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Biden aide expressed concern in calls with Kosovo and Serbia leaders

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

A senior aide to US President Joe Biden expressed concern about events in northern Kosovo in calls with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the White House said on Friday (2 June).A political crisis that has spiraled into violence in Kosovo's north has intensified since ethnic Albanian mayors took office in the region's Serb-majority area, a move that led the U.S. and its allies to rebuke Pristina. The majority Serb population had boycotted the April election, allowing ethnic Albanians to be elected.On Thursday, Biden's principal deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer, spoke with Kurti and called for Kosovo "to enable newly elected mayors to carry out their duties from alternative locations and to withdraw police forces from municipal buildings," the White House said.He also welcomed "Kurti's willingness to work towards conditions for new elections," it said.The Biden aide spoke with Vucic on Friday and pushed for Serbia to "to withdraw its armed ...

Dear Abby: Nobody else sees how scary my sister is, and I want to cry

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’m living in my father’s home along with my younger sister. I’m currently looking for work so I can move out.My plan had been to look for roommates online, but my sister wants us to get a place together. Everyone else in our life agrees that this would be the best idea. I do not want to do this.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: They seem to be hinting my illness is imaginary Advice | Dear Abby: I was shocked to see this behavior at a funeral Advice | Dear Abby: He learned things in kindergarten that made him cry Advice | Dear Abby: My husband is upset that I find his new look mortifying Advice | Dear Abby: I have news about my co-worker that his girlfriend should know I am honestly afraid of my sister. She has a hair-trigger temper that she keeps in check for other people but will fully unleash on me.I try to have fun with her, and sometimes I do, but I inevitably become t...

US Navy says Iran Revolutionary Guard fast-attack boats ‘harassed’ ship in Strait of Hormuz

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy said Monday its sailors and the United Kingdom Royal Navy came to the aid of a ship in the crucial Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard “harassed” it. Three fast-attack Guard vessels with armed troops aboard approached the merchant ship at a close distance Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. It offered black-and-white images it said came from a U.S. Navy Boeing P-8 Poseidon overhead, which showed three small ships close to the commercial ship. The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul and the Royal Navy’s frigate HMS Lancaster responded to the incident, with the Lancaster launching a helicopter. “The situation deescalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene,” the Navy said. “The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident.”The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persia...

This Week: Campbell Soup earnings, jobless claims, mortgage rates

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:M’M! M’M! GOOD?Campbell Soup Co. reports third-quarter financial results before the bell on Wednesday.Wall Street analysts expect the soup and snack maker to post profit of 65 cents per share in the period on $2.24 billion in sales. Campbell’s beat expectations in the same period last year with 70 cents-per-share profit on $2.13 billion in revenue.A LOOK AT LAYOFFSOn Thursday, the government gives its weekly tally of applications for unemployment benefits.The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for jobless claims ticked up slightly to 232,000 last week. The numbers are considered a proxy for layoffs. Americans have enjoyed unusual job security in recent years, despite high inflation and rising interest rates.Initial jobless benefit claims, weekly, seasonally adjusted:April 21: 229,000April 28: 242,000May 5: 231,000May 12: 225,000May 19: 230,000May 26: 232,000Source: Fa...

Copper leads Chicago against Indiana after 27-point outing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

Indiana Fever (1-4, 1-3 Eastern Conference) at Chicago Sky (4-3, 1-3 Eastern Conference)Chicago; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Chicago hosts the Indiana Fever after Kahleah Copper scored 27 points in the Chicago Sky’s 86-82 victory over the New York Liberty.Chicago went 14-4 at home and 15-3 in Eastern Conference action during the 2022-23 season. The Sky shot 48.1% from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range last season.Indiana went 5-31 overall and 2-16 in Eastern Conference play during the 2022-23 season. The Fever averaged 15.2 points off of turnovers, 11.3 second chance points and 22.6 bench points last season.INJURIES: Sky: Ruthy Hebard: out (personal), Isabelle Harrison: out (knee), Rebekah Gardner: out (foot), Morgan Bertsch: out (ankle).Fever: None listed.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Los Angeles visits Seattle following Loyd’s 37-point outing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks (3-2, 3-2 Western Conference) at Seattle Storm (0-4, 0-3 Western Conference)Seattle; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Seattle plays the Los Angeles Sparks after Jewell Loyd scored 37 points in the Seattle Storm’s 92-85 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.Seattle went 13-5 at home and 10-8 in Western Conference action during the 2022-23 season. The Storm shot 44.2% from the field and 36.1% from 3-point range last season.Los Angeles finished 6-12 in Western Conference play and 13-23 overall during the 2022-23 season. The Sparks averaged 79.4 points per game while allowing opponents to score 86.6 last season.INJURIES: Storm: None listed.Sparks: Azura Stevens: out (back), Jasmine Thomas: out (knee), Katie Lou Samuelson: out (personal).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Connecticut takes home win streak into matchup with Las Vegas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

Las Vegas Aces (6-0, 4-0 Western Conference) at Connecticut Sun (6-1, 4-1 Eastern Conference)Uncasville, Connecticut; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Connecticut hosts Las Vegas looking to extend its three-game home winning streak.Connecticut finished 25-11 overall last season while going 13-5 at home. The Sun averaged 21.1 assists per game on 31.9 made field goals last season.Las Vegas went 13-5 on the road and 26-10 overall a season ago. The Aces averaged 90.4 points per game last season, 16.3 on free throws and 28.5 from 3-point range.INJURIES: Sun: None listed.Aces: None listed.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Mueren 12 mineros artesanales por “insuficiencia respiratoria” tras fuertes lluvias en mina del estado Bolívar de Venezuela

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

(CNN Español) — El secretario de Seguridad Ciudadana del estado Bolívar, en Venezuela, Edgar Colina Reyes, informó este sábado que 12 mineros artesanales fallecieron el miércoles 31 de mayo debido a “insuficiencia respiratoria” mientras trabajaban en una mina y tras registrarse fuertes lluvias en el municipio El Callao, sin dar mayores detalles del incidente.“En este momento estamos en el proceso de identificación para llevarlos posteriormente al hospital y entregárselos a sus familiares”, explicó Colina Reyes en un video publicado en redes sociales.De momento se desconocen más detalles sobre el incidente.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.Source

As India grieves train crash that killed 275 people, relatives still wait for bodies of loved ones

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

BHUBANESWAR, India (AP) — Families of the victims of India’s deadliest train crash in decades filled a hospital in Bhubaneswar city on Monday to identify and collect bodies of relatives, as railway officials recommended the country’s premier criminal investigating agency to probe the crash that killed 275 people.Distraught relatives of passengers killed in the crash Friday lined up outside the eastern city’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Meanwhile, survivors being treated inside the hospital said they were still trying to make sense of the horrific disaster.Outside the hospital, two large screens cycled through photos of the victims, their faces so bloodied and charred that they were hardly recognizable.Each body had a number assigned to it, and relatives stood near the screen and watched as the photos changed, looking out for details like clothing for clues.Many of them said they had spent days on desperate journeys from neighboring states, travelling in multiple trains,...

Russia claims it thwarted Ukrainian attacks in provinces annexed by Moscow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:12 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian officials said their forces thwarted large Ukrainian attacks in two provinces of Ukraine illegally annexed by Moscow. The Ukrainian military suggested the Russian reports were part of a misinformation campaign as Kyiv prepares for an anticipated counteroffensive. Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a rare early morning video released Monday that its forces pushed back a “large scale” assault Sunday at five points in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province, one of four regions that President Vladimir Putin claimed as Russian territory last fall but is only partially controlled by Moscow.“The enemy’s goal was to break through our defenses in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front,” Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. “The enemy did not achieve its tasks. It had no success.”Konashenkov said 250 Ukrainian personnel were killed, and 16 Ukrainian tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armored combat vehicles were de...