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Canadian researcher released from Algerian prison after sentence reduced on appeal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

MONTREAL — A Canadian researcher whose criminal conviction in Algeria was criticized by human rights groups has been released from prison after a court reduced his sentence.Raouf Farrah’s lawyer, Kouceila Zerguine, says an appeals court in the eastern Algerian city of Constantine reduced his client’s prison sentence from two years to eight months, and Farrah, who had been detained since February, was released today with time served. He says Farrah’s release is a relief but not a victory and that he is now seeking to have the Algerian Supreme Court review the conviction.Farrah said in a phone interview he’s looking forward to reuniting with his wife, his four-year-old daughter and his parents.The former Montreal resident, who studies migration and criminal economies for an international non-governmental organization, was convicted of publishing secret information and being paid to commit offences against public order.Farrah’s employer, the Global Initiat...

Sheila North announces candidacy for national chief of Assembly of First Nations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Sheila North, a former grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, has announced her bid to become the next national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.North is an advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women, a former journalist and a member of Bunibonibee Cree Nation.North says she has the right qualifications, training and people around her to become the next national chief, and she has received an endorsement from Bunibonibee Cree Nation Chief Richard Hart.The election comes after the dramatic ouster of former national chief RoseAnne Archibald, who was voted out after colleagues accused her of creating a toxic work environment — an allegation she continues to deny.David Pratt, who currently serves as a vice-chief with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, was the first to announce his intention to run in the contest scheduled for December.Manitoba regional chief Cindy Woodhouse, the lead Assembly of First Nations negotiator for a landmark child-w...

Feds install temporary impact review process pending new law prompted by top court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will limit some of its work while the federal government develops new legislation to respond to a recent Supreme Court of Canada opinion.The court ruled earlier this month that a law passed four years ago, which set up a new environmental review process for major projects, strayed into provincial jurisdiction.It upheld the parts of the law that deal with projects Ottawa is financing on federal land or outside the country, but said measures that allow the federal minister to designate a provincial project for review are unconstitutional.Guilbeault says that pending new legislation to address the court’s decision, the federal agency will look at all its ongoing assessments to determine if they fall under federal jurisdiction.He says he will not designate any more projects for review for the time being.The agency is currently reviewing more than four dozen projects, and almost half of them...

Homicide probe after 19-year-old Quebec City woman killed, second teen injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

Quebec City police say a 19-year-old woman was killed in her home early this morning while a 16-year-old boy was seriously injured.Police say doctors fear for the life of the injured teen, who was listed in critical condition.Officers were led to the home in the city’s Limoilou district after arresting another 16-year-old for impaired driving and vehicle theft.While looking inside the residence, authorities found the two victims, and the woman was pronounced dead on the scene.Homicide investigators and forensic teams were at the home today and a mobile command post was also deployed, with police inviting anyone with information to visit the post or call 911.Authorities say the teen who was arrested is expected to appear on charges today of vehicle theft and driving under the influence, while the homicide investigation remains ongoing.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023.The Canadian Press

Hamas official calls for stronger intervention by regional allies in its war with Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A senior Hamas official told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Palestinian militant group had expected stronger intervention from Hezbollah in its war with Israel, in a rare public appeal to its allies in the region.Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ decision-making political bureau, said in an interview that “we need more” from allies, including Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in light of an Israeli air campaign that Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly civilians, in the besieged Gaza Strip.The relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza came in response to a brutal Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, many of them civilians. More than 200 people were dragged back to Gaza as hostages.The death toll on both sides is unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is likely to rise if Israel launches an anticipated ground offensive aimed at crushing Hamas.On the sid...

Self-reported paid sick leave coverage has increased ‘moderately’ since 1995: StatCan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says self-reported paid sick leave coverage has increased moderately since 1995, but coverage for front-line workers is still far from universal. The federal agency says that approximately 64 per cent of workers reported having paid sick leave coverage in November 2022, in comparison to 56 per cent in November 1995.Self-reported coverage appears to have increased for groups that traditionally have lower rates of coverage, including workers with full-time temporary jobs and non-unionized jobs.The report says this suggests inequality in coverage has narrowed between some job types — but lower-wage earners are still less likely to report that they have sick leave coverage. Only 17.2 per cent of workers aged 15 to 64 whose hourly wages are in the bottom 10 per cent say they have coverage.Employees of small businesses are also less likely to report coverage. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023. The Canadian Press

Prep star Flagg shifts focus to home state Maine after mass shooting, says college decision can wait

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

Cooper Flagg, the consensus top player in the 2024 recruiting class, said Thursday that his focus is on the tragedy of a mass shooting in his home state of Maine, an indication that an announcement on where he will play college basketball could be delayed.The 6-foot-9 small forward has been deciding between Duke and defending national champion UConn.There were reports he would announce his decision Thursday. But Flagg indicated in a social media post that would not happen.“All of our focus should be on supporting the victims, their families, and law enforcement — everything else can wait,” Flagg said. “My heart is with Maine.”Flagg plays at Montverde Academy in Florida, but is from Newport, Maine, about 80 miles from Lewiston, where at least 18 people were killed and 13 injured Wednesday night in shootings at a bowling ally and a restaurant.Flagg had called Duke his dream school, but added the Huskies to the mix after an official visit in September, when he hung out with 7-2 center ...

19-year-old charged for stealing multiple vehicles across GTA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

York Regional Police say the provincial carjacking task force arrested a 19-year-old allegedly behind multiple vehicle thefts across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). On October 24, authorities were looking into reports of a stolen Audi S5 in Markham when officers observed a man steal a 2021 Range Rover in the Steelcase Road West and Woodbine Avenue area.Police said the suspect was arrested and the stolen Audi S5 and Range Rover were recovered. The man is believed to have committed three additional vehicle thefts in Peel Region. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Ariyan Chegini of Richmond Hill. Related: Ontario-wide carjacking task force to be co-led by OPP, Toronto police He’s facing several charges, including four counts of motor vehicle theft, five counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, among other offences.“Co-led by the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provi...

Highland Park mass shooting suspect says attack staged by federal agents: Sheriff's office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. -- The Highland Park mass shooting suspect claimed the deadly July 4th attack was staged by federal agents, on a recorded video call, according to the Lake County Sheriff's office. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Robert E. Crimo III has not been disciplined and is still allowed to make calls from a tablet. A spokesman for the state’s attorney’s office said it was aware of the video but would not comment further.It is now up to a judge to decide what to do since Crimo III wasn’t the one who violated jail rules but was a woman who recorded the call on Sept. 21, violating jail rules, the sheriff’s office said. Chicago father convicted of attempted murder in shootings to avenge 2015 slaying of 9-year-old son Crimo III lost his tablet privileges for a period of time earlier this year after he prank called a journalist, according to the Sun-Times. The sheriff’s office said it has forwarded details about the call to the Lake County state’s attorney’s office.

Maine mass shooting: What we know so far

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:26:46 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Authorities say a man fatally shot at least 18 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night. A massive search for the suspect was underway. The suspect was identified as Robert Card, a trained firearms instructor. The shooting in the state’s second-largest city is the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. The database includes every mass killing since 2006 from all weapons in which four or more people, excluding the offender, were killed within a 24-hour time frame.Here's what we know about the suspect and where the shooting happened:WHO IS THE SUSPECT?Authorities on Thursday identified Robert Card, 40, as the suspect in the attack.Maine State Police say an arrest warrant has been issued for eight counts of murder. Ten victims remain unidentified.Card has been described as a firearms instructor b...