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Defense Secretary Austin says the US stands with countries against China’s ‘bullying behavior’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday the United States stands with countries fighting Chinese “bullying behavior” as he launched bilateral talks in Australia aimed at countering Beijing’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Australian city of Brisbane late Thursday ahead of annual bilateral meetings on Friday and Saturday that will focus on a deal to provide Australia, a defense treaty partner, with a fleet of submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology.Ahead of a meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Austin said both countries share concerns about China’s break from international laws and norms that resolve disputes peacefully and without coercion.“We’ve seen troubling P.R.C. coercion from the East China Sea, to the South China Sea, to right here in the Southwest Pacific,” Austin told reporters, referring to the People’s Republic of China.“We’ll conti...

No clarity about who’s in charge in Niger, 2 days after mutinous soldiers ousted the president

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Two days after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger’s democratically elected president, it was still unclear Friday morning who was running the country and what mediation efforts were underway, as analysts warned that political chaos could set back the fight on extremist groups and increase Russia’s influence in the region.On Thursday, several hundred people gathered in the capital, Niamey, and chanted support for the Russian private military group Wagner while waving Russian flags. Later, they burned cars and ransacked the headquarters of the president’s political party. “We’re fed up,” said Omar Issaka, one of the protestors. “We are tired of being targeted by the men in the bush … Down with the French people. We’re going to collaborate with Russia now,” he said. The soldiers have not announced a leader and President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from Fra...

Russia says a Ukrainian drone was shot down outside Moscow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

A Ukrainian drone was shot down early Friday outside Moscow, Russia’s defense ministry said. It was the third drone strike or attempt on the capital region this month.The ministry said there were no injuries or damage in the early morning incident. It did not give details about where the drone was shot down, but said it took place in the Moscow Oblast, a region that surrounds but does not include the city itself.The shootdown adds to concern about Moscow’s vulnerability to attack as the war drags into its 18th month.Two drones struck the Russian capital on Monday, one of them falling in the center of the city near the Defense Ministry’s headquarters along the Moscow River about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the Kremlin. The other drone hit an office building in southern Moscow, gutting several upper floors.In another attack on July 4, the Russian military said four drones were downed by air defenses on the outskirts of Moscow and the fifth was jammed by electronic warfare ...

Wildfires: EU provides crucial assistance to the Mediterranean region

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

As several countries grapple with rapidly spreading wildfires, the EU steps in to reinforce firefighting efforts and provide much-needed support to the affected communities with over 490 firefighters and nine firefighting planes deployed to Greece and Tunisia since 18 July.The two Mediterranean countries have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the EU has swiftly replied. 10 countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia) are contributing to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism's response to the wildfires in Greece. In total, over 490 firefighters and seven planes have been deployed to different areas of the country. One EU Liaison Officer is supporting the coordination of operations in Greece and the EU's Copernicus satellite mapping is providing damage assessment on several areas in the Attica region and Rhodes.In addition, two Canadairs from the rescEU reserve hosted by Spain are being deployed to northwest Tunisia.Crisis...

Four-bedroom home sells in Danville for $2.3 million

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

70 Country Hills Court – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the first block of Country Hills Court in Danville was sold on June 30, 2023. The $2,300,000 purchase price works out to $806 per square foot. The house, built in 1990, has an interior space of 2,854 square feet. This single-story home presents a roomy floor plan, featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The property is equipped with central A/C. In addition, the house includes an attached two-car garage, offering generous space for vehicles and storage requirements. The lot size of the property measures an impressive 0.4-acre.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:A 2,854-square-foot home on the first block of Northview Court in Danville sold in April 2023, for $2,650,000, a price per square foot of $929. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In October 2022, a 3,102-square-foot home on Chadbourne Court in Danville sold for $1,830,000, a price per square foot of $590. The home...

Minnesota visits New York following Stewart’s 33-point game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

Minnesota Lynx (11-13, 8-7 Western Conference) at New York Liberty (18-5, 11-3 Eastern Conference)New York; Friday, 8 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -14.5; over/under is 168.5BOTTOM LINE: New York faces the Minnesota Lynx after Breanna Stewart scored 33 points in the New York Liberty’s 95-84 win against the Atlanta Dream.The Liberty are 10-3 in home games. New York is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 8.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Jonquel Jones averaging 2.3.The Lynx have gone 5-5 away from home. Minnesota is 3-7 in games decided by 10 points or more.The Liberty and Lynx face off Friday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Stewart is averaging 23.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Liberty. Sabrina Ionescu is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games for New York.Kayla McBride is averaging 12 points for the Lynx. Napheesa Collier is averaging 21.7 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 47.8% over the last 10 games for Minneso...

Several stars at the Women’s World Cup honed their skills with US collegiate teams

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Christine Sinclair. Megan Rapinoe. Sarina Bolden. Like many players in the Women’s World Cup, all three stars built their skills at the U.S. collegiate level.Of the 736 players competing at this year’s Women’s World Cup, 137 have roots in American college-level soccer, according to the NCAA. The total includes 16 players who currently compete for Division I schools or lower divisions. Across the 32 teams that qualified for the group stage, more than one in every six players has had a career stop at an American school.Not all the NCAA athletes in the tournament are tied to the United States. Canada has 22 of 23 athletes who played or still play on U.S. college teams, most of any team in the tournament. That includes Sinclair, the the all-time leader in international goals for men and women, who played at the University of Portland. The United States ranks second with 20 players. Rapinoe also played at Portland, but Alyssa Thompson, Trinity Rodman, and L...

EE.UU. ordena abandonar Haití al personal no destinado a emergencias

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

(CNN) — El Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos ordenó el jueves la salida de Haití del personal que no sea de emergencia, en el marco del deterioro de la situación de seguridad en el país.“El 27 de julio de 2023, el Departamento de Estado ordenó la salida de los familiares de los empleados del Gobierno de EE.UU. y de los empleados del Gobierno de EE.UU. que no sean de emergencia”, dijo la agencia en un aviso de viaje actualizado.“Los ciudadanos estadounidenses en Haití deben salir de Haití tan pronto como sea posible por transporte comercial u otras opciones de transporte privado disponibles, a la luz de la actual situación de seguridad y los desafíos de infraestructura”, insta el aviso de viaje. “Los ciudadanos estadounidenses que deseen salir de Puerto Príncipe deben estar atentos a las noticias locales y hacerlo solo cuando se considere seguro”.La orden sigue a un aviso de viaje emitido el jueves por la embajada de EE.UU. en Haití, e...

Singapore hangs first woman in 19 years after she was convicted of trafficking 31 grams of heroin

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore conducted its first execution of a woman in 19 years on Friday and its second hanging this week for drug trafficking despite calls for the city-state to cease capital punishment for drug-related crimes. Activists said another execution is planned next week.Saridewi Djamani, 45, was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking about 31 grams (1 ounce) of diamorphine, or pure heroin, the Central Narcotics Bureau said. It said the amount was “sufficient to feed the addiction of about 370 abusers for a week.”Singapore’s laws mandate the death penalty for anyone convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams (17.6 ounces) of cannabis and 15 grams (0.5 ounces) of heroin. Djamani’s execution came two days after that of a Singaporean man, Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, for trafficking around 50 grams (1.7 ounces) of heroin.The narcotics bureau said both prisoners were accorded due process, including appeals of their convictions and sentences and petitions for...

Hong Kong court rejects government-requested ban on protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:38 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court rejected a ban on broadcasting or distributing the protest song “Glory to Hong Kong,” in a landmark decision that rejected a challenge to freedom of expression in the city.The song was written during mass protests against the government in the Chinese territory in 2019 and its lyrics call for democracy and liberty. The song has since been mistakenly played at several international sporting events instead of China’s national anthem, “March of the Volunteers.”Judge Anthony Chan on Friday refused to grant the ban, which would have targeted anyone who uses the song to advocate for the separation of Hong Kong from China. In seeking the court order, the government also sought to ban actions that use the song to incite others to commit secession and to insult the national anthem, including such acts carried out online. Critics earlier voiced worries that the ban the government asked for would have a far-reaching impact on the city’s freedoms o...