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Lawyers spar over conspiracy allegation in ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers’ trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

OTTAWA — The lawyers in the criminal trial of two “Freedom Convoy” organizers are expected to continue their debate today over whether Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were co-conspirators in the protest. Both are charged with mischief and intimidation, among other charges, for their role in the early 2022 protests against COVID-19 public-health restrictions.The Crown intends to prove that the two conspired together so closely that evidence against one should also apply to the other.The defence has already spent two days arguing to the contrary.Defence lawyers say the actions of the protest organizers weren’t inherently illegal, and there is no evidence linking them to anyone else’s illegal actions. The defence is expected to finish making its case on the conspiracy allegation before the Crown presents its own argument.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 29, 2023.The Canadian Press

Toyota selling part of Denso stake to raise cash to develop electric vehicles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota is selling a part of its stake in components maker Denso to raise cash for its drive toward electric vehicles and other innovations, Japan’s top automaker said Wednesday. The move is estimated to raise about 290 billion yen ($2 billion), given recent share prices. The number of shares Toyota Motor Corp. plans to sell total more than 124 million shares, lowering its stake in Denso Corp. from 24.2% to 20%, while remaining the top stakeholder.“We don’t want to just hold on to our assets. We want to make them living assets that feed into the growth of our company,” said Masahiro Yamamoto, an executive in the accounting group at Toyota.Denso shares closed at 2,298 yen ($16) Wednesday.Toyota said the money will also go into developing smart-driving technology and a wide range of other initiatives ongoing in the industry.Yamamoto did not give a specific date for the sale, but it’s expected to happen soon. All the world’s major automakers are working on strengtheni...

Stock market today: Global shares trade mixed after Wall Street rallies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were trading mixed Wednesday although a strong report on U.S. consumer confidence and hopes the Federal Reserve is finished with its aggressive interest rate hikes sent shares higher on Wall Street. France’s CAC 40 edged up 0.1% in early trading to 7,260.05, while Germany’s DAX added nearly 0.4% at 16,051.04. Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 0.3% to 7,432.30. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures up 0.3% at 35,539.00. S&P 500 futures rose 0.3% to 4,574.75. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 declined 0.3% to finish at 33,321.22. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3% to 7,035.30. South Korea’s Kospi shed nearly 0.1% to 2,519.81. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 2.1% to 16,993.44, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.6% to 3,021.69. Heavy selling of Chinese technology and property shares pulled benchmarks lower. Food delivery company Meituan’s Hong Kong-traded shares dropped 11% after it forecast its revenue ...

Daily horoscope for November 29, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

Moon Alert: After 2 a.m. EST today, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023:You are courageous about challenging the status quo. You have an aura of excitement and energy about you that people can feel. This is a slower paced year. It’s OK to rest. Take time to rejuvenate your energy. Focus on business and personal relationships that benefit you.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★★This is an excellent day for important family discussions, especially with a female family member. It’s also an excellent day to explore real estate opportunities or ways to expand where you live through renovations, redecorating projects or relocating. Tonight: Relax.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★Today you have a lovely balance of optimism and realism, which is why this will be an effective day for you. Your optimism will allow you to see opportunities and act on them. Meanwhile, your strong sense of reality will keep...

Positive preliminary assessment of Slovenia's request for €541 million disbursement under the Recovery and Resilience Facility

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

The Commission has endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Slovenia's payment request for €231 million in grants and €310 million in loans under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This is Slovenia's second payment request under the RRF. With their request, the Slovenian authorities provided detailed and comprehensive evidence demonstrating the satisfactory fulfilment of 41 milestones and three targets.On 15 September 2023, Slovenia submitted to the Commission a payment request based on the achievement of the 41 milestones and three targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision. These cover a set of transformative reforms related to flood management, energy efficiency, green and digital transition and education.The Slovenian national recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investments and reforms in17 thematic components. The plan will be supported by €1.61 billion in grants, and €1.07bn in loans. To date, Slovenia has received €231 million in pre-...

What is the reason for tensions in US-Azerbaijan relations?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the U.S. began to implement a consistent approach and strategy toward the South Caucasus countries. Such a strategy includes strengthening its geopolitical interest and facing up to any challenges from regional powers. To this end, the Republic of Azerbaijan played an important role in shaping of regional economic integration thanks to its geographical position and the availability of energy resources. It is not surprising that Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was U.S. National Security Adviser from 1977 to 1981, called Azerbaijan a “geopolitical pivot” which is very important for the U.S.’s security interest.It should be noted that the Second Garabagh War has changed the whole geopolitical landscape in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan ended the long-lasting Armenian occupation, which opened up new opportunities for sustainable peace and full regional economic integration. However, despite positive signals from Baku, Yerevan continued to support ille...

Harriette Cole: My two roommates are moving out, and I don’t believe their excuse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a sophomore in college, and I have two roommates. We live together in a dorm and have had our disagreements, but we have gotten over them.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My old friend is back in my life, and she has brought a lot of drama Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m on the brink of unloading on my husband about the car crash Advice | Harriette Cole: I can no longer be silent about this messed-up family Advice | Harriette Cole: She’s the restaurant patron from hell, and she needs to hear that Advice | Harriette Cole: How to reboot when Thanksgiving stress sets in They recently told me that they are going to move out together, which caught me off-guard, and I’m left feeling surprised and somewhat abandoned.It feels so weird to me that they wouldn’t tell me anything before now. I asked them why and they told me that they wanted to move to a dorm closer ...

Miss Manners: Did they really think it was OK to say this in an obituary?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: This morning I read the obituaries of three local women.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I get tactless comments about my literary name Advice | Miss Manners: How do I tell these people I don’t want their prayers? Advice | Miss Manners: My mother-in-law tried to ban me from wearing bright colors on vacation Advice | Miss Manners: Is this lowering of office chairs a common practice? Advice | Miss Manners: How can I rein in a greedy co-worker? The first spent just two sentences describing the deceased, followed by a list of 26 people who had predeceased her and 37 people who survived her, with no description of how they were related to the deceased. It was essentially just a long list of names.The second obituary listed the survivors of the deceased as including “a great-grandson expected in August,” which seems to stretch the definition of “survivor.”...

8-time French champion Nantes fires coach Pierre Aristouy after four-game winless run

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

NANTES, France (AP) — Nantes coach Pierre Aristouy, who helped the eight-time French champion avoid relegation last season, was fired on Wednesday.The Ligue 1 team said in a statement that Aristouy was relieved of his duties, with his replacement to be announced later in the day.Sports daily L’Equipe reported that Nantes has reached an agreement in principle with former Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec.“Nantes would particularly like to thank Pierre Aristouy and his staff, who put all their human qualities and talent at the service of the club. Appreciated by all, they helped the club to maintain its position at the end of last season,” the club said.Nantes was in 17th place in the league, with four of the 20 clubs getting relegated last season, when Aristouy took over from Antoine Kombouaré with four league games left to play.This season, the club got off to a poor start but Aristouy had managed to put the team back on track before a four-match winless run — including three def...

Beyhive about to swarm box office for ‘Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:39 GMT

Last month, Taylor Swift blazed a new trail by self-releasing “Taylor Swift: The Era’s Tour” in theaters with the highest-grossing opening weekend for a concert film at $96 million. Its domestic total of $178 million ranks No. 11 for the year ahead of franchises like “Indiana Jones,” “Mission Impossible,” “Transformers” and “Creed.”Now, Beyoncé is following suit by releasing her own concert film “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” in AMC Theatres nationwide this Friday, following the chrome-carpeted world premiere on Nov. 25 in Los Angeles.While Taylor’s blockbuster was filmed over three nights at SoFi Stadium Los Angeles in August, Beyoncé’s film features footage from across her 56-show tour that ran from May 10, 2023, to Oct. 1, 2023. That means you will sometimes see Queen Bey wearing different costumes from different locations during highlights of the same song.The record-breaking concert tour...