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The trial opens of a Russian-born Swedish citizen charged with collecting information for Russia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The trial opened Monday of a Russian-born Swedish citizen charged with collecting information for the Russian military intelligence service GRU for almost a decade.Sergey Skvortsov, 60, is accused of “gross illegal intelligence activities against Sweden and against a foreign power,” according to prosecutor Henrik Olin who has identified the foreign power as the United States.Skvortsov was arrested in November together with his wife in a predawn operation in Nacka, outside Stockholm. Swedish media reported that elite police rappelled from two Black Hawk helicopters to arrest the couple.Skvortsov has been in custody since his arrest and denies any wrongdoing, according to his defense lawyer, Ulrika Borg. His wife was released without charge following an investigation by Sweden’s security agency.The trial is being held at the Stockholm District Court. It is the second trial in recent years of people accused of spying on Sweden for Russia and its military intellig...

UAW’s clash with Big 3 automakers shows off a more confrontational union as strike deadline looms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — A 46% pay raise. A 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay. A restoration of traditional pensions.The demands that a more combative United Auto Workers union has pressed on General Motors, Stellantis and Ford — demands that even the UAW’s own president calls “audacious” — are edging it closer to a strike when its contract ends Sept. 14. The automakers, which are making billions in profits, have dismissed the UAW’s wish list. They argue that its demands are unrealistic at a time of fierce competition from Tesla and lower-wage foreign automakers as the world shifts from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. The wide gulf between the sides could mean a strike against one or more of the automakers, which could send already-inflated vehicle prices even higher.A potential strike by 146,000 UAW members comes against the backdrop of increasingly emboldened U.S. unions of all kinds. The number of strikes and threatened strikes is growing, involving Hollywood ...

Albany man found dead after altercation in VT apartment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man was found dead in a Rutland, Vermont, apartment after reports of a physical altercation, according to Rutland City Police. Police say Santonieo Miller, 35, was pronounced dead, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Saturday, Rutland Police responded to 50 Cherry Street Apartment 2 for an active physical altercation. Upon arriving, officers found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The man, identified as Miller, was pronounced dead at the residence.The death is under investigation. Members from the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search team are leading the investigation, along with the Rutland City Police Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (802) 773-5894.

Commission opens Digital Europe Programme to Türkiye

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

The European Commission signed an association agreement for the Digital Europe Programme with Türkiye. Following the signatures, and upon the completion of the related ratification processes, the association agreement will enter into force. Businesses, public administrations and other eligible organisations in Türkiye will be able to access the calls of the Digital Europe Programme, a programme with an overall budget of €7.5 billion in the 2021-2027 period. In particular, participants from Türkiye will be able to take part in projects that deploy digital technologies across the EU in specific areas such as artificial intelligence, and advanced digital skills. They will also be able to set up Digital Innovation Hubs in Türkiye.With this association agreement, the European Union and Türkiye will reinforce their strong links in the field of digital technologies – with potential benefits arising from Türkiye's capabilities and assets in the areas covered by the Digital Europe Programme,...

Top Belgian Thai resto gearing up to celebrate its 40th birthday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

Almost 40 years and counting….. that’s at least one venerable Belgian restaurant business.It was way back in 1984 that Bois Savanes first took its bow.Apart from giving its name to the famous George Orwell book it was the year of Band Aid, when Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated and the original Apple Macintosh personal computer first went on sale.But the year was “notable”, here at least, for another happening – the birth of a restaurant business that, remarkably is still going strong today.The “original” version of Bois Savanes opened that year in an impressive town house in Rhode-Saint-Genese.It was first run by the grandmother (Jeanine), then the mother (Maryse) of current co-owner, Marie Back.Marie took over ownership with her brother Jerome in 2006 and they subsequently opened another “branch” in Saint Job. A third, in the Schuman area of Brussels, followed later.Back in 1984 Bois Savanes was one of the very few Asian (let alone ...

Horoscopes Sept. 4, 2023: Beyonce Knowles, divide work and playtime equally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Whitney Cummings, 41; Beyonce Knowles, 42; Max Greenfield, 44; Wes Bentley, 45.Happy Birthday: You’ll gain ground if you learn as you go. A chance to make a long overdue change will help restructure how you live and allocate your time. Balancing your life to ensure you divide work and playtime equally will give you a positive attitude that will carry through into meaningful relationships. Creative thinking will help you find options that offer peace of mind and a brighter future. Your numbers are 5, 12, 21, 25, 36, 44, 47.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Do something to lift your spirits. Get those endorphins working; you’ll accomplish something spectacular. Personal improvements, physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle change will point you in the right direction. Share your thoughts and plans with someone you want by your side. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Networking, researching and communicating are to your benefit. Don’t ignore an ...

Bridge: Sept. 4, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

It was the first of the month — a time when no female is deadlier than the mail. I found Unlucky Louie in the club lounge, wrestling with a fresh stack of bills.“My sweet wife’s a human dynamo,” Louie groaned. “She charges everything she comes in contact with.”Louie might pay off his credit card bill if he did better in his penny game. He was declarer at today’s four spades, and West led the king and jack of diamonds. East overtook (too late) with the ace and led the jack of clubs: queen, king, ace. Louie drew trumps but lost a heart and a club.“Hearts broke 4-2,” Louie shrugged, “so I couldn’t get a discard for my club loser.”LAST DIAMONDEast would not have overtaken the second diamond to lead a club from his king, so Louie must play a low club from his hand. He draws trumps, ruffs his last diamond in dummy, takes the A-K of hearts and exits with a club.When West wins, he has no more hearts. He must lead a club...

Ask Amy: Why would they let a 6-year-old use a public bathroom alone?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

Dear Amy: My granddaughter is 6. Her parents want her to grow up to be independent. This manifests itself in many liberties and responsibilities, some of which I think she is too young for.I have never said anything to the parents about this aspect of their childrearing, but recently I witnessed two cases where I felt their approach is much too lax.In one case, they allowed her to come down a slippery marble spiral staircase with inadequate handrails – alone.She ended up falling but thankfully was not seriously hurt.The other incident was in a restaurant when she needed to use the bathroom. Instead of accompanying her, they told her, “You know where it is, go ahead.”The bathroom was a single room with a women’s stall right next to a men’s stall. An outer door enclosed the room with both stalls inside.I said nothing but went with my granddaughter and stood outside her stall.(When I was 6, I was molested at a park, so I know how quickly and easily molesters can...

Harriette Cole: My hobby scares my girlfriend, but she doesn’t like to be left out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m a huge adrenaline junkie. I love outdoor adventures like base jumping, skydiving and really anything that the average person might shy away from.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Why shouldn’t I live with my friend’s ex? Advice | Harriette Cole: Was I rude to this woman I passed in the restaurant? Advice | Harriette Cole: I hoped I was wrong about my son’s girlfriend. I wasn’t. Advice | Harriette Cole: My son needs discipline, and I’m thinking about the military Advice | Harriette Cole: Our marriage is just one long fight. How do I fix this? I’m dating a woman who is the exact opposite of me in that sense. She is not too fond of stepping out of her comfort zone.I’ve tried bringing her along with me before, but she tends to get really nervous and ends up cutting our trips short. Eventually, I decided it was better for both of us if...

I Worked in Federal Prison Sweatshops for 23 Cents an Hour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

During a nationwide day of action against prison slavery, protesters march through the streets of Portland, Ore., on Sept. 9, 2016.Photo: Alex Milan Tracy/Sipa USAPrison labor is a staple of the American economy. Whether it’s fish farms or electronics recycling, woodworking or vehicle remanufacturing, our nation’s supply chain is bolstered by a hidden labor force of overworked and underpaid incarcerated people. I would know — I was one of them.Throughout my 13 years of incarceration, I held a prison job whenever possible. From the kitchen of the city jail in Bristol, Virginia, to the mess halls of federal prisons in West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, I worked. At first, I didn’t think of myself as exploited. As far as I was concerned, I was just doing my job and my time the best way I knew how.It wasn’t until I worked at the UNICOR factories in Butner, North Carolina, and Allenwood, Pennsylvania, where I was housed for a combined five years, that I mad...