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Protests across Panama against new contract for Canadian copper mining company in biodiverse north

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

PANAMA (AP) — Protesters blocked streets across Panama on Monday, demanding the government rescind a contract to continue copper mining in a biodiverse region.Teaching and construction unions led calls against the contract with environmentalists, saying continued development threatens forested land and crucial groundwater just 75 miles (120 kilometers) west of the capital, in the state of Colon.Across Panama City, peaceful protesters handed out fliers, but in some areas on the outskirts of the capital police met protesters with tear gas. In anticipation of the largest marches since a cost of living crisis last July, both the Department of Education and the University of Panama cancelled classes. The government used social media to highlight the “enormous contribution” the mine — Panama’s largest private investment ever — makes to the country’s economy.In March, Panama’s legislature reached an agreement with Canadian mining company First Quantum, allowing its local ...

Your next car could be an e-bike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

The United Auto Workers union has once again escalated its strikes against big Detroit automakers, this time adding a factory that makes Ram pickup trucks for Stellantis. As a result of the monthlong strike, experts have suspected car prices will increase and parts may be harder to locate.Some people in the D.C. region think it might be a good time to switch to a more eco-friendly mode of transportation, like an electronic bicycle.“A few years ago, e-bikes were a novelty product. But now, over 50 shops in the DMV area are selling e-bikes,” said Gregory Maassen, the founder of “E-Bike Lovers,” an almost 1,000-member meetup group for e-bike fanatics in the D.C. region.Maassen described e-bikes as better for the environment — and better for your wallet.“You can already buy good ones for $1,500 to $2,000,” he said.Some e-bikes can be found online for even less than the prices Maassen quoted. However, he recommends prospective buyers do their homework: “It’s very important that peo...

‘Superfog’ in Louisiana blamed for highway crashes that killed at least 7 people, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — At least seven people were killed Monday morning after a “superfog” of smoke from south Louisiana marsh fires and dense fog caused multiple massive car crashes involving 158 vehicles, authorities said.Twenty-five people were injured and the number of fatalities may increase as first responders work into the night clearing the scenes and searching for victims, Louisiana State Police said in a statement Monday evening. Videos of apocalyptic type scenes from the aftermath of the wrecks showed a long stretch of mangled and scorched cars on Interstate 55 near New Orleans. Vehicles were crushed, rammed under one another and some engulfed by flames. Many people initially stood on the side of the road or on the roof of their vehicle looking in disbelief at the disaster, while others cried out for help. Piles of disformed cars, heaped on top of one another as firefighters trudged through the debris, remained on the interstate as the sun set. Hours after the crashes, the sm...

Phillies sluggers cold again in NLCS, Nola falters in Game 6 loss to Arizona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper got pitches to hit. He just didn’t hit them.That’s how Monday night went for the Philadelphia Phillies, sending their NL Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks all the way to Game 7.With a World Series berth at stake, Harper took a called strike three in the third inning. He struck out swinging to end the fifth in Philadelphia’s 5-1 loss.The two-time NL MVP was at the forefront of another cold NLCS outing for Phillies hitters.Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Harper — the top three hitters in the lineup — went 0 for 9 with four strikeouts. Nick Castellanos went 0 for 4, dropping to him to 1 for 20 in the series against the D-backs.These weren’t the Fightin’ Phils. These were the Fizzlin’ Phils.The sluggers who mashed homers at a record rate earlier in the postseason disappeared in Game 6. The Phillies are hitting .227 with one homer and three RBIs when trailing in the NLCS.Up next, the first Game 7 in 141 years of Philli...

Accidente de más de 150 vehículos en Louisiana en medio de una niebla densa deja al menos 7 personas muertas, dicen autoridades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

(CNN) –– Al menos siete personas murieron en los accidentes de cerca de 158 vehículos a lo largo de la Interestatal 55 en el distrito St. John the Baptist, Louisiana, informó la Policía del estado.Más de 25 personas fueron trasladadas a hospitales con heridas que van desde leves hasta críticas por los choques, dijeron las autoridades en un comunicado de prensa la tarde de este lunes. Muchas víctimas también buscaron asistencia médica por su cuenta, según la Policía.Los meteorólogos informaron horas antes que una “superniebla” había impactado fuertemente el área, justo al oeste de Nueva Orleans, al momento de los choques múltiples.Algunos de los vehículos se incendiaron después del accidente inicial, indicaron las autoridades. Uno de los vehículos involucrados en los accidentes era un camión cisterna que transportaba “líquido peligroso”, dijo la Policía sin dar más detalles sobre la sustancia.La Policía seguía trabajando en la noche del lunes para mover el camión debido a...

Jake Allen stops 36 shots as Canadiens beat Sabres 3-1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jake Allen made 36 saves to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.Allen made several big stops in net for the Canadians, guiding Montreal to its second win in a row. Brendan Gallagher, Justin Barron and Tanner Pearson scored for Montreal.Jeff Skinner scored for the Sabres, who dominated the flow of play and outshot Montreal 37-27, but Buffalo was unable to capitalize on the scoreboard. Eric Comrie made 24 saves.Allen’s most important save came on the penalty kill with 8:32 remaining. After Canadiens defenseman David Savard blocked back-to-back shots — while losing one of his skate blades in the process — Allen stopped a Skinner shot from the right circle with his glove.Gallagher scored the go-ahead goal for Montreal 3:31 into the third period by poking a loose puck in the crease through Comrie’s legs.Pearson gave Montreal a two-goal cushion with 3:07 remaining, finishing a one-timer from close range on the power p...

Trains collide in central Bangladesh, killing at least 15 and injuring scores of others

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A cargo train hit a passenger train outside the Bangladeshi capital Monday in a crash that killed 15 people and injured scores, fire officials said.Rescuers joined residents in extracting passengers from the wreckage of the train cars, said fire official Mosharraf Hossain at Bhairab, in the central district of Kishoreganj, where the collision happened at 3:30 p.m.He said the bodies of at least 15 people had been recovered and the number of casualties could increase.“It’s a chaotic situation,” he told The Associated Press. The crash occurred when two rear coaches of the Dhaka-bound Egarosindur Godhuli Express passenger train were hit by a cargo train heading to Chattogram, senior fire official Azizul Haque Rajon said from the scene by phone. He said it was unclear how many people were trapped in the wreckage. Train service to other parts of the country was suspended following the crash, he said.It wasn’t immediately known what caused the crash. Tr...

Aces celebrate 2nd WNBA championship and promise more are on the way

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Aces celebrated their second consecutive WNBA championship Monday night on the Strip and said they aren’t done.“We coming back,” WNBA Finals MVP A’ja Wilson said. “We’re going to do this (expletive) again.”The Aces became the first WNBA team in 21 years to win back-to-back titles, defeating the New York Liberty in four games. Las Vegas won the 2022 title in four games against the Connecticut Sun.“It’s hard to win a championship,” owner Mark Davis said. “It’s even harder to repeat.”The Aces made it clear from the front office to the players they weren’t ready to stop, and Las Vegas has the kind of roster to make these parades a regular ritual.“We’re going to keep coming back, and everybody hates it,” said All-Star guard Kelsey Plum, who walked onto the stage smoking a cigar.“Last year, (Plum) said we’re just getting started,” All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray said. “Let’s run that (expletive) back.”Wilson, who wore a brace on her left ...

Titans trade 2-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to Eagles for Terrell Edmunds, picks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles traded for two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to help a banged-up secondary hours after beating the NFL’s best offense.The Eagles are sending safety Terrell Edmunds and fifth and sixth-round draft picks in 2024 to the Tennessee Titans, pending both players passing physicals. The Eagles and Titans confirmed the trade of Tennessee’s five-time defensive captain to Philadelphia on Monday night.Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk thanked Byard and his wife, Clarke, for their work on and off the field as a model of leadership.“His phenomenal play and tireless charitable efforts have earned him a special and lasting place in our hearts,” Strunk said in a statement. “Kevin will always be a Titan, and we wish him well this year and in the years to come.”Philadelphia improved to 6-1 and tied Super Bowl champion Kansas City for the NFL’s best record after beating Miami 31-17 on Sunday night. T...

U.S. climbers charge to Paris Olympics with teenager Watson, exercise science graduate Piper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:59 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The United States sport climbing team is dominating the Pan American Games in Chile and giving a boost to a teenager from Texas and a 24-year-old exercise science graduate to bid for Olympic medals in Paris.The 17-year-old Samuel Watson and Kelly Piper won the men’s and women’s speed events in Santiago, and their U.S. teammates were among the favorites for the boulder and lead competitions, which combine two techniques of rock climbing.Texan Watson started climbing at age 5 at a local Lifetime Fitness health club. Last year, as he perfected his ritual of kicking the wall before the start, he brought home a gold medal in his first year on the circuit.In Santiago, Watson scaled the wall in just 5.37 seconds on Sunday to beat teammate Noah Bratschi and put his father Ray into tears as his son took the Pan American gold medal. “Now it is all about getting stronger and faster for Paris,” Watson told The Associated Press on Monday before his other teamma...