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Survivors of New Zealand’s deadly volcano eruption will testify at a trial of tourism operators

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A U.S. honeymoon couple who survived severe burns when New Zealand’s White Island volcano erupted in 2019 are listed as the first witnesses to testify in a trial of tourism industry operators over the disaster that claimed 22 lives.Prosecutors open their case in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday on health and safety charges against six companies and directors in the Dec. 9, 2019, volcanic eruption at the popular tourist attraction.Matt Urey and his wife, Lauren Barham, from Richmond, Virginia, were listed on Monday as the first witnesses to testify.British helicopter pilot Brian de Pauw and Australian tourist Annie Lu are also high on the witness list.The American couple were among 47 people on White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its Indigenous Maori name Whakaari, when superheated steam erupted, leaving most of the 25 survivors with severe burns.Many people question why tourists were allowed to visit the island after expert...

New Delhi schools close after monsoon floods kill at least 15, Pakistan on alert for more flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Schools in New Delhi were closed on Monday after heavy monsoon rains battered the Indian capital and caused landslides and flash floods in the country’s north, killing at least 15 people over the last three days.The torrential rain over the weekend left parts of New Delhi overflowing with water that submerged roads and stranded residents. The northern hill states were the worst affected, with 10 people killed in flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand states, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. One person died in New Delhi and four were killed in the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir. Landslides triggered by the rains disrupted traffic on key highways in Uttarakhand, a tourist hill state in the Himalayas, prompting warnings for residents not to venture out of their homes unless necessary. Authorities used helicopters to rescue people while bridges and houses were swept away in neighboring Himachal Pradesh.India’s weath...

Prime Minister Trudeau meets with Latvian leaders, Canadian troops ahead of NATO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

RIGA, Latvia — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making his third visit to Latvia today, where he’s set to meet with the country’s leaders and with Canadian troops. Around 800 Canadian Armed Forces members are part of the Canada-led NATO battle group in the Baltic country, making it the largest overseas mission. Defence Minister Anita Anand recently announced that a Leopard 2 tank squadron with 15 tanks and around 130 personnel will be joining the mission starting this fall. That’s part of NATO’s efforts to increase its deterrence measures and its presence near Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The alliance has doubled the number of battle groups in the region since the war began, and has plans to increase the size and scope of some of them to be combat-ready brigades.Trudeau is expected to meet with both the Latvian president and prime minister before the larger summit of NATO leaders begins in nearby Lithuania. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July...

Ukraine says it won't use cluster bombs in Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov welcomed a US decision to send cluster bombs to Kyiv, saying it would help to liberate Ukrainian territory but promised the munitions would not be used in Russia.The US announced on Friday it would supply Ukraine with widely banned cluster munitions for its counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces.Reznikov said the munitions would help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, adding Ukraine would keep a strict record of their use and exchange information with its partners."Our position is simple - we need to liberate our temporarily occupied territories and save the lives of our people," Reznikov wrote on Twitter."Ukraine will use these munitions only for the de-occupation of our internationally recognized territories. These munitions will not be used on the officially recognized territory of Russia."Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill ind...

Dear Abby: My ex-wife says these kids are my grandchildren. I’m not so sure.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

DEAR ABBY: For more than five years, my son dated a young woman with a child. During that time, they all lived together. After they broke up, he was able to have visitation and shared parenting rights even though the little girl, “Paisley,” was not his own.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My brother has cut all ties, and I don’t even know what I did Advice | Dear Abby: I don’t want to make my husband jealous but I’m excited about this new hobby Advice | Dear Abby: I don’t want to live like this, but there’s that ‘for better or worse’ thing Advice | Dear Abby: I want a relationship with her, but she doesn’t know she’s my sister Advice | Dear Abby: I need to practice not insulting the men who ask me out I must say it was a benefit for the child. To this day, Paisley is still a major part of his life. For the last five years she has called...

Single family residence in Fremont sells for $3.4 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

453 Lower Vintners Circle – Google Street ViewA 3,019-square-foot house built in 1997 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 400 block of Lower Vintners Circle in Fremont was sold on June 1, 2023, for $3,401,000, or $1,127 per square foot. This single-story home offers a roomy layout with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. In addition, the house features a three-car garage. The lot of the property is substantial, measuring 0.4-acre.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:In October 2022, a 2,908-square-foot home on Aleut Court in Fremont sold for $2,530,000, a price per square foot of $870. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,318-square-foot home on the first block of Amorok Way in Fremont sold in June 2022, for $2,850,000, a price per square foot of $1,230. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Concho Drive, Fremont, in July 2022, a 2,510-square-foot home was sold for $2,400,000, a price per square foot of $956. The home has...

This Week: Consumer borrowing, consumer price index, Delta Air Lines earnings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:RACKING UP DEBTAmericans have been ramping up their use of credit this year.U.S. consumer borrowing, excluding mortgages and other loans secured by real estate, jumped by $23 billion in April from the previous month. The increase pushed total consumer credit to around $4.86 trillion. Economists expect consumer borrowing rose by $20.8 billion in May. The Federal Reserve releases its latest monthly tally of consumer borrowing Monday.Consumer borrowing, monthly change, seasonally adjusted, billions of dollars:Dec. 18.8Jan. 20.1Feb. 8.2March 22.8April 23.0May (est.) 20.8Source: FactSetEYE ON INFLATIONThe Labor Department releases its June snapshot of inflation at the consumer level Wednesday.While inflation remains painfully high, it has been easing in recent months as the Federal Reserve has pressed its interest rate hiking campaign. Consumer prices rose just 4% in May from a year earlier, the lowest 1...

Las Vegas takes on Phoenix following Plum’s 40-point showing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

Phoenix Mercury (4-14, 2-10 Western Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (17-2, 9-1 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas faces the Phoenix Mercury after Kelsey Plum scored 40 points in the Las Vegas Aces’ 113-89 win against the Minnesota Lynx.The Aces have gone 9-1 against Western Conference teams. Las Vegas is 0-1 in one-possession games.The Mercury are 2-10 in Western Conference play. Phoenix is sixth in the Western Conference scoring 77.0 points per game and is shooting 45.1%.The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on June 21 the Aces won 99-79 led by 23 points from Jackie Young, while Sug Sutton scored 21 points for the Mercury.TOP PERFORMERS: Young is averaging 19 points and 3.7 assists for the Aces. A’ja Wilson is averaging 19.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over the past 10 games for Las Vegas.Michaela Onyenwere is averaging 10.2 points for the Mercury. Brittney Griner is averaging 13.8 points ov...

Seattle faces Washington on 3-game road skid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

Seattle Storm (4-14, 4-6 Western Conference) at Washington Mystics (10-8, 6-6 Eastern Conference)Washington; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Seattle will aim to break its three-game road slide when the Storm take on Washington.The Mystics are 6-2 in home games. Washington is seventh in the WNBA with 80.7 points and is shooting 42.5% from the field.The Storm are 2-5 on the road. Seattle is fourth in the Western Conference with 34.4 rebounds per game led by Ezi Magbegor averaging 8.4.The teams play for the third time this season. The Mystics won the last matchup 71-65 on June 11. Natasha Cloud scored 19 points to help lead the Mystics to the victory.TOP PERFORMERS: Elena Delle Donne is averaging 18.2 points and six rebounds for the Mystics. Ariel Atkins is averaging 14.8 points over the last 10 games for Washington.Jewell Loyd is averaging 24.9 points and 3.2 assists for the Storm. Magbegor is averaging 15.0 points over the last 10 games for Seattle.LAST 10 GAMES: Mystics: 5-5, averag...

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele nominated for reelection despite constitutional questions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:21 GMT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — President Nayib Bukele was officially nominated by his New Ideas party Sunday to run for reelection next year, brushing aside objections from legal experts and opposition figures who say El Salvador’s constitution prohibits his candidacy. New Ideas also announced that current Vice President Felix Ulloa would run for reelection in the ballot scheduled for Feb. 4, 2024. Bukele is highly popular among Salvadorans because of his harsh crackdown on street gangs, but he is considered controversial internationally. He announced in September that he planned to seek a second five-year term. That came after the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, handpicked by his supporters in Congress, ruled in 2021 that his candidacy for reelection was permitted and ordered the electoral court to allow it.Constitutional lawyers maintain that Bukele’s candidacy would violate at least four articles of the constitution, including Article 154, which states: “The presid...