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Canada ‘closely monitoring’ Afghanistan after quake reportedly kills more than 2,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs is offering support to people in Afghanistan after a devastating earthquake rocked the western part of the Asian country on Saturday.Melanie Joly says on the X platform, formerly Twitter, that “Canada stands ready to support the Afghan people” following the 6.3-magnitude quake that struck near Herat, Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city.An email from Global Affairs Canada says it is not aware of any Canadians who are missing or who were killed as a result of the earthquake.Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s minister of international development, says Ottawa is closely monitoring the situation.In a post to X, he calls news of the earthquake “heartbreaking” and he says Canada is thinking of victims’ families and loved ones as the details unravel.A Taliban government spokesman says the quake has killed more than 2,000 people, but as of Sunday morning, that figure has not been independently verified.— With fi...

Singer-songwriter missing since June found: friend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

(KTLA) - A Beverly Hills woman and accomplished musician, who was reportedly missing for three months, was found alive, a friend has confirmed. Camela Leierth-Segura, 48, was last seen in the Beverly Hills area on June 29, according to her missing persons page on the California Department of Justice website.Her friend, Cecilia Foss, took to Instagram to share the news of her safe return. “I wanted to let you all know that my friend Camela who has been missing for the past three months was found yesterday,” Foss wrote on her Instagram story. “Her family has asked for privacy and I can’t share any of the details, but she is safe now. Thank you to everyone who helped look for her and shared her story, and to the Beverly Hills Police Department for doing an incredible job finding her.” These are the 7 ‘most offensive’ behaviors that break airplane etiquette Leierth-Segura is a singer and songwriter whose credits include Katy Perry’s “Walking On Air.”When she first disappeare...

What's the best time to get the flu vaccine?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – With the heat of summer gone and flu season looming, you may be wondering if there's an ideal time to get the flu vaccine to maximize your protection.“Influenza is a very serious disease, and during a normal flu season, around 40,000 or more people die from it,” infectious disease specialist Kristin Englund, MD told the Cleveland Clinic. “So, with any preventable disease, we should do everything we can to protect ourselves.”So when should one get the vaccine?"The timing of the flu vaccine is always tricky," University of California, San Francisco epidemiologist George Rutherford, MD told Nexstar. "You'd like to get it a couple weeks before you need it, but the question is when do you need it? For instance, I'm going to Europe next week so I've already gotten my mine already because I think I could be exposed while I'm there."Rutherford said that getting the shot potentially earlier than you need it far outweighs the risk of waiting too long and getting the flu ...

Another one: Simone Biles wins 22nd gold medal at world championships

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Simone Biles’ appetite for victory is insatiable.The American superstar claimed a third gold medal at the 2023 gymnastics world championships on Sunday by winning the women’s beam with a superb routine on the final day of the competition.Biles oozed confidence throughout. She had no hesitation on her jumps and delivered controlled spins before dismounting in style, with just a small hop when landing. She earned a score of 14.800 points to win ahead of China’s Zhou Yaqin by a margin of just 0.1 of a point. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil took the bronze medal.In Antwerp, where she started her collection of 22 world titles 10 years ago, Biles has made a stunning return to the international stage. Powerball jackpot reaches $1.55 billion: When is the next drawing? She also claimed a silver medal on vault after the sixth all-around title that made her the most decorated gymnast in history, male or female. And she led the U.S. women to a record seventh straight victory ...

How to watch the 2023 solar eclipse safely – and what you should never do

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An annular solar eclipse, also known as the “ring of fire” solar eclipse, will be visible on Oct. 14, 2023, with the best views to be found in the western half of the U.S.Nexstar's KRQE spoke with a NASA scientist and a University of New Mexico ophthalmology professor about the steps people need to take to view the annular solar eclipse safely and prevent eye damage.Using observations from different NASA missions, this map shows where the Moon’s shadow will cross the U.S. during the 2023 annular solar eclipse and 2024 total solar eclipse. The map was developed by NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) in collaboration with the NASA Heliophysics Activation Team (NASA HEAT), part of NASA’s Science Activation portfolio. Courtesy: Credits: NASA/Scientific Visualization Studio/Michala Garrison; eclipse calculations by Ernie Wright, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterHow to view an annular solar eclipse safelyThe Task Lead for NASA's Heliophysics Ed...

Texas red-crowned parrots: Something unusual was just discovered about them

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — The Lone Star State may not be the first place you would think to find wild parrots but one species of parrot has defied the odds to become a native Texan. What's more, new research shows that while these birds' numbers may be in trouble, they have one quality that could help keep them around.Recently published research out of Texas A&M University took a look at a population of red-crowned parrots in the urban areas of South Texas and how they've adapted to urban expansion in the state. But the team, led by Dr. Donald J. Brightsmith and graduate student Simon Kiacz, found something interesting — not only are the parrots surviving increasingly urban areas, they're thriving in part because of it. Invasive stink bugs are back: What to do about them Red-crowned Amazon parrot (Getty Images)These types of species are known as synanthropes, according to researchers. Despite this unique feature, the red-crowned parrots are nevertheless currently considered endangered in th...

‘Totally Killer’ review: Kiernan Shipka’s teen horror sendup uninspiring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

“Totally Killer” knows exactly what it wants to be: a funny, time-traveling, “Cabin in the Woods”-style sendup to the teen horror genre. Its inspiration are legion and its shame nonexistent as it sources material from horror classics: “Halloween,” “Scream,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” even “Back to the Future.” (You can’t convince me that time travel, with its infinite and unknowable outcomes, isn’t terrifying.) It leans into tropes with a creepy-mask smile on its face, never once shying away from well-worn paths created decades ago.But under the weight of all those well-known films and horror-movie tropes, “Totally Killer” strains to leave a lasting impression. It wants to make a joke at its source material’s expense, but all it ever accomplishes is making you want to watch those classics instead.The premise is interesting enough: A high school teen girl, Jamie (Kiernan Shipka, magical in “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”; here, less so), is sent back from 2023 to 1987 to sto...

Other voices: Why aren’t America’s students showing up?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

Nearly four years into America’s learning-loss crisis, perhaps the biggest challenge facing the country’s schools is a basic one: getting students to show up. Rates of absenteeism have surged since the start of the pandemic, across nearly all regions, income levels and age groups. School leaders need to act now to solve the problem, or risk seeing millions of students lose any chance of recovery.By every measure, U.S. students are missing huge amounts of school. During the 2021-22 academic year, 28% of schoolchildren were “chronically” absent — defined as missing at least 10% of the 180-day school year, or three and a half weeks. That’s up from a rate of 15% in the last full year before the pandemic. The problem is most acute in urban public school districts: Chronic absenteeism topped 40% in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago; in Detroit, the rate was 77%. But even affluent, suburban areas have seen unexcused absences soar.It hardly needs say...

Real World Economics: U.S. fiscal policy needs outside help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

Edward LottermanThe recent threat by Indiana GOP Congresswoman Victoria Spartz to resign her seat if Congress does not establish an independent “debt commission,” and what it implies, is as welcome as cool fall air.Here is a self-proclaimed Tea Party member recognizing that our non-functional legislative branch simply can’t handle any issue. Moreover, by calling for a commission of experts, Rep. Spartz implicitly acknowledges tax increases are part of what we need. That honest facing of reality is a major step forward.Yes, that last part is facetious. I am sure Spartz would angrily deny any need for higher taxes. But let’s consider the implications of her proposal.Having taught college econ since 1981, it is clear to me that any independent panel of experts would at the very least call for returning U.S. tax rates to those prevailing in January 2001 — the fourth year of federal budget surpluses that were projected at the time to reduce the national debt to zero by 2012. ...

Get ready to taco 'bout it: St. Louis Taco Week starts Oct 9th

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:13 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Starting on Monday, October 9, and running through Sunday, October 15, it's Taco Week in the city. To celebrate, enjoy $5 taco deals across town, and be sure to check out the St. Louis Taco Week App.Within the app, there is a list of participating restaurants, their specials, hours, and a map—everything you need for taco week. There are two ways to win: Check in by using the app at four or more locations during the week and automatically enter to win a grand prize of $250 in gift cards. Earn points for eating tacos at restaurants and checking in on the app. The person with the most points by the end of Halfway to Taco Week will win a grand prize of $250 in gift cards.  Belleville police investigate deadly shooting, blocks away from chili cook-off Stay updated on social media by following @stltacoweek on Instagram and RSVP for event updates on Facebook. The list of locations offering $5 taco specials and restaurant offerings may change: Alpha Brewing Company Amigos...