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

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 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

WATCH: Procession for fallen CFD Lt. Kevin Ward as he is escorted to funeral home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 GMT

WATCH LIVE: Procession held Thursday for fallen Chicago Firefighter Lt. Kevin Ward as he is escorted from the medical examiner's office to the funeral home.CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter with over 25 years on the job has passed away following a house fire earlier this month, the Chicago Fire Department reports.Lt. Kevin Ward was one of three firefighters injured in a blaze Aug. 11 in the 8300 block of West Balmoral near O'Hare. A mayday call was issued during the fire and Ward was transported in critical condition.Two days later, CFD said he was making improvements at Loyola Medical Center but remained in serious condition. Previous: 3 firefighters injured following Northwest Side house fire Ward, 59, joined the department in 1996 and worked out of Truck 9, located in the 5300 block of North Cumberland.Ward's death is the third line-of-duty death the department has dealt with in 2023. In the same week in April, CFD lost Jermaine Pelt, 49, and Jan Tchoryk, 55, in separate fires."...

One reason the Cubs had a memorable August in 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 GMT

CHICAGO — In order to put themselves in the thick of the race for a playoff spot in the fourth year of the David Ross era, the Chicago Cubs took a page from their previous regime.How have they done so? By having a strong month of August. And there was one big reason why they were able to pull it off.Over the course of 27 games, the Cubs went 18-9, including a 3-2 win over the Brewers at Wrigley Field to take 2-of-3 from their division rivals. It has the club just three games behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the National League Central division and two games ahead of the Giants for the second NL Wild Card spot. August was by far the Cubs' best month of the 2023 season, with July being the previous best at 15-11. It's their best August since their World Series championship campaign in 2016, when they went 22-6, and the 19 victories in a month are the most by the Cubs since May 2021.One thing that helped the team perform well was their play in games which were decided by one run. T...

VIDEO: Postal worker tosses packages from mail truck in Tennessee

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) -- A U.S. postal worker in Tennessee has been caught on camera tossing packages from a mail truck.A delivery to a Collierville home wasn't quite what the homeowner expected as the U.S. Postal Service mail carrier didn't get out of the vehicle, and instead tossed the package before driving away.And that wasn't the only case. The homeowner, who doesn't want to be identified, said she initially noticed her parcels were ending up in strange places months ago. "They would be in the middle of the driveway, right by the rain gutter, leaning against the garage, and I thought that was really odd because normally packages are delivered to our porch," she said. So, she started checking her surveillance camera footage. "I have an inner dialogue of kinda funny things that go through my head, thinking what is going through her head when she's just throwing packages out the window of the truck," she said. But ultimately, she says it's...

These spooky movies will be released ahead of Halloween

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — With spooky season right around the corner, there are a few scary films set to hit theaters soon. These movies vary in horror -- from comically creepy to downright gruesome. Depending on your threshold for thrillers, these flicks will put you in the Halloween mood. Orchards still offering apple picking for fall 2023 September: Sept. 1: All Fun and GamesAfter Salem teens find a cursed knife, they are forced to play childhood games with a deadly turn. You may recognize one of the stars, Natalia Dyer, as "Nancy Wheeler" from the popular TV series "Stanger Things." Sept. 1: Don't Look AwayOnce you see the supernatural entity in the form of a mannequin, you're already dead -- or at least that's what happened to the people who saw it before Frankie. Sept. 1: The Good MotherThis dramatic mystery isn't supernatural, but it's definitely a thriller. A mother embarks on a journey to track down her son's killer with his pregnant girlfriend only to find a world of drugs and co...

Trans youth health care ban to begin after Texas Supreme Court denies motion

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:58:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new Texas law banning transgender health care for minors will go into effect Friday, Sept. 1 after the Texas Supreme Court denied a motion for temporary relief on Thursday. A Travis County district judge issued a temporary injunction last Friday, August 25, blocking Texas’ ban on transgender health care for minors from going into effect in the new month. Judge issues injunction, temporarily blocking transgender youth health care ban from going into effect, state appeals The judge’s order would have paused SB 14 from going into effect on Friday. However, a little over an hour after the judge issued the injunction, the Office of the Attorney General filed an appeal with the Texas Supreme Court.In a seven-page order, Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel found the bill likely violates parents’ and doctors’ rights under the Texas Constitution, writing that it infringes upon “the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody and control of...