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Harry Belafonte mourned by entertainment world, Biden, Obama

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Reaction poured in Tuesday from heads of state, civil-rights leaders and the entertainment world following the death of Harry Belafonte at age 96. As a prominent activist, charismatic singer, Hollywood leading man, Broadway star and trailblazing Black entertainer, Belafonte’s loss was felt across a wide swath of American life. ___“Jill and I are saddened by the passing of a groundbreaking American who used his talent, his fame, and his voice to help redeem the soul of our Nation. Harry Belafonte was born to Caribbean parents in Harlem, New York on March 1, 1927, when segregation was the order of American society. To our Nation’s benefit, Harry never accepted those false narratives and unjust boundaries. He dedicated his entire life to breaking barriers and bridging divides. … Harry Belafonte’s accomplishments are legendary and his legacy of outspoken advocacy, compassion, and respect for human dignity will endure. He will be remembered as a great Am...

Parties need detailed info to drop election candidates on security grounds, MPs hear

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

OTTAWA — Directors from past Liberal and Conservative campaigns told a House of Commons committee Tuesday that concerns raised by national security officials would not necessarily be reason enough for them to drop a candidate from their rosters.They testified Tuesday at a meeting of the procedure and House affairs committee, which is probing the issue of foreign interference in Canadian affairs. Pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government has steadily ramped up amid a string of media reports that alleged, citing anonymous sources, that Beijing tried to influence the outcome of the past two federal elections.One such report, published by Global News, alleged that Toronto MP Han Dong benefited from Chinese foreign interference in his successful bid to become the Liberal candidate for his riding in 2019. The report is cited in a lawsuit he has launched against the company, which stands by its reporting. Jeremy Broadhurst, who serves as a senior adviser to Trudeau and m...

New footage from ‘Dune 2,’ ‘Barbie’ unveiled at CinemaCon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a starry presentation that included Timothée Chalamet, Oprah Winfrey, Zendaya and a first look at “Dune: Part Two,” “Barbie” was no doubt the brightest star of Warner Bros.’ CinemaCon showcase. In fairness, the neon pink might have given her the advantage. It was a splashy presentation for anxious theater owners in Las Vegas from a studio in transition, with new leadership teams in place to oversee films and create a 10-year plan for iconic DC Comics characters like Superman. Within the past year, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy were selected to lead the studio’s film group while James Gunn and Peter Safran stepped in to head DC Studios.Tuesday evening, CinemaCon attendees will be among the first to see “The Flash” (out June 16) — a film that has been the source of extra scrutiny because of star Ezra Miller’s series of arrests and reports of erratic behavior. Miller, who goes by they/them pronouns, said last year that they were pursuing treatment for “co...

Taliban kill mastermind of suicide bombing at Kabul airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Taliban have killed the senior Islamic State group leader behind the August 2021 suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport that left 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghans dead, according to the father of a Marine killed in the attack who was briefed Tuesday by military officials.Over the weekend, the U.S. military began to inform families of the 11 Marines, the sailor and the soldier killed in the blast at Abbey Gate during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. And those family members shared the information in a private group messaging chat, according to the mother of another Marine.The account from the families to The Associated Press was confirmed by three U.S. officials and a senior congressional aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that had not yet been made public. The IS leader, whose identity has not yet been released, was killed in southern Afghanistan in early April as the Taliban conducted a series of operation...

Joly ‘concerned’ as Azerbaijan escalates Nagorno-Karabakh dispute with Armenia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she’s “deeply concerned” about Azerbaijan escalating a long-running dispute with Armenia over a breakaway province by blocking its main access road.Tensions between the two have spiralled in recent months since the Azerbaijan restricted access to the road that connects Armenia with the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.The area is mostly populated by ethnic Armenians, but is internationally recognized as being part of Azerbaijan.In January, the House foreign-affairs committee heard that Azerbaijan had limited access along the only road into the territory, known as the Lachin corridor, although medical services were still granted access.In her first statement this year about the conflict, Joly says a new checkpoint Azerbaijan installed along the road “clearly undermines the peace process and stability throughout the region.”Canada says both countries need to keep talking and stick with the peace process, which...

Timeline of Kim Foxx's two terms as Chicagoland's top prosecutor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago area's top prosecutor will not seek reelection after two terms of intense scrutiny of her efforts to overhaul criminal prosecutions and her approach to high-profile cases, including charges against actor Jussie Smollett for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself.Kim Foxx announced Tuesday that she will not seek a third term as Cook County state's attorney next year, telling a City Club of Chicago meeting that she will leave in November 2024 “with my head held high" after eight years prosecuting crime in her hometown.“I leave now with my head held high, with my heart full, knowing that better days are ahead,” Foxx said. “And it has been my honor and my privilege on behalf of project kids across this city." Kim Foxx says she will not seek re-election 2016: First Black woman to be Cook County State's AttorneyFoxx, who was raised in Chicago public housing, first ran for the office in 2016 in a race dominated by questions about then-State's Attor...

Some Portland police staff decry 'woke' LGBTQ training video

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The anonymous written comments staff members of the Portland Police Bureau provided after an LGBTQ policy training session shows many rejecting the whole training.KOIN 6 News in Portland obtained the feedback for the online training video titled, "PPB LGBTQAI2S+ and Queer Policy - Introduction and Training." The document includes a wide variety of feedback, from positive responses to complaints about technical issues. Deadlines: When to use Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby coupons, gift cards and more But many used blunt, direct language to register their response. Among them:"I will never ask anyone for their preferred pronouns. This woke agenda is insane. I guess it's time to resign like everyone else.""With policies like this, we are creating a natural playground for psychopaths and other bad actors.""Biggest takeaway is that the people that make decisions within the police bureau are Marxist ideologues trying to destroy the bureau."One of the most co...

Jury deliberates in 'ComEd Four' bribery trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

CHICAGO -- The corruption trial for the "ComEd Four" are now in the hands of the jurors.Federal prosecutors finished up their rebuttal argument Tuesday after six weeks of testimony and two days of closing arguments in the ComEd bribery trial.“We’re not talking about amateurs here,” Assistant US Attorney Amar Bhachu tells jurors during rebuttal arguments. “They were not playing checkers, they were playing chess, and they were grandmasters of corruption.”But defense attorneys have argued their clients did nothing wrong. Tinley Park’s music venue gets a new name "Jay is a Chicago guy," Attorney Mike Gillespie said, regarding his client, Jay Doherty. "And he has nothing to do with Springfield.  Zero. Not a thing."Defense attorneys argued their clients were engaged in legal and constitutionally-protected lobbying, but federal prosecutors are seeing it differently.The four people on trial are former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Ann...

24-carat gold-plated gun in luggage leads to US woman's arrest: Australia officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A 28-year-old woman from the U.S. is facing charges and potential visa cancellation after Australian authorities say they found a 24-carat gold-plated handgun in her luggage over the weekend. The woman, who hasn't yet been identified, was arrested at Sydney Airport on Sunday after officers with the Australian Border Force, using "sophisticated detection technology" found the firearm in her luggage. According to ABF, the firearm was unregistered and the woman, who was traveling from Los Angeles, lacked a permit to import or possess a firearm in Australia. The woman was charged and, if convicted, could face up to 10 years in prison, ABF wrote in a press release. Will TSA stop you for marijuana in your luggage? While details are limited, the woman appeared before a court on Monday and received bail. Pending court proceedings, the woman could have her visa canceled and be removed from Australia. Another court hearing is scheduled for May, according to 7News Australia.Airl...

Three storm threats in Central Texas through Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Extensive cloud cover has kept temperatures too cool to develop severe thunderstorms in our area, especially from Austin westward through the Hill Country. Clouds are breaking east of I-35, warming temperatures and providing a chance of developing strong to severe storms this evening.From I-35 eastward is where we may see isolated severe thunderstorms develop now through 9 p.m., with the potential of hail, damaging winds or an isolated tornado.Strong storms possible after 5 p.m.Our area is in a 2 out of 5 threat of severe storms this evening.Slight risk (2 out of 5) for strong to severe storms Tuesday afternoon & eveningNext severe threat: late Wednesday into early ThursdayAn upper-level low over northeast Utah will continue to move southeast towards Texas. A cold front will be head to our area late Wednesday night, moving over the area during the overnight hours. The Storm Prediction Center feels that strong winds will be the number one threat followed by sizea...