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Cyprus’ president says his country is ready to ship aid to Gaza once a go-ahead is given

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus is ready to “immediately” begin shipping large quantities of humanitarian aid to Gaza in vessels that can navigate shallow water once conditions on the ground allow for it, the president of the east Mediterranean island nation said Monday. President Nikos Christodoulides said his country’s proposal for a maritime corridor from the Cyprus’ port of Larnaca to Gaza is the “only one currently being discussed on an international level” as a feasible way to significantly supplement the trickle of aid getting into the enclave through Egypt’s Rafah border checkpoint.Planning for the corridor of about 230 miles (370 kilometers) is essentially completed, and aid can begin to flow when a pause in fighting is declared, Christodoulides said. The Cypriot leader, who has been in regular contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the proposal, said that getting a green light to start the shipments is a complicated matter requiring intricat...

Air Canada rejects blame in $24M gold theft as it faces Brink’s lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

MONTREAL — Air Canada says it bears no responsibility for the daring theft of $23.8 million in gold and cash from its facilities at Toronto’s Pearson airport earlier this year.The airline is facing a lawsuit from security services company Brink’s after a thief walked away with the costly cargo at an Air Canada airport warehouse on April 17.In a statement of defence, Air Canada rejected all allegations in the Brink’s suit, saying it fulfilled its carriage contract and denying any careless or improper conduct.The country’s largest airline goes on to say that Brink’s failed to note the value of the haul on the waybill — a document typically issued by a carrier with details of the shipment — and that if Brink’s did suffer losses, a multilateral treaty known as the Montreal Convention would cap Air Canada’s liability.In Federal Court filings last month that claim breach of contract and millions of dollars in damages, Brink’s said an unident...

Oscar Pistorius will have another chance at parole on Friday after nearly a decade in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius will have a second chance at parole at a hearing on Friday after he was wrongly ruled ineligible for early release from prison in March.South Africa’s department of corrections said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday that a parole board will consider the former Olympic runner’s case again this week and decide “whether the inmate is suitable or not for social integration.”Pistorius, a world-famous double-amputee athlete who broke barriers by competing on carbon-fiber running blades at the 2012 London Olympics, has been in prison since late 2014 for the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He was initially convicted of culpable homicide, an offense comparable to manslaughter, for shooting Steenkamp multiple times through a closed toilet cubicle door in his home in the South African capital, Pretoria, in the predawn hours of Valentine’s Day 2013.His conviction was upgraded to murder and h...

Fate of former RCMP official accused of leaking secrets now in hands of jury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

OTTAWA — The fate of Cameron Jay Ortis, a former RCMP official accused of leaking secrets, is now in the hands of a jury.The 12 jurors retired today to consider a verdict after Justice Robert Maranger finished instructing them on how to approach their task.Ortis, 51, has testified he offered secret material to investigative targets in a bid to get them to use an online encryption service secretly set up by an allied intelligence agency to spy on adversaries. He has pleaded not guilty to violating the Security of Information Act by revealing secrets to three individuals in 2015 and trying to do so in a fourth instance, as well as breach of trust and a computer-related offence.The Crown argues Ortis lacked authority to disclose classified material and that he was not doing so as part of an undercover operation.The defence contends Ortis did not betray Canada, but was rather acting on a “clear and grave threat.”This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, ...

New York lawmaker accused of rape in lawsuit filed under state’s expiring Adult Survivors Act

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A state lawmaker from Brooklyn has been accused in a lawsuit of raping a woman early in his legislative career when he went to her home to discuss disaster relief efforts for Haiti. The lawsuit, filed Friday, accuses Sen. Kevin Parker of assaulting her in 2004, during his first term. The woman said she had been working with Parker to coordinate the delivery of items and donations to Haiti after a devastating flood that affected the country and other neighboring Caribbean Islands.The suit was filed under the Adult Survivors Act, a special state law that created a year-long suspension of the usual time limit for accusers to sue. The law is set to expire after Thanksgiving.A spokesperson for Parker, a Democrat, did not immediately comment when asked about the lawsuit.A spokesperson for the Senate’s top Democrat, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, said the allegations were “extremely disturbing and we take them very seriously.”“We will take appropria...

Leader of Dutch far-right populist party hit on head in attack 2 days before general election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The leader of a far-right Dutch populist party was assaulted Monday at an event in the northern city of Groningen two days before the Netherlands holds a general election.Thierry Baudet, leader of Forum for Democracy, was taken to a hospital in the city, the party said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.“It looks like everything will all be alright,” the party said. It later said Baudet was treated by a trauma surgeon after being hit on the back of the head and next to his eye with a beer bottle. It said a security guard also was injured.Video on social media showed Baudet in a bar when his attacker lunged at him. Baudet was quickly taken away and the attacker overpowered.Police spokesman Thijs de Jong said a person was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack. He said the motive was under investigation.“What we can say at the moment is that Mr. Baudet was hit on the head, possibly with an object,” De Jong said. He said he could not give furt...

Book Review: San Diego private eye tangles with FBI and Russian mob in fast-paced ‘Odyssey’s End’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

Author Matt Coyle has put San Diego private eye Rick Cahill through a lot in his fine series of crime novels. Rick has accumulated sinister enemies on both sides of the law. He’s been shot and beaten so many times that his body is laced with scars. And he’s in the early stages of CTE, a degenerative brain disease that unleashes fits of rage and may soon kill him.His wife, convinced that Rick’s work — and Rick himself —are too dangerous, has left him, taking their 20-month-old daughter with her.As “Odyssey’s End,” the 10th book in the series, opens, Rick is considering another line of work but fears he’s too much of an adrenaline junkie to give it up. Still, he can’t quit just yet — not until he can tuck enough money aside to secure his little girl’s future.Such is his state of mind when two old enemies suddenly reappear. Sergei Volkov, a homicidal Russian mob boss who has reasons to want Rick dead, has just been released from federal prison. And Peter Stone, Rick’s longtime nemesis,...

72-year-old man fatally shot in Logan Square after celebrating grandson's birthday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A 72-year-old man fatally shot in the city's Logan Square neighborhood was among those killed in gun violence in Chicago over the weekend.The man was identified as 72-year-old Cesar Patiño.The shooting happened around 9:55 p.m. Sunday in the 3900 block of West Fullerton. Police said Patiño was walking to his car after his grandson's birthday party when he was struck by gunfire.He was shot in the chest and transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Patiño was married to his wife for more than 50 years and was a father to five children.  According to police, further investigation revealed the offender may have been traveling in a white SUV at the time of the shooting.No one is in custody. Area Five Detectives are investigating. Two 14-year-old boys found shot to death in alley on South Side The 72-year-old man is among the latest victims of weekend gun violence in Chicago.On Saturday, two 14-year-old boys were found shot to death in an ...

Ed Burke trial focus shifts to Field Museum Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

CHICAGO — The Ed Burke trial continues Monday with a focus on the Field Museum.The prosecution is expected to call witnesses to show that Burke allegedly attempted to "shake down" the museum for a personal favor surrounding his goddaughter.The former Chicago alderman is charged with 14 counts of racketeering, bribery and extortion and one of the four alleged schemes involved the Field Museum.Burke allegedly wanted his goddaughter to be considered for an internship at the museum and she did not get the position.Afterward, prosecutors allege an irate Burke threatened to use his influence to block the museum's plan for a ticket fee increase. Even though the increase would have gone through the park district and not the city council, prosecutors said his clout essentially gave him the broad veto power over financial issues.Burke's attorneys argued that "it's not a crime to be angry" as jurors are expected to hear Burke on tape "read the riot act" to Field Museum employees.His attorneys ...

Arizona national park catches 'unicorn' on game camera

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:02:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – In a manner of speaking, a “unicorn” was caught wandering a national park in Arizona during last month’s full moon.Officials at the Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona shared a picture of the one-horned animal — which they identified as a young male elk — because its singular antler resembled a horn more than anything onlookers might usually associate with an elk.“The full moon brings out the park’s unicorns,” a representative for the Petrified Forest wrote on Facebook, along with two photos of the animal.A game camera at the Petrified Forest National Park captured an image of a uniquely-antlered elk during October's full moon. (Petrified Forest National Park)A game camera at the Petrified Forest National Park captured an image of a uniquely-antlered elk during October's full moon. (Petrified Forest National Park)The funny sight, they said, was likely due to the young elk losing one of its early antlers — the first sets of which usually emerge as “sing...