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Greece didn’t reply to offer of aircraft from EU border agency before migrant tragedy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

ATHENS — The EU Border and Coast Guard Agency says it received no reply from Greece last week after it offered to send a plane to monitor an overcrowded fishing boat that ultimately sank, with a loss of life that is feared to run into the hundreds. The communication gap is a sign of heightened tension between the EU agency, known as Frontex, and Athens, over the role that each party played in a tragedy that looks liable to go down as the worst shipwreck of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. A spokesperson for Frontex told POLITICO that after initially detecting the vessel and notifying the Greek and Italian authorities, it offered to provide additional assistance, including dispatching an aircraft from Italy, but the Greek coast guard never replied.When asked about this lack of response, the Greek coast guard said it did not want to comment “regarding details of the operational planning.”The Hellenic Coast Guard is facing increasing questions over its response to the fata...

7.5 million Baby Shark bath toys are recalled after they cut or stabbed children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — About 7.5 million singing and swimming “Baby Shark” bath toys are being recalled after multiple lacerations and puncture wounds were reported in children playing with them.Zuru, an El Segundo, California-based toymaker, said it’s recalling both full-size and mini versions of its robotic baby shark toys that have hard plastic top fins, which pose the injury risks. Twelve injuries have already been reported with Zuru’s full-sized Robo Alive Junior Baby Shark Sing & Swim Bath Toys — after children sat or fell on the now-recalled products. Nine of these cases required stitches or medical attention, according to a Thursday release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. While injuries have only been reported with these full-sized toys so far, Zuru is also recalling Robo Alive Junior Mini Baby Shark Swimming Bath Toys “out of an abundance of caution.”Consumers in possession of the recalled toy...

Live updates | Coast Guard says focus remains on search for Titan and investigation to follow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

By The Associated PressFollow along for live updates on the submersible that vanished while taking five people down to the wreck of the Titanic.___COAST GUARD SAYS FOCUS REMAINS ON SEARCH, OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION YET TO BE LAUNCHEDStill focused on the search, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday that an official investigation has yet to be launched into the disappearance and implosion of the Titan submersible.Coast Guard officials announced Thursday that the craft that was headed to the wreck of the Titanic suffered a catastrophic implosion, killing all five aboard.On Friday morning, the Coast Guard said an official investigation had not yet been launched because the agencies involved were focused on the search and still determining who has the appropriate jurisdiction and authority to lead it. Possibilities include the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, other federal or international agencies, or a joint effort.The Coast Guard also said it was too soon to say whether any policy cha...

In its push for more Black US players, MLB hopes results are on the horizon from grassroots efforts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Zion Rose is well aware that the percentage of Black U.S. players in Major League Baseball has been on the decline for decades.But the 18-year-old catcher from Chicago, still sweaty from a workout during MLB’s Draft Combine this week at Chase Field in Phoenix, said he’s got some news: That’s not going to be the case for long.“You’ll see,” he said. “We’re starting to come through.”Rose was one of more than 300 players of all backgrounds in Phoenix this week to take part in the combine, which featured workouts, interviews and games in an effort to showcase some of the game’s best amateur talent at the high school and college levels before July’s draft. MLB said that approximately 15% of the players in the showcase were Black.The hope is that the next Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts or Andrew McCutchen will be in that bunch. Possibly several.A recent study from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida found Bl...

Dutch government to end gas extraction in northern province after 60 years and many damaging quakes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Extraction from one of the world’s largest natural gas fields will end in October, the Dutch government announced Friday, turning off a lucrative source of revenue that also sparked unrest by causing a string of earthquakes.“The gas tap will be turned off on Oct. 1. That means an end to extraction after 60 years,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.However, he said it remains possible gas could still be pumped from the Groningen field after that date if there is a “perfect storm” of an extremely cold winter this year and a problem with storage of gas from other sources amid ongoing concerns about gas deliveries caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.Faced with mounting anger from residents whose homes were repeatedly rattled by the shallow tremors, the government had already wound down extraction from the field which held 2,800 billion cubic meters of gas. Only enough is now being pumped to keep gas installations in the region operational.Thous...

Indian opposition parties agree to work together to defeat governing party in next elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Leaders of 17 Indian opposition parties agreed Friday to set aside their differences and put up a united fight in next year’s national election in an attempt to deny Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party a third consecutive term.They said they plan to meet again next month to formulate a strategy for running joint candidates against the governing Bharatiya Janata Party’s nominees in constituencies across the country. That would prevent the BJP from benefitting from a splintering of votes among multiple opposition candidates.Nitish Kumar, an opposition leader and chief minister of eastern Bihar state, said the parties will work on a common manifesto stating their economic and other priorities.Rahul Gandhi, a key leader of the opposition Congress party, accused Modi of weakening the country’s democratic institutions and curbing freedom of speech.“We all stand united. We may have small differences, but we have decided to w...

7.5 million ‘Baby Shark’ bath toys recalled after multiple laceration and impalement injuries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — About 7.5 million singing and swimming “Baby Shark” bath toys are being recalled after multiple impalements, lacerations and puncture wounds were reported in children playing with them.Zuru, an El Segundo, California-based toymaker, said it’s recalling both full-size and mini versions of its robotic baby shark toys that have hard plastic top fins, which pose the injury risks. Twelve injuries have already been reported with Zuru’s full-sized Robo Alive Junior Baby Shark Sing & Swim Bath Toys — after children sat or fell on the now-recalled products. Nine of these impalements, lacerations and puncture wounds required stitches or medical attention, according to a Thursday release from the U.S. Consumer Protect Safety Commission. While injuries have only been reported with these full-sized toys so far, Zuru is also recalling Robo Alive Junior Mini Baby Shark Swimming Bath Toys “out of an abundance of caution.”Consumers in possession of the recalle...

Man critical after driver flees two-vehicle crash on Southwest Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is in critical condition after another driver fled following a two-vehicle crash Friday morning on the Southwest Side.At around 4:45 a.m., authorities responded to the 4000 block of West 59th Street on the report of a crash. It happened outside of a 7-Eleven.Police believe a Ford Mustang, driven by a 25-year-old man, was traveling southbound at a high-rate of speed when it struck a Toyota SUV driven by a 50-year-old man.The driver of the Toyota was transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition.The 25-year-old man fled the scene on foot but was located several blocks away, CPD said. He was transported to Christ Hospital in an unknown condition. 67-year-old man critical after Southwest Side shooting Police said "citations and or charges" are pending. No other injuries were reported.

Dean's Weekender: A busy June weekend- from concerts to Pride

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

CHICAGO — It's arguably the busiest weekend in June as a number of artists and comedians are decending on Chicago while a number of Pride celebrations are being held in the city.It made for quite a full "Dean's Weekender" on Friday's WGN Morning News as Dean Richards had a lot to get to when it comes to the events happening this weekend in the Chicago area.That includes the Chicago Pride Parade, Pride in the Park, Summer Smash Festival, the final weekend of "West Side Story" a show by Colin Jost, the Taste of Highland Park, and a host of other events of interest.You can see all of these from "Dean's Weekender" on the June 23 show in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

TxDMV systems down, all offices closed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:07 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 23, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — All Texas Department of Motor Vehicles systems were down as of 8 a.m. Friday, according to the TxDMV.All online and in-person services were affected, including county tax offices and other registration renewal locations such as grocery stores, vehicle dealerships, and MyPlates.According to the TxDMV, all 16 TxDMV offices would be closed Friday.