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French journalist killed in Ukraine by rocket attack near Bakhmut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

Arman Soldin, a 32-year-old video coordinator in Ukraine for French newswire Agence France-Presse, died Tuesday afternoon in a Grad rocket attack, according to AFP journalists who accompanied him.The shelling took place in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar, near Bakhmut, which is targeted daily by Russian forces, and has seen some of the fiercest fighting since the beginning of the war.French President Emmanuel Macron said: “With courage, from the first hours of the conflict he was at the front to establish the facts. To inform us. We share the pain of his loved ones and all his colleagues.”“The whole agency is devastated by the loss of Arman,” AFP Chairman Fabrice Fries said. “Arman’s brilliant work encapsulated everything that has made us so proud of AFP’s journalism in Ukraine,” AFP’s Global News Director Phil Chetwynd said.Soldin is the 15th journalist who has been killed covering the war in Ukraine, according to press freedom NGO Committee to Protect...

EU’s Mariya Gabriel nominated to be Bulgaria’s new prime minister

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced Wednesday that his center-right GERB party would nominate European Commissioner for Innovation Mariya Gabriel to be the country’s new PM.Reports began circulating in Bulgarian media Tuesday night that the former MEP and two-time commissioner would be GERB’s choice to break the political deadlock which has snarled the country, after five consecutive elections failed to produce a majority winner. Bulgaria’s centrist anti-corruption parties are expected to support Gabriel’s nomination.Following Borissov’s announcement in Sofia’s parliament, Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party, said the group “warmly” welcomes Gabriel’s nomination as prime minister-designate of Bulgaria. “She has the experience and international authority to overcome the political stalemate in Sofia. Full support for our sister party GERB-Udf for putting the interests of the country first,” Weber said.GERB ca...

Pakistan braces for turmoil as ex-PM Khan due in court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan braced for more turmoil a day after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was dragged from court in Islamabad and his supporters clashed with police across the country. The 70-year-old opposition leader is expected in court later Wednesday for a hearing in which a judge will asked to approve keeping him in custody for up to 14 days.Khan, who lost power last year but remains the country’s most popular opposition figure, is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. The arrest deepened political turmoil and sparked violent demonstrations. At least one person was killed in the southwestern city of Quetta, and dozens were wounded in various parts of the country. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party called for demonstrators to remain peaceful hours after mobs angered over the dramatic arrest set fire to the residence of a top army general in the eastern city of Lahore.Khan was appearing in court on multiple graft charges brought by Isl...

ASEAN leaders condemn attack on aid convoy in Myanmar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders condemned an attack on an aid convoy that the regional group had arranged for displaced people in Myanmar, calling Wednesday for an immediate stop to violence and for the military government to comply with a peace plan.Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened in the picturesque harbor town of Labuan Bajo in southern Indonesia at the start of a two-day summit. Their host, President Joko Widodo, called for unity amid global economic headwinds and major-power rivalry that’s lashing the region.The 10-nation bloc has come under international pressure to effectively address the crisis in Myanmar. But ASEAN members appeared to be divided on how to proceed, with some recommending to ease punitive actions aimed at isolating Myanmar’s generals and invite its top diplomat and officials back to the high-profile summit meetings. “The time for isolation has served its purpose,” said an internal ASEAN report ob...

South Sudanese flee Sudan’s conflict yet return to crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

CANAL-PIGI COUNTY, South Sudan (AP) — Moments after gunshots and explosions rang out in Khartoum, killing civilians and damaging buildings, Nyarok Gach grabbed her eight children and reluctantly began the treacherous journey home. Four years ago she had crossed into Sudan, fleeing civil war in her native South Sudan, but the place she hoped would be a refuge turned out to be anything but.Now she’s back in South Sudan, but it’s a country still in turmoil.“The suffering we fled in Sudan is the same suffering we have now,” said Gach. Sitting on a straw mat in the impoverished village of Wunlueth in South Sudan’s Canal-Pigi County, the 35-year-old said she has come home to misery. Her village has been plagued by floods, people don’t have access to clean water or food, and violence in parts of the country persists despite a fragile peace deal signed in 2018 to end fighting that killed nearly 400,000 people.More than 40,000 people — mostly South Sudanese — have crossed the bor...

The trials of Prince Harry: 1st phone hacking case to begin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry’s legal battle against the British press faces its biggest test yet and threatens to do something he said his family long feared: put a royal on the witness stand to discuss embarrassing revelations.The first of the Duke of Sussex’s three phone hacking lawsuits goes to trial Wednesday. Harry and three lesser-known celebrities are suing the former publisher of the Daily Mirror for alleged invasion of privacy.The activities in question stretch back more than two decades, when journalists and private eyes intercepted voicemails to snoop on members of the royal family, politicians, athletes, celebrities and even crime victims. The hacking was later revealed, creating a scandal. Harry is expected to testify in person in June, his lawyer has said. It won’t be his first time in the High Court, following his surprise appearance last month to observe most of a four-day hearing in one of his other lawsuits.It’s not clear if he’ll show up for opening statements...

N.S. approves wind farm, but federal officials worry project would kill at-risk birds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

HALIFAX — A 13-turbine wind farm recently approved by the Nova Scotia government is worrying federal officials, who say there isn’t enough information about what impact the project will have on the endangered roseate tern and other birds.Nova Scotia’s Environment Department approved the Wedgeport Wind Farm, on the province’s southwest coast, on May 4. Also on that day, an environment assessment by Environment Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service became public.The federal agencies note in their report that 75 per cent of the breeding of the roseate tern population in Canada occurs about 15 kilometres from the proposed wind farm. They say the endangered animals “may be vulnerable” to the turbines as they fly across the project area at Little River Harbour, N.S., seeking food.The seabirds have a distinctive appearance, with black caps, bills that are red at their base and a forked tail. The Canadian Wildlife Service has reported that their numbers have plunged to ...

Dutch PM to discuss defence of Ukraine with Brazil's Lula da Silva

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

Dutch PM Mark Rutte (pictured) explained to Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva the importance of defending Ukraine in the conflict with Russia when they met on Tuesday (9 May). Lula da Silva has previously criticized the idea of arming Ukrainians.Rutte, on the first day his Brazil visit, told reporters: "We need to help Ukraine in this fight."Rutte told Lula that he would explain why backing Ukraine was "essential" to the Netherlands, Europe and beyond due to the Russian invasion putting Western values in danger."I don't know if Putin will be successful in Ukraine. People are concerned for their safety in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, and Europe," he said.Lula has tried to encourage non-conflict countries to form a group that will push for peace talks. He has also said that supplying weapons to Ukraine is encouraging war. The US accused him of repeating Russian and Chinese propaganda.The Dutch government, along with its European partners, is considering donating F-16 fighter ...

Single-family home in Pleasanton sells for $1.9 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

849 Madeira Drive – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 800 block of Madeira Drive in Pleasanton has new owners. The 2,016-square-foot property, built in 1975, was sold on March 22, 2023, for $1,855,000, or $920 per square foot. The property features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on a 7,521-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:A 1,942-square-foot home on the 1000 block of Crellin Road in Pleasanton sold in January 2023, for $1,480,000, a price per square foot of $762. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Vintner Way, Pleasanton, in July 2022, a 1,942-square-foot home was sold for $1,675,000, a price per square foot of $863. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In July 2022, a 2,251-square-foot home on Marsala Court in Pleasanton sold for $2,400,000, a price per square foot of $1,066. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 

National Harbor celebrates 15 years of ‘Movies on the Potomac’ screening outdoor cinema under the stars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'Movies on the Potomac' at National Harbor (Part 1) $(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); }); }); Get ready for outdoor cinema under the stars as “Movies on the Potomac” returns to National Harbor.The free movie screenings will be held on National Plaza in Oxon Hill, Maryland, every week now through September with Thursday “date nights” starting at 7 p.m. and Sunday ...