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The Dutch defense minister says the US has approved the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United States has given its approval for the Netherlands to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, the Dutch defense minister said Friday, in a major gain for Kyiv even though the fighter jets won’t have an immediate impact on the almost 18-month war“I welcome the US decision to clear the way for delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine. It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots,” Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We remain in close contact with European partners to decide on the next steps.”Ukraine has long pleaded for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge. It recently launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s forces without air cover, placing its troops at the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.Apart from delivering the warplanes, Ukraine’s allies also need to train its pilots. Washington says the F-16s, like the advanced U.S. Abrams...

Leading politician says victory for Niger’s coup leaders would be ‘the end of democracy’ in Africa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — If mutinous soldiers who ousted Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum succeed, it will threaten democracy and security across the region and the continent, a high-ranking member of Bazoum’s political party warned in an interview with The Associated Press.Boubacar Sabo, deputy secretary general for the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, said Bazoum had been “kidnapped” by members of the presidential guard who overthrew him on July 26 and have since kept him under house arrest.“What is happening in Niger, if it succeeds, is the end of democracy in Africa. It’s over. … If we fight today, it is to prevent these kind of things from happening and to ensure a future for our continent,” Sabo said on Thursday. In a region rife with coups, Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries that Western nations could partner with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The overthrow of the president...

Fire threatens homes near West Kelowna, evacuation orders, alerts issued in Kelowna

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — A fast-burning wildfire threatening West Kelowna, B.C., is challenging fire crews as they brace for what the operations director with BC Wildfire Service has predicted will be the most challenging days of the provincial wildfire season.Thousands of people have been placed on evacuation alert in the Okanagan city, while close to a thousand properties have been placed on evacuation order because of the McDougall Creek wildfire. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre issued a local state of emergency because of the fire, which is threatening suburbs, schools and businesses in the city. The fire threat forced the closure of Highway 97 in both directions for 14 kilometres between West Kelowna and Kelowna.The City of Kelowna also declared a state of emergency, as fire crews responded to spot fires coming across Okanagan Lake from the McDougall Creek wildfire.An evacuation order has been issued for the Clifton Road North and McKinley neighbourhoods, as well as...

American imprisoned in Russia faces espionage charges, reports say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian-born U.S. citizen already in prison on a bribery conviction now faces charges of espionage, according to Russian news agencies.The reports said a Moscow court on Thursday authorized holding Gene Spector on the charges, but did not give details of the case against him.Spector, formerly an executive at a medical equipment company in Russia, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison last September for enabling bribes to an aide to former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. The aide, Anastasia Alekseyeva, was sentenced to 12 years in April for taking bribes of two expensive overseas vacation trips. Dvorkovich was a deputy prime minister under Dmitry Medvedev in 2012-2018. He is also board chairman of Russia’s state railways and head of the international chess federation FIDE. There was no immediate comment from the United States about the report.The Associated Press

In the news today: Wildfires prompt evacuation orders for thousands in N.W.T., B.C.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today …Thousands left in Yellowknife urged to get outOfficials in the Northwest Territories are urging thousands of residents remaining in its capital to leave by noon today before a nearby wildfire could cut off access.The evacuation of Yellowknife was ordered late Wednesday and sprinklers, water cannons and fire guards are being set up to protect the city of 20,000 people.Convoys of vehicles have steadily been leaving for hotels and evacuation centres in Alberta.On Thursday, in additional to commercial planes, about 1,500 people left on evacuation flights, more flights scheduled for today that could take about 1,800 people out of the city.Here’s what else we’re watching …Fire rages for third day near West Kelowna, B.C.A fast-burning wildfire threatening West Kelowna, B.C., is challenging fire crews as they brace for what the operations director with BC Wildfi...

Is it coming home? England looks to bring Women’s World Cup trophy back to the birthplace of soccer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — The rallying cry “It’s Coming Home” is one game away from reality and the end of England’s 57-year drought in global soccer.The World Cup trophy can return this Sunday to the birthplace of soccer for the first time since 1966. But if it happens, the journey back to England will be with the women’s national team and not the men’s. The Lionesses have roared their way into their first Women’s World Cup title game, Sunday against Spain. It is the first all-European final since 2003, when Germany beat Sweden. It has been a magical ride for both teams: England has been on top of the global game since winning the European Championship last summer, and Spain is in its first final less than a year since 15 players quit the team in protest.But England was expected to be here, and all around the world, in pubs and at viewing parties, England supporters have been singing “It’s Coming Home,” the unintentional reminder that the soccer team hasn’t ...

Northwest Territories under threat by wildfires — and lack of local news

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

Residents of the Northwest Territories are feeling the effect of the news vacuum on Facebook as they flee communities that are under threat by wildfires.But industry observers say the regional media landscape was barren long before Meta — Facebook’s parent company — pulled news content from its platforms in Canada, and that the current situation highlights a long-standing dearth of local news coverage.Up to 50 per cent of Canadians use Facebook to find out what’s happening in cities and towns across the country, Dwayne Winseck, professor of communication and media studies at Carleton University, said Thursday in an interview. Meta’s decision to block news in Canada is irresponsible, especially in times of crisis, he said. “It’s reprehensible.”An emergency situation such as the fires in the Northwest Territories underscores the importance of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in disseminating news, Winseck said. “...

Remaining residents in Yellowknife urged to get out as sprinklers, fire guards set up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Officials in the Northwest Territories are urging thousands of residents remaining in its capital to leave by noon today before a nearby wildfire could cut off access.The evacuation of Yellowknife was ordered late Wednesday and sprinklers, water cannons and fire guards are being set up to protect the city of 20,000 people.Convoys of vehicles have steadily been leaving for hotels and evacuation centres in Alberta.On Thursday, in additional to commercial planes, about 1,500 people left on evacuation flights.Officials say more flights are scheduled for today that could take about 1,800 people out of the city.They say inmates have already been sent to jails in Alberta and Yukon and there will be a full evacuation of the hospital.Several other communities in the territory, including the town of Hay River, ordered residents out earlier this week.Shane Thompson, the N.W.T.’s environment and communities minister, told a news conference late Thursday that the fire situati...

Feds could spur rental construction with tax incentives, financing: experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

OTTAWA — High housing prices have forced many Canadians to accept that they may never be able to afford buying their own home.But what if they can’t afford to rent one?Strong demand for rentals and a shortage of homes are both contributing to soaring rental costs. And that’s making it even more difficult for people to save money for down payment on a home.The asking rent across Canada hit an average of $2,078 in July, up nearly nine per cent on an annual basis, according to data from Rentals.ca and research firm Urbanation released last week.For the first time ever, average asking rents for purpose-built condominiums and apartments rose above $2,000 in July. One-bedroom apartments alone saw a 13 per cent annual increase in the average rent and a monthly rise of 2.5 per cent, bringing July’s figure to $1,850.For most minimum-wage workers, affording these rents with their earnings is impossible. A recent analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found t...

Daily horoscope for August 18, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:13 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Virgo.Happy Birthday for Friday, Aug. 18, 2023:You are deep, passionate, creative and tolerant. You see the positive in situations and have a strong sense of responsibility. This is a year of service. Protect your health and well-being so you can help others. Explore the arts, which you have put off for a long time.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★You are fast acting and direct, and sometimes you have a short fuse. (You know who you are.) Be careful about overreacting today, especially at work, if something suddenly unexpected occurs, especially computer problems or equipment breakdowns. Possibly people will surprise you. Stay chill. Tonight: Health questions?TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Parents should be extra vigilant today, because this could be an accident-prone day for their kids. Meanwhile, social events are unpredictable. They might be canceled or, in turn, you might receive a surprise in...