Today: October 08, 2024
Today: October 08, 2024

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Missouri judge says white man will stand trial for shooting Black teen who went to wrong house

A Missouri judge ruled Thursday that the 84-year-old white homeowner who shot a Black teenager after he mistakenly went to the man’s house must stand trial. Clay County Judge Louis Angles issued the ruling after hearing from several witnesses at a preliminary hearing, including Ralph Yarl, the teenager who was shot by Andrew Lester on April 13 when Yarl went to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers. Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He previously pleaded not guilty in the shooting that shocked the

Missouri judge says white man will stand trial for shooting Black teen who went to wrong house
World

2 more teens arrested in Baltimore block party mass shooting

Two more teenagers have been arrested in a mass shooting that left two people dead and 28 others injured during a Baltimore block party earlier this summer, authorities announced Thursday afternoon. Police arrested Aaron Brown, 18, and a 14-year-old. Both face multiple charges, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said. Police had already arrested a teen charged with possessing a firearm during the shooting and another who they say shot into a crowd alongside Brown. City leaders on Wednesday released a lengthy report detailing shortcomings in the police response to the shooting, which is

2 more teens arrested in Baltimore block party mass shooting
World

Delaware judge orders status report on felony gun charge against Hunter Biden

A federal judge in Delaware ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys on Thursday to provide a status report regarding a felony gun charge against Hunter Biden. Judge Maryellen Noreika directed lawyers to provide the report by next Wednesday, including any steps they believe the court needs to take. Attorneys for Biden have argued that a “diversion agreement” sparing him from prosecution on the gun charge is still in place, even though it was inextricably linked to a plea deal on misdemeanor tax offenses that imploded during a court appearance in July. Noreika dismissed the tax case, and

Delaware judge orders status report on felony gun charge against Hunter Biden
World

Squeezing in one last summer trip over Labor Day weekend? Expect crowded airports and full flights

By some measures, air travelers have enjoyed a less stressful summer than last year, but canceled flights remain elevated as airlines face their last big test of the prime vacation season: Labor Day weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that this will be the third busiest holiday weekend of the year so far, behind only the Juneteenth weekend, which included Father’s Day, and the Presidents Day break. Hurricane Idalia weakened and headed out to sea Thursday. While the storm left damage and power outages, its impact on travel eased. Airlines canceled several dozen flights in Florida and

Squeezing in one last summer trip over Labor Day weekend? Expect crowded airports and full flights
World

Pope makes first visit to Mongolia as Vatican relations with Russia and China are again strained

Pope Francis is travelling to Mongolia to encourage one of the world’s smallest and newest Catholic communities, the first papal visit to the Asian country at a time when the Vatican’s relations with Mongolia’s two powerful neighbors Russia and China are once again strained. Francis arrives in the Mongol capital Ulaanbaatar on Friday morning after an overnight flight passing through Chinese airspace, which will give him a rare opportunity to send a note of greetings to President Xi Jinping. Vatican protocol calls for the pope to send such greetings whenever he flies over a foreign country. After

Pope makes first visit to Mongolia as Vatican relations with Russia and China are again strained
World

Tampa Bay area gets serious flooding but again dodges a direct hit from a major hurricane

Last year it was Hurricane Ian that drew a bead on Tampa Bay before abruptly shifting east to strike southwest Florida more than 130 miles (210 kilometers) away. This time it was Hurricane Idalia, which caused some serious flooding as it sideswiped the area but packed much more punch at landfall Wednesday, miles to the north. In fact, the Tampa Bay area hasn’t been hit directly by a major hurricane for more than a century. The last time it happened, there were just a few hundred thousand people living in the region, compared with more than 3 million today. “Tampa

Tampa Bay area gets serious flooding but again dodges a direct hit from a major hurricane
World

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson launch fund with $10 million for displaced Maui residents

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson have committed $10 million to make direct payments to people on Maui who are unable to return to their homes because of the wildfires, through a new fund they announced Thursday. The People’s Fund of Maui will give $1,200 a month to adults who are not able to return to their primary residences because of the recent wildfires, including people who owned and rented their homes, according to the fund’s website. The fund will also seek donations to extend the length of time it can provide the support. “How do we help?” the “Young Rock”

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson launch fund with $10 million for displaced Maui residents
World

Sudan's army chief warns that the country will be fragmented if the deadly conflict is not resolved

The head of Sudan’s army warned Thursday that the northeast African country will be divided if the conflict between the military and rival paramilitary force is not resolved. Sudan was plunged into chaos after monthslong tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, exploded into open fighting on April 15. “We are facing a war, and if it is not resolved quickly Sudan will be fragmented,” Burhan said in a speech addressed to the country’s police force in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.

Sudan's army chief warns that the country will be fragmented if the deadly conflict is not resolved
World

Iceland says commercial whaling can resume after temporary ban

Commercial hunting of fin whales can resume in Iceland but with stricter requirements on hunting methods and increased supervision, the North Atlantic island nation’s government said Thursday. Animal rights groups responded to the decision with dismay and called it “shameful.” The temporary ban that Icelandic authorities imposed in June, on animal welfare grounds, ends Thursday. Iceland’s Food and Veterinary Authority estimated in a May report that 67% of the 58 whales caught by boats it monitored died or lost consciousness quickly or immediately. But it said 14 whales were shot more than once, and two were shot

Iceland says commercial whaling can resume after temporary ban
World

Clergy dish up meatball sundaes, pickle ice pops and a little faith at the Minnesota State Fair

As the sun rose on an unusually steamy opening day of the Minnesota State Fair, Jeff Knott and his two daughters joined the already long breakfast line outside the Hamline Church Dining Hall. The Lutheran family, at the fair to show the teen girls’ pigs Billy and Lil’ Red, favor this Methodist all-volunteer diner for its early opening, variety of foods including the signature “hamloaf” sandwich, and religious mission. “They use their proceeds for mission work, which I think is important,” Knott said before the family bowed their heads to say grace at the hall’s

Clergy dish up meatball sundaes, pickle ice pops and a little faith at the Minnesota State Fair
World

US applications for jobless claims inch back down as companies hold on to their employees

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell slightly last week as companies held on to employees in an economy that has largely withstood rapidly rising interest rates, intended to cool hiring and spending, for more than a year. The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits last fell week by 4,000, to 228,000 the week ending August 26, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, rose by 250 to 237,500. Jobless claim applications are seen as representative of the number of layoffs in a given week. The Federal Reserve,

US applications for jobless claims inch back down as companies hold on to their employees
World

Fed's preferred inflation gauge shows a modest rise in latest sign of slowing price increases

An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve remained low last month, adding to signs of cooling price increases and raising the likelihood that the Fed will leave interest rates unchanged when it next meets in late September. Thursday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that prices rose just 0.2% from June to July, the third straight modest increase. Compared with a year earlier, prices rose 3.3% in July, up from a 3% annual increase in June. The year-over-year figure, though, is down sharply from the 7% peak it reached a year ago, though still above

Fed's preferred inflation gauge shows a modest rise in latest sign of slowing price increases
World

Niger's military regime orders police to expel French ambassador and revokes his diplomatic immunity

Niger’s military junta has revoked the diplomatic immunity of France’s ambassador and ordered police to expel him from the country, according to a statement from the military regime. The mutinous soldiers who ousted Niger’s president more than a month ago gave French Ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave the country last week. The deadline expired on August 28 without France recalling Itte. The French government says it doesn’t recognize the coup-plotters as the country’s legitimate leaders. The communique sent by Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier this week and seen by The Associated Press on

Niger's military regime orders police to expel French ambassador and revokes his diplomatic immunity
World

JCPenney is spending $1 billion on store and online upgrades in latest bid to revive its business

JCPenney said Thursday it plans to spend more than $1 billion by the end of 2025 in a bid to revive the storied but troubled 121-year-old department store chain. The money is going toward remodeling JCPenney stores, upgrading its online shopping site and app, and making its supply network more efficient so that online orders are delivered more quickly. JCPenney’s CEO Marc Rosen, who took the company’s helm in November 2021 and has served as an executive at Levi Strauss and Walmart, is renewing the chain’s focus on its core middle-income shoppers with affordable fashion and

JCPenney is spending $1 billion on store and online upgrades in latest bid to revive its business
World

Nissan is reusing the batteries from old Leaf electric vehicles to make portable power sources

Batteries in older Nissan Leaf electric vehicles are getting a new life as portable power sources that can be used to run gadgets on the go or deliver emergency power in disasters. Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. has sold more than 650,000 Leaf EVs. Their batteries often retain a charging capacity longer than the car’s life span. Nissan says it is using the old batteries in portable power sources it developed with electronics maker JVCKenwood Corp. and 4R Energy Corp., a company co-owned by Nissan and Sumitomo Corp. which works on ecological vehicles and power storage

Nissan is reusing the batteries from old Leaf electric vehicles to make portable power sources
World

EU examines its training of African armies as another coup rocks the continent

European Union ministers expressed deep concern Thursday at the growing number of military coups across Africa as the bloc draws up sanctions targeting the junta in Niger which overthrew an elected government a month ago. On Wednesday, the oil-rich nation of Gabon became the eighth Central or West African country to be hit by a military takeover in the last three years. The EU has not been training Gabon’s armed forces -– although French troops have -– but it has funded and taught troops in Mali and Niger. The military training has focused mainly on the volatile

EU examines its training of African armies as another coup rocks the continent
World

North Korea says it simulated nuclear attacks on South Korea and rehearsed occupation of its rival

North Korea said Thursday its latest missile launches simulated “scorched earth” nuclear strikes on South Korea and that it’s also been rehearsing an occupation of its rival’s territory in the event of conflict. Pyongyang has previously tested nuclear-capable missiles and described how it would use them in potential wars with South Korea and the U.S. But the North’s disclosure of detailed war plans reaffirmed its aggressive nuclear doctrine to intimidate its opponents, as it escalates its protest of the ongoing South Korean-U.S. military exercises that it views as a major security threat, observers say. North

North Korea says it simulated nuclear attacks on South Korea and rehearsed occupation of its rival
World

Some in Africa are celebrating the coups. Many are fed up and desperate for change, analysts say

After mutinous soldiers in Gabon announced they had deposed the country’s president, many residents danced in the streets and declared themselves free from the presidential family’s 55-year rule. It’s becoming a familiar scene in West and Central Africa, which has recorded eight coups since 2020. “It is an expression of the popular dissatisfaction,” said Hermann Ngoulou in the Gabonese capital of Libreville. “The country has been experiencing a deep crisis on all levels due to bad governance, the rising cost of food (and) the high cost of living.” There have been about 100 documented coups across

Some in Africa are celebrating the coups. Many are fed up and desperate for change, analysts say
World

Europe's inflation held steady in August as European Central Bank keeps an open mind on rates

Annual inflation held steady in Europe in August as food prices raced ahead of falling fuel costs, but there was no clarity about whether the European Central Bank can pause its record series of interest rate hikes. The consumer price index for the 20 countries that use the euro currency was unchanged at 5.3% from the July reading, supported by food, alcohol and tobacco prices that increased a painful 9.8%, according to official figures Thursday from EU statistics agency Eurostat. Another key inflation number — so-called core inflation that leaves out volatile fuel and food —

Europe's inflation held steady in August as European Central Bank keeps an open mind on rates
World

Japan's Sogo & Seibu department stores are being sold to a US fund as 900 workers go on strike

Japanese retailer Seven & i Holdings Co. is selling department store chain Sogo & Seibu Co. to a U.S. investment fund, even as the labor union went on strike ahead of the announcement Thursday. The transfer to Fortress Investment Group will be completed Friday, according to Seven & i Holdings. The decision came at a board of directors meeting. The proposed sales price is 220 billion yen ($1.5 billion) but won’t be final until the transfer’s completion set for Friday. Separately, some of Sogo & Seibu’s debts, or nearly 92 billion yen ($630 million), will be forgiven,

Japan's Sogo & Seibu department stores are being sold to a US fund as 900 workers go on strike
World

Palestinian driver rams truck into pedestrians at West Bank checkpoint, wounding 3

A Palestinian driver slammed his truck into pedestrians at a busy checkpoint in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, wounding three people in the latest bloodshed in a relentless cycle of violence to roil the region. The violence came a day after Israeli police shot and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy who stabbed a man in a Jerusalem light-rail station and after Palestinian militants detonated a bomb near a convoy of Israeli troops escorting Jewish worshippers to a holy site in the West Bank, wounding four Israeli troops. The unrest is part of more than

Palestinian driver rams truck into pedestrians at West Bank checkpoint, wounding 3
World

Ousting of Gabon's unpopular leader was a 'smokescreen' for soldiers to seize power, analysts say

Gabonese awoke Thursday to a new military leader after mutinous soldiers ousted a president whose family had ruled the oil-rich Central African nation for more than five decades. The new leader is Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, head of the elite republican guard unit, who soldiers announced on state TV Wednesday, hours after President Ali Bongo Ondimba was declared winner of last week’s presidential election, which Gabonese and observers say was marred with irregularities and a lack of transparency. The soldiers accused Bongo of irresponsible governance that risked leading the country into chaos and have put

Ousting of Gabon's unpopular leader was a 'smokescreen' for soldiers to seize power, analysts say
World

Tropical Storm Idalia descends on North Carolina after pounding Florida, Georgia and South Carolina

Tropical Storm Idalia descended on the Carolinas on its way out to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, leaving a trail of flooding and destruction throughout the Southeast that stretched back to its landfall as a hurricane in Florida. Rescue and repair efforts continued in the areas the storm passed Wednesday and there was no immediate word on the toll from the ferocious winds and inundating waters, but authorities counted at least one death. The storm left as many as a half-million customers without power in Florida and other states at one point as it ripped down

Tropical Storm Idalia descends on North Carolina after pounding Florida, Georgia and South Carolina
World

Stock market today: Asian markets lower after Japanese factory activity and China services weaken

Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday after Japanese factory activity and Chinese service industry growth weakened. Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul declined. Tokyo gained. Oil prices edged lower. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index rose 0.4% on Wednesday after the U.S. government cut its estimate of economic growth for the second quarter to a still-robust level. Traders hope that and this week’s updates on hiring and consumer inflation will convince the Federal Reserve prices are under control and no more interest rate hikes are needed. Official data showed Japanese factory activity shrank by 2% from the

Stock market today: Asian markets lower after Japanese factory activity and China services weaken
World

UBS reports huge 2Q profit skewed by Credit Suisse takeover, foresees $10B in cost cuts

Swiss bank UBS announced Thursday plans to save $10 billion in costs as it moves ahead with “full integration” of longtime rival Credit Suisse’s domestic operations, as UBS released its first earnings report since the government-orchestrated merger to help stave off a possible global financial meltdown. The announcement came as the Zurich-based bank reported a whopping $29 billion in pre-tax profit in the second quarter. But underlying profit before taxes came in at $1.1 billion, which excludes some $29 billion in negative goodwill, integration costs and other impacts of the Credit Suisse takeover. In a separate statement,

UBS reports huge 2Q profit skewed by Credit Suisse takeover, foresees $10B in cost cuts

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