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US commerce secretary rejects Chinese appeal to ease export controls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said she rebuffed an appeal Tuesday by Chinese leaders to reduce U.S. export controls on technology with possible military uses but the two governments agreed to have experts meet to discuss disputes over protecting trade secrets.During a visit to revive frosty relations, Raimondo said she conveyed complaints to officials including China’s No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang, about Chinese restrictions on U.S. technology companies. She said conditions for foreign companies are getting worse following an expansion of an anti-spying law and raids on consulting firms.Raimondo joined a series of American officials including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen who have visited Beijing in the past three months. They are trying to restore relations that are at their lowest level in decades due to disputes over technology, security, Taiwan and other issues.A key Chinese complaint is limits on access to processor chips and other U.S. technology on ...

Ontario to ban gambling commercials featuring athletes, celebrities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

The province is banning gambling commercials featuring athletes and celebrities, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced Tuesday.As part of the announcement, the AGCO said it plans to prohibit the use of athletes in internet gaming (igaming) advertising and marketing in Ontario. The new restrictions will come into effect on February 28, 2024.“Following the first year of Ontario’s open, regulated igaming market, the AGCO identified advertising and marketing approaches that use athletes, as well as celebrities with an appeal to minors, as a potential harm to those under the legal gaming age and is taking this step to reduce the risk,” the AGCO said in a statement.“In April 2023, the AGCO held consultations on its proposal to ban such ads and received submissions from a broad range of stakeholders, including mental health and public health organizations, responsible gambling experts, gaming operators, broadcast and marketing groups, and the...

Canadian anti-crime researcher sentenced to two years in prison in Algeria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

MONTREAL — The lawyer for a Canadian researcher detained in Algeria since February says his client has been sentenced to two years in prison.Raouf Farrah, who studies migration and criminal economies for an international anti-crime non-governmental organization, had been charged with publishing secret information and being paid to commit offences against public order.His father, Sebti Farrah, a Montreal-area resident, received a one-year suspended sentence from the same court in the eastern Algerian city of Constantine. Farrah’s lawyer, Kouceila Zerguine, says he plans to appeal the verdict.Human Rights Watch has said Farrah’s arrest came amid a larger crackdown against Algeria’s pro-democracy movement and that anyone working for an NGO that isn’t perfectly aligned with government positions is at risk of arrest. Farrah was born in Algeria but moved to Canada when he was 18. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2023. The Canadian Press

A Ugandan man is charged with aggravated homosexuality, and faces the death penalty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan authorities have charged a man with aggravated homosexuality, which carries a possible death penalty, in the first use of the charge since the enactment in May of an anti-gay law that has been condemned by critics as draconian.The law has widespread support in Uganda but has drawn pressure from abroad on Ugandan officials to repeal the measure. The World Bank earlier this month announced a decision not to consider new loans to Uganda because of the law, drawing an angry response from President Yoweri Museveni. The suspect is identified as a 20-year-old “peasant” in the eastern district of Soroti who was charged on Aug. 18 with having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 41-year-old man, according to the charging document issued by police in the Soroti Central Division. Aggravated homosexuality is defined as cases of same-sex sexual relations involving a minor and other categories of vulnerable people, or when the perpetrator is infected with HIV. The cha...

Pilot union launches labour complaint against Jazz, but ratifies deal changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

MONTREAL — Chorus Aviation Inc. says pilots at its subsidiary Jazz Aviation have ratified changes to their collective agreement, even as the union filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Jazz.Jazz president Randolph deGooyer, whose company provides regional service for Air Canada, says the amended deal recognizes the upward shift in pilot wages and expands the airline’s recruitment and training options.However, the Air Line Pilots Association says the agreement lacked overwhelming support among membership, as underlying issues went unaddressed during bargaining.On Monday — the same day the deal was ratified — the pilots association filed a complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board claiming that management at Air Canada and Jazz violated several sections of the Canada Labour Code.The union says the airlines failed to comply with so-called flow agreements in the contract, which spell out the number of pilots who can transition from working at Jazz to working...

Job vacancies, quits plunge in July in stark sign of cooling trend in the US job market

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Businesses posted far fewer open jobs in July and the number of Americans quitting their jobs fell sharply for the second straight month, clear signs that the labor market is cooling in a way that could reduce inflation. The number of job vacancies dropped to 8.8 million last month, the Labor Department said Tuesday, the fewest since February 2021 and down from 9.2 million in June. Yet the drop appeared to be even steeper because June’s figure was initially reported as 9.6 million. That figure was revised lower Tuesday.July’s figures was still healthy historically — before the pandemic the number of openings had never topped 8 million. And there are still roughly 1.5 available jobs for each unemployed worker, which is also elevated but down from a peak last year of 1.9. Fewer Americans also quit, with 3.5 million people leaving their jobs last month, down from 3.8 million in June. Most Americans quit work for other, better-paying jobs, and during and af...

Person seriously injured in Bishop Ford shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A person was shot Monday night while driving on the Bishop Ford.At around 7:20 p.m., Illinois State Police responded to a report of a shooting and crash in northbound lanes of the Bishop Ford between 137th and 147th Streets.Officers located two vehicles that crashed into the left concrete barrier at the scene.Police said a person was struck by gunfire and was transported to an area hospital in serious condition. CFD lieutenant dies following Northwest Side fire earlier this month The second vehicle was abandoned.Lanes opened back up just before midnight.

Chicago man convicted of 1989 murder may be exonerated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A 53-year-old man who has spent more than three decades in prison for the murder of two youths will learn Tuesday morning if he will be exonerated.Francisco Benitez was convicted in Sep. 1991 but has maintained he is innocent of the crimes since that time, according to a press release from The Exoneration Project. An evidentiary hearing was held April 5-6, 2023 during which evidence was presented in support of his exoneration. CFD lieutenant dies following Northwest Side fire earlier this month Part of Benitez's argument involves two police officers involved with his conviction. The Exoneration Project cites two other murder convictions involving these officers which have been vacated.WGN plans to livestream any post-court press conferences within this story. This story will be updated following today's ruling.

FEMA opening Chicago area recovery centers for those affected by summer storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Those who were affected by floods in the Chicago area in late June and early July will have the chance to get some help from FEMA starting Tuesday. They agency is opening four disaster recovery centers for those who were negatively impacted by heavy storms from June 29-July 2 in Cook County. Per FEMA, specialists from their organization along with the U.S. Small Business Administration will help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, how to prepare their property to be more "disaster resistant," while also answering other questions in person.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Assistance will be offered in a few spoken languages along with American sign language, with translated materials being available at each location. Here are the locations of the FEMA disaster recovery centers opening on Tuesday.Washington Square Mall 4851 West North Avenue - Chicago, IL 60639​​            Hours: Monday - Sunday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.Morton...

Why some homeowners are dropping their insurance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

(KTLA) - Just as high healthcare costs have prompted millions of Americans to forgo health insurance, now some homeowners are skipping home coverage because of rising premiums.The national average for home insurance has risen 20% this year to just over $1,400, and you could pay a whole lot more in well-heeled places like Southern California.While lower-income homeowners blame high annual costs for ditching coverage, wealthier people say they have enough cash on hand to handle rebuilding, so there's no need to pay a monthly insurance fee.That's bad thinking, advisers say."It is a risky proposition to go without home insurance, and you need to fully understand the financial consequences if you lose your home," Noah Damsky, a financial adviser in Los Angeles, told the Wall Street Journal. Costco crackdown: Can people in my household still use my Costco membership? If your residence burns down, for instance, you might lose not just your home and all your possessions, but you will al...