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Blinken announces $150M in aid for Syrians, Iraqis at Saudi meeting on fighting Islamic State group

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that the U.S. would provide nearly $150 million in aid for areas in Syria and Iraq that were liberated from the Islamic State extremist group.He spoke at a ministerial conference hosted by Saudi Arabia on combatting the group, which no longer controls any territory — but whose affiliates still carry out attacks across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS includes more than 80 countries and continues to coordinate action against the extremist group, which at its height controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq. Blinken said the U.S. pledge is part of new funding amounting to more than $600 million.“Poor security and humanitarian conditions. Lack of economic opportunity. These are the fuel for the kind of desperation on which ISIS feeds and recruits,” he said in brief remarks at the opening of the conference, using a common acronym for the extremist group. “So we have to ...

Pope in ‘good general condition’ after surgery to remove intestinal scar tissue, repair hernia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis’ was in “good general condition” Thursday, alert and breathing on his own following a three-hour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, the Vatican said.The 86-year-old Francis rested “extensively” during a peaceful night and was spending his first day after the surgery observing the “necessary post-operative rest,” the Vatican said in a statement.“The pope is informed of the messages of closeness and affection that have come in the last few hours and expresses his gratitude, while asking for continued prayers for him,” the statement said.Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital Wednesday for his second major abdominal operation in two years, following a 2021 procedure to remove part of his colon. Doctors revealed that in addition to that 2021 operation, Francis had undergone previous abdominal surgeries sometime before 2013 in his native Argentina, which had also caused intestinal scarring.Du...

Europe’s economy shrank. For households that are hurting, it’s just numbers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The European economy contracted slightly at the end of last year and beginning of 2023, revised figures showed Thursday, underlining the impact of the loss of Russian natural gas and high inflation on consumer spending.Economic output in the 20 countries that use the euro currency dropped 0.1% in both the final three months of 2022 and first three months of this year from the previous quarters, according to the European Union’s statistics agency Eurostat. That means the eurozone endured two consecutive quarters of decline, which is one definition of recession often used in political and economic discussions, dubbed a “technical” recession. However, the economists on a panel that declares eurozone recessions use a broader set of data, including unemployment figures. And European labor markets have held up to recent economic shocks: Unemployment is at its lowest level since before the creation of the euro in 1999, hitting 6.5% in April.The small shift in numbers doesn’t ...

India not planning to invite Ukraine to G20 summit in September

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India is not planning to invite Ukraine to the summit of the Group of 20 industrialized and developing nations in September, its external affairs minister said Thursday.“In our view, G20 participation is for members and organizations we have invited. That list we declared as soon as we assumed the G20 presidency” in December, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told reporters.Ukraine is not a G20 member, while Russia with whom it is fighting a war is part of the grouping. India has avoided condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine and has sought to end it through diplomacy and dialogue.“It is not something that we have reviewed and it is not something very honestly which we have discussed with anybody,” Jaishankar said.The Ukraine war and the disruption in global food and fuel supplies are expected to be high on the agenda of the G20 summit in New Delhi.Zelenskyy was invited to participate in last year’s G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with ...

EU Commission proposes common ethics body for all EU officials in wake of corruption scandal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive arm proposed Thursday to create an ethics body that would set up common rules of conduct for institutions after the 27-nation bloc was rocked last year by a cash-for-influence scandal.European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen supported its creation when she took office back in 2019, and her services stepped up action after the so-called Qatargate scandal shattered the EU Parliament.The EU does not currently have comprehensive lobbying regulations and the Commission’s proposal would establish common standards for all EU politicians when it comes to gifts, hospitality and travel offered by third parties.“Standards will also apply to the acceptance of awards, decorations, prizes or honors,” the Commission said.The body would also set transparency rules for meetings with interest representatives, activities of EU officials after they leave office, and how they declare their interests and assets. Anti-corruption official...

At least 18 people killed by extremist rebels in several villages in eastern Congo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Extremist rebels in eastern Congo’s Ituri province killed at least 18 people in several villages, according to a human rights group. Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces attacked people in the Irumu territory villages of Mutuyeyi, Bekembele and Bulesi villages last weekend, Christophe Munyanderu, coordinator of the Convention for the Respect of Human Rights, reported Wednesday. Houses were also looted, he said. Violence has simmered for decades in eastern Congo, where some 120 armed groups fight over land, resources and power, and some to defend their communities.Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, which is believed to be allied with the Islamic State group, have increased recently. In April, more than 30 people were killed in Ituri, and at least 17 people were killed in North Kivu province in May. The group originally operated in North Kivu province but has expanded to neighboring Ituri, where more then 144,000 people were displaced between J...

Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast to reach Norway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norwegian officials said the smoke from Canadian wildfires that has enveloped parts of the U.S. and Canada in a thick haze is expected to pour into Norway on Thursday.Atmosphere and climate scientists with the Norwegian Climate and Environmental Research Institute used a forecast model to predict how the smoke would travel through the atmosphere. The smoke has moved over Greenland and Iceland since June 1st, and observations in southern Norway have recorded increasing concentrations of aerosolized particles, the independent research institution said.“We may be able to see some haze or smell smoke,” Nikolaos Evangeliou, a senior NILU researcher, said. “However, we do not believe that the number of particles in the air here in Norway will be large enough to be harmful to our health.”The East Coast of the U.S. has experienced hazardous levels of pollution from the wildfires burning in Canada. Massive tongues of unhealthy air extended as far as the...

Vespa rider killed in Oakville crash involving alleged impaired driver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

A man in his 50s is dead following a three-vehicle crash in Oakville that involved a suspected impaired driver.The collision happened in the area of Lakeshore Road and Windsor Gate, just west of Third line, around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.A Vespa motorcycle and a Nissan Rogue SUV collided head-on — a third vehicle was also damaged in the crash.The 58-year-old Vespa rider was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.Investigators say the 25-year-old driver of the SUV has been arrested.and charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving causing death.The Halton Regional Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has taken over the investigation.

Stock market today: Global shares trade mixed following technology selloff on Wall Street

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were trading mixed Thursday after heavy selling of big-name tech stocks pushed benchmarks lower on Wall Street. Stocks rose in Paris, Frankfurt, Shanghai and Hong Kong but fell in Tokyo, London and Sydney. U.S. futures were flat and oil prices declined. The European economy contracted slightly at the end of last year and beginning of 2023, according to revised figures released Thursday that underline the impact of the loss of Russian natural gas and high inflation on consumer spending. That means the eurozone endured two consecutive quarters of declining output, which is one definition of recession often used in political and economic discussions, dubbed a “technical” recession.The economic growth figure for the 20 countries that use the euro currency was revised down from zero to minus 0.1% for the fourth quarter of 2022. The number for the first three months of this year also was downgraded from scant 0.1% growth to minus 0.1%.France’s CAC 40 gaine...

Head of UK’s biggest police force says sorry for past treatment of LGBTQ+ community

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The head of Britain’s biggest police department has apologized for the force’s past treatment of the LGBTQ+ community, a move that one human rights activist called a “groundbreaking” acknowledgement that would help build confidence in law enforcement.The statement Wednesday from Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley came after gay rights activist Peter Tatchell launched a campaign calling for all British police departments to apologize for “past homophobic witch hunts,” which continued even after Britain decriminalized private sexual acts between men in 1967.In a letter to Tatchell, Rowley acknowledged that the way in which police enforced the law “failed the community and persist(s) in the collective memory of LGBT+ Londoners of all ages.’’“Recent cases of appalling behavior by some officers have revealed that there are still racists, misogynists, homophobes and transphobes in the organization, and we have already doubled down on rooting out those who cor...