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In the West Bank, UNESCO site Battir could face a water shortage from a planned Israeli settlement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

BATTIR, West Bank (AP) — Generations of Palestinians have worked the terraced hillsides of this West Bank farming village southwest of Jerusalem, growing olives, fruits, beans and exquisite eggplants renowned across the region in a valley linked to the biblical King David.But residents fear their ancient way of life could soon be in danger as Israel’s far-right government moves ahead with a settlement project on a nearby hilltop. Environmental groups say the construction could devastate already strained water sources supplying the agricultural terraces and cause extensive damage to an already precarious ecosystem.Battir’s plight shines a light on how the trappings of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — settlements, land disputes and military activity — can take a toll on the region’s environment, natural resources and cultural heritage.The proposed construction “will grab a great amount of land, and you don’t know where it will end,” said Rashid Owinah, 58, whose family has farmed in...

Kazakhstan and the world’s big powers: A return to the ‘Great Game’?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

The process of Kazakhstan distancing from Russia is accompanied by big efforts by China for further rapprochement with the Central Asian country, which should signal to the EU and the US that they should bring the country westward, writes Harun Karčić.Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently rejected his Belarusian counterpart’s proposal to join the Russia-Belarus “Union State,” calling the offer a “joke”. The proposal came after Russia decided to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union back in 1991.The proposal came only a few weeks after China’s President Xi Jinping hosted his first-ever summit with the leaders of Central Asian nations in the central Chinese city of Xian. According to international observers, the event represents the potential for Chinese influence to further expand into what used to be formerly Russia’s sphere of influence. China’s President paid particular attention to his Kazakh counterpart and...

Kazakh Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

In his speech, the Kazakh president stressed the strategic nature of co-operation with the European Union – the major trade partner of Kazakhstan."Recently, the Central Asia – European Union meeting took place in Kyrgyzstan. The first CA-EU meeting was held in Astana. The high-level meeting needs to be maintained to demonstrate our commitment and aspiration for closer relations. 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the EU were marked early this year. I believe we have a great potential for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation," said the Kazakh president.Tokayev informed the commissioner about the reforms underway in Kazakhstan, as well as the transformations facilitating the development of democracy, protection of human rights, and rule of law.He also noted Kazakhstan’s potential to expand cooperation with the EU in the agricultural sector. According to the Kazakh Head of State, Kazakhstan is willing to increase the exports of...

Home burglaries caught on camera amid rise in Encino thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

Security video captured thieves breaking into Encino homes amid a spike in reported thefts across the community. In both incidents that were caught on camera, the suspects got away. Homeowners in the area remain on edge, worried about when the thieves will strike next.Video of one Encino break-in happened earlier in June in the middle of the day, according to the victim. The thieves were seen roaming around the backyard before smashing a glass door and entering the home.It’s unclear how many valuables they got away with. Before leaving, one of the masked thieves is seen grabbing a home’s front doorbell camera, attempting to shift it away from view. Security video captured thieves breaking into Encino homes amid a rise in reported thefts in the area. (KTLA) Video captures looters ransacking McDonald’s in South Los Angeles A second break-in happened on June 16 as the homeowners were present. A group of four thieves can be seen running away through the front door and a woma...

Police arrest suspected car thief in Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

Authorities in Los Angeles County arrested a man suspected of stealing a truck and then leading police on a chase Tuesday afternoon.The pursuit began in Wilmington, in L.A.’s Harbor region, around 5 p.m. when police received a LoJack alert. After driving through city streets and intersections, the suspect bailed from the truck and ran into a residential community around N. Neptune Avenue and West Q Street. Sky5 footage showed him climbing walls and fences and running through backyards.The suspect fled on foot around N. Neptune Avenue and W. Q Street. June 20, 2023. (KTLA)Police surrounded the neighborhood as the suspect barricaded himself inside a storage tent.He was eventually taken into custody. It's unknown whether he was armed at the time.

Can San Jose add 75,000 more homes over the next decade? Here’s where the city is planning new housing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

To ease a deepening housing crisis, San Jose aims to add as many as 75,000 new homes over the next decade — potentially boosting the number of households in the Bay Area’s largest city by almost a quarter.On Tuesday, the City Council took a crucial step toward that ambitious goal by approving a state-mandated plan meant as a roadmap for its housing future.But the move wasn’t without controversy. A host of pro-housing advocates, tenant activists and construction labor backers voiced a range of concerns over the proposal. Many are skeptical the city can convince state regulators to sign off on the plan.“We’re hearing from a lot of people that this isn’t going to be certified because there’s substantial issues,” said Councilmember Sergio Jimenez during the meeting.In the end, at the urging of city planning officials who insisted the proposal is sound, the council approved it in a split vote. Where does San Jose hope to add the tens of tho...

Thomas secures 5th career triple-double; Sun beat Storm 85-79

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — DeWanna Bonner scored 20 points to move into 10th on the WNBA scoring list, Alyssa Thomas secured her fifth career triple-double and the Connecticut Sun beat the Seattle Storm 85-79 on Tuesday night.Thomas tied Candace Parker and Sabrina Ionescu for the most career regular-season triple-doubles with three. Thomas scored with 1:26 left in the third quarter to reach the mark, before finishing with 13 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. Thomas also had three steals.Bonner passed Sylvia Fowles to move into the top 10 in league history. She trails Katie Smith by 36 points for ninth.All five starters for Connecticut (10-3) scored in double figures. Natisha Hiedeman had 17 points, Brionna Jones added 13 and Tiffany Hayes scored 12. Jones was helped off the court with about a minute left with an apparent leg injury.Connecticut scored the opening 12 points of the second quarter for a 34-25 lead. Thomas had seven points, nine rebounds and eight assists at the break.Jewell Loyd,...

Sunak under pressure as UK inflation remains stubbornly high in May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

LONDON — U.K. inflation held steady at 8.7 percent in May despite analyst expectations it would fall to 8.4 percent following a broader European trend, the Office of National Statistics confirmed today.It makes it almost certain the Bank of England will increase interest rates to 5 percent in August.The Bank is currently expected to lift rates by 0.25 percentage points at its meeting on Thursday to 4.75 percent, but before today’s data not all analysts were agreed there would be another in August. With core annual inflation — which strips out volatile items like energy and food — rising to 6.5 percent in May from 6.2 the previous month. the highest rate since November 1991, the scope for any imminent rate-hiking pause by the Bank has been greatly reduced. The country’s economy now risks a wave of mortgage defaults as a slew of fixed rate deals head for expiry in the second half of this year.Among the factors unexpectedly pushing rates higher this month included rising p...

Italy has won migration. It’s aiming for Europe next

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

BRUSSELS — The stage was set. In one corner: Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and a coterie of conservatives sensing an opportunity.In the other: Germany, Olaf Scholz, and a fractious coalition on the left. The two combatants were battling over a deal to reshape, for the first time in years, how the EU welcomes and relocates migrants. And the talks were on the brink of failing, just as they had for years. Italy wanted more authority to remove rejected asylum seekers. Germany was worried it would create human rights violations. But this time, when Italy and the conservatives didn’t budge, Germany and the left blinked. It was a telling moment. Germany, the EU’s most populated country and its largest economy, often gets what it wants when negotiating in Brussels. Italy, with its constantly changing governments, doesn’t.This time, however, the ground had shifted. Europe’s traditional center-right conservatives were now willing to caucus with Meloni, who leads a post-fasci...

UK borrowers brace for more expensive loans as inflation fails to fall as anticipated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Borrowers in the U.K. will be bracing themselves for further increases in lending costs after official figures Wednesday showed inflation failing to fall as anticipated in May.The Office for National Statistics said inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index, held steady at 8.7% in the year to May against expectations for a modest decline to 8.4%, a development that is likely to see the Bank of England raise the cost of borrowing again on Thursday.The agency said rising prices for flights, recreational and cultural goods and services, and second-hand cars boosted the inflation rate, while gas prices at the pump provided the biggest downward pressure.“After last month’s fall, annual inflation was little changed in May and remains at a historically high level,” the agency’s chief economist Grant Fitzner said.Financial markets think news of the unchanged rate will mean the Bank of England will increase its benchmark interest rate on Thursday from the ...