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Live updates | House prepares to vote on Jim Jordan as speaker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House of Representatives is set to vote on Jim Jordan’s nomination for speaker on Tuesday afternoon, two weeks after the chamber ousted Kevin McCarthy from the top spot.Jordan has been scrambling to shore up the votes needed to clinch the speakership in the closely divided chamber. He can likely only lose a few GOP votes to win the nod.What to knowJim Jordan’s rapid rise has been cheered by Trump and the far rightHow the vote for a new speaker worksScalise ends bid to become speaker as holdouts refuse to back himMcCarthy was an early architect of the GOP majority that became his downfallSpeaker McCarthy ousted in historic House voteDemocrats gasp and groan over wrestling mentionA reference to Jordan’s wrestling career during Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nominating speech received an audible gasp and groan from Democrats across the aisle.Stefanik said ahead of Tuesday’s vote: “Whether on the wrestling mat or in the committee room, Jim Jorda...

5 Hezbollah fighters are killed as tensions flare along the border between Lebanon and Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Clashes erupted Tuesday along the Lebanon-Israel border that left five Hezbollah fighters dead, marking the largest number of casualties for the militant group in a single day as tensions with Israel escalate.Israeli forces and armed groups in Lebanon have engaged in a series of low-level skirmishes since the outbreak of the latest war in Gaza between the Israeli military and the Hamas militant group. Hezbollah has announced the death of 10 militants since skirmishes began.Israeli military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi threatened that Israel would retaliate aggressively should Hezbollah escalate.“This is a war on the home,” Halevi said after meeting with Israeli troops near the northern border with Lebanon. “If Hezbollah makes a mistake, it will be annihilated.”The escalation comes amid fears that the war could spread into Lebanon, where Hezbollah has expressed strong support to the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Israel considers the heavily-armed group in Lebanon an ...

Justice Department investigates possible civil rights violations by police in New Jersey capital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department opened an investigation Tuesday into possible civil rights violations by the police department in New Jersey’s capital city.The investigation in Trenton will focus on allegations that officers have used excessive force, stopped motorists and pedestrians without justification, and illegally searched homes and cars.“The public must have trust and confidence that police officers will treat them fairly and with respect,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Civil Rights Division, said in a written statement. “The Justice Department will conduct a full and fair investigation into these allegations, and if we substantiate those violations, the department will take appropriate action to remedy them.”Democratic Mayor Reed Gusciora, Police Director Steve Wilson and the head of the city’s legal department were notified of the investigation and have pledged cooperation, federal authorities said.In a separate statement, G...

Manitoba regional chief Cindy Woodhouse eyes top job at Assembly of First Nations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

OTTAWA — Manitoba regional chief Cindy Woodhouse has announced her candidacy in the upcoming Assembly of First Nations national chief election.Woodhouse said at an news conference today that Indigenous Peoples face a lot of problems in Canada, but their resilience gives her hope that things can improve.Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations vice-chief David Pratt was the first person to announce his intention to run to be the new national chief. In his August announcement, Pratt said the AFN is at a “critical juncture” and the election is about restoring and rebuilding the national organization.The upcoming election comes after the dramatic ouster of former national chief RoseAnne Archibald, who was voted out after colleagues accused her of creating a toxic work environment — an allegation she continues to deny.The election is set to take place during a special assembly in December in Ottawa.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2023.The Cana...

How international law applies to war, and why Hamas and Israel are both alleged to have broken it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Hamas and Israel have both been accused of breaking international law during their latest conflict, and the United Nations says it is collecting evidence of war crimes by all sides.Enforcing the law amid the fog of war is difficult. Holding perpetrators to account once conflicts are over has often proved elusive.Here is a look at some of the issues.WHAT ARE THE RULES OF WAR?The rules of armed conflict are governed by a set of internationally recognized laws and resolutions, including the United Nations charter, which prohibits aggressive wars but allows countries the right to self-defense.Battlefield behavior has international humanitarian laws including the Geneva Conventions, drawn up after World War II and agreed on by almost every nation.The four conventions agreed upon in 1949 set out that civilians, the wounded and prisoners must be treated humanely in wartime. They ban murder, torture, hostage-taking and “humiliating and degrading treatment” and require fighters...

Alleged car thieves collide with police cruiser in Pickering; SIU investigating

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after a crash between a vehicle of alleged car thieves and a police cruiser in Pickering.Durham police say officers were called to the area of Strouds Lane and Whites Road around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning for reports of a vehicle theft in progress.Officers were able to locate suspects and say a crash occurred between a responding police cruiser and a suspect vehicle near the intersection of Sultana Square and Foxwood Trail.Three suspects were taken into custody and two were brought to hospital with serious injuries. Police say the officers involved in the crash also went to hospital with minor injuries.It’s unclear if the suspect vehicle involved in the collision was stolen.The Special Investigations Unit and the Durham Regional Police Service Collision Investigation unit are both investigating.The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sex...

Man faces misdemeanor charge for twice bringing guns to Wisconsin Capitol, demanding to see governor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A man who brought a loaded handgun into the Wisconsin Capitol, demanding to see Gov. Tony Evers, and returned hours later with an assault rifle after posting bail has been charged with a misdemeanor.Joshua Pleasnick, 43, was charged Monday with carrying a firearm in a public building. The Madison man is scheduled for an initial court appearance on the charge Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court. Online court records do not list an attorney who could speak on Pleasnick’s behalf.Pleasnick has not yet appeared in court for a judge to determine whether he can afford to hire his own attorney or needs a public defender in the capitol building case, said Adam Plotkin, spokesman for the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office. Messages were also left by the AP for two attorneys listed in a previous divorce case involving Pleasnick.Pleasnick was arrested on the afternoon of Oct. 4 for illegally openly carrying a weapon after he entered the Capitol shirtless with a hols...

Manitoba man found not responsible for killing parents, attacking hospital worker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg judge has found a man not criminally responsible for killing his parents and attacking a hospital nursing supervisor. Court heard Trevor Farley had been in psychosis at the time of the attacks in October 2021. “These violent and horrific acts took place in less than three hours,” Court of King’s Bench Justice Kenneth Champagne said in his decision Tuesday. Farley pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in his mother’s death, second-degree murder in his father’s death and attempted murder in the stabbing of Candace Szkwarek.A mental health assessment was ordered shortly after police arrested Farley. Crown prosecutors accepted doctors’ findings that Farley did not understand what he was doing at the time of the attacks.“By outward appearances, Mr. Farley was leading a productive life,” said Champagne. “Behind closed doors, there were concerns about his mental health.”Victim impact statements are to be ...

Wyndham board unanimously rejects $8 billion unsolicited buyout offer from Choice Hotels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts rejected an unsolicited $8 billion buyout offer from Choice Hotels, a smaller chain that sent a letter to Wyndham shareholders Tuesday after negotiations broke down. Wyndham, which runs Days Inn, La Quinta, Ramada and a host of other brands, said Tuesday that the proposal is “opportunistic” and undervalues its future growth potential. The offer was rejected unanimously by its board, the company said. “Choice’s offer is underwhelming, highly conditional and subject to significant business, regulatory and execution risk. Choice has been unwilling or unable to address our concerns,” Wyndham Chairman Stephen Holmes said in a prepared statement. Holmes said Wyndham has engaged with Choice and its advisors multiple times to explore the risks of a potential deal, but realized that it would likely take more than a year to determine if, and on what terms, the proposed transaction could clear antitrust review. Earlier Tuesday, Choice Hotels International ask...

Britney Spears reveals she had abortion with ex Justin Timberlake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

In her bombshell new memoir, Britney Spears revealed she had an abortion while dating her then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake.According to a People magazine exclusive, the 41-year-old pop icon said Timberlake was not happy about the pregnancy and she had the abortion because he wanted her to.“But Justin definitely wasn’t happy about the pregnancy. He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young," People said she wrote in her upcoming book "The Woman in Me."The two pop stars started dating in 1999 and broke up in 2002. Suzanne Somers’ husband gave her a heartfelt love poem hours before she died: report Spears later became a mother of two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, with her second husband Kevin Federline.Spears' much-anticipated memoir is scheduled to be released on Oct. 24