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UK unveils plan to strip Chinese cameras from government buildings

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

LONDON — British government departments will have to remove all surveillance equipment made by Chinese companies under a plan unveiled under pressure from hawkish Conservative backbenchers.Ministers offered significant concessions to Tory rebels in the new procurement bill — which will set rules for companies competing for government contracts — over the use of security cameras made in China.The climbdown comes after a series of meetings between ministers and rebel leaders Iain Duncan Smith and Alicia Kearns, who had both put forward amendments aiming to toughen up the bill’s language.Under the new proposals, the Cabinet Office will create a National Security Procurement Unit and publish a timeline for the removal of cameras produced by companies subject to China’s National Security Law — which critics say allows Chinese authorities to demand to see material — from “sensitive central government sites.”Cabinet Office Minister Jeremy Quin said the measures would “protect o...

Pope Francis taken to hospital for surgery

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

Pope Francis has been taken to a hospital in Rome for intestinal surgery, the Vatican said in a statement Wednesday — the latest in a series of recent health issues for the 86-year-old pontiff.Francis “will be placed under general anaesthesia” for a “laparotomy and abdominal wall plastic surgery with prosthesis,” which will take place this afternoon to treat an intestinal blockage, the Vatican’s press service said. He will remain hospitalized for “several days” for post-operative care.This is the latest in a series of health issues for Francis, who was elected as the head of the Catholic Church in 2013, following Benedict XVI’s resignation from the role.Francis underwent major intestinal surgery in July 2021, in which the left part of his bowel was removed. In March, he spent several days in the hospital, where he was treated for bronchitis.

Police ID woman found dead on side of NH highway, announce arrest

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

Authorities have identified the 27-year-old New Hampshire woman who was found dead in the breakdown lane of I-89 and announced an arrest in connection with her death. Following an investigation that included distributing photos of her tattoo, New Hampshire state troopers identified the woman as Gina C. Maiorano, of Henniker, according to state police. Thomas Shane Hanley, 30, also of Henniker, is now facing charges of conduct after an accident (felony), breach of bail, and stalking in connection with her death, police announced Wednesday morning. Troopers responding to a report of a body in the breakdown lane found Maiorano around 12:13 a.m. Monday.New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie V. Duval determined the cause of Maiorano’s death was blunt impact head injuries, and the manner of death is inconclusive, pending investigation.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Safety or nickel? Versatile Ravens defender Kyle Hamilton isn’t ready to pin himself to one spot.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

Kyle Hamilton had to adapt to an unexpected role to get the most out of his rookie season with the Ravens. He learned enough from the experience that he’s not going to pin himself down, not on June 6, anyway.The 2022 first-round draft pick knows fans are eager to hear where he will play in his second NFL campaign: At safety, where he was rated the runaway top prospect in his class? Or at nickel back, where he became one of the team’s most important defenders down the stretch of last season?“I don’t know,” he said Tuesday when asked if this is the year he becomes a full-time starting safety. “I think as of right now, I feel like I can do a multitude of things, and I feel like no one’s really trying to pin me at one place at this point.”But does he feel more at ease in one spot over the other?“I wouldn’t say there’s one where I’m specifically most comfortable,” he said. “It’s different. At nickel...

CityNews 680 celebrates 30 years of all-news radio

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

“Toronto’s number one for breaking news, traffic and weather, this is CityNews 680 Everywhere … here’s what’s making news right now.”That’s what you hear today at the top of the hour when you tune in to CityNews 680 on the AM dial. The station signs off with “CityNews 680 is CFTR AM Toronto.”Over the past three decades, the radio station, formerly 680 News, has been known for its three main pillars: breaking news, traffic, and weather. In fact, it has traffic and weather reports every 10 minutes on the ones.It all started on June 7, 1993, when CFTR turned into an all-news radio station from an all-hits station. Eight million time checks and 1.5 million traffic reports later and the station is celebrating its 30th anniversary.The history of the radio station, which is now owned by Rogers Communications Inc. under the subsidiary Rogers Sports and Media, dates back to 1962. It started using the call letters CHFI, simulcasting the mu...

Floodwaters engulf more areas of southern Ukraine after dam breach as hundreds evacuated

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — Floodwaters from a collapsed dam kept rising in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes in a major emergency operation that brought a dramatic new dimension to the war with Russia, now in its 16th month.Amid the disaster response, artillery shelling rang out as people scrambled to get out of the danger zone, climbing onto military trucks or rafts.A day after the dam’s collapse, it remained unclear what caused it. Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the dam wall, while Russia blamed Ukrainian shelling for the breach. Some experts said the collapse may have been an accident caused by wartime damage and neglect, although others said this was unlikely and argued that Russia might have had tactical military reasons to destroy the dam.The flood’s force was expected to slacken as the day wore on, officials said Wednesday, but water levels were expected to rise by another meter (about 3 feet) over the following 20 hours an...

Spain registers hottest spring temperatures on record

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain registered its hottest spring on record this year, and its second driest ever, the state meteorological agency said Wednesday. Rubén Del Campo, spokesman for the Aemet weather agency, said the latest data showed a continuation of the extremely high temperatures the country suffered in 2022, which was the hottest year ever recorded in Spain.The spring heat was accompanied by a scarcity of rain that will exacerbate Spain’s long-term drought, despite some rainfall over the last month. Spain’s Ecological Transition Ministry reported Tuesday that the country’s reservoirs are at 47.4% of their capacity, consolidating a downward trend.Del Campo noted knock-on effects for the Mediterranean country’s ecosystem. “Surface water temperatures recorded in 2022 were the highest since at least 1940,” he told a press conference, warning that the phenomenon endangered marine life and its ability to reproduce.The situation inland was also made much more prec...

23-year-old man dead in overnight crash on Hwy. 404

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

A young man is dead following an overnight crash on Highway 404 in Toronto.Ontario Provincial Police says the single-vehicle collision happened around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in the southbound lanes of the 404 south of Steeles Avenue.Police say a Ford Mustang struck the centre barrier and rolled over.The 23-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the only occupant in the vehicle.The southbound 404 is closed at Steeles for the investigation. The highway is expected to reopen around 8 a.m.Highway 404 S/B south of Steeles closed for a police investigation. #TorontoOPP, #AuroraOPP #407OPP and #TSU on scene. Single Motor Vehicle collision, a male driver has been pronounced deceased. Call Sergeant Hill for further information at 7052389120.^mh pic.twitter.com/pBGFMMbsdW— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) June 7, 2023

Persistent inflation, higher interest rates will weigh on global economy, OECD predicts

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The global economy must steer through a precarious recovery this year and next as inflation keeps dragging on household spending and higher interest rates weigh on growth, banks and markets. That was the takeaway Wednesday from the latest economic outlook by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The group, made up of 38 member countries, raised its growth forecast this year to 2.7% from an estimated 2.2% in November and foresaw only a tiny acceleration to 2.9% next year.The rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and energy price spike tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is likely to be weak by past standards, with average growth of 3.4% recorded in the pre-pandemic years 2013-2019. The path ahead is fraught with risks, from escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine — with a dam collapse Tuesday that the sides blamed on each other — to debt troubles in developing countries and rapid interest rate hikes having unforeseen ...

Pope Francis hospitalized for intestinal surgery under general anesthesia

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:50:55 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis went to the hospital Wednesday to undergo abdominal surgery to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine.The Vatican said Francis, 86, would be put under general anesthesia for the procedure Wednesday afternoon and would be hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli hospital for several days.Francis' white Fiat 500 car pulled out of the Vatican shortly after 11 a.m. with an escort, and arrived at the Gemelli some 20 minutes later.The pope is undergoing what the Vatican said was a “laparotomy and abdominal wall plastic surgery with prosthesis” to treat a “recurrent, painful and worsening” constriction of the intestine.A laparotomy is open abdominal surgery. It can help a surgeon both diagnose and treat issues. The statement said Francis was suffering from a blocked laparocele, which is a hernia that formed over a previous scar."The stay at the health...