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Ukraine cheers rollover of grain deal, but Russia objects again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

A deal allowing Ukrainian grain exports to pass through the blockaded Black Sea has been extended for 120 days, Ukraine announced Saturday, but Russia again griped that it would only assent to a full rollover if its own exports of food and fertilizer are freed up.Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov thanked “all our partners for sticking to the agreements” in a tweet Saturday afternoon. “Due our joint efforts, 25M tons of Ukrainian grain” have been “delivered to world markets,” he said.The announcement comes after a week of wrangling after Russia said Monday that it had agreed to extend the Black Sea grain initiative but only for 60 days. Moscow again dug its heels in on Saturday, however, despite objections from Kyiv and reminders from the United Nations and Turkey that the original agreement foresees a minimum 120-day extension.The deal — described by aid groups as a lifeline for food insecure countries — was due to expire on Saturday.&nbs...

Inside the cases around 3 fired Boston Police officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

The city spent 60 pages laying out the case against the three officers it announced it had fired, according to documents, including 38 on anti-vaccine-mandate leader Shana Cottone.In the end, the Boston Police Department sustained two of three allegations against Officer Joe Abasciano, one of two against Officer Michael Geary and 21 of 24 against Cottone, then a police sergeant. All three were fired, with Geary getting the ax following his October hearing and Cottone and Abasciano this past Monday.The short version of the five dozen pages provided by the city upon records request is that Boston Police chief administrative hearing officer Deputy Superintendent Richard Dahill sustained complaints against Cottone over allegations related to actions she took as she opposed the city’s vaccine mandate, and Abasciano and Geary over tweets they made related to when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Both Cottone and Abasciano plan to challe...

MBTA to keep Green Line speeds capped at 25 mph ‘at least’ through Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

Speeds will remain capped at 25 mph on the Green Line “at least” through the end of service on Saturday, an MBTA spokesperson said.Interim General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville said Friday that he was “optimistic” the MBTA would be in a position to lift the full line speed restriction on Saturday morning, but issues with sign placement hindered those tentative plans.“The MBTA continues to prioritize safety and at this time cannot lift the Green Line line-wide speed restriction as further evaluation and validation of specific locations are needed,” spokesperson Lisa Battiston said.The agency tweeted Saturday that crews identified speed signs that needed to be relocated to implement “block” speed restrictions, while running a Green Line test train in areas where track defects had previously been identified.“The MBTA has identified 30 speed limit signs that need to be relocated on the Green Line, and that work is taking place (Saturday...

Bob Raissman: Aaron Rodgers is obsessed with managing the message … ‘I’ll speak for myself’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

As an organization, the Jets have their share of media circuses going back to the summer of 1969 and Joe (Willie) Namath’s tearful press conference “retirement” over the Bachelors III controversy.There was also craziness over the coming of Bret Favre, Tim Tebow, Rex Ryan and others. Now, if a deal can be reached between the Jets and the Packers, Aaron Rodgers will not only become Gang Green’s next quarterback but its microphone potentate too.Rodgers doesn’t need any of the Jets PR consultants or in-house spin doctors. In his own mind, he is the de facto boss of his own media shop. After 18 years with Green Bay, Rodgers has become a master of controlling his own content. It could be about football, darkness retreats, immunization or the effect of ayahuasca. There is enough evidence to say he is obsessed with managing the message.Rodgers figured out how to put a variety of media platforms to work for him. The way he orchestrated the timing of his Wednesda...

Deputy suspected of DUI arrested following lockdown at Naval Base Coronado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Naval Base Coronado went into lockdown Friday night after a driver attempted to plow through the facility’s main gate, a military spokesperson confirmed to FOX 5.Around 10:30 p.m., an individual trying to access the main gate on North Island became aggressive and tried to drive through the entry way, said Naval Base Coronado Public Affairs Officer Kevin Dixon. Bodycam video shows shooting involving deputy in East County On Saturday morning, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed a deputy had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in connection to the incident. Officials say the deputy attempted to breach the gate without clearance, leading military guards to shoot at the car. No injuries were reported.The suspect has been identified as Sgt. Michael Cruz, who was off duty at the time of the incident, SDSO said. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on a charge of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol or v...

SDSU advances to Sweet 16 after beating Furman in NCAA Tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

Orlando, Fla. -- The San Diego State University Men’s Basketball team has advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Furman University 75-52 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.This is breaking story. Please check back soon for updates.

Italy’s Democratic head blasts limit on LGBTQ parent rights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

ROME (AP) — The head of Italy’s opposition Democratic Party blasted a bureaucratic crackdown on LGBTQ families as ideological, cruel and discriminatory and vowed Saturday to push through legislation to better recognize and protect their rights.Elly Schlein, who in 2020 revealed she was in a relationship with another woman, joined thousands of people at a demonstration in Milan to protest a move by the far-right-led Italian government to restrict the rights of parents in same-sex relationships. The Interior Ministry this week forced Milan to limit parental rights to the biological parent when same-sex couples register their children with the city.Such registrations are required for parents to get their relationship to a child recognized for purposes such as authorizing medical treatment or participation in school outings. The national government’s prefecture for Milan cited a loophole in limiting that authority to a biological parent. LGBTQ rights activists blasted the move as eviden...

Pope promotes ‘humanitarian corridors’ for asylum-seekers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis met Saturday with thousands of refugees and charity groups hosting them in Italy as he sought to promote legal migration routes to Europe as an alternative to smuggling operations that he said have turned the Mediterranean Sea into a “cemetery.”Francis said “humanitarian corridors,” which have operated in Italy since 2016, saved lives and helped newly arrived asylum-seekers get acclimated while church groups provided housing, education and work opportunities.“Humanitarian corridors not only aim to bring refugees to Italy and other European countries, rescuing them from situations of uncertainty, danger and endless waiting; they also work toward integration,” he said.The Sant’Egidio Catholic charity, the Federation of Evangelical Churches and the Waldensian Church spearheaded the ecumenical humanitarian transfer initiative in Italy, which has brought more than 6,000 people to Europe, Francis was told.Under the program, aid workers identify asylum cand...

Judge won’t toss lawsuit over ivermectin in Arkansas jail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit that says detainees at an Arkansas jail were given the drug ivermectin to fight COVID-19 without their knowledge.The lawsuit contends detainees at the Washington County Jail in Fayetteville were given ivermectin as early as November 2020 but were unaware until July 2021. Ivermectin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to address parasitic infestations such as intestinal worms and head lice and some skin conditions, such as rosacea. It is not, and was not at the time, approved to treat COVID-19.U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks ruled Thursday that the lawsuit could move forward, saying Dr. Robert Karas used detainees for an experiment, The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.Plaintiffs in the case include Edrick Floreal-Wooten, Jeremiah Little, Julio Gonzales, Thomas Fritch and Dayman Blackburn. The case was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union last year against Karas, Karas Corr...

US warns about fake, dangerous pills being sold in Mexico

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:32 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning about dangerous counterfeit pills being sold at pharmacies in Mexico that often contain fentanyl. The travel alert posted Friday says Americans should “exercise caution when purchasing medication in Mexico.” Small pharmacies in tourist areas and border regions sometimes sell medications advertised as OxyContin, Percocet, Xanax and others without a prescription. The State Department warned that such pills are often counterfeit and “may contain deadly doses of fentanyl.” “Counterfeit pills are readily advertised on social media and can be purchased at small, non-chain pharmacies in Mexico along the border and in tourist areas,” it said.A study led by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles found that 68% of the 40 Mexican pharmacies visited in four northern Mexico cities sold Oxycodone, Xanax or Adderall, and that 27% of those pharmacies were selling fake pills. UCLA said the study, published in ...