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Diplomat: Russia might discuss swap for jailed US reporter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia might be willing to discuss a potential prisoner swap with the U.S. involving jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich after his trial on espionage charges, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday.Gershkovich, 31, his employer and the U. S. government all deny he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state news agency Tass that talks about a possible exchange could take place through a dedicated channel that Russian and U.S. security agencies established for such purposes.“We have a working channel that was used in the past to achieve concrete agreements, and these agreements were fulfilled,” Ryabkov said, adding that there was no need for the involvement of any third country.However, he emphasized that Moscow would only negotiate a possible prisoner exchange after a trial. “The issue of exchanging anyone could only be considered after a court delivers its verdict,” he was quoted by Tass as sayi...

A united Ireland looks more likely thanks to Brexit, new study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

DUBLIN – More people in Northern Ireland now expect to join a united Ireland rather than stay in the U.K., according to a major new survey of public opinion rattled by Brexit.It’s the first time that results from the annual Life and Times Survey — published two months early to capitalize on President Joe Biden’s visit to the Ulster University campus in Belfast — has found a plurality of public expectations tilting toward Irish unity and away from continued political union with Britain.The shift has been pronounced since post-Brexit trade rules went live two years ago. To the anger of unionists, the U.K.-EU treaty left Northern Ireland subject to EU rules for goods so that cross-border trade could continue uninterrupted with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member.While the same survey in 2020 found most people expected to be in the U.K. in 20 years’ time, opinion on Northern Ireland’s constitutional future had tightened to an even split a year later.The latest finding, based on 1,405 ...

Shuttle buses replace Blue Line service as crews work to repair overhead wires near Revere Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

Shuttle buses are replacing Blue Line service Thursday morning as crews work to repair overhead wires near Revere Beach.The power outage is expected to last through the morning rush, according to the MBTA. Train service is affected between Wonderland and Orient Heights.The T is encouraging riders to use the East Boston Ferry until work is complete.

Louisville officials release 911 calls revealing new details about mass shooting at bank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

(CNN) — The mother of the shooter who killed five people at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday called 911 after hearing secondhand that her son had a gun and was heading toward the bank, according to 911 calls released by police Wednesday.“My son might be (redacted) has a gun and heading to the Old National on Main Street here in Louisville,” she said. “This is his mother. I’m so sorry, I’m getting details secondhand. I’m learning about it now. Oh my Lord.”She said her son “apparently left a note” about the incident and she expressed her shock and confusion.“He’s never hurt anyone, he’s a really good kid,” she said. “We don’t even own guns. I don’t know where he would have gotten a gun.”Follow live updatesThe call, which came in at 8:41 a.m. Monday, was one of a number of 911 calls released to the public Wednesday detailing the panic and fear during...

Rainn Wilson sat next to an unsuspecting ‘Office’ viewer on a flight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

(CNN) — Rainn Wilson was right next to an unsuspecting seatmate who was watching the actor in “The Office” on a recent flight.Wilson, who starred as Dwight Schrute on the hit series, observed his seatmate watching the show, completely unaware that it was Wilson, in a face mask and wearing headphones, in the next seat over.Wilson shared a video of the funny incident, writing, “When the person sitting next to you has no idea who you are.”The actor, who most recently appeared in “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” will soon embark on a publicity tour for his new book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.” The book covers humanity’s “need for profound healing and a unifying understanding of the world that the great spiritual traditions provide,” according to the official synopsis.

Amazon will charge customers a fee for some UPS returns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

(CNN) — Amazon is attempting new measures to get customers to return fewer of their online orders, including charging a fee to return items to UPS stores.For decades, Amazon built its business by creating shopping that was fast, ridiculously easy and, seemingly, error-proof. You don’t like it, just return it.But not anymore: so many customers have buyers’ regret, or simply bigger feet than they thought they had, that handling returns has become an expensive problem for the company.So, Amazon will start charging customers a $1 fee if they return items to a UPS store when there is a Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh grocery store or Kohl’s closer to their delivery address. (Amazon owns Whole Foods and Fresh, and has a partnership deal with Kohl’s.)The Information first reported on Amazon’s fee.Shoppers have become accustomed to endless free returns in recent years, but Amazon and other companies are trying to curb this customer habit.Amazon also recent...

Heat-Bulls with plenty of subplots, but desperation ultimately at Friday’s forefront

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

As they waited to see if their season would continue, the Chicago Bulls received reaffirmation Tuesday night as they watched from Toronto: The Miami Heat are vulnerable.Friday night, the Bulls will get the opportunity to test the degree of that vulnerability, when the teams meet in a winner–take-all NBA play-in tournament game at Kaseya Center.The winner gets the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks starting Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in an Eastern Conference best-of-seven opening-round series.The loser goes to the lottery.“It’s going to be a desperate game,” Chicago forward Alex Caruso said after the Bulls eliminated the Toronto Raptors 109-105 Wednesday night in a game played for the right to face the Heat for the East’s final playoff berth. “They didn’t play great the last game against Atlanta, who punched them in the mouth early. I think they’ll be a little bit more prepared to fight from the beginning.”How the teams got to this moment is a contra...

US jobless claims rise but remain at historically low levels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

By MATT OTT (AP Business Writer)U.S. applications for jobless benefits rose to their highest level in more than a year, but remain at relatively low levels despite efforts by the Federal Reserve to cool the economy and job market in its battle against inflation.Jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ending April 8 rose by 11,000 to 239,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s the most since January of 2022 when 251,000 people filed for unemployment benefits.The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week fluctuations, rose by 2,250 to 240,000. That’s the most since November of 2021.Last week, the Labor Department unveiled revised estimates of the number of weekly applications for jobless benefits under a new formula it is using to reflect seasonal adjustments. The new formula, which led to an increase in its weekly tally, is intended to more accurately capture seasonal patterns in job losses.Applications for unemploymen...

Kevin Hart to perform at San Diego County Fair Summer Concert Series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

DEL MAR, Calif — Actor and comedian Kevin Hart will be taking the stage this summer at the San Diego County Fair.Hart, the latest act added to the fair's Toyota Summer Concert Series, will have the crowd laughing out loud on Friday, June 9.Tickets for the Kevin Hart performance go on sale Friday, April 14. Artist presale tickets will also be available starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12.Tickets for the stand-up comedy show can be purchased here. Snag tickets to the 2023 San Diego County Fair Concert Series The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Corona Grandstand Stage, located inside the Del Mar Fairgrounds.The Kevin Hart announcement comes off the heels of fair officials releasing the lineup for the Summer Concert Series earlier this month.Hart is the first comedy act to be announced for the upcoming Summer Concert Series. Fair officials teased they would have more lienup announcements this week. Laugh it up with comedian Ali Wong in San Diego Some other big...

3 suspects sought after $19,000 worth of goods stolen from North York store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:24 GMT

Toronto police are searching for three suspects who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of goods from a shopping centre in North York.On March 22, police were notified of a theft that occurred at a store in the mall, located in the area of Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East, a week earlier on March 16.Investigators say around 7 p.m. two of the suspects went into a store while the third suspect remained outside to keep watch.The two suspects allegedly stole around $19,000 worth of items.Police say the three suspects then left the shopping centre in a Red Dodge Caravan.Investigators released security camera images of the suspects on April 13, and are asking anyone with information to contact them.Open Gallery4 items