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Oh boy! Men to compete in artistic swimming — formerly called synchro — at Paris Olympics

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Snicker if you wish. Guffaw for good measure. Bill May and other male synchronized swimmers — now called artistic swimmers — have heard the putdowns before.But they’re getting the last laugh.Men have competed in synchro at the lower levels for decades. Now they’re being included in the Olympics, meaning next year’s Summer Games in Paris.“I think it’s a huge opportunity for the sport to grow and attract more men,” May told the Associated Press at the World Aquatics Championships. “By keeping men out you’re limiting the sport. By including men you’re going to see an upshift in the popularity and the numbers.”May looks like a lean bodybuilder. He was among the first men to compete when synchro was included in the worlds for the first time in 2015. And he worked for 17 years at Cirque du Soleil doing water-themed shows. He has come out of competitive retirement for a chance to compete at the Olympics.“There has always been ...

This week in business: retail sales, Netflix earnings, home sales

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

RETAIL BELLWEATHERThe Commerce Department releases U.S. retail sales figures for June on Tuesday.Analysts expect that sales jumped 0.5% last month from a modest gain of 0.3% in May. Last month’s increase suggested a still-resilient consumer, though retail sales have been bumpy this year after surging nearly 3% in January. Sales tumbled in February and March but have recovered since.Retail sales, monthly percent change, seasonally adjusted:Jan.: 2.8Feb.: -0.7March -0.9April 0.4May: 0.3June (est.): 0.5Source: FactSetNETFLIX RESULTSHome streaming entertainment company Netflix will report its second-quarter results after the bell Wednesday.Analysts are forecasting that California-based Netflix added another 1.8 million paid subscribers in the period, after adding a surprising 1.75 million in the previous quarter. It was a strong start to the year for Netflix, which had been seeing some erosion in its subscriber base. Analysts are forecasting that Netflix earned $2.85 per share in the se...

Los incendios forestales de Canadá ponen a casi 60 millones de residentes de EE.UU. bajo alertas de calidad del aire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

(CNN) — El humo de los incendios forestales canadienses continúa plagando los Estados Unidos, lo que provocó alertas de calidad del aire en al menos 11 estados en la región norte de las Llanuras, el Medio Oeste y los Grandes Lagos este domingo.Desde Montana hasta Ohio, los meteorólogos predijeron que casi 60 millones de personas verían una visibilidad reducida y una mala calidad del aire, incluidos los residentes de Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Cedar Rapids y Cleveland.Una gran franja de las llanuras del norte desde Montana hasta Illinois tenía un índice de calidad del aire en el rango “no saludable”, que es el nivel 4 de 6, este domingo.“Si bien la concentración de humo en la atmósfera debería comenzar a disminuir este lunes, todavía hay suficiente humo para mantener una calidad del aire insalubre que no es saludable para los grupos sensibles en partes de estas regiones al comienzo de la próxima semana”, según el Centro de Predicción del Clima del Servicio Meteoro...

What to stream this week: Steph Curry doc, Greta Van Fleet, ‘Justified’ returns and ‘Minx’ survives

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

A documentary on Apple TV+ that chronicles the atypical path Stephen Curry took to becoming a basketball legend plus new tunes from the rock band Greta Van Fleet are among the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.Among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are Laura McGann’s documentary “The Deepest Breath” which plunges into the world of free diving and Starz has given the workplace comedy “Minx” a new home and a berth for season two.NEW MOVIES TO STREAM— Laura McGann’s documentary “The Deepest Breath” plunges into the world of free diving, a sometimes deadly sport in which divers descend into watery depths with only a nose plug to defend from fluctuations in air pressure. The film, which made a well-reviewed debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January, premieres Wednesday on Netflix. It’s an immersive descent into a silent underwater realm and the risk-takers compelled to sink themselves...

Blasts reported on key bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

Traffic on the strategic Kerch bridge that connects occupied Crimea with Russia was brought to a halt in the early hours of Monday morning after what Kremlin-installed officials called an “emergency” and amid reports of explosions.The bridge, which provides a crucial overland supply route for troops, weapons and fuel to support Russia’s forces in southern Ukraine, is important both practically and symbolically to President Vladimir Putin, who opened it personally in 2018. The bridge was the target of an attack during Ukraine’s counteroffensive last October.Ukraine’s security services published a cryptic poem in which it appeared to claim responsibility for Monday’s incident. “Nightingale, my dear brother; The bridge has gone to sleep again; Once … twice!” the SBU wrote, adding: “P.S. The music is folk. The words are by the Security Service of Ukraine.”Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar recently acknowledged Kyiv’s forces ...

In India, G20 finance chiefs set to address global challenges like climate change and rising debt

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations meeting in India on Monday are poised to address critical global economic challenges, including the threats posed by climate change and rising debt among low-income countries.Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the two countries were working together to further the G20 agenda. They spoke after holding talks on the sidelines of the summit, a sign of the importance of their countries’ relationship at a time of tension with China.“The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy and to support developing countries,” Yellen said ahead of the meetings in Gandhinagar, a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Sitharaman said a priority for the G20 and India, which is hosting the summit this year, is strengthening global development banks and reaching a consens...

EU and Latin American leaders hold a summit hoping to rekindle relationship with long-lost friends

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Leaders from the European Union and Latin America are gathering for a major summit of long-lost relatives starting on Monday. Whether it will be a joyful meeting of long-lost friends remains to be seen.Their last such encounter was eight years ago. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic and Brazil’s three-year departure from the 33-nation Community of Latin American and Caribbean States — or CELAC — had made the Atlantic Ocean separating the two sides seem wider. And division ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine to trade, deforestation and slavery reparations has given extra spice to a two-day summit that will now already be considered a success if all agree to meet more frequently from now on.The 27-nation EU certainly takes it share of the blame for the estrangement. “For too many years, Europe has been turning its back on what is, without a doubt, by far the most Euro-compatible region on the planet,” said Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares of Spain...

Wildfire Smoke dissipates. Nice Beach Weather. Heat scorches Europe, Geomagnetic Storm Watch and NOAA Launches New Hurricane Forecast Model

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

Blue skies return to ChicagoWe'll start to see bluer skies Monday. Canadian wildfire smoke will keep skies hazy early morning, but smoke is expected to gradually disperse as a cold front continues its trek south through the region. By the afternoon, the Chicago area should see more blue skies and the air quality is likely to greatly improve.A Nice Day For The BeachSunshine, comfortable temperatures and zero chance of rain make for a good time at the beach. Be sure to wear sunscreen.Heat Exacerbates Risk of Forest Fires in Spain. Greece closes tourist attractions, while Red Alerts are issued across Italy. Current Heat Wave Follows Last Summer's Deadly record HeatMeteorologists in Spain warned of the risk of forest fires as the heat intensifies with temperatures reaching 111°F in southern regions of the country. Greece shut down popular tourist attractions advising people to stay out of the heat. Last summer Europe experienced the hottest summer on record with more than 60,000 heat-re...

Zelenskyy warns of Russian efforts to halt Kyiv's troops, general notes advances in south

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (pictured) warned Ukrainians that Russia was throwing all its resources into a campaign to stop Kyiv's troops from pressing their counter offensive and a top general reported new progress on the southern front.But Ukrainian military analysts suggested that things were not easy for Ukrainian forces in their bid to advance southward.Ukraine has launched a counter offensive to take back swathes of land in eastern and southern Ukraine captured by Russian forces in their invasion launched in February 2022.It has focused on capturing villages in the southeast in a drive towards the Sea of Azov and areas near the eastern city of Bakhmut, taken by Russian forces in May after months of battles.Russian accounts said its forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks in eastern Donetsk region, including around Bakhmut."We must all understand very clearly, as clearly as possible, that Russian forces in our southern and eastern lands are doing everything they can in order to...

Angelenos hit the parks to beat the heat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:48:27 GMT

Amid sizzling temperatures blanketing Southern California during an ongoing heatwave, residents across the region are doing their best to stay cool and beat the heat.  The National Weather Service reported two record high temps for Sunday, with Lancaster hitting 110 degrees, which broke the record of 109 degrees set in 1960. In Sandberg, a high of 99 degrees beat the record of 98 set in 1998. Several daily high temperature records were also set on Saturday.  Northridge residents Dorothy and Steve Rumph made their way out to Balboa Park on Sunday to take a stroll and enjoy the scenery.  “We were lucky enough to be under a cabana, so that was good, and we just met a group of friends, a big bike riding group,” Dorothy told KTLA.  Experts warn that heat-related illnesses can creep up on people if they’re not prepared for the triple-digit temperatures. When it gets this hot, officials say it’s important to play it safe, stay hydrated and seek out shade if at all possi...