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276 Indians stuck in a French airport for days for a human trafficking probe have left for India

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

By CHRISTOPHE ENA and ANGELA CHARLTON (Associated Press)VATRY, France (AP) — A charter plane grounded in France for a human trafficking investigation departed Monday for India with 276 Indians aboard, authorities said. The passengers had been heading to Nicaragua but were instead blocked inside a rural French airport for four days in an exceptional holiday ordeal.Associated Press reporters outside the Vatry Airport in Champagne country saw the unmarked Legend Airlines A340 take off after the crew and passengers boarded the plane.The regional administration said that 276 of the original 303 passengers were en route to Mumbai, and that 25 others requested asylum in France. Those who remained were transferred to a special zone in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport for asylum-seekers, it said. The passengers grounded in France had included a 21-month-old child and several unaccompanied minors.The remaining two passengers were initially detained as part of a human trafficking i...

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah ‘shares pain’ of grieving families at Christmas amid Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool soccer star Mohamed Salah says he “shares the pain” of grieving families at Christmas amid the Israel-Hamas war.The Egypt international posted a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “Christmas is a time when families get together and celebrate.“With the brutal war going on in the Middle East, especially the death and destruction in Gaza, this year we get to Christmas with very heavy hearts and we share the pain of those families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones.“Please do not forget them and do not get used to their suffering. Merry Christmas.”Egypt has floated an ambitious plan to end the war.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsThe Associated Press

King Charles III’s Christmas message reflects a coronation theme and calls for planet’s protection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III reflected his coronation theme of public service Monday in a Christmas message that he connected to the health of the planet and wars that are raging.In a prerecorded video shot with him standing beside a Christmas tree in Buckingham Palace, the king spoke of the message of Jesus’ life in serving those less fortunate as he honored the “selfless army” that forms the “backbone of our society” helping others.“My heart has been warmed by countless examples of the imaginative ways in which people are caring for one another, going the extra mile to help those around them simply because they know it is the right thing to do,” he said.It was the king’s second Christmas speech since he ascended the throne after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September 2022, but the first since his coronation in May when he was officially crowned in a medieval ceremony rich in pageantry and pomp.Charles, who has long campaign...

Reduced visibility expected for Ontario due to Christmas Day fog: Environment Canada

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

Environment Canada says near-zero visibility is expected to persist throughout parts of Ontario on Christmas Day due to foggy conditions.The weather agency issued fog advisories for much of the province, starting from Windsor in the southwest to the Niagara and Kawartha Lakes areas in the northeast.It says visibility should improve Monday morning, but fog may remain into the afternoon for some areas, with dense fog developing again in the evening.The agency is warning travel could be hazardous due to reduced visibility and says that drivers should slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop.Environment Canada says fog is not unusual during cold weather.It forecasts a high of 8C for the Toronto area on Monday, with overnight lows of 4C.

‘Beauty in the struggle’: Edmonton TikToker aims to end hunger with street outreach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

EDMONTON — Kora-lea Vidal, once a running back for Canada’s silver-medal-winning national football team, says she never thought she’d escape domestic violence and become homeless.Vidal, 36, often posts videos on TikTok, where she’s amassed nearly 55,000 followers. She covers tough content but also strives to “show there’s a beauty in the struggle.”“It’s interesting because, when I fell into homelessness myself, as much as it’s a struggle just to meet your basic needs like food, shelter and showers, there’s kind of like a weird sense of freedom to it as well.”She says her troubles help fuel her mission to end world hunger, starting in some rough areas of downtown Edmonton. In 2017, she started a humanitarian movement called Live Lifted dedicated to meeting that goal. “You don’t know how many times people come up and thank me for doing humanitarian work and capturing beautiful moments with their loved ones w...

Monday Forecast: Mild, breezy mid 50s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

Monday Forecast: A dry and mild start to Christmas 2023. Our temp at sunrise of 50 degrees makes this our warmest Christmas morning in 150+ years of Chicago weather history. Rain moves in later this morning and winds will pick up this soggy afternoon. We could see some wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph.Monday Night: the rain and wind continue. Temps overnight will slowly decrease to the still quite mild lower 40s. We'll be around 41 at noon tomorrow with mostly cloudy skies and a few showers. Temps end up in the upper 30s by the late afternoon.

The top 10 in-demand jobs by salary growth in US: analysis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Some customer service, skilled trade and freelance job positions saw double-digit wage growth this past year, according to a new Payscale analysis.The compensation data firm released a report ranking the most in-demand jobs where workers secured higher paychecks on average in 2023 compared to the previous year. Payscale examined salary data from more than 774,000 U.S. workers and information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for its analysis.Despite experiencing the highest year-over-year wage growth percentages, the top two positions on the list — customer service assistant manager and hairstylist — also recorded the lowest median salaries, standing at $44,200 and $34,300 respectively. The top 15 jobs people want to quit the most, according to a recent survey Bloomberg noted in a September 2023 article that while retail wages are rising fast, retail workers are quitting at higher rates and earning less than the median U.S. worker.Payscale also acknowledged the retai...

Experts share travel trends to expect in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

Some 4.7 billion people are expected to travel worldwide in 2024. With a new year comes new trends, and travel experts have their eyes set on what the world of vacationing will look like in the coming months.One thing is certain: it will be much busier.According to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) study, travel should increase another 4% over pre-pandemic highs.In its 2024 Trend Report, online travel site Expedia highlights specific categories of travel that will be popular in the new year, like traveling to destinations inspired by TV shows and films, seeking affordable alternatives to popular yet pricey destinations, and “go-ccassions,” which celebrate the everyday milestones in life like “date-iviersaries,” work achievements like promotions and retirement, and “puppymoons.”There are other trends coming up in 2024, including the overall demand for specific destinations and the demographic makeup of travel parties. Experts agree that the demand for t...

Gophers football vs. Bowling Green: Keys to bowl game, how to watch, who has the edge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

BOWLING GREEN vs. MINNESOTAWhat: Quick Lane BowlWhen: 1 p.m. CT, TuesdayWhere: Ford FieldTV: ESPNRadio: KFAN, 100.3 FMWeather: IndoorsBetting spread: Minnesota, minus-3.5Records: Minnesota (5-7) went winless in November, but received a bowl berth due its high Academic Progress Rate (APR) and a shortage of six-win teams to fill out the 82 teams in the field. Bowling Green (7-5) has a Power Five Conference win over Georgia Tech, 38-27, in September.History: The Gophers will put their six-game bowl winning streak on the line against a Falcons program that pulled off a shocker against the U in 2021. Minnesota was a 31-point home favorite but lost 14-10. “Whooped us,” head coach P.J. Fleck recalled earlier this month.Key matchup: Gophers defensive line vs. Bowling Green offensive line. Minnesota’s pass rushers, led by Jah Joyner with 21 total pressures, should be able to get the quarterback because center Alex Padgett and tackle Alex Wollschlaeger are vulnerable in pass sets....

Man and his dog hit by a car and killed in St. Paul on Sunday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:52 GMT

A man and his dog were hit by a car and killed while crossing a St. Paul street on Sunday night, authorities said.A Ford Taurus heading east struck the duo as they moved across Maryland Avenue West near Park Street.The driver stopped and was cooperative, police said.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Hundreds honor slain Hmong advocate and performer Tou Ger Xiong at Woodbury memorial Crime & Public Safety | Fridley woman dies after hit-and-run; she also had been shot, police say Crime & Public Safety | Washington County man sentenced for tax crimes, swindling short-term renters Crime & Public Safety | Minnesota BCA details deadly domestic disturbance in Marshall that ended with officer killing suspect Crime & Public Safety | MN pharmacist refused to fill emergency contraception prescription. Court to decide if that was discrimination.