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NATO vows to stick with Ukraine ‘as long as it takes’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

BRUSSELS — NATO’s foreign ministers Wednesday agreed to step up work with Ukraine on a wide range of security issues, in a bid to show solidarity amid distractions from the war between Israel and Hamas.In a statement, NATO allies vowed to “remain steadfast in their commitment to further step up political and practical support to Ukraine” and said they “will continue their support for as long as it takes,” after a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels. “We are increasing our interoperability with NATO,” Kuleba said, ahead of the first foreign ministerial-level NATO-Ukraine Council meeting. “We are pretty much becoming a de facto NATO army, in terms of our technical capacity, management approaches and principles of running an army.”According to the NATO statement, the alliance and Ukraine “are already working and taking decisions together, as equals, on a broad range of issues, including interoper...

EU’s von der Leyen urges youth to reverse Brexit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

The U.K. is on a clear “direction of travel” toward rejoining the EU, the president of the European Commission said — as she urged young people to reverse Britain’s departure.Ursula von der Leyen said she had told her children that it was up to the next generation to “fix” the mistake of Brexit.Asked during an interview at the POLITICO 28 awards in Brussels on Tuesday night whether Britain could ever rejoin the EU, von der Leyen said: “I must say, I keep telling my children: ‘You have to fix it. We goofed it up, you have to fix it.’ So I think here too, the direction of travel — my personal opinion — is clear.”Von der Leyen described the Windsor Agreement on Northern Ireland, struck between Brussels and London earlier this year, as “a new beginning for old friends.”Polling consistently shows a majority of voters in the U.K. would back rejoining the EU if asked to do so at a referendum. The latest survey by Deltapoll p...

Melania Trump takes her place in the former first ladies club with Rosalynn Carter memorial service appearance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

(CNN) — Former first lady Melania Trump made a rare public appearance Tuesday as an attendee of the tribute service for Rosalynn Carter in Georgia.The appearance marks Trump stepping into a more traditional former first lady role, as she joined current first lady Jill Biden and former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton to pay tribute to Carter. It is common for sitting and former first ladies to attend the funerals of former first ladies.During the service Melania Trump sat at the end of the aisle in the front row next to Michelle Obama, who had Laura Bush placed on her other side.Former President Jimmy Carter, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and former President Bill Clinton were also in attendance at Carter’s memorial service.Three former presidents did not attend: Donald Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush.Melania Trump has largely avoided the pu...

Chilly Wind Again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

A busy breeze and cold air is not exactly the combination we like to see, but at least we have the sunshine and dry air for the morning commute. As you head out the door, plan on temps in the mid 20s to near 30 and winds gusting to around 20-25mph. The combination of the wind and cold air will produce wind chills in the teens and low 20s this morning, so certainly a bite to the air heading out to the bus stop and waiting to head to school or head to work. Highs recover this afternoon into the mid to upper 30s with the winds still gusting 20-25mph. Busy breeze, but not quite as strong as yesterday. Tomorrow, we’ll bounce back into the mid to upper 40s as we stay dry. Friday is even milder, with highs in the lower 50s. However, some late afternoon/evening wet weather will slide on through, producing a damp overnight. Saturday and Sunday are mostly cloudy and seasonable with highs in the 40s. There may be a few sprinkles around Saturday and some showers again later Sunday into Mo...

Former New Hampshire lawmaker faces multiple charges related to moving out of his district

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former New Hampshire lawmaker who kept his seat for a year after moving out of his district was charged Tuesday with multiple crimes related to his change of address.Troy Merner, a Republican, won a fourth term representing Lancaster in the House in 2022, around the same time he moved to Carroll. He resigned in September after the attorney general’s office investigated a complaint that he had continued to vote in Lancaster after his move.On Tuesday, Merner was charged with wrongful voting, a class B felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a permanent loss of voting privileges. He also was charged with three misdemeanors: theft by deception, unsworn falsification and tampering with public records. Those charges allege he received excessive mileage reimbursement by claiming he lived in Lancaster.New Hampshire law requires lawmakers to live in the district they represent. Lawmaker are paid only $100 a year but are reimbursed for their travel to and f...

Div. 8 Super Bowl: High-powered offenses on display as Carver, West Boylston clash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

The Division 8 Super Bowl between Carver and West Boylston will showcase two formidable offenses, each averaging over 41 points per game.After winning only three games last year, Carver (11-1) is relishing the opportunity to take the field for Wednesday’s opening state championship game at Gillette Stadium at 5:30 p.m.“We’re pumped. We’re thrilled.” said Carver head coach Ben Shuffain. “It’s nice when the work the kids and staff put in throughout the year pays off and you get to the big game again.”Carver has multiple weapons to choose from on offense. Quarterback Tyler Lennox poses a serious threat through the air, with his 37 touchdown passes and 2,711 passing yards ranking among the best in the state.“His growth the last couple of years has been tremendous,” Shuffain said. “He’s a terrific leader on and off the field. A high character kid with a good arm and he’s very smart athletically.”The most versatile player on the Carver roster is Jameson Helms, who can play running back, r...

Div. 1 Super Bowl: St. John’s Prep, Xaverian renew fierce rivalry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

All right. Everyone take a minute to breathe.That is what the Xaverian and St. John’s Prep teams are likely telling themselves after Thursday’s 23-21 Hawks win. The squads are meeting each other again on Wednesday (8 p.m.) at Gillette Stadium for the Div. 1 state championship.On Thanksgiving, Luke Bell’s 30-yard field goal decided the game as time ran out and the Xaverian fans rushed the field. But as Xaverian coach Al Fornaro has told his players: “What happened on Thursday has no bearing on what is going to happen on Wednesday night.”Xaverian heads into the game with a 10-2 record, while the Prep is 11-1.“It was tough. It was our first loss. We didn’t play well, especially defensively,” Prep coach Brian St. Pierre said. “It was probably our most poorly-played defensive game of the year. I think they’re eager to get back on the practice field and fix some of that. Health-wise, we are kind of in the same boat we’ve be...

Ford government to release ‘business case’ for moving science centre to Ontario Place

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

The Ontario government is set to release its long-promised “business case” today for moving the Ontario Science Centre from its current east Toronto location to Ontario Place, on the city’s waterfront.When Premier Doug Ford announced updates in April to his government’s plans to redevelop Ontario Place, it included moving the science centre and Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma cited a “business case analysis” as justification.She said the science centre’s current building is “in disrepair” and the analysis showed it would be less expensive to move the science centre downtown rather than rebuild it at the current location.The new science centre at Ontario Place – with a planned opening in 2028 – is set to be half the size of the current one, though the government says there will be more exhibition space despite a smaller overall footprint. Related: Advocates say Ontario Place deal between province, Toronto falls shor...

At least 40 civilians killed by al-Qaida-linked rebels in a Burkina Faso town, UN rights office says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 40 civilians were killed last weekend by al-Qaida-linked rebels trying to take control of a besieged town in Burkina Faso’s hard-hit northern region, the United Nations’ rights office said, calling the attack a war crime.In one of the largest clashes in recent years in the West African nation under threat from fighters linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, a large number of fighters tried to take control of Djibo near Mali’s border.The town, located 210 kilometres (130 miles) from the capital, Ouagadougou, has been under blockade by rebels for more than a year, often struggling to provide essential services.The militants in the latest attack, which happened on Sunday, also wounded 42 people and set fire to three camps for internally displaced people, U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango said in a statement on Tuesday that blamed the attack on JNIM, an umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with al-Qaida.“Deliberately t...

Emirati-designated COP28 leader forcefully denies report UAE wanted to seek oil deals in summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:39 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Emirati president-designate for the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks forcefully denied Wednesday a report alleging his nation planned to use the summit to strike oil and gas deals, a day before the summit was due to begin. However, Sultan al-Jaber, who also leads the massive state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., will step down from his position as CEO of the company — trying to head off the major criticism surrounding his selection of a planned vote to formally make him the leader of the talks. Al-Jaber called the allegations from a BBC report “an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency” before the talks begin Thursday. The report cited what it described as “leaked briefing documents” the broadcaster described as showing the Emirates planned to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations. “These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate,” al-Jaber told a small group of journalists gathered for a news con...