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Jamaican security forces shot more than 100 people this year. A body camera was used only once

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A government agency in Jamaica found that security forces were not wearing body cameras when they fatally shot or injured more than 100 people in the Caribbean island in the first half of the year.Only one body camera was worn during the 106 incidents — including 64 killings — reported from January to June involving Jamaica’s police and military, according to a report released Thursday by the Independent Commission of Investigations. Security forces have killed a total of 119 people as of Oct. 31, although it wasn’t clear if any body cameras were worn in the cases reported from July to October.The report on shootings comes after Jamaica’s government announced in April that it had distributed 400 body cameras to the Constabulary Force.“The body-worn cameras will give the account of what transpired without embellishment, without partiality or without bias,” Hugh Faulkner, who leads the commission, told reporters.Security forces in Jamaica have ...

Man accused in London, Ont., attack has mental health issues: expert

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

A forensic psychiatrist is testifying that a man accused of killing four members of a Muslim family in London, Ont., was suffering from mental health issues at the time of the attack that might have impacted his ability to plan his actions.Defence witness Dr. Julian Gojer says his report has concluded that Nathaniel Veltman doesn’t qualify to be considered not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, despite having mental health issues.Gojer says he diagnosed Veltman with severe depression, autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among other conditions that may have impacted his ability to plan his actions and understand their consequences.Twenty-two-year-old Veltman is accused of deliberately hitting the Afzaal family with his truck on June 6, 2021, while they were out for a walk in London _ prosecutors have alleged his actions amount to an act of terrorism.He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attemp...

First Quantum shares stage partial rebound after Panama’s congress backtracks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

VANCOUVER — Shares of Vancouver-based mining company First Quantum bounced back almost nine per cent in midday trading Friday after falling by nearly half this week.The rally comes after Panama’s National Assembly on Thursday scrapped a provision to revoke a controversial mining contract that had sparked nationwide protests over the past two weeks.An indefinite moratorium on new mining activities passed a second vote in the chamber, but not before the article nixing the government’s contract with First Quantum subsidiary Minera Panama was stripped.In response, shares of the Vancouver-based company had rebounded by $1.38 to $17.10 on the Toronto Stock Exchange by early afternoon — after plunging from an Oct. 27 close of $27.96.First Quantum says production at its Cobre Panama mine remains uninterrupted, though protests and road blockades have caused supply shortages and disruptions at the site.Laurentino Cortizo, Panama’s president, initially gave final approval on ...

Kendrick Lamar plans to bring major concerts to Africa through new Global Citizen initiative

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience, a new initiative to establish an international touring circuit on the continent of Africa launching with a concert in Kigali, Rwanda on Dec. 6.Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said Lamar’s show at the BK Arena will be financed with a mix of philanthropic donations and corporate funding in hopes the Pulitzer Prize-winning, “Humble” rapper will show the opportunities for artists who appeal to Africa’s booming generation of young people.“Move Afrika is about social enterprise – and over time, it provides certainty to our vendors and partners, enabling them to scale and expand,” Evans told The Associated Press. “Our goal is that this tour will spur the growth and development of small businesses across the region to deliver both our events and many more year round, as other artists take advantage of the tour routes.”African artists — including Burna Boy, Rema, and Davido — have had rece...

Pan American Games give Chile’s Boric a break from political polarization

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile’s President Gabriel Boric faces a deeply polarized country, rising crime and a divisive upcoming vote on a new constitution. But his life is like a dream while attending the Pan American Games in his country’s capital. Boric drew loud applause at the National Stadium on Oct. 20 when he opened the 41-nation games, which have given him with both a respite from politics and an easy way to generate positive publicity amid his deeply faltering popularity.He looked glad to be filmed as he punched the air during a Chile vs. Argentina women’s basketball match, signed autographs during the judo, sat casually in sunglasses at the beach volleyball and showed surprising interest for swimming as he stood up during the races.The 37-year-old Boric is expected to remain in fan mode until the closing ceremony Sunday, and has been busy using social media to highlight his attendance and his support of all Chileans, while glossing over glitches including reports of thefts a...

Ohio will vote on marijuana legalization. Advocates say there’s a lot at stake

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Voters in Ohio will decide next week whether to legalize recreational marijuana, but people on both sides of the issue say more hangs in the balance than simply decriminalizing the drug. Supporters of legalization say Ohio can reclaim tax revenue being lost to states such as Michigan, where marijuana is legal, and take power from illegal drug markets through government regulation. But opponents warn of increased workforce and traffic accidents by people under the influence, and argue much of the revenue will land in the pocket of the marijuana industry, not taxpayers. Issue 2 on the Nov. 7 ballot would allow adults 21 and over to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams) of cannabis and 15 grams (about a half-ounce) of extract, and to grow up to six plants per individual through a government program. A 10% tax would be imposed on any purchases, with those proceeds going toward administrative costs and addiction treatment in the state and to municipalities tha...

Businessman sentenced in $180 million bank fraud that paid for lavish lifestyle, classic cars

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — A businessman who orchestrated a $180 million check-kiting scheme and used the proceeds to live a lavish lifestyle and amass one of the world’s most revered classic car collections has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison.Najeeb Khan, 70, of Edwardsburg, Michigan, told a federal judge Thursday that he was “blinded by greed” to carry out the scheme and buy more than 250 cars, as well as airplanes, boats and a helicopter, according to Cleveland.com. Besides receiving a 97-month sentence, he must pay $121 million in restitution to Cleveland-based KeyBank, $27 million to clients and $9.8 million in back taxes.Authorities have said Khan carried out the fraud from 2011-2019 while growing his payroll processing business in Elkhart, Indiana. He funneled dozens, sometimes hundreds, of checks and wire transfers with insufficient funds through three banks, artificially inflating the amount in his accounts. He siphoned off about $73 million for himself.He used the ...

In ‘By the Ghost Light,’ R.H. Thomson urges us to think differently about war

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

TORONTO — There are three narratives that shape our perception of war, actor R.H. Thomson writes in his family memoir. There are the warmongers’ stories before fighting breaks out, the chaotic battlefield dispatches and the mythologizing that follows.He noticed the pattern both while combing through his family’s military history, laid out in “By the Ghost Light: Wars, Memories and Families,” published by Penguin Random House Canada, but also while working on his ongoing project The World Remembers. That ongoing effort seeks to catalogue and display the names of all nine million who died fighting in the First World War — not just those from certain countries or alliances. “It’s a toxic formula,” he said. “We’re in a perpetual war cycle.” Thomson, who is perhaps best known for roles in “Road to Avonlea” and “Anne with an E,” can see it happening now in how we talk about both Russia-Ukraine and Israel-H...

Former President Obama talks strengthening democracy at forum

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were back in Chicago on Friday to head up this year's Democracy Forum at McCormack Place.The discussion takes place on the 15th anniversary of Obama’s first presidential election.No longer in the White House, the 44th President of the United States continues to look for other ways to make an impact. The forum is an effort, in part, to foster new leadership, especially among young people — and strengthen democracy.  President Biden to visit Illinois next week Friday's event comes at a precarious moment in history as authoritarian leaders around the world seek to destroy democracy. In the US, polarized political parties refuse to compromise, most would agree, paralyzed by dysfunction and negativity.   Reflecting on the current landscape, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke of the former President's path endured and the roads ahead. Former President Obama launches new foundation initiativ...

Burbank woman's father kidnapped, tortured while family escapes bombings in Gaza

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:34 GMT

CHICAGO — A Burbank woman spoke out on concerns for her family in Gaza amid constant bombardment. Her father who was also taken hostage by Israeli soldiers on Oct. 7, was released from captivity just Friday morning.Ghada Shuraab, born and raised in Southern Gaza, came to Chicago to pursue her education in 2008, but has lived her days in worry for her loved ones in Khan Younis, Gaza — especially after the initial attacks early October."My mom had asked my sister to take a different route to the store because the main street had been bombed. Right after she left, that street had been bombed. Luckily, she took a different route," Shuraab said. Over 10,000 Palestinians have been killed, 32,000 wounded, and 2.3 million people have been displaced from their homes from Israeli bombings since Oct.7. Trapped in hell: Palestinian civilians try to survive in northern Gaza, focus of Israel’s offensive More than 3,7000 Palestinian children have also been killed in 25 days of bombardment. Thou...