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Biden’s upcoming European trip is meant to boost NATO against Russia as the war in Ukraine drags on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will head to Europe at week’s end for a three-country trip intended to bolster the international coalition against Russian aggression as the war in Ukraine extends well into its second year.The main focus of Biden’s five-day visit will be the annual NATO summit, held this year in Vilnius, Lithuania. Also planned are stops in Helsinki, Finland, to commemorate the Nordic country’s entrance into the 31-nation military alliance in April, and Britain, the White House announced Sunday.Biden will begin his trip next Sunday in London, meeting with King Charles III. The president did not attend Charles’s coronation in May, sending first lady Jill Biden to represent the United States. In June, Biden hosted British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the White House, where the two leaders pledged continued cooperation in defending Ukraine.The NATO meeting comes at the latest critical point in the war. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says co...

Two people missing after landslide in Quebec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

SAGUENAY, Que. — Two people are missing after a landslide in Quebec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region following torrential rain on Saturday.Provincial police say they believe a man and a woman were trying to clear debris left by the storm from a road in Rivière-Éternité, Que. on Saturday afternoon when a river surge caused a landslide.Police spokesman Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu says they were then swept away by the current. Police say a third person, a man in his 40s, was rescued from the river and taken to hospital.He remains in critical condition. Rivière-Éternité has declared a state of emergency and recommended the community’s 400 residents evacuate. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2023. The Canadian Press

An ailing Thai elephant returns home for medical care after years of neglect in Sri Lanka

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — An ailing elephant that Thailand had presented to Sri Lanka more than two decades ago returned to his native land for medical treatment Sunday following allegations that the animal was badly abused while living at a Buddhist temple. The male elephant, known in Sri Lanka as Muthu Raja, or Pearly King, and as Sak Surin, or Mighty Surin, in Thailand, was flown directly from the South Asian island nation’s capital to Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand on a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane.A six-person team, including two veterinarians and four mahouts, or professional elephant trainers, accompanied the elephant on the flight, which took about six hours.A special container was built to hold the 275-centimeter- (9-foot-) tall, 4-ton pachyderm. Several mahouts went to Sri Lanka in advance to accustom the animal to being caged so he wouldn’t panic during the trip to Thailand.Video footage of his arrival in Chiang Mai showed the elephant conscious and appearing c...

US group decries as ‘troubling’ pope’s pick to head Vatican office handling sex abuse allegations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

ROME (AP) — A U.S.-based group that keeps track of how the Catholic hierarchy deals with allegations of sexual abuse by clergy says Pope Francis made a “troubling” choice in appointing an Argentine prelate to a powerful Vatican office that handles such cases. On Saturday, the Vatican announced that the pontiff had picked Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernández, who is archbishop of La Plata, in the pope’s homeland, to head the Holy See’s watchdog office for doctrinal orthodoxy. That office’s mandate also includes handling of sex abuse allegations lodged against clergy. BishopAccountability, which is based in Massachusetts, said in a written statement that the prelate in 2019 refused to believe victims who accused a priest in the La Plata archdiocese of sexually abusing boys. Francis “has made a baffling and troubling choice,” the group said in statement emailed late Saturday in the United States. The statement cited what it said was Fernández’ handling of the case in the Argen...

‘Open for business:’ Top N.W.T. Mountie says Indigenous recruitment a priority

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — The head of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories says one of his top priorities is recruiting more Indigenous members and staff.In his first media address since taking over as commanding officer of the RCMP’s G division in November 2022, Chief Supt. Syd Lecky said recruitment and retention has long been a challenge for police in the territory.“We’re open for business,” he said. “Recruiting in the Northwest Territories is alive and well, especially if we can get folks with the language skills to be able to help support our calls for service,” he said Thursday.Indigenous people account for about half of the territory’s population. Lecky said there are currently about six Mounties in the N.W.T. who are Indigenous.Lecky, who is a member of the Peskotomuhkati First Nation in New Brunswick, said employing Indigenous people from the N.W.T. increases the likelihood they will stay long-term.Final planning is underway for an Indigenous ...

Labour shortage in construction adding extra pressure to housing supply gap: experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

The construction industry is short tens of thousands of workers, and experts say a coming wave of retirements could make the problem worse even as Canada is millions of homes behind what’s needed to reach housing affordability this decade.“That labour shortage is going to remain, and it’s only going to increase,” said Reva Bond, dean of the construction school at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.The job vacancy rate in construction is at a record high with around 80,000 vacancies in the industry, said CIBC deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal in a recent note.Those vacancies, which push up building costs and impede productivity, come at a time when the residential construction industry is under pressure to meet the demands of a growing population.The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation forecasts a need for 3.5 million more homes by 2030 than the country is currently on track to build.The number of new homes built, however, has been in decline, from just over 271...

Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago: Opening delayed due to weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

Organizers are hoping the weather cooperates Sunday for Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago.Gates were scheduled to open at 9 a.m. but officials tweeted that it would be delayed due to weather.#UPDATE on #NASCARChicago per spokesperson: “Due to the threat of severe weather this morning, the opening of gates to the Chicago Street Race will be delayed. NASCAR will provide timing updates as they are available for today’s schedule of events.” @WGNNews— Courtney Spinelli (@CourtSpinelliTV) July 2, 2023Day one of the first ever street race in Chicago was partially washed away by rain.Saturday’s events started with Xfinity practice and qualifying. Then the checkered flag waved to start the race. But about halfway through, lightning and rain threats forced NASCAR to postpone it until Sunday.The Loop 121 race will resume at 10 a.m. Sunday on lap number 26. What happens if bad weather hits the NASCAR Chicago Street Races? The green flag for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 has been mo...

Flash Flood Warning issued

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

It's a soggy start to Sunday in the Chicago area.A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for Cook, DuPage and Will counties until 1:15 p.m.The National Weather Service says between 1 and 2 inches of ran have already fallen and total amount of 1 to 3 inches are possible. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Thunderstorms are likely throughout the day Sunday. Cooler but still muggy. Air quality: Moderate. High of 75.Decreasing clouds Sunday night. Low 63Monday will be mostly sunny, warmer with a slight chance of afternoon showers and storms. High mid 80s inland, lower 80s lakesideExtended outlook calls for partly cloudy skies Monday night with lows near 70.Independence Day this year looks hot with highs near 90 and muggy. A slight chance-- around 20% of showers/storms in the afternoon/evening.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Near 90 on Wednesday with a chance of showers/thunderstorms in the afternoon.More clouds and cooler on Thursday with highs...

Someone paid almost $6M for Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari Enzo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

(Motor Authority) -- A Ferrari Enzo direct from the private collection of two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso was sold at a Monaco auction earlier this month.The final price paid, including the buyer’s fee, was a staggering 5.4 million euros (approximately $5.9 million). That’s more that double what Enzos normally sell for, even with today’s inflated prices for classic and specialty cars.The celebrity ownership was no doubt one factor that juiced this particular Enzo’s price at auction. Alonso even left a video message that was played during the sale.“It means a lot to me, and I’ve had a great time with the car…it’s a magic piece of art,” he said in the video. “I know that it’s going to be in good hands…please take care of the car and enjoy it.”Fernando Alonso with his Ferrari Enzo – Photo credit: Monaco Car AuctionsHowever, the car also boasts the first completed Enzo body—Scocca no.1—meaning it’s one of the earliest Enzos built. The provenance is confirmed ...

Schaumburg Boomer offer fun for the whole family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:09 GMT

The Schaumburg Boomers games offer fun for the whole family.Special theme nights, post-game events and promotions fill their schedule.The team plays at the Wintrust Field located at 1999 S Springinsguth in Schaumburg.More information on their website.