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Gunman in Pittsburgh synagogue massacre planned attack, defense acknowledges as trial gets underway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A trial for the man charged in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history opened Tuesday with his own lawyer acknowledging he planned the 2018 massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue and made hateful statements about Jewish people.Robert Bowers went to Tree of Life synagogue and “shot every person he saw,” defense attorney Judy Clarke acknowledged in her opening statement.Bowers, 50, could face the death penalty if convicted of some of the 63 counts he faces in the Oct. 27, 2018, attack, which claimed the lives of 11 worshippers from three congregations who shared the building. Charges include 11 counts each of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death and hate crimes resulting in death.In the long run-up to the trial, Bower’s lawyers had done little to cast doubt on whether he was the gunman, instead focusing on trying to save his life. Bowers, a truck driver from the Pittsburgh suburb of Baldwin, had offered to plead guilty in return for a life...

Construction worker critically injured after fall onto TTC tracks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

A male construction worker suffered life-threatening injuries after he fell from a bridge and onto TTC tracks near Rosedale Station.Toronto police were called to the Roxborough Street East and Yonge Street area just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday for reports of an industrial accident.Authorities said a male construction worker fell from a bridge. The victim will be rushed to a local trauma centre with life-threatening injuries.The TTC has been advised, police said, and delays are expected in the area.Line 1 Yonge-University: No service between Bloor-Yonge and Eglinton while we respond to a medical emergency. Shuttle buses are running between Bloor-Yonge and Eglinton. https://t.co/KZAxoSI7CE— TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) May 30, 2023

Ukraine’s economy shows ‘resilience’ from Russian attacks, IMF says as it backs aid

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Ukraine’s economy is showing “remarkable resilience” following Russian attacks on its electricity infrastructure, officials from the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday as they signed off on an initial loan of $900 million and raised their estimate for the country’s economic growth. The outlook improved to 1% to 3% growth this year from minus 3% to plus 1% in an earlier assessment in March, said Gavin Gray, the IMF’s mission chief to Ukraine. Inflation is coming down and the hryvna currency is stable despite the massive disruption of the war, Gray said. But he warned that the economic outlook faces “exceptionally high risks.” “Through the winter, Ukraine faced devastating attacks on its critical infrastructure, and missile strikes continue countrywide,” Gray said in an online news conference. “Despite this, the Ukrainian economy has shown remarkable resilience — economic activity in the first quarter rebounded strongly, as the energy system...

Fertility doctor accused of using own sperm dies in crash of hand-built plane

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

YATES, N.Y. (AP) — A New York fertility doctor who was accused of using his own sperm to impregnate several patients died over the weekend when the hand-built airplane he was in fell apart mid-flight and crashed, authorities said.Dr. Morris Wortman, 72, of Rochester, was a passenger in the experimental aircraft that went down Sunday in a pasture in Orleans County. The pilot, Earl Luce Jr., of Brockport, also was killed, according to the county sheriff.The crash of the aircraft, identified by the National Transportation Safety Board as a Wittman W-5 Buttercup airplane, remained under investigation Tuesday.Preliminary findings indicate that “the wings of the aircraft became detached from the fuselage and fell to the ground in an orchard,” Sheriff Christopher Bourke said in a news release Monday. The fuselage continued west for another 1,000 to 1,500 yards before crashing.Wortman was a well-known OB-GYN in western New York who was often the target of anti-abortion protesters. He ...

What’s new in robots? An AI-powered humanoid machine that writes poems

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Ameca can speak French, Chinese or dozens of other languages, instantly compose a poem or sketch a cat on request. Ask for a smile, and you’ll get a clenched grin on her rubbery blue face. Ameca is a humanoid robot powered by generative artificial intelligence that gives it the ability to respond to questions and commands and interact with people. It’s one of hundreds of robots on display this week at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, or ICRA, in London, where visitors got a glimpse at the future. The event is sort of the Olympics of the robot world, where student teams compete in a host of challenges including robot cooking and autonomous driving contests, academics present their research and startups show off their latest technology.It comes as scientists and tech industry leaders, including executives at Microsoft and Google, warned Tuesday about the perils of artificial intelligence to mankind, saying “mitigating the risk of extin...

Air Canada pilots look to start bargaining early after WestJet pay hike

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

MONTREAL — The pilots union at the country’s biggest airline has opened the gate to bargaining ahead of time — as early as this summer.Air Canada said Tuesday its pilots group has triggered an option to launch negotiations around a new collective agreement a year early.The move comes after some 1,800 pilots at WestJet and budget subsidiary Swoop settled on a tentative deal this month that secures a 24 per cent wage increase over four years.Since landing on an agreement in 2014, Air Canada pilots have received a two per cent pay hike each year.The airline said the current deal will remain in force until Sept. 29, but that its provisions will still apply after that date.“The current agreement, which has been in place for nearly a decade, is a testimony of the productive relationship we have with our pilots. We expect the upcoming negotiations to be conducted in this same spirit,” said Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick in an email.The Air Canada Pilots Associatio...

Air Canada failing to provide full services in both official languages: report

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

OTTAWA — The official languages commissioner says Canadian travellers — particularly francophones — are struggling to get service in their official language of choice from Air Canada. Raymond Théberge says his assessment also applies to the Canada Border Services Agency and major airport authorities. His new report highlights the way federal institutions are failing meeting the requirement to provide services in English or French, where demand warrants it. It says the largest number of complaints in all of the travel industry are filed against Air Canada. Théberge says most of those complaints have to do with communication and service to the public. Air Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2023. The Canadian Press

Woman who threatened Nancy Pelosi with hanging during Capitol riot gets over 2 years in prison

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

A Pennsylvania restaurant owner who screamed death threats directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi while storming the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Tuesday to more than two years in prison.Pauline Bauer was near Pelosi’s office suite on Jan. 6, 2021, when she yelled at police officers to bring out the California Democrat so the mob of Donald Trump supporters could hang her.In January, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden convicted Bauer of riot-related charges after hearing trial testimony without a jury. The judge sentenced her to two years and three months of imprisonment, giving her credit for the several months she already has served in jail, court records show.Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of six years and six months for Bauer, 55, of Kane, Pennsylvania.Bauer was part of the mob that forced police officers on the East Plaza to retreat. After forcing her way into the Capitol, she accosted officers who were trying to secure the Rotunda, shoving one of the...

The first part of Arlington Park's demolition starts Tuesday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The next step in building a new home for the Chicago Bears involved tearing down another sports venue, which began on Tuesday. Phase 1 of the demolition of the Arlington Park racecourse is getting underway on the site as the NFL team begins the task of clearing the land in which they'd like to build a new domed stadium along with a commercial and residential district. Trucks were spotted on the property on Tuesday morning as the work gets ready to begin, but there is no timeline on when it may be completed. A look at the Bears' purchase of the Arlington Park property & initial plans All of the work at the moment is in the interior of the main grandstand, office and jockey buildings, which was approved by the Village of Arlington Heights last week. When the Bears start to tear down the exterior of the building, they will need the approval of the village and Cook County.Per Arlington Heights, traffic around the Arlington Park site will increase as the...

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter diagnosed with dementia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:59 GMT

(WKRN) — Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been diagnosed with dementia, according to her family.The Carter Center released a statement May 30 sharing the news of her diagnosis.She continues to live at home with her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, the statement went on to say. Chick-fil-A DEI hire sparks calls for boycott (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)Over the years, Carter had worked to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and has been an advocate for patients and caregivers to get more support."We hope sharing our family's news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor’s offices around the country," the family said. Community reflects on former President Jimmy Carter’s 2019 visit to Nashville One in 10 older Americans has dementia, a condition that affects overall mental health, the family stated.The statement continued: "As the founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Mrs. Carter often noted that there ar...