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Why does Russia want tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

The announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he intends to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus appears to be another attempt to raise the stakes in the conflict in Ukraine.It follows Putin’s warnings that Moscow is ready to use “all available means,” to fend off attacks on Russian territory, a reference to its nuclear arsenal.A look at Putin’s statement and its implications:HOW DID PUTIN EXPLAIN HIS MOVE?Putin said President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has long urged Moscow to station its nuclear weapons in his country, which has close military ties with Russia and was a staging ground for the invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.Russia already has helped modernize Belarusian warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons — something that Belarus’ authoritarian leader has repeatedly mentioned.In remarks broadcast Saturday, Putin said the immediate trigger for the deployment of Russia’s tactical nuclea...

Un gran tiburón blanco de 680 kilos llamado “Breton” está actualmente nadando en la costa de Carolina del Norte

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

(CNN) — A medida que la primavera va tomando las playas de Outer Banks, en Carolina del Norte, es posible encontrar a amigo acuático que fue avistado frente a la costa: se trata de un gran tiburón blanco llamado Breton.Breton es uno de las docenas de tiburones que están siendo rastreados por OCEARCH, un grupo de investigación marina sin fines de lucro que proporciona datos de código abierto sobre la migración de tiburones.Este sábado, el rastreador de Breton hizo “ping” cerca de Pamlico Sound en los Outer Banks de Carolina del Norte. El tiburón macho adulto mide casi cuatro metros de largo y pesa alrededor de 680 kilos, informó OCEARCH.OCEARCH detectó por primera vez a Breton cerca de Nueva Escocia en septiembre de 2020 con un rastreador electrónico, que emite un sonido cada vez que sale a la superficie.Al igual que otros grandes tiburones blancos del Atlántico, parece estar realizando actualmente su migración anual desde los Cayos de Florida hacia el norte hasta C...

Colorado youth violence at 5-year high plateau

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Violent youth crime has been at high plateau for five years, part of an upward swing in violent crime across all age groups. Colorado’s violent, motor vehicle crimes are concentrated in these counties The number of violent crimes has risen more than 50% since 2014, rising every year except 2019. Violent crime spiked in 2020 and reached a 15-year high in 2022.The number of violent crimes committed by people under the age of 18 has stayed consistent since 2018 for every year but 2020. In 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, there were between 3,200 and 3,400 of these crimes. This is a notable uptick from 10 years ago. In 2011, there were 2,230 violent crimes committed by offenders under 18. Violent youth offenders are heavily concentrated in a few counties along Colorado's Front Range.Adams County has the state's largest share of violent youth offenders. In 2022, over 22% of the state's violent youth offenders were in Adams County, which has less than 10% of Colorado's popul...

Florida Atlantic stuns Kansas State to advance to school’s first Final Four

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

(CNN) — No. 9 seed Florida Atlantic stunned No. 3 seed Kansas State 79-76 in the Elite Eight on Saturday to advance to the school’s first Final Four.Both teams got off to a hot start, trading baskets until Owls’ big man Vladislav Goldin made a layup to take the lead 20-18. The Owls would go into half with 42-38 lead.However, the Wildcats came storming back in the second half behind star guard Markquis Nowell’s shooting and playmaking abilities. Kansas State led by as many as five before yet again the Owls came flying back into the game.Behind Alijah Martin’s 17 points, the Owls took back the lead with just over six minutes to play.With 30 seconds to play and down four points, Wildcats guard Cam Carter chucked up a three and made it to cut the game to one point. However, Owls guard Michael Forrest knocked down clutch free throws to help secure the win.Goldin finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May, alongside his team...

Police: Nashville school shooting suspect was former student

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Authorities say they believe the 28-year-old female shooter who killed three children and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville on Monday was a former student.The violence at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school for about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade, marks the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country growing increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.The suspect – who was wielding two “assault-style” rifles and a pistol – also died after being shot by police. Authorities said she was from the Nashville area. Her motive in the attack has not been determined.The killings come as communities around the nation are reeling from a spate of school violence, including the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, last year; a first grader who shot his teacher in Virginia; and a shooting last week in Denver that wounded two administrators.President Joe Biden called on Congre...

Lawrence woman wins $1 million prize after buying $50 scratch ticket in Methuen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

A woman from Lawrence was the winner of a million dollar prize after buying a $50 instant ticket game in neighboring Methuen, according to lottery officials.Marta Soto Burgos, joined by her husband while claiming her prize at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester, opted for the cash option and its one-time payment of $650,000 (before taxes).According to officials, Burgos bought her winning “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” ticket at the Stop Quick Market at 12 Haverhill St. in Methuen, which will receive a bonus of $10,000 for selling the winner.RELATED: Mass. State Lottery unveils first-ever $50 instant ticketThe Billion Dollar Extravaganza game hit stores last month on Feb. 7 as the state’s first-ever $50 instant scratch ticket. It also marked the Massachusetts State Lottery’s 50th anniversary.Ticket prizes include three $25 million prizes and five $2 million prizes that have yet to be claimed. Burgos appears to be the second person to win one of the 1...

Orlando basketball: Sensabaugh eyes NBA; Montverde in GEICO tourney; DP girls in national invitational

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

Brice Sensabaugh, the 2021-22 Orlando area and state player of the year for Lake Highland Prep, announced Saturday that he could be headed to the NBA after one season of college basketball at Ohio State.“After steady thought and consideration, I am excited to announce I have decided to enter my name into the 2023 NBA Draft with the option to return to OSU,” Sensabaugh stated in a social media post.He has not relinquished NCAA eligibility and new rules give Sensabaugh until June 12 to decide which path he will take. That is 10 days ahead of the June 22 NBA Draft.The 6-foot-6, 235-pound freshman forward averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds for an Ohio State team that had a disappointing 16-19 season. Sensabaugh made 40.5% of his 3-point shot attempts (60 of 148).Sensabaugh averaged 25.1 points as a Lake Highland senior and won the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball award.Buddy CollingsMontverde eyes GEICO repeatsMontverde Academy’s boys and girls basketball teams ...

Deal to buy Silicon Valley Bank calms bank fears, for now

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — First Citizens Bank is buying much of Silicon Valley Bank, the tech-focused financial institution whose failure this month set off a chain reaction that helped rattle faith in banks around the world. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and other regulators had already taken extraordinary steps to head off a wider crisis by guaranteeing all depositors in SVB and another failed institution, Signature Bank, could get their money, even if they had more than the $250,000 limit insured by the FDIC.The First Citizens deal announced late Sunday, at least initially, seemed to achieve what regulators have sought: a shoring up of trust in other regional banks across the country. Stock prices strengthened for First Republic, PacWest Bancorp. and other banks that investors have spotlighted as most at risk for a sudden exodus of nervous customers, similar to the run that caused Silicon Valley Bank’s failure. The sale underscores that Si...

Robert Kraft launches $25 million campaign to ‘Stand Up To Jewish Hate’ as anti-Semitic reported incidents spike to record high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

Patriots owner Robert Kraft has launched a $25 million national campaign to fight anti-Semitism as anti-Semitic reported incidents surge to record highs across the region and country.Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism announced its new initiative for all Americans — and especially non-Jews — to #StandUpToJewishHate by using the blue square emoji on social media as a unifying symbol of support.The foundation noted that Jews only make up 2.4% of the American population, but they’re the victims of 55% of religious-based hate crimes. That disturbing discrepancy is the cornerstone of this new campaign — in which the blue square emoji will take up 2.4% of TV and digital screens, billboards and social feeds to call attention to the disparity.“The #StandUpToJewishHate campaign is designed to raise awareness for the fight against antisemitism, specifically among non-Jewish audiences and to help all Americans understand that there is a role for each ...

Trump ‘hush money’ grand jury reconvenes in Manhattan as anticipation builds over possible indictment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:37 GMT

Molly Crane-Newman | (TNS) New York Daily NewsNEW YORK — The Manhattan grand jury hearing about former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” payment to porn star Stormy Daniels returned to court Monday, a law enforcement source told the Daily News.The grand jury, which usually starts the day at 2 p.m., was in the building by 1 p.m., the source said. It was unclear whether prosecutors intended to call more witnesses or ask the panel to vote on an indictment against Trump.Scores of reporters and photographers had the DA’s office surrounded as anticipation continued to build that Trump is about to become the first current or former U.S. president in history to face criminal charges.Stormy Daniels attends the Los Angeles Premiere Of Neon’s “Pleasure” at Linwood Dunn Theater on May 11, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images/TNS)The week before last, Michael Cohen testified for the first time before the grand jury impaneled in January after meeting with pros...