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Gas explosion and fire at highway construction site in Romania kills 4 and injures 5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A gas explosion at a highway construction site in Romania early Thursday killed four people and injured five, emergency authorities said.The blast happened around 1 a.m. near the eastern town of Calimanesti, said the emergency office in a statement. It was caused by “cracking of a gas transport main and appearance of mechanical sparks” during construction work, spokesperson Florin Olaru said. Local media said workers hit the pipeline with a digger, causing the explosion. Authorities sealed off the area some 500 meters (yards) from the blast site as firefighters worked to contain the fire, the statement added. Four people were found dead on site while five with burns were transferred to an emergency hospital in the town of Adjud.The Associated Press

Kenya’s president is committing his country to lead a multinational force to Haiti to combat gangs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s president committed his country to leading a multinational force in Haiti to combat gang warfare even as residents of both countries question the plan being pushed by the United States government.President William Ruto spoke Wednesday at a ceremony establishing diplomatic ties with the Caribbean nation. Haiti’s prime minister, Ariel Henry, attended. Henry requested the immediate deployment of such a force a year ago.“As the leading nation in the U.N.-backed security mission in Haiti, we are committed to deploying a specialized team to comprehensively assess the situation and formulate actionable strategies that will lead to long-term solutions,” Ruto said.Gangs have overpowered Haitian police, with experts estimating they now control some 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.Schools in some areas have closed because warring gangs are raping and killing people. The violence has displaced nearly ...

King Charles III is to visit fire-damaged Notre-Dame cathedral on day 2 of his visit to France

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

PARIS (AP) — King Charles III is to address French lawmakers, meet with sports groups in the northern suburbs of Paris and pay a visit to fire-damaged Notre-Dame cathedral Thursday, on the second day of his state visit to France.The first day of Charles and Camilla’s trip started with a ceremony at Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and a state dinner at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday.Charles praised France’s welcome and added: “It is incumbent upon us all to reinvigorate our friendship to ensure it is fit for the challenges of this, the 21st century.”The king is to make a speech Thursday at the Senate in front of lawmakers from both the upper and the lower house of parliament.Charles and Camilla will then head to Saint-Denis, north of Paris, to meet community sports groups and stars as France currently hosts the Rugby World Cup.Saint-Denis, a multicultural, working-class suburb, will serve as a major venue in next year’s Olympics. It is also home to the basilica that houses the to...

NextGenerationEU: Germany sends first payment request for €3.97 billion in grants and submits request to modify its recovery and resilience plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

Germany has sent its first payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and submitted a request to modify its recovery and resilience plan.Germany's first payment request for €3.97 billion (net of pre-financing) relates to 28 milestones and 8 targets. They cover investments in areas such as electro-mobility and charging infrastructure, research in hydrogen and the rollout of hydrogen-related projects, support for microelectronics, the digitalisation of railways, the development of vaccines as well as support for childcare and apprenticeships. The payment request also covers reforms to promote the digitalisation and the efficiency of public administration as well as the acceleration of the planning and approval procedures in the transport sector.Payments under the RRF are performance-based and contingent on Germany implementing the investments and reforms outlined in its recovery and resilience plan.Germany's proposed revised plan includes additional funding to sc...

Single-family residence sells for $2.3 million in San Jose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

1480 Glenwood Avenue – Google Street ViewA 3,213-square-foot house built in 2005 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 1400 block of Glenwood Avenue in San Jose was sold on Aug. 15, 2023, for $2,300,000, or $716 per square foot. The layout of this single-story home includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. The property is equipped with a heating system and a cooling system. In addition, the house includes an attached two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by both a spa and a pool.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:A 1,283-square-foot home on the 1400 block of Mercer Avenue in San Jose sold in September 2022, for $1,750,000, a price per square foot of $1,364. The home has 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom.On Mercer Avenue, San Jose, in February 2023, a 2,334-square-foot home was sold for $2,220,000, a price per square fo...

Restaurant review: Better Than Hungry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

Rue du Congrès 50What’s good: Whatever you want as the noodle base — bami, udon, glass or even rice — for your Asian-themed meal, you will not be disappointed here. Each of the the meals can be served with tofu or shitake for vegetarians, while meat-lovers can indulge in crispy duck, juicy beef, shrimp or chicken as their topping of choice.What’s not: With only two vegetarian starters — fried tofu and gyoza — your palate may be a little bored if your main also features tofu. The staff might seem unfriendly at first, but that’s not true, they are just so busy running the place.Vibe: The dark walls and golden stucco elements give the small restaurant a cozy vibe, and you can watch the chef preparing your sizzling dish in the tiny open kitchen. If Brussels’ weather is treating you kindly, try to catch some rays on their sidewalk-terrace.Who’s picking up the check? You can grab a starter from between €8 and €12, while your main will cost between €13 and €17. The biggest ...

India suspends visa services in Canada and rift widens over killing of Canadian citizen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s visa processing center in Canada suspended services Thursday as a rift widened between the countries after Canada’s leader said India may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament on Monday that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been wanted by India for years and was gunned down in June outside the temple he led. Canada also expelled an Indian diplomat, and India followed by expelling a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday. It called the allegations being investigated in Canada absurd and an attempt to shift attention from the presence of Nijjar and other wanted suspects in Canada. “Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 Sept. Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice,” the BLS Indian Visa Application Center in Canada said....

India suspends visa services in Canada and rift widens between countries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

NEW DELHI — India’s visa processing centre in Canada suspended services Thursday as a rift widened between the countries after Canada’s leader said India may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament on Monday that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been wanted by India for years and was gunned down in June outside the temple he led.Canada also expelled an Indian diplomat, and India followed by expelling a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday. It called the allegations being investigated in Canada absurd and an attempt to shift attention from the presence of Nijjar and other wanted suspects in Canada.“Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 Sept. Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice,” the BLS Indian Visa Application Center in Canada said. It gav...

Japan TV network will acquire Totoro creator Studio Ghibli as animation studio prepares for future

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese animation studio of Hayao Miyazaki, will become a subsidiary of Nippon Television Network Corp., both sides said Thursday.Succession worries had been a priority at Ghibli, as Miyazaki has turned 82, and producer Toshio Suzuki is 75, the companies said in a joint statement. The boards of both companies agreed at meetings Thursday that the major commercial broadcast network will become Studio Ghibli’s top shareholder, with a 42.3% stake. Financial details were not given. Nippon TV said it will send executives to support Ghibli’s management, while honoring its creative independence so it can focus on animation and other artistic projects. The deal was first discussed last year at an “onsen” hot springs, the companies said, when Suzuki asked Nippon TV executive Yoshikuni Sugiyama for help in managing Ghibli. Sugiyama promised to give support. Miyazaki’s son Goro is also an animation director and has been mentioned as a possible succes...

Stock market today: World shares track Wall Street’s slump after Fed says rates may stay high in ’24

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:54 GMT

World shares have declined, echoing a slump on Wall Street after the Federal Reserve said it may not cut interest rates next year by as much as it earlier thought. Benchmarks fell by 1% or more in Paris, Tokyo, Sydney and Hong Kong. U.S. futures slipped and oil prices also were lower. On Wednesday, the Fed held its main interest rate steady at its highest level in more than two decades, as was expected. Officials also indicated they may raise the federal funds rate once more this year, as they try to get inflation down to a 2% target. High rates hurt prices for all kinds of investments, and the news cast a pall on trading Thursday. “Moving forward, traders will scrutinize every piece of data from the US, with a particular emphasis on inflationary indicators, to gauge the potential for prolonged high rates,” Anderson Alves of ActivTrades said in a commentary. Germany’s DAX declined 0.7% to 15,673.52 and the CAC 40 in Paris retreated 1% to 7,262.44. Britain’s FTSE 100 gave...