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A Japan court says North Korea is responsible for the abuses of people lured there by false promises

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese high court on Monday said the North Korean government was responsible for the human rights abuses of plaintiffs who said they were lured to the North by Pyongyang’s false promise of living in “paradise on Earth,” a decision praised as a victory by survivors and their supporters.“The ruling showed that a Japanese court can rule on North Korea’s human rights violations, one that could have a significant impact,” said a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Kenji Fukuda.The four plaintiffs, including ethnic Koreans and Japanese, moved to North Korea with thousands of others under a 1959-1984 program in which the North promised free health care, education, jobs and other benefits. But they said none of that was available and they were mostly assigned manual work at mines, forests or farms and forced to live in harsh conditions.Originally, five plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in 2018 with the Tokyo District Court seeking 100 million yen ($900,000) each in compensation for “illega...

Canada desperately needs more family doctors. Why are we making it harder to be one?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, depending on where you live in this country, there’s a between one-in-three and one-in-six chance that you don’t have a family doctor. And the number of Canadians without one is rising rapidly. Now, at a time when older doctors are leaving the profession, the College of Family Physicians of Canada has announced plans to increase the time would-be family doctors are required to train from two years to three. Even if it’s well-intentioned, the move has sparked opposition from experts and health ministers, who say we’re in a crisis and desperately need new doctors.Dr. Cathy Risdon, a family doctor and Chair of Family Medicine at McMaster University, says the added benefits of increasing the length of training for family doctors may outweigh any potential costs.“By continuing to support trainees in a third year, in settings which offer them a chance to practice comprehensive medicine, we actually may come out ahead,” says Risdo...

General Motors, the lone holdout among Detroit Three, faces rising pressure and risks from strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Pressure is rising on General Motors as the lone holdout in a strike targeting all three big Detroit automakers after a tentative contract agreement with Jeep maker Stellantis was reached with the United Auto Workers union over the weekend. The UAW reached a tentative agreement last week with Ford and it wasted no time in hitting GM where it hurts financially as the strike enters its seventh week. Nearly 4,000 unionized workers on Saturday walked out of GM’s largest North American plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, hours after the deal with Stellantis was announced. They join about 14,000 GM workers already striking at factories in Texas, Michigan and Missouri. Spring Hill produces the engines for vehicles assembled at nine plants as far afield as Mexico, including Silverado and Sierra pickups. It’s a big money maker for GM that amplifies the company’s financial pain after workers walked off the job last week in Arlington, Texas, where full-size SUVs i...

Two bodies found aboard migrant boat intercepted off Canary Island of Tenerife

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The bodies of two people were found aboard a boat carrying more than 200 migrants that was located off the Canary Island of Tenerife early Monday, Spain’s Marine Rescue Service said.The service was not immediately able to give further information about the victims. It said the boat was carrying 34 minors.It was the third boat migrant boat to arrive at the island Monday. A second boat was carrying 83 people and a third 95.Some 23,500 people have arrived on the Canary Islands by boat between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15. That’s a 90% increase from the same period last year.Most of the migrants come from sub-Saharan African countries and most of the boats depart from Senegal.Spain’s acting Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska was to visit Senegal Monday for talks on ways of clamping down on the boat departures. Spanish authorities are planning to convert unused military barracks and installations into temporary shelters for migrants to deal with the increased arrivals. ...

Activists urge Paris Olympics organizers to respect the rights of migrants and homeless people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Aid groups and social justice activists protested outside the Paris Olympics headquarters and appealed Monday to French authorities to protect the rights of thousands of migrants and others living on the streets as the Paris region prepares for the Summer Games.Activists projected the words ‘’The Other Side of the Medal’’ on the Paris 2024 main offices in the suburb of Saint-Denis and strung up protest signs outside the entrance in a brief demonstration Sunday night.More than 70 nongovernmental organizations issued a letter Monday to Paris region authorities, the Olympics organizing committee and Olympic sponsors warning of a risk of ‘’social cleansing’’ of society’s most marginalized from the streets of Paris and its suburbs ahead of the Games.Organizers of next year’s Games promised to meet with the organizations to discuss next steps, and noted that Paris has long faced tensions over migration and how to house people sleeping in the streets.Paris police routine...

Woman seriously injured when struck by vehicle in Mississauga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

A woman has been rushed to hospital after she was struck by a vehicle in Mississauga on Monday morning.Emergency crews responded to the area of Southdown Road and Truscott Drive, near the QEW and Winston Churchill Boulevard, just before 7 a.m.Paramedics say the woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Her age is not yet known.Police say the driver involved remained at the scene.The area is closed to traffic as police investigate.No further details are available at this time.UPDATE:-Road Closure: S/B Southdown Rd @ Truscott Rd and N/B Southdown Rd @ Bromsgrove Rd-Please use alternate routes— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) October 30, 2023

Father of Highland Park parade shooting suspect to appear in court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — The father of the suspect in the Highland Park parade shooting is expected to appear at another court hearing Monday.Prosecutors allege that Robert Crimo Jr. was criminally reckless at the time that he helped procure a FOID card for his son Robert Crimo III.Prosecutors also allege by helping his son obtain a FOID card, Robert Crimo Jr  was a contributing cause to the bodily harm suffered by the homicide victims in the mass shooting that occurred on July 4, 2022. Highland Park City Council to discuss remembrance committee to help develop memorial for mass shooting victims Monday’s hearing is the final one before his trial begins November 6.Robert Crimo III, 21, has been charged and faces 21 counts of first-degree murder — three counts for each of the deceased victims, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.He’s accused of opening fire with an assault-style rifle from a rooftop, killing Nicolas Toledo, 78, Jacki Sundheim, 63, Katherine Goldstein...

Dog food sold in 5 states recalled over possible salmonella contamination

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

(WHTM) -- Blue Ridge Beef has issued a voluntary dog food recall due to a possible health risk. According to the Food and Drug Administration, Breeders Choice #2 dog food may have been contaminated with salmonella. The FDA notified the company on Oct. 27 that the dog food tested positive for the bacteria. The product, which was packaged in clear plastic and has Lot# 8/2/24 with a UPC of 8 54298 00193 1, was distributed this year from Aug. 9 to Aug. 25. It was mostly sold in retail stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.Salmonella can affect both animals and humans, the FDA says. "Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products," the FDA stated. Bagged, precut onions linked to salmonella outbreak that has sickened 73 people in 22 states Pet...

A children's activity center sold at Walmart is being recalled

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

CHICAGO — An item that's sold at Walmart and intended for children is being recalled by the store this week. This involves the Dorel Juvenile Group's Cosco Jump, Spin, and Play Activity Center, which has had incidents of the straps detaching or breaking when a child is inside, creating a fall and injury hazard.It involves the activity centers with model numbers WA105FZW and WA105GML, coming in pink and blue colors. They were sold at Walmart stores and www.walmart.com from November 2020 through October 2023.This comes after there were 141 reports of the straps detaching or breaking, resulting in 38 minor injuries involving bumps, bruises, and scratches. Those who own one should stop using them immediately and contact Dorel for a replacement. In order to get that replacement, the company is asking consumers to cut through the straps of the activity center and then send a photo of that to them. You can find more information on the recall here.

Burn hazard forces recall of pressure cooker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:41 GMT

CHICAGO — There is a pressure cooker that is being recalled by a major retailer due to a burn hazard.Best Buy is asking that people return Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers after reports of incidents where people using it were burned. This includes units with the model numbers NS-MC60SS8, NS-MC60SS9, or NS-MC80SS9, and inner cooker pots with model numbers NS-MCRP6NS9 and NS-MCRP6SS9. These were sold at Best Buy stores or online at www.bestbuy.com or www.amazon.com between Oct. 2017 and June 2023. According to Best Buy, there have been 31 incidents where the contents of the pressure cookers were "expelled under pressure." There have been 17 reports of burns, including second-degree and severe burns.If you own one, you are asked to contact Best Buy for a replacement of the inner pot and floating locking valve for signaling pressure.More information on the recall can be found here.