Edmonton police commission, city council criticized over private meeting

Russian artillery fire is blasting Ukraine's largest nuclear plant, sparking a fire, hours after international atomic regulators warned combat at the facility could wreak havoc, according to Ukraine authorities.Video posted to Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, early Friday local time appeared to show a projectile landing outside the facility, creating a large fireball.Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, tweeted that Russian forces were "firing from all sides" on the facility."Fire has already broken out," he wrote – a claim that appears to be supported by grainy livestream video. "If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl.""We demand that they stop the heavy weapons fire," Andriy Tuz, spokesperson for the plant in Enerhodar, said in another video posted on Telegram.

PHILADELPHIA - Several Ukrainian communities around Philadelphia have organized relief efforts to help their homeland that continues to valiantly defend itself against an invasion from Russia. The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center is collecting thousands of boxes of supplies, community leaders are coming together to help, and businesses are holding fundraisers.Craft Hall in Old City held a fundraiser Thursday where every dollar donated was doubled for Voices of Children.Adam Hornik, Craft Hall Owner, partnered with Ukrainian-born DJ Irene Whoo for the event."This organization provides them both psychological and financial and logistical support to help them deal with this tragedy that they are going through," Hornik said.Whoo accompanied the fundraising effort by playing traditional Ukrainian music that she fell in love with as a youth. "We grew up listening to traditional dance, fun, Ukrainian music," Whoo said. "Lots of instruments lots of horns, violins.  It’s drinking music, my people they are rambunctious and fun and happy."Her family fled Ukraine in the early 90’s during the Russian Occupation. The daily rhythms of life that play in her head have been overshadowed by the sounds of war that are breaking her heart."I really just wanted to put something together for everyone to not even talk about anything but positive things," Whoo said. "Hugging each other, be happy, dance."Local pastry chefs are coming together to 'Bake for Ukraine' and there's ways that you can help their cause!Volunteers at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown worked tirelessly to process, package, and ship thousands of boxes of donations to support families in Ukraine.

Facade with sign at Amazon Books retail store on Santana Row in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, California, December 14, 2019. NEW YORK (AP) - Amazon is closing all of its brick-and-mortar bookstores, as well as its 4-star shops and pop up locations, as the online retail behemoth reworks its physical footprint.The Seattle-based company said Wednesday that the move, which affects 66 stores in the U.S.

SHARON HILL, Pa. - A Delaware County judge on Thursday upheld charges against three former Sharon Hill police officers charged in the deadly shooting of 8-year-old Fanta Bility. Officers Devon Smith, Sean Dolan, and Brian Devaney face manslaughter and reckless endangerment charges for the deadly shooting last August. They were fired from the Sharron Hill Police Department following a 6-1 Borough Council vote in January. According to investigators, on Aug.

California boys who were reported missing in 2020 have been charged with killing the children, although their bodies have not been found, authorities said Wednesday.Trezell West and Jacqueline West were arrested Tuesday night on murder and other charges in an indictment returned by a grand jury, Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer told a news conference in Bakersfield.Orrin West, 4, and his brother Orson, 3, were reported missing from their family’s backyard in the desert town of California City on Dec. 21, 2020.

Tamara Lich, one of the leaders of the convoy protest that occupied downtown Ottawa for three weeks last month was in court Wednesday, hoping to overturn an earlier judicial decision that she be held without bail until her trial on the charges of counselling to commit the offence of mischief and committing mischief.

Mike Bradley is among 15 Canadian mayors calling for the federal government to scrap all COVID-19 testing requirements for land border travellers who are double- or triple-vaccinated.In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the border city mayors, including Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, ask for an end to the testing guidelines, which they say are out of line with public health mandates and unjustified by current science.The letter, also cc’d to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, public safety minister Marco Mendocino, and health minister Jean-Yves Duclos, cites the “heavy price” pandemic travel measures have had on border communities, including through the lengthy closure of the land border to all but essential travel. Feds scrapping pre-arrival COVID PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers The letter comes days after the federal government lifted its pre-arrival PCR test requirements for double- and triple-vaccinated travellers.As of Monday, a negative rapid antigen or PCR test result will be accepted to meet entry requirements, provided the tests are administered by a lab or health care entity.

Americans living in rural areas are less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 than their urban counterparts, and the gap between the two groups did not close during the Delta and Omicron surges, according to research published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

In the latest global COVID-19 developments, some recent hot spots reported new daily record cases, as US officials announced the transfer of some technology to an international effort to speed and share new pandemic tools.

From March 2020 to September 2021, women were more likely than men to lose their jobs, forego work to care for others, and report increasing violence, and women and girls were more likely than men and boys to drop out of school for reasons other than school closures, according to a study yesterday in The Lancet.University of Washington at Seattle researchers reviewing public

LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 23: In this handout photo provided by the Shelby County Detention Center, former Louisville, Kentucky detective Brett Hankison poses for a mug shot on September 23, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Hankison was charged with th LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky jury on Thursday cleared a former police officer of charges that he endangered neighbors when he fired shots into an apartment during the 2020 drug raid that ended with Breonna Taylor’s death.The panel of eight men and four women delivered its verdict about three hours after it took the case following closing arguments from prosecution and defense attorneys.Hankison had been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing through sliding-glass side doors and a window of Taylor’s apartment during the raid that left the 26-year-old Black woman dead.

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - Clayton County police have arrested a man accused of bringing a 13-year-old girl from Kansas to Georgia to have sex with her.At a press conference Wednesday, the Clayton County Police Department said that 33-year-old Jonesboro resident Harold Graham met the underage girl on the popular gaming app Roblox on Feb. 18. According to investigators, Graham was able to convince the girl two days later to sneak out of her home in Topeka, Kansas and run away with him back to Clayton County.

several municipalities in Ontario that is keeping its mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy for its employees.The decision is being made despite the provincial government lifting several pandemic restrictions, including ending proof-of-vaccination requirements in certain settings. Several Ontario municipalities keep mandatory COVID vaccine policies in place for employees In a statement, Guelph’s general manager of human resources Mark Ellis said the city remains committed to ensuring its workspaces and facilities are safe for all staff and residents who use their services.“In addition to public health requirements, the city’s vaccine policy and screening requirements will remain in place for staff,” Ellis said.“Our policy requires disclosure of vaccination status and a regular testing protocol for those who are unable to or chose not to get fully vaccinated.”In August 2020, the city announced that its employees had until Oct.

Operatic soprano Anna Netrebko performs in a concert at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, on Sept. 18, 2021.

SILVER SPRING, Md. - During an afternoon press conference, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services said there are several "unaccounted for" tenants they are searching for. Officials do not have an exact number of how many people are missing. The search will continue through the night. Authorities say 10 people have been transported after an explosion and fire led to a structural collapse that destroyed part of an apartment complex in Silver Spring Thursday morning.The fire was reported around 10:30 a.m.

KEIGHLEY, England - A large fire on Thursday destroyed a 19th-century mill in England, which has been featured in "Peaky Blinders," "Downton Abbey" and other television shows and films.The flames broke out around 12 p.m. local time at Dalton Mills, an old textile factory located in the town of Keighley in England’s West Yorkshire, the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said."We currently have fire engines & specialist units in attendance at a fire at Dalton Mills, Keighley.

SILVER SPRING, Md. - A Silver Spring resident's security camera captured video of the moment an explosion tore through an apartment complex in Montgomery County sending 10 people to the hospital and leaving much of the building in ruins.10 TRANSPORTED IN SILVER SPRING APARTMENT BUILDING BLASTAmrit Gautam's camera was positioned directly across from the building in the Friendly Garden Apartment complex on Lyttonsville Road when at around 10:30 a.m. the explosion happened.Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and WeatherVideo shows a fireball and cloud of smoke pushing through the outer wall of the structure followed by a loud eruption.

Most of the Thompson family members are shown on the left; on the right is "M," whom they're trying to rescue and adopt from Ukraine. (Colleen Thompson) As Russia continues its attack against Ukraine, Colleen Thompson of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday about her family's desperate efforts to help orphans in Ukraine get out of the country safely.One orphan in particular, "M," is a future member of their family — a teenage girl whom the family had begun the process of adopting about three years ago.

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia judge will let a jury weigh criminal charges against an Amtrak engineer charged in a deadly 2015 derailment — although she expressed skepticism that the trial evidence this past week supports the charges.The on-again, off-again case against engineer Brandon Bostian, 38, could go to a jury Thursday afternoon. The charges include causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment.Eight people died and more than 200 people were injured when the train rounded a curve at more than twice the speed limit and derailed.In court Thursday, Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara McDermott said she was reserving judgment on whether or not the evidence was sufficient to prove the crimes charged.

AMES, Iowa - Going for a long jog or taking a brisk walk could increase the benefits of the COVID-19 shot, a new study finds.The findings, published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, demonstrate that 90 minutes of exercise after immunization of the vaccine increases antibody response several weeks later across several models.According to the study’s researchers, a total of 68 people were included in the final analysis, which analyzed the effects of exercise on different influenza vaccines or the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 75 mice were included in experiments to determine the minutes of exercise required to increase antibody response to the influenza vaccine.In the experiments involving the COVID-19 vaccine, participants were randomly assigned to 90 minutes of outdoor exercise — brisk walking or jogging depending on the fitness level of the person.

Dallas Cowboys players wear masks during the U.S. National Anthem before their game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Bryson Woolsey is trading in his chef’s apron and the luxury of home for ammunition and danger to help people in Ukraine during their time of crisis.

A new poll suggests almost two-thirds of Canadians believe the Russian invasion of Ukraine has the potential to develop into a world war.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Three state-owned universities in Pennsylvania will soon be known as the consolidated Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania after a vote by the State System Board of Governors on Wednesday.The board voted unanimously to make the change involving Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities, although those previous names will still be widely used — including for logos and on diplomas.The system says Commonwealth University will not be "a public-facing identifier," but rather a background name that will let the three schools legally become a single entity. There will be one accredited institution and a single administration, said state system spokesman Cody Jones.The merger is seen as a way to provide a broader range of programs to students at a time when enrollment has been falling.

NEW YORK - So-called "sex mayhem" has been driving New Yorkers crazy over the past year of the pandemic, with the cacophonous sounds of coitus driving many people to file complaints with the city.According to data obtained by Patch.com, New York City's 311 system received 277 complaints between February 19, 2021 and February 9, 2022 from people annoyed, unable to sleep, or left just plain frustrated by loud lovemaking. "I've slept through earthquakes and fires in my life," one complainant from Greenwood Heights in Brooklyn said. "I couldn't sleep through this."Queens produced the most complaints, with 103, with Manhattan coming in second with 66.

SILVER SPRING, Md. - Firefighters are responding to a multiple-alarm fire and a possible explosion at a four-story residential apartment building in Silver Spring.Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Spokesperson Pete Piringer says the fire occurred at an apartment building on Laytonsville Road.Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and WeatherFOX 5’s Bob Barnard reports from a fire and likely explosion at a four-story residential apartment building in Silver SpringPiringer says there are multiple injuries and casualties and also says there has been a structural collapse at the building.FOX 5’s Bob Barnard spoke with a person who was in the apartment building and said he heard and felt what appeared to be an explosion.This is a developing story.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Convicted killer Markeith Loyd on Thursday was sentenced to death for the killing of Orlando Police Lieutenant Debra Clayton in 2017. In December, the jury recommended the death penalty, but the judge had the final say. After the sentence was read, Loyd made an outburst in the courtroom before being led out. Clayton's family was in the courtroom for the sentencing.Convicted killer Markeith Loyd on Thursday was sentenced to death for the killing Orlando Police Lieutenant Debra Clayton in 2017.Local leaders, including Orange County Sheriff John Mina and Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon, spoke to the media outside the courthouse following the sentencing. "It does give me some sense of closure but I'm more happy for the family of Lt.

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Delhi on Thursday reported 326 fresh Covid-19 cases and three death, while the positivity rate stood at 0.77% and the case fatality rate stood at 1.40%, according to data shared by the city's health department.

FILE - A 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) on a demonstration course at AutoMobility LA ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 18, 2021.

Canada is imposing a 35-per-cent tariff on goods from Russia and Belarus as Moscow’s war in Ukraine rages on.

Ukrainians are feeling the weight of war, as Russia closes in on some of the country’s most populated areas. But despite bombings from above and attacks on the ground, Ukrainians and those fighting for them are still battling back, trying to block Russian advances.

NEW DELHI :

KYIV, Ukraine - Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold talks in Belarus on Thursday, a second round of face-to-face discussions since the Russian invasion eight days ago.In a video address to the nation early Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to keep up their resistance, but didn’t comment on whether the Russians have seized any cities."They will have no peace here," Zelenskyy said, calling on the Russian soldiers to "go home" and describing them as "confused children who have been used."His comments come as Russia acknowledged for the first time since the start of the invasion that nearly 500 Russian troops have been killed in the fighting and around 1,600 wounded. Ukraine has not released a similar casualty figure for its armed forces.The U.N.

PHILADELPHIA - A new law banning traffic stops for minor infractions went into effect in Philadelphia Thursday, despite recent legal challenges from the police union. Thursday’s implementation of their Driving Equality Law made Philadelphia the first city in the country to implement a law designed to reduce cases of what’s often called ‘driving while Black’ – or getting pulled over for superficial and racially motivated reasons. City Council passed the first-of-its kind bill in October, and Mayor Jim Kenney signed it into law in November, before it went into effect March 3. The law bans officers from pulling over vehicles based on traffic violations that are considered "secondary violations" in an effort to prevent racial disparities in traffic incidents handled by police. The following issues are considered secondary violations in the new law:Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 filed a lawsuit against the city and city officials over the law late last month, claiming that the law was dangerous. "This terrible law puts reckless drivers behind the wheel of unsafe vehicles that ultimately puts the general public in danger," said FOP Lodge # President John McNesby. McNesby had expressed concerns about the law before it was passed. In October, he told FOX 29 about the importance of traffic stops. "These stops, they lead to bigger things, they find guns, they find drugs, it leads to bigger things," he said.

FILE IMAGE - Soldiers burn trash from the Jaghatu Combat Outpost in a pit, located just outside the walls of the base in Jaghatu, Afghanistan on Sept. 12, 2012.

Ukraine to assist in the country's defense against the invading Russian military.Childress, speaking on FOX & Friends, said he was moved by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's spirit to defend his country."I heard Zelenskyy say he didn't want out, he needed ammunition," Childress said.The NASCAR legend said he called Fred Wagenhals, the CEO of AMMO Inc., about how they could make it happen. Childress told co-host Brian Kilmeade that Wagenhals immediately offered to begin production on ammunition for Ukrainian fighters. "To see people in Ukraine fighting, it's terrible to see the lives being lost over there," Childress said.

FILE - The American Flag is held on the field as the American national anthem is performed before the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 6, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Seventy-three percent of the United Nations General Assembly has voted to condemn Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Jackson Proskow reports on which Russian allies withheld support for Moscow, and the sanctions aimed at the richest oligarchs.

PHILADELPHIA - The midweek warmup that brought springlike conditions across the Delaware Valley on Wednesday will stall over the next several days before temperatures take another huge jump over the weekend.Overnight temperatures north and west of Philadelphia will dip into the mid to upper 30s. The Philadelphia area and neighboring parts of New Jersey will sit around 40 degrees. An incoming clipper system will drag spotty showers across the region on Thursday morning and bring cold air that will drop temperatures below seasonable levels. Forecasters expect high temperatures to linger in the mid-to-upper 40s with sun and clouds, but steady winds will make conditions feel much colder.

Brace yourselves, folks. This might just be the most frustrating two minutes of television game show play you’ve ever seen.

Hundreds of Canadian soldiers are Latvia, training to defend against a possible attack in case Russia extends its aggression beyond Ukraine.

MONTERREY, MEXICO - MARCH 01: Elina Svitolina of Ukraine celebrates a point during a match between Anastasia Potapova of Russia and Elina Svitolina of Ukraine as part of Day 4 of the GNP Seguros WTA Monterrey Open 2022 at Estadio GNP Seguros on March MEXICO CITY - Elina Svitolina put on the yellow and blue colors of Ukraine and beat Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday in the opening round of the Monterrey Open, deciding she could do more for her country by playing than boycotting the match.Top-seeded Svitolina earlier said she wouldn’t play against Potapova in Mexico or against any Russian or Belarusian opponents until the International Tennis Federation and the men’s and women’s tennis tours barred competitors from those countries using any national symbols, flags or anthems.The tennis governing bodies issued a statement Tuesday confirming that Russian and Belarusian players will still be allowed to compete at the top level, but without national flags.RUSSIAN MILITARY CONTINUES ATTACKS ON CROWDED CITIES IN UKRIANE"Today it was a very special match for me," the 27-year-old Svitolina said. "I’m in a very sad mood, but I’m happy that I´m playing tennis here."I was focused.

The European Union has approved new sanctions against Belarus for its supporting role in Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, effectively banning about 70 per cent of all imports from that country, the EU said on Wednesday.

Canada is going after Russia‘s energy sector, as it imposed additional economic measures Wednesday against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

PHILADELPHIA - A Montgomery County couple is returning to their homeland of Ukraine to help defend against Russia's ongoing invasion which has intensified over the last week.The husband and wife, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, have watched in disbelief as Vladimir Putin's army continues to bombard their former home."For myself, I knew from the beginning that I'm going to go. I want to do something.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund says that due to Sri Lanka’s persistent external debt service burden, international reserves would remain inadequate, despite the authorities’ ongoing efforts to secure FX financing from external sources.In a statement, the IMF adds that unless the fiscal and balance-of-payments financing needs are met, the country could experience significant contractions in imports and private credit growth, or monetary instability in case of further central bank financing of fiscal deficits.The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Sri Lanka on February 25, 2022.The IMF Executive Directors have called for continued improvements to expenditure rationalization, budget formulation and execution, and the fiscal rule.They also encouraged the authorities to reform state-owned enterprises and adopt cost-recovery energy pricing.Directors called for renewed efforts on growth-enhancing structural reforms.They stressed the importance of increasing female labor force participation and reducing youth unemployment. Further efforts are needed to diversify the economy, phase out import restrictions, and improve the business and investment climate in general.Directors also called for prudent management of the Colombo Port City project and continued efforts to strengthen governance and fight corruption.FULL STATEMENT:The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Sri Lanka on February 25, 2022.Sri Lanka has been hit hard by COVID-19.

JetBlue pilot was removed from the cockpit of a Florida-bound plane before departure from New York on Wednesday after Transportation Security Administration agents said they noticed that he appeared impaired.The JetBlue plane was about to depart from Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Wednesday when Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police removed James Clifton, 52, from the flight after TSA agents alerted them of the possibly impaired pilot, according to The Buffalo News.TSA agents said they noticed that Clifton could have been impaired while he was passing a security checkpoint at the airport.NFTA police gave Clifton a breathalyzer test, and he was recorded with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17%, which is over four times Federal Aviation Administration standards for pilots, according to the report.The flight's scheduled destination was Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to the report.Following the breathalyzer test, Clifton was taken into police custody before being released to JetBlue security.MORE NEWS: 'It's a nightmare!': Bride's flight to destination wedding canceledClifton could face federal charges after the incident, the NFTA told The Buffalo News.A JetBlue spokesperson told FOX Business that the crew member involved in the incident "has been removed from his duties.""The safety of JetBlue’s customers and crewmembers is our first priority.  We adhere to all DOT rules and requirements concerning alcohol at all times and have a very strict zero tolerance internal alcohol policy. We are aware of the incident that occurred this morning in Buffalo and are cooperating fully with law enforcement.