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UK to host global food summit as Sunak blasts Russia’s Black Sea grain ‘stranglehold’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

LONDON — The U.K. will host a global summit on food security in November in a bid to break what it calls Russia’s “stranglehold” on grain exports from Ukraine.Russia in July pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a U.N.-brokered accord that has allowed Ukraine, a major grain exporter, to continue to ship food in the face of war.In a release issued as he traveled to the G20 leaders’ gathering in New Delhi, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said world leaders must deal “with the terrible global consequences of [Vladimir] Putin’s stranglehold over the most fundamental resources, including his blockade of and attacks on Ukrainian grain.”The summit — set for November 20 in London — will be backed by NGOs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Downing Street said. It will aim to “tackle the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.”No. 10 said Sunak would use the G20 summit to urge his counter...

Absence speaks loudly at the G-20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

Funny thing about summits of world leaders: Sometimes, not showing up is the best way to grab attention.Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping’s expected absence at this year’s Group of 20 gathering, set for this weekend in New Delhi, has already thrown off the event’s momentum. Russian leader Vladimir Putin also won’t be there and even has some counterprogramming planned.It’s Xi’s first time skipping the annual gathering, and aides are mum as to why; they’ll say only that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will represent Beijing.https://10389341210cf421f3ee2f1f37a47b06.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.htmlXi’s no-show is fueling speculation that he’s snubbing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to rising tension over their shared border and U.S. attempts to woo India as a hedge against China. It’s also possible that Xi, facing an economic crisis at home, is wary of leaving his country amid growing domestic discontent.At the same time, a Chi...

Sweet 16: Catholic Memorial the boss til proven otherwise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

Twenty-nine teams have tried to knock off Catholic Memorial. All 29 left the field on the short end of the scoreboard.Despite some heavy graduation losses, the Knights have enough back in the fold to get the nod as the preseason No. 1 ranked team in the Boston Herald’s 31st annual preseason Eastern Mass. Sweet 16 rankings. It won’t be easy for Catholic Memorial to remain atop the heap as the Knights open the season with an excellent Mansfield team, play a pair of out-of-state teams (Cardinal Newman of Florida and St. Francis of New York) as well as fellow Catholic Conference powers St. John’s Prep and Xaverian.St. John’s Prep shut down Springfield Central to capture the Div. 1 state title and will be among the contenders once again. Xaverian returns some quality players on both sides of the ball and are hungry to make a statement.King Philip has been as consistently successful as any school in Eastern Mass. And can’t see that changing any time soon. The...

Proximity of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports stirs fear in NATO member Romania

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — The discovery of drone debris on Romanian territory this week has left some local residents fearing that the war in neighboring Ukraine could spread into their country, as Russian forces bombard Ukrainian ports just across the Danube River from NATO-member Romania.Moscow aims to disrupt Ukraine’s ability to export grain to world markets with a sustained campaign of attacks targeting Ukrainian Danube ports, and has attacked the port of Izmail four times this week, Ukrainian officials say.Across from Izmail, pieces apparently from a drone were found near the Romanian village of Plauru, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said Wednesday. It was unclear if Romanian authorities had determined when or from where the drone was launched, and Tilvar said the debris didn’t pose a threat, but the development has left citizens in the European Union nation feeling uneasy. Daniela Tanase, 46, who lives in Plauru with her husband and son, told The Associate...

Clashes resume between factions in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Clashes resumed in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, with heavy gunfire and shelling wounding several people and prompting residents of the camp and the surrounding area to flee on Friday.Several days of street battles had broken out in the camp, Ein el-Hilweh, between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement and Islamist groups after Fatah accused the Islamists of gunning down one of their military generals on July 30. Those street battles left at least 13 dead and dozens wounded, and forced hundreds to flee from their homes.An uneasy truce had been in place since Aug. 3, but clashes were widely expected to resume as the Islamist groups have not handed over the accused killers of the Fatah general, Mohammad “Abu Ashraf” al-Armoushi to the Lebanese judiciary as demanded by a committee of Palestinian factions earlier this month.A committee of Palestinian factions in Ein el-Hilweh announced on Tuesday that their joint security forces would launch rai...

Person shot and critically wounded at Lil Baby concert in Memphis, Tennessee, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — One person was shot and critically wounded at a concert headlined by rapper Lil Baby in Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday night, police and local media said.The Memphis Police Department posted on social media that officers responded to a report of a shooting at 10:23 p.m. at 191 Beale Street, which is the address of FedEx Forum.A male victim was transported to Regional One Health Medical Center in critical condition and no other injuries were reported, police said.The identity of the shooter was not known, the police statement said.Lil Baby was rushed off the stage when shots were fired inside the venue, WREG-TV reported.A representative for the rapper did not immediately respond to a request for more information from The Associated Press.The Associated Press

Stock market today: Asian shares weaken while Japan reports economy grew less than expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

Shares fell Friday in Asia after Japan reported its economy grew less than earlier estimated in the last quarter. Oil prices declined, while U.S. futures edged higher. Japan, the world’s third largest economy, grew at a 4.8% annual pace in the April-June quarter, below the earlier estimate of 6% growth, according to data released Friday. Much of that growth was driven by exports, which rose nearly 13%, while private consumption fell 2.2% on weak investment spending. A separate report showed that wages declined in July for the 16th straight month, falling 2.5% from a year earlier. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.2% to 32,606.84, while the Kospi in Seoul lost less than 1 point, to 2,547.68. Hong Kong’s markets were closed due to a tropical storm. The Shanghai Composite index shed 0.2% to 3,1016.87, while the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.2% to 7,156.70. On Thursday, Wall Street slipped in mixed trading Thursday as the threat of high interest rates continued to dog Big Tech sto...

A helicopter crashes off the United Arab Emirates coast. 2 pilots are missing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A helicopter crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, with two pilots now missing, authorities said Friday.The crash happened offshore, though the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authorities did not specify where. It identified the aircraft involved as a Bell 212, which can carry 14 passengers and a pilot. Officials said the two pilots aboard were from Egypt and South Africa and had taken off Thursday night from Al Maktoum International Airport, the second airfield in Dubai. Aerogulf, the owner of the helicopter, described the flight as “routine training operations between Al Maktoum International Airport and an offshore rig.” The oil-rich UAE has multiple oil rigs off the coast in the Persian Gulf. “We are working with the aviation authorities and doing all we can to gather information as quickly as possible,” Aerogulf said in its statement. “At this moment our thoughts and prayers are with our crew and their families.”Aerogulf also p...

Security: Commission proposes negotiations with Switzerland, Iceland and Norway on Passenger Name Record data agreements

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

The European Commission has adopted Recommendations to the Council for the opening of negotiations with Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway for agreements on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data.  The transfer of PNR data is key in allowing authorities to strengthen the detection, prosecution, and investigation of terrorist and serious criminal offences. The agreements will set out the conditions for the transfer of PNR data to the authorities of those countries, in full respect of data protection safeguards and fundamental rights.  Opening negotiations with Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway on PNR is an important step forward to increase security in the Schengen area, in line with the Commission's PNR policy, which builds on international standards and addresses global security commitments. A review report published on 24 July 2020 showed that the PNR data has delivered concrete results in the fight against terrorism and serious crimes, such as drug trafficking, h...

Single family residence sells in San Jose for $3.8 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:47 GMT

A spacious house located in the 1400 block of Buckthorne Way in San Jose has new owners. The 3,018-square-foot property, built in 2010, was sold on Aug. 14, 2023, for $3,750,000, or $1,243 per square foot. This single-story house provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and four baths. Additionally, the house features a two-car garage.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:A 1,783-square-foot home on the 6800 block of Dartmoor Way in San Jose sold in August 2022, for $2,350,000, a price per square foot of $1,318. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Devon Way, San Jose, in March 2023, a 1,400-square-foot home was sold for $2,800,000, a price per square foot of $2,000. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In October 2022, a 1,357-square-foot home on South Blaney Avenue in San Jose sold for $2,275,000, a price per square foot of $1,676. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.