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More than 70% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population flees as separatist government says it will dissolve

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — More than 70% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s original population has fled to Armenia as the region’s separatist government said it will dissolve itself and the unrecognized republic inside Azerbaijan will cease to exist by year’s end after a three-decade bid for independence.By Friday morning 84,770 people had left Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Armenian officials, continuing a mass exodus from the region of ethnic Armenians that began Sunday. The region’s population was around 120,000 before the exodus began.The moves came after Azerbaijan carried out a lightning offensive last week to reclaim full control over the breakaway region and demanded that Armenian troops in Nagorno-Karabakh disarm and the separatist government disband.A decree signed by the region’s separatist President Samvel Shakhramanyan cited a Sept. 20 agreement to end the fighting under which Azerbaijan will allow the “free, voluntary and unhindered movement” of Nagorno-Karabakh res...

Kosovo police conduct raids in Serb-dominated north following clashes that left 4 dead on weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo police on Friday raided several locations in a tense Serb-dominated area in the north of the country where weekend clashes left four people dead and further strained relations with Serbia.Police said in a statement that they were conducting searches on five locations in three municipalities in northern Kosovo. A statement said the operation was in connection with Sunday’s shootout between Serb insurgents and Kosovo police in the village of Banjska.The confrontation was one of the worst since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and Belgrade refused to recognize the split.About 30 masked men opened fire on a police patrol near Banjska before breaking down the gates of a Serbian Orthodox monastery and barricading themselves inside with the priests and visiting pilgrims. The 12-hour shootout that followed left one police officer and three gunmen dead.The violence further raised tensions in the Balkan region at a time when European Union and U....

Marcos says Philippines is not looking for trouble but will defend waters against Chinese aggression

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine president said Friday that his country does not want a confrontation but will staunchly defend its waters after its coast guard removed a floating barrier placed by China at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.It was the first time President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has spoken publicly against China’s installation of the 300-meter (980-foot) -long barrier at the entrance to Scarborough Shoal which was dismantled at his order.“We’re not looking for trouble but what we’ll do is to continue defending the maritime territory of the Philippines and the rights of our fishermen, who have been fishing in those areas for hundreds of years,” Marcos said in response to a question at a news briefing in southern Surigao del Norte province.The latest flare-up between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade routes, comes after Marcos decided earlier this year to allow an expansion of the U.S. mili...

Things to know about the Klamath River dam removal project, the largest in US history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The largest dam removal project in United States history is underway along the California-Oregon border.The project will remove four dams on the Klamath River. Work has already begun on removing the smallest of the four dams. The other three will come down next year.The project is part of a larger trend across the U.S. to remove dams blocking the natural flow of rivers and streams. Some things to know as the project gets going:WHY ARE THE DAMS BEING REMOVED?The dams were built decades ago to generate electricity. But they also halted the natural flow of the river and disrupted the lifecycle of salmon. The fish are culturally and spiritually important to several Native American tribes in the area.In 2002, a combination of low water levels and warm temperatures caused a bacterial outbreak that killed more than 34,000 fish. That propelled Native American tribes to campaign for removal of the dams. After much negotiation, federal regulators approved a plan last...

Explosion at rally celebrating birthday of Islam’s prophet kills 6 people in southwest Pakistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A powerful bomb exploded at a rally celebrating the birthday of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad in southwest Pakistan on Friday, killing at least six people and wounding dozens of others, police and a government official said.The bombing occurred in Mastung, a district in Baluchistan province, said government administrator Atta Ullah. The injured people were being taken to nearby hospitals, and some of them were in critical condition, he said.Ullah provided no further details.Muslims in Pakistan and around the world celebrate the birthday of Islam’s prophet by holding public gatherings.The Associated Press

Enjoy the warmth this weekend, next weekend may be a cooler story

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

The temperatures this weekend are amazing, with daytime highs in the 80s—that's June and July-level temperatures. More like mid-70s at the beaches, but if you are inclined to go to the beach the lake's not cold and it will be beautiful. Look at the difference next weekend:The westernmost of the two storms—Tropical Storm Philippe—is 759 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico.Brian McNoldy, Senior Research Assistant at the Rosenstiel School at the University of Miami (https://twitter.com/BMcNoldy), points out Rina is the 18th named storm of the Atlantic 2023 hurricane season and notes the average number of named storms for a FULL SEASON is 14.And Dr. Phil Klotzbach, hurricane and tropical weather expert at Colorado State tweets, "If current National #Hurricane Center forecasts for #Philippe and #Rina verify, the Atlantic will officially reach NOAA's definition of an above-average Atlantic hurricane season by October 2nd." (https://twitter.com/philklotzbach)

How China can say 'No' to India

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

In recent years, amidst profound shifts in the global geopolitical landscape, China and India have grappled with new roles and challenges. Against the backdrop of a dynamically changing world, the relationship between these two nations is evolving significantly, writes ANBOUND Think Tank founder Kung Chan, one of China’s renowned experts in information analysis.The current status of China-India relations is characterized by a complex tapestry of contradictions and enduring disputes. These conflicts extend beyond the domains of geopolitics and diplomacy, casting a significant impact on bilateral investments and trade alliances.In the economic domain, India is known for its long-standing tradition of trade protectionism. Indian government agencies often restrict the development of foreign companies under the pretext of "tax issues" and this has disrupted Chinese companies like VIVO, OPPO, and Xiaomi, as well as South Korean giant Samsung. Xiaomi, in particular, has frequently faced in...

Diet changes boost popularity of white wine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

Photo credit: © Mathieu GolinvauxChanging patterns of consumption has proved an unexpected boon...for white wine production, writes Martin Banks.People are, data shows, increasingly turning away from eating red meat and that, in turn, has helped boost the popularity of white wine.So says wine expert Christophe Chateau who was speaking on Thursday (28 September) at the opening of this year’s Eat Festival at Tour & Taxis in Brussels.The popular annual event aims to showcase the best of both Brussels and Belgian cuisine and also wines from Bordeaux.The aptly-named Chateau, director of communications at the Bordeaux-based Conseil Interprofessionnel Du Vin De Bordeaux, told this website that production of white wine in Bordeaux was rising at a much faster rate than red wine, for which the region is particularly well known throughout the world.“People are eating less meat and that is having a real impact on the production and consumption of white wine,” he said.Red wine still accounts...

Azerbaijan's Perspective on Regional Stability

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

In a significant diplomatic move, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, held a press conference in Brussels this week. The conference offered an invaluable opportunity for the Azerbaijani government to shed light on its perspective regarding regional stability, cooperation, and the ongoing challenges in the South Caucasus. Hajiyev's remarks resonated with clarity and pragmatism, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and cooperation to ensure peace in the region.The South Caucasus: A Complex RegionThe South Caucasus region has long been characterized by its geopolitical complexity and historical tensions. It encompasses countries like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and is nestled between Russia, Turkey, and Iran. This intricacy has made it a focal point for international attention and diplomacy. The recent history of the region has been marred by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was brought to a halt in 2020 through a ceasefire ...

Privacy Concerns Surrounding the European Central Bank’s Digital Euro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:18:37 GMT

The European Central Bank (ECB) is one of several central banks looking into deploying a central bank digital currency (CBDC). According to research conducted by Washington D.C.-based think tank The Atlantic Council, 130 countries, representing 98% of the world’s total GDP, are currently exploring a CBC. While 11 have launched, 21 are in their pilot phase, and 33 are still in development.The ECB first published a CBDC report in October 2020 and applied for a trademark in the same month. Since then, the EU’s apex bank has made a few strides toward a Digital Euro, from an investigation phase to a potential testing and possible 2026 launch.Several arguments favor a Digital Euro, including security of transaction data, better efficiency with intermediaries eliminated, and increased privacy. However, stakeholders have raised multiple concerns, including utility and privacy.There are several thousand cryptocurrencies currently trading on hundreds of crypto exchanges worldwide. While there...