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Biden hosts the Angolan president in an effort to showcase strengthened ties, as Africa visit slips

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hosting Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço in the Oval Office on Thursday as he seeks to reaffirm his commitment to Africa even as two wars consume much of his administration’s foreign policy focus.The White House meeting follows Angola’s move to position itself as a strategic partner to the United States and as it has shifted away from Russian and Chinese influence under Lourenço’s tenure. The visit comes as Biden appears set to break his commitment to African leaders to visit the continent this year — though senior U.S. officials have made key trips to Africa throughout 2023.”They’re a strategic partner and a growing global voice on issues of peace and security,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, adding that the two leaders would discuss economic and security cooperation as well as regional and global issues. Lobbyists for Lourenço had petitioned Biden administration official...

Montreal youth facing trial for double murder arrested in jail for two other killings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

MONTREAL — An 18-year-old Montreal man who is now facing charges in connection with two double homicides committed last year will return to court in January.The man — who was 17 at the time of the alleged offences and cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — appeared in provincial youth court Wednesday to face two counts of first-degree murder.Montreal police say the charges are linked to the shooting deaths of a 73-year-old woman and her 22-year-old granddaughter in Montreal’s Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood in December 2022.Mahad Farrah, 23, also faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with those killings.Police say they arrested the 18-year-old at Montreal’s Bordeaux jail, where he is detained as he awaits trial for murder in the July 2022 shooting deaths of two young men, aged 17 and 18, in the suburb of Montreal West.Quebec’s prosecution service says it submitted notice during Wednesday’s hearing that prosecutors plan to seek ...

After hearing, judge mulls extending pause on John Oates’ sale of stake in business with Daryl Hall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A lawsuit by Daryl Hall over John Oates’ plan to sell his share of the Hall & Oates duo’s joint venture without the other’s permission headed Thursday to court, where a judge will decide whether to keep pausing the deal.Chancellor Russell Perkins in Nashville said he would rule Thursday on whether, and how, to extend the pause on the sale of Oates’ share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC, while the music duo moves through the early stages of arbitration.The joint venture in question includes Hall & Oates trademarks, personal name and likeness rights, record royalty income and website and social media assets, according to a court declaration by Hall, who has called Oates’ planned sale the “ultimate partnership betrayal. ″Christine Lepera, an attorney for Hall, said she hasn’t heard anything from Oates’ legal team indicating that there’s some urgency in closing the deal. “...

Trucking boss gets 7 years for role in 2019 smuggling that led to deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A trucking company boss who claimed he thought he was smuggling booze into Britain was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison for his role in a human trafficking ring in which 39 Vietnamese migrants suffocated in a cargo container in 2019.Caolan Gormley was the last of 11 people to be convicted in London in the migrant smuggling scheme. Five of the suspects were convicted of manslaughter.Gormley, 26, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, was convicted on Monday of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration by a jury that deliberated for little more than an hour in the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey.Judge Richard Marks said Gormley “succumbed to temptation and greed” in the lucrative smuggling business.Gormley claimed he was being paid up to 3,500 pounds ($4,420) per truck load, the judge said, but evidence showed people paid up to 22,500 pounds ($28,418) each for what was billed as “VIP service.”“But for those deaths, I have no doubt whatsoever that this ...

Paraguay official resigns after signing agreement with fictional country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of a fugitive Indian guru’s fictional country, who also appear to have duped several local officials in the South American country.The revelation sparked a scandal — and lots of social media mockery — in Paraguay but it’s hardly the first time self-described representatives of the United States of Kailasa duped international leaders. Earlier this year, they managed to participate in a United Nations committee meeting in Geneva and also signed agreements with local leaders in the United States and Canada.Arnaldo Chamorro was replaced as chief of staff for Paraguay’s Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday shortly after it was revealed that he signed a “proclamation” with representatives of the United States of Kailasa.Among other things, the Oct. 16 “proclamation” expressed a “sincere wish and recommendation for the government ...

Penguin parents sleep for just a few seconds at a time to guard newborns, study shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a challenge for all new parents: Getting enough sleep while keeping a close eye on their newborns. For some penguins, it means thousands of mini-catnaps a day, researchers discovered.Chinstrap penguins in Antarctica need to guard their eggs and chicks around-the-clock in crowded, noisy colonies. So they nod off thousands of times each day — but only for about four seconds at a time — to stay vigilant, the researchers reported Thursday in the journal Science.These short “microsleeps,” totaling around 11 hours per day, appear to be enough to keep the parents going for weeks.“These penguins look like drowsy drivers, blinking their eyes open and shut, and they do it 24/7 for several weeks at a time,” said Niels Rattenborg, a sleep researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Germany and co-author of the new study.“What’s surprising is that they’re able to function OK and successfully raise their young,” he said.Chinstrap pengui...

CPD officer charged, relieved of police powers after allegedly falsely reporting robbery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer was charged and relieved of police powers after allegedly falsely reporting a robbery.Zondranika Williams, 37, was charged with disorderly conduct - false report of offense and turned herself into police on Tuesday.Williams allegedly falsely claimed that she was the victim of a robbery in the 8000 block of South Wabash, according to a source. CPD said it happened on Sept. 23. Video: Off-duty CPD officer under investigation after shoving 8th grader Her start date was on June 29, 2015. In a statement, Chicago police said they terminated her police powers as a result.No other details are available at this time.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

Ed Burke trial judge denies mistrial request after witness statement on corruption

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

CHICAGO — The judge in former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke's corruption trial denied a defense motion for a mistrial Thursday.Judge Virginia Kendall denied the motion from defense attorneys, meaning the historic trial continues.Defense attorneys asked for a mistrial after a witness under oath called Burke's conduct "Chicago way" and "corrupt."Judge Kendall said the comment by witness Ray Lang was an unintentional remark and was his own opinion.It was immediately stricken from the record.The email he was discussing at the time was also thrown out of evidenceDefense attorneys said that the comment could be grounds for an appeal if Burke were to be convicted. But as it stands, the judge's ruling means the trial is still underway.Lang, an Amtrak executive, finished his testimony on the stand Thursday morning. Before he did, he was admonished by the judge for making those comments.Prosecutors asked Lang if Burke intervened in an issue the developer of the Old Main Post Office was having wit...

Study shows heavy traffic could be increasing your blood pressure — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

For Thursday, Nov. 30, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Progress in finding long COVIDThere may be some progress in finding long COVID symptoms in patients. Long COVID means symptoms remain 12 weeks after the initial infection. These can include fatigue and heart palpitations, but there's no way to pin them on COVID-19. Now, a new study found analyzing blood plasma for elevated levels of certain components can find long COVID-19 with 80% accuracy. Researchers link high blood pressure to traffic-related air pollutionAccording to a new study, heavy traffic could increase your blood pressure. Researchers from the University of Washington say car passengers experienced a significant increase in blood pressure due to traffic-related particles in the air.  They found the blood pressure increase would peak within 60 minutes and persist for up to 24 hours. Experts say air cabin filters and other f...

Nonprofit files lawsuit against Evanston over Northwestern's Ryan Field rebuild

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:14:59 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — The battle over Northwestern University's plans to build a new football stadium is now in a new phase. The nonprofit, The Most Livable City Association, filed a complaint Thursday against the city of Evanston's commercial rezoning of the new Ryan Field.  PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Evanston City Council votes to move forward with Ryan Field rebuildThe lawsuit accuses Mayor Daniel Biss and some council members of making a backroom deal by agreeing to disregard laws and evidence in exchange for monetary contributions from the university. The complaint, filed in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, wants the rezoning invalidated and seeks other relief.  Thirteen Evanston and Wilmette residents are joining the MCLA as plaintiffs. "Evanston systematically aided Northwestern throughout the zoning process, seeking a predetermined outcome: the approval of Northwestern’s proposed zoning amendment," the complaint read.Northwestern University got the green light f...