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Russia agrees to extend Ukraine grain deal in a boost for global food security

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

By SUZAN FRASER, JAMEY KEATEN and COURTNEY BONNELL (Associated Press)ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia agreed to extend a deal that has allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday, a boost to global food security after the war launched more than a year ago drove up prices. “I want to give a good news,” Erdogan said. “With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends and the contribution of our Ukrainian friends, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has been extended by another two months.”Turkey and the U.N. brokered the breakthrough accord with the warring sides last summer, which came with a separate agreement to facilitate shipments of Russian food and fertilizer that Moscow insists hasn’t been applied. Russia had set a Thursday deadline for its concerns to be ironed out or had threatened to bow out. Such brinkmanship isn̵...

Prince Harry, Meghan involved in car chase while being followed by photographers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were involved in a car chase while being followed by photographers following a charity event in New York, the couple’s office said Wednesday.The pair, together with Meghan’s mother, were followed for more than two hours by a half-dozen vehicles with blacked out windows after leaving the event.Their office said in a statement that the chase “resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers.” It called the incident “near catastrophic.”“While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety,” the statement from the couple said.Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi in Paris.

Former Vikings, and Boston Patriot, QB Joe Kapp remembered

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

Joe Kapp, the hard-nosed quarterback who routinely ran into tacklers instead of away from them while leading the Minnesota Vikings to their first Super Bowl and California to its last Rose Bowl, has died. He was 85.Kapp was also a Boston Patriot! (Pardon us AP, but we had to edit in this gem).According to NFL.com: “A rare free agent in 1970, Kapp signed with the Boston Patriots two weeks into the season, leading the AFC team to a league-worst 2-12 record. After the Pats drafted Jim Plunkett No. 1 overall in the 1971 draft and amid a contract squabble, Kapp left the Pats after one year and never played in professional football again.”Cal confirmed that Kapp died. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for the last 15 years and was residing in an assisted living facility, his son J.J. Kapp said.FROM THE ARCHIVES:HERALD TRAVELER, November 8, 1970HERALD TRAVELER, November 2, 1970HERALD TRAVELER, August 1971The family made plans to send his brain to UC San Francisco researc...

MTS work stoppage impacts bus service across San Diego

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A Metropolitan Transit System work stoppage impacted several bus routes across San Diego Wednesday, transportation officials said.A rally broke out Tuesday and continued Wednesday morning as bus drivers were seen picketing outside of the MTS South Bay transportation service, located at 3610 Main Street in Chula Vista, due to ongoing negotiations between Transdev and its bus operators.Bus routes out of the South Bay Division that could be affected include: 1, 3, 5, 27, 28, 35, 225, 701, 704, 705, 709, 712, 901, 904, 905, 906, 907, 909, 916, 917, 923, 929, 932, 933, 934, 950/950A, 955, 961, 962, 963, 967, 968, 992.If the work stoppage continues, weekday minibus routes 14, 18, 25, 83, 84, 833, 838, 944, 945, 946, 964, 965, 985 could be impacted. On weekends, 832, 833, 838, 945, 965 Saturday service and 832, 833, 838 routes on Sundays may be affected. City Council votes to sue SeaWorld San Diego The East County Bus Division service, which is also operated by Transdev, may...

Tow truck struck by gunfire in North County: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- A tow truck was struck by gunfire around 1 a.m. in Oceanside Wednesday, authorities said. According to the Oceanside Police Department, the driver of the vehicle was in the process of towing another vehicle on Mesa Drive, just east of El Camino Real, when shots rang out in his direction. Police conduct homicide investigation at Campland on the Bay At that time, authorities say the the driver stopped towing the vehicle and called 911 to report the incident. The tow truck was hit by multiple bullets, but OPD says the driver was not injured during the shooting. There's no word yet on whether or not a suspect has been apprehended in connection to this incident. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are still being investigated. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Long weekend forecast: How the weather is shaping up for Victoria Day

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

For many Canadians, the Victoria Day long weekend is the unofficial kick-off for summer, and thankfully for southern Ontario residents, the forecast looks rather promising.The third week of May has been beautiful, particularly for those living in Toronto, with plenty of sunshine despite an unusually cold day on Wednesday. The rest of the week looks fantastic, with sunny skies forecasted on Thursday and Friday, with daytime highs of 16 C and 20 C.The one blip on the weather radar is on Saturday, as there is a high probability of showers in Toronto and across most of southern Ontario, which could make the start of the weekend a wash.Conditions will rapidly improve, though, as Sunday looks stunning with a daytime high of 22 C and mainly sunny skies across the city. Victoria Day Monday will be cooler (a daytime high of 15 C), but the sunshine will be present all day.Elsewhere in the GTA, Halton-Peel regions, including Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville and Burlington, should expect a simil...

Second escaped inmate captured after breaking out of Philadelphia prison

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — An escaped inmate has been recaptured Wednesday morning in Pennsylvania after breaking out of a prison where he had been held on charges of killing four people. It was the second of two inmates apprehended after escaping from a Philadelphia prison earlier this month, authorities said.City police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Ameen Hurst, 18, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in the city’s West Philadelphia section, but further details on the capture were not immediately disclosed.Hurst and Nasir Grant, 24, escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center on May 7 by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons has said. The two men were gone for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing.While Hurst had been charged with four counts of murder, Grant was being held on conspiracy drug charges and conspiracy weapons charges. Officials have said the inmates were housed in the same unit, b...

Penguin Random House sues Florida school district over book bans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Publisher Penguin Random House and PEN America sued a Florida school district Wednesday over its removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities, the latest opposition to a policy central to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda as he prepares to run for president.The federal lawsuit alleges the Escambia County School District and its School Board are violating the First Amendment through the removal of 10 books from library shelves.The case does not name DeSantis as a defendant though the Republican governor has championed policies that allow the censorship and challenging of books based on whether they are appropriate for children in schools, causing national uproar.DeSantis, who is expected to announce his presidential candidacy in the coming days, has leaned heavily into cultural divides on race, sexual orientation and gender as he moves to win support from conservative voters who decide Republican primary elections.“Books have the capacity to change lives for the...

Arab foreign ministers welcome Syria’s return to the Arab League ahead of Jeddah summit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Arab foreign ministers Wednesday in Saudi Arabia welcomed back Syria to the Arab League and called for a cease-fire in conflict-hit Sudan ahead of the organization’s annual summit taking place in the kingdom.This year’s summit, starting Friday in the city of Jeddah, will mark the readmittance of war-torn Syria into the 22-member league, after a 12-year suspension.Syria’s membership was frozen following Syrian President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on the 2011 mass protests against his rule. The country quickly descended into a civil war that has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Wednesday that the region is at a crossroads, facing a host of challenges. He called for cooperation between Arab countries to achieve security, stability and economic prosperity.Bin Farhan also welcomed Syria’s return, as did the leagu...

Thailand’s Move Forward Party in talks with 5 other parties in attempt to form coalition government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:22 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s progressive Move Forward Party on Wednesday held its first face-to-face discussions with five other parties in an attempt to form a coalition government, three days after scoring a stunning national election victory.A new government will be formed in July when the House of Representatives and the appointed Senate select a new prime minister. Because of the joint vote, Sunday’s election victor is not assured of taking power.Representatives of the five parties, mostly members of the opposition to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s conservative government, met for several hours Wednesday. Afterward they emerged smiling and posed for photos with hands linked in a sign of unity.Chief among the potential partners is the Pheu Thai party, currently the biggest opposition group in the House, which had been favored to top the polls but ended up running a close second.“It went quite smoothly,” said Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, a 42-year-old Harvard-edu...