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Zelenskyy is making his case at the US Capitol for more war aid as Republican support softens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to Washington on Thursday for a whirlwind one-day visit, this time facing the Republicans now questioning the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces. Zelenskyy arrived at the Capitol to talk privately with Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate as the world is watching Western support for Kyiv. He will also meet with President Joe Biden at the White House and will speak with U.S. military leaders at the Pentagon.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries escorted Zelenskyy into the Capitol. House Republican leaders, who promised tough questions for Zelenskyy on his plans for the way forward for Ukraine’s war effort, notably chose not to join in greeting the Ukrainian president before the cameras.House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul said Zelenskyy’s message for House lawmakers Thursday was “that he’s winning.” ...

Alex Murdaugh pleads guilty to financial crimes – the first time he’s admitted blame to a judge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh did something Thursday he hasn’t done in the two years since his life of privilege and power started to unravel — plead guilty to a crime.Murdaugh admitted in federal court to 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering.Murdaugh, 55, is serving life without parole in a South Carolina prison for shooting his wife and son. He has denied any role in the killings since their deaths in June 2021 and insisted he was innocent in two days of testimony earlier this year before he was convicted of two counts of murder.The federal guilty plea likely locks in years if not decades in prison for the disbarred lawyer, even if his murder conviction and sentence in state court are overturned on appeal.Murdaugh told the judge he wanted to be held accountable for stealing from his clients and do right by his surviving son.“I want to take responsibility. I want my son to see me take responsibility. It’s my hope that by taking responsibility...

Most of Nova Scotia’s lobster fleet well-suited to go electric: study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

HALIFAX — An environmental group has concluded that about 2,300 lobster boats operating off Nova Scotia are suitable candidates to switch from diesel to electric motors.A report released today by Oceans North says the province’s lobster fishery is positioned to lead the way toward zero-emission fishing — if governments assist the boat building sector in developing the new technologies.The group concluded that 70 per cent of the fleet fishes within 20 kilometres of their home port, meaning they’re able to safely rely on electric power.Nova Scotia’s lobster fleet produces roughly 82 million kilograms of carbon emissions each year — equivalent to the emissions of about 35,000 cars.Oceans North says the total cost of an electric system is competitive with diesel over a 20-year horizon because the higher purchase price is offset by lower operating costs.The group says the provincial and federal governments should set clear targets for emissions reductions in the marine ...

Freeland introduces bill to remove GST off rental developments, amend competition law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

OTTAWA — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced legislation this morning that would remove GST charges from new rental developments and update the country’s competition law. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the new legislation earlier this month to address the housing crisis and affordability crunch.Experts have called on the federal government to remove GST charges off new purpose-built rentals to help spur construction of these kinds of homes.The bill is also supposed to strengthen the Competition Bureau by giving it the power to compel information from companies to conduct studies, tighten up merger laws and go after collaborations that stifle competition.The changes to the Competition Act follow a promise from the Liberals to review the law. Freeland, along with several other cabinet ministers, are to hold a news conference this afternoon about the new legislation.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2023.The Canadian Press

Side hustles take center stage in paying bills for Hollywood workers on strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Lighting for the entertainment industry is Ryan Meyer’s lifeblood.Before the Hollywood strikes, he worked 40 hours a week or more as a gaffer or director of photography. He also has a company that usually earns more than a million dollars a year in production support.Most of that is gone, for now, dried up in the contract disputes that have led to months of picket lines by writers and actors. One day recently, the 50-year-old Meyer, who lives in Los Angeles, lit an actor’s home foyer, “so when she opens the door,” he said, “she looks good.”While waiting out the strikes, Meyer and many thousands of others in the business are taking most any paycheck they can get, from Trader Joe’s to teaching to hitting up friends for writing gigs. Some are turning hobbies into money. Most anything to pay the bills.“We’ve become handymen,” Meyer said. “My neighbor needed help with his Jacuzzi so we powered that up for him. Somebody else bought a trailer with a ...

Pickering crash sends female to hospital with life-threatening injuries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

Durham Regional Police say a female has suffered life-threatening injuries in a Pickering crash on Thursday morning.It happened near Taunton and Whites roads.It’s not yet clear how many vehicles were involved and the age of the victim is not currently known.Police say an Ornge air ambulance was summoned and roads in the area are closed.Drivers are being advised to avoid the area.Female has suffered life-threatening injuries. @Ornge is attending.The area will be shut down for an extended period of time. https://t.co/MDkdrbW7TW— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) September 21, 2023More to come

Ottawa gives Food Banks Canada $17.9M for pilot to provide period products

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

TORONTO — The federal government has tasked Food Banks Canada with handing out free menstrual products to members of marginalized low-income communities.Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien announced the pilot program Thursday.She says the government is injecting $17.9 million into the initiative. Through the project, Food Banks Canada will distribute free period products to community organizations across Canada.It is also going to partner with existing organizations that deal in period education to scale up their operations.The Menstrual Equity project is part of a broader push from the government to reduce the cost of menstruation. The feds have already launched a program to provide free menstrual products in First Nations schools on reserves, as well as making sure they’re offered at federally regulated workplaces. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2023.The Canadian Press

Mississippi auditor says several college majors indoctrinate students and should be defunded

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Calling numerous social science and humanities degree programs “indoctrination factories,” Mississippi’s auditor says the state should defund several college majors and invest in subjects that match the state’s workforce needs. In a report published Tuesday, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, a Republican, argued that the state should change its approach to funding its public universities. He proposed tying public investment to workforce needs instead of providing funds without regard for the degree programs, as has traditionally been the case. Too many college graduates are leaving Mississippi, and aligning degree programs with labor market demand might stem the tide, White said. In numerous statements on social media leading up to the report’s publication, White said there should be no taxpayer funding for “useless degrees” in “garbage fields” like Urban Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, German Literature, African Studies, Gender St...

A serial killer pleads guilty in Rwanda to killing 14 people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — A serial killer in Rwanda pleaded guilty at a court Thursday, saying he killed 14 people. Most of the victims were women.Denis Kazungu, 34, admitted guilt to charges that included murder, rape and robbery. He appeared at the Kicukiro Court in the capital, Kigali.Kazungu smiled as police led him into the courtroom, but he didn’t appear to show any other emotion during the hearing. Police discovered 12 bodies at this home, but he said that he killed an additional two people whose bodies haven’t been found.The victims include 11 women and one man, authorities said. The sex of the other two people Kazungu said he killed wasn’t immediately clear.Kazungu didn’t have a lawyer at the hearing and he’s expected to appear in court again on Tuesday.Police alleged that the suspect lured people from bars to his home in a suburb of Kigali.Though identities of his victims haven’t been officially released, a woman has appeared in local media interv...

VIDEO: 78-year-old man robbed and battered on North Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

CHICAGO -- Nine armed robberies were committed within an hour on the city's North Side overnight, police said.In the first incident reported by police around 12:50 a.m., a 78-year-old man was walking near the 1900 block of West Wolfram Street when he was approached by six male offenders. The individuals demanded the man to hand over his belongings and he complied. One of the individuals struck the man before fleeing in a dark colored sedan.The man was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital and is listed in good condition.A home security video shared with WGN shows the incident below: According to police, three armed robberies took place close to 1:00 a.m. In all incidents, victims were approached by four individuals, demanding their belongings. Two individuals were armed. Romeoville suspect dead after shooting in Oklahoma Police said a 32-year-old woman was walking near the 2800 North Lincoln Avenue when she was approached by the individuals who de...