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At least 19 people killed in Congo by suspected extremists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Rebels in eastern Congo killed at least 19 people and set fire to a health center and houses, authorities reported Sunday. Gunmen suspected of being part of the Allied Democratic Forces, a militia with links to the Islamic State group, attacked civilians in Kirindera town, Carly Nzanzu, the former governor of North Kivu province, said in an interview with state media. ADF attacks have killed dozens of people in several North Kivu villages in recent days. Congo’s authorities say people were slaughtered with guns, knives and machetes.Aamaq, a news agency linked to the Islamic State group, posted a statement Saturday in which IS claimed responsibility for killing more than 35 “Christians” and wounding dozens in eastern Congo last week. Conflict has simmered for decades in eastern Congo, where more than 120 armed groups fight for power, influence and resources, and some to protect their communities. The ADF has been largely active in North Kivu province but recent...

How does Oscars voting work? This is how winners are decided

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The road to an Oscar winds through a long awards season, which finally culminates Sunday at the Academy Awards. We take you through the process of getting that golden statuette into a winner’s hand — this is how Oscar voting works:WHO VOTES ON THE OSCARS?The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences boasts some 10,000-plus members, divided among 17 branches. All academy members have to be involved in the movie business in some capacity, but membership isn’t restricted to creatives — there are branches for executives and marketing and public relations professionals, as well.While nominations are mostly decided by members of the relevant branch (directors nominate directors, for instance), all voting members can nominate films for best picture. Once nominees are decided, all voting members are eligible to cast their ballots in any category.In recent years, the academy has taken steps to diversify its membership, especially after receiving criticism for...

Federal officials pause plan to rename Georgia’s Lake Lanier

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Federal officials are pausing a plan that could lead to new names for Georgia’s Lake Lanier and Buford Dam after locals objected to changing the monikers of landmarks now named for Confederate soldiers.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a statement Friday announcing the pause pending further guidance from the Department of the Army.U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, a Republican who represents much of northeast Georgia, said he called the Corps of Engineers Friday to express opposition. He said the pause is a “a tremendous victory” and that “renamings would have attempted to rewrite history, impose massive burdensome costs on our community, and create unnecessary mass confusion.” Lake Lanier is an enormous reservoir spanning almost 58 square miles (150 square kilometers) and impounding the Chattahoochee River northeast of Atlanta. It was named for poet Sidney Lanier when it was built after World War II. Lanier served as a private in the Confederate army and l...

1 man dead, 2 officers injured in day-long standoff in London, Ont.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

A man is under arrest and two police officers are recovering from injuries sustained in a day-long standoff in London, Ont.London police say they were called to an apartment at 621 Kipps Lane in the northeast part of the city around 5 a.m. Saturday following reports of an unresponsive male. Police say when they arrived they found a man with serious injuries who was later pronounced dead. Police then began negotiating with an individual who they believed to be armed and had barricaded himself inside an apartment.At around 7:30 p.m., police say two officers were injured at the scene. Both were taken to hospital with what police said were serious but non-life threatening injuries. Police would not elaborate on the extent of their injuries or if the two had been shot. About an hour later a man was taken into custody “without incident,” according to police. A gun was recovered at the scene. Neither the name of the dead man nor the suspect has been released. Our thoughts are w...

Ohio judge to decide on insanity defense in child slayings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio judge is scheduled to decide this week on the validity of the insanity defense submitted by a man charged with fatally shooting two of his girlfriend’s three young sons and wounding the third.Judge Eric Allen Marks last week heard assessments from two psychologists of the state of mind of 29-year-old Kevin Moore at the time of the February 2021 shootings in Toledo, The (Toledo) Blade reported.Marks then recessed the nonjury trial until Thursday afternoon and must now decide whether Moore knew the wrongfulness of his actions when he shot the victims, killing 14-month-old Gabriel Phillips and 5-year-old Ahmir Phillips and wounding a 4-year-old boy.Moore is charged with two counts of aggravated murder and single counts of attempted aggravated murder and felonious assault. A second felonious assault count was dismissed at the end of testimony last week.One psychologist testified Thursday that decades ago he would have supported an insanity defense becau...

3 Texas women missing in Mexico since last month, authorities say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

PENITAS, Texas (KVEO) —  Three women have been missing in Mexico since last month after crossing the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission, Texas, U.S. authorities said Friday.The FBI said it is aware that two sisters - Marina Perez Rios, 48, and Maritza Trinidad Perez Rios, 47 - from Peñitas, a small border city in Texas near McAllen, and their friend - Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz, 53 - have gone missing. Peñitas Police Chief Roel Bermea said their families have been in touch with Mexican authorities, who are investigating their disappearance. Spring break: What to know about Mexico’s ‘do not travel’ warnings The family reported the women missing on Monday, Feb. 27, to the Peñitas Police Department. Three days earlier, the women had left for Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, to sell clothes at a flea market, the family told police.On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Peñitas Police notified the FBI.The husband of one of the women spoke to her by phone while she was traveling in Mexico, Peñitas ...

Credit or debit card for kids: Which is best?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

(NerdWallet) - Debit and credit cards are two of the most commonly used payment methods today. Over 175 million Americans have a credit card, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 2021 Consumer Credit Card Market report. And according to a 2022 report from S&P Global Market Intelligence, debit card preference of consumers surpassed that of credit cards in 2022 for the first time. As our world becomes increasingly cashless, it makes sense to teach our kids how to responsibly use debit, credit — or both. Financial literacy can help children manage these cards in a way that maximizes their benefits and minimizes their risks. But which is best? Both credit and debit cards have their upsides and potential pitfalls that will factor into a parent’s decision. Ultimately, the best choice is the one that helps the child develop financial independence.  » SEE: 11 things to know before getting your first credit cardWhat about cash?Giving a child a credit or ...

NASA identifies new asteroid that could impact Earth in 2046

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

(NewsNation) — NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office announced it has been tracking a new asteroid that could potentially hit Earth on Valentine's Day in 2046.Although NASA said there is a "very small chance" of impact, orbit analysts will continue to watch the asteroid named 2023 DW. "Often when new objects are first discovered, it takes several weeks of data to reduce the uncertainties and adequately predict their orbits years into the future," NASA's Asteroid Watch tweeted. What would happen if a space rock crashed into your town? NASA has given 2023 DW a 1 in 560 chance of hitting Earth on Feb. 14, 2046, and the European Space Agency (ESA) gave it a 1 in 625 chance, taking over the top spot on the ESA's "risk list" for near-Earth objects."The good news is there's only one chance in 500 or so that will actually hit the Earth. But the bad news is, we are sitting ducks, we are defenseless," Theoretical physicist and professor Michio Kaku, Ph.D., said. ."We have absolutely ...

ACC to launch 2 new education certifications amid teacher shortage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Amid ongoing teacher shortages nationwide and an anticipated loss of school principals in the Austin area, Austin Community College is rolling out two new certification programs later this year.ACC will soon launch a teacher's residency and a principal certification program. Rebecca Miller, program coordinator for the principal certification program, told KXAN a 28-school district study conducted by ACC found 50% of districts have campuses with principals who will be retiring in the next three to five years."We really, really want to be able to have people who know how to develop and cultivate and keep teachers, because that's what our kids need," she said.The two-year program will feature a first year of intensive coursework with night classes twice weekly, with the second year centered around on-campus mentorship and support from ACC field supervisors. TRENDING NOW: Celebrity sightings during SXSW 2023 Those entering the program will need to have a bachelor's de...

How a switch to El Niño could affect hurricane season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As you may have heard by now, La Niña has met its end and we're currently in the Neutral phase of the climate pattern El-Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). La Niña has ended: Here's what's next and when El Niño could begin While we're expected to stay neutral through at least spring and possibly a good chunk of summer, a switch to El Niño is expected from late summer into fall. Now, Atlantic Hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts all the way through Nov. 30. This means it's likely that a good chunk of Atlantic Hurricane Season 2023 will be spent in an El Niño pattern.El Niño and hurricanesEl Niño is the warm phase of ENSO, where the waters of the eastern Pacific are warmer than normal. Less vertical wind shear in the hurricane development zone west of Mexico typically brings more frequent hurricanes to the eastern Pacific basin.However, in the Atlantic, El Niño typically lead to fewer hurricanes. This is largely due to increased vertical wind shear and more stabil...