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Fires on Indonesia’s Sumatra island cause smoky haze, prompting calls for people to work from home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

PALEMBANG, Indonesia (AP) — More than 300 forest and peatland fires on Indonesia’s Sumatra island caused hazy skies across the region on Monday, prompting government officials to ask people to work from home.The military, police and local government were working together to extinguish the fires, which were burning in 316 places across South Sumatra province, but their work was complicated by the extreme dry weather, said Iriansyah, the head of the South Sumatra Disaster Management Agency.The smoky haze drifted from the fires toward Palembang, the capital of South Palembang province, causing unhealthy air conditions for the area’s 1.7 million people.“There is a high potential for people to suffer from respiratory tract infections, coughing, shortness of breath and eye irritation,” said Iriansyah, who like many Indonesians uses only one name.The government in South Sumatra last week called on schools to delay their opening time, as the haze tends to decrease during the day...

5 missing people are located after a Spanish nightclub fire, leaving the death toll at 13

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Five people who were missing and feared dead in a nightclub fire in the city of Murcia have been located, a Spanish official said Monday. The death toll in the country’s worst nightclub fire in 33 years stands at 13, with 24 people injured. Francisco Jiménez, the national government representative in the southeastern region of Murcia, told Spanish National Television that no further bodies had been found and that there was no longer anyone missing. Firefighters and police continued to search the damaged premises for clues as to how the fire started Sunday in the city of Murcia. They also worked to secure the interior of the building to avoid a possible collapse.The blaze started around 6 a.m. in a nightclub and spread to two others nearby, Spanish state news agency EFE said. All the bodies were found in the first nightclub.The city council declared three days of mourning with flags flown at half-staff on public buildings. It was the deadliest nightclub fire in Sp...

Johnny’s becomes Smile-Up. Japanese music company hit with sex abuse scandal takes on a new name

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese entertainment company that has acknowledged its founder sexually assaulted hundreds of boys over the span of half a century, took a new name on Monday: Smile-Up. It also vowed to focus on compensation for victims of the abuse. Tokyo-based Johnny & Associates, founded in 1975, will eventually fold, but its performers can join an independent company that is being set up, said Noriyuki Higashiyama, the company’s new leader and a former star at Johnny’s, as the company is known.Higashiyama, tapped last month to head the old Johnny’s, will now be president of both Smile-Up and the new company. The new company’s name will be put to public vote by Johnny’s fans. “All things with the Johnny’s name will have to go,” Higashiyama told reporters at a Tokyo hotel. “A wounded heart isn’t easy to heal. Compensation on its own will never be enough.”In recent months, dozens of men who were performers and backup dancers as teens and children at Johnny’s have ...

Laphonza Butler tapped by California's governor to fill Feinstein's Senate seat

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday selected Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign, to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.In choosing Butler, Newsom fulfilled his pledge to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein’s seat became open. However, he had been facing pressure from some Black politicians and advocacy groups to select Rep. Barbara Lee, a prominent Black congresswoman who is already running for the seat. Who is Laphonza Butler, the woman appointed by Gavin Newsom to the U.S. Senate? Butler will be the only Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate, and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent California in the chamber.Newsom said in a statement that the priorities Feinstein fought for in Congress — reproductive freedom, equal protection and safety from gun violence — were under assault in the nation. "Laphonza will carry the baton left by Sen. Feinstein (and) co...

Moldova joins the EU Civil Protection Mechanism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

On 29 September, the EU and Moldova signed the Agreement for Moldova to become a Participating State in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Once the Agreement is ratified by Moldova, it will provisionally apply until the full entry into force on 1 January 2024.This major step of Moldova joining the foundation of the EU's disaster risk management system was marked with a visit by the Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič, to Chișinău, where he met Internal Affairs Minister Adrian Efros. They both signed the Agreement to grant Moldova membership status in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.Lenarčič said: “Today, I am proud to welcome Moldova to the family of European rescuers: the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. While Russia's brutal attack against Ukraine resulted in thousands of Ukrainians fleeing from the war, Moldova proved itself to be a reliable partner. I want to thank the Moldovan civil protection authorities for their hard work. By Moldova joining the EU Civil Protection...

Bridge: Oct. 2, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

“You know what annoys me?” Cy the Cynic said to me in the club lounge.“Aside from Wendy?” I asked mildly.“People accuse me of lolly-gagging,” said Cy, “when what I’m really doing is dilly-dallying.”When I watched a penny game, Cy played at 3NT, and West led a diamond. Dummy’s jack won. Cy next led a spade: jack, queen, ace. West returned a spade to Cy’s king.Cy then disappeared into a long huddle.“Pussy-footing won’t help you,” North finally sighed.“I’m thinking,” Cy growled.DOWN TWOCy cashed the A-K of clubs and exited with a spade. East took two spades and led a heart, and Cy went down two when West had the king.“Which one were you doing then?” I asked the Cynic.After the first trick, not much could help Cy. (He could guess to play West for A-x in spades.) Cy should win the first diamond with the ace. He unblocks the A-K of clubs and leads a low diamond. He can reach d...

Four-bedroom home sells in San Ramon for $1.7 million

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

223 Weymouth Court – Google Street ViewA 1,979-square-foot house built in 1968 has changed hands. The property located in the 200 block of Weymouth Court in San Ramon was sold on Aug. 28, 2023. The $1,700,000 purchase price works out to $859 per square foot. This single-story house offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. In addition, the house includes an attached two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The property’s backyard also boasts a pool.These nearby houses have also recently been sold:In January 2023, a 2,216-square-foot home on Ludlow Place in San Ramon sold for $1,615,000, a price per square foot of $729. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,229-square-foot home on the 200 block of Ludlow Place in San Ramon sold in October 2022, for $1,630,000, a price per square foot of $731. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Millbridge Place, San Ramon, in July 2022, a 1,850-square-foot home was sold for $1,600,000, a price per sq...

Ask Amy: She’s embarrassing her co-workers. How can I get her to stop?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

Dear Amy: I am a supervisor of a small section at the company I work for. My main assistant is a very intelligent and valued employee.The problem? She takes joy in pointing out other people’s errors — even the most minor things, including mine.None of us can claim to be perfect, and this results in co-workers feeling put down and embarrassed.What can I tactfully say to her to get her to stop doing this? I don’t want to lose her as an employee.– Frustrated SupervisorDear Frustrated: During a private performance review, you will have to point out this unfortunate practice.Tell her that she is a valued employee. Say, “I’m going to be frank about an area where you need to improve. You have a tendency to point out your coworker’s errors directly to them. That’s not how we operate here. I encourage people to check their own work, recognize and correct their errors, and if they don’t, I work with them to improve.”This might be an opportunity to encourage your assistant to take ...

Harriette Cole: People say I’m clairvoyant, but in this case it didn’t help me

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I had a dream the other day that my assistant was about to resign.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Why should my boss care that I’m bad at parties? Advice | Harriette Cole: I’ll never be OK with my former colleague dating my daughter Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I tell her she’s not burly enough to come on the road trip? Advice | Harriette Cole: She’s ignoring the do’s and don’ts of pregnancy, and I want to say something Advice | Harriette Cole: I hate to think it, but maybe I’m a helicopter mom For the next few days, every time I talked to her, I halfway held my breath knowing that the next thing she was going to say to me was goodbye. And yet it wasn’t. She did ask to speak to me about several sensitive matters. They all turned out to be various business dealings that we were handling — until she wanted to talk about somet...

STAT WATCH: Davis’ FBS season-best rushing game for Kentucky pushes him over 3,000 career yards

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

Kentucky’s Ray Davis turned in one of the Southeastern Conference’s top individual performances against Florida and became the fourth active player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to go over 3,000 career rushing yards.Davis’ career-best 280 yards on 26 carries in a 33-14 win Saturday was the national season high and second-most ever against the Gators. Davis ran for three touchdowns and caught a pass for another score.That made him the first SEC player since 2019 to record at least 250 yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage, according to ESPN Stats & Info.Davis’ rushing total was the third highest in Wildcats history, and 19 yards short of the school record, and it pushed his career total to 3,091 yards.Davis played his first two seasons at Temple and his third and fourth at Vanderbilt. He opted to transfer to Kentucky for his final season rather than declare for the NFL draft.His 118.8 yards per game ranks fourth nationally and first in the SEC.Two ot...