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City of Escondido approves water rate increases for five years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Escondido City Council approved new water rate increases set to begin Jan. 1 and will increase each year for the next five years.Residents had been outspoken about the possibility of a nearly 20% increase next year alone.“It is by far the highest hike proposed over the past 12 years,” Sandra Otteson said.The city’s utilities department had proposed the steep increases to maintain the city's water infrastructure — and to pay for more imported water. “We find ourselves grappling with escalating grocery prices, soaring gas, costs, elevated electricity, bills and soon-to-be higher water rates. Where is the empathy? Where is the compassion,” Matthew Roxo asked.Escondido purchases about 75% of its water from the San Diego County Water Authority.“I’m frustrated in particular with the county water authority and not putting their focus on more water storage,” Escondido Mayor Dane White said. San Diego takes top spot in ranking of most expensive places to live in U.S. Ul...

Former US officials ask Pakistan not to deport Afghans seeking relocation to the United States

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A group of former U.S. diplomats and representatives of resettlement organizations asked Pakistan not to deport thousands of Afghans who have been waiting for U.S. visas under an American program that relocates at-risk Afghan refugees fleeing Taliban rule.The appeal in an open letter on Wednesday signed by 80 former U.S. officials, dignitaries and resettlement groups came weeks after Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants living in the country illegally, including 1.7 million Afghans, telling them to return to their home countries by Oct. 31 to avoid mass arrest and expulsion.Last week, the United Nations said such forced deportations of Afghans could lead to human rights violations — including the separation of families. However, Pakistan denies targeting Afghans and says the focus is on people who are in the country illegally, regardless of their nationality. On Thursday, authorities in Pakistan said time was running out for migrants who are living in the coun...

Japan’s exports rise and imports decline in September as auto shipments to US and Europe climb

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s exports climbed 4.3% in September from a year earlier as shipments of vehicles, machinery and electronics rose while imports of oil and gas fell sharply, the government said Thursday.Exports totaled 9.2 trillion yen ($61 billion) in September while imports fell 16.3% from the year before to 10.9 trillion yen ($72 billion), according to provisional customs data released Thursday. That left a positive balance of 62.4 trillion yen ($410 billion), the first monthly trade surplus in three months.September’s increase in exports was the biggest gain since March and was stronger than analysts had expected. The figures suggest strong activity in Japan’s vital manufacturing sector despite faltering global demand. Economists said the drop in imports was mainly due to base effects from the year before.In the first half of Japan’s fiscal year, from April-September, exports edged up just 1.4% from a year earlier, to a record 50.2 trillion yen ($330 billion) ...

Commission proposes measures to reduce microplastic pollution from plastic pellets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

The Commission is proposing for the first time measures to prevent microplastic pollution from the unintentional release of plastic pellets.Currently, between 52 and 184 thousand tonnes of pellets are released in the environment each year due to mishandling throughout the entire supply chain. The proposal aims to ensure that all operators handling pellets in the EU take the necessary precautionary measures. This is expected to reduce pellet release by up to 74%, leading to cleaner ecosystems, contributing to plastic-free rivers and ocean, and reducing potential risks to human health. Common EU-wide measures will also help level the playing field for operators. The proposal covers notably best practices for operators regarding handling of pellets, mandatory certification and self-declarations, and a common methodology to estimate losses. Lighter requirements will apply to small and medium businesses to help them comply. The proposal will now be taken forward by the European Parliamen...

EU leaders hold extraordinary meeting on the Israel-Hamas war as differences appeared in their messaging

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

The 27 EU leaders met on Tuesday (17 October) in Brussels for an extraordinary Council on the Israel-Hamas war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen showed a more stronger pro-Israel position than EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, writes Yossi Lempkowicz. In a statement issued Sunday by European Union Council President Charles Michel, the 27 leaders condemned “in the strongest possible terms Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel”.But the statement also addressed the situation in Gaza, stressing the importance of “the provision of urgent humanitarian aid” and the need to help citizens most in need in the Gaza Strip.A number of EU citizens have been taken hostage in the conflict. And other EU citizens are in the Gaza Strip.Despite this statement, ension has appeared between the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell .Last week, the European Copmmissioner responsible for neighbor...

Police searching for driver in fatal hit-and-run in Pasadena

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

Police in Pasadena are searching for a driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident Wednesday night, authorities confirmed to KTLA.  The violent two vehicle collision happened at around 9:15 p.m. near the intersection of North Raymond Avenue and East Penn Street.  One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene and another was transported to a hospital in unknown condition.  Damage sustained to a vehicle during a fatal hit-and-run in Pasadena on Oct. 18, 2023. (RMG News)First responders on the scene in Pasadena after a fatal hit-and-run on Oct. 18, 2023. (RMG News)It is unclear what led to the collision, but video taken at the scene shows extreme damage to the passenger side of one of the vehicles with both the front and back doors sheared off. A second vehicle shows front end damage.  According to Pasadena PD, both vehicles remained at the scene, but the driver of the second vehicle fled the area on foot.  No further details were provided.  

Steph Curry hits game-winning 3 in Warriors preseason win over Kings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors were down by as many as 18 points late in the third quarter. In the preseason, that kind of deficit might call for coaches to empty the bench and call it a loss. But the Warriors aren’t just trying to get through the preseason unscathed; a big deficit provided no better opportunity for this new-look team to mount a comeback together.The Warriors’ 116-115 win over the Sacramento Kings ended with a bang. Down two points with 11 seconds remaining on an inbound pass from Chris Paul, Steph Curry shook off De’Aaron Fox to create just enough space for a game-winning 3-pointer.The swish sent the Chase Center crowd into a frenzy typically reserved for meaningful basketball, but the comeback win meant something to the team, too. Golden State is now 4-0 in the preseason with a blowout win and narrow road win against the Lakers along with an overtime win and comeback victories against the Kings.“It’s been great for us,” head...

Sports stars get set to compete at Pan American Games in Chile

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino and Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz are among the athletes set to compete in the Pan American Games in Santiago between Friday and Nov. 5.The Pan American Games, the largest multi-sport event in the Americas, are held every four years and precede the Olympics by a year. Santiago will debut as host. The Opening Ceremony will be Friday.REBECA ANDRADE (Brazil)Possibly the biggest star going to Chile, Andrade is Brazil’s most decorated gymnast in history. Earlier this month, she defeated American great Simone Biles to take the vault gold at the world championship in Antwerp. The 24-year-old Brazilian won two medals at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago: gold in the vault competition and silver in the all-round individual. She will have her debut in Pan American Games. Andrade has nine medals in world championships, including three golds. After beating Biles,...

Russian and North Korean foreign ministers meet amid Western suspicions about weapons transfers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

The foreign ministers of Russia and North Korea met Thursday in Pyongyang for talks expected to focus on how to boost their military ties, days after the United States accused the North of sending fresh shipments of munitions to Russia to support its war efforts in Ukraine.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flew to Pyongyang on Wednesday for a two-day trip. During a reception speech later in the day, Lavrov said he thanked North Korea for its strong support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.The focus of outside attention to Lavrov’s visit is whether the two countries would provide any hints of how they would solidify their security cooperation or announce the timing for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s promised trip to Pyongyang to reciprocate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia’s Far East last month.During his travel to Russia, Kim met Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia’s most important domestic space launch center, and inspected other key Russian weapons-makin...

MLB playoffs 2023: Suárez tries to give Phils 3-0 lead at D-Backs; Astros try to even ALCS at Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

Ranger Suárez says last year’s World Series loss is on the minds of the Philadelphia Phillies.“We want to complete what we didn’t complete last year, which was to win the World Series,” he said Wednesday about trying to give the Phillies a 3-0 NL Championship Series lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Philadelphia swept the first two games at home, winning 10-0 Tuesday night with another power display. Kyle Schwarber hit two of Philadelphia’s three solo homers off Merrill Kelly, Trea Turner also connected and J.T. Realmuto had two hits and three RBIs as Philadelphia improved to 7-1 in the playoffs, moving closer to a second straight World Series appearance. Aaron Nola tossed three-hit ball and struck out seven in six innings.Game 3 is Thursday at Chase Field, with Suárez set to start for the Phillies against Brandon PfaadtHouston tries to even the AL Championship Series 2-2 when it plays at Texas on Thursday night. José Urquidy starts for the Astros and Andrew Heaney for the Ra...