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UN says Somalia faces a `dire hunger emergency’ but aid has been cut over lack of funding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Somalia’s “dire hunger emergency” is spiraling upward with one-third of the population expected to face crisis or worse levels of food needs, but the U.N. has been forced to drastically cut food assistance because of a lack of funding, the head of the World Food Program said Thursday.Cindy McCain told the U.N. Security Council the latest food security data show that over 6.6 million Somalis desperately need assistance including 40,000 “fighting for survival in famine-like conditions.” But she said WFP was forced to cut monthly food assistance, which had reached a record 4.7 million people in December, to just 3 million people at the end of April – “and without an immediate cash injection, we’ll have to cut our distribution lists again in July to just 1.8 million per month.”McCain, who visited Somalia last month, said she saw “how conflict and climate change are conspiring to destroy the lives and livelihoods of millions of Somalis.” She said the country’s longe...

Victor Wembanyama is the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, with expectations of stardom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama is the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, headed to San Antonio with enormous expectations to become basketball’s newest sensation.The selection of the 19-year-old from France that had been a foregone conclusion for months was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, followed by chants of “Wemby! Wemby” from a group of Spurs fans waving signs from the first row of seats. Wembanyama arrives with far more height and hype than most No. 1 picks. Listed at 7-foot-4, he dominated his French league in his final season there, leading all players in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.Now he makes the move to the NBA, perhaps as the best prospect since LeBron James came out of high school in 2003. Wembanyama brings a package of skills that seem perfect for the modern NBA and too vast for one player, with the size of a center and the shooting and ballhandling ability of a guard.“Hearing that sentence from A...

Eastern Caribbean islands shut down as Tropical Storm Bret closes in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Bret bore down on the eastern Caribbean on Thursday night as islands shut down and braced for torrential downpours, landslides and flooding.A hurricane watch was issued for St. Lucia and local forecasters warned of a potential direct hit.The storm was centered about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of St. Lucia on Thursday night and moving westward at 16 mph (26 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph), below the 74 mph (119 kph) threshold for a Category 1 hurricane.Airports, businesses, schools and offices closed on St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and other islands by midday.“Protect your lives, property and livelihoods,” urged St. Lucia Prime Minister Philip Pierre.Residents across the island filled up their cars with gasoline and stocked up on water and canned food, hoping the storm wouldn’t cause too much damage.“You always have to be ready,” Ben Marcellin, who manages a guesthouse, said in a phone interview. “Y...

Does John Tory’s endorsement of Ana Bailão help or hurt her campaign?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

Former Mayor John Tory’s endorsement of Ana Bailão with just days to go the byelection is having ripple effects in the mayoral campaign. The impact is something her camp was no doubt looking for – a boost after trailing in the polls – but the move has also raised plenty of questions as well.Bailão, a former deputy mayor under Tory, has done her best in the last few months to convince Toronto voters that she has the ability to lead the city. But with the release of a six-minute video from Tory endorsing her, a shadow may have been cast over the campaign. It was Tory’s abrupt resignation in February after admitting to an affair with a member of his staff which prompted this byelection that is now costing taxpayers approximately $13 million to find his successor.When asked Bailão was quick to present Tory as one of a number of supporters she’s gathered during the campaign.“A former mayor, as have the other two former mayors, have done the job,”...

Wife of pilot in fatal sub implosion descended from couple who died on Titanic, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The wife of the man piloting the OceanGate tourist submersible when it imploded during this week’s dive to the Titanic wreckage site is a descendant of a wealthy couple who died when the ocean liner sank in 1912. Archival records show that Wendy Rush, the wife of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus, The New York Times reported Thursday. Straus was a retailing magnate who co-owned Macy’s department store. Born Wendy Hollings Weil, Wendy Rush wed Stockton Rush in 1986, according to their wedding announcement. The Times said it could not immediately reach Wendy Rush for additional comment. The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday that Stockton Rush and the other four men aboard the submersible died when the craft imploded this week in the North Atlantic.Isidor and Ida Straus have become known for a Titanic story about reportedly choosing to go down together on the sinking ship, arm in arm. Survivors said Isid...

Anti-gay graffiti spray-painted on Chesterton Municipal Complex sign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

CHESTERTON, Ind. — Someone spray-painted an anti-gay slur on a town's municipal complex sign earlier this week in Northwest Indiana, according to a police report.The vandalism was reported to the Chesterton Police Department around 6:40 a.m. Tuesday after an employee noticed "Kill all F*****s" spray-painted on the sign at 1490 Broadway. 2 charged after Northwest Indiana man found beaten to death near fishing area After the employee reviewed video footage, the officer wrote it appears someone wearing all black ran up to the sign around 4 a.m. and spraypainted it.No arrests have been made.

Illinois' cocktails to-go law extended 5 more years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — It's one pandemic trend that many Illinoisians will be happy to see live on.Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a bill that extends cocktails-to-go for five additional years through Aug. 1, 2028. The bill went into effect in June 2020 and was set to expire on Jan. 3, 2024.VIDEO: One-on-One with Illinois Governor J.B. PritzkerOriginally introduced to help struggling businesses amid the pandemic, the measure allows restaurants and bars to provide carryout, curbside pickup, and the delivery of mixed drinks and single servings of wine for off-premises consumption. The law requires that cocktails, mixed drinks, and single servings of wine that are available to go:Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesMay only be sold or delivered by an employee of the retail licensee who is at least 21 and has a valid Illinois Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSET) license under Section 6-27.1 of the Illinois Liquor Control Act.May not be sold or deliv...

Republicans vote to cut University of Wisconsin System's budget by $32M in diversity programs spat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican lawmakers voted to cut the University of Wisconsin System's budget by $32 million on Thursday despite a projected record-high $7 billion state budget surplus, leaving the university nearly half a billion dollars short of what it requested.The cut comes in reaction to Republican anger over diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs on the system's 13 universities. Republican leaders have said the $32 million is what they estimated would be spent on those programs over the next two years.“They need to refocus their priorities on being partners on developing our workforce and the future of the state, and we’re hopeful that they’re going to be ready to do that as we move forward,” Republican state Rep. Mark Born, co-chair of the Legislature's budget-writing committee, said at a news conference.The university system could get the $32 million back at a later date if it shows how it would be spent on workforce development efforts, and not diversity, e...

Christian Clark, 2024 4-star running back out of Arizona, verbally commits to Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of Arizona's top high school football recruits said Wednesday that he's coming to Austin.Christian Clark, a 4-star running back according to the 247Sports composite rating system, posted on social media his intent to become a Texas Longhorn. Clark, from Mountain Pointe High School in the Ahwatukee area of southeast Phoenix, graduates in 2024. He tallied 1,105 total yards and scored 16 touchdowns for the Pride in his junior season.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters247Sports ranks Clark as the third-best recruit in Arizona and 23rd running back in the country in its composite rankings. Florida State, Oregon, Alabama and Arizona all showed interest in recruiting Clark, according to 247Sports.Clark told the Ahwatukee Foothills News that "the whole environment," drew him to Texas."I think outside of football, too, so the academics are top-notch," he said. ...

Victor Wembanyama selected No. 1 overall by San Antonio Spurs in 2023 NBA Draft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama is the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, headed to San Antonio with enormous expectations to become basketball's newest sensation.The selection of the 19-year-old from France that had been a foregone conclusion for months was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, followed by chants of “Wemby! Wemby” from a group of Spurs fans waving signs from the first row of seats.Wembanyama arrives with far more height and hype than most No. 1 picks. Listed at 7-foot-4, he dominated his French league in his final season there, leading all players in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.Now he makes the move to the NBA, perhaps as the best prospect since LeBron James came out of high school in 2003. Wembanyama brings a package of skills that seem perfect for the modern NBA and too vast for one player, with the size of a center and the shooting and ballhandling ability of a guard.“Hearing that sentence from Adam Sil...