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Northern Ireland NGOs fret as EU cash finally departs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

The clock is ticking for Northern Ireland’s nonprofits.Charities in the region are poised to lose millions in EU money next year as a result of Brexit, leading to warnings that their survival is on the line. These NGOs claim the British government’s replacement fund will leave a hole in their finances, potentially exacerbating social inequalities.It’s an issue in the spotlight this week as U.S. President Joe Biden travels around the island to mark the 25th anniversary of the landmark Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence between British unionists and Irish nationalists in the region. Top EU officials are also expected in Belfast next week for more ceremonies, according to multiple officials with knowledge of the plans. At times, the celebrations have been overshadowed by the difficulties Northern Ireland is currently experiencing. This includes a political crisis that has left it without a functioning government and in an awkward position between the EU ...

AP sources: FBI wants to speak with guardsman in leaks probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

By ERIC TUCKER, TARA COPP and MICHAEL BALSAMO (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI wants to question a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war, two people familiar with the investigation said Thursday.Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the chat group where the documents were posted, according to the two people, who were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.They identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira of Swansea, Massachusetts.It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. But The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira earlier Thursday, said that a man who had been standing outside the Teixeira home said that “he needs to get an attorney if things are flowing the way they are going right now. The Fed...

Nearly 26 inches of rain: ‘A really unprecedented event’ in parts of South Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

Bill Kearney | South Florida Sun-SentinelClose to 26 inches of rain fell in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, with most of that falling in just six hours, according to the National Weather Service.How did Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach and Hollywood become ground-zero for this shocking torrent? “It was an unprecedented event,” said Shawn Bhatti, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.He said that their preliminary data on Thursday indicated that there were pockets of Fort Lauderdale, stretching from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport up to Edgewood, Tarpon River, and south of the upper Middle River, that were drenched with 20 to 25.91 inches Wednesday, and the broader metro area was pummeled with 10 to 15 inches of rain.A woman wades through high flood waters in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood south of State Road 84 near of SW 9th Ave. on Thursday. South Florida was drenched by rain Wednesday causing major flooding.He said that, incredibly, most of that rain ...

4 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ series win, including Cody Bellinger’s weekend plans and new light bulbs at Wrigley Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

The Chicago Cubs begin their West Coast trip Friday with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Seiya Suzuki is expected to make his season debut.Here are four takeaways from series win over the Seattle Mariners.1. Jed Hoyer’s 3-year planWith two three-year contracts in the books for Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ, president Jed Hoyer has made it clear the Cubs prefer short-term deals for free agents.So who’s next?Marcus Stroman has an opt-out after this season on his three-year, $71 million deal that pays him $21 million in 2024. Hoyer might want to lock Stroman up for a few more years before the pitcher decides to opt out for a long-term deal.Cody Bellinger may be holding down center until prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is ready, which looks soon. Bellinger signed a one-year, $17.5 million deal with the Cubs with a mutual $24 million option for 2024.The only other prominent potential free agent is Kyle Hendricks, who is rehabbing in Arizona after shoulder ...

Massachusetts Air National Guardsman tied to Pentagon secret documents leak: Reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

A 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard has been tied to leaking top secret U.S. documents about the Ukraine war, according to reports.Jack Teixeira has been identified as the leader of a Discord group, a social media platform, where the highly classified military documents were posted online.The New York Times first reported the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman’s identity on Thursday.An arrest in the case could happen on Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal.Related ArticlesNation | US Army apologizes after soldiers detain wrong person in Boston hotel room during training exercise Nation | FBI says Department of Defense agents detained the wrong person in a Boston hotel room Nation | Russian fighter jet dumps fuel on US drone before hitting propeller, Pentagon video shows; Seth Moulton calls it ‘reckless’ behavior from Putin’s military Nation | Watch: US releases vid...

How a tax extension can delay your business loan application

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

About 19 million individuals and businesses filed for an extension on their tax returns last year, many due to unexpected circumstances such as IRS backlog delays. No matter the reason, filing for an extension only gives you more time to file, not to pay, which can put you at risk of overpayment, or hefty late payment fees if you underpay based on your estimation.In addition to these risks, filing for a tax extension can also affect a business’s ability to get financing. If you’re planning to apply for a business loan this year, understand the impact an extension could have so you can keep your finances on track.How tax returns factor into business loan applicationsWhile every institution is different, most traditional lenders and banks look at profit and debt service coverage ratio, or DSCR, as key factors in determining a business’s ability to repay a loan. Profit is revenue minus expenses, while DSCR speaks to a business’s ability to take on new debt while covering current debt o...

The California state parks among those everyone should visit in their lifetime: Yelp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With warmer weather finally here, it's time to get outside and there's no better place to do that than in California.The Golden State has the most parkland between national and state lands in the country, with 279 individual parks spanning hundreds of thousands of acres.From desert badlands and mountain peaks to coastal bluffs and lush forests, there are so many natural wonders to see. For anyone looking to narrow the options of places to visit this spring, Yelp has compiled a list of state parks that everyone should visit in their lifetime and five are right here in California: Anza-Borrego, Wilder Ranch, Montaña de Oro, Henry Cowell Redwoods and Pfeiffer Big Sur.The full list from Yelp, including parks from almost all the 50 states, can be found here.Anza-Borrego State Park in San DiegoAnza-Borrego State Park, right on the edge of eastern San Diego County, showcases the wonders of the California desert. Named after Spanish explorer, Juan Bautista de Anza, the par...

California State Capitol building evacuated due to 'credible threat'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

(KTXL) -- The California State Capitol building in downtown Sacramento was temporarily evacuated Thursday morning, according to a FOX40 News team at the building and an internal letter shared with legislators and legislative staff that advised about a 'credible threat.'A little more than an hour after the initial evacuation, legislators and their staffers were able to enter the building once again around 10 a.m.“The California Highway Patrol has notified the Senate of a threat they consider to be credible involving the Capitol,” says a letter that was sent to state senators and senate staff. During the evacuation, legislators and staff were asked to remain home and work remotely. Senators and staffers already at the Capitol were asked to remain in place."CHP and security partners are present in higher numbers in the Capitol area, and are alert of the situation," the letter said. While the Capitol itself was evacuated, the grounds around the building appeared relatively calm, wi...

Whitmer signs stricter gun background check, storage bills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Anyone who wants to buy a gun in Michigan will have to undergo a background check, and gun owners will be required to safely store all firearms and ammunition when around minors under new laws signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.The signing took place on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, where a gunman killed three students and injured five others two months ago. Flanked by students and gun safety advocates, Whitmer, a graduate of MSU, told the more than 100 people in attendance to “buckle up, we’re going to continue this work.”“Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country,” Whitmer said. “We don’t have to live like this and today, we are showing we are not going to anymore.”The legislation is part of a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package that was introduced in the weeks following the MSU shooting but was predominately drafted after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in which four students were killed. The bills saw l...

Emotions high at French protests over Macron’s pension plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:47:47 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Protesters opposing President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular plan to raise the retirement age to 64 marched Thursday in cities and towns around France, in a final show of anger before a crucial decision on whether the measure meets constitutional standards.Demonstrators targeted the Central Bank offices in Paris and briefly invaded the headquarters of luxury conglomerate LVMH — but their attention increasingly centered on the Constitutional Council, which is to decide Friday whether to nix any or all parts of the legislation.Activists dumped bags of garbage outside the council’s columned façade in the morning. Later, another crowd holding flares faced off with a large contingent of riot police that rushed to protect the building.Paris police banned all gatherings outside the council from Thursday evening through Saturday morning, in an attempt to reduce pressure on the council members as they make their decision.The number of protesters in cities nationwide Thursday ...