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Deadly explosion off Nigeria points to threat posed by aging oil ships around the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

OKITIPUPA, Nigeria (AP) — It was the dead of night when the ship caught fire, Patrick Aganyebi remembers, but the flames made it seem as bright as day.The explosion that night woke him and knocked him to the floor. He tucked his phone and his ID card in his pockets, strapped on a life jacket and made his way to the upper deck. As the flames barreled toward him, he prepared to jump nearly 100 feet (30 meters) into the sea.Five workers were killed and two others presumed dead in the blast on the Trinity Spirit, a rusting converted oil tanker anchored 15 miles (24 km) off the coast of Nigeria that pulled crude oil from the ocean floor. It was by the grace of God, Aganyebi said, that he and two fellow crewmen escaped, rescued by a pair of fishermen as the burning vessel sank along with 40,000 barrels of oil.The Trinity Spirit’s explosion in February of last year stands among the deadliest tragedies on an oil ship or platform in recent years. The Associated Press’ review of court documen...

Unifor workers at Stellantis strike as deal deadline passes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

TORONTO — Unifor says Canadian autoworkers have gone on strike at Stellantis operations in Canada after failing to reach a deal by Sunday’s deadline.A statement from the union says more than 8,200 workers have walked off the job at all Stellantis facilities.Unifor National President Lana Payne says the union has made progress and will continue to negotiate through the night.Unifor has said it is trying to get Stellantis to agree to the same core economic terms the union has reached with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors, along with issues specific to the global automaker behind such brands as Fiat and Jeep.Union members at the other two companies have already ratified deals that will see workers get close to 20 per cent wage gains over three years, among numerous other improvements.Stellantis saw escalating strikes over the past six weeks from United Auto Workers members at its U.S. operations, but the company reached a tentative deal with the union as of Saturday.This report ...

Auto workers at 3 Ontario Stellantis plants on strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

Around 8,200 workers at Stellantis plants in Brampton, Etobicoke and Windsor are on strike after talks between the union and automaker failed to produce an agreement by the 11:59 p.m. deadline Sunday night.In a brief statement to its membership, Unifor says progress has been made and the two sides will continue to talk “through the night” but workers are asked to report for picketing duties on Monday morning and await further instruction.The strike affects workers at the Windsor Assembly Plant, the Brampton Assembly Plant, the Etobicoke Casting Plant as well as parts distribution facilities in Mississauga and Red Deer, Alta.The union has been negotiating with Stellantis since Oct. 18 after reaching agreements at both Ford Motor Co. and General Motors. Unifor did strike at GM for 13 hours following the expiration of their strike deadline on Oct. 10.On Friday, Unifor National President Lana Payne said progress at Stellantis had been slow after the company put forth concess...

Camp Ripley testing finds ‘forever chemicals’ in nearby wells

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — Testing has turned up “forever chemicals” in some private wells around Camp Ripley, including one that exceeded federal safe levels for drinking water.The Minnesota National Guard training facility near Little Falls has been testing its own drinking water for the past several years for PFAS. The chemicals are in firefighting foam that was used for training at the camp until 2017.Recently, officials expanded testing beyond the camp’s boundaries, as the U.S. Department of Defense deals with a massive PFAS problem at military bases across the country.Of the 30 wells tested, nearly all had some PFAS chemicals, mostly at low levels. Only one had PFAS above the federal recommended limit for drinking water of 70 parts per trillion, said Capt. William Hermanson, a spokesperson for Camp Ripley.The defense department’s response when a well tests above the federal standard is to immediately provide either bottled water or a temporary filter, Hermanson said.“Then we ...

Sporting KC spoils St. Louis playoff opener, CITY loses 4-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The first playoff game in St. Louis CITY SC history ended with defeat. Sporting Kansas City played spoiler with a 4-1 road victory against their I-70 rivals. Sporting KC made the most of their opportunities early, scoring three goals in a stretch of roughly fifteen minutes near the middle of the first half. Their fourth goal came following a corner kick, giving them three unanswered tallies. CITY-Sporting playoff series adds to many St. Louis-Kansas City sports connections Tim Parker helped CITY answer back quickly after the first goal, scoring within the 28th minute. He now holds a place in history with the first franchise goals in regular season and playoffs. Up next, Sporting and St. Louis will head to Kansas City for Match 2 in the best-of-three playoff round. Sporting would advance to the Western Conference semifinals with a win. CITY would force a winner-take-all third match if they come out on top. If not, their inaugural season is over. Check back for an exten...

Man busted with $20,000 in tools stolen from Home Depot Stores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

A 34-year-old man from Perris was arrested last week on charges of grand theft after deputies discovered thousands of dollars in merchandise stolen from Home Depot stores, authorities announced. A deputy with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department responded to a Home Depot store on Oct. 19 on reports retail theft between Oct. 13 and 15 resulting in the loss of approximately $1,400 in property.  A little more than a week later, SBSD deputies, along with deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, served a search warrant at a residence in the 2300 block of Stonybrook Way in Perris.  At the residence, authorities recovered some $20,000 in merchandise stolen from Home Depots in Apple Valley and Victorville, as well as from stories that had yet to be identified.  A photo released to the public showed dozens of power tools and tools boxes stolen from the retail locations in what appears to be the residence's garage. Recovered tools stolen from several Hom...

Hundreds storm airport in Russia in antisemitic riot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

Hundreds of people stormed into the main airport in Russia's Dagestan region and onto the landing field Sunday, chanting antisemitic slogans and seeking passengers arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv, Israel, Russian news agencies and social media reported.Russian news reports said the crowd surrounded the airliner, which belonged to Russian carrier Red Wings. Authorities closed the airport in Makhachkala, the capital of the predominantly Muslim region, and police converged on the facility. Dagestan’s Ministry of Health said more than 20 people were injured, with two in critical condition. It said the injured included police officers and civilians.Video on social media showed some in the crowd waving Palestinian flags and others trying to overturn a police car. Antisemitic slogans can be heard being shouted and some in the crowd examined the passports of arriving passengers, apparently in an attempt to identify those who were Israeli.In a statement Sunday night, Israeli Prime Ministe...

Assault suspect throws 'suspicious devices' towards pursuing officers, leads police on chase from SF to Martinez

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Officers responded to a report of an assault in San Francisco on Sunday evening, the San Francisco Police Department said. Around 5:52 p.m., police arrived on the 600 block of Filbert Street. Police located the suspect and tried to detain him. However, he was able to escape and fled in a vehicle. SFPD officers then initiated a pursuit. Police said the suspect threw "suspicious devices" out of the car window towards the officers in pursuit. No injuries were reported by SFPD. Protesters bring demonstration from SF streets to highway, block lanes on Hwy 101 Once the pursuit continued onto the freeway, California Highway Patrol officers took over the chase. The pursuit eventually came to an end in Martinez where CHP officers arrested the suspect.The distance from San Francisco to Martinez is approximately 35 miles, which includes the Bay Bridge. The suspect also threw unknown objects out of the vehicle in the area of 8th and Mission streets, according to SFPD. ...

Monk delivers in OT as Kings beat Lakers 132-127 on 20th anniversary of James’ NBA debut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Malik Monk scored 11 of his 22 points in overtime and fed Kevin Huerter for a key 3-pointer with 32 seconds left, and the Sacramento Kings spoiled the 20th anniversary of LeBron James’ NBA debut in the same city with a 132-127 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.De’Aaron Fox had 37 points and eight assists for the Kings, scoring eight points in the final six minutes of regulation after returning from an ankle injury earlier in the fourth quarter. Domantas Sabonis added 12 points and 15 rebounds.James, the No. 1 overall pick in 2003 by the Cleveland Cavaliers, finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Derek Richardson, who was one of the three referees for James’ debut game on Oct. 29, 2003, was part of the three-ref crew on Sunday night as well.Anthony Davis added 30 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers (1-2), who trailed by 15 before closing the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run to force overtime.Monk, who missed nine of his firs...

What to stream this week: Annette Bening, Jason Aldean, Awkwafina, NKOTB and ‘Blue Eye Samurai’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:49 GMT

Awkwafina starring as a game-show-obsessed woman in “Quiz Lady” and the animated historical drama “Blue Eye Samurai” about a mixed-race, revenge-seeking female samurai in Japan are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near youAlso among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are a studio album from Jason Aldean, a new Hulu series made from Charmaine Wilkerson’s novel “Black Cake” and Annette Bening portrays a real-life hero who swam the treacherous passage from Cuba to Key West in 2013.NEW MOVIES TO STREAM— It took Diana Nyad more than 30 years and five tries to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys. “Free Solo” filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s “Nyad,” streaming Friday, Nov. 3 on Netflix, dramatizes her feat of endurance, along with the perseverance of her closest friends and collaborators. Bening plays Nyad, who was 60 when she began training herself again for the open-ocean sw...