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Russia will monitor Saudi-hosted Ukraine peace talks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

Russia said Monday it will closely follow talks on Ukraine set to take place in Saudi Arabia early next month.Saudi Arabia is planning to host peace talks including Ukraine, Western nations and selected major developing countries in August, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.Russia — which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and continues to pound Ukraine with missile attacks — was not invited to the talks, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow will “follow this meeting,” reported Russian state-owned media outlet RIA Novosti on Monday.“It remains to be fully understood what goals are set and what, in fact, the organizers plan to talk about,” said Peskov, adding that any attempts to promote a peaceful settlement are “worthy of a positive assessment.” Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said there could be no cease-fire while Ukrainian forces are “on the offensive.”The upcoming Saudi-hosted talks, which could bring to...

Billionaire rethinking new UK green investment after Sunak backs ‘failed tech’ carbon capture

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

LONDON — An Australian billionaire says he may step back from investing in U.K. green technologies after the government announced new backing for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.Andrew Forrest, an international investor and climate philanthropist, said U.K. government plans to put billions of pounds into CCS meant “putting Britain’s hopes [on] failed technology.”Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed on Monday that the government would be investing in CCS projects in Northeast Scotland and the Humber. The government has committed to providing up to £20 billion for the “early deployment” of carbon capture technology over the next two decades.Forrest, one of Australia’s wealthiest business people, told POLITICO that he had “deep respect” for Sunak, but described CCS as a climate strategy promoted by the oil and gas industry. It was an industry “just waiting for the next idiot to come along,” Forrest said.Forrest, founder of Australian iron ore mining giant Fortescu...

State, local police investigating after assault reported on Charles River walkway in Waltham

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

Authorities are searching for a suspect after they say a woman was assaulted while walking along the Charles River in Waltham over the weekend.Massachusetts State Police said it was after 8 p.m. on Sunday night when both troopers and Waltham police officers were called to the Charles River Greenway between Newton and Farewell streets.According to MSP spokesperson Dave Procopio, a woman in her 20s reported that she had been walking on a footbridge near the Shaw’s supermarket off of Calvary Street when she heard footsteps, just before someone approached her from behind and attempted to cover her mouth with their hand.The individual then let go and fled after the victim was able to scream and take evasive action, Procopio said.Both MSP units and Waltham police later searched the area, but were not able to locate a suspect.Officials described the individual as being a male in his 30s or 40s, “with tan skin, of average height and with an athletic build,” authorities add...

Orioles reset: Tyler Wells’ demotion might be just the beginning of Baltimore’s workload management | ANALYSIS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

Tyler Wells’ demotion would’ve been unfathomable three weeks ago. Sunday, it was barely a surprise.Wells, the Orioles’ best starting pitcher in the season’s first half, was optioned to Double-A after his third straight poor start Saturday. Since the All-Star break, the 6-foot-8 right-hander has been almost unrecognizable to the reliable starting pitcher who was leading the majors in WHIP.The increasing workload for Wells, who pitched just 163 total frames from 2019 to 2022, has been a question facing the club since he solidified his spot in the rotation and quickly approached his single-season innings high. The Orioles gave their answer Sunday, with manager Brandon Hyde explaining the demotion as a way to give Wells a “breather,” manage his workload and get him back to the consistent starter who was integral to Baltimore’s success in the first half.There’s not much argument over the validity of the Orioles’ decision to option Wel...

Patriots rookie WR returns, Matt Judon limited again at Monday practice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

FOXBORO — Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon and running back Rhamondre Stevenson were again limited at Monday’s practice, the team’s first padded session of training camp.Starting left tackle Trent Brown joined Judon and Stevenson on a separate field for conditioning work after initial stretching. Monday marked Brown’s first practice with limited participation.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bailey Zappe encouraged by TDs in Patriots QB’s best practice of training camp New England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Ezekiel Elliott coveted by Pats playmaker New England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 5: Matt Judon limited, Bailey Zappe and two rookie WRs shine New England Patriots | Kendrick Bourne’s lack of action an early Patriots training camp mystery New England Patriots | Patriots rookie DL Keion White explains early growth in training camp Elsewhe...

Nova Scotia RCMP suspend search for youth missing since severe flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

Nova Scotia RCMP say they have suspended their search for a youth who was among four people swept away on July 22 by rushing floodwaters following a historic storm.Police said today they have temporarily stopped looking for the youth until the remaining water in the search area northwest of Halifax is able to drain.RCMP have said two vehicles were knocked off the road into a hayfield in Brooklyn, N.S., by rapidly rising water during a storm that dumped up to 250 millimetres of rain on parts of the province.Last week, searchers recovered the bodies of two six-year-old children — identified as Natalie Hazel Harnish and Colton Sisco — and 52-year-old Nicholas Holland, who was travelling with the missing youth.RCMP say the search shifted Friday from the hayfield to an area beside it, which is now 85 per cent drained and searched.Police say a search of the shoreline in a neighbouring county was concluded on Sunday.

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts as it heads toward the close of another winning month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are drifting Monday as Wall Street rolls toward the close of another winning month.The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in early trading and on track for a fifth straight month of gains, which would be its longest streak in nearly two years. The index is still close to its highest level in nearly 16 months after rallying on hopes cooling inflation will mean the economy can avoid a long-predicted recession.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was also flipping between modest gains and losses and was up 13 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 10 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was 0.1% lower.To be sure, critics have been saying Wall Street’s seemingly growing consensus for a soft landing for the economy has come too quickly. Several reports this upcoming week could poke holes in the theory that inflation will keep coming down enough for the Federal Reserve to not only stop hiking interest rates but to begin cutting them early next year.High rates undercut inf...

Stellantis, LG begin hiring staff for future Windsor electric vehicle plant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

WINDSOR, Ont. — Stellantis and LG Energy Solutions say they have kicked off hiring for their future Windsor, Ont., electric vehicle battery factory.Their joint venture known as NextStar Energy began recruiting 130 new employees who will form a launch team for the $5 billion plant due to open next year.NextStar says the initial 30 job openings will seek staff to begin and grow operations, while 100 more will form a group of engineers and technicians.The engineers and technicians will begin an international training program in October meant to teach them how to run a large-scale lithium-ion battery plant like existing plants in Poland, China and South Korea.NextStar stopped construction on the plant in May in a bid to get the federal government to match the production incentives the United States would offer under its new Inflation Reduction Act.The automaker reached a new deal in July with Canada and Ontario that will see Stellantis receive performance incentives of up to $15 billion...

Pan American Silver sells $593M in South American assets in trio of deals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

VANCOUVER — Pan American Silver Corp. says it has reached several deals to sell some of its South American assets for a combined US$593 million.The Vancouver-based mining business says it has signed an agreement with Glencore International AG to sell its 56.25 per cent interest in its Mara project located in Catamarca, Argentina.Glencore will pay US$475 million in cash for the stake and will grant Pan American a life-of-mine copper net smelter return royalty of 0.75 per cent.The company has also struck a US$25 million agreement with Peruvian mining company Alpayana S.A. to sell its 92.3 per cent stake in its Compañia Minera Argentum S.A., Pan American’s Peruvian subsidiary which owns a Morococha mine.Pan American’s final deal was reached with Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration Ltd. Agencia en Chile SPA, which will acquire a 57.75 per cent interest in a company with operations in northern Chile.Rio Tinto will pay US$46 million and will grant Pan American a net smelter roy...

Locals vow to keep fighting to save a forest in southwest Turkey after the chainsaws finish work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:59 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Campaigners fighting to protect woodlands earmarked for coal-mining in southwest Turkey on Monday pledged to maintain their fight as tree-felling came to an end.Locals have held a four-year vigil in Akbelen forest to hold off logging that paves the way for a lignite mine near the village of Ikizkoy in Mugla province.Chainsaw teams that arrived to start felling trees a week ago have now finished their work, following violent confrontations between police dispatched to guard the operation and residents.“They massacred our forest,” Nejla Isik, from the Ikizkoy Environment Committee, said at a meeting with lawyers reported by the Duvar newspaper.“They destroyed our trees, which we have been protecting for four years, in eight days. As residents of Ikizkoy, we do not break our promise until the end. We will fight to the last drop.”The protest at Akbelen is the latest stand-off in Turkey between environmentalists and developers uprooting green areas for mines, quarries and...