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Former Mozambique finance minister pleads ‘not guilty’ in US federal court over $2 billion scandal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Mozambique’s former finance minister pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court in New York on Thursday in connection with a $2 billion corruption and money laundering scandal that prosecutors said defrauded American investors and threatened to further destabilize the economy of one of the world’s poorest countries. Manuel Chang served as finance minister from 2005 to 2015 for Mozambique, a country of 31 million on Africa’s southern coast on the Indian Ocean. He was ordered detained until at least October, when his attorneys argue for a dismissal of his case.Chang is accused of receiving bribes of up to $18 million during a scheme that secured loans for Mozambican state-owned companies from foreign banks and financiers for maritime projects. The money was looted through kickbacks and other corrupt dealings, according to U.S. prosecutors.Until his extradition to the United States Wednesday, Chang had been held in South Africa after being arrested in Johann...

An anti-trans Kansas law doesn’t prevent birth certificate changes, the governor argues

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Democratic governor in Kansas is defending changes in the sex listings on transgender people’s birth certificates in a federal court filing arguing that continuing the changes doesn’t violate a new state law rolling back transgender rights.An attorney for Gov. Laura Kelly’s office also argued in the filing this week that the new Kansas law is discriminatory and “represents a willful failure of the Kansas Legislature” to protect people’s rights. It took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person’s sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people’s gender identities.The state’s Republican attorney general, Kris Kobach, argues that the new law prevents the state health department, which issues birth certificates, from changing the sex listing while also requiring it to undo past changes. The issue is in federal court because of a lawsuit f...

Early-learning and child-care ministers promise to work together to improve workforce

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

IQALUIT, Nunavut — Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for early learning and child care say they plan to work together to address workforce challenges.Karina Gould, minister of Families, Children and Social Development Canada, announced the ministers agreed during a meeting in Iqaluit to develop a plan focused on recruitment, retention and recognition.Natalie Jameson, Prince Edward Island’s minister of Education and Early Years, says that is to include fair wages, good working conditions and professional development opportunities. All provinces and territories have signed on to Canada’s $10-a-day child-care plan with individual targets and the overarching aim to reduce licensed child-care fees to $10 a day by 2026.Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut have all reached that goal ahead of schedule while Yukon had achieved that average before signing on.Gould says there is still a need for more child-care spaces and the federa...

Las Vegas police officer’s brother testified against him about ‘desperate’ casino heist

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The younger brother of a Las Vegas police officer testified against him Thursday, painting a clear picture for the jury of how the two successfully stole more than $73,000 in a pre-dawn casino heist off the Strip.“Caleb told me that it was gonna be his operation and when it was happening I had to do everything he said because he had the knowledge and the skill,” Josiah Rogers said, referring to his brother’s work in law enforcement. Josiah Rogers admitted on the stand that he was the getaway driver in one of the heists, using an unregistered pickup truck with no plates. He said he knew his brother “desperately” needed money after a longtime struggle with gambling. While jurors scribbled down notes during Josiah Rogers’ testimony, Caleb Rogers avoided eye contact with his brother. Josiah Rogers has been granted immunity from prosecution for sharing details about how they rehearsed and then carried out the November 2021 robbery at Red Rock Casino.Prosecutors for the f...

$1.2M bail set for man charged with killing Tennessee surgeon remembered as skilled, beloved doctor

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A man charged with killing a hand surgeon at a Tennessee clinic was being held on $1.2 million bail Thursday as those who knew the doctor remembered him as a skilled and beloved medical professional who cared for his patients. Larry Pickens, 29, told a judge on Thursday that he could not afford the bail and wasn’t sure if he could afford a lawyer, the Commercial Appeal reported. He did not enter a plea. Judge Lee Ann Dobson told Pickens that a public defender would not cost him anything and set his next court date for July 20. Pickens was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the shooting of Dr. Benjamin Mauck at Campbell Clinic Orthopedics in the Memphis suburb of Collierville on Tuesday. Police said Mauck was shot in an exam room and that Pickens had been at the clinic for several hours before the shooting.Authorities haven’t disclosed a possible motive for the shooting. The Collierville clinic remained closed Thursday, b...

Telus revises 2023 guidance, citing technology sector cost-cutting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

VANCOUVER — Telus Corp. revised downward its annual guidance for 2023, citing demand pressures as the technology sector looks to cut costs. The Vancouver-based company says it revised its guidance as a result of Telus International’s updated full-year annual outlook.As a result, Telus says it’s targeting consolidated operating revenue growth of 9.5 to 11.5 per cent, down from 11 to 14 per cent. Telus, which is the controlling shareholder of Telus International, says the spun-out company’s lower revenue guidance is due to anticipated demand challenges from certain clients in its technology vertical. Darren Entwistle, chair of Telus International’s board of directors, says the company has faced unprecedented and severe global pressures, particularly within technology as clients aggressively address cost structures, including through successive layoffs. Entwistle, who is also president and CEO of Telus, says Telus International in response is focused on its own ...

7 confirmed tornadoes after Wednesday night's storms: National Weather Service

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

CHICAGO — The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday a total of seven tornadoes after Wednesday night’s storms, in Oswego, Huntley, Barrington, Long Grove, and three touchdowns occurring in Elgin.The first Elgin tornado had a maximum intensity EF-1 and maximum wind speed of 100 mph. The track roughly started east of Rt. 47 and ended near the railroad tracks west of Villa Olivia Golf Course.The NWS says the second tornado in Elgin had a max intensity of EF-0 with max wind speed of 85 mph. The tornado began close to McDonald Road and ended along Hopps Road.A NWS team confirmed a third tornado after grounds were surveyed from Burr Ridge to Stickney. A EF-1 with max winds near 110 mph was identified.The fourth tornado confirmed by NWS was reportedly an EF-0 with a maximum wind speed of 85 mph in northeastern Oswego and eastern Boulder Hill Wednesday evening.NWS survey teams confirmed three additional tornados across McHenry and Lake County in Illinois. In Huntley, an EF-1 with max ...

CW strikes deal to air ACC football, basketball

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — High-profile college sports matchups are coming to the CW Network this fall thanks to a new broadcast deal with the Atlantic Coast Conference and production partner Raycom Sports.  On Thursday, the CW announced an agreement to air ACC football and basketball games beginning this September and running through the 2026-27 season. The action kicks off Saturday, September 9 with a matchup between the Pitt Panthers and non-conference opponent Cincinnati Bearcats. “We are thrilled to be adding The CW to our weekly television lineup for ACC football and basketball games,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “The CW’s national distribution will directly benefit our student-athletes, teams, alumni and fans.”In all, 13 football games will air on Saturday afternoons through the regular season. From December through February, 28 men’s basketball games and nine women’s games will air across the network, which is owned by the parent company of this website.&n...

Ken Paxton's defense and prosecution wrestle over rules ahead of impeachment trial

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — With less than two months before the start of the Senate impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, attorneys defending and prosecuting the case are taking their arguments over pretrial rules public.On Wednesday morning, Paxton's defense attorneys made a motion for pretrial scheduling order or conference with proposed discovery deadlines ahead of the trial. Discovery is the process in which legal parties exchange information about the case, in order for both sides to have an awareness of what witnesses and evidence might be presented or who will during trial.Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who will preside as the judge in the case, complied with the request from Paxton's legal team, issuing a discovery order late Wednesday evening.Paxton impeachment pretrial discovery order from Lt. Governor Dan PatrickDownloadIn their request for official deadlines, Paxton's lawyers said "a scheduling order is necessary to ensure a full and fair trial," because of the ...

Camp for girls in Austin teaches about construction trade

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:09:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Girls in the Austin area began participating in a construction camp this week where they are learning about the construction trade and picking up some new skills along the way.Camp NaWIC started Monday and runs through Friday. Each day has been focused on a different aspect of construction work, according to organizers.On Thursday, campers learned how to pour concrete, solder and build their own cactuses.Campers said they have enjoyed the experience so far."I do think that it’s good to know as a skill just the information knowing how things are built — it's really good knowledge," camper Mauriel Coles said.Campers learn new skills related to construction trade (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)Campers learn new skills related to construction trade (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)Campers learn new skills related to construction trade (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)Campers learn new skills related to construction trade (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)Campers learn new skills related to construction trade (KXA...