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Republic of Congo marks a day of mourning for 31 dead in a stadium stampede

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — Republic of Congo’s government said it was paying the medical bills for 145 people injured in a stampede at a military recruitment event as the country marked a national day of mourning Wednesday for the 31 dead.A crisis committee led by the prime minister’s office said that funeral expenses also would be covered by the government and that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the “appalling tragedy.”The Congolese Armed Forces Command already had announced that all recruitment operations were suspended in the capital, Brazzaville, until further notice following the tragedy late Monday.Brandon Tsetou, a young graduate who escaped the crush that caused some victims to suffocate, said he joined the line in front of Ornado stadium on Monday morning.“According to the organizers, it was the last day. That’s why many of us decided to wait until late into the night, hoping to register,” he told The Associated Press. “Some w...

Czech president approves plan introducing budget cuts, taxes. Labor unions call for protests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech President Petr Pavel has signed Wednesday into law an economic package of dozens of measures introducing budget cuts and increased taxes designed to keep the ballooning budget deficit under control.Pavel’s signature was the last step before the government proposal — which was approved by parliament — turned into law that would see Czechs pay more taxes on alcoholic beverages, in the country renowned for its beer, and medicine. Businesses would also pay higher corporate taxes.Prime Minister Petr Fiala previously said the austerity measures were necessary because the debt was rising at a “threatening” pace.Pavel said the current situation is unsustainable.According to the government, the measures should reduce the budget deficit by 97 billion Czech korunas ($4.3 billion) next year and for 2025 by 150 billion ($6.7 billion).As a result, the deficit of 3.5% of the gross domestic product expected for this year should drop to 1.8% next year and to 1.2% in 2025.Co...

Germany to extradite an Italian man suspected in the killing of a woman that outraged Italy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A German court on Wednesday ordered the extradition of an Italian man suspected in the killing of a 22-year-old woman that stirred outrage in Italy. The Higher Regional Court in Naumburg, in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt announced the 21-year-old suspect’s extradition, according to German news agency dpa.The suspect, Filippo Turetta, was arrested on the weekend near the eastern city of Leipzig and is currently in custody in Halle.The court said Turetta agreed to the extradition. He will remain in custody until he is handed over to the Italian authorities. It was not immediately clear when the extradition would take place. Italy had requested his extradition on Tuesday, dpa reported.Police in Germany over the weekend arrested Turetta, who had been on the run since Nov. 11, when he was last seen fighting with 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin, hitting her in a physical attack that was captured by roadside video cameras.Cecchettin’s body, reportedly with mul...

NFL disability program leaves retired Saints tight end hurting and angry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

Boo Williams wakes up each morning not knowing how the pain will hit. It could be debilitating headaches that make it impossible to get out of bed. Sometimes the pain shoots down his neck. Through all of it, he’s angry. Williams, who played tight end for the Saints from 2001-05, needs surgery, medicine and doctors, but struggles to afford any of it. The 44-year-old, who lives in Picayune, Mississippi, was recently awarded $5,000 a month by the NFL’s disability benefit plan, but says the plan and the league have repeatedly mishandled his claims and should have paid him $500,000 or more over the past 14 years.“I need all the help I can get because, some days, it feels like it’s going to be all over,” he told The Associated Press. “Sometimes I can’t sleep. It all makes it harder when you’re fighting to get what you deserve and all you do is get frustrated.”His story is not unlike dozens of retired players in similar positions who spend their days picking through a web of la...

More Americans are expected to ‘buy now, pay later’ for the holidays. Analysts see a growing risk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Consumers are expected to use “buy now, pay later” payment plans heavily this holiday season, a forecast that bodes well for retailers but that has credit experts again sounding alarm bells.The short-term loans often come with consumer-friendly interest rates and allow shoppers to make an initial payment at checkout, then pay the rest in installments, typically over a few weeks, even months. That can be appealing to a shopper buying multiple gifts for family and friends during the holidays, particularly if they’re balancing other debt such as student loans or credit cards.Data shows younger consumers and those with difficulty accessing credit use the loans most frequently. Used responsibly, the installment plans increase financial inclusion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. But the Fed and some analysts say key features of the plans can make borrowing too easy and saddle consumers with excessive debt.Short-term installment loans drove $6.4 billion o...

3 dead, 3 missing after landslide slams into Alaska fishing town

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Three people were killed and three were missing after a landslide barreled down a heavily forested, rain-soaked mountainside and smashed into homes in a remote fishing community in southeast Alaska.The slide — estimated to be 450 feet wide — occurred at about 9 p.m. Monday during a significant rain and windstorm near Wrangell, an island community of 2,000 people some 155 miles south of the state capital of Juneau.This photo provided by the Alaska Department of Public Safety shows the landslide that occurred the previous evening near Wrangell, Alaska, on Nov. 21, 2023. Authorities said at least one person died and others were believed missing after the large landslide roared down a mountaintop into the path of three homes. (Alaska Department of Public Safety via AP)In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard is the aftermath of a landslide in Wrangell, Alaska on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (U.S. Coast Guard photo via AP)This image from video provided by Sunrise ...

While turkey is a Thanksgiving staple, poll finds dissent over other classics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

Thanksgiving may be a time for Americans to come together, but opinion is divided over what's on the crowded dinner table. We mostly agree on the deliciousness of pumpkin pie, say, but are split over the eternal turkey question of dark meat versus white meat.And don't even ask if marshmallows belong on sweet potatoes — it could cause a ruckus.THE BIRDAbout 3 in 10 U.S. adults (32%) who will celebrate Thanksgiving this year say turkey is their favorite dish in the holiday feast, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.Stuffing or dressing (19%) and mashed potatoes (6%) come in second and third.“Thanksgiving — it’s about turkey,” said Ralph Caya, 71, from Pensacola, Florida, who participated in the survey.On the other hand, Vaidehi Upadhyaya, a 27-year-old pharmacist in Glen Rock, New Jersey, is a lifelong vegetarian. It's all about the side dishes for her.Although turkey is tops across U.S. regions and ages, there's a slight gene...

Accuser sues Bill Cosby for alleged abuse dating to 1980s under expiring survivors law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who worked as a stand-in at “The Cosby Show” in the 1980s said in a lawsuit Tuesday that Bill Cosby drugged and sexually abused her after offering to mentor her in her acting career.It is the latest in a string of lawsuits filed against Cosby under New York’s expiring Adult Survivors Act, which has given victims of sexual abuse a one-year window for claims that would otherwise be barred by time limits. That window closes on Thanksgiving.Bill Cosby reacts outside his home in Elkins Park, Pa., June 30, 2021, after being released from prison. A woman who worked as a stand-in at “The Cosby Show” in the 1980s said in a lawsuit Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, that Cosby drugged and sexually abused her after offering to mentor her in her acting career. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)The anonymous accuser said that soon after meeting Cosby while working on his show, he started offering style tips and performing acting exercises with her in his dressing room. When he invited her...

As holiday season gets underway, here’s how to boost immunity from sicknesses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The holiday season is here, meaning so too are sicknesses.According to a recently-released survey from the University of Pennsylvania, more than a third of Americans are worried that they or one of their family members will catch a respiratory virus in the coming months. Austin doctor, pharmacy see more sinus infections, strep, RSV before Thanksgiving holiday Austin-Travis County EMS Captain Christa Stedman believes these sicknesses have less to do with holiday gatherings and more to do with the weather dropping down into cooler temperatures."It happens anytime you have weather like we have in Austin,” she said. “Where it's cold one week, then it's hot another week and then it's cold again."Stedman expects countless calls to come in for flu, COVID-19 and RSV. Doctors stress vaccines to protect against triple threat of flu, COVID and RSV It's a trend ATCEMS sees year over year around the winter weather months. This is why they've added a new tool to treat patients...

APD shares advice on how to protect home and property during Thanksgiving

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police on Tuesday issued reminders for everyone on how keep their property and homes safe while they travel during the Thanksgiving holiday. Police suggest closing blinds and windows to keep people from peeking into your home.They also recommend putting indoor and outdoor lights on timers, if possible, to give the illusion that someone is home, even if they are not. 5 tips to stop thieves from robbing your holiday joy Police said leaving a television or radio turned on also helps with that illusion, especially for people in apartments. APD also recommends not posting about travel plans on social media accounts. It said those plans can give thieves intel on which houses to target.Finally, police recommending investing in security cameras so if anything happens you have extra evidence to provide police.