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Qatar sovereign wealth fund buys stake in Washington’s NBA, NHL and WNBA teams, AP source says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a roughly 5% stake in the parent company of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals and WNBA’s Washington Mystics as part of a $4.05 billion deal, a person with knowledge of the sale said Thursday.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement between the Qatar Investment Authority and Monumental Sports & Entertainment had not been announced.It is believed to be the first time the government of Qatar is investing in U.S. professional sports. Sportico first reported the transaction, saying it is the first time any sovereign wealth fund has bought into ownership of an American team.It is not Qatar’s first big foray into major sports. The Middle Eastern country last year hosted soccer’s World Cup for the first time, helping FIFA reach a record revenue level because of booming ticket and hospitality sales.Qatar Sports Investments, a subsidiary of the state-run fund, has owne...

Fear stalks the funerals of victims of Honduras prison massacre

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Fear simmered among the small knot of relatives gathered Thursday for the wake of a mother and daughter who were among 46 female inmates slaughtered in this week’s prison riot in Honduras.Relatives wept openly, but said they feared the Barrio 18 gang that carried out the massacre might come after the victims’ families as well. Rumors circulated among those at the wake that gang members had kidnapped women from the funeral of another victim. One mourner, who wouldn’t give his name, said Thursday “we are afraid.” Mourner Johanna Soriano Euceda said “the pain we are feeling is enormous,” after her mother, Maribel Euceda Brevé, 51, and her sister Karla Soriano Euceda, 38, were killed in the attack on Tuesday. Both had been imprisoned on drug charges,One woman, who also asked that her name not be used, wept beside the two coffins holding her sister-in-law and her niece, which stood on the street in front of their home in a poor neighborhood of Tegucigal...

NDP confident inquiry into interference will come, but details still being negotiated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

OTTAWA — New Democratic House leader Peter Julian says Canadians can be confident that a public inquiry on foreign interference is going to happen.Opposition parties wanted the government to announce the inquiry before the House of Commons rose for the summer break, but the sitting adjourned Wednesday night without any agreement.Still, Julian says he is optimistic an inquiry deal between the government and opposition parties will be reached after further talks between them, but would not say when he thinks it will be announced.However he did suggest a deal will include both the name of the commissioner to lead the independent public inquiry, as well as its mandate.The government has been adamant it will not agree to a public inquiry without opposition parties coming to a consensus about the details.They want to avoid the intense criticism that met their decision to appoint former governor general David Johnston as a special rapporteur to investigate the issue.This report by The Cana...

Hail hurts dozens of concertgoers, scraps Louis Tomlinson show at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A brief but fierce storm pummeled concertgoers with golf ball-sized hail as they scrambled for cover at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver, injuring dozens and forcing the cancellation of the show’s headliner, former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.As many as 90 people were treated for injuries from Wednesday night’s storm at the iconic outdoor venue in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and seven people were taken to a hospital, West Fire Rescue said. Some were hurt by hail and others had broken bones, bruises and cuts while seeking shelter, but no injuries were life threatening, fire rescue spokesperson Ronda Scholting said.Hail piled up like snow in some spots in the amphitheater, which was carved out of a sedimentary rock formation. The show was initially delayed because of the weather, with fans told to take cover in their vehicles, according to tweets from the venue. The concert was subsequently canceled. Sprinkles of hail began falli...

‘Gone in an instant:’ Manitoba RCMP release names of 16 seniors killed in bus crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

DAUPHIN, Man. — Family members of 16 seniors who died in a highway crash honoured their loved ones Thursday, silently placing large photos of them on easels as police publicly confirmed the names of the victims.“We lost 16 people who are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers (and) grandparents whose decades of contributions helped make this community what it is. They’re gone in an instant,” said RCMP Supt. Jeff Asmundson, in charge of Manitoba’s west district.They ranged in age from 68 to 88, with 11 of them in their 80s. All but two were women and all came from Dauphin and the surrounding area.“Words cannot express the loss you have experienced over the last few days or the trauma that continues as you visit the loved ones in the hospital,” said Ernest Sirski, the reeve of the Rural Municipality of Dauphin.“We cannot feel your pain. We can only offer our sympathies. We cannot suffer your loss, but we can share your grief.”The victims were: Claudia Zurba, 87; Patsy Zamrykut, 88; Lilli...

S&P/TSX composite down Thursday as energy, base metal stocks fall, U.S. stocks mixed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down more than 100 points Thursday as the price of oil weakened energy stocks amid weakness in base metals and financials, while U.S. markets were mixed.  The S&P/TSX composite index was down 125.05 points at 19,580.90.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 4.81 points at 33,946.71. The S&P 500 index was up 16.20 at 4,381.89, while the Nasdaq composite was up 128.41 points at 13,630.61.The Canadian dollar traded for 75.99 cents UScompared with 75.86 cents US on Wednesday.The August crude oil contract was down US$3.02 at US$69.51 per barrel and the July natural gas contract was up a penny at US$2.61 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was down US$21.20 at US$1,923.70 an ounce and the July copper contract was down two cents at US$3.89 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Batavia police looking for woman who stole purse while woman was sleeping in senior living community

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

BATAVIA, Ill. — Police in Batavia are looking for a woman who broke in and took a woman's purse while she was sleeping at her apartment at a senior living community.The Batavia Police Department said the woman broke into at least two apartments between 10 p.m. and midnight on Monday in the 2400 block of Hawks Drive. Man faces several felony charges after hitting, critically injuring boy riding his bike in Batavia In a Facebook post, police said there were no signs of forced entry into the units but she did cause minor damage to get into the building.The woman allegedly got into one unit and took a woman's purse while she was sleeping, police said. She got into another unit but it is believed nothing was taken.Anyone with information on the identity of the woman is asked to call police at 630-454-2500.Police are reminding people to call 911 to report any suspicious activity and make sure to lock their doors, including patio doors.

How long had the Titan journeyed before its 'catastrophic implosion'?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Coast Guard officials briefed the media Thursday following the discovery of debris determined to belong to the Titan submersible, which lost contact with its support crew less than two hours after embarking on its dive to the wreckage of the Titanic on Sunday.The vessel, officials said, suffered a “catastrophic implosion” during its journey to the wreckage, the cause of which is still under investigation.On Thursday afternoon, just hours after experts estimated the oxygen on the Titan would have run out for any surviving passengers, Coast Guard officials confirmed that at least five pieces of the vessel had been found during search-and-rescue efforts. Missing Titan submersible begs the question: Are the risks worth the rewards? The pieces, found approximately 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, included the nose cone, pieces of the hull, and the front and aft end bells, according to Paul Hanken, an undersea expert who spoke at Thursday afternoon’s news conference.“...

APD to conduct DWI enforcement, extended no refusal during Independence Day holiday season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said officers would be on patrol and enforcing a DWI enforcement initiative and an extended no refusal period during the Independence Day holiday season.APD said the DWI enforcement would begin Friday and continue each night through July 9. The extended no refusal period would be in effect from June 29 through July 9.“This initiative is an effort to enforce DWI laws while keeping the public safe by encouraging drivers to make responsible decisions,” APD said.The department said this initiative would also focus on highways and high-speed roadways.“The Austin Police Department and the City of Austin Transportation Department continue to focus on preventing lives from being lost on Austin's streets, highways, and waterways,” APD said. “The Department is dedicated to making the roadways and waterways of Austin safe for residents and visitors through education and enforcement.”

How do other cities deal with extreme heat?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- While Wednesday marked the official start of summer, June 1 commemorated the meteorological start of the summer season -- and the latest sweltering heat wave in Central Texas has reaffirmed it.How do other cities navigate extreme heat conditions?Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix consistently experiences some of the hottest temperatures nationally. Home to more than 1.6 million people, the city regularly experiences daily or near-daily triple-digit temperatures from late May through the middle of September, per AccuWeather analysis.Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a regional planning agency servicing the Phoenix metro area. Each year, MAG collaborates with the Heat Relief Network, nonprofit organizations and faith-based community groups to operate hydration stations, cooling centers and respite locations along with water donation sites. A complete list of all Heat Relief Network centers is available online.The City of Phoenix also operates its Office of Heat Respo...