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‘Humanitarian pauses’ in Israel-Hamas war don’t prevent advocacy on hostages: Gould

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

OTTAWA — Government House leader Karina Gould says there doesn’t need to be a choice between calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas and advocating for “humanitarian pauses” in its war with Israel.Gould said on Parliament Hill this morning that freeing the hostages, among whom may be two people with links to Canada, remains one of the government’s “top priorities.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined other international leaders on Tuesday in saying he supports the idea of “pauses” in the Israel-Hamas conflict to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and give civilians and foreign nationals a way out. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry says more than 5,700 people in the Palestinian territory have been killed since the war began.Israel retaliated with aggressive airstrikes on the densely populated territory after militants from Hamas, which Canada deems a terrorist group, stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing some...

Wanted Brampton man drove recklessly, accelerated through crowded parking lot: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

A Brampton man believed to be evading authorities is wanted for reckless driving and putting pedestrians at risk, police said.On October 21, just after 10:30 p.m., authorities received multiple calls for vehicles driving erratically in the College Plaza parking lot in Brampton.Responding officers said the driver of a Black Jeep Wrangler was performing reckless maneuvers while endangering pedestrians in the area. It’s alleged that after a brief interaction with police, the driver sped away from officers, dangerously accelerating through the crowded parking lot and striking a traffic sign on the way out.No injuries were reported.The male driver was identified as 26-year-old Gurprit Singh of Brampton. The suspect is believed to be evading police and is wanted on several charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, obstructing a peace officer and flight from a peace officer.

Bulgaria is launching the construction of 2 US-designed nuclear reactors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria on Wednesday decided to expand the country’s nuclear power generation as an alternative to fossil fuels by launching the construction of two additional reactors at its only nuclear power plant.The two new reactors, which will provide a total of 2,300 megawatts, will use Westinghouse’s technology, the government said in a statement.Earlier this year, U.S.-based nuclear equipment manufacturer Westinghouse Electric Co. signed an agreement with the Kozloduy plant for a proposed deployment of one or two AP1000 pressurized water reactor units.Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said Wednesday that the government has allocated an initial amount of 250 million euros ($270 million) for the project, adding that the first reactor is expected to be ready in 2033, and the second one — two to three years later.Bulgaria currently operates two Russian-designed VVER-1000 reactors of 1000 MW each at the nuclear facility in Kozloduy that generate about a third of the country’...

Sam Bankman-Fried plans to testify at his New York fraud trial, his lawyer says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried plans to testify at his fraud trial, his lawyer told a federal judge on Wednesday, a day before the defense is set to counter testimony from former executives who say the cryptocurrency executive stole billions of dollars from his customers and investors over several years.Attorney Mark Cohen told Judge Lewis A. Kaplan that he planned to call three witnesses “and then our client is also going to be testifying” after prosecutors rest early Thursday.Cohen made the comment during a phone and video conference in Manhattan federal court after the judge told him: “It’s time to tell me what defense case, if any, you’re going to put on.”The judge told him that he didn’t have to say yet whether Bankman-Fried would testify, but Cohen volunteered that he would.Even so, prosecutors and the judge later discussed the possibility that closing arguments could occur early next week if Bankman-Fried changes his mind and doesn’t take the stand....

2 London police officers have been dismissed over a stop and search of a Black athlete couple

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Two of London’s Metropolitan Police officers were dismissed from the force on Wednesday after a disciplinary panel concluded that they committed gross misconduct over the stop and search of two Black athletes. Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos, both professional sprinters, complained to the police watchdog that they were racially profiled by a group of police officers on July 4, 2020. The couple were driving home in London with their 3-month-old infant son in the back seat when police followed their car and pulled them over outside their home. The athletes were handcuffed and searched on suspicion of having drugs and weapons, but nothing was found.The disciplinary panel heard the officers said they followed the athletes’ vehicle because of Dos Santos’ “appalling” and “suspicious” driving, and that they were doing their duty when they conducted the stop and search.But the panel concluded that two of the officers, Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks, lied about sm...

Domino's giving away free pizzas for student loan borrowers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Domino's announced Wednesday that they are giving away free pizzas as student loan repayments resume.The company has launched a page on their website where student loan borrowers can apply for a free medium two-topping pizza.If codes are available on that day, Domino’s will send customers an email with the free pizza code — which they can redeem on their next online carryout or delivery order placed within the next 30 days.The promotion will last until $1 million worth of free pizza has been claimed. Culver’s opens up Wrigleyville location Student loan payments restarted this month after the Biden administration paused them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

House Republican tells reporter to 'shut up' for asking Johnson about overturning 2020 election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

(The Hill) – Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) was among a group of Republican lawmakers who shouted at a reporter after she asked Vice Conference Chair Mike Johnson (R-La.) about his alleged involvement in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.ABC News Reporter Rachel Scott was attempting to ask Johnson about his stance on the issue during a press conference Tuesday evening after he became the latest Speaker nominee.Johnson was surrounded by various members of the House GOP, who began to laugh and shout as Scott was asking her question. Foxx, one of the members near Johnson, yelled “shut up.”Foxx has been known for frequently scolding reporters and staff for being on or near members-only elevators in Capitol buildings. She recently told a group of reporters to “get away from the damned elevator.”In the video, captured by C-SPAN, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said “oh god” in response to the question. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) laughed. Many o...

The most frequently banned book in prison is about ramen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

(The Hill) – Tens of thousands of books have been banned or restricted in U.S. prisons, according to a new report by PEN America, a free speech organization that has been tracking book bans in the country. On Wednesday, the organization released “Reading Between the Bars: An In-Depth Look at Prison Censorship,” which examines how prisons choose which books to take away from prisoners, with some titles getting thrown into the garbage by staffers. “The extent of prison book banning is alarming and an attack on the written word itself,” said Moira Marquis, senior manager of PEN America’s Freewrite Project and lead author of the report. “Censorship should not be a knee jerk tactic by authorities to address other prison concerns, such as spurious claims that books are a conduit for drugs. Yet we are witnessing vast amounts of time, effort and money expended in order to stop people from reading. This censorship must end.”  The group based its report on freedom of infor...

Las Vegas teens accused in deadly crime spree appear to laugh in courtroom, smile at victim's family

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Two Las Vegas teens facing murder charges in connection with the death of a bicyclist appeared in court this week as a judge set their trial date.A grand jury indicted Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, on Tuesday morning. The two are accused of stealing at least three cars, burglarizing a home, hitting another car on the road, and striking two bicyclists in separate incidents during an hours-long crime spree in August. A 72-year-old man survived the first hit-and-run. The other man — retired California police chief Andreas Probst, 64 — did not survive. In court on Tuesday, Ayala and Keys appeared to smile at the widow and daughter of Probst."They started trying to intimidate us, mad-dog us," Taylor Probst, the victim's daughter, said. "These guys, they did not respect the court whatsoever."The teens also appeared to communicate with each other and, at times, cover their faces. Video from inside the courtroom appears to show them laughing at one point. New vi...

Austin ISD places 6 schools in 'secure' due to threat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Independent School District said no one was allowed to leave or enter buildings on six area campuses Wednesday morning after the schools were placed on "Secure."The district told KXAN that Austin High School, O. Henry Middle School, Kealing Middle School, Rosedale School, Hill Elementary School and Casis Elementary School went into Secure after receiving emails containing a threat to the schools. Report: Politics drives school district leaders away According to the district, secure means all activities continue inside, but no one may leave or enter school buildings. This means families and visitors will not be permitted to enter or leave the school. The district said secure is "substantively" different than a Lockdown because lockdown implies an active threat inside the building. The district said it immediately contacted Austin ISD police who are investigating. Out of an abundance of caution, the district said it would keep the schools in secure until o...