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Today in History: October 4, Soviets launch Sputnik, spark the Space Age

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

Today in History Today is Wednesday, Oct. 4, the 277th day of 2023. There are 88 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 4, 1957, the Space Age began as the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit. On this date: In 1777, Gen. George Washington’s troops launched an assault on the British at Germantown, Pennsylvania, resulting in heavy American casualties.In 1887, the International Herald Tribune had its beginnings as the Paris Herald, a European edition of the New York Herald.In 1940, Germany’s Adolf Hitler and Italy’s Benito Mussolini conferred at Brenner Pass in the Alps. In 1965, Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the Western Hemisphere as he addressed the U.N. General Assembly.In 1970, rock singer Janis Joplin was found dead in her Hollywood hotel room at age 27. In 1990, for the first time in nearly six decades, German lawmakers met in the Reichstag for the first meeting of the nation’s reunified...

Abinader celebra que el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU haya aprobado el envío de una fuerza multinacional a Haití

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

(CNN Español) — El presidente de República Dominicana, Luis Abinader, consideró “un éxito de la diplomacia dominicana” la decisión del Consejo de Seguridad de la Orgnización delas Naciones Unidas (ONU) de aprobar el despliegue de una fuerza multinacional para combatir a las bandas criminales en Haití. Abinader celebró la medida y agregó que la intervención de la comunidad internacional es necesaria para “la pacificación” de su país vecino.El mandatario dominicano hizo estas declaraciones ante la prensa, un día después de que el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU aprobara por mayoría enviar a Haití una misión liderada por la policía de Kenya para ayudar a las autoridades locales a controlar a las organizaciones delictivas.Aumenta la violencia de pandillas en Haití: estas son algunas de las personas que han sido desplazadas“La verdad eso se necesita, se necesita para la pacificación de Haití y también de la región, eso que está pasando en Haití no puede seguir pasando, y...

At least 4 people wounded in shooting on campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — At least four people were wounded, none critically, in a shooting at Morgan State University in Baltimore on Tuesday, according to authorities, who urged students to take shelter on the campus of the historically Black college. The Baltimore Police Department initially said officers were on the scene for an “active shooter situation" around 10 p.m. Police kept the campus on lockdown for hours and provided little information about their investigation. The address given for the shooting appeared to match a residential building that's on the same block as a city police station.“We’re asking everyone to shelter in place and avoid the area,” police said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Police later said it was no longer an active shooter situation and the shelter-in-place order was lifted around 12:30 a.m. Officials said more details were expected at a media briefing. Police spokesperson Amanda Krotki said there were multiple victims with non-life-threatenin...

About 4,500 Kaiser Permanente workers prepare to strike in San Diego region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO - The largest health care worker strike in U.S. history could be getting started Wednesday morning if a deal is not reached between Kaiser Permanente and its coalition of unions.More than 75,000 Kaiser workers across multiple states are set to hit the picket lines, including nearly 5,000 locally in San Diego.“Ready to go and ready to show the community that we care for them and show our patients that we care for them,” said Michael Ramey, ultrasound technician at Kaiser and President of OPEIU Local 30.Kaiser employees like Ramey had their local union shirts on Tuesday and their cars loaded with signs and supplies, prepared for a potential three-day strike.“Calling on Kaiser to put patient care over profit and for them to make the necessary investments to invest in the workforce,” said Ezequiel Diaz, an account administrative representative for Kaiser.The biggest issues for Kaiser health care workers come down to what they consider unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing...

Taiwan indicts 2 communist party members accused of colluding with China to influence elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted two leaders of the island’s tiny Taiwan People’s Communist Party on accusations they colluded with China in an effort to influence next year’s elections for president and members of the legislative assembly.Party Chairman Lin Te-wang and Vice Chairman Chen Chien-hsin were accused on Tuesday of violating the Anti-Infiltration Act and the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act after having accepted funds and other benefits from China’s ruling Communist Party, the official Central News Agency said.It wasn’t clear whether the two men were in Taiwan when the indictments were issued.Taiwan will elect a new president and legislators in January, and Beijing is suspected of seeking to boost the chances of politicians favoring political unification between the sides through social media and the free press and by bankrolling candidates it favors. Current Vice President William Lai, whose Democratic Progressive Party party strongly backs...

Manitoba NDP to form majority government in historic win for First Nations premier

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

WINNIPEG — Wab Kinew, who is to become Canada’s first First Nations provincial premier, spoke to young Indigenous people and those from all backgrounds in his victory speech Tuesday after the NDP won a majority in the Manitoba election. “I was given a second chance in life,” Kinew said to a cheering crowd. “And I would like to think that I have made good on that opportunity. And you can do the same.” Kinew’s late father was not allowed to vote as a young man under Canadian law at the time. His mother’s birthday was election night, and he brought her on stage to celebrate the historic win along with his wife and three sons.The NDP’s victory also brought the resignation of the other two main party leaders.Heather Stefanson announced she would step down from the helm of the Progressive Conservatives after several of her cabinet members lost their seats in Winnipeg. The provincial capital holds 32 of the 57 legislature seats. Manitoba Libe...

Premier Wab Kinew: From rapper to reporter to Manitoba’s top political office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

WINNIPEG — Rap artist. Journalist. Economics student.Premier.Wab Kinew’s path as a young man, including several brushes with the law and some convictions, did not appear a likely path tobecoming the first First Nations premier of a province.Kinew and the Manitoba NDP won a majority government Tuesday night, defeating the governing Progressive Conservatives and making Canadian history.“I was given a second chance in life. I’d like to think that I made good on that opportunity,” Kinew said in his victory speech.“My life became immeasurably better when I stopped making excuses and I started looking for a reason. And I found that reason in our family, I found that reason in our community and I found that reason in our province and country.“So young people out there who want to change your life for the better: you can do it.”Kinew decided political office might be where he could make a difference when he entered his 30s.One of the reasons, he has said,...

A timeline of recent provincial elections and governments in Manitoba

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

WINNIPEG — Manitobans elected a new government on Tuesday, with the New Democrats sweeping the Progressive Conservatives from power after seven years in Opposition. Here is a look at Manitoba elections and governments over the past 20 years. New Democrats, 2003The NDP under then premier Gary Doer wins a second consecutive term with a larger majority, capturing 35 of the 57 legislature seats. The New Democrats secure longtime Progressive Conservative strongholds in suburban Winnipeg. Party leader Stuart Murray steps down two years later after lukewarm support in a party leadership review. He is replaced by Hugh McFadyen.New Democrats, 2007The NDP under Doer wins a third consecutive majority with 36 seats. Two years later, Doer leaves the premier’s office to become Canada’s ambassador to the United States. The New Democrats select Greg Selinger, Doer’s longtime finance minister, to lead them into the next election.New Democrats, 2011Under Selinger, the NDP wins a fou...

Bus crash across lagoon from Venice’s historic center kills 21 people, including Ukrainian tourists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

ROME (AP) — At least 21 people were killed and 18 injured in a fiery bus crash in a borough of Venice, Italy, across the lagoon from its historic center, where firefighters and other emergency responders worked into the night trying to extract bodies and squelch the flames.The bus was carrying foreign tourists, including Ukrainians, according to a Venice official, when it fell from an elevated street Tuesday in Mestre en route to a camping site near the community of Marghera.“The people in the bus found themselves surrounded by flames,” said Mauro Luongo, commander of the Venice firefighters team. “The scene we found was terrible. It took about one hour to extract some of the bodies.” Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the crash scene was “apocalyptic” and declared the city in a state of mourning. Four of the injured were in serious condition following the accident, which happened on the mainland just 9 km (3.7 miles) no...

A Nepal town imposes a lockdown and beefs up security to prevent clashes between Hindus and Muslims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:40 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Despite quickly escalating tensions between Hindus and Muslims, the night passed peacefully after a lockdown was imposed and security heightened in a city in southwest Nepal, officials said. Trouble began in the regional hub city of Nepalgunj over the weekend after a Hindu boy posted a status about Muslims on social media. Muslims protested the status inside the region’s main government administrator’s office building, burned tires on the streets and blocked traffic.A larger Hindu rally was held Tuesday until stones and bottles were thrown at protesters, resulting in a few minor injuries.The indefinite curfew was imposed since Tuesday afternoon in Nepalgunj, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu, directly after the Hindu protest came under attack.Area police chief Santosh Rathore said officers were patrolling the city and people were not allowed to leave their homes or gather in groups during the lockdown. There were no reports of an...