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EU leaders set to endorse joint ammo purchases for Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders were poised Thursday to endorse a plan for sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition within the next 12 months to help the country counter Russia’s invasion forces.EU foreign and defense ministers approved the plan for a fast-track purchasing procedure earlier this week, and the leaders of the bloc’s 27 member nations will give it their political blessing at a summit in Brussels, according to several senior EU diplomats. They spoke anonymously under EU practices ahead of summits.With Ukraine facing ammunition shortages after more than a year of fighting, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas brought to the table last month the idea of the EU setting up a joint purchasing plan similar to the one devised during the coronavirus pandemic to buy vaccines. “What is critical is sending ammunition to Ukraine fast, because that might bring a change in this war,” Kallas said as she arrived at the summit.Under the plan, the European Def...

German unions call for wide-ranging transport strike Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German unions are calling on thousands of workers across the country’s transport system to stage a one-day strike on Monday that is expected to bring widespread disruption to planes, trains and local transit.The ver.di service workers’ union and the EVG union, which represents many railway workers, announced the 24-hour walkout in a joint appearance Thursday that come as employees in many sectors have been seeking hefty raises to reflect persistently high inflation.Ver.di chairman Frank Werneke said that his union is calling for 120,000 workers to walk out. Those will include security and ground workers at all German airports except Berlin, local transit employees in seven of Germany’s 16 states, harbor employees and workers on highways — the latter a measure that Werneke said is likely to affect some tunnels.“This strike day will have a massive effect — we are aware of this and it is also necessary,” Werneke said. He added that it’s important t...

Japan’s winning WBC team drops in on Prime Minister Kishida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida might have had his most enjoyable day in office on Thursday when Japan’s winning World Baseball Classic team paid a visit.Kishida was beaming when a gold medal from the winning team was placed around his neck, and he also received a large card in a frame containing each player’s signature.“To all the members of Samurai Japan, congratulations on your victory in the WBC,” Kishida said, thanking them for their courtesy visit to his office after their long flight back from the United States.Japan finished undefeated — only the second team to do that in the World Baseball Classic — after beating the United States 3-2 in the deciding game.“I thank you for giving tremendous courage and energy to all of Japan. Your huge achievement was possible because the power of each individual and the power of the team as a whole were combined, and I sincerely appreciated it,” Kishida said.Players wore suits — not baseball uniforms — and posed for ph...

Chinese diplomats oppose US military presence in Philippines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Chinese diplomats expressed their strong opposition to an expanded United States military presence in the Philippines in closed-door talks with their Filipino counterparts Thursday in Manila, a Filipino official said, underscoring the intense U.S.-China rivalry in the region.The Philippine official, who attended the meeting, told The Associated Press about China’s intense objections on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss what transpired at the start of the two-day talks. The Filipino diplomats responded by saying the decision to allow an expanded American military presence was in their national interest and would boost Philippine capability to respond to natural disasters, the official said, suggesting it was not aimed at China. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro led the talks aimed at assessing overall relations between the two sides amid thorny issues, including Beijing...

Californians eager for sunnier days after relentless winter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Californians are tired. Tired of the rain, tired of the snow, tired of stormy weather and the cold, relentlessly gray skies that have clouded the Golden State nearly nonstop since late December.With spring now underway, the state’s 39 million residents are hopeful for sunnier days ahead. But this week’s atmospheric river — the 12th such storm here since late December — had other plans.The powerful systems dump huge amounts of rain and snow as they bring massive plumes of Pacific moisture into California. They have already wreaked havoc across the state, with a death toll rising as communities dig out and floodwaters recede. High winds toppled trees, snowfall stranded mountain communities and storm surges inundated coastal towns with no end in sight.Californians initially welcomed the precipitation and chilly temperatures after a record-hot summer and yearslong drought that included the driest January through March on record in 2022. But the atmospheric r...

Woman charged with attempted murder after woman seriously injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman was arrested and charged after a woman was seriously battered on the city's West Side in November.According to police, 30-year-old Ashley Gallion is facing a felony count of attempted first-degree murder. 18-year-old man charged in crash that killed elderly woman, injured family members on North Side Police reports state that Gallion was arrested in the 7600 block of South Cicero Avenue Wednesday and was positively identified as the woman who seriously battered another woman near the 2200 block of South Pulaski Road November 25. Gallion is set for bond court Thursday.

Boy, 15, faces multiple felonies for attempted murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old boy is facing multiple felonies after a man was robbed and shot in the leg on the city's South Side in February.The 15-year-old boy is facing three felonies of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and robbery with firearm.According to police, the boy was arrested in the 1100 block of South Hamilton Avenue Wednesday and positively identified as one of the individuals who robbed a 32-year-old man at gunpoint in the 10900 block of South Vernon Avenue before opening fire and shooting him in the leg. Woman charged with attempted murder after woman seriously injured Police say the boy was placed into custody and charged accordingly.There is no additional information at this time.

Dongfeng claims world's first passenger cars with in-wheel motors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

Chinese automaker Dongfeng has launched a production model with in-wheel motors from supplier Protean Electric.In press releases, Protean claims the Dongfeng Fengshen E70 is the "world's first fully homologated passenger car" equipped with two ProteanDrive in-wheel motors. A conventional inboard motor drives the front wheels, while the in-wheel motors power the rear wheels, enabling all-wheel drive. Each rear in-wheel motor produces 104 hp and 922 lb-ft of torque. Voyah ZhuiguangAccording to Protean, Dongfeng has found that this configuration is lighter than a conventional all-wheel-drive EV setup. The companies also claim a 50% increase in storage space, a 0-62 mph time 42% quicker, and 18% higher cornering speeds thanks to the torque-vectoring capability of the in-wheel motors. Protean also claims increased efficiency, and 83 fewer parts than a comparable inboard motor setup.The initial batch of Dongfeng Fengshen E70 sedans are undergoing "fleet trials" in China, according to Prot...

Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine attacked by multiple people at Florida gym, lawyer confirms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

LAKE WORTH, Fla. (AP) — Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose testimony against his own gang helped convict two high-ranking members, was assaulted by several people at a gym in Florida, officials said Wednesday.An “altercation between several individuals" brought Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies to an LA Fitness outlet in Lake Worth on Tuesday night, the sheriff's office said in a social media post.The assault left the rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, with several injuries. He was taken to a hospital, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening, officials said.A motive for the assault, including whether it was connected to his cooperation with prosecutors, was unclear. No arrests have been made, and investigators have asked anyone with information to contact them. Dick Van Dyke crashes car in Malibu, suffers minor injuries The rapper's attorney, Lance Lazzaro, did not respond to an email from The Associated Press. But he told other news outlets that ...

'The Young and the Restless' celebrates 50 years of daytime drama

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — It all started on a late morning on a highway. A camera panned to the cab of a large semi-trailer truck. The driver wore a plaid shirt and a day's growth of beard. Next to him was a mysterious hitchhiker in expensive clothes that were ripped and a fresh head wound.He got out at Genoa City. And he stayed.That’s how “The Young and the Restless ” began on March 26, 1973, and a lot of people also stuck around Genoa City. The soap opera celebrates its 50th anniversary this month as the No. 1 daytime drama for 35 consecutive years, with fans growing up alongside the actors.“I think a huge reason why the audience has stuck with us for so long is because we are the same people. We are family members. We show up every day — sometimes more than a regular family member,” says Lauralee Bell, a star and daughter of the show's founders.Created by the late William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, “The Young and the Restless” concerns the goings-on of several Midwes...