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Police raid gay venues in Russia after top court bans ‘international LGBTQ movement’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

(CNN) — Police carried out raids on gay venues in Russia late Friday, two online Russian news outlets reported, one day after the country’s top court ruled to ban the “international LGBTQ movement” and labelled it an extremist organization.Thursday’s landmark ruling by the Supreme Court sent a fresh shiver of fear through Russia’s LGBTQ community, who have already faced an intensifying crackdown in recent years, as President Vladimir Putin seeks to shore up his image as defender of traditional moral values against the liberal West.The raids took place in at least three entertainment venues in the capital Moscow, according to the two independent Russian Telegram news outlets, Ostorozhno Novosti and Sota.Police said they were conducting routine drug raids, the outlets added.Ostorozhno Moskva also reported that police photographed the passports of partygoers.“Eyewitnesses said that security forces entered the premises under the pretext of an anti-drug check and photograp...

Turmoil at pro-DeSantis super PAC overshadows Florida governor’s White House bid at critical moment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

Newton, Iowa (CNN) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had only moments earlier departed a Saturday celebration marking his completion of a 99-county tour of Iowa – a feat he has hyped for months – when word began to spread that another wave of turmoil had hit the machine trying to elect him president.Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting the Republican’s White House bid, abruptly let go three key senior staffers that evening, including an interim CEO who had just been installed nine days earlier. The sudden departures sent shockwaves throughout DeSantis’ political operation, from Tallahassee to Des Moines. Some people intimately involved in the effort to elect DeSantis learned of the dismissals the night they happened. A source inside the super PAC told CNN the changes as a whole were distracting and said they came as a surprise to people at Never Back Down.One of the dismissed operatives had appeared that day at a super PAC event in Sioux City, Iowa,...

Russel Metals buying seven service centres from Samuel, Son & Co. Ltd. for $225M

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

TORONTO — `Russel Metals Inc. has signed a deal to buy seven service centre locations from Samuel, Son & Co. Ltd. for about $225 million.The agreement covers five locations in Western Canada and two in the United States.Russel Metals chief executive John Reid says the acquisition is complementary from both geographic and product mix perspectives.The metals distribution company will acquire Samuel’s metals service centres in Winnipeg, Calgary, Nisku, Alta., Langley, B.C., Surrey, B.C., Buffalo, N.Y., and Pittsburgh.The company says Samuel will keep its location in Delta, B.C., and conduct an orderly shutdown of that facility.  The deal is subject to regulatory clearance as well as other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close in the first or second quarter of 2024.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:RUS)The Canadian Press

Analysis: Emirati oil CEO leading UN COP28 climate summit lashes out as talks enter toughest stage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Emirati leading the United Nations’ COP28 climate talks walked out on stage Monday to a room full of journalists to offer a 17-minute list of what he described as the stunning successes made so far in the summit. Then he spent the rest of the time criticizing the media covering his contradictory remarks about phasing out fossil fuels that again raised the concerns of activists about him heading a state-run energy company that plans to increase its production of crude oil and natural gas.Sultan al-Jaber’s comments highlight the dualities of the United Arab Emirates, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms. It’s filled with modern skyscrapers but has no freedom of speech. It punches above its weight on the world stage but isn’t used to publicly answering probing questions.And now it wants the popular support of a climate conference filled with some who want the lifeblood of the country’s economy shut off.The latest firestorm, thi...

Search continues for escaped kangaroo last seen in Oshawa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

The search continues for an escaped female kangaroo that was last spotted in Durham Region on Friday.The Oshawa Zoo provided an update to CityNews on Sunday, saying they have been working daily alongside, police, a lost animal group, and the kangaroo owner, in an effort to try to find the animal.“Sadly, there have been no sightings,” says a zoo spokesperson. Durham Regional Police said the kangaroo was in transit to Quebec when its delivery driver made a stop at the Oshawa Zoo on Thursday to let two of the animals “stretch their legs,” when one managed to escape.A video taken from a passing vehicle, and posted to social media, shows the marsupial hopping along a roadway on Friday morning . Team Chelsea, a lost pet search group, says the footage was taken around 7:45 a.m. near Winchester and Harmony roads in Oshawa.Police said they attended the area but were not able to find the missing kangaroo.According to the Toronto Star, the animal was located and nearly ...

Authorities say heavy rains and landslides in Tanzania kill at least 47 and hurt or strand many more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — At least 47 people are dead and 85 others injured following heavy flooding and landslides in northern Tanzania, authorities said Monday.The government has deployed the military to help rescue hundreds of people trapped by the flooding which has been described as the worst in years in the East African nation.The flooding occurred near Mount Hanang in the north. Houses, roads and bridges have been destroyed, complicating ongoing rescue efforts.President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is attending the U.N. climate summit in Dubai, said she was cutting short her trip to return to Tanzania due to the tragedy.“I send my sincere condolences to the affected families and have directed all our security forces to deploy to the area and help those affected,” she said in a video message.Other East African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan have been hit by raging floods made worse by the El Niño phenomenon.Hundreds have died across the region and million...

Heavy snowfall hits Moscow as Russian media report disruption on roads and at airports

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Heavy snowfall has hit the Russian capital, disrupting traffic on roads and flights in and out of three Moscow airports, officials and media reported on Monday. The snowfall that began Sunday and continued overnight has brought an additional 23 centimeters (nine inches) to already high levels of snow in Moscow, according to deputy mayor Pyotr Biryukov. About 135,000 people and 18,000 pieces of equipment were involved in the snow-clearing effort. Nearly 200 trucks got stuck in the snow over the past 24 hours, and required assistance from road traffic workers, the Moscow transport department reported. A total of 53 flights were delayed and five more were canceled on Monday morning in three out of four Moscow airports, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported. Most of the delays occurred at the Sheremetyevo airport north of the capital. The two airports to the south, Domodedovo and Vnukovo, also experienced delays, the report said. At the Zhukovsky airport southeast of t...

Democratic Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announces run for Virginia governor in 2025

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced Monday that he will run for Virginia governor in 2025.In a campaign video announcement, Stoney said he wants all Virginians to have a fair shot at success.“That’s why I’m running for governor. For families like mine that just need an opportunity. For kids like me who will thrive in school if they just get the right chance,” he said. “And for parents like my dad who work multiple jobs and still struggle to live a secure, middle-class life.”Stoney was the first in his family to graduate high school and college. He served as the first Black Secretary of the Commonwealth and is now in his second term as mayor. In the video announcement, Stoney touts his efforts to improve residents’ lives by improving the city’s finances, improving roads, building new schools and reducing the poverty rate.In the Democratic primary, Stoney will face Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer who has cultivated an identity as a...

Kimberly Palmer: Smart steps to take when helping your grandchildren financially

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

In his early 20s, Chris Chen’s nephew dreamed of becoming a professional photographer, but to pursue that dream, he needed equipment that cost over $5,000. His nephew worked hard to save $1,500, then his maternal grandmother provided an additional $750. Chen, a certified financial planner in Newton, Massachusetts, covered the rest.“It helped him understand the value of money,” Chen says of his nephew, who now earns his living as a photographer.Grandparents — and other family members — often have the best intentions when it comes to helping their grandchildren financially, but experts say they don’t always know how best to do so and can accidentally hurt their own finances along the way.Financial advisers recommend following these steps whenever you’re giving grandchildren a financial gift, whether big or small.PROTECT YOUR OWN FINANCES“The first question is, ‘Can you afford to help your grandchildren, and how much?’” says Lorraine Ell, CEO and co-founder at Better Money Decisions, a...

Rescuer raises hope of survivors at a Zambian mine where more than 30 have been buried for days

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:31 GMT

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — A member of a rescue team raised hope Monday that there may be survivors at a Zambian mine where more than 30 informal miners have been trapped under debris for days and presumed dead after heavy rain caused landslides.Rescuers have been searching for the miners since early Friday after they were buried Thursday night while digging tunnels at an open-pit mine near the city of Chingola on the country’s copper belt.“We are getting close and expect to find survivors as there is some voices we are hearing from one of the tunnels,” Wiva Chanda, an informal miner from the area helping with the rescue effort, told The Associated Press by telephone. “There is hope but I think it will be a mix of survivors and dead bodies.”Chingola District Commissioner Raphael Chumupi said at least 36 miners were buried in three separate tunnels while they were digging for copper ore illegally at the Seseli mine without the knowledge of the mine owner. Zambian governm...