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The international Red Cross cuts budget, staffing levels as humanitarian aid dries up

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — The part of the international Red Cross that deals with conflict and prisoners of war announced Monday it will trim its projected budget by about one-eighth next year and cut nearly 20% of staff at its headquarters.The International Committee of the Red Cross, which among other things has focused on detainees on both sides of Russia’s war in Ukraine, says it will reduce its initial 2024 budget forecast to 2.1 billion Swiss francs (about $2.4 billion). That’s down about 13% compared to its already revised budget for this year.The ICRC is a sister outfit of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which unites national chapters and focuses on disaster relief, health emergencies and other humanitarian aid activities focusing on vulnerable people.Funding for humanitarian aid has dried up considerably.Director-General Robert Mardini said ICRC would need to prioritize its activities and said the United States — its biggest donor — was...

‘Dumb Money’ goes all in on the GameStop stock frenzy – and may come out a winner

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Think of movies about the financial system and your mind is almost sure to go to Gordon Gekko and “Wall Street” or Leonardo DiCaprio’s gyrating Jordan Belfort in “The Wolf of Wall Street.”When Hollywood takes on Wall Street, it usually heads straight to the C-suite.The protagonist of “Dumb Money,” though, is an amateur investor who trades out of his basement in Brockton, Massachusetts, with a bandana tied around his head and a Belgian beer in his hand.This is Keith Gill (played in the film by Paul Dano), also known as Roaring Kitty. In 2021, Gill’s enthusiastic endorsement of GameStop stocked helped fuel a viral trading frenzy that rocked Wall Street and humbled the hedge funds that has shorted the brick-and-mortar video game company.Now, Sony Pictures is betting that a David vs. Goliath story that played out on Reddit message boards can be a big-screen attraction, too. Like any investment, it carries some degree of risk.“Dumb Money,” made for about $30 million, is ch...

Police veteran hailed for reform efforts in Washington, California nominated to be New Orleans chief

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Monday that she has chosen Anne Kirkpatrick, a former chief of police in Spokane, Washington, and Oakland, California, to head the New Orleans Police Department, a nomination subject to the approval of the City Council.Kirkpatrick, if approved, would be the permanent replacement for Shaun Ferguson, who retired from the job last year. The post has been held on an interim basis by Michelle Woodfork, a longtime veteran of the New Orleans department, who had also applied for the job. “With over 35 years of experience in law enforcement, coupled with 20 years of leading police departments of even larger municipalities, Kirkpatrick has proven that she is more than capable and has what it takes to now lead the world-class NOPD,” Cantrell said in a news release. Kirkpatrick’s job history includes six years as chief of police in Spokane. She was tapped to help with police reform efforts in Chicago under then-Mayor Rahm Emm...

Sudan’s military chief visits Eritrea to discuss Sudan conflict with the president

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s military chief traveled to Eritrea on Monday for a meeting with President Isaias Afwerki, the general’s latest international trip since fighting broke out between his army and a rival paramilitary force in mid-April, state media said.Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan has been looking for international support since tensions with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, burst into open fighting that has reduced Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and its neighboring cities of Omdurman and Bahri, to urban battlefields. Sudan’s state-run SUNA news agency said the talks between Burhan and Isaias would focus on bilateral relations and the conflict in Sudan. No further details were given.For years, relations between Eritrea and Sudan have been fraught. Sudan is host to some 126,000 Eritrean refugees, many of whom have fled political persecution in one of the world’s most repressive countries, according to the U.N. refugee agency....

A Hall of Fame weekend for 2 Cubs legends at Wrigley Field

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Two players who created a host of memories as Cubs got the chance to return to Wrigley Field for a major honor this weekend.In the process, Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace joined some elite company in franchise history.(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)Both players were inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2023, taking part in a few events around Wrigley Field as the current team hosted the Diamondbacks. They are the latest inductees into the Hall of Fame after it was created in 2021 with 56 inductees. The initial group included members of the franchise who were inducted into the original Cubs Hall of Fame from 1982-1986, members of the team's Walk of Fame, along with Baseball Hall of Fame members. This is the second class of inductees for this new Cubs Hall of Fame, with Pat Hughes, Jose Cardenal, and Buck O'Neil being a part of the Class of 2022.(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)As part of the weekend, Dunston and Grace each had a day to m...

McDonald’s to phase out self-serve drink fountains

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

(KTLA) — Soon, you won't be able to make your own drink concoction at McDonald's — the fast food giant says self-serve fountain drink stations at restaurants nationwide will soon be a thing of the past.McDonald's is phasing out soda machines in dining rooms across the U.S., the company told Nexstar's KTLA in a statement. The news, first reported by The State Journal-Register, comes as fewer customers visit the dining room, opting instead for take-out or digital orders.“McDonald’s will be transitioning away from self-serve beverage stations in dining rooms across the U.S. by 2032. This change is intended to create a consistent experience for both customers and crew across all ordering points, whether that’s McDelivery, the app, kiosk, drive-thru or in-restaurant,” McDonald’s said in a statement to KTLA. Wendy’s to debut first ever pumpkin spice flavored Frosty, new cold brew At some McDonald’s locations, self-serve soda fountains have already been removed, while others are planning...

Police investigate string of early-morning armed robberies in Hyde Park, Kenwood

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are offering a warning to the public after a string of early-morning armed robberies in the city's Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods. According to police, three robberies took place within a three-hour period between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Police investigate string of armed robberies at liquor stores, bar on Northwest Side Police say in each instance, the victims told officers that three to four men, who were all wearing dark-colored clothing, drove up in a dark-colored vehicle and approached them while they were walking on the sidewalk. The victims told police that the men all displayed handguns and announced the robbery before stealing cellphones, money, wallets and purses. The offenders then got back in their vehicle and fled the scene. Chicago police provided the following timeline of the robberies that took place on Monday:5:20 a.m. in the 5300 block of South Lake Park Avenue in Hyde Park.8:10 a.m. in the 5400 block of South Harper A...

Escaped dog at Atlanta airport found after three weeks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

(NewsNation) — A dog that was lost at the Atlanta airport has been found after three weeks and airport officials are preparing to reunite the dog with her owner."Maia, the dog who escaped onto the airfield at the world’s busiest airport, was recovered on September 9. ATL’s Operations team found her hiding near the North Cargo facilities. Tired but in apparent good health, she was transported to a vet and is expected to return home soon," the airport said on Twitter.Maia, a six-year-old Chihuahua mix, was traveling with her owner Paula Camila Rodriguez, who is from the Dominican Republic. Man survives 5 days trapped in California ravine after crash When Rodriguez's flight arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, she was refused entry due to problems with her visa. Maia was supposed to be boarded overnight in the Delta pet facility before the pair flew back to the Dominican Republic. Delta said Maia broke out of her carrier on an active runway and escaped. Forced...

EMS union votes in favor of new labor contract, City Council to vote Thursday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Emergency Medical Services Association (AEMSA) has voted to approve a new labor agreement with the City of Austin. The agreement will be voted on by Austin City Council on Thursday. According to Selena Xie, president of AEMSA, members voted 93% in favor of the contract with a majority (65%) of its members voting. "What I think that the vote really indicates to me is that one, people really want to stay in contract, because they recognize that that is the best thing for the community," Xie said. She also said the process highlighted a need for better retirement options in Austin, but that those issues largely have to be worked out at the state level. “The City and AEMSA grew to understand and appreciate their respective priorities over the negotiation process, eventually coming to an agreement that focuses on retention that both believe will begin to address long-standing critical staffing shortages,” the city said in a statement before the union vote. ...

Longhorns capture more weekly awards following historic win over Alabama

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:15:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The honors keep coming for the Texas Longhorns after they tamed the Tide.The Longhorns were named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week after beating then-No. 3 Alabama 34-24 in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, the Football Writers Association of America announced Monday. The win sent the Longhorns up seven spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll to No. 4 in the country and the Crimson Tide rolled down to No. 10. Another primetime start for No. 4 Texas against Baylor in Waco The Longhorns snapped the Tide's 21-game home winning streak and are the only team to beat Alabama by double digits at Bryant-Denny Stadium under head coach Nick Saban. It was also Texas' first nonconference victory on the road against an AP top-3 team in program history.It's the sixth time the Longhorns have earned the national team of the week honor, the last time coming when they beat Oklahoma 49-0 in the 2022 Red River Rivalry. ‘The taste of victory is very sweet’: Longhorns’ strong 4th quarter...