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UK says Russia’s intelligence service behind sustained attempts to meddle in British democracy

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Russia’s intelligence services targeted high-profile British politicians, civil servants and journalists with cyberespionage and “malicious cyberactivity” as part of sustained attempts to interfere in U.K. political processes, Britain’s government said Thursday. The Foreign Office said Russia’s FSB agency was responsible for a range of cyberespionage operations in the U.K., including targeting British parliamentarians from multiple parties and “high-profile individuals and entities” from at least 2015, and selectively leaking and amplifying sensitive information to serve Russian interests.Foreign Office minister Leo Docherty told lawmakers that a cybergroup known as “Star Blizzard,” which British cybersecurity officials believe to be “almost certainly subordinate” to an FSB unit, created false identities to impersonate legitimate contacts and compromise email accounts in the public sector.“The targeting of this group is not limited to poli...

Pedestrian seriously hurt after getting trapped under bus in Mississauga

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

A woman is expected to survive after being struck and then becoming trapped under a bus in Mississauga on Wednesday night.Emergency crews were called to Elm Drive and Mississauga Valley Boulevard, near Central Parkway East and Hurontario Street, around 8:15 p.m. for reports of a bus hitting a pedestrian.A woman was found trapped underneath a MiWay transit bus at the intersection.The victim was initially rushed to hospital with critical injuries, but police tell CityNews she is expected to survive.No charges have been laid as of yet. The investigation is ongoing.

British poet and political activist Benjamin Zephaniah dies at age 65

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Benjamin Zephaniah, a British dub poet and political activist who drew huge inspiration from his Caribbean roots, has died. He was 65.In a statement on Instagram, his family said Zephaniah died Thursday after being diagnosed with a brain tumor eight weeks ago. The statement was confirmed by his agent, Jodie Hodges. “We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news,” the family said.Zephaniah, who was born in Birmingham on April 15, 1958, is best known for his work on racism, refugees and healthy eating. He also appeared on the popular BBC television show Peaky Blinders.“Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator, he gave the world so much,” the family said. “Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television, and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy.”The Associated Press

Laurentian Bank reports $30.6M Q4 profit, down from $55.7M a year ago

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

MONTREAL — Laurentian Bank of Canada reported its fourth-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as it was hit by restructuring and other costs related to its strategic review and a major computer outage in September.The Montreal-based bank says it earned $30.6 million or 67 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 31, down from a profit of $55.7 million or $1.26 per diluted share a year earlier.The bank says the results included a $5.3-million charge related to the mainframe outage and $15.9 million in restructuring and strategic-review related charges.Revenue for the quarter totalled $247.4 million, down from $257.1 million a year ago, while provisions for credit losses totalled $16.7 million for the quarter compared with $17.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.On an adjusted basis, Laurentian says it earned $1 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $1.31 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.Laurentian named Éric Prov...

Seychelles declares state of emergency after huge explosion; at least 3 dead in separate flooding

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

VICTORIA, Seychelles (AP) — The president of Seychelles declared a state of emergency on Thursday after a huge blast at an explosives depot and flooding in other parts of the country’s main island. Three people have died in the flooding, local media reported.The explosion overnight in the industrial area of Providence, southeast of the capital, Victoria, caused “massage damage” to it and surrounding areas, President Wavel Ramkalawan’s office said in a statement, which ordered the state of emergency. It ordered people to stay at home to give emergency services space to work.“Everyone is being asked to stay at home,” the statement said. “All schools will be closed. Only workers in the essential services and persons traveling will be allowed free movement.”“This is to allow the emergency services to carry out essential work.”The flooding has caused “major destruction,” the statement said.Ramkalawan told reporters later Thursday that three people had died in the heavy ...

St. John’s airport reopens after investigation into suspicious package

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

The international airport in St. John’s, Newfoundland, has been reopened following an investigation into the discovery of a suspicious package.The airport’s social media account on X, the platform formally known as Twitter, says the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has resolved the situation, and the airport is once again open for operations.The R-N-C’s X account noted that patrol officers initially took control of the situation, and then utilized a specialized unit to make the area safe.Police are expected to provide an update later this morning.Due to the interruption in service at the airport, travellers may see a slight delay.Airport officials are urging passengers to contact their airline directly for flight information.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2023.The Canadian Press

Ex-UK leader Boris Johnson rejects notion he wanted to let COVID-19 ‘rip’ through the population

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday rejected suggestions that he wanted to let COVID-19 “rip” through the population as he defended his handling of the pandemic during a second day of testimony at a public inquiry into the crisis.Johnson shook his head and responded “No, no, no” as he was confronted with a series of diary entries by his chief scientific adviser that indicated he had argued in favor of letting the virus spread rapidly to increase immunity to COVID-19 rather than imposing further restrictions on the people of Britain. The former prime minister, who is testifying under oath, said he was simply pushing scientists to explain why such a strategy wouldn’t work as the government debated whether to impose a second national lockdown in the autumn of 2020 when infection rates were rising and vaccines weren’t yet available. Johnson said critics should look at his public statements and actions, rather than “people’s jottings from meetings that I...

Vegas shooter was a professor who recently applied for a job at UNLV, AP source says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The man suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding another at a Las Vegas university Wednesday was a professor who unsuccessfully sought a job at the school, a law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press.The gunman was killed in a shootout with law enforcement, police said. The attack at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas sent shock waves through a city still scarred by the deaths of 60 people in a 2017 mass shooting.The suspect previously worked at East Carolina University in North Carolina, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information publicly.Police didn't immediately identify the gunman, the victims or a possible motive. Reports of shots fired at about 11:45 a.m. sent police swarming onto the campus while students and professors barricaded themselves inside classrooms and dorm rooms.Police said the shooting started on t...

Pedestrian struck and killed on sidewalk in River North

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Citations are pending against the driver accused of killing a pedestrian downtown.It happened around 12:30 a.m. Thursday in the 300 block of North State Street. According to a preliminary investigation by police, a 40-year-old woman driving a white SUV lost contro of her vehicle and jumped the curb — striking a 56-year-old woman who was on the sidewalk.The victim sustained trauma to the body and was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.Citations are pending against the 40-year-old woman. Area Three Detectives are investigating.

Thursday Forecast: Temps in low 50s with mostly sunny conditions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:45:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Abundant sunshine and southwest winds Thursday will combine to push highs into the lower 50s this afternoon.  Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Temperatures will only fall into the low to mid-40s tonight as skies become partly cloudy and SSW winds gust up to 25 mph.  Friday Forecast: Friday brings partly sunny skies, but warmer temperatures with highs in the mid-50s.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog