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Live updates | Unconventional design subjected Titan submersible to more water pressure, experts say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

By The Associated PressFollow along for live updates on the submersible that imploded deep in the Atlantic Ocean, killing all five people aboard during a voyage down to the Titanic shipwreck.___TITAN’S UNCONVENTIONAL DESIGN SUBJECTED CRAFT TO MORE WATER PRESSUREThe deadly implosion of the Titan submersible raises questions about whether the vessel exploring the Titanic wreckage was destined for disaster because of its unconventional design and its creator’s refusal to submit to safety checks that are standard in the industry.The Titan, owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, first began taking people to the Titanic in 2021. It was touted for a design that included a carbon fiber composite hull and an elongated chamber for crew and passengers — a departure from more traditional spherical cabin areas and all-titanium construction.Experts say the cabin where people sit in most submersibles is spherical because water pressure is exerted equally on all areas. By co...

Crisp, bright rosés to try this summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

The summer solstice — the official first day of summer — is here and the warm days call for a glass of crisp, refreshing rosé.Wineries across the Southern Hemisphere are releasing their latest rosé vintages so local wine shops and restaurants are brimming with a diverse range of pink-hued bottles to elevate your sipping game.With nearly 30 bottles on my tasting table, I asked my tasting group — two wine professionals, a few casual enthusiasts and neighbors — to join me in selecting recommendations.We tasted newly-released rosés from a dozen countries across a range of price points, grape varieties and styles.The following were our favorites:___King Family Vineyards Crose Rosé 2022 — VirginiaA perennial local favorite from Crozet-based King Family Vineyards, Crose Rosé is made from merlot with a splash of cabernet franc and malbec. A beautiful pink hue, it’s lively and juicy with vibrant acidity that carries flavors of sweet stone fruit, watermelon water and strawberry. It’s even bet...

Cape Cod military base to house homeless families in apartments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

The Healey administration planned to activate up to 50 members of the National Guard to support new “townhouse-style” housing options at Joint Base Cape Cod for families experiencing homelessness, officials said Friday afternoon.The new housing options — which can immediately accommodate 16 families and up to 60 if needed — come as Gov. Maura Healey said the state is experiencing a “steady rise” in shelter demand due to the rising cost of housing in Massachusetts, more people arriving from other countries, and delayed federal work authorizations.The administration also said it planned to open a “Family Welcome Center” in Allston as a central entry point for families struggling to access basic necessities. It will connect them with essential supplies, services, and transportation to a safe place to stay like the units at Joint Base Cape Cod, the administration said in a statement.“Our administration has been working hard to meet this unprecedented need and use every resource at our d...

Union official says safety of railroads has been compromised by job cuts and time constraints

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Freight railcar inspections are happening less often and are not as thorough as in years past due to staff cuts, time constraints and regulatory loopholes, a union official testified Friday during a federal hearing to examine the reasons behind a fiery train derailment in Ohio.The National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary report that an overheating wheel bearing likely caused the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment that sent a plume of toxic black smoke into the sky near East Palestine, Ohio. Several tank cars were damaged in the crash, and officials decided that five of them containing vinyl chloride needed to be blown open to release the chemical and prevent an explosion. It’s not clear whether an inspector would have been able to catch that the bearing was failing because it is sealed within the railcar’s axle. No inspector was even given a chance. Jason Cox with the Transportation Communications Union testified Friday during the s...

British Museum apologizes for using Canadian translator’s work without permission

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

The British Museum says it has removed a Canadian translator’s work from its exhibition after using the translations without permission, attribution or compensation. The museum says Yilin Wang’s translations of poems by 19th century revolutionary Qiu Jin were displayed in the “China’s hidden century” exhibition, as well as its brochures, though it says the catalogue acknowledges her work. The institution says it has apologized and offered to pay Yilin Wang for the time her translations were displayed.The British Museum says “unintentional human error” led to the slight. On Twitter, Wang says her translations are labour intensive pursuits, and her work should be properly acknowledged.The British Columbia-based writer says she’s still in communication with the museum. “This has been an incredibly and needlessly frustrating experience after experiencing copyright infringement,” Wang tweeted. “I urge the British Museum to...

Toronto-based food pickup service Ritual lays off 40% of staff

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

TORONTO — Ritual says it has laid off about 40 per cent of its company.The cut carried out by the Toronto-based food pickup service amounts to about 38 workers.The company did not say what promoted the layoff but described it as a difficult decision in a statement.Ritual says it believes the move will strengthen the company, position it for success and better help it service restaurants as they grow their businesses.The cut comes after Ritual said in May that it would begin charging consumers a fee for every order they place on its platform.The charges amount to between 15 and 99 cents for orders under $30 and $1.99 for orders above $30.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2023.The Canadian Press

Stock market today: Wall Street sinks toward first losing week in last six

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Another drop for stocks on Friday has Wall Street on track to close out its first losing week in the last six.The S&P 500 was 0.7% lower in late trading, pulling back further from last week when it reached its highest level in more than a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 209 points, or 0.6%, at 33,737 with less than an hour remaining in trading. The Nasdaq composite was 1% lower.Overseas markets also fell, while crude oil prices slipped amid worries that a stressed global economy may burn less fuel.Europe’s economy appears to be weaker than expected, according to a preliminary report measuring manufacturing and services businesses. That’s adding to this week’s hesitance in markets, caused by a crank higher in interest rates by central banks around the world as they try to get high inflation under control. High rates drive down inflation by slowing the economy, which raises the risk of a recession.High interest rates in the United States have alread...

Judge stays medical marijuana licenses as companies argue selection process was flawed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to temporarily halt the issuance of licenses to growers and distributers as two companies argue the state used a flawed and secretive process to selectin winners for the potentially lucrative licenses. The order re-enforces a decision already made last week by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to pull back the licenses awarded on June 12 after the chairman said they discovered “potential inconsistency in the tabulation of scoring data.” Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson on Friday issued a temporary restraining order on top of that, staying the licenses until the issue regarding the scoring data is resolved. The state and companies agreed to the stay. Anderson scheduled a July hearing on the companies’ request for a preliminary injunction as the companies argue the entire selection process was flawed. Alabama Always and Hornet Medicinals, two companies that applied for the five int...

West Virginia industrial gas plant will pay $1.9 million for Ohio River pollution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. (AP) — A producer of industrial gas in West Virginia has agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle allegations that it violated the Clean Water Act by dumping copper, aluminum, residual chlorine, iron and phenolics into the Ohio River at levels above what was permitted, federal regulators said Friday.Messer LLC produces liquid nitrogen, oxygen, argon, krypton and xenon at the facility in New Cumberland.According to the EPA, the facility violated its pollution discharge permit at least 186 times since 2016. Messer assumed liability for the violations when it acquired the facility in 2019, the EPA said.In addition to the civil penalty for exceeding discharge permits, which will be paid in equal amounts to the state and federal governments, Messer agreed to build a new treatment system and do more to inspect stormwater discharges, the statement said.The Associated Press

Attorney general denies whistleblower claims of interference in Hunter Biden investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland pushed back Friday against claims from IRS whistleblowers that the Justice Department interfered with the investigation into Hunter Biden, saying more broadly that attacks on the department’s independence are corrosive. The Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday released a transcript of testimony from Gary Shapley, an IRS official who, among other things, claimed that Garland had denied a request from U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware to be appointed special counsel. That designation would have would have given Weiss the same status as the prosecutor leading the investigation into former President Donald Trump.Weiss never made such a request, Garland said Friday, and always had full authority to file charges wherever and however he saw fit against President Joe Biden’s son. And Garland added that if Weiss — first appointed U.S. Attorney by Donald Trump — agrees to testify before Congress, the Justice Dep...