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TikTok Shop launches in the U.S.     

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

NEW YORK  — After months of testing, TikTok is fully launching its e-commerce product in the U.S. in an effort to translate the app’s cultural relevance among young consumers to sales.The company said Tuesday its shopping wing, called TikTok Shop, will include several features such as a “Shop Tab,” a marketplace its been testing on the app since August; affiliate videos in user’s feed that allows creators to earn commissions from products; as well as a logistics arm called Fulfilled by TikTok that stores and ships products for merchants.Currently, TikTok spokesperson Laura Perez said more than 200,000 sellers have registered for TikTok Shop. Meanwhile, over 100,000 content creators are participating in the affiliate program, which allows users who have 5,000 followers to create videos that go directly to TikTok’s algorithmically-engineered “For You” feed.The Shop Tab, where products from TikTok’s marketplace are listed, is now availabl...

Thousands are feared dead and thousands more are missing in flood-ravaged eastern Libya

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

By SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)CAIRO (AP) — Emergency workers uncovered more than 1,500 bodies in the wreckage of Libya’s eastern city of Derna on Tuesday, and it was feared the toll could surpass 5,000 after floodwaters smashed through dams and washed away entire neighborhoods of the city.The startling death and devastation wreaked by Mediterranean storm Daniel pointed to the storm’s intensity, but also the vulnerability of a nation torn apart by chaos for more than a decade. The country is divided by rival governments, one in the east, the other in the west, and the result has been neglect of infrastructure in many areas.Outside help was only just starting to reach Derna on Tuesday, more than 36 hours after the disaster struck. The floods damaged or destroyed many access roads to the coastal city of some 89,000. Footage showed dozens of bodies covered by blankets in the yard of one hospital. Another image showed a mass grave piled with bodies. More than 1,500 co...

Refill rollback: McDonald’s phasing out self-serve soda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

NEW YORK  — Say goodbye to refilling that Coke. McDonald’s is getting rid of self-served soda.The Chicago-based fast food chain plans to eliminate self-service soda machines at its U.S. restaurants by 2032, McDonald’s confirmed this week. It’s unclear if locations outside the U.S. will follow suit.In an email Tuesday, McDonald’s USA said the goal of the change is to create consistency for customers and crew members across the chain’s offerings — from in-person dining to online delivery and drive-thru options.The company did not specify if any additional factors — such as finances or sanitation — impacted the decision to part ways with its self-serve machines. For years, McDonald’s customers have used the machines to fill and refill their beverages without additional trips to a cashier.Behind-the-counter soda machines already exist at some other fast food chains — and a handful of McDonald’s locations across the country have also begun the tr...

MTV Video Music Awards return Tuesday, with an all-female artist of the year category

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

By MARIA SHERMAN (AP Music Writer)The MTV Video Music Awards return Tuesday night, and for the first time, only women are nominated in the show’s artist of the year category. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Karol G and Shakira are contenders for the night’s prize.On Tuesday morning, the VMAs announced its final round of presenters, which include A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Anuel AA, Ashanti, Billy Porter, Chloe Bailey, Dove Cameron, Fat Joe, Halle Bailey, Nelly Furtado, Reneé Rapp, Saweetie, Shenseea, Thalia, Tiffany Haddish, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean.The VMAs, which takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey — just outside of New York City — will be hosted by Minaj. Last year, she emceed alongside Lil Wayne and Jack Harlow; this year, she’s solo.The show will also celebrate 50 years of hip-hop with a star-studded, multi-generational finale performance: DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, LL Co...

Pivetta’s 10 strikeouts, Devers’ homer not enough to overcome Yankees in first game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

After Monday night’s series opener between the Red Sox and Yankees was postponed due to heavy rain – their second such postponement in this year’s season series – the formerly formidable rivals turned to the task at hand in a doubleheader on Tuesday.At this point in September, each team’s goal is to not finish last in their division. The fourth-place Red Sox entered the series 73-70, 18 games back. The fifth-place Yankees arrived in Boston 71-72, 20 games out, at the bottom of the American League East.Early on, it looked like the home team would cruise to victory on the back of Nick Pivetta, who, as the sun finally emerged over Fenway Park after days of rain and rain delays, mowed down the visitors from the Bronx.Instead, the Red Sox fell to the Yankees, 3-2, the latest in what feels like a never-ending line of gut-punch losses.Pivetta’s final line – 5.1 innings, four hits, three earned runs, a walk and 10 strikeouts – doesn’t paint an accurate picture of his stellar performance.“Th...

Boston City Council preliminary turnout highest in Kendra Lara race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

Roughly 42% of all votes cast by 3 p.m. Tuesday were in the closely-watched District 6 race, where the City Councilor Kendra Lara is trying to hold onto her seat in the wake of a late June car crash that left her facing several charges.The hotly-contested District 5 race is also drawing a lot of interest, with more than 26% of votes cast there, as the embattled incumbent Ricardo Arroyo vies for a third term against two candidates with dueling mayoral endorsements.As of late afternoon, 17,202 votes had been cast in the preliminary election between the four contested City Council districts: 3, 5, 6 and 7, according to data from the Elections Department.Today’s preliminary will determine which two candidates from each race move onto the Nov. 7 election. Polls close at 8 p.m.While voters are flocking to the polls in District 6, whether that high turnout bodes well for Lara or one or both of her challengers remains to be determined.William King, an information technology specialist, and ...

Ticker: FBI investigating MGM cybersecurity; Ultimate fighting on the stock exchange 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

Casino operator MGM Resorts International said Tuesday that resorts are open and an investigation is continuing after what it called a “cybersecurity issue” led to the shutdown of computer systems at company properties across the U.S.The FBI characterized the investigation as ongoing but Special Agent Mark Neria, spokesperson for the bureau in Las Vegas, said no additional information is available.Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts said the event started Sunday and that it shut down “certain systems” in efforts to protect data. It did not call it a cyberattack or specify which systems were affected.Reservations and casino floors in Las Vegas and states including Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Ohio were affected.Late Monday, the company posted a statement saying that “resorts, including dining, entertainment and gaming are currently operational.”“Bottom line, our customers are being served,” company sp...

Names of twin Sumatran tiger cubs born at Safari Park revealed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Say hello to Hutan and Puteri.The San Diego Zoo Safari Park announced Tuesday the names of a pair of Sumatran tiger cubs born at the park in July.The male cub was named Hutan (pronounced Hoo-taan), which means "forest" in Malay and the female cub was named Puteri (pronounced Poo-Tear-e), which means "princess," the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said.The birth of the tigers cubs come at a time when the Sumatran tiger is critically endangered, with only an estimated 400 to 600 remaining on earth, according to zoo officials. VIDEO: Dolphins swim through bioluminescent waters in Orange County Hutan and Puteri were born on July 12 to first-time mother Diana and father Dumai, SDZWA said. The cubs are the first to be born at the Safari Park's Tull Family Tiger Trail habitat in seven years.The cubs are expected to remain in their den with Diana for several more weeks. You can find more information on Sumatran tiger conservation efforts here.According to zoo officials, the bi...

Massachusetts city got nearly 10 inches of rain in 6 hours, flooding homes and eroding dams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

LEOMINSTER, Mass. (AP) — Heavy rainfall — nearly 10 inches in 6 hours — flooded parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with two communities declaring a state of emergency as water poured into homes and forced boat rescues of residents. Concern about a dam listed in poor condition led to more evacuations.Weather officials described the rainfall as a “200-year event.”More rain was in the forecast for Wednesday. Winds and flooding from Hurricane Lee were expected to affect Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire and central and coastal Maine during the weekend, forecasters said.Up to 300 people were evacuated by Tuesday morning in Leominster, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Boston, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said. That included residents of a high-rise apartment building and a nursing home. All schools were closed and two shelters were opened.Mazzarella said the city has not seen such widespread damage since a hurricane in 1936. He said most build...

Oklahoma City mayor unveils plan for $900M arena to keep NBA’s Thunder through 2050

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:16 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt unveiled a proposal Tuesday for a new $900 million downtown arena that would keep the NBA’s Thunder in the city through at least 2050 if approved by voters.The plan released released by city officials calls for the continuation of a 1% sales tax for six years, $70 million from an existing sales tax approved by voters in 2019 for upgrades to the current arena, and a $50 million contribution from the Thunder ownership group. The deal calls for at least $900 million to be spent constructing the new arena.According to a city press release, the proposal will be presented to the nine-member Oklahoma City Council on Sept. 26. A majority of the council would need to approve a call for a Dec. 12 citywide election, where voters would decide the plan’s fate.If approved, Holt says the Thunder will play in the new arena for at least 25 years. The goal is for the new arena to open in time for the 2029-2030 NBA season.“Perhaps the most impo...