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Explosion at Virginia home kills 1 firefighter and hospitalizes 9 firefighters and 2 civilians

Endrit Pjetri
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Explosion at Virginia home kills 1 firefighter and hospitalizes 9 firefighters and 2 civilians

Explosion at Virginia home kills 1 firefighter and hospitalizes 9 firefighters and 2 civilians

STERLING, Va. (AP) — One firefighter was killed and nine others were injured when an explosion in a Washington, D.C., suburb on Friday leveled a home where they were investigating a gas leak. Two civilians were also injured.

The firefighters were called to the home in Sterling, Virginia, by a report of a gas smell shortly after 7:30 p.m. and a fiery explosion took place about 30 minutes later, fire officials said.

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The blast and fire occurred while firefighters were inside the building, James Williams, assistant chief of operations for Loudon County Fire and Rescue, said at a news conference.

“Soon after arrival, with firefighters inside, the house did explode,” Williams said.

One firefighter was killed, while nine firefighters and two civilians were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from limited to severe, Williams said.

“We have all firefighters out of the building. The fire will continue to smolder,” Williams said.

He described damage to the home as “total devastation.”

“There’s a debris field well into the street and into the neighboring homes,” he said.

First responders work the scene after an explosion at a house, late Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, in Sterling, Va. (Nicki Jhabvala/The Washington Post via AP)

Williams said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company said its crews had responded to a report of a gas leak before the blast.

A neighbor, John Padgett, told ABC7 News that he had smelled gas while walking his dog earlier.

The blast shook his home, he said.

“It looked like an inferno,” and insulation from the burning home fell like ash, he added. “It was horrific; it looked like something out of a war zone.”

First responders carry an injured person away after an explosion at a home, late Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, in Sterling, Va. (Nicki Jhabvala/The Washington Post via AP)

Sterling is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Washington, D.C.

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French journalist says India is forcing her to leave

Shasi Kumar
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French journalist says India is forcing her to leave

French journalist says India is forcing her to leave

New Delhi, INDIA (Reuters) – A French national, who says she has worked as a journalist in India for more than two decades and is married to an Indian man, said on Friday a notice from New Delhi accusing her of writing articles damaging to the state meant she would have to leave.

Vanessa Dougnac said Indian authorities sent her a notice last month saying articles she had written were malicious and asking her to give them reasons why they should not revoke her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card that allows her to live and work in India.

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“Today, I am unable to work and have been unfairly accused of prejudicing the interests of the state. It has become clear that I cannot keep living in India and earning my livelihood,” Dougnac said in a statement on Friday.

“The proceedings with respect to my OCI status have shattered me, especially now that I see them as part of a wider effort by the government of India to curb dissent from the OCI community.” She did not explain further.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron speaks as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens during a meeting at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, France on July 14, 2023. Photo : Reuters

Dougnac said she was fighting the accusations, but could not afford to wait for authorities to make a decision.
India’s federal home ministry and the foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Dougnac, who said she came to India 25 years ago and has worked in the country for 23 years as a journalist, has an OCI card through her marriage to an Indian citizen.

The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed solidarity with French journalist Dougnac on Twitter, highlighting her plight amid alleged harassment by Indian authorities over the past 17 months.


The card grants foreign citizens a life-long multiple entry visa. French officials raised Dougnac’s case during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India last month.

“They (France) appreciate this understanding that the frame of reference in which we are looking at is the compliance of the rules,” India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters at a press briefing in January when asked about the case.
The French foreign ministry had no immediate comment on Friday.

Reporting by Krishn Kaushik, writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; editing by Barbara Lewis

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Three Russian nationals remain as Hamas’ captives in Gaza, Russian diplomat

Diplomat Times
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Three Russian nationals remain as Hamas’ captives in Gaza, Russian diplomat

Three Russian nationals remain as Hamas’ captives in Gaza, Russian diplomat

Moscow, RUSSIA (TASS) – Moscow is in contact with all relevant parties concerning the release of hostages held in Gaza as three Russian nationals remain in captivity, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS.

“We are in contact and continue to work separately with all the parties involved, particularly holding additional consultations with Hamas officials.

READ MORE : Gaza death toll crosses 24,000 in over 100 days of conflict

We have recently held a conversation with Mr. Mousa Abu Marzook, deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, as well as with our Israeli colleagues and the ambassador who is based here,” the senior diplomat said.

“The lists that we handed over to the Israelis and Hamas members include three Russian nationals, but there are also the family members [of Russian citizens] and elderly Holocaust survivors, so we are trying to help everyone.

Especially since there have been direct requests from a number of countries and leaders for us to take advantage of our unique capabilities to release their citizens as well. This is what we have been doing and will continue to do,” Bogdanov added.

Tensions in the Middle East flared up again on October 7, 2023, after militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing residents of border communities and taking people hostage.

Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and started carrying out retaliatory strikes on targets in the Strip, as well as on certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. On December 1, the Israeli army accused Hamas of violating a ceasefire that had taken effect on November 24 and resumed combat operations in the Gaza Strip.

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IMF Deputy MD Kenji Okamura at the Conclusion of His Visit to Guyana

Shasi Kumar
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IMF Deputy MD Kenji Okamura at the Conclusion of His Visit to Guyana

IMF Deputy MD Kenji Okamura at the Conclusion of His Visit to Guyana

Georgetown, GUYANA (DT) – At the conclusion of his inaugural visit to Guyana, Mr. Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), expressed his delight and gratitude for the warm reception and productive engagements with Guyanese officials and communities.

“I am delighted to be in Guyana. This is my first visit, and I would like to thank President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Finance Minister Ashni Singh, as well as other ministers and senior officials for their warm hospitality and for the productive meetings,” Mr. Okamura remarked.

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During his visit, Mr. Okamura had the opportunity to engage with representatives from various sectors, including health, housing, the Amerindian community of Moraikobai, and the private sector. He commended Guyana on its unparalleled economic expansion and its strategic plans to harness rapidly increasing oil revenues.

“Guyana today is in the position to reap the benefits of rapidly increasing oil revenues due to the hard-won gains from implementing reforms and adjustments over the years,” Mr. Okamura stated. He emphasized that these plans, coupled with strong progress, are positively impacting the entire population by enhancing healthcare, education, housing policies, and infrastructure development.

Furthermore, Mr. Okamura highlighted the importance of these initiatives in providing current and future generations with entrepreneurial and work opportunities. He emphasized the need for continued economic growth and the development of a more diversified and climate-resilient economy.

The visit of Mr. Kenji Okamura underscores the IMF’s commitment to supporting Guyana’s economic development and prosperity.

FILE : Guyana’s Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and the IMF’s Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura. Photo : Ministry of Finance, Guyana

“I commended the authorities for the visionary Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030. The sale of carbon credits and use of these funds supports the Amerindian population, finances climate adaptation needs, and fosters renewable and cleaner energy needed for development. The strategy, which includes marine conservancy and increased biodiversity goals, is ambitious.

“Notwithstanding the recent economic boom, Guyana still faces significant human and infrastructure development needs. I strongly support the authorities’ efforts to improve economic welfare through public investment, while avoiding the non-trivial risk of economic overheating. The authorities have managed this transformation successfully thus far, and we agreed that continuing to maintain macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability are paramount.

“In addition, we discussed the authorities’ efforts to develop a large skilled labor force to ensure a balanced growth path with low inflation and opportunities for well-paying jobs throughout the country.

“We also discussed, and I applauded the authorities for driving the charge to reduce food imports by 25 percent in the Caribbean region by 2025 and move closer to the goal of achieving food security.

“Lastly, I gained a deeper understanding of Guyana’s impressive economic transformation, and I very much appreciate the excellent, long-standing relations between Guyana and the IMF. I look forward to our continued partnership through regular policy dialogue and technical assistance, including through the Caribbean Region Technical Assistance Center.”

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Germany will spend 15 billion euros this year alone to support Ukraine, Scholz says

Shasi Kumar
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Germany will spend 15 billion euros this year alone to support Ukraine, Scholz says

Germany will spend 15 billion euros this year alone to support Ukraine, Scholz says

Berlin, GERMAN (TASS/DT) – Germany will allocate 15 billion euros to support Ukraine this year alone, including over 7 billion euros in arms supplies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

“We will spend 15 billion euros this year alone to support Ukraine. This is a big effort,” he said. According to the chancellor, more than 7 billion euros worth of weapons is envisioned in 2024 and another 6 billion euros is due in several years to come.

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A bilateral agreement between Berlin and Kiev on security commitments and long-term support was signed on Friday during Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s visit. Germany’s support for Ukraine – humanitarian, financial and military – has exceeded 27 billion euros since February 2022.

In a tweet, Zelensky announced the official signing of the Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support between Ukraine and Germany today.

This significant document reflects Germany’s pledge to provide Ukraine with over 7 billion euros in support this year alone. The assistance encompasses weaponry, with specific contracts already in place. Additionally, the agreement outlines Germany’s position on sanctions against the aggressor, the establishment of a tribunal, and the unfreezing of assets.

Moreover, the agreement includes provisions for emergency consultations in the event of potential future armed aggression by Russia against Ukraine.

Zelensky expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Germany and the entire German populace for their unwavering solidarity, support, and assistance to Ukraine and its people.

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Senegal Constitutional Council Finds Election Delay Unlawful

Mark Kenya
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Senegal Constitutional Council Finds Election Delay Unlawful

Senegal Constitutional Council Finds Election Delay Unlawful

Dakar, SENEGAL (Reuters) – Senegal’s Constitutional Council on Thursday ruled that parliament’s unprecedented postponement of the Feb. 25 presidential vote was not in line with the constitution, pitching the country into a new phase of electoral uncertainty.
Opposition presidential candidates and lawmakers last week filed a number of legal challenges to the bill that delayed the vote to December and extended President Macky Sall’s mandate in what critics said amounted to an “institutional coup.”

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The standoff has fuelled widespread unrest and raised international concerns that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat.
In the latest twist, the Constitutional Council decided that “the (postponement) law … is contrary to the constitution,” according to its minutes.
The council also ruled to cancel a decree announced by Sall ahead of the vote that helped set the postponement in motion.

The presidency and government did not reply to requests for comment on whether they would accept the ruling.
All eyes are now on Sall, who said he delayed the election due to a dispute over the candidate list and alleged corruption within the Constitutional Council that would undermine the credibility of the poll.

The council did not specify when the election should be held, which means it is up to Sall to set a reasonable date if he abides by the council’s decision, said presidential opposition candidate Anta Babacar, who welcomed the ruling as “good news.”

“What matters to a candidate like myself: from April 2 Mr. President Macky Sall is no longer the president, so this election must take place between Feb. 25 and April 2,” she told Reuters by phone, referring to the original last date of Sall’s mandate in April.
There are only 10 days left before the original poll date and most candidates have not been campaigning since Sall issued his decree on Feb. 3, hours before campaigns were meant to kick off.

The council’s decision has “left a window of opportunity open for discussion,” said Ali Ngouille Ndiaye, a former minister and opposition candidate, on local radio.

The council’s ruling has further complicated the electoral outlook, said ruling party lawmaker Abdou Mbow on national television, warning that it would “exacerbate the crisis between the legislature and judiciary.”

Any rejection of the decision risks further fanning public outcry which has already triggered clashes between protesters and police that killed three people last Friday and Saturday across several cities.

In the wake of the ruling, it was not immediately clear if organisers would go ahead with protests against the election delay that were planned for Friday and Saturday.
Anta Babacar said she expected tensions would lessen if Sall or authorities did not challenge the council’s decision, but “if he doesn’t accept it, we are never too far.”

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North Korean leader Kim Jong sister opens door to improved ties with Japan

Diplomat Times
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North Korean leader Kim Jong sister opens door to improved ties with Japan

North Korean leader Kim Jong sister opens door to improved ties with Japan

Seoul, SOUTH KOREA (VOA) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, expressed an optimistic perspective on future relations between North Korea and Japan, even implying that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida would one day visit Pyongyang, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Kim said the two countries “can open up a new future together,” after recent statements from Kishida saying he felt a “strong need” to change the relationship between the two countries.

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“I think there would be no reason not to appreciate his recent speech as a positive one, if it was prompted by his real intention to boldly free himself from the past fetters,” Kim said in a statement reported by KCNA.

FILE – Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference in Tokyo, Sept. 13, 2023.

The potential improvement in ties comes with the caveat of the long-running matter of North Korea kidnapping Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s, an issue that has made Japan suspicious of North Korean intentions.

In 2002, North Korea acknowledged sending agents to abduct 13 Japanese individuals during the 1970s and 1980s, coercing them into providing training for its spies in Japanese language and customs. However, doubts still linger in Japan regarding the official recognition of the number of citizens abducted, with suspicions suggesting that there may be additional cases unaccounted for.

While making a speech at the U.N. General Assembly last year, Kishida expressed a desire to meet with North Korean leaders to resolve issues, including the kidnappings. However, historically, such meetings have not been successful.

Former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang in 2002 to normalize relations and offer economic assistance to North Korea. While the trip opened the door for the return of five Japanese nationals, the diplomacy broke down after North Korea remained cagey about the true number of abduction victims.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Taiwan and India have signed a (MOU) regarding migrant workers

Diplomat Times
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Taiwan and India have signed a (MOU) regarding migrant workers

Taiwan and India have signed a (MOU) regarding migrant workers

Taipei, Taiwan (CNA) Taiwan and India on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signaling a willingness to make India a source of migrant workers in Taiwan, the Ministry of Labor said.

The two countries will hold meetings to iron out details before a formal announcement on the policy is made, the ministry said in a statement issued Friday.

READ MORE : Taiwan’s new president-elect will face China’s ire

According to the MOU, Taiwan will have the final say on how many Indian migrant workers it will let in and in which sectors they are allowed to work, the ministry said.

The prepared documents were signed by Taiwan representative to India Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱) and his Indian counterpart Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav virtually at a video conference, it said.

The ministry said it will notify the Legislature of the MOU and its content.

If the two sides agree to go through with the plan in subsequent meetings, a small-scale trial will be carried out, with priority given to those workers who have a certain level of education or good command of English, the ministry said.

Qualified Indian workers will receive training in Taiwan and be recruited in accordance with relevant laws on both sides, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet official, who asked not to be identified, said Taiwan will not bring in 100,000 Indian migrant workers as some news outlets previously reported, sparking a small-scale protest in Taipei last year.

(By Elly Wu, Lai Yu-chen and Sean Lin) Enditem/AW

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Greek government approves same-sex marriage

Rania Lampou
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Greek government approves same-sex marriage

Greek government approves same-sex marriage

Greece(UPI) – The Greek government on Thursday approved same-sex marriage despite opposition from the influential domestic Orthodox Church.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis personally lobbied for the bill’s passage, which also backed same-sex adoptions. He claimed that the status quo made same-sex families “invisible.”

“The vote has passed: as of tonight, Greece is proud to become the 16th EU country to legislate marriage equality,” Mitsotakis said on X. “This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece — progressive and democratic country, passionately committed to European values.”

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The bill, which passed 176-76 does not support childbirth using a surrogate, which Mitsotakis opposed.

“The idea of women who are turned into child-producing machines on demand … that is not going to happen,” he said.

MP Antonis Samaras, the former prime minister under Mitsotakis’ New Democracy Party railed against the measure he called “dangerous,” charging it will reshape Greek family law for worse.

“Same-sex marriage does not constitute a human right,” Samaras said. “A child requires both a father and a mother. The proposed legislation represents a fundamental departure from national law and contradicts the beliefs of millions of Greeks.”

The Holy Synod, which oversees the Church of Greece, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which governs Orthodox churches worldwide both opposed the bill ahead of the vote, stressing that marriage is the “union of a man and a woman.”

Despina Paraskeva-Voloudogianni, Amnesty International’s Greece campaign coordinator, said the bill is historic but did not go far enough.

“This law represents an important milestone in the fight against homophobia and transphobia and a hard-won victory for those who have led that fight. It gives same-sex couples and their children the visibility and rights that they have long been denied,” Paraskeva-Voloudogianni said.

The bill stops short of allowing full equality for non-biological parents and does not recognize the identities beyond the gender binary. It fails to facilitate access to assisted reproductive technology for same-sex couples, single men, transgender and intersex persons.

Greece’s main opposition party SYRIZA voted in favor, noting however that the legislation is “incomplete.”

“SYRIZA’s parliamentary group has been ready for a long time to take this step,” spokesman Sokratis Famellos said and wondered if the the ruling conservatives are equally ready, considering the vocal opposition of prominent MPs to the bill.

SYRIZA MP Pavlos Polakis was not present for the vote, citing a surgery he had to perform on a relative on the island of Crete.

In a post on Facebook, Polakis, who is a surgeon, said, “I have a job and a very serious one that saves lives.”

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Cuban Ambassador to Cambodia Liurka Rodríguez Barrios honored with the Order of Solidarity

Shasi Kumar
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Cuban Ambassador to Cambodia Liurka Rodríguez Barrios honored with the Order of Solidarity

Cuban Ambassador to Cambodia Liurka Rodríguez Barrios honored with the Order of Solidarity

Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA (Prensa Latina/DT) – The Cuban ambassador to Cambodia, Liurka Rodríguez Barrios, today received the Order of Solidarity in the Grade of Grand Officer, in recognition of her commendable work in seeking to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation.

The high award, granted by the King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, was awarded to him this Thursday here by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Kingdom, Sok Chenda Sophea, who appreciated the work of Rodríguez Barrios at the end of his mission.

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Chenda Sophea also praised the progress in the historic ties between both countries, established at the diplomatic level on April 15, 1960, as well as the agreements and consensus reached in the exchange of high-level visits.

In thanking the decoration, the ambassador said she accepted it “on behalf of the heroic Cuban people, who have always had a close friendship with Cambodia,” and thanked the countless signs of support offered by this Indochinese nation to the noble causes defended by its compatriots.

Rodríguez Barrios, who ends his work here, was also received by the King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, an occasion that was conducive to taking stock of the state of bilateral relations, with progress in areas such as health, education, sports and agriculture, among others.

The president of the National Assembly of the Kingdom, Khuon Sudary, also held a meeting with the head of mission in which she highlighted the central role that Cuban and Cambodian women play in the construction of their respective nations.

Sudary called to continue expanding bilateral ties, especially in the legislative field, and ratified the commitment to continue accompanying Cuba in the fight to end the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed more than six decades ago by the United States.

According to the Cuban diplomat, respect, admiration and the identification of common objectives of progress, despite the geographical distance, are hallmarks of the ties between her country and Cambodia.

These links also have a key historical component, Rodríguez Barrios stressed when meeting with members of the Association of Cambodian Graduates in Cuba, diplomats, sports collaborators and Cubans residing in the Kingdom on the eve of commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

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