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Niger coup leaders refuse to let US diplomat meet with president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

By Sam Mednick and Ellen Knickmeyer | Associated PressNIAMEY, Niger — A senior U.S. diplomat said coup leaders in Niger refused to allow her to meet Monday with the West African country’s democratically elected president, whom she described as under “virtual house arrest.”Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland also described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to U.S. pressure to return the country to civilian rule.“They were quite firm about how they want to proceed, and it is not in support of the constitution of Niger,” Nuland told reporters. She characterized the conversations as “extremely frank and at times quite difficult.”She spoke after a two-hour meeting in Niger’s capital, Niamey, with some leaders of the military takeover of a country that has been a vital counterterrorism partner of the United States.In speaking to junta leaders, Nuland said, she made “absolutely clear the kinds of support that we will leg...

Lots of travelers don’t know Oakland Airport is near San Francisco. So it might get a new name

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

OAKLAND — Considering the city’s recent fortunes, a survey seeking feedback on a potential renaming of Oakland International Airport might have deepened worries that the city would soon no longer be associated with one of its largest institutions.But officials for the Port of Oakland, which manages the 100-year-old airport, confirmed in an email to this news organization that any rebranding will not involve removing the city’s name.But they’re also not pulling any punches about why they want to make a change — the name “Oakland” alone, it seems, is not selling enough plane tickets.“Market research both nationally and internationally has shown that majorities of international and U.S. passengers are unfamiliar with Oakland’s or our airport’s proximity to the San Francisco Bay,” port official Matt Davis said in a statement.“This lack of awareness depressed inbound passenger demand, even from passengers flying to destina...

Cruise car involved in collision with semi-truck in SF

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Cruise car collided with a semi-truck in San Francisco on Monday, Cruise confirmed on Twitter. Cruise responded to a tweet reporting the collision. The tweet said it happened in Golden Gate Park. The tweet showed a video of the truck backing away from the Cruise car, which had a destroyed passenger-side mirror. Another Bay Area postal carrier targeted in armed robbery Cruise said the truck was in the right lane when it tried to turn left as a Cruise car was passing. The car stopped when it sensed the situation, but the truck continued and struck the car, per Cruise. There were no passengers in the Cruise car at the time, and nobody was injured, Cruise said.Cruise is investigating the crash.

Biden will tout long-sought Grand Canyon monument designation during Arizona visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce a new national monument to preserve land around Grand Canyon National Park and limit it from mining, White House officials said Monday. White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi confirmed during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One that Biden will call for the designation during his visit to northern Arizona on Tuesday, making it his fifth national monument. A dozen tribes “stepped up” and asked for this monument, Zaidi added.Advocates for limiting mining around Grand Canyon National Park had expressed hope that this would be the reason behind the presidential visit.Biden ‘s new national monument designation would preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) for future generations.Representatives of various northern Arizona tribes have been invited to attend the president’s remarks. Among them are Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairwoman Tanya Lewis, Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Navajo President...

Betts’ grand slam caps 8-run 4th inning as the Dodgers stun the Padres 13-7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Mookie Betts hit a grand slam to cap an eight-run fourth inning and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers stunned the San Diego Padres 13-7 on Monday to win for the sixth time in seven games.Betts drove a 3-0 pitch from Seth Lugo into the left-center seats, his 31st homer of the season, with one out in the fourth to give the Dodgers an 8-5 lead. Betts then punctuated his trot by pumping his fist several times as though he were pulling a train whistle, a celebration known as the “freight train” that was started by David Peralta, while his teammates repeated the gesture in the dugout.Betts gave third base coach Dino Ebel a low-five before being warmly greeted at the plate by Kiké Hernández, James Outman and Miguel Rojas, who had been on base. Betts then gave Freddie Freeman, the 10th batter of the inning, a pat on the backside.“We just don’t give up,” Betts said. “Got to play all nine innings, no matter what. We’ve been around for a while, a lot of us ha...

White Sox refute claims of “no rules” by former reliever Middleton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago White Sox management on Monday refuted claims by former reliever Keynan Middleton that the downtrodden team had a culture with “no rules,” allowing a rookie reliever to regularly fall asleep during games and other players to miss meetings and practices.Middleton, dealt to the New York Yankees for minor league pitching prospect Juan Carela just before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, made the statements in an ESPN report published on Sunday.Before Monday’s game against the Yankees in Chicago, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and first-year field manager Pedro Grifol said Middleton’s claims were inaccurate. But both admitted their disappointing team had faced its share internal issues, centering around building a winning culture.“I’ve been talking about culture here since Day One and brought it up again about three or four weeks ago,” Grifol said. “I feel like we’re not even close to where we need to be, but we’re heading in the right direction.”The White Sox, expe...

Denver weather: More storms before warmer temperatures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will see drier and warmer conditions through the workweek ahead. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for eastern Colorado until 9 p.m. The primary concerns for thunderstorms that become strong to severe will be large hail and damaging wind gusts.Weather tonight: Clearing, coolEvening thunderstorms will continue to push east. This will be followed by a partly cloudy night with low temperatures falling down to the mid-50s in Denver. Weather tomorrow: Spotty showers, warmerTuesday, Denver will see a mix of sunshine and clouds. As high temperatures climb to the mid-80s, there will be a few spotty showers and thunderstorms. Thunderstorms will gain strength into the afternoon and evening as they move into the Eastern Plains, especially into northeast Colorado. Some of these storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and even tornadoes. Looking ahead: Warmer and drier end to the week Warmer and drier weather is in the foreca...

Brightline delays launch date for trips to new station at Orlando International Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

The launch date for Brightline’s new Orlando rail extension has been delayed.The high-speed rail line has already sold tickets for rides on Sept. 1 over the Labor Day weekend from South Florida to its new station at Orlando International AirportCustomers who have booked trips were told that they have been put on hold and that refunds will be issued.The company said they need more time to work on certifications and crew testing. Their schedule is now showing no trips until at least Sept. 15.

Sources: 311 complaint leads to discovery of human remains at Boston DPW facility

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

Law enforcement sources tell 7NEWS that human remains found at a Boston public works facility were the result of a 311 complaint about trash left on a sidewalk.Residents who live on Winchester Street say they walked past the shopping cart that appeared to be full of trash several times before city workers came to retrieve it.Boston police have confirmed a man’s body was found at a nearby processing facility, which was transformed into a crime scene after the discovery was made.“I think it’s completely inhumane, it’s disgusting,” said nearby resident Mary O’Beirne of news of the body. “It’s disgraceful.” Boston police say they’ll have more information after an autopsy is completed. They’re hoping for those results Tuesday afternoon.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

New Zealand is partnering with BlackRock in aim to reach 100% renewable electricity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:31 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government said Tuesday it will partner with U.S. investment giant BlackRock in its aim to become one of the first nations in the world to have its electricity grid run entirely from renewable energy. The government said it was helping BlackRock launch a $1.2 billion fund to ramp up investments in wind and solar generation, as well as battery storage and green hydrogen. Some of the investment is expected to come from government-owned companies.New Zealand’s electricity grid already runs off about 82% renewable energy after it damned rivers decades ago to produce hydroelectric power. The government said it aims to reach 100% renewable generation by the end of this decade.The announcement comes two months out from an election, with the government hoping to burnish its green credentials. Critics point out the nation’s overall greenhouse gas emissions have barely budged since the government symbolically declared a climate emergenc...