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Palestinians call for evacuating Gaza’s largest hospital as Israel and Hamas battle just outside

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

By WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian authorities on Tuesday called for a cease-fire to evacuate three dozen newborns and other patients trapped inside Gaza’s biggest hospital as Israeli forces battle Hamas in the streets just outside and seize more ground across northern Gaza.For days, the Israeli army has encircled Shifa Hospital, determined to seize the facility it says Hamas hides in, and beneath, to use civilians as shields for its main command base.Hospital staff and Hamas deny the claim. Meanwhile, hundreds of patients, staff and displaced people are trapped inside, with supplies dwindling and without electricity to run incubators and other life-saving equipment. With refrigeration out for days, staff on Tuesday were digging a mass grave in the yard for more than 120 bodies in the morgue, health officials said. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.Six we...

Cal State trade workers go on one-day strike amid contract negotiations

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO — More than 1,000 trade workers at California State University campuses, including CSU San Marcos and San Diego State, walked off the job on Tuesday in a one-day strike amid stalled negotiations over a new contract.Members of Teamsters Local 2010 — the union that represents skilled trade employees like electricians, mechanics and facilities workers at CSU schools — voted to initiate the strike at 22 campuses in October after going nearly nine months without an updated contract."After months of bad faith bargaining, stalled negotiations, and clear violations of state law by the CSU, our members have had enough and are taking to the picket line to strike," Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010, said in a release on Nov. 6. "We're ready to demonstrate the strength of our solidarity and to fight for the fair contract we deserve."Lagging salaries and restoring "steps" have long been an issue for CSU workers, with the union arguing that current structures...

Dutch government shelves plans to reduce flights from Amsterdam’s busy Schiphol Airport

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government said Tuesday it has abandoned, for now, plans to rein in flights at Amsterdam’s busy Schiphol Airport following protests from countries including the United States and warnings that the move could breach European law and aviation agreements.The government last year announced plans to reduce the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000 at Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.In a letter to lawmakers Minister for Infrastructure and Water Mark Harbers said the plan was being shelved “until further notice” and at least pending a decision by the country’s Supreme Court. The court is considering the government’s appeal against a lower court’s decision in May that blocked plans to reduce the number of flights. The Supreme Court ruling is expected in the second quarter of 2024.Schiphol said in a statement it was “disappointed by the recent developments, as local residents are getting the sh...

Former Arizona Corrections director pleads no contest in armed standoff with officers at his home

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Former Arizona Corrections Director Charles Ryan has pleaded no contest Tuesday to a disorderly conduct charge for an encounter in which police say he fired a gun inside his Tempe home in early 2022 and pointed a firearm at two officers during a three-hour standoff. The maximum sentence Ryan, who retired as corrections director in September 2019, could receive is two years in prison. Ryan’s trial on charges of unlawful discharge of a firearm and disorderly conduct had been scheduled for Nov. 20.Police were called to the house on Jan. 6, 2022, on a report that Ryan had shot himself in the hand. It was later revealed by police that the hand injury was caused by a less-than-lethal projectile shot by police after Ryan pointed a handgun at officers. They say the projectile was found during surgery.The Associated Press

Which vehicles are most often targeted by Ontario car thieves

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

Ontarians who drive a Honda CR-V or Lexus RX Series might want to double-check that the doors are locked.Those vehicle models topped a new list of the most stolen automobiles in Ontario in 2022. The not-for-profit Équité Association released its annual list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada and its provinces.The Honda CR-V was named as the most stolen model across Canada, topping the national list of the second straight year.All of the top 10 stolen vehicles in Ontario were most often 2019 models or newer. Équité notes criminals often aim to maximize their profits by targeting newer makes.Most stolen vehicles in Ontario in 2022No.Make/ModelMost often stolen model year#of vehicles insured#of theftsTheft frequency1Honda CR-V2020224,3112,6841.2%2Lexus RX Series202057,7531,7073.0%3Dodge RAM 1500 Series2022195,9731,4050.7%4Toyota Highlander202160,3261,3442.2%5Land Rover Range Rover202020,7431,2255.9%6Ford F150 Series2020214,0679010.4%7Jeep Grand Cherokee202147,9817661.6%8Jeep ...

Judge denies initial request to temporarily block North Dakota’s ban on kids’ gender-affirming care

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota judge has ruled that he won’t immediately block the state’s ban on gender-affirming health care for minors, delivering an early setback to families who want the new law found unconstitutional.District Judge Jackson Lofgren on Monday denied a temporary restraining order the plaintiffs had requested. They’ve also asked for a preliminary injunction that would temporarily block enforcement of the law as their case proceeds. A hearing is set for January for that request.“We’re disappointed in this ruling, but we are confident that when all the evidence has been presented, the court will ultimately find that ending the health care ban permanently is the only just, equitable, and constitutional resolution,” said Brittany Stewart of Gender Justice, the lead attorney for the three families and pediatrician who are suing.Lofgren cited the plaintiffs’ “nearly five-month delay” in filing their complaint, and their argument hinging “up...

S&P/TSX composite up more than 300 points, U.S. stock markets also rally

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was up more than 300 points in late-morning trading as strength in base metal, financial and utility stocks helped lead a broad-based rally and U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 346.99 points at 20,056.14.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 556.52 points at 34,894.39. The S&P 500 index was up 90.33 points at 4,501.88, while the Nasdaq composite was up 313.92 points at 14,081.66.The Canadian dollar traded for 72.89 cents US compared with 72.36 cents US on Friday.The December crude contract was up US$1.21 at US$79.47 per barrel and the December natural gas contract was down five cents at $3.15 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was up US$18.70 at US$1,968.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$3.70 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Suspect leaves Ajax dollar store empty-handed after failed robbery attempt: police

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

Durham Regional Police investigators say a would-be thief didn’t find any dollars during a dollar store break-in and left empty-handed after failing to get into the cash register.It happened on Sunday, Oct. 8, at Your Dollarstore at 105 Bayly St. in Ajax.Officers were called to the store at around 10 a.m. for reports of a break-and-enter.“A male had broken into the store overnight and attempted to steal cash from the register,” a police release states.“The male was unsuccessful and caused property damage in the process.”The suspect is described as a white male, 40 to 50 years old, around five feet 10 inches tall with a medium build and a dark beard.He was wearing a light-coloured Under Armour hoodie, black jeans, dark-coloured Adidas running shoes, and a baby blue coloured Puma backpack.

Social-media creators, podcasts won’t be regulated under Liberal online streaming law

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian Heritage has released its final policy direction for the Liberals’ controversial Online Streaming Act, which aims to modernize the country’s broadcasting laws. The final direction for the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to implement the legislation was issued today.This marks the end of the government’s direct role with the law formerly known as Bill C-11, the Liberal government’s second attempt to bring major online streaming services into Canada’s broadcasting system alongside traditional media such as TV and radio. The final policy direction explicitly instructs the CRTC to not impose regulations on social-media content creators or podcasters. The law will require online broadcasters to contribute to the creation, production and distribution of Canadian content.It also seeks to support Indigenous content and original French-language programing.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14,...

A woman killed in Belgium decades ago has been identified when a relative saw her distinctive tattoo

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:40 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A woman killed 31 years ago in Belgium has been identified after a family member recognized details of her tattoo, Interpol said Tuesday.The police organization said the cold case was known as “the woman with the flower tattoo” because of the distinctive art on her left arm. Her body was found in a river in Antwerp in June 1992.She was finally identified recently as Rita Roberts, a 31-year-old British woman, following a joint appeal for help in more than 20 cold cases by Interpol and police in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.A family member in the U.K. recognized details of her tattoo — a black flower with green leaves — on the news and contacted police, officials said.The appeal for information in May covered 22 cases across the three countries. Most of them involved women who were killed.Roberts had moved to Antwerp from Cardiff in Wales. She last had contact with relatives with a postcard she sent in May 1992.Her family said that although the news was difficult...