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Niger’s junta rejects a diplomatic visit by regional and U.N. officials over ‘atmosphere of menace’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger’s military junta has refused the latest diplomatic attempt to reinstall the ousted president, rejecting a proposed visit by representatives of the West African regional bloc, the African Union and United Nations on Tuesday, according to a letter seen by The Associated Press.The letter cited “evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace” against Niger, two weeks after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country’s democratically elected leader. The regional bloc known as ECOWAS had threatened to use military force if the junta didn’t reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday, a deadline that was ignored.On Monday, acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with the coup leaders and said they refused to allow her to meet with Bazoum, whom she described as under “virtual house arrest.” She described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to her appeals to start negotiations and restore constitutional rule.“These conver...

Stock market today: Wall Street slumps with markets worldwide on worries about banks and the economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are slumping Tuesday as more caution creeps into financial markets worldwide.The S&P 500 was 1% lower in early trading, following up on losses for stocks across Europe and much of Asia. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 370 points, or 1%, at 35,102, as of 9:50 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.3% lower.In the U.S., bank stocks dropped after Moody’s cut the credit ratings for several smaller and midsized ones amid a long list of concerns about their financial strength. Across the Pacific, stocks sank 1.8% in Hong Kong and 0.3% in Shanghai after a report showed exports for China’s troubled economy shrank by the most since the start of the pandemic in 2020.The worries layered on top of a mixed set of earnings reports from big U.S. companies.UPS fell 3% after it cut its forecast for revenue this year. It reported stronger profit for the spring but weaker revenue.Eli Lilly helped to limit the market’s losses after jumping 16.4%. The medi...

CPD: 24 armed robberies throughout Northwest Side since Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Nearly 25 armed robberies have been conducted throughout the Northwest Side since Saturday night.The latest incidents happened in a span of less than two hours early Tuesday morning throughout West Town, Logan Square and Wicker Park.The spree began at around 12:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of North Milwaukee. Police said a 53-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk when three males exited a silver sedan and robbed him of his cell phone and wallet at gunpoint.At around 1 a.m. in the 2000 block of West Superior, police said a 30-year-old woman was riding a bicycle when she was cut off by a silver sedan. She was then robbed of her cell phone and bag at gunpoint.Approximately five minutes later in the 1900 block of West Chicago, a 36-year-old man was robbed on the sidewalk at gunpoint by the same three suspects of his cell phone. Man charged with first-degree murder of 9-year-old girl in Portage Park Then at approximately 1:50 a.m. and 2 a.m., two separate bicyclists, a 32-yea...

Black musician sues white supremacist group over alleged attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

(The Hill) -- A Boston musician has filed suit against white supremacist group Patriot Front nearly a year after he claimed members of the organization beat him on the street.Charles Murrell III, a Black music teacher and musician, was near Boston Public Library on July 2, 2022, when he was approached and beaten by a group of Patriot Front members, the suit alleges.The white supremacist group performed a march down the Boston Freedom Trail carrying banners reading “Reclaim America” and fascist imagery. The suit alleges that the group encountered Murrell on the sidewalk and proceeded to punch, kick and beat him with their metal shields.The men were unidentifiable due to face coverings except for the group’s leader, Thomas Ryan Rousseau.The suit alleges Rousseau and the group violated Murrell’s civil rights and seeks civil damages for physical and emotional distress.“This attack left me with both physical and emotional injuries. While I am still trying to heal, I hope that this healin...

Woman seriously injured after probable shark attack in New York City, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

NEW YORK CITY (WPIX) – A woman was injured after an apparent shark attack in the NYC borough of Queens on Monday, according to officials.A caller alerted authorities to a major injury at Rockaway Beach around 6 p.m. The victim, 50, was taken to the hospital after NYPD officers applied a tourniquet.She is in serious but stable condition, according to officials. Authorities also confirmed that the woman had suffered an apparent shark bite. Sources told Nexstar's WPIX that the shark had bitten the woman's upper left leg. Bear bites camper relaxing in hammock, officials say The city's parks department called the incident "a frightening event" but claimed such attacks at Rockaway Beach are exceedingly rare.We hope for a full recovery for this swimmer. Though this was a frightening event, we want to remind New Yorkers that shark bites in Rockaway are extremely rare. We remain vigilant in monitoring the beach and always clear the water when a shark is spott...

Who doesn't qualify for a Facebook settlement payment?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – While many Americans qualify for a piece of the massive $725 million Facebook settlement, a few groups of people are not eligible to make a claim in the class action lawsuit. The eligibility requirements are fairly simple: You need to have had a Facebook account for any time between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022. You also need to have been a United States resident during that period of time. Even people who have deleted Facebook accounts may qualify.But there are some exemptions, as outlined by the settlement administrator. Time running out to file for $725M Facebook settlement: How to claim your payment First off, "directors, officers, legal representatives, alleged co-conspirators, and agents" of Facebook's parent company Meta are disqualified. Any legal counsel who represented Facebook in the lawsuit (or other lawsuits that were consolidated into this settlement) also are not eligible. The same goes for other people who worked on the case, including the judge, med...

These are the best states to win the Mega Millions jackpot in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — With another record-setting lottery jackpot up for grabs — a $1.55 billion Mega Millions grand prize — it's hard not to fantasize about being a billionaire. Unfortunately, you won't become a billionaire right away if you win. It isn't just because of how long it takes to validate a winner. Taxes are going to drop you down from billionaire status to millionaire, albeit a double or triple-digit millionaire. State lotteries are required to withhold 24% in federal taxes on Mega Millions jackpot wins. With additional taxes, about 37% of the prize money will be taken out in total.Depending on where you live, you could see even more tax withholdings taken from your prize. Can a Mega Millions jackpot winner remain anonymous? Not in these states New York has the highest state lottery tax withholding on large lottery prizes like the Mega Millions jackpot (some have different tax rates for different-sized prizes, or the taxes aren’t withheld unless a prize is larger th...

What is PragerU? The conservative education platform now in Florida schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Florida Department of Education is raising alarm with its recent approval of the conservative education platform PragerU, which touts itself as an alternative to progressive “indoctrination,” for use in classrooms this school year. The “supplemental curriculum” means educators can if they choose show PragerU materials in class without fear of repercussions, with video titles ranging from “Was the Civil War About Slavery?” to “The Inconvenient Truth About the Democratic Party.” Critics contend PragerU has promoted videos with misinformation and is too biased for public schools, escalating the controversy regarding changes to Florida’s education system under Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Here’s what to know about PragerU and the fallout in Florida:What is PragerU?PragerU is a conservative platform that was founded by conservative talk show host Dennis Prager and Allen Estrin back in 2009. On its site, it touts itself as a nonprofit focused on “a free alternat...

MAP: More than 2,300 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video shows how you can help prevent wildfires.AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 2,300 acres have burned in wildfires across Central Texas so far this year, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.A total of 26 fires have burned 2,373 acres in the 15-county KXAN viewing area, as of Aug. 8. How far behind normal are rainfall totals this year? KXAN is keeping track of wildfires this year. Follow along with the map and database below. We'll keep them updated as new information becomes available. Fires that are still uncontained are red on the map.The table below ranks all the fires in our area this year from largest to smallest. Click on one of the column headers to change how the fires are ranked.We're also keeping track of which counties have burn bans in effect. Click here to see the latest update.

'80s pop singer Taylor Dayne to perform in Troy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Singer, songwriter, and actress Taylor Dayne is coming to Troy. She is set to perform at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on November 3 at 8 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Dayne is best known for her debut song "Tell It to My Heart," which was released in 1987. She is also known for the songs "Love Will Lead You Back," "Prove Your Love," and "I'll Always Love You."Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, August 9 at 10 a.m. Tickets already went on sale to Troy Music Hall members on Monday. You can buy tickets on the Troy Music Hall website.