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Lack of funding forces UN to slash food program in Haiti amid a surge in malnutrition

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.N.’s World Food Program announced Monday that it is facing a shortage of funds and won’t be able to help 100,000 people in Haiti this month who urgently need assistance.The 25% cut comes as a record 4.9 million people in the country of nearly 11 million need help with finding food, the agency said.“These cuts could not come at a worse time, as Haitians face a multi-layered humanitarian crisis, their lives and livelihoods upended by violence, insecurity, economic turmoil and climate shocks,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, the agency’s director for Haiti.The agency warned that its Haiti response plan is only 16% funded, and that it won’t be able to provide food to a total of 750,000 Haitians if it doesn’t secure $121 million through the end of the year.“Unless we receive immediate funding, further devastating cuts cannot be ruled out,” Bauer said.So far this year, the World Food Program has provide...

Russia's influence in Africa

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

Russia is trying to use its co-operation with Africa to show the world and Russians that it continues to be an influential player on the international stage. For this purpose, it will hold a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg on 27-28 July. Also, Moscow is paying attention to African states, and in this way, Putin hopes to show the Russian people before the 2024 elections that Russia is not isolated, but has many international partners. This approach can be called a step of desperation. Russia's bet on support from "friendly" countries such as the UAE, Turkey, China, and a number of post-Soviet countries has completely failed. These states are gradually coming out in favour of sanctions against Russia. African countries should follow the same path, Dispatches, IFBG.Russia has become a pariah on the international stage due to its aggression against Ukraine, receiving unprecedented sanctions and a trade blockade. In connection with the arrest warrant issued by the Internationa...

More restaurants are tacking sneaky fees onto bills

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

You've probably heard about "tipflation" -- restaurants prodding customers to leave higher tips for servers and staff.Now there's another trend to watch for: Restaurants adding sneaky fees to bills.These surcharges, which typically range from 3% to 5%, are often intended to cover higher inflation, employee healthcare costs or credit-card processing charges.And to be sure, all businesses are entitled to recover their operating costs.But this isn't how you do it.These fees are intended solely to mislead customers by keeping menu prices lower, even though the total cost of a meal will be more expensive.Moreover, customers may not be aware of the added fees until the end of the meal, when the bill arrives.That is, to put it mildly, a deceptive business practice.Worse, at least tips go to underpaid servers. These surcharges almost always go to the establishment (yes, the same establishment that had the chutzpah to run a bait-and-switch on pricing).The National Restaurant Assn. says about...

New data shows California has the most people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

New data released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam on Monday indicates that California has more Alzheimer’s patients than any other state. The numbers were found through the first-ever estimates of Alzheimer’s dementia prevalence at the county level, with data being collected from all 3,142 United States counties. According to the AAIC, one of the highest prevalence rates in the country lies in Imperial County, with a rate of 15 percent. New data released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam on Monday indicates that California has more Alzheimer’s patients than any other state. (Alzheimer's Association) More restaurants are tacking sneaky fees onto bills Los Angeles and Orange counties had prevalence rates as high as 13.2 percent and 11.6 percent respectively. Overall, the study found that the east and the southeastern parts of the country had the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s. For more informat...

Pasadena grapples with how to handle coyote conflicts

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

Some Pasadena residents are looking for a more humane alternative to curbing the coyote population in the area, opposing a plan to begin trapping and killing the animals to keep them out of neighborhoods. The only other city in Los Angeles County that uses coyote snare traps is Torrance, and according to PETA officials, sightings there have gone up since they were put into use. “In Pasadena, sightings of coyotes this year have gone down 22 percent,” said Lisa Lange, PETA Vice President. “In Torrance, once they started trapping, they went up 14 percent. It doesn’t work.” PETA described trapping coyotes as “painful” and “barbaric” and noted that several parts of Pasadena, like the Arroyo neighborhood, are long known for their wildlife.  Timelapse video shows Riverside County wildfire explode Following concerns from residents regarding the coyotes encroaching on to their properties, the health department in Pasadena conducted a field study and came up with five op...

Underground group helps nab suspected child predator

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

An underground group that targets online child predators helped Fullerton Police arrest a man accused of trying to lure a 14-year-old boy into having sex, authorities said.The minor turned out to be a decoy.John Wheeler, 39, was arrested last Wednesday on two felony charges and was being held on $100,000 bail.Video obtained by KTLA shows members of the Creep Catchers Unit, or CC Unit, confronting Wheeler outside a Walmart where he was working on July 9.Members of the CC Unit confront John Wheeler, who is accused of soliciting a minor, in Fullerton, California. July 9, 2023 (CC Unit)“Ghost,” the founder of the group who conceals his identity, shows Wheeler paper copies of an online conversation that included lewd photos and graphic descriptions of sexual activity that Wheeler allegedly intended to engage in with the minor.Wheeler claims he never intended to follow through with the sex acts and also claimed he “has mental issues,” the confrontational video shows.When officers arrived ...

Places to cool off in Southern California during the latest summer heat wave

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

With another summer heatwave in the forecast, many Southern California residents will be looking for ways to cool off and beat the intense heat.In addition to the beaches, the county has many public cooling center locations to help shield residents from the summer sun. Death Valley sizzles as brutal heat wave continues Here is a roundup of public cooling centers in the southlandLos Angeles CountyGlendora Public LibraryClifton Brakensiek LibraryVan Nuys Branch LibraryLeon H. Washington Jr. Memorial Branch LibraryVassie D. Wright Memorial Branch Library  Lincoln Heights Branch LibraryPalisades Branch LibraryPanorama City Branch LibraryRoy Campanella ParkGeorge Lane Park 5 places to cool off in L.A. County during the coming heat wave Riverside CountyAnza Valley Community LibraryBanning Senior CenterColorado River Senior Center inPalo Verde Valley Transit AgencyCoachella Senior CenterHome Gardens LibraryDesert Hot Springs LibrarySalvation ArmyGlen Avon LibraryMead Valley Librar...

Top 13 Online Slots and Casinos 2023: Elevate Your Gaming with the Best Platforms

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

If you spend even a few days on the internet you’ve encountered an online casino. Maybe not the direct web establishment, but an ad or a recommendation. Today, online casinos are engraved in our internet presence and society as a whole. If you gamble responsibly, web-based casinos are one of the best pastimes there is. Have you tried one by now?  If you didn’t, maybe the reason is one of the most common reasons why people avoid online gambling. You do not know who to trust. Safety, security, and trust are the main issues most individuals fear or care for in the internet domain. Once you know who you can trust, things become much easier. But it is hard to gain someone’s trust. Luckily you have outlets such as ours that will point you in the right direction. The Internet is a nice place when you have friends and trusted associates. In this article, we are going to point you in the direction of a few respectable online casinos that could potentially become your gambling house in the fu...

6 Killed in 2-Car Accident on State Route 509 [Tacoma, WA]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

Six Pronounced Dead after Two-Vehicle Collision near Alexander AvenueTACOMA, WA (July 17, 2023) – Late Sunday morning, six victims were fatally injured in a 2-car accident on State Route 509.Around 11:17 a.m., dispatchers responded to the scene near Alexander Avenue after receiving multiple calls in the area.Officers say the driver of a gray 2021 Kia Forte hatchback with six passengers was heading east on Alexander Avenue.For reasons under investigation, the Kia then collided with a BMW SUV that was traveling north on SR 509. Upon impact, the Kia veered off the right side of the road before coming to rest in an embankment and catching fire. Meanwhile, the BMW came to rest blocking the intersection.Medics arrived and pronounced six occupants from inside the Kia dead at the scene. Authorities say they were all Arizona residents aged 19 to 25-years-old. Police are unsure if they were wearing seat belts at the time.The 42-year-old male driver of the BMW and his 40-year-old female ...

Top 12 Online Blackjack Casinos 2023: Where Fortune Awaits Roulette Enthusiasts

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:58:21 GMT

With the rapid evolution of technology across the globe, various businesses thrived and continue to develop over the course of years. One niche that has stood out to gain a lot from these circumstances is definitely online gambling. In the sea of games you can enjoy on the internet, blackjack has become extremely popular, and as per various analyses, over thirty percent of players are focused on blackjack games.This astounding rate of expansion does not come as a surprise by any means. It is a thrilling game that gets the players’ blood pumping, as its fast pace is sure to entertain different caliber of players. With that said, it is only logical that numerous online gambling platforms are now offering players the option to play blackjack.The good news for everyone who enjoys this particular game is that it is a great moment to play it, especially on the territory of the United States. Even though some people argue that the thrill of gambling has disappeared with the implementation ...