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French court upholds freezing of assets of Lebanon’s embattled central bank chief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A French court Tuesday upheld the freezing of the assets of Lebanon’s embattled central bank governor, rejecting his appeal to have them released, an official close to the investigation said.Several European countries are investigating central bank Gov. Riad Salameh and his associates over myriad alleged financial crimes, including illicit enrichment and laundering of $330 million. A French investigative judge on May 16 issued an international arrest warrant, or Interpol red notice, for the 72-year-old Salameh after he failed to show up in Paris for questioning.France, Germany and Luxembourg in March 2022 froze more than $130 million in assets linked to the investigation. The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, or Eurojust, said at the time that the investigation targets five suspects accused of money laundering.Salameh, who has repeatedly denied charges of corruption had requested that his assets be unfrozen. On Tuesday, a French appeals court reje...

Indonesia pulls out of hosting Beach Games, 3 months after losing U20 World Cup over Israel issue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Indonesia pulled out of hosting another global sports event at short notice Tuesday, three months after refusing to welcome Israel’s team for soccer’s Under-20 World Cup.The World Beach Games had been set to be staged in Bali from Aug. 5-15 but were canceled after the Indonesian government pulled the budget, the global group of national Olympic bodies known as ANOC said Tuesday.ANOC said it had no option but to cancel the 14-sport championships — including beach versions of soccer, tennis and volleyball, plus surfing and open water swimming — because it was unable to find a replacement host with so little time.About 1,500 athletes from 100 nations, including Israel, were expected to compete in Bali across 41 medal events.Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, while publicly supporting the Palestinian cause.“The KOI (Indonesian Olympic Committee) stated the decision w...

Energy stocks help lift S&P/TSX composite as oil tops US$70 a barrel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

TORONTO — Energy stocks helped lift Canada’s main stock index higher in late-morning trading as the price of oil also rose to top US$70 a barrel.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 44.31 points at 20,199.60.U.S. stock markets are closed for the Independence Day holiday.The Canadian dollar traded for 75.68 cents US compared with 75.53 cents US on Friday.The August crude oil contract was up US$1.37 at US$71.16 per barrel and the August natural gas contract was up four cents at US$2.75 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was up US$6.00 at US$1,935.50 an ounce and the September copper contract was down less than a penny at US$3.79 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Brazil’s Neymar fined $3.3 million for illegal artificial lake at mansion outside Rio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian soccer star Neymar was fined more than $3.3 million for violating local environmental rules during renovations at his mansion in the city of Mangaratiba outside Rio de Janeiro.The Mangaratiba city hall said in a statement Monday night it had issued four fines totalling about 16 million Brazilian reals after Neymar was accused of illegally building an artificial lake at his mansion.“Among the dozens of infractions that were noticed at the player’s property are the start of an unauthorized construction which requires environmental control; capture of a river course and detouring it without authorization; moving rock and sand; supressing vegetation without authorization and non-compliance of an embargo,” the statement said.A city hall document obtained by The Associated Press says that the latter charge is related to Neymar’s decision to swim in the artificial lake despite the fact that local authorities had shown up to forbid him from that area d...

Alcaraz starts his Wimbledon with a straight-set win, defending champion Rybakina beats Rogers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — In only his third Wimbledon tournament, Carlos Alcaraz is already one of the main men to beat.The top-seeded Spaniard hasn’t been past the fourth round at the All England Club, but he has become the primary threat in Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record-equaling eighth men’s title at the grass-court Grand Slam.On Tuesday, Alcaraz beat Jeremy Chardy 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 on No. 1 Court — a fitting location for the No. 1 player in the world.The match was played under the roof because rain affected play on the outside courts for the second straight day.“Obviously without the roof, with sun, is much better for me. I think for everyone as well,” Alcaraz said on court. “With the roof or not, I have to show my best level.”His best led Alcaraz to his first major title at the U.S. Open last year. He reached the final at this year’s French Open, but Djokovic ended up winning his 23rd Grand Slam title in that match.At Wimbledon, Alcaraz reached the second round in 2021, ...

Over half of Canadians fear Russia-Ukraine conflict could be drawn into a nuclear war: poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

Over half of Canadians fear that the Russia-Ukraine war could turn nuclear, according to a new poll.The Maru Public Opinion survey found that a majority of those polled, 56 per cent, believe it’s time for Ukraine military forces, backed by NATO, to keep fighting to push Russia out of the Ukrainian territory it currently has as a result of its invasion.However, if they continue to press forward, those polled have a fear Russians could take drastic action. Sixty-one percent believe they could blow up a Ukraine nuclear power plant to spread radiation, while 59 per cent far Russia launching a limited nuclear strike and 53 per cent are afraid of Russia and NATO being drawn into an all-out nuclear war.Another half of Canadians also fear the conflict could extend to North America should it come to a nuclear war.As to which side those polled think is winning, over 40 per cent believe that the war is at a stalemate and neither the Russians or Ukraine are winning. Another quarter believ...

WATCH LIVE: Highland Park marks one year since July Fourth mass shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill.  — Tuesday marks one year since the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade.There are several events planned to mark the somber anniversary.Ahead of the morning ceremony, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said the key word in the community over the last year has been “resilience.”Around 200 volunteers worked to put Tuesday’s events on. Rotering said they’re taking a trauma-informed approach, because they recognize the events of last year have changed so many lives forever and this doesn’t just go away. “This doesn’t end today. This is not just next year. We as a community are going to be there for each other and that is what today is about,” Rotering said.Rotering said the day brings forth a blend of emotions, noting that everyone is the community, including city leadership has been directly touched by last year’s tragedy. More: Grief lingers one year after Highland Park Fourth of July shooting She said they continue to work through a dev...

'It has changed all of us forever': On anniversary of Highland Park shooting, hospital team reflects and remembers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Those who treated the most intense trauma in the aftermath of the Highland Park mass shooting put their own emotions on hold that day to help others heal. Now a year later they unpack their wounds with hope for a better future. It was just one week after the July Fourth shooting when WGN’s Medical Watch team first visited with emergency room nurse Deb Schmidt at the Highland Park Hospital.“I will never forget it. It was war wounds,” she said.Now, one year later, she takes time to reflect. Complete Coverage of the Highland Park Anniversary Ceremony here “I didn’t want to admit that I needed help, even though in my heart I knew I needed it,” she said. “Mine was a lot of anxiety, which I’m not an anxious person.”She was diagnosed with PTSD.“I kind of got lost driving. I grew up here. I know how to get to work and just got lost,” she said.She took nearly six months off and underwent therapy.“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to come back to the ER beds...

Your car may be collecting your data — Here's what you can do

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

(NewsNation) — As technology and vehicles evolve, concerns regarding driver privacy have surfaced. The issue lies in the fact a majority of car owners are unaware that their vehicles have transformed into data-gathering machines, and manufacturers can sell what they've collected.Modern cars can track your location, record the moment you brake, and even monitor seatbelt usage.Stepping into a newer car feels like entering what some call a smartphone on wheels, equipped with features like call-making capabilities and even Amazon Alexa integration. Additionally, these cars often come equipped with multiple cameras. However, what many people may not realize is that these newer vehicles are collecting a significant amount of information beyond what meets the eye. AM radios in new vehicles at risk? “Older cars tend to be more private because they have less technology then," said Andrea Amico, founder of Privacy4Cars. Privacy4Cars is a new tool in the market aimed at safeguarding privacy ...

The American flag wasn't always revered — at the beginning, it was an afterthought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:14 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In the bedroom of the Betsy Ross House, a reconstruction of where the upholsterer worked on her most famous commission, a long flag with a circle of 13 stars hangs over a Chippendale side chair and extends across the floor. Over the weeks in 1776 needed to complete the project, Ross would have likely knelt on the flag, stood on it and treated it more like an everyday banner — not with the kind of reverence we'd expect today. “She would not have worried about it touching the floor or violating any codes,” says Lisa Moulder, director of the Ross House. “The flag did not have any kind of special symbolism.”Flags proliferate every July 4. But unlike the right to assemble or trial by jury, their role was not prescribed by the founders. They would have been rare during early Independence Day celebrations. Only in the mid-19th century does the U.S. flag become a permanent fixture at the White House, scholars believe; only in the mid-20th century was a federal code estab...