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The leaders of Ukraine and Russia assess resources as their war heads toward another winter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with President Joe Biden about future U.S. support for Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a military base near the invaded nation’s border as the warring countries prepared for the winter and next year’s combat operations.Almost 20 months of war have sapped both sides’ military resources. The fighting is likely to settle into positional and attritional warfare during the approaching wintry weather, analysts say, with little change along the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.Zelenskyy said late Thursday he spoke to Biden by phone about “a significant support package” for Ukraine. Western help has been crucial for Ukraine’s war effort. The U.S. president is expected to ask Congress on Friday for billions of dollars in military assistance for both Ukraine and Israel. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the latest U.S. pledges to back Ukraine would bear no fruit in the war....

Jim Jordan digs in for a third vote for House speaker as Republicans refuse to give him gavel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who failed in a crucial second ballot yesterday to become Speaker of the House, talks to reporters as he leaves a closed meeting of the Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who failed in a crucial second ballot yesterday to become Speaker of the House, talks to reporters as he leaves a closed meeting of the Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite deepening opposition, Rep. Jim Jordan is digging in for a fight to become House speaker ahead of a Friday vot...

Gale-force winds and floods strike Northern Europe. At least 2 people killed in Scotland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Gale-force winds and floods struck several countries in Northern Europe as the region braced for more heavy rain on Friday. In Scotland, at least two people were reported dead and authorities searched for a man thought to be trapped in his vehicle.The winds are expected to hit hardest in the eastern part of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula and the Danish islands in the Baltic Sea. But the northern part of the British Isles, southern Sweden and Norway, and northern Germany are also in the path of the storm, named Babet by U.K.’s weather forecaster, the Met Office.Eastern Scotland continued to bear the brunt of the stormy weather. On Friday, the Met Office issued a new “red” warning for parts of eastern Scotland for further flooding throughout Saturday.A 57-year-old woman died Thursday after being swept into a river in the region of Angus, where 400 homes were evacuated. A 56-year-old man died when his van was hit by a falling tree in same area. A police sp...

A man whose divorce case was before murdered judge is ID’d as a person of interest in the killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Court records show that the Maryland judge who was shot to death outside his home presided over divorce case of the man now identified as person of interest in the killing.The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said it was searching for 49-year-old Pedro Argote in connection with the shooting death of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson.Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. Thursday, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.Wilkinson was taken from his home in Hagerstown to Meritus Medical Center, where he died of his injuries, the sheriff’s office said.The sheriff’s office is investigating. State troopers were deployed overnight as a precaution to protect judges who live in Washington County, state police spokesperson Elena Russo said. Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit court judge in 2020. The 1994 University of North Carolina graduate received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in...

Healthy LaMelo Ball, Hornets look to surprise the East, snap 7-year playoff drought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

CHARLOTTE HORNETSLast season: 27-55, missed playoffs.Coach: Steve Clifford (2nd season back with Hornets, 27-55; 10th season overall, 319-400).What to expect: With 2022 All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball and several other key players returning from injuries and off-the-court issues, the Hornets believe they’re ready to snap a seven-year playoff drought. Ball is back on the floor after three ankle injuries in 2022-23, including a fracture in February, limited him to 36 starts last season. The Hornets believe he could be ready to take the next step toward becoming an elite NBA player. Charlotte desperately needs Ball on the floor to have a chance in the improved East. He’s the triggerman for the offense. When Ball played last year he shined, averaging a career-best 23.3 points, 8.4 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game. The Hornets averaged 6.8 more points per 100 possessions with Ball on the court — the best mark on the team. He plans to wear ankle braces this season in an effort to preven...

Celtics embracing championship expectations after shaking up roster during busy offseason

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

BOSTON CELTICSLast season: 57-25, lost to Heat in Eastern Conference finals. Coach: Joe Mazzulla (2nd season with Celtics, 57-25)What to expect: The Celtics didn’t stand pat after coming up a game short last season of making back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals. Instead, Boston was one of the busiest teams this offseason. It started when the team did what was previously unthinkable and shook up its core, trading defensive specialist Marcus Smart, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and big man Robert Williams III in a flurry of activity that netted it 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis and five-time all-defensive selection Jrue Holiday. It’s created a win-now mentality and a formidable top 6 anchored by All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who inked the richest contract in NBA history in July. They should get plenty of support backed by Holiday, Porzingis, Derrick White and veteran Al Horford. There’s also been tweaks on the sideline, with sophomore coach Joe Mazzulla adding...

Maryland judge presided over divorce case of man identified as person of interest in judge’s killing, court records show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Maryland judge presided over divorce case of man identified as person of interest in judge’s killing, court records show.Source

Lawyers call for ousted Niger president’s release after the junta says it foiled an escape attempt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Lawyers for Niger’s ousted president called for his immediate release Friday, a day after the ruling military junta said it had thwarted an overnight attempt by the president to escape house arrest with his family nearly three months after he was detained in the wake of a coup. Mohamed Bazoum, his wife and son are being held without access to lawyers or the outside world, said an international group of lawyers representing Bazoum said in a statement. They denied the junta’s accusations that he tried to flee. The president and his family have been under house arrest since the end of July when mutinous soldiers toppled him and has refused to resign. The junta had cut off his electricity and water. Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said late Thursday in a statement that Bazoum tried to reach a waiting vehicle at around 3 a.m. that was to take him to the outskirts of the capital, Niamey, along with his family, two cooks and his security personnel.From there, they we...

Photos: 1st avalanche reported this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The snowfall in the high country during mid-October and the warmer temperatures this week led to the perfect conditions for the first reported avalanche on Mountain Boy Peak.On Oct. 15, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported the first known avalanche of the season. Warning: How to recognize red flags for avalanches Two skiers saw the avalanche, and one triggered it by measuring the snow depth on the northwestern side of the mountain. During this time, it was 37 degrees with winds at 10 mph.Avalanche on Mountain Boy Peak. (Courtesy of Colorado Avalanche Information Center)Avalanche on Mountain Boy Peak. (Courtesy of Colorado Avalanche Information Center)Avalanche on Mountain Boy Peak. (Courtesy of Colorado Avalanche Information Center)Avalanche on Mountain Boy Peak. (Courtesy of Colorado Avalanche Information Center)Avalanche on Mountain Boy Peak. (Courtesy of Colorado Avalanche Information Center)According to CAIC, the slide ran for about 300 feet befor...

The White House details its $105 billion funding request for Israel, Ukraine, the border and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defense manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over $105 billion. President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and he made the case for deepening U.S. support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night.The Democratic president’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters on Friday that Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Hamas’ attack on Israel represent a “global inflection point.”“This budget request is critical to advancing America’s national security and ensuring the safety of the American people,” Sullivan said.However, next steps are in doubt while the House of Representatives remains ...