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Russia jails an associate of imprisoned Kremlin foe Navalny as crackdown on dissent continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A court in the Siberian city of Tomsk on Monday jailed an associate of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny pending trial on extremism charges, according to an ally, part of an unrelenting crackdown on Russian political activists, independent journalists and rights workers. Ksenia Fadeyeva, who used to run Navalny’s office in Tomsk and had a seat in a local legislature, was placed in pre-trial detention several months after her trial began.According to her ally Andrei Fateyev, who reported the development on his Telegram channel, Fadeyeva was placed under house arrest three weeks ago over an alleged violation of restrictions imposed on her earlier. The prosecutor later contested that ruling and demanded she be put in custody, a move the judge supported, Fateyev said. The activist has been charged with running an extremist group and promoting “activities of an organization that infringes on people’s rights.” Fateyev argued that Fadeyeva was ...

Average Canadian rent price hits new high for sixth consecutive month: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

A new report says the average asking price for a rental unit in Canada reached $2,178 last month, a 9.9 per cent year-over-year increase and continuing a trend that has seen asking rents hit new highs for six months in a row.The data released by Rentals.ca and Urbanation, which analyzes monthly listings from the former’s network, shows that while October’s annual rate of rent growth in Canada was down from the 11.1 per cent jump in September, it still marked the second fastest annual increase of the past seven months.The average cost of a one-bedroom unit in October was $1,906, up 14 per cent from the same month in 2022, while the average asking price for a two-bedroom was $2,255, up 11.8 per cent annually.Vancouver still leads the way as Canada’s most expensive city for renters, with the average one-bedroom unit listed at $2,872 and a two-bedroom at $3,777 — both down from September’s asking prices, but up 6.7 per cent and 5.5 per cent, respectively, on an a...

White House releases plan to grow radio spectrum access, with possible benefits for internet, drones

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday announced a strategy to potentially expand the availability of radio spectrum needed for cellphones, satellites, navigation, space travel and other emerging technologies.The increasingly digitized and mobile economy has put pressure on the available range of frequencies used for wireless communication. The spectrum is also vital for national security and responding to disasters.“We all understand the spectrum is crowded, demand is growing fast,” said Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “This is a way to break through the limitations of today.”The strategy will help to coordinate and guide how spectrum is allocated by the Federal Communications Commission, an independent government agency.The National Telecommunications Information Administration will perform a two-year study on how to possibly repurpose 2,786 megahertz of spectrum, which could be used for wireless broadband, drones, and sat...

Industry leaders slam bill to ban replacement workers during strikes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

MONTREAL — Industry leaders are warning that a bill to ban replacement workers during a strike or lockout could lead to greater disruptions to everything from aviationto package delivery and internet services.Tabled in Parliament on Thursday, the Liberals’ legislation would be applicable to federally regulated sectors such as air travel, ports, banking and telecommunications and fine companies $100,000 a day for each violation. It would affect about a million employees.Derrick Hynes, CEO of the Federally Regulated Employers – Transportation and Communications industry group, says a ban on replacement workers will create a major imbalance at the table and incentivize strike action.He also cautions the bill could give small bargaining units in large companies outsized power to shut down entire operations, pointing to airlines and ports as examples.However, Canadian Union of Public Employees president Mark Hancock says current rules give management unfair leverage in negoti...

Chicago firefighter, 39, dies after battling fire at restaurant in Lincoln Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter has died after battling a fire at a restaurant in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood.The firefighter has been identified as 39-year-old Andrew Price.Fire officials confirmed his death Monday morning, saying "on behalf of the Fire Commisioner, it is my sad duty to report the passing of our member injured this morning at 2430 Lincoln."The fire started around 6 a.m. Monday at Lincoln Station Bar and Grill in the 2400 block of Lincoln Avenue. According to officials, a Mayday call was made while crews were responding to the fire and one firefighter was trapped and had to be rescued. The crew member was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition, where they later died.Price joined the fire department in March 2009. He would have been 40 years old come January. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.The firefighter's death is the fourth line-of-duty death the department has dealt with this year. Lt. Kevin Ward died following a No...

Evanston council expected to vote on NU stadium project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Leaders in Evanston are expected to take a final vote Monday on a proposal to build a new Northwestern football stadium.Northwestern University is proposing to tear down Ryan Field, the 97-year-old stadium that looms over an upscale residential neighborhood, and replace it with a privately funded $800 million facility that the university envisions as a venue for concerts and other events.The university originally requested a zoning amendment allowing for 15 concerts, but in the face of opposition, it dropped that number to six, which authorities told the commission is the minimum number it needs to bring in the revenue to sustain the stadium’s operations. More: Evanston residents protest Ryan Field renovations for 2nd straight day Some residents are concerned that the new stadium on game days – and potential concert nights could bring increased congestion affect access to emergency services. City council members are said to be evenly divided, meaning the tie-...

Maryanne Trump Barry, former judge and sister of Donald Trump, dies: reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Maryanne Trump Barry has died, multiple news outlets reported Monday. ABC News reported she was found in her New York City apartment. A cause of death has not yet been released. She was 86 years old. Trump Barry was an older sister of former President Donald Trump. She was a prosecutor before being appointed as a federal judge to the United States Court for the District of New Jersey in 1983. In 1999, she was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.She served as a judge until her retirement in 2019. FILE - Donald Trump is pictured with his sister Maryanne Trump Barry as they adjourn for lunch during a public inquiry over his plans to build a golf resort near Aberdeen, Scotland, on June 10, 2008. (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)At the time of her retirement, she was under investigation for tax fraud, which would have been a violation of judicial conduct rules, CNN reports. However, because she retired, the conduct investigation was droppe...

Toddler in critical condition after drowning incident in NW Indiana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- A toddler is in critical condition after two children were found drowning in a river in Northwest Indiana.According to Indiana police, the incident occurred in the Tippecanoe River in Pulaski County where a one-year-old and five-year-old boy were found struggling in the river behind a home on Stamper Drive around 10:50 a.m. Chicago firefighter critically injured after battling fire at restaurant in Lincoln Park Officers found that the children had been playing outside and entered the water. Family members pulled the children from the water after hearing the five-year-old call for help. The children and two adult family members were transported to Pulaski Memorial Hospital. The toddler was later transported to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition. WGN is actively following this incident and will update as more information is provided.

USA Today hires dedicated Beyoncé correspondent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

(The Hill) - The BeyHive now has its own beat reporter — USA Today says it’s hired journalist Caché McClay to cover all things Beyoncé.The USA Today Network and The Tennessean said Monday that McClay — who previously worked at TMZ and BBC News, among other outlets — was chosen for the “Formation” singer-focused gig from among “hundreds of applicants.”Beyoncé performs at a Get Out the Vote concert for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)The job, according to the media company, “requires close coverage of [Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s] complex business and entertainment empire, including the upcoming film documenting her $580 million-grossing Renaissance World Tour and a new perfume line, among other products.”McClay, a Howard University graduate, described herself as growing up “in a Beyoncé household.”“More than playing music, Beyoncé’s impact has shown us the possibilities are endless,...

Over half of Sudan's population needs humanitarian aid after nearly 7 months of war, UN says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:53 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Almost seven months of war between Sudan’s military and a powerful paramilitary group have left a wave of destruction with over half the population in need of humanitarian aid and raised fears of a repeat of the deadly ethnic conflict in Darfur 20 years ago.“What is happening is verging on pure evil,” the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the African nation said Friday.Sudan has fallen out of the spotlight since it was engulfed in chaos starting in mid-April, when simmering tensions between military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, exploded into open warfare.But Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the resident U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, told a United Nations news conference that “the situation is horrific and grim” and “frankly, we are running out of words to describe the horror of what is happening.” She stressed that “the Sudan crisis has few...