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Russia lists World Wildlife Fund, others as foreign agents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Friday added the World Wildlife Fund to its register of foreign agents, along with a prominent Kremlin critic, a renowned economist and a few others.Russian law requires individuals and organizations that are determined to have received foreign funding and to have engaged in loosely defined “political activity” to identify themselves as “foreign agents.” The label brings additional government scrutiny. It also carries a strong pejorative connotation in Russia. Authorities have used the law to discredit those listed and to stifle dissent. The World Wildlife Fund, which is headquartered in Washington, is a conservation group with projects throughout the world, including in Russia. Explaining the decision in Moscow, the Russian Justice Ministry said the organization, “under the guise of protecting nature and the environment … tried to influence the decisions of the executive and legislative authorities” and “hindered the implementation of...

Ex-Alabama player Miles indicted on capital murder charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles has been indicted by a grand jury on capital murder charges for the January shooting death of a 23-year-old woman near campus, his lawyer confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday.Michael Davis, who is also charged in the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris, was also indicted, defense lawyer Mary Turner told the AP. Turner only represents Miles.Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb told AL.com that the indictments against Miles and Davis, who’ve been held without bond since their arrest, were issued on Wednesday.Harris was sitting in a car when she was struck by a bullet. A police investigator testified last month that Miles provided the handgun Davis allegedly used in the shooting. During a court hearing last month, Turner suggested Miles was in a defensive posture when he told Davis where the gun was located. But prosecutors maintained there was ample evidence to pursue charges in the shoo...

Stocks tumble as Wall Street wonders what will break next

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Fear rattled Wall Street, and stocks tumbled Friday on worries about what’s next to break under the weight of rising interest rates following the biggest U.S. bank failure in nearly 15 years.The S&P 500 dropped 1.4% to cap its worst week since September. That’s despite a highly anticipated report on Friday showing pay raises for workers are slowing and other signals Wall Street wants to see of cooling pressure on inflation.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 345 points, or 1.1%, while the Nasdaq composite sank 1.8%.Some of the market’s sharpest drops again came from the financial industry, where stocks tanked for a second day. Regulators took over Silicon Valley Bank in a surprise midday move after shares of its parent company, SVB Financial, plunged more than 60% this week. The company, which served the industry surrounding startup companies, was trying to raise cash to relieve a crunch. Analysts have said it was in a relatively unique situation, but it&...

Oregon courthouse security video shows escaping defendant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) — Newly released video in Oregon shows a defendant escaping from courthouse seconds after sheriff’s deputies remove his shackles. The defendant Edi Villalobos Jr. was appearing in court in the Portland suburb of Hillsboro on Feb. 27 for jury selection after he allegedly stabbed two men, and killed one, two years ago, KGW-TV reported. Security camera footage released by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday shows the 28-year-old entering the courtroom guarded by two officers. Villalobos is wearing a blue dress shirt and dark slacks.One officer removes removes Villalobos’ hand and leg cuffs, in line with legal requirements for the court session. Then Villalobos scoots behind two desk chairs and runs out the courtroom door. No one is blocking the path to the door. The footage then shows Villalobos racing down multiple hallways and through two doors as the two officers chase him and passersby get out of their way.Officers found Villalo...

Environmental groups celebrate as ExxonMobil gives up oil exploration permits in B.C.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

VANCOUVER — Environmental groups are celebrating after ExxonMobil relinquished offshore oil and gas exploration permits in British Columbia dating back more than 50 years. Lawyer Ian Miron with Ecojustice Canada says the company has been dropped from a Federal Court lawsuit filed by the David Suzuki Foundation and World Wildlife Fund Canada last year challenging the Canadian government’s continual renewal of the permits. Miron says the permits formerly held by Exxon covered “really environmentally significant areas” off the B.C. coast. ExxonMobil spokeswoman Margot Bruce-O’Connell confirms the company gave up nine permits it held in B.C. but is refusing to comment further. Miron says the groups’ legal challenge remains active against Chevron Canada, which also holds long-standing permits in the province.He says there’s a “policy-based moratorium” that prohibits oil and gas exploration in marine protected areas off the B.C. coast, but it̵...

Autopsy released for baby who died after Ohio Amber Alert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Franklin County Coroner's Office on Friday released details regarding the death of one of two twins who were previously the subjects of an Ohio Amber Alert.On the night of Ky'air Thomas' death on Jan. 29, the Columbus Division of Police responded to reports of a baby not breathing at an area home. Emergency crews took him to Nationwide Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The coroner's office has since said the manner of death was undetermined, but that Ky'air's sleeping position could have been a factor."The cause of death is ruled Sudden Unexplained Infant Death with other significant conditions including unsafe sleep environment; post-prandial infant placed facedown, unsupervised, on an adult bed, surrounded by excess pillows and blankets," the coroner's office wrote.The coroner's office said its examination of Ky'air did not find any evidence of trauma, foul play, abuse or neglect. It also did not make any mention of Ky'air's kidnapping...

'It's an honor:' Chicago company helps create 'airless' basketball that was used by NBA All-Star Weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

CHICAGO - It was quite a spectacle during an event that's already known for its theatrics in February.At the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Salt Lake City, a case with a very unique basketball was wheeled out in a glass case to the court by two people wearing white suits. The glass was opened and this unique black ball was pulled out of the case by longtime NBA player Kenyon Martin. He turned around and handed it to his son, Rockets guard KJ, who got a feel for it before giving it back to his father. A minute later, Kenyon tossed the ball off the backboard to his son for the slam.While Martin didn't win the dunk contest, he had arguably one of the more unique moments of the competition: The was pulled off with a basketball that didn't have any air. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Wilson debuted its 3-D printed airless prototype basketball during NBA All-Star Weekend with the showcase being that dunk from the Rockets' guard. The company came up with the 3D design for the ball, but the...

25 must-visit hidden gems from across the US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

From big cities to iconic national monuments to well-known tourist traps, there's no shortage of popular vacation destinations within the United States. However, sometimes the most memorable trips happen when you seek out unexpected, under-the-radar spots that you never would've known about without some prior research.For instance, although the U.S. is home to 63 national parks, famous ones like Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park tend to get the lion's share of tourist attention. On your next excursion, why not try an underrated gem like New Mexico's White Sands National Park or Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park?Even if nature isn't your scene, there are plenty of other underrated activities across the country that deserve to go on your bucket list, from Indianapolis' City Market Catacombs to the interactive art within Santa Fe's Meow Wolf.Still, finding those under-the-radar gems can amount to quite a bit of work. So to help you get started, Stacker has...

Elon Musk building his own Texas town: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (WTVO) — Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is planning to build his own town in Texas for his employees to live and work, according to a new Wall Street Journal report.Musk has described his vision of the town as a "Texas utopia along the Colorado River," according to the outlet.Musk, together with an executive from his tunneling venture Boring Co., have reportedly researched incorporating the proposed town, to potentially be called Snailbrook after the Boring Co.'s mascot. Elon Musk apologizes after mocking laid-off Twitter employee with disability The town would be built on land in Bastrop County adjacent to Boring and SpaceX facilities that are currently under construction.Steve Davis, Boring's president, said Musk eventually hopes to create an entire city.Over the last three years, Musk's companies have purchased 3,500 acres in the Austin area, the Journal reported. Nexstar's KXAN and KXAN’s media partners at the Austin Business Journal previously learned of a partn...

Ecolab to celebrate 100th anniversary with employee and community event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:42 GMT

St. Paul-based Ecolab plans to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a bash at Rice Park Sunday afternoon.The company’s Twin Cities employees, their families and local community partners will enjoy food, kids activities, live music and Ecolab-themed installations according to a press release. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend.April 11, 2018 aerial photo of the Ecolab and Travelers buildings in downtown St. Paul. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Ecolab, which develops services, technology and systems for water purification and hygiene, will announce Sunday a new public-private partnership with the city of St. Paul.Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Ecolab Chairman and CEO Christophe Beck are scheduled to speak at the event.“In 2023, Ecolab celebrates 100 years of growth, driven by a relentless pursuit of science-driven innovation, unmatched service and an enduring commitment to protect people and the re...