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Newcastle player Tonali banned from soccer for 10 months in betting probe. He will miss Euro 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

ROME (AP) — Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali was banned for 10 months by the Italian soccer federation on Thursday for betting on teams he played for — ruling him out of the rest of the Premier League season as well as competing for Italy at next year’s European Championship.The 23-year-old Tonali, who became the second player suspended in the widening case, agreed to a plea bargain with the federation that included therapy for a gambling addiction.Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, recently acknowledged that his client has a gambling problem and that Tonali told prosecutors he bet on AC Milan and Brescia when he played for those clubs.The federation acted following an investigation by Turin prosecutors into soccer players using illegal websites to bet on games.Tonali’s ban means he will not be able to return in time for Euro 2024, which runs from June 14-July 14. Defending champion Italy has not yet qualified.Tonali’s cooperation with authorities allowed the minimum ban of thre...

Doug Ford, François Legault call for swift end to St. Lawrence Seaway strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

The premiers of Ontario and Quebec are calling on both sides in the St. Lawrence Seaway strike to reach a deal right away, saying the shutdown of the vital trade artery risks significant harm to the region’s economy.In a joint statement Thursday, Doug Ford and François Legault said they were pleased the two parties were set to return to the negotiating table alongside federal mediators Friday, but urged Ottawa to use whatever tools it has on hand to bring about a resolution should an agreement fail to emerge immediately.The job action by 361 Unifor members at 13 of the 15 locks along the waterway kicked off Sunday, shutting it down immediately. Wages are the key sticking point in the dispute.Ford and Legault say they cannot have a repeat of the B.C. port workers strike, which halted the flow of goods for 13 days in July.They warn that businesses and people across the country will soon feel the ripple effects of the current disruption, with tens of millions of dollars in econom...

‘A sculpture garden’: acclaimed artist to design Calgary museum terrace

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

CALGARY — A globally recognized artist is to design the rooftop terrace for the Glenbow Museum in Calgary.The 13,000-square-foot terrace will be housed at the JR Shaw Centre for Arts and Culture.The museum says Maya Lin, best known for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, is to take on the Glenbow project.Lin was 21 when she designed the Washington memorial and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and a lifetime achievement award from the World Economic Forum this year.A 1994 documentary about her work, “Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision,” received an Academy Award. The terrace is to include an all-season pavilion, event spaces, sculptures and gardens, along with a skylight and oculus to filter natural light into the museum. “I was absolutely intrigued and when I saw the designs … I had to come up here to see the site,” said Lin.“This is a sculpture garden. I want the space to be neutral enough so that artists can come in a...

Peter Nygard continues testimony at his sexual assault trial in Toronto

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

TORONTO — Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard is testifying in his own defence for a second day at his sexual assault trial in Toronto.Nygard, the founder of a now-defunct international women’s clothing company, is accused of using his position in the fashion industry to lure women and girls.The 82-year-old has pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in alleged incidents ranging from the 1980s to mid-2000s.Multiple complainants in the trial have alleged they were taken to Nygard’s Toronto headquarters under pretences ranging from tours to job interviews, with encounters ending in a top-floor bedroom suite where they allege they were sexually assaulted. Some of the testimony court heard from complainants included allegations of being trapped within the suite.Nygard told the jury Wednesday that there was no way someone could get locked inside the suite because it had three exits and only one of them required a passcode since ...

Grandpa Google? Tech giant begins antitrust defense by poking fun at its status among youth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Google executive testified Thursday that the company’s success is precarious and said its leadership fears their product could slide into irrelevance with younger internet users. Prabhakar Raghavan, Google’s senior vice president for knowledge and information products, testified for the tech giant as it defends itself in the biggest antitrust trial in the last 25 years. The government has accused the company of illegally thwarting competitors from making inroads against its ubiquitous search engine. Raghavan downplayed Google’s dominance and described it as a company beset by competitors on all sides. He said the company has been tagged with the disparaging moniker “Grandpa Google” among younger demographics who don’t see it as an interesting product. “Grandpa Google knows the answers and will help you with homework,” Raghavan said. “But when it comes to doing interesting things, they like to start elsewhere.”Google’s lawyers sho...

Missouri nonprofit director stole millions from program to feed needy kids, indictment alleges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The executive director of a Missouri nonprofit stole millions of dollars from a program intended to provide meals for low-income children, according to a federal indictment announced Thursday.Connie Bobo, 44, of St. Charles, Missouri, was indicted on three counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of obstruction of an official proceeding.Bobo is executive director of New Heights Community Resource Center in the St. Louis suburb of Bridgeton. The nonprofit accepted funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the state to feed low-income school-aged children after school and during the summer, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.The U.S. Attorney’s office said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services paid out about $11 million from February 2019 to March 2022, after Bobo submitted reimbursement claims stating that the organization served nearly 6 million meals. The indictment said New ...

Toyota recalls 751,000 Highlanders in the US to make sure bumper covers and hardware can’t fall off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling about 751,000 large SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with the tabs that hold the front bumper covers on.The recall covers certain Toyota Highlanders from the 2020 through 2023 model years including gas-electric hybrids. The company says in a statement that the SUVs have resin front lower bumper covers that are connected with mounting tabs. If there’s a even a minor impact to the lower bumper cover assembly, the mounting tabs could detach, and parts of the assembly could fall into the road and become a hazard. Dealers will inspect the bumper cover tabs for damage. If there isn’t any, they’ll install improved hardware to hold the covers. If damage is found, dealers will replace the upper and/or lower bumper covers and add the improved hardware.Toyota says it will notify owners by late December. Owners can check to see if their Highlander is affected by going to nhtsa.gov/recalls and entering vehicle identification or license plate ...

Texas police could arrest migrants under a bill that is moving closer to approval by the governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas is closer to giving police broad new authority to arrest migrants and order them to leave the U.S. under a bill the state House advanced Thursday, putting Republican Gov. Greg Abbott closer to a potential new confrontation with the Biden administration over immigration. The proposal has erupted tempers in the Texas Capitol, where Hispanic Democratic lawmakers led hours of emotional protests over issues of race and the legality of the plan before House Republicans passed the bill on a party-line vote before sunrise.A similar proposal has already cleared the Texas Senate, meaning Republicans must now agree on a version before sending it to Abbott’s desk. “Our cries for help in the enforcement of existing federal immigration laws have been ignored by President Biden. We have had enough,” said Republican state Rep. David Spiller, the author of the House bill. Two years into Texas pushing the boundaries of immigration enforcement — busing migrants o...

US government says it plans to go after legal goods tied to illegal fentanyl trade in new strategy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — As overdose deaths continue at a record pace, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a new government-wide strategy Thursday involving scores of agencies that will target the precursor materials used by traffickers to make fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Troy Miller, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said in a statement that his agency will work with the postal service and express consignment carriers, air carriers, and other logistic companies to share information about suspicious goods, potential transit routes, and other data that can help thwart the supply chain of fentanyl and other illicit synthetic drugs. Legal goods that could be targeted include molds and presses to make pills, as well as chemicals.Miller planned to announce the program in San Diego at a border crossing. The pilot project will be launched in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, and will leverage partnerships at all levels: state, local, tribal, terr...

17-year-old killed in Carpentersville triple shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:51 GMT

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. — A 17-year-old boy was killed during a triple shooting Wednesday night in Carpentersville.Officers responded to the 60 block of Birch Street on the report of shots fired at around 8:35 p.m.Police discovered a 17-year-old boy laying in the road with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.Two other people were shot as well. They were transported with non life-threatening injuries and no ages were provided at this time.Police believe the victims were shot while inside a vehicle near the 30 block of Robin Road. Officers said the vehicle was driven to Birch Street where help was called.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can contact 847-551-3481.