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Rep. George Santos won’t seek reelection after scathing ethics report cites evidence of lawbreaking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

By KEVIN FREKING (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics committee in a scathing report Thursday said it has amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Rep. George Santos of New York that has been sent to the Justice Department, concluding flatly that the Republican “cannot be trusted” after a monthslong investigation into his conduct.Shortly after the panel’s report was released, Santos blasted it as a “politicized smear” in a tweet on X but said that he would not be seeking reelection to a second term. The panel said that Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; and engaged in violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to financial disclosure statements filed with the House.Santos has maintained his innocence and had long refused to resign despite calls from many of his colleague...

Homeowner shoots burglary suspect in North County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- A homeowner in North County shot a burglar shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday morning, authorities confirmed to FOX 5.The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said the homicide unit was called to the scene at a residence located on 1700 Block of York Drive in Vista. Responding deputies rendered first-aid to the suspect who was then transported to a local hospital. The condition of that individual is unknown at this time. Pilot killed in small plane crash near Torrey Pines Neighbors to the resident involved in the shooting told FOX 5 he appeared visibly shaken following the encounter.Details surrounding the incident are limited at this time.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

San Diego Starbucks workers join nationwide strike on 'Red Cup Day'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Starbucks’ annual "Red Cup Day" may be accompanied with long wait times Thursday, instead of holiday cheer.Thousands of workers, including some in San Diego, are planning to strike while demanding the coffee giant comes to the bargaining table in regards to staffing and scheduling concerns. The Workers United union proclaimed the day as the "Red Cup Rebellion," choosing the date because it's one of Starbucks' busiest days of the year. Annually, those who order a holiday drink of this day receive a reusable cup. Homeowner shoots suspected burglar in North County As part of the strike, workers are demanding that Starbucks turn off mobile ordering on future promotion days. Workers have said promotion days "add another layer of stress" due to claims of understaffing. “Business at this location (Hillcrest) has continued to grow, yet we still have partners losing hours and have to deal with understaffed shifts," said Saïx Campbell, a shift supervisor at the Starbucks locate...

Thousands of Starbucks workers go on a one-day strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Workers at more than 200 U.S. Starbucks walked off the job Thursday in what organizers said was the largest strike yet in the two-year-old effort to unionize the company’s stores.The Workers United union chose Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day to stage the walkout since it’s usually one of the busiest days of the year. Starbucks expects to give away thousands of reusable cups Thursday to customers who order holiday drinks.The union said it was expecting more than 5,000 workers to take part in its “Red Cup Rebellion.” Workers were expected to picket for part of the day and visit non-union stores the rest of the day, the union said. Around 30 stores also staged walkouts on Wednesday.Edwin Palmasolis, a Starbucks employee for more than two years, joined the picket line Thursday in front of his New York store. His store voted to unionize last year, but so far Starbucks and the union haven’t started bargaining. A contract would help improve working conditions at h...

Belarus human rights activist goes on hunger strike in latest protest against Lukashenko government

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A human rights activist in Belarus on Thursday began a hunger strike inside prison in the latest protest against the repressive government of Alexander Lukashenko, a rights organization said.The Belarusian human rights organization Viasna said Aliaksandar Vaitseshyk went on hunger strike in the city of Baranavichy, in western Belarus, after being sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest.He was convicted on charges of “distributing extremist materials,” a charge which Belarus authorities have frequently used to detain activists in recent years.Belarus was rocked by mass protests during Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed election in 2020, which the opposition and the West condemned as fraudulent. Since then Belarusian authorities have detained more than 35,000 people, many of whom have reportedly been tortured while in custody.Vaitseshyk was detained on Nov. 9 by armed men near his home on the same day 10 opposition activists were also detained, Viasna said. ...

Woman, 37, charged with murder in case of missing Richmond Hill man

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

A 37-year-old woman is facing a murder charge in the death of a missing Richmond Hill man. Police say 30-year-old Kevin Bonada Rosas was last seen at his home on Elmwood Avenue on June 21, 2018. He was reported missing by his family five days later.His disappearance was deemed suspicious and in April 2021 the homicide unit began investigating. On June 5 this year, human remains were found buried in the yard of the man’s home on Elmwood Avenue and a forensic examination concluded them to be the remains of Rosas. The cause of death has not been released. Anoshirvan Shirizadeh of Richmond Hill has been charged with second-degree murder.

S&P/TSX composite index down in late-morning trading, U.S. stocks also lower

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down in late-morning trading, as losses in the base metal and energy stocks helped lead the way lower and U.S. stock markets also fell.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 74.82 points at 19,983.07.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 141.40 points at 34,849.81. The S&P 500 index was down 12.03 points at 4,490.85, while the Nasdaq composite was down 50.28 points at 14,053.56.The Canadian dollar traded for 72.73 cents US compared with 73.13 cents US on Wednesday.The January crude oil contract was down US$3.08 at US$73.71 per barrel and the December natural gas contract was down 11 cents at US$3.08 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was up US$25.50 at US$1,989.80 an ounce and the December copper contract was down two cents at US$3.70 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Accused RCMP leaker acted on ‘clear and grave threat,’ defence lawyer says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

OTTAWA — A lawyer for a former RCMP intelligence official charged with leaking secrets is telling a jury his client did not betray Canada, but acted on a “clear and grave threat.” Jon Doody, who represents Cameron Jay Ortis, began closing arguments for the defence in Ontario Superior Court today.Ortis, 51, has pleaded not guilty to violating the Security of Information Act by revealing secrets to three individuals in 2015 and trying to do so in a fourth instance, as well as breach of trust and a computer-related offence. The Crown argues Ortis lacked authority to disclose classified material and that he was not doing so as part of some kind of undercover operation.Ortis, who was director of the RCMP’s Operations Research group, has told the jury he didn’t commit a crime or lose sight of his mission.On the contrary, Ortis says, he offered secret material to targets in a bid to get them to use an online encryption service secretly set up by an allied intelligen...

Ontario’s new daycare safe arrival rules aimed at preventing deaths in hot cars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

Everett Smith had a grin so infectious his daycare staff nicknamed him “Smiley.” He loved apples. His prized possession was a yellow toy school bus. He was just three weeks shy of his second birthday when he died in late June 2022 in the back seat of a car in Bancroft, Ont., after a family emergency changed his family’s morning routine and his mom didn’t realize he hadn’t been dropped off at his daycare when she headed into work. Now, new rules for Ontario child-care operators coming into effect next year are aimed at preventing the rare but horrific deaths of children in hot cars. As of Jan. 1, licensed home daycares and child-care centres will need to develop a policy setting out the steps they will take when a child doesn’t arrive as expected.It’s a step Everett’s parents see as comforting, knowing that something positive will come out of such a devastating tragedy. “How it happened absolutely is devastating, bu...

Longtime Israeli policy foes are leading US protests against Israel’s action in Gaza. Who are they?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

As the Israel-Hamas war rages in Gaza, there’s a bitter battle for public opinion flaring in the United States, with angry rallies on many college campuses and disruptive protests at prominent venues in several major cities.Among the catalysts are Palestinian and Jewish-led groups that have been active for years in opposing Israeli policies toward the Palestinians and who now demand a cease-fire in Gaza. They have clashed with pro-Israel groups in the past, and are again now.The groups have roots in a movement known as BDS, which calls for the boycott, divestment and sanction of Israel. That campaign generated heated rhetoric long before Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel launched its counteroffensive. Advocates wrote op-eds for campus newspapers with appeals to protect Palestinian human rights, often accusing Israel of colonialism and racism. Now groups involved in those earlier efforts are playing a key role protesting the latest fighting, with actions on campuse...