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EU unveils plan to protect economies from rivals. China is a focus, but is not named in the proposal

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union unveiled a proposal Tuesday to protect the bloc’s economies from risks posed by unreliable suppliers in countries that do not share its values, like China, after the war in Ukraine exposed Europe’s dependency on Russia for oil and gas.The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is trying to develop measures to protect trade and investment, particularly in the tech and communication sectors, that rivals might want to exploit for security or military purposes.Announcing the proposal, which must be endorsed by EU member countries, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “the world has become more contested and geopolitical, and there is a limited set of key technologies that can be used in a different and aggressive way.”“Given the changing nature of the risks, we now need a strategic vision for how we are going to handle these risks,” von der Leyen told reporters. She said the EU must be “more assertive” in using the tools that it has to ...

Thai activists sue government agencies for allegedly using Pegasus spyware against them

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Two prominent Thai activists filed a lawsuit on Tuesday accusing the government of using the internationally notorious Pegasus spyware to infiltrate their mobile devices during a period of political unrest almost three years ago.Law reform advocate Yingcheep Atchanont and human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa accuse nine state agencies in the administration of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of unlawfully violating their privacy by spying on their smartphones using the spyware produced by the Israeli-based cybersecurity company NSO Group.They requested an immediate court injunction barring the use of Pegasus against them and other citizens, and for the court to order the government to release the data on its use of Pegasus. They also demanded compensation of 2.5 million baht ($72,000) each.Pegasus spyware can be installed remotely onto a target’s phone without the target having to click any links or download software to become infected. It can obtain any data on the device...

Nomination process begins to replace ex-Supreme Court justice Russell Brown

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has begun the search for a new Supreme Court of Canada justice.Qualified candidates interested in the job, who must be functionally bilingual and demonstrate a relationship with Western or Northern Canada, will have until July 21 to apply. A non-partisan advisory board is then expected to pick a shortlist of candidates to present to Trudeau.The vacancy was created when former justice Russell Brown resigned from the top court earlier this month, ending a probe into allegations of misconduct related to an event in late January.Brown has vigorously denied accusations that he was intoxicated and harassed a group of friends after an event at a Scottsdale, Ariz., resort hotel.The Canadian Judicial Council ended its review when Brown stepped down, saying it no longer had jurisdiction to investigate.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2023.The Canadian Press

Call public inquiry first, then Tories will suggest who can lead it: Poilievre

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must make the first move and call an independent public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference.He says only then will the Conservatives provide the Liberal government with a list of proposed names for people to lead the process.The official Opposition leader made his demand in a letter to Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc.Poilievre also pledged to propose a mandate and terms of reference for an inquiry within 48 hours of Trudeau making the call.The Liberals have left the door open to an inquiry, but want federal opposition parties to work together to determine its terms of reference, timeline and the commissioner who will lead it.All parties agree the 2019 and 2021 federal election results were not compromised, but opposition MPs say a public inquiry on foreign meddling attempts is the only way for Canadians to feel confident in the electoral system.Former governor general Dav...

Robert Macfarlane wins inaugural Weston International Award for non-fiction author

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

TORONTO — British author Robert Macfarlane has won the inaugural Writers’ Trust Weston International Award.The $75,000 prize goes to a non-fiction author who is not from Canada to honour an outstanding body of work.The Writers’ Trust jurors say Macfarlane explores the relationship between humans and nature in new and illuminating ways.Macfarlane has published six non-fiction books over the past two decades, including “Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination” and “Underland: A Deep Time Journey.”His forthcoming book is due out in 2025, and is called “Is a River Alive?”The Writers’ Trust announced the creation of the Weston International Award earlier this year, presenting it as a companion award to the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which is awarded annually to a Canadian author for a single work of non-fiction.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2023.The Canadian Press

3 teens among 75 shot across Chicago over holiday weekend

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Three teenagers are hospitalized after a shooting in the city's Garfield Park neighborhood.The teens are among 75 victims shot across Chicago over the holiday weekend, with at least 13 people dying from their injuries, according to police.The shootings occurred between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.The latest shooting took place just before midnight Monday in the 3800 block of West Gladys.Police said three teens were on a front porch when someone in a dark-colored sedan fired shots towards them.A 17-year-old girl was shot in the right eye and is critical condition at Stroger Hospital. Another 17-year-old girl was transported in good condition to Stroger Hospital after being struck in the left leg and buttock. A 19-year-old boy was transported in good condition to Mount Sinai Hospital after being struck in the arm.The shooting is being investigated. No one is in custody. 5 shot, 2 fatally after shooting in Roseland, victim ID’d According to police, two other people ...

Elderly man reported missing in Crystal Lake

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — A missing elderly man has been reported missing in Crystal Lake.Jose Jesus Esquivel Campos, 79, was last seen on Saturday.He is 5'4", weighs 184 lbs., with blue eyes and grey hair. Esquivel Campos drives a blue 1997 Toyota Corolla with Illinois plate 2209403.Police said they do not suspect foul play to be involved.Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call 815-356-3620.

Suburban man charged after allegedly selling fentanyl in deadly overdose

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

BARRINGTON, Ill. — A suburban man was arrested and charged after another man died of a fentanyl-related overdose.On Dec. 1, 2022, a 20-year-old man was discovered deceased in the 25600 block of North Countryside Drive in Lake Barrington. Following an autopsy, the man was determined to have died from a drug overdose including fentanyl.After an investigation, authorities allege the man bought drugs from Luke Napolitano, 20, of Barrington, the day prior.Police allege Napolitano was selling drugs in not only Lake County, but DuPage and Cook counties as well. He is also facing drug-related charges in Cook and DuPage counties.Because of allegedly selling in multiple counties, authorities discussed the case with the Illinois attorney general's office and a grand jury was convened on June 9.The grand jury indicted Napolitano on the charges of drug induced homicide and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. 14-year-old wounded in drive-by shooting on West Side He remains held in the ...

A rare Bulls' draft night is ahead this week

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

CHICAGO — An NBA Draft week like this is pretty rare for the Bulls - and the reason is simple.Barring a trade, the team doesn't have a selection in either the first or second round on Thursday night. Thanks to a pair of deals and an NBA punishment, Bulls executive VP Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley will be on the outside looking in at the selections. So how often has that happened in team history? Not very much.The only time the Bulls haven't made a selection in the NBA Draft was 2005, which followed the first season they made the playoffs since the end of the Jordan era. The team traded away their first and second round picks and didn't move back into the selections. Could the Bulls trade Zach Lavine? As of Tuesday, the Bulls join the Knicks and the Sixers as the only team in the league without a 2023 NBA Draft pick.Karnisovas and Eversley don't have a selection due to a deal they made, one they didn't, and punishment from the NBA.First Round - 11th Overall -...

Some Kansas lawmakers worry letters with white powder could be targeted act

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:13:45 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (WDAF) – Political leaders in Kansas are trying to figure out what's next after suspicious letters showed up in the mailboxes of more than 100 elected officials this past weekend. Kansas Republican leaders called it a cowardly attempt to intimidate the legislature. One state lawmaker in Great Bend believes someone might be targeting them. "Now I'm going to be thinking twice before I open up my mail or talking to strangers," state Rep. Tory Marie Blew said.  KBI investigating suspicious letters with white powder sent to Kansas officials On Friday, Hazmat responded to Blew's parents' house after she picked up an envelope at her P.O. Box in Great Bend. Thick on one end, the Barton County Sheriff's Office warned her not to open it and called the Kansas Bureau of Investigation."The KBI said get it out of your car, get it outside and get it away from anybody," Blew said.Kansas Republican leaders have since said more than 100 state and legislative officia...