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Russian parliament’s upper house rescinds ratification of global nuclear test ban

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — The upper house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday revoked the ratification of a global nuclear test ban in what Moscow has describes as a move to establish parity with the United States.The Federation Council voted to endorse a bill rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT. The bill will now be sent to President Vladimir Putin for final approval. The lower house approved the bill last week.The vote follows a statement from Putin, who warned earlier this month that Moscow could revoke its 2000 decision to ratify the bill to “mirror” the stand taken by the U.S., which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban.The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world but the treaty was never fully implemented. In addition to the U.S., it is yet to be ratified by China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt.There are widespread concerns that Russia could move to resume nuc...

Man with previous conviction for IS membership detained in Germany, suspected of murder plan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A man with a previous conviction for membership in the Islamic State group has been detained in Germany and is under investigation on suspicion of conspiring to commit murder, prosecutors said Wednesday.The 29-year-old, whose identity wasn’t released in keeping with German privacy rules, was detained Tuesday at his apartment in the western city of Duisburg.Prosecutors in Duesseldorf said there were indications the suspect “may have been in contact with a person resident abroad in a criminally relevant way.” They did not elaborate. Neither they nor police addressed German media reports, which named no sources, that investigators suspect the man may have intended to attack a pro-Israel demonstration, possibly using a truck.Prosecutors said the Duesseldorf state court in 2017 gave the man a five-year sentence under juvenile law for membership in IS and other offenses, which he served. The Associated Press

Relatives of victims of alleged war crimes in Myanmar seek justice against generals in Philippines

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Relatives of victims of alleged war crimes committed by Myanmar’s military filed a criminal complaint in the Philippines against their nation’s ruling generals as they increasingly seek to hold them accountable in courts outside the violence-wracked country.Human rights lawyers representing five Myanmar nationals, who filed the joint complaint before the Department of Justice, contend that a 2009 Philippine law that promotes human rights obligates the Philippines to prosecute war crimes committed elsewhere in the world under the principle of universal jurisdiction.Those named in the complaint are Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s ruling military council, eight of his military commanders and a state minister.Myanmar and the Philippines are both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a conservative 10-nation bloc that has a policy of not intervening in each other’s domestic affairs. Critics say such an approach has allo...

U.N. warns Gaza blockade could force it to sharply cut relief operations as bombings rise

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees warned Wednesday that without immediate deliveries of fuel it will soon have to sharply cut back relief operations across the Gaza Strip, which has been blockaded and hit by devastating Israeli airstrikes since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel more than two weeks ago.The warning came as hospitals in Gaza struggled to treat masses of wounded with dwindling resources, and health officials in the Hamas-ruled territory said the death toll was soaring as Israeli jets continued striking the territory overnight into Wednesday.The Israeli military said its strikes had killed militants and destroyed tunnels, command centers, weapons storehouses and other military targets, which it has accused Hamas of hiding among Gaza’s civilian population. Gaza-based militants have been launching unrelenting rocket barrages into Israel since the conflict started.The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said the airstrikes killed at lea...

Australia state visit to feature talk of submarines and tech partnerships – and a lavish dinner

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is pressing forward with this week’s state visit from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, carving out time to nurture the relationship with a critical U.S. ally in the Pacific against the backdrop of escalating fighting between Israel and Hamas. The state visit, only the fourth since Biden took office, is a reminder of how he’s pursuing long-term plans to counter China’s influence even as bloody conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, where the Russian invasion continues after almost two years, remain the most immediate concerns. Senior administration officials said Biden and Albanese would be focused on innovative partnerships intended to support economic development among Pacific island nations, a key arena as the U.S. seeks the upper hand in the region. —The U.S. and Australia plan to work together on building maritime infrastructure and laying undersea cables to strengthen internet connectivity, according to the of...

Hurricane Otis weakens to Category 4 storm while heaving rains, flash floods batter southern Mexico

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Otis slammed into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane early Wednesday, bringing dangerous winds and heavy rain to Acapulco and surrounding towns, stirring memories of a 1997 storm that killed dozens of people.Now a Category 4 storm, the hurricane was expected to continue to weaken quickly in Guerrero state’s steep mountains. But the five to 10 inches of rain forecast, with as much as 15 inches possible in some areas, raised the threat of landslides and floods. Otis was about 25 miles north northwest of Acapulco with its maximum sustained winds decreasing to 130 mph (215 km/h) and moving at 10 mph (17 km/h). The center of Otis is expected to move farther inland over southern Mexico through Wednesday night.Otis had strengthened rapidly, going from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in 12 hours Tuesday. Residents of Guerrero’s coast scrambled to prepare, but the storm’s sudden intensity appeared to catch many ...

Justin Neely sets sights high during ACL recovery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- Justin Neely entered last season with high hopes, and high expectations. After winning the Rookie of the Year award in the America East Conference, he entered his second season as the focal point of the UAlbany basketball team. But just five games in, everything changed in an instant. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On November 12, 2022, the Albany Cup game between UAlbany and Siena returned to MVP Arena in front of nearly 10,000 fans. Just eight minutes into the game, Neely tore the ACL in his left knee. "It was just an upsetting event that happened," said Neely. "It's a part of the game unfortunately." "My heart went out to him," said head coach Dwayne Killings. "I felt really bad for Justin, not that you want it to happen to anybody in the world, but not him. I think he works the right way, he's got a great family, they all believe in him. He's had a really good story, he was the valedictorian in his ...

Familiar foes in Saratoga and Shaker set to clash for AAA boys soccer crown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

GUILDERLAND CENTER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In the 2022 boys soccer season, Saratoga Springs and Shaker played in an epic Class AA championship game, with Shaker pulling out a 4-3 overtime victory. The two sides have risen to the top of Class AAA in 2023, and will once again square off for a section title Monday night. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In Tuesday's AAA semi-final round at Guilderland High School, two-seeded Shaker pulled out a 1-0 victory over rival and three-seed Shenendehowa. The top-seeded Blue Streaks followed suit with a 3-1 win over the four-seed in the bracket, Christian Brothers Academy.After the Blue Bison and Plainsmen played a scoreless first 40 minutes of action, Shaker finally broke through on a corner kick from Nathanael Chung in the 46th minute. Chung put the ball on the back post, Patrick Flaherty headed the ball back across the box and Griffin Ryan finished it off for what proved to be the game-winning ...

Commission approves €742 million Czech state aid scheme to support sustainable forest management

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €742 million (CZK 17.4 billion) Czech scheme to support sustainable forest management. The measure will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Common agricultural policy by strengthening forest environmental protection.Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants to small, medium and large forest owners and other entities with similar rights and obligations, including State-owned entities. In particular, the direct grants will support: (i) operations designed to prevent the soil erosion on deforested stands; (ii) the protection of forest biodiversity; and (iii) the protection of the structure and composition of forest soil. Eligible beneficiaries will receive an aid amount equal to around €0.18 (CZK 4.22) per day per hectare of forest land. This amount will cover up to 100% of the eligible costs.The Commission assessed the scheme under EU state aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c...

Return of Conservatism: The possible future of the UK

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:55 GMT

With the heightened tensions in the Middle East due to attacks launched by Gaza-based Hamas forces on Israel, this development prompts one to reflect on unexpected changes that are reshaping the world. One such example can be found in the United Kingdom, writes Kung Chan, founder of ANBOUND think tank. As it stands, the United Kingdom is increasingly showing its diverse façade. Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, is of Scottish-Pakistani heritage. His political journey began in 2011 when he was elected as an additional member in the Glasgow electoral region, becoming the youngest-ever elected member in the history of the Scottish Parliament at the age of 26. During his swearing-in ceremony, Yousaf wore traditional South Asian attire, a shalwar kameez, with the Scottish national emblem, the thistle. He recited his oath in both English and Urdu, signifying his heritage and identity.Rishi Sunak (pictured), the current prime minister of the United Kingdom, is widely recognized...