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Environment Canada warns of poor air quality for GTA due to wildfire smoke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

A special air quality statement remains in effect for the GTA and much of Southern Ontario as wildfire smoke blankets the region.Environment Canada is warning that the high levels of air pollution can prove harmful to people’s health and is advising residents take steps to reduce their exposure. The smoke is a result of forest fires burning in the eastern part of the province as well as fires in Quebec.“Stop outdoor activities and contact your health care provider if you or someone in your care experiences shortness of breath, wheezing, severe cough, dizziness or chest pains,” reads the air quality statement. “Stay inside if you are feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms.”“People with lung disease or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke.”Special Air Quality Statement continues for a large portion of southern Ontario to...

Norway climber sets new goal to scale all 14 tallest peaks within 3 months

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A Norwegian who is aiming to be the fastest climber to scale all the world’s 14 highest mountains said Tuesday that she can achieve her goal in half the time she initially planned. Kristin Harila, on return to Nepal’s capital from the mountains on Tuesday, said she is setting a new target of scaling the peaks in three months, having already climbed eight of them in 40 days. She is attempting to beat the 2019 record set by a male climber, who did in little more six months. Harila, 37, is yet to climb Mount Manaslu in Nepal, which she hopes to do in the next few days, and then the five remaining peaks in Pakistan, including K2, the second highest in the world. She also reached K2 last year. “I believe we can do it, if we do Manaslu now and the five in Pakistan, we can do in three months. So yes, three months is possible if we do Manaslu now,” she said.“We are very happy we have made eight and we are all safe and everyone is good,” she said. She began in April b...

EU warns of ‘solidarity fatigue’ despite warm welcome for millions of Ukraine refugees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Despite the warm welcome given millions of Ukraine refugees in the European Union since the Russian invasion, EU officials said Tuesday there are some fears of wavering support caused by a slowing economy that especially affects poor families and the creeping influence of Russian propaganda. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson stressed that support for the 4 million Ukraine refugees being cared for in the bloc is steadfast, but a special report said “what we might call ‘solidarity fatigue’ is beginning to set in in some member states.” “The cost of living crisis has hit low- and medium-income families in host societies and created a context in which Russian propaganda could be more successful,” special EU adviser on Ukraine Lodewijk Asscher said in the report. Russian President Vladimir Putin “has a huge interest in influencing public opinion on displaced persons from Ukraine. The discourse on migration refugees can be weaponized to sow division w...

Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas in flux as Nevada Legislature adjourns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A plan to help build a stadium for the Oakland Athletics in Las Vegas is in flux after Nevada lawmakers adjourned their four-month legislative session.The future of the contentious bill is now uncertain after the Democratic-controlled Legislature did not advance it before the midnight deadline as Monday turned to Tuesday. The proposal could potentially be considered in a special legislative session at a date to be determined later, where lawmakers would later vote on it. Lawmakers also failed to pass one of the five major budget bills that included over $1 billion to fund capital improvement projects that fund state public works and construction, which would also likely be considered for a special session. The measure faltered in the Senate as they ran out of time for a second vote after party disagreements lasted until the midnight deadline. In a statement at 1 a.m., Republican Gov. Lombardo said he would call a special session later Tuesday morning, where ...

Swedish defense minister says NATO full membership is top priority

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Sweden’s defense minister said Tuesday his country’s top priority is to gain full NATO membership before the allied leaders gather for their next summit, saying an addition will make the trans-Atlantic alliance even stronger. NATO wants to bring Sweden into the fold by the time United States President Joe Biden and other allied leaders meet July 11-12 in Vilnius, Lithuania, but Turkey and Hungary have yet to endorse the move. All 31 member countries must ratify a candidate’s accession protocol for it to join the alliance.“The Swedish government’s highest priority is to become a full-fledged member of NATO as soon as possible,” said Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson, in Japan for talks his Japanese counterpart and other officials. “We’re hopeful that we can become it by the Vilnius Summit.”Turkey’s government has criticized Sweden for being too lenient on terror organizations and security threats, while Hungary has not given details. Jonson said...

Pope briefly in hospital for scheduled tests two months after bronchitis, returns to Vatican

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis went to the hospital Tuesday for tests and returned back to the Vatican, witnesses and news reports said, two months after he was hospitalized with an acute case of bronchitis.The ANSA news agency said Francis went to Rome’s Gemelli hospital Tuesday morning for tests. Witnesses at the Vatican’s Perugino gate, one of the main entrances to the city state, told The Associated Press Francis returned to the Vatican a short while later, and greeted guards as he usually does. Francis, 86, spent three days at Rome’s Gemelli hospital in late March. Initially the Vatican said he had gone in for scheduled tests, but the pontiff later revealed he had felt pain in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed. He was put on intravenous antibiotics and was released April 1, quipping that he was “still alive.”The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed when he was a young man. He also suffers from sciatica nerve pain and has been u...

EU chief von der Leyen says she isn’t interested in the top job at NATO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says she has no interest in becoming the new leader of NATO as the trans-Atlantic military alliance seeks a successor to Jens Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been NATO secretary general since 2014. His term was due to expire last year but was extended to provide stability after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The leaders of NATO members are due to choose a successor when they meet for a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. No candidate has been proposed publicly and Stoltenberg appears unlikely to extend again.Von der Leyen, who in 2019 emerged as a surprise candidate to lead the European Union’s executive branch, has featured regularly in speculation about who might be NATO’s next leader. Officials and experts suggest that it is time for a woman to take the helm for the first time.Von der Leyen, a 64-year-old center-right po...

Stock market today: Global stocks mixed on concern about US economy weakening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets were mixed Tuesday after a report that showed growth in service industries is slowing stoked concern the U.S. economy is weakening.London, Shanghai, Paris and Hong Kong retreated. Tokyo gained and Wall Street futures were mixed. Oil prices declined more than $1 per barrel.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index lost 0.2% on Monday after an industry group’s May index of activity in construction, hospitality and other services fell to a three-year low. That conflicted with hopes raised by data last week that showed unexpectedly strong hiring, suggesting a potential U.S. recession brought on by interest rate hikes might be farther away.“Weakness is emerging and that should be more noticeable in the coming months,” Edward Moya of Oanda said in a report.In early trading, the FTSE 100 in London was off less than 0.1% at 7,594.30. The CAC 40 in Paris was up less than 0.1% at 7,201.48 and the DAX in Frankfurt was up less than 0.1% at 15,975....

Late-day storms return ahead of summer heat's arrival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One more round of scattered showers and storms is expected today before our focus turns to summertime heat later this week.Similar to what we saw Monday (only without the morning round of rain), this afternoon will feature scattered rain and storm activity. No major severe or flooding threat is expected, but some well-developed storms could contain small hail, gusting winds and brief downpours.Only an isolated storm is in the forecast late-week through the coming weekend as heat and humidity become the main story. Uncomfortable humidity levels late week into the weekendFirst taste of summertime heat arrives this weekendA ridge of high pressure will lead to the hottest temperatures of the year so far this weekend, and may send temperatures soaring to 100 degrees next week. INVESTIGATION: LCRA didn't plan for climate change until KXAN investigation Hotter than normal weather may mean 100-degree temperatures next weekFIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your C...

Austin Police investigating after girl injured in possible overnight shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is investigating after a young girl was injured after being possibly shot in north Austin overnight. Police said they responded to a shots fired call around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Bridge at Harris Ridge Apartment Complex on East Howard Lane. According to APD, officers and EMS arrived on scene and found a juvenile girl with head trauma, then began life-saving measures and transported her to Dell Children's Hospital. APD initially called the incident a homicide investigation but said during a briefing that the victim was not pronounced dead. No one is in custody at this time. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.