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Former president of Mauritania gets 5-year prison sentence for corruption

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — A Mauritanian court handed down a five-year prison sentence to the country’s former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz after finding him guilty of money laundering and self-enrichment, his attorneys said Tuesday.The Monday verdict wraps up a rare corruption trial in west Africa and closes a chapter in the long trajectory of a strongman who helped lead two coups before serving two terms as president and becoming a counterterrorism partner to Western nations including the U.S.In the landmark 11-month trial, Aziz and other top Mauritanian officials were accused of siphoning money from the country to enrich themselves. It marked a rare instance in which an African leader was tried for corruption, though Aziz’s lawyers long framed the trial as a matter of score-settling between him and current President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.“This is a political verdict whose ultimate objective is to deprive the president of civic rights,” defense lawyer T...

Rain, wind pummels B.C. coast as atmospheric river makes landfall

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

VANCOUVER — Parts of southwestern British Columbia remain under a rainfall warning as a potent atmospheric river made landfall along the province’s coast Monday, bringing ample rain and high winds while disrupting roads and utilities.Environment Canada says the weather system brought as much as 132 millimetres of rain in the last 24 hours, reported at the Kennedy Lake on Vancouver Island.The highest precipitation recorded in the Lower Mainland and southwestern B.C. was in Port Mellon on the Sunshine Coast with 102 millimetres, followed by Mission, Porteau Cove and Pitt Meadows with 97, 91 and 90 millimetres of rain respectively.Meanwhile, strong winds also pummeled the B.C. coast Monday, with gusts reaching 150 kilometres an hour at Sartine Island near the northern tip of Vancouver Island and 115 kilometres an hour at Sandspit in Haida Gwaii.Pooling water wreaked havoc on several major roadways in southwestern B.C., with Highway 99 in Richmond, Highway 7B in Port Coquitlam and...

Ozempic shortage taking financial toll on vulnerable diabetes patients

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

A Toronto pharmacy owner says it’s by far the most disruptive drug shortage he’s seen in the last four years — and he’s seen a lot. Diabetes patients who usually take Ozempic are facing hefty bills for alternatives and the situation may last even longer than expected.Kyro Maseh operates two pharmacies, including Lawlor Pharmasave on Kingston Road, and says about 15 per cent of his day — every day — is managing this shortage and answering questions.“I know that a lot of people are using it (Ozempic) for weight loss, but the majority of the patients that I look at – at Rylander Pharmacy out in Scarborough are using this for diabetes and they’re not finding anything that’s covered,” he said.“A lot of them are low socio-economic, a lot of them are seniors and they are diabetic and they have nothing that is covered by the government.”Maseh says alternative drugs can cost anywhere from $250-$400 out of pocket. R...

Financial intelligence agency hands down $7.4M penalty to Royal Bank of Canada

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s financial intelligence agency has levied a $7.4-million penalty against the Royal Bank of Canada for non-compliance with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing measures.The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada says the violations include failing to submit suspicious transaction reports where there were reasonable grounds to suspect ties to a money laundering offence.The agency, known as Fintrac, tries to pinpoint money linked to illicit activities by electronically sifting millions of pieces of information each year from banks, insurance companies, money services businesses and others.It then discloses intelligence to police and other law-enforcement agencies about the suspected cases.Fintrac director Sarah Paquet said in a recent speech that the agency’s priority is to work with businesses to help them comply with their reporting obligations.But she clearly flagged that some were falling behind and that Fintrac would take...

CPD: Attempted robbery victim shot while running away in Gage Park

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was shot while running away from an attempted robbery Tuesday morning in Gage Park.Just before 7:30 a.m., officers responded to the 5300 block of South Rockwell on the report of a person shot.Police believe a 43-year-old man was entering his vehicle when a gray vehicle approached. Two suspects exited and demanded money at gunpoint.At that point, the man ran away and the suspects opened fire on him, striking the 43-year-old in the lower abdomen.He was transported to Mt. Sinai in good condition. The suspects returned to the other vehicle and fled southbound, CPD said. Woman struck, killed by vehicle on Dan Ryan No one is in custody.

Vesecky's Bakery in Berwyn closing Tuesday after over 100 years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

BERWYN, Ill. — A century-old bakery in Berwyn is permanently shutting its doors on Tuesday.Vesecky's Bakery, located at 6634 West Cermak Road, has been in business for over 100 years. In a Facebook post Monday, the bakery announced Tuesday would be their last day open.We know it’s a bit early, but due to circumstances tomorrow, Tuesday, will be our last day open. We are so grateful to all of you for your support throughout the many years.We will not be reserving orders by phone. It will be by a first come first serve today and tomorrow. Thank you!Vesecky's Bakery NASCAR 2024 Chicago Street Race tickets go on sale Wednesday Owner, Nancy Vesecky, told WGN News it was "just time to retire."According to the bakery, Vesecky's is a fourth generation Czech style bakery specializing in Kolacky, rye bread, Houska and hotdogs baked in the bun. 

ACL 2024 dates announced; 3-day passes on presale this week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Limits Music Festival... didn't that just happen? Yes! But the fest is already gearing up for next year. ACL Festival announced its 2024 dates and 3-day pass presale details Tuesday morning. The festival will return October 4-6 and 11-13. Hopeful festival-goers can secure their tickets for next year starting as early as Thursday. Presale for 3-day tickets starts at 10 a.m. Central Time. Find more details on the ACL Festival website.

New report finds U.S. is losing in science, technology

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Leaders with the Science & Technology Action Committee (STAC) warn the United States is losing the race for global leadership in science and technology."The State of Science in America" report surveyed workers in five key sectors including health care, K-12 education, STEM, military/national security and business.“The biggest takeaway that I took from it was that there's a worry amongst this group of folks who are working in professions. Health care and education, the military, all of whom think that the United States is on a path or has already lost its competitive edge in science and technology," said Sudip Parikh with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.The STAC analysis looked into the obstacles it said are keeping the country from advancing in science and technology.“The number one thing that almost all of the sectors of workers identified is education, K-12 education,” said Parikh.“We have to do a better job of educating our children. If...

Loons to keep interim head coach Sean McAuley going into 2024 season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

Minnesota United said Tuesday it will retain interim head coach Sean McAuley going into the 2024 MLS season.The Loons said Monday new Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad will leave his current leadership roles at English club Barnsley on Dec. 15, and pending his visa situation, he is expected to start with MNUFC soon after Jan. 1.At that point, El-Ahmad will proceed with finding a long-term solution at head coach at that time, the Pioneer Press understands. The Loons will then determine a candidate pool, conduct interviews and set out for a full-time hiring.El-Ahmad and Loons CEO Shari Ballard have been discussion the club’s transition over the last month. In early November, Ballard told reporters that the club would have a head coach in place for the start of preseason in early January. It’s unclear when that person became McAuley.McAuley will help provide a smoother transition for the first team. He had been manager Adrian Heath’s top assistant coach for the last five seaso...

Paul Bunyan? Gophers backup center Jack Wilson has become a fan favorite at The Barn

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:51:33 GMT

The sparse crowd at Williams Arena got rowdy last week once the Gophers men’s basketball team took a 30-point lead over New Orleans.That’s when Minnesota’s 6-foot-11, 285-pound backup center Jack Wilson came off the end of the bench and entered the blowout. Some of the loudest cheers across the Gophers’ 97-64 victory came when Wilson scored, rebounded or generally out-muscled opponents.One father-son pair of Gopher fans high up in Section 202 has been relishing every time Wilson has played this season. Father Pat Doyle and son Maguire Doyle — like so many college basketball fans across the country — love it when benchwarmers get rare playing time.When the rotation for playing time reaches reserves and walk-ons, the Gophers are likely winning big — a rarity in recent years at The Barn. After not playing in the Ohio State loss Sunday, Wilson is not expected to get much playing time when Minnesota (5-3, 0-1 Big Ten) plays host to Nebraska (7-1, 0-0) in the Big Ten home opener at ...