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Fiji’s former leader Bainimarama arrested and due in court

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fiji’s former leader Frank Bainimarama was due to appear in court Friday after both he and the nation’s suspended police commissioner were arrested the day before and held overnight in jail.The development adds another twist to the volatile political situation on the Pacific island nation, where Bainimarama in December lost a tense election to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Last month, Bainimarama, 68, was suspended from parliament for three years for insulting the president, and this week he resigned from parliament in protest.Bainimarama and Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho each face a single charge of abuse of office. Prosecutors claim the pair terminated an active police investigation into former staff members of the University of the South Pacific. Prosecutors said police were continuing their investigation and could lay more charges.A former military commander, Bainimarama held power in Fiji for 16 years after first seizing the top job b...

Lawmaker says FBI wrongly sought surveillance info about him

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican lawmaker on Thursday accused the FBI of wrongly searching for his name in foreign surveillance data, underscoring the challenges ahead for U.S. officials trying to persuade Congress to renew their authorities to collect huge swaths of communications.Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., did not say why the FBI may have searched his name in information collected under a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act known as Section 702, and a spokesman for the lawmaker did not respond to a request for further clarification. At a hearing of the House Intelligence Committee, LaHood pressed FBI Director Chris Wray to acknowledge that his agency and others had at times violated the rules on the use of data collected through electronic snooping.“We clearly have work to do, and we’re eager to do it with this committee, to show that we can be worthy stewards of these important authorities,” Wray said.In a statement, the FBI said that though it could not comment ...

‘Cocaine cat’ escaped owner, will now live at Cincinnati Zoo

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

An African serval cat that was found with cocaine in its system after an escape at a traffic stop now calls the Cincinnati Zoo home, much to the delight of social media users still amused by the recent release of the movie ” Cocaine Bear.”The wild cat’s story has trended online, where users relished in the absurdity of the horror comedy, which is based on the true story of a 175-pound black bear that was found dead near a duffle bag and some $2 million worth of cocaine. Social media users have predictably dubbed the serval “cocaine cat.”The slender feline made its escape after its owner was pulled over by police on Jan. 28, according to local animal control officials. It leapt from the car into a tree.Ray Anderson of Cincinnati Animal CARE said that local animal control, Hamilton County Dog Wardens, were called around 2 a.m. in the residential Oakley neighborhood.In Ohio, it is illegal to own the animals, which can weigh up to 40 pounds. During the rescue mission, ...

CP NewsAlert: Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond speaks out after award revoked over heritage

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

VANCOUVER — Former judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond says she is satisfied in her “past work, identity and self-worth” after the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association stripped her of an award because it believed she falsified her claims of Indigenous identity.Turpel-Lafond says in her most expansive remarks since questions about her heritage were raised last year that it is “liberating” to be freed of honours.More coming.The Canadian Press

Pact to settle lawsuits in deadliest Vegas apartment fire

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A confidential settlement has been reached in civil negligence lawsuits arising from the deadliest residential fire in Las Vegas history, a smoky blaze at a low-budget downtown apartment building in December 2019.Court documents refer to funding but do not provide details of the pact, and attorneys declined Thursday to comment about what was termed a “global resolution” of lawsuits against former Alpine Motel Apartments owner Adolfo Orozco and a corporate ownership entity, Las Vegas Dragon Hotel LLC.“At this time, neither my client nor I are in a position to comment on the settlement,” said Steven Jaffe, Orozco’s attorney in the cases filed in 2020 and 2021 and consolidated in Clark County District Court.“My only comment would be that the parties look forward to the court’s approval,” said Robert Murdock, attorney for Deborah Cihal Crawford and lead lawyer for plaintiffs in the settlement.Thirteen people were injured, five critically, including a pregnant woma...

Kim supervises N. Korean troops simulating attack on South

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a live-fire artillery drill simulating an attack on a South Korean airfield and called for his troops to be ready to respond to the enemies’ “frantic war preparation moves” — apparently referring to the U.S.’s largest military exercises with the South in years.The North Korean state media report Friday came a day after South Korea’s military detected the North firing at least one short-range ballistic missile toward the sea from a site near the western coastal city of Nampo. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff was assessing whether more missiles may have been launched from the area simultaneously.South Korea and the United States are preparing this month for their biggest combined military training exercise in years to counter the growing threat of Kim’s nuclear arsenal, which he has aggressively expanded despite the North’s deepening economic isolation and pandemic-related difficulties.Pyongyang’s ...

Federal Court approves ‘historic’ $2.8B residential day schools settlement

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

VANCOUVER — A Federal Court judge has approved a $2.8 billion settlement agreement between the Canadian government and plaintiffs representing 325 First Nations whose members went to residential day schools. Justice Ann Marie McDonald said in her ruling issued Thursday that the settlement is intended to help take steps to reverse the losses of language, culture and heritage through an Indigenous-led not-for-profit body. She called the agreement “historic,” and “transformational,” adding that the settlement does not release the Canadian government from future lawsuits related to children who have died or disappeared at residential schools.The federal government originally reached the settlement with the plaintiffs in January, but Federal Court also needed to approve the agreement. The lawsuit was originally brought forth by two B.C. First Nations, the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc and the shishalh, more than a decade ago.Those members were ineligible for the 2006 set...

Canadian grocery prices not expected to drop despite testimonies from CEOs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

There is no end in sight to rising food prices, even after the heads of Canada’s largest grocery chains testified in Ottawa in front of a parliamentary committee that is studying inflated grocery costs.Their testimony came amid calls from federal politicians, including Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, for the industry to be more transparent about what is driving its record-high profits.For months Canadian grocers have been blamed for soaring grocery bills, with top executives accused of “greed-flation” after grocery prices increased by 11.4 per cent in January compared to 2022 — almost double the overall rate of inflation.Shoppers in Toronto tell CityNews they have had to alter their diets due to the high prices, something that isn’t expected to go away anytime soon. David Soberman, a marketing professor at the University of Toronto, says fixed costs have not gone up by as much as inflation has. “For that reason, th...

Downers Grove North shoots for history in IHSA Final Four

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — As the lowest remaining seed in the IHSA playoffs, Downers Grove North made an early statement at Monday’s super-sectional that they belonged.The Trojans ripped off an 18-0 run in the first quarter against top-seed Kenwood, and never looked back in their 67-47 win."It was awesome. It was just one of those things where you feel the atmosphere. You play off each other. Once you get that, you get into a rhythm," explained senior guard Max Haack. "You can’t even put it into words." Bears awarded another draft pick in 2023 "Everyone always says you feel like you're in control, but it never really feels like that from the sideline," joked DGN head coach Jim Thomas. "I'm really proud of the kids. They stuck with it right from the start, all the way to the finish. "I think the students kind of spread out all over the place in the gym really gave them some confidence to go out there and play as hard as they did."Led by junior Jack Stanton, who scored a game-hig...

Northwest Side high school students walkout over gun safety concerns

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:44:19 GMT

CHICAGO — Students at William Howard Taft High School on the city's Northwest Side walked out Thursday morning in protest over gun safety concerns. Parents and guardians were notified on Monday about a potential threat made against the school by a student. While authorities deemed the threat 'non-credible,' an update followed on Wednesday upon news that students intended to walk out.CPS responded to WGN News' request for comment, stating that the school district takes gun safety seriously and doesn't consider the matter a safety threat. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) takes the safety and security of our students and staff seriously and we are committed to working with students, as well as their families, educators, and school leaders, to ensure a safe and secure learning environment. CPS prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students and we take seriously our responsibility to ensure all employees act in the best interest of our students. As a District, we take all allegations...