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Create new Europe-wide migrant rescue mission, EU parties implore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

A broad coalition in the European Parliament on Monday called for an EU-wide search and rescue operation to prevent the loss of more lives in the Mediterranean migration route. The three largest parties — the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), the center-left Socialists and Democrats and liberal Renew — along with the progressive Greens and The Left backed a joint text that will see a vote on Thursday. This show of unity comes after a migrant shipwreck off the coast of Greece in June that killed hundreds and put a spotlight on the topic. European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson last week called for more coordination among member countries on search and rescue, warning that “it is just a question of time” before a similar event repeats.  The text in Parliament calls for the “establishment of a comprehensive EU Search and Rescue mission implemented by the Member States’ competent authorities and Frontex,” according to a draft document seen by POLITICO. The a...

Zelenskyy blasts ‘absurd’ draft text that hedges on Ukraine’s NATO membership timeline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

VILNIUS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday denounced NATO negotiators for balking at offering Kyiv a concrete path to joining NATO in a draft communiqué being hammered out at an alliance summit. The alliance’s leaders are gathering in the Lithuanian capital for a two-day summit, and Ukraine’s bid to join NATO is the most sensitive item on the agenda.In the latest draft summit communiqué, allies are now considering stating that “we will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine when allies agree and conditions are met,” according to a senior NATO diplomat and a person familiar with the talks, who like others were granted anonymity to discuss internal negotiations.  The language is not yet finalized, but the draft seen by Kyiv on Tuesday enraged Ukraine’s leader. “We value our allies,” Zelenskyy tweeted. “But Ukraine also deserves respect.”“It’s unprecedented and absurd when [a] time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Uk...

France and Germany pledge more weapons for Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

VILNIUS — France and Germany on Tuesday announced new arms deliveries for Ukraine, pledging to send more of the missiles that have been used to pound Russian supply depots, as well as more armored vehicles and ammunition.“In view of the situation and the Ukrainian counter-offensive, I have decided to increase deliveries of weapons and equipment,” French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters ahead of the two-day NATO military alliance summit in Vilnius, which kicked off on Tuesday. “We have decided to deliver new long-range strike missiles to Ukraine,” Macron added, marking a turning point as the French president had been hesitant to send such long-distance missiles to Ukraine. These will likely be French-British SCALP missiles, also known as Storm Shadow, which London has already delivered to Kyiv.The missiles have a 250-kilometer range, allowing Ukraine to pummel Russia’s logistics and supplies with rockets that Russian air defenses have had a ...

Horizon Europe deal needs to work for UK taxpayers, says Rishi Sunak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

VILNIUS — A deal for the U.K. to re-enter the EU’s Horizon Europe science scheme post-Brexit must work for British taxpayers, Rishi Sunak insisted, as researchers keep their fingers crossed for an agreement.Britain formally left Horizon when it quit the EU in January 2020, but POLITICO reported last week that a draft deal has now been reached to allow Britain to rejoin the scheme as well as the Copernicus Earth observation satellite program.However, a bilateral meeting between the U.K. prime minister and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which had been expected to take place Tuesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius, has still not been firmed up.The two leaders had been expected to tie up the remaining loose ends of the deal, but the absence of a formal discussion this week may signal a last-minute U.K. attempt to get further concessions from the EU.Speaking to reporters on the plane to the Lithuanian capital, Sunak did not rule out a convers...

Rain moving out after flooding hits Vermont hard, saturates other parts of the Northeast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

ANDOVER, Vt. (AP) — A storm that left up to two months’ worth of rain in Vermont and saturated other parts of the Northeast was moving out Tuesday, but more flooding was expected after already cutting off access to some communities, including the main approach to the state capital.There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the Vermont flooding, according to emergency officials. But dozens of roads were closed, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains. And the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and advisories for much of the state from the Massachusetts line north to the Canadian border.The slow-moving storm reached New England after hitting parts of New York, where one person died as she was trying to leave her home during flash flooding, and Connecticut on Sunday.President Joe Biden, who is in Vilnius, Lithuania, attending the annual NATO summit, declared an emergency exists in Vermont and authorized the Federal E...

Back to Beach Weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

The soaking rains that prompted a few flood warnings across our area yesterday are now behind us, yielding to sunshine and warmer air again. While flooding around here was relatively minor, flooding across western New England, especially across Vermont, has been serious. In fact, many rivers and streams across Vermont are experiencing major flooding, including around Montpelier. Those rivers will crest of the next day of so. Across western Mass, the CT River will crest in moderate flood stage. As we dry out today, we will warm up too as high run in the mid to upper 80s under a mix of sun and clouds. Tomorrow, we’ll step it up another notch with highs in the lower 90s. Boston’s first 90 degree reading? It’s possible tomorrow if no sea breeze kicks in. It’ll be close. None the less, its a warm beach day with just an isolated storm firing up in the afternoon, mainly northwest of Boston. Thursday looks fairly similar as highs top off in the upper 80s and any thu...

Column: Justin Steele’s All-Star Game journey was charted since the Chicago Cubs left-hander first held a baseball

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

When selected in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft out of Lucedale, Miss., left-hander Justin Steele didn’t know much about the Chicago Cubs.“All I knew was that my high school field was named after Claude Passeau Sr., and he pitched for the Chicago Cubs, and pitched in an All-Star game for ’em,” Steele said in a Tribune interview. “Once I got there I started to learn how great and historic an organization it is. I probably met him when I was younger, but I’m really close to his family, and his grandson, Casey Passeau.”Passeau was the last Cubs pitcher to get the starting nod in an All-Star game in 1946. Now the kid who played on the field named after him will pitch for the National League in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic in Seattle.“That’s really weird,” Steele said with a grin.Steele didn’t get a chance to become the first Cubs starter since Passeau. Arizona Diamondbacks veteran Zac Gallen was named the All-...

Live Updates | Zelenskyy slams ‘absurd’ lack of timetable for Ukraine’s invitation to join NATO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Follow along for updates on the summit of the NATO military alliance in Lithuania’s capital:What to know: — Turkey’s decision to end opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership boosts summit— Sweden’s rocky road from neutrality toward NATO membership— What is NATO doing to help Ukraine in the war with Russia?— Ukraine, defense plans and Sweden’s membership top summit agenda——Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it’s “absurd” that no timetable has been laid out for his country to be invited to join NATO or become a member one day.Zelenskyy said on Twitter that he plans to discuss NATO’s “uncertainty” over Ukraine’s possible membership during the alliance’s summit in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital.He says the Ukrainian delegation to the summit starting Tuesday had “received signals that certain wording” under discussion deals with the prospect of NATO inviting Ukraine to become a member, “not about Ukraine’s membership.”Ze...

NATO summit reaches agreement on admitting Sweden but faces division over Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday hailed an agreement for Sweden to join NATO as more work remained to determine a path forward for Ukraine’s future with the alliance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized as “absurd” the absence of a timetable for his country’s entry.Biden described the summit as a “historic moment” and said the United States agreed with a proposal, yet to be released publicly, to outline a path for Ukraine’s eventual membership.However, Zelenskyy, who was on his way to Vilnius to join the summit, expressed disappointment with how the negotiations were playing out. “We value our allies,” he wrote on Twitter but added that “Ukraine also deserves respect.”“It’s unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership,” Zelensky said. He finished with, “Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit.”A public flash of anger from the U...

Rain moving out after flooding hits Vermont hard and other parts of the Northeast are saturated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:25 GMT

ANDOVER, Vt. (AP) — A storm that left up to two months’ worth of rain in Vermont and saturated other parts of the Northeast was moving out Tuesday, but more flooding was expected after already cutting off access to some communities, including the main approach to the state capital.There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the Vermont flooding, according to emergency officials. But dozens of roads were closed, including many along the spine of the Green Mountains. And the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and advisories for much of the state from the Massachusetts line north to the Canadian border.The slow-moving storm reached New England after hitting parts of New York, where one person died as she was trying to leave her home during flash flooding, and Connecticut on Sunday.President Joe Biden, who is in Vilnius, Lithuania, attending the annual NATO summit, declared an emergency exists in Vermont and authorized the Federal Emergency Manage...