Vkusno & tochka says attempts to increase domestic processing will be difficult The head of the company now running the former McDonald’s chain of restaurants in Russia told a business television channel that producers of french fries are refusing to supply to the country and warned that attempts to increase domestic processing are fraught with difficulties. McDonald’s quit Russia after a Western backlash against Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine, which included a barrage of economic sanctions, and sold all the restaurants it owned to a local licensee in May. RestaurantsRead more

Store clerk, bystander killed in separate early morning shootings on Monday Two men were arrested Friday in connection with a series of robberies at Southern California 7-Eleven stores that left two people dead and three wounded. Police said the men are suspected in another killing and other crimes in the region. A half-dozen 7-Elevens and a doughnut shop were robbed within five hours early Monday in San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties, setting off an intensive manhunt that resulted in the arrests of the two men in Los Angeles. OneRead more

Nearly 10,000 hectares of land on fire in Gironde region on Saturday Wildfires raged in southwestern France and Spain on Saturday, forcing thousands of people from their homes as blistering summer temperatures put authorities on alert in parts of Europe. More than 12,200 people had been evacuated from France’s Gironde region by Saturday morning as more than 1,000 firefighters tried to bring the flames under control, regional authorities said in a statement. Wildfires have torn through France in recent weeks, as well as in other European countries including Portugal and Spain. NearlyRead more

Vehicle waited for Malik outside family business before he was shot, IHIT says Police have identified a vehicle linked to the targeted killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik, a man who was acquitted in the Air India bombings and shot dead on Thursday. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) released footage on Friday of a white Honda CRV believed to have been used by the person, or people, responsible for the killing. Police said the SUV waited for Malik on Thursday outside his family business, Papillon Eastern Imports, located at 8236 128 Street. IHIT said the vehicle parked around 7 a.m. PT and waited thereRead more

The Black Romance Book Club will be hosted at the Art Gallery of Hamilton A new book club launching in Hamilton is on a quest to get more Black Canadians writing romance novels. Founder, Tanya Lee — a book club aficionado and a certified life skills coach — says the idea for the club grew out of the frustration she experienced because of the near non-existence of romance novels written by Black Canadian authors. “I’m starting the Black Romance Book Club … and what I’m promoting is Black romance writers,” Lee told CBC Hamilton.Read more

Group aims to issue a report with recommendations on how to improve policing in the city An independent expert panel tasked with making recommendations to improve the state of policing in Thunder Bay has wrapped up its first round of public consultations in the northwestern Ontario city. The panel was formed in March by the Thunder Bay Police Services Board at a time when there were a growing number of human rights complaints being filed by current and former officers, and a sitting board member. Since then, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) appointedRead more

July 15 drag show for youth postponed after northern Ontario group received online threats Four national 2SLGBTQI+ organizations have teamed to decry hateful messages against a group in North Bay, Ont., that was planning a drag show for youth. Enchanté Network, JusticeTrans, Égale Canada, and the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) issued a joint news release Thursday in support of OutLoud North Bay. Last week, OutLoud North Bay posted about the event online, which was set to be held today (July 15). After an American social media account directed its followers to harass the community group,Read more

Annual pilgrimage attracts thousands of visitors With the papal visit fast approaching, representatives from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Lac Ste. Anne Métis are welcoming the Pope to discuss the history and importance of the pilgrimage site. Chief Tony Alexis from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation says despite mixed emotions, he welcomes the Pope’s visit and believes it will be a historic moment. “People of all faiths and races visit these waters, yet they are all praying to the same creator in the same spirit,” he said. “The lake has been aRead more

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Virginia judge on Wednesday rejected an effort by actress Amber Heard to set aside the $10 million judgment awarded against her in favor of her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. Depp won a defamation suit against Heard last month in a high-profile civil trial. Heard won a smaller, $2 million judgement on a counterclaim she filed against Depp. Earlier this month, Heard filed a motion seeking to have Depp’s verdict set aside, or have a mistrial declared. Her lawyers cited multiple factors, including an apparent case of mistakenRead more

A stupendously popular source novel. A theme song by Taylor Swift. Reese Witherspoon as producer. And even a tantalizing, life-imitates-art news headline surfacing recently. Clearly, few movies open with as much going for them as “Where the Crawdads Sing,” directed by Olivia Newman from Delia Owens’ story of an abandoned girl who grows up alone in the North Carolina marshes and finds herself accused of murder. But all the buzz and talent around a tale that’s sold more than 12 million copies can’t thoroughly mask a sometimes corny, often clunky script,Read more