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Guatemalans are fed up with corruption ahead of an election that may draw many protest votes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — As Guatemala prepares to elect a new president Sunday, its citizens are fed up with government corruption, on edge about crime and struggling with poverty and malnutrition — all of which drives tens of thousands out of the country each year.And for many disillusioned voters — especially those who supported three candidates who were blocked from running this year — the leading contenders at the close of campaigning Friday seem like the least likely to drive the needed changes.Guatemala’s problems are not new or unusual for the region, but their persistence is generating voter frustration. As many as 13% of eligible voters plan to cast null votes Sunday, according to a poll published by the Prensa Libre newspaper.Rolando Quiroa, 62, a lawyer in downtown Guatemala City, said he had no hope for positive change in Guatemala because he sees the leading candidates as just a continuation of failed politics.Quiroa, who declined to say who he would vote for, said Guatema...

Quebec wildfires: Cree community orders evacuation due to heavy smoke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

MONTREAL — A Cree community in northern Quebec was being evacuated Friday because of heavy smoke from a nearby forest fire.The wildfire in Mistissini, Que., the second largest Cree community in the province, is located about 10 kilometres from the road to southern Quebec — and about 30 kilometres from the town itself.“We have time to evacuate,” said Chief Michael Petawabno in a video posted on the Cree Nation of Mistissini’s Facebook page, adding that he wanted to ensure the evacuation wasn’t rushed.He said the community’s almost 4,000 residents should check in at a local sports complex and that transport would be provided for those who don’t have vehicles.Evacuees were being sent to Chicoutimi, Que., around 446 kilometres to the southeast.Mistissini was the second Quebec community to order an evacuation within the past 24 hours. The northern Quebec city of Lebel-sur-Quévillon ordered residents to leave by Thursday evening, after a fire cut off on...

Infowars ‘War Room’ host Owen Shroyer pleads guilty to entering restricted area during Capitol riot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Infowars host Owen Shroyer, who promoted baseless claims of 2020 election fraud on the far-right internet platform, pleaded guilty on Friday to joining the mob of Donald Trump supporters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol.Shroyer, who didn’t enter the Capitol but led rioters in chants near the top of the building’s steps, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of illegally entering a restricted area. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year behind bars. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly scheduled a Sept. 12 sentencing hearing for the 33-year-old Shroyer, who has hosted a daily show called “The War Room With Owen Shroyer” for the website operated by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Shroyer stood in front of a crowd with a megaphone and yelled that Democrats are “tyrants.”“And so today, on January 6, we declare death to tyranny! Death to tyrants!” he shouted.Near the top of steps on the Capitol’s east side, S...

Judge considers which records to release in case against ex-officers accused of killing Tyre Nichols

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Five former Memphis police officers charged in the beating death of Tyre Nichols appeared in court Friday as a judge considered which records should be released to the public as part of the highly-publicized case that intensified calls for police reform in the U.S.The five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith — stood before Shelby County Criminal Court Judge James Jr. with their lawyers. They have pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder in the beating of the 29-year-old Nichols during a Jan. 7 traffic stop and his death three days later in a hospital. Defense attorneys said they were still receiving evidence from state prosecutors as part of the investigation into the beating, which was caught on video and resulted in the firings of the five officers charged in the case. Two other officers were fired but not charged, and another officer retired before he could be fired.Jones also said he ...

Defense industry dollars flowed to a Democratic senator after he gained a key role on spending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Democrat Jon Tester headed for a surprise victory in his 2006 U.S. Senate race, he attacked his incumbent Montana Republican rival’s close ties to lobbyists and committed himself to a rigorous ethics standard.Now as he looks to win a fourth term in a race that could decide control of the Senate, Tester is embracing a practice he once held against his opponent: taking contributions from lobbyists and executives of corporations while helping craft a government spending package that directs billions of dollars.After Tester became chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee in 2021, he received campaign contributions totaling over $160,000 from employees and committees representing the defense industry. At one point last year, 49 Lockheed Martin executives and lobbyists — none of whom had given to the senator in the past — gave Tester’s campaign a combined total of nearly $50,000. There is no indication the contributions swayed Tester’s decis...

Man charged in sexual assault after arranging date with victim in Toronto: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

A Toronto man was arrested and charged with the alleged sexual assault of a victim after they agreed to go on a date with him.Toronto police responded to a sexual assault call on April 28 just after 7:30 a.m. in the Church Street and Charles Street East area in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood.It’s alleged that the accused and the victim met at a park a day earlier, where the pair arranged a date.Police said the victim agreed to meet in a public place, but the man instructed them to meet at his residence. It’s alleged the accused then sexually assaulted the victim, who was then driven home by the man.Authorities arrested and charged 29-year-old Wang Li of Toronto with sexual assault. Li appeared in court on June 9.Police believe there may be more victims.

What to stream this weekend: ‘And Just Like That,’ Kelly Clarkson, ‘Perfect Find’ and Final Fantasy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

Albums from Kelly Clarkson and Portugal. The Man, as well as the new season of “And Just Like That” are among the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.Among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are “The Bear” back for a second helping, Gabrielle Union leading “The Perfect Find” and the Criterion Channel delving into the cliche of the gay best friend.NEW MOVIES TO STREAM— In “The Perfect Find,” Gabrielle Union stars as a 40-year-old fashion editor who hits it off with a young man (Keith Powers) only to find out later that he’s the son of her new boss, a media mogul played by Gina Torres. The film, out now on Netflix, is directed by Numa Perrier and based on Tia Williams’ novel of the same name. — Last year saw a number of excellent memory-drenched autobiographical dramas, like Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” and Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 1/2.” Best of the bunch, though, may have been James ...

Ukraine’s president tells other nations to act before Russia attacks the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine wants other countries to heed its warning that Russia may be planning to attack an occupied nuclear power plant to cause a radiation disaster, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.Members of his government briefed international representatives on the possible threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, whose six reactors have been shut down for months. Zelenskyy said that he expected other nations to “give appropriate signals and exert pressure” on Moscow. “Our principle is simple: The world must know what the occupier is preparing. Everyone who knows must act,” Zelenskyy said late Thursday. “The world has enough power to prevent any radiation incidents, let alone a radiation catastrophe.” The Kremlin’s spokesman has denied the threat to the plant is coming from Russian forces.The potential for a life-threatening release of radiation has been a concern since Russian troops invaded Ukraine last year and seized the plant, Europe’s largest nuclear p...

‘It’s so tragic,’ OPP stressing seatbelt, helmet safety for summer travellers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

Provincial police have a safety message as we head into the first weekend of the summer.The OPP have released some sobering statistics: 279 people were killed between 2018 and 2022 in crashes while not wearing a seatbelt, 114 boaters and paddlers died not wearing a lifejacket, 54 people were killed in off-road incidents not wearing a helmet, and 19 motorcyclists were killed not wearing a helmet.“It’s so tragic, and it’s so preventable and it’s so disheartening when we see that happening over and over again,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CityNews.Related:OPP release grim stats on road safety“We far too often get called to collisions and incidents and fatalities and when we complete the investigation and realize the cause of death was a simple fact of someone not wearing a seatbelt, not wearing a helmet or not wearing a lifejacket.”Off-roaders and motorcyclists have to wear a helmet by law, and being caught without a seatbelt on can also land y...

Police: Man confesses to burying boyfriend in Harvey yard; body found

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:47 GMT

HARVEY, Ill. — A man confessed to shooting and burying his boyfriend in a Harvey yard and the body was subsequently found, police said.At around 3:10 p.m., Harvey police detained Marquis Johnson, 26, for an outstanding warrant in Chicago.While in custody, police said Johnson confessed to shooting and burying his then-boyfriend in the yard of an abandoned residence in the 15800 block of Myrtle Avenue.At the aforementioned address, authorities recovered the body of an unidentified man.Harvey police and Illinois State Police recovered the weapon believed to be used. Police did not what charges Johnson is facing after he was taken into custody. Man critical after driver flees two-vehicle crash on Southwest Side Anyone who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Harvey Police Department at 708-331-2131.