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Trial date set for Canadian anti-crime researcher detained in Algeria since February

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

MONTREAL — A Canadian researcher who has been detained in Algeria since February on charges that he published secret information and accepted money to commit offences against public order will stand trial next month.Raouf Farrah’s trial has been set for Aug. 8 in the eastern Algerian city of Constantine, his lawyer Kouceila Zerguine said Tuesday, adding that his client is innocent.“He didn’t commit the two crimes that he has been charged with,” Zerguine said during an interview from Algeria. “During the inquiry, we submitted all the material evidence that refutes the charges.”Farrah’s 67-year-old father, Sebti Farrah, a Montreal-area resident, was arrested with his son while they were visiting relatives in Algeria and is scheduled to stand trial at the same time. Released on bail in mid-April after his health deteriorated, the father is also charged with receiving funds to commit offences against public order.Zerguine said the younger Farrah...

Man behind Mississauga mosque attack sentenced to 8 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

A man accused of attacking several people inside a Mississauga mosque last year has been sentenced to eight years in prison.Mohammed Moiz Omar, 24, of Mississauga, pleaded guilty to three of seven charges last week, including administering a noxious substance and assault with a weapon. Investigators later upgraded the charges, saying the offences Omar is charged with constitute terrorist activity under the criminal code.The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) ruled that Omar’s sentencing “is significantly higher than sentences usually received for the substantive offences because of the terrorism component.”“This was a targeted attack on all the congregants of the Islamic Centre. The worshippers present at the time and on some of the values held dear by Canadians. Those values include freedom to gather and pray and freedom of religion,” said federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh.“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and society&#...

Judge vacates desertion conviction for former US soldier captured in Afghanistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday vacated the military conviction of Bowe Bergdahl, a former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban.The ruling from U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington says that military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over the court-martial, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest.Walton noted that former President Donald Trump had strongly criticized Bergdahl during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bergdahl’s lawyers argued that Trump’s comments placed undue command influence on Nance.Walton rejected the specific argument surrounding undue command influence, but he said a reasonable person could question the judge’s impartiality under the circumstances. Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after...

Prosecutors charge woman who drove into Green Bay building with reckless driving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Prosecutors filed charges Tuesday against the driver of a minivan that crashed into a building in Wisconsin, toppling much of its brick facade and leaving much of its roof sagging precariously.The Brown County District Attorney’s office charged the 29-year-old Green Bay woman with reckless driving, bail jumping and knowingly operating a motor vehicle while suspended.The woman told police the crash was caused by another vehicle cutting her off.Police said the crash Sunday night left the woman and a 27-year-old Oneida man riding in her vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries.The Main Street Commons building struck by the woman has been condemned and remains closed until further notice.Green Bay police said the minivan bounced off the building and spun around and did not penetrate it as the facade fell to the sidewalk below.James Brick, owner of the building, said the car hit a “perfect spot” on one side of the building that made the facade and part of the roo...

First panda born in France says goodbye and heads to China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Ensconced in a glass cage lined with bamboo shoots, the first panda ever born in France bid ‘’adieu’’ to the French zoo where it grew up and set off Tuesday for its new home in China.Named Yuan Meng, the 120-kilogram (264-pound) panda peered out of the cage as staff at the Beauval Zoo south of Paris paid an emotional farewell. Its name means ‘’the realization of a wish” or “accomplishment of a dream.”A crowd of well-wishers waved goodbye as the trailer pulling the cage rolled out of the zoo, the words “Bon Voyage Yuan Meng’’ painted on its sides.Yuan Meng was born in 2017 to parents at Beauval on a 10-year loan from China. The mother later gave birth to twin pandas. All the offspring are meant to be eventually be sent to China.Yuan Meng’s departure was initially delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the trip was long planned, Beauval Zoo director Rodolphe Delord described the day as “heartbreaking.”Giant pandas have difficulty breeding and so...

A man tried to sail from California to Mexico. He was rescued, but abandoned boat drifted to Hawaii

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A boat that washed ashore in Hawaii last week has been identified as belonging to a California mariner who ran into trouble while sailing from San Diego to Guadalupe, Mexico, seven months ago. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the owner of the boat sent a distress call on Dec. 12, 2022, KHON-TV reported. He was rescued and his boat was left behind.After drifting thousands of miles, the boat found its way Friday to Punaluu on Oahu’s windward coast, where it’s been laying on its side on white sand and rocks. The 24-foot boat, which has a California sticker, has been stripped of its anchor, engine and much of its insides.The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said the boat isn’t leaking any fuel or oil. The agency contacted the boat’s owner, who told the state he has no way to remove the vessel. The Coast Guard said their priority during a rescue is human life and it’s protocol to leave vessels behind. Owners, however, are liable for the boat...

Man suspected of shooting and injuring Dallas-area doctor was then shot and injured by police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

CEDAR HILL, Texas (AP) — A man suspected of shooting and injuring a doctor at a Dallas-area medical building was shot and injured Tuesday by police officers after his vehicle was involved in crash with another vehicle and officers could see he had a long gun, police said.Police in Cedar Hill, located just southwest of Dallas, said that officers were dispatched at 12:17 p.m. to Methodist Family Health Center after getting a call about a person with a gun in the building. A minute later, the dispatcher heard a gunshot.The first officer arrived at 12:21 p.m. and saw a doctor on the ground in front of the building with a gunshot wound, police said. Police said that another officer saw a man with a long gun leaving the scene, police said. Police said that the officer then relayed the suspect’s vehicle information to other officers. At 12:22 p.m., the suspect’s vehicle was involved in a crash just down the road.Police said that after the crash, the suspect still had the long g...

O'Neill Burke latest to throw hat into race to replace Kim Foxx

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — With Kim Foxx not seeking another term as Cook County State's Attorney, the Democratic primary to replace her is beginning to take shape, with the latest person entering the race being a former appellate court justice.Eileen O'Neill Burke, a former assistant state's attorney, is running on a platform focused on safety and justice, while also proposing an increase to staffing in Cook County's felony prosecution unit."I think every community throughout the entire county is concerned about safety and justice," O'Neill Burke said. "And I don’t think it’s a choice between one or the other. I think we can do both, and I think we can do both with the right leadership." City council members propose plan to eliminate sub-minimum wage for tipped workers Another addendum on O'Neill Burke's list, should she be elected, is an overhaul on prosecutor training."I want to use an education, ethics and training unit that’s staffed by retired judges," O'Neill Burke said. "I want t...

Skilling: Hot, humid temps to finish out week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

Heat and humidity continue to build toward the Chicago area. Lake breezes and moderate humidity levels, which spared us the most intense heat today—which had been expected--- will give way to hotter, more humid weather Wednesday, Thursday and Friday---though lake breezes will temp the hit on area beaches and in lakeshore areas—AND T-STORM OUTFLOWS will have to be monitored.The area is outlooked for some potential severe t-storms Wed into Wed evening. Storm defeating capping is to take hold Thursday likely sparing Chicago storms then. Models continue to advertise a humid, energy rich environment Wednesday.  But storm coverage isn't as widespread on current and overnight model runs. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WON'T BE STORMS---just that rain-free periods may allow temps to heat more than they might have otherwise.Heat indices, which marry temps with anticipated humidity's surge and offer guidance on the "apparent temp" in an attempt to offer guidance on what the air mass m...

Sea lion recorded in California likely wasn't targeting tourists, expert says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) - Beachgoers were startled by a sea lion that appeared to charge them at La Jolla Cove in San Diego Sunday evening, but one expert says the humans may not have been the intended target. The incident happened as summer crowds, mostly tourists, overwhelmed the tiny, protected beach — one of the most iconic in California — trying to get up-close photos with the beautiful sea mammals and newly weaned pups. But it's risky to do so.“I feel like people should educate themselves a little bit about the marine life here — what to do, what not to do, respect the sea lions, don't touch them, don't get in their space," Japhet Perez Estrada, a La Jolla native and business owner, said to Nexstar's KSWB on Monday. He swims the cove every day and captured video of the incident as he was getting out of the water.“I looked to my left and I see a big sea lion just come out of the water and start charging and that's when it turns to chaos," Perez Estrada said. "Everyone w...