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At least 100 elephants die in drought-stricken Zimbabwe park, a grim sign of El Nino, climate change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — At least 100 elephants have died in Zimbabwe’s largest national park in recent weeks because of drought, their carcasses a grisly sign of what wildlife authorities and conservation groups say is the impact of climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon.Authorities warn that more could die as forecasts suggest a scarcity of rains and rising heat in parts of the southern African nation including Hwange National Park. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has described it as a crisis for elephants and other animals.“El Nino is making an already dire situation worse,” said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.El Nino is a natural and recurring weather phenomenon that warms parts of the Pacific, affecting weather patterns around the world. While this year’s El Nino brought deadly floods to East Africa recently, it is expected to cause below-average rainfall across southern Africa...

Negotiations underway at UN ahead of vote on resolution calling for halt in hostilities in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

(CNN) — Intensive negotiations were underway at the United Nations ahead of an expected vote Tuesday on a resolution calling for a halt in hostilities to allow much needed aid to enter Gaza, according to diplomats.The vote was originally scheduled for Monday, but was delayed a day to allow more time for negotiations. At the center of the talks is drafting language that could gain a “yes” vote from the United States, or at least an abstention, which would allow the measure to pass.The draft resolution is said to have originally included a call for a “cessation of hostilities” to allow much-needed aid to enter Gaza. Diplomats were hopeful that changing the language to “suspension of hostilities” could gain American support.The US has vetoed previous measures at the UN Security Council and voted against a call for a ceasefire in the larger UN General Assembly.That lends significance to Tuesday’s vote; if the US allows the resolution to pass, it would amount to an important si...

‘Toucher and Hardy’ in the mornings: Rob ‘Hardy’ Poole named co-host of 98.5 morning show with Fred Toucher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

The widely considered top candidate to be the new co-host of the 98.5 The Sports Hub morning show is getting the gig.Rob “Hardy” Poole, who has been a staple on the 98.5 midday show, has been named the co-host of the morning show with longtime host Fred Toucher — who made the announcement on Tuesday.There has been an opening on “Toucher and Rich” since last month when Rich Shertenlieb left the most popular sports talk radio morning show in the region.Toucher, who recently signed a multiyear contract to stay with 98.5, announced Hardy’s move during the show on Tuesday.“Starting on January 4th, there will be a new member of this show, and that person’s name is Rob ‘Hardy’ Poole,” Toucher said on air. “He has signed a contract, and it is official.”Beasley Media Group announced that the morning show will be named “Toucher & Hardy.”Hardy joining the morning show is “not much of a surprise,”...

Toyland: Workers sort gifts at Boston’s Toys For Tots distribution center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

Pedestrian killed after hit by multiple vehicles on I-5, prompting lane closures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

SAN YSIDRO, Calif. — Multiple lanes of the northbound Interstate 5 through San Ysidro were closed off Tuesday morning after a pedestrian was fatally struck by several vehicles, according to California Highway Patrol.The incident was reported just after 3:10 a.m. in the far right lane of the highway near the exit at Dairy Mart Road. According to CHP Sgt. Kyle Johnson, the pedestrian, described as an adult male, had entered the lane, where he was struck by a vehicle.After the collision, the motorist pulled off the freeway and into an Arco Gas Station to call authorities. Before officers arrived on scene, CHP said several additional cars struck the pedestrian after the initial collision."At this time, we're still conducting the investigation, but we do believe additional vehicles struck the pedestrian after he was initially hit," Johnson said. "Several vehicles did pull over and our officers contacted those individuals."According to Johnson, the pedestrian was pronounced dead on scene....

Playing live, ‘Nutcracker’ musicians bring unseen signature to holiday staple

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Musicians in a cramped space under a Phoenix stage send up the familiar tones of “The Nutcracker.” Overhead, satin-and-glue pointed toes pitter-patter across stage in a performance of the holiday favorite.For Ballet Arizona and many other productions around the world, a pit full of musicians is as much part of the tradition as the dancers above.Shows can turn to recordings as they weather costs and crises, and in recent years, productions across the country have been working to recover after the pandemic forced them to go silent during public health closures. But fans, musicians and union leaders say live music brings an unseen signature to each show — even if the path is sometimes fraught. In New York, a production some consider the quintessential American “Nutcracker” opened minutes after musicians agreed to a contract. In Los Angeles, a company gives audiences both options. And in the Phoenix show, the pit was put on hiatus during the Great Recession tied to the 20...

The color purple: It’s a new movie and an old hue that’s rich in meaning and history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it,” Shug tells Celie in Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.”In nature, among the priestly and royal, as a symbol of independence, pride and magic, purple is weighty in history and culture. Now, with the Christmas Day opening of the second film based on Walker’s 1982 book, purple takes a seat at the box office after the historic popularity of “Barbie” and all things pink.Consider it a many-layered cultural counterpart to its frothier cousin.Power, ambition, luxury. Purple reflects them all. It also expresses creativity, independence, pride, peace, mystery and magic. In contemporary history and fiction, it often represents something sought dearly. In the early 20th century, purple attire and signage signified loyalty and dignity among the suffragists. In Walker’s novel, Celie, the main character, wants a pair of purple shoes but can’t afford the...

1 dead, 4 rushed to hospital in Caledon crash involving SUV, school bus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

One person is dead and four others have been rushed to hospital following a two-vehicle crash in Caledon on Tuesday morning.Emergency crews were called to Heart Lake and Mayfield roads around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a collision involving a school bus and an SUV.Paramedics say one occupant of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other people in the SUV were sent to hospital, including one with serious injuries.The school bus had an adult driver and one child on board at the time of the crash. Both received minor injuries.Heart Lake Road is closed from Mayfield to Old School roads for the investigation.

A man claiming to be a former Russian officer wants to give evidence to the ICC about Ukraine crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Russian claiming to be a former officer with the Wagner Group has arrived in the Netherlands and says he wants to provide evidence to the International Criminal Court, which is investigating atrocities in the war in Ukraine.Dutch news program EenVandaag reported Monday that Igor Salikov had flown into the Netherlands. The news show spoke to him via a videolink. He is believed to have applied for asylum and could not be reached for comment Tuesday.Salikov said he was in eastern Ukraine in 2014 when conflict erupted there, and in 2022 when Russia invaded its neighbor.“I know where the orders came from,” he told EenVandaag. His claims could not be independently verified.The Wagner Group, a military contractor created by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, deployed to eastern Ukraine when a Moscow-backed separatist rebellion erupted there in 2014. It also took part in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, spearheading the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut...

Here’s a list of November inflation rates for selected Canadian cities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:54 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s annual inflation rate was 3.1 per cent in November, Statistics Canada says. The agency also released rates for major cities, but cautioned that figures may have fluctuated widely because they are based on small statistical samples (previous month in brackets):— St. John’s, N.L.: 2.8 per cent (2.9)— Charlottetown-Summerside: 0.1 per cent (1.6)— Halifax: 3.1 per cent (3.5)— Saint John, N.B.: 1.9 per cent (2.7)— Quebec City: 3.8 per cent (4.3)— Montreal: 4.1 per cent (4.6)— Ottawa: 2.9 per cent (2.6)— Toronto: 3.8 per cent (4.0)— Thunder Bay, Ont.: 2.1 per cent (2.6)— Winnipeg: 2.0 per cent (2.2)— Regina: 2.9 per cent (2.3)— Saskatoon: 2.9 per cent (2.2)— Edmonton: 2.2 per cent (1.7)— Calgary: 2.9 per cent (2.8)— Vancouver: 3.5 per cent (3.4)— Victoria: 3.0 per cent (2.3)— Whitehorse: 3.0 per cent (2.8)— Yellowknife: 1.4 per cent (1.6)— Iqaluit: 1.8 per cent (1.5)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2023.The Canadian Press