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Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will leave politics after election, marking end of a political era

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest serving premier, said Monday he will leave politics after an early general election sparked by a dispute over migration that led to his government’s resignation.His decision means the end of nearly 13 years in power for the conservative leader sometimes called ” Teflon Mark ” because scandals that plagued his four different administrations did not stick to him.Rutte, the 56-year-old leader of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, announced his decision at a hastily arranged parliamentary debate to discuss the fall of his latest governing coalition.“Yesterday morning I made a decision that I will not be available again as a leader of the VVD. When a new Cabinet takes office after the elections, I will leave politics,” he said.Rutte called it a “personal decision, regardless of the developments in recent weeks.” There was no immediate indication who might replace Rutte a...

Man charged in Berlin with attempted arson attack on building housing Russian intelligence officers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A Russian citizen has been charged in Berlin with attempted homicide and attempted arson for placing an explosive or incendiary device last year in a building where Russian intelligence officers lived, prosecutors in the German capital said Monday.The 45-year-old, whose name was not released, is accused of placing the device in an opening at the building’s basement in late April 2022. It failed to ignite for reasons that are unclear and was discovered and defused only days later.The suspect was arrested on Dec. 14. Before that, he was involved in public protests against the Russian government, including a protest camp outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin, prosecutors said in a statement. Shortly after Russia launched its war in Ukraine in February 2022, he posted on social media about the building that was later attacked and said that “war against us all” was being conducted from it.The man was “not uncontroversial” among Russian opposition activists, prosecutor...

Crash between GO bus, SUV in North York leaves man in critical condition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after a crash involving a bus and another vehicle in North York.Emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle collision at Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Sunday.Police say an SUV collided with a GO bus. The driver of the SUV was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.There is no word on what caused the crash.There were road closures in the area, but the area has since reopened to motorists.COLLISION:Allen Rd and Sheppard Ave W11:38 pm-two vehicles involved -SUV collided with a GO bus-the driver of the SUV was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.-roads have now been re-opened#GO1598176^lm— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 10, 2023

Two firefighters injured while battling fire at Brampton home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

Two firefighters are in hospital as they worked to put out a fire at a home in Brampton.Crews were called to what police believe is an unoccupied home in the Cadence Road and Eastman Drive area, near Chinguacousy and Williams Parkway, around 4 a.m. on Monday.It is not clear what the firefighters’ injuries are but Peel police say they are not life-threatening.The Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified.

Ukrainian soccer club calls out Turkish rival for going to Russia to play Gazprom-owned Zenit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Ukrainian soccer club Dynamo Kyiv told Turkish rival Fenerbahce it had “blood on your hands” for going to Russia to play Zenit St. Petersburg on Sunday in a preseason game.It is the latest dispute between two clubs who played each other in the Champions League qualifying rounds and Europa League last season, and could meet again within weeks in the Europa Conference League.Dynamo posted a statement on its Instagram account with red splashes on the blue logo of Russian state energy giant Gazprom, the long-time owner and shirt sponsor of Zenit.“The bloody money of Gazprom has eclipsed everything for you, left you without honor and conscience,” Dynamo said, targeting the storied Istanbul club.Gazprom was dropped by UEFA as a Champions League and 2024 European Championship sponsor within days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine starting in February last year.UEFA also removed all Russian teams from its competitions and stripped the country of hosting the 2022 Champions Leag...

Albanian prosecutors demand arrest of lawmaker and former deputy premier on corruption charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian special prosecutors demanded on Monday that a lawmaker and former deputy prime minister be arrested on corruption charges, accusing him of failing to declare his assets and other criminal offenses.The Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime, in charge of prosecuting senior officials, made public its request that Arben Ahmetaj be taken into custody. Ahmetaj, 54, was a deputy prime minister and also served as minister of finance and economy in two previous Cabinets of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.As lawmaker, Ahmetaj has parliamentary immunity — meaning that Parliament would first need to agree on his arrest before any action to detain him is taken. Meanwhile, two villas belonging to Ahmetaj have been temporarily seized during the investigation.He is also being investigated for concession contracts on public waste management, a serious concern for Albania’s governments and a top priority in its efforts to join the Europea...

Democrat Roland Gutierrez joins US Senate race in Texas after pressing for action over Uvalde

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democratic Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who has pushed for police accountability and tougher gun laws after the Uvalde school shooting, announced Monday he will run for U.S. Senate in 2024.He becomes the second Texas Democrat to embark on what will be a longshot bid to deny Republican Sen. Ted Cruz a third term representing the nation’s biggest red state. In May, Rep. Colin Allred became the first to enter the race. He says his campaign has since raised more than $6 million. It sets up a rare competitive Democratic primary for a major race in Texas, where decades of Republican dominance has often discouraged bigger-name Democrats from running statewide. Gutierrez was little known beyond his South Texas district, which includes Uvalde, before a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. He spent the next year making impassioned pleas for tougher gun laws and firings over police waiting more than an hour to confront the gunma...

After meeting Sunak, Biden heads for Windsor Castle to discuss clean energy with King Charles III

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s itinerary this week in Europe is dominated by the ongoing war in Ukraine and his continued efforts to rally an international coalition against Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.But first, some tea.The U.S. president’s initial stop on his three-nation trip is Britain, where he’ll meet with King Charles III for the first time since the latter was crowned in May. Biden did not attend Charles’s coronation, sending first lady Jill Biden instead, and Monday’s visit will be marked by a bit of royal pomp — including a royal salute, a viewing of U.S.-related artifacts at Windsor Castle and teatime for the two men.Biden and Charles will also use their visit to bring attention to climate issues, hosting a forum focused on how to encourage private companies to engage in more clean energy efforts, specifically in developing economies.The royal visit is paired with Biden’s sixth meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak since Sunak for talks o...

9-year-old boy shot and killed at birthday party in Franklin Park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. — A 9-year-old boy from Chicago was shot and killed while attending a birthday party for his grandmother in Franklin Park Saturday night, according to the Franklin Park Police Department.Police said Ulysses Campos was playing near an alley in the 2800 block of Elder Lane when a disturbance took place. Shots were fired from a moving vehicle, and Ulysses was hit in the chest.Once first responders arrived on scene, Ulysses was taken to Loyola Hospital in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead. Man charged with 1st degree murder after 10-year-old Rockford girl found dead Investigators were able to find the suspects' vehicle in unincorporated Leyden Township, and a person of interest is in police custody.Police said 4-6 shots were fired into the group at the birthday party, and no one else was hit, besides Ulysses.Police also consider this an isolated incident and said there is no threat to the public.If you or someone you know witnessed or has information on this in...

Monday Forecast: Temps in upper 80s with sunny conditions, low dewpoints

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Sunny, hot and more humid Monday. Cooler lakeside. SW 10-15 mph. Air quality is in the Good category for Chicagoland. High near 90, cooler lakeside. Increasing clouds late. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Chance of an overnight isolated shower/t'storm. Winds: E 5-10 mph. Low near 70Tuesday Forecast: Partly sunny with chance of PM showers/t'storms. Some could be strong to severe. WNW 5-10 mph. Highs mid 80s, mid to upper 70s by the lake. Extended outlook calls for potential severe weather to continue into Wednesday with thunderstorms that could bring heavy rain at times and localized flooding. Highs in the mid 70s. Back to some sunshine by Thursday afternoon as temps returns to the low 80s.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog