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New Zealand’s new government scraps world-leading smoking ban to fund tax cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

(CNN) — As any smoker will tell you, quitting tobacco isn’t easy – and it’s something New Zealand’s new government just isn’t prepared to do right now.A year after passing a world-leading smoking ban designed to save thousands of lives and prevent new generations of young adults from smoking, New Zealand has announced a u-turn to help pay for tax cuts, infuriating public health officials and anti-tobacco groups.Introduced last year, the anti-smoking law banned the sale of tobacco to anyone born or after January 1, 2009.The legislation was due to be implemented by July 2024 and would have included harsh penalties for violations such as fines of up to NZ$150,000 ($96,000).The country’s new Prime Minister Chris Luxon, whose conservative National Party entered a coalition alliance with the populist New Zealand First party and the libertarian ACT New Zealand party following elections in October, defended the controversial move, saying he disagreed with parts of the po...

Column: ‘Tunnel vision.’ With a clutch completion, Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields finished a sloppy night with a signature win.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

On his final pass of a challenging night, Justin Fields knew he had one responsibility, one obligation to his team, one chance to author the ending of Monday’s tense and sloppy game with the Minnesota Vikings.Make a damn play.Just make one more play. Of any kind.That was all Fields needed to do, even with all the pressure that was intensifying — from the Vikings defense, from his own miscues earlier in the fourth quarter, from the weight of so many previous games the Chicago Bears had their chance to win but couldn’t.Just make a play.After doing so many things wrong Monday, after again stumbling to the edge of the cliff in a winnable game, the Bears had their final chance to steal a win at U.S. Bank Stadium. And the ball was in Fields’ hands near midfield, with his team down a point and the clock ticking inside a minute.On third-and-10, Fields kept his nerves calm and his eyes up. A seven-man protection stonewalled a four-man Minnesota rush. And with the Viki...

Chicago Bears defense hopefully finding its groove after a 4-interception game: ‘They don’t score, they don’t win’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

The barrage of Chicago Bears takeaways started with 11 minutes, 43 seconds to play in the second quarter Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs lofted a pass to wide receiver Jordan Addison on the left sideline, and Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson leaped into the air to pull it down.Bears safety Jaquan Brisker was next. A Dobbs pass in the second quarter bounced off Addison’s hands, and Brisker dived forward.Then it was linebacker T.J. Edwards’ turn. Johnson broke up a third-quarter Dobbs pass to K.J. Osbourn, and Edwards hopped as he caught it.Finally, nickel Kyler Gordon jumped in on the action in the fourth quarter, diving to pull in a football that defensive tackle Justin Jones nearly secured himself before he bobbled it.When the Bears were done in Minneapolis, they had intercepted Dobbs four times to help drive a 12-10 Bears victory, the team’s first in the NFC North under coach Matt Eberflus. In the last two games against t...

Reports: Patrick Kane to sign with Red Wings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

The Bruins need to right their ship after three straight highly problematic losses, but Patrick Kane will not be part of the solution.According to multiple reports, the former Chicago Blackhawks star has chosen to sign with the B’s Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings on a one-year deal.The B’s had been linked to Kane, who is coming off hip resurfacing surgery, by Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his podcast on Monday but Detroit, with over $5million in cap space, was in a far better position than the B’s to offer Kane anything of substance. Friedman, The Athleitc and ESPN all reported on Tuesday morning that Kane will sign with Detroit.While Kane would have added some needed scoring punch, he would not have addressed the B’s most glaring needs. The B’s have lost four of their last five games and, in those games, they’ve allowed 22 goals. While coach Jim Montgomery pulled Jeremy Swayman from Monday’s 5-2 loss in Columbus a wakeup c...

Strike over privatizing Sao Paulo’s public transport causes crowds and delays in city of 11 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Long lines appeared in Sao Paulo’s bus and subway stations Tuesday as a strike opposing privatization efforts of public transport in South America’s largest city caused delays. Traffic on some routes stalled completely.Sao Paulo state Gov. Tarcísio de Freitas, who took office in January, called the strike “unreasonable.” He told reporters he had campaigned for looking into privatizations, concessions and “the participation of private capital in public services as a way of bringing investment.”It was not clear how long the strike would last, and there appeared to be little room for negotiations. The governor insisted that privatization had been the “winning position” in the election and that “to not accept that position is to not accept the results of the polls.”Camila Lisboa, president of the Sao Paulo Subway Workers Union, which opposes privatization, lamented “authoritarian statements that do not consider the right to strike.” Lisboa claimed that ...

Attacks on Sierra Leone barracks and prisons were failed coup, minister says, as 13 arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The attacks Sunday on Sierra Leone’s main military barracks and prisons are a failed coup attempt and have resulted in the arrest of 13 military officers, the government’s spokesman said Tuesday.The attackers attempted to “overthrow the elected government of Sierra Leone,” Information Minister Chernor Bah said as he briefed reporters about the early-morning attack that took security forces and residents by surprise in the usually peaceful capital city of Freetown.“Thirteen military officers are currently in custody and one other civilian … in this incident we are now calling a failed coup,” Bah said.The Associated Press

14-year-old boy charged with murder after stabbing at NC school kills 1 student, injures another

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a stabbing at a North Carolina high school that left one student dead and another hospitalized, officials said.The stabbing happened during a fight at Southeast Raleigh High School on Monday morning, Raleigh police said in a news release. Officers and school security responded to a report of a stabbing around 11 a.m. and two teens were taken to a local hospital. A 15-year-old student died and a 16-year-old was hospitalized with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, police and school officials said late Monday.The 14-year-old was charged with murder on a juvenile petition, Raleigh police said. The teen was a student at the school, police spokesperson Lt. Jason Borneo said. Officials haven’t released the name of the student who died. Schools should be a safe haven for students and staff and all safety processes and protocols will be reviewed, Wake County Superintendent Robert Taylor said at a news c...

Markham man charged with murder in death of B.C. woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

A 34-year-old man is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of a B.C. woman in Markham over the weekend.York Regional Police officers responded to a residence on Gillingham Avenue, near Steeles Avenue East and McCowan Road, just before 10:50 p.m. for an ‘unknown trouble’ call.Police found a 34-year-old woman without vital signs and a man with serious injuries.The woman, from B.C., was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have identified her as Xu Guo.The cause of death not yet been determined. A post mortem is expected to take place in the coming days.Investigators have charged Zhaoyu Li, from Markham, with first-degree murder.It is not yet known if the victim and the suspect knew each other.

Finland plans to close its entire border with Russia over migration concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland will close its last remaining road border with Russia due to concerns over migration, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Tuesday, accusing Moscow of undermining Finland’s national security.Finland already closed seven of its eight of the checkpoints along its long border Russia this month following a surge in arrivals of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. The government accuses Moscow of ushering the migrants toward the Finnish border.“The government has decided to close the entire eastern border,” Orpo told reporters, saying the country faced an “exceptional” situation.“We don’t accept any attempt to undermine our national security,” he said.Finnish authorities say about 900 migrants crossed the border from Russia this month, significantly more than normal. It has accused Russia of trying to create a migration crisis in Finland following the Nordic nation’s entry into NATO this year.Interior Minister Mari Rantanen sai...

Canada Goose buys European knitwear supplier Paola Confectii

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:52:39 GMT

TORONTO — Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has acquired a long-standing knitwear supplier and its European manufacturing facility.Financial terms of the deal for the operating assets of Paola Confectii Manufacturing were not immediately available.Canada Goose, best known for its luxury down-filled parkas, says Paola Confectii is based in Romania and has been a knitwear manufacturing partner since Canada Goose launched in 2017.The company says the deal builds on its existing network of seven facilities across Canada and marks its first in Europe.Canada Goose chairman and chief executive Dani Reiss says the deal demonstrates the confidence the company has in its emerging categories and its plans to develop them into even more meaningful contributors to its business. It says Paola Confectii will continue to be led by general manager Giannino Lessi and technical director Paola Zaffalon as a stand-alone entity.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2023.Companie...