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Belarus raids apartments of opposition activists as part of sweeping probe called latest crackdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus’ criminal investigation agency said Tuesday that it has conducted raids as part of a sweeping probe into an alleged attempt by the opposition to seize power three years ago. Critics called it the latest move in authorities’ crackdown on dissent.Belarus was rocked by mass protests during President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed election victory in 2020, which the opposition and the West condemned as fraudulent. Lukashenko’s government responded with a crackdown. Police detained around 35,000 people and beat thousands.Pavel Latushka, a former government minister turned opposition activist who fled Belarus, told The Associated Press that his home in Minsk was searched by authorities, along with the apartments of dozens of opposition activists and their relatives across the country. He said the raids involved police armed with assault rifles who broke doors.“This is yet another wave of brutal suppression of dissent and crude harassment ...

WestJet says your winter coat isn’t considered carry-on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

Despite some rumours and rumblings online, WestJet says your winter coat is not considered carry-on baggage.In a statement to CityNews, an airline spokesperson says they “can confirm that winter jackets are permitted as an additional item to WestJet’s carry-on baggage allowance.”“However, cabin crew members or flight attendants may ask guests to refrain from placing jackets in the overhead bins to ensure everyone’s bags can fit,” the statement continues.The uncertainty comes after a recent post on social media was picked up by some outlets, claiming WestJet staff “announced that a -jacket- counts as a personal carry on item.”On its website, WestJet says every “guest in a confirmed seat is allowed one free piece of carry-on baggage and one personal item, total.”Carry-on items must be within 53 centimeters in length by 38 centimeters in width, and 23 centimeters in height, while personal items must be within 41 centimeters in length, by ...

LIVE: Johnson unveils plan to move migrants into churches as tent camp construction to begin Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Johnson addressed Chicago's migrant crisis Tuesday morning and unveiled a plan to move some migrants into churches as a highly-discussed tent camp is scheduled to start construction.Johnson joined faith leaders and other charitable organizations to address the crisis at 10 a.m.A "unity initiative" will move migrants out of police stations and into 17 churches as construction begins on the winterized tent camp Wednesday. It is planned to open in "mid-December."Buses will working Wednesday morning to help move the migrants, who have been sleeping outside and living at police stations, into the churches.Faith leaders said $350,000 has been raised toward the effort and hope for $1 million by January.Mayor Johnson pointed to the history of faith leaders in Chicago opening their arms to people during The Great Migration."It's been the fait community that has shown its generous support to families throughout generation," Johnson said.The camp, located in Brighton Park at 38...

Morgan Wallen tops Apple Music's 2023 song chart while Taylor Swift and SZA also top streaming lists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Country singer Morgan Wallen ’s “Last Night” topped Apple Music’s global song chart in 2023 as the giant music streamer released year-end lists Tuesday and provided listeners with data on their own most listened-to tunes.Wallen’s hit emerged as the country song with the most days — 52 — at No. 1 on the Global Daily Top 100 chart. Nigerian rapper Rema’s “Calm Down” remix with Selena Gomez was No. 12 on the global songs chart, the highest entry, ever, for an African song. (“Calm Down” was No. 1 on the streamer’s Shazam chart.)Joining “Last Night” at the very top of the global songs list were “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus in second, “Kill Bill” by SZA in third, “Rich Flex” by Drake and 21 Savage in fourth, and another SZA track in fifth slot: “Snooze,” which was followed by Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero.”SZA, who leads the 2024 Grammy nominations, topped Apple's most-read lyrics in 2023 for her smash single, “Kill Bill.”Wallen’s “Last Night” stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 ...

Federal agency renews call for speed limit software in new cars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

(NewsNation) — After a Las Vegas accident that claimed the lives of nine individuals, the National Transportation Safety Board is doubling down on its call for all new automobiles to be equipped with technology designed to deter or prevent speeding.  This marks the NTSB's second such recommendation in six years, reflecting a growing concern over the role of speed in fatal auto accidents. Last year, more than 12,000 people lost their lives in the U.S. due to crashes related to speeding, with hundreds of thousands more suffering injuries.  The recommended technology, known as Intelligent Speed Assistance, or ISA, utilizes GPS and sign recognition to restrict a vehicle's speed within specified zones. Unlike traditional speed-limiting devices, ISA dynamically adjusts the speed limit based on the location where a vehicle is operating, rather than imposing a fixed cap. Despite the pressing need for enhanced road safety measures, auto manufacturers have been lukewarm to the ...

Young kitten with 'severely deformed' legs looking for forever home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

BOSTON (WWLP) - A Massachusetts animal shelter is searching for special adopters for an 11-week-old kitten with severely deformed back legs. The young kitten, called Gumby, arrived in Massachusetts on Nov. 11 from the SPCA of Texas for medical treatment and a loving forever home, according to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell (MSPCA). “We’ve never seen a cat quite like this,” said Dr. Rebecca Fellman, MSPCA-Angell lead clinician of community and shelter medicine. “Both of Gumby’s back legs are severely deformed with muscle contracture that limits his joint mobility, but he still manages to get around—often on all fours.” Woman invents new luggage to avoid airline baggage fees “We’re working with Angell specialists to explore all pathways to manage his condition, but Gumby’s quite remarkable in that he’s actually doing well, despite the deformities,” Fellman said.Gumby is able to walk and use the litterbox, and the shelter staff says that he ...

Man charged with murder in southeast Austin death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department arrested and charged a man with murder for allegedly killing a man in southeast Austin earlier this month.Police responded to a "shoot/stab hotshot" call in the 2200 block of Teri Road just before noon on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The caller said neighbors "just pulled a gun on him," according to an arrest affidavit. A second caller said a fight broke out between a group of Hispanic men, and the caller told police they thought they'd heard gunfire, per the affidavit.Once officers arrived on scene, they found a man with a "large kitchen knife in his back." The victim — identified as Javier Jaimes — alerted police to several witnesses at the scene. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? Police detained several witnesses, including suspect Joe Flores, 36. Jaimes was taken to a south Austin hospital, where he died from his injuries just before 4 p.m. that same day.One of the witnesses told police he was cleaning his vehicle outside ...

To leave the leaves or not to leave the leaves? That's the question

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More and more leaves continue to gather on the ground, with some yards littered with more leaves than others due to more trees. It raises the question: What should you do with the leaves? Should you rake them up and dispose of them, or should you leave them since they provide some valuable nutrients?Rich Segal posed that question to Will Johnston, a local arborist and an expert in the field. Johnston said there are a few factors that you should consider in making your decision. Does your yard have space for the leaves? And, do your trees — yes, your trees — have any fungal leaf diseases? Leaf spots and other fungal issues would be "grounds" for raking them up. He said there's no upside to keeping the leaves if your lawns and gardens are healthy. There is, however, a reason to let the leaves stay where they are. Though they don't provide the highest concentration of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, there are other little nutrients the leaves provide that offer a ...

Wild GM Bill Guerin on new head coach John Hynes: ‘This is not a one-year thing’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

The Wild formally introduced John Hynes as their new, and seventh, head coach Tuesday morning, hours before the team was set to play host to the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center.General manager Bill Guerin fired fifth-year coach Dean Evason on Monday, hours after a lackluster loss in Detroit dropped the Wild to 5-10-4 overall and into the basement of the Western Conference and Central Division standings.Guerin, who built the team and this fall signed veterans Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman to contract extensions, said he’s not giving up on this season and that he believes Hynes — a veteran NHL coach he first met when Guerin was a player for the New Jersey Devils — will get the team back on track.Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, right, presents new head coach John Hynes with a Wild jersey during a news conference at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Hynes replaces former Wild head coach Dean Evason, who was let go after starti...

Vermonter arrested in stolen guns investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:09 GMT

POWNAL, Vt. (NEWS10) -- A Bennington, Vermont, man was arrested after being accused of stealing multiple guns from a home in Pownal. Gavin Wilcox, 32, faces charges after a year-long investigation. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On March 19, 2022, a Pownal, Vermont, resident reported to Vermont State Police that his house was burglarized and multiple firearms were stolen. Police say Wicox's DNA was found at the scene, and he was later found in possession of the firearms.Wilcox was arrested on Tuesday and is charged with burglary. He was issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court in February. He is currently incarcerated.