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Bargaining continues as federal workers picket, major service disruptions expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s largest federal public-service union and the federal government continue to negotiate as workers go on strike, triggering major service disruptions.Federal workers were hitting the picket lines across the country on Wednesday after Canada’s largest federal public-service union and the government failed to reach a deal by a Tuesday evening deadline.Federal ministers provided an update on the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s strike action in a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.“We will continue to work with the PSAC to reach agreements that are fair and competitive, but we cannot do that unless the union is prepared to compromise. We cannot write a blank check,” Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said.On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said negotiations had paused and called on the union to come back to the table. For its part, the union said it was waiting for a better offer from government before resuming ta...

Stock market today: Wall Street wavers amid earnings updates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is wavering Wednesday following mixed earnings reports from big U.S. companies and another signal that inflation remains painfully hot around the world.The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged in afternoon trading following a dip earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 62 points, or 0.2%, at 33,913, as of 1:15 p.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% higher. Tesla weighed heavily on the market after the electric-vehicle company cut prices for its two top-selling models, its fourth price cut in the U.S. this year. That could be a signal Tesla is trying to spur sales amid shifting U.S. tax credits for electric vehicles. Tesla shares fell 1.1%. Netflix fell 3.9% after reporting weaker revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit topped forecasts. Elevance Health dropped 5.1% despite reporting stronger profit and revenue than expected. The health insurer gave a forecast for earnings this year that fell short of...

Penalosa bows out of mayoral race, throws support behind Chow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

The man who finished a distant second to John Tory in last year’s mayoral election says he won’t be vying for the job again when Torontonians head to the polls to replace Tory in the upcoming byelection.In a surprise announcement Wednesday, urban planner Gil Penalosa said he won’t be running for mayor, instead throwing his support behind candidate Olivia Chow.Penalosa garnered just under 18 per cent of the vote in October’s election, running on a platform to create more urban spaces and to make Toronto a more walkable and transit-friendly city.He had announced his intentions to run for mayor again after Tory resigned in the midst of a scandal over an affair, but he never actually registered.On Wednesday, he made it clear on Wednesday that he would not move forward in the increasingly-crowded race.“We need to act now to create a magnificent city for future generations to live in and enjoy,” he said on Wednesday, flanked by NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, who i...

Nordic news outlets: Russian yachts, cargo ships spy at sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Russia is suspected of spying in the waters of the Baltic Sea and North Sea using civilian fishing trawlers, cargo ships and yachts, the public broadcasters of four Nordic countries said in a joint investigation published Wednesday. The investigation by the public broadcasting companies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden uncovered Moscow’s alleged undersea intelligence operations by tracking the radio traffic and locations of Russian vessels traveling in the seas over the past year.Analyzing the data revealed suspicious sailing patterns, particularly around offshore wind farms, gas pipelines, and undersea power and data cables, the broadcasters said. They published the investigation on their websites and planned to air a documentary, titled “Shadow War,” with their full findings later Wednesday. One of their conclusions states that Russian military and civilian ships were constantly on the move in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea with the aim of mapping critical ...

PSAC strike could have domino effect for unionized workers: labour expert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

A labour expert says if the current strike by thousands of public sector workers is successful, it could have a domino effect for unionized workers in other industries. Larry Savage, a professor in the labour studies department at Brock University, says strikes in the federal public service are rare, but the current labour dispute is reflective of a larger trend that’s seeing more militancy among unionized workers amid persistent inflation. Thousands of public-service workers began their strike Wednesday morning after the federal government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, representing some 155,000 federal workers up for bargaining, couldn’t reach a deal in negotiations that began almost two years ago. Almost a third of all federal public servants are involved in the strike, and the union and government alike have warned of disruptions to tax season, border operations, Employment Insurance, immigration and passport applications. Savage said the striking workers have been w...

Murder charges for 2 teens in Alabama Sweet 16 shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

DADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Two teenagers have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a shooting that killed four young people at a Sweet Sixteen birthday party, Alabama investigators announced Wednesday.Tallapoosa County District Attorney Mike Segrest said the pair — Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, both of Tuskegee — would be tried as adults. That’s automatically required in Alabama for anyone 16 or older charged with murder. Sgt. Jeremy J. Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency wouldn’t say where the two are being jailed, or whether they were already in custody when they were charged late Tuesday.“We can’t get into a motive right now, because that would be part of an ongoing investigation,” Burkett added. “We can’t share that.”Authorities did not specify if they’re related. Segrest said prosecutors would ask a judge to hold them without bail. A bond hearing must be held by Friday under Alabama law. Online court records do not show any previou...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in mid 70s with showers, storms developing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Mostly cloudy Wednesday with a 30% storm chance. A wide range in temperatures (cooler N & NE). Winds: ESE 10-15 G25. High: 76. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy, slight storm chance, S 5-15. 62TOMORROW: Mostly cloudy, thunderstorms likely, SSW 15-20 G30. 73

'Survivor' contestant Keith Nale dies at 62, family says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

KEITHVILLE, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Two-time "Survivor" contestant and Louisiana native Keith Nale died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, multiple entertainment outlets reported Wednesday. TMZ reported the 62-year-old died in his home in Keithville, Louisiana. Nale's wife Dana said it was unclear what type of cancer he had. His son Wes, who confirmed the death to Entertainment Tonight, said his father had been sick "for the past few months."The father-and-son duo appeared on 2014's "Survivor: San Juan del Sur," which was themed around loved ones competing together. Keith Nale he reached the final four before being voted off. Coroner releases Aaron Carter’s cause of death, says singer accidentally drowned in tub In 2015, Nale made a comeback for "Survivor: Cambodia," where he also made it far, but didn't secure the win."Lie, Cheat and Steal" -- Keith Nale at Tribal Council during the two-hour season finale of SURVIVOR, Wednesday, Dec. 16 (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)"Villains Have ...

Once-expelled Tennessee lawmakers invited to White House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

President Biden will host the two Tennessee lawmakers who were once expelled from the state's legislature and a third who was subject to expulsion at the White House on Monday.Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday that Biden would welcome Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson. The president spoke with the lawmakers, known as the "Tennessee Three," on a recent video call to thank them for their work.Jones and Pearson earlier this month were expelled from the legislature for their participation in the recent gun violence demonstrations following a shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tenn., last month. They both have been reinstated. Johnson, who also participated in the protests and is white, narrowly survived her expulsion vote.Jones, Johnson and Pearson led chants on the House floor last week in the aftermath of the shooting, chanting “No action, no peace.” Resolutions to expel them say they engaged in ...

Risk of strong to severe storms on Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Confidence is rising in widespread storms and potentially some severe weather this week. Below is a day-by-day breakdown of storm potential & risks:TODAY (WED): Mainly cloudy skies can be expected through most of the day with a few sprinkles in the mix. Some breaks in the clouds are possible later this afternoon. A low risk for an isolated strong to severe storm is possible in the far western Hill Country as a dryline further west attempts to trigger storms. Low confidence exists in storms (1) forming & (2) holding together long enough to reach the Hill Country, but if they do, large hail will be the primary concern.Low risk (1 out of 5) for strong to severe storms Wednesday afternoon & eveningTHURSDAY: A slow-moving cold front tied to a strong storm system further north will be the main driver of storm development in our area Thursday. Scattered storms and showers are looking likely for a large portion of our area. There is a 1 out of 5 risk for isolate...