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EU lawmakers ask UEFA to ban Belarus from Euro 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — A group of more than 100 European Union lawmakers is urging European soccer’s governing body to ban Belarus from qualifying for the 2024 European Championship.MEPs from across the political spectrum wrote in a letter sent to UEFA president Alexander Ceferin that the Belarusian national team should not be able to compete because of the country’s terrible human rights record.“These are not only UEFA values at stake, but also UEFA’s reputation and image within democratic societies and international community,” they said.Last week, a court in Belarus sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in prison after a trial in absentia on charges including conspiring to overthrow the government, the latest move in a months-long effort by the government to suppress dissent.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine. Russia used Belarusian territory to...

German investigators take down crypto money laundering site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German investigators said they took down a major online money laundering operation on Wednesday, seizing the Germany-based server infrastructure of a platform that dealt in ill-gotten cryptocurrency.Bitcoin currently worth about 44 million euros ($47 million) and roughly seven terabytes of data were secured as investigators took down the platform known as ChipMixer, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office and Frankfurt prosecutors said. They added that they worked closely with U.S. authorities and the European Union’s crime agency, Europol.ChipMixer was active on the darknet, a part of the internet accessible only through specialized tools that provide more anonymity. German investigators said it had offered its services since mid-2017 and had accepted cryptocurrency — largely bitcoin — of criminal origin which was put through a “mixing” process to disguise its origin.Cryptocurrency that was paid in was broken down into tiny amounts known as “chips,” and u...

Russia wants to recover debris of US drone from Black Sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia wants to recover the fragments of a U.S. surveillance drone that American forces brought down in the Black Sea after an encounter with a Russian fighter jet, a Russian security official said Wednesday. Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, claimed in televised remarks that Tuesday’s incident was “another confirmation” of direct U.S. involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. He said Russia planned to search for the drone’s debris. “I don’t know if we can recover them or not, but we will certainly have to do that, and we will deal with it,” Patrushev said. “I certainly hope for success.”U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the drone was flying in international airspace and over international waters when a Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of the MQ-Reaper drone. U.S. officials accused Russia of attempting to intercept the unmanned aerial vehicle, although its presence over the Black Sea was no...

Susan Musgrave, Ocean Vuong nominated for revamped Griffin Poetry Prize

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

Canadian mainstays and international darlings are among the wordsmiths longlisted for the newly revamped Griffin Poetry Prize. Benefactor Scott Griffin announced last year that the long-standing award would consolidate its Canadian and international categories — which each carried a $65,000 purse — into one global long list, whose winner will receive $130,000.Among the Canadian contenders are California-born, British Columbia-based writer Susan Musgrave, for her first book of poetry in 11 years, “Exculpatory Lilies,” and Manolis Aligizakis, who translated Tasos Livaditis’ “Poems, Volume II” from the original Greek.If a translated book is to win, the translator will receive 60 per cent of the prize, while the original poet will get 40 per cent.Among the international nominees is American Robyn Creswell, who is being recognized for his translation of Egyptian-Canadian poet Iman Mersal’s “The Threshold,” which was originally written in Ar...

Spain’s unions back government public pension reform

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s left-wing government won the backing of unions to reform the nation’s public pension system on Wednesday, in stark contrast with neighboring France, where plans to raise the retirement age have led to waves of strikes and mass protests.The leaders of Spain’s two main labor unions, UGT and CC.OO., appeared alongside Minister of Social Security José Luis Escrivá in Madrid to christen the plan the union heads both deemed “historic.”CC.OO. secretary general Unai Sordo said that the reform would be key to ensuring pensions for Spain’s retired population which he said is expected to increase from 10 to 15 million people by 2048.“This is about maintaining a pillar of our social welfare system,” Sordo said.It is very different across the border in France, where labor unions on Wednesday held another round of massive street protests against the push by President Emmanuel Macron to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, a move that he says is neces...

Tyson Foods closing 2 plants, impacting nearly 1,700 workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Tyson Foods has announced that the company is planning to close two of its plants, which together employ a total of nearly 1,700 people.Tyson said its plants in Van Buren, Arkansas, and Glen Allen, Virginia, will be closing in May."After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our Van Buren, Arkansas plant effective May 12, 2023, and shift demand to other Tyson Foods facilities," said Tyson in its announcement concerning the Arkansas plant. "While the decision was not easy, it reflects our broader strategy to strengthen our poultry business by optimizing operations and utilizing the full available capacity at each plant."A statement issued on the closing of the Virginia plant suggested its closure was due to "inability to economically improve operations."Tyson said there are plans to work with employees affected by the closures to help them relocate to other Tyson facilities. The company also said it would coordinate with stat...

PHOTOS: Florida police rescue young manatee from red tide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

VENICE, Fla. (WFLA) – As red tide continues to impact beaches along Florida's gulf coast, authorities have been rescuing animals caught up in the harmful algal blooms.Over the past weekend, Marine Units with the Venice Police Department Marine Unit, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, the Florida Fish Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office all assisted in the successful rescue of a juvenile manatee.Credit: Venice Police Department Credit: Venice Police Department Credit: Venice Police Department Credit: Venice Police Department Credit: Venice Police Department Credit: Venice Police Department Credit: Venice Police Department The 700-pound manatee was in distress due to red tide, according to VPD. Marine Officers and biologists had to get in the water and help hold the young manatee's head above water so it could breathe until additional personnel arrived. Red tide, a toxic algae bloom that occurs naturally in the Gulf of Mexico, is worsened by t...

Postal worker sentenced to 9 months for stealing mail in Morgan Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A former postal worker was sentenced to nine months in federal prison for stealing mail in Morgan Park.Diamante Williams, 25, of Chicago, was previously indicted by a grand jury in March 2022 on three counts of mail theft. In September of last year, he pleaded guilty in an agreement to one count of mail theft.He admitted that on around March 28, 2018, he stole mail on his route in Morgan Park, including financial items. 2 postal service mailboxes broken into in Elmhurst Williams admitted to stealing a check in the amount of $1,274 intended for a company.He was sentenced to nine months in prison.

New law restricts electric car stores in Mississippi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

JACKSON, Miss (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Tuesday restricting electric car manufacturers from selling vehicles in person unless they open franchised dealerships.Defying calls from some fellow Republicans in the Legislature to veto the measure, Reeves enacted into law House Bill 401, introduced by Republican Rep. Trey Lamar of Senatobia. The law will force electric car companies such as Tesla and Rivian to sell vehicles through franchises rather than company-owned stores, which is how they currently operate.“Almost 200 small businesses in communities across our state are seeking assurances that big manufacturers can’t just destroy their businesses. That’s fair!” Reeves, a Republican, said in a statement posted to social media. “I also recognize that innovation in this industry is inevitable. And with innovation comes new companies with new business models. I am committed to find long-term solutions—in an ever changing market.” What comes next for Mississippi’s...

French bulldog ousts Labrador retriever to become top US dog breed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in three decades, the U.S. has a new favorite dog breed, according to the American Kennel Club.Adorable in some eyes, deplorable in others, the sturdy, push-faced, perky-eared, world-weary-looking and distinctively droll French bulldog became the nation's most prevalent purebred dog last year, the club announced Wednesday. Frenchies ousted Labrador retrievers from the top spot after a record 31 years.Why?“They’re comical, friendly, loving little dogs,” says French Bull Dog Club of America spokesperson Patty Sosa. City-friendly, with modest grooming and exercise needs, she says, “they offer a lot in a small package.”Yet the Frenchie's dizzying rise — it wasn't even a top-75 breed a quarter-century ago — worries its fans, to say nothing of its critics.The buzzy little bulldogs have been targeted in thefts, including last month's fatal shooting of a 76-year-old South Carolina breeder and the 2021 shooting of a California dog walker...