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Anti-war officer from Putin’s elite security team defects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

LONDON (AP) — On October 14, a Russian engineer named Gleb Karakulov boarded a flight from Kazakhstan to Turkey with his wife and daughter. He switched off his phone to shut out the crescendo of urgent, enraged messages, said goodbye to his life in Russia and tried to calm his fast-beating heart.But this was no ordinary Russian defector. Karakulov was an officer in President Vladimir Putin’s secretive elite personal security service — one of the few Russians to flee and go public who have rank, as well as knowledge of intimate details of Putin’s life and potentially classified information.Karakulov, who was responsible for secure communications, said moral opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and his fear of dying there drove him to speak out, despite the risks to himself and his family. “Our president has become a war criminal,” he said. “It’s time to end this war and stop being silent.”Karakulov’s account generally conforms with others that paint the Russian president as a o...

Driver faces 1st-degree murder charges in Quebec pedestrian deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

The Quebec man charged after a pickup truck crashed into pedestrians last month is now facing three counts of first-degree murder.According to charges filed Tuesday in Amqui, Que., Steeve Gagnon also faces nine counts of attempted murder stemming from the March 13 incident.Police allege the accused drove down a main street in Amqui, hitting several groups of pedestrians in what investigators have described as an intentional act.Three people were killed: Gerald Charest, 65, and Jean Lafreniere, 73, and Simon-Guillaume Bourget, 41.More coming.

Federal spending on staff grew rapidly during pandemic: parliamentary budget officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget officer says the federal government’s spending on employees saw record growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. A newly published report says federal spending on personnel increased by almost 31 per cent between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 fiscal years. Spending on salaries, pensions and other employee compensation rose from $46.3 billion to $60.7 billion over that time period. The report says the public service expanded by the equivalent of 31,227 full-time employees between April 2020 and March 2022, with the government spending an average of 6.6 per cent more on each full-time worker.The Parliamentary Budget Office says the increase in salaries was the largest contributor to the rise in total compensation, but spending on pensions, overtime and bonuses also grew at a faster rate.The PBO says expenditure could rise further, with 26 out of 28 bargaining groups currently negotiating collective agreements.This report by The Canadian Press was first pub...

‘He’s a war criminal’: Elite Putin security officer defects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

LONDON (AP) — On October 14, a Russian engineer named Gleb Karakulov boarded a flight from Kazakhstan to Turkey with his wife and daughter. He switched off his phone to shut out the crescendo of urgent, enraged messages, said goodbye to his life in Russia and tried to calm his fast-beating heart.But this was no ordinary Russian defector. Karakulov was an officer in President Vladimir Putin’s secretive elite personal security service — one of the few Russians to flee and go public who have rank, as well as knowledge of intimate details of Putin’s life and potentially classified information.Karakulov, who was responsible for secure communications, said moral opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and his fear of dying there drove him to speak out, despite the risks to himself and his family. He said he hoped to inspire other Russians to speak out also.“Our President has become a war criminal,” he said. “It is time to end this war and stop being silent.” Karakulov’s account general...

Warning, watch issued as severe weather moves into area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

CHICAGO — A potential for a severe weather threat is expected for the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.There is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for LaSalle County until 11:45 a.m. Additionally, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Cook, Grundy, Kendall, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle, Will, DuPage, Lake (IN) and Kankakee counties until 3 p.m. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast Tuesday, with more potent storms —strong to severe — anticipated in the afternoon. Winds: E 10-15, G25 mph. High: 64. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with showers and thunderstorms expected, some strong to severe. Winds: S 15-25, G40 mph. Low 61.Wednesday Forecast: Some morning showers and thunderstorms are expected for Wednesday morning's commute, then clearing and colder temperatures with very windy conditions. Winds: SW 20-30, G50mph. High 70 early and then falling temps.Extended outlook calls for cooler tem...

Suburban man accused of exposing himself to 2 girls near playground

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

BATAVIA, Ill. — A suburban man was arrested Monday after he allegedly exposed himself to two pre-teen girls near a Batavia playground.On Sunday at around 4:30 p.m., a man reported to police that his daughter and another girl encountered a man who exposed himself to the girls near the playground at H.C. Storm School, located in the 300 block of North Van Nortwick Avenue.The man was last seen riding a bicycle southbound on the same street, police said.The next day, Matthew Mroz, 36, of St. Charles, was arrested by a Batavia police officer. ‘Covered with soap’: Driver accused of fleeing to car wash after Portage crash Following an investigation, he was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, public indecency within 500 feet of a school, public indecency and disorderly conduct.Anyone with more information on the incident can call police at 630-454-2500.

27-year-old woman reported missing on West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Authorities issued a missing person alert Tuesday after a woman was last seen in Hermosa.Antoniette Mathis, 27, was last seen at around 11:45 a.m. March 30 in the 2100 block of North Kildare.She is 5'5", 140 lbs., and has black hair with brown eyes. Mathis also has the word "Sagittarius" written on her right hand.Anyone with information can call police at 312-746-6554.

A public perp walk into a Manhattan courtroom could energize – not humiliate – Donald Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

(The Conversation) - Manhattan may be the scene of the perp walk of the century on April 4, 2023, when former President Donald Trump answers to his recent indictment and turns himself in to authorities in court.Trump has reportedly told his aides that he has no desire to hide from the cameras and is ready for a perp walk through a crowd of photographers, police and other onlookers to create a “spectacle.”It is not yet clear how Trump will actually enter the courthouse, given security concerns that could lead to a quiet surrender. Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina has said that Trump will not be handcuffed when he enters the courthouse and appears before a judge.Some of Trump’s detractors have hoped for a public moment of reckoning for alleged crimes for years, but Trump – and his supporters – are not likely to treat it as a walk of shame. Indeed, a high-profile event like a perp walk could further fuel Trump’s run for presidency.I have studied perp walks...

Rep. Jesús 'Chuy' García announces death of daughter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

(The Hill) -- Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.) announced on Tuesday that his daughter Rosa died Monday night at the age of 28.García did not disclose a cause of death in his brief statement, writing, "Last night our beloved daughter, Rosa, passed away at the age of 28."García said his daughter “joined our family as a young girl who had been in the foster care system.” Trump backers rally outside Manhattan courthouse ahead of arraignment: Live coverage “We did our best to provide a stable, loving, and welcoming home for her,” he continued. “Our family asks for privacy and welcomes your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.”“Our family is completely heartbroken,” he added.News of Garcia’s daughter’s death came on the same day as the runoff election for Chicago’s mayoral race. Garcia ran for the post but came in fourth in February, eliminating him from the race.

Dean's A-List Interview: Keegan Michael Key and Cecily Strong on 'Schmicago: Schmigadoon Season 2'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

WGN's Dean Richards sits down with Keegan Michael Key and Cecily Strong to talk about 'Schmicago: Schmigadoon Season 2.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!