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Australian and Indonesian forces deploy battle tanks in US-led combat drills amid Chinese concern

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

BANYUWANGI, Indonesia (AP) — Thousands of soldiers from the United States, Indonesia, Australia and other allied forces demonstrated their armor capabilities on Sunday in combat drills on the Indonesian island of Java at a time of increased Chinese aggression in the region. President Joe Biden’s administration has been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to reassure allies alarmed by Beijing’s increasingly provocative actions in the disputed South China Sea, which has become a battleground for U.S-Chinese rivalries.During the drills, Australian forces deployed five M1A1 Abrams battle tanks and the Indonesian military, deployed two Leopard-2 tanks for the two-week combat exercises in Banyuwangi, a coastal district in East Java province which began Sept. 1. It will include live-fire drills.It was the first time Australia deployed battle tanks outside its territory since the Vietnam war.The Garuda Shield drills have been held annually between American a...

Local elections take place across Russia, but Ukraine is ‘not on the agenda’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

Local elections kicked off in Russia this weekend in 79 regions, with voters are casting their ballots for governors, regional legislatures, city and municipal councils.Russian authorities are also holding local elections in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed illegally last year — the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Voting for federal and local legislators is also underway on the Crimean peninsula, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. Balloting in the occupied areas of Ukraine has been denounced by Kyiv and the West as a sham and a violation of international law.In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin’s seat is up for grabs, although he is running for re-election again and is unlikely to lose a race in which all contenders come from Kremlin-backed parties. Sobyanin was appointed mayor in 2010 and has since won mayoral elections twice: in 2013, despite now-imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny running against him, and 2018. Governors in 20 other Russia...

India forges compromise among divided world powers at the G20 summit in a diplomatic win for Modi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted his country as well-placed to bridge gaps in the Group of 20 top economies and solve global problems, but many were skeptical ahead of the weekend’s summit given grave divisions within the bloc over the Russia’s war in Ukraine.He was able to dispel those doubts, announcing a unanimous final agreement a day before the G20 summit ended Sunday that included language on the European war which both Russia and China signed off on.British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the group agreed to a “very strong” message. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a “success of Indian diplomacy,” adding “many did not think that would be possible beforehand.” And India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said the declaration “responds to the situation as it stands today.”The statement had softer wording than last year’s G20 communique and failed to directly denounce Moscow. Instead, it cited a United Nations charter, saying “a...

Horoscopes Sept. 10, 2023: Sarah Levy, hesitation will ruin your timing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Paulina Alexis, 23; Sarah Levy, 37; Ryan Phillippe, 49; Joe Perry, 73.Happy Birthday: Get on board and ride the wave. You’ll have plenty of opportunities if you show your worth and contribute what you have to offer. Use your discipline, insight and influence to turn what you want into something spectacular. Don’t be shy when your objective is to follow your heart and turn your dreams into a reality. Keep moving; hesitation will ruin your timing. Your numbers are 6, 17, 25, 27, 31, 36, 48.ARIES (March 21-April 19): The little things count, like being good to yourself. Putter around the house, go hiking or spend time with someone you love, and it will improve your frame of mind and help you sort through the changes you want to make. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Socializing will get you out of the house and away from any drama or tension you are feeling. Sign up for something that interests you or can help give you a different perspective o...

Ask Amy: This dispute over her dogs is threatening our friendship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ve been friends with “Carol” since third grade.She has a condo in Florida, and I try to visit her once a year. Her husband died a year ago, so she’s been alone.Before this year’s visit, she told me that she had a man in her life and that he would “be around” while I was there.Well, he was around, constantly, always calling, always wanting to be with us.The first night I was there, she went and stayed overnight with him, leaving me with her two irritating dogs, who barked and whined all night long.I told her in the morning, and she apologized, but still stayed at his place every night I was there, leaving me with the dogs.I am happy for my friend that she found a new guy. I didn’t mind her staying at his place at night. My problem is that she couldn’t go five days without him being around constantly, so I could enjoy my vacation with my friend.And she left me with her dogs every night while they barked constantly.This has caused a problem with our friendship.She seems mad...

El poderoso huracán Lee creará condiciones peligrosas a lo largo de la costa este, independientemente de su incierta trayectoria final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

(CNN) — El huracán Lee permanece a cientos de kilómetros al este del Caribe este sábado por la noche, pero los meteorólogos dicen que los efectos del huracán podrían tener un impacto en la costa atlántica de Estados Unidos ya este fin de semana.Lee estaba a 458 kilómeros al noreste del norte de las Islas de Sotavento a las 11 p.m. hora del este de EE.UU. de este sábado, provocando vientos máximos sostenidos de 169 km/h, según el Centro Nacional de Huracanes. Se espera que el huracán de categoría 2, que anteriormente alcanzó la categoría 5, mantenga su fuerza este sábado y se fortalezca durante el fin de semana.Todavía es demasiado pronto para determinar si el núcleo de la tormenta impactará directamente el territorio continental de EE.UU., pero se espera que Lee genere corrientes y grandes olas en la mayor parte de la costa este de los Estados Unidos este domingo y este lunes y empeore a lo largo de la semana, dijo el centro de huracanes.“Se espera que se desarrollen con...

Dental partnership puts free smiles on Montgomery Co. and DC seniors’ faces

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

When 64-year-old Gale Williams’ dentist would no longer take her insurance two years ago, she switched her dental care to the Mary’s Center — a community clinic located in D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland.“I got the basic dental care, cleanings twice a year and fillings,” Williams told WTOP.But a few months ago, she needed a partial lower denture, which required five visits filled with X-rays, molds and a payment plan.“At the end of the last appointment, they said ‘You know you don’t have to pay,'” Williams said, of her $800 copay. “No pay. I couldn’t believe it.”The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California insurance company, picked up the tab. Dentists at the Mary’s Center and Howard University College of Dentistry completed the work. The three organizations have teamed up on a five-year pilot partnership designed to offer free or low-cost dental care to people 6...

Cubs come into matchup against the Diamondbacks on losing streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (75-68, second in the NL West) vs. Chicago Cubs (76-67, second in the NL Central)Chicago; Sunday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Brandon Pfaadt (1-8, 6.27 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 68 strikeouts); Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (5-7, 3.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 79 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -144, Diamondbacks +122BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs play the Arizona Diamondbacks as losers of three games in a row.Chicago is 40-34 at home and 76-67 overall. The Cubs have the sixth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .416.Arizona has gone 37-33 in road games and 75-68 overall. The Diamondbacks have a 55-15 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.The matchup Sunday is the fourth time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Cody Bellinger has 24 doubles, a triple, 24 home runs and 88 RBI for the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki is 16-for-39 with five doubles, a triple, three home runs and 10 RBI over the last 10 games.Corbin Carroll has 24 home runs, 53...

Giants play the Rockies after Yastrzemski’s 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

Colorado Rockies (51-90, fifth in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (72-70, third in the NL West)San Francisco; Sunday, 8:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Peter Lambert (0-0); Giants: TBDBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants take on the Colorado Rockies after Mike Yastrzemski’s four-hit game on Saturday.San Francisco is 72-70 overall and 40-31 in home games. The Giants have a 29-14 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.Colorado is 51-90 overall and 22-52 in road games. The Rockies have a 35-17 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.Sunday’s game is the ninth time these teams square off this season. The Giants are up 7-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilmer Flores has 22 doubles and 22 home runs while hitting .289 for the Giants. J.D. Davis is 10-for-35 with three doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.Elias Diaz leads the Rockies with a .268 batting average, and has 23 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs, 29 walks and 67 R...

Daily Showers and Storms and High Humidity this Week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

Well Saturday sure reminded us that we are still in the midst of rainy season with the daily downpours back in the forecast.That will be the story this week with that risk for sea-breeze-driven, scattered showers and storms possible each and every day this week. Rain chances will hold at a 30-50% into next weekend as a result of more moisture in place.For our Sunday, I don’t see it being as wet as it was on Saturday. Expect morning sunshine and mostly dry conditions, then the risk for afternoon storms, especially across Broward County and inland areas of mainland South Florida. High temperatures this Sunday will be a degree or two warmer into the low to mid 90s due to more of a delayed start to the storms.Highs the rest of this new week will remain on the hot side, reaching 94F in Miami on Wednesday and Thursday before it drops back down to the low 90s by next weekend. With the high humidity in place, it will feel closer to the triple-digits — if not warmer!For the start...