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War-wracked Myanmar is now the world’s top opium producer, surpassing Afghanistan, says UN agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar, already wracked by a brutal civil war, has regained the unenviable title of the world’s biggest opium producer, according to a U.N. agency report released Tuesday.The Southeast Asian country’s opium output has topped that of Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban imposed a ban on its production, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its “Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023.”The Taliban’s ban has led to a 95% drop in the cultivation of opium poppies, UNODC said last month. Opium, the base from which morphine and heroin are produced, is harvested from poppy flowers.From 2022 to 2023, Myanmar saw the estimated amount of land used to grow the illicit crop increase 18% to 47,100 hectares (116,400 acres), the new UNODC report said.“Although the area under cultivation has not returned to historic peaks of nearly 58,000 ha (143,300 acres) cultivated in 2013, after three consecutive years of increases, poppy cultivation in Myanmar is expan...

Missile strikes Norwegian-flagged tanker in Red Sea off Yemen in apparent expansion of rebel attacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile suspected to have been fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, authorities said Tuesday.The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though rebel military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said an important announcement would be coming from them soon. The U.S. military’s Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile “launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen” hit the Strin...

Man killed in shooting inside Gary grocery store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is dead and an investigation is underway after a shooting inside a grocery store in Gary on Monday evening.According to Gary police, officers were called to the scene in the 2100 block of Malcolm X Drive just before 7:30 p.m. on reports of shots fired.Officers arrived on the scene and found a man dead inside the store. Missing Gary woman found dead in Little Calumet River Witnesses later told police that two men who were inside the store had begun shooting at each other, but officers did not provide details on what led to the shooting.According to police, no arrests have been made and officers have not yet identified the victim killed.An investigation into the deadly shooting is now underway and anyone with information that could help authorities is asked to call the Gary Police non-emergency line at 219-660-0000.

Warning signs of the risk for domestic violence — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

Medical Watch digest for Monday Dec 11.Warning signs of the risk for domestic violenceExperts say there are ways people can determine an increased risk for domestic violence.Intimate partner violence is widespread resulting in both physical and psychological consequences for victims.Now researchers, writing in the Journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, have come up with reliable predictors for people to look out for as they embark on a new relationship.Warning signs include an arrogant or entitled person, someone who reacts negatively when their partner says no to them and someone who disregards their partner's feelings and logic if it does not match their own.While these warning signs may predict an abusive partner, they do not necessarily lead to physical abuse.AI WarningSocial chatbots could do more harm than good for certain people.People with autism, anxiety and limited social skills are often challenged with face-to-face conversations.Using AI can be easier.But ...

No victims found under debris from partially collapsed Bronx building: fire officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) – After a building in the Bronx partially collapsed on Monday, New York City fire officials have said no one was found underneath the rubble.The six-story structure at 1915 Billingsly Terrace in Morris Heights partially collapsed around 3:30 p.m., according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)."For hours, FDNY members searched for potential victims of the partial building collapse at 1915 Billingsley Terrace," the department said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "They have gone through a large pile of debris, 12 feet high in spots, and found no victims. Two civilians sustained minor injuries during the evacuation."Citizen App video showed several stories of the building exposed with what appeared to be a home appliance, possibly a washing machine or dryer, visible on one of the floors. A pile of a debris could be seen around the base of the building after the partial collapse. Are we in a ‘silent depression’? TikTokers claim 2023 economy is worse than Grea...

Austin Water wants your input on drought plan update, potential water restriction changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Water is updating its drought contingency plan and is asking for your input at a virtual meeting Tuesday evening.Every five years, the State of Texas requires that Austin Water update their plan for how the city deals with drought, including how often water customers can water their lawns or wash their cars. The last plan was approved in 2019. Austin Water is scheduled to submit an updated drought contingency plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for approval May 1, 2024."We have changing climate, we have changing inflows into the reservoirs," Kevin Kluge, water conservation division manager at Austin Water, said. "But also we have changing customers. We have more people coming to the community, more businesses. We need a new plan for a new time."Austin has been under stage two water restrictions since August, when the amount of combined water in lakes Travis and Buchanan dropped below 900,000 acre-feet. One acre-foot is enough water to cover ...

New St. Louis Ronald McDonald House sneak peek

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Matt Borchardt isn't wearing a hard hat or carrying around a hammer through the hollowed-out walls of the under-construction Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis City. He is however, playing an integral role at the charity house."I want to make sure everyone is fed at all times," Borchardt explained to donors touring the Ronald McDonald House on Choteau Avenue.   Borchardt will be the executive chef for the new Ronald McDonald House."It truly is a home away from home," he said.  The charity house gives families a place to stay while their child undergoes prolonged medical treatment. A temporary home, Borchardt knows all too well. Archdiocese of St. Louis prepares to announce school closures "It holds a special place in my heart because I was in touch with it through my own children." Borchardt told FOX 2 on Monday.  Borchardt and his wife are adoptive parents and, at one point, needed to stay at a Ronald McDonald House while their seven-week-old son was admitted to a ch...

Uber offering festive, holiday-themed party buses in L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

As the holiday season approaches, Uber is giving its customers a chance to ride in style to this season’s parties, festivities, and gatherings. Beginning Monday through Sunday, Dec. 17, customers can book a Festive Fleet with Uber, a holiday-themed party charter bus filled with karaoke, festive lights, Christmas decor, and photo props to help stir up the holiday spirit. Perfect for holiday group gatherings on the go, the holiday-themed charter trips will be available in L.A., New York, Washington D.C., Miami, and Chicago. Riders who book a charter up until Sunday will receive 10% off with promo code “FESTIVE 10.” In addition to the holiday party buses, Uber is also offering several other special holiday offerings including the Gift Hub in the Uber Eats app to easily find and send gifts, Robot Reindeers that will be delivering food for the month of December, and free package returns using Uber Connect. 

Bear runs across crowded ski slope at Lake Tahoe (video)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

A handful of skiers and snowboarders had a close call with nature when a black bear darted across a ski run at Heavenly Mountain Resort on Sunday.Tao Feng, who nearly collided with the bear, captured the moment on video and posted it on TikTok.He was skiing down the Ridge Run trail around 11 a.m. Sunday when the bear came charging out of the woods and across the slope in between skiers and snowboards."Didn't realize it was a bear until it was too close," Feng said.Video captured by Tao Feng shows the bear darting across the ski slope at Heavenly on Dec. 10, 2023. (TikTok: @tao7570)Video captured by Tao Feng shows the bear darting across the ski slope at Heavenly on Dec. 10, 2023. (TikTok: @tao7570)Video captured by Tao Feng shows the bear darting across the ski slope at Heavenly on Dec. 10, 2023. (TikTok: @tao7570)Thankfully, no one collided with the bear.Feng says he felt better about the situation when he saw the bear reunite with its mother on the other side of the trail. Califor...

Massive San Francisco fire possibly started at porta-potty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:14 GMT

(KRON) – A large fire broke out on the 700 block of Masonic Avenue Monday morning, according to the San Franciso Fire Department. Two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including one who had to jump out a window to escape the flames. Seven others were displaced as a result of the fire. SFFD responded to the fire just before 3:20 a.m. The impacted building was a three-story duplex residential home under renovation. Multiple buildings were evacuated. More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene. One victim had minor injuries and the victim who jumped had serious injuries, SFFD said. Three buildings took "significant damage" from the fire. KRON4 spoke with construction crews who said there was a porta-potty at the location for workers, and they believe that is what caught fire. SFFD is investigating the fire.