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Sweden appeals the acquittal of a Russian-born businessman who was accused of spying for Moscow

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden’s prosecution authority on Wednesday appealed a ruling that acquitted a Russian-born Swedish businessman who had been accused of collecting information for Russia’s military intelligence service for almost a decade.On Oct. 26, the Stockholm District Court said advanced technology had been acquired and delivered to Russia but that Sergey Skvortsov’s activities were “not aimed at obtaining information concerning Sweden or the United States that may constitute espionage.”“The man has been a procurement agent for Russian military intelligence in Sweden for almost 10 years,” prosecutor Henrik Olin said in a statement. “Both the district court and I have found that behavior proven. I think there is room for the legislation on illegal intelligence activities to be interpreted a little more extensively than the rather cautious district court reached in its ruling.”Skvortsov was arrested in November with his wife in Nacka, outside Stockholm. He denie...

Parkland gas stations roll out Aeroplan loyalty program

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

MONTREAL — Aeroplan members can now earn points at a slew of Parkland Corp.’s gas stations.The loyalty program run by Air Canada has been rolled out at more than 1,100 Ultramar, Chevron, Pioneer, Fas Gas, On the Run and Marché Express locations.Members will earn points on some fuel, convenience store and Parkland gift card purchases.Those that link their Aeroplan accounts with Parkland’s Journie rewards program will see even more opportunities to earn points and other benefits.Aeroplan has been working to bolster its offerings in recent months as more loyalty programs crop up or beef up their discounts and opportunities to earn points.Aeroplan’s partners include Starbucks, Uber, LCBO, Avis, TD Bank Group, American Express and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:AC, TSX:PKI)The Canadian Press

NATO to buy 6 more ‘eyes in the sky’ planes to update its surveillance capability

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO announced Wednesday it has opted to buy six new E-7A Wedgetail surveillance planes built by U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing as the 31-nation military alliance looks to update its eyes in the sky in coming years.NATO’s fleet of 14 Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, aircraft are outdated and expensive to maintain. But their large fuselage-mounted radar domes can detect aircraft hundreds of miles away and they remain useful to monitor Russia’s war on Ukraine from NATO’s eastern flank.NATO said that production of the six new Wedgetails — a militarized version of the Boeing 737 jetliner — will begin “in coming years,” with the first planes expected to be ready for duty by 2031. No cost was provided for the planes, but based on U.S. and U.K. contract information the price could hit $5 billion.NATO’s contract with Boeing — one of the military organization’s biggest ever purchases — is set to be signed next year.“Surveillance and control aircraft are cruci...

Albania proposes a draft law on a contentious deal with Italy to jointly process asylum applications

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The Albanian government on Wednesday put forth a draft law on a contentious deal with Italy to jointly process some asylum applications of migrants arriving in Italy by sea.Earlier this month, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni announced a five-year deal in which Albania agreed to shelter up to 36,000 migrants a year while Rome fast-tracks their requests for asylum in Italy.Albania’s draft law will be debated and voted on in the 140-seat parliament where Rama’s governing Socialists have 74 seats. It is not clear when the parliament will vote.Albania’s opposition is against the plan, while Albanians are divided. Rama considers the deal as a gesture of reciprocation to Italy, which in 1991 welcomed thousands of Albanians fleeing poverty after the fall of communism.The European Commission has requested more details. The deal has been criticized by rights organizations and other groups, and it could backfire against Albania...

NTSB at scene of deadly Ohio interstate crash involving busload of high school students

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

ETNA, Ohio (AP) — A National Transportation Safety Board team was planning to start work Wednesday at the scene of a deadly highway crash in Ohio involving a charter bus filled with high school students that left six people dead and 18 injured.NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the team would be looking for cameras and other evidence from the five vehicles involved in Tuesday’s crash on westbound Interstate 70 in Licking County, about 26 miles (42 kilometers) east of Columbus. Homendy said the team will likely be in the area for five to seven days and a preliminary report would likely be issued within the next few weeks.Homendy said there was “conflicting information” about the sequence of events that led to the chain-reaction crash, which also involved an SUV and a semitruck. The Pioneer Trails charter bus was carrying students and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District in eastern Ohio.Three passengers on the bus, which was carrying a driver and 54 stu...

Closing infrastructure gaps may boost Indigenous GDP by up to 17 per cent: RBC

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

TORONTO — A new report says bridging the infrastructure gaps experienced by Indigenous Peoples would boost the population’s GDP by up to 17 per cent.The research from RBC Economics says the Indigenous population has lower workforce participation rates, higher unemployment rates and an eight per cent hourly wage gap, when compared with non-Indigenous Canadians. RBC says Indigenous people are also more likely to be underhoused or living on reserves with limited access to high-speed internet.To address such issues by 2030, the Assembly of First Nations estimates Canada needs to spend $350 billion.If Canada addressed the gaps, RBC says not only would it boost Indigenous GDP by 17 per cent, but the country would also add close to half a percentage point to its total production capacity.Indigenous people make up five per cent of Canada’s population and before the pandemic, accounted for 2.5 per cent of the country’s GDP. This report by The Canadian Press was first publis...

Person taken to hospital after SWAT incident in Johnsburg; shelter in place lifted

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — A shelter in place order has been lifted Wednesday after a SWAT incident in Johnsburg, according to authorities. The incident happened around 11:10 p.m. Tuesday when police were dispatched to a residence in the 3600 block of Filmore Road. Authorities said a man was shooting a gun inside the home.According to the McHenry County Sheriff's Office, a heavy police response was present in the area of Hamlin Drive and Fillmore Road due to the SWAT situation.A woman was taken from the home at some point, unharmed, and is believed to be the man's wife, police said.Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, the barricaded man was taken out of the home, also unharmed, and transported to an area hospital. Authorities said there is no danger to the public.Johnsburg School District 12 announced all schools will be closed Wednesday due to the ongoing police situation.Early Wednesday morning, officials had advised residents in the town of Johnsburg to shelter in place until the situation w...

Reward up to $150K offered after robbery of USPS carrier

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

CHICAGO — A reward up to $150,000 has been offered following the robbery of a USPS letter carrier on the West Side.A USPS carrier was working in the 900 block of North Francisco at around 12:30 p.m. on Friday. A suspect, described as a Black man approximately 5'6", 45-50 years old, wearing clear prescription glasses, a black hoodie, a black baseball cap, a black hospital mask and faded blue jeans, robbed the carrier of USPS property.He fled on foot in an unknown direction and should be considered armed and dangerous. Suburban man accused of kicking down woman’s door, beating her A reward up to $150,000 is offered for an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information can call 877-876-2455.

Patrick Mahomes reveals odd pregame superstition: 'I have to wear them'

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has an odd pregame superstition. Mahomes joined "ManningCast" with Peyton and Eli Manning during the Buffalo Bills matchup with the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. During the broadcast, the two-time MVP shared his pregame superstition: He wears the same pair of red underwear every game. "First, my wife Brittany got them for me, so I'm not throwing y'all down, but I have to wear them," Mahomes said. "I threw them on that first season. We had a pretty good season that season. I only wear them for gameday, though, so they're not too worn down." Andy Reid speaks on role of Kadarius Toney; wants to be cautious Mahomes said he washes them every once in a while, but not if the Chiefs are on a hot streak. "If we're on a hot streak, I can't wash them," Mahomes said.He doesn't appear to be halting the superstition anytime soon thanks to the Chiefs' constant success. "As long as I'm winning football games, I'll...

Starbucks union plans largest-ever strike for Red Cup Day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:41:58 GMT

(The Hill) -- The union representing thousands of Starbucks workers has said it will launch its “largest strike ever” on Thursday amid the coffee chain’s annual Red Cup Day.Starbucks Workers United said in a press release on Monday that it is demanding the company bargain over staffing and scheduling issues and turn off mobile ordering on promotion days like Red Cup Day.The yearly event, during which Starbucks gives away free reusable holiday cups, is the company’s “biggest sales event of the season” and “one of the most infamously hard, understaffed days for the baristas that work them,” according to the union.Promotion days like Red Cup Day produce a “flood of customers” but are not paired with any additional staffing, Starbucks Workers United said.“Starbucks is creating unnecessarily stressful working conditions by scheduling promotion after promotion without increasing staffing,” Neha Cremin, a barista in Oklahoma City, said in a statement. “Understaffing hurts wo...