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Extremists attack beachside hotel in Somalia’s capital as al-Shabab claims responsibility

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Witnesses and state media in Somalia say extremists have attacked a beachside hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, and security forces are responding at the site.The Somali National News Agency reports that “many civilians” have been rescued as fighting continues Friday night. There is no immediate word on any deaths.Al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate, al-Shabab, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Somalia-based extremist group is known for carrying out attacks on hotels and other high-profile locations in Mogadishu, usually starting with a suicide bombing.Hassan Abdirahman told The Associated Press that he was in the restaurant at the time. “I heard the sound of gunshots which came from the beach direction and followed by the huge sound of an explosion.” He said that he escaped and saw damaged vehicles along the street.Lido Beach is one of Mogadishu’s most popular areas and is busy on Friday nights as Somalis enjoy the weekend.Omar Faruk, The As...

Colombia government, largest remaining rebel group agree to 6-month cease-fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — Colombia’s government and its largest remaining guerrilla group agreed Friday to a six-month cease-fire at talks in Cuba, in the latest attempt to resolve a conflict dating back to the 1960s.The government and the National Liberation Army, or ELN, announced the accord at a ceremony in Havana attended by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, top guerrilla commander Antonio García and Cuban officials. The cease-fire takes effect in phases, goes fully into effect in August and then lasts for six months. “This effort to look for peace is a beacon of hope that conflicts can be resolved politically and diplomatically,” top rebel negotiator Pablo Beltrán said at the ceremony.The talks originally were scheduled to conclude with an official ceremony on Thursday, but were postponed as the parties asked for additional time to work on final details. Petro traveled to the island for the ceremony, saying it could herald an “era of peace” in Colombia.The accord reached Frida...

WestJet to wind down budget airline Swoop, integrate into main operation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

CALGARY — WestJet says it will wind down its Swoop brand by late October as it integrates the budget carrier’s operations into its main banner.The move comes after ratification of a new collective agreement that brings pilots of both carriers onto a level pay scale.In a phone interview from its Calgary headquarters, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said keeping Swoop separate would make little sense financially given the higher labour costs, but said each WestJet flight will offer a portion of ultra-low-cost tickets.Pilots of WestJet and Swoop secured a 24 per cent hour pay bump over four years under a deal agreed on tentatively last month that narrowly averted a strike.Bargaining came down to the wire, with WestJet cancelling more than 230 flights in preparation for job action before a deal was reached hours ahead of the strike deadline on May 19.Competition for budget airfares has grown in recent years, particularly in Western Canada, as upstarts Flair Airlines and Lynx Ai...

Rights body criticizes Quebec for booting religious group from convention centre

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

Quebec’s human rights commission has criticized the provincial government for blocking a religious gathering at a publicly owned convention centre after a cabinet minister said the event would have promoted anti-abortion views.The commission issued a statement saying it was concerned about the government’s decision and reminding the province about the importance of freedom of expression.As guaranteed under the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, “freedom of expression aims to protect both unpopular and controversial ideas …. It is an essential pillar of a democratic society,” the commission said Thursday.Last week, Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx cancelled an event scheduled for June 23 to July 2 at the Quebec City Convention Centre by British Columbia-based Harvest Ministries International. Proulx explained her decision by stating that the event — called “Prepare the Way” — would promote anti-abortion views, which she said are con...

WestJet, Swoop pilots ratify new agreement with pay increases, other improvements

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

WestJet and Swoop pilots have ratified a new collective agreement after a bargaining process that saw the threat of a strike snarl many Canadians’ long weekend plans last month.The Air Line Pilots Association says the four-year contract includes industry-leading pay increases, job security protections, and major scheduling and quality of life improvements.The association says 87 per cent of the pilots who voted backed the agreement.The airline and its pilots reached a last-minute deal earlier this year, narrowly averting a strike ahead of the May long weekend.However, WestJet and Swoop flights had already been grounded in anticipation of the possible work stoppage, which was averted.The pilots’ association had said the contract issues revolved around pay, job security and scheduling, with pilots earning roughly half of what some of their U.S. counterparts make.The new contract goes into effect July 1, with retroactive pay to Jan. 1. It expires at the end of 2026.“H...

WATCH LIVE | U.S. Special Counsel speaks on 37 count indictment against Donald Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon “plan of attack” and shared a classified map related to a military operation.The 49-page charging document paints a damning portrait of Trump's treatment of sensitive information, accusing him of willfully ignoring Justice Department demands to return documents he had taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago and even directing aides to help him hide the records sought by the government.The indictment marks the Justice Department's first official confirmation of a criminal case against Trump arising from the retention of hundreds of documents at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. Charged alongside with Trump was Walt Nauta, a Trump aide who was seen on surveillance camera removing boxes at Mar-a-Lago.The indictment accuses Trump of having improperly removed scores of boxes from the Wh...

Reading success earns Englewood Elementary School students a special trip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

CHICAGO — A group of students from Englewood got a reward for their commitment to reading as the summer is about to begin.Dulles Elementary School students took advantage of 24 mini classrooms that were installed earlier in the 2022-2023 school year through the Buddy's Helpers program. In five months, students had read for over 100,000 minutes, or 1,667 hours or 70 full days. For their efforts in contributing to that total, ten students had the opportunity to take a unique trip to see one of Chicago's professional teams. Seven of the students had the chance to attend their first Chicago White Sox game on May 31.Markus Smith-Lathan - 1st GradeJeremiah Baldwin - 1st gradeNa'Loni Westberry - 1st gradeTrequan Sparks - 1st gradeChristopher Jackson - 2nd gradeIsaiah Westberry - 2nd gradeEverett Jarrett - 2nd gradeThree other Dulles Elementary students were honored as well, but chose another activity to participate in that day.Makayla Clay - 3rd grade - Art InstituteDanielle Bell - 4th gra...

After lemur attack, Austin animal rules may change

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Monday Austin's Animal Advisory Commission will discuss recommending new rules related to animals that would impact the Austin Aquarium. According to city documents, if the commission approves the measure, it would request the Austin City Council consider amending city code to specifically target a for-profit zoo or aquarium. It would ban public interaction with wild animals, when a facility isn't accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Woman says lemur attacked her at Austin Aquarium It would also require any animal bite or scratch to be reported and the animal to be quarantined. It would also call for $200 fines.The Austin Aquarium, located off of U.S. Highway 183, is a for-profit aquarium. It is not required to be accredited with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In addition to marine life, the facility, on its website, touts lemur and sloth encounters.It is monitored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Records show the dep...

Clinical trials underway for melanoma vaccine; Dell Medical School professor explains treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

(KXAN) -- There's new hope in the battle against one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer; it's a treatment that uses vaccine technology and the body's immune system to help stop the spread of melanoma. DEPTH: Moderna mRNA vaccine reduced risk of skin cancer relapse: research Moderna and Merck released data on the results of the trials so far. CNBC reported the vaccine "reduced the risk of melanoma spreading to other parts of the body or death by 65% in patients with stage 3 or 4 of the disease compared with patients who received Merck’s immunotherapy treatment alone." According to CNBC's report, the clinical trial has enrolled 157 patients who have had their cancer surgically removed.Dr. Ade Adamson, assistant professor in the department of internal medicine at Dell Medical School provided some insight on the treatment.Adamson explained it's a treatment for late-stage melanoma, which he explained as melanoma that's moved into the lymph nodes or distant organs. "The way the tria...

Charges: Police tie homicide suspect to shell casings found at two crimes scenes on St. Paul block

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:58 GMT

A man arrested Wednesday inside a St. Paul home he broke into first had shot and killed a man on the same block of the city’s Greater East Side, charges allege.Tevon Antowon King (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Tevon Antowon King, 27, was charged Friday with second-degree murder in the killing of 36-year-old James Harmon, who was found at his home in the 1100 block of White Bear Avenue on Wednesday morning with a gunshot wound to his head.The SWAT team arrested King after he broke into a home five houses away from Harmon’s, according to charges. King, who was found sleeping in the basement with a Springfield 9mm next to him, had fired a shot outside the home, went inside and threatened to shoot a 29-year-old man, who hid in a bathroom and called 911.The Ramsey County attorney’s office charged King on Thursday with two counts of first-degree burglary.Investigators tied King to Harmon’s murder by the handgun and shell casings that were found at both homes, ...