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Here’s the EU’s plan to get Ukraine ‘sustained’ military aid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

BRUSSELS — The EU wants to commit itself to defending Ukraine for the long haul. The EU’s diplomatic service has drafted a plan, obtained by POLITICO, that recommends the bloc make a full slate of “security commitments to Ukraine” for years to come as it fends off Russia’s onslaught.The suggestions from the European External Action Service run the gamut, including everything from ensuring a “sustained” flow of weapons to Kyiv, to continuing military education and training, to sharing intelligence and helping connect Ukrainian and EU defense companies.And down the road, the draft document adds, “Ukraine’s EU membership would be in itself a security commitment.” To help it get there, it argues, the EU must craft “long-term and predictable financial support” so Ukraine can rebuild.The recommendations are mostly a summary of the EU efforts already underway to support Ukraine. But taken together, they are notable in their breadth and suggested longevity, essentially outlining billio...

North Korea fires its first ICBM in 3 months after making threat over alleged US spy flights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile in three months on Wednesday, two days after it threatened “shocking” consequences to protest what it called provocative U.S. reconnaissance activity near its territory.Some experts say North Korea likely launched its developmental, road-mobile Hwasong-18 ICBM, a type of solid-fuel weapon that is harder to detect and intercept than its liquid-fuel ICBMs. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un previously called the Hwasong-18 his most powerful nuclear weapon.The missile fired from North Korea’s capital region around 10 a.m. flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) at a maximum altitude of 6,000 kilometers (3,730 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to South Korean and Japanese assessments. They said the missile was launched on a high angle, in an apparent attempt to avoid neighboring countries.South Korea’s military called the launch “a grave provocation...

Bank of England says UK banks are resilient enough to offer struggling households support

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England warned Wednesday that households across the U.K. are facing increasing problems from the sharp increase in interest rates but found that the country’s biggest banks are resilient enough to offer more help than they were able to before the global financial crisis 15 years ago..In its regular health check of the economy, the central bank said British households are facing higher debt burdens as a result of rising interest rates, particularly those whose fixed-rate mortgage deals have come to an end or soon will be. However, it said there are several factors that should limit the number of people who have to default on their mortgages. It noted, for example, that the country’s banks have more capital than they did 15 years ago to allow them to offer struggling households more financial options such as allowing borrowers to vary the terms of their loans.The bank lifted its main interest rate by half a percentage point to a 15-year high of 5%...

Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed ahead of an update on US consumer prices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after stocks advanced on Wall Street ahead of an update on U.S. inflation that investors hope will show a smaller increase in pain for everyone. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 0.9% to 18,827.66 and the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia added 0.4% to 7,135.70. In Seoul, the Kospi rose 0.5% to 2,574.72. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.8% to 31,943.93 after North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile toward its eastern waters Wednesday, two days after the North threatened “shocking” consequences to protest what it called provocative U.S. reconnaissance activity near its territory.The Shanghai Composite index sank 0.8% to 3,196.13. Shares rose in Taiwan but fell in India. Bangkok’s SET index rose 0.4% after Thailand’s state Election Commission said the top candidate to become the country’s next prime minister, Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, may have violated the election law. It referred his case to the...

More than 700 firearms seized in UK in Anglo-Spanish operations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

More than 700 firearms have been seized in a five-year operation by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and Spain's Guardia Civil to prevent replica guns that can easily be converted into lethal weapons from entering Britain, the NCA said on Sunday (9 July).The operation, which also involved international law enforcement and gun retailers, targeted forward-venting blank firearms (FVBF), which resemble guns such as Glocks.The weapons are traded lawfully in some parts of mainland Europe but are illegal to possess or import into Britain.Since 2019, the NCA and Guardia Civil - which has jurisdiction in Spain for the national control of firearms- have been jointly working on Project Vizardlike to combat the threat.The operation has so far resulted in the seizure of 703 firearms, 74 arrests and 50 convictions, the NCA said.Spain has recently enacted new legislation restricting the sale of the weapons, with customers now required to produce Spanish identity and police approval documentati...

The Value of Hard Work and Persistence: A Story of Engineering Success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

Standing tall amidst the pulsating energy of Silicon Valley is Ruchi Agarwal, a luminary among accomplished engineers. Her journey, etched with the imprints of tireless effort and unyielding perseverance, paints a mesmerizing picture of determination and success. As we delve into the intricacies of her story, it becomes abundantly clear that her narrative is a potent source of inspiration for aspiring professionals, transcending geographical boundaries and igniting the flames of ambition.Ruchi’s foray into the realm of engineering was not born of mere circumstance but rather a childhood fascination with computers. Like a sculptor chipping away at a block of marble, young Ruchi meticulously dismantled and reassembled her PC, learning the art that lay behind the chips and wires. This led her down the path of computer science engineering and set the stage for a stellar career.The early days of Ruchi’s career as a researcher at Tata Consultancy Services’ Performance Engineering and Rese...

Three types of deals gamers should keep an eye on for Amazon Prime Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

It’s the tail end of Amazon Prime Day, and that means you should catch on to deals before they’re gone. Just keep in mind, not all of them are created equal. For every deal on a Sony wireless headset, there’s a too-good-to-be-true price on a comparable product from a brand you’ve never heard of. You could think you’re getting a good product, but that may not be the case. With video games, there are few items to keep an eye out for when looking for value. In general, Here are three general rules of thumb.1. Check out Nintendo’s first-party titles because they rarely go on sale: That means you should definitely look at “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” “Super Mario Odyssey,” “New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe” and “Mario Golf: Super Rush Standard.” All of them are on sale for $29.99 and sent via a Digital Code.Not to be outdone, Square Enix also has deals on titles such as “Octopath Traveler II” and R...

Single family residence sells in Danville for $1.8 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

742 Merrimac Place – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 700 block of Merrimac Place in Danville was sold on June 16, 2023 for $1,825,000, or $1,068 per square foot. The house, built in 1973, has an interior space of 1,709 square feet. The layout of this single-story home includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Additionally, the house includes an attached two-car garage, offering generous space for vehicles and storage requirements. The property occupies a sizable 0.3-acre lot.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:In June 2023, a 2,344-square-foot home on Woodbine Lane in Danville sold for $1,905,000, a price per square foot of $813. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,344-square-foot home on the 400 block of Woodbine Lane in Danville sold in April 2023, for $1,800,000, a price per square foot of $768. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On El Cerro Boulevard, Danville, in October 2022, a 2,210-square-foot home was sold for $1,750,0...

Review: Idris Elba is riveting in Apple thriller ‘Hijack’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley reviews 'Hijack' on Apple TV+ $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Since launching in 2019, Apple TV+ has become a source of comedy with “Ted Lasso,” “Trying,” “Shrinking” and “Platonic.”However, the streamer has recently brought its “A” game into more dramatic territory, from sci-fi series like “Severance” and “S...

With its own Major League, cricket looks for a foothold in the United States

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

Finished cricket bats are seen inside a factory in Sangam, south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sept. 22, 2022. Kashmir’s dwindling willow plantations are impacting the region’s famed cricket bat industry and risking the supply of cricket bats in India, where the sport is hugely followed. The industry employs more than 10,000 people and manufactures nearly a million bats a year. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)(AP/Dar Yasin) Finished cricket bats are seen inside a factory in Sangam, south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sept. 22, 2022. Kashmir’s dwindling willow plantations are impacting the region’s famed cricket bat industry and risking the supply of cricket bats in India, where the sport is hugely followed. The industry employs more than 10,000 people and ...