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US Balkan envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate tensions or jeopardize progress toward EU

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — A U.S. envoy for the Balkans urged Kosovo and Serbia on Wednesday to deescalate simmering ethnic tensions in the former Serbian province, or both states could jeopardize their proclaimed goal of one day joining the European Union. Gabriel Escobar and EU mediator Miroslav Lajcak have been holding talks with the Serbian and Kosovo leaders on how to resume negotiations between the two former wartime foes. Tensions flared anew late last month in Kosovo, including violent clashes between Kosovo police and NATO-led peacekeepers on one side and local Serbs on the other, leaving dozens injured on both sides.“The European Union, with full support of the United States, has made it very clear that this is a European process. The dialogue and mediation is a European process,” Escobar told reporters in Belgrade, “Turning their back in the process will be turning their back on Europe, with all the consequences that it entails in the failure of closer integration and a clos...

Germany alarmed by detention of Vietnam climate activist, warns on coal phase-out pact with Hanoi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The German government said Wednesday that it is concerned by the recent detention of a prominent environmental campaigner in Vietnam, warning that a recent multi-billion-dollar deal to help the country phase out coal use requires the involvement of civil society activists.Hoang Thi Minh Hong was detained by police in Ho Chi Minh City last week and held on a temporary order charged with tax evasion, the United Nations Human Rights Office said, citing credible sources. It said Hoang is the fifth prominent environmental activist arrested in Vietnam for alleged tax evasion in the last two years.Germany’s Foreign Ministry said the arrests of Hoang and others “are an alarming signal for civil society actors across the country, as well as for environmental and climate protection.”“We also view the arrest critically with regard to the upcoming implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreed between Vietnam and the G7 countries, Denmark and Norway,”...

Man shot to death in Oak Brook: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

OAK BROOK, Ill. — A man was found shot to death inside a vehicle in Oak Brook.Around 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, police said the department received a 911 call of shots being fired into a vehicle near 22nd Street and Camden Court.Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered a man with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.No one is in custody. Police say the shooting appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. 4 women critical after crash involving semi on South Side This case is under investigation and no other information is currently available. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Jason Wood at 630-368-8742.

Liam Hendriks gets a big first in return to White Sox on Tuesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

NEW YORK — While the last eight days have included a number of firsts for the closer after his return to the White Sox having beaten cancer, there was something special about the one on Tuesday.That's because it's what Liam Hendriks does best, and got to do it once again for the first time against the Yankees. He was brought in by manager Pedro Grifol in a save situation for the first time since his return to the team on May 29 after beating Stage IV non-Hodgskin's lymphoma on Tuesday against the Yankees. Despite one bad pitch that allowed a run to come home, Hendriks got the job done, as he held onto the White Sox lead in a 3-2 win at Yankee Stadium. ‘Extremely surreal’: Liam & Kristi Hendriks discuss White Sox return – and effort to help others beat cancer It was his first save attempt of the year and his first completed save since October 3, 2022, when he pitched a shutout ninth inning in a win over the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field. Entering the inning with a two-run le...

Pope Francis hospitalized for intestinal surgery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis went to the hospital Wednesday to undergo abdominal surgery to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine.The Vatican said Francis, 86, would be put under general anesthesia for the procedure Wednesday afternoon and would be hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli hospital for several days.Francis' white Fiat 500 car pulled out of the Vatican shortly after 11 a.m. with an escort, and arrived at the Gemelli some 20 minutes later.The pope is undergoing what the Vatican said was a “laparotomy and abdominal wall plastic surgery with prosthesis” to treat a “recurrent, painful and worsening” constriction of the intestine.A laparotomy is open abdominal surgery. It can help a surgeon both diagnose and treat issues. The statement said Francis was suffering from a blocked laparocele, which is a hernia that formed over a previous scar."The stay at the health...

Investigation underway after explosion at apartment complex in Oak Forest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

OAK FOREST, Ill. — One person was seriously injured in an explosion at an apartment complex in Oak Forest.The incident happened around 11 p.m. Tuesday near the corner of 160th and Laramie. The explosion shook multiple buildings in the area and busted out some of the apartment windows.State Fire Marshals and the ATF were called to the scene. No word yet on what caused the explosion.((TAKE VO))YOU CAN SEE WINDOWS WERE BUSTED OUT OF SOME OF THE APARTMENTS—STATE FIRE MARSHALLS AND THE ATF WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE.WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN EXACT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THIS EXPLOSION.WE SPOKE TO A NEIGHBOR WHO SAID HE WENT OUTSIDE AFTER HIS APARTMENT BUILDING STARTED SHAKING FROM THE EXPLOSION.HE SAYS HE SAW MULTIPLE WERE TAKEN OUT OF HIS NEIGHBORING APARTMENT BUILDING—ONE OF THEM COULD BE SEEN WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.HE TOLD US HE FOUND MULTIPLE PIECES OF DYNAMITE OUTSIDE NEAR HIS CAR AND HIS BUILDING—HERE’S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.((TAKE SOT)) Reggie Odell-witness“It was kind of suspiciou...

26-year-old man shot, killed in Calumet City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

CALUMET CITY, Ill. — A 26-year-old man was shot and killed Tuesday morning in Calumet City. Just before 8:40 a.m., authorities responded to the 1200 block of Burnham Avenue on the report of a person down.Officers at the scene located a 26-year-old man, from Calumet City, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police pursuit ends at River Oaks Shopping Center after suspects flee into mall No suspects are in custody. Anyone with information can contact Calumet City 708-868-2500.

New 121,000-square-foot H-E-B opens in Georgetown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- They're spreading like wildfire: new H-E-B locations. The latest opened in the Wolf Lakes Village neighborhood in Georgetown on Wednesday morning. It's located at 1010 W. University Ave. and replaces the H-E-B at 1100 South I-35. The Wolf Lakes Village store is 121,000-square-feet, nearly double the size of the I-35 location, which is 67,000-square-feet. PREVIOUS: H-E-B announces new store coming to Georgetown H-E-B said the new store's design will have the feel of a European village, relating to the character of the surrounding Wolf Lakes Village neighborhood, a European-style development in Georgetown.The store will feature two entry towers and pedestrian-friendly surroundings, plus a two-story True Texas BBQ, which will have indoor and outdoor seating on both levels, H-E-B said. "Georgetown, a community we've proudly served for 57 years, will receive a new H-E-B store. We are thrilled to bring an extensive range of products and services, catering to...

Venus shines bright in the sky as NASA prepares trip to the 'evil' planet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Venus, the second planet from the sun, is taking center stage this morning. Named for the goddess of love, Venus is making itself easily seen in the night sky. It can be spotted by looking to the west between sunset and 11 p.m.NASA is prepping to visit what it calls Earth's "evil twin" in 2029."We're going to be exploring the atmosphere of Venus with a titanium descent sphere," said Giada Arney, Deputy Principal Investigator with NASA's DAVINCI mission.The mission is two parts. First, a probe will do fly-bys of the world, taking pictures of the atmosphere. Then, a probe will be dropped on the planet, where it will fall in the Alpha Regio region, a mountainous area twice the size of Texas that has never been seen before.Collecting data on a forbidden planetNASA's DaVinci mission will help us better understand the second planet from the sun. (Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)As the DAVINCI probe falls, it will gather data on the atmosphere of Venus. It will the...

Schenectady restaurant set to reopen after fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:29 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Wagon Train BBQ, located at 671 Mariaville Road in Schenectady, is reopening on Wednesday after a fire at the restaurant on Sunday. The fire contributed to thousands losing power in Schenectady and Rotterdam that morning. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the outage map at the time, more than 20,000 National Grid customers lost power. A National Grid spokesperson and Schenectady Fire Chief Don Mareno told NEWS10 the outage was caused by the fire at the Wagon Train BBQ between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., as well as a car that crashed into a power pole on Altamont Avenue.Wagon Train BBQ was closed on Sunday due to the fire. With the restaurant normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, owner Richard Frederick posted on Facebook on Tuesday that the restaurant would be opening as scheduled on Wednesday. Pretzel bun sandwich eatery opens in the Wilton Mall "We have been cleared from The Code E...