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European Space Agency meeting to dodge manned spaceflight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

Presented by ASD By CALEB LARSON with LAURA KAYALI, JOSHUA POSANER and VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— The European Space Agency will hold a meeting today in Spain, to discuss the long-delayed Ariane 6 rocket system.— France is muscling into new defense contracts in countries Russia considers its sphere of influence. — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired his special operations forces commander without explanation.Good morning, and welcome to Morning Defense. Tips to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] or follow us at @joshposaner, @LauKaya and @calebmlarson.DRIVING THE DAYSPACE SUMMIT: The European Space Agency holds a ministerial meeting in Seville today, ahead of a space-focused EU competitiveness Council to be held on Tuesday under the Spanish Council presidency. Expect updates on every...

Zelenskyy’s top aide slams West

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

World leaders should stick by Ukraine, despite the additional demands of dealing with the Israel-Hamas war, the Ukrainian president’s powerful chief of staff told POLITICO in an interview from Kyiv.Andrii Yermak, top aide to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also pushed back hard on the idea, voiced last week by Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in a call with Russian pranksters, that many are growing tired of the war in Ukraine, which on Friday faced its biggest barrage of drone attacks in weeks on critical infrastructure in the south and west of the country.Meloni said in the prank call — in which she thought she was speaking to the president of the African Union — that there was “a lot of fatigue … from all sides,” and that “everyone understands that we need a way out.” Yermak retorted: “Even if there are people who feel this fatigue, I’m sure they don’t want to wake up in a world tomorrow where there will be less freedom and less security, and ...

Over 100 firearms collected at North County gun safety event: SDSO

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

ENCINITAS, Calif. — Over 100 firearms were surrendered to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office on Saturday during an event that aims to prevent unwanted guns from ending up on county streets.The event, which was held outside Encinitas City Hall in the 500 block of South Vulcan Avenue, was one of multiple gift card buybacks held every year by SDSO alongside local law enforcement partners.Those who turned in weapons during the event received a gift card in exchange. Individuals received a $100 gift card for turning in a handgun, rifle or shotgun. $200 gift cards were handed out for assault weapons and ghost guns.A total of 105 firearms — including handguns, rifles and assault-style weapons — were turned in by the public on Saturday, according to SDSO. Gun prevention town hall hosted in Solana Beach In addition, 20 cable locks and 35 gun safety lock boxes were also handed out free of cost to people at the event looking to secure firearms kept in their homes.All weapons collected on...

Families demanding city action after second shooting in Clairemont park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Clairemont families rallied on Sunday to demand more action from the city following two shootings at North Clairemont Recreation Center that took place within months of each other.The first shooting, which left a 22-year-old man dead, happened just before noon on a Sunday in February — peak time for families to take their children to the park near the recreation center. A 19-year-old man and a juvenile boy were later arrested in connection to the shooting.Nine months later, on Oct. 24, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the leg by another juvenile near the Recreation Center. San Diego police gang detectives are still investigating the incident. Gun prevention town hall hosted in Solana Beach "Children shooting children is unacceptable and we need to stand up as a community," rally organizer, Michael Pallamary, said to FOX 5 Sunday. Pallamary has lived in the Clairemont neighborhood for more than 40 years.“It’s a beautiful park — we’re in the heart of Clairemont," he continu...

Israeli troops surround Gaza City and cut off the northern part of the besieged territory

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops early Monday had surrounded Gaza City and cut off the northern part of the besieged territory as communications lost for several hours across Gaza overnight were gradually being restored.Troops are expected to enter the city Monday or Tuesday, Israeli media reported, and militants who have prepared for years are expected to fight street by street using a vast network of tunnels. Casualties will likely rise on both sides in the month-old war, which has already killed more than 9,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.Some 1.5 million Palestinians, or around 70% of the population, have fled their homes since the war began with a bloody Hamas incursion into Israel that killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians. Food, medicine, fuel and water are running low, and U.N.-run schools-turned-shelters are beyond capacity, with many sleeping on the streets outside.Israel has so far rejected U.S. suggestions for a pause in fig...

Live updates | Gaza loses communications again as Israeli troops set to enter Hamas-ruled enclave

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

Israeli troops divided the northern and southern parts of Gaza ahead of an expected advance into the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave, as communications in the territory were cut Monday for a third time since the war started. The troops will enter Gaza City in the coming 48 hours, Israeli media reported.The developments came after Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. Israel has so far rejected U.S. suggestions that it take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza amid rising civilian deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank on Sunday for a previously unannounced meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken later flew to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 9,700 with more than 4,000 of them children and minors, according to the Hamas...

With the end of Daylight Saving Time, the loss of daylight really hits home; Chicago area is losing 2 minutes and 22 seconds of daylight each day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

We've already noticed the days have been getting shorter, but with the end of Daylight Saving Time the loss of daylight really hits home.  Right now, the Chicago area is losing 2 minutes and 22 seconds of daylight each day.  The region will have lost more than 50 minutes of daylight over the next month.  By the time we reach the winter solstice, December 21, Chicago will have lost more than an hour of daylight. Our days will continue to shorten-- all the way until the Winter Solstice next month-- though today is the day you might notice it the most. The length of day yesterday was about 10 hours and 14 minutes-- today we'll have 10 hours and 12 minutes of daylight-- but we've moved an hour of that daylight back to the morning with the jump to standard time. Both sunrise and sunset are an hour earlier than yesterday. We'll stay on standard time until March 10th next year. While there's been small moves in Congress to stop doing the twice annual clock-changing rout...

The effect of AI on identity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved in recent years, fundamentally transforming various aspects of our lives. One of the profound and often overlooked consequences of this transformation is its impact on human identity. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily routines, work, and social interactions, it shapes and challenges our understanding of who we are. In this article, we will explore the multifaceted effect of AI on identity, discussing both the positive and negative aspects of this technological revolution, writes Colin Stevens.Redefining work and professional identityAI has disrupted traditional career paths and job roles. Automation and machine learning have led to the displacement of certain tasks, creating new opportunities and challenges. This shift has required individuals to adapt and often redefine their professional identities. Many jobs have evolved to incorporate AI, with employees now working alongside intelligent machines. This has led to a fusio...

Live updates | Israeli troops surround Gaza City ahead of expected advance into Hamas-ruled enclave

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

Israeli troops divided the northern and southern parts of Gaza ahead of an expected advance into the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave, as communications across the territory were temporarily cut Monday for a third time since the war started. The troops are expected to enter Gaza City on Monday or Tuesday, Israeli media reported.The developments came after Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. Israel has so far rejected U.S. suggestions that it take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza amid rising civilian deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank on Sunday for a previously unannounced meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken later flew to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 9,700 with more than 4,000 of them children and minor...

South Korea plans to launch its first military spy satellite on Nov. 30

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:57 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Monday it plans to launch its first domestically built spy satellite at the end of this month to better monitor rival North Korea as it expands its arsenal of nuclear weapons.The plan was unveiled days after North Korea failed to follow through on a vow to make a third attempt to launch its own reconnaissance satellite in October, likely because of technical issues.Jeon Ha Gyu, a spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry, told reporters Monday that the country’s first military spy satellite will be launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base on Nov. 30.The satellite will be carried by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Under a contract with SpaceX, South Korea plans to launch four more spy satellites by 2025, according to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration.South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and relies on U.S. spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea. The possession...