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By pulling out of the Ukrainian grain deal, Russia risks alienating its few remaining partners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

By pulling out of a landmark deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking a gamble that could badly damage Moscow’s relations with many of its partners that have stayed neutral or even been supportive of the Kremlin’s invasion of its neighbor.Russia also has played the role of spoiler at the United Nations, vetoing a resolution on extending humanitarian aid deliveries through a key border crossing in northwestern Syria and backing a push by Mali’s military junta to expel U.N. peacekeepers — abrupt moves that reflect Moscow’s readiness to raise the stakes elsewhere.Putin’s declared goal in halting the Black Sea Grain Initiative was to win relief from Western sanctions on Russia’s agricultural exports. His longer-term goal could be to erode Western resolve over Ukraine and get more concessions from the U.S. and its allies as the war grinds toward the 17-month mark.The Kremlin doubled down on terminating the gra...

California court will consider anti-discrimination law in hearing over racist texts by officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A judge was expected on Friday to consider whether Northern California police officers who exchanged racist text messages violated a state law aimed at stamping out racism in the criminal justice system.A group of Antioch Police Department officers have been asked to testify in a San Francisco Bay Area courtroom on heavily redacted text messages made public in April by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office that also used derogatory, homophobic and sexually explicit language, with officers bragging about falsifying evidence and beating up suspects.Defense attorneys were expected to argue before Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge David Goldstein that their clients, two of them mentioned in released messages, were unfairly targeted based on their race. The state’s Racial Justice Act prohibits the state from pursuing or securing criminal convictions or sentences on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.Goldstein threw out gang char...

Russia threatens global food security

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, also known as the "grain deal" - has been terminated. This is a direct result of Russia's unilateral withdrawal from it, as other participants - Turkey and the UN - were in favour of prolonging the agreement. In addition, the Russian Federation has disavowed its security guarantees for the route used to export grain from Ukrainian seaports, which can be interpreted as their intention to attack merchant ships that will be in this sector of the Black Sea from 18 July 2023, Dispatches, IFBG.Russia has tried to press ahead with the fulfilment of the terms of the grain agreement before. It has constantly violated the stable algorithm of registration and inspection of ships entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. In its turn, Moscow uses its Black Sea ports unhindered, and Russian ships do not undergo any inspections in the Bosporus. Thus, Russia can quietly use these circumstances to receive military cargoes and continue its war against Ukraine.Putin does no...

Parents will now be notified if a student identifies as transgender in Chino Valley

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

Hundreds attended a heated Chino Valley school board meeting as a controversial policy requiring parental notification of any transgender children passed with a 4-1 vote.The policy requires staff to notify all parents in writing within three days after a student requests to identify with a gender different than what is on their birth certificate, according to Chino Valley Unified School District.The notification also applies to students who request a pronoun change or to be called a different name that is not listed on official school records. The request to use a different bathroom will also activate the notification policy.The board voted on the policy Thursday night in an hours-long meeting filled with tension. State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, was in attendance and spoke against passing the policy during the public comment period.During his speech, he was cut off and a shouting match erupted from the audience as he was escorted out of the building."I was...

Fans gear up for release of "Barbie" movie

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

In perhaps one of the most “dolled up” pop culture moments in recent history, fans of the Barbie the doll are already gearing up for the worldwide release of “Barbie” the movie.  Just steps from the Los Feliz Theater, Hailey Dickson said she’s been ready for this moment since the third grade.  “I resonate with (it) from when I was a kid, and I mean Barbie is such a fashion icon,” she said of why she’s excited for the Greta Gerwig directed film. “I just think it’s campy and silly to see all of these characters kind of come to life.”  Dickson, showing true fandom, actually had some Barbie paraphernalia with her. “I bought this when I was a kid and I think the most special piece in here is this little coat right here,” Dickson explained. “It’s actually a 1968 Julia coat and Julia was the first Black Barbie doll. She was a nurse when she started out.” “She’s like one of our best friends, who taught diversity,” Eugenia Marshall, another Barbie fan, said.   Pink...

Robbery suspect arrested after crash-filled pursuit in Orange County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

A robbery suspect was arrested after a lengthy, crash-filled pursuit through Orange County on Wednesday.The suspect was identified as Albert Kiel, 30, from Norwalk according to the Brea Police Department.Officers responded to an in-progress theft at a Target store on the 800 block of East Birch Street in Brea around 11:45 a.m.When police arrived, they spotted Kiel driving away from the store. They attempted to pull him over but instead of stopping, he sped away, leading officers on a pursuit.The suspect continued leading officers through Fullerton and Anaheim before eventually getting onto the 91 freeway and then the 5 Freeway, police said.During the pursuit, Kiel crashed into multiple vehicles and at one point struck a Brea police car. Los Angeles man found dead at Death Valley National Park identified After crashing in Norwalk, the suspect abandoned his car and fled on foot.Multiple agencies began searching for Kiel including a helicopter crew from the Orange County Sheriff’s De...

SF sandwich shop owner frustrated after attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – A San Francisco sandwich shop owner says he is fed up after a man punched him in the face outside of his business. The frustrated shop owner says he was trying to keep the man from urinating on the store’s trash cans when he got assaulted.He’s now hoping city leaders see his pain and step up to help out other small businesses suffering from crime and grime. Shortly after last night’s attack, the owner of Sandy’s – located in the Haight – vented his frustrations on social media.He has a black eye and a cut on his forehead after being punched, but the bigger hit might be to his hopes for the city and what it means to run a business there. Taipei-bound flight diverted back to SFO due to ‘unruly passenger’ “I love the neighborhood that we’re in and I don’t stand for something like that,” Peterson Harter said. “I’m not gonna just let things go in this neighborhood. That’s not who I am. And so I called him out on it and I was walking back and he just like hit me i...

El telescopio Hubble detecta un enjambre de 37 rocas alrededor del asteroide que chocó con la nave DART

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

(CNN) — El telescopio espacial Hubble detectó un enjambre de rocas alrededor del asteroide Dimorphos, contra el que chocó intencionadamente la nave espacial DART de la NASA el otoño pasado.La nave espacial Double Asteroid Redirection Test, de unos 544 kg, chocó frontalmente contra Dimorphos mientras avanzaba a 20.921 km/h el 26 de septiembre de 2022, con el objetivo de cambiar la velocidad de la roca espacial.Era la primera vez que la humanidad se proponía cambiar el movimiento de un objeto celeste, y los resultados mostraron cómo esta tecnología de impacto cinético podría utilizarse para desviar asteroides que podrían estar en curso de colisión con la Tierra. Ni Dimorphos ni Didymos, el asteroide más grande que orbita, suponen una amenaza para la Tierra.El impacto del DART fue un éxito, cambiando el periodo orbital de Dimorphos alrededor de Didymos en 33 minutos. Esta primera prueba de defensa planetaria, que tuvo lugar a 11,3 millones de kilómetros de la Tierra, también libe...

Aces beat Storm to improve to 20-2, matching the WNBA record for the best start to a season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A’ja Wilson had her 15th double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Seattle Storm 79-63 Thursday night to match the WNBA record for the best start to a season.The Aces improved to 20-2 and matched the 1998 Houston Comets and 2016 Los Angeles Sparks for the finest opening to a season. Las Vegas improved to 3-0 against the Storm (4-17), who lost their eighth straight. The Aces won their first two games against Seattle by 41 and 33 points.Jackie Young scored 22 points and Kelsey Plumb 20 for the Aces, who were held below 80 points for just the third time this season. They lost the other games.Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor had 12 points apiece and Jordan Horston added 11 for the Storm.LYNX 73, SPARKS 70MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored eight points in a late 12-0 run and finished with 22 points as Minnesota defeated Los Angeles.Collier scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter as the Lynx (10-12) won despite squandering a ...

Canada held to a 0-0 draw by Nigeria in Women’s World Cup opener for both teams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:32 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Olympic champion Canada was held to a 0-0 draw by Nigeria in its Women’s World Cup opener after Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made several key saves, including one on a penalty from Christine Sinclair.It was a crucial miss for the Canadian veteran, who is the leading all-time scorer in international soccer, men or women, with 190 goals. KEY MOMENTSSinclair lined up for the shot in the 50th minute. Nnadozie dived left for the save. She pointed at her head after she blocked the kick.Sinclair exited the game in the 70th minute.Nnadozie also denied a shot from inside the box by Evelyne Viens in the 65th. At the end of the game, she fell to her knees and let out a celebratory yell.Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan also made key saves, including a close-range shot in the 80th minute.WHY IT MATTERSWith neither team able to secure a victory, winning the next two group-stage matches becomes more crucial. A loss for either Nigeria or Canada in their next ...