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3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt interest than education, UN says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Some 3.3 billion people – almost half of humanity – now live in countries that spend more money paying interest on their debts than on education or health, according to a new U.N. report released Wednesday.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a press conference launching the report that because this “crushing debt crisis” is concentrated mostly in poor developing countries, it is “not judged to pose a systemic risk to the global financial system.”“This is a mirage,” the U.N. chief warned. “3.3 billion people is more than a systemic risk, it is a systemic failure.”Guterres said financial markets may seem not to be suffering yet — but billions of people are and the levels of public debt “are staggering and surging.”“In 2022, global public debt reached a record $92 trillion and developing countries shoulder a disproportionate amount,” he said. According to the report, the number of countries facing high debt levels has increased sharply from 22 nations in ...

Boat found off Senegal’s coast adds to mystery over migrant vessels reported missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A boat carrying migrants was found in distress off the coast of Senegal, and more than 90 passengers remained missing after 50 were rescued and seven were discovered dead, a fishermen’s association reported Wednesday. The boat was located in the Atlantic Ocean last Friday off the coast of the fishing city of Saint-Louis, which is on northern Senegal’s border with Mauritania, according to Abdou Ndiaga Beye, the vice secretary of the Local Artisanal Fishing Council. The dead people were all males, and police questioned the survivors rescued by Senegal’s coast guard, who said the boat originally had carried 148 people, Beye told The Associated Press.It was unclear if the vessel was one of three boats carrying a total of 300 people that Spanish aid group Walking Borders said went missing in late June after departing Senegal. However, some of the survivors were from the two towns where the three boats started their journeys. The fishing council off...

Prosecutors won’t seek death penalty against men charged in Whitey Bulger’s prison killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors will not pursue the death penalty against two men charged with the prison killing of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, according to court papers filed Wednesday. Prosecutors said in a court filing that in the event Fotios “Freddy” Geas, a former Mafia hitman, and Paul J. DeCologero, a Massachusetts gangster, are convicted of murder in Bulger’s killing, they will not seek a death sentence. Geas also faced a possible death sentence if found guilty of an additional charge of murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence. But prosecutors said they would not seek it in the event he is convicted of that charge either. Geas and DeCologero were charged last August in the 2018 slaying of Bulger, who who ran the largely Irish mob in Boston in the 1970s and ’80s and served as an FBI informant who ratted on his gang’s main rival. Bulger was killed just hours after he was transferred to a prison in West Virginia from another lockup in...

Calgary company inks deal with Adidas to produce CO2-embedded running shoes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

CALGARY — A Calgary-based technology company has signed a deal with Adidas that will see the sneaker giant manufacture some of its shoes using ink embedded with captured carbon emissions.The partnership is a major win for Oco, the consumer-facing offshoot of Carbon Upcycling Technologies, a company that specializes in carbon capture and utilization solutions for heavy industry sectors.Currently focused on the cement industry, Carbon Upcycling uses patented technology installed at Enmax’s Shepard Energy Centre east of Calgary to capture carbon dioxide emissions produced by Alberta’s largest natural gas-fired power generating facility and sequester them in industrial byproducts for use in concrete production.But the company also aims to engage the public with products that help people see the potential of carbon capture technology.Oco takes the solid powder created from its parent company’s carbon sequestration process and markets it to brands looking to improve thei...

Woman kidnaps 4 girls at knifepoint from Manteno park: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

MANTENO, Ill. — A woman is charged with allegedly abducting four girls at knifepoint from a park in Manteno and holding them captive for nearly three hours.Police said Anita Diaz, 47, faces charges of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint.Officers were called to the park around 5 p.m. Monday for reports of a possible abduction and release of four juvenile girls. The victims told police that around 2 p.m., Diaz approached them at the park and displayed a knife, threatened them and forced them to get in her car.Diaz then allegedly took the girls to multiple locations in the Bourbonnais and Manteno area, including to her home. 3 dead, 14 injured in Illinois crash involving Greyhound bus and commercial vehicles Diaz released the victims shortly before 5 p.m. at a park in Manteno. The girls were unharmed and returned to their parents, according to police.Police said Diaz was located by officers and arrested.

Chicago Weather Live: Storms blanket Chicago area - an interactive livestream

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN meteorologist Tim Joyce took your questions as severe storms move through the Chicago area. Flood Watch in effect as heavy rain, storms move through area Viewers joined Tim and WGN News Now host Chip Brewster at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday for an interactive, weather-centric livestream. They took as many viewer questions and comments as they could.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog See the full replay of the livestream in the video above. Watch for a future Chicago Weather Live livestream to join the conversation!

Chicagoland residents asked to limit water usage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

CHICAGO - The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is asking people to reduce their water usage at home and work. July has been a nightmarish month for many impacted by severe weather across Chicagoland. With more rain on the horizon, there are growing concerns amongst city residents and officials. On Wednesday, a WGN News camera captured Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson exiting the MWRD building, though he did not take any questions. Johnson’s neighborhood on the city’s West Side was among the worst hit by flooding on July 2. With Cicero being another area hard hit by rain, some locals fear the worst.   Pritzker issues disaster proclamation for Illinois counties impacted by storms While rainfall on Wednesday is not expected to be as bad – with possibly one to two inches forecast for much of the Chicago area over midday hours – some area residents already report seeing standing water. Kevin Fitzpatrick, assistant director of engineering for MWRD, ...

Steve McMichael, Virginia McCaskey are semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

CANTON, OH — Two people who have made major contributions to the Bears' franchise are officially in the running for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Team owner Virginia McCaskey along with defensive tackle Steve McMichael were among the 60 semifinalists for election in two different categories for the Hall's Class of 2024 that were announced on Wednesday afternoon. McMichael has been nominated by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 12-person Seniors Committee as one of 31 semifinalists in that category after he spent 15 years in the league, with all but two being with the Bears. McCaskey was elected by the 12-person Coach/Contributor Committee and is one of 29 semifinalists. The daughter of team founder George S. Halas, McCaskey took over as principal owner of the Bears upon his death in 1983, overseeing the franchise over the past four decades. She celebrated her 100th birthday on January 5.Originally a third round selection of the New England Patriots, McMichael joined t...

Powerball, Mega Millions reach combined total of nearly $1.3 billion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

(WKBN) -- Jackpots in America's two biggest lottery games are now at a combined total of nearly $1.3 billion. The Mega Millions game is now at $560 million after no ticket matched all six numbers in Tuesday's drawing. The estimated cash prize for the next drawing on Friday, July 14, is $281.1 million. The winning numbers were 10, 17, 33, 51, and 64, plus the gold Mega Ball 5. The Powerball jackpot continues its rise up the record charts reaching an estimated $725 million for the next drawing on Wednesday night, July 12. The cash option for the jackpot is an estimated $366.2 million.  Powerball jackpot climbs to $725 million after no winner chosen The current jackpot has been growing since mid-April when someone in Ohio won the $252.6 million prize.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.Like Powerball, M...

Excessive heat for several days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The average temperature (highs and lows) at Camp Mabry for the first 11 days of this month is 88.9° making this the third hottest July to date. This is 4° above normal. The average temperature will continue to increase with forecast high temperatures remaining in triple digits going out to at least Tuesday, July 18.Heat index readings Tuesday afternoon reached 116° at La Grange and 115° at San Marcos. Thus, the National Weather Service increased this area heat alert from a Heat Advisory to an Excessive Heat Warning. Forecast heat index late this afternoonThere will not be much fluctuation of these heat indices going out the next seven days. It should be noted that Blanco and Gillespie Counties were placed under a Heat Advisory through the same 9 p.m. Thursday time frame. You know you have some oppressive heat when you get a triple-digit heat index at Fredericksburg, which yesterday topped out at a feels like of 103°.Heat alerts remain in place through 9 p.m. Thursda...