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Democratic Gov. Beshear touts economic gains as theme in reelection bid in GOP-trending Kentucky

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear touted robust revenue collections in Kentucky as another sign of a surging state economy Thursday, building on a theme he has made a cornerstone of his reelection bid in a state that Republicans have dominated in recent years.Citing general fund receipts that totaled $15.1 billion in the just-concluded fiscal year, Beshear said the state was poised to record its largest-ever revenue surplus of roughly $1.4 billion. And he was quick to point out that the money kept rolling in even after the state individual income tax rate was cut.“Put simple, we’re booming,” the governor said at his weekly news conference. “And this revenue figure shows how much we’re booming at unprecedented levels.”The general fund pays for most state services, including education, health care and public safety. Although he announced the surplus in his official capacity as governor, the massive surplus reinforced his campaign strategy of touting his economic stewa...

Former Mozambique finance minister pleads not guilty in US federal court over $2 billion scandal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Mozambique’s former finance minister pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court in New York on Thursday in connection with a $2 billion corruption and money laundering scandal that prosecutors said defrauded American investors and threatened to further destabilize the economy of one of the world’s poorest countries. Manuel Chang served as finance minister from 2005 to 2015 for Mozambique, a country of 31 million on Africa’s southern coast on the Indian Ocean. He was ordered detained until at least October, when his attorneys argue for a dismissal of his case.Chang is accused of receiving bribes of up to $18 million during a scheme that secured loans for Mozambican state-owned companies from foreign banks and financiers for maritime projects. The money was looted through kickbacks and other corrupt dealings, according to U.S. prosecutors.Until his extradition to the United States Wednesday, Chang had been held in South Africa after being arrested in Johann...

Canadian film, TV industry braces for impact of Hollywood actors strike

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s film and television community is bracing for more job uncertainty amid a Hollywood actors’ strike that observers say has the potential to throw more people out of work, upend TV schedules and dim the wattage of celeb-studded events like the Toronto International Film Festival.The decision by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists to walk off the job at midnight Thursday sounds the death knell for Canadian sets with SAG stars that survived a Writers Guild of America strike entering its sixth week.It also raised questions about the fate of celeb-studded tourist draws including TIFF, set for Sept. 7 to 17, and Fan Expo Canada, set for Aug. 24 to 27.TIFF said in an emailed statement that a SAG strike would almost certainly impact its typically star-packed festival, known for fan-friendly red carpets and premieres, as well as A-list studded press conferences and junkets that draw journalists from around the world.“The impact o...

Clarification: Media-Fox-Lawsuit story

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

DOVER, Del. (AP) — In a story published July 12, 2023, The Associated Press reported on a defamation lawsuit filed against Fox News. The story should have made clear that the lawsuit was initially filed Monday in Superior Court in Delaware, then transferred to federal court in that state on Wednesday.Randall Chase And David Bauder, The Associated Press

Environment Canada says tornado touched down north of Montreal, no injuries or damage

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

MONTREAL — Environment Canada confirmed one tornado touched down north of Montreal and a second is suspected to have hit southwest of the city as severe thunderstorms ripped across eastern Ontario and Quebec on Thursday.The confirmed tornado was in a field near the airport in Mirabel, Que., where there were no reports of injury or damage, Environment Canada spokesperson Katarina Radovanovic said.The other tornado is suspected to have hit an area with no built infrastructure in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que., also causing no damage, she said.Monica Vaswani, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the agency had received reports of other rotating cloud formations that may have produced tornadoes in Ontario and Quebec, but it was unable to confirm additional touchdowns.Environment Canada lifted tornado warnings that earlier in the day covered much of southwestern Quebec, including Montreal, but severe thunderstorm warnings persisted in many areas Thursday aft...

Syria gives green light to reopen key crossing to rebel-held northwest from Turkey – with caveats

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Syrian government gave a green light Thursday for the United Nations to resume delivering humanitarian aid to Syria’s rebel-held northwest through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey for six months, but said it must be done “in full cooperation and coordination with the government.”Syria’s U.N. ambassador, Bassam Sabbagh, said the U.N. should not communicate “with the terrorist organizations and groups and their affiliated illegal administrative entities in northwestern Syria.” Instead, he said, the U.N. must allow the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to supervise aid distribution in areas controlled by “terrorist organizations.”Sabbagh made the announcement after delivering letters to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council president with the government’s decision. It followed Tuesday’s failure of the Security Council to renew authorization of aid deliveries through Bab al-Hawa, a U.N. operation...

Lisa Marie Presley died from a the effects of a small bowel obstruction, coroner says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lisa Marie Presley died from a small bowel obstruction, authorities said Thursday.The January 12 death at age 54 of the singer, songwriter and heir of Elvis Presley was ruled as being from natural causes, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner records.An autopsy report that would include more details about what led to Presley’s death has not yet been released.Presley died at a Los Angeles hospital, where she had been rushed by paramedics responding to a 911 call of a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. No indication was made public at the time of what may have caused the medical issue.She was buried at a Jan. 22 funeral at Graceland, the home where she lived with her father as a child that has become a museum, tourist attraction and shrine for Elvis fans.Presley left behind three daughters, 34-year-old “Daisy Jones & the Six” actor Riley Keough and 15-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood. A son, Benjamin Keough, died in 2020.In th...

Dangerous heat wave baking US Southwest brings triple-digit temperatures and fire risk to California

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a historically wet winter and a cloudy spring, California’s summer was in full swing Thursday as a heat wave that’s been scorching much of the U.S. Southwest brings triple-digit temperatures and an increased risk of wildfires.Blistering conditions will build Friday and throughout the weekend in the central and southern parts of the state, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned.Midday highs were mostly expected to be above 100 degrees (37.7 C), and desert areas could reach 120 (48.8 C), forecasters said. Little relief was expected overnight, when temperatures could remain in the 80s (above 26.6 C). Excessive heat warnings and watches were posted or set to take effect for much of the state through the weekend.Across California, public libraries, senior centers and police department lobbies were being prepared to open as cooling centers while the heat worsened, especially in the d...

B.C. residents urged to conserve water as worsening drought conditions parch province

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

British Columbia residents are being asked to do their part to conserve water as drought conditions parch the province.Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Bowinn Ma called on residents, farmers, businesspeople and industrial plant operators to take urgent steps to cut water use.She highlighted a report from B.C.’s River Forecast Centre that said the combination of record heat in May followed by early snow melt and persistently low levels of precipitation have created historic drought conditions across the province.“Water is a precious resource and we are fortunate to have some of the best water in the world,” Ma said at a news conference. “Every drop counts and that’s why everyone needs to do their part.”The report by hydrologist Jonathan Boyd said most of B.C. has received rainfall over the past year between 40 per cent and 85 per cent of annual average precipitation.It said stream flows measured this week at some rivers on Vancou...

Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network arrested on fraud charges

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The founder and former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency lending platform Celsius Network was freed on $40 million bail Thursday after pleading not guilty to federal fraud charges alleging that he schemed to defraud customers by misleading them about key aspects of the business.Alexander Mashinsky, 57, of Manhattan, was charged with securities, commodities and wire fraud in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court. He was also charged with illegally manipulating the price of Celsius’s proprietary crypto token while secretly selling his own tokens at inflated prices.Mashinsky left the court without commenting after an attorney, Benjamin Alee, told a magistrate judge that Mashinsky was pleading not guilty. When the judge asked if that was his plea, Mashinsky said it was. The $40 million personal recognizance bond is secured by property and the signatures of his wife and a second person.Another Mashinsky attorney, Jonathan Ohring, said in an email that his clien...