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Two prominent Egyptian rights figures are released from prison following presidential pardons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt on Thursday released two human rights defenders, including one who has ties with Italy, their lawyers said, concluding two cases that drew significant international criticism and attention.The releases of Patrick George Zaki, an activist and postgraduate student in Italy, and Mohamed el-Baker, a human rights lawyer, came a day after they were pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi along with four other people. Confirmation of the pardons was published in Egypt’s Official Gazette.The release of Zaki, whose case was championed by Italy’s government, was announced by Hossam Bahgat, founder of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, who posted a picture of the bearded postgraduate student on Facebook on Thursday afternoon. Zaki’s sister also confirmed his release, posting a photo on Facebook of her brother speaking to journalists after his release. “Patrick is on the Asphalt,” Marise Zaki wrote on Facebook, using a phrase that acti...

3 charged after shooting at a South Florida Walmart kills 1 and wounds another

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Three men were facing charges Thursday after a shooting at a South Florida Walmart left one person dead and another wounded, authorities said.The Wednesday shooting broke out after a fight between two groups at the Walmart in Florida City, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Miami, according to a Miami-Dade police report. Steve Lestin, 25, is charged with second-degree murder and attempted felony murder. Roberto Acevedo, 20, and Jimari Hodge, 21, are each charged with battery. Police said they weren’t searching for additional suspects.Rescue workers transported two victims to a Miami trauma center after the shooting, and one later died. The man who died, 23-year-old Nathaniel Baez, was involved in the confrontation, while the other victim was a bystander who was shot in the foot, police said.Several others were injured during the commotion caused by the shooting, officials said. A woman who fell and hit her head was taken to a hospital. Rescue workers trea...

Election-year review of disaster relief funds draws rebuke from Kentucky governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

FRANKF ORT, Ky. (AP) — Disaster recovery funds set up by Kentucky’s Democratic governor to assist victims of tornadoes and flooding will be scrutinized by the state auditor’s office at the request of a Republican-led legislative panel, a decision fraught with political undertones.The review, announced Thursday by the state auditor’s office, comes in the midst of the state’s heated gubernatorial campaign and has the potential to raise questions about what has widely been a strength for Gov. Andy Beshear as he seeks a second term. Beshear, who was front and center after the storms hit and has been widely praised for mobilizing support for the stricken regions, called the timing of the review “grossly political.”The auditor’s office said in its announcement that it will conduct a special examination of the Beshear administration’s “acceptance, administration and expenditure” of donated relief funds after tornadoes ravaged parts of western Kentucky in...

Who knew what when? A timeline of the Bernardo case and controversial prison transfer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

OTTAWA — The Correctional Service of Canada announced Thursday that a review found Paul Bernardo’s transfer to a medium-security prison from a maximum-security penitentiary was sound and followed proper policies and laws. Public backlash had erupted following its decision to move the convicted murderer and serial rapist, engulfing the Liberal government with questions around its handling of the matter and who knew what when. Here is a timeline of events that led to Thursday’s announcement, including key dates from the Bernardo case and his recent controversial transfer.1991June 15 — Leslie Mahaffy, 14, disappears from outside her home in Burlington, Ont., in the early hours of the morning.June 29 — Mahaffy’s body parts are found encased in concrete blocks in Lake Gibson near St. Catharines, Ont. The same day, Paul Bernardo marries Karla Homolka.1992April 16 — Kristen French, 15, is abducted as she walks home from school in St. Catharines.April 30 — French’s body is...

Official at automaker FCA US pleads guilty in scheme to withhold emission systems information

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — An official at automaker FCA US, formerly known as Chrysler Group, has pleaded guilty in federal court in a scheme to withhold emission systems information on more than 100,000 vehicles.Emanuele Palma’s plea to conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act was announced Thursday by the Justice Department. Palma, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 17 in federal court.He and others conspired to withhold information from the Environmental Protection Agency about the design, calibration and function of the systems on 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles, according to court documents.The vehicles’ emissions of pollutants, fuel efficiency and compliance with U.S. emissions standards also was misrepresented.FCA US was placed on probation for three years last August and ordered to pay roughly $300 million for deceiving regulators about diesel emission systems on the vehicles. The sentence was part of an earlier agreement. FCA in June 2022 pleaded guilty to ...

Why does Sweden allow Quran burnings? Like much of West, it has no blasphemy laws

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Sweden has sparked an angry reaction in Muslim countries and raised questions – including in Sweden – about why such acts are allowed.In the latest such incident, an Iraqi living in Sweden on Thursday stomped on and kicked Islam’s holy book in a two-man rally outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm. The protest was authorized by Swedish police, who kept a handful of agitated counterdemonstrators at a safe distance.The same Iraqi man burned a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque last month in a similar protest that was approved by police. And at the start of the year, a far-right activist from Denmark carried out a similar stunt outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.Here’s a look at how Swedish authorities have been dealing with these acts.IS DESECRATING THE QURAN ALLOWED IN SWEDEN?There is no law in Sweden specifically prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or othe...

Blue Jays avoid sweep, shutout Padres 4-0 at Rogers Centre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

Chris Bassitt pitched six scoreless innings, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a solo home run as the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a sweep with a 4-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.Bassitt improved to 10-5 this season in one of his steadiest performances that saw the veteran hurler go six strong, allowing four hits, striking out five batters, and walking one.The Blue Jays got off to an early start against Padres southpaw Blake Snell when Jordan Luplow hit an RBI single to give Toronto a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It would stay that way until the bottom of the seventh when Guerrero hit a solo shot, his 15th home run of the season.Catcher Alejandro Kirk would give Toronto some insurance with a two-run home run the inning after. It was Kirk’s fourth homer of the year. Relievers Tim Mayza, Erik Swanson and Canadian closer Jordan Romano would each toss three scoreless innings en route to the win.RELATED: Chris Bassitt announces ‘Bassitts Pitch In’ in support of ...

Stock market today: Wall Street’s rally fizzles after Tesla and Netflix fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Drops for Tesla, Netflix and other big tech-oriented stocks put the clamps on Wall Street’s torrid rally Thursday.The S&P 500 fell 30.85, or 0.7%, to 4,534.87, coming off its highest close since early April 2022 and its seventh gain in the last eight days. The Nasdaq composite dropped 294.71, or 2.1%, to 14,063.31 and its worst loss in more than four months.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was an outlier and up 163.97 points, or 0.5%, to 35,225.18 because it has less of an emphasis on tech stocks.Tesla tumbled 9.7% despite reporting stronger profit and revenue for the spring than expected. Analysts said investors may be concerned about how profitable the electric vehicle maker will be after cutting prices. Planned factory downtime during the summer for upgrades could also weigh on its upcoming results.Because Tesla is one of the most valuable companies on Wall Street, its stock movements carry extra weight on the S&P 500 and other indexes.Netflix sank 8.4% de...

Suburban elementary school employee accused of distributing child pornography

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

CARY, Ill. — A man who worked in the attendance office of a suburban elementary school is facing multiple charges relating to a child pornography investigation.According to Algonquin police, Donald Peters was arrested on Tuesday after executing a search warrant was executed at his residence in Cary. Peters is a longtime employee of the CommunityUnit School District 300 and may have solicited students for their social media accounts, police said. Antioch police execute search warrant in criminal investigation after boy thrown from carnival ride "District 300 can confirm Donald Peters' employment at Westfield Community School," a spokesperson said to WGN News. "Mr. Peters has been placed on administrative leave. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the district cannot provide further comment at this time."Peters was charged with 10 offenses, including: Child pornography – reproduce or distribute videoChild pornography – solicits another to provideIntimidation –...

Are the goodbyes beginning for the Cubs again - this time with Kyle Hendricks?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

CHICAGO — It appears that a recent unpleasant tradition could be returning to Wrigley Field in 2023, with its start coming on Wednesday evening. Kyle Hendricks threw six innings against the Nationals with just one run allowed on five hits with five strikeouts compared to one walk. It continues what has been a good year for the starter, who dropped his ERA to 3.38 in 11 starts in 2023. It's also the last guaranteed year of his contract, with a $16 million club option remaining for the 2024 season. Even with an 8-3 win over the Nationals Wednesday night, the Cubs are still 7 1/2 games out of the lead in the National League Central division and seven games out of the last Wild Card spot.This means that Hendricks could be a candidate to be dealt to a contender before the August 1 deadline. Teams could find value in a pitcher who has won a World Series and had 12 postseason starts. Of course, this means that the Cubs and fans would say goodbye to their last player from that 2016 champio...