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Death toll climbs as Cyclone Freddy slams Malawi, Mozambique

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — An unrelenting Cyclone Freddy that is currently battering southern Africa has killed at least 56 people in Malawi and Mozambique since it struck the continent for a second time on Saturday night, authorities in both countries have confirmed. Local police said 51 people in Malawi, including 36 in Chilobwe in the financial hub of Blantyre in the center of the country have died, with several others missing or injured. Authorities in Mozambique reported that five people were killed in the country since Saturday.The deaths in Malawi include five members of a single family who died in Blantyre’s Ndirande township after Freddy’s destructive winds and heavy rains demolished their house, according to a police report. A three-year-old child who was “trapped in the debris” is also among the victims, with her parents among those reported missing, authorities also said.“We suspect that this figure will rise as we are trying to compile one national report from ...

Markets volatile in early morning trading after U.S. bank failures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

TORONTO — It is a volatile trading session for markets this morning amid fears of financial contagion in the U.S. after the second- and third-largest bank failures in that country’s history, while Canada’s main stock exchange moves lower on weakness in the energy and financial sectors.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 148.96 points at 19,625.96.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 61.37 points at 31,971.01. The S&P 500 index was down 8.91 points at 3,852.68, while the Nasdaq composite was down 8.10 points at 11,130.79.The Canadian dollar traded for 72.76 cents US compared with 72.43 cents US on Friday.The April crude contract was down US$.38 at US$73.30 per barrel and the April natural gas contract was up 13 cents at US$2.56 per mmBTU.The April gold contract was up US$45.20 at US$1,912.4 an ounce and the May copper contract was down three cents at US$4.00 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2023.Companies in this story: ...

Canadian Tire launches fee-based Triangle Rewards subscription program for $89/year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

TORONTO — Canadian Tire Corp. is rolling out a new fee-based subscription program as part of its Triangle Rewards loyalty program. The retailer says the subscription, which will cost $89 a year plus taxes, is an upgrade to its existing rewards program that will deliver “even more value to customers.”The company says members who pay for so-called Triangle Select status will be able to earn CT Money faster through “stackable, bonus rewards” on eligible purchases at it stores, including Canadian Tire, Mark’s, Sport Chek, Sport Experts and Party City.Canadian Tire says subscribers will also receive a “welcome gift” valued at $50, online shopping perks and, for a limited time, a six-month subscription to the streaming service Crave.Jason Blanchette, senior vice-president of loyalty and customer insights at Canadian Tire Corp., says the Triangle Select program offers Canadians a new way to stretch their dollars and “earn even more rewards on...

Drake announces 2023 North American tour with 21 Savage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

Four-time Grammy-winner Drake is teaming up with collaborator 21 Savage for a North American arena tour this year. The It’s All a Blur Tour will kick off June 16 in New Orleans and stop in Dallas, Miami, New York, Montreal, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Additional shows including Toronto will be announced later. The Canadian rapper-singer and Spotify’s most-streamed artist in the U.S. last year put out two albums in 2022, “Honestly, Nevermind” and his collaboration with 21 Savage, “Her Loss.” His last headlining tour was in 2018.During a show at the famed Apollo Theater earlier this year, he hinted at a tour and possibly even more music on the horizon.Several of the stops will be two-night stands, including in Atlanta, Chicago and Boston.Presales will be available through Cash App and Sprite beginning Wednesday and general sales will start Friday. (), The Associated Press

German department store chain seen shutting 40% of outlets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s last major department store chain aims to close two-fifths of its branches, months after it filed for insolvency protection for the second time in less than three years, the company’s employee council said Monday.The long-troubled Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof plans to shut 52 of its current 129 stores, the council said. It added that the move would cost more than 5,000 jobs, German news agency dpa reported.The company, which resulted from the merger a few years ago of rivals Karstadt and Kaufhof, sought protection from creditors in late October, citing a steep rise in energy prices and weak consumer spending.It had already shut around 40 stores and cut some 4,000 jobs after seeking protection during the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020, and reportedly was granted 680 million euros ($724 million) in state aid. The Associated Press

Drake to start ‘It’s All a Blur’ tour this summer with stops in Vancouver, Montreal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

TORONTO — Drake has announced his 2023 North American tour with 21 Savage.The “It’s All a Blur” tour comes with a 29-date arena run this summer with two Canadian stops in Montreal and Vancouver.It follows Drake and 21 Savage’s 2022 album “Her Loss.”After kicking off in New Orleans in June, the tour will stop in Montreal on July 14 and Vancouver on Aug. 28. Live Nation says additional dates, including Toronto, will be announced at a later date.This is Drake’s first tour in five years. He was last on the road with “Aubrey and the Three Migos” in 2018.Ticket presales start March 15, while the general sale starts March 17.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2023.The Canadian Press

Liquid sugar truck crashes on I-65; left lane closed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

JASPER COUNTY, Ind. — A liquid sugar truck crashed on I-65 Monday morning and has been causing delays in Jasper County.The crash is currently impacting the left southbound lane of I-65 near mile marker 221 — which is around eight miles south of the Roselawn exit. A large truck hauling liquid sugar crashed and ended up on the side of the interstate.At around 6:45 a.m., Indiana State Police announced that it was actually the second crash in the area.Courtesy Indiana State PoliceAuthorities are working to offload the sugar into another trailer, then they will begin working on lifting the truck out of the ditch. 2 vehicles wanted after man dies in suburban hit-and-run At this time, it's unknown if the driver or anyone else suffered any injuries.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

Trump attorney: Hush payment ‘not directly related’ to campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

(The Hill) -- An attorney representing former President Donald Trump in the Manhattan prosecutors’ hush money probe, which could soon culminate in criminal charges, described the case as “outrageous” on Monday.During an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” with anchor George Stephanopoulos, attorney Joe Tacopina said an October 2016 hush payment at the center of the case that a Trump aide made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who alleges she had an affair with Trump, was not “directly related” to Trump’s presidential campaign. Trump denies the affair.The hush money has reemerged as the primary focus of the probe being run by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who has empaneled a grand jury to hear evidence and could soon seek an indictment against the former president. Connecting the payment to a campaign finance violation could become the crux of the case.“I expect justice to prevail, and if that's the case, George, there shouldn't be an indictment,” Tacopina said...

Man killed daughter's suspected stalker with moose antler, sheriff says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A Minnesota man showed up at the Cook County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday covered in blood and confessed to beating a 77-year-old to death, first with a shovel, then with a moose antler.Levi Axtell, 27, told sheriff's deputies he killed Lawrence V. Scully in his Grand Marais, Minnesota, home. Back in 2018, Axtell had accused the elderly man of stalking his 22-month-old daughter, the Star Tribune reports. In a request for a protective order, he said Scully would park his van outside his daughter's day care and wait for her to go out on walks. The court granted the protective order temporarily but dismissed it weeks later, according to the newspaper. Washington girl missing since 2018 found in Mexico: FBI Before Axtell's 2018 complaint, Scully was already a convicted sex offender. Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen confirmed to the Associated Press that Scully served a prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 6-year-old and was released in 1982. According to court d...

Police arrest suspect in northwest Austin hookah lounge shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said it has arrested a suspect involved in a hookah lounge shooting in late January, where at least five people were shot, and two died. The shooting happened at the Moon Palace Hookah Lounge at 12636 Research Blvd. on Jan. 28. Brayden Bolyard, 17, was pronounced dead on the scene. APD also reported Jaitron Tatum, 18, later died from gunshot wounds. APD said because two people have died, the case is considered capital murder. Previous coverage: 2nd victim dies as a result of northwest Austin hookah lounge shooting, APD says A person of interest was previously identified but police did not release their name. APD said it was planning to hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. to give an update on the investigation and announce the arrest of a suspect. The press conference will be streamed in the video player above.