and zero chance of rain make for a good time at the beach. Be sure to wear sunscreen.Heat Exacerbates Risk of Forest Fires in Spain. Greece closes tourist attractions, while Red Alerts are issued across Italy. Current Heat Wave Follows Last Summer's Deadly record HeatMeteorologists in Spain warned of the risk of forest fires as the heat intensifies with temperatures reaching 111°F in southern regions of the country. Greece shut down popular tourist attractions advising people to stay out of the heat. Last summer Europe experienced the hottest summer on record with more than 60,000 heat-re...

Zelenskyy warns of Russian efforts to halt Kyiv's troops, general notes advances in south

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (pictured) warned Ukrainians that Russia was throwing all its resources into a campaign to stop Kyiv's troops from pressing their counter offensive and a top general reported new progress on the southern front.But Ukrainian military analysts suggested that things were not easy for Ukrainian forces in their bid to advance southward.Ukraine has launched a counter offensive to take back swathes of land in eastern and southern Ukraine captured by Russian forces in their invasion launched in February 2022.It has focused on capturing villages in the southeast in a drive towards the Sea of Azov and areas near the eastern city of Bakhmut, taken by Russian forces in May after months of battles.Russian accounts said its forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks in eastern Donetsk region, including around Bakhmut."We must all understand very clearly, as clearly as possible, that Russian forces in our southern and eastern lands are doing everything they can in order to...

Angelenos hit the parks to beat the heat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

Amid sizzling temperatures blanketing Southern California during an ongoing heatwave, residents across the region are doing their best to stay cool and beat the heat.  The National Weather Service reported two record high temps for Sunday, with Lancaster hitting 110 degrees, which broke the record of 109 degrees set in 1960. In Sandberg, a high of 99 degrees beat the record of 98 set in 1998. Several daily high temperature records were also set on Saturday.  Northridge residents Dorothy and Steve Rumph made their way out to Balboa Park on Sunday to take a stroll and enjoy the scenery.  “We were lucky enough to be under a cabana, so that was good, and we just met a group of friends, a big bike riding group,” Dorothy told KTLA.  Experts warn that heat-related illnesses can creep up on people if they’re not prepared for the triple-digit temperatures. When it gets this hot, officials say it’s important to play it safe, stay hydrated and seek out shade if at all possi...

La estadounidense que fue secuestrada en México regresa a su país después de 8 meses, dice el FBI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

(CNN) — Mónica De León Barba, una ciudadana estadounidense que fue secuestrada el pasado noviembre mientras caminaba hacia su casa en México, regresó a Estados Unidos después de que sus captores la liberaron, según las autoridades del FBI en San Francisco.“El FBI se complace en anunciar que Mónica De León Barba está a salvo y en camino a EE.UU., donde se reunirá con su familia y su perro después de pasar ocho meses en cautiverio”, dijo el FBI en un mensaje de Twitter este sábado.De León Barba fue liberada por sus captores la noche de este viernes, según el FBI.Fue secuestrada en Tepatitlán, Jalisco, México, en noviembre, cuando regresaba a casa del trabajo con su perro, según la actualización.Autoridades mexicanas realizan otro arresto en el secuestro de estadounidenses en MatamorosEl FBI dijo previamente que ofrecía hasta US$ 40.000 por información que permitiera localizar a De León Barba. El anuncio de la recompensa en marzo fue el primer reconocimiento público d...

Antoine Pellion : “La bonne nouvelle, c’est qu’il y a un plan”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

PARIS — C’est ce lundi qu’Emmanuel Macron aurait dû présenter son grand projet de planification pour la transition écologique. Enfin, peut-être… ou peut-être pas. Difficile d’en avoir le cœur net, à dire vrai.Antoine Pellion, secrétaire général à la planification écologique (SGPE) depuis un an et coordinateur en chef du chantier, avait lui-même annoncé la date dans une rare intervention médiatique sur France Inter, samedi 8 juillet. Mais l’Elysée affirme depuis qu’elle n’avait jamais été “confirmée.”Un étrange hiatus. Pellion, jeune homme aussi carré que ses petites lunettes noires sont rondes, et qui court après le temps, aurait donc parlé trop vite.Rendez-vous à la rentréeRepoussé une première fois à cause des émeutes, le conseil de planification écologique (CPE) aura finalement lieu “plutôt à la fin de l’été, vu l’actualité”, explique désormais le presque quadra, que nous avons rencontré jeudi dernier, dans son deuxième bureau, situé au 58 rue de Varenne, j...

Suspect in Georgia mass shooting is killed during a manhunt and 3 officers are wounded, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriff’s deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said.Officials said Andre Longmore was shot during an intense manhunt for the 40-year-old suspect. The exchange of gunfire came a day after Saturday morning’s shootings rocked a bucolic subdivision in Hampton, south of Georgia’s main city.Officials said Longmore was killed about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. Clayton County police said a Henry County sheriff’s deputy saw the SUV that Longmore stole from one of the victims and began chasing him, calling for help. After exchanging gunfire with Longmore, Clayton police said he ran away.Justin Robinson told told WANF-TV that Longmore entered the backyard of a townhouse.“He had a gun, he was bleeding, he was naked,” Robinson s...

Solomon Islands leader hits back at criticism of deepening security ties with China

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:53 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The leader of Solomon Islands on Monday hit back at criticism of his nation’s deepening security ties with China, saying the United States and Australia had nothing to fear.Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made the remarks at a news conference in the capital Honiara after returning from a visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials.Sogavare said that while in China, he signed nine agreements and memorandums, including a police cooperation plan.He said the plan “enhances cooperation on law enforcement and security matters with a commitment by China to provide support as needed” to strengthen the capacity of police law enforcement in the Pacific nation.The new agreements come after the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China last year, raising fears of a military buildup in the region. The U.S. has countered with diplomatic moves of its own, including opening an embassy in the Solomon Islan...