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Supreme Court dismisses case in which Democratic lawmakers sued over Trump hotel lease

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a case it had planned to hear about limits on lawsuits filed by members of Congress against the federal government, in a dispute that involved the former Trump International Hotel in Washington.The justices threw out a federal appeals court ruling that had allowed a lawsuit by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee to continue. The court’s decision Monday had been sought by the Biden Justice Department, which had worried that the appeals court ruling, if let stand, could lead to a flood of lawsuits from individual members of Congress against the administration.The had lawmakers filed their complaint in 2017 over the Trump administration’s refusal to turn over information about the Trump Organization’s lease of the hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, between the White House and the Capitol.The high court’s action was prompted by the decision of the Democratic lawmakers, earlier in June, to voluntar...

Conservative Mitsotakis sworn in as Greece’s prime minister while far-right sees election surge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Center-right leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis was formally sworn in as Greece’s prime minister Monday after easily winning a second term with a record-high margin over the left-wing opposition but also facing a Parliament that includes lawmakers from new far-right parties.With 99.7% of the vote counted, Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party had 40.55% — more than twice the main opposition Syriza party’s 17.84%. It was the largest margin of victory in a Greek election in a half-century and slightly expanded New Democracy’s 20-percentage-point lead in an election held five weeks earlier.Mitsotakis, 55, was sworn in after Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou formally gave him the mandate to govern.“My aim was to secure a stable government with a parliamentary majority. Unfortunately, two elections were needed for that,” he said in a televised meeting with Sakellaropoulou, who as head of state holds a mainly ceremonial role.“I have...

S&P/TSX composite up more than 100 points, U.S. stock markets lower

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

TORONTO — Strength in energy stocks helped Canada’s main stock index gain more than 100 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were in the red.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 140.19 points at 19,558.42.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 52.42 points at 33,675.01. The S&P 500 index was down 7.22 points at 4,341.11, while the Nasdaq composite was down 44.37 points at 13,448.15.The Canadian dollar traded for 76.00 cents US compared with 75.76 cents US on Friday.The August crude contract was up 12 cents at US$69.28 per barrel and the August natural gas contract was up three cents at US$2.87 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was up US$5.50 at US$1,935.10 an ounce and the September copper contract was down two cents at US$3.80 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

El Salvador’s president registers for reelection despite constitutional objections

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele registered for reelection in next year’s contest, his party announced Monday, despite objections from legal experts and opposition figures who say the country’s constitution prohibits his candidacy.Bukele’s New Ideas party announced his registration and that of Vice President Felix Ulloa via Twitter Monday.“New Ideas are invincible,” the party wrote.Bukele is popular in El Salvador but considered controversial internationally. He announced in September that he planned to seek a second five-year term. That came after the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, handpicked by his supporters in congress, ruled in 2021 that his candidacy for reelection was permitted and ordered the electoral court to allow it.Constitutional lawyers, however, have maintained that Bukele’s candidacy would violate at least four articles of the constitution, including article 154, which states: “The presidential term will be five ...

Where to pick Matvei Michkov and other Russian players is a top question at the NHL draft

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

Matvei Michkov is the NHL draft’s man of mystery.The gifted, playmaking winger is probably the best Russian hockey prospect in nearly a decade — and maybe longer, going back to Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin in 2005. His highlight reel is full of shifty stickwork, nifty moves and shots that leave goaltenders helpless to stop them.Still, he’s no lock to be chosen in the top five. The reasons range from the 18-year-old Michkov being under contract in the KHL for three more years to the war in Ukraine, which has led to Russia being banned from international tournaments, countries imposing travel restrictions and scouts getting fewer opportunities to see him in person. Some of the same questions apply to other Russian prospects including winger Danil But, defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev and goaltender Ruslan Khazheyev.Veteran executive Doug Armstrong likened the situation to the Cold War, when it was harder to evaluate talent from the Soviet Union.“This year’s dynamic is differ...

EU auditors fears reaching ambitious climate targets will run into financial problems

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s auditing agency warned Monday that there might not be sufficient financing available to meet the bloc’s ambitious climate targets. The warning from the Court of Auditors comes as the 27-nation bloc is already struggling to live up to image as the global leader in working toward climate neutrality because of a political fight in the EU legislature to push through environmental protection measures. In a 63-page report, the court also noted that the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, did not include all greenhouse gas emissions in its tallies, which might lead to overly optimistic statistics. The report’s authors also found some of the commission’s accounting too opaque. Regarding its finding on financing, the court said that 30% of the 2021-2027 budget was to be spent on climate action, or about 87 billion euros ($95 billion) a year. “This amount is less than 10% of the total investment needed to reach the 20...

Trudeau notes concern over effects of Russia’s ‘internal challenges’ while in Iceland

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

VESTMANNAEYJAR, ICELAND — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined the leaders of Nordic countries on Monday in expressing concern over the potential effects of this weekend’s short-lived uprising in Russia, while stressing that their support for Ukraine remains steadfast.“We had obviously very serious conversations about possible implications of the internal challenges that Russia is facing,” Trudeau said at a joint news conference with Nordic prime ministers in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, where he was a special guest at their annual meeting.“It is their internal challenges,” he said. “But our strength in continuing to stand for Ukraine … to defend the values of democracy and openness and territorial integrity and sovereignty that define not just our approaches, but the United Nations’ approach to the rules-based order, remains consistent.”A brief armed revolt in Russia over the weekend by Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the mercenary paramilit...

Calgary-based Suncor Energy says it suffered a cybersecurity incident

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

CALGARY — Canadian oil company Suncor Energy Inc. has confirmed it has been the victim of a cyberattack.The Calgary-based energy giant said in a news release late Sunday that it has “experienced a cyber-security incident.” The company said it is working with third-party experts to investigate and resolve the situation, and has notified appropriate authorities.Suncor provided no further details about the type of attack, or which parts of its operations were affected.However, over the weekend, social media users complained about an inability to use credit or debit cards at the company’s chain of Petro-Canada gas stations, as well as difficulties accessing car wash services.Petro-Canada’s official Twitter account sent a tweet Saturday saying that the company’s Petro-Points app and website were temporarily unavailable.On Monday, Suncor said “some transactions with customers and suppliers” may be impacted as the company works to resolve the situa...

Bicyclist, 67, dead after being hit by vehicle on Southwest Side

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

CHICAGO — A 67-year-old man was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in the city's Garfield Ridge neighborhood Saturday night.According to police, a 32-year-old man was making a left turn in a car near the 6500 block of South Natchez Avenue around 9:30 p.m. when he struck the bicyclist. Woman, 26, stabbed in chest in Loop: Police The man was transported to Christ Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating the incident and citations are pending.

Canceled flight? Here's what you're entitled to

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:21:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid peak summer travel, thousands of air travelers faced flight cancellations and delays this weekend as thunderstorms rolled in across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest.In addition to bad weather, a technology failure also contributed to airline disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly paused operations at Washington, D.C.-area airports Sunday evening due to a problem with the communications system at a major air traffic control facility. Departures resumed after repairs were completed.Beyond D.C., a chain of flights was also delayed or halted at other major travel hubs — including New York, Chicago and Atlanta — as thunderstorms moved across the country.Nearly 2,000 U.S. flights were canceled on Saturday and Sunday combined, according to flight tracking service FlightAware, and more than 850 U.S. flights had been canceled as of 11:15 a.m. ET Monday. Thousands of additional travelers experienced delays.Staying calm — and knowing your ...