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Unifor kicks off grocery talks with 100 per cent strike vote by ‘fed up’ workers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

TORONTO — Unifor says grocery workers have more resolve than ever to achieve higher wages and better working conditions as it heads into a two-year stretch of bargaining for more than a dozen collective agreements.The work will begin with negotiations next week for a contract covering 3,700 Metro workers across the Greater Toronto Area, who —  in an unusual move — have already voted 100 per cent in favour of a strike if a deal can’t be reached.The strike vote sends a strong signal not just to Metro, but to all three grocery giants, that their workers are fed up, said Unifor national president Lana Payne. “We need to send a signal and a very serious message to the supermarket barons that workers deserve a piece of these profits, and they deserve to have better pay, better working conditions and more full-time jobs,” she said.“We want to make important gains in this round of bargaining. We feel we’re in a good place to do that.” Unifor represents mo...

Vatican sends Bolivia diary of late priest who allegedly abused minors in the Andean nation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — The Vatican has sent to Bolivia the diary of the late Alfonso Pedrajas, a Jesuit priest who allegedly confessed to abusing dozens of minors in Bolivia dating back to the 1970s, the latest development in a pedophilia scandal that has shaken the Andean country.In a statement released Thursday, the Society of Jesus of Bolivia said the diary was sent to them by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith — which handles clergy sexual abuse cases — and then turned over to the prosecutor’s office in the city of Cochabamba, where the alleged abuse took place.The Society of Jesus, as the Jesuits are known, said it will request a copy of the diary written by Pedrajas, who died in 2009, in order to know its full contents, since only a few excerpts were released in April by Spanish newspaper El País, which first reported on it. In the diary, Pedrajas allegedly confesses to having abused 85 minors, mostly in boarding schools in Cochabamba between the 1970s and 1990s...

Former UN chief says Israel’s treatment of Palestinians may constitute apartheid

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel is inching toward apartheid and drifting further away from the hopes of creating a Palestinian state alongside it, former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told The Associated Press Thursday on a visit to the region.Ban said that throughout his three-day visit, which coincided with a spike in deadly violence in the West Bank, he encountered a bleaker reality than the one he faced while head of the world body from 2007 to 2016. He said he had seen signs, through expanding West Bank Jewish settlements and tighter restrictions against Palestinians, that an apartheid system was taking root.“I think the situation has worsened,” Ban said. “I’m just thinking that, as many people are saying, that this may constitute apartheid.” He said he was concerned that a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict was ”fading away.”Ban was in the region on behalf of The Elders, a group of statespeople that engages in peacemaking and human rights...

Bridge sitting on key Russian supply route near Crimea struck by missiles

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia-appointed officials in Crimea said that a bridge between the Moscow-annexed peninsula and Russia-occupied areas in southern Ukraine was hit by missiles Thursday, threatening a key supply link to Russian forces amid the early stages of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.The Russian military has relied on the Chongar bridge as the principal connection to its forces in the Kherson region, part of which is controlled by Moscow. Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed Kherson governor, said the bridge was hit by air-launched Storm Shadow missiles supplied by the U.K.Ukrainian authorities, who usually refrain from commenting on specific attacks, didn’t directly claim responsibility for the strike, but spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk for the Ukrainian military’s Southern Command emphasized the importance of derailing Russia’s logistics in televised comments. “We are destroying enemy plans, destroying the enemy’s capability to stand up against us,” she said.Russia-appo...

Diplomats from Western countries, developing economies to meet in Denmark for Ukraine talks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark will host a meeting this weekend of national security advisers from Western countries backing Ukraine and countries that have refused to condemn the Russian invasion, officials said Thursday.The U.S. will send national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland to the meeting in Copenhagen, which will focus on how to achieve a just peace in Ukraine, a Western official said on condition of anonymity because the trip hasn’t been formally announced.India, Brazil and South Africa, which have refused to condemn the invasion and join Western sanctions on Moscow, have also been invited to the talks, the official said, but couldn’t say which countries would attend.South Africa foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela confirmed the country would send national security adviser Sydney Mufamadi and Foreign Ministry Director-General Zane Dangor to the meeting in the Danish capital.Danish officials didn’t respond to reque...

Mother instructed 14-year-old son to shoot, kill man at Maxwell Street: Docs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- A woman and her 14-year-old son have been charged in a fatal shooting in the West Pullman neighborhood Sunday where she allegedly instructed her son to shoot and kill a man, court documents state. Carlisha Hood, who is a valid FOID and CCL holder is facing a felony count of murder and another count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her 14-year-old son is facing a felony count of murder. 2 charged after Northwest Indiana man found beaten to death near fishing area According to police, the two were arrested Wednesday in the 700 block of West 111th Street and were identified as the individuals who were involved in the fatal shooting of a 32-year-old man in the 11600 block of South Halsted Street Sunday.According to court documents, Hood entered Maxwell Express to get food while her son waited in the car outside. Shortly after, the victim entered the restaurant and argument ensued between Hood and the victim. The court stated Hood was texting her son from the ...

WATCH LIVE | Modi and Biden discuss the prime minister's visit, take questions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are devoting the Indian leader's state visit Thursday to launching new partnerships in defense, semiconductor manufacturing and more sectors as they look to strengthen their countries' crucial — albeit complicated — relationship.Thousands gathered on the White House South Lawn for the welcoming ceremony, listening to performances by violinist Vibha Janakiraman and the a cappella group Penn Masala. As Modi arrived, the crowd — including many sari and shalwar kameez-clad members of the Indian diaspora — broke out in a chant of “Modi, Modi, Modi." “All eyes are on the two largest democracies in the world, India and America,” Modi said as the leaders met in the Oval Office. “I believe that our strategic partnership is important. I’m confident that working together will be successful.”With Modi by his side at the earlier welcoming ceremony, Biden said he believes the U.S.-India relationship “will be one of the definin...

Thursday Forecast: Temps in upper 80s, Air Quality alert issued

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Temperatures in upper 80s Thursday with hazy conditions. An Air Quality Alert has been issued across the Chicago area. High: 87, Lakeside: 76.Still looking at plenty of sunshine and warmth through Saturday.Mostly clear tonight with temps in low 60s. Low: 63. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Friday Forecast: Mostly Sunny   High: 87, Lakeside: 75. Significant rain expected Saturday night into Sunday.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

United Airlines tweaking app to give flyers rebooking options, vouchers during delays

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines says when flights are delayed or canceled it will use its app to send customers options for rebooking and, in some cases, vouchers for meals and hotel rooms.United said Thursday that it began testing the service on its app late last year and found that it reduced the number of people waiting in airports lines to speak to airline agents. United plans to hire 15,000, adding to surge in airline jobs Airlines are under pressure from the Biden administration to improve customer service. The Transportation Department said recently it would begin writing new rules to require passenger compensation when the airline causes delays and cancellations.United’s chief customer officer, Linda Jojo, said the new app features would save time and reduce stress for travelers because “we know things don’t always go as planned.”Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesSo far this year, United has canceled about 5,400 flights, or 1.3% of its schedule, which matches the indu...

Ina Garten responds after Facebook account hacked with 'strange' posts, recipes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:02:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Ina Garten recently thanked fans for alerting her to an issue with her Facebook page after hackers seemingly gained access to her account — to post an Olive Garden-inspired recipe.“Thank you to everyone who alerted me that my Facebook page was hacked, and to Meta for helping us get our page back!” Garten wrote Friday, less than a day after the unsanctioned recipe appeared on her page.“I will continue to post my favorite recipes here and read all of your wonderful comments!” the cookbook author and Food Network personality added. ‘He will be moderately missed’: Man’s obit goes viral Emily Pressman, a historian and apparent fan of Garten’s, was one of the first to notice something was amiss last Thursday, when an uncharacteristic post for a “Chicken Scampi (Olive Garden copycat recipe)” appeared on Garten’s page.“How you know Ina Garten's Facebook account has been hacked: instead of being her Hamptons-dwelling, Cosmo-sipping, ‘good olive oil’ using self, she's suddenly b...