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What’s at stake when Turkey’s leader meets Putin in a bid to reestablish the Black Sea grain deal

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Vladimir Putin on Monday, hoping to persuade the Russian leader to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal that Moscow broke off from in July.Here are some key things to know and what’s at stake:WHERE WILL THE TALKS BE HELD?The meeting in Sochi on Russia’s southern coast comes after weeks of speculation about when and where the two leaders might meet. Erdogan previously said that Putin would travel to Turkey in August.WHY DID RUSSIA LEAVE THE GRAIN DEAL?The Kremlin refused to renew the grain agreement six weeks ago. The deal — brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 — had allowed nearly 33 million metric tons (36 million tons) of grain and other commodities to leave three Ukrainian ports safely despite Russia’s war.However, Russia pulled out after claiming that a parallel deal promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer hadn’t been honored.Moscow complained that...

Russians press Ukraine in the northeast to distract from more important battles in counteroffensive

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

LYMAN, Ukraine (AP) — Concealed under pine branches in the forests of northeast Ukraine, the muzzle of a Soviet-era howitzer rises, aiming for a group of approaching Russian infantrymen many kilometers away.A Ukrainian soldier signals to fire, then swiftly runs for cover. The thunderous crash of the unleashed projectile sends a pall of black smoke billowing above jabs of yellow flames. A pile of spent shells in the nearby foliage grows by the day.Here, along a small section of the 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) front line, Moscow’s army is staging a ferocious push designed to pin down Ukrainian forces, distract them from their grinding counteroffensive and minimize the number of troops Kyiv is able to send to more important battles in the south.The Kremlin tactic threatens to further slow the pace of the counteroffensive that was launched almost three months ago. Kyiv’s effort to reclaim Russian-occupied territory has produced minimal gains and heavy losses, and time is running sh...

Saturday Night Five: Colorado and Utah lead as quarterbacks shine and the Pac-12 remains perfect

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

Instant reaction to Pac-12 developments in Week 1 …1. Stellar startA catastrophic summer gave way to an idyllic weekend for the Pac-12 — at least thus far.One team, Oregon State, has yet to take the field. But the other 11 are perfect through the first Saturday of the season.The list of accomplishments includes the Colorado stunner at TCU, Utah thumping Florida, Washington’s blowout victory over Boise State and decisive road wins by Stanford, Cal and Washington State.Put another way: For one weekend, the Pac-12 more than justified the offseason hype.Not surprisingly, the powerhouse offenses across the conference carried the day — and they did so in historic fashion.For the first time since at least 1980, five teams scored at least 50 points, according to STATS. Oregon (81), USC (66), Washington (56), Washington State (50) and Cal (58) — yes, Cal — all got halfway to 100.If Oregon State takes care of business Sunday at San Jose State, the Pac-12 wi...

Mayden runs for a pair of TDs as San Diego State beats Idaho State 36-28

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Quarterback Jalen Mayden ran for two touchdowns to lead San Diego State to a 36-28 victory over Idaho State on Saturday night. Mayden broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run with 6:50 remaining to help San Diego State (2-0) pull away. He also had a 24-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and finished with 132 yards rushing on eight carries and completed 13 of 19 passes for 87 yards. Jaylon Armstead and Martin Blake each ran for 58 yards and a touchdown for the Aztecs, who finished with 302 yards on the ground. Jordan Cooke tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Christian Fredrickson just before the break that pulled the Bengals to 20-13. A safety and Blake’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 29-13 heading into the fourth quarter. Hunter Hays took over at quarterback late in the third quarter and led Idaho State on a 14-play, 80-yard drive capped by his 8-yard touchdown pass to Chedon James to cut the deficit to 29-21 with 13:22 to play. Cooke and Hays were a combine...

Michael Pratt near perfect in No. 24 Tulane’s 37-17 victory over South Alabama

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Every pass Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt threw — from high, arching throws deep down field to quick strikes in the flat — hit the hands of his intended receiver.Only one was dropped by Jha’Quan Jackson. But the speedy receiver made up for it — and then some.Pratt completed 14 of 15 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns and the Green Wave beat South Alabama 37-17 on Saturday night.“We took what was there — and there was a lot there,” Pratt said with a grin. “The offensive line did a great job holding up, keeping guys out of my face an the receivers did a phenomenal job winning and just made everything really easy for me.”Three of Pratt’s scoring passes came on deep throws. He hit Jackson for touchdowns of 48 and 47 yards and connected with Lawrence Keys on a 47-yard scoring play.Looking to validate its first preseason AP Top 25 ranking against a season-opening opponent that won 10 games last season, the Green Wave raced to a 24-7 lead. South Alaba...

Bo Nix throws for 3 TDs as No. 15 Oregon dominates in 81-7 win over Portland State

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Quarterback Bo Nix said the Ducks did what they needed to do in their home opener, even if it wasn’t much of a contest. Nix threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns before heading for the bench early in the third quarter and No. 15 Oregon built a 43-point halftime lead en route to an 81-7 victory over Portland State on Saturday.It was the most points for the Ducks in a game in the modern era, and a scoring record at Autzen Stadium. “I thought we went out and executed what we were supposed to do, scored a lot of points, we were consistent. We didn’t make any mistakes, we didn’t beat ourselves,” Nix said. “I thought it was a very clean game.” It was also Oregon’s 19th straight win in a home opener. The Ducks have won 31 straight non-conference games at Autzen Stadium, dating to 2008.Bucky Irving ran for 119 yards and two scores, while Jordan James rushed for 86 and three more. Troy Franklin and Gary Bryant Jr. each caught a pair of TD passes...

Dante Moore throws 2 TDs in first collegiate game as UCLA defeats Coastal Carolina 27-13

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Dante Moore threw two touchdowns in his first collegiate game and UCLA pulled away in the second half for a 27-13 victory over Coastal Carolina.Moore, the first five-star recruit during Chip Kelly’s six seasons in Westwood, directed the Bruins to scores in four of his six drives. The 18-year old from Detroit came into the game in the second quarter and completed 7 of 12 passes for 143 yards with an interception.J.Michael Sturdivant, a transfer from California, had five receptions for 136 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter that extended UCLA’s lead to 21-13. The score came one play after Liam Gray missed a 55-yard field goal attempt.UCLA’s defense struggled during the first half, but forced turnovers on three of its final six drives. The Chanticleers dropped Tim Beck’s debut as coach despite three interceptions by safety Clayton Isbell, including two in the end zone. Grayson McCall was 27 of 42 for 271 yards with...

Evacuations ordered in BC Interior due to Wells Creek wildfire

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

Evacuation orders have been issued in British Columbia’s Interior by the Cheslatta Carrier Nation and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako due to the Wells Creek wildfire.The orders cover all properties along Ootsa Lake Road including Petkau Road, Marilla Road, St. Marys Pit Road, to the Marilla Main FSR, including IR 1, and Parcel 11 (East Ootsa Charlie Reserve).The wildfire covering 79 square kilometres is listed as out of control.The orders come a day after the Central Okanagan Regional District lifted similar orders for a total of 50 properties in West Kelowna and two other wildfire areas, downgrading them to alert status.The move means dozens of people in the Kamloops, Shuswap and Kelowna areas can return to their homes, but regional fire officials said residents should still be prepared to leave on short notice.There are currently 405 properties on evacuation order and 20,011 on evacuation alert in the West Kelowna area.This report by The Canadian Press was first pub...

Las autoridades buscan ayuda para identificar graneros en las investigaciones de casos sin resolver del asesino en serie BTK

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

(CNN) — Un equipo policial en el noreste de Oklahoma cree que el prolífico asesino en serie conocido como BTK puede ser responsable de varios casos adicionales de personas desaparecidas y homicidios sin resolver. Ahora esperan que el público pueda ayudarlos a identificar graneros y silos en Oklahoma, Kansas y Missouri que el autoproclamado asesino de BTK Dennis Rader dibujó en dibujos detallados nunca antes vistos.El mes pasado, la oficina del sheriff del condado de Osage confirmó públicamente que estaba investigando a Rader como el “principal sospechoso” en un caso sin resolver de 1976 en su jurisdicción y varios otros crímenes sin resolver en tres estados.Los investigadores creen que el asesino pudo haber enterrado a Cynthia Dawn Kinney, de 16 años, en un granero cerca de la frontera entre Kansas y Oklahoma. Kinney fue vista por última vez en una lavandería en Pawhuska, Oklahoma, en 1976. Su cuerpo nunca ha sido encontrado.CNN obtuvo imágenes de los dibujos de Rader, que fue...

Italy ex-PM alleges France downed passenger jet in bid to kill Gaddafi

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:07:37 GMT

An explosive and unsubstantiated allegation that Paris gave the order to shoot down an Italian passenger jet in a bid to kill Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 1980 risks sparking a diplomatic row between Italy and France.In an interview with Rome daily Repubblica published on Saturday, former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato claimed that the French air force inadvertently fired a missile that downed Itavia Flight 870 en route from Bologna to Palermo. The crash over the Mediterranean killed all 81 people on board and led to rampant speculation in Italy about the cause.“A plan had been launched to hit the plane on which Gaddafi was flying,” Amato claimed in the interview, suggesting the strongman ruler was tipped off by Amato’s own former rival, ex-Prime Minister Bettino Craxi. Amato called on French President Emmanuel Macron to respond to the claim, saying “it would be an opportunity for the Élysée to wash away the shame that weighs on Paris.”Ital...