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Official says 5 prisoners sought by the US in a swap with Iran have flown out of Tehran

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An official has told The Associated Press that five prisoners sought by the U.S. in a swap with Iran have flown out of Tehran on Monday.The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the exchange was still in process.Flight-tracking data analyzed by the AP showed a Qatar Airways flight take off at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, which has been used for exchanges in the past.Iranian state media soon after said the flight had left Tehran.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States will exchange prisoners on Monday after nearly $6 billion in once-frozen Iranian assets reached Qatar, a key element of the planned swap, officials said.Despite the deal, tensions are almost certain to remain high between the U.S. and Iran, which are locked in various disputes, including over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran says the program is peaceful,...

Patriots rookie Christian Gonzalez earns Bill Belichick’s praise with ‘outstanding’ play

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

One of the biggest bright spots to the Patriots’ 0-2 start to the 2023 season has been the play of rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez through two difficult matchups to begin his NFL career.Gonzalez made the Patriots’ best defensive play in Sunday night’s 24-17 loss to the Dolphins, running over and jumping in front of wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a deep shot from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to take the ball away with an impressive interception.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez shines again in tough loss New England Patriots | Matthew Judon gives impassioned state of the Patriots address after loss New England Patriots | Patriots react to rare 0-2 start: ‘Something’s got to happen’ New England Patriots | Mac Jones’ plan to make sure Patriots don’t spiral after two tough losses New England Patriots | Patriots react to wild over...

UN experts say Ethiopia’s conflict and Tigray fighting left over 10,000 survivors of sexual violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — U.N.-backed human rights experts say war crimes continue in Ethiopia despite a peace deal signed nearly a year ago to end a devastating conflict that has also engulfed the country’s Tigray region. The violence has left at least 10,000 people affected by rape and other sexual violence — mostly women and girls.The experts’ report, published on Monday, comes against the backdrop of an uncertain future for the team of investigators who wrote it: The U.N. Human Rights Council is set to decide early next month whether to extend the team’s mandate in the face of efforts by the Ethiopian government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to end it. The violence erupted in November 2020, centering largely — though not exclusively — on the northern Tigray region, which for months was shut off from the outside world. The report cites atrocities by all sides in the war, including mass killings, rape, starvation, and destruction of schools and medical facilities.Mohamed Chan...

Canadian Press NewsAlert: Indigo founder Heather Reisman returns as CEO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

TORONTO — Indigo Books & Music Inc. says founder Heather Reisman has returned to the retailer as chief executive officer.More coming.Companies in this story: (TSX:IDG)The Canadian Press

Man arrested after filming students and posting videos online

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

Toronto police have arrested the male suspect who allegedly entered a Danforth high school, recorded videos of students and shared them online.Authorities said the man attended Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, in the Danforth Avenue and Greenwood Avenue area, on Sept. 5 and 6 during school hours.It’s alleged that while inside the school, the man recorded students and engaged some of them in conversation. He later posted the videos online.On Sunday, Johnny Ghicas, 51, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with two counts of mischief, two counts of making indecent communication and two counts of common nuisance.He is scheduled to appear in court at Toronto Bail Court on Monday at 10 a.m.With files from Lucas Casaletto.

CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts down 1% in August

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in Canada edged down one per cent in August compared with July.The national housing agency says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in August came in at 252,787 units compared with 255,232 in July.The decrease came as the rate of urban housing starts fell one per cent to 233,075 units in August.The pace of multi-unit urban starts decreased one per cent to 191,250, while the rate of single-detached urban starts rose two per cent to 41,825.The annual rate of rural starts was estimated at 19,712.The six-month moving average of the overall monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 244,507 units in August, up 0.8 per cent from 242,552 in July.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bodies of 5 Greek military personnel killed in Libya flooding rescue effort are flown home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s armed forces declared three days of national mourning after five members of a military rescue team were killed in a road accident in flood-hit Libya. The bodies of the five — three military officials and two civilians — were flown back to a military base near Athens early on Monday, together with 13 injured team members who were taken to military hospitals in the Greek capital. A bus transporting the Greek team crashed on Sunday en route to the city of Derna, which has suffered devastating flood damage. The bus hit an oncoming car, also killing three Libyan passengers, according to Libyan officials.“We are all shocked by the deaths of rescuers who were participating in a humanitarian mission to show solidarity to the suffering Libyan people,” Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said. “I am deeply saddened by their unexpected death.”Heavy rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel caused massive flooding across eastern Libya a week ago. It overwhelmed t...

Stock market today: Wall Street turns to losses before the bell as focus turns to Fed meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

Wall Street turned toward losses early Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting this week.Futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.2% and futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1% before the bell.The market posted some gains last week following reports of several healthy economic indicators ahead of the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting, which ends Wednesday. That, and a meeting of Japan’s central bank, are the biggest highlights expected for the week.Investors are bound to focus on the Fed’s meeting. The U.S. central bank raised rates aggressively through 2022 and 2023 in an effort to tame inflation, but it kept interest rate levels at its last meeting. Inflation has generally been easing back to its target of 2%.Traders are overwhelmingly betting that the Fed will hold interest rates steady Wednesday. They also expect the central bank could keep rates unchanged for the rest of the year. The Fed has said it remains willing to continue raising rates i...

What happens if you call 911 and get put on hold?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

In many places across Canada, outdated 911 systems are strapped for operators and barely holding on to functionality. That has led to some people calling with emergencies—like a Brampton, Ont. family dealing with a home invasion—not being able to get through to an operator. It should go without saying that if 911 doesn’t work properly, lives are at risk. Yet here we are.Graeme Frisque is a reporter with the Mississauga Guardian and Brampton News, he says that 911 delays have become a hot-button issue in recent years. “People are pretty upset about it, and rightfully so,” says Frisque.So how do we modernize and adequately staff Canada’s most critical phone number?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

Hunter Biden sues the IRS over tax disclosures after agent testimony

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:04 GMT

Hunter Biden has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, arguing that two agents violated his right to privacy when they publicly aired his tax information as they pressed claims that a federal investigation of him had been improperly handled. The lawsuit filed Monday says that his personal tax details shared during congressional hearings and interviews was not allowed by federal whistleblower protections. The suit escalates the legal fight as a long-running investigation continues to unfold against a sharply political backdrop, including an impeachment inquiry aimed at his father, President Joe Biden.It comes days after Hunter Biden was indicted on federal firearms charges alleging that he lied about his drug use to buy and possess a gun in October 2018. The case could be on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms. IRS supervisory special agent Greg Shapley, and a second agent, Joe Ziegler, have claimed there was pattern of “slow-walking i...