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Moscow court upholds 19-year prison sentence for Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Moscow upheld a 19-year prison sentence Tuesday for imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was convicted on charges of extremism in August. Navalny was found guilty on charges related to the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. It was his fifth criminal conviction and his third and longest prison term — all of which his supporters see as a deliberate Kremlin strategy to silence its most ardent opponent.Navalny’s 19-year sentence will be backdated to Jan. 17, 2021, the day he was arrested. He was already serving a nine-year term on a variety of charges that he says were politically motivated before Tuesday’s ruling.One of Navalny’s associates, Daniel Kholodny, who stood trial alongside him, also had his eight-year sentenced upheld Tuesday, according to the Russian state news agency Tass. Navalny’s team said after the ruling Tuesday that the sentence was “disgraceful” and vowed to cont...

Israel strikes militant sites in Gaza as unrest continues, no casualties

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes hit several targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the country’s military said, after Palestinian protesters flocked for the 12th straight day to the enclave’s frontier with Israel — demonstrations that have devolved into violent clashes with Israeli security forces. There were no reports of casualties in Gaza from the Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli army said that it used a drone, helicopter and tank to strike multiple posts in northern and southern Gaza belonging to the strip’s militant Hamas rulers in response to what it described as “violent riots” at the separation fence between Gaza and Israel. The protests involve Palestinians throwing stones and explosive devices, burning tires and, according to the Israeli military, shooting at Israeli soldiers. Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli forces shot and wounded 11 protesters during Tuesday’s rally. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that seized co...

After briefing on intel, Singh says ‘clear evidence’ India involved in B.C. killing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he received an intelligence briefing about allegations that the Indian government could be behind the killing of a Sikh leader in British Columbia. Singh says after learning more information, he can “confirm” that “clear evidence” of India’s involvement exists.He received the briefing days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons about “credible allegations,” which India has denied amid escalating tensions between the two countries. Singh told reporters today that he was able to request the briefing because of the security clearance he obtained in order to review foreign-interference materials prepared by former special rapporteur David Johnston. He says Trudeau told him and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre about the allegations before sharing them publicly.He got a briefing from Trudeau’s national security adviser, Jody Thomas, three days later. This report by The...

Donatella Versace slams Italian government’s anti-gay policies from La Scala stage

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

MILAN (AP) — Donatella Versace slammed the Italian government for what she described as anti-gay policies in a heartfelt and personal speech that referenced her late brother, Gianni Versace, while receiving a fashion award this weekend.“Our government is trying to take away people’s rights to live as they wish,” Versace said in a speech Sunday night, citing in particular a government policy that allows only the biological parent in same-sex couples to be officially recognized as the parent. “They are restricting our freedoms,” she said.“We must all fight for freedom, in a time that still sees trans people suffering terrible violence, a time when children of same-sex couples are not considered their children, a time when minority voices are attacked by new laws,” Versace said.The speech received a standing ovation from a fashion crowd at La Scala, where Versace received a humanitarian award.Gay rights activists praised her for clearly challenging the government’s actions,...

Serbia demands that NATO take over policing of northern Kosovo after a deadly shootout

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s president demanded Tuesday to have a NATO-led peacekeeping force take over for the national law enforcement agency in northern Kosovo after a daylong shootout between armed Serbs and Kosovar police left one officer and three gunmen dead.In one of the worst confrontations since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, about 30 masked men opened fire on a police patrol near the village of Banjska early Sunday then broke down the gates of a Serbian Orthodox monastery and barricaded themselves with the priests and visiting pilgrims.The violence further raised tensions in the Balkan region at a time when European Union and U.S. mediators have been pushing for a deal that would normalize ties between former wartime foes Serbia and Kosovo. A NATO bombing campaign on Serb positions in Kosovo led to the end of the 1998-99 war. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with ambassadors from five Western countries and the EU in Belgrade on Tuesday. He sai...

At least four people hurt in helicopter crash east of Prince George, B.C.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — BC Emergency Health Services said at least four people have been injured in a helicopter crash east of Prince George, in central B.C. The service says the call came in just before 8 a.m. and six ambulances attended where paramedics treated and transported the four to hospital. Prince George RCMP say emergency crews gathered at the site where the chopper went down near the Purden Ski Hill, a mountain resort off Highway 16. Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said the extent of the injuries to those on board is not known, and the area around the crash site has no cellphone coverage. Cooper said they don’t know why the helicopter was in the area, but they know it was not a forestry crew aboard.She said details on the cause of the crash are still being investigated, and the Transportation Safety Board would be taking the lead on the investigation since the accident involved an aircraft.“It is possible that emergency crews will be accessing the highway frequently and w...

Biden visits UAW picket line, tells union to ‘stick with it’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — President Joe Biden joined United Auto Workers strikers on their picket line Tuesday as their work stoppage against major carmakers hit day 12, a demonstration of support for organized labor apparently unparalleled in presidential history.“You deserve the significant raise you need,” Biden said through a bullhorn while wearing a union baseball cap after arriving at a General Motors parts distribution warehouse located in a suburb west of Detroit.He walked along the picket line, exchanging fist bumps with grinning workers.He encouraged them to continue fighting for better wages despite concerns that a prolonged strike could damage the economy, saying “stick with it.”He said “yes” when asked if UAW members deserved a 40% raise, one of the demands that the union has made.“No deal, no wheels!” workers chanted as Biden arrived. “No pay, no parts!”He was joined by UAW President Shawn Fain, who rode with him in the presidential limousine to the picket...

AI advances signal massive technological shift but the tech still has biases: Google

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

TORONTO — An artificial intelligence researcher at Google says fixing fairness in the technology “isn’t a simple thing,” but the world has an opportunity to get it right as the software explodes in popularity.“It’s as though we been given a second chance on how we use this technology to dismantle some of the biases we see in society,” Komal Singh, a senior product manager at the tech goliath, said in a Tuesday media briefing in Toronto.Her optimism comes as the tech sector – and nearly every other industry – have spent the year abuzz about AI’s promise and perils. Some see the technology as a game changer bound to disrupt everyday life and bring expediency, efficiency and solutions to some of the globe’s biggest challenges. Others, including Tesla owner Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, warn advances in the technology are moving too fast and guardrails are needed before wide-scale deployments. Geoffrey Hinton, the British-Canadian comp...

Activist calls on Parkland to buy back shares and reduce debt

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

CALGARY — An activist investor that had been urging Parkland Corp. to sell or spin off its Burnaby refinery earlier this year is back with a set of new recommendations for the Calgary-based company.In a letter to the Parkland board on Tuesday, New York-based Engine Capital LP said Parkland remains undervalued. It said it wants to see the company take further steps — including refining the company’s capital allocation, improving its approach to executive compensation and simplifying its operations.The hedge fund is also calling on the company to allocate around $800 million to share buybacks in 2024 and 2025, with repurchases front-loaded in 2024 to take advantage of the stock undervaluation.It is also suggesting Parkland pay down about $600 million in debt over the next two years, primarily using proceeds from asset sales.Engine Capital first set its sights on Parkland last March, publicly urging the company to get rid of what it called “non-core assets” and become a pur...

Police: Woman dead after running stop sign, struck by semi in suburbs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:46 GMT

CAMPTON HILLS, Ill. — A suburban woman died after being struck by a semi due to running a stop sign Monday afternoon, police said.At around 4:30 p.m., authorities responded to the intersection of Route 47 and McDonald Road on the report of an accident involving two vehicles.A black Ford Escape and a Kenworth semi-truck hauling mulch were located at the scene.Following a preliminary investigation, police believe the Ford Escape, driven by a 69-year-old woman, failed to stop at the stop sign and entered the intersection — where she was struck by the semi.The woman was transported with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at St. Joseph Hospital. Police: 5 injured after distracted driver causes crash in Northwest Indiana The male driver of the semi was not injured, police said.