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Prosecutor says Kevin Spacey is not just a ‘big flirt,’ but a ‘big sexual bully’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Kevin Spacey denied that grabbing men by the crotch was his “trademark” pickup move as he became testy under questioning Friday by the prosecutor at his sexual assault trial in a London courtroom.In a heated exchange that required intervention by the judge, Spacey was asked about allegations he aggressively grabbed a man backstage at a charity event in a theater.“Absolute bollocks!” Spacey replied to titters from the gallery in the packed courtroom.“Yes, because that’s exactly where you did grab him, isn’t it?” Prosecutor Christine Agnew snapped back.“Really?” Spacey said as he looked up in disbelief at Justice Mark Wall. “Did he accuse me of grabbing his bollocks?”Someone said, “Yes,” and Wall told him to answer the prosecutor’s question. “I did not,” Spacey said.The two-time Oscar winner stuck to his testimony from a day earlier in which he insisted he never sexually assaulted three of the four accusers who alleged disturbing encounters ...

China’s Shein hit with lawsuit citing RICO violations, a law originally used against organized crime

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

China’s fast fashion retailer Shein is facing a lawsuit that claims the clothing maker’s copyright infringement is so aggressive, it amounts to racketeering.The filing this week claims that Shein is in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, better known as RICO, a law originally crafted to prosecute organized crime. “Shein has grown rich by committing individual infringements over and over again, as part of a long and continuous pattern of racketeering, which shows no sign of abating,” the filing says.In an organized effort to create as many as 6,000 new items per day, Shein uses a “byzantine shell game of a corporate structure” to rip off designers, a coordinated illegal operation that can best be combated through the use of RICO statutes, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit is just the latest in a series of difficulties Shein has faced. In May a bipartisan group of two dozen lawmakers asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to put t...

‘Deeply disappointed’: Mayor Crombie denounces planned anti-2SLGBTQI+ protest in Mississauga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie says she’s “deeply disappointed” to learn about an anti-Pride rally scheduled for this weekend at Celebration Square near Mississauga City Hall.“As your Mayor, I strongly believe in the principles of inclusivity, acceptance, and equality and strongly denounce this rally,” she wrote in a statement.“I want to make it clear that I stand firmly against any actions or events that seek to promote discrimination or undermine the rights and dignity of our 2SLGBTQI+ community.”Crombie said she’s contacted Peel Regional Police and the City’s security teams to raise concerns about Saturday’s rally, but notes that since Celebration Square is a public place “we cannot stop the event from proceeding unless the group finds themselves in violation of the law.”“Police, in collaboration with City security will be present at the Square during the rally to ensure the peace and security of all ...

Novak Djokovic defeats Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon to reach the final and near an eighth title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Novak Djokovic closed in on a record-tying eighth title at Wimbledon and fifth in a row by repeatedly serving his way out of potential trouble to beat Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the semifinals on Friday.Djokovic saved all six break points he faced — including a pair that were set points for the eighth-seeded Sinner at 5-4 in the third — and reached his ninth final at the All England Club. It’s also his 35th final at all Grand Slam tournaments, more than any man or woman in tennis history.He is seeking a 24th major singles championship overall to set the mark for the most in the Open era, which began in 1968. Roger Federer is the only man to have won eight singles trophies at Wimbledon. Martina Navratilova won the women’s championship nine times.Djokovic will meet No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or No. 3 Daniil Medvedev for the trophy on Sunday. Alacaraz and Medvedev were scheduled to play their semifinal later Friday.Because of rain in the morning, all four re...

Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant prepares to release diluted radioactive water into the sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

FUTABA, Japan (AP) — At Japan’s tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, giant blue pipes have been constructed to bring in torrents of seawater to dilute treated, radioactive water under a plan to discharge it gradually into the Pacific Ocean.Workers were making final preparations as Associated Press journalists received a rare opportunity Friday to get a look at key equipment and facilities for the release, expected in coming weeks or months.The International Atomic Energy Agency has looked at Japan’s wastewater-release plan and said it would cause negligible radioactivity in the sea and no effect on neighboring countries. But the plans continue to draw strong protest and no starting date has been set. Japan’s fishing industry fears it will destroy the reputation of the country’s seafood, and groups in South Korea and China also have raised concerns. Hong Kong announced Wednesday it would ban seafood imports from 10 Japanese prefectures once the release begins, and B...

Cypriot official says probe backs Mossad claims that hitman plotted to kill Israelis on the island

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus police investigations support claims by Israel’s Mossad spy service that an Iranian-backed hit squad planned to kill Israelis and other Jews in the east Mediterranean island nation, an official said Friday.The intelligence official told The Associated Press that Cypriot police had tracked an Iranian national identified as Yusef Shahabazi Abbasalilu following information from “friendly intelligence services.”Subsequent probes into his activities indicated there was a plot for such killings, with at least one person on a hit list, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigations. According to the official, Abbasalilu initially attempted to set up base and recruit others in the ethnically divided island’s breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, where its internationally recognized authorities have no access.Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. No country recognizes a T...

Kenyan religious leaders urge the president to repeal a new tax law as protests surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Christian and Muslim leaders in Kenya are urging President William Ruto to repeal a finance bill whose new taxes have sparked protests and police killings of civilians, warning that Kenyans face a level of hopelessness that “can easily inspire insurrection.”Friday’s statement by national religious organizations came as the main political opposition group announced the next protest would take place next Wednesday, and as Ruto declared it would not be allowed.Human rights watchdogs have asserted that police killed as many as 10 people in the latest protests this week, while a police official told The Associated Press that officers killed at least six across the country for disturbing businesses. Meanwhile, more than 50 children were sent to a medical clinic after tear gas was thrown into a school in the capital, Nairobi.“Firearms should never be used to disperse protests,” the United Nations human rights office said Friday. It urged Kenyan authorities to ensure t...

S&P/TSX composite edges higher, U.S. stock markets also rise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index edged higher as gains in the financial and industrial sectors were offset by losses in the telecom, energy and base metal stocks in late-morning trading.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 2.96 points at 20,280.60.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 93.19 points at 34,488.33. The S&P 500 index was up 8.67 points at 4,518.71, while the Nasdaq composite was up 55.64 points at 14,194.21.The Canadian dollar traded for 75.86 cents US compared with 76.17 on Thursday.The August crude oil contract was down US$1.50 at US$75.39 per barrel and the August natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.53 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was down 60 cents at US$1,963.20 an ounce and the September copper contract was up less than a penny at US$3.94 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Man charged after Mariano's employee shot, killed inside Evergreen Park store: Police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after a Mariano's employee was shot and killed inside an Evergreen Park store Thursday. Armoni Henry has been charged with first degree murder after the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Jailene Flores who police say was his girlfriend. Evergreen Park police responded to calls of an active shooter at the Mariano's store in the 2500 block of 95th Street and found 21-year-old Jailene Flores in the back storage room with multiple gunshot wounds.She was pronounced dead on the scene. Man found fatally stabbed at baseball diamond in Uptown: CPD Evergreen Park Police Chief Michael Saunders said that surveillance video inside the store showed Flores walking away from Henry before the incident took place. Saunders said that officers located Henry after pulling a police report from a previous domestic incident involving the couple when the victim worked at an Amazon store in Oak Lawn. “We got the information for the possible s...

Dwyane Wade will be part of Chicago Sky's ownership group

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:14 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago native who made his name in basketball in the NBA is now making an investment in his hometown WNBA team. On social media on Friday, Dwyane Wade confirmed that he's joining the Chicago Sky's ownership group in one of his biggest moves since retiring from the game in 2019."It’s an incredible feeling being on this side of history. To see growth, on the business side, for something that I’ve been passionate about my whole life is an amazing feeling. It’s official! This is for the home team– literally. I know the home team will make you feel some type of Wade," said Wade on Twitter on Friday morning, confirming his joining of the ownership group.The Sky responded to that on the social media platform by saying "Welcome HOME, Flash."Growing up in Chicago and then Robbins, Wade first made a name for himself at Richards High School in Oak Lawn. After a strong career at Marquette, where he was named a consensus All-American in the 2002-2003 season, Wade began a 16-year NBA...