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A global mystery: What’s known about Nord Stream explosions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a major international mystery with global consequences: Who was behind the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year in the Baltic Sea?The answer has broad implications for European energy security but could also threaten Western unity over backing Ukraine in defending itself from Russia’s invasion. Or, it might shatter Russian and Chinese attempts to fix the blame on a hypocritical West. Yet, nearly six months after the sabotage on the Russia-to-Germany pipelines, there is no accepted explanation. And a series of unconfirmed reports variously accusing Russia, the United States and Ukraine are filling an information vacuum as investigations into the blasts continue.A look at the pipelines and what’s known about the explosions.WHAT ARE THE NORD STREAM PIPELINES?The pipelines, known as Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, are majority-owned by Russia’s state-run energy giant Gazprom and used to transport natural gas from Russia to Europe ...

Police seek suspect who carjacked vehicle following 3-car crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

Provincial police are looking for a suspect who fled the scene of a three-car crash in North York on Wednesday night by stealing another car.OPP was called to the area of Black Creek Drive and Jane Street around 9:30 p.m. following a three-vehicle crash. A witness who had stopped to help told police her vehicle had been stolen by a man who was involved in the initial crash. “His vehicle was no longer driveable and as he got out of his vehicle he attempted to steal the witness’s vehicle,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt. “He was pushed away from the first vehicle, then jumped into a second vehicle that had stopped. There was a 16-year-old passenger in that vehicle, who jumped out before it sped away with the suspect.” Police believe the suspect that was involved in the crash was driving a car that was recently reported stolen. The suspect is described as six feet tall with braided hair. He was last seen wearing a hooded sweater.

Woman who worked at GTA long-term care homes arrested for impersonating nurse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

Durham regional police say a woman who worked as a nurse at numerous senior retirement and long-term care homes across the Greater Toronto Area wasn’t actually a registered nurse and was using phony documents to apply for more nursing jobs. Twenty-five-year-old Aaliyah-Elizabeth Sampat, of Oshawa, was arrested on Wednesday after police say she was suspected of applying for jobs as a registered nurse with fake credentials. “The suspect had documentation from various governing bodies which she claimed were hers. The suspect is not registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario,” Durham police said in a release Thursday.Investigators add that since 2021 Sampat was employed as a nurse at at least four senior retirement and long-term care residences in the GTA. She’s facing 11 offences including fraud over $5,000, utter forged document, personation with intent and posses identity information with inference of fraud. Sampat remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Tennessee governor OKs bill to cut Nashville council in half

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican lawmakers and Tennessee’s governor signed off Thursday on cutting Democratic-leaning Nashville’s metro council in half, a move that follows the council’s rejection of efforts to host the 2024 Republican National Convention in Music City. Gov. Bill Lee signed the proposal into law a little less than an hour after the Senate voted to shrink Nashville’s 40-member council. The Republican didn’t issue a statement or warning, but he had previously said that generally he supported council sizes smaller than Nashville’s.The move drew an immediate outcry and is expected to spark legal challenges. Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s administration and others say the change will throw this year’s council elections into chaos, spurring the need to redraw districts after more than 40 candidates already launched campaigns.“This attack on the Constitutional rights of Metro and the people who live here is very dangerous. I...

Rochester concert stampede claims third victim; venue closed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — A third person has died after being injured in a stampede after a weekend rap concert, police said Thursday.Aisha Stephens, 35, of Syracuse was the only person who remained hospitalized following a Sunday evening performance by Memphis, Tennessee, rap stars GloRilla and Finesse2tymes at the Rochester Main Street Armory. She died Wednesday night.Two other women, Rhondesia Belton, 33, of Buffalo and Brandy Miller, 35, of Rochester, also died after being caught up in a crush of concertgoers who surged toward the exits after the show.Police said the stampede may have been triggered by unfounded fears of gunfire. The city revoked the venue’s entertainment license on Wednesday while authorities investigate.The armory’s owner has not responded to numerous emailed requests for comment.The Associated Press

Europe dissolves Iran trade system that never took off

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — European countries said Thursday that they have decided to dissolve a system conceived in 2019 to enable trade with Iran and protect companies doing business with it from U.S. sanctions, but only ever processed one transaction.The German and French foreign ministries said the 10 shareholders of INSTEX — Belgium, Germany, Finland, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.K. — concluded that there was no basis to keep it going after Iran persistently refused to work with the institution.The decision comes at a time when tensions between the West and Iran have increased following Tehran’s crackdown on internal dissent, its supply of armed drones to Russia that have been used in the war in Ukraine, and the de facto breakdown of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers including Germany, France and the U.K.However, Thursday’s statement said the decision to wind up INSTEX was taken for purely business reasons and independently of other fac...

Woman, 50, fatally struck by box truck in Niles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

NILES, Ill — A 50-year-old woman was struck and killed by a box truck in Niles.Police said the fatal crash happened around 8:25 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Maryland Street. A GMC box truck driven by a 57-year-old man was traveling westbound on Maryland Street and attempted to turn left onto Milwaukee Avenue. As the truck turned left, it struck a 50-year-old woman that was crossing in the crosswalk.The woman was transported in critical condition to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her identity has not yet been released. Illinois woman leads police on 120 mph chase The driver of the box truck remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. The Major Crash Assistance Team (M.C.A.T.) is assisting with this investigation.

Norfolk Southern train derails in Alabama on morning of CEO's congressional testimony

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

CALHOUN COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT/NEXSTAR) – A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Alabama on Thursday morning, the same day CEO Alan Shaw apologized before members of Congress for February's fiery derailment in Ohio.Thursday's derailment concerned a train containing cars designed to carry concrete. Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade said around 30 train cars were involved in the derailment, which took place around 6:50 a.m.All of the train cars were empty at the time of the accident, and no hazardous material was spilled, according to Wade. A train operated by Norfolk Southern derailed in Piedmont, Alabama, on Thursday morning, the company confirmed. (Calhoun County Sheriff's Office)In a statement shared with Nexstar's WIAT, a representative for Norfolk Southern added that there were no reports of injuries. "The train originated in Atlanta, Georgia, and it was traveling westbound to Meridian, Mississippi," the statement read, in part. "We will share any additional details as they become a...

Blackhawks & Red Wings: A meeting of the rebuilds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

DETROIT - They are two of the proud "Original 6" members of the National Hockey League, and that's not the only bond they share at the moment. That's because the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings are past a proud era of their franchise that brought success and championships to devoted fanbases. Players departed, others aged, and the succession plans didn't line up to keep the good times going.Translation: Both the Blackhawks and Red Wings are rebuilding, and they met on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena well out of the race for the playoffs. Is Jonathan Toews close to a return to the Blackhawks’ lineup? The Blackhawks are just underway with their rebuild that has stripped the NHL team of all but one of the members of their 2010s dynasty that captured three Stanley Cup titles. Patrick Kane's trade to the Rangers continues the building of a completely new on-ice product from the minors to the top team, where a premium has been put on draft picks. It's left the current ...

Can you afford to 'live comfortably' in these US cities?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:44 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Are you making enough money to afford your bills, buy the things you want, and set aside some money and pay off debt? Unsurprisingly, where you live can impact just how much wiggle room you have in your budget, especially in some U.S. metros.A new study reviewed data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, which estimates the living wage you need to support yourself and various family sizes throughout the country based on “geographically specific expenditure data related to a family’s likely minimum food, childcare, health insurance, housing, transportation, and other basic necessities" and a common budgeting method known as the 50/30/20 rule. Conducted by SmartAsset, a financial planning website, the study used the required annual income after taxes estimated by the living wage calculator to determine how much you need to earn to “live comfortably” in the nation’s largest cities using the 50/30/20 rule. The budgeting technique allocates your after-tax income to three categ...