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2 Americans held hostage by Hamas released, Israel says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage.The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government.The release comes amid growing expectations of an expected ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule the Gaza Strip. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people.As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring L...

Residents concerned over location of new respite site in West Queen West

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

A group of residents are speaking out over concerns about the location of a new 24-hour respite centre in the West Queen West neighbourhood, just a few hundred feet from a supervised injection site.The site at 629 Adelaide Street West is a re-location of a previous respite centre at 25 Augusta Avenue and will open with 60 spaces at the beginning of 2020. It will be run by St. Felix Centre for individuals experiencing homelessness.Residents have started a Facebook group to draw attention to their apprehensions about the proximity of two elementary schools and the possibility of significant public safety issues in the area.The is 110 metres from St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School and 350 metres from Niagara Street Public School.Shirley Rocha is a nearby resident with two children, a 16-year-old and a five-year-old, who has lived in the area for decades. Rocha said they have seen changes to the area since the supervised injection site was opened at Queen and Bathurst Streets a...

Regulator provides its reasons for Trans Mountain route change ruling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

CALGARY — The Canada Energy Regulator has released its reasons behind its decision last month to allow Trans Mountain Corp. to go ahead with a pipeline route deviation against the wishes of a B.C. First Nation.In its written reasons released Friday, the regulator said it agreed with Trans Mountain’s position that being forced to stick to a previously agreed upon route and construction method despite the difficulties encountered tunneling through rock in that area would result in unacceptable delays and cost increases.Following an oral hearing in September, the regulator ruled in favour of Trans Mountain’s request to slightly alter the route for a 1.3-kilometre stretch of pipeline to be constructed in the Jacko Lake area near Kamloops, B.C.Trans Mountain’s application was opposed by the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation, whose traditional territory the pipeline crosses and who had only agreed to the originally proposed route and construction method.The First N...

1st vaccine against serious bacterial infection in bees approved for use in Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

The first vaccine for bees has been approved for use in Canada.The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has conditionally licensed an oral vaccine to protect honey bees against a disease called American foulbrood, which can wipe out entire colonies if not treated.The manufacturer, U.S.-based Dalan Animal Health, announced the Canadian approval in a news release on Oct. 16.The vaccine can be used in Canada “under veterinary supervision,” the food inspection agency said in an email.American foulbrood is caused by the Paenibacillus larvae bacterium which produce spores that are resistant to the environment and can last for years in a hive, said Ernesto Guzman, director of the Honey Bee Research Centre at the University of Guelph.Worker bees in the hive can transport the spores and spread the disease, Guzman said, but it’s the bees in the larval stage that show clinical symptoms of infection.“If they ingest enough of those spore...

GOP businessman Perry Johnson suspends long-shot presidential bid after failing to make debates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican businessman Perry Johnson suspended his long-shot bid for president on Friday after failing to gain traction in the race.Johnson said the fact that he wasn’t permitted to participate in the debates played a major role in his decision. He accused the Republican National Committee of using “authoritarian power” to keep him off the debate stage despite the RNC contending he hadn’t met the necessary polling and donor qualifications.“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the people should decide the next president of the United States, not the head of the RNC and her cronies,” Johnson wrote in a statement. “With no opportunity to share my vision on the debate stage, I have decided at this time, suspending my campaign is the right thing to do.” An RNC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Johnson maintained he was only suspending his campaign, not officially withdrawing, and would keep a small political ...

Viral TikTok of bedbug spooks Torontonians, experts say not to be paranoid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

A recent viral TikTok that purported to show a bedbug on the TTC has been spooking Toronto residents more than usual, but experts say it’s not unusual for the critters to be spotted in a high traffic area.It could also include hotels, convention centres, restaurants, public transportation, movie theatres, doctors offices, you name it,” said Bernie Grafe, of Orkin Canada, a pest control company.Anxiety over bedbugs began to rise following Paris Fashion Week last month when viral videos of the bugs began popping up despite officials reassurance there was no resurgence of cases.Many were worried that the bugs would hitch a ride on those travelling back home. But while Toronto did top the list of Orkin’s worst cities in Canada for bedbugs released last spring, Grafe said the odds of you taking one home is still small. “It’s certainly a risk but at the end of the day it’s not something that everyone should be extremely paranoid about,” explained ...

2 suspects in custody, 1 at large in Oshawa gunpoint carjacking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

Two suspects are in custody while a third managed to evade arrest and remains at large after a violent carjacking in Oshawa on Wednesday.Police say it happened at around 3:10 a.m. in the Kentucky Derby Way and Dance Act Avenue area.Police say the victim was inside a parked vehicle with a male companion when two males approached and attempted to get inside the vehicle.“Although the victim promptly secured the vehicle’s doors, the male companion allowed access to the suspects as he was involved in the planned carjacking,” police said in a release.One of the suspects pulled out a firearm and threw the victim out of the driver’s seat. The three suspects then fled in the vehicle.The victim was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.A short time later, police spotted the stolen vehicle at an area business. One of the suspects bolted on foot, but didn’t get far before he was in cuffs.A second suspect remained in the vehicle and was promptly arres...

The Supreme Court keeps a Missouri law on hold that bars police from enforcing federal gun laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday kept a Missouri law on hold that bars police from enforcing federal gun laws, rejecting an emergency appeal from the state.The 2019 law was ruled unconstitutional by a district judge but allowed to remain in effect. A federal appeals court then blocked enforcement while the state appeals the district court ruling.Missouri had wanted the law to be in effect while the court fight plays out.Justice Clarence Thomas was the only member of the court to side with Missouri on Friday.The law would impose a fine of $50,000 on an officer who knowingly enforces federal gun laws that don’t match up with state restrictions.Federal laws without similar Missouri laws include registration and tracking requirements and possession of firearms by some domestic violence offenders.The court expanded gun rights in a 2022 decision authored by Thomas. It is hearing arguments next month in the first case stemming from last year’s ruling. An appeals co...

Youth football team suspended after parent allegedly shoots coach in front of kids

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis suspended a youth football team whose coach was shot in front of the players allegedly by an upset parent, according to a statement provided to The Associated Press on Friday.“After a series of incidents perpetuated by adults which culminated in Tuesday’s shooting, the Recreation Division decided to suspend the team’s participation in the CityRec Legends Football league,” according to the statement from the agency.Assistant coach Shaquille Latimore, 30, was hospitalized last week after being shot multiple times at practice, allegedly by a father who was upset about his son’s playing time, authorities said. Latimore has since been released and is recovering at home, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.Daryl Clemmons, 43, turned himself in and is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. His public defender declined to comment Friday.Latimore told police that Clemmons was “upset with him for not starting his son,” according to a pro...

Suburban rescue in 'dire' need of new van to save animals from being euthanized

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:11 GMT

MORTON GROVE, Ill. — A suburban rescue organization celebrating its 20th anniversary is asking for the public's help to replace its only transport van after it collided with a deer.On Thursday, Wright Way Rescue was headed downstate to Nashville, Illinois when a large deer bolted in front of the van. No animals were on board and the driver was shaken up, but okay.It put the van out of commission and the organization is asking for donations to replace it.The mission of Wright Way, which was started by founder Christy Anderson out of her Southern Illinois University dorm in 2003, is a special one.The rescue specializes in going to rural downstate communities and small towns in the South to save animals from being euthanized."We don't even work in towns that have animal control officers," Anderson told WGN News. "They work hard but have significant challenges due to their size."The organization was able to drive to Missouri Wednesday, the day before the accident, to save a tiny puppy.A...