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Talks on Ukraine’s peace plan open in Malta with officials from 65 countries – but not Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — Talks on Ukraine’s plan for peace kicked off in Malta on Saturday, with the participation of more than 65 countries — but not Russia, Maltese and Ukrainian officials said.The two-day meeting of national security delegates is the third round of such talks in recent months. Ukraine sees them as an opportunity to win support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan from countries across the globe, especially as the conflict in the Middle East risks shifting the focus away from Ukraine. Russia has dismissed the initiative as biased and refused to attend the meetings.“Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts are paying off, as international support for the Ukrainian peace formula is growing,” The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, wrote on X — formerly known as Twitter — ahead of the opening session, stressing the strong international attendance.The initial round of talks in Copenhagen in June saw just 15 participants, rising to 43 f...

North Dakota police officer fired for injuring suspect gets probation after changing plea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A former North Dakota police officer fired for badly injuring a 63-year-old man during an arrest has been sentenced to probation after dropping his not-guilty plea.The Bismarck Tribune cited court documents in reporting that former Bismarck Officer George Huff entered an Alford plea on Oct. 12 to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. The plea means Huff didn’t admit guilt but acknowledged there was enough evidence to support a conviction. He had been scheduled for trial in December.A judge placed Huff on unsupervised probation for one year.Huff, 26, was accused of striking Keith Erlandson several times in the face while holding handcuffs during an arrest on March 9. Erlandson suffered severe injuries. Bismarck police and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigated, and Police Chief Dave Draovitch fired Huff on May 21.The Bismarck’s department’s report concluded Huff “initiated and persisted in close physical contact” with ...

3 Sumatran tiger cubs have been born at a zoo in Nashville

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three Sumatran tigers have been born at the Nashville Zoo.Zoo officials announced that the two female and one male cubs were born Oct. 20. It’s the first time that Sumatran tigers were born at the zoo. The cubs’ mother, 9-year-old Anne, arrived at the Nashville Zoo from the San Diego Zoo in December.Sumatran tigers are native to the rainforests of Indonesia. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Sumatran tiger as critically endangered with fewer than 600 in existence worldwide due to habitat loss and poaching.Nashville Zoo veterinary officials performed a routine checkup on the cubs Thursday.“All three cubs are doing well and are now back with their mom, Anne, in the privacy of their indoor den,” the zoo said in a statement Saturday on Facebook.The cubs’ father, Felix, remains separated from Anne at the Nashville Zoo’s Tiger Crossroads Exhibit.Two Sumatran tigers also were born at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park in July.The Associated P...

Former Ontario inmates saw higher risk of overdose death as COVID 19 emerged: study 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

Former Ontario inmates saw their risk of dying from a toxic-drug overdose jump as much as 50 per cent at the start of the pandemic compared to the years before COVID-19, says a study.The study in the medical journal PLOS One compared pandemic impacts on opioid toxicity death rates between people who had and had not been incarcerated in Ontario between 2015 and 2020.It found overall risk jumped substantially when COVID-19 emerged with a slew of infection control measures, but the increase in risk was particularly large for people who had been behind bars or released during the years studied.Lead author Amanda Butler, assistant professor of criminology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, says COVID-19 further exacerbated risk by 1.5 times for men and 1.2 times for women who were incarcerated.The most substantial impact was on individuals between the ages of 25 and 49 who experienced incarceration.“Our interest was in whether COVID disproportionately impacted people w...

Musk offers aid organizations in Gaza access to Starlink

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

Tech billionaire Elon Musk offered the use of his Starlink satellite internet service on Saturday for humanitarian aid organizations in Gaza after Israeli bombings cut power.The Gaza Strip, which is controlled Hamas, has been without internet and telephone communication amid escalating airstrikes and a ground campaign by the Israeli military. This has left civilians unable to call for help and aid organizations unable to communicate.Musk said his company would give access to "internationally recognized" aid organizations, though it is unclear how quickly they would be able to connect to the technology as it requires special equipment.However, Musk's commitment came in response to criticism of Israel’s decision to cut communication from Rep. Alexandria Ocacio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).“Cutting off all communication to a population of 2.2 million is unacceptable,” Ocacio-Cortez said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. “Journalists, medical professionals, humanitarian efforts, and innoce...

Are you tipping wrong at hotels?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Does it feel like you’re being asked to tip for almost everything lately? You aren’t alone — there’s even a term for it now: tip creeping.While you may be finding yourself in a corner more often, faced with a digital screen asking for tips as high as 30%, what about the places you aren’t explicitly asked to tip, like a hotel?We don’t mean the hotel bar or restaurant (experts pretty widely agree you should be tipping at those). We’re referring to leaving tips for housekeeping, passing a couple of bucks to the person who helps with your luggage, and even tipping the front desk associate.  40% won’t tip at food trucks – but should you? Many on Reddit said that if they opt out of housekeeping or tidy up after themselves, they don’t leave a tip. Others said they tip if they can afford it, citing the usual low pay housekeepers receive — the median hourly wage for maids and housekeepers is under $32,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.The etiquette experts at ...

LIVE: Recent rain raises water levels at Lake Travis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

LAKE TRAVIS, Texas (KXAN) — The water levels of Lake Travis rose a couple feet after several days of rain this week.According to the Texas Water Development Board, the second-largest of the Highland Lakes rose roughly 2 feet compared to last Friday.This elevation comes after a long, dry summer where drought conditions led to the closure of many of the area's public boat ramps. Lake Travis boat ramp to close Tuesday due to low water levels Jacob Williams, owner of ATX Boat Rentals, said as water levels dipped lower and lower this summer, he had to send his dock further out into the lake to keep it afloat.For the first time in a long time, Williams said he can bring the dock back to the shore thanks to the elevated water levels."I think it's the first time in two and a half years I've actually had to bring the dock in because the lake has started to rise a little bit," Williams said.Tabata Indalecio has lived on Lake Travis for two years. In that time...

Camila, Matthew McConaughey launch tequila line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Matthew and Camila McConaughey are the latest celebrities to launch a tequila line. The couple announced their line, called Pantalones Organic Tequila, Wednesday. The tequila is made with 100% premium, organic, blue weber agave, a release said. Pantalones Organic Tequila (Courtesy Pantalones Organic Tequila)Pantalones Organic Tequila (Courtesy Pantalones Organic Tequila)The tequila is described as "an agave-forward tequila that is smooth, flavorful, and great for sipping, shooting or mixing up in your favorite Fancy Pants cocktail," a release said.More information about Pantalones Tequila is available online.

Police provide more details in deadly north Austin officer-involved shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Friday, the Austin Police Department identified the man who died in a north Austin shooting involving officers on Oct. 22, as well as provided more details in a news release provided by APD.The man was identified as Cristobal Ordonez Flores, 57, according to police. APD officers involved in fatal north Austin shooting Here is a breakdown of the events provided by APD on what led to the deadly shooting:7:55 p.m.: 911 dispatch receives a call reporting an intoxicated person threatening a woman with a gun in the 9000 block of Northgate Boulevard.7:57 p.m.: The first APD unit assigned to the call and began responding to the scene. As officers responded, additional information was provided the man "was holding his wife in one hand and a gun in the other."8:02 p.m.: The first APD officer arrived on the scene to gather more information, which included finding the apartment involved and began securing the scene. Officers were then notified the woman at risk was not the...

Woman, Fort Cavazos soldier arrested in child sexual abuse investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A woman and a Fort Cavazos soldier were both arrested in connection with an investigation involving child sexual abuse material and inappropriate acts with children.The Gillespie County Sheriff's Office said on Oct. 20, deputies and an investigator met to investigate Zoe Sophia Williams, 18, of Fredericksburg, and a 22-year-old man who was a Fort Cavazos soldier. The sheriff's office said the two were in a dating relationship.“Upon further investigation and examination, evidence was located depicting child sexual abuse material on Williams’ phone. Williams may have had access to her victims through babysitting, and it was discovered that she had been seeking out child sexual abuse material via the internet, taking pictures of children while in her care, and sending those to the male subject,” GCSO said.GCSO said the child sexual abuse material originated with the soldier.According to GCSO, Williams was arrested and charged with possession of child ab...