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Today in History: July 31, Bill Russell and Nichelle Nichols die on same day

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

Today in HistoryToday is Monday, July 31, the 212th day of 2023. There are 153 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On July 31, 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, was made a major-general in the American Continental Army.On this date: In 1715, a fleet of Spanish ships carrying gold, silver and jewelry sank during a hurricane off the east Florida coast; of some 2,500 crew members, more than 1,000 died. In 1919, Germany’s Weimar Constitution was adopted by the republic’s National Assembly. In 1945, Pierre Laval, premier of the pro-Nazi Vichy government in France, surrendered to U.S. authorities in Austria; he was turned over to France, which later tried and executed him. In 1953, Sen. Robert A. Taft of Ohio, known as “Mr. Republican,” died in New York at age 63.In 1957, the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations designed to detect Soviet bombers approaching North America, went into operation.In 1...

The Women’s World Cup has produced some big moments. These are some of the highlights & lowlights

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — The Women’s World Cup is taking shape with shocks and highlights as it nears the end of the group stage. Some players have established themselves as ones to watch, like Colombia star Linda Caicedo, who has made her team one of the tournament surprises. Colombia picked up an upset win over Germany, and Nigeria upset co-host Australia — just two of the games that showed the gap has closed at top level women’s soccer.But co-host New Zealand was eliminated, and other big teams are in danger of not advancing headed into the final few days of group play. The Associated Press takes a look at some of the highlights and lowlights so far: GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENTThere have been a number of contenders and Bia Zaneratto’s strike against Panama after a sweeping move from Brazil stands out as the most complete goal so far. Ireland’s Katie McCabe scored directly from a corner kick against Canada, and England’s Lauren James curled in a long range effort against D...

Rishi Sunak to green-light hundreds of new oil and gas licenses in North Sea

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

LONDON — The U.K. will grant hundreds of new oil and gas licenses for the North Sea as Rishi Sunak’s government continues to lean on fossil fuels as part of its energy strategy.The U.K. prime minister said on Monday that approving the new licenses would “bolster” energy security and create jobs, as well as build space for carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) projects — but his plans drew immediate warnings from green groups.The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) is expected to grant the first license in the fall, with over 100 set to be approved in total.“Even when we’ve reached net-zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas,” Sunak said in a statement announcing the plans. “But there are those who would rather that it come from hostile states than from the supplies we have here at home.”The government also committed to backing two new CCUS projects.The prime minister is visiting Aberdeenshire on Monday, where he will flesh out plans for the n...

Ukraine says Russian missiles hit another apartment building and likely trapped people under rubble

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian missiles slammed into the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing at least one person and likely trapping others beneath rubble, an official said Monday.The two missiles struck an apartment building, destroying a section of it between the fourth and ninth floors, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said, and a university building. Ten people were wounded, he said.Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region and has seldom been targeted by the Kremlin’s forces since the war began in February 2022.But bombardment with missiles, artillery and drones has been a hallmark of Moscow’s tactics since the full-scale invasion, with some aerial attacks hitting civilian areas. Russian officials insist they only take aim at legitimate military targets.That approach has continued during Kyiv’s recently launched counteroffensive that is trying to drive Russian forces out of occupied areas.Commenting on the attack, Uk...

Stock market today: European shares open mixed after Asia rallies on hopes for Chinese stimulus

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mixed in Europe after most Asian markets logged gains Monday on hopes for more stimulus from Beijing for the sluggish Chinese economy. Worries over China’s slowdown have tempered optimism recently over the possibility that inflation is cooling enough to get the Federal Reserve to stop hiking interest rates.Adding to pressure on the ruling Communist Party to reverse an economic slowdown, Chinese factory activity contracted in July as export orders shrank, a survey showed, A purchasing managers’ index issued by the national statistics agency and an industry group improved to 49.3 from June’s 49 on a 100-point scale but was below the 50-point level that shows activity contracting.“The PMI surveys suggest that China’s economic recovery continued to lose momentum in July,” Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics said in a commentary. “Looking forward, policy support is needed to prevent China’s economy from slipping into a recession, not least because...

EU leader warns Europe won’t tolerate aggression: ‘Not in Ukraine, not in the Indo-Pacific’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Monday that Europe won’t tolerate aggression in Ukraine or the Indo-Pacific as she reaffirmed the EU’s recognition of a 2016 arbitration decision that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea.Von der Leyen spoke at a joint news conference with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after holding talks in Manila that aimed to bolster trade, economic and security relations. The leaders announced the 27-nation bloc would resume negotiations with the Philippines for a free-trade agreement that stalled in 2017 under Marcos’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.She stressed the need for security cooperation, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which she said shows how authoritarian leaders “are willing to act on their threats.”“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine shakes the foundation of the international order. It is in violation of the U.N...

As the pope heads to Portugal, he’s laying the groundwork for the church’s future and his own legacy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — When Pope Francis made the first foreign trip of his papacy, to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day in 2013, he urged young people to make a “mess” in their local churches, to shake things up even if it ruffled the feathers of their bishops.As he embarks this week on another edition of World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal, Francis in many ways has taken his own advice to heart. After 10 years as pope, Francis is accelerating his reform agenda and making revolutionary changes in personnel and policy that are definitely shaking things up.Unencumbered by the shadow of Pope Benedict XVI, who died seven months ago, and despite recovering from a second intestinal surgery in as many years, the 86-year-old Francis is opening a frenetic second half of the year with his Portugal visit. He seems aware that he has a limited sweet spot of time to solidify the changes he believes are necessary for the 21st century church, and is looking to the next generation of faithful and le...

In the news today: Canada at Women’s World Cup, new B.C. port strike deal

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Women’s World Cup future on the line for CanadaCanada’s future at the FIFA Women’s World Cup is on the line today Down Under.The seventh-ranked Canadians take on No. 10-ranked Australia in Melbourne in the final round of Group B play at the 32-team tournament.A win or draw and Olympic champion Canada advances to the knockout round of 16. The co-host Australians need a win to be certain of moving on.New tentative deal in B.C. port disputeA late-night breakthrough could herald an end to British Columbia’s long-running port dispute, with the longshore workers’ union and the employers’ association announcing a new tentative agreement.Details of the deal haven’t been released, but both sides say in a joint statement issued Sunday night that they are recommending their members to ratify it.The International Longshore and Ware...

‘Why not?’: Former Broncos player has sights set on Paralympic wheelchair basketball

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

CALGARY — Ryan Straschnitzki’s Paralympic dreams haven’t fizzled, but his path to the international stage could take him from the ice to the hardwood. The 24-year-old from Airdrie, Alta., was paralyzed from the chest down in 2018 when a semi-trailer ran a stop sign and barrelled into the path of the Humboldt Broncos’ bus in rural Saskatchewan. Sixteen people died and 13 were seriously injured. Since the crash, Straschnitzki has played on Alberta’s para hockey team and has been training with the Paralympic development team. However, his Paralympic hockey goals have hit a bump in the road.“In the past conversations I’ve had with management within that program, it’s not looking good, but all I can do is train and work hard,” he said in an interview.Straschnitzki said he’s hoping to get an invitation to try out for Canada’s Paralympic hockey team in September. “But that’s completely out of my control,” he said. What...

Breakthrough in B.C. port dispute as new tentative deal is reached

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:22:26 GMT

VANCOUVER — A late-night breakthrough could herald an end to British Columbia’s long-running port dispute, with the longshore workers’ union and the employers’ association announcing a new tentative agreement.Details of the deal haven’t been released, but both sides say in a joint statement issued Sunday night that they are recommending their members to ratify it.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the BC Maritime Employers Association say the new tentative deal was reached with the assistance of the Canada Industrial Relations Board.The dispute, which saw workers walk off the job at more than 30 port terminals and other sites for 13 days at the beginning of July, entered a new phase late Friday night when members of the union rejected a previous potential agreement with employers.Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan announced Saturday he was directing the industrial relations board to determine if a negotiated end to the dispute was st...