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Dutch premier resigns because of deadlock on thorny issue of migration, paving way for new elections

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government collapsed Friday because of irreconcilable differences within the four-party coalition about how to rein in migration, a divisive issue that has split nations across Europe.The resignation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the longest-serving premier of the nation, means the country will face a general election later this year. Rutte and his government will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new ruling coalition is chosen.“It is no secret that the coalition partners have very different views on migration policy,” Rutte told reporters in The Hague. “And today, unfortunately, we have to draw the conclusion that those differences are irreconcilable. That is why I will immediately … offer the resignation of the entire Cabinet to the king in writing”Opposition lawmakers wasted no time in calling for fresh elections even before Rutte formally confirmed his resignation.Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Party for Freed...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds brief meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

CALGARY — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed carbon emissions and the strike by B.C. port workers during a brief meeting Friday with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.Both leaders were in town for the first day of the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day celebration of western culture that features a parade, rodeo events, pancake breakfasts and concerts. The meeting with Smith was his first stop on a two-day visit.The two shook hands and then sat down, briefly outlining their concerns to the media before meeting privately.“We do have some serious things that we need to discuss,” Smith said.“We’d like to bring our emissions reduction and energy development plan with a targeted carbon neutrality by 2050 and line up with some of the objectives of the federal government. That will require us to have some conversations.”Smith also flagged the federal government’s goal of having a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, saying it isn’t realistic for Alberta wi...

Francophonie ministers stress collaboration on official languages action plan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

VANCOUVER — Ministers have wrapped up a meeting in Vancouver with the hope of increasing francophone immigration and addressing the decline of French across Canada.The Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie representing francophone and Acadian communities had been meeting for the past two days, involving representatives of all three levels of government.Federal Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor says the ministers discussed immigration, supporting the vitality of francophone communities and opportunities connected to the recently modernized Official Languages Act and the Action Plan for Official Languages.The council says in a statement that it’s pleased the 4.4 per cent target for francophone immigration outside Quebec was achieved in 2022.Adrian Dix, B.C.’s minister responsible for francophone affairs, says many federal-provincial-territorial meetings are often combative, but the Francophonie gathering was highly co-operative.Next year&#...

A 10-year-old Calgary girl is wowing the skateboarding world

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

Skateboarding is more than just a way of life for Reese Nelson, it’s all she’s ever known.The 10-year-old from Calgary can’t remember when she first started skating or when she first dropped into a halfpipe, it’s just been omnipresent in her life.Given that, it’s no surprise she has caught the attention of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.Nelson will be competing in the women’s vert and the best trick events at the upcoming X-Games. Skating in the women’s vert is especially important for Nelson, since that event hasn’t been held at the X-Games since 2010, three years before she was born.“It’s really exciting,” Nelson from Carlsbad, California, told The Canadian Press. “I’m excited for everybody to see what women can do on vert.”Hawk, who has become a mentor and coach for Nelson, created his Vert Alert event in 2021 to try and promote the sport that made him an internationally renowned star. He made sure his tour has men’s and women’s events to help re-establish vert skateboardin...

Searching landfill for remains of Indigenous women too complex for police: RCMP

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

OTTAWA — The former head of the RCMP said in December that police were not equipped to handle the complexities of searching a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of slain Indigenous women — an effort the Manitoba government also now calls too dangerous.Brenda Lucki, who resigned her post as commissioner in March, was involved in discussions about searching the privately-owned Prairie Green Landfill north of Winnipeg late last year.In documents obtained by The Canadian Press through a request under the Access to Information Act, Lucki warned federal officials that the landfill site contained asbestos and other toxic gases, including ammonia. “As you see this is a complex matter that police are not equipped to deal with, ” she wrote in a Dec. 14 email to the deputy ministers of Public Safety Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.The federal government was looking at how it could respond to pleas for help from relatives of the women who were dismayed...

Jury rules against civil suit over deadly 2018 Chicago police shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

CHICAGO -- After a short deliberation, a jury has ruled against a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Harith Augustus.Closing arguments wrapped up Friday afternoon and the jury deliberated for just a few hours before sharing their verdict.37-year-old Harith Augustus was shot and killed by Chicago police in the South Shore neighborhood in July of 2018. CPD officers under investigation for sexual relationship with migrants living at station Security footage released showed the well-known barber was walking home from work when he was stopped by police officers. The interaction turned hostile and Augustus was seen reaching for a gun on his waistband when he was shot by a Chicago police officer.The deadly shooting resulted in immediate outcry from the South Shore community and several days of marches in support of Augustus and his family.A wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family claimed that the shooting was unprovoked and unlawful. The suit charged several Chicago Police...

Skilling: Showers overnight before sunshine returns Saturday evening

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

A beautiful end to a sporadically stormy week here. Temps Friday will likely top out at 81 at O'Hare---but have held to 70 on the Lake Michigan shoreline at Waukegan Harbor and at the Wilmette buoy.The day has logged 77% of its normal sunshine and temps have reached the mid 80s at the warmest inland locations.Rains with some embedded thunder are crossing the Mississippi River late afternoon—only 160 miles west of Chicago--and they are eastbound. They're due to reach the Chicago area between 7 and 9pm and waves of showers with some embedded t-storms are expected to sweep the area into mid Saturday morning when they'll thin out to more scattered showers. Occasional cloud breaks should allow spell of mixed sun to develop as Saturday proceeds.It's rained 8 of the past 13 days here--with July rainfall only 7 days into the month at the official O'Hare rain gauge running 5.5 times normal and more than 3.5" above normal. The site has recorded 4.28" thus far for July--a month that typically ...

Another Cubs player won't be in Tuesday's All-Star Game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

NEW YORK — Within the span of a day, the number of Cubs who will play in the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game has been cut from three to one. The team's shortstop has become the second player in the last 24 hours to pull out, this time due to injury.Dansby Swanson told reporters in New York ahead of the start of the Cubs' three-game series with the Yankees that he won't play in the All-Star game due to a bruised heel. He was forced to leave Thursday's loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee due to the injury.Swanson is not in the lineup for tonight's game at Yankee Stadium, with Nico Hoerner in at shortstop and Christopher Morel at second base.It isn't clear if he will travel to Seattle to take part in the All-Star festivities on both Monday and Tuesday. This comes after pitcher Marcus Stroman, who was selected to his second All-Star Game in his career, announced that he wouldn't pitch in the "Midsummer Classic." He cited the need for both physical and mental rest after taking part...

Texas begins installing buoy barrier to deter migrants on Rio Grande

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Trucks hauling rows of large, orange-colored buoys arrived Friday at the U.S.-Mexico border, where the state of Texas is set to string them along a section of the Rio Grande as a tactic to deter migrants from crossing illegally into the country. The Texas Department of Public Safety shared pictures on social media of the new buoy barrier, which showed equipment lifting some parts of it off a flatbed truck. The law enforcement agency noted in its tweet, "The buoys have arrived and the installation of the marine barrier on the Rio Grande begins today."The Texas Department of Public Safety shared photos on July 7, 2023 of the buoy barrier that will be installed along the Rio Grande River. (Photo Courtesy: Texas Department of Public Safety)The Texas Department of Public Safety shared photos on July 7, 2023 of the buoy barrier that will be installed along the Rio Grande River. (Photo Courtesy: Texas Department of Public Safety)The Texas Department of Public Safety shared ...

BCA investigating Oakdale incident where officer fired non-lethal round at a man’s car

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating an incident in which a Woodbury police officer fired non-lethal pepper ball rounds at a man’s car, not realizing the man was already dead.The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office identified the deceased as Keith Lavance Lewis, 40, of Minneapolis, and said Lewis died from a gunshot wound to the head.The incident unfolded at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in Oakdale, where officers approached a vehicle parked near the 1200 block of Glenbrook Avenue, according to a preliminary investigation. The officers found Lewis asleep alone in the car. When they woke him, he pulled out a handgun, according to the BCA. The officers began backing away to find cover behind their squad cars, and then heard a gunshot. Not realizing Lewis was dead, they called for backup, drawing squads from nearby departments, including Woodbury Police and the Washington County Sheriff’s office.Still not realizing he was dead, officers attempted t...