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Iran’s top leader rules out referendums on divisive issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader on Tuesday ruled out the holding of popular referendums on state policies.Iran faced calls for a referendum on the Islamic Republic itself during anti-government protests last year, and a moderate former president recently suggested such votes should be held to decide major policies as a way of reducing divisions.Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say over such policies, rejected the idea when asked about it during a meeting with university students.“Where in the world is this done? Is it possible to hold a referendum for various issues of the country?” he asked. “For any single issue, the country would be engaged in debate and arguments and polarization for six months, so that a referendum can be held on that issue.”He appeared to be referring to recent remarks by former President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, who had suggested holding referendums on domestic and foreign policies.Iran holds regula...

Auditor general ‘assessing’ mandate in terms of Trudeau Foundation ask to investigate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal auditor general’s officesaid Tuesday it is still “assessing” its mandate as it relates to a request from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation to investigate its handling of two donations with possible links to the Chinese government. The foundation’s interim board chair wrote to the office last week, saying it would welcome an investigation by auditor Karen Hogan into donations made in 2016 and 2017 that totalled $140,000. The foundation calls itself an independent, non-partisan scholarship organization, but its CEO and most members of its board of directors recently resigned due to what it described as the politicization of a donation from Chinese billionaire Zhang Bin and another Chinese businessman, Niu Gensheng.“In these circumstances, the foundation would welcome an investigation by the auditor general of Canada of all aspects concerning the receipt and handling of these donations by the foundation,” interim board chair ...

Can a doorbell ring justify a ‘stand your ground’ shooting?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andrew Lester had already gone to bed when the doorbell rang a little before 10 p.m. He got up, grabbed a gun and went to check it out. Seeing a Black male appearing to pull the handle of the front door, police say the 84-year-old white man opened fire. No questions asked. Lester told police he believed someone was attempting to break into his house. That belief — though wrong — could become a defense as Lester faces charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action for shooting 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, an honor student who went to the wrong Kansas City address while attempting to pick up his younger siblings. The case, which has stirred outrage across the country, could shine a light on one of the most common self-defense policies in the U.S — the right to protect yourself in your home. Most states have some version of a “castle doctrine,” either by law or court precedent, that says residents don’t have to retreat when threatened in the...

2 injured after driving into QEW construction zone pit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

Two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after inexplicably driving into a construction zone on the QEW in Mississauga on Tuesday afternoon and plummeting into a steep pit.The vehicle had to be towed out of the gaping hole on the QEW at Mississauga Road on Tuesday afternoon.An investigation is underway, but at this point, police aren’t certain how or why the car ended up in the construction zone.VISUAL DISTRACTION: WB QEW at MISSISSAUGA RD there is a large pit that has formed in the construction zone – delays are backed up due to a the visual distraction #QEW pic.twitter.com/2TqLKG2bIO— CityNews Toronto Traffic & Weather (@citynews680) April 18, 2023“Everything is clear, and the investigation is still ongoing as to how they got there,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CityNews.The section of the highway has been under construction since July 2021 for expansion work, including the building of a twin bridge over the Credit River.

Indiana nurse in mask case avoids jail time with plea deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana nurse facing a criminal charge for allegedly removing a nursing home resident’s oxygen mask hours before his death from COVID-19 will avoid jail time under a plea bargain.Connie Sneed, 54, of New Albany, pleaded guilty Thursday in Clark Circuit Court to a felony charge of knowingly or intentionally acting as a physician’s assistant without a license. She received a suspended sentence of 540 days.The charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor if Sneed completes her probation successfully, court records show.Sneed originally was charged in 2021 with practicing medicine without a license, which carried a potential penalty of one to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.Authorities began investigating the man’s April 2020 death at Wedgewood Healthcare Center in Clarksville after learning that Sneed wrote in a social media post that she had asked the man if he wanted her to remove his oxygen mask so he could “fly with the angels.”In th...

Major reforms to air passenger rights needed, says House committee report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

MONTREAL — A parliamentary committee has recommended sweeping changes to Canada’s air passenger rights framework, including tougher enforcement and compensation rules around flight delays.Tabled Tuesday, the report comes after chaotic travel seasons over the summer and winter holidays brought on by soaring demand, labour shortages and poor weather.Its 21 recommendations include bigger monetary penalties for airlines, smoother processing of compensation claims and automatic payout offers for customers after significant flight disruptions or denial of boarding.It further suggests putting the burden of proof on airlines to show why compensation should not be awarded, and placing the cost of resolving claims to the regulator on the carriers’ shoulders. If the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) determines a customer’s rights have been violated, all passengers on the same flight should be informed and offered refunds or compensation, the report states.The committee also sugg...

8-year-old admits to bringing loaded handgun magazine to suburban school, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — An 8-year-old boy on Tuesday allegedly told his teacher that he bought a loaded handgun magazine to school, prompting a school lockdown while Evanston police investigated.The boy has since been released to his family and will not be referred to juvenile court due to his age, police said. The department's probe found that the boy did not intend to cause harm. The recovered magazine was from a handgun that belonged to a family member.SEE ALSO: Northwestern criticizes its own response to deadly shooting steps from campusThe handgun is now in Evanston police's possession. Officers responded to Lincolnwood School in the 2600 block of Colfax Street and searched the grounds. Once a check for firearms yielded no results, District 65 officials lifted the lockdown. More Evanston news and headlines hereThe investigation is ongoing and the family is cooperating, police added.

One killed, five injured after parking garage collapses in Lower Manhattan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) -- One person is dead and four have been hospitalized after a parking garage partially collapsed in Lower Manhattan Tuesday.The collapse happened around 4:15 p.m. ET at a parking garage that is located by Ann and William Streets near Pace University, roughly half a mile from the New York Stock Exchange.A Citizen app image showed vehicles piled on top of each other after the roof collapsed. In another video posted to social media, dust could be seen rising from the parking garage with vehicles teetering on the edges of broken concrete. Authorities said during a Tuesday evening press conference that they believe six workers were inside the building at the time of the collapse. One worker was declared dead after they became trapped under the debris while four others were taken to the hospital in stable condition. A sixth worker refused care. Rescue crews rushed to the scene to search for victims but the FDNY was forced to pull its members ...

Just before NASCAR, another sporting event is coming to Soldier Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

CHICAGO — A busy time along the lakefront just got a little busier as another major sporting event will be making its way to the city at the end of June.It also arrives just ahead of major road closures for a first time race in Chicago.On Tuesday, the schedule for this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup was released with the United States Men's National team playing a Group A game at Soldier Field against Jamaica on Saturday, June 24 at 8:30 p.m. This will be the only match of the tournament staged in Chicago as the USMNT will play on Wednesday, June 28 in St. Louis against a preliminary tournament winner at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 2 against Nicaragua in Charlotte. at 6 p.m. central time.Soldier Field last hosted CONCACAF Gold Cup games in 2019 when it was the site of the tournament final. Mexico defeated the United States 1-0 in front of 62,493 fans at the venue. In 2021, Chicago didn't host any games in the Gold Cup, which was won by the United States with the final being played at All...

Executive order aims to reduce caregiver costs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:45:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — On Tuesday, President Biden signed a sweeping executive order designed to reduce the cost of caregiving.The order directs federal agencies like the Department of Labor, Veterans Affairs and Education to find new ways to improve wages and work conditions for care workers and provide more flexible options to families seeking services."Family care workers are doing God's work taking care of our children, our parents,” Biden said. "We're doing all of this why? Because the cost of care is too high,” Biden said.Ai-jen Poo, the president of National Domestic Workers Alliance, called it a “huge step forward,” saying improving wages for care workers is vital."You have high rates of turnover that also impacts the services and access to care that families need, so it becomes a vicious cycle whereas if we make them good jobs it actually becomes a virtuous cycle,” said Poo.This executive order does not include new spending to directly subsidize child care costs. To do that...