Disasters

Defying police, Iranians protest over plane shootdown
Iranian demonstrators defied a heavy police presence Sunday night to protest their country's days of denials that it shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane carrying 176 people, the latest unrest to roil the capital amid soaring tensions with the United States.
Iran's 'unforgivable mistake' of downing plane elicits furor at home and abroad
After many denials, Iran's admission that it accidentally downed a Ukrainian plane was cautiously embraced by world leaders as a "step forward." Back in Tehran, protesters' reaction was far angrier.
Iran says it shot down Ukrainian jetliner by mistake
After initial denials, Iranian officials now say "missiles fired due to human error" caused the crash of the Ukrainian plane Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.
Police say a homeowner has died in a house fire in Maple Grove. Authorities say flames were shooting out of the house when firefighters arrived about 7 p.m. Thursday.
Shelter serving Drake Hotel fire victims to close in late January
The Red Cross says a temporary shelter at First Covenant Church won’t be available after Jan. 22. Nearly 60 Drake Hotel residents are still sheltered at the Minneapolis church.
Enormous 'megafire' in Australia engulfs 1.5 million acres
Two fires have merged into a single blaze more than three times as big as California's largest-ever known fire. A quarter of a million people have been urged to evacuate towns south of Sydney.
Iran denies missile hit plane, calls on West to share data
U.S., Canadian and British officials said Thursday it is "highly likely" that Iran shot down the Boeing 737 that crashed near Tehran late Tuesday. U.S. officials said the jetliner might have been mistakenly identified as a threat.
Boeing employees mocked FAA in internal messages before 737 Max disasters
Employees bragged about getting approval for the jets without having to give pilots much new training. One employee says, "This airplane is designed by clowns who ... are supervised by monkeys."