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

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:11 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...