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UK’s Ben Wallace: I won’t get NATO top job

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said he will not be the next NATO secretary-general.“It’s not going to happen,” Wallace told The Economist in an interview published Wednesday night. The British defense chief has pitched himself for the NATO gig in recent months, with the U.K. at the forefront of providing Western support to Ukraine as it fights to fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion. But Wallace told the magazine that the U.S. under President Joe Biden wanted current chief Jens Stoltenberg, a Norwegian who has been in post since 2014, to stay on in the role — deferring the decision on a successor until next year. Stoltenberg’s term has repeatedly been extended as the West coordinated its assistance to Ukraine in the wake of the Kremlin’s assault.Some leaders of EU countries also have little appetite to hand the plum job to a Brit after Brexit, as POLITICO has previously reported. “Maybe they want a prime minister,” Wallace said. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen — w...

Swiss central bank raises key interest rate and says more hikes can’t be ruled out

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Switzerland’s central bank raised its key interest rate Thursday as it seeks to combat inflation and said “it cannot be ruled out” that more hikes will be necessary. Inflation declined significantly to 2.2% in May but is above the target set by the Swiss National Bank, which warned that price pressures persist and would make themselves felt in coming months without action. It said the decision to hike its key rate by a quarter-percentage point to 1.75% was “countering inflationary pressure which has increased again over the medium term.”Central banks around the world have sharply raised interest rates to combat an outbreak of inflation triggered by the rebound from the pandemic, higher energy prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Bank of England and Turkey’s central bank also are both holding rate meetings Thursday.The Associated Press

EU summons Kosovo and Serbia leaders for emergency talks amid fears of a return to open conflict

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has summoned the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo for emergency talks on Thursday to try to bring an end to a series of violent clashes near their border that is fueling fears of a return to open conflict.EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that he would hold “urgent meetings” with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels. It was unclear whether the two would meet face-to-face, or only hold separate talks with Borrell.“We need immediate de-escalation and new elections in the north with participation of Kosovo Serbs. This is paramount for the region and (the) EU,” Borrell tweeted ahead of the talks. The 27-nation bloc has for years been leading talks aimed at reconciling the two foes, but with little success.Serbia and its former province Kosovo have been at odds for decades. Their 1998-99 conflict left more than 10,000 people dead, mostly Kosovo Albanians. Belgrade has refused to recognize Kosovo’s 200...

Israel demolishes alleged Palestinian attacker’s home in volatile occupied West Bank

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli troops on Thursday demolished the home of a Palestinian who is suspected of killing an Israeli soldier last year, in the latest military operation in the increasingly volatile occupied West Bank, which has been gripped by surging violence.The demolition came during a week of rising tensions and unrelenting violence in the West Bank and just hours after Israel carried out a rare airstrike that killed three Palestinian militants near the city of Jenin and Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in retaliation for the killing of four Israelis a day earlier.A daylong Israeli military raid on Monday killed seven Palestinians, including two teens, near Jenin, a militant stronghold. A day later, a mass shooting by Palestinian gunmen killed four Israelis, including a 17-year-old boy.The army said late Wednesday it had “identified a terrorist cell inside a suspicious vehicle” that was allegedly responsible for recent shooting attacks on Jewish settlements. The...

After devastating floods in Pakistan, some have recovered but many are struggling a year later

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Last summer’s flooding in Pakistan killed at least 1,700 people, destroyed millions of homes, wiped out swaths of farmland, and caused billions of dollars in economic losses. All in a matter of months. At one point, a third of the country was underwater. Pakistani leaders and many scientists worldwide blame climate change for the unusually early and heavy monsoon rains.A year on, the country hasn’t fully recovered. The aftermath runs the length of the country; survivors living in makeshift huts where their homes used to be, millions of children out of school, damaged infrastructure waiting to be repaired.Pakistan’s national disaster authority said most people have returned to their towns or villages, but its flood records stop in November 2022. Almost 8 million people were displaced at the height of the crisis. But there is no information on how many people remain homeless or live in temporary shelters. Aid agencies and charities provide up-to-date pictures of life,...

Qatargate 2.0? A human rights plot favours convicted oligarch, casting shadows over European Parliamentarians

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

In a world where truth sometimes appears stranger than fiction, we come across yet another real-life saga that could be dismissed as overly dramatic had it been penned by a novelist. The European Parliament is mired in a new vortex of allegations concerning human rights and corruption, amid an already ongoing storm of fury initially fueled by Europe’s so-called QatarGate scandal last year, writes Luc Rodehefer.Testimonies point towards cash payments funnelled through a Brussels-based organization co-established by former Member of European Parliament (MEP) Antonio Panzeri to manipulate voting in the EP. The arrests and raids have led to the seizure of €1.5 million in cash and the confiscation of computers and mobile phones. This scandal has initiated legal discussions and stimulated demands to revoke diplomatic immunity for those implicated.A new in-depth investigation report published on May 29, 2023 – originally on Medium and later circulated among anti-corruption enthusiasts on R...

Cooking Up Visual Spectacles: Connor ‘Heisenberg’ McCollam’s Dynamism in Media Production

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Connor McCollam has made his mark in the realm of media production. His narrative illustrates a powerful transformation from an early camera enthusiast to an esteemed creator of visual symphonies that resonate with millions.From an early age, McCollam saw more than just reality through his camera’s lens; he saw the world in a kaleidoscope of stories waiting to be told. Today, he’s not just telling stories; he’s creating visual symphonies that resonate with millions. Like a skilled chef preparing a gourmet meal, McCollam ‘cooks’ up striking visual narratives for the global music scene’s titans. His work—exquisite, energetic, and emotionally charged—serves a visual feast for an audience hungry for the unique taste of authenticity he brings to the table.As a senior member of the Rolling Loud Media Team, McCollam put his unique flavor into every bit of media content across 14 Rolling Loud festivals worldwide. He’s made legends like Travis Scott, Post Malone, Cardi B, and Justin Bieber r...

Three-bedroom home sells for $1.8 million in San Ramon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

909 Woodland Drive – Google Street ViewA 2,017-square-foot house built in 1983 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 900 block of Woodland Drive in San Ramon was sold on May 23, 2023. The $1,770,000 purchase price works out to $878 per square foot. The property features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an attached garage, and two parking spaces. The unit sits on a 10,170-square-foot lot.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:A 2,310-square-foot home on the 300 block of Lynnbrook Drive in San Ramon sold in February 2023, for $1,625,000, a price per square foot of $703. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In September 2022, a 2,310-square-foot home on Woodview Terrace Drive in San Ramon sold for $1,907,500, a price per square foot of $826. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Longwood Court, San Ramon, in March 2023, a 2,998-square-foot home was sold for $2,060,000, a price per square foot of $687. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bath...

Taylor Swift course at Stanford to focus on singer's musical eras

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

(KRON) -- If you're a Stanford University student with a blank space in your winter schedule, a new Taylor Swift course could be something out of your wildest dreams. Transgender man says he was denied hormone medication at Oakland Walgreens A course called "All Too Well (Ten Week Version)" will be offering an in-depth analysis of Swift's newest album this coming winter at Stanford. The class is a part of Stanford's ITALIC 99 courses, which are taught by the school's alumni in part of an arts-minded, residence-based academic program offered to first-year students. STANFORD, CA - MARCH 12: Cyclists ride by Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus on March 12, 2019 in Stanford, California (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)The course's instructor, Ava Jeffs, an upcoming sophomore at Stanford, spoke to KRON4 about why she's so enchanted by Swift's work and why she's so excited to teach the course, which she says is a lifelong dream. Jeffs said that her entrance essay for S...

Tee Thursday: Happy golfers play better golf

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

I’m coming to believe that there’s some advantage to being a golfer in training. Because as one, I have a weapon in my bag that pretty much promises me every round will be relatively great.It’s called happiness.I also have yet to be saddled with another weapon that can tank a round: That’s called ego.There’s no question that a more relaxed and forgiving attitude along with the ability to savor the beauty and the (sometimes very small) victories out there makes for better play overall.And yet, humans tend to lean toward angst and golfers – particularly those who don’t play often — do so all the more. I’ve seen it while playing with friends recently (and I’m thankful they will play with a learner like me, so all respect). They grumble after an errant tee shot; stomp their feet if they struggle out of the sand. Sometimes, they are just plain angry.Me? In this “happiness at the ready and ego yet to show up phase,” I’m just delighted to be out there. I celebrate the victories (like my do...