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Authorities update death toll, working to identify bodies in Maui wildfires. Follow live updates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

By REBECCA BOONE (Associated Press)Follow live updates about wildfires burning across parts of Maui in Hawaii, destroying a historic town and forcing evacuations. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.Maui County confirmed Thursday night that the number of deaths has increased to 55.Authorities said in a statement released at 9:15 p.m. that the number of fatalities increased by two in the total from the Lahaina, Pulehu and Upcountry fires.The Lahaina fire was still active, the statement said.Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a news conference Thursday afternoon that authorities are still trying to locate and identify people who died in Lahaina when the fire raced through the town. “People whose homes are not damaged — you can come home as soon as we have recovered those who have perished,”...

Maui residents had little warning before flames overtook town. At least 55 people died

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui residents who desperately escaped flames, some on foot, asked why Hawaii’s famous emergency warning system didn’t alert them as fires raced toward their homes.Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire killed at least 55 people and wiped out a historic town, officials confirmed Thursday.Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain. But many of Lahaina’s survivors said in interviews at evacuation centers that they didn’t hear any sirens and only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.Thomas Leonard, a 70-year-old retired mailman from Lahaina, didn’t know about the fire until he smelled smoke. Power and cell phone service had both gone out earlier that day, leaving the town with no real-time information abou...

Arizona state fish, the Apache trout, is no longer considered endangered

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — More than 50 years since it was listed as endangered, Arizona’s state fish is looking in much better shape.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday a proposal to no longer classify the Apache trout as in need of federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.Federal officials said the species is considered restored.The Apache trout was first listed as endangered in 1967 because of degrading habitat, overexploitation, mining activity and other conflicts. There are currently 30 verified self-sustaining populations of Apache trout in the wild, according to conservation group Defenders of Wildlife. The trout has reached this huge milestone through dedicated habitat management, the introduction of captive-bred fish and other efforts, the organization said.The Endangered Species Act was established in 1973 and supporters are celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.The Associated Press

With hundreds lost in the migrant shipwreck near Greece, identifying the dead is painfully slow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Nearly two months after a dilapidated fishing trawler crammed with people heading from Libya to Italy sank in the central Mediterranean, killing hundreds, relatives are still frantically searching for their loved ones among the missing and the dead.Many questions remain about Greek authorities’ response and exactly how and why the boat, carrying an estimated 500-750 people mostly from Pakistan, Syria and Egypt, capsized and sank in the early hours of June 14 in what became one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean.Only 104 people were pulled from the sea alive — all men and boys. Eighty-two bodies, only one of them a woman, were recovered. The rest, including women and children, sank in one of the deepest parts of the Mediterranean. With depths of around 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) in that area, any recovery of the vessel or its victims are all but impossible.Identifying the dead and determining exactly who was on board is a slow, meticu...

South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma briefly taken to prison then released on remission

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former South African President Jacob Zuma was briefly taken to prison and released to correctional supervision Friday, prison officials said. Last month South Africa had deployed the army for security in four provinces amid concerns of unrest over a court decision making his 2021 medical parole invalid. Zuma was admitted to the Estcourt Correctional Centre and released in less than two hours after his remission was processed. Under the remissions process authorized by President Cyril Ramaphosa, almost 9,500 inmates will be released from prison and placed under correctional supervision, said Makhothi Thobakgale, correctional services commissioner.The decision to return Zuma to prison followed a Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that upheld a Gauteng High Court ruling that releasing him from jail on medical parole in 2021 was unlawful and unconstitutional.However, the court left to Thobakgale the decision of whether Zuma should return to jail or have his time under ...

Daily horoscope for August 11, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

Moon Alert: Caution: Avoid spending money or big decisions from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT today (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Gemini into Cancer.Happy Birthday for Friday, Aug. 11, 2023:You’re keenly observant and often seek the truth of something. People listen to you because you speak your mind. This is a wonderful year for you. You’re getting acknowledgement for your past efforts, perhaps through a raise, a promotion, an award or kudos. Well done. Bravo!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★In conversation with others, make sure you get your facts straight. Selective hearing might lead to confusion later. Ditto for wishful thinking. Others might choose to deceive you or hide the real truth from you. It’s a tricky day. Tonight: Cocoon.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★This is a poor day for major financial transactions and business deals, not only because of the warning in the Moon Alert, but also because in general, there’s confusion and even deceit h...

Commission approves €150 million Italian scheme to support companies in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €150 million Italian scheme to support companies active in the region of Sicily in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and 28 October 2022.Under the scheme, which goes under the name “Sicilian Energy Bonus”, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The scheme will be open to companies active in Sicily in all sectors with a number of exceptions, such as primary agriculture, fishery and banking. The purpose of the scheme is to compensate eligible beneficiaries for part o...

Four-bedroom home sells for $2.4 million in San Jose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

6587 Jeremie Drive – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 6500 block of Jeremie Drive in San Jose was sold on July 20, 2023. The $2,350,000 purchase price works out to $1,059 per square foot. The house, built in 1967, has an interior space of 2,220 square feet. This two-story house presents a roomy floor plan, featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms. On the exterior, the house is characterized by the use of wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. Additionally, the home is equipped with a two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently. Nestled on a generous 8,040-square-foot lot, the property provides abundant outdoor space including a pool.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:On Tam Oshanter Drive, San Jose, in November 2022, a 1,795-square-foot home was sold for $1,710,000, a price per square foot of $953. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,526-square-foot home on the 6600 block...

Maui residents had little warning before flames overtook town. At least 55 people died.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui residents who desperately escaped flames, some on foot, asked why Hawaii’s famous emergency warning system didn’t alert them as fires raced toward their homes.Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire killed at least 55 people and wiped out a historic town, officials confirmed Thursday.Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain. But many of Lahaina’s survivors said in interviews at evacuation centers that they didn’t hear any sirens and only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.Thomas Leonard, a 70-year-old retired mailman from Lahaina, didn’t know about the fire until he smelled smoke. Power and cell phone service had both gone out earlier that day, leaving the town with no real-time information abou...

Spain edges Netherlands 2-1 in extra time to reach Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:23 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Jorge Vilda was more interested in the aftermath back in Spain if his team won its Women’s World Cup quarterfinal than he was about a rattling 5.0 magnitude earthquake that shook Wellington an hour before kickoff against Netherlands.Salma Paralluelo was unshaken by the tremblor or the high-pressure stakes, scoring late in extra time Friday to give Spain a 2-1 victory and a place in the Women’s World Cup semifinals for the first time.“We were so concentrated,” Spain coach Vilda said, recalling how his team prepared for the game even as the ground shook. “Yes, it was a middle (moderate) shake, an earthquake, but not today. The earthquake was the victory of Spain.”The 19-year-old Paralluelo started the match on the bench for the first time at this World Cup and made her entry just in time to make history. Spain dominated a scoreless first half and 2019 finalist Netherlands had a penalty scrubbed out by the VAR in the 62nd minute after a tussle...