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Trump valet pleads not guilty to charges he helped ex-president hide classified documents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

Donald Trump’s personal valet finally appeared in a Miami federal court on Thursday morning, with his newly hired Florida-based lawyer, and pleaded not guilty to six charges involving retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.Waltine Nauta, 40, had been expected by Chief U.S. Magistrate Edwin Torres to appear in Miami June 27 with a local lawyer to represent him in court. But Trump’s only co-defendant in the case failed to appear because his flight out of Newark, New Jersey, was canceled. He also had not retained a South Florida area lawyer to represent him as local court rules require.Nauta walked into court about 10:20 a.m. Thursday amid a phlanx of reporters and in the company of his Washington, D.C.-based attorney Stanley Woodward Jr. and his new Florida-based attorney Sasha Dadan.They both said they would represent him through the trial.Dadan, 34, is part of the Dadan Law Firm, which operates out of three cities: Fort Pierce, West Palm Beach and ...

Don't you dare ask for the manager at Karen's Diner in San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A popular immersive dining experience is making its debut in San Diego for one weekend only next month. Karen's Diner -- a popup dinner and entertainment happening that's making tour stops in cities across America -- will be serving up juicy burgers with a side of sass for date night goers looking to shake things up.Event organizers say customers can expect "great food and a hefty sprinkle of bad attitude" from the diner staff, making for an "unforgettable experience." Free food distributions available throughout summer in San Diego This unique environment is said to bring in the laughs while fueling banter in what could be a great "break the ice" first date or total surprise to a someone you want to take off guard. "Don't expect special treatment at this diner because it's all about Karen, and she won't be taking any of your nonsense," said an event organizer. "Have some fun and wind the staff up to unleash your inner 'Karen' and see their full 'Karen' potential."Th...

‘Young and respected’: Ontario police dog dies after ingesting drugs in line of duty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

A police dog in southwestern Ontario has died after ingesting drugs during an investigation.The Woodstock Police Service said Taz accompanied responding officers to assist the Stratford Police Service with a drug-related investigation on July 3, 2023.Investigators said Taz and another Police Service Dog (PSD) named Striker appeared to ingest drugs at the scene. Narcan was administered, and Taz and Striker were rushed to a local veterinary clinic in Woodstock, Ont.Officers said Taz did not survive. Striker remained at the clinic under observation but is doing better and has returned home.Police confirmed that the individuals involved in the drug investigation and Taz’s death were arrested and charged.Line of Duty Death – PSD TazWOODSTOCK, ON (July 5, 2023) – It is with great sadness the Woodstock Police Service reports the line of duty death of Police Service Dog (PSD) Taz.Full release: https://t.co/TpB6GT2zIc pic.twitter.com/TF394nBjpw— Woodstock Police Service (@Woodsto...

Ricky Martin, Jwan Yosef announce divorce after 6 years of marriage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef are divorcing after nearly six years of marriage, the couple announced Thursday.“For some time, we have considered transforming our relationship, and it is after careful consideration that we have decided to end our marriage with love, respect and dignity for our children,” the couple wrote in an Instagram post, shared in Spanish on Martin’s profile and in English on Yosef’s.Martin’s publicity team confirmed the accuracy of the post to The Associated Press. No other details were provided. People magazine first reported the news.Martin, singer of such Spanish-language and English-language hits like “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” “She Bangs,” “La copa de la vida” and “Vente pa’ ca,” has won two Grammys and four Latin Grammys and also acted. Yosef is a Swedish artist of Syrian origin.“Our greatest desire now is to continue having a healthy family dynamic and a relationship centered on our genuine friendship as we continue the joint upbringing of our children,” Marti...

A Palestinian gunman kills an Israeli in the West Bank, a day after Israel’s military raid in area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian man on Thursday opened fire near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, killing one Israeli, a day after Israeli forces withdrew from the largest military operation in the West Bank in two decades. The attacker was shot and killed by Israeli forces, the army said.The shooting came on the heels of the Israeli withdrawal from the nearby Jenin refugee camp after a two-day offensive meant to crack down on Palestinian militants. The operation destroyed the camp’s narrow roads and alleyways, sent thousands of people fleeing their homes and killed 12 Palestinians. One Israeli soldier also was killed.Thursday’s shooting near the West Bank settlement of Kedumim raised questions about the effectiveness of the Israeli raid, which came after nearly a year and a half of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed in the West Bank. It also could prompt calls from members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government for additional military incu...

Turkey and Sweden fail to end their NATO membership standoff. Their leaders will try again on Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Sweden and Turkey made some progress in talks aimed at overcoming President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s objections to the Nordic country joining NATO, but gaps still remain in their positions and their leaders will meet next week to discuss them, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.NATO had hoped the problems would be resolved before its July 11-12 summit in Lithuania. Sweden’s entry would be a symbolically powerful moment and the latest indication that Russia’s war in Ukraine is driving countries to join the alliance. Those hopes have been all but dashed.Stoltenberg told reporters after the meeting that he, Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson would hold talks in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on Monday — on the eve of the summit — in an effort “to bridge the gap we still see.”“We all agreed that we have made good progress. We all agreed that the full membership of Sweden is in the security interests of all allies, and we all want to concl...

Kirk Howard, founder of publishing house Dundurn Press, dies at 90

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

TORONTO — Kirk Howard, founder of the quintessentially Canadian publishing house Dundurn Press, has died. The publisher confirms Howard died on June 30 at age 90. Howard established Dundurn Press in 1972 and remained at its helm for 47 years, before selling it in 2019.Dundurn Press started as a publisher of books on Canadian history, but expanded over the decades.Among its notable releases are the series “Amanda Doucette Mysteries” and “Inspector Green” by Barbara Fradkin and two works by Steve Paikin: “Bill Davis: Nation Builder, and Not So Bland After All” and “Paikin and the Premiers.”Howard also served at various times as president of the Association of Canadian Publishers and the Ontario Book Publishers Organization, as well as treasurer of Livres Canada Books.In 2019, he was invested into the Order of Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2023.The Canadian Press

Parade entry of woman in Native American dress pulled by a rope sows outrage, confusion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — An entry in a Fourth of July parade in Iowa has spawned confusion and outrage — one woman on horseback pulling a rope used to bind the wrists of another woman wearing Native American dress.Commenters of Facebook and other social media sites were perplexed by the entry Tuesday in a parade in Muscatine. Some wondered whether it a disapproving commentary on treatment of Indigenous people or an endorsement of that treatment.Mayor Brad Bark said he spoke with the group responsible and was told their intention was to pay homage to the Cherokee Nation and how unjustly its members were treated.Megan Burton, the woman on the horse, told the Quad-City Times that the portrayal was on behalf of Cherokee National Treasure, a group that honors distinguished Cherokees. Burton said she and the woman who appeared to be portraying a slave are both of Native American descent.The parade’s host, the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in a statement that...

S&P/TSX composite down more than 300 points, U.S. stocks also fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down more than 300 points in a broad-based decline, while U.S. stock markets also fell.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 343.22 points at 19,760.67.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 513.22 points at 33,775.42. The S&P 500 index was down 60.19 points at 4,386.63, while the Nasdaq composite was down 215.26 points at 13,576.39.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.90 cents US compared with 75.34 cents US on Wednesday.The August crude oil contract was down 69 cents at US$71.10 per barrel and the August natural gas contract was down three cents at US$2.63 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was down US$12.30 at US$1,914.80 an ounce and the September copper contract was down four cents at US$3.73 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Record-breaking wildfire season will continue to burn hot for months: officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:25 GMT

OTTAWA — Natural Resources Canada says the country’s record-breaking wildfire season will continue to be abnormally intense throughout July and into August.The projections are based on anticipated high temperatures, dry conditions and historical comparisons. The risk is expected to shrink slightly in August, but it will remain high across the country.Canada surpassed the known historic record for total area burned by wildfires in one season on June 27, with months of hot weather still to come. Some 88,000 square kilometres have burned as of July 5 — nearly 11 times the average amount burned by that date over the past 10 years.More Canadians have been evacuated from their homes this year than in the last four decades, with more than 155,000 forced to leave due to fire and smoke. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2023.The Canadian Press