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Proximity of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports stirs fear in NATO member Romania

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — The discovery of drone debris on Romanian territory this week has left some local residents fearing that the war in neighboring Ukraine could spread into their country, as Russian forces bombard Ukrainian ports just across the Danube River from NATO-member Romania.Moscow aims to disrupt Ukraine’s ability to export grain to world markets with a sustained campaign of attacks targeting Ukrainian Danube ports, and has attacked the port of Izmail four times this week, Ukrainian officials say.Across from Izmail, pieces apparently from a drone were found near the Romanian village of Plauru, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said Wednesday. It was unclear if Romanian authorities had determined when or from where the drone was launched, and Tilvar said the debris didn’t pose a threat, but the development has left citizens in the European Union nation feeling uneasy. Daniela Tanase, 46, who lives in Plauru with her husband and son, told The Associate...

Clashes resume between factions in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Clashes resumed in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, with heavy gunfire and shelling wounding several people and prompting residents of the camp and the surrounding area to flee on Friday.Several days of street battles had broken out in the camp, Ein el-Hilweh, between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement and Islamist groups after Fatah accused the Islamists of gunning down one of their military generals on July 30. Those street battles left at least 13 dead and dozens wounded, and forced hundreds to flee from their homes.An uneasy truce had been in place since Aug. 3, but clashes were widely expected to resume as the Islamist groups have not handed over the accused killers of the Fatah general, Mohammad “Abu Ashraf” al-Armoushi to the Lebanese judiciary as demanded by a committee of Palestinian factions earlier this month.A committee of Palestinian factions in Ein el-Hilweh announced on Tuesday that their joint security forces would launch rai...

Person shot and critically wounded at Lil Baby concert in Memphis, Tennessee, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — One person was shot and critically wounded at a concert headlined by rapper Lil Baby in Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday night, police and local media said.The Memphis Police Department posted on social media that officers responded to a report of a shooting at 10:23 p.m. at 191 Beale Street, which is the address of FedEx Forum.A male victim was transported to Regional One Health Medical Center in critical condition and no other injuries were reported, police said.The identity of the shooter was not known, the police statement said.Lil Baby was rushed off the stage when shots were fired inside the venue, WREG-TV reported.A representative for the rapper did not immediately respond to a request for more information from The Associated Press.The Associated Press

Stock market today: Asian shares weaken while Japan reports economy grew less than expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

Shares fell Friday in Asia after Japan reported its economy grew less than earlier estimated in the last quarter. Oil prices declined, while U.S. futures edged higher. Japan, the world’s third largest economy, grew at a 4.8% annual pace in the April-June quarter, below the earlier estimate of 6% growth, according to data released Friday. Much of that growth was driven by exports, which rose nearly 13%, while private consumption fell 2.2% on weak investment spending. A separate report showed that wages declined in July for the 16th straight month, falling 2.5% from a year earlier. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.2% to 32,606.84, while the Kospi in Seoul lost less than 1 point, to 2,547.68. Hong Kong’s markets were closed due to a tropical storm. The Shanghai Composite index shed 0.2% to 3,1016.87, while the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.2% to 7,156.70. On Thursday, Wall Street slipped in mixed trading Thursday as the threat of high interest rates continued to dog Big Tech sto...

A helicopter crashes off the United Arab Emirates coast. 2 pilots are missing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A helicopter crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, with two pilots now missing, authorities said Friday.The crash happened offshore, though the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authorities did not specify where. It identified the aircraft involved as a Bell 212, which can carry 14 passengers and a pilot. Officials said the two pilots aboard were from Egypt and South Africa and had taken off Thursday night from Al Maktoum International Airport, the second airfield in Dubai. Aerogulf, the owner of the helicopter, described the flight as “routine training operations between Al Maktoum International Airport and an offshore rig.” The oil-rich UAE has multiple oil rigs off the coast in the Persian Gulf. “We are working with the aviation authorities and doing all we can to gather information as quickly as possible,” Aerogulf said in its statement. “At this moment our thoughts and prayers are with our crew and their families.”Aerogulf also p...

Security: Commission proposes negotiations with Switzerland, Iceland and Norway on Passenger Name Record data agreements

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

The European Commission has adopted Recommendations to the Council for the opening of negotiations with Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway for agreements on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data.  The transfer of PNR data is key in allowing authorities to strengthen the detection, prosecution, and investigation of terrorist and serious criminal offences. The agreements will set out the conditions for the transfer of PNR data to the authorities of those countries, in full respect of data protection safeguards and fundamental rights.  Opening negotiations with Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway on PNR is an important step forward to increase security in the Schengen area, in line with the Commission's PNR policy, which builds on international standards and addresses global security commitments. A review report published on 24 July 2020 showed that the PNR data has delivered concrete results in the fight against terrorism and serious crimes, such as drug trafficking, h...

Single family residence sells in San Jose for $3.8 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

A spacious house located in the 1400 block of Buckthorne Way in San Jose has new owners. The 3,018-square-foot property, built in 2010, was sold on Aug. 14, 2023, for $3,750,000, or $1,243 per square foot. This single-story house provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and four baths. Additionally, the house features a two-car garage.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:A 1,783-square-foot home on the 6800 block of Dartmoor Way in San Jose sold in August 2022, for $2,350,000, a price per square foot of $1,318. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Devon Way, San Jose, in March 2023, a 1,400-square-foot home was sold for $2,800,000, a price per square foot of $2,000. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In October 2022, a 1,357-square-foot home on South Blaney Avenue in San Jose sold for $2,275,000, a price per square foot of $1,676. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Spanish player Jenni Hermoso returns to Mexican club team; Sue Bird, Pau Gasol offer their support

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jenni Hermoso returned to Mexico on Thursday to resume playing with her club team, which pledged to help her find “normality” after the Spaniard was kissed without consent by the president of the Spanish soccer federation following the Women’s World Cup final.Hermoso, who plays for Pachuca in the Mexican league, has formally accused Luis Rubiales of sexual assault for kissing her on the lips, Spain’s prosecutors’ office said Wednesday.Rubiales, the now-suspended president of the federation, kissed Hermoso during the awards ceremony after Spain beat England to win the title on Aug. 20 in Sydney.Meanwhile, in Manila, Philippines, at the Basketball World Cup on Friday, two basketball greats — Sue Bird of the U.S. and Spain’s Pau Gasol — expressed both their support for Hermoso and disappointment in the entire situation.“People being able to tell their truth starts with holding the powers that be, for lack of a better, accountable,” Bird said. “I think it’...

Jimmy Fallon se disculpa con su personal tras las acusaciones de un ambiente de trabajo difícil en “Tonight Show”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

(CNN) — Jimmy Fallon se disculpó con sus compañeros tras las acusaciones publicadas el jueves en un reportaje de la revista Rolling Stone sobre un ambiente de trabajo difícil en “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, según pudo saber CNN.Durante una llamada de Zoom con el personal de “The Tonight Show” celebrada después de la publicación de la historia, Fallon dijo que no tenía intención de “crear ese tipo de ambiente en el show”, según un artículo de seguimiento de Rolling Stone que cita a empleados no identificados que estaban en la llamada.CNN se ha puesto en contacto con los representantes de Fallon.Un representante de la NBC remitió a CNN a la declaración de la cadena publicada en el reportaje original de Rolling Stone.“Es vergonzoso y me siento muy mal”, dicen los empleados que dijo Fallon, según el artículo de Rolling Stone.“Siento si los he avergonzado a ustedes y a sus familias y amigos”, agregó.“Qui...

Elon Musk sabotaged Ukrainian attack on Russian fleet in Crimea by turning off Starlink, new book says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:57 GMT

Elon Musk secretly ordered his engineers to disable Starlink satellite communications near the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea last year to sabotage a planned Ukrainian drone strike.Musk was worried the drone submarine attack, which was targeting the Russian naval fleet in Sevastopol, would escalate tensions and potentially lead to a nuclear war, according to an extract from historian Walter Isaacson’s upcoming biography “Elon Musk.”Musk on Thursday evening painted a slightly different picture to the one described by Isaacson. He said satellites in those regions were never turned on in the first place and he simply chose not to activate them.The extract, published by the Washington Post on Thursday, shows Musk’s journey from eager supporter to reluctant ally of Ukraine.Isaacson writes that Musk reportedly panicked when he heard about the planned Ukrainian attack, which was using Starlink satellites to guide six drones packed with explosives towards the Crimea coast.After speaking t...