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Former Brussels journalist 'reluctant' to leave Ukraine after mercy trip

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

A former national newspaper journalist has admitted he was reluctant to leave Ukraine after a humanitarian aid trip to the war torn nation, writes Martin Banks.Chris White, who is 80, joined other volunteers in a recent UK-based mercy mission to the country where they delivered assorted items, including toys and sweets for young children.But he says that when it came to returning to his home in Belgium his only thought was to stay in Ukraine to provide further help.He said: “I wanted nothing more than to stay in Ukraine. I had an overwhelming desire to help.”White added, “I left with a deep emptiness in my heart for the people of Ukraine. I will never forget the joy on children’s faces as they were shown into the room at a care home to be handed sweets and biscuits. The adults visibly shared my emotion as kids who lost their homes – and in some cases family members – to the violence of war realised what was happening.”White, formerly of the Daily Mail in the UK, and a small group of...

California bill could ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales, and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

A bill being considered by California lawmakers could ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales candy, Dubble Bubble Twist Gum, and other food items that contain chemicals linked to cancer and other health issues.Introduced by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), AB 418 proposes that California stop manufacturing, selling or distributing foods that contain Red Dye No. 3, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, or Propyl Paraben. California bill would require schools to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender Each of these chemicals can cause significant health problems like increased risk of cancer, damage to the immune system and behavioral issues in children, Gabriel's office said in a news release.While many Californians won’t recognize these chemicals by name, they can be found in popular food and drink items. For example, according to experts, titanium dioxide can be found in cupcakes, trail mix and ice cream. Propyl paraben can be ...

Willis Reed, leader on Knicks' 2 title teams, dies at 80

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

Willis Reed, who dramatically emerged from the locker room minutes before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to spark the New York Knicks to their first championship and create one of sports’ most enduring examples of playing through pain, died Tuesday. He was 80.Reed's death was announced by the National Basketball Retired Players Association, which confirmed it through his family. The cause was not released, but Reed had been in poor health recently and was unable to travel to New York when the Knicks honored the 50th anniversary of their 1973 NBA championship team during their game against New Orleans on Feb. 25.Nicknamed “The Captain,” Reed was the undersized center and emotional leader on the Knicks’ two NBA championship teams, with a soft shooting touch from the outside and a toughness to tussle with the era’s superstar big men on the inside.His accomplishments — seven All-Star selections, two NBA Finals MVP awards among them — would have warranted Hall of Fame induc...

London police chief 'humbled' by withering report on force

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

London’s police force has lost the confidence of the people it serves because it is riven with institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia and doesn’t do enough to weed out bad officers, according to a withering report commissioned after a young woman was raped and killed by a serving officer.The Metropolitan Police Service, which has more than 34,000 officers and is Britain’s biggest police force, must “change itself” or face being broken up after failing to address these longstanding problems for more than two decades, investigators said in the report published Tuesday.“It is not our job as the public to keep ourselves safe from the police. It is the police’s job to keep us safe as the public,’’ said Louise Casey, an expert on victims’ rights and social welfare who led the inquiry. “Far too many Londoners have now lost faith in policing to do that.”Deep-seated bias, poor management and budget cuts mean that crimes against women and girls are poorly investigated, ethnic minority ...

One Killed, Another Injured in Head-On Crash on West Florence Avenue [Los Angeles, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

Two-Vehicle Collision on South Gramercy Place Left 1 Dead and 1 InjuredLOS ANGELES, CA (March 21, 2023) – Early Saturday morning, a head-on crash on West Florence Avenue left one person dead and another person hospitalized.Emergency personnel responded to the incident around 1:11 a.m. at the 1900 block of West Florence and South Gramercy Place.Upon arrival, officials learned that one of the two vehicles traveling on Florence crossed over the center line.Afterward, it collided with another vehicle going in the opposite direction. The reason behind the incident remains unknown.Tragically, a 42-year-old male driver sustained major injuries and died at the scene. His name has not been made public, pending notification from the next of kin.Meanwhile, paramedics transported the other driver to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries.Los Angeles Officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the West Florence Avenue head-on crash.Sweet James warm and sincere...

Man Killed in Pedestrian Accident on Highway 18 [Apple Valley, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

27-Year-Old Pedestrian Fatally Struck by SUV near Symeron RoadAPPLE VALLEY, CA (March 21, 2023) – Early Wednesday morning, a pedestrian accident on Highway 18 claimed one person’s life.The incident happened on March 15th, at around 12:23 a.m., between Symeron Road and Rancherias Road.According to reports, a 2003 GMC Yukon was traveling eastbound on Highway 18 when it struck a man, who was walking in the road. The impact of the collision left the man with serious injuries.Emergency crews arrived at the scene shortly after. Then, officials pronounced the male pedestrian dead at the scene. At this time, authorities have not yet identified the man.Investigators report that the driver of the Yukon was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. Although, it is currently unclear whether or not the pedestrian was intoxicated.No words can mend the heartbreak felt at a sorrowful time like this. The team at Sweet James sends their sincere sympathies to th...

Ruth Mulisa Wambusa, Gedion Mbatha Mutuka, and 2 Others Were Killed in Wrong-Way Collision on State Route 71 [Chino Hills, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

Fiery Head-On Crash at Chino Hills Parkway Left Four People DeadCHINO HILLS, CA (March 21, 2023) – Early Sunday, a wrong-way collision on State Route 71 claimed the lives of Gedion Mbatha Mutuka, Ruth Mulisa Wambusa, and two other people.The deadly crash happened on March 19th, at around 2:30 a.m. at Chino Hills Parkway.According to reports, a 2021 Volvo, occupied by two people, was traveling north in the southbound lanes of State Route 71 when it hit a 2018 Volvo. The sudden impact of the collision caused a 2001 Toyota and a 2008 Honda to also strike the 2018 Volvo. Two other cars were also involved. Additionally, the 2021 Volvo became airborne and landed on the center divider before catching fire.Emergency crews arrived at the scene shortly after. Officials at the scene reported that 4 people died as a result of the collision.Later, authorities identified the two of the deceased victims as 38-year-old Ruth Mulisa Wambusa and 43-year-old Gedion Mbatha Mutuka, both from Lake E...

Do you pronounce the L in almond? UC wants to know

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

Do you pronounce the L in almond? That’s the question asked by the Amond vs. Almond Project, a survey by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.“Both pronunciations are technically correct,” the project’s authors say on their website. “We want to find out why people pronounce ‘almond’ a certain way, and determine geographic boundaries where certain pronunciations are used.”According to people who spend a lot of time in almond country, the no-L pronunciation is common among those from longtime almond-farming families. The standard joke — understandable only if you know something about nut harvesting — is that the almonds have “the L shaken out of them.” (The UC researchers note that, by that reasoning, walnuts should be wanuts.) No-L proponents also cite the conventional pronunciation of salmon.Answers from the online survey are being plotted on the map displayed below: red for ALL-mund, green...

Paltrow’s attorney calls Utah ski collision story ‘BS’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

By Sam Metz | Associated PressPARK CITY, Utah — Gwyneth Paltrow’s lawyer called the story of a retired optometrist who is suing her over a 2016 ski collision “utter B.S.” on Tuesday during the trial’s opening day in Utah, where the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer appeared in court, and tried to shield herself from photographers’ view with a notebook.Paltrow and Terry Sanderson, the man suing her, sat across from each other in a Park City courtroom as their attorneys gave opening arguments detailing the crash. Both described their clients as victims and blamed the other for the 2016 crash at Deer Valley, one of the country’s most upscale ski resorts.The two showed little emotion as attorneys questioned their credibility. A somber-looking Paltrow — wearing a beige knit sweater, tweed harem pants and aviator-style reading glasses — wrote in a blue “GP”-initialed notebook throughout the first day of the trial, which is set to last eight ...

Teacher shot by 6-year-old: ‘I thought I had died’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:10 GMT

Associated PressNEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Virginia teacher who was shot and wounded by her 6-year-old student said it has changed her life and she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day.“I just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he pointed the gun directly at me,” first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner said during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie about the student. “It’s changed me. It’s changed my life.”She said she’s still in shock and can’t make sense of it, in a portion of the interview that was aired Tuesday morning on “Today.”“I’m not sure when the shock will ever go away because of just how surreal it was and the vivid memories I have of that day. I think about it daily. Sometimes I have nightmares,” she said.Speaking publicly for the first time since the Jan. 6 shooting, Zwerner said in a portion of the interview that was aired Monday on “NBC ...