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Jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich arrives at a hearing on extending his detention

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained on espionage charges, arrived at a Moscow court Thursday for a hearing on a motion by the prosecution to extend his arrest. Gershkovich arrived at court in a white prison van and was led handcuffed out of the vehicle wearing jeans, sneakers and a shirt.A 31-year-old United States citizen, Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip to Russia in late March. He and his employer deny the allegations, and the U.S. government declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.The Associated Press

Zimbabwe’s election extends to a second day after long ballot delays. Some slept at polling stations

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Voting is still underway in Zimbabwe, where hourslong delays in distributing ballot papers forced the president to extend the general election by a day at dozens of polling stations.Some frustrated voters slept at polling stations in the capital, Harare, snuggling under blankets or lighting fires to keep warm.President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who seeks a second term, used his presidential powers to extend voting to Thursday night at dozens of polling stations. Ballot papers were still being printed late Wednesday, hours after voting should have closed. At other polling stations, counting of ballots began.Zimbabwe has a history of violent and disputed elections. The 80-year-old Mnangagwa had claimed Zimbabwe to be a “master” of democracy while criticizing Western countries that expressed concern about the credibility of the polls weeks ago.His main challenger, Nelson Chamisa, a 45-year-old lawyer who narrowly lost a disputed election in 2018, has described this el...

China bans seafood from Japan after the Fukushima nuclear plant begins its wastewater release

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

OKUMA, Japan (AP) — The tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant ‘s operator says it began releasing its first batch of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday — a controversial step that prompted China to ban seafood from Japan.In a live video from a control room at the plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings showed a staff member turn on a seawater pump with a click of a mouse, marking the beginning of the controversial project that is expected to last for decades.“Seawater Pump A activated,” the main operator said, confirming the release was underway. TEPCO later confirmed that the seawater pump was activated at 1:03 p.m. (0403 GMT), three minutes after the final step began. TEPCO said an additional wastewater release pump was activated 20 minutes after the first. Plant officials said everything was moving smoothly so far. Japanese fisher groups have opposed the plan for fear it will further damage to the reputation of their seaf...

Wildfires: EU mobilizes five additional rescEU airplanes for Greece as well as more firefighters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

As new devastating wildfires burn in different areas of Greece, the EU is swiftly mobilising additional firefighting resources to aid the ongoing efforts of Greek firefighters. Five rescEU firefighting airplanes stationed in Croatia, Germany and Sweden, and one Blackhawk helicopter, 58 firefighters and nine water tanks from Czechia are on their way to Greece today. This assistance comes in addition to the aerial and ground means from Cyprus and Romania that arrived in Greece on 22 August.Over the last two days, the EU has deployed seven airplanes, one helicopter, 114 firefighters and 19 vehicles to assist Greek firefighters, volunteers and police in fighting the massive wildfires. In addition, the EU Copernicus satellite mapping programme has already produced two maps of the affected areas and two Liaison Officers from the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre are also on their way to Greece.Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič said: "Greece is witnessing an unprecede...

Commission pays a further €1.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

The Commission has paid €1.5 billion under the  Macro-financial Assistance + package for Ukraine worth up to €18bn. With this instrument, the EU seeks to help Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs, with stable, predictable, and sizeable financial support in 2023. With today's payment, Ukraine has so far received €12bn this year under Macro-financial Assistance +.This support will help Ukraine to continue paying wages and pensions, and keep essential public services running, such as hospitals, schools, and housing for relocated people. It will also allow Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia in its war of aggression, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks, roads, and bridges.Today's payment comes after the Commission found on 25 July that Ukraine continued to make satisfactory progress towards implementing the agreed policy conditions and complied with rep...

4 killed in shooting at famous Orange County biker bar; gunman among the dead

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

At least four people were killed and six others were injured Wednesday evening after shots rang out at a historic and popular Orange County biker bar. Among those killed was the suspected gunman, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The shooting happened around 7:05 p.m. at Cook's Corner, located at 19152 Santiago Canyon Rd. in Trabuco Canyon.Multiple people called 911 to report shots fired and deputies from the Sheriff's Department responded to the scene within minutes, according to Undersheriff Jeff Hallock.When deputies arrived, emergency dispatchers reported the sounds of gunshots could be heard on their radios.Authorities responded after several people were shot at Cook's Corner, a biker bar in Trabuco Canyon on August 23, 2023. (KTLA)At an 11 p.m. press conference, Hallock said several deputies entered the property and were confronted by the suspect, who's been identified only as an adult man.A shooting occurred involving multiple deputies and the suspect was f...

Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch for rest of season because of a torn elbow ligament, Angels GM says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch for the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his right elbow, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday night.The Angels don’t yet know whether the major league homers leader and 10-game winner will need surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament for the second time. Ohtani had his first Tommy John surgery in late 2018, following his AL Rookie of the Year season.“A tough day for him,” Minasian said. “Tough day for all of us.”The two-way superstar left the mound abruptly in the second inning of his start against Cincinnati after throwing 26 pitches in the opener of a doubleheader. Ohtani, who hit his 44th homer in the first inning, then insisted on playing in the nightcap even after the tear was discovered while running tests between games.The injury will have a massive effect on baseball’s free agent market this winter with Ohtani headed to free agency. The uniquely valuable AL MVP front-r...

Jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich arrives at a Moscow court for hearing on extending his detention

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich arrives at a Moscow court for hearing on extending his detention.Source

China’s customs authorities ban seafood from Japan after Fukushima nuclear plant starts releasing wastewater

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China’s customs authorities ban seafood from Japan after Fukushima nuclear plant starts releasing wastewater.Source

Ohtani leaves first game early and won’t pitch again this season as Reds sweep 2 from Halos

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani abruptly left the mound in the second with a torn ligament after hitting his major league-leading 44th homer in the first inning during the Los Angeles Angels’ 9-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader. Ohtani won’t pitch for the rest of the season because of the tear in his elbow ligament, Angels GM Perry Minasian announced after the second game. The team doesn’t yet know whether he will need surgery.The Angels got a double blow of terrible injury news: Three-time AL MVP Mike Trout is going back on the injured list for at least 10 days to aid his recovery from surgery on a broken bone in his hand, Minasian said. Trout returned to the Angels’ lineup Tuesday after a seven-week absence, but he didn’t play in the doubleheader after waking up sore.Ohtani doubled and scored as Los Angeles’ designated hitter in the nightcap, choosing to play on even after learning of his torn ligament betwe...