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Millions of Indians set a new world record celebrating Diwali as worries about air pollution rise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali on Sunday with a new Guinness World Record number of bright earthen oil lamps as concerns about air pollution soared in the South Asian country. Across the country, dazzling multi-colored lights decked homes and streets as devotees celebrated the annual Hindu festival of light symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. But the spectacular and much-awaited massive lighting of the oil lamps took place — as usual —at Saryu River, in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, the birthplace of their most revered deity, the god Ram. At dusk on Saturday, devotees lit over 2.22 million lamps and kept them burning for 45 minutes as Hindu religious hymns filled the air at the banks of the river, setting a new world Record. Last year, over 1.5 million earthen lamps were lit.After counting the lamps, Guinness Book of World Records representatives presented a record certificate to the state’s top elected official Yogi Adityanath.Over 24,000 ...

Dutch election candidates make migration a key campaign issue in the crowded Netherlands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

TER APEL, Netherlands (AP) — It is a familiar sight in this remote rural town: a migrant in a headscarf and thick winter coat carrying her belongings to the overcrowded reception center as a storm brews over the flat landscape.For many here and across this nation once known as a beacon of tolerance, it is too familiar.“Immigration is spiraling out of control,” Henk Tapper said while visiting his daughter in Ter Apel two weeks before the Netherlands votes in parliamentary elections on Nov. 22.Candidates across the political spectrum are campaigning on pledges to tackle migration problems that are crystallized in Ter Apel, just over 200 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of Amsterdam. Once mostly known for its monastery, the town has now become synonymous with Dutch struggles to accommodate large numbers of asylum-seekers.In the summer of 2022, hundreds of migrants were forced to sleep outside because the reception center was full. The Dutch branch of Doctors Without Borders sent a team...

Long walk to school: 30 years into freedom, many kids in South Africa still walk miles to class

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

DUNDEE, South Africa (AP) — On weekdays, 14-year-old Luyanda Hlali gets up before dawn to fetch firewood and cow dung to start a fire and boil some water before her four siblings and parents wake up. The mornings are a hive of activity in the Nhlangothi home, in the tiny village of Stratford in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. Once her chores are done, Luyanda embarks on a 10-kilometer (6-mile) walk to her school.There are no school buses. There is only the long, dusty road where thieves and bad men can accost her. Luyanda is one of tens of thousands of children in South Africa’s poorest and most remote rural communities who still face long walks to the nearest public school, nearly 30 years after the nation ushered in democratic change. The hardships underscore the children’s unequal access to education; the lack of government-funded school transportation has exacerbated myriad dangers. Girls face the threat of assault and robberies are rampant. Parents, local leaders a...

A fragile global economy is at stake as US and China seek to cool tensions at APEC summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and China are the two global economic heavyweights. Combined, they produce more than 40% of the world’s goods and services. So when Washington and Beijing do economic battle, as they have for five years running, the rest of the world suffers, too. And when they hold a rare high-level summit, as Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping will this week, it can have global consequences.The world’s economy could surely benefit from a U.S.-China détente. Since 2020, it has suffered one crisis after another — the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring inflation, surging interest rates, violent conflicts in Ukraine and now Gaza. The global economy is expected to grow a lackluster 3% this year and 2.9% in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund.“Having the world’s two largest economies at loggerheads at such a fraught moment,” said Eswar Prasad, senior professor of trade policy at Cornell University, “exacerbates the negative impact of various ...

Gusty Sunday makes raking leaves rather tricky; sunshine prevails as temps rise into the 60s in the days ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

Raking those backyard leaves into a pile might be a little tricky Sunday, thanks to south winds of 10-20 mph. Sunday won't be one of those really windy days in Chicago when some of us find it harder to walk around.  In our part of the country, it's not uncommon to see winds strong enough to give us a push, however.  We're not immune to dangerously highs winds, either.  The kind that can move the average size car.  To view the interactive criteria map click here

Person hospitalized after pickup truck strikes building in SF: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A person was taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle collision Saturday night in the Bayview District, the San Francisco Police Department said. The crash happened on 3rd Street and Williams Avenue where one of the vehicles, a pickup truck, struck a building.One of the occupants of the two vehicles involved was taken to the hospital. SFPD did not specify which vehicle the occupant was inside.The cause of the collision is under investigation. Citizen App video briefly shows the scene of the collision. Watch in the media player above. Woman killed after shooting at Chili’s parking lot in San Leandro A pickup truck struck a building in San Francisco on Nov. 11 (Citizen App).SFPD says anyone with information is asked to contact 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."

Heavy fighting rages near main Gaza hospital as Netanyahu dismisses calls for cease-fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes pounded Gaza City overnight and into Sunday as ground forces battled Hamas militants near the territory’s largest hospital, where health officials say thousands of medics, patients and displaced people are trapped with no electricity and dwindling supplies.In a televised address on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing international calls for a cease-fire unless it includes the release of all 239 hostages captured by Hamas in the Oct. 7 rampage that triggered the war, saying Israel was bringing its “full force” to the battle.Israel has vowed to end Hamas’ 16-year rule in Gaza and crush its military capabilities, while blaming the militants for the war’s heavy toll on the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the besieged territory.Israel has come under mounting international pressure, even from its closest ally, the United States, as the war enters a sixth week. A 57-nation gathering of Muslim and Arab l...

Schenn, Buchnevich each net hat tricks in Blues' 8-2 win over Avalanche

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Brayden Schenn and Pavel Buchnevich each scored three goals and the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 8-2 on Saturday night.Alexey Toropchenko and Torey Krug also scored for the Blues, and Jordan Binnington stopped 36 shots as St. Louis evened a loss to Colorado earlier this month.Schenn got his fourth career hat trick — first since 2017 — and Buchnevich got his third. “Our offense has really changed or started to come around since the last time we were here in this building,” Schenn said. “We had some meetings and (were) kind of shown leaguewide trends and how to score and what really works and what we were doing that wasn’t right. So ever since then, the buy-in has been there and guys are getting rewarded for it.”Mikko Rantanen and Jack Johnson scored for Colorado, which lost its second straight at home after opening the season 4-0 at Ball Arena. Alexandar Georgiev gave up six goals on 28 shots before being pulled early in the third period. Ivan Prosvetov c...

Flare-up reignites at historic hangar in Orange County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

An active flare-up was ignited at a historic hangar in Tustin on Saturday, prompting concerns after the large blaze had left the community with toxic air this week.The fire was spotted around 5:30 p.m. as crews from the Orange County Fire Authority and Tustin Police Department responded to the scene.The smoldering hot spots were burning above the northside doors on Hangar 1, also known as the north hangar. O.C. fire officials confirmed the hot spots will remain for some time as crews work to extinguish the flames and contain any further flare-ups.“Please continue to stay out of the area,” Tustin city officials said. “Residents in the area should continue to keep their doors and windows closed as a precaution. We will continue to have our 24-hour fire watch personnel on site until further notice.”An active flare-up of a fire seen on the doors of a historic airbase hangar in Tustin on Nov. 11 has prompted concerns from residents. (OC Hawk)An active flare-up of a fire seen on the doors...

San Jose State Spartans rout Fresno State 42-18 for fourth straight win, move closer to bowl eligibility

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:21 GMT

SAN JOSE — San Jose State took back the Battle for the Valley trophy on Saturday night in a dominating performance that sent a sea of red-clad Bulldogs fans filing out of Spartan Stadium well before the Spartans’ 42-18 victory was officially over.Kairee Robinson rushed for a career-high 200 yards and scored two touchdowns, and quarterback Chevan Cordeiro completed 9 of 189 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns to lead SJSU over their rivals for the first time since 2019.With the win, the Spartans reach .500 for the first time this season (5-5, 4-2 Mountain West) and are now just one win away from becoming bowl eligible with two games remaining: at home next weekend against San Diego State and at UNLV to end the regular season.The Spartans got rolling early and midway through the second quarter had built a 28-3 lead over the Bulldogs (8-2, 4-2 MW).Cordeiro threw all three of his TD passes before halftime. The first went to Malikhi Miller on a 25-yard throw over the middle t...