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Climate change keeps making wildfires and smoke worse. Scientists call it the ‘new abnormal’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

It was a smell that invoked a memory. Both for Emily Kuchlbauer in North Carolina and Ryan Bomba in Chicago. It was smoke from wildfires, the odor of an increasingly hot and occasionally on-fire world.Kuchlbauer had flashbacks to the surprise of soot coating her car three years ago when she was a recent college graduate in San Diego. Bomba had deja vu from San Francisco, where the air was so thick with smoke people had to mask up. They figured they left wildfire worries behind in California, but a Canada that’s burning from sea to warming sea brought one of the more visceral effects of climate change home to places that once seemed immune.“It’s been very apocalyptic feeling, because in California the dialogue is like, ‘Oh, it’s normal. This is just what happens on the West Coast,’ but it’s very much not normal here,” Kuchlbauer said.As Earth’s climate continues to change from heat-trapping gases spewed into the air, ever fewer people are out of reach from the billowing a...

Why social media is being blamed for fueling riots in France

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

Social media companies are once again under scrutiny, this time in France as the country’s president blames TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms for helping fuel widespread riots over the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old driver. On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron accused social media of playing a “considerable role” in encouraging copycat acts of violence as the country tries to tamp down protests that surfaced long-simmering tensions between police and young people in the country. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said police made 917 arrests on Thursday alone. More than 300 police officers have also been injured attempting to quell the rioting over the death of the teenager, who is of north African descent and has only has been identified by his first name, Nahel.Macron, who in tandem castigated video games for the rioting, said the French government would work with social media sites to take down “the most sensitive content” and identify users who “call for ...

Pakistani security forces kill 6 militants in separate raids near the border with Afghanistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s military says security forces have raided two militant hideouts in regions near the border with Afghanistan, triggering intense shootouts that left six insurgents dead during the Eid holidays.A military statement said the two raids were conducted early Friday in Tank and North Waziristan districts on credible intelligence information about intrusion and hiding of militants in the areas near the border with Afghanistan. Security forces also seized weapons and ammunition from the hideout and were carrying out a clearance operation of the area, the military said late Friday.The military gave no further details about the identity or affiliation of the six dead, but largely militants belong to factions of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is generally known as Pakistani Taliban.TTP is a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in the neighboring country in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their...

Sri Lanka’s parliament to vote on debt restructuring plan amid economic crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s parliament will vote on a proposal to restructure staggering domestic debt in a special session on Saturday as the country struggles with an unprecedented economic crisis.Sri Lanka’s total debt has exceeded $83 billion, of which $41.5 billion is foreign and $42.1 billion is domestic. The proposed restructuring plan is part of the prerequisites of a bailout package approved by the International Monterey Fund — which has described Sri Lanka’s debt as unsustainable — to help alleviate the country’s humanitarian crisis.Under the proposed domestic debt restructuring program, the bulk of the debt will be shared by the Central Bank and superannuation funds from which the government already borrowed money, while national banks will be spared because of possible negative ramifications on deposits, according to top government officials.Central Bank governor, Nandalal Weerasinghe, previously said the treasury bills owned by the bank would be converte...

Washington visits Dallas following Ogunbowale’s 23-point performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

Washington Mystics (9-5, 5-5 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (7-8, 5-4 Western Conference)Arlington, Texas; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Dallas faces the Washington Mystics after Arike Ogunbowale scored 23 points in the Dallas Wings’ 77-62 win against the Phoenix Mercury.The Wings are 5-2 on their home court. Dallas ranks seventh in the WNBA with 26.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Satou Sabally averaging 7.3.The Mystics are 4-4 on the road. Washington ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 28.1 defensive rebounds per game led by Shakira Austin averaging 6.2.The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Mystics defeated the Wings 75-74 in their last matchup on June 2. Elena Delle Donne led the Mystics with 23 points, and Ogunbowale led the Wings with 18 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Sabally is shooting 41.3% and averaging 18.6 points for the Wings.Delle Donne is averaging 18.6 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Mystics.LAST 10 GAMES: Wings: 4-6, averaging 82...

New York visits Seattle after Loyd’s 41-point outing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

New York Liberty (10-4, 7-3 Eastern Conference) at Seattle Storm (4-11, 4-6 Western Conference)Seattle; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Seattle hosts the New York Liberty after Jewell Loyd scored 41 points in the Seattle Storm’s 99-97 overtime loss to the Minnesota Lynx.The Storm have gone 2-8 at home. Seattle has a 2-8 record against teams above .500.The Liberty are 5-2 on the road. New York leads the WNBA with 23.8 assists per game led by Courtney Vandersloot averaging 8.4.The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last matchup on May 31 the Liberty won 86-78 led by 25 points from Breanna Stewart, while Loyd scored 26 points for the Storm.TOP PERFORMERS: Loyd is scoring 25.7 points per game and averaging 4.8 rebounds for the Storm.Stewart is averaging 22.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks for the Liberty.LAST 10 GAMES: Storm: 3-7, averaging 82.0 points, 33.2 rebounds, 18.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 40.8%...

Chicago visits Indiana on 4-game road slide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

Chicago Sky (6-9, 2-7 Eastern Conference) at Indiana Fever (5-10, 3-5 Eastern Conference)Indianapolis; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Chicago will attempt to break its four-game road losing streak when the Sky play Indiana.The Fever are 3-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana ranks ninth in the league averaging 6.5 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 32.3% from downtown. Kelsey Mitchell leads the team averaging 2.5 makes while shooting 38.4% from 3-point range.The Sky have gone 2-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. Chicago ranks fifth in the WNBA giving up 81.1 points while holding opponents to 44.2% shooting.The teams meet for the third time this season. The Fever won 92-90 in the last matchup on June 16.TOP PERFORMERS: Aliyah Boston is averaging 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Fever.Courtney Williams is averaging 8.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Sky.LAST 10 GAMES: Fever: 4-6, averaging 84.0 points, 35.6 rebounds, 18.7 assists, 5.0...

Atlanta and Los Angeles meet for non-conference matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks (7-8, 6-6 Western Conference) at Atlanta Dream (5-8, 5-5 Eastern Conference)College Park, Georgia; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles heads to Atlanta for a non-conference matchup.The Dream have gone 2-5 in home games. Atlanta has a 1-5 record in games decided by 10 or more points.The Sparks have gone 2-5 away from home. Los Angeles ranks fifth in the WNBA scoring 36.9 points per game in the paint led by Nneka Ogwumike averaging 10.6.The teams meet Sunday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Cheyenne Parker is shooting 50.0% and averaging 16.1 points for the Dream.Ogwumike is averaging 19.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals for the Sparks.LAST 10 GAMES: Dream: 4-6, averaging 84.7 points, 36.1 rebounds, 18.1 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 91.7 points per game.Sparks: 4-6, averaging 74.4 points, 32.7 rebounds, 18.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 2.7 blocks per g...

Yankees minor league manager Rachel Balkovec ejected from game by female umpire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — In some ways, it was a typical argument between a minor league manager and an umpire.In another, nothing ordinary at all.Rachel Balkovec, skipper of the New York Yankees’ affiliate in the Florida State League, was ejected Friday night for the first time this season. And the ump who threw her out of the game is also a woman.A disputed call at first base — and a sign of some changing times in professional baseball. With her Class A Tampa Tarpons trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning against the Daytona Tortugas, a Cincinnati Reds farm team, Balkovec thought the Daytona first baseman’s foot came off the bag on a double play.Balkovec argued the out call and was tossed by field umpire Isabella Robb before a crowd of 791 at George M. Steinbrenner Field. In the low minors, games are often officiated by only two umps: one behind the plate and the other in the field.Not long after Balkovec was ejected, Tampa rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 4...

West to Putin: We hate you. Don’t go.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

The recent attempted mutiny in Russia proved that no matter how much many world leaders hate Vladimir Putin, they don’t want the Russian president suddenly ousted.The instability that could follow isn’t worth the risk.The possibility of post-Putin chaos in Russia is one key factor many countries — from adversaries such as the United States to Russia partners such as China — considered as they calibrated their reactions to mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s armed rebellion against Moscow.It’s a tricky calculation, especially for the United States.The Biden administration has taken many steps, including imposing economic sanctions, that arguably are weakening Putin in the wake of his war on Ukraine. But Washington has repeatedly insisted it does not back regime change in Russia, a fellow nuclear power.At the moment, the lack of a clear successor, or the possibility of a violent warlord such as Prigozhin taking charge, leaves too many uncomfortable variables to openly root for a...