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Brazil’s Lula voices support for more countries joining BRICS group

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that he supports more countries joining the BRICS group of large developing nations, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.The group will hold a summit in Johannesburg from Aug. 22 to 24. The meeting will have in hand a list of others desiring to join ther group.“Possibly, in this meeting, we can already consensually decide which new countries can join BRICS,” Lula told international journalists in the capital, Brasilia. “I am of the opinion that as many countries want to enter, if they are in compliance with the rules we are establishing, we will accept the countries’ entrance.”Lula’s comments came hours after Reuters reported that Brazil has resisted expanding the group’s membership. It quoted unidentified Brazilian diplomats as voicing concern that adding more nations could lessen the influence of the existing members.Around 20 countries have for...

Senate office buildings locked down over reports of gunman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

U.S. Capitol Police officers clear a stairwell in the Dirksen Senate Office Building next to the Russell Senate Office Building, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) U.S. Capitol Police officers clear a stairwell in the Dirksen Senate Office Building next to the Russell Senate Office Building, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order and began searching Senate office buildings near the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon amid reports of an active shooter.The U.S. Capitol Police announced on the X social media platf...

Acuña, Riley and Olson homer for Braves, who hammer Angels 12-5 to take series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley and Matt Olson homered for the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves, who kept up their power barrage with a 12-5 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.Acuña launched a three-run shot over the center-field wall off Lucas Giolito (6-8) in the third inning, then Riley and Olson went back to back in the fourth to cap a six-run outburst that finished off the Angels’ starter.The Braves hit seven homers in taking two of three from the Angels, with the long ball accounting for 11 of their 18 runs. Through 106 games, Atlanta has 206 homers — on pace for 315 for the season, which would best the major league record of 307 set by the 2019 Minnesota Twins.Yonny Chirinos (5-4), making his second start for the Braves since being acquired after Tampa Bay designated him for assignment, pitched five strong innings before being lifted after the first two batters singled in the sixth.Chirinos wound up being charged with three runs after both runners came ...

To boost donations to nonprofits, Damar Hamlin encourages ‘Donate Now, Pay Later’ service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Damar Hamlin will expand his efforts to promote charitable giving by supporting a company that allows donors to give to nonprofits immediately, while actually paying later — the Buffalo Bills safety’s latest move to direct the outpouring of support he received after collapsing on the field during a game in January. Hamlin announced Wednesday that he will be a brand ambassador for the tech platform B Generous, which says its “Donate Now, Pay Later” service yields much higher average donations — more than $750, compared to the average online donation of $128 collected last year.“The thing about Damar is that when he does something, he’s not surface level,” said Dominic Kalms, CEO of B Generous. “This is something that actually means something to him.”As part of the partnership agreement, Hamlin received shares of the company, with the option to buy additional shares. A B Generous investor introduced the company to Hamlin, who became interested in its vision, Kalm...

Stock market today: Wall Street heads for its worst day in months as its rally loses more momentum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

A currency trader gestures in front of the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top right, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Asian shares have fallen after Wall Street took a step back from its big rally as markets tried to digest a slew of earnings. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)(AP/Ahn Young-joon) A currency trader gestures in front of the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top right, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Asian shares have fallen after Wall Street took a step back from its big rally as markets tried to digest a slew of earnings. (AP P...

Shoes, backpacks, wedding dresses: Here’s what you can get tax-free in Maryland this month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

If you are looking to save some cash on back-to-school clothes shopping, you’re in luck in Maryland.“Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week” returns on Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 19.During that week, shoppers won’t have to pay the 6% sales tax on most clothing and pairs of shoes $100 or less.A full list of items that are included in the sales tax exemption are available through the Comptroller’s website.Most are what you would expect: underwear, jeans and polos. But you can also avoid taxes on wedding dresses, diapers, PJs, tuxedos and fishing vests. Winter coats are also included if you want to plan a few months ahead.Backpacks and book bags $40 or less are also tax exempt — but if you want to splurge and get a little pricier bag, you won’t be charged tax on the first $40.“Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is an important opportunity for Marylanders, particularly families, to save some money while doing their back-to-school shopping,” Comptroller Brooke Lierman said in a statement. “...

US man alleged to be white supremacist leader extradited from Romania on riot, conspiracy charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A U.S. man accused of being the leader of a white supremacist group has been extradited from Romania to face charges of inciting violence at California political rallies in 2017.Robert Paul Rundo of Huntington Beach was flown back to the country Tuesday and expected to appear in federal court Wednesday on charges of conspiracy and rioting, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles said in a news release.Rundo, 33, is allegedly a founding member of the Rise Above Movement, according to the Attorney’s Office. The organization is described in the indictment as “a combat-ready, militant group of a new nationalist white supremacy and identity movement.”Rundo and two other men planned and engaged in violence at gatherings in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino in 2017, according to the indictment, which added that they later trained for future events and celebrated their assaults.Rundo’s attorney, Julia Deixler, declined to comment on the all...

Brazil coach Pia Sundhage facing criticism over team’s lack of flair after Women’s World Cup exit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil coach Pia Sundhage was facing widespread criticism in the South American nation after the team was eliminated in the group stage at the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday. Pundits and fans both complained about the team’s lack of flair and Sundhage’s tactics following a 0-0 draw against Jamaica, a team Brazil beat 3-0 in the previous Women’s World Cup four years ago. The 63-year-old Sundhage, who is Swedish, previously led the United States to two Olympic titles and has been in charge of Brazil since 2019. But her team lost in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and finished third in their World Cup group behind France and Jamaica. It is the first time since 1995 that Brazil didn’t reach the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup.The hashtag #ParabensPia (CongratulationsPia in Portuguese) flooded social media channels in Brazil after the game, with many fans complaining that the team lacked creativity and that Sundhage w...

Colorado prison escapee caught living 'flashy' assumed identity in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (KDVR) — A man who escaped from a federal prison in Littleton in 2018 has been apprehended in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Allen Todd May, 58, had been on the run since Dec. 21, 2018, when he escaped from the Englewood Federal Correctional Institution near South Kipling Street and Quincy Avenue. Man arrested in Polis death threat faces new charge in threat against prosecutor "This was huge. This was a very long, extensive investigation. This gentleman, because of his fraud background, was very good at eluding capture," said Katrina Crouse, chief deputy U.S. Marshal for Colorado.May originally stole a Bureau of Prisons work truck and drove off the prison grounds without anyone noticing.Hours later, he used a credit card to rent a U-Haul truck from a Denver facility and then abandoned it behind a Waffle House in Fort Worth, Texas. May was seen at his mother’s house in Houston the day after his escape, but a U.S. Marshals Service spokesman told FOX31 the ...

Here's why Denver has the best skyline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Mile High City is constantly under renovation, but the mountains aren't going anywhere, and it's not a coincidence. There's a reason you can still see the Rockies in some parts of the city.Denver doesn't have height limits for buildings, which is why there are buildings as tall as 56 stories. But there are rules against blocking the view of the mountains in some places. The almost unobstructed view of the mountains can be chalked up to plane ordinances, which mainly protect the view of the mountains and east-facing views of downtown. $100 million renovations underway at Empower Field at Mile High When it comes to the size of the building, it all depends on the plane ordinances in a specific area. "View plane ordinances specify a reference point and formulas that calculate allowable building height for buildings in a specific area adjacent to the reference point," said Amanda Weston, marketing and communications specialist  for Denver's Community Planning ...