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West Africa defense chiefs finalize Niger intervention plan as junta negotiations deadlock

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Defense chiefs from West African nations finalized an intervention plan Friday and urged militaries to ready resources after negotiations deadlocked with Niger’s military junta, which says it is severing military agreements with France, its former colonial ruler.With two days remaining before a deadline set by the regional bloc to release and reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible force, the junta announced that it was firing some of the previous government’s key ambassadors and warning citizens of the West African nation to watch for foreign armies and spies. In a plea published in a Washington Post opinion piece, Bazoum said, “I write this as a hostage” and urged the U.S. and partners to help.The junta’s announcement late Thursday deepens the post-coup isolation for what had been the United States’ and allies’ last major security partner in the Sahel, the vast region south of the Sahara Desert that Islamic extremist groups have turned ...

Telus announces 6,000 job cuts, reports 61% drop in Q2 net income

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

Telus Corp. announced Friday it is cutting 6,000 jobs as it seeks to adapt to a “rapidly transforming industry,” saying issues such as regulation and competition have prompted the need to reduce its payroll.The Vancouver-based telecommunications company said the reduction includes 4,000 workers at its main Telus business, half of which are being laid off. The other portion is made up of those who would be offered early retirement and voluntary departure packages, along with vacancies that will not be refilled.The remaining 2,000 cuts are at Telus International, which provides IT services and customer service to global clients.“It was a very difficult decision,” said Telus chief financial officer Doug French in an interview.“The industry keeps changing and from a competitive perspective, we always want to prepare ourselves for the future. We see more digitization, we see prices are coming down in our industry, which customers are looking for. And so prep...

‘Cuddling’: Just what the doctor ordered for rescued walrus calf in Alaska

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A walrus calf is being nursed back to health after being found on its own miles inland by oil field workers in Alaska.The male Pacific walrus was found Monday and flown a day later from the North Slope to Seward, where the Alaska SeaLife Center is based — a journey of at least 700 miles (1,126 kilometers). Staff with the nonprofit research facility and public aquarium are caring for the roughly 200-pound (90 kilogram) animal, which was found to be dehydrated and possibly fighting an infection. ConocoPhillips Alaska, a major oil producer in the state operating on the North Slope, offered the use of a company plane to fly the calf to Seward. The calf, estimated to be about one month old, was found about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) inland from the Beaufort Sea, the center said. A “walrus trail,” or tracks, was seen on the tundra near a road where the walrus was found. But it’s unclear how, exactly, the calf got there, the center said.The range of the Pacific wa...

2 Palestinians killed in separate episodes in latest West Bank violence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli security forces killed an 18-year-old Palestinian during a military raid into the northern West Bank on Friday, Palestinian health officials said, while another Palestinian was killed when Israeli settlers stormed a village and sparked fighting with residents.The deaths marked the latest bloodshed in a monthslong surge of violence that has gripped the occupied West Bank.The Palestinian Health Ministry said that Mahmoud Abu Saan, 18, was shot in the head by Israeli forces in the city of Tulkarem. The raid drew protests from residents, the local branch of Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group reported, with Israeli forces shooting tear gas, stun grenades and live fire and Palestinians hurling stones and explosives at the soldiers. The Israeli army said it shot at those who attacked them. It said it arrested five Palestinians in other West Bank villages, confiscating explosives and also dispersing protests.Later Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said t...

Saints’ Kamara suspended for 3 games, apologizes for role in 2022 fight, thanks Goodell for meeting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints star running back Alvin Kamara and Colts defensive back Chris Lammons each have been suspended for three regular-season games by the NFL because of their involvement in a February 2022 fight in Las Vegas.The NFL released its decision on Friday, two days after Kamara was excused from training camp to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell.Kamara and Lammons pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges last month in a deal with prosecutors in Las Vegas that avoided trial and potential jail time.Kamara has been one of New Orleans’ most productive players as a rusher and receiver since being named offensive rookie of the year for the 2017 season.Speaking after practice Friday, but before the suspension had been announced, Kamara was contrite and expressed a desire to make wiser decisions going forward.“I never want to be involved in something where someone gets hurt or severely injured or anything. Poor judgment on my end, definitely a bad decision,” Kamara ...

Stock market today: Wall Street slips following mixed reports on US job market, Big Tech earnings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are slipping Friday following mixed reports about the U.S. job market and profits at two of Wall Street’s most influential stocks.The S&P 500 was 0.4% lower in late trading and on track for a fourth straight loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also lost an earlier gain and was down 123 points, or 0.3%, at 35,02 with half an hour remaining in trading. The Nasdaq composite was 0.2% lower.Treasury yields dropped after a highly anticipated U.S. jobs report said hiring was a touch weaker last month than economists expected, though wages for workers rose more than forecast.The job market is in a precarious place, where investors want a reading that’s neither too hot nor too cold. On one hand, investors want it to remain strong enough to keep the economy out of a long-predicted recession. On the other, they don’t want wage growth in particular to be so strong that the Federal Reserve sees it putting upward pressure on inflation.Friday’s reading offered no slam...

Police seek suspect in violent car thefts in Peel and surrounding region

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

Peel police are searching for a 39-year-old man suspected of multiple car theft incidents in the region and throughout the province.Police say Calvin Peacock arranges for test drives of high-end vehicles listed for sale online and then attempts to steal the vehicles.Security footage of one incident back on May 15 in a parking lot in the Mayfield Road area of Caledon shows Peacock getting into the driver’s seat of a black vehicle and attempting to speed away, knocking two other individuals to the ground while crashing into at least one other car in the process. The two men attempt to prevent Peacock from leaving by smashing the driver’s side window before he ultimately flees the scene.“Peacock has driven stolen vehicles in an aggressive manner towards victims showing no concern for public safety,” police said in a release on Friday. “Peacock operates in the Region of Peel and in other jurisdictions throughout the province.”Police say Peacock is wan...

Fargo challenges new North Dakota law, seeking to keep local ban on home gun sales

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

Fargo is suing the state of North Dakota over a new law that bans zoning ordinances related to guns and ammunition, continuing a clash over local gun control.The state’s biggest city has an ordinance that bans people from selling guns and ammunition out of their homes. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed a law this year that limits cities and counties from regulating guns and ammunition. The law, which took effect Tuesday, also voids existing, related ordinances.The city’s lawsuit says the “stakes are much higher” and gets at whether the Legislature can “strip away” Fargo’s home rule powers. Fargo voters approved a home rule charter in 1970 that gave the city commission certain powers, including the power to zone public and private property.“As it relates to this present action, the North Dakota legislative assembly is upset that the City of Fargo has exercised its home rule powers to prohibit the residents of the City of Fargo – and no one els...

A ‘parking nightmare’ In Parkdale

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

It’s a daily battle for residents who live on or near King Street West in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood to find a spot to park.David Brown, is one of them.“I live in an apartment complex that does not have parking.” He said. “Due to restrictions on King Street, that forces me to find a spot on one of the side streets.”Two big sides streets are Beatty Avenue and Dowling Avenue.“But open spots are taken by contractors and other vehicles that stay well past the permitted time and they go without a ticket,” Brown told us.“I am just noticing these things walking around my neighbourhood and it’s not my job.”He does that often — patrols the neighbourhood to find several cars illegally parked, taking up spaces he and others with permits need.“We’ve had vehicles parked here with expired permits for weeks and they never seem to get a ticket. Meanwhile, me and others with permits will get tickets no problem for minor issues, like parking inches from a no parking sign.”He took Ci...

FBI: Truck used to rip suburban ATM from the ground

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:51 GMT

WARRENVILLE, Ill. — A truck was used to rip up from the ground and steal an ATM early Thursday morning in Warrenville.Authorities believe the incident happened at around 3:45 a.m. at an Old Second National Bank branch, located at 3 S. 041 Route 59.The FBI said an unknown number of suspects attached a hook and chain to a stolen white truck to rip the ATM up from the ground.They then fled in a 2023 grey Ford Escape with the Illinois license plate number FP210466. ‘Asking for prayers’: Steve McMichael admitted to ICU amid ALS battle Members of the public can report tips at 312-421-6700 or via tips.fbi.gov.