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Biden hails ‘new era of partnership’ for US, South Korea and Japan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

President Joe Biden on Friday signed historic agreements with the leaders of South Korea and Japan, bridging the fraught history between the two countries with promises of strengthening each nation’s economic and national security interests.In what was a clear message to China, Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for the first trilateral meeting between the three countries that wasn’t held on the sidelines of an international gathering.“This is the first summit I’ve hosted at Camp David, and I can think of no more fitting location to symbolize our new era of cooperation,” Biden said at a joint press conference held at the rustic presidential campsite in the Catoctin Mountains, about 60 miles north of Washington.The looming threats of China and North Korea shadowed the summit. Both Japan and South Korea are well within range of Pyongyang’s rocket tests, and both nations also have attempted to curb Beijing’s growing strength in...

Hurricane Hilary threatens dangerous rain for Mexico’s Baja. California may get rare tropical storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Hilary headed for Mexico’s Baja California with “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic” rain and flash flooding, while officials as far north as Los Angeles scrambled to get the homeless off the streets, set up shelters and prepare for evacuations.Hilary is expected to plow into the Mexican peninsula sometime Sunday and then surge northward and enter the history books as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years by late Sunday or Monday.The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for a wide swath of Southern California from the Pacific coast to interior mountains and deserts. Officials talked of evacuation plans for California’s Catalina Island.“I don’t think any of us — I know me particularly — never thought I’d be standing here talking about a hurricane or a tropical storm,” said Janice Hahn, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.After rapidly gaining power early Friday,...

‘Most of the people are now gone’: Yellowknife nearly emptied as fire fight continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Nearly all residents have left the capital of the Northwest Territories, where officials say the weather has helped slow the threat of an encroaching wildfire. An evacuation order issued Wednesday for Yellowknife, a city of 20,000, had a deadline of Friday noon, and RCMP were going door to door urging people to leave.Officials say more than 19,000 people complied with the evacuation, leaving in streams of vehicles south down the highway or by air on evacuation flights.They say about 2,600 people remain in the city — 1,000 of them essential workers.As of Friday night, wind continued to pose an imminent threat and the fire remained about 15 kilometres from the northwest edge of the city.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited some evacuees in Edmonton and commended all for a “thoughtful, orderly evacuation.”Many evacuees have travelled to different areas of Alberta but some were also being flown to Manitoba.Emergency teams, crews working on the fire, utilities ...

B.C. in state of emergency amid desperate fight to save West Kelowna from wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

WEST KELOWNA — The wildfire battle in British Columbia continues today, focusing on the central Okanagan, where flames tore through West Kelowna suburbs and forced the evacuation of neighbouring Kelowna’s University of B.C. campus.The fire fight in the Interior is the epicentre for a battle against hundreds of fires across B.C. that have prompted the declaration of a provincewide state of emergency and forced the evacuation of about 15,000 people.Fire officials say the intense McDougall Creek wildfire has destroyed a significant number of properties in West Kelowna with the potential for more property damage late Friday.West Kelowna fire Chief Jason Brolund told a news conference the battle against the wildfire was like “100 years of firefighting.”BC Wildfire Service spokesman Cliff Chapman says high winds and lightning that swept across the province in recent days ignited and  kindled dangerous fires in areas beyond the central Okanagan.He says a fire in the Lytto...

‘Nation-building moment’: Yukon eyes connection to B.C. electricity grid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

Yukon’s energy minister says Canada’s push for more green energy and a net-zero electricity grid should spark renewed interest in connecting the territory’s power to British Columbia.Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker says linking the territory’s power grid to the south would help with the national move to renewable energy, support the mineral extraction required for green projects, and improve northern energy and Arctic security.“We’re getting to the moment in time when we will want an electricity grid which stretches from coast to coast to coast. … I think that the moment is coming for this — it’s sort of a nation-building moment. And I think that from the Yukon’s perspective, we’re very interested,” Streicker said in an interview.The idea of a link, originally proposed to span 763 kilometres between Whitehorse and Iskut, B.C., was first floated in 2016 but sat on the shelf after a viability study put ...

Daily horoscope for August 19, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 4:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. EDT today (1:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Virgo into Libra.Happy Birthday for Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023:You are a serious person who presents a smooth facade because your image is important to you. You give meticulous attention to details. This is a year of learning and teaching. You might renew your spiritual beliefs. Take time to explore philosophies that give you a better self-awareness.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★For two and a half days every month, the Moon is directly opposite your sign. And when this occurs, you have to be accommodating. In fact, you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others. That’s what’s happening today and tomorrow. It’s no biggie. You can do this. Tonight: Socialize.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Home and family, especially redecorating projects or entertaining at home, are your primary focus right now. In particular, today ...

Miss Manners: Shouldn’t I be the one to decide if my kid is being rude?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’ve seen you say that we should not correct other people’s etiquette, even if they are being rude. In my experience, people do not apply this rule to children.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: The bride told me to lie to her fiance about why I can’t be ‘best woman’ Advice | Miss Manners: How do I tell them I won’t serve the fancy dessert they brought? Advice | Miss Manners: They come to my house and yell at my dog Advice | Miss Manners: Why are parents miffed at me? They’re the ones who spell the kids’ names wrong. Advice | Miss Manners: She’s so rich, but she never gives us anything I am teaching my young children to be polite. The main way I go about it is by modeling how I want them to behave, and it mostly works. I do not force them to say “please” and “thank you” as long as their tone is kind. If t...

Dear Abby: I find it obnoxious when my boyfriend preaches that I’m going to hell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been in a relationship with a wonderful man for two years. He’s a minister. He and his late wife used to travel all over the world spreading the word. I’m from a less conservative, more spiritual background. I attend an all-denominational church that accepts everyone. My views on politics are also different from his. He constantly quotes the Bible and believes I’ll go to hell if I don’t follow the word of God daily. I was baptized Pentecostal at a young age, but that is not something I believe anymore, and his constant preaching is exhausting. I am a strong woman, and I have voiced how I feel about this. He’s the best man I’ve ever been with. He’s kind, considerate, loving, helpful and loves my family. I am recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome, and he has helped me walk, helped out in the business and has been so good to me. I am now mostly recovered, and everything would be perfect except for politics and religion. ...

Charges dropped against Md. state delegate accused of assault, burglary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Charges have been dropped against a freshman state delegate who was accused of assault and burglary.Del. Jeffrie Long (D-Calvert and Prince George’s) was scheduled to appear Friday in a Calvert County District courtroom to face charges stemming from an April 4 incident involving a family member.The St. Mary’s County state’s attorney’s office, which handled the case at the request of Calvert County prosecutors, dropped those charges.“I’m very happy that the charges against Delegate Long were dismissed by the prosecutor this afternoon,” said Michael Adams, one of Long’s attorneys. “The allegations were false and Jeffrie has finally been vindicated.”Long was also represented by C.T. Willson, a state delegate from Charles County who chairs the House Economic Matters Committee and is a criminal defense attorney.Long initially faced charge...

Building on Barcelona’s success, Spain is playing its first Women’s World Cup final against England

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:50 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — If those precise passes that untangle defenses and the attacks coming from all angles by first-time Women’s World Cup finalist Spain look familiar, there is good reason.The Spanish squad is built on a core of Barcelona players who have triumphed with their club and are now one step from the ultimate prize when they face England on Sunday in Sydney.Nine Barcelona players, including two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, attacking midfielder Aitana Bonmatí and defensive leader Irene Paredes, are among the key players for Spain.The club’s influence also extends to the England team, which features Barcelona players Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh.“Some of us are very lucky, we’ve won two Champions Leagues with Barcelona,” Bonmatí said after beating Sweden 2-1 in the semifinals. Barcelona’s women’s team has played in front of record crowds exceeding 90,000, Bonmati added, “but playing a World Cup final in front of 75,000, it will be crazy.”R...