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For remote and laid back Dunedin, a warm welcome to the Women’s World Cup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) — Hanging on the edge of the stunning South Island, in one the world’s more remote countries, sat a scenic, minor-league sized city founded by Scottish immigrants. Then, a few weeks ago, one of the world’s biggest sporting events came to town, bringing in thousands of visitors.Reporter, in a cab: “So, is Dunedin excited for the Women’s World Cup?” Cab driver: “Yes – and no.” Welcome to Dunedin, which at a latitude of 45.88 degrees South is the southernmost city to ever host a match in a soccer World Cup, men’s or women’s. It may also be among the quirkiest spots, a place of contradictions. Locals have been excited to host the Women’s World Cup, but not necessarily to go see a game.With the city about to host its last game of the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, Netherlands vs. Vietnam with first place in Group E on the line for the Dutch, it’s time for a little tour of what soccer at the bottom of the world has looked like.QUIET FANDOMDuring Dunedin’s time in ...

Grab a telescope and a beach chair: Shenandoah Night Sky Festival to feature Perseid meteor shower

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

Stargazing at Big Meadows, just at the entrance of Rapidan Road, during the 2018 Night Sky Festival. This program was led by Park Rangers with Greg Redfern also talking about the night sky. (Courtesy NPS/Mary O’Neill)Star gazers from across the country are expected to make the trip to Shenandoah National Park’s Annual Night Sky Festival this year.“This year we’re really expecting a big turnout because the Perseid meteor shower will be occurring during the Night Sky Festival. The moon will be out of the way,” said Greg Redfern, WTOP’s space contributor and NASA solar system ambassador.Amateur astronomers will gather for a “Telescope Party” to witness the phenomenon Saturday August 12th at 10:30 p.m. at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center with Northern Virginia Astronomy Club or Big Meadows with Rappahannock Astronomy Club, Richmond Astronomical Society and the University of Virginia Department of Astronomy.Visitors will get a chance to view...

San Diego police investigating after man found fatally shot in back

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego police are investigating after a man was found in City Heights on Sunday with an apparent gunshot wound to his back, the department said.Officers were dispatched to the scene at the intersection of Altadena Avenue and Wightman Street after receiving multiple calls about a shooting in the area around 7:25 p.m., according to SDPD Lt. Steve Shebloski.Police arrived to find the victim, described as a man in his mid-30s, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper back. First responders attempted life saving measures on the victim before he was transported to a nearby hospital. Man hit, killed after I-805 fender bender identified The man was later pronounced dead by medical personnel, Shebloski said. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed by authorities.Homicide Unit detectives were called to the scene to investigate and are currently collecting witness statements.The suspects fled the scene in a dark colored vehicle, Shebloski said. At this time, mult...

New tentative deal is reached in B.C. port workers dispute

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

VANCOUVER — The two sides involved in a labour dispute affecting about 7,400 port workers in British Columbia say they’ve reached a new tentative deal.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and BC Maritime Employers Association issued a joint statement late Sunday saying a deal had been reached with help from the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which was tasked with ending the dispute that had dragged on since the beginning of the month. A joint statement from the union and the employers association offered no details on the new deal but said both sides “are recommending ratification of the collective agreement to the union’s membership and member employers respectively.”The breakthrough in the dispute came after union members voted Friday to reject a previous deal, prompting federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan to intervene Saturday and direct the board to determine if a negotiated agreement was still possible. O’Regan said that otherwis...

The crucial role of air defence in Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

Ukraine is effectively shooting down Russian missiles with the help of Western air defence systems, Dispatches, IFBG.On the evening of 26 July, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out one of the largest missile attacks on Ukraine. Three Kalibr ballistic missiles and 33 X-101/X-555 ballistic missiles were used. In addition, 4 hypersonic missile systems X-47 "Kinzhal" flew in the direction of the airfield in Starokonstantinov in Khmelnytskyi region. All the above missiles and 8 Iranian Shahed-136 drones were destroyed by air defence systems. This is the best proof that the Ukrainian army effectively uses modern air defence systems. Their shortage will cause casualties and destruction, which is especially relevant given the imminent missile strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces against Ukraine's energy infrastructure as we prepare for the onset of colder weather.Four Russian Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, which Russian propaganda claims "have no analogues", were shot down in Khmeln...

Security guard beaten to death by mob in Hollywood identified

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

A nightclub security guard beaten to death in Hollywood by a mob of people early Sunday morning has been identified by friends and coworkers.  According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to the Dragonfly Hollywood nightclub in the 6500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard near Wilcox Avenue around 2 a.m. on reports of a group of 7 to 11 people attacking one person. Friends and coworkers, some of whom gathered outside the club Sunday night to drop off candles and pay their respects, identified the security guard as Daniel Sandifer.  “Good guy, love him, family-oriented man...just sad,” one of his friends, who did not want to appear on camera, told KTLA. “Unfortunate situation, words were exchanged, and they ended up jumping him.”  Police are still investigating whether the fight began inside the club and spilled on to the street or if it began outside entirely. The nightclub was open and full of patrons when the incident took place.  “The vi...

Santa Rosa resident arrested on DUI suspicion after hit-and-run

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspect was arrested on suspicion of DUI after a hit-and-run crash overnight Sunday, the Santa Rosa Police Department announced. An officer was flagged down by a driver who was victim to a crash near Railroad Street and Third Street. Petaluma man arrested on DUI suspicion after 3-car crash Police then searched for the suspect vehicle and eventually found it in a parking lot near Fifth Street and Wilson Street. The suspect vehicle's driver showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol, police said. The driver, identified as 34-year-old Santa Rosa resident Alfredo Gonzalez-Gutierrez, was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail on two felony charges: DUI causing injury and hit-and-run with injury, authorities said. Gonzalez-Gutierrez's bail is set at $200,000. Police did not say whether or not the suspect suffered any injuries from the incident.The victim was taken to the hospital with "significant injuries," police said. However, the injured driver is expected...

This week: Starbucks, Amazon earnings; July jobs report

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

BREWING PROFITSStarbucks reports its third-quarter financial results after the bell on Tuesday.Analysts forecast that Seattle-based Starbucks earned 95 cents-per-share in the period on sales of $9.3 billion. In the same quarter a year ago, the retail coffee chain posted per-share profit of 84 cents on sales of $8.2 billion. In its most recent quarter, Starbucks enjoyed stronger-than-expected sales as demand in China began to recover.ONLINE RETAIL BELLWEATHERAmazon issues its second-quarter earnings report after the bell on Thursday.Wall Street is expecting the e-commerce giant to post profit of 35 cents per share on $131.4 billion in sales for the quarter. In the same period a year ago, Seattle-based Amazon lost $2 billion, or 20 cents per share, in the three-month period ended June 30. That loss was driven by a $3.9 billion write-down of the value of its investment in electric vehicle start-up Rivian Automotive. Amazon has since returned to profit the past three quarters.EYE ON JOB...

Stock market today: Asia shares gain after Wall St rally as investors pin hopes on China stimulus

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Monday after Wall Street got back to climbing following more encouraging profit reports and the latest signal that inflation is loosening its chokehold on the economy.Sentiment also has been boosted by revived hopes for more stimulus from Beijing for the sluggish Chinese economy. Chinese factory activity contracted in July as export orders shrank, a survey showed, adding to pressure on the ruling Communist Party to reverse an economic slowdown.A purchasing managers’ index issued by the national statistics agency and an industry group improved to 49.3 from June’s 49 on a 100-point scale but was below the 50-point level that shows activity contracting.“The PMI surveys suggest that China’s economic recovery continued to lose momentum in July,” Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics said in a commentary. “Looking forward, policy support is needed to prevent China’s economy from slipping into a recession, not least because external...

Sospechan que fue “intencional” el arrollamiento de seis trabajadores migrantes en Carolina del Norte

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:09 GMT

(CNN) — Seis trabajadores migrantes fueron atropellados y heridos por una camioneta frente a un Walmart de Carolina del Norte en lo que parece ser un “asalto intencional” este domingo por la tarde, y las autoridades buscan al conductor involucrado, dijo la policía.El hecho ocurrió después de la 1:00 p.m. hora local fuera de la tienda en la ciudad de Lincolnton, a unas 61 kilómetros al noroeste de Charlotte, según el Departamento de Policía de Lincolnton.Los seis heridos fueron trasladados a un hospital local con varias lesiones, dijo la policía, y agregó que ninguna de las lesiones parecía poner en peligro la vida.Las víctimas de la masacre de Walmart en El Paso, Texas, se enfrentan al atacante en la corte: lo llaman “monstruo”, “asesino”, “parásito”La policía describió al conductor involucrado en el incidente como “un hombre blanco mayor” que conducía un SUV negro de tamaño mediano modelo más antiguo con portaequipajes.El departamento no pr...