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Russian court convicts a woman for protesting the war in Ukraine in latest crackdown on free speech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Russian court on Thursday convicted an artist and musician for replacing supermarket price tags with antiwar slogans and sentenced her to seven years in prison, Russian media reported.Sasha Skochilenko, 33, has been held in her home city of St. Petersburg since April 2022 on charges of spreading false information about the military.She was arrested a month after Russia adopted a law effectively criminalizing any public expression about the war in Ukraine that deviates from the Kremlin’s official line. The legislation has been used in a widespread crackdown on opposition politicians, human rights activists and ordinary Russians critical of the Kremlin, with many receiving lengthy prison terms.The Associated Press

One year on from World Cup, Qatar and FIFA urged by rights group to do more for migrant workers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

LONDON (AP) — One year after Qatar hosted the men’s World Cup, the gas-rich emirate and soccer governing body FIFA were urged Thursday by human rights group Amnesty International to do more for migrant workers who were essential to prepare the tournament and still face labor abuses.Qatar’s treatment of hundreds of thousands of imported workers, mostly in searing heat, plus the slow pace of labor law reforms and enforcement drew intense scrutiny and criticism for more than a decade before games started on Nov. 20 last year.Progress has stalled since the month-long soccer tournament ended, Amnesty said Thursday.“Qatar and FIFA must act urgently to ensure victims’ right to remedy and compensation are not denied or delayed any further,” Amnesty said in a statement.FIFA and the United Nations-backed International Labor Organization acknowledge that challenges remain and more needs to be done enacting Qatari law reforms. Labor rights are still an issue almost 13 years after FIFA leaders s...

Stretch of southbound DVP shut down for fatal incident involving pedestrian

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

A stretch of the Don Valley Parkway heading into downtown Toronto has been shut down as police investigate a fatal incident involving a pedestrian.Emergency crews were called to the southbound lanes of the highway near the Leaside Bridge before 7 a.m. Thursday after getting reports of an injured person in live lanes of traffic.Police confirm to CityNews the injured pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.The southbound DVP is closed from Don Mills Road to the Bayview/Bloor exit for the investigation. All southbound traffic north of the closure is currently being forced off at Don Mills.The closure is expected to remain in place for at least an hour, according to police.#listen-box { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 1); animation: pulse 2s infinite; margin: 20px; padding: 15px;}@keyframes pulse { 0% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 157, 79, 0.7); } 70% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 10px rgba(0, 157, 79, 0); } 100% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, ...

Awkward lie: Rory McIlroy’s ball lodges in the lap of a spectator at World Tour Championship

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — It was the most awkward lie of the day for Rory McIlroy.The four-time major winner’s tee shot on the par-3 13th hole at the World Tour Championship on Thursday somehow landed in the lap of a female spectator as she lay on grass to the right of the green.Amid much laughter, the rest of the spectators retreated but the woman remained lying down, with her feet crossed and the ball lodged between her legs.McIlroy went up to her, scratched his head, then feigned a shot — to the amusement of the gallery. McIlroy stood back and said: “Right, ermm. Referee!”The match referee arrived and gave McIlroy a drop, saying: “Basically, it’s the spot underneath her.”“You can get up,” a laughing McIlroy said to the woman, who handed him the ball, stood up, picked up her bag and returned to the gallery to cheers.McIlroy chipped onto the green and wound up making bogey.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfThe Associated Press

Workers at 17 No Frills stores in Ontario set Monday strike deadline

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

TORONTO — The union representing more than 1,200 workers at 17 No Frills grocery stores in Ontario has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. on Monday.Unifor says contract talks are ongoing, but that workers are prepared to strike to back their demands.No Frills is the discount grocery banner owned by Loblaw Cos. Ltd.Unifor national president Lana Payne says Loblaw must come to the table prepared to raise wages and improve working conditions. On Wednesday, Loblaw reported a third-quarter profit of $621 million, up from $556 million during the same quarter last year. Workers represented by Unifor at the Metro grocery store chain in the Toronto area went on strike for five weeks earlier this year before a deal was reached.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:L)The Canadian Press

Driver who intentionally ran down 3 people in North York was family member of victims: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

A driver accused of killing one person and injuring two others after intentionally running them down at a North York apartment was related to the victims, police say.“We understand there is a familial relation with the four people involved in this,” said Toronto police Det.-Sgt. Brandon Price in an update on Wednesday evening. Investigators have not revealed the exact family relationship between the group.Toronto police were called to the apartment complex on Cassandra Boulevard near Victoria Park Avenue around 12:40 p.m. Wednesday for reports of pedestrians being struck by a vehicle.Three injured victims were found in the parking lot and rushed to a local hospital. Police say a woman in her 60s was pronounced dead and the other two victims — a man and an elderly woman — suffered serious injuries but are expected to survive.The driver, an elderly man, was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody. The homicide unit is investigating and police say th...

Man dies after being attacked near House of Blues

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has died after he was attacked in an attempted robbery near the House of Blues in the River North neighborhood.The fatal attack happened around 11:27 p.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of North Dearborn.Police said the 47-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk when he was approached by two men who asked for money. The victim was struck on the head by one of the men with a closed fist and he fell to the ground.According to police, officers discovered the victim unresponsive on the sidewalk. He was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, and was pronounced dead a short time later. Block Club Chicago journalist dead, father critical after house fire in Brighton Park No one is in custody. Area Three Detectives are investigating.

Police and protesters clash outside Democratic HQ during demonstration over the Israel-Hamas war

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police and protesters clashed outside Democratic National Committee headquarters on Wednesday night during a demonstration for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, the latest reflection of boiling tensions over the bloody conflict. Scores of Democratic representatives and candidates, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, were inside the building for a campaign reception when it was interrupted by chanting outside. Protesters said they wanted to block entrances and exits to force politicians to encounter their candlelight vigil and their calls for an end to the fighting. Many of them wore black shirts saying “Cease Fire Now.”However, the situation swiftly devolved. U.S. Capitol Police said about 150 people were “illegally and violently protesting” in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington. But protesters blamed police for the violence, saying officers rushed them without warning. “It is shameful the way that nonviolent protesters and mem...

Thursday Forecast: Temps in mid 60s with increasing clouds

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Temperatures in the mid 60s Thursday with increasing clouds and breezy conditions. Winds: SSW 10-20 G30. High: 66. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Cloudy tonight with showers possible. Winds: NNW 15-20 G30. Low: 45.Friday Forecast: Morning 20% shower chance, decreasing clouds. Winds: NNW 10-15 G25. High: 49 (afternoon temp)Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Women bear the brunt of financial stress in the US economy, study says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:55 GMT

(The Hill) - The economy looks a lot better than it did last year, but persistent inflation, ballooning debt and dwindling savings have hit women especially hard.Nearly 6 in 10 women are living paycheck to paycheck, compared to 41 percent of men, according to a recent study by Varo Bank, Morning Consult and THRIVE Financial Empowerment Services of 1,004 Americans who regularly spend most or all of their income.This economic strain is felt across the political spectrum, and Americans living paycheck to paycheck — regardless of party — cited the cost of living as their greatest financial concern.Eroding savings and increasing debt round out the top three concerns for people living paycheck to paycheck, the study found.“It's impacting everyone,” Colin Walsh, founder and CEO of Varo Bank, told The Hill. “Sometimes you see political headlines and other things that would maybe lead you to believe there's concentrations, but [financial stress] was pretty widespread.”Making less than men af...