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Fugees rapper in political conspiracy trial launches defense

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Fugees rapper on trial in a multimillion-dollar campaign finance and foreign influence case was trying to reinvent himself as he entered the political arena, not break any laws, defense attorneys said Monday.Prakazrel “Pras” Michel became a best-selling, Grammy-winning artist with the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, but in the years after its breakup was looking for his next chapter, attorney David Kenner said as he began making the defense case. Michel surrounded himself with people to help with his transition to politics and eventually entered the orbit of a wealthy Malaysian “playboy” but didn’t engage in “James Bond … cloak and dagger stuff,” he said. “There was no agreement to do anything in an unlawful way,” Kenner said. Michel is charged in political conspiracies under two different U.S. presidents. Federal prosecutors say he funneled money from the fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. He’s also accus...

US, Japan plant White House cherry tree to mark friendship

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stepping gingerly over the lawn in their spiky heels, first lady Jill Biden and Yuko Kishida, the wife of Japan’s prime minister, planted a cherry tree at the White House on Monday to honor decades of friendship between their countries.“This is how you always plant a tree,” Biden said, laughing about their shoes as she and Kishida shoveled soil around the base of a Yoshino cherry tree sapling on the south grounds. She welcomed Kishida to the White House and said, “The planting of this tree is a symbol of the friendship between our two nations forever and ever.”Kishida is on a rare solo visit to the United States. It’s the first time the spouse of the prime minister has traveled alone to the United States, and Kishida visited at Biden’s invitation, according to the Japanese embassy in Washington. She is spending part of the week in Washington to promote friendship between the U.S. and Japan, as well as cultural exchanges, the Japanese governm...

NDP, Bloc accuse Poilievre of threatening French, Quebec culture with stance on CBC

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says Pierre Poilievre’s criticisms of the CBC amount to an attack on Canadian culture by the Conservative leader — and Quebec and francophone culture, in particular. Singh addressed the issue, speaking in French, after Twitter added a label to CBC’s main account on Sunday indicating the broadcaster was “government-funded media.”That move prompted the corporation to announce Monday it was hitting pause on its use of the social-media platform, which described the BBC the same way before changing its own label to “publicly funded media.” CBC receives roughly $1 billion in taxpayer money annually, but it contends the label is inaccurate because it maintains editorial independence and receives its funding through a vote in Parliament. Poilievre regularly promises to slash that funding. And he sent a letter to Twitter last week requesting that the label be applied to accounts associated with CBC News, though the...

First Nations blast Alberta Energy Regulator at hearing; Guibeault promises reform

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

OTTAWA — Chiefs of First Nations affected by releases of wastewater from an oilsands mine excoriated Alberta’s regulatory system at a House of Commons committee hearing, calling it a system that serves theindustry and not the public.“The (Alberta Energy Regulator) has zero credibility outside Calgary’s echo chamber,” Daniel Stuckless of the Fort McKay Métis Nation said in Ottawa on Monday.“They actively dismiss and downplay impacts of oilsands on communities and their aboriginal and treaty rights.”Chief Alan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation went further outside the committee room.“The Alberta system, when it comes to the Alberta regulator, is completely broken and should be dismantled,” he said. Ottawa, too, shares culpability by failing to enforce environmental laws, he added.“While Alberta bears much of the blame, Canada must also shoulder responsibility for what has happened,” Adam said. The comments came as ...

Maine railway reopens 2 days after derailment and fire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

SANDWICH ACADEMY GRANT TOWNSHIP, Maine (AP) — A rail line where three locomotive engines and six train cars derailed over the weekend has reopened after track repairs and removal of damaged equipment, the railway owner said Monday.By late Monday morning, two days after the derailment and fire sent three workers to the hospital for evaluation, repairs and safety inspections were completed, Canadian Pacific Kansas City said.The derailment happened about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) east of Jackman, Maine.Tragedy was averted because two of the derailed cars carrying hazardous liquids did not spill their loads or ignite, even after the locomotives and other rail cars carrying that were lumber caught fire, officials said. Canadian Pacific Kansas City is leading cleanup, salvage and repair, working with state agencies and local fire and rescue. The Associated Press

Toronto police seeks suspects in 2 separate west end sex assault investigations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

After initially believing one suspect was responsible for two recent sexual assaults in the Dupont Street and Dundas Street West area, Toronto police now believe the alleged crimes were committed by two people.Police were first called to the area on Wednesday, April 12 at around 8:30 p.m.Investigators said a person was walking on the sidewalk when they were approached and sexually assaulted by an unknown man who fled on foot.He’s described as brown, around 25 years old, five foot ten with a slim to medium build and messy black hair.He was wearing a grey cardigan, green t-shirt and dark track pants.Two days later on April 14 at around noon, a second incident occurred in the same area after a female walking her dog was attacked in a similar manner to the previous sex assault.The suspect is described as white, in his 30s, around six foot tall with a medium build and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a burgundy hoodie and khaki paints.Police originally suspected the same man wa...

Car buyers across Canada still facing months-long delays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

In the market for a new ride? Auto insiders warn new car buyers in Canada are still facing months-long delays.At a Hyundai dealership in downtown Toronto, the manager told CityNews around 95 per cent of the vehicles on his lot are already spoken for, with buyers waiting on average two-and-a-half months for their new wheels to hit the road. For fully electric vehicles, the wait is closer to a year.The president of Global Automakers of Canada, David Adams, said supply chain issues for parts and chips that began at the start of the pandemic continue to impact vehicle availability on lots.“As far as inventory levels at dealerships, it depends to a certain degree on the manufacturers,” Adams said.According to AutoTrader.ca, inventory for new vehicles is replenishing, except for minivans.“Looking at our own data, we are seeing a 39 per cent year over year increase,” said Baris Akyurek, VP of Insights and Intelligence.But supply hasn’t caught up to pre-COVID levels, meaning sho...

Skilling: Freeze warning overnight for Chicagoland

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

In terms of the summer-level warmth which produced the 2nd greatest number of 80 degree and warmer days of any year since records began here 153 years ago in 1871, its unceremonious departure hit like a wall.Monday's post snow 39 degree high was 44-degrees off the 83 degree which sent many to area beachers—and others outdoors to enjoy the warmth.A 2 day drop in temps is hardly a record here. Chicagoans experienced a 61 degree drop---from 74 to 13 degree Nov. 11-12, 1911—which holds at the city's greatest 2 day temp plunge.But the drop was the equivalent of moving from July level readings back to Feb level temps in a 48 hour period.A Freeze Warning has been issued from midnight tonight to 8 a.m. CDT Tuesday morning by the National Weather Service Chicago. Temps are likely to drop into the low 30s in the city and to the mid to upper 20s inland as skies clear overnight.Beyond that in the coming week—get set for a continuing ride on the April thermal roller coaster.. Temps will rebound ...

Weekend violence in the Loop worries businesses as summer nears

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

CHICAGO -- Businesses are on high alert after a large crowd disturbance took place in the Loop over the weekend.Two teens were shot and 15 people were arrested Saturday night in the Loop after crowds flooded the streets.Chicago Loop Alliance, an organization that manages and promotes programs that attract people to the loop, said they are saddened by the events that occurred Saturday evening."Our Chicago Loop Alliance ambassadors and unarmed security remained vigilant of the situation throughout the night. While this is not a frequent occurrence in the Loop, we are prepared to work with all relevant partners and parties in response to when these trends are detected," Michael Edwards, President and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance, said. Lightfoot: Weekend violence downtown was not ‘mayhem’ Chicago police said a 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old male were in the 0-100 block of East Washington around 9 p.m. when shots were fired from an unknown person or persons.The 16-year-old was tak...

Man killed as he drove off from carjacking attempt on South Side, police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:08 GMT

CHICAGO — Police in Chicago are looking for the shooter(s) who killed one man and wounded a woman during an attempted carjacking on the city's South Side. Police said the incident occurred Monday, just after midnight, in the 4900 block of S. Calumet, in Bronzeville. Police say two men approached the man and woman and tried to steal their car. As the victims drove away, the shooter(s) opened fire, causing the victims to crash their vehicle into a parked car. SEE ALSO: Dog attacks CPD officer on South Side, officer fires shotsThe 20-year-old driver was shot multiple times. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 22-year-old woman was shot in the foot and is expected to survive. No one is in custody. Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.