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Canada ‘strongly condemns’ Niger military coup as others threaten sanctions, cut aid

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada is speaking out against a coup d’état in Niger, but hasn’t joined other nations in threatening to cut aid to the West African country.Last Wednesday, a faction of Niger’s military claimed to have overthrown the country’s democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum after detaining him in his palace.In a tweet Friday evening, Global Affairs Canada wrote that Ottawa “strongly condemns the attempted coup” in Niger and calls for Bazoum’s release.“We reaffirm our support for Niger’s democracy and reiterate our call for President Bazoum’s release,” the department wrote, while expressing support for the Economic Community of West African States, a group of 15 countries known as ECOWAS.That bloc has threatened to sanction leaders of the military junta and send in troops if Bazoum isn’t restored to power within a week.Britain and the European Union have pulled aid from the country, while Washington has mulled following ...

Native American tribes in Oklahoma will keep tobacco deals, as lawmakers override governor’s veto

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Native American tribes in Oklahoma will get to keep their existing agreements on how they share money from tobacco sales with the state.The Oklahoma House voted on Monday to override Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto of a bill that extends agreements on selling tobacco for another year. In a bipartisan vote during a special session, the Republican-controlled House met the two-thirds vote needed to override. The Senate overrode the governor’s veto last week.As a result, any tribe with an existing agreement on tobacco sales can opt to extend the terms of that agreement until Dec. 31, 2024. Leaders from several of the state’s most powerful tribes were in the gallery for Monday’s vote.The override is the latest development in an ongoing dispute between the Republican governor and several Oklahoma-based tribes. Stitt, himself a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has said he wants to adjust the compact language to make sure tribes don’t expand where they sell tobacco a...

New Hampshire nurse, reportedly kidnapped in Haiti, had praised country for its resilience

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

A New Hampshire nurse, who has reportedly been kidnapped in Haiti, has described Haitians as “resilient people” in a video about her work for a nonprofit Christian ministry in the country.“They’re full of joy, and life and love. I’m so blessed to know so many amazing Haitians,” Alix Dorsainil says in a video on the website of the ministry she works for, El Roi Haiti. Dorsainvil and her daughter were kidnapped Thursday, the organization said in a statement over the weekend. El Roi Haiti, which runs a school and ministry in Port au Prince, said the two were taken from campus. Dorsainvil is the wife of the program’s director, Sandro Dorsainvil. That happened the same day that the U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel advisory” in the country and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave there amid growing security concerns. “Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family,” El Roi president an...

Quebec trucking company ordered to reinstate driver fired for drinking and driving

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

MONTREAL — A Quebec trucking company has been ordered to reinstate a driver who was fired after she drank at least nine beers before she lost control of her truck on a Pennsylvania highway.Labour arbitrator Huguette April says the driver’s drinking was from alcoholism — a disability — and that trucking company Groupe Robert should have made a reasonable accommodation for her.The woman was fired after she was involved in a single-vehicle crash on June 30, 2022, which damaged the truck but caused no injuries.The arbitrator’s written decision dated July 18 says the driver told her employer about her alcoholism about a week after the crash and that she sought medical help to quit drinking.She told the arbitrator that the company could have installed an alcohol testing device in her truck after the crash, or found other work for her. Groupe Robert told the arbitrator that the employee had violated the collective agreement, which stipulated that truck drivers who drank on the ...

$1.05 billion Mega Million jackpot is among a surge in huge payouts due to more than just luck

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Another day, another billion dollar lottery jackpot.At least, that’s how it seems ahead of Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing for an estimated $1.05 billion top prize.It’s a huge sum of money, but such giant jackpots have become far more common, with five prizes topping $1 billion since 2021 — and one jackpot reaching $2.04 billion in 2022.The massive prizes are due in part to chance, but it’s not all happenstance. Rising interest rates coupled with changes to the odds of winning are also big reasons the prizes grow so large.HOW DO INTEREST RATES INCREASE JACKPOTS?Nearly all jackpot winners opt for a lump sum payout, which for Tuesday night’s drawing would be an estimated $527.9 million. The lump sum is the cash that a winner has actually won. The highlighted $1.05 billion prize is for a sole winner who is paid through an annuity, which is funded by that lump sum and will be doled out annually over 30 years.That’s where ...

San Francisco prosecutors to lay out murder case against consultant in death of Cash App’s Bob Lee

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco prosecutor’s office began laying out its case Monday against a tech consultant charged with murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was found bleeding on a deserted city street in April.In the preliminary hearing, a judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to go to trial. Prosecutors have provided no motive and released little information in a case that has drawn outsized media attention, partly due to Lee’s status in the tech world. Lee created Cash App, a mobile payment service, and was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency MobileCoin. Nima Momeni, 38, has been in jail since his arrest April 13. He has pleaded not guilty, and he faces 26 years to life if convicted.That came more than a week after Lee, 43, was found bleeding in a deserted part of downtown San Francisco early April 4. Lee was rushed to a hospital, where he died.In making a motion to keep Momeni detained in jail without bail,...

Paul Reubens, actor known as Pee-wee Herman, dead at 70

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

Actor Paul Reubens, famously known for portraying Pee-wee Herman, has died at the age of 70.Reubens passed away on Sunday night following a private battle with cancer.The Herman social media accounts shared a statement online, saying he delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness.“Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit,” a caption on Instagram read.“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”In 1980, Reubens introduced “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” centred on a ...

Crews battle ‘fire whirls’ in California blaze in Mojave Desert

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE, Calif. (AP) — Crews battled “fire whirls” in California’s Mojave National Preserve this weekend as a massive wildfire crossed into Nevada amid dangerously high temperatures and raging winds.The York Fire was mapped at roughly 120 square miles (284 square kilometers) on Monday with no containment. The blaze erupted Friday near the remote Caruthers Canyon area of the vast wildland preserve, crossed the state line into Nevada on Sunday and sent smoke further east into the Las Vegas Valley. Wind-driven flames 20 feet (6 meters) high in some spots charred tens of thousands of acres of desert scrub, juniper and Joshua tree woodland, according to an incident update. A fire whirl — sometimes called a fire tornado — is a “spinning column of fire” that forms when intense heat and turbulent winds combine, according to the National Park Service.The vortexes — which can be anywhere from a few feet tall to several hundred feet high, with varying rotational speeds — were ...

Chicago Police discuss victim services and resources for those impacted by shootings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago Police Department (CPD) Interim Superintendent Fred Waller wants the community to know about CPD's Crime Victim Services Unit following an early Sunday morning shooting.The incident left one woman dead and eight others injured. It happened around 12:51 a.m. in the1500 block of South Keeler Avenue. According to police, a black jeep approached, multiple individuals exited the jeep and began shooting.Waller, alongside CPD Crime Victim Services Unit assistant director Aileen Robinson, discussed victim services and resources available to those affected by this shooting, and others, at a Monday afternoon press conference. NASA warns Chicago area residents of ‘very loud’ jet flyover for data research A temporary CPD victim services center is open Monday from 1-7 p.m. at Deliverance Temple of the Apostolic Faith Church located at 1457 S Komensky. It provides confidential counseling, assistance with compensation applications, children's and domestic violence services, and...

Biker groups, community support 6-year-old boy after thieves target lemonade stand

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:42 GMT

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) — A 6-year-old boy's lemonade stand was robbed last week in Belen, New Mexico, while he was trying to raise money for a good cause. After news spread about the theft, the community stepped up and rallied around him. Connor Brock had a goal: raise $250 to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as part of their "Lemonade Stand in July" challenge. His parents were also raising money for Connor's benefit: "Connor has autism level two, and we've used the lemonade stand not only to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital but also to teach Connor responsibility, to recognize the one dollar bill, the president on it, how to count money," said Abbegale Brock, Connor's mother. She wanted to teach him about things like empathy and compassion. That all came to a halt when thieves stole the money Connor raised and cleared out his lemonade stand. "I was just dumbfounded because we weren't gone long. Went to get something to eat, and it didn't make any sense. It was item...