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A look back at 50 years of Kiss-tory as the legendary band prepares to take its final bow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Fifty years ago, four young New Yorkers dragged their guitars, amps and drums to a loft on 23rd Street in New York, dreaming of becoming the biggest band in the world.This weekend, Kiss, the band started by those four — albeit with two different members currently in the fold — will say its goodbyes about 10 blocks north of that loft. Kiss will play Madison Square Garden, having become if not THE biggest band in the world, certainly one of the biggest, one that’s redefined expectations for the live concert experience.Here is a look back at major events in Kiss’ history, taken from Associated Press interviews with Kiss members, quotes they gave to other media and material from band members’ autobiographies:1973: Gene Simmons, who worked briefly as a teacher and loved horror films and comic books, and cabbie Paul Stanley, who once dropped passengers off at Madison Square Garden to see Elvis Presley and vowed someday he’d be on that same stage, ex...

Pakistan’s supreme court hears petition on forceful deportation of Afghans born in the country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s top court opened a hearing Friday on a petition by human rights activists seeking to halt the forceful deportation of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and those who would be at risk if they were returned to Afghanistan. The deportations are part of a nationwide crackdown by the government in Islamabad that started last month on Afghans who are in Pakistan without papers or proper documentation. Pakistan claims the campaign does not target Afghans specifically, though they make up most of the foreigners in the country. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. In addition, more than half a million people fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power in August 2021, in the final weeks of U.S. and NATO pullout. Since Islamabad launched the crackdown in October, giving Afghans until the end of the month to go back or face arrest, hundreds of thousands have returned home, many in Pakistan-or...

Worker dead after falling two storeys from home in East York

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

One person is dead after falling from a home they were working on in East York on Friday morning.Police say a man fell two storeys from a home near Yardley and Glenburn avenues, in the area of St. Clair and Victoria Park, around 9 a.m.Paramedics tell CityNews the man was pronounced dead at the scene.The Ministry of Labour has been called in to investigate.This is a developing story. More to come.

Lawsuits against Trump over Jan. 6 riot can move forward, appeals court says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawsuits against Donald Trump brought by Capitol Police officers and Democratic lawmakers over the U.S. Capitol riot, can move forward, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Trump’s request to dismiss the lawsuits that accuse him of inciting the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021. But the court said it’s ruling was not the final word on whether presidential immunity shields the Republican from liability in the case and said the judges express “no view on the ultimate merits of the claims” against the former president. The case was decided by a unanimous three-court panel that included Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee to the bench who authored his own concurring opinion.A lawyer for Trump, Jesse Binnall, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment on the ruling.The decision comes as Trump’s lawyers are arguing he is also immune from criminal prosecution in the case br...

A yoga leader promised followers enlightenment. But he’s now accused of sexual abuse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

PARIS (AP) — To his followers, he was “Grieg,” their guide through tantra yoga toward enlightenment and a higher state of consciousness. For European police, Gregorian Bivolaru represents a far more sinister figure: a master manipulator accused of sexual abuse and exploitation. The arrest this week in the Paris region of the 71-year-old yoga leader and 40 others marked the culmination of a six-year police manhunt involving Interpol. The sweep, led by a French police unit that combats crimes committed by sects and which mobilized 175 officers, also freed 26 people, described by French authorities as sect victims who’d been housed in deplorably dirty and cramped conditions. On Friday, 15 of the suspects were being presented to a judge who could hand them preliminary charges. French police have for months been investigating a range of suspected crimes, including rape, human trafficking, illegal confinement and preying on followers as part of a sect.It wasn’t possible to reach Biv...

Former TDSB trustee Parthi Kandavel wins Scarborough Southwest byelection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

The long string of never-ending elections in the city’s east end concluded Thursday night with former Toronto District School Board trustee Parthi Kandavel winning the municipal seat in Scarborough Southwest.Kandavel beat out 22 other candidates in the byelection held Thursday night, garnering just over 27 per cent support. Kevin Rupasinghe finished a close second in the race with 22 per cent of the votes cast.Kandavel replaces former councillor Gary Crawford, who resigned in July to run as a Conservative candidate in the provincial byelection in Scarborough-Guildwood. He previously finished runner-up to Crawford in the 2022 municipal election.“It’s been a long journey. You’re aware it was a close election for council last year and to see this result really fills my heart,” Kandavel told supporters after the unofficial results were published.Affordability in housing and food security, increasing the frequency of TTC service, public safety and the high c...

Mexico’s minimum wage will rise by 20% next year, to about $14.25 per day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Friday the country’s minimum wage will rise by 20% in 2024, to the equivalent of about $14.25 per day. About one-third of Mexico’s registered workers report earning the minimum wage, which will amount to about $1.75 per hour starting Jan. 1. In pesos, the minimum will rise from about 207 pesos to about 248 pesos. The minimum is higher in areas along the northern border, where living costs are higher. There, the 20% increase would take the minimum to about 375 pesos, or about $21.50. Part of the increase in dollar terms comes from the peso’s appreciation against the dollar in the last year. The Mexican currency has risen by about 10% in value against the dollar since December 2022. That increase is largely attributable to the high inflow of remittances and high domestic interest rates, which make the peso attractive for investors.The Associated Press

Deals to sell BioSteel assets result in $30.4M in aggregate gross proceeds: Canopy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

SMITHS FALLS, Ont. — Canopy Growth Corp. says the aggregate gross proceeds from selling off its sports drink business total $30.4 million.The Smiths Falls, Ont., cannabis company says the proceeds come from two agreements linked to BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc. that have closed.The first deal involved the sale of BioSteel Canada to DC Holdings Ltd., which does business as Coachwood Group of Companies and also owns sports nutrition brand Canadian Protein.The second transaction saw BioSteel sell its manufacturing business to New Jersey-based Gregory Packaging Inc., which is behind SunCup juice cartons.Canopy says a portion of the proceeds will be used to repay debt.The cannabis company put BioSteel up for sale when the sports drink business was placed under court protection from creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in September.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:WEED)The Canadian Press

Matthew M Williams to step down as Givenchy’s creative director early in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Matthew M. Williams will step down as creative director of Givenchy, the renowned Parisian heritage house owned by LVMH, the company announced Friday. Williams, who has been at the helm since June 2020, is set to depart early in 2024 and will focus on his own brand, 1017 ALYX 9SM.The American designer, known for his collaborations with Lady Gaga and Kanye West, is credited with infusing Givenchy with a fresh streetwear edge, bringing a dynamic vibe to the haute Paris runway.Williams’ tenure at Givenchy has been marked by a mix of bold fashion shows, innovative designs and notable collaborations with contemporary artists. Yet, the fashion press had varying critical responses to Williams’ tenure, echoing the challenges of blending streetwear sensibilities with traditional haute couture.Notable achievements under Williams’ direction include the revitalization of Givenchy’s product line, with items like the “U-Lock” jacket and the “Voyou” bag, both launched in early 2023. R...

A bus driver ate gummies containing THC, then passed out on highway. He’s now on probation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:03 GMT

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A commercial bus driver who pulled over on a Connecticut highway and passed out with 38 passengers aboard after eating THC-infused gummies has been granted a probation program that could result in criminal charges being dismissed.A state judge in Bridgeport approved accelerated rehabilitation Thursday for Jinhuan Chen, 59, who said he didn’t know the gummies contained the active ingredient in marijuana, Hearst Connecticut Media reported. If he successfully completes a two-year probation period, 38 counts of reckless endangerment will be erased.“Mr. Chen considers himself fortunate that no one was harmed,” said his lawyer, Daniel Esposito.Chen, through a Mandarin interpreter, told Judge Elizabeth Reid that he didn’t know the gummies contained THC because he does not speak or read English.“This potentially could have had devastating consequences but he immediately pulled over and called 911,” Reid said.Chen was driving a Go Go Sun Tour bus in...