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Prince Harry a no-show on first day of court showdown with British tabloid publisher

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry’s phone hacking trial against the publisher of the Daily Mirror kicked off without him present in court — and the judge was not happy.Harry’s lawyer said the Duke of Sussex would be unavailable to testify after opening statements because he’d taken a flight from Los Angeles on Sunday after the birthday of his 2-year-old daughter, Lilibet. “I’m a little surprised,” Justice Timothy Fancourt said, noting he had directed Harry to be in court for the first day of his case.Mirror Group Newspaper’s lawyer, Andrew Green, said he was “deeply troubled” by Harry’s absence on the trial’s opening day.Harry was scheduled to testify Tuesday, but his lawyer was told last week the duke should attend Monday’s proceedings in London’s High Court in case the opening statements concluded before the end of the day. The case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror is the first of the prince’s several lawsuits against the media to ...

Texas woman killed in parked car, 3 children hurt in gunfire outside apartment complex

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

SUNNYVALE, Texas (AP) — A woman was fatally shot and four members of her family, including three children, were wounded in their car after they parked at a Texas apartment complex.Police said they were searching for at least two suspects in the shooting shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday in the town of Sunnyvale, about 15 miles (24 km) east of Dallas. “Everybody was shot in the car,” Sunnyvale Police Chief Bill Vegas said, noting that numerous shots were fired. “It’s a horrific scene,” Vegas said at a news conference near the scene, where a white car with bullet holes was in the parking lot. A man and a woman were in a black car that followed the family into the parking lot. As the family were sitting in their vehicle, at least one of the suspects got out and opened fire, Vegas said. The woman died at the scene. A man and the children, ages 8 to 10, were taken to hospitals. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Vegas said. The Associated Press

Hong Kong police arrest woman accused of killing 3 young daughters

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police arrested a woman accused of killing her three young daughters on Monday in a case that has shocked many in the city, where violent crime is rare. The three girls, aged 2, 4 and 5, were unresponsive when officers arrived at their apartment after receiving a call from the woman, who told police that they had been killed by her husband, police said. Police Superintendent Alan Chung said the woman and her husband had been separated for about a year, and they believe the woman was guilty of the killings. The children were declared dead at a hospital. Chung said no wounds were found on their bodies and no sharp objects or drugs were found at the scene. He said a bloodstained pillow was found and it was possible it was used to smoother the children. An investigation indicated that the case was linked to family relationship problems, Chung said. “This is a very serious family violence case,” he said. The woman and the girls lived in a small apartment in Sha...

How much of yourself do you reveal in a poem? Griffin Poetry Prize nominees weigh in

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

TORONTO — All five poets shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize this year write in the first person, oftentimes about their lives. But they say it would be a mistake to take their work as non-fiction. Below, The Canadian Press asked the nominees — along with the winner of the Griffin’s First Canadian Book prize — to reflect on the role of the “self” in poetry.Ada Limon, nominated for “The Hurting Kind”The Canadian Press: How do you decide how much of yourself to show in a poem?Limon: To be honest, I don’t think it’s a decision. The poem guides me and at some point during the writing process I begin to follow where it leads. Sometimes the “I” is ever present and sometimes the larger world is the ultimate subject. My job is to listen to the poem and see where it takes me.CP: In all artistic pursuits, but in poetry especially, there is the potential to be misunderstood. How do you grapple with that when writing about the personal?...

Premiers need to keep talking about the health-care crisis: medical associations

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canadian Medical Association and 14 other organizations representing health workers are urging premiers to keep health care at the top of the agenda at their next meeting in July.The provincial and territorial leaders met several times last year to compare notes on the health-care crisis and call on the federal government to give them more money to fix it.In February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a deal that will see Ottawa give $196 billion for the Canada Health Transfer over the next 10 years.All provinces except Quebec have agreed to the deal in principle.In a press release on behalf of several doctors’ and nurses’ associations, the Canadian Medical Association says the deals are a positive step but the health-care crisis has not ended.They say excessive wait times, a lack of primary care, a shortage of workers and overcapacity in emergency rooms should all be on the premiers’ agenda.This report by The Canadian Press was first published J...

Shared sentence: Separation takes toll on incarcerated moms and their kids

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

LINCOLN, Ill. (AP) — Dressed in her Sunday best — pink ruffled sleeves and a rainbow tulle tutu — Crystal Martinez’s 4-year-old daughter proudly presented her with a multicolored bouquet of carefully crafted tissue paper flowers. With her 5-year-old son nestled on her lap, laughing in delight, Martinez held out her arms and pulled the girl into a hug so tight that her glasses were knocked askew.“I want you! I don’t want the flowers,” Martinez said, smiling and holding her children close.Martinez’ five children, including the three aged 13, 10 and 6, last month traveled for three hours from Chicago to visit her in Logan Correctional, Illinois’ largest state prison for women and transgender people, on the Reunification Ride. The donation-dependent initiative buses prisoners' family members 180 miles (290 km) from the city to Logan every month so they can spend time with their mothers and grandmothers.Myla Martinez, 6-year-old, enthusiastically greets her mother Crystal Martinez as she...

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' has massive $120.5 million opening

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” opened in U.S. and Canadian theaters with a massive $120.5 million, more than tripling the debut of the 2018 animated original and showing the kind of movie-to-movie box-office growth that would be the envy of even the mightiest of Hollywood franchises.Sony Pictures' “Across the Spider-Verse,” the multi-verse spinning animated Spider-Man spinoff, sailed way past expectations, according to studio estimates Sunday, riding terrific reviews (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and strong buzz for the hotly anticipated follow-up to the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”In the sometimes formulaic realm of superhero movies, 2018's “Into the Spider-Verse" offered a blast of originality, introducing a teenage webslinger from Brooklyn, Miles Morales ( Shameik Moore ), a punk-rock Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and a host of other Spider-People. It launched with $35.4 million on its way to $384.3 million worldwide. Capit...

Scattered storms to kick off the work week

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A wet start to the day for those in Travis County as rainfall amounts top half an inch across Austin.LIVE RADARUPDATED RAIN TOTALSPreliminary rainfall totals as of 5:30AMShowers and storms become a bit more widespread late this afternoon and evening. Although we don't anticipate severe storms, heavy rain could cause localized flooding in spots.Some storms will return tomorrow but the pattern turns drier midweek. Temperatures will be the main story late week into the weekend as afternoon highs warm well into the 90s.Heat turns up late week BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin Hotter than normal temperatures expected mid-June INVESTIGATION: LCRA didn't plan for climate change until KXAN investigation FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-to-date with the First Warning Weather teamFollow the KXAN First Warning Weather team on Facebook, Twitter an...

Meet the Justice of the Peace judges in Williamson County

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY (KXAN) – All four Williamson County Justice of the Peace judges will host a community forum Monday evening. The forum will happen from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Georgetown Annex on 100 Wilco Way in Georgetown. The four judges are Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace KT Musselman, Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Angela Williams, Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Evelyn McLean and Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Rhonda Redden. People living in Williamson County can learn what the judges do everyday, including information on small claims, debt claims, Class C traffic violations, death inquests, weddings and more. The county said the forum is an open platform with time for questions and answers. Anyone with questions is asked to email their questions to [email protected].

Williamson County holding bond committee meeting Monday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:01:03 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – The Williamson County Citizens Bond Committee will hold its fifth public meeting Monday to determine which projects may be covered in a November bond election. According to the Williamson County website, the meeting will be begin at 5 p.m. at J.B. and Hallie Jester Williamson County Annex at 1801 Old Settlers Blvd. in Round Rock. During the meetings, the Citizens Bond Committee hears from cities, municipal utility districts, schools and others regarding the potential need for roads and trails, the county said. 2019 campaign for Williamson Co. bond propositions According to the county's website, if the committee members decide that bond money is needed, then the committee would send their recommendations to the Williamson County Commissioners Court for the November 2023 bond referendum. The sixth meeting will happen June 14 at 5 p.m. at the Georgetown Annex on 100 Wilco Way in Georgetown. The seventh meeting happens on June 21 at 5 p.m. also at the Georg...