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Maui officials and scientists warn that after the flames flicker out, toxic particles will remain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — When flames swept through western Maui, engulfing the town of Lahaina, residents saw toxic fumes spewing into the air as burning homes, pipes and cars combusted, transforming rubber, metal and plastic into poisonous, particulate matter-filled smoke.Retired mailman and Vietnam veteran Thomas Leonard heard a boom as a propane tank at a nearby home exploded, leaving a cloud that looked like “a gigantic mushroom” in its wake.Thirty-seven year old Mike Cicchino, who grew up on Maui, said he could tell how close the flames were based on how far away cars sounded as their gas tanks erupted. He and his family sought refuge in the ocean across a knee-high sea wall and as he helped others onto the rocks, his rib cage ached, his eyes were nearly swollen shut and he vomited.“It was like a war,” Cicchino said.About 46,000 residents and visitors have flown out of West Maui since the devastation became clear last week, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Officials are...

A Wet Monday. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms; Heavy Rains Possible

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

10 A.M. MONDAY3 P.M. MONDAY5 P.M. MONDAYFORECAST RAINFALL TOTALS Through 4:30 A.M. TuesdayWGN weekly climate report:  Wrapping up the second week of August. It was one that was quite close to seasonal norms. Our high temp last Sunday on the 6th was the chilliest afternoon we've seen at O'Hare since July 2nd. Only one day so far this month at or above 90 degrees on the 3rd. So far this year we've seen a baker's dozen of days 90 or warmer at Midway Int'l and 14 at O'Hare. In a typical summer, we'd see about 4 days at or above 90. While July was a super soaker of a month this year— it did help take a big bite our of this spring's severe drought conditions. So far this month we're behind normal rainfall by about an inch and a half. But drought conditions as determined and released weekly by the US Department of Agriculture have been improving for most of northeastern Illinois and NW Indiana. Some pockets of severe drought continue for the northwest corner of McHenry County and northern ...

European Globalization Adjustment Fund helped 13,000 dismissed workers to re-train and find new jobs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

According to the 2021-2022 activity report of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) published today by the Commission, during the period of reference the EU allocated €51.8 million from the EGF to help over 13,000 displaced workers and self-employed people retrain and find a job.The Commission received requests from nine member states (Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Finland), with EGF funding mobilized in all 14 instances where support was requested.The largest numbers of affected workers were active in the air transport and automotive sector, followed by the warehousing and support activities for transportation sector. Most workers who received support lost their jobs due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.The measures co-funded by the EGF were instrumental to help them re-train, for instance in digital skills, prepare for new employment opportunities through mentoring, career guidance an...

Thieves caught on camera robbing Nike store in East Los Angeles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

Video posted to the Citizen App on Sunday appears to show several people brazenly stealing merchandise from a crowded Nike store in East Los Angeles.  Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that a call about the broad daylight theft at the Nike Community Store located 4585 Whittier Blvd. came in just after 5:30 p.m. At least one of the suspects is seen carrying a trash bag filled with boxes. At one point, he drops the bag and quickly puts the items that spilled out back into it before following two other suspects out of the store. Police said that three suspects, described as a Black male and two Black females, made off without about $1,000 in merchandise. So far, all three are still at-large.  One of three suspects caught on video stealing merchandise from a Nike store in East L.A. on Aug. 13, 2023. (Citizen App)This theft comes on the heels of a mob of thieves caught on video swarming a Nordstrom in Canoga Park Saturday, clearing out much of the store...

Javier Milei, el más votado en Argentina: el análisis de Oppenheimer y O’Donnell

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

(CNN Español) — No sin sorpresas, las elecciones primarias abiertas, simultáneas y obligatorias (PASO) empiezan a dejar las claves del año electoral en Argentina. En diálogo con CNN, Andrés Oppenheimer y María O’Donnell analizan los primeros resultados.Javier Milei se consolida como el precandidato más votado del país, superando las expectativas, y su espacio político, La Libertad Avanza, encabeza la lista a nivel nacional. En Juntos por el Cambio, la segunda fuerza con mayor cantidad de sufragios, define su tensa interna partidaria a favor de Patricia Bullrich, que logra dejar afuera de la contienda a Horacio Rodríguez Larreta. Por último, tal como se esperaba, Sergio Massa gana el liderazgo de Unión por la Patria, pero el espacio kirchnerista queda afuera de los dos partidos más votados.Algunos analistas consideran las PASO como una gran encuesta de cara a las elecciones de octubre. De esta manera, se organiza el escenario nacional.“Esta es una paliza descomunal al gob...

This Week in Business: TJX Cos., Walmart report earnings, July retail sales data

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

RETAIL RECAPThe Commerce Department issues its July retail sales report on Tuesday morning.In June, Americans increased their spending as inflation eased in many areas. Retail sales rose 0.2% from May to June, following a revised 0.5% increase the previous month. Shoppers increased spending at electronic stores and furniture and home furnishings stores after a recent pullback. Online sales also had a solid increase. Spending has been volatile this year after surging nearly 3% in January. Analysts forecast that spending rose 0.4% from June to July.Retail sales, monthly percent change, seasonally adjusted:Feb.: -0.7March -0.9April 0.4May: 0.5June: 0.2July (est.): 0.4Source: FactSetTJX COS.TJX reports its second-quarter earnings before markets open Wednesday.Analysts forecast that the Massachusetts company earned 76 cents per share in the period on $12.4 billion in sales. In the same period a year ago, the operator of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls department stores beat analyst targets by po...

New Zealand, whose pandemic response was closely watched, removes last of COVID-19 restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand on Monday removed the last of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions, marking the end of a government response to the pandemic that was watched closely around the world.Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the requirement to wear masks in hospitals and other healthcare facilities would end at midnight, as would a requirement for people who caught the virus to isolate themselves for seven days.New Zealand was initially praised internationally for eliminating the virus entirely after imposing nationwide lockdowns and strict border controls.But as the pandemic wore on and more infectious variants took hold, the nation’s zero-tolerance approach became untenable. It eventually abandoned its elimination strategy. Reflecting on the government’s response to the virus over more than three years, Hipkins said that during the height of the pandemic he had longed for the day he could end all restrictions, but now it felt anticlimactic.He said abo...

Pilot and crew member safely eject before Soviet-era fighter jet crashes at Michigan air show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Mich. (AP) — A pilot and crew member escaped serious injury when they ejected from a vintage jet that crashed during a Michigan air show Sunday, officials said.The MiG-23 demonstration plane crashed during the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show shortly after 4 p.m., the Wayne County Airport Authority said in a statement.The Soviet fighter plane crashed into a parking lot and struck unoccupied vehicles at a nearby apartment complex in Belleville, about 30 miles (48.2 kilometers) west of Detroit.No injuries were reported on the ground at the apartments or the air show hosted by the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville.The pilot and “backseater” crew member did not appear to have significant injuries but were transported to an area hospital, the authority said.The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the agency will investigate with the National Transportation Safety Board.The Associated Press

Niger’s coup leaders say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for ‘high treason’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger’s mutinous soldiers say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security, hours after they said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis.The announcement on state television on Sunday night, by spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said the military regime had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected president, was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey. People close to the president as well as those in his ruling party say their electricity and water have been cut off and they’re running o...

Check out the interactive tool ‘Young Europeans’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

On the occasion of International Youth Day, we invite you to visit our interactive tool, Young Europeans, which presents statistics on young Europeans with dynamic quizzes. If you are between 16 and 29 years old, you can compare yourself with other young people in your country. Everyone else, younger or older, can also have fun/play with these tools. You just need to choose the age range you are interested in and start your journey to know more about the young generation in Europe.The fun thing about ‘Young Europeans’, besides the quizzes, is that you can create an avatar, which is used through your journey in the tool. The questions cover four topics: life and well-being; health; work and education; digital world. More informationThematic section on youthDatabase on youthIf you have any queries, please visit our contact us page.