Regression – Syndication

Released on bail, Nigeria’s Kuti to begin concert tour amid assault trial

Nigerian Afrobeat star Seun Kuti, who is facing trial on on charges of assaulting a police officer, will embark on a delayed concert tour after being released on bail, his manager said Wednesday. Kuti appeared in court in the commercial hub of Lagos on Wednesday before his trial was adjourned until July 3. His concerts, scheduled in more than a dozen countries, will now go on as planned, Ayo Moses, his manager, said. Viral videos appeared to show an agitated Kuti shouting and pushing the officer along a major road in Lagos last week.

Red Sea corals threatened by mass sea urchin die-off, Israeli researchers say

Scientists say that sea urchins in Israel's Gulf of Eilat in the Red Sea are dying at an alarming rate, threatening the sea's prized coral reef ecosystems. The massive die-off first began in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and spread to the neighboring Red Sea. The Tel Aviv University scientists said on Wednesday that an unknown pathogen is killing off black sea urchins, a species critical to maintaining a healthy balance in the reef habitat. Last month, researchers in the U.S. identified a single-celled parasite responsible for a similar mass die-off of sea urchins in the Caribbean that has laid waste to reef ecosystems.

UK home secretary won't face investigation over speeding ticket meddling claims

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the interior minister won’t face investigation over allegations that she tried to pull strings after getting a speeding ticket. It's an attempt by Sunak to lay to rest one of several ethics claims dogging the government. Sunak said Wednesday that the actions of Home Secretary Suella Braverman didn't breach the code of conduct for government ministers. But Sunak said Braverman should have acted differently “to avoid giving rise to the perception of impropriety.” Braverman has faced claims that she asked civil servants to intervene on her behalf after she got a speeding ticket last year. She insists she never tried to ”avoid sanction" for the offense.

Do not call: States sue telecom company over billions of robocalls

Attorneys general across the U.S. have joined a lawsuit against a telecommunications company accused of making more than 7.5 billion robocalls to people on the national Do Not Call Registry. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix against Avid Telecom, its owner and the company’s vice president. The lawsuit says Avid Telecom used spoofed or invalid caller ID numbers, including more than 8.4 million calls that appeared to be coming from government and law enforcement agencies as well as private companies. Avid Telecom's owner has a phone listing in Tucson, Arizona, but didn’t return a call seeking comment on the lawsuit.

Vikings finale? Cousins, on expiring deal, not going there

The absence of a contract extension for Kirk Cousins could well spell the end of his time as quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. They have won only one game in the NFL playoffs since their groundbreaking signing five years ago. Cousins will for the fourth time as a pro play the season on an expiring contract, assuming no new deal is done in the meantime. That’s a rare scenario for an established starter at this premium position. Cousins is used to playing in prove-it mode, though. He said he believes he's got “a lot of good football” ahead of him.

Haase's 5 RBIs lift Tigers over Mets in doubleheader opener

Eric Haase homered and drove in five runs and the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 6-5 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader. Javier Baez also homered for the Tigers, who were hosting the Mets for the first time in seven years. The opening game of the series was rained out on Tuesday and rescheduled as a day-night doubleheader. The Tigers trailed 5-4 in the eighth, but Matt Vierling singled with one out and Adam Ottavino hit Baez. Riley Greene grounded to first for the second out, but Haase hit a two-run single to right-center field.