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Former Thai leader Thaksin goes to jail as political party linked to him wins vote to take power

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A populist Thai party linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won a vote in Parliament on Tuesday to lead the country, hours after the divisive former leader returned from years of self-imposed exile and began an eight-year prison sentence.Real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin ‘s victory as prime minister ended months of suspense, legal wrangling and horse trading that followed May elections. After the progressive Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the elections, was blocked from taking power by conservative senators, the Pheu Thai party entered a coalition with military parties linked to the coup that removed it from power in 2014.Many observers say that Thaksin is betting that a friendly government will be able to cut his sentence short, although he has said his decision to return had nothing to do with Pheu Thai’s bid for power. Thaksin’s return was an emotional moment for supporters of the 74-year-old billionaire, who won th...

Dominican Republic starts shuttering country ahead of Franklin as Harold approaches Texas coast

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in the Dominican Republic prepared to shut down the country on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Franklin took aim at the island of Hispaniola that it shares with Haiti and threatened to unleash landslides and heavy floods.The storm on Tuesday morning was located about 260 miles (420 kilometers) south of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was moving west at 3 mph (5 kph).Franklin was forecast to make a sharp turn north on Tuesday and then strengthen before making landfall early Wednesday in Hispaniola. It is expected to linger on top of the island for a day before exiting to open water on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.Dominican officials announced they would close schools, government offices and businesses by midday Tuesday and reopen them on Thursday. They also noted that the heavy rainfall forecast would not be a problem for the country’s ...

Millennial Money: Do you need a prenup?

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

Prenuptial or premarital agreements, often called “prenups,” have a reputation for being a tool the ultra-wealthy use to protect their assets. But as marriages have evolved, so have prenups — and they might have more uses than you think.Prenups can give couples an opportunity to communicate about their finances and establish a clear framework for the division of property and responsibilities in case of separation, divorce or even the distribution of one partner’s estate.True, it’s not very romantic to prepare for the worst while you’re in a state of premarital bliss. However, marriage is one of the most significant contracts you can enter, and legal proceedings such as divorce and probate can be so costly and time-consuming that a prenup may be better to have and not need than to need and not have.Prenups can ensure that you, your partner and even your children are in the best possible financial position no matter what happens. Here’s how to know if you need one, could benefit from ...

Westport Fuel Systems CEO David Johnson steps down, Tony Guglielmin named interim CEO

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

VANCOUVER — Westport Fuel Systems Inc. says chief executive David Johnson is stepping down from the top job and resigning from the board, effective immediately. The company says Tony Guglielmin, who serves on the Westport board and as chair of the audit committee, will act as interim CEO.Chief financial officer Bill Larkin and chief legal officer Lance Follett will also take on expanded roles during the transition.Westport says the board has formed a search committee to conduct and oversee a search for the company’s next CEO. Johnson was appointed chief executive in January 2019. He came to the company after serving as president and chief of Achates Power Inc. Westport is a supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane and hydrogen.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:WPRT)The Canadian Press

Kenyan team in Haiti looking into ways how to help the Caribbean nation fight rampant gang violence

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A team of Kenyan officials is in Haiti to explore how best to help the troubled Caribbean nation fight the scourge of gang violence, following up on Nairobi’s offer to lead a multinational force in the task.The force is meant to assist Haiti’s understaffed and under-resourced police department, with only about 10,000 officers for the nation’s more than 11 million people.Earlier this month, the United States said it would introduce a U.N. Security Council resolution that would authorize Kenya to lead a multinational police force and provide 1,000 officers. No timetable for the resolution has been given.The first meeting between Haitian officials and the 10-member Kenyan team took place on Monday, according to a government stated issued late that night.“We are here to assess the needs of the National Police of Haiti, better understand the situation and do our best to help the Haitian people,” said George Orina, with Kenya’s ministry of foreign ...

Ukraine media say Kyiv saboteurs were behind drone attacks on air bases deep inside Russia

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian saboteurs coordinated by Kyiv’s military intelligence services carried out a pair of recent drone attacks that hit parked bomber aircraft at air bases deep inside Russia, Ukraine media claimed Tuesday.The attacks on Russian airfields on Saturday and Monday destroyed two Russian bombers and damaged two other aircraft, according to Ukrainska Pravda, as the war approaches its 18-month milestone.That newspaper and Ukraine’s NV news outlet said groups of saboteurs were behind the strikes. It was not possible to verify the claims on the ground.Ukrainian media attributed two attacks to the saboteurs: a strike Saturday on the Soltsy air base in the Novgorod region in northwestern Russia, about 700 kilometers (360 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, and Monday’s strike against the Shaikovka air base in the southwestern Kaluga region that is about 300 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of the Ukrainian border.Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yuso...

Greek authorities say the bodies of 18 people have been found in area struck by a major wildfire

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

ALEXANDROUPOLIS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities sid the bodies of 18 people were found Tuesday in an area of northeastern Greece struck by a major wildfire.Hundreds of firefighters struggled Tuesday to control major wildfires burning out of control for days in northeastern Greece and on Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. The following is AP’s previous story. Hundreds of firefighters struggled Tuesday to control major wildfires burning out of control for days in northeastern Greece and on Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, with strong winds fanning the flames and prompting evacuations of villages and a city hospital in Greece. Hot, dry and windy conditions have seen dozens of wildfires break out across Greece, with the most severe entering its fourth day and encroaching on the northeastern port city of Alexandroupolis. On Monday, two people died and two firefighters were injured in separate fires in northern and central Greece.The fire ri...

Microsoft budges on video game streaming rights in push for UK to approve Activision Blizzard deal

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British competition regulators opened a new investigation Tuesday into Microsoft’s revamped bid to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, representing the last major hurdle to closing one of the biggest deals in tech history.The Competition and Markets Authority said it has until Oct. 18 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its preliminary investigation into an in-depth review. The companies agreed earlier to extend the transaction’s deadline to that same date. Xbox maker Microsoft has been on a quest to acquire Activision, maker of the popular Call of Duty game franchise since announcing the $69 billion deal in January 2022. The companies have secured approvals from antitrust authorities covering 40 countries, including the European Union. The blockbuster deal faced pushback in the United States, but the Federal Trade Commission lost a court fight to stop it, effectively clearing the way for it to proceed.The purchase is now only held up in...

A plan to solve the rental crisis needs governments to coordinate. Can they?

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, Canada’s housing crisis is bad and getting worse, and a huge part of it is a lack of rental units in major cities. Every government has its own proposed solutions, but none of them work without the others.A detailed report last week outlines ways that every level, from federal to municipal, can work together to speed up the process, eliminate lengthy delays and actually get shovels in the ground. The only catch is it requires everybody in power to get on the same page.Dr. Mike Moffatt is a co-author of A Multi-Sector Approach to Ending Canada’s Rental Housing Crisis. He an assistant professor in business, economics, and public policy at Ivey Business School at Western University and the senior director of policy at the University of Ottawa’s Smart Prosperity Institute. He said that even in the same level of government, here might be departments at odds with each other — let alone at the different governmental levels.“It’s just a big, b...

Barricade situation ongoing on South Side following shooting, police chase

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:52:17 GMT

CHICAGO — A SWAT standoff is underway on the city's South Side following a shooting and police chase.The incident started around 10 p.m. Monday near 91st and Ellis in the Burnside neighborhood. Police said officers witnessed at least three suspects shooting at a vehicle, and then fled the scene. Officers were able to arrest two of the suspects.Police believe the third suspect ran into a nearby home in the 9100 block of South Ellis. SWAT officials were called to the scene and have remained there.No injuries have been reported and officers said they did recover a gun.No further details have been provided at this time.This is a develping story. Check back for details.