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Russia upholds detention of US reporter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

MOSCOW — A Russian judge on Tuesday upheld the detention of jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on spying charges as part of a sweeping Kremlin crackdown on dissent amid the war in Ukraine. He and the U.S. government vehemently deny the allegations.The Wall Street Journal reporter is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying allegations and his arrest rattled journalists in the country and elicited outrage in the West. Dozens of journalists crowded into the courtroom to catch a glimpse of Gershkovich, who looked calm as he stood inside a glass cage to appeal his detention.Russia’s Federal Security Service detained the 31-year-old in Yekaterinburg in March and accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory.Gershkovich, his employer and the U. S. government deny he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.“Evan is a member of the free press who right up until he was arre...

China offers to facilitate Israel-Palestinian peace talks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s foreign minister told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that his country is ready to help facilitate peace talks between the two sides, in its latest effort at mediation in the region. In separate phone calls to the two officials on Monday, Qin Gang expressed China’s concern over intensifying tensions between Israel and Palestinians and its support for a resumption of peace talks, the Foreign Ministry said in statements issued late Monday. Last month, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a deal in China to restore diplomatic ties that were cut off in 2016. It was a dramatic moment of diplomacy for China that Beijing touted as evidence of its ability to be a diplomatic player in the Middle East. Qin stressed in his talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen that Saudi Arabia and Iran have set a good example of overcoming differences through dialogue, a statement about that phone call said.He told Cohen that Beijing encourages Israel and the Pales...

Loblaw hiring European retail executive Per Bank as companies next CEO

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Loblaw Companies Ltd. is hiring veteran European retail executive Per Bank as its next president and chief executive.The parent company of the Loblaws grocery chain and Shoppers Drug Mart says Bank, the chief executive of Denmark’s Salling Group A/S, will join the company by early 2024.Salling Group operates department stores, supermarkets and discount stores. The hiring of Bank comes as Loblaw chief operating officer Robert Sawyer plans to retire at the end of the year.Galen Weston has been serving as president of Loblaw since 2021 when Sarah Davis retired from the job.He will remain chair of the Loblaw board, as well as chair and chief executive of George Weston Ltd., the retailer’s parent company.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:WN)The Canadian Press

What are China’s alleged ‘secret overseas police stations’?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Police in New York have arrested two men for allegedly setting up a secret police station for a Chinese provincial police agency to collect information on opponents of the ruling Communist Party. Such offices have been reported across North America, Europe and in other countries where Chinese communities include critics of the Communist Party who have family or business contacts in China. China denies that they are police stations, saying that they exist mainly to provide citizen services such as renewing driver’s licenses.Party leader and head of state Xi Jinping has waged a campaign against corruption that has also targeted criticism of his regime at home and abroad, while seeking to chase down those accused of financial crimes. The arrests Monday in New York came alongside charges against 34 officers with China’s national police force in China for using social media to harass party critics in the United States, authorities said Monday.Below is a look at the a...

Millennial Money: Young adults traveling on fiscal thin ice

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

Prices for travel remain stubbornly high. The cost of airfare in February was 27% higher than the same month a year earlier, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data . And rental car prices — having shot up during the pandemic — remain high today, as they’re 37% pricier in February than they were in the same month in 2019.Yet costlier travel is not deterring younger Americans who are eager to hit the road (and the skies) this year. A whopping 87% of 18-to-29-year-olds and 90% of 30-to-44-year-olds intend to travel this summer, according to a March survey by The Vacationer. If the economy is slowing, younger travelers aren’t heeding the memo.“When I meet with folks, they’re not budgeting,” says Dylan Snowden, a financial coach . “Most will just think about hotels and flight, but not the fact that they need to feed themselves three times a day.”Ignoring the broader economic trends (like the rising cost of eating out) could mean stormy financial waters ahead for these vacation...

German climate activists pledge new wave of blockades

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Climate activists said Tuesday that they will stage further protests in Berlin in an effort to force the German government into doing more to curb global warming.The announcement came as courts are taking a tougher stance against members of the group Last Generation who have repeatedly blocked roads across Germany in the past year.The group said at a news conference in Berlin that it would begin to stage open-ended protests Wednesday in the government district. From Monday onward, members will try to “peacefully bring the city to a standstill,” it said.Last Generation accuses the German government of breaching the country’s constitution, citing a supreme court verdict two years ago that found too much of the burden for climate change was being placed on younger generations. The government under then Chancellor Angela Merkel subsequently raised its targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but activists say the measures aren’t consistent with the Paris climate...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps in upper 50s with mostly sunny conditions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

CHICAGO — Warmer conditions and mostly sunny Tuesday. Winds: WNW 10-15 G20. High: 57Partly cloudy tonight. Winds: E 5-10. Low: 42. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Wednesday Forecast: Mainly cloudy, 40% thunderstorm chance, wide temp range. Winds: SE 10-15 G30. High: 68.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

Georgetown High School students getting jump on summer job opportunities

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – The Georgetown Independent School District will host a job fair for students at one high school Tuesday.Georgetown High School students looking for summer work and internship opportunities will be able to meet with more than 100 local businesses.The job fair will be at the school Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.This was the second of two job fairs the district held in April. It held one on Monday at East View High School. The district also has an online tool for students to find work year-around on the GISD High School Job Board.  

Austin middle schoolers engineer tool for visually impaired

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — What started off as a middle school science project could soon make a major impact helping those who are visually impaired.Two 8th-graders at the Harmony School of Endeavor have engineered a ‘smart cane’ with sonar sensors that detect obstacles up to five feet away.Ahyan Hassan and Hasan Rizvi call it their Pathfinder Project.Not only did they win the middle school division on their own campus, but they also finished first at the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair. This allowed them to advance to the Texas Science & Engineering Fair at Texas A&M's Student Center, where they won first place in the Junior- Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics category."We were only aiming to get to the State Fair,” Rizvi said. “I guess we got that trophy and we were really excited for that.”"We put blood, sweat and tears into this, very literally, and we really wanted to win,” Hassan said. “If we didn't win, we just worked a long time for no reason."The boys have been ...

NYSP: Man acting as power of attorney steals over $260K

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:47 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Saratoga Springs man was arrested for stealing over $260K from a person's bank account, who he was acting on behalf of, according to New York State Police. Ivan Gerdwagen, 65, is charged with second-degree grand larceny. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Tuesday, April 11, around 5:38 p.m., troopers received a complaint that over $260,000 was missing from the victim's bank account. Police say an investigation determined Gerdwagen, who was acting as the victim's power of attorney at the time of the theft, removed over $260,000 from August 2022 through January 2023 without permission or a justifiable purpose benefitting the victim.Gerdwagen was arrested and processed at Mayfield State Police. He was taken to the Schenectady County Correctional Facility to await arraignment.