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South Africa minister denies extensive ANC corruption at power utility, concedes ‘naughty’ few

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A senior South African government minister denied Wednesday there was extensive corruption within the ruling African Nations Congress party in relation to the country’s financially-crippled power utility, although he did concede a “few” might have engaged in “naughty activity.”Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan was answering questions from lawmakers in Parliament at a hearing focusing on the graft at the state-owned national electricity supplier that has contributed to Africa’s most developed country facing a power crisis and daily blackouts. It has raised fears that the electricity supply could collapse.“You can’t put everything on the shoulders of the ANC,” Gordhan said in relation to what’s accepted as rampant corruption and mismanagement at national electricity company Eskom. “There are within the ANC very honest, dedicated activists who want the public interests to be primary and who want this country to work, and ...

Death toll up to 7 after hippo capsized canoe in Malawi; 17 missing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — The death toll has risen to seven after a hippopotamus charged into and capsized a canoe on a river in the southern African nation of Malawi.Six bodies were recovered floating in the river on Wednesday, police said, following the incident on Monday. A 1-year-old child was confirmed dead on Tuesday. The six new bodies recovered included a teenage boy and a teenage girl, police said.Police said 17 people are still missing and the search for them continues, although they are also feared dead.Authorities said the canoe was carrying 37 people in the Nsanje District in southern Malawi.___More AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africaSource

More than a dozen guns stolen out of parked truck

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver Police Department said 16 guns were recently stolen out of a pickup truck parked in front of a hotel.According to DPD, the firearms were wrapped with graphics advertising “We Buy Guns” and have not been recovered. The thief only had to break a window to get into the truck and grab the guns. An investigation is still underway to locate a suspect and the stolen weapons. Police remind gun owners to safely lock them upDPD said 261 firearms have been reported stolen from cars during Jan. 1 through May 11, which is 16 more than the 245 reported in the same time frame last year. ‘Large amount’ of stolen mail found in stolen car out of Windsor The department is reminding gun owners to safely lock and store their weapons properly or not leave them in the car at all to avoid these kinds of thefts. A total of 768 firearms were stolen out of cars in 2022. "Stolen firearms provide criminals with a means to commit future violent crimes in our community," DPD said in...

What happens when you lose something at Denver International Airport? Well, it depends

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Have you ever lost something in the Denver International Airport?Maybe, while rushing to your flight, you realized you dropped your AirPods or a pair of sunglasses, and you couldn't retrace your steps to find your lost item without missing your flight.You might think that item is lost forever, but that might not be the case. Denver has had 5 times more rain than Seattle so far this May Depending on what it is, it could be picked up and stored in DIA's lost and found. What items are kept in lost and found?If you lost it in a public area of the airport -- including restrooms, TSA checkpoints, or any public indoor or outdoor area -- it may be turned in to the lost and found, according to DIA.There are exceptions, however. Any blankets, hats, pillows and water bottles that aren't in a backpack or suitcase are disposed of for policy reasons. How many countries can you fly to directly from Denver? Also, if an item seems to be "abandoned," or deliberately left, it is a...

Pompano Beach dedicates new fire station to fallen firefighter

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

A new fire station was dedicated to the life of a fallen firefighter in Pompano Beach. Pompano Beach Fire Station 61 was rededicated on Wednesday in memory of William J. Elliot, who died in the line of duty during a training incident.During the ceremony, city officials and Elliot’s loved ones watched as a fire hose was uncoupled, symbolizing the cutting of a ribbon. The firefighter’s family expressed their appreciation for the honor.“It means everything to me that my son has been remembered after 11 years,” said Joann Elliot, William’s mother. “This is a beautiful tribute. It’s amazing what they’re doing to keep this memory going.”The new station measures over 16,000 square feet and will also serve as a training facility for new firefighters. The station includes a table that was carved with mementos of William Elliot.Elliot served on the force for 22 years before his death in 2012 when he fell from a fire truck during a training...

The Cap versus The Pumpkin: Bulgaria’s mafia state reaches breaking point

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

Netflix, eat your heart out. Bulgaria’s latest political crisis hinges on a roadside bomb, an Israeli munitions expert and Godfather-style death threats. The lead characters are thuggish Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, nicknamed “The Cap,” and (equally thuggish) former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, nicknamed “The Pumpkin.”Confused? No worries, everyone is. But it’s undoubtedly a crux moment for rule of law in Bulgaria and efforts to turn the Balkan country of 7 million people into a fully-fledged democracy, so POLITICO will attempt to unpick the wild twists and turns of the high drama since May 1, when Geshev claims someone attempted to blow up his bullet-proof SUV as it passed a bend on a country road.   At the heart of the crisis lies the all-important role of chief prosecutor. Geshev has long been identified by anti-corruption and pro-democracy activists as one of the biggest obstacles to Bulgaria’s convergence with EU norms. (He is dubbed “The Cap” because of his tradem...

Prince Harry and Meghan allege ‘near catastrophic’ paparazzi car chase in NY

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

(CNN) — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were involved in a chaotic car chase with paparazzi in New York on Tuesday night that could have resulted in a “catastrophic” outcome, their spokesperson has alleged.The Sussexes were pursued by photographers after leaving the Women of Vision Awards at the city’s Ziegfeld Ballroom in a convoy that also included Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother. The couple were left shaken by the incident, although ultimately no-one was hurt, their security detail told CNN.Police said “numerous” photographers made the Sussexes’ transport “challenging,” but that there were no reported collisions, injuries or arrests.According to couple’s account, the altercation with photographers was prolonged and involved multiple traffic violations. “Last night, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi,” the couple’s spokesperson said.“This relentless pursuit, lastin...

Rare fossils reveal the butterfly ‘tree of life’ over the past 100 million years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

(CNN) — The world’s largest butterfly tree of life is helping researchers determine where the winged insects originated when they first appeared on Earth about 100 million years ago.During the age of the dinosaurs, some moths transitioned from flying at night to daytime, evolving to take advantage of the nectar from flowers that developed alongside bees.Scientists first uncovered in 2019 how this single shift to daytime activity served as the evolutionary turning point for all butterfly species. But researchers had yet to uncover the full history of the nearly 19,000 species of butterflies that exist around the world.A global team of scientists began working on an ambitious project in 2015 to assemble a detailed model tracing the evolutionary history and species relationships for butterflies. Together, the researchers collected DNA from nearly 2,300 species from 90 countries that represent all butterfly families.The researchers used four supercomputers in Europe and t...

NYC bike path terrorist set to be sentenced to serve life in prison after nearly two dozen victims testify

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

(CNN) — The terrorist who drove a rented truck into pedestrians and cyclists on a New York City bike path in 2017, killing eight people, is set to be sentenced to serve life in prison Wednesday after about two dozen people spoke about the impact of the attack.Sayfullo Saipov effectively learned his sentence in March, when the jury in the penalty phase of his trial in Manhattan federal court told a judge it was unable to reach an unanimous decision favoring the death penalty on any of the nine capital counts against him. The capital counts each carry a mandatory life imprisonment sentence by law.Sayfullo Saipov was convicted of 28 counts in the fatal attack. Credit: St. Charles County, Mo., Dept of CorrectionsAt Wednesday’s hearing, 21 survivors and victims’ family members spoke about the attack in emotional, tear-filled speeches.Marion Van Reeth, a Belgian tourist who lost both of her legs in the attack, asked to pass by Saipov in her wheelchair before she spoke.“Mr. ...

Celtics’ Danilo Gallinari hasn’t lost hope of returning this season: ‘It’s still in my mind’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:55 GMT

Danilo Gallinari walked off the court early Wednesday afternoon at the Auerbach Center following a hard workout, his practice jersey soaked with sweat. The Celtics forward was asked how he’s doing.“I’m cooked,” Gallinari said.Gallinari was tired. But he was also happy and encouraged. As he continues to rehab from the torn ACL he suffered in his left knee last August, this is part of the process. After his Celtics teammates wrapped up shootaround ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Gallinari and some assistant coaches began a full-court workout. Gallinari simulated game play as he played defense, ran around screens and shot 3-pointers, all while running up and down the floor. He looked gassed by the end of it, but that was the point. Part of his focus right now is picking up his conditioning.“We’ve been doing conditioning, a lot more stuff on the bike,” Gallinari told the Herald. “But it’s different than when you get on a court and you actually go up and down, you try t...