Author: Micheal Webb

The United States has rejoined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after a nearly 5-year absence, becoming its 194th member state. UNESCO helps protect the world’s cultural and national heritage by designating World Heritage sites. It also plays a key role in promoting international cooperation in education, science, culture, technology and freedom of the press. First lady Jill Biden spoke during the U.S.-flag-raising ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on July 25. “Some of the biggest challenges of our time cannot be solved in isolation,” she said, calling the ceremony a symbol of America’s commitment to global collaboration…

WASHINGTON ― More than a year ago, Congress passed a $40 billion Ukraine aid package. Lawmakers allocated a miniscule portion of that package ― less than 2% ― to expedite munitions production and expand access to critical minerals via the Defense Production Act. The Pentagon is now starting to make use of the bill’s $600 million appropriation for Defense Production Act funding. As it expands munitions production, the department hopes that these funds will also help onshore critical defense supply chains and lessen the industrial base’s reliance on Russia and China. The Pentagon’s Defense Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization office, which oversees…

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Super Bowl will return to the Bay Area in 2026 at the home of the San Francisco 49ers, following a vote of approval by NFL owners on Monday at their spring meetings. This will be the third time for the big game in the Bay Area. Levi’s Stadium, which opened in Santa Clara in 2014, also hosted Super Bowl 50 when Denver beat Carolina. The 49ers won Super Bowl 19 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto when they beat Miami after the 1984 season. The 2026 game will be Super Bowl 60. Niners team president Al…

April 18 (UPI) — A group of 101 skydivers over the age of 60 gathered in California to create formations in mid-air and break two world records. The Skydivers Over Sixty group, which organized the attempt at Skydive Perris, said the 101 jumpers successfully formed a snowflake formation on their fourth attempt. The previous record was set by a group of 75 skydivers over the age of 60 in Illinois in 2018. The California group previously attempted the record in 2022, but members were unable to perfect the formation before poor weather scuttled further attempts. They broke a second record the next day, when 95 skydivers completed…

In March and April 1856, Costa Rica fought its only international war to preserve its sovereignty and keep the Central American republics from becoming slave states for the United States. It was in that war that Juan Santamaría, a humble soldier from Alajuela, northwest of San José, turned the tide by torching the thatch roof of enemy headquarters in Rivas, Nicaragua. The date was April 15, and marks the day of that important event. The initial point of conflict in that war was the San Juan River, the only transit route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, critical for moving people…

An intensive rehabilitation program is matching previously unadoptable dogs with inmates inside four California prisons and a juvenile facility. It’s called Pawsitive Change, and although it was meant to help unwanted dogs become adoptable, it is helping the prisoners just as much. Tens of thousands of surrendered dogs are euthanized in California every year – many because they have behavioral issues. Dusty Whitehouse, an inmate at the women’s federal prison in Victorville, spent 14 weeks with Kramer, a mutt who was saved from a Kern County animal shelter. “I was really numb inside and Kramer kind of healed a lot of…

Lawmakers in Washington state have passed a bill that would prohibit the sale, manufacture and import of assault weapons in the state. “Both chambers of the Washington State Legislature have now approved a historic ban on the sale of assault weapons in Washington state,” Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a press release Saturday shortly after Democrats in the state Senate successfully pushed through H.B. 1240. “The Senate today put public safety above the interest of the gun lobby,” Ferguson added. “The devastation of mass shootings extends far beyond the casualties and injuries. Mass shootings traumatize entire communities. We must stop selling…

Renters be warned: competition in the New York City market is red-hot again (if it even went down) as the spring inventory fails to keep up with demand. A new report out Monday from rental listing platform StreetEasy found Brooklyn to be the most competitive borough among renters. Average listings received nearly 100% more inquiries last month compared with listings back in March 2019, according to the site’s Market Report. Citywide, that average hovers around 70%. What’s driving interest in Brooklyn? The increase in new housing could be part of it. StreetEasy found that three out of every five new developments…

KUWAIT: Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a phone call on Tuesday from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Blinken conveyed, at the beginning of the call, the greetings and blessings of the US political leadership to Kuwait, its leadership, government and people, and sincere congratulations on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, expressing his sincere wishes for further development and prosperity for the historical relations between the two nations. During the call, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, stressing on the depth and distinction of these relations and their aspiration for the State of Kuwait to…

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – It appears there will be a runoff election between Incumbent Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki and Michael “Doc” Rohan following the unofficial results of Tuesday’s municipal elections. In Panama City, candidates must have a 50 percent plus one margin to win an election outright. Incumbent Brudnicki had a slight lead over Rohan but did not meet the required threshold. Brudnicki said he will use this additional time to clear up any confusion. “Well, I’m a little disappointed we fell a little short of getting our 50 percent plus one but it’s kind of like going…