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Venezuela’s planned vote over territory dispute leaves Guyana residents on edge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

SURAMA, Guyana (AP) — Congregants of an Anglican church in a sparsely populated rainforest village in Guyana gathered recently to bid on a bounty of bananas, squash and other produce during a community event. They sang hymns and rang a bell after each successful bid.They offered grateful devotions typical of a harvest festival but also asked for peace for their community amid what they see as an existential threat. Their village, Surama, is part of Guyana’s Essequibo region — a territory larger than Greece and rich in oil and minerals that Venezuela claims as its own and whose future it intends to decide Sunday with a referendum.The practical and legal implications of the vote, which among other things calls for turning Essequibo into a Venezuelan state, remain unclear, but the referendum has left area residents on edge.“We are praying, we are hoping and we are having faith that nothing negative will come,” said Loreen Allicock, who led the congregation during the harvest festival. ...

Elton John to address Britain’s Parliament in an event marking World AIDS Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Elton John is to address Britain’s Parliament on Wednesday on his work fighting HIV at an event to mark World AIDS Day. The British star’s AIDS Foundation has led campaigns to extend a pilot government program to test people visiting hospitals’ emergency rooms for HIV. Under the program, which was recently introduced in London and other cities, including Manchester, anyone 16 years old or older who has their blood tested in an emergency room will also get tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, unless they opt out of the testing.John’s charity has urged the government to expand the service, which officials say has been key in discovering hundreds of undetected cases of HIV.On Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak paid tribute to John’s AIDS Foundation, saying he was pleased its work was being celebrated in Parliament. “Sir Elton has been a powerful voice for change in the U.K. and the world,” Sunak told lawmakers. “Through the brillia...

2 suspects accused of breaking into east-end Toronto home, stealing vehicle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

Toronto police are looking to identify two suspects wanted for allegedly breaking into an east-end home and then stealing the resident’s vehicle.Officers responded to a break-and-enter call in the area of Danforth and Woodbine avenues around 6:45 a.m. on Monday.Police say a man and a woman broke into a home. One of the suspects entered the house and allegedly stole several items, including a set of car keys.The suspects left the home, but investigators say they returned a short time later and also stole the vehicle.Police say one of the suspects, a woman, has long blonde hair and was wearing a white jacket. The second suspect, a man, has a medium build and a goatee. He was wearing a grey hooded “Nike” sweatshirt, grey pants, a red baseball hat, and black shoes.Investigators have released security camera images of the two suspects.

Taylor Swift is Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2023 and releases vault song on streaming to thank fans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s her, hi — Taylor Swift is Spotify’s 2023 most-played artist.According to Spotify Wrapped, Swift was 2023's most-streamed artist globally, raking in more than 26.1 billion streams since January 1. T. Swift took to "X' to thank fans, saying in part: "Um ok this is unreal?? I just wanted to say to anyone who listened to my music this year, anywhere in the world, thank you. Getting named Spotify’s Global Top Artist in 2023 is truly the best birthday/holiday gift you could’ve given me. We’ve seriously had THE MOST fun this year out there on tour and now this. Are you serious."As a thank you, Swift made "You're Losing Me," which is one of her vault songs, available for streaming on Wednesday.The pop powerhouse has dethroned Puerto Rican reggaetón star Bad Bunny, who held the coveted Spotify title for three years in a row beginning in 2020.He's in the number two slot in 2023, followed by The Weeknd in third, Drake in fourth, and regional Mexican musician P...

Blackhawks top Kraken 4-3 on whirlwind day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Johnson and MacKenzie Entwistle scored in the second period, and the Chicago Blackhawks topped the Seattle Kraken 4-3 on Tuesday night.Jason Dickinson and Boris Katchouk also scored for Chicago, and Petr Mrazek made 33 saves. Joey Anderson added two assists.The Blackhawks had dropped six of seven. They held off the Kraken in the final minutes at the end of a difficult day.“I was really proud of the guys," said forward Nick Foligno, one of Chicago's alternate captains. “Even when we wavered, even when we had a dip and it looked like we were kind of giving them some goals, we just find our way back again.”Chicago announced that it is cutting ties with Corey Perry after the veteran forward engaged in what the organization called unacceptable conduct. The team said in a statement that an internal investigation showed Perry acted in violation of his NHL Standard Player Contract and club policies “intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”...

Percent of college students witnessing antisemitism spikes since start of academic year: poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

(The Hill) -- The percentage of college students who have experienced or witnessed antisemitism has spiked since the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, according to a new poll by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Hillel International.The poll found that 73 percent of Jewish students and 44 percent of non-Jewish students have seen or experienced antisemitism since the start of the school year. Back in 2021, a survey showed only 32 percent of Jewish students directly experienced antisemitism while 31 percent of Jewish students saw antisemitism that wasn’t aimed towards them. The poll comes as antisemitism has been rising for some time, but advocates have raised greater alarm since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.The poll found that after the attack only 46 percent of Jewish students felt physically safe and 33 percent felt emotionally safe on campus. Before Oct. 7, 67 percent of Jewish students felt physically safe at college while 66 percent felt emotionally safe. “...

Students for Trump founder arrested, accused of assaulting girlfriend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

(The Hill) - A co-founder of the Students for Trump supporter group was arrested last week on domestic violence charges in North Carolina, according to court documents.Ryan Fournier, who co-founded the organization as a Campbell University student in 2016 and now leads conservative activist group Radical Alert, was charged with assault of a woman and assault with a deadly weapon after an incident last Tuesday.According to court records, Fournier grabbed his girlfriend by the arm and hit her in the head with a handgun.He was released on a $2,500 bond that day. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 8.Radical Alert describes itself as an organization that “exposes” political “radicals” on college campuses. Its social media posts include conspiracy theories tying celebrities and members of Congress to terrorist groupsFellow Students for Trump co-founder John Lambert was arrested and sentenced to 13 months in prison in May 2021 for posing as a lawyer in a fraud scheme providing...

Inside the Investigations: Texas crime victims fund

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live.A conversation will happen Wednesday morning with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree to break down one of this week’s top stories. The discussion this time will include senior investigative producer and reporter David Barer. Inside the Investigations: OutLaw Catalyst project People can watch a live stream at about 9 a.m. in this story and on the KXAN News Facebook page. The story they'll talk about this week is:The latest KXAN Investigates piece from the reporting team of David Barer and investigative reporter Matt Grant centers on a man struck by a stolen car waiting months to receive financial assistance from the state. However, they learned he's not the only victim of a violent crime experiencing the same thing. Join Kelly Wiley and Will DuPree every Wednesday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth ...

$17K TAKE 5 winning ticket sold in Schenectady

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- One lucky Price Chopper customer bought a top-prize winning ticket in the November 28 TAKE 5 midday drawing, according to the New York Lottery. The ticket was worth $17,937.50 and sold at the Price Chopper on Balltown Road. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The winning numbers for Tuesday's midday drawing were 3, 21, 22, 31, and 34. The TAKE 5 drawings are televised twice daily at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The winning numbers are drawn from a field of one through 39. Over 50K driver’s licenses could be suspended Friday New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone that is, can find help at NYProblemGamblingHelp.org, by calling New York’s toll-free confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or texting HOPENY (467369).

Hattie's in Albany expected to open in first few months of 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Work is continuing on the new Hattie's Restaurant in Albany with the Hattie's sign finally being installed. Business for Good, which turns restaurants into nonprofits that put money back into the community, said the eatery is projected to open in the first few months of 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The restaurant is located in the former Lombardo’s Restaurant at 121 Madison Avenue on Albany's South End. Business for Good began working to open the new Hattie’s in 2021.A job fair to staff the restaurant was held in September. Business for Good said more employment opportunities will be coming after the new year, as well as more information on a grand opening event. Saratoga Coffee Traders in Schenectady sets opening date The Italian restaurant Lombardo's, considered by many to be an Albany institution, closed in 2018. The Albany Hattie's was originally slated for a spring or summer opening in 2...