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US defense secretary discusses upgrading ties with India to counter China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday discussed upgrading partnership with India, a major arms buyer, as both countries grapple with China’s economic rise and increased belligerence, officials said.Austin met with India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, with both sides emphasizing technology partnerships including defense, clean energy and space. India is working to promote its domestic defense industry by acquiring technology and reducing reliance on imports, particularly from Russia, its largest supplier of military hardware despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. “I’m returning to India to meet with key leaders for discussions about strengthening our Major Defense Partnership. Together, we’re advancing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Austin tweeted after his arrival in New Delhi on Sunday.Austin, who is on his second visit to India, was expected to lay the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington on June 22, w...

Shootout between Pakistani troops and insurgents in border region kills 2 soldiers, 2 militants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani troops and militants exchanged fire in a northwestern region along the border with Afghanistan in a shootout that killed two soldiers and two militants, the army said Monday.The shootout took place late Sunday in North Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that is a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, a militant group also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.According to an army statement, two militants were also wounded and troops seized a cache of weapons at the site. A search operation was underway in the area, it said.Although the Pakistani military claims it has cleared North Waziristan of militants, occasional attacks and shootouts continue, raising concerns that the Pakistani Taliban are regrouping in the area.Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seizing power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021, during the last weeks of the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from the ...

Biden aide expressed concern in calls with Kosovo and Serbia leaders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:19 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