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Uzbeks approve changes that could extend president till 2040

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) — Uzbeks gave overwhelming approval in a referendum to constitutional changes that promise human rights reforms but that also would allow the country’s president to stay in office until 2040, the country’s central elections commission said Monday.More than 90% of those who cast ballots Sunday voted for the measure, which was heavily promoted by the government, according to the commission. Nearly 85% of eligible voters took part, it said.The changes include lengthening the presidential term from five to seven years, while retaining the existing two-term limit. Although President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in his second term, the change in term length would allow him to run twice more after his current tenure ends in 2026.Other changes include abolishing capital punishment and boosting legal protections for citizens, including those accused of crimes.Under Mirziyoyev’s predecessor, Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was one of the region’s most repressive countries. ...

Virginia Beach struck by tornado, dozens of homes damaged

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (AP) — The City of Virginia Beach declared a state of emergency after a tornado moved through the area Sunday and damaged dozens of homes, downed trees and caused gas leaks.City officials said it’s unclear how many homes had been damaged but they estimated between 50 and 100, after the tornado touched down just after 6 p.m., WTKR-TV reported. City Manager Patrick Duhaney declared a state of emergency Sunday night.Much of the damage had been reported in the area of River Road and N. Great Neck Road. It also includes Upper Chelsea Reach and Haversham Close.There were no immediate reports of injuries.Virginia Natural Gas responded to several homes with gas leaks and Dominion Energy was reporting just under 1,000 outages early Monday.Great Neck Road will remain closed between Cox High School and the bridge at Adam Keeling Road until further notice to allow for emergency and debris management work to occur, the city said.Crews will be out at 8 a.m. Monday to begin clea...

Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 25, damages homes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched its second large salvo of missiles at Ukraine in recent days early Monday, damaging buildings and wounding at least 34 people in the eastern city of Pavlohrad but failing to hit Kyiv, officials said. Air raid sirens began blaring across the capital at about 3:45 a.m., followed by the sounds of explosions as missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian defense systems. Eighteen cruise missiles were fired in total from the Murmansk region and the Caspian region, and 15 of them were intercepted, said Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The head of Kyiv’s city administration, Serhii Popko, said all missiles fired at the city were shot down, as well as some drones. He didn’t provide further details, but said more information would be available later. The attack follows Friday’s launch of more than 20 cruise missiles and two explosive drones at Ukraine, which was the first to target Kyiv in nearly two months. In tha...

Tentative agreement reached with Treasury Board for workers: In The News for May 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 1 …What we are watching in Canada …The Public Service Alliance of Canada has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Treasury Board covering more than 120,000 federal government workers across the country. The national strike is now over for Treasury Board workers, specifically members of the PA, SV, TC and EB bargaining groups, who are required to return to work May 1st at 9 a.m. Eastern Time or their next scheduled shift. PSAC says strike action continues for 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers nationwide, with contract negotiations ongoing. Public servants hit picket lines at locations across the country beginning April 19th in what the union said was one of the biggest job actions in Canadian history. Service disruptions loomed large during the job action, from slowdowns at the border ...

Bolo program spreading word of wanted fugitives to make announcement in Toronto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

TORONTO — Officials with a national program intended to enlist public help in arresting Canada’s most wanted fugitives are expected to make an announcement in Toronto this morning. The Bolo program — which stands for “be on the lookout” — offered few details about the announcement. But both the Toronto Police Service and British Columbia’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit say it involves efforts to target wanted suspects, including some being sought by their respective forces. Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw will be on hand along with Bolo’s Director Max Langlois and the chair of Toronto Crime Stoppers.The news conference is set to get underway at 10:30 a.m.The Bolo Program works with police forces across Canada and uses technology and social media to help spread the word about wanted fugitives.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2023. The Canadian Press

British shops in Canada see demand for King Charles goods, despite royal drama

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

When Queen Elizabeth died in September, Carl Hulme happened to be in England — the perfect spot to scoop up commemorative fine bone china, tea towels and canvas bags to stock his Blimeys British Store and Gift Shop in Essex, Ont.Most of it sold by the time goods marking King Charles’ May 6 coronation were arriving at his shop about 30 kilometres from the Windsor-Detroit border.But with the new sovereign’s popularity lower than his mother’s and recent royals drama stirring up calls for Commonwealth countries to reject the monarchy, Hulme and others were uncertain there would be much of a market for King Charles memorabilia in Canada.“With the queen, most of us grew up with her. That’s the only monarch that we ever knew and so with the passing of the queen, it kind of brought an end to an era, so I wasn’t sure,” Hulme said.His doubts have since been dashed as Victoria Eggs cups and saucers with a coronation motif and Emma Bridgewater mugs cele...

Mexico immigration agency head to stand trial in deadly fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A judge ordered the head of Mexico’s immigration agency to stand trial on charges that he failed in his responsibility to protect those in his custody when 40 migrants died in a fire at a border detention center in March.Francisco Garduño will remain free during the proceedings and will continue in his job. His lawyer, Rodolfo Pérez, told The Associated Press that they will try to reach an agreement for reparations to the victims in order to avoid a trial.“I will keep working … until ordered otherwise”, Garduño told media late Sunday as he left the court in the border town of Ciudad Juárez.Federal prosecutors said that Garduño was responsible for the safety of the country’s immigration facilities and that there was evidence that he knew that Ciudad Juárez’s detention center lacked basic safety measures but he did nothing to change it.The judge denied the prosecutors’ request that Garduño be removed from his position. He will have to present himself to the court ev...

Daily horoscope for May 1, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 7:30 p.m. EDT today (4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Virgo into Libra.Happy Birthday for Monday, May 1, 2023:You are multitalented and determined. You are both playful and serious. You’re always faithful. Whatever you accomplish this year will be through hard work. It’s time to lay foundations in your life, both externally and internally. Build with confidence and enthusiasm. You can do this.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★You have intense ideas about financial matters today, especially with old earnings and cash flow. Fortunately, this is an excellent day to finish old money business or financial matters. Trust in your ability to schmooze with skill. Tonight: Postpone important decisions.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★Today the Sun is lined up with retrograde Mercury in your sign, which gives your communications with others authenticity. You will be direct. You want to be heard; you also...

Miss Manners: My generation doesn’t make phone calls. Does that excuse what happened?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Eight months ago, my husband and I were introduced to a very lovely couple at a fundraiser. They are probably 20 years older than we are, extremely wealthy, interesting, generous and engaged with their community.In our initial meeting, we enjoyed each other’s company for more than an hour, and they very graciously invited us to spend the night at their nearby residence rather than make the hourlong drive back to our home. Then when we departed, they gave us their home phone number to contact them and meet again.We never called. Not because we weren’t interested, but honestly, it just felt so awkward to call their house (which is undeniably a generational communication difference).Now we feel bad for not calling them, as they are so interesting and we would love to see them again.Is it too late to reach out? And if it’s not, could I reach out via email instead, or do I need to act like an actual adult and call their house as they suggested?GENTLE ...

Jill On Money: Housing affordability still tough

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:59 GMT

If you want to see the effects of the Federal Reserve’s interest policy over the past three years, look no further than the nation’s residential real estate market.In its effort to keep the economy afloat amid the pandemic, the central bank dropped interest rates to zero and purchased bonds. Accordingly, mortgage rates plummeted to all-time lows. As of the beginning of 2021, the average contract rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage tumbled to 2.65 percent.Seeking refuge from crowded cities and untethered by physical workplaces, buyers flocked to the real estate market and prices jumped. The manic housing activity slowed throughout last year, as the Fed embarked on an aggressive rate hike campaign. As the central bank nears the end of its rate hike cycle and given the time of year, it’s time to check in on the housing market.Although activity may have bottomed, there are still problems that leave the residential market out of whack.The first issue is affordability. The Federal Rese...