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Canada to offer humanitarian visas to those fleeing Sudan if relatives pay costs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

Ottawa is offering a lifeline to people fleeing an escalating civil war in Sudan if they have relatives in Canada who agree to financially support them.Immigration Minister Marc Miller says this new humanitarian pathway is for both Sudanese citizens and other foreign citizens who lived in Sudan when conflict broke out in mid-April.The program applies to people who are either a child, grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.Those relatives have to agree to financially support them, though Ottawa has not said how much money this will require.People must apply for the program and complete the typical security and biometric screening used for visa applicants, such as fingerprinting. Duelling militias began a civil war in Sudan this spring that has caused some five million people to flee, including many who were refugees from neighbouring countries.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2023.Dylan Robertson, The Canad...

Woman sues dentist after 4 root canals, 8 dental crowns and 20 fillings in a single visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota woman has sued her dentist after receiving four root canals, eight dental crowns and 20 fillings in a single visit that she says led to her disfigurement. Kathleen Wilson filed the lawsuit last week in Hennepin County District Court, accusing Dr. Kevin Molldrem of Molldrem Family Dentistry in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, of providing negligent treatment in July 2020 that caused significant injuries to Wilson, along with providing an unsafe dosage of anesthesia and falsifying medical records to cover it up, the Star Tribune reported.Molldrem and his attorney, Nathaniel Weimer, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Thursday. According to the Star Tribune, Wilson’s legal team retained Dr. Avrum Goldstein, a dentist in Florida, to provide an expert opinion and review Wilson’s medical records from Molldrem and subsequent providers. Goldstein’s Nov. 14 report identified various duty-of-care breaches.Goldstei...

Alabama coaches don’t want players watching film on tablets out of fear of sign stealing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alabama is covering every angle when it comes to preparing for Monday’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan at the Rose Bowl.That includes making sure their equipment and films do not get hacked in the wake of the Wolverines’ sign-stealing allegations from earlier this season.Wide receiver Isaiah Bond and running back Jase McClellan said Thursday that watching film has been restricted to only as a group and with coaches at team facilities.McLellan also said that players are not receiving practice film directly on their iPads, and that only coaches are receiving it.Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the final three regular-season games by the Big Ten Conference due to a sign-stealing scheme.Harbaugh denied any role or knowledge in the scheme. Connor Stallions, a former Michigan staff member, was considered one of the leaders of the operation and resigned.The NCAA does not prohibit sign stealing. However, it does not allow...

Venezuela will hold military exercises off its shores as a British warship heads to Guyana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Nicolás Maduro ordered Venezuela’s armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after the United Kingdom sent a warship toward Guyana’s territorial waters as the South American neighbors dispute a large border region. In a nationally televised address on Thursday, Maduro said that 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including air and naval forces, will conduct joint operations off the nation’s eastern coast — near the border with Guyana.Maduro described the impending arrival of British ship HMS Trent to Guyana’s shores as a “threat” to his country. He argued the ship’s deployment violates a recent agreement between the South American nations.“We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue and in peace, but no one is going to threaten Venezuela,” Maduro said in a room where he was accompanied by a dozen military commanders. “This is an unacceptable threat to any sovereign country in Latin America.”Venezuela and Guyana are currently involved ...

Russian poet receives 7-year prison sentence for reciting verses against war in Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

A Russian poet was given a 7-year prison sentence Thursday for reciting verses against Russia’s war in Ukraine, a tough punishment that comes during a relentless Kremlin crackdown on dissent.Moscow’s Tverskoi District Court convicted Artyom Kamardin on charges of making calls undermining national security and inciting hatred, which related to him reading his anti-war poems during a street performance in downtown Moscow in September 2022.Yegor Shtovba, who participated in the event and recited Kamardin’s verses, was sentenced to 5 1/2 years on the same charges.The gathering next to the monument to poet Vladimir Mayakovsky was held days after President Vladimir Putin ordered a mobilization of 300,000 reservists amid Moscow’s military setbacks in Ukraine. The widely unpopular move prompted hundreds of thousands to flee Russia to avoid being recruited into the military.Police swiftly dispersed the performance and soon arrested Kamardin and several other participa...

Quebec reaches tentative deal on salaries with union representing 420K workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

MONTREAL — An alliance of Quebec unions representing 420,000 public sector workers says it has reached a deal on salaries with the provincial government.The deal, which has to be approved by members, paves the way to ending the labour conflict with the so-called “common front” — the largest labour group negotiating new collective agreements.Four major unions compose the common front — FTQ, CSN, APTS and CSQ — and they represent hundreds of thousands of workers in sectors such as education and health care.Earlier this week, the government reached a tentative agreement with the common front on working conditions.In a news release, the common front says the tentative deal will be presented over the coming days to its member groups, which will decide whether to take the agreement to workers for a vote.The common front has launched 11 days of strikes since November to pressure the government to reach a deal.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2023. ...

Illinois basketball star, Chicago native Terrence Shannon Jr. charged with rape

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Illinois basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. is suspended from all team activities after the senior All-American candidate was charged with rape in Kansas. The alleged incident occurred back in September when Shannon Jr. was visiting Lawrence for the Illinois football game. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Wednesday by the Douglas County District Attorney. Shannon Jr. turned himself into authorities Thursday, where he posted bail and returned to Champaign, per a release from the school.Shannon Jr. played for Lincoln Park High School prior to transferring to powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida for his final year. He transferred to Illinois in 2022 after playing three years at Texas Tech.Shannon Jr. is averaging over 21 points per game“The University and DIA have shown time and again that we have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. “At the same time, DIA policy affords student-athletes appropriate...

As migrant crisis grows, calls for government help increase

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Mayors across the country are begging the Biden administration to slow the flow of migrants illegally crossing the southern border, while up to 10,000 cross into the U.S daily, setting records.After a short meeting in Mexico City, with no obvious results, Mexican officials will come to the U.S. next month to continue talks about slowing migration through Mexico to the U.S.Big city mayors in New York, Chicago, and Denver say they are overwhelmed by the flood of migrants who are arriving from the southern border."This is a national problem," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson said, “Without significant intervention from the federal government, this mission will not be sustained."Meanwhile, Denver’s Mayor Mike Johnston said, "We need more federal support."Adams blames Texas Governor Greg Abbott who has been sending thousands of migrants by bus out of Texas to northern U.S. cities."This has only been exacerbated by Governor Abbott'...

Idaho killings home demolished, despite objections from families

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

MOSCOW, Idaho (NewsNation) — Demolition of the home where four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed last year is complete, despite objections from the victims' families.Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were found dead inside an off-campus rental home in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022.The demolition started around 9:30 a.m. ET, despite some insisting the house is a crucial piece of evidence. At least two of the victims' families have argued that it should be postponed until after the trial of suspect Bryan Kohberger. Idaho victim’s dad: Why is evidence ‘destroyed’ before trial? Neither the defense nor the prosecution are contesting the demolition this week. The university is trying to complete it before students resume classes after the winter break. Detailed documentation, including extensive 3D imaging, photos and measurements has been compiled from inside the property.Critics argue the crime scene should be preserved in ...

10 different foods used in New Year's Eve traditions and the stories behind them

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:52 GMT

(Stacker) — From creating vision boards to spending the night out with your most raucous friends waiting for midnight to strike, everyone chooses to celebrate New Year's holidays differently. Yet a common theme held from country to country and culture to culture is bringing people together and celebrating with food.Food has been a longstanding part of holiday celebrations. From the preservation of culture to the love and intention poured into creating a memorable feast, the sharing of meals means more than just survival. In many cases, these annual celebrations feature beloved family recipes that have survived wars and been passed down for generations, becoming cornerstones of holiday traditions and an homage to the resilience of the people who originated them.As New Year's approaches, Stacker looked at specific food practices from around the world. Where did they come from? What are the meanings behind these time-tested recipes? What makes these traditions so special to the culture...