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Tropical Storm Idalia heads out to sea as Florida and Georgia begin arduous cleanup process

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

By TERRY SPENCER (Associated Press)PERRY, Fla. (AP) — Tropical Storm Idalia headed out to sea Thursday after thrashing parts of Florida and Georgia with punishing rains and destructive winds, leaving residents to begin the arduous process of clearing fallen trees, restoring power and picking through the debris of devastated homes.Thus far, authorities have only confirmed only one death, that of a man hit by a falling tree in Georgia. But the storm’s ferocious winds shredded homes in Florida’s Big Bend area, where Idalia roared ashore as a major hurricane. As many as a half-million customers were without power at one point in Florida and Georgia as the storm ripped down power poles.After pounding Florida, Idalia swung east, flooding many of South Carolina’s beaches and leaving some in the state and North Carolina without power before heading back into the Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters said the weakened storm should continue heading away from the U.S. for several days, although of...

Bavaria’s deputy governor rejects new accusations of antisemitic behavior when he was in school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The deputy governor of Germany’s Bavaria state defended himself Thursday against mounting allegations that he was responsible for an antisemitic flyer, gave the Hitler salute, and imitated the Nazi dictator as a high school student — claims that have caused an uproar weeks before a state election.Pressure has been growing on Hubert Aiwanger, who is also Bavaria’s economy minister, to explain himself, as German media have been confronting him with more allegations since the first report about the antisemitic flyer was published last week.Aiwanger told reporters in Munich that “I emphasize again I did not write the pamphlet.” “I don’t remember ever giving a Hitler salute. I did not rehearse Hitler’s speeches in front of the mirror,” Aiwanger said. “Further accusations, like demeaning jokes, I can neither completely deny nor confirm from my memory. If this has happened, I apologize for it.”Aiwanger did previously admit that several copies of the flyer ha...

Pope makes first visit to Mongolia as Vatican relations with Russia and China are again strained

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is travelling to Mongolia to encourage one of the world’s smallest and newest Catholic communities, the first papal visit to the Asian country at a time when the Vatican’s relations with Mongolia’s two powerful neighbors Russia and China are once again strained.Francis arrives in the Mongol capital Ulaanbaatar on Friday morning after an overnight flight passing through Chinese airspace, which will give him a rare opportunity to send a note of greetings to President Xi Jinping. Vatican protocol calls for the pope to send such greetings whenever he flies over a foreign country.After a brief airport welcome, the 86-year-old Francis takes the remainder of the day off to rest before his official program begins Saturday.On tap are official meetings with the Mongolian president and prime minister and a speech before Mongolian government, cultural and business leaders, followed by Francis’ first encounter with the bishops, priests and nuns who form the b...

Poland and South Korea defense ministers discuss security cooperation, support for Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The defense ministers of Poland and South Korea held talks in Warsaw Thursday on security and support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression, as well as on further cooperation in the armaments sector. Poland is purchasing tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons and military equipment from South Korea as it upgrades its defense potential with concern rising because of the war in neighboring Ukraine. The new equipment is also replacing that which Poland has given to Ukraine to help it defend itself against the Russian invasion.Poland’s Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak met with his Korean counterpart Lee Jong-Sup at the Defense Ministry. The military equipment Poland bought from South Korea includes K2 tanks, Thunder K9 howitzers, training and combat FA-50 fighter jets and K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery systems.The Associated Press

Judge to decide whether white man will stand trial for shooting Black teen who went to wrong house

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge is expected to rule Thursday on whether an 84-year-old white homeowner will stand trial for shooting a Black teenager who went to the wrong home to pick up his brothers.A preliminary hearing began Thursday morning for Andrew Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic from Kansas City who is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the April 13 shooting of Ralph Yarl. Lester previously pleaded not guilty.A handful of people wearing shirts that said “Justice for Ralph” were seen entering the courthouse. Others wore shirts that read: “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime.”Yarl continues to heal from the traumatic brain injury he suffered but was able to complete an engineering internship this summer and just started his senior year in high school. The 17-year-old is planning to major in engineering when he graduates, with several college visits planned for the fall.Yarl was supposed to pick up his younger brothers but went to the wro...

EU grapples with its African army training dilemma as another coup rocks the continent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union ministers expressed deep concern Thursday at the growing number of military coups across Africa as the bloc draws up sanctions targeting the junta in Niger which overthrew an elected government a month ago.On Wednesday, the oil-rich nation of Gabon became the eighth Central or West African country to be hit by a military takeover in the last three years. The EU has not been training Gabon’s armed forces -– although French troops have -– but it has funded and taught troops in Mali and Niger.The military training has focused mainly on the volatile Sahel region to combat extremism, particularly groups linked to al-Qaida. Many Europeans worry that instability in Africa will drive more people to flee, and the 27-nation bloc is already divided over how to cope with large numbers of migrant arrivals.Some European countries have strong economic interests in Africa, notably France with its need for Niger’s uranium. The growing influence of Russia, t...

Iceland says commercial whaling can resume after temporary ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Commercial hunting of fin whales can resume in Iceland but with stricter requirements on hunting methods and increased supervision, the North Atlantic island nation’s government said Thursday. Animal rights groups responded to the decision with dismay and called it “shameful.”The temporary ban that Icelandic authorities imposed in June, on animal welfare grounds, ends Thursday. Iceland’s Food and Veterinary Authority estimated in a May report that 67% of the 58 whales caught by boats it monitored died or lost consciousness quickly or immediately. But it said 14 whales were shot more than once, and two were shot four times before they died. Following the report’s publication, a group of official experts evaluated ways to reduce “irregularities” during whale hunting. They concluded this week that “it is possible to improve the methods used for the hunting of large whales” and improve animal welfare, according to a government statement. Fin whales ...

Appeals court agrees that a former Tennessee death row inmate can be eligible for parole in 4 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — An appeals court has upheld a judge’s ruling that allows a former Tennessee death row inmate to be eligible for parole in four years after spending more than three decades in prison. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals decided Wednesday that Shelby County Judge Paula Skahan properly ruled in January 2022 that Pervis Payne should serve the remainder of two life sentences at the same time, or concurrently, in the killings of a mother and her 2-year-old daughter.Payne, 56, received the new sentences after he was removed from death row by the judge in November 2021 based on decisions by two court-appointed experts that Payne was intellectually disabled and could not be executed. Payne was convicted of first-degree murder and received the death penalty for the 1987 slayings of Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter, Lacie Jo, who were repeatedly stabbed in their Millington apartment and left in a pool of blood. Christopher’s son, Nicholas, who wa...

1 charged, 3 wanted in east-end robbery that left victim with serious injuries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

Toronto police have made one arrest and continue to search for three suspects wanted in a violent east-end robbery that left a man with serious injuries.Authorities were called to the Queen Street East and Wineva Avenue area in The Beaches around 2:30 a.m. on August 24 for reports of a robbery.It’s alleged that four suspects attacked a victim and stole their property. Police said a man in his 30s was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.Police said 23-year-old Brayden Wilcox of Toronto was arrested and charged with one count of robbery. He made a court appearance on August 26.Two other male suspects were identified and are wanted. Police said 23-year-old Antonio Hurtado of Barrie, Ont. is facing multiple charges, including robbery, aggravated assault and failing to comply with a release order.Jessie Sacobie, 23, of Toronto, is wanted for assault, aggravated assault and robbery.A fourth suspect is described as five-foot-nine with a slim build, 20-25 years old and last seen...

Canadian pot stocks climb on reports that U.S. may ease cannabis restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:50 GMT

TORONTO — Embattled Canadian cannabis stocks have been climbing on the hope that the U.S. may ease restrictions on the substance. The Associated Press reported that the U.S. health department has recommended marijuana be moved from a schedule one to a schedule three controlled substance. U.S. Senate leaders hailed the recommendation Wednesday as a first step toward easing federal restrictions on cannabis. Shares in Canopy Growth Corp. were up almost 36 per cent around noon Thursday, after climbing nine per cent Wednesday. Tilray Brands Inc. shares were up almost 12 per cent, after its stock rose more than 10 per cent Wednesday.  Shares of Aurora Cannabis Inc. were up almost eight per cent around noon on Thursday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:TKTK)The Canadian Press