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Energy sector helps boost S&P/TSX composite, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

TORONTO — Strength in the energy sector helped lead Canada’s main stock index higher in late-morning trading after falling nearly 400 points on Tuesday on broad-based weakness.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 44.14 points at 19,943.93.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 102.85 points at 35,049.24. The S&P 500 index was up 4.36 points at 4,442.22, while the Nasdaq composite was down 19.74 points at 13,611.31.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.01 cents US compared with 74.17 cents US on Tuesday.The September crude contract was down seven cents at US$80.92 per barrel and the September natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.58 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down 10 cents at US$1,935.10 an ounce and the September copper contract was down less than a penny at US$3.66 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Saudi Arabia says it executes American citizen convicted of killing his father

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Wednesday executed an American citizen who had been convicted of killing his father. The Interior Ministry identified the executed man as Bishoy Sharif Naji Naseef and said he beat and then strangled his Egyptian father to death. It also said Naseef used narcotics, mutilated his father’s body after his slaying and attempted to kill another person before his arrest. The statement did not identify how Naseef was executed. However, Saudi Arabia typically beheads those sentenced to death. A lawyer for Naseef could not be immediately identified. It wasn’t known if Naseef had a home address in the United States. The U.S. State Department did not immediately return a request for comment. Saudi Arabia ranks among the world’s top executioners behind China and Iran in 2022, according to statistics from Amnesty International. Though executions slowed during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, they’ve surged in recen...

China appears to be building an airstrip on a disputed South China Sea island

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China appears to be constructing an airstrip on a disputed South China Sea island that is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, according to satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press.The work on Triton island in the Paracel group mirrors construction on seven human-made islands in the Spratly group to the east which have been equipped with airstrips, docks and military systems, although it currently appears to be somewhat more modest in scale.China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own, denying the claims of others and defying an international ruling invalidating its assertion.Satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by the AP show construction on the airstrip first visible in early August. The runway, as currently laid out, would be more than 600 meters (2,000 feet) in length, long enough to accommodate turboprop aircraft and drones, but not fighter jets or bombers.Also visible are large numbers of vehicle tracks running across much of th...

Bolt was missing on police helicopter that crashed in South Carolina, report says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

A police helicopter that crashed at a South Carolina airport was missing a bolt that should have been removed and reinstalled during maintenance about six weeks earlier, federal officials said in a report.A second bolt on the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office helicopter also was loose and the pilot, who survived, told investigators he felt like his foot controls to move the aircraft’s tail rotors weren’t working, according to the preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.“It felt as if the pedals were not attached,” the pilot said.The tail rotor is key to keeping the helicopter stable and steering it. About 35 minutes into the Aug. 1 flight from Sumter to Charleston, the pilot reported the helicopter wanted to keep pulling to the right, according to the report.The pilot declared an emergency and tried to land at the Charleston International Airport. Surveillance video from the airport showed as the helicopter hovered about 20 feet (6 m...

Stock market today: Wall Street is holding relatively steady a day after latest tumble for August

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is drifting Wednesday, and stocks are mixed a day after their latest tumble in what’s been a messy August.The S&P 500 rose 0.1% higher in morning trading to claw back a bit of its prior day’s loss of 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 95 points, or 0.3%, at 35,041, as of 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite is virtually unchanged.Retailers Target and TJX, the company behind T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, were pushing upward on the market. Target rallied 4.1%, and TJX rose 3.8% after both reported stronger profit for the spring than analysts expected.They were working to offset a drop of 3.9% for Brinker International, which runs Chili’s restaurants. It also reported stronger profit than expected, but its revenue fell short of forecasts.Wall Street has generally been retrenching this month on several concerns, including worries that torrid gains made this year through July were overdone and that interest rates may stay high...

Smash & spin: Luis Robert Jr.'s homer gives the White Sox a memorable moment & win

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

CHICAGO — When the 2023 season is said an done, what happened in the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night could be one of the highlights of the White Sox season. It won't save a disappointing campaign, but it did give bragging rights to the south siders for one evening while also boosting the resume of the team's best player.Luis Robert Jr. made that happen with one swing and a celebration against the Cubs on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)With the game tied at three in the seventh inning and Julian Merryweather on the mound, Robert connected on a 2-2 pitch and launched it quickly toward the left field.With an audible gasp coming from the crowd, the ball said 422 feet and well up into the group of fans in the bleachers for the solo homer to put the White Sox up 4-3. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Those who watched at home plate saw Robert spin and immediately look back at the fans behind him and then towards the dugout in celebration of what was an immediate homer. A bat flip soon ...

CDPH spraying Beverly, Washington Heights to protect against West Nile virus

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Portions of Beverly and Washington Heights will be sprayed Wednesday night to protect against West Nile virus.According to Ald. Matt O'Shea, the spraying is based on results from CDPH's citywide mosquito surveillance program.“While spraying adult mosquitoes is important to protect Chicagoans, the best way to prevent West Nile virus infections is to protect against mosquito bites,” said Dr. Janna Kerins, a medical director at CDPH. Map of the spray zone This is the first spraying to occur in the city this season.The spraying will begin at dusk Wednesday, weather permitting, and continue through the night until approximately 1:00 a.m.The material being used to control the adult mosquitoes, Zenivex, is approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has been widely applied to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas, O'Shea said. West Nile found in Kane County mosquitos CDPH staff will be leaving door hangers in the affected areas ...

2 American tourists got 'stuck' in Eiffel Tower overnight while drunk, Paris prosecutors say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The opening of the Eiffel Tower was delayed on Monday morning after guards found two American tourists had spent the night in a restricted area of the Parisian landmark, the Agence France-Presse reported.Prosecutors who spoke with the new agency said the men "appear to have got stuck because of how drunk they were.”Tourists and Parisians are photographed in front of the Eiffel Tower on August 9, 2023. (Photo by Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images)Police confirmed the men had purchased tickets to visit the tower on Sunday night, but deliberately entered a secured area while descending from the top. They then became stuck between the second and third levels, the AFP reported. (The Eiffel Tower has three levels open to the public, according to its official site.) Tourist who carved into Colosseum wall offers apology, curious excuse Firefighters and specialists were called in to remove the men from their position in the tower, the AFP reported.Despite acknowledging that the...

Interim executive director named for beleaguered Zephyr Theatre

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

The interim executive director of The Zephyr Theatre is a teacher, pastor and consultant who has been an active patron and past volunteer at the theater.Zephyr officials announced Monday night that Jim Weckwerth has been tapped to fill the role. Weckwerth, who lives in Stillwater, is a former interim pastor specialist for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and serves as a consultant with The Joshua Group, where he helps congregations “navigate through a changing world in ways that lead to learning and growth,” according to the group’s website.Jim Weckwerth has been named interim executive director of The Zephyr Theatre in downtown Stillwater. (Courtesy of The Zephyr Theatre)Zephyr Board Chairwoman Nicole Bartelt said the decision to hire Weckwerth is part of the board of trustees’ plan to find a permanent successor after the resignation last fall of former executive director Calyssa Hall. The future of the theater was in question after Hall’s resignation. Most of the...

Seven candidates file for four seats on St. Paul school board

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:32 GMT

The St. Paul school board will have at least two new members next year as only two incumbents filed for re-election by Tuesday’s deadline.Jessica Kopp is not seeking a second four-year term, and Jeanelle Foster is leaving, too, after six years on the board.Zuki Ellis joined the race Tuesday in search of a third term on the board, and Chauntyll Allen is seeking a second term.Ellis and Allen face five challengers for the four at-large positions: Carlo Franco, Abdi S. Omer, Erica Valliant, Gita Rijal Zeitler and Yusef Carrillo, who served for several months in 2021 after another board member quit.The St. Paul DFL in June endorsed Allen, Carrillo, Franco and Valliant.Candidates have until Thursday afternoon to withdraw from the Nov. 7 election.Related ArticlesEducation | Visitation School to mark 150th anniversary with events Friday-Sunday Education | Back to school DIY: Personalize your child’s gear with this popular crafter’s glue Education | ...