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Russia launches record number of drones in Ukraine, and Putin says Moscow will intensify its attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a record 90 Shahed-type drones across Ukraine during the early hours of the new year, and Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country would “intensify” its attacks on its neighbor.Speaking during a New Year’s Day visit to a military hospital, Putin said Ukraine could expect more such strikes after shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod that killed more than two dozen people and wounded more than 100 others. “They want to intimidate us and create uncertainty within our country. We will intensify strikes. Not a single crime against our civilian population will go unpunished,” the Russian leader said, describing the barrage of Belgorod as a “terrorist act.”Russia has blamed Ukraine for Saturday’s attack, which was one of the deadliest to take place on Russian soil since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started more than 22 months ago. Russian officials said the death t...

A driver fleeing New York City police speeds onto a sidewalk and injures 7 pedestrians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A driver fleeing police in Manhattan early Monday morning sped onto a sidewalk and injured seven pedestrians, including a woman who was pinned under a food truck struck by the sedan, according to police. The 39-year-old woman trapped under the food truck in midtown Manhattan and six other pedestrians were taken to hospitals and were in stable condition. The vehicle’s driver and a police officer also were taken to hospitals after the crash, which occurred just after 1:30 a.m., according to the New York Police Department.None of the injuries appeared life-threatening.The crash happened less than two hours after thousands of New Year’s Eve revelers packed into Times Square, about a dozen blocks north in Manhattan.Police said officers were responding to “a possible crime” at the intersection of West 33rd St. and 7th Ave., near Penn Station, and were trying to intervene in a dispute in a vehicle. The unidentified 44-year-old driver struck multiple vehicles bef...

Chad appoints a former opposition leader as prime minister of transitional government

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Chad’s transitional government appointed a former opposition leader who recently returned from exile as its new prime minister. Succes Masra will serve as the country’s prime minister through the transition to civilian rule, Mahamat Ahmad Alhabo, Chad’s new secretary-general of the presidency, said on state television. Masra, president of The Transformers opposition party, fled Chad in October 2022. The country’s military government at the time suspended his party and six others in a clampdown on protests against interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby’s decision to extend his time in power by two more years. More than 60 people were killed in the protests, which the government condemned as “an attempted coup.”An agreement between the country’s minister of reconciliation and Masra’s political party two months ago allowed the exiled politician and other opposition figures to return to Chad. The passage last month of a referendum on a new...

A Colorado mother suspected of killing 2 of her children makes court appearance in London

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A Colorado mother suspected of killing two of her young children and injuring a third made an initial court appearance Monday in London, where she was arrested over the weekend. Kimberlee Singler, 35, appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court facing extradition to the U.S. on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault. Singler disappeared as Colorado police prepared to arrest her in the deaths of her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, who were found slain Dec. 19 during what was reported as a burglary. Singler had minor injuries and a wounded 11-year-old daughter was hospitalized for several day before being released.Singler was initially treated as a crime victim and had cooperated with police. But officers could not locate her when they went to arrest her Dec. 26.Police nabbed her Saturday in the Kensington section of London. She had been in a long-running legal dispute over the childre...

Two people struck and killed by speeding driver in Montreal, 23-year-old man arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man who allegedly struck and killed two people with his car before fleeing the scene early this morning. Police spokeswoman Const. Caroline Chèvrefils alleges the driver was travelling at high speed when he struck the two pedestrians in Montreal’s northern Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough shortly after 1 a.m.Police say the suspect then fled the scene in his vehicle, but travelled only a few blocks before getting out and continuing his flight on foot.Chèvrefils says he was then tracked down by a police dog. She says the 23-year-old driver was arrested and taken to hospital.Chèvrefils says the two pedestrians were declared dead on the scene and their identities have not yet been established. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2024.The Canadian Press

Saskatchewan to stop collecting carbon levy from natural gas and electrical heat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government says its natural gas utility is to stop collecting the carbon levy as of Monday from residential customers. The move comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exempted those who use home heating oil from paying the levy, mostly benefiting residents in Atlantic Canada. Saskatchewan asked for the exemption to cover all other forms of heating, but Ottawa denied the request. In response, the province said it would stop collecting the charge at the start of 2024.Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for SaskEnergy, said the due date to pay the levy to the federal government is the last day of February.Should SaskEnergy not remit those dollars, it would be breaking federal law and executives could face fines or jail time.Saskatchewan passed legislation that aims to shield executives from legal consequences, putting that burden on the province.Duncan said in December that SaskEnergy asked the federal government to remove it as a registered distributor...

Gas tax paused in Manitoba, returns in Alberta at a lower rate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

As one province pauses the gas tax to provide savings at the pumps, another is bringing it back. The Manitoba government says that starting Monday, motorists won’t have to pay 14 cents per litre in fuel tax for the next six months.The province has said it introduced the measure to help motorists with inflation.Meanwhile, the Alberta government is reintroducing the gas tax after pausing it nearly two years ago. Starting Monday, motorists in Alberta can expect to pay a tax of nine cents per litre at the pumps.Alberta said the rate of nine cents is cheaper than the 13 cents motorists had paid before the pause. Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner said the tax rate is based on the average price of oil. Should the price of West Texas Intermediate average US$80 per barrel, Albertans can expect to save some or all of the fuel tax, he said. “Alberta’s fuel tax is a predictable source of provincial revenue, helping to offset the volatility of other revenue sources,” Horner said i...

German officials detain a fifth suspect in connection with a threat to attack Cologne Cathedral

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities said Monday they detained another suspect in connection with an alleged threat of an attack on the world-famous Cologne Cathedral over the holidays, bringing the overall number of people detained in connection with the alleged plot to five.The latest suspect, a 41-year-old German-Turkish man, was detained Sunday night in the western city of Bochum in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Police detained three people on Sunday morning and one man last week. All of the detained suspects allegedly belong to a larger Islamic extremist network that included people across Germany and in other European countries, according to Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns, German news agency dpa reported.The other four suspects were detained in different cities across North Rhine-Westphalia. The one who was detained last week was identified as a 30-year-old Tajik man. No details were given for the three who were detained Sunday morning.The attack was supposed to hav...

Hundreds of migrants enter Chicago after being flown to Rockford from San Antonio

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Hundreds of migrants were dropped off in the Chicago area, some keeping warm on CTA buses in the West Loop, to begin 2024.It's the latest maneuver by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to send migrants to the city in a showdown with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who calls Abbott's actions "a very dangerous task" and "a matter of national security."A private plane chartered out of San Antonio arrived early Sunday morning at Chicago Rockford International Airport carrying 355 migrants. Rockford officials say they were given limited notice about the arrival of the Boeing 777 at about 1 a.m. Sunday.Unlike Chicago, Rockford is not classified as a Sanctuary City for the migrants.Upon landing, the plane's passengers boarded eight buses chartered by Gov. Abbott. Rockford officials say the buses were scheduled to take the migrants to Chicago's designated landing zone in the West Loop at W. Polk St. and S. Desplaines St.However, the buses dropped passengers off in various suburbs, and they are...

Shopping on New Year's Day 2024? From Costco to Walmart, see what stores are open and closed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:33:28 GMT

The New Year is almost upon us. And as the world prepares to ring in 2024, many are winding down from the holidays and getting back into their regular routines — give or take some fresh resolutions.If you're planning on grabbing groceries or doing some other shopping to kick off the new year, it's wise to double check stores' hours. While more businesses typically stay open on New Year's Day compared to Christmas Day, a handful of chains still cut back on hours or shut their doors to commemorate the holiday. Some also close up shop early for New Year's Eve.Operations can vary on location. When in doubt, call ahead or check hours of stores in your neighborhood online.Here's a rundown of major store hours and which businesses are open and closed in the U.S. this New Year's Day.IS WALMART OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?Walmart is open with normal hours on New Year's Day.IS TARGET OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?Target is open with regular operating hours on New Year's Day.IS COSTCO OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S D...