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90 migrants rescued from a stranded sailboat in Greece as the number of arrivals rises

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities say 90 migrants have been rescued from a stranded sailboat near the Aegean Sea island of Amorgos, amid an increase in arrivals in recent weeks.The migrants, rescued late Thursday, were taken to the eastern island of Leros and detained for identification and processing after patrol boats and three civilian vessels were involved in the rescue, the coast guard said Friday.Greek officials have blamed the increase in arrivals largely on ongoing and expanding conflicts in Africa -– adding pressure on the main smuggling routes to Europe -– and also on a burgeoning black market industry in Turkey that produces low-quality inflatable boats.The government says it has not changed its policy of intercepting boats at sea, a practice that human rights groups say includes illegal summary deportations also known as pushbacks. ___Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration The Associated Press

Denmark and the Netherlands say the US is allowing them to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United States has given its approval for the Netherlands and Denmark to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, the defense ministers of those two NATO countries said Friday, in a major gain for Kyiv even though the fighter jets won’t have an impact any time soon on the almost 18-month war.It was not immediately clear when the first F-16s might enter the conflict. Ukraine has long pleaded for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge. It recently launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s forces without air cover, placing its troops at the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery. Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said he was “very, very happy” about the development, noting that Denmark would hand over some of its F-16s only after receiving its new F-35 jet fighters.The first four F-35s are due to be delivered on Oct. 1. The training of Ukrainian pilots is starting this month, Ellemann-Jensen added, but he declined to e...

Tilray buys stake in Truss Beverage it does not already own from Molson Coors Canada

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

LEAMINGTON, Ont. — Cannabis company Tilray Brands Inc. has signed a deal to acquire the stake in Truss Beverage Co. that it does not already own from Molson Coors Canada.Financial terms for the 57.5 per cent stake in the cannabis-infused drink maker were not immediately available.Truss brands include XMG, Little Victory and Mollo.The company says cannabis-infused drinks present a significant opportunity for growth.Tilray Canada president Blair MacNeil says the deal positions the company at the forefront of the sector. Earlier this month, Tilray announced a deal to buy eight beer and beverage brands from Anheuser-Busch Companies LLC.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:TLRY, TSX:TPX.B)The Canadian Press

One in five cars on Canadian roads have been recalled. Has yours?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, a recent report found that 6.6 million cars are being driven in Canada that have been recalled by a manufacturer for one reason or another. Some issues are minor, some could be deadly, and in many cases, the owners simply don’t know the issue exists.How does this happen? Well, the world of automotive recalls is changing fast, technology is taking leaps that make some vehicles less reliable and the recall system itself is … a little convoluted.Lorraine Sommerfeld is a columnist at driving.ca. She said just because a manufacturer recalls a car, doesn’t mean they’re able to fix it.“Sometimes when it’s a component that some manufacturer makes that is in many brands of cars, like the airbags, it can impact millions and millions and millions of cars and they don’t have the parts for it,” said Sommerfeld.Today, a look inside the world of getting your car fixed, for free. Or not.You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcast...

Hungary’s Orbán to host Turkish, Serbian and other leaders alongside world track championships

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — As millions of viewers around the world focus on Hungary while it hosts the year’s largest international sporting event, its nationalist prime minister will receive the leaders of Turkey, Serbia, Qatar and a host of Central Asian nations in a sign of the European country’s continuing drift toward the Eastern sphere of influence.Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a self-proclaimed proponent of “illiberal democracy” who is characterized by an aggressive stance toward his Western partners, plans numerous bilateral meetings in the coming days as the capital, Budapest, hosts the 2023 World Athletics Championships.The nine-day track and field event will be the backdrop for talks with the Emir of Qatar and the presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as leaders from the Balkan nations of Serbia and Bosnia.In an interview Friday with state radio, Orbán described the leaders — many of whom have overseen democratic decli...

Second suspect arrested in Houston shooting that left a deputy critically wounded, sheriff says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A manhunt came to an end with a shootout and wounding of three law enforcement officers after a second suspect was arrested in the earlier shooting of a Harris County deputy sheriff in southeastern Texas.Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said during an early Friday news conference that 34-year-old Terran Green was arrested and three law enforcement officers were wounded in the Thursday night shootout, none seriously.The officers did not return fire as Green retreated back inside. He was eventually coaxed from the home, apparently uninjured, Gonzalez said.The officers’ names were not released, but Gonzalez, who had earlier posted on social media that the arrest was made without incident, said two Harris County deputies and one deputy U.S. marshal were wounded when they first approached a home where Green was barricaded.“He moved around and then eventually landed at this location” during the manhunt, Gonzalez said. Officers used smoke and heavy equipment that penetrated the wal...

6 robbed at gunpoint at different locations on Chicago's North Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

CHICAGO — At least six people were robbed at gunpoint at multiple locations on the city's North Side.The circumstances surrounding the armed robberies are similar with the victims describing the same weapon, vehicle and number of offenders involved — but police have not confirmed whether they are related.The first incident happened around 11:35 p.m. Thursday in the 2100 block of West Grace Street. Police said a 63-year-old woman was walking when a white sedan approached and two offenders exited with rifles demanding her belongings.The victim complied and was not injured. The offenders then fled the scene in an unknown direction.A second incident occurred just six minutes later in the 3400 block of North Leavitt. According to police, a 42-year-old man was walking when a white sedan approached and two offenders exited with rifles and demanded his personal property. He complied and was not injured. The offenders entered the vehicle and fled the scene.Minutes later, another armed robber...

Chicago Air and Water Show 2023 kicks off over Lake Michigan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Thunderbirds will start soaring Friday morning, kicking off rehearsals for the Chicago Air and Water show this weekend.The largest show of its kind in the country will return to the lakefront this weekend with more than one million people expected to attend. From 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds as well as the Army Golden Knights will practice over Lake Michigan. Pilots of six Thunderbirds will perform maneuvers in a variety of formations overhead -- some as close as 18 inches from each other mid-air. The aircrafts participating in the air show will take off from the airport in Gary, Indiana and resume practice from 2 to 3 p.m. 1959 Chicago Little League champs reunite, share memories A special aircraft, the 'Stratotanker' is used to refuel other planes mid-air, capable of offloading six and a half thousand pounds of fuel per minute.Schaumburg native, Patrick Burke, is piloting the aircraft.“I was fortunate t...

17-year-old shot and killed in Back of the Yards ID'd

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 17-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Back of the Yards Thursday has been identified. The medical examiner's office identified him as Edward Black of Chicago. Body recovered from Wilmette Harbor identified as missing swimmer Police said he was on the sidewalk in the 4500 block of South Paulina Avenue around 6:39 p.m. when he was shot in the left shoulder and groin by an unknown individual. He was transported to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead.There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Dean's Weekender: Chicago Air & Water takes to the skies of Chicago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:27:15 GMT

CHICAGO — If you keep your eyes on the sky around downtown Chicago this weekend, you'll have quite a show. Even if you don't you'll probably hear the roar of the planes buzzing the buildings and the lakefront on Saturday and Sunday.The Chicago Air and Water show is back for 2023, running both days from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the downtown area. Like every year, it will feature a number of aircraft performing tricks for people with North Avenue Beach being the focal point of the event. Dean Richards talked about that in his "Weekender" on Friday's WGN Morning News as he previewed the events for the upcoming few days.He looked at concerts going on this weekend, which include Kenny Loggins, Chance The Rapper, ZZ Top & Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Jeff Goldblum & Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. We also previewed performances in the theatre like "Next to Normal," and "No Man's Land."We also previewed a few fests going on this August weekend, including Chicago Ribfest & Taylor Street Lit...