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Romanian hostage freed from Burkina Faso after 8 years in captivity, Romania’s foreign ministry says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A Romanian citizen who was abducted in northeast Burkina Faso in 2015 where he was working at a mine, was released Wednesday, Romania’s foreign ministry said.Iulian Ghergut, who was 39 years old when a militant group linked to al-Qaida captured him at a mine where he was working as a security officer, was released and is safe on Romanian soil, the ministry said in a statement.The press release thanked “all external partners, especially the Moroccan authorities, for the important support given in order to solve this extremely complicated case.” It provided no further details.Ghergut was the first hostage recorded in the West African nation since the early 2000s. His kidnapping in 2015 came at a time when extremist armed groups became active across the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa.Fighters linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have waged a violent insurgency in Burkina Faso for seven years. The violence has killed thousands of people and divide...

Child wounded when shots fired into home; 3rd shooting of a child in St. Louis area since Monday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Someone fired several shots into a house and wounded a 9-year-old child Wednesday, the third shooting involving a child this week in the St. Louis area, police said.The shooting happened around 9:40 a.m. Wednesday in north St. Louis County. County police said the child was hospitalized with what they described as non-life-threatening injuries.On Monday, 7-year-old Darnell Macon died while playing with a loaded gun in a pickup truck in the St. Louis County town of Berkeley. The boy’s grandfather was charged with child endangerment and armed criminal action.Also Monday, 5-year-old Dariyah Lathan was shot and killed in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. Police have not released information about the circumstances of the shooting, but said they do not believe a suspect is at large. The Associated Press

Firefighter Zak Muise’s family grateful for support before Penticton, B.C., memorial

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

PENTICTON, B.C. — The family of firefighter Zak Muise, who died last month fighting the Donnie Creek wildfire in B.C.’s northeast, says an outpouring of support has meant a lot to his family ahead of a memorial service to honour him today.Muise’s sister, Allison Tackaberry, says Muise’s death devastated his family, calling it a sudden and tragic loss.The memorial service and a procession are being held today in Penticton, B.C., home base of the firefighting contractor that Muise worked for.RCMP say Muise, 25, from Waterford, Ont., died on July 28 when his heavy-duty ATV rolled over a steep drop on a gravel road in a remote area about 150 kilometres north of Fort St. John.The city of Penticton says the procession and memorial will take place at Skaha Lake Park and will involve the RCMP, Penticton Fire Department and Muise’s colleagues from Big Cat Wildfire.Muise was the fourth firefighter to die on duty in Canada this summer fighting wildfires.Last month, 19-y...

At least 27 migrants found dead in the desert near Tunisian border, Libyan government says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — At least 27 suspected migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have died in recent days in the country’s western desert near the border with Tunisia, Libyan authorities said.In a statement posted on Facebook, Libya’s Interior Ministry said late Tuesday the bodies were discovered recently near the border and that a forensic team had been deployed to the area. In the same post, the ministry published pictures of African migrants receiving treatment from Libyan medical teams.Mohamed Hamouda, a spokesperson for the Libyan government, on Wednesday confirmed the discovery of the bodies to The Associated Press, but declined to provide any further details.In recent months, Tunisian security forces began removing some migrants from coastal areas, busing them elsewhere and, migrants say, dumping some of them in the desert. Earlier this month, Tunisia’s Interior Minister admitted that small groups of sub-Saharan migrants trying to enter the country are being pushed back into the des...

Brazil’s Amazon Summit ends with a call to protect the world’s rainforests, but no measurable goals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

BELEM, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s Amazon Summit closed Wednesday with a roadmap to protect tropical rainforests that was welcomed as an important step in countering climate change, but without the concrete commitments sought by some environmentalists to end deforestation.Leaders and ministers from eight Amazon nations signed a declaration Tuesday in Belem, Brazil, that laid out plans to drive economic development in their countries while preventing the Amazon’s ongoing demise “from reaching a point of no return.”Several environmental groups described the declaration as a compilation of good intentions with little in the way of measurable goals and timeframes. However, it was lauded by others, and the Amazon’s umbrella organization of Indigenous groups celebrated the inclusion of two of its main demands.“It is significant that the leaders of the countries of the region have listened to the science and understood the call of society: the Amazon is in danger, and we do not have much time t...

Police using social media accounts as Meta begins blocking news for Canadians

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Saskatchewan RCMP say Meta’s decision to remove news links from Facebook and Instagram will affect the way they relay information. In the coming weeks, police forces won’t be able to count on local news popping up in people’s social media feeds as they scroll. Mounties in Saskatchewan say they are working through ways to maximize their distribution of public safety messaging.Meanwhile, other police forces say they will use their existing social media presence to keep people informed.   Winnipeg police say they will use their accounts to keep people informed of missing persons or breaking news. Meta is set to remove all news for Canadian users in response to the Liberal government’s Online News Act, which requires some tech giants to pay for news content shared or repurposed on their platforms. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2023. The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 20230809140836-64d3dcb67cdd9a46ada7356fjpeg.jpg, Capt...

Renewable energy workers say Alberta’s pause will wipe out season of work

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

An industry group says Alberta’s decision to pause approvals of new renewable energy projects is putting the lives of thousands of workers on hold. Iron and Earth, a group that assists fossil fuel employees transition to the renewables industry, says the United Conservative Party government’s move will wipe out an entire season of work.Director Luisa Da Silva says those workers have bills to pay and many are likely to leave the province.Meanwhile, video has surfaced of Rob Anderson, Premier Danielle Smith’s chief of staff, describing the renewable industry as a scam.The video was made before Smith re-entered politics in May 2022.Smith’s office has not disavowed the video, which appears to have been made for The Western Standard, a conservative news outlet.  Nagwan Al-Guneid, the Opposition NDP’s utilities critic, says Anderson’s remarks are an insult to the thousands of Albertans who work in the industry.This report by The Canadian Press was first...

Chicago Blackhawks honor late chairman Rocky Wirtz with memorial at United Center

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks fans are celebrating the life of the team's late chairman Rocky Wirtz on Wednesday.The memorial service is being held at the United Center and is open to the public, with first-come, first-serve seating for the formal ceremony. Once completed, the United Center will remain open to fans to pay their respects to the late owner, who died after a brief illness on July 25 at 70-years-old. Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz dies at 70 Wirtz took over as chairman in 2007 from his father, but the team has been in the Wirtz family since 1954 when Rocky's grandfather purchased it.After taking the helm, Rocky led a rebirth of the Chicago Blackhawks, getting the games on TV and ushering in a new general of fans. His commitments helped deliver Stanley Cup victories in 2010, 2013 and 2015.Wirtz also lead the Blackhawks Foundation, which has donated millions of dollars to charities focused on things like housing and youth programs.Wirtz is survived by his wife Marilyn, fou...

Cubs Convention returns for 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Since it's become a tradition for the club for four decades, it's more of a matter of when than if the Cubs' annual winter gathering of fans will be held in a given year.On Wednesday, the team made it official, setting the dates for the team's 2024 fan convention.The Cubs have announced that they’ll hold their 2024 fan convention January 12-14 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago..Hotel packages go on sale to the general public on Thursday at Noon. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/wpCbXUtmRS— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) August 9, 2023The team will once again host the event at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, 301 E North Water Street, doing so from January 12-14, 2024. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase hotel packages for the event starting on Thursday, August 10 beginning at Noon central time on the team's website. Season ticket holders will have a presale opportunity at 10 a.m. central time on the same day. Weekend passes for the event, according to the Cubs, will be availabl...

VIDEO: Drone footage shows scope of Cedar Park brush fire damage

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:53:45 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — Cedar Park released a drone video showing the damage from a 50-acre brush fire Tuesday near the high-trafficked area of Parmer Lane and East Whitestone Boulevard.The Parmer Lane Fire has burned an estimated 50 acres and is now 60% percent contained, the Texas A&M Forest Service said Wednesday. The Forest Service said crews made progress in building a containment line around the fire. LATEST: Parmer Lane Fire The Cedar Park video, posted on social media Wednesday, showed how the fire moved through grass and brush and an apartment building at Bexley at Silverado apartment complex.The fire destroyed one apartment building and damaged three other buildings in the complex.The City of Cedar Park said approximately 300 apartment units, 95 townhomes and multiple businesses in the area were evacuated. 25-year-old single mom and newborn among evacuees from Cedar Park brush fire The video shared from the city shows how the fire jumped over the road, burning t...