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Israel’s appetite for high-tech weapons highlights a Biden policy gap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

Within hours of the Hamas attack on Israel last month, a Silicon Valley drone company called Skydio began receiving emails from the Israeli military. The requests were for the company’s short-range reconnaissance drones — small flying vehicles used by the U.S. Army to navigate obstacles autonomously and produce 3D scans of complex structures like buildings.The company said yes. In the three weeks since the attack, Skydio has sent more than 100 drones to the Israeli Defense Forces, with more to come, according to Mark Valentine, the Skydio executive in charge of government contracts.Skydio isn’t the only American tech company fielding orders. Israel’s ferocious campaign to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza Strip is creating new demand for cutting-edge defense technology — often supplied directly by newer, smaller manufacturers, outside the traditional nation-to-nation negotiations for military supplies.Already, Israel is using self-piloting drones from Shield AI for close-quart...

Russia barrages Ukraine with record number of drones in overnight attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

KYIV — In the largest aerial attack since its invasion started, Russia barraged Ukraine with 75 Shahed drones overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday. Most of the drones were aimed at Kyiv and the region around the capital, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement.Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down all but one of the Shahed kamikaze drones, as well as an X-59 cruise missile over the Dnipro region, the Ukrainian air force said.The assault included the highest number of Russian drones to be deployed in one night since Moscow launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The air attack lasted more than six hours, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said in a statement. Anti-aircraft missiles, tactical aviation, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units were involved in repelling the air attack. No deaths were reported as a result of the barrage, but falling debris damaged buildings. In Kyiv, a fire broke out at a kindergarten, while windows were damaged in n...

Hamas is set to release more hostages for Israel-held Palestinians on the second day of a truce

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas was preparing to release more than a dozen hostages Saturday for several dozen Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, part of an exchange on the second day of a cease-fire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.While uncertainty remained around the details of the exchange, there was optimism, too, amid the scenes of joyous families reuniting on both sides. On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Those freed in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, and the list has been passed along to Israel, according to a Egyptian official speaking on condition of anonymity becau...

Four Patriots players to watch Week 12 vs. Giants include underrated defender

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

Week 12 marks another game the Patriots have no right losing.We’ll find out on Sunday if the Patriots let the Giants, led by undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito, let them beat them anyway.The Patriots, despite their 2-8 record and embarrassing Week 10 loss to the Colts, actually opened as 3.5-point favorites over the 3-8 Giants, who are without starting quarterback Daniel Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor. Neither Bill Belichick’s Patriots nor old friend Brian Daboll’s Giants have played up to expectations through 12 weeks.Here are the four Patriots players to watch Sunday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | NFL notes: Why Patriots players see 3 future head coaches on staff besides Jerod Mayo New England Patriots | Patriots-Giants preview: How Bill Belichick and Mac Jones can end their losing streak New England Patriots | Bailey Zappe says players don’t know which Patriots QB will start New England Patriots...

Buyers worldwide go for bigger cars, erasing gains from cleaner tech. EVs would help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

The negative impact on the climate from passenger vehicles, which is considerable, could have dropped by more than 30% over the past decade if not for the world’s appetite for large cars, a new report from the Global Fuel Economy Initiative suggests. Sport utility vehicles, or SUVs, now account for more than half of all new car sales across the globe, the group said, and it’s not alone. The International Energy Agency, using a narrower definition of SUV, estimates they make up nearly half. Over the years these cars have gotten bigger and so has their cost to the climate, as carbon dioxide emissions “are almost directly proportional to fuel use” for gas-powered cars. The carbon that goes in at the pump comes out the tailpipe.Transportation is responsible for around one-quarter of all the climate-warming gases that come from energy, and much of that is attributable to passenger transport, according to the International Energy Agency.But the negative environmental impact fr...

Militants with ties to the Islamic State group kill at least 14 farmers in an attack in east Congo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Militants from a shadowy extremist organization with ties to the Islamic State Group killed at least 14 farmers in Congo’s hard-hit eastern region, a local official said Saturday.The Allied Democratic Forces attacked Mamove village in North Kivu province on Friday night where they beheaded the farmers working on their fields, said Samson Simara, a delegate of the provincial governor.“This death toll could rise because other farmers are missing,” he told local media, adding that the militants also burned down several houses in the village.Armed violence in eastern Congo has been simmering for decades as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities, but it spiked in late 2021 when another rebel group, that goes by M23 and had been largely dormant, resurfaced and initiated attacks to seize land. The attacks have heightened tensions ahead of Congo’s presidential election in December, with m...

The debate over Ukraine aid was already complicated. Then it became tangled up in US border security

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As war and winter collide, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged during a recent visit to Washington that the days ahead “will be tough” as his country battles Russia while U.S. support from Congress hangs in the balance.President Joe Biden’s nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs sits idle in Congress, neither approved nor rejected, but subjected to new political demands from Republicans who are insisting on U.S.-Mexico border policy changes to halt the flow of migrants.Linking Ukraine’s military assistance to U.S. border security interjects one of the most divisive domestic political issues — immigration and border crossings — into the middle of an intensifying debate over wartime foreign policy.When Congress returns this coming week from the holiday break, Biden’s request will be a top item on the to-do list, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Failure risks delaying U.S. military aid to Ky...

Employee shot at liquor store is latest victim of armed robbery sprees across Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- An employee of a liquor store was shot during an armed robbery spree on the city's North Side Friday night.According to police, the incident occurred at a liqour store in the 4400 block of West Belmont Avenue around 10:25 p.m. The man relayed to officers that he was working when two unidentified men wearing masks entered the liqour store and shot him after they say him. The individuals fled the scene on foot. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital where he is listed in fair condition. Woman, 2 kids injured in hit-and-run crash on South Side Ten other armed robberies were reported in the Chicagoland area Friday. Police said the men are exiting a black Nissan ultima, armed with handguns and demanding property.A dozen armed robberies were also reported on the Southwest side Thanksgiving Day. In those incidents, the suspects were reported driving a Toyota or Hyundai. There is currently no one in custody and po...

Will Texas Christmas trees be affected by 2023's extreme weather?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – When one thinks of Texas, Christmas trees may not be the first industry to come to mind. Stan Reed, the Executive Secretary of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, would agree – Christmas trees and Texas isn’t the most obvious pairing. Still, farmers around the state produce over two million Christmas trees annually, and the industry racks in tens of millions of dollars for the state a year, Reed said.  What a strong El Niño pattern means for Texas winter weather “First thing when you think of Texas, it's either chili or something else. You never think of Christmas trees,” Reed said. “Over the years, [it] has blossomed into a larger and larger industry.” “There's about four types of Christmas trees that grow really well in Texas,” he added. How has the turbulent Texas weather affected crops?Reed said drought conditions can affect how fast and tall a tree can grow. “[Drought conditions] have diminished the growth of some of the crop...

Cold for now but a warming trend starts Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Clouds will increase this morning leading to a low chance of rain this afternoon. Rain chances go up this evening into the overnight hours. There may be a little rain in some areas Sunday morning.Rain chances go up this afternoon and tonightTemperatures will remain on the chilly side with most highs below the normal of 68°. Maximums today will peak in the upper 50s to low 60s. A cold front heads here overnight. It arrives in Austin around sunrise (7:05). Wind speeds out of the north will increase behind the cold front. The forecast is for speeds up to 10 to 20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph resulting in lower temperatures Sunday afternoon.Gusty winds behind Sunday's cold frontMonday will be the coldest day of the next seven with highs only in the low to mid 50s. Lows both Monday and Tuesday mornings will be in the 30s areawide with the potential of some freezing lows in the Hill Country.Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be dry. After the mid 50s Monday, highs Tuesday ...