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‘Appalling’: Southern Africa counts toll of Cyclone Freddy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The death toll from Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which ravaged Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique over the past two months, now stands at more than 600 people, the World Health Organization said Thursday.Aid agencies are scrambling to meet the soaring humanitarian needs amid fears of rising cholera cases, malnutrition and large numbers of displaced families. “The cyclone has left an appalling humanitarian situation in its wake … increased and concerted humanitarian assistance is needed” to support affected people recover and cope with the disaster, WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti said in an online briefing.The long-lasting, brutal cyclone destroyed houses, roads, farmland and hospitals and has “stretched the capacity of health facilities,” claiming 605 lives among the more than 1.4 million affected people as of Mar. 20 in the three countries, she said.Cyclone Freddy first hit Madagascar and Mozambique in February. The storm went back out to the ...

Tech gains help S&P/TSX composite rise more than 100 points, U.S. stocks also up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

TORONTO — Strength in the technology sector helped lead a broad-based rally as Canada’s main stock index gained more than 100 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets also surged higher.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 137.31 points at 19,670.09.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 419.91 points at 32,450.02. The S&P 500 index was up 63.20 points at 4,000.17, while the Nasdaq composite was up 261.15 points at 11,931.11.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.35 cents US compared with 72.93 cents US on Wednesday.The May crude contract was up 33 cents at US$71.23 per barrel and the May natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.36 per mmBTU.The April gold contract was up US$32.20 at US$1,981.80 an ounce and the May copper contract was up five cents at US$4.10 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

President seals Finland’s NATO bid by signing required laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — The Finnish president on Thursday formally sealed the Nordic country’s historic bid to join NATO by signing into law the required national legal amendments needed for membership in the Western military alliance.The move by President Sauli Niinistö means Finland has completed national measures needed to join NATO, and is now just awaiting approval from Turkey and Hungary, the only two of NATO’s 30 existing members that haven’t ratified its bid.In Turkey Thursday, a parliamentary committee approved Finland’s NATO application, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported, bringing Helsinki a step closer to joining the alliance.Members of the Turkish parliament’s committee on foreign affairs voted in favor of Finland’s bid a week after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would move forward with ratifying it.Finland’s application could be ratified by the full Turkish assembly, where Erdogan’s party and its allies hold a majority, as early as next week. ...

RCMP arrest suspect in Montreal on terrorism allegations after tip from FBI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

MONTREAL — The RCMP say they arrested a man in Montreal today on terrorism allegations after receiving intelligence from the FBI.Police say officers arrested 18-year-old Mohamed Amine Assal, who is from Montreal’s St-Laurent borough.They say their operation was to disrupt Assal’s “suspicious activities” and get him to sign a peace bond that could include several conditions.The RCMP say their investigation gave them reasonable grounds to fear that Assal may commit a terrorism offence.They say he has not been charged but could be at a later date.An RCMP news release says the police force is committed to countering religiously motivated violent extremism.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bombardier bumps up financial goals for 2025 as business jet market takes off

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

MONTREAL — Bombardier Inc. has upped its financial targets for 2025, as the plane maker looks to boost production of business jets amid a growing market.Bombardier, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, said Thursday it is now aiming for more than US$9 billion in revenue for 2025, up from about US$7.5 billion.It also raised its objective for free cash flow to over US$900 million, up from more than US$500 million.Bombardier’s share price jumped by 7.3 per cent to $66.29 in mid-morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.Despite uncertain economic conditions, chief executive Éric Martel expressed confidence that the Montreal-based company’s strategy is “on track or ahead of plan.”“There is some added volatility and uncertainty in the markets today,” Martel told analysts during a question period at the company’s virtual investor day. “We’ll see how fast the economy is going to come back … but we are capable of taking those little...

Mother faces OWI after car crashes into tree, injuring 2 children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

KENOSHA, Wis. — A mother is facing OWI charges after crashing into a tree and leaving two children seriously injured in Kenosha Wednesday evening. According to police, Erika McCoy, 27, was travelling at a high speed southbound near the 400 block of Sheridan Road with her two children, 2 and 7, in the back seat when she swerved to avoid a car in front of her and crashed into a tree. McCoy and the children were transported to an area hospital and one of the kids was further transported to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee with possible life-threatening injuries, police say.Police reported that the children were not wearing seatbelts and that McCoy displayed levels of intoxication. Boy, 15, faces multiple felonies for attempted murder She was taken into custody and transported to the Kenosha County Detention Center Jail for operating a vehicle while intoxicated with passengers under 16 causing injury, second-degree recklessly endangering safety and knowingly operating a motor vehicle...

Milwaukee's Summerfest reveals 2023 lineup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Milwaukee's Summerfest released the full 2023 concert lineup Thursday for the festival's 55th anniversary.The music fest will take place over three weekends; June 22-24, June 29-July 1, and July 6-8. Over 100 artists are scheduled to perform — including, Eric Church, Dave Matthews Band, ODESZA, Zach Bryan, Imagine Dragons, Santa Fe Klan, Earth, Wind & Fire, Noah Kahan, Ava Max, The Pretty Reckless, Sean Paul, Coi Leray, Japanese Breakfast, Yellowcard, Smokey Robinson, Fleet Foxes — and many more. Lollapalooza 2023 official lineup revealed “Celebrating 55 years of live music is a true testament to this festival. Together with the City of Milwaukee, we look forward to hosting music fans from across the globe at Summerfest and delivering a world-class lineup with hundreds of artists during our nine-day run” said Don Smiley, CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.Tickets for Summerfest are on sale now at Summerfest.com with single day ...

Hyundai, Kia recall vehicles over fire risk, warn to park outside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of more than 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the U.S. to park them outdoors because the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while they are parked or being driven.The affiliated Korean automakers are recalling the vehicles and warning people to park them away from structures until repairs are made.Affected Hyundai vehicles include the 2019 to 2023 Santa Fe, the 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, the 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid and the 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz. The only Kia affected is the Carnival minivan from 2022 and 2023. All have Hyundai or Kia tow hitch harnesses that came as original equipment or were installed by dealers. Fox News reporter hugs son on camera as he leaves site of Denver school shooting The Korean automakers say in documents posted Thursday by U.S. safety regulators that water can get into a circuit board on the hitches and cause a short circuit even if the ignitions are off.Hyundai has reports o...

Manhattan grand jury not meeting Thursday in Trump probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

The Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence in an ongoing probe into former President Trump's role in a hush money payment made to an adult film star is no longer expected to weigh the case Thursday, multiple outlets report.The move pushes the grand jury's next consideration of the case until Monday, delaying a possible indictment of Trump until then.Grand juries often weigh more than one case while they are empaneled, and jurors could hear from additional witnesses in the hush money investigation when they meet next week.The latest update was first reported by Insider. The Hill has reached out to a Manhattan District Attorney's Office spokesperson for comment.Trump had suggested he would be arrested this past Tuesday and called for protests, but the investigation has yet to turn up an indictment. Prosecutors also told grand jurors to stay home on Wednesday.It’s unclear the reason for the delay. Either Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) or the grand jury can call additional w...

Portage woman charged after 2-year-old daughter finds gun, shoots self

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:49:19 GMT

PORTAGE, Ind. (AP) — The mother of a 2-year-old Northwest Indiana girl who died after accidentally shooting herself with a gun she found in her home has been charged with neglect of a dependent.The charge has been filed against Abigail Rodriguez, 28, of Portage, online court records showed Wednesday.Hours after shooting herself on Feb. 7, Grace Rodriguez died at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said at the time.Abigail Rodriguez told police she and her daughter were in the girl’s bedroom when Grace wandered into her mother’s room and shot herself with a 9 mm handgun, a Portage police officer wrote in an affidavit, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.The woman said she thought her daughter was walking toward the living room until she heard a gunshot, the affidavit said, and she rushed into her bedroom and saw Grace on the floor, wounded. Employee injured after vehicle crashes into Northwest Indiana office She said she keep...