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A decade in the EU, Croatia aids Balkan hopefuls

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Croatia’s prime minister promised on Wednesday to redouble efforts to help other countries in the region join the European Union as it prepares to mark a decade of EU membership. “We completed the integration process in 2013 … and we want to help (others) overcome their obstacles and to join us as soon as possible,” Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said during a visit to North Macedonia. Croatia was the most recent country to join the EU, on July 1, 2013. On Jan. 1 this year, it became the 20th member of the euro area. Plenkovic praised the decision made last year to add Moldova, Ukraine and Bosnia to the list of EU candidate countries, but added that not enough progress had been made in integrating countries like North Macedonia and neighboring Albania. North Macedonia was granted EU candidate status in 2005 but since then, its application has stalled. Plenkovic urged the small Balkan country to follow through on a pledge to amend ...

DOJ tentatively settles over Texas church shooting for $144M

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday it has tentatively settled a lawsuit over the 2017 mass shooting at a Texas church that will pay victims and their families more than $144 million. More than two dozen people were killed when Devin Patrick Kelley o pened fire during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Kelley, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church, had served in the Air Force prior to the attack.U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez had previously ruled that the Air Force was “60% liable” for the attack because it failed to submit Kelley’s assault conviction during his time in the Air Force to a national database.The Justice Department said the settlement is still subject to court approvals. Paul J. Weber, The Associated Press

Missouri tornado kills multiple people, sows destruction

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A tornado that tore through southeastern Missouri on Wednesday caused widespread destruction and killed and injured multiple people, authorities said.The tornado moved through a rural area of Bollinger County, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of St. Louis, between 3:30 and 4 a.m., said Sgt. Clark Parrott of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He said it caused “multiple injuries and multiple deaths,” but he didn’t say how many or precisely where they occurred.“The damage is pretty widespread. It’s just heartbreaking to see it,” Parrott said.He said said a search and rescue operation is underway that involves multiple agencies. Crews are having to use chainsaws to cutback trees and brush to reach homes.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A tornado struck Missouri on Wednesday morning, causing an unknown number of injuries, as severe thunderstorms packing the threat of more hail and tornadoes w...

Ohio Republican lawmaker falsely claims to be MIT graduate

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A freshman state lawmaker in Ohio falsely claimed to have graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to the prestigious university, and he has stepped down from a House committee leadership post after that revelation.Rep. Dave Dobos, a Columbus-area Republican, attended MIT in the 1970s and 1980 and studied economics but did not receive a degree, MIT’s deputy director of media relations, Sarah McDonnell, told Cleveland.com, which first reported the discrepancy Tuesday.House Speaker Jason Stephens has since accepted Dobos’ resignation as vice chair of the Higher Education Committee.“I have known Dave to be a hardworking member for his constituents. This is disappointing news,” Stephens said in a statement.Dobos had publicly described himself as an MIT graduate, including on his campaign website, as well as in his online biography for the Ohio House. By Tuesday evening, that biography had been changed to say that he “attended” the s...

Quebec man accused of killing people with truck appears on 1st-degree murder charges

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

AMQUI, Que. — A Quebec man accused of driving his truck into pedestrians was formally charged today with three counts of first-degree murder.Steeve Gagnon was also arraigned on nine counts of attempted murder in connection with the alleged attack on March 13 that left three dead and several seriously injured in Amqui, Que.A truck drove into several groups of pedestrians on a main street in the town about 350 kilometres northeast of Quebec City in what police have described as an intentional act.Today’s court appearance took place before Quebec court Judge Yves Desaulniers at the courthouse in Amqui.The 38-year-old Gagnon has been in custody since the alleged attack and was already facing two counts of dangerous driving causing death.The case was put off until June 20.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 5, 2023.The Canadian Press

Blinken says WSJ reporter ‘wrongfully detained’ by Russia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he has “no doubt” that Russia has wrongfully detained an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was arrested last week on spying allegations.However, Blinken said a formal determination of Evan Gershkovich’s wrongful detention has not yet been made, something that would elevate the priority of his case within the U.S. government. Blinken said the legal process for such a determination would be completed soon.“In Evan’s case we are working through the determination on wrongful detention. There is a process to do that,” he said. “I’ll let that process play out.“In my mind, there is no doubt that he is being wrongfully detained by Russia,” Blinken told reporters.Blinken’s comments at NATO headquarters in Brussels came just days after he directly urged his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to immediately release Gershkovich as well as another imprisoned American, Paul Whelan, who h...

Ontario to beef up tenant protections, housing minister says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

Ontario says it will make changes to protect renters against so-called ‘renovictions’ as well as boost the number of adjudicators who deal with tenant and landlord disputes.Housing Minister Steve Clark says the province will help renters whose landlords who kick them out in order to renovate then rent the unit at a much higher price.Clark says they are proposing changes to double the maximum fines for offences to individuals and corporations who do not follow the law.Critics have long called for rent control in the province, but the government has not said it will do so.Related: Rent prices grew at record pace in 2022 as Canada saw lowest vacancy rate in decadesAttorney General Doug Downey says the province will spend $6.5 million to appoint 40 additional adjudicators to the Landlord and Tenant Board.“Residents and rental housing providers deserve fast results, and government bureaucracy should not stand in the way,” Downey said in a release.Downey says the h...

Indigenous child-welfare settlement heading back to Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

OTTAWA — A multibillion-dollar settlement for children and families harmed by Ottawa’s underfunding of on-reserve services will be presented to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for approval after being endorsed by First Nations chiefs.Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says the revised $23-billion compensation package is the largest settlement in Canadian history, and represents an important piece of healing for those harmed by past government policies.This latest settlement comes after years of threatened lawsuits by the Assembly of First Nations and human rights tribunal rulings that rejected several offers by the federal government, including one last year.The latest deal includes an additional $3 billion that includes compensation for 13,000 more children and other amendments that both sides are hoping will satisfy the tribunal’s concerns.Cindy Woodhouse, a regional chief from Manitoba who led the file for the assembly, gave thanks to Prime Minister Justin Tr...

Major flight cancelations, delays as severe weather moves through Chicago area

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

CHICAGO — Severe weather moved through the area Wednesday prompting warnings and watches that caused major flight cancelations and delays at Chicago airports.As of 9:30 a.m., a total of nearly 180 flights were canceled at O'Hare with average delays of at least 46 minutes, and close to 55 flights were canceled at Midway with average delays of at least 20 minutes, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the Chicago area until 11 a.m.Winds could gust up to 70-75 mph, hail could reach 2” in diameter or greater and there is the threat of a few tornadoes as well. Non-thunderstorm winds could gust up to 45-50 mph. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here A Wind Advisory is also in effect between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the highlighted counties in the map below. Southwest winds 20-30 mph with gusts 45-50 mph are expected. Winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could snap, resulting in a few power outages. Str...

Eloy Jimenez dealing with another early season injury in 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:01:43 GMT

CHICAGO — Once again, a key player in the White Sox lineup is dealing with an early season injury that will keep him out for some time.The White Sox have placed outfielder Eloy Jimenez on the 10-day IL with a low grade left hamstring strain. .Jake Burger has been called up from Triple-A Charlotte. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/NjCBpbU38E— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) April 5, 2023Ahead of their game against the Giants on Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field, the team places outfielder Eloy Jimenez on the 10-day IL with a low-grade left hamstring strain, retroactive to Tuesday.Infielder Jake Burger has been called up from Triple-A Charlotte to take his place on the roster.Jimenez has played in the White Sox first five games of the season, going 4-for-19 (.211) with two doubles and three RBI.This continues an unfortunate trend for the outfielder over the last few seasons as early injuries have limited his time on the field. In 2021, Jimenez tore his left pectoral tendon goi...