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Muslim pilgrims take part in symbolic stoning of the devil as Hajj pilgrimage winds down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims cast stones at pillars representing the devil on Thursday in the final days of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.This year’s pilgrimage was the first in three years to be held without coronavirus restrictions and drew over 1.8 million Muslims from all corners of the earth.The pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam, required of all Muslims at least once in their lives if they are able. For the pilgrims, it is a deeply spiritual journey that wipes away sins and affirms the unity of the worldwide Muslim community.It began with pilgrims circling the Kaaba in Mecca’s Grand Mosque, the cube-shaped structure to which Muslims face during their five daily prayers. The spiritual high point came on Tuesday. That’s when pilgrims flocked to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon.During the final three days of the Hajj, pilgrims cast stones at pillars representing the devil, a reenac...

Philippines considering US request to host visa processing center for Afghans despite concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday that a request for his country to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center for thousands of Afghan nationals faces security and other concerns but is still being considered by his administration.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken first relayed the request to his Philippine counterpart last year, and President Joe Biden discussed the request when Marcos visited the United States in May, Philippine officials said.The full details of the request, which remains under negotiations between the treaty allies, have not been made public, but Marcos said he was told by American officials that only a maximum of 1,000 Afghan nationals would be allowed to stay in the Philippines at any one time while their special immigrant visas are being processed.A Philippine official said an initial 600 Afghan nationals would be allowed in a “pilot phase” if the U.S. proposal gets approved. The proposal was...

South Koreans grow younger overnight as the country changes how it counts people’s ages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — As South Korea campaigns to retire an old and odd age-counting method that makes people a year or two older than they really are, children are among the few who seem most eager to stick with the past.“I turned 6 and then became 5 again,” Kim Da-in said when a TV reporter asked her about a new law that went into effect Wednesday that formalizes the international age-counting method in administrative and civil laws and encourages people to tally their own ages accordingly.South Korea’s traditional age-counting custom considers every person 1 year old at birth and adds another year when the calendar hits Jan. 1, meaning a child born on Dec. 31 turns 2 the next day.While the new law is the country’s latest attempt to retire that method and standardize international ages based on the passing of birthdays, it’s not immediately clear what will actually change — putting aside the minor frustrations of children like Da-in waiting for their birthdays.President ...

Same-sex couples and LGBTQ+ rights activists in Nepal celebrate interim court ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — LGBTQ+ rights activists and couples in Nepal on Thursday were celebrating an interim order issued by the country’s Supreme Court enabling the registration of same-sex marriages for the first time.The Supreme Court issued the order on Wednesday allowing for the temporary registration of marriages for same-sex and non-traditional couples.The decision represented a leap forward for activists and others who have long sought to amend the laws to permit same-sex marriage and end provisions that limit marriage to heterosexual couples.“At a personal level, for those who are living together it is a huge victory. Practically, they can register their marriage and their rights can be immediately exercised,” said Sunil Babu Pant, an openly gay former parliamentarian and leading LGBTQ+ rights activist in Nepal.“This is very important because it allows the couple to go and register their marriage and start living as a couple legally,” Pant said.Since a cou...

Firefighters rescue man trapped inside vehicle after rollover on DVP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

A man has been rushed to hospital after a rollover crash on the Don Valley Parkway.It happened on the northbound DVP ramp to westbound Lawrence Avenue. Emergency crews were called to the scene just after 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday.Firefighters worked to free the man who was trapped in his SUV after it flipped over onto the driver’s side.The man was rushed to a trauma centre but paramedics say his injuries are not life threatening.Crews had to stabilize the vehicle before attempting to extricate the man.CityNews traffic reporter Jordan Kerr who was flying over the scene in Chopper 680 said it took firefighters around half an hour to free him.The right lane of the northbound DVP is blocked off at Lawrence, as well as the ramp to westbound Lawrence.UPDATE: #Chopper680 says firefighters are working to free a trapped person. Right lane blocked northbound DVP at Lawrence. Ramp to westbound Lawrence blocked.https://t.co/xGrbNN6JMp pic.twitter.com/iUXZTBopAD— CityNews Toronto Traffic &...

Lawyers ask Amsterdam court to reduce Canadian 13-year cyberbullying sentence to Dutch citizen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — A 13-year sentence a Canadian court handed to a Dutch cyber bully in a notorious case involving a young girl who took her own life in 2012 should be reduced to four-and-a-half years in the Netherlands, a prosecutor in Amsterdam said Thursday.Aydin Coban was convicted last year of extortion, harassment and other crimes in a case involving Canadian teenager Amanda Todd who was blackmailed to expose herself in front of a webcam. The 15-year-old died by suicide after detailing her ordeal in a YouTube video watched by millions around the world.Coban was already serving an 11-year sentence in the Netherlands for similar crimes targeting 33 other victims when he was extradited to Canada to face trial in the Todd case. His Canadian sentence is to be served in the Netherlands after he serves out his original prison term in August next year. It must first be converted into a sentence in accordance with Dutch law.Coban was not in court for a hearing Thursday at Amsterdam Distr...

Austrian police seize drugs and vast trove of weapons in a raid on a far-right biker gang

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Austrian authorities said Thursday they they have seized large amounts of drugs and a vast arsenal of firearms in a raid on a far-right biker gang tied to organized crime.Public broadcaster ORF reported that police searched properties in Upper Austria and detained 10 people on suspicion of breaching firearms, narcotics and extremism laws.Police seized grenade launchers, about 35 rifles, 25 submachine guns, 100 pistols and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition during Monday’s raids, ORF reported.They also confiscated Nazi paraphernalia such as swastika flags, military uniforms and helmets, as well as 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine and 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of cannabis.Officials said the suspects were members of a branch of the Bandidos biker club that has been trying to gain a foothold in Austria. Tabloid daily Krone reported that the raids were sparked by investigations resulting from the 2022 discovery of firearms and ammunition in a vehicle belonging to a...

Suspect sought after stabbing at Yorkdale Mall that sent victim to hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

Police are searching for a suspect after a stabbing at Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall that sent one person to hospital.Officers responded to reports of someone being stabbed at the mall around 10 p.m. Wednesday.A male victim was located at the scene. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The suspect fled the mall before officers arrived.He is described as a man in his 20s with brown hair and was last seen wearing all black clothing with black and red shoes.Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.STABBING: (UPDATE)Yorkdale Mall10:03pm– victim being transported to hospital with non life threatening injuries– police are o/s investigating – anyone with info call 416-808-2222#GO1499160^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) June 29, 2023

Critics of Tokyo redevelopment plan accuse city government of ignoring residents’ wishes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Critics of the planned redevelopment of a beloved centuries-old Tokyo park and historic sports stadiums accused the government in court on Thursday of ignoring the wishes of residents and catering to commercial interests.A total of 59 plaintiffs, many of them longtime residents, filed a lawsuit in February against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to stop the project, which would build skyscrapers and new stadiums and bulldoze hundreds of trees in the Jingu Gaien green district. Their lawyer said the project’s impact assessment did not adequately consider its effect on the environment and on health and living conditions.The plan, approved earlier this year by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, has become increasingly controversial. Followers of baseball and rugby oppose it, as well as conservationists and civic groups who say the project has advanced without transparency or adequate environmental assessment.The Tokyo government has “never sincerely faced our opinions”...

Corus Entertainment reports Q3 loss, revenue down from year ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

TORONTO — Corus Entertainment Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year ago as it took a non-cash impairment charge related to goodwill, broadcast licences as well as trademark and brand assets totalling $590.0 million.The television and radio broadcaster says its loss attributable to shareholders amounted to $495.1 million or $2.48 loss per diluted share for the quarter ended May 31.The loss compared with a profit of $29.6 million or 14 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year.Revenue totalled $397.3 million for what was the company’s third quarter, down from $433.5 million a year earlier.On an adjusted basis, Corus says it earned nine cents per share for the quarter, down from an adjusted profit of 15 cents per share in the same quarter last year.Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of five cents per share, based on estimates compiled by financial markets data firm Refinitiv.This report by The Canadian Press was firs...