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Expect a hot, smoky summer in much of America. Here’s why you’d better get used to it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

The only break much of America can hope for anytime soon from eye-watering dangerous smok e from fire-struck Canada is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from a southern heat wave that has already proven deadly, forecasters say.And then the smoke will likely come back to the Midwest and East.That’s because neither the 235 out-of-control Canadian wildfires nor the stuck weather pattern that’s responsible for this mess of meteorological maladies are showing signs of relenting for the next week or longer, according to meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center. First, the stuck weather pattern made abnormally hot and dry conditions for Canada to burn at off-the-chart record levels. Then it created a setup where the only relief comes when low pressure systems roll through, which means areas on one side get smoky air from the north and the other gets sweltering air from the south. Smoke or heat. “Pick you...

Boris Johnson’s allies tried to stymie probe into his partygate lies, UK lawmakers say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A committee of British lawmakers on Thursday slammed allies of Boris Johnson in Parliament for trying to interfere with their investigation into whether the former prime minister lied about rule-flouting parties in his office during the coronavirus pandemic.The House of Commons Privileges Committee said senior Conservatives, including past Cabinet ministers under Johnson, “took it upon themselves to undermine procedures of the House of Commons.”It said Johnson allies — including former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and ex-House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg — mounted “vociferous attacks” on the committee on social media, radio and television. The forums for the attacks included shows hosted by Dorries and Rees-Mogg themselves on a right-wing news channel, the panel said.They and several other legislators called the ethics probe into Johnson a “kangaroo court,” a “witch hunt” and a miscarriage of justice – echoing language used by the embattled former prime minis...

US guitar maker Fender opens flagship store in Tokyo banking on regional growth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Fender, the guitar of choice for some of the world’s biggest stars from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton, is opening what it calls its “first flagship store” in its 77-year history.The American guitar manufacturer has chosen for its location Tokyo’s Harajuku, a hot spot for Japanese youngsters who love animation, outlandish fashion and, of course, American music. The store was unveiled to reporters Thursday ahead of its official opening Friday. Asia-Pacific is on track to become the biggest music market in the world by 2030, and more stores are planned for the region, Fender says. The company’s revenue in Japan has recorded double-digit percentage growth each year since 2015.“I’ve played various brands, but what I like about the Fender is its power to help you play at more than 100% of your ability, letting you become aware of your potential and take up new challenges,” said Erino Yumiki, a guitarist, songwriter and one of the world’s many Fender artists.“Sometimes mu...

125 Sudanese army soldiers held by paramilitary force are freed, Red Cross says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday it had facilitated the release of 125 Sudanese army soldiers held captive by the country’s rival paramilitary force.The soldiers walked free on Wednesday, the ICRC said, as the violent conflict between the army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, enters its 11th week. Fighting between the rival forces broke out on April 15 and has killed more than 3,000 people, the country’s Health Ministry said. Over 2.5 million people have been displaced, according to the latest U.N. figures.The freed men — 44 of whom were wounded — were transported from the capital, Khartoum, to the city of Wad Madani, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the south, the ICRC said in a short statement. It remains unclear where the 125 men were being held.“This positive step means that families will be celebrating Eid-al Adha with their loved ones,” said Jea...

Finance ministers of Japan and South Korea agree to resume currency swap agreement as ties warm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and South Korea agreed Thursday to revive a currency swap agreement for times of crisis, in the latest sign of warming ties as the countries work to smooth over historical antagonisms.Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki announced the agreement after meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Choo Kyungho. It was the first time the two countries have held annual financial talks in seven years, though Suzuki and Choo also met in South Korea in May.Suzuki told reporters that the 3-year currency swap agreement would help reinforce trust in the financial stability of the two countries as a fallback in an emergency. But he emphasized that Japan is fully prepared to deal with fluctuations in the Japanese yen, which has weakened sharply against the U.S. dollar in the past year. The $10 billion swap arrangement expired in 2015 and had not been renewed. Largely symbolic, it allows the South Korean and Japanese central banks to exchange currencies for each country̵...

Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán throws 24th perfect game in MLB history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Since arriving in the big leagues six years ago, Domingo Germán has been anything but perfect.Until now.The New York Yankees right-hander pitched the 24th perfect game in major league history Wednesday night, retiring every Oakland batter in an 11-0 victory over the Athletics.It was the first perfect game since Seattle Mariners ace Félix Hernández threw one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15, 2012. There were three that season — but none since until Germán finished off the first no-hitter in the majors this year.He joined Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998) and David Cone (1999) as Yankees to pitch perfect games. Larsen’s gem came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.“So exciting,” Germán said through a translator. “When you think about something very unique in baseball, not many people have an opportunity to pitch a perfect game. To accomplish something like this in my career is something that I’m going to remember forever.”Com...

ValleyCats' Carson McCusker signs with Twins; team falls to Boomers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In Carson McCusker's final at-bat of Tuesday's 16-9, shootout win over the Schaumburg Boomers, he fittingly hit his second home run of the game. Little did he know...that'd be his final at-bat as a Tri-City ValleyCat. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The 25-year-old outfielder had his contract purchased by the Minnesota Twins Wednesday afternoon, bringing an end to a successful three seasons in the capital region. This year was shaping up to be McCusker's best yet. He was leading the Frontier League in batting average, hitting .433. He was also tops in the league in runs batted in with 51, and second in home runs with 17. As gaudy as those numbers are, and as deserving of an opportunity with an MLB organization as he's been, the news still caught McCusker off-guard."I heard probably an hour (after) being at the field today," said McCusker. "Pete (Incaviglia) came in and announced it. Honestly, I was sh...

East Europe NATO allies say Wagner troops in Belarus spell trouble

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

Eastern European NATO countries on Tuesday (27 June) warned that a move of Wagner's Russian mercenary troops to Belarus would create greater regional instability, but NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is ready to defend itself against any threat."If Wagner deploys its serial killers in Belarus, all neighbouring countries face even bigger danger of instability," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said after a meeting in The Hague with Stoltenberg and government leaders from six other NATO allies."This is really serious and very concerning, and we have to make very strong decisions. It requires a very, very tough answer of NATO," Polish President Andrzej Duda added.Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin arrived in Belarus on Tuesday under a deal negotiated by President Alexander Lukashenko that ended the mercenaries' mutiny in Russia on Saturday.Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wagner's fighters would be offered the choice of relocating there.NATO's Stoltenberg s...

Horoscopes June 29, 2023: Camila Mendes, don’t take health or love for granted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Camila Mendes, 29; Nicole Scherzinger, 45; Melora Hardin, 56; Gary Busey, 79.Happy Birthday: Live and learn. Practice what you preach, and be true to yourself and honest with others. Focus on discipline, accomplishment and adjusting to your circumstances this year. Rely on your experience and the connections you nurture; the result will not disappoint. Embrace something that makes you strive to be at your best. Don’t take health or love for granted. Your numbers are 9, 17, 24, 33, 35, 41, 47.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Communication is mandatory. Don’t guess when all you must do is ask. Get your facts straight and act on your behalf. The more information you have, the broader your vision and the greater your chance to succeed. Trust in yourself to do what’s best. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results. Reach out to those you can count on to pitch in and help without supervision. A chan...

Ask Amy: He’s refusing to hand over the big gift the bride was counting on

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:19 GMT

Dear Amy: Four months before my daughter’s wedding, she told me that her uncle (my brother, “Dave”) would make her feel unsafe if he was a guest. She asked me not to invite him.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I’m unhappily single, and I’m hurt by what my co-workers say Advice | Ask Amy: When she called him, he denied even having a daughter Advice | Ask Amy: I can’t stop thinking about the wonderful life that I lost Advice | Ask Amy: This is the update that I found most moving Advice | Ask Amy: I took the online advice to dump my boyfriend, and here’s what happened then My daughter is very politically progressive, as are many of her friends, and although she and Dave have always had a good relationship (I thought), he is a conservative voter and has supported candidates we all abhor.Dave has always been very nice, so my daughter’s request surprised me.I wrote Dave a very nice not...