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Harris pledges aid to Ghana amid security, economic concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — With fears of terrorism and Russian mercenaries rippling through West Africa, Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday opened her weeklong trip to the continent by vowing support for Ghana, a democratic pillar in the region that’s being squeezed by an economic crisis and security concerns.The visit was a high-profile show of support for Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, who faces rising discontent over inflation after previously overseeing one of the world’s fast-growing economies.“Under your leadership, Ghana has been a beacon of democracy and a contributor to global peace and security,” Harris said during a joint press conference at the Jubilee House, the presidential palace in Accra.Harris announced $100 million in assistance for the region and pledged that the United States would be “strengthening our partnerships across the continent of Africa.” The administration also is requesting another $139 million from Congress to help Ghana reduce child labor, improve...

At least 10 injured after explosion destroys Calgary home: fire department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

CALGARY — Officials say at least 10 people have been seriously injured after an explosion destroyed a home in Calgary. The Calgary Fire Department says the force of the explosion created a large debris field, several fires and damage to surrounding houses in a northeastern neighbourhood.It says many of the injured were believed to have been inside the home when it blew up.Adam Loria, a spokesman for Calgary Emergency Medical Services, says all the people sent to hospital are adults. He says six people were in life-threatening condition and four received serious injuries. Loria said there were no children involved and the explosion involved a single-family home.Crews have been unable to search the site and look for other victims due to structural problems with the home.Loria said EMS crews will remain at the scene for now.“It was quite the group effort, not only with EMS, to ensure all patients were cared for and transported in a timely fashion, but as well with our first respo...

Whooping cough cases spiking in southwestern Ontario

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

Several public health units in southwestern Ontario say they’ve seen a spike in cases of whooping cough and are urging residents to get vaccinated against the respiratory illness that can be particularly severe in young children.Southwestern Public Health, Huron Perth Public Health, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health are among the health authorities reporting notable increases in the disease.Whooping cough, or pertussis, can see a person’s cough intensify to the point where a “whooping” sound is heard when they try to catch their breath.Dr. Ninh Tran, the medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, says the number of whooping cough cases in the health unit was in the single digits in previous years.But from the beginning of January 2022 to February 2023, the number of cases jumped to 82 — which was 40 per cent of the provincial total from that time period.Huron Perth Public Health — which se...

StatsCan finds 98% of Canadians have COVID-19 antibodies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

Nearly all Canadian adults have acquired antibodies against COVID-19, whether through previous infection or through vaccination, Statistics Canada has found.Releasing results from the second round of its Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCASH), StatsCan says between April and August 2022, more than 54 per cent, or 16.4 million people, had antibodies indicating that they had been infected with SARS-CoV-2.StatsCan says this is more than 20 times higher than the 2.6 per cent of people it found in 2021 who had been infected with the virus.About 40 per cent of those who had been infected with the virus didn’t know they had ever had COVID-19, the national data organization found.Related Articles:Canadian surgery wait times still lagging amid COVID-19 backlogWill we ever know Covid-19’s origin story?More than 100,000 Canadians aged 18 or older across the country were randomly selected for the survey, StatsCan explained, and along with completing a questionnaire, responde...

Officials: No sign of contamination in Philadelphia water

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia water officials say they are monitoring water quality closely and have seen no sign of contamination following a chemical spill into the Delaware River in a neighboring county.Bucks County health officials said Sunday that a leak late Friday evening at the Trinseo Altuglas chemical facility in Bristol Township spilled between 8,100 and 12,000 gallons of a water-based latex finishing solution. Officials said it is non-toxic to humans, and no known adverse health effects have been reported in the county.The Philadelphia water department “has analyzed a variety of samples from the river and raw water basin using infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography,” city officials said.“Contaminants related to the Bristol Township discharge have not been found” in the city water system, officials said.Officials said they will continue to track the spill closely and vowed to notify the public immediately if water quality sampling indicates a po...

US lawsuit seeks to protect habitat of endangered corals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — An environmental group filed a lawsuit Monday accusing the U.S. government of failing to protect 12 endangered coral species across the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean that have been decimated by warming waters, pollution and overfishing.The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said it filed the lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service more than two years after the agency proposed to protect more than 6,000 square miles worth of coral habitat but never did so.The critical habitat designation would cover 5,900 square miles off Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida and the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. It also would cover 230 square miles around islands including Guam and American Samoa in the Pacific.Such a designation could improve water quality in the coastal zone, limit excessive fishing and protect spawning grounds, according to the environmental group, which said “absent bold and immediate action” coral reefs worldwide co...

$13M settlement for family of woman killed in PACE bus crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

CHICAGO — PACE suburban bus has agreed to terms with the family of a woman killed in the summer of 2021 when a driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed. Brenda Burse (Provided by family)The family of Brenda Burse will receive $13 million following the death that attorneys say could have been prevented. More importantly, however, loved ones say they hope Monday's decision is a base for change. RELATED CONTENT: $20M settlement reached after woman struck, pinned under CTA bus in Streeterville"I’m looking forward to seeing that they take it very seriously when it comes to individual lives," said Amelia Burse, the daughter of Brenda Burse. "Safety does matter and a lot of rules and regulations should be changed for employees." Brenda Burse was a passenger on a Pace bus on August 15, 2021, when attorneys say the driver, Joe Mckee, fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a tree resulting in her death. Attorneys Marc Taxman and Sean Murray say McGee was known to have sleep apnea and wa...

Gluten-free Reese's Pieces Brownie Brittle recalled over undeclared wheat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXIN) -- Snacks marketed as gluten-free are being recalled because they may contain wheat.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the recall involves Gluten Free Reese’s Pieces Brownie Brittle, which was sold in stores nationwide and online.The recall was initiated after Second Nature Brands discovered the wheat got into the product due to cross-contamination at a co-manufacturer. Production was suspended until the FDA and the company are certain the problem has been corrected. Kawasaki recalling engines due to fire hazards People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products. So far, one reported illness has been connected to this product.The product comes in a 4-ounce pouch with UPC 711747011562 marked with lot codes SG 1054 15/NOV/2023 1S and SG 1054 15/NOV/2023 2S on the backside of the pouch.Photo//FDAPhoto//FDAAnyone with the recalled snack should n...

Jeremy Renner taking major steps on road to healing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

(WJW) -- It's been three months since Jeremy Renner was in critical condition after a snow plow accident on New Year's Day.In a February Instagram post, Renner promised fans across the globe they would see his upcoming work as soon as he was back on his feet.And now he's taking those first steps toward getting back at it. He shared a physical therapy moment on Twitter along with a video showing him on an anti-gravity treadmill -- on both feet!You can see the video here."I now have to find OTHER things to occupy my time so my body can recover from my will," the tweet reads.According to University of Michigan Health, "Anti-gravity training and rehabilitation assists athletes by lessening the impact or loading on lower body extremity joints and muscles while shortening the healing process by overcoming weight bearing restrictions due to injury and overuse."The 52-year-old “Avengers” star suffered blunt chest trauma and multiple orthopedic injuries after being run over by a snowcat, a l...

See the Bears' 2023 NFL Draft hat design

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:54 GMT

CHICAGO - On April 27, fans of the Bears will find out who the Bears will choose with their first selection in the opening round of the NFL Draft in two years.But there is one thing that rooters know for sure about the player they pick to start helping the building of the team in 2023: Their headwear. New Era has unveiled the designs for their 2023 NFL Draft hats including the Bears, who have the No. 9 pick to start their selections this year. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/Fu60RL01PP— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) March 27, 2023In what has become a tradition, New Era Cap Company released the design for their 2023 NFL Draft hats on Monday for the selections that will be held in late April in Kansas City. It's customary for players to don the hat of the team they are drafted by when they go on stage to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell or even if they are at home with family.The design is uniform for all 32 NFL teams with the nickname in large letters on the front of the hat with t...