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Falling telecom prices a positive sign, but phone bills still too expensive: experts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

TORONTO — A price drop for Canadian phone and internet services last month has some observers optimistic about the downward trend, but industry watchers say there is still a long way to go when it comes to telecom affordability.Consumers paid 14.7 per cent less for cellular services in June compared with the same month last year, following an 8.2 per cent decline in May, according to Statistics Canada’s latest inflation report released Tuesday.Overall, the cost of telephone services dropped 11.1 per cent in June from a year ago. Statistics Canada attributed more affordable phone bills to both lower prices for cellular data plans and promotional pricing.The data aligns with trends that show the costs of telecommunication services in Canada have been declining in recent years, said Gerry Wall, whose company Wall Communications Inc. publishes an annual report comparing Canadian phone and internet prices with those of other countries.“Technology is allowing improvements in t...

Stanford University president to resign following concerns about his research

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The president of Stanford University said Wednesday he would resign, citing an independent review that cleared him of research misconduct but found flaws in other papers authored by his lab.Marc Tessier-Lavigne said in a statement to students and staff that he would step down August 31.The resignation comes after the board of trustee’s launched a review in December following allegations he engaged in fraud and other unethical conduct related to his research and papers.He says he “never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented.” But he says he should have been more diligent in seeking corrections regarding his work.The review assessed 12 papers that Tessier-Lavigne worked on, and he is the principal author on five of them. He said he was aware of issues with four of the five papers but acknowledged taking “insufficient” steps to deal with the issues.He said he’ll retract three of the papers and corr...

Former executive gets 5 years in prison for bribing officials in Atlanta and neighboring county

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A former executive for a longtime city of Atlanta vendor was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for paying bribes in exchange for millions of dollars in city contracts and to paying bribes to an official in a neighboring county in an attempt to get business there.Lohrasb “Jeff” Jafari, 72, pleaded guilty in April to paying bribes to Atlanta and DeKalb County officials and failing to pay more than $1.5 million in taxes. The charges against him stemmed from a federal investigation into corruption during former Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration that led to the indictment of several former city officials and contractors. Reed himself was never charged.“The public paid a heavy price from every project unfairly awarded to Jafari’s companies through corruption, and he then compounded his harm by never paying any tax on his substantial personal income,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a news release. “His greed delivered a hard blow to public trust in...

Belarus Red Cross sparks outcry after its chief says it brought Ukrainian children to Belarus

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The Belarus Red Cross has sparked international outrage after its chief told Belarusian state television that the organization is actively involved in bringing Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied areas to Belarus. Both Ukraine and the Belarusian opposition have decried the transfer as unlawful deportations, and there have been calls for international war crimes charges for the authoritarian Belarus leader, similar to the charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The actions of the Belarus Red Cross drew stern criticism from the International Federation of Red and Red Crescent Societies.Belarus has been Moscow’s closest ally since Russia’s invasion started in February 2022, with its leader Alexander Lukashenko allowing the Kremlin to use Belarusian territory to send troops and weapons into Ukraine. Lukashenko has also welcomed a Russian military presence in Belarus and the deployment of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons there.Belarusian oppo...

New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu won’t seek reelection in 2024

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who considered but decided against runs for president and the U.S. Senate, said Wednesday he will not seek reelection in 2024. Sununu, who has been governor since 2017, said in an email that he will not seek a fifth, two-year term. “This was no easy decision as I truly love serving as Governor,” he stated. “Public service should never be a career, and the time is right for another Republican to lead our great state.” Sununu, 48, did not say what his immediate plans were and did not endorse anyone to succeed him. He said he reached his decision after discussions with his wife, Valerie, and his children.Shortly after his announcement, Chuck Morse, former Republican president of the New Hampshire Senate and a former U.S. Senate candidate, announced his campaign for governor. He said in a statement that he’s proud to have worked with Sununu “to put together a conservative, pro-jobs, pro-growth, family first economic ...

B.C. police sound alarm over wealthy cryptocurrency investors being robbed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

RICHMOND, B.C. — Police in Richmond and Delta, B.C., are warning the public of a disturbing trend of high-value cryptocurrency investors being targeted for home invasions. Richmond RCMP and Delta Police say they have responded to several calls of reported robberies in the homes of cryptocurrency investors over the past year. Staff Sgt. Gene Hsieh with Richmond RCMP major crimes says police are issuing the warning to the public because the robberies appear to be aimed at high-value cryptocurrency investors.Investigators say they have made an arrest in one case, and are working to confirm if the robberies are related.Mounties and the Delta Police say the culprits in each case have posed as delivery people or “persons of authority” to gain access to victims’ homes where they rob people of the information needed to access cryptocurrency accounts.  Police say they’re not releasing details of any of the incidents or the amounts of cryptocurrency involved because th...

Officials to discuss use of police force in Fargo shooting that killed gunman who fired on officers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s attorney general plans to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss a Fargo police officer’s use of deadly force against a gunman who opened fire on other officers, killing one and injuring two.Authorities say Officer Zach Robinson fatally shot Mohamad Barakat, 37, after the man fired on officers responding to a traffic crash Friday. Officer Jake Wallin was killed, and Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were hospitalized with critical injuries. A woman was also shot, but authorities have not said who shot her. Fargo’s police chief has said Barakat’s motive was unclear. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and FBI are investigating.A statement from Attorney General Drew Wrigley’s office said Wednesday’s news conference “will address the officer use of force issue only.” Another news conference is scheduled for Friday to address the investigation.Wallin, 23, served in the Minnesota Army National Guard...

Loretto Hospital workers to announce strike notice

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

CHICAGO — Healthcare workers at Loretto Hospital are set to deliver a strike notice Wednesday afternoon.Workers are "taking a stand" after accusing hospital management of failing to address crucial issues around wages and the "urgent need" for staffing, according to a press release.SEIU Healthcare Illinois claims management has yet to address the issues and also failed to address workers' demand for a Juneteenth holiday.At 1 p.m., workers will join SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Greg Kelley to announce a 10-day strike notice. WGN News will stream it from this story.

UPS strike would trigger pandemic-era supply chain issues, expert says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – As talks between UPS and the union that represents more than 300,000 delivery drivers break down, a strike this summer is looking more likely. That could impact 25 to 30 percent of parcels and packages shipped in the U.S. The Teamsters represent 340,000 UPS workers. If a strike does happen, it would be the first since a 15-day walkout by 185,000 workers crippled the company a quarter century ago.Since then, UPS has become an even bigger part of the U.S. economy. UPS says it delivered 24.3 million packages daily in 2022, totaling 6.2 billion packages by year's end. That's about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. ‘UPS dug their heels in’: Teamsters UPS strike plans emerge, could affect 30 percent of parcels UPS says it has contingency plans if staff do go on strike after the July 31 contract deadline, but disruptions would still be substantial, Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and ...

Tracking the Tropics: New hurricane model promises more accurate forecasts with help from supercomputers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:17 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A revolutionary weather model that accurately predicted the rapid intensification of Hurricane Ian will assume the position as the National Hurricane Center's premier hurricane forecasting model.The NHC said its new "Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System," or HAFS for short, went operational on June 27 alongside older models for the 2023 hurricane season. The system is the first new major forecast model to use NOAA’s updated weather and climate supercomputers.BackgroundAn experimental version of HAFS which ran from 2019 to 2022 showed a 10-15% improvement in track predictions compared to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s existing hurricane models."HAFS provides more accurate, higher-resolution forecast information both over land and ocean," NOAA said.HAFS can zoom in with a resolution of 1.2 miles on areas of a hurricane that are key to improving wind intensity and rain forecasts, the NHC said.“One unique aspect to HAFS is we have this movin...