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Chad appoints a former opposition leader as prime minister of transitional government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Chad’s transitional government appointed a former opposition leader who recently returned from exile as its new prime minister. Succes Masra will serve as the country’s prime minister through the transition to civilian rule, Mahamat Ahmad Alhabo, Chad’s new secretary-general of the presidency, said on state television. Masra, president of The Transformers opposition party, fled Chad in October 2022. The country’s military government at the time suspended his party and six others in a clampdown on protests against interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby’s decision to extend his time in power by two more years. More than 60 people were killed in the protests, which the government condemned as “an attempted coup.”An agreement between the country’s minister of reconciliation and Masra’s political party two months ago allowed the exiled politician and other opposition figures to return to Chad. The passage last month of a referendum on a new...

A Colorado mother suspected of killing 2 of her children makes court appearance in London

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A Colorado mother suspected of killing two of her young children and injuring a third made an initial court appearance Monday in London, where she was arrested over the weekend. Kimberlee Singler, 35, appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court facing extradition to the U.S. on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault. Singler disappeared as Colorado police prepared to arrest her in the deaths of her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, who were found slain Dec. 19 during what was reported as a burglary. Singler had minor injuries and a wounded 11-year-old daughter was hospitalized for several day before being released.Singler was initially treated as a crime victim and had cooperated with police. But officers could not locate her when they went to arrest her Dec. 26.Police nabbed her Saturday in the Kensington section of London. She had been in a long-running legal dispute over the childre...

Two people struck and killed by speeding driver in Montreal, 23-year-old man arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man who allegedly struck and killed two people with his car before fleeing the scene early this morning. Police spokeswoman Const. Caroline Chèvrefils alleges the driver was travelling at high speed when he struck the two pedestrians in Montreal’s northern Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough shortly after 1 a.m.Police say the suspect then fled the scene in his vehicle, but travelled only a few blocks before getting out and continuing his flight on foot.Chèvrefils says he was then tracked down by a police dog. She says the 23-year-old driver was arrested and taken to hospital.Chèvrefils says the two pedestrians were declared dead on the scene and their identities have not yet been established. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2024.The Canadian Press

Saskatchewan to stop collecting carbon levy from natural gas and electrical heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government says its natural gas utility is to stop collecting the carbon levy as of Monday from residential customers. The move comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exempted those who use home heating oil from paying the levy, mostly benefiting residents in Atlantic Canada. Saskatchewan asked for the exemption to cover all other forms of heating, but Ottawa denied the request. In response, the province said it would stop collecting the charge at the start of 2024.Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for SaskEnergy, said the due date to pay the levy to the federal government is the last day of February.Should SaskEnergy not remit those dollars, it would be breaking federal law and executives could face fines or jail time.Saskatchewan passed legislation that aims to shield executives from legal consequences, putting that burden on the province.Duncan said in December that SaskEnergy asked the federal government to remove it as a registered distributor...

Gas tax paused in Manitoba, returns in Alberta at a lower rate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

As one province pauses the gas tax to provide savings at the pumps, another is bringing it back. The Manitoba government says that starting Monday, motorists won’t have to pay 14 cents per litre in fuel tax for the next six months.The province has said it introduced the measure to help motorists with inflation.Meanwhile, the Alberta government is reintroducing the gas tax after pausing it nearly two years ago. Starting Monday, motorists in Alberta can expect to pay a tax of nine cents per litre at the pumps.Alberta said the rate of nine cents is cheaper than the 13 cents motorists had paid before the pause. Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner said the tax rate is based on the average price of oil. Should the price of West Texas Intermediate average US$80 per barrel, Albertans can expect to save some or all of the fuel tax, he said. “Alberta’s fuel tax is a predictable source of provincial revenue, helping to offset the volatility of other revenue sources,” Horner said i...

German officials detain a fifth suspect in connection with a threat to attack Cologne Cathedral

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities said Monday they detained another suspect in connection with an alleged threat of an attack on the world-famous Cologne Cathedral over the holidays, bringing the overall number of people detained in connection with the alleged plot to five.The latest suspect, a 41-year-old German-Turkish man, was detained Sunday night in the western city of Bochum in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Police detained three people on Sunday morning and one man last week. All of the detained suspects allegedly belong to a larger Islamic extremist network that included people across Germany and in other European countries, according to Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns, German news agency dpa reported.The other four suspects were detained in different cities across North Rhine-Westphalia. The one who was detained last week was identified as a 30-year-old Tajik man. No details were given for the three who were detained Sunday morning.The attack was supposed to hav...

Hundreds of migrants enter Chicago after being flown to Rockford from San Antonio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Hundreds of migrants were dropped off in the Chicago area, some keeping warm on CTA buses in the West Loop, to begin 2024.It's the latest maneuver by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to send migrants to the city in a showdown with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who calls Abbott's actions "a very dangerous task" and "a matter of national security."A private plane chartered out of San Antonio arrived early Sunday morning at Chicago Rockford International Airport carrying 355 migrants. Rockford officials say they were given limited notice about the arrival of the Boeing 777 at about 1 a.m. Sunday.Unlike Chicago, Rockford is not classified as a Sanctuary City for the migrants.Upon landing, the plane's passengers boarded eight buses chartered by Gov. Abbott. Rockford officials say the buses were scheduled to take the migrants to Chicago's designated landing zone in the West Loop at W. Polk St. and S. Desplaines St.However, the buses dropped passengers off in various suburbs, and they are...

Shopping on New Year's Day 2024? From Costco to Walmart, see what stores are open and closed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

The New Year is almost upon us. And as the world prepares to ring in 2024, many are winding down from the holidays and getting back into their regular routines — give or take some fresh resolutions.If you're planning on grabbing groceries or doing some other shopping to kick off the new year, it's wise to double check stores' hours. While more businesses typically stay open on New Year's Day compared to Christmas Day, a handful of chains still cut back on hours or shut their doors to commemorate the holiday. Some also close up shop early for New Year's Eve.Operations can vary on location. When in doubt, call ahead or check hours of stores in your neighborhood online.Here's a rundown of major store hours and which businesses are open and closed in the U.S. this New Year's Day.IS WALMART OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?Walmart is open with normal hours on New Year's Day.IS TARGET OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?Target is open with regular operating hours on New Year's Day.IS COSTCO OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S D...

What to know about 2024 changes to the electric vehicle tax credit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

(The Hill) — Changes to the federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credit are set to take effect Jan. 1, reflecting a push by the Biden administration to focus the financial incentives on domestically produced vehicles. The changes to the tax credit, which tops out at $7,500, will exclude certain EVs that include internationally sourced components from eligibility, while for the first time allowing some buyers to access the credit right after buying an eligible vehicle. These changes stem from a central provision of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the sweeping climate and infrastructure law President Biden signed in 2022.  The provision barred vehicles including components or critical minerals from "foreign entities of concern" (FEOC) from being eligible for the credit. In November, the Biden administration issued rules for determining which entities fall under this disqualification. This includes companies fully or partially controlled by the governments of China,...

Missing foreign exchange student was victim of 'cyber kidnapping': Utah police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:55 GMT

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (KTVX) — A missing and endangered 17-year-old Chinese foreign exchange student has been located and returned to his family after an alleged "cyber kidnapping," according to Riverdale City Police.Kai Zhuang had been reported as kidnapped on Dec. 28 after his parents in China received a ransom demand for his safe return. The parents contacted school officials in his host city of Riverdale, Utah, where police said even the family he had been staying with did not know he was missing.Authorities originally believed Zhuang may have been forcefully kidnapped, However, in a press release Sunday night, Riverdale Police explained they had determined he was a victim of a "cyber kidnapping."On the night before his disappearance, Zhuang's host family in Riverdale told police he had been home and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They heard him moving around in the early morning hours of Dec. 28, but again had no reason for concern. Police determined Zhuang left the house on ...