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Hilary rapidly grows to Category 4 hurricane off Mexico and could bring heavy rain to US Southwest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Hilary grew rapidly to Category 4 strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast and could bring heavy rain to the southwestern U.S. by the weekend.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Hilary had sustained winds near 140 mph (220 kph) at midnight and was expected to continue its rapid intensification through Friday morning. It should start to weaken Saturday.Tropical storm conditions could begin affecting the Baja California peninsula late Friday. Hilary’s projected path threatened landfall in the middle of the peninsula by Sunday, or it may stay just offshore while heading for Southern California.Hilary was centered about 425 miles (685 kilometers) south of Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. It was moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph), but was expected to turn gradually north through Saturday.The hurricane center posted a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning for parts of Baja California Sur state, meaning tropical storm conditi...

Canada leads Los Angeles against Las Vegas after 20-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks (12-18, 6-10 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (27-3, 15-1 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits the Las Vegas Aces after Jordin Canada scored 20 points in the Sparks’ 85-74 win against the Atlanta Dream.The Aces are 15-1 against Western Conference opponents. Las Vegas ranks second in the WNBA averaging 9.4 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.9% from downtown. Jackie Young leads the team averaging 2.4 makes while shooting 47.0% from 3-point range.The Sparks’ record in Western Conference play is 6-10. Los Angeles is 2-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The teams meet for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on July 13 the Aces won 97-78 led by 25 points from A’ja Wilson, while Azura Stevens scored 22 points for the Sparks.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilson is averaging 21.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the Aces. Kelsey Plum is averaging 19.0 points over the last 10 games for La...

Is it coming home? England looks to bring Women’s World Cup trophy back to birthplace of soccer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — The rallying cry “It’s Coming Home” is one game away from reality and the end of England’s 57-year drought in global soccer.The World Cup trophy can return this Sunday to birthplace of soccer for the first time since 1966. But if it happens, the journey back to England will be with the women’s national team and not the men. The Lionesses have roared their way into their first Women’s World Cup title game, Sunday against Spain. It is the first all-European finale since 2003, when Germany beat Sweden. It has been a magical ride for both teams: England has been on top of the global game since winning the European Championship last summer, and Spain is in its first final less than a year since 15 players quit the team in protest.But England was expected to be here, and all around the world, in pubs and at viewing parties, England supporters have been singing “It’s Coming Home,” the unintentional reminder that the soccer team hasn’t won the Wor...

New York visits Phoenix after Cunningham’s 25-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

New York Liberty (24-6, 13-3 Eastern Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (9-21, 2-13 Western Conference)Phoenix; Friday, 10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -12.5; over/under is 164.5BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix faces the New York Liberty after Sophie Cunningham scored 25 points in the Phoenix Mercury’s 81-71 loss to the Seattle Storm.The Mercury have gone 8-7 in home games. Phoenix ranks third in the Western Conference with 19.8 assists per game led by Sug Sutton averaging 4.6.The Liberty have gone 12-3 away from home. New York is third in the Eastern Conference with 8.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Jonquel Jones averaging 2.6.The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on July 5 the Liberty won 99-95 led by 43 points from Breanna Stewart, while Diana Taurasi scored 23 points for the Mercury.TOP PERFORMERS: Taurasi is averaging 17.2 points and 4.8 assists for the Mercury. Megan Gustafson is averaging 11.8 points over the last 10 games for Ph...

Miles tratan de evacuar la capital de los Territorios del Noroeste de Canadá, mientras más de 200 incendios forestales “sin precedentes” asolan la región

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

(CNN) — Miles de residentes se apresuran a evacuar la capital de los Territorios del Noroeste de Canadá mientras más de 200 incendios arrasan la región, obligando a muchos a enfrentarse a peligrosas condiciones en las carreteras o a hacer cola durante horas para conseguir los tan necesarios vuelos de emergencia.Se ha ordenado la evacuación de Yellowknife, la capital, donde viven unas 20.000 personas, y de otras comunidades de los Territorios del Noroeste, mientras los equipos luchan contra 236 incendios forestales activos en la región. Se ha instado a los residentes de Yellowknife a que evacúen la ciudad antes del mediodía del viernes, mientras un enorme incendio se aproxima a la ciudad y a una importante autopista.El de los Territorios del Noroeste es uno de los más de 1.000 incendios que arden en Canadá, donde se registra la peor temporada de incendios de la historia. El primer ministro canadiense, Justin Trudeau, se reunió el jueves con un grupo de altos funcionarios del Go...

The Dutch defense minister says the US has approved the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United States has given its approval for the Netherlands to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, the Dutch defense minister said Friday, in a major gain for Kyiv even though the fighter jets won’t have an immediate impact on the almost 18-month war“I welcome the US decision to clear the way for delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine. It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots,” Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We remain in close contact with European partners to decide on the next steps.”Ukraine has long pleaded for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge. It recently launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s forces without air cover, placing its troops at the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.Apart from delivering the warplanes, Ukraine’s allies also need to train its pilots. Washington says the F-16s, like the advanced U.S. Abrams...

Leading politician says victory for Niger’s coup leaders would be ‘the end of democracy’ in Africa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — If mutinous soldiers who ousted Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum succeed, it will threaten democracy and security across the region and the continent, a high-ranking member of Bazoum’s political party warned in an interview with The Associated Press.Boubacar Sabo, deputy secretary general for the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, said Bazoum had been “kidnapped” by members of the presidential guard who overthrew him on July 26 and have since kept him under house arrest.“What is happening in Niger, if it succeeds, is the end of democracy in Africa. It’s over. … If we fight today, it is to prevent these kind of things from happening and to ensure a future for our continent,” Sabo said on Thursday. In a region rife with coups, Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries that Western nations could partner with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The overthrow of the president...

Fire threatens homes near West Kelowna, evacuation orders, alerts issued in Kelowna

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — A fast-burning wildfire threatening West Kelowna, B.C., is challenging fire crews as they brace for what the operations director with BC Wildfire Service has predicted will be the most challenging days of the provincial wildfire season.Thousands of people have been placed on evacuation alert in the Okanagan city, while close to a thousand properties have been placed on evacuation order because of the McDougall Creek wildfire. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre issued a local state of emergency because of the fire, which is threatening suburbs, schools and businesses in the city. The fire threat forced the closure of Highway 97 in both directions for 14 kilometres between West Kelowna and Kelowna.The City of Kelowna also declared a state of emergency, as fire crews responded to spot fires coming across Okanagan Lake from the McDougall Creek wildfire.An evacuation order has been issued for the Clifton Road North and McKinley neighbourhoods, as well as...

American imprisoned in Russia faces espionage charges, reports say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian-born U.S. citizen already in prison on a bribery conviction now faces charges of espionage, according to Russian news agencies.The reports said a Moscow court on Thursday authorized holding Gene Spector on the charges, but did not give details of the case against him.Spector, formerly an executive at a medical equipment company in Russia, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison last September for enabling bribes to an aide to former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. The aide, Anastasia Alekseyeva, was sentenced to 12 years in April for taking bribes of two expensive overseas vacation trips. Dvorkovich was a deputy prime minister under Dmitry Medvedev in 2012-2018. He is also board chairman of Russia’s state railways and head of the international chess federation FIDE. There was no immediate comment from the United States about the report.The Associated Press

In the news today: Wildfires prompt evacuation orders for thousands in N.W.T., B.C.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:53 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 …Thousands left in Yellowknife urged to get outOfficials in the Northwest Territories are urging thousands of residents remaining in its capital to leave by noon today before a nearby wildfire could cut off access.The evacuation of Yellowknife was ordered late Wednesday and sprinklers, water cannons and fire guards are being set up to protect the city of 20,000 people.Convoys of vehicles have steadily been leaving for hotels and evacuation centres in Alberta.On Thursday, in additional to commercial planes, about 1,500 people left on evacuation flights, more flights scheduled for today that could take about 1,800 people out of the city.Here’s what else we’re watching …Fire rages for third day near West Kelowna, B.C.A fast-burning wildfire threatening West Kelowna, B.C., is challenging fire crews as they brace for what the operations director with BC Wildfi...