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Today in History: October 31, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

Today in HistoryToday is Tuesday, Oct. 31, the 304th day of 2023. There are 61 days left in the year. This is Halloween. Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 31, 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh security guards. On this date: In 1864, Nevada became the 36th state as President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation. In 1941, work was completed on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, begun in 1927. In 1961, the body of Josef Stalin was removed from Lenin’s Tomb as part of the Soviet Union’s “de-Stalinization” drive. In 1964, Theodore C. Freeman, 34, became the first member of NASA’s astronaut corps to die when his T-38 jet crashed while approaching Ellington Air Force Base in Houston. In 1967, Nguyen Van Thieu (nwen van too) took the oath of office as the first president of South Vietnam’s second republic.In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a halt to all U.S. bombing of North Vietnam, saying he hoped for fruitful peace ne...

Video shows moments before shots fired in South Bay restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- The owner of a Chula Vista business at the center of a Saturday night shooting spoke with FOX 5 and shared surveillance video from the terrifying moments inside Novo Brazil. “I heard there was a shooting before they got there, because if you see the video they are chasing, they’re looking for someone,” said Tiago Carneiro, owner Novo Brazil Brewing.  Surveillance video from the restaurant shows what happens moments before shots are fired. Two people are seen walking by the entrance, then they double back, look inside and continue on walking. Suddenly they run inside the restaurant, chased by three others. A person in a black and red top is seen with his arm up, holding a gun. As shots are fired, immediately everyone drops to the ground. “All of them were not our customers. They have never been in our location. They were not there that night. They come inside and between the time they shoot and they go out it was 12 seconds,” Carneiro said. Carne...

City acknowledges it does not have enough 24/7 bathrooms downtown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Monday's vote was to approve the San Diego City Council's joint response to the Grand Jury Report titled “Downtown Area Public Restrooms in the City of San Diego: Stop Kicking the Can Down the Road."“It’s a huge class issue," Council President Sean Elo-Rivera said. "This is a universal need and something we simply need to get right."City council acknowledged that the current number of restrooms that are available 24/7 in downtown is not enough. However, the city said the restrooms primarily serve the unhoused, and believe they should be adding more shelters.The Grand Jury filed the report on May 24, 2023, and the city has an extension to provide a response to the Superior Court's Presiding Judge by Nov.10, 2023. Community volunteers make up the Grand Jury and investigate certain issues.The report has eight findings and eight recommendations in which the city had mixed responses to each of them.Overall, the city agreed adequate public restrooms may help mitigate outbreak...

King Charles III is in Kenya for a state visit, his first to a Commonwealth country as king

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — King Charles III is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as king, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. It’s also a visit that’s full of symbolism as Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, learned that she had become U.K. monarch while visiting a game preserve in the East African nation in 1952.The king and Queen Camilla touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport late on Monday. The royal couple was received by Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan.On Tuesday morning, a ceremonial welcome by Kenyan President William Ruto is planned at State House.During the visit, Charles will acknowledge the “painful aspects” of his nation’s shared history with Kenya, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of its independence f...

Southern California wildfire prompts evacuation order for thousands as Santa Ana winds fuel flames

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

AGUANGA, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire fueled by gusty Santa Ana winds ripped through rural land southeast of Los Angeles on Monday, forcing about 4,000 people from their homes, fire authorities said.The so-called Highland Fire erupted at about 12:45 p.m. in dry, brushy hills near the unincorporated Riverside County hamlet of Aguanga.As of late Monday night, it had spread over about 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) of land, fire spokesman Jeff LaRusso said.About 1,300 homes and 4,000 residents were under evacuation orders, he said.The fire had destroyed three buildings and damaged six others but it wasn’t clear whether any were homes. The region is sparsely populated but there are horse ranches and a large mobile home site, LaRusso said.No injuries were reported.Winds of 20 to 25 miles per hour (32 to 40 kph) with some higher gusts drove the flames and embers through grass and brush that were dried out by recent winds and low humidity so that it was “almost like kindling&...

Hong Kong leader defends new election rules even though biggest pro-democracy party can’t join race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader defended the rules for upcoming local elections as open and fair Tuesday after an electoral overhaul effectively barred the city’s remaining pro-democracy activists from joining the race. The city’s largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, will be absent in December’s district council election for the first time since its establishment in 1994. Party chair Lo Kin-hei said he and other members could not secure enough nominations under the new rules authorities introduced to ensure that “patriots administer Hong Kong.” Other smaller groups from the camp had the same problem. Chief Executive John Lee said at a weekly news briefing that candidates have to respect the decisions of the people they sought nomination from.“It is up to you to ensure that you can convince the person you want to convince,” he said. The district councils were the last major political representative bodies chosen by the public. Under the electoral overhau...

Swimmer Felipe Ribeiro paints nails as reminder of bipolar disorder, wins gold at Pan Am Games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Every stroke of swimmer Felipe Ribeiro in the pool at the Pan American Games reminded the Brazilian of the bipolar disorder he dealt with ahead of competing in Chile.The nails of the 25-year-old are painted black, except for his pink-colored ring fingers.Mental health and how athletes deal with it have become top of mind for athletes, coaches and sports executives alike, even more so since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when American superstar gymnast Simone Biles skipped several title defenses in an attempt to protect herself. A talking point at the athletes’ village, Ribeiro’s painted nails have invited some of his competitors and teammates to hear about his story. Only months ago, that included thoughts of self-harm, sleep deprivation and impulsiveness. Still, he won three gold medals at the largest multi-sport event on the continent, all in relays: 4 x 100 meters freestyle, 4 x 200 freestyle and mixed 4 x 100 freestyle.“I went through a tough time in the begin...

A trial of New Zealand tourism operators in the volcanic eruption that killed 22 people ends

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A trial of New Zealand tourism operators accused of safety breaches after 22 people died in a 2019 volcanic eruption ended Tuesday with the last remaining defendant found guilty on one count. The three-month, judge-only trial against 13 groups already saw six plead guilty and six have charges against them dismissed. The charges were brought by regulators and carried fines as a maximum penalty.White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its Indigenous Māori name Whakaari, was a popular tourist destination before the eruption. There were 47 tourists and tour guides on the island when superheated steam erupted, killing some people instantly and leaving others with agonizing burns. The final remaining defendant in the trial was Whakaari Management Ltd., the holding company for the island’s owners: Andrew, James and Peter Buttle. Judge Evangelos Thomas found the company guilty on one charge, saying it had failed to do a risk assessment despit...

A UN envoy says the Israel-Hamas war is spilling into Syria, adding to growing instability there

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Israel-Hamas war is spilling into Syria, fueled by growing instability, violence and a lack of progress toward a political solution to its 12-year conflict, the United Nations special envoy for the country said Monday.Geir Pedersen told the Security Council that, on top of violence from the Syrian conflict, the Syrian people now face “a terrifying prospect of a potential wider escalation” following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and the ongoing retaliatory military action.“Spillover into Syria is not just a risk; it has already begun,” the U.N. envoy for Syria said.Pedersen pointed to airstrikes attributed to Israel hitting Syria’s airports in Aleppo and Damascus several times, and retaliation by the United States against what it said were multiple attacks on its forces “by groups that it claims are backed by Iran, including on Syrian territory.”With the region “at its most dangerous and tense,” he said, “fuel is being added to a tinderbox that was a...

WeHo Halloween Carnaval returns after 4-year hiatus, thousands expected to attend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

After a four-year hiatus, the west Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is returning Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The city will celebrate on a one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and North La Cienega Boulevard. “We want a good time! We want to party! We want to dance!” said Tay Ray, who will be celebrating Halloween at the WeHo Carnaval. The free event will feature a stage at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and North San Vicente Boulevard with a live DJ set, food trucks, and celebrations at businesses, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues throughout the city. “In a lot of ways it’s a whole new generation in west Hollywood looking forward to this,” said Councilmember Chelsea Byers. WEHO Halloween Carnaval set to return on Tuesday.The stretch will be closed until Wednesday as thousands of Halloween-dressed party goers are expected to gather for the celebrations. “Leave any big bags at home, or bring a clear tote bag just so it’s e...