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Russia will only resume nuclear tests if the US does it first, a top Russian diplomat says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia will move to revoke the ratification of a global nuclear test ban to put itself on par with the United States but will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does it first, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday.Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that Moscow will rescind the ratification of the nuclear test ban treaty to “mirror” the action by the U.S. He added that if the U.S. conducts a nuclear test, “we will be forced to mirror that as well.”The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, adopted in 1996 and known as the CTBT, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. It was signed by both the Russian and U.S. presidents but was never ratified by the U.S. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could consider rescinding its 2000 decision to ratify the bill. Putin noted that while some experts have talked about the need to conduct nuclear tests, he hasn’t yet formed ...

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visits neighboring Romania to discuss security and boost ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to neighboring Romania on Tuesday for talks with his counterpart on regional security and strengthening bilateral ties against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of his country.Zelenskyy met with President Klaus Iohannis in the capital, Bucharest. The two are also expected to discuss security cooperation in the Black Sea region, Zelenskyy said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.After he arrived in Romania, Zelenskyy described the NATO and European Union member country as “a friend who came to our help on our darkest day and whose support gets stronger with time.”In recent weeks, Russia has carried out sustained attacks on Ukraine’s Danube River ports — located just across the river from Romania — as Moscow aims to disrupt Ukraine’s ability to export grain to world markets. Romania has confirmed drone fragment findings on its territory, the type used by the Russian army near its border wi...

Dollars and sense: Can financial literacy help students learn math?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inside a high school classroom, Bryan Martinez jots down several purchases that would require a short-term savings plan: shoes, phone, headphones, clothes, and food.His medium-term financial goals take a little more thought, but he settles on a car — he doesn’t have one yet — and vacations. Peering way into his future, the 18-year-old also imagines saving money to buy a house, start his own business, retire, and perhaps provide any children with a college fund. Martinez’s friend next to him writes a different long-term goal: Buy a private jet.“You have to be a millionaire to save up for that,” Martinez says with a chuckle.Call it a reality check or an introduction to a critical life skill, this exercise occurred in a course called Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications. The elective math class has been a mainstay in Capital City Public Charter School’s offerings for more than a decade, giving students a foundation in money management while they hone mat...

Millennial Money: 3 ways to save money in a high-cost city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

Traditional money-saving advice may not cut it if you live in one of America’s most expensive cities or urban areas. Residents of New York City, San Francisco, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Orange County, California, among others, are paying much more than the national average for housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, health care, and other goods and services.There is a silver lining, though: High-cost cities can come with unique opportunities to save, such as housing lotteries, discounted tickets to cultural institutions for residents, and specialty grocery stores and farmers markets.STREAMLINE YOUR GROCERY ROUTINEIt can be more convenient to shop for groceries weekly at a traditional grocery store, but if you’re looking to cut costs in an expensive city, it may be worth the extra effort to shop wholesale and supplement with smaller, budget-friendly trips to the local grocery store.“Shopping at Costco has made it really stark how much of a markup I accepted ...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps near 60 with mostly sunny conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Cool conditions with temperatures near 60 Tuesday. Mostly sunny, Winds: W 5-15. High: 60.Frost Advisory issued until 8 a.m. (all counties except central & northern cook and lake IL). Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly clear tonight, patchy frost possible. Winds: W 0-5. Low: 40.Wednesday Forecast: Increasing Clouds, late day rain/storms, W 0-5. High: 63.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Frustration grows amid struggle to roll out new RSV, COVID shots for children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

(The Hill) - Insurance barriers and distribution challenges are marring the rollout of highly anticipated new shots to protect babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and young kids from COVID-19, drawing anger and frustration from parents and pediatricians. Medical practices don’t know when, or how much, they will get paid for the pricey RSV shot, and they are struggling to find workarounds. For the updated COVID-19 vaccine, parents are finding availability is scattered, despite it being approved nearly a month ago. The vaccines come in different packaging and different dose sizes depending on the brand, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only recently said it's OK to mix and match brands for young kids. Some pharmacies also have age cutoffs, meaning a visit to a pediatrician is the only way to get a young child vaccinated.Alexis Young has been trying for weeks to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine for her three-year-old son, who started school f...

What is Hamas and what is it fighting for?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched an attack inside Israel over the weekend, killing hundreds and taking others hostage. Its unprecedented breach of the border sent fighters inside border communities and military installations, shocked Israel and its allies, and raised questions about the group’s capabilities and strategy.WHAT IS HAMAS?The group was founded in 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian refugee living in Gaza, during the first intifada, or uprising, which was marked by widespread protests against Israel’s occupation.Hamas is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, and a recognition of the group’s roots and early ties to one of the Sunni world’s most prominent groups, the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the 1920s.The group has vowed to annihilate Israel and has been responsible for many suicide bombings and other deadly attacks on civilians and Israeli soldiers.The U.S. State Department has designated Hamas...

Voter Guide: What you need to know ahead of the November 2023 election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — From state constitutional amendments to school district propositions, voters will have a lot to decide on in November.Early voting runs from Oct. 23 through Nov. 3. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.Here's what you need to know before heading to the polls.What am I going to see on my ballot?Every voter who shows up to the polls in Texas will get to vote on 14 proposed amendments to the state constitution, from lowering property taxes to increasing the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices. LIST: The 14 constitutional amendments Texas will vote on In addition, several local cities, counties and school districts will appear on the ballot.The following cities have propositions: Bartlett, Bastrop, Georgetown, Jarrell, Manor, Meadowlakes and Pflugerville.The following cities will choose their next mayor: Horseshoe Bay, Kyle, Lago Vista, Lockhart and Woodcreek.The following cities will choose council members or aldermen: Horseshoe Bay, Jarrell, Jonestown, ...

How to stay safe sharing the road with driverless cars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Whether you love them or hate them, driverless vehicles are expanding operations across Austin.According to a recent city memo, approximately 125 autonomous vehicles from three companies are currently in commercial or testing phases.For some, this brings about the question of what folks can do to stay safe while sharing the roads with these cars of the future. Cruise driverless cars turning heads in Austin Over the last decade, Austin-based Aceable has been educating and licensing drivers all across the state of Texas.With many more autonomous vehicles rolling around, its CEO, Blake Garrett, believes driver education and certification will inevitably change."There's a bit of a shock factor," Garrett said. "So, if you see one, you must continue to drive. Then try to control what you can control and that's making sure you're aware of anybody impeding your progress as a driver."We also asked Garrett what to do if find yourself in a crash or collision with one of these...

Skunk native to Texas will not be added to endangered or threatened species list

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — State-funded studies mean a skunk native to Texas will not be named as endangered or threatened, despite a petition asking for the designation, according to a press release the Texas comptroller's office.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was petitioned in 2011 to name the plains spotted skunk as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.At the time, FWS believed the species was at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and degradation. The agency identified several potential causes, including urbanization, agricultural practices and pesticides.But research funded by the Texas comptroller's office suggests otherwise. The research, by Angelo State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at Austin, addressed "critical knowledge gaps," according to the comptroller's office."The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision not to list the plains spotted skunk exemplifies the importance of a state-coordinated approach to speci...