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At least 28 people drown after boat capsizes on river in northwest Congo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — At least 28 people drowned after a boat capsized in the Congo River in Equateur province, local authorities said Sunday. The boat was traveling from Ngondo, an area approximately 74 miles (120 kilometers) from the province’s capital, Mbandaka. and crashed Saturday night in Bolomba village, Didon Ifete, the administrator for the territory, said on state radio. Some 200 passengers were rescued and an unknown number of others were missing, he said. This is the second boat wreck on the Congo River in Equateur province within a week. On October 14, another boat capsized, killing at least 47 people and leaving more than 70 missing.In January, at least 145 passengers went missing after a motorized boat overloaded with goods and animals sank on the river in northwestern Congo.Boating mishaps are common on the Congo River and on the nation’s lakes because of the prevalent use of makeshift boats that are often overloaded. The majority of the population in the coun...

American basketball player attacked in Poland, left with injured eye socket

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — An American basketball player at a professional Polish women’s club was beaten and left with a head injury midweek with the attacker later detained, according to officials and reports in Polish media on Sunday.Mikayla Cowling, who plays for VBW Arka Gdynia, was attacked late Wednesday in a music club in Gdansk, a city in northern Poland, according to the RMF FM broadcaster, which also quoted the club saying the “brutal beating” left her with a fractured eye socket, among other injuries.Gdansk is a neighboring city to Gdynia on the Baltic coast.“I am outraged that such a shameful situation has occurred. Violence and aggression are unacceptable and must be opposed,” Gdynia Mayor Wojciech Szczurek said Sunday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Fortunately, the police quickly caught the attacker. We wish the player good health!”The attack happened after a EuroCup women’s match where the Gdynia team defeated rivals from Switzerland, BCF Elfic Fribo...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is traveling to China to talk climate change

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom will try to reinforce his state’s role as a global leader on climate change as he begins a weeklong visit to China on Monday, a trip that presents both political risk and opportunity for crucial international collaboration. Newsom’s tour begins with a discussion in Hong Kong before he continues on to Beijing, Shanghai and the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu. He’ll visit the first Chinese city to deploy an all-electric bus fleet, tour an offshore wind facility and see a wetlands preserve. He’ll sign agreements with leaders of Chinese provinces to set mutual commitments on a host of climate goals. California has already signed dozens of such agreements with subnational governments. Newsom’s agenda also includes conversations on “strengthening cultural ties and combating xenophobia,” and he will visit a school with his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. His trip to China follows a brief visit to Israel. Governors of Calif...

Business groups concerned as St. Lawrence Seaway workers begin strike action

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

MONTREAL — Business groups are raising concerns about a strike on the St. Lawrence Seaway and the impact a lengthy labour dispute could have on their members.The St. Lawrence Seaway shut down after hundreds of workers walked off the job shortly after midnight on Sunday.The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says strike-related delays can result in lost sales and revenue at a time when small businesses are already dealing with other challenges like inflation and labour shortages.The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, for its part, is urging the Canadian government to intervene and prevent further disruption to the country’s supply chains.The strike is expected to affect cargo shipments immediately along the artery that runs between Montreal and Lake Erie.Unifor, the union representing the roughly 360 striking workers, said it was unable to reach an agreement with the employer by the strike deadline despite negotiations.This report by The Canadian Press was first published O...

1 woman dead in multi-vehicle crash in Brampton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

One woman is dead following a multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning in Brampton.Peel police say they were called to the area of Queen Street East and Central Park Drive around 9:30 a.m. for a three-vehicle crash.One woman was taken to a nearby hospital in life-threatening condition, where she was later pronounced dead. Paramedics transported a second person to a local hospital with minor injuries.

European rallies urge end to antisemitism as pro-Palestinian demonstrations call for relief for Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Thousands of people joined vigils in Berlin and London on Sunday to oppose antisemitism and support Israel, while in Paris and other cities, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanded a cease-fire and relief for people in besieged Gaza.Some of those who gathered in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate carried Israeli flags or posters with photos of some of the more than 200 people seized by Hamas as hostages during the militants’ deadly Oct. 7 incursion into Israel.“It is unbearable that Jews are living in fear again today — in our country of all places,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the crowd, estimated at 20,000 by organizers and 10,000 by police. “Every single attack on Jews, on Jewish institutions is a disgrace for Germany. Every single attack fills me with shame and anger.”Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz inaugurated a new synagogue in the eastern city of Dessau and said he was “outraged” by the upsurge in antisemitism since the confli...

Sunday Brunch: Reclaimed Bar & Restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

Chef Craig Bell from Reclaimed Bar & Restaurant joined Sunday Brunch with WGN Weekend Morning News.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Weekend Break: Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

Join Weekend Break at Jack's Pumpkin pop-up with Christine Flores.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Georgia plea deals spell danger for Trump, co-defendants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

(The Hill) - Former President Trump’s co-defendants in Georgia have begun splintering, with two lawyers key to Trump's efforts to overturn the election agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors.Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) late this week secured plea deals from Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, the highest-profile defendants to flip so far in the sprawling racketeering case. Both agreed to testify truthfully against their co-defendants, including Trump.Legal experts said they weren’t surprised by the deals, arguing they would increase the legal jeopardy facing other defendants and raise the pressure for them to also consider taking plea deals.“The real import of this plea is the signal it sends to the other defendants,” said Chris Mattei, a former federal prosecutor.“Number one, that your time is running out for you to cooperate, because as cooperators come in and plead guilty, the prosecution continues to build its case and may not have a need to cooperate with ot...

American basketball player injured after "brutal beating" in Poland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:21 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — An American basketball player at a professional Polish women's club was beaten and left with a head injury midweek with the attacker later detained, according to officials and reports in Polish media on Sunday.Mikayla Cowling, who plays for VBW Arka Gdynia, was attacked late Wednesday in a music club in Gdansk, a city in northern Poland, according to the RMF FM broadcaster, which also quoted the club saying the “brutal beating” left her with a fractured eye socket, among other injuries.Gdansk is a neighboring city to Gdynia on the Baltic coast.“I am outraged that such a shameful situation has occurred. Violence and aggression are unacceptable and must be opposed,” Gdynia Mayor Wojciech Szczurek said Sunday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Fortunately, the police quickly caught the attacker. We wish the player good health!” Los Angeles Rams wide receiver robbed at gunpoint: reports The attack happened after a EuroCup women’s match where the Gdyn...