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US extends sanctions waiver allowing Iraq to buy electricity from Iran

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has extended by four months a sanctions waiver that will allow Iraq to continue to purchase electricity from Iran and gives Iran limited access to the proceeds to buy humanitarian goods.Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the 120-day waiver extension and it was transmitted to Congress on Tuesday, U.S. officials said. The move is likely to draw criticism from Iran hawks on Capitol Hill and elsewhere who believe the extension will reward Iran at a time when it is coming under increasing pressure to end its support for proxy groups, including Hamas, that are destabilizing the Middle East.There is roughly $10 billion in Iraqi payments for Iranian electricity currently being held in escrow accounts in Iraq, and the waiver will allow Baghdad to maintain its energy imports without fear of U.S. penalties for violating sanctions on Iran.It will also keep in place a provision — included in the last 120-day waiver — under which portions of the el...

Faithful dog survives 10 weeks, stays with owner who died of hypothermia in Colorado mountains

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

A tiny Jack Russell terrier survived in the Colorado mountains for more than 10 weeks after her owner died of hypothermia, despite losing half her body weight, a rescuer said.Richard Moore of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and his 12-pound dog Finney had set out to climb Blackhead Peak east of the town on Aug. 19, but never returned home, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said. A days-long search of the treacherous and steep western side of the mountain between where Moore’s car was parked and the peak was unsuccessful, said Delinda VanneBrightyn with Taos Search and Rescue, whose search dog joined the effort. From the starting point, the hike to Blackhead Peak gains 2,150 feet (650 meters) in elevation.When a hunter came upon the 71-year-old’s body in the San Juan Mountains on Oct. 30, Finney was still there with him, despite being down to just 6 pounds, VanneBrightyn said Tuesday.A recovery crew was flown in the next day. Finney was taken to a veterinarian for a checkup...

Former Leaf urges hockey players to use cut-resistant gear

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

A former Toronto Maple Leafs player is speaking out about the need for cut-resistant gear for hockey players at all levels.Carlo Colaiacovo, who was drafted by the Leafs in 2002, said he felt compelled to share his opinion on the issue in light of the death of hockey player Adam Johnson who died after being cut by skate in the neck and an 11-year-old Uxbridge boy survived a serious cut to his leg during a game.It comes as an arrest on suspicious of manslaughter was made in the death of Johnson on Tuesday by South Yorkshire police, where the incident happened. The identity of the man arrested has not been released.Colaiacovo said while they’re often labelled “freak accidents,” these incidents are more common than you may think.“Lacerations are the number one source of ER visits in North America because of Ice Hockey,” Colaiacovo told CityNews.The Gibbs family experienced this last week when their 11-year-old son was taken to hospital after he was cut by a skate during a tournam...

Sarah Jama reopens office, vows to fight censure after statements on Israel-Hamas war

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

Sarah Jama, the rookie Hamilton Centre MPP who was censured by the Ontario legislature last month after a controversial social media post about the Israel-Hamas war, says her lawyers are launching a judicial review into the move.The Ford government passed a motion to censure Jama on October 23rd in response to her posts, which some considered controversial.On Oct. 10, Jama posted a two-paragraph statement under Ontario NDP letterhead that made no mention of the surprise attack by Hamas, instead focusing on the decades-long struggle of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, which she referred to as “apartheid.”Her post included the hashtag “FreePalestine.”She later posted an apology online but did not retract the original statement and was later kicked out of the NDP caucus.On Tuesday, Jama reopened her Hamilton office and announced she was launching a fight against the censure, which essentially bans her from speaking in the legislature.“We are not of the mindset that the cens...

Oklahoma Supreme Court keeps anti-abortion laws on hold while challenge is pending

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Supreme Court reiterated its position on Tuesday in a 5-4 opinion that the state constitution guarantees a woman’s right to an abortion when necessary to preserve her life, although the procedure remains illegal in virtually all other cases.In a case involving a legal challenge to five separate anti-abortion bills passed by the Legislature in 2021, the court ordered a lower court to keep in place a temporary ban on three of those laws while the merits of the case are considered. Two of the laws were already put on hold by a district court judge.The three laws addressed by the court include: requiring physicians performing an abortion to be board certified in obstetrics and gynecology; requiring physicians administering abortion drugs to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital; and requiring an ultrasound 72 hours before administering abortion drugs.“We are grateful that the Oklahoma Supreme Court recognized how these laws are medically ...

Senate panel takes a step toward ending Sen. Tuberville’s blockade of military nominations

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats pushed ahead Tuesday with a resolution that would allow for the quick confirmation of hundreds of military nominees, an attempt to maneuver around a blockade from Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville over a Pentagon abortion policy. The Senate Rules Committee voted 9-7 to approve a resolution that would allow the Senate to confirm groups of the military nominees at once for the remainder of the congressional term. The Senate has traditionally confirmed large batches of military officers together, but that process can be upended by just one senator who objects. The resolution will now head to the Senate floor for a vote, where Democrats will need at least nine Republican votes for passage. While Republicans on the rules panel opposed the measure, arguing that the move could erode the powers of the minority in the Senate, some have signaled they might change their minds if Tuberville does not drop the holds before then.Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConne...

Suspected serial killer faces life in prison after being convicted of 2 murders by Delaware jury

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A suspected serial killer accused in the deaths of six people in Delaware and Pennsylvania in 2021 was convicted of murder and other crimes by a Delaware jury on Tuesday.The jury deliberated for about six hours over two days before finding Keith Gibson of Philadelphia guilty of murder and robbery in the killings of Elsmere cellphone store clerk Leslie Ruiz-Basilio, 28, and Wilmington drug dealer Ronald Wright, 42.Gibson, 41, also was convicted of attempted murder and robbery in the shooting of Wilmington store clerk Belal Almansoori, armed robbery of a drug store, assault, conspiracy, and gun crimes.Gibson faces mandatory sentences of life in prison for the murder convictions. The judge did not immediately set a sentencing date.The Philadelphia district attorney, meanwhile, has approved murder charges against Gibson in the killings of his mother and a Philadelphia doughnut shop manager, as well as the deaths of two men found shot in the head at a store in Philade...

Manulife cuts 250 jobs in investment management division

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

TORONTO — Manulife Financial Corp. says it has cut 250 jobs globally in its investment management division.The cuts, first reported by trade publication Ignites, include employees in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia. The company, which had about 40,000 at the end of 2022, did not provide details as to how many Canadian employees were affected.Manulife is just the latest financial firm to trim staff with several Canadian banks also reporting job cuts this year as economic uncertainty weighs.Scotiabank said in October it was trimming about three per cent of its roughly 91,000 staff as part of its streamlining efforts. RBC said in August it had trimmed one per cent of its workforce of about 94,000 and planned to cut one to two per cent more ahead of an expected economic slowdown.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:MFC)The Canadian Press

Illinois Lottery player in Rochelle wins $1M during Monday drawing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

ROCHELLE, Ill. — A $225 million Powerball jackpot is up for grabs on Wednesday, but one lucky lotto player in Rochelle, Ill., is already a millionaire after they matched five numbers in Monday's drawing.According to the Illinois Lottery, the million-dollar ticket was sold at a Love's Travel Stop, at 400 Steward Road in Rochelle.The recently minted millionaire turned their $2 ticket purchase into a major payday after matching the numbers 24, 33, 35, 37 and 42. Long-stalled Navy Pier marina gets green light Wade Embree, who has managed the store since it opened around five years ago, said he was excited to learn about the big win and hopes the lotto player who picked up the ticket is one of the store's regular customers.“Oh wow, how exciting!” Embree said. “While I don’t know who the winner is, it would be so nice if it’s one of our regular customers who lives in town. Any day now, I’m hoping one of them will walk through the door and tell us ‘I’m a millionaire!’”The million-dollar ...

Shake Shack is giving out free chicken sandwiches this week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:06 GMT

(KTLA) – This week, you can add a free chicken sandwich to your Shake Shack order.Until Nov. 19, customers can redeem a free chicken sandwich by using the code CHICKENDANCE at checkout, a Shake Shack kiosk, or when ordering online.Customers can get the free sandwich with a $10 minimum order, a news release said. McDonald’s and Crocs releasing shoes inspired by Grimace, Hamburglar Initially, the deal was supposed to be redeemable only if an NFL player celebrated a touchdown by doing the chicken dance.However, when that didn’t happen during Nov. 12 football games, the chain still made the freebie available.Shake Shack’s chicken sandwich, known as Chicken Shack, includes crispy chicken, lettuce, pickles and herb mayo on a potato bun. Arby’s releases meal inspired by ‘Good Burger’ movie The restaurant recently made recipe adjustments to a few of its menu items, including the Chicken Shack and fan-favorite crinkle-cut fries.In September, the company announced that it would be testin...