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Toronto MP Han Dong quits Liberal caucus amid Chinese interference allegations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

OTTAWA — Han Dong, the member of Parliament at the centre of allegations of Chinese meddling in Canadian affairs, says he is resigning from the Liberal caucus and will sit as an Independent.Dong tells the House of Commons tonight that some media outlets have reported unverified and anonymous sources that have attacked his reputation and called into question his loyalty to Canada.Global News, citing unnamed security sources, published a report tonight alleging that Dong spoke about Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig with a Chinese diplomat in Toronto in February 2021.At the time, the two Canadian men had been detained in China for just over two years in apparent retaliation for the December 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.Dong, the MP for Don Valley North since 2019, told Global News that he did meet with the diplomat but disputed how the conversation about the men known as the “two Michaels” was characterized.He tell...

GOP operative who advised Youngkin moves to pro-DeSantis PAC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A top Republican operative who worked as an adviser on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s winning campaign has signed on to work for a super PAC urging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president.Jeff Roe will serve as an adviser to Never Back Down, according to a person familiar with the arrangement but not authorized to speak publicly about it. Roe ran Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign and has advised numerous other GOP politicians, including Eric Greitens, who resigned as Missouri governor in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign violations.Roe didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment late Wednesday.The move comes as DeSantis readies for an expected 2024 Republican presidential campaign and works on building up a campaign infrastructure to support a potential bid.It wasn’t clear what the departure of a top strategist would mean for Youngkin, who sparked speculation about a possible presidential...

African Union urges nearly $90 million for its Somali force

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The African Union appealed for nearly $90 million Wednesday for its peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is providing support to its military forces battling al-Shabab extremists.Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, told two reporters that the more than 19,600-strong AU force won’t be able to function properly and help the Somalis unless that funding gap is filled.A year ago, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a new African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, to support the Somalis until their forces take full responsibility for the country’s security at the end of 2024.If the AU force doesn’t have the funds to operate effectively in the coming 21 months before the handover, Adeoye said, “it may mean that al-Shabab will eventually take over the responsibilities of a state in Somalia.”“The implications are huge,” he said. “And we do not want the international community to lose focu...

Man shot by Toronto police wants body cam footage released, says he was carrying knife

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

A man shot and seriously injured by Toronto police last month spoke out for the first time on Wednesday, acknowledging that while he was carrying a knife before the interaction with officers, he did not pose a threat to anyone.Devon Fowlin, alongside his lawyer, Knia Singh, held a press conference surrounded by family members, during which he called for the release of body cam footage of the Feb. 27 incident with responding officers.Officers were called to the Black Creek Drive and Trethewey Drive area just before 8 a.m. that Monday for reports of a person with a knife. Toronto police alleged a man was walking his dog in a nearby park when he got into an altercation with another man.Fowlin, it’s alleged by police, pulled out a knife and threatened the other man.Fowlin admitted to carrying the knife, telling reporters he used it to cook and pray as he was experiencing homelessness at the time. He denied threatening anyone with it, saying he was preparing for prayer at the park ...

Arizona court declines most of Lake’s appeal over gov’s race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Supreme Court has declined to hear most of Republican Kari Lake’s appeal in a challenge of her defeat in the governor’s race, but revived a claim that was dismissed by a trial court.In an order Wednesday, the state’s highest court said a lower-court had erroneously dismissed Lake’s claim challenging the application of signature verification procedures on early ballots in Maricopa County. The court sent the claim back to a trial court to consider.Lake, who lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs by just over 17,000 votes, was among the most vocal 2022 Republican candidates promoting former President Donald Trump’s election lies, which she made the centerpiece of her campaign. While most other election deniers around the country conceded after losing their races in November, Lake did not.In her challenge, the former TV anchor focused on problems with ballot printers at some polling places in Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of the state’s voters. The defective pr...

Vallas, Johnson attend roundtable discussion ahead of runoff election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

CHICAGO -- Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas faced off once again 13 days before the Chicago mayoral runoff election.This comes one day after the WGN's Chicago Mayoral Debate.The candidates for Chicago mayor – clashing in a roundtable discussion hosted by Fox32 – shared their ideas on how to improve the relationships between police and the communities they serve. Full recap: Vallas, Johnson face off in WGN’s Chicago Mayoral Debate Both candidates asked to assess the performance of State’s Attorney Kim Foxx in making Chicago safer."She has led with an incredible amount of integrity," Johnson said. "(She) led with a type of reform that’s needed.""I believe she has not been aggressive in keeping violent criminals off the street and data clearly supports it," Vallas followed.And when it comes to finances – Johnson answered to his plan to impose new taxes on airlines and hotel accommodations. He also wants bring back the head tax large companies pay for each employee.

Saliva guitarist Wayne Swinny dies after brain hemorrhage, band confirms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Wayne Swinny, guitarist and founding member of the hard rock band Saliva, has died, the group announced Wednesday night. His death comes after Saliva said Swinny was found "in medical distress" Tuesday morning. "It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our brother Wayne Swinny," the band wrote on Facebook. "Wayne passed away this afternoon from a spontaneous brain hemorrhage while we were on tour."On Tuesday, Saliva bandmates posted that Swinny was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a "spontaneous hemorrhage in his brain." Additional details, including where Swinny was hospitalized, were not released. According to Saliva's website, the band had a show in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington dies, band confirms "I'm not even sure what to think or how to feel right now," Saliva singer Bobby Amaru said in a statement. "My heart aches for Wayne's family, his friends, and anyone...

Hard Rock Hotel's guitar tower gets OK, will 'forever change' the Vegas Strip skyline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) - A massive 542-foot guitar - actually, back-to-back guitars - will be much more than a sign in front of the Hard Rock Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort - currently being rebranded from The Mirage, with construction that will replace the famous volcano - says it's not a sign at all. It will be a hotel tower with 600 rooms and a 48,234-square-foot casino.A conceptual rendering of the project has been released, but details of the design are just becoming public. The guitar itself shoots 542 feet skyward. SEE MORE: Hard Rock reveals new renderings for redesign of The Mirage on Las Vegas Strip "Designed to resemble back to back guitars, complete with guitar faces and lit strings, this tower will be an engineering masterpiece at a height of 660 feet with floor to ceiling glass panes. The guitar tower will forever change the skyline of the Strip," according to documents approved by Clark County Commissioners on Wednesday.It's so tall it will have to get a waiver ...

Heavy rain, potentially flooding rain prospects on the rise along slow moving frontal boundary from southwest Missouri into the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

Second storm system to arrive late Friday into Saturday across the Chicago area in colder environment, has the potential to produce wet snow for parts of the area with some accumulation possibleThe "Bomb Cyclone" continues to down trees, cut power and bring heavy rain to California. It continues to open up, but you can still see the well-defined counterclockwise swirl south of San Francisco.STRONG AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOCUS ON AREAS DOWNSTATE AND ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINSSevere outlook Thursday through Thursday nightTHREAT FOR HEAVY, POTENTIALLY FLOODING RAINS, IN AREAS SOUTH OF CHICAGOThursday and Thursday night excessive rainfall outlook. Plus, Friday and Friday night excessive rainfall outlookQUANTITATIVE PRECIPITATION FORECAST THROUGH MONDAY, MARCH 271-1.5” precipitation totals expected over the next 5 days across the Chicago area, but areas downstate could see totals of 4-5” of rainfall, raising the prospect for floodingCOLDER THAN NORMAL PATTERN LOCKING IN FOLLOWING 3 CON...

Karl-Anthony Towns is the hero in his return as Timberwolves top Atlanta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:30 GMT

After missing the previous 52 games with a calf strain suffered in late November, Karl-Anthony Towns made his much-anticipated return to action Wednesday in front of a packed Target Center crowd eager to see its all-star big back in uniform.He did not disappoint.While appearing to be short of wind at various points, Towns’ production was strong throughout. He made his first two 3-point tries and showed few to no signs of rust. Towns finished with 22 points on 8-for-18 shooting, and Minnesota outscored Atlanta by 13 during his 26 minutes of action.And with 3.6 seconds left and Minnesotan trailing by a point, Towns drove from the middle of the floor and drew a foul on John Collins, sending him to the line with a chance to win the game.He drilled them both.Minnesota then got a stop on the other end to seal a 125-124 victory over the Hawks in downtown Minneapolis.“This is what movies are made of,” Towns said in his postgame television interview.Heading into the contest...