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Zelenskyy to Xi Jinping: Come to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday invited his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to Ukraine, for what would be the first direct communication between the two leaders since the beginning of Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine.“We are ready to see [Xi] here,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with U.S. newswire AP on a train to Kyiv, adding, “I want to speak with him.”“I had contact with him before full-scale war. But during all this year, more than one year, I didn’t have [contact],” Zelenskyy said.In spite of being a key ally to Russia, Xi has sought to position Beijing as a peace broker between Moscow and Kyiv in recent months — spurring criticism from EU and NATO officials, who raised doubts over China’s capacity to act as a neutral intermediary.Yet, Zelenskyy has recently signaled his openness to Chinese-led peace talks, using Beijing’s 12-point peace plan as a basis.“I think some of the Chinese proposals respect...

Why Europe needs a bold vision in the fight against cancer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

Fewer than 10 percent of the global population lives in Europe, but it has a quarter of all cancer cases in the world.The overall economic impact of cancer in the region is estimated at €100bn each year, meaning this disease not only takes lives but has significant consequences for economies and societies.Optimal treatment solutions are hard to come by, not least because the process of developing cancer medicines is a marathon, not a sprint, and one that demands time, resources and persistence from large teams of experts.Drug development really needs persistence, from the initial idea of a new drug and the new target until clinical trials, and then eventually — hopefully — the launch of a new medication.”Explains Franziska Siegel, Research Scientist in Oncology at Bayer Pharmaceuticals“There are often 30, 40, even 50 people working on cancer treatments over a really long period,” says Franziska Siegel, research scientist in oncology at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. But “the failure rate is...

Spain clean energy case shakes confidence in EU investment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Renewable energy investors who lost subsidies promised by Spain are heading to a London court to try to claw back $125 million from the government — a decadelong dispute with ramifications for clean energy financing across the European Union.The outcome will be closely watched by investors after the U.S. passed a new law offering incentives for homegrown green technology. Experts say the Inflation Reduction Act is already drawing clean energy investment away from EU countries like Spain, leaving the 27-nation bloc much less competitive globally.The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, has proposed its own rules on allowing state aid and incentives for green investment. But those changes would not affect court cases already underway.The lawsuit in London’s Commercial Court this week involves investors from the Netherlands and Luxembourg who poured millions into a solar plant in southern Spain in 2011. The Spanish government offered subsidies to encourage g...

King Charles III keeps eye on prize after tour starts late

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new king will make his debut on the world stage Wednesday, three days later and 550 miles (885 kilometers) northeast of where he had intended.Although King Charles III will be greeted with a hearty “willkommen” in Berlin rather than “bienvenue” in Paris, his goals remain the same: to cement Britain’s improving relations with Europe and show that he can help the U.K. win hearts and minds abroad just as his mother did so successfully for seven decades.But the decision to cancel the first leg of his trip due to protests over planned pension changes in France may make it harder for Charles to make his mark during his first big international mission as monarch. And first impressions matter as Charles, 74, prepares for his coronation on May 6.“Charles will have fewer opportunities to present himself,” said said Arianne Chernock, a royal expert and professor of modern British history at Boston University. “This means that he’ll need to be very disciplined about usin...

Pakistan Pavilion at the International Festival in Brussels attracts massive crowds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

The Embassy of Pakistan, Brussels participated at the ISB International Festival in Brussels with a uniquely designed Pakistani pavilion featuring Pakistani Street Food, handicrafts, sporting products, photo booths and many interesting activities for the visitors.The International festival is an annual celebration of diverse cultures and traditions from all around the world, which was held after a gap of 3 years, due to the global Covid pandemic.A large number of visitors including the younger generation visited the International festival and took keen interest in various facets of Pakistani culture, reflected through interesting and informative documentaries, books, and cultural displays.The Embassy of Pakistan had displayed an array of cultural displays depicting rich heritage, cultural diversity, tourism and export potential of the country of the country. The displays included artifacts, ornaments, handicrafts, top export products, traditional costumes and photographs.A selection...

Ukrainian MP Geo Leros calls for an investigation into payments to Ukrainian oligarchs for the production of a unified TV marathon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

The Ukrainian authorities are launching another state-owned television channel, while independent television channels are actually banned in the country.Prominent Ukrainian MP Geo Leros (pictured) said this on his video channel, accusing the Ukrainian authorities of monopolization of TV broadcasting in Ukraine.It is to remind that independent television broadcasting has been virtually banned in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion of Russian troops. All channels broadcast a unified TV marathon, for which the state transfers funds to TV channels. Leros claims that over 20 million dollars were transferred to the TV channels owned by Ukrainian oligarchs Kolomoyskyy, Firtash and Pinchuk for the production of the marathon. It should be noted that the United Marathon has not only signs of censorship, but also corruption, according to the Ukrainian opposition. Last fall, investigators of the independent media outlet Bihus.Info discovered that the news block for the TV...

Four-bedroom home sells for $1.6 million in San Jose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

300 Rennie Avenue – Google Street ViewA 2,838-square-foot house built in 1949 has changed hands. The new owners acquired the property in the 300 block of Rennie Avenue on March 16, 2023. The spacious property located in the 300 block of Rennie Avenue in San Jose was sold on March 16, 2023 for $1,600,000, or $564 per square foot. The house, built in 1949, has an interior space of 2,838 square feet. The property features four bedrooms, two baths, a garage, and two parking spaces. The backyard also has a pool. The unit sits on a 9,375-square-foot lot.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:In July 2022, a 5,310-square-foot home on Rennie Avenue in San Jose sold for $1,650,000, a price per square foot of $311. The home has 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.A 2,862-square-foot home on the 15600 block of Alum Rock Avenue in San Jose sold in July 2022, for $1,760,000, a price per square foot of $615. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Valley View Avenue, San Jose, ...

North Texas and UAB square off in NIT

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

UAB Blazers (29-9, 14-6 C-USA) vs. North Texas Mean Green (30-7, 16-4 C-USA)Paradise, Nevada; Thursday, 9:40 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The North Texas Mean Green and UAB Blazers play in the National Invitation Tournament.The Mean Green have gone 16-4 against C-USA teams, with a 14-3 record in non-conference play. North Texas is ninth in C-USA with 21.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Aaron Scott averaging 3.7.The Blazers are 14-6 against C-USA teams. UAB has a 2-5 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.TOP PERFORMERS: Tylor Perry is scoring 17.2 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Mean Green. Kai Huntsberry is averaging 11.3 points and 3.1 assists over the past 10 games for North Texas.Jordan Walker is scoring 22.3 points per game with 2.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Blazers. KJ Buffen is averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds over the past 10 games for UAB.LAST 10 GAMES: Mean Green: 8-2, averaging 68.4 points, 31.0 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 6.2 steals a...

Tuesday’s Sports in Brief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

FOOTBALLPHOENIX (AP) — Dan Snyder’s departure from the NFL is moving closer to reality.A group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales and another group led by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos have formally submitted fully financed bids for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.Two people confirmed the bid from Harris. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the bid have not been publicly announced.The Harris/Rales group includes basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta also has been in the running.ESPN reported both bids came in at Snyder’s $6 billion asking price. Snyder had yet to accept an offer when the league’s finance committee met Monday so his future wasn’t openly discussed.BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — The brother of the late New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is facing criminal and motor vehicle charges in Connecticut, accused of throwing a...

Padres host the Rockies for the season opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:21 GMT

Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego PadresSan Diego; Thursday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: German Marquez (0-0); Padres: Blake Snell (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -203, Rockies +171; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres open the season at home against the Colorado Rockies.San Diego had an 89-73 record overall and a 44-37 record in home games last season. The Padres pitching staff had a collective 3.82 ERA while averaging 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings in the 2022 season.Colorado went 68-94 overall and 27-54 on the road last season. The Rockies averaged 8.7 hits per game last season while batting a collective .254 and slugging .397.INJURIES: Padres: Eguy Rosario: 60-Day IL (ankle)Rockies: Lucas Gilbreath: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Kinley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Brendan Rodgers: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Sean Bouchard: 60-Day IL (biceps), Ryan Rolison: 60-Day IL (shoulder)___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skri...