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Sunak’s Conservatives suffer 2 big defeats but avoid a wipeout in trio of UK special elections

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s governing Conservative Party suffered two thumping defeats Friday in a trio of special elections but avoided a drubbing after holding onto former premier Boris Johnson’s seat in suburban London.Though the main opposition Labour Party and the smaller centrist Liberal Democrats overturned massive Conservative majorities to win a seat apiece, the Conservatives found some crumbs of comfort in their narrow success in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in west London.Still, the results of Thursday’s elections, if replicated at a likely general election next year, would certainly see Labour emerge as the biggest single party, possibly with a sizeable overall majority.Labour won the seat of Selby and Ainsty in northern England, with the 25-year-old candidate Keir Mather managing to secure the party’s second largest swing at a special election since 1945. “This is a historic result that shows that people are looking at Labour and seeing a changed party...

Propaganda tool? Bargaining chip? What North Korea may have in mind for Travis King

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — So what will North Korea do about the first U.S. soldier in decades to flee into its territory? Its official media have yet to mention Pvt. Travis King, there’s little precedent for his situation and guesses about the country’s next steps vary widely.Unauthorized crossings across the Koreas’ heavily fortified border are extremely rare. The few Americans who crossed into North Korea in the past were a few soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies. North Korea has used a varied playbook in its handlings of them.Defecting soldiers, like Charles Jenkins or James Dresnok in the 1960s, were treated as propaganda assets, showcased in leaflets and films projecting anti-U.S. hatred and praising the North’s regime.Other Americans were detained, criticized and handed harsh penalties based on confessions of anti-state activities they later said were coerced. Behind-t...

Alabama GOP proposals for second Black district are unlikely to win court approval, experts warn

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers say they’re trying to satisfy a landmark Supreme Court order to draw a new district giving a voice to Black voters, but with hours to go before a court-ordered deadline Friday, experts say Republican proposals fall far short of what the law requires. The Republican-controlled state House and Senate will meet Friday and could advance separate plans increasing the share of Black voters in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Legislative leaders say they intend to meet the deadline, meaning the two chambers must compromise on one plan.Both plans preserve the current Black majority of the 7th District. But neither plan comes close to creating a second Black majority district in a state that is 27% Black. A three-judge panel ruled in 2022 that the current legislative map likely violates the federal Voting Rights Act and said any map should include two districts where “Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite cl...

Man with thousands of bullets and a grenade attacked police, killing officer. What was his plan?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — It was a routine collision on a busy Fargo street. But after Mohamad Barakat drove past, armed with 1,800 rounds of ammunition, numerous firearms and a grenade, tragedy ensued.After the shooting ended on July 14, one police officer was dead, and two other officers as well as a woman in the crash were wounded, leaving authorities wondering what further carnage Barakat might have been planning. Officer Zach Robinson, the only officer in the melee who was not wounded, fatally shot Barakat with bystanders crouched nearby. More details are expected at a briefing Friday.Barakat, a 37-year-old who briefly trained as an emergency responder at a nearby community college, had no criminal record. No social media presence.But then he saw the collision. With police and firefighters tied up helping, Barakat began “stalking his way in and sizing up his opportunity,” North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley told reporters Wednesday in the most detailed update yet.Barak...

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

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:42 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...