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South Sudanese flee Sudan’s conflict yet return to crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 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 ...

Reportan tormentas fuertes para el centro y sur de las Llanuras este miércoles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

(CNN) — El Centro de Predicción de Tormentas (SPC, por sus siglas en inglés) de Estados Unidos informó que esperan este miércoles tormentas severas en el centro y sur de las Llanuras del país.Existe un riesgo leve de tormentas severas, nivel 2 de 5, desde el norte de Texas hasta el sureste de Montana, incluyendo Denver, Colorado Springs, Cheyenne y Casper, Wyoming.Las principales amenazas son tornados aislados, granizo de gran tamaño y rachas de viento dañinas.Un riesgo marginal de tormentas severas, nivel 1 de 5, se extiende desde la frontera entre Texas y México hasta la frontera entre Minnesota y Canadá, incluyendo Lubbock, Amarillo y Bismarck.Las principales amenazas son el granizo de gran tamaño y las rachas de viento dañinas.Así se nombran las tormentas tropicales y huracanes en el AtlánticoUn riesgo marginal por separado está en su lugar para el sureste de Texas, incluyendo Houston.Las principales amenazas son granizo grande, ráfagas de viento dañinas y precipitaciones ...

22 dead women, no names: Interpol seeks clues on cold cases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The 22 women mostly met violent deaths. Their bodies, some dismembered, were found in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands over a span of 43 years — the most recent in 2019. Police say some showed signs of abuse or starvation. But who they were is unknown, frustrating detectives’ hunts for their killers.Police hope that may change with the launch Wednesday of Operation Identify Me. The international appeal with Interpol is seeking public help to put names to the women. Such a breakthrough would, at a minimum, enable police to no longer have to identify the victims by their distinguishing features or apparel — “the woman with the flower tattoo,” “the woman with the artificial nails” — or locations where their remains were discovered.The oldest of the cold cases, “The girl in the parking lot,” dates back to 1976. Her body was found along the A12 highway in the Netherlands. She is believed to have been between 13 and 20 years old when she died...

Report: Car bombing near Syria’s Damascus wounds 5 officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A car bombing close to a police station near the Syrian capital wounded five officers on Wednesday, state media reported. The reports, citing the Interior Ministry, did not provide further details on the explosion in the neighborhood of Barzeh, just north of Damascus. The state SANA news agency circulated photos of a charred car with investigators assessing the damage.A pro-government radio station cited a police source and said the car that exploded was a “private vehicle.” No group immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. The explosion comes as Syrian President Bashar Assad is making strides in restoring ties with the Arab world. Syria was readmitted into the Arab League on Sunday following a 12-year suspension. On Tuesday, the Syrian and Saudi foreign ministries announced the reopening of their diplomatic missions.The Associated Press

Toyota’s profits rise as global chips supply crunch subsides

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota’s January-March profit edged up 3% from the previous year on robust sales as a chips supply crunch gradually eased. Toyota Motor Corp. racked up 552.2 billion yen ($4 billion) in quarterly net profit, up from 533.8 billion yen ($3.9 billion), according to results released Wednesday. Quarterly sales soared nearly 20% to 9.69 trillion yen ($72 billion).For the fiscal year ended in March, profit at Japan’s top automaker fell 14% on-year to 2.45 trillion yen ($18 billion). But it’s forecasting profit to rise 5.2% for the current fiscal year to 2.58 trillion yen ($19 billion).Automakers worldwide have been hurt by a shortage of computer chips and other auto parts because of restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic that crimped production in various countries.Toyota said soaring raw material costs also hurt its bottom line.The automaker’s sales for the fiscal year that ended in March rose across global regions, including Japan, the United States, Europe and other mar...