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New COVID origins data suggests pandemic linked to animals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

International scientists who examined previously unavailable genetic data from samples collected at a market close to where the first human cases of COVID-19 were detected in China said they found suggestions the pandemic originated from animals, not a lab. Other experts have not yet verified their analysis, which also has not appeared so far in a peer-reviewed journal. How the coronavirus first started sickening people remains uncertain. “These data do not provide a definitive answer to how the pandemic began, but every piece of data is important to moving us closer to that answer,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a Friday press briefing. He also criticized China for not sharing the genetic information earlier, adding that “this data could have and should have been shared three years ago.”The samples were collected from surfaces at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan after the first human cases of COVID-19 were found in late 2019. Tedros said the genetic sequences...

UN rights chief decries ‘systematic repression’ in Belarus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights chief called on Belarus Friday to end its “systematic repression” of critics and immediately release people held on political grounds, saying some violations may amount to crimes against humanity. The comments from Volker Türk came as his office released a new report that documents violations of international law like unlawful killings, torture, sexual violence and deprivation of the right to freedom of expression and association. The report is based on interviews with more than 200 victims and witnesses and other sources. “Our report paints an unacceptable picture of impunity and the near-total destruction of civic space and fundamental freedoms in Belarus,” Türk said in a statement, calling on the Minsk government to end “this mass repression” and to carry out impartial investigations to ensure accountability. Critics say the repression is continuing, and rights advocates in Belarus sounded the alarm on Tuesday about a new heavy crackdown on dis...

Madrid gets Chelsea, City to meet Bayern in Champions League

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Real Madrid’s path to another Champions League title will have to go through Chelsea in the quarterfinals for the second straight year.Friday’s draw takes Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti back to face his former club, which was eliminated by a goal from Karim Benzema in extra time a year ago.This time, the first leg between the past two Champions League winners will be in Madrid instead of London — on April 11 or 12.Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also has a reunion with a former club. The English champions were drawn to face Bayern Munich, which has won all eight of its game in the competition this season and will play the first leg away from home.Bayern twice kept Paris Saint-Germain forwards Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé from scoring in the round of 16. The team will now face the tournament’s leading scorer in Erling Haaland, who had five goals on Tuesday in City’s 7-0 rout of Leipzig.The winner between City and Bayern will go on to play Madrid o...

Norwegian skiers edge Switzerland in team event at finals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

SOLDEU, Andorra (AP) — Norway won the mixed team parallel event at the World Cup Finals on Friday after Timon Haugan beat his Swiss opponent Semyel Bissig in the decisive run.Livio Simonet and Andrea Ellenberger gave Switzerland a 2-1 lead in the final, but Haugan’s triumph handed Norway the victory as its faster run times broke a 2-2 tie.Only six nations took part in the event, which was likely held for the last time in its current format with teams consisting of two men and two women.The United States — which won the world title last month — France, Slovenia and Sweden were among the most notable teams skipping Friday’s event.The parallel format has been dropped from the Olympic schedule for the 2026 Turin-Cortina Games and is expected to be replaced by a different team competition at the finals next year.It was the second time after 2021 that Norway, competing with Haugan, Rasmus Windingstad, Thea Louise Stjernesund and Maria Therese Tviberg, won the team event at the final...

Ballard: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

BURNABY, British Columbia (AP) — BURNABY, British Columbia (AP) — Ballard Power Systems Inc. (BLDP) on Friday reported a loss of $34.4 million in its fourth quarter.On a per-share basis, the Burnaby, British Columbia-based company said it had a loss of 12 cents.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 15 cents per share.The fuel cell technology company posted revenue of $20.5 million in the period, falling short of Street forecasts. Nine analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $28.6 million.For the year, the company reported that its loss widened to $173.5 million, or 58 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $83.8 million.Ballard shares have climbed roughly 7% since the beginning of the year. The stock has decreased 53% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks st...

Md. Gov. Moore cancels contract at state nursing home for veterans following concerns of neglect and abuse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Reports of abuse at a St. Mary’s County nursing home for veterans is causing the state to end a two-decade old contract with a South Carolina company.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said Wednesday that the troubles at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home came to his attention the day he was sworn in. Complaints including abuse and fights between residents required immediate attention, he said.“As both a combat veteran and the state’s commander in chief, I am both personally disturbed and professionally enraged to learn of the level of disregard that has been given to the treatment of these patriots,” Moore said. “Every Marylander deserves better but particularly those who have been willing to risk it all for all of us.”In a phone call, the head of the company, HMR Maryland, said he and company officials were aware of Moore’s comments and the...

Chelsea’s Kepa back for Spain in De la Fuente’s first squad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — New Spain coach Luis de la Fuente brought back Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga along with several veteran players on Friday when he announced his first squad since replacing Luis Enrique ahead of European championship qualifiers.De la Fuente only stuck with 11 players that Luis Enrique took to last year’s World Cup, when Spain disappointed with a penalty-shootout loss to Morocco in the round of 16.The group of World Cup players who were dropped included the Barcelona quartet of Jordi Alba, Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and Éric García, along with Atlético Madrid midfielders Koke Resurrección and Marcos Llorente, and Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio.In came Iago Aspas, Celta Vigo’s 35-year-old striker who made his 18th and last appearance for Spain in 2019. Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernández, 33, returns for the first time since 2018.Kepa is on the squad for the first time since 2020. Athletic Bilbao goalie Unai Simón, Spain’s starter at the World Cup and t...

Audit suggests DC’s program of eliminating traffic deaths is not working

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

A new audit of D.C’s Vision Zero program, which aims to eliminate fatal and serious traffic deaths by 2024, suggests it’s not working.The D.C. auditor’s report says the program is suffering from not enough funding as well as not enough staffing and oversight.More Local NewsMore DC News“That division wasn’t funded until 2020 with under a million dollars, although that grew over a million dollars the following year,” said D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson in a press conference.The ambitious initiative kicked off in 2015. Since then, the report shows — in a chart with data from D.C. police — that traffic fatalities in the District have increased yearly except for 2019.The report also found that from 2017 through 2021, Ward 8 was the deadliest ward for pedestrians and bicyclists with 42 deaths.However, Patterson stated that the city has made strides when it comes to the equity of studying problems in all of D.C.’s wards.“We found no difference in their conduct b...

Jim Ratcliffe jets in for Manchester United buyout talks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Jim Ratcliffe toured Manchester United on Friday as part of his bid to buy the English soccer club.The billionaire owner of INEOS jetted in for talks with club executives at Old Trafford, along with some of his closest advisors.Ratcliffe was greeted by United chief executive Richard Arnold on Friday morning and briefly met with manager Erik ten Hag at the club’s Carrington training base.“I just met them and shook hands,” Ten Hag said at a news conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarterfinal match with Fulham. “We play a big game on Sunday and all our focus is on that. Others in the club are dealing with potential investors.” Ratcliffe posed for photographs at Old Trafford before heading to Carrington in a car with blacked out windows. He is getting a closer look at United before submitting a formal offer to current owners the Glazer family.Ratcliffe is one of Britain’s richest people and is bidding to buy a majority share of the 20-time ...

Who murdered this 15-year-old girl after a basketball game?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — “Their voices may now be silent . . . those who may know the truth are not,” the Colorado Bureau of Investigation shared as a part of its mission as it works to assist in bringing justice to cold case tragedies.There are hundreds of unsolved homicide cases, long-term missing person cases, and unidentified remains cases in our state where at least three years have passed since the crime happened. Alaska man arrested in 2006 Boulder County cold case murder The Colorado cold case task force created a list of those cases dating back to 1970. The Problem Solvers are working to highlight cold cases in our state each week.Murder of Marilee BurtThe Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office are working to solve the cold case murder of Marilee Burt from February 27, 1970.The CBI said Burt was walking to her home in Columbine Valley after a basketball game at Goddard Middle School but she never made it home.Witnesses told investigato...