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Bangladesh’s anti-graft watchdog quizzes Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in embezzlement case

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s official anti-graft watchdog Anti-corruption Commission on Thursday questioned Muhammad Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, involving charges of money laundering and fund embezzlement. Yunus pioneered the use of microcredit to help impoverished people in Bangladesh—a model replicated in many other countries across the world. His legal troubles have drawn international attention, with many observers considering that they are politically motivated.He emerged from Thursday’s questioning session in the commission’s headquarters in the nation’s capital, Dhaka, saying that he was not afraid and he did not commit any crimes. Yunus’ lawyer, Abdullah Al Mamun, said the charges against his client were “false and baseless.”The commission summoned Yunus, chairman of Grameen Telecom, over $2.28 million from the company’s Workers Profit Participation Fund. A dozen other colleagues of Yunus face similar charges in the case.Grameen Telec...

2 Palestinian militants killed in gunfight with Israeli troops in West Bank raid

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Two Palestinian militants were killed by Israeli gunfire during an army raid in the West Bank on Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said.They were the latest deaths in a monthslong surge of violence in the occupied territory.The Israeli military said its troops carried out a raid in the Tulkarem refugee camp in the early morning hours. It said that soldiers came under fire and that troops shot Palestinian gunmen. Five border police officers were wounded in the clashes, it said. The Hamas militant group that rules the Gaza Strip later claimed the two men as its members.The incident was the latest in a spiral of violence that has gripped the occupied territory for more than 18 months.The Israeli military has mounted near-nightly raids into Palestinian towns, often prompting deadly clashes with residents. Militancy has surged among young Palestinians who have lost hope in their leadership and in the prospect of a political resolution to the conflict.Nearly 200 P...

Rising long-term interest rates are posing the latest threat to a US economic ‘soft landing’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Surging interest rates are intensifying the challenges for the U.S. economy and threatening to derail the Federal Reserve’s drive to tame inflation without causing a deep recession. Since mid-summer, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, a benchmark for many loans, has steadily climbed, causing a spillover rise in other borrowing costs. The costs of mortgages, auto loans and credit card debt have all risen in response. The collective impact of higher rates across the economy could also weaken the government’s own finances. The jump in longer-term rates coincides with other threats, from higher gas prices and this week’s resumption of student loan payments to autoworkers’ ongoing strike and the risk of a government shutdown next month, all of which could leave consumers with less money to spend to power the economy.The strike by the United Auto Workers, now in its third week with no resolution in sight, could reduce vehicle sales in coming months. And ...

Auto worker strike highlights disparities between temporary and permanent employees

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — When Rhonda Naus got a job inspecting Jeep Wranglers fresh off the assembly line, her paycheck added up to roughly half of what her co-workers were making. But with that came an expectation that her temporary status eventually would become permanent with a big jump in wages. Six years later, she’s still doing the same work as her colleagues at Stellantis and still making a lot less. “I knew I had to start at the bottom. I didn’t think I’d be at the bottom forever,” said Naus, who’s among thousands of striking United Auto Workers nationwide pushing for pay and benefit increases along with an end to multiple tiers of wages for workers across the companies. From office workers to delivery drivers, companies have become increasingly reliant on temporary workers. Automakers have used the lower-paid workers for years to fill in for absent and vacationing full-time employees and to staff up when production increases. Tiers for the Detroit automakers we...

No, you didn't win big: Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.4 billion

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

PINEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.4 billion after no players matched all six numbers and hit it rich Wednesday night.The winning numbers announced were: 9, 35, 54, 63, 64 and the Powerball 1. $2 million winning tickets were sold in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Texas. $1 million winning tickets were sold in California (2), Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas (2).Players will next have a shot at the Powerball jackpot Saturday night in hopes of ending an 11-week stretch without a big winner. No matter how large the prize grows the odds stay the same — and they’re terrible.It’s those odds of 1 in 292.2 million that make the jackpot so hard to win and that result in such giant prizes for the lucky player or players who manage to pick the game’s six winning numbers. The new prize would be the fifth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, edging out a $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot won by a ticket sold in California in July —...

Duluth youth pastor charged with sexually assaulting five girls

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. — A longtime youth pastor used his church as a “hunting ground,” prosecutors said, “preying on underage girls with no consequences for years.”Jackson Michael Gatlin, former pastoral assistant at Vineyard Church in Duluth’s Kenwood neighborhood, was charged Tuesday in St. Louis County District Court with sexually assaulting five girls ranging in age from 11 to 16.He is being held at the St. Louis County Jail without bail pending an arraignment.Gatlin, now 35, had “unfettered access” to vulnerable youth for 15 years, the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office told the court, owing to the fact that his parents — senior leaders in the church — “minimized and outright denied allegations when brought to their attention.”“Multiple victims and witnesses described the culture of the church as insular and controlling, with the Gatlins exerting a great deal of influence,” a criminal complaint states. “There was a consistent impression that (Jackson) was immune from consequence becaus...

Shen needs to win the little battles if it wants to take down CBA

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's no secret that Shenendehowa and Christian Brothers Academy have been the cream of the crop in the Class AA high school football ranks the last three years. The two sides have squared off in two straight Super Bowls, and this season, both squads have roared out to a 4-0 record. That makes for one heck of a 1st & 10 "Game of the Week" this week. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The two perennial powers will meet under the lights at CBA Friday in perhaps the most anticipated Section II game of the regular season thus far. The Brothers…well, they've won their four games by an average of 41.5 points an outing. The Plainsmen own a modest margin of victory as well at just shy of 27 points a game. But Shen has been unable to beat a Bob Burns-led Brothers squad yet. It's 0-4 against CBA since Burns took over the program in 2021, including losses in both those Super Bowl appearances. The Plainsmen k...

Great Danes bringing the heat on both sides of the ball this season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Part of what's made the University at Albany football team really intriguing this year is that the Danes are a force on both sides of the ball. Let's look at some numbers... Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Starting with the offense - which looked so explosive at times last year - not much has changed this season. The Danes are averaging just shy of 30 points per game in their three FCS contests. Sophomore quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, coming off a Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Year campaign, is still slinging the ball around the yard with 10 touchdown passes to just two interceptions.There's also some exciting skill position guys emerging, namely Glens Falls native running back Griffin Woodell, who just took home CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday.Then, you've got the second-ranked scoring defense in the league, which already has more games allowing 21, or fewer points this year (3) than al...

Opening of the 2024 Erasmus+ call to reach at least 60 European Universities alliances by mid-2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

The Commission is launching the fifth Erasmus+ call for proposals to support the further rollout of the European Universities initiative. The aim is to reach the goal of the European strategy for universities to expand to at least 60 European Universities alliances bringing together more than 500 universities by mid-2024. The call will close on 6 February 2024.This call will support deeper institutional transnational cooperation between higher education institutions. New alliances are eligible to apply. One important novelty foreseen for this year is the opportunity to set up a Community of Practice of European Universities to support closer cooperation. It is expected to trigger impact on the sharing of results and good practices of the alliances amongst themselves and beyond.European Way of Life Vice President Margaritis Schinas said: “With their European transnational campuses, European Universities alliances are what makes Europe a reality for the young generations. They are in...

€61 million for the upgrade of a railway line between Gdynia and Słupsk in the Pomerania region in Poland

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:59:16 GMT

The Commission has approved an investment of more than €61 million from the 2014-2020 Cohesion Fund to upgrade railway line 202 in the Gdynia-Chylonia-Słupsk section. The upgrade includes the reconstruction of the track substructure, an extension of the second track along the Wejherowo-Słupsk section, the construction of new stops and the modernisation of stations. In addition, computerised railway control devices will be built to install the European Rail Traffic Management System for the line in the future.Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (pictured) said: “Thanks to this new EU investment, the railway transport in Poland will continue to develop and modernise. Trains between Gdynia and Słupsk will be faster and more attractive for citizens. Once again cohesion policy is bringing concrete benefits for EU citizens and this time, to Pomerania!”After completion of the project foreseen for 2028, passenger trains in the section will reach maximum speeds of 160 km/h,...