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Why does Sweden allow Quran burnings? Like much of West, it has no blasphemy laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Sweden has sparked an angry reaction in Muslim countries and raised questions – including in Sweden – about why such acts are allowed.In the latest such incident, an Iraqi living in Sweden on Thursday stomped on and kicked Islam’s holy book in a two-man rally outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm. The protest was authorized by Swedish police, who kept a handful of agitated counterdemonstrators at a safe distance.The same Iraqi man burned a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque last month in a similar protest that was approved by police. And at the start of the year, a far-right activist from Denmark carried out a similar stunt outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.Here’s a look at how Swedish authorities have been dealing with these acts.IS DESECRATING THE QURAN ALLOWED IN SWEDEN?There is no law in Sweden specifically prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or othe...

Blue Jays avoid sweep, shutout Padres 4-0 at Rogers Centre

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

Chris Bassitt pitched six scoreless innings, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a solo home run as the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a sweep with a 4-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.Bassitt improved to 10-5 this season in one of his steadiest performances that saw the veteran hurler go six strong, allowing four hits, striking out five batters, and walking one.The Blue Jays got off to an early start against Padres southpaw Blake Snell when Jordan Luplow hit an RBI single to give Toronto a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It would stay that way until the bottom of the seventh when Guerrero hit a solo shot, his 15th home run of the season.Catcher Alejandro Kirk would give Toronto some insurance with a two-run home run the inning after. It was Kirk’s fourth homer of the year. Relievers Tim Mayza, Erik Swanson and Canadian closer Jordan Romano would each toss three scoreless innings en route to the win.RELATED: Chris Bassitt announces ‘Bassitts Pitch In’ in support of ...

Stock market today: Wall Street’s rally fizzles after Tesla and Netflix fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Drops for Tesla, Netflix and other big tech-oriented stocks put the clamps on Wall Street’s torrid rally Thursday.The S&P 500 fell 30.85, or 0.7%, to 4,534.87, coming off its highest close since early April 2022 and its seventh gain in the last eight days. The Nasdaq composite dropped 294.71, or 2.1%, to 14,063.31 and its worst loss in more than four months.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was an outlier and up 163.97 points, or 0.5%, to 35,225.18 because it has less of an emphasis on tech stocks.Tesla tumbled 9.7% despite reporting stronger profit and revenue for the spring than expected. Analysts said investors may be concerned about how profitable the electric vehicle maker will be after cutting prices. Planned factory downtime during the summer for upgrades could also weigh on its upcoming results.Because Tesla is one of the most valuable companies on Wall Street, its stock movements carry extra weight on the S&P 500 and other indexes.Netflix sank 8.4% de...

Suburban elementary school employee accused of distributing child pornography

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

CARY, Ill. — A man who worked in the attendance office of a suburban elementary school is facing multiple charges relating to a child pornography investigation.According to Algonquin police, Donald Peters was arrested on Tuesday after executing a search warrant was executed at his residence in Cary. Peters is a longtime employee of the CommunityUnit School District 300 and may have solicited students for their social media accounts, police said. Antioch police execute search warrant in criminal investigation after boy thrown from carnival ride "District 300 can confirm Donald Peters' employment at Westfield Community School," a spokesperson said to WGN News. "Mr. Peters has been placed on administrative leave. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the district cannot provide further comment at this time."Peters was charged with 10 offenses, including: Child pornography – reproduce or distribute videoChild pornography – solicits another to provideIntimidation –...

Are the goodbyes beginning for the Cubs again - this time with Kyle Hendricks?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

CHICAGO — It appears that a recent unpleasant tradition could be returning to Wrigley Field in 2023, with its start coming on Wednesday evening. Kyle Hendricks threw six innings against the Nationals with just one run allowed on five hits with five strikeouts compared to one walk. It continues what has been a good year for the starter, who dropped his ERA to 3.38 in 11 starts in 2023. It's also the last guaranteed year of his contract, with a $16 million club option remaining for the 2024 season. Even with an 8-3 win over the Nationals Wednesday night, the Cubs are still 7 1/2 games out of the lead in the National League Central division and seven games out of the last Wild Card spot.This means that Hendricks could be a candidate to be dealt to a contender before the August 1 deadline. Teams could find value in a pitcher who has won a World Series and had 12 postseason starts. Of course, this means that the Cubs and fans would say goodbye to their last player from that 2016 champio...

Person struck and killed by hit-and-run driver on interstate in Northwest Indiana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A person walking on an interstate late-Tuesday night in Northwest Indiana was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver, according to state police. Around 11:30 p.m., troopers received 911 calls reporting a woman wearing all black walking on Interstate 80/Interstate 94 near Broadway. Off-duty Chicago officer killed in ATV crash on Far North Side: source A short time later, 911 callers told troopers the woman was struck and the driver who hit her left.Indiana State Police troopers arrived and found the woman was dead, Sgt. Glen Fifield said.Anyone with information, who may have witnessed the crash or saw the vehicle involved is asked to call Trooper Kay Galvan at 219-696-6242.

Woman's lawsuit against California restaurant claims dish was too spicy, 'unfit for human consumption'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

(KRON) – Everyone has different tolerances for spicy food. But a diner in the San Francisco Bay Area is alleging that one particular restaurant's appetizer was so spicy that it was "unfit" for human consumption.The diner, Harjasleen Walia, filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month accusing Coup De Thai in Los Gatos — as well as the restaurant's cook, waitressing staff, and owner — of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Walia, in her lawsuit, said the restaurant's "Dragon Balls" appetizer was so spicy that she suffered burns on her vocal cords, esophagus, and nose. "Harjasleen Walia was poisoned, made ill and burned necessitating medical care," the lawsuit claims. "Her throat and voice has been damaged. She incurred permanent injuries and will forever be damaged to her body. These consequences are the direct result of defendants serving to her foods unfit for human consumption."Walia is demanding compensation for medical expenses and loss of income. JFK gran...

Boil water notice in effect for some West Travis Co. PUA customers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Due to high water system demands from Hays WCID 1 and Hays WCID 2, the water provider West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA) is unable to maintain system pressure for some WTCPUA customers, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required water systems to notify customers to boil their water, officials told KXAN.According to the WTCPUA website, the boil water notice was issued for customers on the Highway 290 System (High Pointe, Ledgestone, Sunset Canyon, Rim Rock, Parten Ranch, Burba Ranch, Sawyer Ranch…) and certain customers on Hamilton Pool Road (Provence, Belvedere, Madrone Ranch and Deer Creek ONLY).To ensure destruction of harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use, officials said.Officials also suggest purchasing bottled water or obtaining water from another suitable source.Once it is no longer necessary to boil water, the water system o...

Nearly 64,000 Texas borrowers will have their federal loans forgiven

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) Nearly 64,000 Texas borrowers will have their federal student loans forgiven after a U.S. Department of Education review concluded they qualified for the benefit.The total debt amount forgiven will be $3.1 billion, an average of $48,500 per borrower.The move is unrelated to President Joe Biden's now-defunct student debt forgiveness plan, which was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court last month. It only applies to borrowers with federal loans taken more than two decades ago.Rather than forgiveness, the steps taken last week are a correction: It affects borrowers whose debts should have been canceled but weren’t due to "past administrative failures," according to the Department of Education.[Help us report on how the return of student loan repayments will affect Texans]The Department of Education started a review of all federal loans last year and, since then, the agency has identified 804,000 borrowers nationwide who would’ve qualified for debt forgiveness if...

Minnesota sees net 4,300 job loss in June, unemployment at 2.9%

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:37 GMT

Minnesota on Thursday reported a new loss 4,300 jobs in June, on a seasonally adjusted basis, with the state’s private sector losing 6,500 jobs.Minnesota’s unemployment rate remained steady at 2.9% in June, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reported. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 3.6%. Looking at job growth over the year, both Minnesota and the U.S. as a whole are up 2.4%, DEED reported.The state did report an increase in the labor force of 9,017, up two-tenths of a percentage point to 68.4%, compared with 62.6% nationally. This rate measured the total number of people working or seeking work compared with the population as a whole.“More workers mean more good news for Minnesota. Our economy is strong with low unemployment, a growing labor force and recognition as one of the top five states in the nation for business,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek in a news release. “While job growth didn’t continue this month, the long term trend remains...