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Haitians, weary of gang violence, protest the kidnapping of an American nurse and her daughter

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

By EVENS SANON & MICHAEL CASEY (The Associated Press)PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Chants of “freedom” echoed through the streets outside an aid facility in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday where just days earlier an American nurse and her daughter were kidnapped by armed men.Hundreds of Haitians marched through the gang-ravaged zone, bursting with anger at the abduction, which has become a symbol of the worsening violence plaguing the Caribbean nation. New Hampshire woman Alix Dorsainvil had been working as a community nurse for the religious and humanitarian aid group El Roi Haiti when she and her daughter were taken from its campus on Thursday, the organization said. She is the wife of its founder, Sandro Dorsainvil. Witnesses told the Associated Press that Dorsainvil was working in her organization’s small brick clinic when a group of armed men burst in and seized her. Lormina Louima, a patient waiting for a check-up, said one man pull...

Bill Belichick: Mac Jones had a ‘good offseason,’ Patriots QBs will compete in training camp

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said quarterback Mac Jones had a “good offseason” and will compete with backups Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley during an interview Tuesday on SiriusXM Radio.“(Jones) was one of our offseason award winners. First in, last out of the building,” Belichick said. “Really does a good job of knowing, being on top of everything we’re doing so he can lead from the quarterback position, in terms of play-calling and those types of things.”Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 6: Pats’ ‘D’ makes goal-line stand, Rhamondre Stevenson sits New England Patriots | Patriots have a secret offensive weapon on defensive side of the ball New England Patriots | Patriots still counting on young running backs as depth is tested in training camp New England Patriots | Patriots rookie WR returns, Matt Judon limited again at Monday pra...

‘Euphoria’ star Angus Cloud dead at 25

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

By David Matthews, New York Daily News“Euphoria” star Angus Cloud has died. He was 25.The actor, who played Fezco on the HBO series, died at his family’s home in Oakland, Calif., according to TMZ.“It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways,” the family told the gossip site.The family’s statement did not reveal how Cloud died, but said he had “intensely struggled” since the recent death of his father. The actor posted a photo of his father with the caption “miss u breh” two weeks ago on Instagram.Angus Cloud attends a private event at the Kendrick Lamar Concert hosted by Pair of Thieves in Hyde Lounge at Crypto.com Arena on September 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Pair of Thieves)“The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend,” the statement added.“We hope ...

Mets’ future still unclear following Max Scherzer, David Robertson deals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

If it’s not a fire sale and it’s not a liquidation, then what, exactly is it?Billy Eppler has a habit of using corporate jargon when he speaks to the media. He’s not the first professional sports executive to do so and he’s not the last. But the one thing Eppler didn’t clearly communicate was a timeline.In the short term, we know the Mets don’t plan to contend for pennants in 2024. That much was made clear when Max Scherzer waived his no-trade clause to go to the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. The veteran ace made it clear only one night prior that he wanted to play for a contender and he saw a path to contention with the Mets.The plans changed and the Mets decided to shift their priority to the farm system, which is necessary. But communicating a timeline is important. Fans want to know when the team believes a window of contention will open. They have a right to know this as well as people who spend money on season tickets, parking fees and co...

Scorching summer heat is curbing gasoline output and adding pain at the pump

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

By Lucia Kassai and Rachel Graham, Bloomberg NewsRecord-breaking summer heat is forcing fuelmakers to cut back operations, just as dwindling supplies are causing gasoline prices to surge around the world.The hottest-ever June and July prompted refiners to curtail oil processing by at least 2% globally as long stretches of triple-digit heat posed a threat to operations, according to Vikas Dwivedi, a global oil and gas strategist for Macquarie Group.Excessive heat, associated with deferred maintenance in the past, has spurred an unusual number of refinery breakdowns this year, when fuel stockpiles are already low. This has in part propelled gasoline prices in the U.S. to the highest level since November. High-temperature forecasts into August could keep U.S. gasoline makers from running all out for the last stretch of the summer driving season, dimming hopes for relief at the pump.U.S. refineries are struggling to return to the peak utilization rate of 95.8% seen in early June. Since ...

Exxon in talks with automakers on supplying lithium

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

Exxon Mobil Corp. is in talks with Tesla Inc., Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen AG and other automakers about supplying them with lithium as the oil giant works to build a business around the crucial battery metal, according to people familiar with the matter.Exxon is one of several oil and gas companies seeking to expand into lithium production to take advantage of surging demand for use in electric-vehicle batteries, and as a way of diversifying beyond fossil fuels. The talks with potential customers are still early stage, and the company has yet to lay out its plans for potential lithium operations. However, the discussions are the latest sign of Exxon’s growing interest in the lithium business.The company has also had conversations with battery giants Samsung and SK On Co., the people said, asking not to be named because the information is private. Exxon, SK On and Volkswagen declined to comment. Tesla, Ford and Samsung didn’t reply to messages seeking comment.The world will need near...

San Francisco prosecutors lay out murder case against consultant in death of Cash App’s Bob Lee

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

By JANIE HAR (Associated Press)SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — DNA from a bloody knife and video footage are crucial pieces of evidence against a tech consultant charged with murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was found bleeding on a deserted San Francisco street in April, prosecutors argued Monday.The San Francisco prosecutor’s office began laying out its case against Nima Momeni, 38, at a preliminary hearing in which a judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to go to trial.Prosecutors say Momeni planned the attack, drove Lee to a secluded spot and stabbed him three times after a dispute related to Momeni’s younger sister.They have not spelled out a motive, but previously offered a timeline in a case that has drawn outsized media attention, partly due to Lee’s status in the tech world. Lee created Cash App, a mobile payment service, and was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency MobileCoin. Momeni, who has been in jail sin...

Angus Cloud from HBO's 'Euphoria' dies at 25

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

Angus Cloud, an actor best known for his role as the drug dealer as Fezco “Fez” O’Neill on HBO’s “Euphoria,” has died at 25.  The news was first reported by TMZ.“It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways,” the family said in a statement to the celebrity news and gossip site. Facebook settlement checks: Can you still get a payment if you deleted your account? “Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence. We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss."Cloud died at his family's home in Oakland, California, TMZ reported.The family also shared that Cloud recently lost his father last week and that ...

Indian American engineer says he was fired by defense contractor after speaking Hindi at work

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Indian-American engineer says he was fired last year from his long-time job with a missile defense contractor’s Alabama office after he was heard speaking Hindi on a video call, according to a federal lawsuit he filed against the company. Anil Varshney, 78, filed a civil rights lawsuit in the Northern District of Alabama against Parsons Corporation and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin, whose department oversees the United States Missile Defense Agency, AL.com reported Monday. “This case arises out of Defendants’ intentional acts to end Mr. Varshney’s highly distinguished engineering career because he is a 78-year-old Indian American,” the lawsuit reads. “Defendants abruptly terminated Mr. Varshney after one of his white colleagues overheard him speaking Hindi to his dying brother-in-law in India and falsely reported him for a violation of ‘security regulations.’ ” Sharon L. Miller, an attorney representing the Virginia-based defense contractor,...

Nigerian leader has announced economic measures to ease hardship as labor unions threaten protests

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:03:12 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Monday announced economic measures to ease growing hardship in Africa’s most populous country as labor unions threatened protests to demand more action.Several government policies introduced by Tinubu since he took office in May have further squeezed millions of Nigerians. The government ended decades-long gasoline subsidies that Tinubu said favored the rich, but the decision has more than doubled the price of gas, causing a sharp spike in prices of food and other essential commodities.In a state broadcast late Monday, the Nigerian leader said he understands that Nigeria’s economy is going through a “tough patch” but added the government has saved more than one trillion naira ($1.16 billion) since the subsidy was scrapped in late May. Past funds for the subsidies were “being funneled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a selected group of individuals,” he added.“What I can offer immediately is to reduce the...