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Lebanese army court charges 5 men allegedly linked to Hezbollah for Irish peacekeeper’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s military tribunal on Thursday charged five men with the killing of an Irish U.N. peacekeeper in December, a senior judicial official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, alleged all five are linked with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.The indictment followed a half-year probe after an attack on a U.N. peacekeeping convoy near the town of Al-Aqbiya in Lebanon’s south, a stronghold of Hezbollah. The shooting resulted in the death of Pvt. Seán Rooney, 24, of Newtown Cunningham, Ireland, and seriously wounded Pvt. Shane Kearney, 22. The wounded peacekeeper was medically evacuated to Ireland. Two other Irish soldiers sustained light injuries.The indictment includes evidence from bystanders’ testimonies, as well as audio recordings and video footage from surveillance cameras, the Lebanese official said. In some of the recordings of the confrontation, the gunmen reportedly could be heard telling the peacekeep...

Ottawa improving how it handles intelligence: Trudeau’s national security adviser

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

OTTAWA — The prime minister’s national security adviser says Ottawa needs to improve the way it manages intelligence, and officials are taking steps to address breakdowns in communication within government. Jody Thomas made the comments this morning at a meeting of a parliamentary committee that is investigating allegations that members of Parliament were targeted by foreign interference. Thomas said she wouldn’t speculate on the specifics of what took place before her tenure, after watchdog David Johnston found in a recent report that there were serious issues in the way the government handles confidential information. The former governor general’s first report found that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service was aware of indications Chinese officials were contemplating action directed at Canadian MPs, but did not identify negligence at the highest political levels.The report said intelligence about Chinese officials seeking information about Conservative MP ...

Penguins hire former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas as president of hockey operations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas as their new president of hockey operations.“On behalf of my family, we are thrilled to join the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and all of the incredible people across Fenway Sports Group,” said Dubas, in a statement. “I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity that lies ahead of me. The ownership group, FSG leadership and the Penguins staff on the ground in Pittsburgh have been absolutely outstanding. Everyone has demonstrated a clear commitment to building a best-in-class hockey operation.”The Leafs cut ties with Dubas on May 19 after five years at the helm. The team was ousted in five games in the second round by the Florida Panthers – following losses in the first round of the post-season in Dubas’ first four years in charge.The Penguins fired president of hockey operations Brian Burke and GM Ron Hextall after the team missed the playoffs this year, ending a 16-yea...

Métis leaders want introduction, passage of self-government legislation this spring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

OTTAWA — The president of the Métis National Council says leaders are urging the Liberal government to introduce and pass self-government legislation this spring. Cassidy Caron made the comment at the start of a meeting in Ottawa between ministers and Métis leaders, co-chaired by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The council is comprised of Métis leaders from Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario. Caron says the nations have been working to sign self-government agreements and “eagerly look forward to the introduction and passage of Métis self-government implementation legislation in Parliament this session.”The Liberals have about a month to go before the House of Commons is set to rise for summer, and the government already has nine priority bills it wants passed. Advancing Métis self-governance was among the Indigenous-related promises Trudeau made in the 2021 federal election campaign. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2023. The ...

What are the economic consequences of empty office spaces across Canada?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

More than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, there are still a lot of Canadians who have yet to return to the office full-time.A new survey from Unispace shows people aren’t interested in returning for a variety of reasons.“…half of workers are in the office four or more days a week, but just 31 per cent like being in the workplace this regularly. The disconnect between what employees want and the work set-up on offer is a potential driver, as 41 per cent of employees currently ‘hot-desk,’ or share a workstation with other employees, but 79 per cent suggested they would be more inclined to head into the office if they were given their own assigned desk,” a portion of the survey said. Related Articles:Is converting office buildings into apartments here to stay?Vancouver office vacancy rates spike amid COVID-19, but well below national averageVancouver office space to be converted into apartments and rented as hotel rooms&nbs...

Coach confirms Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi arrived two years ago wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with ”Ici C’est Paris” (This Is Paris) — a favorite cry among Paris Saint-Germain fans — and to chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!”The soccer superstar will leave the team on Saturday not quite so revered.The cheers have been replaced by jeers and boos in recent weeks at the Parc des Princes, where the the World Cup winner will play his final game for the French league champion. Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday that the looming end of the season is also the end of Messi’s time at PSG.Messi will bow out in their league finale against Clermont on Saturday. His contract expires at the end of June.“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of soccer,” Galtier said. “This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”PSG recruited Messi in August 2021 with the ambition to finally win the Champions L...

4 injured in Sweden in incident classed as attempted murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Four teenagers were injured in an incident Thursday in the town of Eskilstuna, west of Stockholm, police said, adding it was unclear what had happened but “several people were involved in a fight that resulted in personal injuries.”Those injured were four boys aged 15, police said in a statement. The case is being classified as attempted murder, but police said they had no information on how serious the injuries were. Two young men have been detained and more people can expected to be nabbed, they added.A large deployment of police was involved in an action near the Munktellarena sports facility in Eskilstuna, some 90 kilometers (56 miles) west of Stockholm, police said. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Swedish broadcaster TV4 said school students were injured in a stabbing and two groups of youths got into a fight. Swedish media say there are several schools nearby. Sweden, a nation of 10 million, has in recent decades seen an increase in violence, chie...

Russian foreign minister set for BRICS meet in South Africa with war in Ukraine on agenda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was meeting in South Africa with counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc of developing nations for discussions Thursday that will start with “an exchange of views” on major geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine, South Africa’s ambassador to the bloc said.Most of the BRICS countries differ sharply from the position of the U.S. and its Western allies on the war. Speaking ahead of the meeting, the South African ambassador, Anil Sooklal, referred to the West’s military aid to Ukraine as one of the things that “fuels the conflict.”“Any endeavor that fuels the conflict does not solve the problem,” Sooklal said when asked for his reaction to Western “attempts” to transfer weapons to Ukraine.“We do not know of any global conflict that has been solved though war,” he said. “All it does is cause more pain and suffering and, as BRICS countries, this is what we are saying: Let’s focus on findin...

Small plane forced to land in cornfield after failed take off in Sugar Grove

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

SUGAR GROVE, Ill — A small plane was forced to land in a cornfield after a failed take off from Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove on Thursday morning.According to the FAA, the single-engine plane made a hard landing after taking off from the airport around 7:30 a.m. The landing gear was reportedly crushed.Two people were on board at the time of the incident and were not injured.Here's a look at the plane that crashed during takeoff from the Aurora Airport. The two people on board were not injured. pic.twitter.com/iQFTQqrmlj— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) June 1, 2023The FAA is investigating the incident.

Chicago Bears gifts boy shot in Highland Park parade shooting special wheelchair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:56 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed waist down after being shot in the Highland Park parade shooting last year received a special gift from the Chicago Bears this past week. A device that will make his beach days all the more enjoyable and smoother, Cooper Roberts was gifted a wheelchair that can navigate sand. According to the Chicago Bears, Cooper competes for an adaptive swim team at Shirley Ryan and loves visiting the beach. Cooper's mom Keeley Roberts, said in a statement: "This extraordinarily generous gift from the Bears reflects the organization’s understanding of the importance of this for Cooper. They could have given any gift, but they chose the most meaningful thing that put Cooper 'back in the game' this summer." What to know about Taylor Swift’s Soldier Field concerts The Bears and "Devices 4 the Disabled" joined forces Wednesday at Halas Hall to present Cooper with the wheelchair specifically made for the sand.Bears' quarterback Justin Fields pu...