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Dozens dead in gas station explosion as Nagorno-Karabakh residents flee to Armenia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — An explosion at a crowded gas station in Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region left scores of people dead and injured as thousands of ethnic Armenians rushed to flee into neighboring Armenia, the separatist territory’s authorities said Tuesday. Some 28,000 people — about 23% of the region’s population — have fled across the border since Azerbaijan defeated separatists who have governed the breakaway region for about 30 years in a swift military operation last week, according to Armenia’s government. Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh scrambled to flee as soon as Azerbaijan lifted a 10-month blockade on the region’s only road to Armenia. That blockade had caused severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel. While Azerbaijan has pledged to respect the rights of Armenians, many residents feared reprisals.“I think we’re going to see the vast majority of people in Karabakh leaving for Armenia,” said Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at the Car...

House Speaker Anthony Rota resigns over honouring man who fought for Nazis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

OTTAWA — House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota has resigned after he invited a man who fought for the Nazis to attend Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to Parliament last week.Senior Canadian politicians have called the move an international embarrassment, while Russia is using the controversy to advance propaganda that seeks to legitimize its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  “This House is above any of us. Therefore, I must step down as your Speaker,” Rota, who was first elected to the role in December 2019, told the House of Commons ahead of question period on Tuesday.All sides had called for Rota to resign after he invited and recognized in the House a Ukraine military veteran now living in Canada who had served in a Nazi unit during the Second World War.Government House leader Karina Gould said Tuesday that members of Parliament had lost confidence in Rota, the Liberal MP for the northern Ontario riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming. During his resigna...

Florida to seek death penalty against man accused of murdering Lyft driver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against a Florida man accused of murdering a Lyft driver whose car he allegedly stole in an attempt to escape another killing. Okeechobee County prosecutors recently filed a court notice saying they will seek a death sentence against Mathew Flores, who is charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery for the Jan. 30 slaying of 74-year-old Gary Levin. They cited several aggravating circumstances, including that the killing happened while the suspect was fleeing another felony — a robbery — and that it was done in a “cold, calculated and premeditated manner.”Flores, 36, was indicted earlier this month for Levin’s shooting death. Flores, who is jailed without bond, is set to be arraigned next week in Okeechobee County. No attorney is listed for him in the Levin case in court records. Flores has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting Jose Carlos Martinez, 43, on Jan. 24...

DeSantis purposely dismantled a Black congressional district, attorney says as trial over map begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — On the same day Alabama Black voters scored a victory in the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal trial opened in Florida in which lawyers say Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the U.S. Constitution by deliberately dismantling a congressional district that favored Black candidates.It’s one of several lawsuits around the country that are challenging Republican-drawn maps they say are gerrymandered to diminish the ability of Black voters to select a candidate of their choice. If successful, the lawsuits could help Democrats as they try to regain control of the House.The focus in Florida is a district that stretched more than 200 miles to connect Black voters in Jacksonville and in the majority Black county of Gadsden about 200 miles (322 kilometers) to the west. DeSantis vetoed maps the Legislature drew, which would have preserved a Black district, and forced the Legislature to approve one his staff drew.“The governor pushed and pushed and pushed,” said att...

15 ‘potential’ gravesites found near former Yukon residential school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

CARCROSS, Yukon — An investigation into unmarked graves and the deaths of children who attended the former Chooutla Residential School in Carcross, Yukon, has found 15 “potential” gravesites at or near the school.Researchers say they’ve also used archival documents to identify 33 students who either died at the school or shortly after being injured there. Brian Whiting, with B.C.-based company GeoScan which performed the ground-penetrating radar search, says “more invasive” work would be required to confirm if the sites are graves, but their location is consistent with accounts from survivors.Whiting says Geoscan searched more than 37,000 square metres of land and all 15 potential sites were found within 58 square metres of the former school site. Nicole Marion, with the research group Know More, says their work began in January of 2022 and included 4,500 archival documents and various access to information requests.Marion says they have “very poo...

Stock markets tumble Tuesday amid higher bond yields, interest rate expectations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index closed down almost 250 points Tuesday with broad-based losses led by the telecom, utilities and base metal sectors, while U.S. stock markets also tumbled.The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 244.46 points at 19,556.15.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 388.00 points at 33,618.88. The S&P 500 index was down 63.91 points at 4,273.53, while the Nasdaq composite was down 207.71 points at 13,063.61.September has so far been a rocky month, said Allan Small, senior investment adviser at iA Private Wealth. While there wasn’t one specific news item causing markets to slip Tuesday, there’s a lot for investors to worry about, he said.“I think the short sellers are out in full force,” he said.With stubborn inflation amid a slowing economy, soaring bond yields, higher energy costs and a second looming U.S. government shutdown, “there are so many reasons … to be negative,” said Small.A group of reports in the U.S. pain...

Judge rules Trump committed fraud in building real estate empire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

A New York judge on Tuesday found former President Trump liable for fraud, handing a major legal victory to New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) in her sprawling civil case over Trump’s businesses.New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron granted James’s request to find Trump liable for the first of seven causes of action she has accused him of in the lawsuit.Engoron simultaneously denied Trump’s demand to toss the entire suit without trying the case.  The non-jury trial on the remaining matters is set to begin Monday, barring Trump’s separate, last-minute effort for a delay.Engoron also granted James’s request to sanction five of Trump’s lawyers for bringing up already-dismissed arguments in court, ordering them to pay a $7,500 fine each.James’s office is suing Trump, the Trump Organization and two of his adult children — Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.— claiming more than a decade of fraud. The lawsuit alleges Trump’s company sought...

Oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Rev. Albert Adamich, dies at 101

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

CHICAGO — Rev. Albert R. Adamich, who was the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, died last week at 101.According to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Rev. Adamich died on Thursday, Sept. 21.Born in Joliet, Ill., on May 15, 1922, "Father Al” was ordained to the priesthood in May of 1948 and celebrated 75 years of service to the church in 2023, according to the archdiocese. As federal government shutdown looms, Illinois braces for impact Rev. Adamich attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary before graduating in 1947.Rev. Adamich served as assistant pastor at Mother of God Parish in Waukegan, which later became Most Blessed Trinity Parish, St. Hubert Parish in Hoffman Estates and St. Symphorosa Parish in Chicago.Adamich later served as the associate pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park and for 20 years, he served as pastor of Mother of God Parish before he was bestowed the title of pastor...

Republicans blame Democrats' policies for crime in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Congressional Republicans held a remote hearing on crime in the United States Tuesday where they placed blame on policies created by Democrats.During the hearing, those in attendance heard from Gianno Caldwell, a Fox News political analyst whose younger brother, Christian, was shot and killed last year in Chicago. "Christian will never have the opportunity to go to college," Caldwell said. "Shot down in the street by a stranger when a group of men stepped out of a black SUV and fired into a crowd."He alongside former police officers claimed that Democrats' policies on crime have only added fuel to the fire. One officer who spoke, Carlos Yanez, retired after he was wounded in a 2021 shooting. Yanez was especially critical of Illinois' decision to end cash bail and the city of Chicago's decision to restrict foot chases for law enforcement. "Stop coddling criminals and hold them accountable," Yanez said.Among the congressional leaders at the hearing, Rep. Jim Jor...

Federal judge issues permanent injunction on Texas drag performance law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:15 GMT

HOUSTON (KXAN) — A federal judge issued a permanent injunction Tuesday against a Texas law that would restrict and even criminalize drag performances, handing a legal victory to a local drag performer who joined four other plaintiffs in suing state leaders to block the law from taking effect. In his lengthy 56-page ruling, U.S. District Judge David Hittner concluded his order by saying Senate Bill 12 "is an unconstitutional restriction on speech," adding he believed it violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Hittner also wrote in his ruling that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and several other officials cannot enforce the law. His decision also came after he issued two temporary restraining orders to provide more time to announce his final decision. Check out more of KXAN's in-depth reporting on LGBTQ+ issues in Texas The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which helped represent the plaintiffs in this case, released a statement Tuesday afternoon celebrating the ju...