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Searchers race to recover bodies in Libyan city where 5,100 died in flooding after 2 dams collapsed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

By SAMY MAGDY and YOUSEF MURAD (Associated Press)DERNA, Libya (AP) — Search teams combed streets, wrecked buildings and even the sea Wednesday to look for bodies in a coastal Libyan city where the collapse of two dams unleashed a massive flash flood that killed at least 5,100 people.The Mediterranean city of Derna has struggled to get help after Sunday night’s deluge washed away most access roads. Aid workers who managed to reach the city described devastation in its center, with thousands still missing and tens of thousands left homeless.“Bodies are everywhere, inside houses, in the streets, at sea. Wherever you go, you find dead men, women, and children,” Emad al-Falah, an aid worker from Benghazi, said over the phone from Derna. “Entire families were lost.”Mediterranean storm Daniel caused deadly flooding Sunday in many towns of eastern Libya, but the worst-hit was Derna. Two dams in the mountains above the city collapsed, sending floodwaters r...

Australia to toughen restrictions on ex-service personnel who would train foreign militaries

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government has proposed tougher restrictions on former defense military personnel who want to train foreign militaries as the nation prepares to share nuclear secrets with the United States and Britain.Defense Minister Richard Marles introduced legislation into the Parliament on Thursday aimed at safeguarding military secrets. Last year, he ordered the Defense Department to review standards after reports that China had approached former Australian military personnel to become trainers.Australia’s allies the United States, Britain and Canada share concerns that China is attempting to poach Western military expertise.The review recommended strengthening of already-robust legislation as Australia deepens technology-sharing with the United States and Britain under the so-called AUKUS agreement, an acronym for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.Under the agreement, the United States and Britain will provide Australia a fleet of a...

Rain-soaked New England hit by likely tornado amid wild weather ahead of Hurricane Lee’s arrival

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

LEOMINSTER, Mass. (AP) — Hurricane Lee barreled north toward New England on Wednesday and threatened to unleash violent storms on the region just as communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island were dealing with tornado warnings and another day of heavy rain that opened up sinkholes and brought devastating flooding to several communities.The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for portions of Maine. A tropical storm watch was issued for a large area of coastal New England from parts of Rhode Island to Stonington, Maine, including Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.The National Weather Service in Boston said that looking at radar data and videos it appears likely that a tornado toppled trees and knocked down power lines in Rhode Island and Connecticut on Wednesday. Rob Megnia, a meteorologist with the weather service, said they received reports of about 20 trees down in Killingly, Connecticut, and trees and power lines down in Foster, Rhode Island.The agenc...

Cambodia’s new Prime Minister Hun Manet heads to close ally China for his first official trip abroad

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet headed to Beijing on Thursday on his first official trip abroad since taking office last month in a demonstration of his country’s warm relations with China, its closest political and economic ally.He is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other officials on the three-day trip, according to Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry. The statement said the two countries’ leaders will discuss tightening relations for a shared future with the building of a “Cambodia-China Community,” strategic directions for their bilateral relations and regional and international matters.Cambodia is a key Chinese diplomatic partner and supporter in regional and international forums. It helps dampen criticism of Beijing within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, several of whose members are engaged in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.China has gained important influence in Cambodian politics and it...

No cash bail set to start Monday in Illinois: Here’s what you need to know

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

No cash bail. Rarely has an issue animated politicians and voters the way this one has. In Illinois, money is gone as a condition of pre-trial release.So how is it going to work?On Monday, in Room 100 of the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, history will be made.Mary Marubio is the presiding judge of the Pretrial Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County.“People who have recently been arrested and who are awaiting pretrial conditions will be coming here receiving those conditions and then being released from custody,” she said.When those first proceedings begin, Illinois will become the first state to eliminate cash bail.When asked if this law make us more or less safe, Marubio replied, “I believe it’s going to make us more safe.”That’s not everyone’s view.Criticism of the no cash bail overhaul was harsh. Supporters called the skepticism fearmongering. Related: Illinois Supreme Court rules cash bail can be eliminated After a challenge from virtually every State’s Attorney, Illinois...

Family wants answers after 19-year-old daughter found dead on Englewood porch

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

CHICAGO -- The family of a 19-year-old woman who loved ones believe was attacked and left for dead on the patio of her South Side apartment have more questions than answers.According to her family, Deaviannya Flores was making her way in the beauty industry and had a bright future ahead of her. She graduated from South Shore High School last year and recently moved into an Englewood apartment at 70th and Justine Street.On Saturday, her family found out that the 19-year-old’s body was discovered on the porch outside of her second floor Englewood apartment. Mayor Johnson’s migrant ‘tent city’ faces criticism ahead of fall, winter season The Chicago Police Department haven’t classified the death as a murder yet, but the victim’s family believes she was killed.According to CPD, Flores’ passing has been classified as a death investigation as they await autopsy results. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said the autopsy has been completed, but further testing will be needed. C...

Living with HIV: The virus can be untransmittable with proper meds

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Blake Miller-Boeing has beaten all the odds and now has a special message in sharing his story. By the time he realized he was sick, he was diagnosed with full blown AIDS. Once a death sentence, he is healthy now and helping raise awareness and funds to help others.“Based off of a few doctors I talked to, they think I probably had it for 5-plus years,” he said.That was back in 2019. The marathon runner was 29-years-old at the time.“That December I had a fever of 104, and that is when I found out I tested positive for HIV and AIDS at the time, too, just based off of my levels,” he said.When HIV goes undiagnosed or untreated, the fast-replicating virus can progress to aids — a more profound destruction of the immune system that leaves patients vulnerable to opportunistic infections.For patients like Miller-Boeing, modern antiretroviral medications have changed the course. They inhibit the lifecycle of the virus with one daily dose or a monthly injection to keep viral load in...

iPhone 12 emits too much radiation, Apple must take it off the market: French agency

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French regulators ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12, saying it emits electromagnetic radiation levels that are above European Union standards for exposure. The company disputed the findings and said the device complies with regulations.The French government agency that manages wireless communications frequencies issued the order after the iPhone 12 recently failed one of two types of tests for electromagnetic waves capable of being absorbed by the body.It's unclear why the phone, which was released in late 2020, didn't pass the agency's latest round of tests and why it was only that particular model.France's digital minister said the iPhone 12's radiation levels are still much lower than levels that scientific studies consider could harm users, and the agency itself acknowledges that its tests don't reflect typical phone use.The National Frequency Agency on Tuesday called on Apple to “implement all available means to rapidly fix this malfunction” for...

China's COVID role, Pentagon abortion policy: Pence town hall takeaways

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

(NewsNation) — Former Vice President Mike Pence emphasized his deep conservative values as he advocated for education policy change, backed support for a senator fighting the Pentagon and defended the Trump administration’s handling of the COVID pandemic during a NewsNation town hall Wednesday night.Pence has been on the campaign trail in the early primary states Iowa and New Hampshire as he looks to gain support in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race.He also went on the offensive at last month's first GOP debate, touting his experience in the Trump administration and engaging in several back-and-forths with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. He also defended — as he has consistently done — his decision not to reject Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021, during the certification of the 2024 election.On the issues, Pence is a staunch opponent of abortion rights; supports continued U.S. military support for Ukraine; called for limits to the federal government’s role in educatio...

Gavin Roberts pleads not guilty in November 2022 north Austin murder case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man who is facing charges in connection with the death of an Austin man in November 2022 entered a not guilty plea this week as a trial date was set for the case.According to the Travis County 450th District Court, Gavin Roberts entered a not guilty plea, and the case will go to trial on Feb. 5, 2023. Affidavit details interview with suspect facing murder charge after missing man’s body found Roberts, 26 at the time of his arrest, is facing charges of murder and tampering with a corpse, according to officials.Justin Haden (Austin Police Department Photo) Justin Haden, 34, was last seen on Nov. 1, 2022 at The Domain in north Austin. He was reported missing on Nov. 7, 2022, according to law enforcement officials.A search warrant revealed that surveillance footage and cellphone records showed Roberts was with Haden the day he went missing. APD looking for man last seen at the Domain Nov. 1 Detectives with the Austin Police Department traveled to Colorado Nov. 30...