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Analysis: Buildup of American forces in Persian Gulf a new signal of worsening US-Iran conflict

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Thousands of Marines backed by advanced U.S. fighter jets and warships are slowly building up a presence in the Persian Gulf. It’s a sign that while America’s wars in the region may be finished, its conflict with Iran over its advancing nuclear program continues to worsen, with no solutions in sight.The dispatch of the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan to the Gulf, alongside stealth F-35 fighters and other warplanes, comes as America wants to focus on China and Russia. But Washington is seeing once again that while it’s easy to get into the Middle East militarily, it’s difficult to ever get fully out — particularly as Iran now enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.There is no sign that diplomacy will revive the deal soon, and Iran in recent weeks has resumed harassing and seizing ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Some 20% of the world...

The Crimean Peninsula is both a playground and a battleground, coveted by Ukraine and Russia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Its balmy beaches have been vacation spots for Russian czars and Soviet general secretaries. It has hosted history-shaking meetings of world leaders and boasts a strategic naval base. And it has been the site of ethnic persecutions, forced deportations and political repression.Now, as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its 18th month, the Crimean Peninsula is again both a playground and a battleground, with drone attacks and bombs seeking to dislodge Moscow’s hold on the territory and bring it back under Kyiv’s authority, no matter how loudly the Kremlin proclaims its ownership.Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to retake the diamond-shaped peninsula that Russia’s Vladimir Putin illegally annexed in 2014.For both presidents, backing off Crimea is hardly an option.Moscow deployed troops and weapons there, allowing Russian forces to quickly seize large parts of southern Ukraine when the war began in 2022. Kyiv says the militarization of Crimea thre...

16 workers killed in the collapse of a crane being used to build a bridge in India

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — A huge crane collapsed at a highway construction site in western India, killing at least 16 workers, the country’s National Disaster Response Force said TuesdayTelevision footage showed the collapsed crane on the ground as rescue workers looked for survivors near the site in Thane, a city just outside Mumbai. At least three people who were injured were rushed to a hospital.Press Trust of India reported the crane is used to install precast box girders while building highway and high-speed rail bridges.Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a message on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.“My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are injured,” his office said in a post.Source

Editorial: Time to act on Mass & Cass

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

The wasteland known as Mass and Cass can’t be allowed to fester like a perpetual sore in the middle of the city forever.The Long Island bridge reconstruction project remains the best solution, but that is years away. So it is time for bold action.Lawmakers have just passed an idea pushed by Hub state Sen. Nick Collins to study the practicality of bringing back a floating hospital in the Harbor. Addicts could be put on the ship to be treated and businesses could get back to work and not be forced to deal with the unsanitary conditions along the Methadone Mile.The FY24 budget entry states: “Not less than $50,000 shall be expended for a studyto be conducted by the Department of Mental Health, in consultation with the naval construction and marine engineering program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on the feasibility of converting a decommissioned ship or other water-based vessel into a floating hospital for mental health, substance use treatment and recovery s...

Taiwan amends laws on sexual harassment after recent #MeToo wave

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan amended three laws governing sexual harassment in a special session of the legislature, after a wave of #MeToo accusations hit the island in June.The changes approved Monday include higher penalties and longer periods for victims to come forward and report an incident to authorities. The changes are an attempt to address the issues raised by the recent accusations of sexual violence in Taiwan.Taiwan has three laws governing sexual harassment: one for the workplace, one for schools and one that covers spheres outside those two domains.Under the workplace law, employers can now be fined up to 1 million New Taiwan Dollars ($31,680) if they fail to address sexual harassment complaints. Employers are also required to report cases to the local division of their labor department. The education law, amended last Friday, explicitly makes it illegal for educators to have a romantic relationship with students under the age of 18. Further, principals and teachers wh...

Toyota’s profits rise 78% on strong sales as the parts crunch eases

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota’s profit for the first fiscal quarter jumped to 1.3 trillion yen ($9 billion) — a quarterly record for Japan’s top automaker — as sales grew and parts shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic eased.Toyota Motor Corp.’s April-June net profit rose 78% from 736.8 billion yen the previous year, the company reported Tuesday. Quarterly sales edged up 24% to 10.5 trillion yen ($74 billion) as vehicle sales improved on-year across major markets, including Japan and North America.The difficulty obtaining computer chips that crimped auto production in recent years has eased, although it’s unclear when that will get totally fixed, according to Toyota. Quarterly sales totaled 2.3 million vehicles, up from 2 million the previous year. Demand for its hybrid models was especially strong. Toyota has long been a leader in hybrids, which switch back and forth between an electric motor and gas engine to deliver higher mileage.The maker of the Prius hybrid, Camry sedan an...

Rockies use Ryan McMahon’s sacrifice fly to score sliding Brenton Doyle, walk off Padres 4-3 in 10th inning in series opener

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

It wasn’t Game 163, but for a Rockies team playing for the future, Monday felt like a flashback and an omen.Colorado beat the Padres 4-3 in 10 innings in Monday’s series opener at Coors Field in a game delayed two hours and twenty minutes by rain that was eventually played in front of a smattering of patient, poncho’d fans.The Rockies got a quality start from southpaw Austin Gomber, wasted it, then rallied to win in the extra frame when Ryan McMahon’s walk-off sacrifice fly brought home Brenton Doyle, who beat Juan Soto’s throw from shallow left field.“It was sort of in slow motion,” Rockies manager Bud Black said of the play. “We saw the ball go up, Brenton tag, the catch, the throw, the convergence. It was a great play for us.”Doyle’s headfirst slide into home was reminiscent of Matt Holliday’s slide to beat the Padres in extra innings of the 2007 National League wild card game, and it dropped the underperforming Pa...

Colorado Rapids exit Leagues Cup in disappointing fashion with 4-1 loss to Mexican side Toluca

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

COMMERCE CITY — The Colorado Rapids’ time in the latest edition of Leagues Cup tournament lasted the minimum: Two games and an early exit.The revamped tournament between teams in Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX squads, which launched last fall and split up the regular season by an entire month mid-summer, was a chance for Colorado to turn around its season. But in the span of the two games — a 2-1 loss last week at Nashville SC and a 4-1 loss Monday versus Toluca at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park — the same issues that have plagued Colorado in 2023 appeared again.The game was delayed by two hours due to lightning in the area. It was the third time in the last 40 days a Colorado home game has been significantly delayed by weather.Colorado came out attacking right away. Given the result of the loss to Nashville SC, the simplest way Colorado would advance to the knockout stages would require a win by two goals. Given the sense of urgency, the Rapids a...

Travelling with pets: Rules to keep in mind 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

Your pet can join you when you go on holiday to another EU country, but there are certain rules to bear in mind. Read on to find out more, Society.Thanks to EU rules on travelling with pets, people are free to move with their furry friend within the EU. Make sure your pet has the following before you leave on holiday:Identification via a registered microchip or a readable tattoo, if applied before 3 July 2011A pet passport proving that they have been vaccinated against rabies and are fit to travelDogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, or Norway must be treated against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapewormIn general you can travel with a maximum of five animals. European pet passports are issued for dogs, cats and ferrets only. If you wish to travel with other pets, you should check the entry conditions of your destination country.Read more about the EU's animal welfare lawsTravelling with your pet Rules for travelling with dogs, cats and ferrets  Animal welfare and protectio...

Aung San Suu Kyi has some of her prison sentences reduced by Myanmar’s military-led government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:22:48 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military-led government has reduced the prison sentences of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a clemency connected to a religious ceremony, state media said Tuesday.Former President Win Myint also had his sentence reduced as part of the clemency granted to more than 7,000 prisoners. Suu Kyi, 78, is serving 33 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of 19 charges her supporters and rights group say were attempts to discredit her and legitimize the 2021 army takeover while preventing her return to politics. Several of her cases are awaiting final appeals.Source