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Nepal bans TikTok and says it disrupts social harmony

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s government decided to ban the popular social media app TikTok on Monday, saying it was disrupting “social harmony” in the country. The announcement was made following a Cabinet meeting. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said the app would be banned immediately. “The government has decided to ban TikTok as it was necessary to regulate the use of the social media platform that was disrupting social harmony, goodwill and flow of indecent materials,” Saud said.He said that to make social media platforms accountable, the government has asked the companies to register and open a liaison office in Nepal, pay taxes and abide by the country’s laws and regulations. It wasn’t clear what triggered the ban or if TikTok had refused to comply with Nepal’s requests. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has faced scrutiny in a number of countries because of concerns that Beijing ...

What should donors learn from Ibram X. Kendi’s problems at Boston University?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

The award-winning author and academic Ibram X. Kendi has been a lightning rod for public discourse since publishing his book “How to Be an Antiracist” in 2019. But in September, the praise and criticism reached new intensity when Boston University acknowledged layoffs at the center he runs there along with a change to its operating model. The news prompted former colleagues and current collaborators to publicly question the BU Center for Antiracist Research’s ability to deliver on the promises it had made to funders. In news reports and op-eds, some former colleagues said too much power was concentrated in Kendi’s hands. People and organizations that oppose racial equity piled on. Earlier this month, the university said an initial inquiry found no issues with how the center managed its finances. Acknowledging the layoffs in September, the university and Kendi said it was not financially sustainable to conduct research and develop programs with its own employees, despite having...

Police fatally shoot 17-year-old during traffic stop in North Dakota’s Bismarck

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Police shot and killed a 17-year-old early Sunday during a traffic stop in a mall parking lot in Bismarck, North Dakota, while investigating the teen for a reported shooting.Police responded about 12:15 a.m. Sunday to gunfire in the area, according to a news release. Officers determined a shooting occurred near a hotel. Police subsequently began investigating 17-year-old Nicholas Bruington, of Bismarck.About 1:50 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle in which Bruington was a passenger, near the Scheels sporting goods store in the Kirkwood Mall parking lot. Police said Bruington “had a firearm and did not follow commands.”It wasn’t immediately clear whether Bruington pointed the gun at police. None of the officers were injured.Three officers shot at Bruington. Officers performed life-saving procedures until Bruington was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting, per the pol...

Amtrak service north of NYC disrupted by structural issues with parking garage over tracks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Amtrak service north of New York City was disrupted Monday because of structural issues with a parking garage that’s over the tracks on Manhattan’s west side, officials said.Service between the city and the Croton-Harmon station in Westchester County was halted Sunday after structural problems were discovered at the parking garage on West 51st Street.Amtrak said passengers traveling between New York City and Croton-Harmon could take Metro-North, which is honoring Amtrak tickets.Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said railroad officials don’t know when full service will be restored.New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Sunday that city engineers were dispatched to the parking garage to assess the situation.“We are working closely with Amtrak and other transit partners to protect public safety and maintain regular communication with riders,” Adams said on X, formerly Twitter.New York City officials stepped up the inspection of parking garages after a thre...

2 accused of running high-end brothel network in Massachusetts and Virginia are due in court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A man and woman accused of operating a commercial sex ring with wealthy and prominent clients in Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C., suburbs are set to appear in court Monday. Junmyung Lee, of Dedham, Massachusetts, and Han Lee, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, are scheduled to appear in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts, for a detention hearing, where a judge will weigh whether they should remain behind bars while they await trial. They were arrested last week when investigators busted the network of brothels in Massachusetts and northern Virginia. Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said those who bought sex services include elected officials, company executives and government contractors with security clearances. None of the clients have been charged, and authorities have not publicly named any of them. But prosecutors have said their investigation is ongoing. Attorneys for Junmyung Lee and Han Lee declined to comment last week. A third pe...

El Salvador slaps a $1,130 fee on African and Indian travelers as US pressures it to curb migration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — El Salvador’s government has begun slapping a $1,130 fee on travelers from dozens of countries connecting through the nation’s main airport, amid U.S. pressure to help control migration flows to its southern border.Since the end of October, citizens of 57 largely African countries and India have had to pay the fee, according to El Salvador’s aviation authority.Aviation officials did not say whether the measure was aimed at reducing migration and have described the tariff as an “airport improvement fee,” but El Salvador’s government acknowledged an uptick in travelers from those countries this year. Also, the U.S. has been pressuring Central American countries to curb migration flows to its border with Mexico. U.S. authorities say they stopped migrants there more than 2 million times during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. El Salvador’s aviation authority said most passengers who have to pay the fee are headed to Nicaragua on the commercial airline ...

Caribbean island of Dominica creates world’s first marine protected area for endangered sperm whale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The tiny Caribbean island of Dominica is creating the world’s first marine protected area for one of earth’s largest animals: the endangered sperm whale.Nearly 300 square miles (800 square kilometers) of royal blue waters on the western side of the island nation that serve as key nursing and feeding grounds will be designated as a reserve, the government announced Monday.“We want to ensure these majestic and highly intelligent animals are safe from harm and continue keeping our waters and our climate healthy,” Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said in a statement.Scientists say the reserve not only will protect the animals, but it will also help fight climate change.Sperm whales defecate near the surface because they shut down non-vital functions when they dive to depths of up to 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). As a result, nutrient-rich poop remains along the ocean surface and creates plankton blooms, which capture carbon dioxide in the atmosphere a...

Bad Boy Furniture aiming to restructure business as it faces ‘challenging’ economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

TORONTO — Bad Boy Furniture Warehouse Ltd. is aiming to restructure its business through a filing made under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The Greater Toronto Area furniture company says in Ontario court filings that the move has become necessary because Bad Boy is operating in a “challenging” economic environment.The company says high interest rates, falling home sales and a tight retail climate are impacting its business.The conditions have left Bad Boy owing many of its vendors, including most of its appliance and furniture suppliers. It is also facing significant challenges sourcing more inventory, which is impacting its retail business.As a result of its challenges, Bad Boy says it is considering a liquidation sale to wind down inefficient portions of its business.The Pickering, Ont.-headquartered retailer, which started in 1990, is owned by Lastman Furniture Inc. and has 12 stores across Ontario.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 20...

Chicago firefighter dies after battling fire at restaurant in Lincoln Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter has died after battling a fire at a restaurant in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood.Fire officials confirmed the death Monday morning, saying "on behalf of the Fire Commisioner, it is my sad duty to report the passing of our member injured this morning at 2430 Lincoln."The fire started around 6 a.m. Monday at Lincoln Station Bar and Grill in the 2400 block of Lincoln Avenue. According to officials, a Mayday call was made while crews were responding to the fire and one firefighter was trapped and had to be rescued. The crew member was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition, where they later died.The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.The firefighter's death is the fourth line-of-duty death the department has dealt with this year. Lt. Kevin Ward died following a Northwest Side fire in August. In the same week in April, CFD lost Jermaine Pelt, 49, and Jan Tchoryk, 55, in separate fires.This is a developing story. Check b...

Secret Service agents protecting Biden's granddaughter open fire when 3 people try to break into SUV

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service agents protecting President Joe Biden’s granddaughter opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in the nation’s capital, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.The agents, assigned to protect Naomi Biden, were out with her in the Georgetown neighborhood late Sunday night when they saw the three people breaking a window of the parked and unoccupied SUV, the official said. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on Monday on the condition of anonymity.A secret service agent, July 20, 2022, in New York. Secret Service agents protecting President Joe Biden's granddaughter have opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in Washington. That's according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday. It happened Sunday night in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington...