China sends an envoy to the Middle East in a sign of its ambition to play a larger role

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

China sends an envoy to the Middle East in a sign of its ambition to play a larger role BEIJING (AP) — China has sent an envoy to the Middle East to push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the latest sign of its ambition to play a larger role in the region.Envoy Zhai Jun’s first meetings included one in Qatar with a Russian counterpart on Thursday as the two countries stake out a position at odds with the American approach.The two sides confirmed their “unwavering focus on closely coordinating efforts for the political settlement of this and other crises in the Middle East and North Africa region,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said, according to the country’s Tass state news agency.China, which sees the U.S. as too pro-Israel, has said it opposes attacks on civilians but has not condemned the initial Hamas attack that started the latest war. Instead, it has called for an immediate cease-fire to protect civilians as Israel bombards Gaza before a possible ground invasion.“We believe that when dealing with hot-spot issues in the international community, major power...

Transat AT CFO Patrick Bui moving to take job at retailer Dollarama

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

Transat AT CFO Patrick Bui moving to take job at retailer Dollarama MONTREAL — The chief financial officer of Transat AT Inc. is leaving the company to become chief financial officer at Dollarama Inc.Transat says Patrick Bui will step down from his position at the travel company on Dec. 15.He is expected to remain in his role through the announcement of Transat’s results for its financial year ending Oct. 31 to help ensure a smooth transition.He is set to join Dollarama on Dec. 18.He fills a job left vacant by the departure of J.P. Towner who moved from the discount retailer to become chief financial officer at Rona Inc.Transat, which operates as an airline under the Air Transat banner, says it has started a formal search for a new chief financial officer.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:DOL, TSX:TRZ)The Canadian Press

A stampede in Kenya leaves 4 dead and about 100 injured during an event marking an annual holiday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

A stampede in Kenya leaves 4 dead and about 100 injured during an event marking an annual holiday NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A stampede in Kenya during celebrations to mark an annual public holiday killed at least four people on Friday and injured 100 others, authorities said.The stampede happened when thousands of people struggled to get inside Kericho stadium in western Kenya at dawn, police said. The stadium was the venue for this year’s Mashujaa Day, which means Heroes’ Day in swahili.President William Ruto, who addressed thousands of people at the stadium about four hours later, didn’t mention the stampede. He instead dedicated his speech to his plans on a universal health care plan.It wasn’t clear if Ruto was aware of the stampede when he delivered his remarks.The Associated Press

Youth charged with attempted murder in Brampton

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

Youth charged with attempted murder in Brampton Investigators from Peel police’s Criminal Investigation Bureau have charged a 16-year-old youth in connection with a stabbing incident in Brampton.On Aug. 23, officers responded to a stabbing in a mall in the Queen Street and Dixie Road area. Police located a male youth with multiple stab wounds. He was transported to a trauma centre with serious but non-life threatening injuries. There was an alleged altercation between the suspect and the victim, who are known to each other, before the stabbing. The suspect fled the area.A criminal code search warrant was executed on Oct. 17 at a home in Brampton, and a 16-year-old male suspect was arrested and charged with attempted murder.He was held pending a bail hearing and appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

Protesters in Iraq, Indonesia, South Korea demonstrate over Israeli airstrikes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

Protesters in Iraq, Indonesia, South Korea demonstrate over Israeli airstrikes JAKARTA, Indonesia — Protesters gathered at Iraq’s border crossing with Jordan on Friday to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and call for an end to Israel’s blockade, while in Indonesia’s capital, demonstrators marched from several mosques to the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy in Jakarta to denounce American support for Israel and demand an end to Israeli airstrikes.Similar protests also took place in front of the United Nations mission, a few kilometers (miles) from the embassy, and in the compound of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authorities estimated that about 1,000 people participated in the rallies across Jakarta following Friday prayers in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.A brutal incursion into southern Israel by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7 provoked Israel to declare war against the militant group that rules Gaza. The Israeli siege of the Palestinian territory and airstrikes on it were the focus earlier this...

Friday Forecast: Cloudy, scattered showers, high 50s

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

Friday Forecast: Cloudy, scattered showers, high 50s Friday: Mainly cloudy, decreasing clouds, NW IN Sct'd Rain, NW 10-15 G25. High: 57Friday Night: Partly cloudy, slight chance for showers, S 5-10. Low: 47Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Saturday: Mostly cloudy, a few showers, NNW 15-20 G35. High: 58

80-year-old Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones play NYC club gig to celebrate new album

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

80-year-old Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones play NYC club gig to celebrate new album NEW YORK (AP) — Those miracles of modern science, the Rolling Stones, celebrated the release of their first album of original music in 18 years with a Manhattan club gig on Thursday.Before a celebrity-strewn audience of invited guests that included Christie Brinkley, Elvis Costello and Trevor Noah at Racket NYC, the Stones made a notable racket themselves over seven songs, four from the new “Hackney Diamonds” disc.Mick Jagger alluded to past stunts the Stones had done in New York to tout new music over the years, including performing on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue.Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones performs during a celebration for the release of their new album "Hackney Diamonds" on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)He saluted the city by opening with the 1970s-era punkish tune, “Shattered,” with the lyric “my brain's been splattered all over Manhattan.”After performing the new single, “Angry,” Jagger noted to his bandmates, “There's a ...

Record-breaking heat ahead of multi-day rain event

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

Record-breaking heat ahead of multi-day rain event AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The good news? There's rain on the way. The not-so-good news? We have a couple days of uncomfortable heat to get through before it arrives. BLOG: NOAA releases winter forecast Sunshine, dry air and light winds, courtesy of a ridge of high pressure inching closer to us, will allow temperatures to soar to record levels today. Austin's forecast high of 97° is not only expected to break the daily record, it'll also mark the hottest temperature we've ever recorded so late in the year.We'll continue the unfriendly heat Saturday with highs returning to the mid-90s. High clouds will mix in with blue skies, with thicker clouds expected Sunday. Overall, this weekend looks hot and dry for Formula One races at Circuit of the Americas.Formula 1 weekend forecastWeather pattern changes next weekMoisture from Hurricane Norma in the eastern Pacific and a deepening storm system out west will lead to increasing rain chances Monday through Wednesday. While the remnants of Hurricane N...

Search warrant yields firearms and drugs in Albany

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

Search warrant yields firearms and drugs in Albany ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A search warrant at an Albany residence yielded drugs and multiple firearms, ending in the arrest of an Albany man. Shaquel Brown, 30, faces several charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On Wednesday, around 2:30 p.m., detectives from the Albany Police Department executed a search warrant on the 100 block of North Pine Avenue due to an ongoing investigation. Police say during the search, a quantity of powdered cocaine, a loaded revolver, a 9mm assault rifle, and a 9mm handgun were found.Charges:Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceThird-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceSecond-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia (two counts)Second-degree criminal possession of a weaponThird-degree criminal possession of a weapon (two counts)Fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Albany Saturday Brown was arrested and taken into custody....

Walk to End Alzheimer's in Albany Saturday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:05 GMT

Walk to End Alzheimer's in Albany Saturday ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's, hosted by The Alzheimer's Association, Northeastern New York Chapter, will take place Saturday at Siena College. Participants can check in at 10 a.m. with the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. The walk will start following the ceremony. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! During the ceremony, walkers will carry flowers of various colors, each color symbolizing their personal connection to the disease. The walk is a mission-focused experience showing solidarity against the disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association, over 6 million Americans 65 or older live with Alzheimer's disease, including 410,000 New Yorkers. Over 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care for those suffering from Alzheimer's and other dementias. Free car wash with food donation at Hoffman Car Washes “This Walk means so much to the community - to those living with the disease, to thos...