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In the news today: Challenging week ahead for crews battling B.C. wildfires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Wind poses challenge in B.C. wildfire fightThe operations director at the BC Wildfire Service says firefighters are bracing for a “challenging week” as hot and dry conditions are expected to persist.Cliff Chapman says winds are gusting from 40 to 70 kilometres an hour in southern B.C., making it difficult to suppress and contain fires burning in the region.He says the conditions, coupled with steep terrain of fires, including the Downton Lake wildfire burning 110 kilometres northwest of Whistler, B.C., is also making it difficult to use heavy equipment and air fleet effectively.Chapman says crews working on the Downton Lake blaze, which has already destroyed at least a dozen homes around Gun Lake, will aim to steer the flames away from the community amid windy conditions. —Here’s what else we’re watching …UBC research blames ...

Trump returns to D.C. to face latest charges, steps from scene of Capitol Hill riots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is returning to the scene of the alleged crime.The former president is scheduled to appear in D.C. court today to confront new charges related to his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The hearing at the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse will play out just steps from Capitol Hill, where legions of Trump’s supporters stormed Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump faces four new charges: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. Tuesday’s 45-page indictment — the third against Trump in just four months — lays out in precise detail a multi-pronged effort to prevent Joe Biden from being confirmed as U.S. president. Trump is already facing 74 other charges, including 34 felony counts in New York tied to hush-money payments, and 40 more in Florida over classified documents he allegedly stored at his Mar-a-Lago s...

Wind gusting up to 70 km/h poses challenges in B.C. wildfire fight: fire service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

VANCOUVER — The operations director at the BC Wildfire Service says firefighters are bracing for a “challenging week” as hot and dry conditions are expected to persist.Cliff Chapman says winds are gusting from 40 to 70 kilometres an hour in southern B.C., making it difficult to suppress and contain fires burning in the region.He says the conditions, coupled with steep terrain of fires, including the Downton Lake wildfire burning 110 kilometres northwest of Whistler, B.C., is also making it difficult to use heavy equipment and air fleet effectively.Chapman says crews working on the Downton Lake blaze, which has already destroyed at least a dozen homes around Gun Lake, will aim to steer the flames away from the community amid windy conditions. An evacuation order covering the more than 200 properties around the lake was issued Tuesday and quickly upgraded to critical, urging the seasonal and permanent residents to leave for Lillooet or Whistler.The Thompson-Nicola Regional...

Daily horoscope for August 3, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Pisces.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023:You are charming, sensitive and sometimes dramatic. You are generous and an excellent networker. This year is the final year of a nine-year cycle, which means it’s time to let go of people and places that are holding you back. This is not loss. This is lightening up!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★As this day begins, you might second-guess yourself. You might feel inadequate or slightly fearful. Life feels hard. (We all have these feelings.) Ironically, as the day progresses, you get happier and more confident! Like, what’s with that? Tonight: Patience.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Earlier in the day, discussions with friends or members of a group might discourage you. Someone might criticize you. Discussions with romantic partners are likewise a drag. You also might be worried about your kids. Then, voila! Interaction with someone lift...

Commission approves €54 million Italian scheme to support companies in the region of Abruzzo in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €54 million Italian scheme to support small and medium-sized companies (‘SMEs') active in the region of Abruzzo in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable member states to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants up to a maximum of €600,000 per SMEs active in the region of Abruzzo and affected by the crisis due to certain circumstances, such as increases in energy costs, decreases in turnover and trade and interruption of existing contracts or projec...

Miss Manners: We accidentally invited them to the wedding. How do we undo it?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We are planning a wedding, and have far more loved ones we would like to invite than the venue (and our budget) will allow. For that reason, we reluctantly constructed “A” and “B” guest lists.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Should I report my mother-in-law for her workplace crime? Advice | Miss Manners: Can we tell the in-laws what wedding gift would be appropriate? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I allowed to point out that these people are short? Advice | Miss Manners: I don’t want to give away any more avocados after what she did Advice | Miss Manners: Am I the only one bothered by how the kids say no? The “A” list was composed primarily of local members of our two large families, plus very close friends who are members of the wedding party. The people on the “B” list are equally loved and valued friends, plus more distant relat...

Dear Abby: He put security cameras everywhere, and now he’s logging our activities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My husband is addicted to our home security cameras.He, my 19-year-old daughter and I live in a townhouse, and he has installed no fewer than 20 cameras in and around our home.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: The photos he takes of me are threatening our marriage Advice | Dear Abby: My friends are going to be angry about what I’ve hidden from them Advice | Dear Abby: My parents took in my ex while I had to live in my car Advice | Dear Abby: My friend makes silly excuses for why her husband won’t see me Advice | Dear Abby: Would it be awkward to invite her to my wedding dinner? He’s always looking at them, when I’m on my way out to run errands or to visit my older daughter and even while we are eating dinner. He has started keeping a log of my daughter’s and my activities and what our neighbors are doing.What is wrong with him?UNDER A MICROSCOPE IN CALIFORNIADEA...

Donald Trump will make his 1st court appearance in DC. Here’s what to expect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

Former President Donald Trump will be in D.C. Thursday afternoon in his first court appearance over felony charges alleging that he worked to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. Here’s what you need to know.More on the latest Trump indictmentTrump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 election and block transfer of powerTrump has now been indicted in a third case. Here’s where all the investigations standThe judge assigned to Trump’s Jan. 6 case is a tough punisher of Capitol riotersTrump will be taken by motorcade from the airport to the E. Barrett Prettyman federal courthouse on Constitution Avenue. On Wednesday night, workers put up fencing in the courthouse area.https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WJLA_DC_COURTHOUSE_FENCING.mp4(Video courtesy 7News)The plan calls for the U.S. Secret Service to drive him down into the courthouse garage, where U.S. Marshals will take him for processing, CB...

Beyoncé fans are ‘back outside’ to see Renaissance Tour at FedEx Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Beyonce at FedEx Field (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); She’s the most decorated artist in Grammy history with a record 32 wins from a record 88 nominations.This Saturday and Sunday, Beyoncé brings her “Renaissance Tour” to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.We’re getting hyped by chatting with local folks who have tickets for this weekend.WTOP&#...

Brewers host the Pirates in first of 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (48-59, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (58-51, second in the NL Central)Milwaukee; Thursday, 7:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Mitch Keller (9-7, 3.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 145 strikeouts); Brewers: Adrian Houser (3-3, 4.43 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 52 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -131, Pirates +111; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday to open a four-game series.Milwaukee has gone 29-24 in home games and 58-51 overall. The Brewers are 39-7 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Pittsburgh is 48-59 overall and 22-31 in road games. The Pirates have a 21-6 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Brewers are up 5-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Yelich has 26 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs for the Brewers. William Contreras is 12-for-41 with five doubles and a home ru...