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Russian foreign minister set for BRICS meet in South Africa with war in Ukraine on agenda

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was meeting in South Africa with counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc of developing nations for discussions Thursday that will start with “an exchange of views” on major geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine, South Africa’s ambassador to the bloc said.Most of the BRICS countries differ sharply from the position of the U.S. and its Western allies on the war. Speaking ahead of the meeting, the South African ambassador, Anil Sooklal, referred to the West’s military aid to Ukraine as one of the things that “fuels the conflict.”“Any endeavor that fuels the conflict does not solve the problem,” Sooklal said when asked for his reaction to Western “attempts” to transfer weapons to Ukraine.“We do not know of any global conflict that has been solved though war,” he said. “All it does is cause more pain and suffering and, as BRICS countries, this is what we are saying: Let’s focus on findin...

Small plane forced to land in cornfield after failed take off in Sugar Grove

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

SUGAR GROVE, Ill — A small plane was forced to land in a cornfield after a failed take off from Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove on Thursday morning.According to the FAA, the single-engine plane made a hard landing after taking off from the airport around 7:30 a.m. The landing gear was reportedly crushed.Two people were on board at the time of the incident and were not injured.Here's a look at the plane that crashed during takeoff from the Aurora Airport. The two people on board were not injured. pic.twitter.com/iQFTQqrmlj— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) June 1, 2023The FAA is investigating the incident.

Chicago Bears gifts boy shot in Highland Park parade shooting special wheelchair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed waist down after being shot in the Highland Park parade shooting last year received a special gift from the Chicago Bears this past week. A device that will make his beach days all the more enjoyable and smoother, Cooper Roberts was gifted a wheelchair that can navigate sand. According to the Chicago Bears, Cooper competes for an adaptive swim team at Shirley Ryan and loves visiting the beach. Cooper's mom Keeley Roberts, said in a statement: "This extraordinarily generous gift from the Bears reflects the organization’s understanding of the importance of this for Cooper. They could have given any gift, but they chose the most meaningful thing that put Cooper 'back in the game' this summer." What to know about Taylor Swift’s Soldier Field concerts The Bears and "Devices 4 the Disabled" joined forces Wednesday at Halas Hall to present Cooper with the wheelchair specifically made for the sand.Bears' quarterback Justin Fields pu...

Taylor Swift fans line up for hours outside Soldier Field for 'Eras Tour' merch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

CHICAGO — The much anticipated 'Eras Tour' is descending upon Chicago this weekend and Taylor Swift mania has officially begun.Swifties lined up outside Soldier Field Thursday morning to be among the first to get their hands on tour merchandise. The first fan got in line at 1 a.m. What to know about Taylor Swift’s Soldier Field concerts Eras Tour merch sales begin at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. Thursday.Taylor Swift fans are lined up outside @SoldierField for Eras Tour merch. First fan got in line at 1 a.m... sales start at 10 a.m. and go til 7p tonight. pic.twitter.com/Nzgi9DJTmU— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) June 1, 2023Skycam9 captured long lines of fans outside of tents where the merchandise will be sold from.“The Eras Tour” is scheduled to be in Chicago June 2 through June 4 and is completely sold-out.

Is your name on the 2023 hurricane list?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

(WKBN) – June 1 may mark just the start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, but this year's hurricane names are already set. The World Meteorological Organization decided on the list of 21 names. When a tropical storm strengthens to wind speeds of 39 mph or higher, it gets a name from the list, starting in alphabetical order.There are 26 letters in the alphabet but only 21 names chosen. The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are all left off because they aren’t common enough to be easily understood in local languages spoken in North America, Central America and the Caribbean (areas all affected by hurricanes).There are six lists of names, which are rotated through and recycled every six years. For example, the list used in 2023 will also be used in 2029.The only time there is a change in the lists is if a hurricane is so costly or deadly that the future use of its name would be inappropriate or insensitive. If this occurs, the name is retired, an...

Dolly Parton takes home three new Guinness World Records

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Dolly Parton has done it again, with Guinness World Records reporting that the star took home three new records and cemented her "legendary status" with the longest span of number-one hits.Information posted to Guinness' website on May 31 said Parton was awarded the titles at an exclusive presentation in Nashville, Tennessee.Guinness said Parton's newest titles include:Longest span of No.1 hits on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) - for her 43 years, 156 days on Billboards Top Country Albums chart, starting with hits from her 1977 album 'New Harvest... First Gathering' through her October 2022 album 'A Holly Dolly Christmas.'Most studio albums released by a female country singer - for Parton's 65 studio albums ranging from 1967's 'Hello, I'm Dolly', to 2022's 'Run, Rose Run.'Most Top 10 entries on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) - for 'Diamonds and Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection', Dolly's 48th Top 10 entry on Billboard's top Count...

NJ mom and daughter who fled war-torn Syria graduate college together

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (WPIX) -- It is said it's the journey, not the destination, that matters. For Racha Ahmad and her mother, Stani Hajbi, both the journey and the destination were equally celebrated on this day."It feels like our dreams came true," said Ahmad.At the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday, mom and daughter received bachelor's degrees at William Paterson's 200th Commencement, with Ahmad having the honor of serving as commencement speaker."My overall message is hard work and dedication and not wasting time is very important because education, success and working hard and putting a target in your mind — this is what's going to benefit you," said Ahmad. Entire graduating class at California charter school accepted into 4-year universities Their family lived in Syria at the time war broke out in 2011. Three years later, the family sought asylum and went to New Jersey. It wasn't long until Ahmad earned an associate degree at Passaic County Community College, eve...

VIDEO: Raul Meza Jr. speaks after 1993 release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – KXAN has followed the story of Raul Meza Jr. for more than three decades.  Meza Jr. pleaded guilty to murder in the death of Kendra Page, an 8-year-old Austin girl, in 1982.Austin Police said Tuesday that Meza Jr., 62, confessed to murdering his roommate, Jesse Fraga, 80, and implicated himself in the murder of Gloria Lofton, 66, in 2019. When Meza was first released from prison for Page's death in 1993, he tried to convince the public he had changed."There's is nothing that I can do to change my past. I can only tell you that in my heart I would not willfully bring harm to anyone," Meza said then. Court docs detail what lead to 2023 arrest of Raul Meza Jr. As KXAN reported in 1993, protesters greeted him with angry yells outside his mother's home. Meza had been rejected from five Texas cities after people had learned what he had done but his mother was eager to see him. "I'm feeling hopeful for the future for me and my family and my son in spite of wh...

No threat to public after 'suspicious activity' at Austin airport, APD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said there is no threat to the public after it helped investigate reported "suspicious activity" at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Thursday morning. AUS and APD investigated the Red Garage for reported "suspicious activity," according to the airport's Twitter page. Both the Red and Blue Garages and adjacent admin buildings were closed during the investigation but have since reopened. However, the third floor of the Red Garage remains closed.

Como Zoo welcomes newborn snow leopard cub

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:38 GMT

A female snow leopard cub was born last month at the Como Zoo.It was the second successful offspring born to parents Alya, who is nine, and Moutig, who is 10, and part of a Species Survival Plan recommendation, according to zoo officials.A single snow leopard cub was born at St. Paul’s Como Zoo on May 6, 2023. The parents, Alya and Moutig, had another offspring as part of the Species Survival Plan. The cub and mother Alya will remain off exhibit until later in the summer when the cub would be leaving the nesting area and able to move about the habitat. (Courtesy of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory)Alya has shown herself to be “an excellent, protective mother displaying positive maternal behaviors and is exhibiting exceptional care of her cub,” zoo officials said in a statement on the birth. “The cub is growing rapidly and has started to explore her environment. Alya and her cub will remain off exhibit until later this summer when the cub would be routinely leav...