By Nimi Princewill, CNN (CNN) — The Russian Ministry of Agriculture said Tuesday it had shipped 200,000 tons of grain in humanitarian aid to six African nations, fulfilling the Kremlin’s pledge to the continent last July. Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said late Tuesday that Burkina Faso, Mali, Eritrea, and Zimbabwe each received 25,000 tons of grain while the
Continue ReadingBy DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The German government says Europe’s largest economy is in “troubled waters.” It’s slashing its growth forecast for this year as it struggles with a lack of skilled labor, excessive bureaucracy, high interest rates and lagging investment in new projects. Meanwhile, a relatively modest set of
Continue ReadingBy Kristin Fisher and Jackie Wattles, CNN (CNN) — Hundreds of thousands of miles beyond Earth, a phone booth-size spacecraft is en route to take on a challenge no vehicle launched from the United States has attempted in more than 50 years. The lunar lander called Odysseus or IM-1, created by Houston-based company Intuitive Machines,
Continue ReadingBy MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A new entry in the “Avatar” franchise is about to soar and James Cameron has no part in it. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is a completely different fictional world from Cameron’s blue moon Pandora, but the two similarly named dueling sci-fi fantasy properties keep throwing
Continue ReadingBy MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel on Wednesday said it has found evidence of “systematic and intentional” rape and sexual abuse during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that ignited the war in Gaza. The report said the attacks were more widespread than
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Greek treats were enjoyed by many over the weekend in Palm Desert. During the 26th annual Greek Festival, organizers said all of the food was prepared on site. Visitors also had a chance to tour Saint George Greek Orthodox Church of the Desert. It featured colorful mosaics, which showcased the rich history and traditions of the Greek
Continue ReadingBy COLLEEN LONG Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed an executive order and created a federal rule aimed at better securing the nation’s ports from potential cyberattacks. The administration is outlining Wednesday a set of cybersecurity regulations that port operators must comply with across the country, not unlike standardized safety regulations
Continue ReadingBy NICOLE WINFIELD Associated press ROME (AP) — One of the first women who accused a once-exalted Jesuit artist of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuse went public Wednesday to demand transparency from the Vatican and a full accounting of the hierarchs who covered for him for 30 years. Gloria Branciani, 59, appeared at a news
Continue ReadingBy CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AP Education Writer For as long as schools have policed hairstyles as part of their dress codes, some students have seen the rules as attempts to deny their cultural and religious identities. Nowhere have school rules on hair been a bigger flashpoint than in Texas, where a trial this week is set
Continue ReadingLONDON (AP) — Futuristic London landmark the BT Tower is to become a hotel. Owner BT Group PLC said Wednesday that it has agreed to sell the tower to U.S. company MCR Hotels for $347 million. The 581-foot structure was completed in 1964 and was London’s tallest building until 1980. A further section of aerial
Continue ReadingBy JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A criminal case involving handwritten lyrics to the classic rock megahit “Hotel California” and other Eagles favorites went to trial Wednesday in New York, with three men accused of scheming to thwart band co-founder Don Henley’s efforts to reclaim the allegedly ill-gotten documents. The trial concerns
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Dustin Hay commutes 45 minutes to FIND Food Bank’s distribution center each morning and greets the day with a smile, unfailingly. Just a few years ago, Hay first stepped foot into the distribution center as a volunteer. After a few volunteer shifts packing and organizing food, Hay decided to become a full-time employee at FIND.
Continue ReadingBy R.J. RICO Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — For years, churches and nonprofits have banded together money to bail out people from jail, often in time for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. But these wide-scale initiatives could be significantly restricted, if not criminalized, under a recently passed Georgia bill. Opponents have called the bill an
Continue ReadingBy Daniel Dale, CNN Washington (CNN) — Days before South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary, former President Donald Trump’s campaign has released an ad attacking rival Nikki Haley over her supposed stance on the state’s gasoline tax when she served as governor. But the Trump ad has the same problem as previous attacks from former Republican candidates in the
Continue ReadingBy JON GAMBRELL Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli sabotage attack on an Iranian natural gas pipeline has caused the multiple explosions last week. That’s according to comments on Wednesday from Iran’s oil minister. Javad Owji made the allegation as Israel has been blamed for a series of attacks targeting Tehran’s
Continue ReadingNEW YORK (AP) — The new book from bestselling author Alice Paul Tapper, daughter of CNN anchor Jake Tapper, was inspired by a near-fatal health emergency. “Use Your Voice,” with illustrations by Fanny Liem, is a fictionalized take on Alice’s hospitalization in 2021 after she experienced intense stomach pain, chills and vomiting — what turned
Continue ReadingVILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania has decided to seal off another two of its six checkpoints with Belarus amid growing tensions with its eastern neighbor, an ally of Russia. This brings the total of closed border crossings into the Baltic country to four. The Lavoriskes and Raigardas checkpoints will stop functioning on March 1, as
Continue ReadingBy MORGAN LEE Associate Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Prosecutors in New Mexico are pursuing accountability for the 2021 death of a cinematographer who was fatally shot by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal for the Western film “Rust.” Before Baldwin’s case progresses, the armorer on the set is being tried on charges of
Continue ReadingBy DIANE JEANTET and ELEONORE HUGHES Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Foreign ministers of the Group of 20 nations are gathering in Rio de Janeiro to discuss poverty, climate change and heightened global tensions as Brazil takes on the annual presidency of the bloc. The ministers and other representatives of the 20 leading
Continue ReadingBy SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries have agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia. The decision on Wednesday coincides with the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and comes days after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The measures target individuals and businesses suspected of assisting
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