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Death toll rises to 10 in powerful explosion near capital of Dominican Republic; 11 others missing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic (AP) — The death toll from a powerful explosion near the capital of the Dominican Republic rose to 10 on Tuesday as firefighters searched through smoldering rubble, authorities said.More than 50 people also were injured in Monday’s explosion at a bustling commercial center in the city of San Cristobal, said Joel Santos, minister of the presidency. At least 36 of the injured remained hospitalized, Santos said.President Luis Abinader visited San Cristobal, located just west of Sango Domingo, on Tuesday and said an additional 11 people were missing, adding that authorities were still trying to extinguish the fire amid collapsed buildings and charred vehicles.“We’re doing everything humanly possible … to investigate the situation of the 11 missing,” he said. “The search for survivors has been very difficult.”Health Minister Daniel Rivera said authorities have still not been able to access “ground zero” where the explosion occurred because it...

A human rights group in Niger says it can’t get access to officials who were detained after coup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Human rights activists in Niger say they have been unable to gain access to top political officials who were detained after mutinous soldiers ousted the African country’s democratically elected president nearly three weeks ago.The military officers who carried out a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum also arrested several former government ministers and other political leaders, according to Ali Idrissa, executive secretary of the Network of Organizations for Transparency and Analysis of Budgets, a local human rights group. . Requests to see them and check on their well-being have gone unanswered, he said.The junta that seized power has held Bazoum, his wife and son under house arrest in their compound in the capital since July 26. It says it plans to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security, crimes that are eligible for the death penalty in Niger. Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for the junta, said in a Sunday evenin...

Kenya launches an inquiry into alleged abuses by a British army training unit, including a killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A parliamentary committee in Kenya has launched an inquiry into alleged human rights violations and ethical breaches by a British army training unit that has been active for decades in the country the U.K. calls “our defense partner of choice in East Africa.”The British High Commission in Nairobi and the training mission have said they intend to cooperate fully with the inquiry. “We take all allegations made against U.K. service personnel seriously, and they are investigated swiftly by the service authorities or the host nation authorities with appropriate support from the armed forces,” a British army spokesperson said.Britain has roughly 200 military personnel permanently based in Kenya. Most of them currently are training more than 1,000 Kenyan soldiers a year before their deployment to neighboring Somalia to combat al-Qaida’s longtime East Africa affiliate, al-Shabab. The British government invests more than 1.1 billion Kenyan shillings ($9.6 million) every...

A strong tropical storm lashes parts of Japan and disrupts holiday travel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A strong tropical storm lashed central and western Japan with heavy rain and high winds Tuesday, causing flooding and power blackouts and paralyzing air and ground transportation while many people were traveling for a Buddhist holiday week.The storm weakened from Typhoon Lan early in the morning and made landfall near Cape Shionomisaki in the central prefecture of Wakayama, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. On Tuesday afternoon, it was just south of Fukuchiyama city and had sustained winds of up to 90 kph (55 mph) as it headed north. It was then expected to veer east toward Hokkaido over waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, the JMA said.NHK public television said 20 people, many of them elderly, were injured in five prefectures near the storm’s path — Hyogo, Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga and Wakayama. The storm caused rivers to overflow, damaged some buildings and paralyzed traffic. In Maizuru in northern Kyoto prefecture, a flooded river sent muddy wa...

Hammond passes ordinance that will close all gas stations overnight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

HAMMOND, Ind. — Common council members in Hammond voted in favor of an ordinance Monday that will require all gas stations in the city to close overnight.In a 7-2 vote, council members passed the ordinance Monday night at City Hall. The vote was delayed last month.On July 26, a 22-year-old man was critically wounded at a Speedway gas station in the 6800 block of Calumet Avenue. The Northwest Indiana Times reported that a man was carjacked at gunpoint at a Luke's gas station in the 5100 block of State Line Avenue on Sunday. Additionally, a gas station in the 1400 block of Indianapolis Boulevard was robbed on Friday.The ordinance was drafted after a Chicago man was shot and killed at the same Luke's station in late June.Beginning on Nov. 1, all 37 gas stations in the city will be required to close from midnight to 5 a.m.An employee at a Hammond gas station told WGN News that the ordinance could cost people their jobs.“The people that are only available to work overnights, people with ...

Group led by Laura Ricketts to buy Chicago Red Stars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Red Stars will have new ownership, and it will be led by a person who is part of two other professional sports organizations in the city.On Tuesday, it was announced that a group led by Chicago Cubs co-owner and Chicago Sky minority owner Laura Ricketts has come to an agreement in principle to purchase the National Women's Soccer League club. The sale is pending the approval of the league's board with the hope that it will be completed soon.They will purchase the franchise from Arnim Whisler, the club's founder. He made the decision to sell in December 2022 in the wake of the Yates Report which was critical of his handling of abuse claims against then club manager Rory Dames."I am honored to lead this group of Chicago business and civic leaders in our effort to purchase the Chicago Red Stars," said Ricketts in a news release. "Our respective backgrounds in professional sports, finance, turnaround management, commercial real estate, marketing, and advertising, p...

'Question mark' spotted in deep space by Webb Space Telescope, but what is it?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

SPACE (KXAN) - A new photo from the James Webb Space Telescope is leading to a giant question - or moreover one about a giant question mark.The photo was released by the European Space Agency on July 26. This week, people online noticed what appeared to be a "question mark" (?) in the image. So what in the cosmos formed the apparent punctuation mark in space?A recent image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope shows what appears to be a "question mark" in deep space. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. DePasquale (STScI), CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)The original image shows two stars, Herbig-Haro 46/47, forming in the center of a disc of gas and dust, according to the ESA. Just beneath the stars, the "question mark" can be spotted.In an interview with Space.com, a representative of Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) said the object is likely one or more galaxies "interacting." The red color implies it is quite distant, according to STScI.Space.com reported that this may be the first astronome...

Zooey Deschanel engaged to ‘Property Brothers’ star Jonathan Scott

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

(KTLA) – Actress Zooey Deschanel and "Property Brothers" star Jonathan Scott are engaged. Scott popped the question to the "New Girl" star over the weekend during a family trip to Scotland. PEOPLE magazine reports that Deschanel's two children were also involved in the special moment. Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)In an Instagram post announcing the big news, the couple wrote, "Forever starts now." Deschanel showed off her unique engagement ring, set with clear pink and purple stones in a flower pattern. The sparkler perfectly matched her pink manicure. The pair first met in August 2019 while filming James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke" with their famous siblings. Scott's twin brother, Drew, is also his HGTV costar, and Deschanel's sister Emily famously starred in "Bones."According to PEOPLE, the foursome then went off to sing karaoke in Los Angeles and the rest is history. The couple later confirmed their relationship in September 2019 shortly aft...

Workforce housing project to revitalize Hobby Building in downtown Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced Tuesday new plans to bring workforce housing to downtown Austin.Buckingham said Tuesday the General Land Office's "historic" project is designed to give teachers, nurses, police, firefighters, state workers and other working-class residents the opportunity to live in the communities they serve. The mixed-use redevelopment project aims to revitalize the William P. Hobby Jr. State Office Building, located at 333 Guadalupe St. in Austin.Alongside workforce housing, the project will incorporate other amenities, such as child care, parking and retail space, both Buckingham and Watson said."[It's] way bigger than just a downtown high rise," Watson said. ‘Future of world-class health care’: UT-Austin Medical Center planned at Erwin Center site The redevelopment site will also be located along the future Project Connect light rail. Watson added that will offer increased connectivity and mobility...

Walking or biking to school? Austin program aims to keep kids safe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's that time of year, traffic is heavy, and a lot of kids are out and about for school. The new school year is a great time for parents to practice walking and biking safety. When you live in an area growing as rapidly as Austin, you should use extreme caution as families walk and bike around school zones. NEXT: Set for School "There are a lot of changes happening. A lot of new teachers and new principals at schools as well. They're trying to figure out the best dismissal patterns. And sometimes they change from school year to school year," Austin Safe Routes to School Program Manager Coleen Gentles said.Safe Routes to School engages with the community, school administrators and PTAs to educate families about how to safely walk, bike or scoot to school. It also runs an infrastructure program."[The program] is actually building out the sidewalks and curb ramps and pedestrian islands around the elementary and middle schools to actually provide safe infrastructure t...