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US journalist Evan Gershkovich appears in Moscow court to appeal extended detention

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Wall Street Journal reporter detained on espionage charges in Russia is appearing in court to appeal his extended detention. U.S. citizen Evan Gershkovich, 31, was arrested in late March while on a reporting trip. A Moscow court agreed last month to keep him in custody until Aug. 30. Defense lawyers challenged the decision, and the Moscow City Court is scheduled to hear the appeal on Thursday. Gershkovich and his employer have denied he spied in Russia. The U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained and demanded his immediate release.His arrest in the city of Yekaterinburg rattled journalists in Russia, where authorities have not detailed what, if any, evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges.Gershkovich is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, which is notorious for its harsh conditions. U.S. Embassy officials were allowed to visit him once, but Russian authorities rejected two other requests to see him.Russian Deputy Foreign M...

Rescuers make a last desperate push as final hours of oxygen on the missing Titanic sub tick down

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

The race against time to find a submersible that disappeared on its way to the Titanic wreckage site entered a new phase of desperation on Thursday morning as the final hours of oxygen possibly left on board the tiny vessel ticked off the clock.Rescuers have rushed more ships and vessels to the site of the disappearance, hoping underwater sounds they detected for a second straight day might help narrow their search in the urgent, international mission. But the crew had only a four-day oxygen supply when the vessel, called the Titan, set off around 6 a.m. Sunday.Even those who expressed optimism warned that many obstacles remain: from pinpointing the vessel’s location, to reaching it with rescue equipment, to bringing it to the surface — assuming it’s still intact. And all that has to happen before the passengers’ oxygen supply runs out.The full area being searched was twice the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut in waters as deep as 13,200 feet (4,020 meters). Captain Jamie Frede...

After Paris blast crumples building in Left Bank, rescue workers searching for 1 person

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French rescue workers searched Thursday for a person feared missing after a powerful blast brought down a building on Paris’ Left Bank, injuring more than 30 people, four of them critically.Investigators were working to determine the cause of Wednesday’s explosion. A possible gas leak was one of the potential causes under investigation. The blast near the historic Val de Grace military hospital in Paris’ 5th district crumpled the facade of a building that held a private academy of design and arts.Some of the four critically injured people suffered severe burns, said Health Minister François Braun.One person who was feared missing has been found. Police said efforts were ongoing to locate another person still feared missing. With more than 2 million people densely packed within the city limits and historic — sometimes ageing — infrastructure, Paris is no stranger to gas explosions. A January 2019 blast in the 9th district killed four people and left doz...

Time running out for missing sub : A look at what’s In The News for today

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Crews frantically searching for missing sub as oxygen runs outThe race against time to find a submersible that disappeared on its way to the Titanic wreckage site entered a new phase of desperation on Thursday morning as the final hours of oxygen possibly left on board the tiny vessel ticked off the clock.Underwater noises described as “banging” have been heard in an area of the Atlantic where the submersible disappeared Sunday near the wreck of the Titanic.However, U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Jamie Frederick cautioned that analysis of the sound by naval acoustics experts has so far proved inconclusive.The noise, which was detected by a Canadian Aurora military patrol aircraft early Wednesday, was giving added impetus to the desperate search for five people aboard the 6.4-metre vessel named Titan.Here’s what else we’re watching …RCMP to release nam...

Fears for LGBTQ mental health, as flood of online hate spills into real world

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

VANCOUVER — Fae Johnstone says “nothing ever could have prepared” her for the barrage of online harassment she endured after being featured in an International Women’s Day campaign for Hershey Canada. The 27-year-old transgender activist was one of five women featured on limited-edition chocolate bars in March. She said that within 72 hours of the campaign’s launch she became the subject of mass online hate that included death threats, encouragement of suicide and self-harm.Her personal information was released online. Hershey hired private security guards to stand watch outside her home for seven days, she said.“It’s had a horrifying impact on my mental health,” Johnstone said in an interview.“It’s staggering to realize that my simple existence as a trans woman in public spaces, and with somewhat of a platform in the eyes of Canadian public and in the media, triggers an ongoing onslaught of hateful comments and rhetoric that (cr...

RCMP to release names of Manitoba crash victims as city gathers in mourning

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

DAUPHIN, Man. — RCMP are set to release the names of the people who died in a fiery bus crash a week ago as a small western Manitoba community prepares to gather in mourning for the 16 lives lost. “Death happens but we never forget the ones who passed away. They will always be in our hearts. They have moved us and shaped us,” said Wayne Olson, a community minister for the Church of Christ in Dauphin and one of the organizers of a community memorial service Thursday evening. The minibus was carrying a group of seniors from Dauphin and the surrounding area to a casino last Thursday, when it went into the path of a semi-trailer truck on the Trans-Canada Highway near the town of Carberry, some 190 kilometres to the south.Health officials have said nine others are in hospital. Four are in critical condition.Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson and first responders who were at the crash are scheduled to attend the RCMP press conference in Dauphin.As it becomes clear who died in the crash, O...

Civil society team heading to Syria, but Ottawa won’t support repatriation efforts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government has rebuffed an offer from a civil society delegation to travel to northeastern Syria on Ottawa’s behalf to repatriate detained Canadians.Instead, a scaled-down group, including Sen. Kim Pate, intends to head to the region in late August to gather information about Canadians held in squalid camps and prisons.The delegation is also to include Alex Neve, former secretary general of Amnesty International Canada, and Scott Heatherington, a former Canadian diplomat.Participants plan to discuss details of the initiative at a news conference in Ottawa this morning.Late last month, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned a judge’s declaration that four Canadian men being held in Syrian camps are entitled to Ottawa’s help to return home.The May ruling set aside a January decision by Federal Court Justice Henry Brown, who directed Ottawa to request repatriation of the men as soon as reasonably possible and provide them with passports or emergen...

NDP expected to win B.C. byelections in safe ridings, but eyes on second place

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

VICTORIA — The NDP is expected to hold onto two British Columbia ridings where byelections will be held Saturday after the resignations of senior government figures, but the parties that take second place could provide hints about the next general election.The sprawling Victoria area constituency of Langford-Juan de Fuca and urban Vancouver-Mount Pleasant riding are both considered solid NDP territory, having been held by former New Democrat premier John Horgan and cabinet minister Melanie Mark respectively.Prof. Hamish Telford of the University of the Fraser Valley said both are likely safe for the New Democrats but the byelections should also provide the government and B.C.’s opposition parties with a report card ahead of a general election scheduled for next fall.Langford-Juan de Fuca had been held by Horgan since 2005, and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant had been represented by Mark since 2016. “I think we would expect the NDP to win these, but in these two ridings the Gree...

Daily horoscope for June 22, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions after 12:45 p.m. EDT today (9:45 a.m. PDT) and for the rest of the day. The Moon is in Leo.Happy Birthday for Thursday, June 22, 2023:You are romantic, affectionate and sensitive. You have a great appreciation for beauty along with high ideals. You also have high expectations in your relationships. This year you will get recognition for your past efforts. Expect a promotion, an award, kudos — some kind of acknowledgement. Bravo!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Parents must be vigilant today, because this is an accident-prone day for their kids. Meanwhile, social plans might suddenly change. They might be canceled or delayed. Perhaps a different meeting place. Or you might receive an unexpected invitation. Avoid sports accidents. Tonight: Socialize.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Your home routine will change today. A small appliance might break down or a little breakage could occur. Surprise company might knock at your door. Perhaps a fam...

Ukraine says 'biggest blow' in offensive is yet to come

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:54 GMT

Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the "biggest blow" in Kyiv's military campaign is yet to come, but admitted the operation is difficult as Russia throws all it can to stop the offensive."The ongoing operation has several objectives, and the military is fulfilling these tasks," Maliar said on the Telegram messaging app. "They are moving as they should have been moving. And the biggest blow is yet to come."After months of acquiring Western weaponry, training and preparations, Ukraine began the first stage of its counteroffensive two weeks ago to reclaim the nearly fifth of its land now occupied by Russia."The enemy will not easily give up their positions, and we must prepare ourselves for a tough duel," Maliar said. "In fact, that is what is happening right now,"The Ukrainian military, which had maintained strict silence about the campaign for more than a week, has since claimed small victories, saying on Monday that it has liberated several small settlements since....