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AFN chiefs endorse revised child-welfare settlement, call on Trudeau to apologize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

OTTAWA — First Nations chiefs have endorsed a revised multi-billion-dollar settlement for children and families harmed by Ottawa’s underfunding of on-reserve child and family services. Chiefs gathered for a special meeting of the Assembly of First Nations passed a motion today supporting the new deal, which includes an extra $3 billion from Ottawa and increases the total compensation package to $23 billion. In 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered the federal government to pay $40,000 in compensation to First Nations families and kids who were wrongfully separated as a result of its underfunding of on-reserve child welfare, prompting two class-action lawsuits.The federal government started negotiating with the Assembly of First Nations in 2021 to settle the suits, and ultimately agreed to spend $20 billion on reforming the child-welfare system and another $20 billion on compensation. The deal was thrown into question last year after the tribunal rejected the propose...

Suspect in attack that killed military blogger jailed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

A court in Moscow ruled Tuesday that a woman suspected of involvement in a bombing at a St. Petersburg cafe that killed a Russian military blogger who was an ardent supporter of the war in Ukraine should stay in custody for two months pending an investigation.Vladlen Tatarsky, 40, who filed daily reports on the fighting from the front lines, was killed Sunday as he led a discussion at the riverside cafe in the historic heart of St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. Russian authorities described the bombing as an act of terrorism and blamed Ukrainian intelligence agencies for orchestrating the attack.Police arrested 26-year-old St. Petersburg resident Darya Trepova, who was seen on video moments before the blast presenting Tatarsky with a statuette that is believed to have contained explosives.The Interior Ministry released a video in which Trepova told a police officer that she brought the bust to the cafe. When asked who gave it to her, she said she would explain later. The...

Driver faces first-degree murder charges in deaths of Quebec pedestrians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

AMQUI, Que. — The Quebec man charged after a pickup truck plowed into pedestrians last month is now facing three counts of first-degree murder.According to charges outlined in an arrest warrant filed Tuesday at the courthouse in Amqui, Que., Steeve Gagnon also faces nine counts of attempted murder.On March 13, a truck hit several groups of pedestrians on a main street in Amqui, about 350 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, in what police have described as an intentional act.Gagnon, 38, was facing two counts of dangerous driving causing death, but the prosecutor had indicated more charges were expected, and a third victim has since died.Three men were killed in the crash: Gérald Charest, 65, Jean Lafrenière, 73, and Simon-Guillaume Bourget, 41.Charest and Lafrenière were killed the day of the crash while Bourget died several days later in a Quebec City hospital.The truck hit 11 people ranging in age from less than a year old to 77.Gagnon, who has been in custody since the incident, ...

About 5K GM salaried workers take buyouts, avoiding layoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — About 5,000 white-collar workers at General Motors took the company’s buyout offers, which the automaker says is enough to avoid layoffs at this time.GM said Tuesday that the offers will save about $1 billion per year in costs, about half of the $2 billion it wants to cut annually by the end of 2024. The company now has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.“The steps we are taking will allow us to maintain momentum, remain agile, and create a more competitive GM,” the company said in a prepared statement.GM hopes to get the remaining $1 billion in savings by reducing vehicle complexity and expanding use of shared parts on internal combustion and electric vehicles. It also plans to cut spending across the company, including for travel and marketing, the statement said.Last month GM offered buyouts to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, and global executives who have been with the company at least two years.The decision to offer buy...

Stocks fall on Wall Street after weaker reports on economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling on Wall Street Tuesday after two reports on the economy came in weaker than expected. The S&P 500 was 0.7% lower in midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 259 points, or 0.8%, at 33,341, as of 12:05 p.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% lower. Investors are still split on whether the U.S. economy will fall into a recession and how badly corporate profits are set to drop. The biggest question remains what the Federal Reserve will do next with interest rates after hiking them furiously over the last year to get high inflation under control. The reports on job openings and factory orders released Tuesday may have heightened recession fears. But they may also give the Fed reason to hold rates steady at its next meeting in May for the first time in more than a year, offering a possible upside for markets.One report showed employers advertised 9.9 million job openings in February, a sharper fall-off than economi...

At least 10 students abducted by gunmen in northwest Nigeria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 10 students were abducted by gunmen in northwest Nigeria, authorities said on Tuesday.Students from the Government Secondary School in Kaduna state were abducted during an attack Monday, however it was unclear exactly where they were kidnapped from, said Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner of security. “The exact location of the incident is yet to be ascertained but detailed reports being awaited will clarify whether the incident occurred within the school premises or elsewhere,” he said. Abductions of students from schools in northern Nigeria are common and have become a growing concern since 2014, when Islamic extremists kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in Borno state. More than 1,000 students were kidnapped from schools in the northwest and northcentral regions in 2020 and 2021, according to a United Nations report last year. Authorities blame the abductions on armed groups who often target remote communities. Most of the gunmen are thought to be yo...

Former Quebec doctor faces manslaughter charge after patient dies following surgery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

MONTREAL — Laval police say a former doctor is facing a manslaughter charge after an 84-year-old patient died following a 2019 surgery.Isabelle Desormeau was arrested March 30 and released under conditions and a promise to appear for her arraignment on April 21.Police say the 52-year-old Desormeau faces one count of manslaughter in connection with the death of the patient on Nov. 1, 2019, at Cité-de-la-Santé hospital in Laval, Que., a Montreal suburb.Authorities say Desormeau was the anesthetist at the time of the surgery.Quebec’s college of physicians says Desormeau quit the profession in December 2019. Laval police are asking anyone with information about the accused or the incident to contact them.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

Avian Flu cases confirmed in Mississauga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

Birds found dead in Mississauga have tested positive for H5N1, also known as the avian flu, the City of Mississauga confirmed in a release on Tuesday.Manager at Mississauga Animal Services, Jay Smith, warned that the illness can “quickly devastate bird and wildlife populations, which can profoundly impact our environment and food chain.”“We’ve received multiple calls from residents reporting sick, dying or dead birds and are working closely with Peel Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative to assess risks,” he added.“With many birds migrating back to Ontario for the spring migration, our investigation and response will be ongoing.”Avian flu is transmitted from bird to bird through secretions, feces, contaminated feed, water and equipment, and while the risk to human remains low, Smith warned residents to take common-sense precautions.“Despite the low risk of humans contracting the flu, people should still be cautious and avoid going near or...

Woman followed, sexually assaulted outside Scarborough home; suspect sought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

Police are searching for a suspect after a woman was allegedly followed home and sexually assaulted in Scarborough.The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Monday in the area of Birchmount Road and St. Clair Avenue East.Police say a woman was walking home when she suspected someone was following her. Once she made it to her residence, the suspect ran up, grabbed her from behind, and sexually assaulted her.The victim was able to fight off the suspect and made it inside her home.The suspect fled the area on foot.Police are searching for a white clean-shaven male. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweater and a dark-coloured backpack.Anyone with additional information is being asked to contact police.

Highland Park High School on lockdown due to student 'potentially' in possession of gun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:50 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Highland Park High School is currently on lockdown due to a student potentially in possession of a gun, city officials said.There have been no reports of shots fired at this time and a heavy police presence is surrounding the school.Students and staff have been asked to remain in place.Earlier in the morning, students planned a walkout over gun violence. At this time, it's unknown if that occured.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.