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Most residents of northern Quebec town return after wildfire threat, but risks remain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

LEBEL-SUR-QUÉVILLON, Que. — The mayor of a northern Quebec town said Monday that firefighters were making progress combating a nearby forest fire, but he warned residents to be prepared should a new evacuation order be issued.About two-thirds of residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Que., began returning home over the weekend after officials lifted a 17-day evacuation order due to encroaching wildfires, Mayor Guy Lafrenière said. The return home, he added, had so far gone smoothly. Low winds have helped firefighters’ efforts, but the flammability index in the region remained high and could increase in the coming days, he said, adding that residents must respect bans on open-air fires and fireworks or risk a $1,000 fine.“We have to do everything we can to be very, very safe,” he said.Meanwhile, Quebec Premier François Legault on Monday told reporters in the municipality of Ste-Sophie, north of Montreal, that officials were still concerned about wildfires in the province...

UN members adopt first-ever treaty to protect marine life in the high seas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Members of the United Nations adopted the first-ever treaty to protect marine life in the high seas on Monday, with the U.N.’s chief hailing the historic agreement as giving the ocean “a fighting chance.”Delegates from the 193 member nations burst into applause and then stood up in a sustained standing ovation when Singapore’s ambassador on ocean issues, Rena Lee, who presided over the negotiations, banged her gavel after hearing no objections to the treaty’s approval.The treaty to protect biodiversity in waters outside national boundaries, known as the high seas, covering nearly half of earth’s surface, had been under discussion for more than 20 years as efforts to reach an agreement had repeatedly stalled. But in March delegates to an intergovernmental conference established by the U.N. General Assembly in December 2017 agreed on a treaty.The new treaty is under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force in 1994, before marine biod...

Airbus wins record order for 500 jets from India’s IndiGo at Paris Air Show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

PARIS (AP) — India’s IndiGo airline is buying 500 passenger jets from European planemaker Airbus, the two companies said Monday, in a record-setting order that underscores surging demand for air travel fueled by the country’s economic growth. IndiGo, India’s dominant carrier, is buying the narrow-body A320 aircraft in what the companies said was the single biggest purchase agreement in commercial aviation history. Executives from both companies announced the deal on the opening day of the Paris Air Show, the world’s largest event focusing on aviation and space industry. They didn’t disclose how much the order was worth, but it would likely amount to tens of billions of dollars. The order is “an enormous milestone,” IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers said at a press conference. “No one has ever ordered an order of this magnitude. And it speaks to the potential of Indian aviation and the ambitions which IndiGo is having.”The purchase highlights how the two companies...

Canada Day events to feature citizenship ceremony in Ottawa, cross-country concert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada Day celebrations this year are set to feature a citizenship ceremony for 17 people in Ottawa, speeches from dignitaries and a cross-country concert with Canadian musicians.Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats Park will be open from 9 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. with a main stage and family-friendly activities including a teaching on connections to the land by elder Indigenous women. Newcomers from France, Cameroon and other countries are expected to take their oaths of citizenship, while Jann Arden and Tegan and Sara are on tap to play in a two-hour concert streamed from venues across the country.Ottawa police say they don’t expect any disruptions to scheduled events but will be monitoring throughout the day, and visitors to the park can expect security screening. Parking won’t be available at any of the Canada Day sites and several downtown roads will be closed, but public transit options and bicycle parking will be available at LeBreton Flats. Satellite events are a...

Large fire breaks out at Germany’s biggest theme park, police says blaze is “under control”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A large fire broke out at Germany’s biggest theme park Monday, sending a dense plume of black smoke billowing into the sky visible from miles around.Police said the firefighters were at the scene and that the blaze at the Europa-Park in the town of Rust, near the French border, was “under control.”“All visitors are currently in the process of leaving the park in an orderly manner,” police in the southwestern town of Offenburg said. “There is currently no information about injured persons.”Regional daily Badische Zeitung reported that the fire is centered around the Spanish-themed section of the park and an area known as the Magic World of Diamonds.Europa-Park is a popular tourist destination, that drew more than six million visitors last year, mostly from Germany, France and Switzerland.It has1 6 areas with themes based on different European countries, and three based on fantasy settings. The park also hosts conferences and is a popular venue for events and telev...

Indigenous artist’s design chosen for Afghan war monument

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Veterans of the war in Afghanistan were influential in choosing the final design for a monument that will memorialize Canada’s contributions in the conflict. Artist Adrian Stimson, a member of Siksika First Nation in Alberta, says the design unveiled today is inspired by the medicine wheel, an important symbol in many Indigenous cultures. The materials are reminiscent of the bases in Afghanistan that Stimson visited while taking part in the Canadian Forces Artists Program.The monument is set to be built in the Lebreton Flats area across the street from the Canadian War Museum. Officials say a jury selected a different design, but a survey that got more than 10,000 responses showed that veterans preferred Stimson’s creation. A total of 158 Canadian Armed Forces members were killed during the 13-year mission in Afghanistan.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2023.The Canadian Press

WATCH LIVE | Local leaders mark Juneteenth with community ribbon cutting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

Live video: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) mark Juneteenth with a ribbon cutting event for Bright Star Community Outreach.DETROIT (AP) — Americans across the country this weekend celebrated Juneteenth, marking the relatively new national holiday with cookouts, parades and other gatherings as they commemorated the end of slavery after the Civil War. While many have treated the long holiday weekend as a reason for a party, others urged quiet reflection on America's often violent and oppressive treatment of its Black citizens. And still others have remarked at the strangeness of celebrating a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the nation while many Americans are trying to stop parts of that history from being taught in public schools. “Is #Juneteenth the only federal holiday that some states have banned the teaching of its history and significance?” Author Michelle Duster asked on Twitter this weekend, referring to measures i...

Juneteenth celebrations kick off in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Residents in the city's Pullman neighborhood are marking Juneteenth with a day-long community recommitment celebration.A untraditional parade kicked the celebrations off Monday. Many drove in a car caravan through the residential blocks to encourage residents to take part in the Juneteenth celebrations.The parade then led into a block party along 104th and Corliss Streets. This year's them is "Paint The Hood Orange."The color orange represents the anti-gun violence movement and the event's mission of violence prevention.Additionally, more than 500 youth have signed up for a basketball tournament and championship games.While Juneteenth is when the last slaves were freed in Galveston, Texas — two years after the emancipation proclamation — the now federal holiday will be centered around youth basketball and a recommitment to community in the Pullman neighborhood.Organizers said the location of where all the events are happening is more important."It's important we celebrate ...

Marie Callender's frozen shepherd's pie recalled due to 'flexible plastic'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WHNT) — Nearly 3,000 pounds of frozen beef shepherd’s pie products have been recalled due to the possibility of "clear, flexible plastic" pieces.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), 2,717 pounds of frozen dinners from Marie Callender's were recalled after the firm received several complaints from consumers. Sausage links recalled over possible ‘thin strands of black plastic’ Products affected by the recall were made on March 1, 2023, with time stamps ranging between 17:45-17:56 hours. Those products will also have the following information:4.31 lbs. cases of “MC Beef Shepherd’s Pie” with lot code 5006306020, BEST BY FEB 24 2024 and case code 2113100032, containing six 11.5 oz. carton packages of "Marie Callender’s BEEF SHEPHERD’S PIE” with lot code 5006306020 and BEST BY FEB 24 2024 on the side panel, with time stamps ranging between 17:45-17:56(USDA)(USDA)Next to the USDA mark of inspection, affected produc...

WATCH: Baby seal climbs onto California surfers' boards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) - A baby seal was spotted climbing from surfboard to surfboard near Pacific Beach in San Diego, riding the waves from above the water.The pup can be seen wiggling onto the boards of surfers in drone footage obtained by KSWB Saturday. SeaWorld, who was notified by the surfers after the seal first surfaced, sent a crew out to evaluate the pup. According to the theme park, the seal appeared healthy and was in the water when their team arrived.A seal climbing onto a surfer's board in Pacific Beach. (Courtesy of Edwin D. Hartel/@DroneDudeEd)A seal on a surfer's board in Pacific Beach. (Courtesy of Edwin D. Hartel/@DroneDudeEd)A seal climbing onto a surfer's board in Pacific Beach. (Courtesy of Edwin D. Hartel/@DroneDudeEd)"There was no need to intervene as the pup also appeared to be old enough to care for itself," SeaWorld said in a statement to KSWB. VIDEO: Wattled jacana chicks nestle under their father’s wing at San Diego Zoo The pup's mother was not found by SeaW...