Three people were injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in northern Spain on Thursday and authorities advised residents of several small towns near Barcelona to stay indoors as a large toxic cloud spread over the area.
The regional government of Catalonia said in a statement that the blast appeared to have been caused by two chemicals coming into contact during delivery to the plant, owned by Spanish company Simar.
Toxic orange cloud spreads after chemical blast near Barcelona
Researchers turn solar energy into liquid fuel
A small number of vehicles on U.S. roads are already indirectly powered by the sun. Ostensibly, some of America's electric cars use power derived from solar panels. And the fuel cells that bolster a growing fleet of hybrid cars and buses rely on hydrogen converted by photovoltaic cells.
But America is a liquid fuel kind of nation. To help wean American's off their love of gasoline, researchers at Harvard have found a way to turn solar energy into liquid fuel. It's like gas -- only good for the environment.
Judge: Men exonerated in '75 Ohio case wrongfully imprisoned
An Ohio judge has declared three exonerated men once convicted and sentenced to death in a 1975 Cleveland slaying to have been wrongfully imprisoned, opening the door for them to receive millions of dollars in compensation.
The ruling allows Wiley Bridgeman, Ricky Jackson and Kwame Ajamu (KWAH’ may ah-jah-MU‘) to file cases in the Ohio Court of Claims. The Plain Dealer reports (http://bit.ly/17luNzw ) that under Ohio law, wrongfully imprisoned former inmates can be paid more than $40,000 for each year they were incarcerated.
Minnesota Orchestra will be 1st from US to perform in Cuba
The Minnesota Orchestra will be the first U.S. orchestra to perform in Cuba, following President Obama’s announced desire to normalize relations with the Caribbean island nation.
CEO and president Kevin Smith told musicians shortly before a Thursday morning concert that the ensemble would play two concerts at the Cubadisco Festival in May. One of the concerts will feature the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with the Cuban National Choir and Cuban pianist Frank Fernandez.
Ukraine cease-fire agreed after marathon talks, but flashpoint unresolved
The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany emerged from marathon talks in Minsk on Thursday with what they said was a comprehensive peace deal for eastern Ukraine, but disagreement over a key flashpoint still exist and it remains to be seen if this truce can succeed where past ones have failed.
Vladimir Putin told reporters that a cease-fire would be effective starting from Sunday. As part of the deal special status would be granted for the pro-Moscow rebel regions in Ukraine’s east and consensus had also been reached over border controls and humanitarian issues, the Russian president added.
Egypt court orders release of Al Jazeera staff ahead of next hearing
An Egyptian court has ordered the release of detained Al Jazeera journalists Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy on bail.
The retrial was ordered by the country's Court of Cassation last month, overturning a lower court that found them guilty of helping the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
"Bail is a small step in the right direction and allows Baher and Mohamed to spend time with their families after 411 days apart," an Al Jazeera spokesman said on Thursday. "The focus, though, is still on the court reaching the correct verdict at the next hearing by dismissing this absurd case and releasing both these fine journalists unconditionally."
Don’t disrespect our president, black lawmakers tell Netanyahu
The audience for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on March 3 is shaping up to be largely Republican — and almost completely white.
Many members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they’re planning to skip the speech, calling it a slight to President Barack Obama that they can’t and won’t support.
Israeli officials have been taken by surprise by the CBC backlash, kicked off by Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights leader who said last week he won’t attend, quickly followed by Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and others. As a result, they’re working to set up a meeting for CBC members with Ambassador Ron Dermer — or even Netanyahu himself when he’s in Washington.
Manslaughter charge prompts church to examine relationship with alcohol
With a history of sherries at church coffee hour and wine during Holy Communion, Episcopalians have long endured — and shared — jokes about their drinking. (For example: “wherever two or three are gathered, there’s a fifth.”) Yet the relationship is complicated.
The denomination stood out a century ago for saying alcoholism wasn’t an evil. And Episcopal clergy played a significant role in the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Grandfather visiting Alabama from India stopped by police while taking walk, left partly paralyzed
A 57-year-old grandfather from India was left paralyzed after an altercation with Madison, Alabama Police who said they had been called to investigate a "suspicious person."
Sureshbhai Patel, who is from India and was visiting his son, was walking in his neighborhood when he was stopped by police who said they had heard reports of a suspicious person looking in people's garages, according to Al.com.
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