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Zimbabwe reports record tobacco sales, mostly to China, yet many farmers deep in debt

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe has reported record tobacco sales as the southern African nation reestablishes itself as one of the leading growers in the world, and yet the small-scale Black farmers now selling their crop mostly to China are “heavily indebted” and seeing “minimal” benefits, according to an association that represents their interests.Critics say the farmers are not benefitting as they should from Zimbabwe’s tobacco boom, largely because of a contract system that locks them into unfavorable loans and prices, often with Chinese companies operating under the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation, the largest cigarette maker in the world.China buys most of Zimbabwe’s tobacco to feed its huge market. While other companies and local merchants are also involved in the contract system in Zimbabwe, it is dominated by Chinese firms and their agents.The Zimbabwean government announced Wednesday that the country, Africa’s top producer and...

Liberals table ‘sustainable jobs’ bill to back up pledge to help workers transition

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal Liberals introduced new legislation today that would require the government to develop and share a plan every five years to help workers transition to a clean-energy economy.It would hold the government to account for its promises to help workers retrain and create new jobs as Canada shifts away from its current reality as a combustion-energy powerhouse.The government says a clean-energy economy could create as many as 400,000 new jobs before the end of this decade alone.The Liberals are calling Bill C-50 the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act.The pragmatic-sounding name belies the political fight ahead as energy-dependent provinces in Western Canada accuse Ottawa of trying to overstep its bounds.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said her province would provide additional cash to help cut emissions from oil and gas production only if Ottawa scrapped the sustainable jobs bill.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2023.The Canadian Press

India, Pakistan brace for winds, flash flooding as Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

MANDVI, India (AP) — Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall on Thursday evening as a vast swath of western India and neighboring southern Pakistan braced for flash floods, heavy rain and high winds. Rain pelted the shores and skies darkened along the Arabian Sea, while dust storms hampered evacuation and rescue work on land. Authorities expect conditions to worsen for two or three days as Biparjoy was expected to reach wind speeds gusting up to 140kmph (86mph) before slowing down in India’s Gujarat province.In India’s Kutch district, near Jakhau port where the cyclone made landfall, authorities were expecting significant inundations of the area. In Pakistan, Keti Bandar in the country’s flood-ravaged southern Sindh province, also lies in Biparjoy’s path. The bazaars and beaches in Mandvi, India, usually a bustling coastal town known for its wooden boat-makers, were deserted Thursday under government shutdown orders. Heavy winds and rains uprooted some trees in the area. Local media reported...

American arrested over assault on 2 tourists in Germany that left one woman dead

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, an attack that left one of the women dead, authorities said Thursday.The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon. It took place near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.The 30-year-old man met the two women, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.The man, himself described as a tourist, then “physically attacked” the younger woman, they said. When her companion tried to intervene, he choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.The mountain rescue service rescued both women....

Motorcyclist dead after semitruck crash in Palatine: Police

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

PALATINE, Ill. -- A 50-year-old motorcyclist is dead after a crash involving a semi-trailer truck in Palatine overnight.According to Palatine Police, the crash took place near the 200 block of North Northwest Highway around 1:11 a.m. Police said the semi-tractor trailer combination was exiting a private drive to travel southbound when a motorcycle traveling northbound struck the trailer of the semi-trailer truck. 2 men rob Walgreens store in West Ridge: Chicago Police The man driving the motorcycle was pronounced dead on the scene. The northwest highway between North Hicks Road and East Hicks Place was closed for several hours and reopened at 7:30 a.m.There is no other information provided on the incident.

Realtor helps LGBTQ+ Texans leave state through 'rainbow Underground Railroad'

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

DALLAS (KXAN) — The end of this month can't come soon enough for Paul Lewis. He'll get to hand over the keys to his house in a Dallas suburb and start a long drive north, where he'll become the latest LGBTQ+ Texan to leave the state in hopes of finding a friendlier place to call home. "Part of me hates the fact that I'm leaving Texas, the home I've always known," Lewis said, "but part of me is also excited by the fact that I get to start a new chapter." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘Flee Texas’ service launches to help LGBTQ people leave state The lifelong Texan committed in January to begin looking for somewhere else to move. He explained how two factors ultimately solidified that decision, pointing to the growing number of LGBTQ+ restrictions introduced this legislative session as well as the frequency of deadly mass shootings happening in the state. He noted his home in Carrollton is 20 minutes from the Allen Premium Outlets, where a gunman killed eight people in May. Plus, the governor...

AMBER Alert issued for 13-year-old Hitchcock girl

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) — The Texas Center for the Missing has issued an Amber Alert for a teenage girl on behalf of the Hitchcock Police Department.Police are searching for 13-year-old Leanna Willis, who was last seen Friday, June 9 around 4 p.m. in the 6500 block of Bell Street in Hitchcock.She was wearing an oversized gray hoodie, black shorts, and slippers.Witnesses said Leanna was getting into a silver four-door Toyota Camry with an unknown Black male, who appeared to be 40 to 50 years of age. There is no other description of the male nor the vehicle at this time.Anyone with information concerning her whereabouts should contact the Hitchcock Police Department at 409-986-5559.

'PAW Patrol' live shows coming to Cedar Park, other Texas cities

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

Texas (KXAN) -- Several Texas cities will soon see live theatrical productions of the popular children's show "Paw Patrol." PAW Patrol Live! “Heroes Unite” will feature an interactive live stage show, involving members of the audience, visual effects, captivating storytelling and a vibrant musical score, according to a release. The show will make stops in the following Texas cities, with more Texas dates yet to be announced: Cedar Park – H-E-B Center at Cedar Park – October 21-22San Antonio – Boeing Center at Tech Port – October 27-29Houston – The Hobby Center, Sarofim Hall – November 2-5Midland – Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center – November 18-19El Paso – El Paso County Coliseum – December 1-3Presale began June 13. and tickets will go on sale to the general public on June 23. People can sign up for Tail Mail to get pre-sale access. The production is based on the top-rated animated p...

Former Harvard morgue manager stole brains, skin and other body parts to sell them, indictment says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A former manager at the Harvard Medical School morgue, his wife and three other people have been indicted in the theft and sale of human body parts, federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Wednesday.Cedric Lodge, 55, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, stole dissected portions of cadavers that were donated to the school in the scheme that stretched from 2018 to early 2023, according to court documents. The body parts were taken without the school’s knowledge or permission, authorities said, adding that the school has cooperated with the investigation.Lodge sometimes took the body parts — which included heads, brains, skin and bones — back to his home where he lived with his wife, Denise, 63, and some remains were sent to buyers through the mail, authorities said. Lodge also allegedly allowed buyers to come to the morgue to pick what remains they wanted to buy.Bodies donated to Harvard Medical School are used for education, teaching or rese...

Traffic stop in Coxsackie ends in drug arrest for two

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:35:39 GMT

COXSACKIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A traffic stop in Coxsackie ended in two people being arrested on drug-related charges. Michael Joyce (36, Virginia), and Cliffords Sanders (43, New York City) each face multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Wednesday, around 11:20 a.m., state police pulled over a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu driving northbound on I-87 in Coxsackie. Police identified the driver as Joyce and the front-seat passenger as Sanders. While being interviewed, police say their K-9, Kell, alerted them of narcotics in the car. Police performed a probable cause search and say they found a scale. Saratoga Springs PD: Dead body found in baseball field dugout Police say a further search of Joyce resulted in the seizure of roughly 65.5 grams of crack cocaine and 31 grams of cocaine, and a search of Sanders resulted in the seizure of roughly 72.4 grams of crack cocaine and 25.5 grams of heroin. Joyce and Sanders were a...