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Biden starts democracy summit with $690M pledge for programs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is opening his second Summit for Democracy with a pledge for the U.S. to spend $690 million bolstering democracy programs around the globe.The Biden administration wants to use the two-day summit that begins Wednesday to zero in on making “technology work for and not against democracy,” according to a senior administration official. Some 120 global leaders have been invited to participate.Biden frequently speaks of the U.S. and like-minded allies being at a critical moment in which democracies need to demonstrate they can out-deliver autocracies. The summits, something Biden promised as a Democratic 2020 presidential candidate, have become an important piece of his administration’s effort to try to build deeper alliances and nudge autocratic-leaning nations toward at least modest reforms.The new funding will focus on programs that support free and independent media, combat corruption, bolster human rights, advance technology that improves ...

Q&A: Where DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb stands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb speaks with DMV Download podcast host Luke Garrett. (WTOP/Luke Garrett)D.C. had a turbulent start to 2023 — from a forsaken criminal code, a sharp spike in car thefts and to the recent resignation of Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio following allegations of sexual assault.Meanwhile, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has been settling into his new position as the top prosecutor in the nation’s capital.More DC NewsMore Local NewsThree months into his tenure, Schwalb went on WTOP’s “DMV Download” podcast to discuss where he stands on the issues facing the District and what he hopes to accomplish as attorney general. The following Q&A has been edited for clarity and brevity. Source

Una desafiante presidenta de Taiwán parte hacia Nueva York para iniciar un viaje por Centroamérica

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

Hong Kong (CNN) — Taiwán tiene todo el derecho a “conectarse con el mundo”, declaró este miércoles su presidenta, Tsai Ing-wen, al embarcarse en una misión diplomática a Centroamérica, que incluirá tránsito en Estados Unidos, y ya ha sido condenada por China.Tsai partió de Taiwán este miércoles para un viaje de 10 días en el que hará escalas en la ciudad de Nueva York y Los Ángeles además de visitas oficiales a Guatemala y Belice.“La presión externa no detendrá nuestra determinación de avanzar hacia la sociedad internacional”, dijo Tsai a los periodistas antes de despegar. “Estamos tranquilos, confiados, intransigentes y no provocativos”.El viaje ha llamado mucho la atención tras los informes de que Tsai se reuniría con el presidente de la Cámara de Representantes de EE.UU., Kevin McCarthy, durante una de sus escalas no oficiales en EE. UU.Taiwán aún tiene que confirmar dicha reunión.Honduras corta relaciones con Taiwán y se acerca a China, ¿cómo se beneficia Xiomara Castro?La...

13-year-old girl safely located after CBI alert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

FEDERAL HEIGHTS, Colo. (KDVR) -- The Colorado Bureau of Investigation was searching for a 13-year-old missing out of Federal Heights, but she has since been located.She was last seen Tuesday at 3:31 p.m. walking eastbound across Huron Street north of 84th Avenue. CBI said she was found safely.

Florida Senate to vote on permitless carry bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

Floridians may soon no longer need a permit to carry a gun. The state Senate is set to take up the permitless carry bill on Wednesday, following the passage of a similar version in the House last week.The new law would allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons without the need for a previously required license and training. If the measure is approved by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida would join 26 other states that have already enacted permitless carry laws.Florida already has some of the most lenient gun laws in the country, including the “stand your ground” law that allows individuals to use deadly force in self-defense. However, the proposed permitless carry law would go even further in easing restrictions on gun ownership and use.The fate of the permitless carry bill now rests in the hands of the state Senate, with many eyes watching to see whether Florida will join the growing number of states that allow permitless carry or whethe...

Britain secures agreement to join Indo-Pacific trade bloc

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

LONDON — Britain will be welcomed into an Indo-Pacific trade bloc late Thursday as ministers from the soon-to-be 12-nation trade pact meet in a virtual ceremony across multiple time zones.Chief negotiators and senior officials from member countries agreed Wednesday that Britain has met the high bar to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), four people familiar with the talks told POLITICO.Negotiations are “done” and Britain’s accession is “all agreed [and] confirmed,” said a diplomat from one member nation. They were granted anonymity as they were unauthorized to discuss deliberations.The U.K. will be the first new nation to join the pact since it was set up in 2018. Its existing members are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada.Britain’s accession means it has met the high standards of the deal’s market access requirements and that it will align with the bloc’s sanit...

Heartbroken Nashville community grapples with school shooting as police uncover more details about the shooter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

Editor’s note: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence.(CNN) — As a heartbroken Nashville community grapples with the mass shooting that claimed the lives of three 9-year-old children and three adults at a private Christian school, police are uncovering more details about the 28-year-old shooter.The attack unfolded over 14 minutes Monday morning at The Covenant School, with the heavily armed shooter firing into the elementary school to gain access and killing six people before being fatally shot by responding police officers.The parents of the shooter, identified as Audrey Hale, told police they knew Hale had bought and sold one weapon and believed that was the extent of it, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said Tuesday.But Hale, who was under care for an emotional disorder, had legally bought seven firearms that were hidden at home, Drake said. Three of those weapons, including an AR-style rifle, were used in the attack Monday.Police have s...

Driver in fatal Hingham Apple store crash indicted by grand jury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

The driver whose SUV crashed into an Apple store in Hingham in November, killing one person and injuring 22 others, was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday.Bradley Rein, 53, of Hingham is facing second degree murder charges along with two dozen other charges. He is expected to be arraigned in Brockton Superior Court. Rein was arrested after his 2019 Toyota 4Runner crashed into the store’s front window in Hingham. The victim who died was identified as Kevin Bradley, 65, of New Jersey.Rein’s attorney described the crash as a horrific accident. Rein told investigators that his foot became stuck on the accelerator and he lost control.

Nice Today, Cold Wind Tomorrow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

A frosty start greets us this Wednesday morning, but the overall day turns out nice as temps bounce up quickly and more sunshine than cloud cover wins out. Winds are light too, which will allow for local sea breezes to keep it cooler at the coast. Highs range from the mid to upper 40s at the coast to low to mid 50s inland. Tonight, a cold front blasts through with scattered snow showers and squalls between midnight and 4am. Squalls that are heavier across the interior may throw down a few slick spots, especially in the higher terrain, as temps will crash back below the freezing mark. Any rain/snow shower near the coast predawn tomorrow morning is off the coast by 5am as a cold wind takes over. Temps tomorrow morning run in the mid to upper 20s, but with a wind gusting 25-30mph, it’ll feel like the teens to lower 20s. Not exactly what we like to envision for baseball weather, but we’ll play the hand we’re dealt. At least it’ll be dry with some sunshine as t...

Whitman Police searching for suspect who allegedly stabbed a man in the face, head

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

Whitman Police are searching for suspect who allegedly stabbed a man in the face and head Tuesday night.Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at a Myrtle Avenue apartment complex around 8:15 p.m., police say. Upon arrival, they found a 27-year-old victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to the head and face. The victim was taken to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. His current condition is unknown.Police say the suspect fled the scene following the incident and was last seen heading east on West Street. The suspect is described as a male in his 20s who was wearing a light green fleece jacket with black shoulders and a black hood. He also had a white backpack and was wearing white and black sneakers. No additional information has been released. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Whitman Police at (781) 447-1212.