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France's Sarkozy, defending his 'honour', awaits corruption appeal verdict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

On Wednesday (17 May), the Paris Court of Appeals was expected to rule on Nicolas Sarkozy’s (pictured) attempt to overturn a verdict of bribery, influence peddling and corruption. This is one of many legal battles that the former French president has fought over the past decade.In 2021, a lower court found Sarkozy guilty for trying to bribe an ex-judge and selling influence in exchange of confidential information regarding an investigation into the 2007 campaign finance of Sarkozy.In a shocking fall from grace, he was sentenced to three years in prison with two of those suspended.Sarkozy has always denied all wrongdoing. He served as French president for one term, from 2007 to 2012.In a separate case, the financial prosecutors demanded that Sarkozy be tried on charges of corrupting and financing an election campaign illegally in relation to the alleged Libyan funding for his 2007 presidential campaign.The case that was the subject of Wednesday's ruling by the appeals court -Indirect...

Two more victims of volcano eruption found in Roman ruins of Pompeii

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

Two skeletons were found on Tuesday (16 May) in the ruins at Pompeii. The ancient Roman city was wiped out in AD 79 by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.A ministry statement stated that the skeletons recovered from the building, known as the House of the Painters at Work, were probably of two men who were in their 50s and died in the earthquake that occurred along with the eruption.The Director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said that they were not killed by volcanic ash. Instead, their bones were fractured by wall fragments.The German archaeologist stated that "modern excavation techniques helps us better understand the inferno which completely destroyed Pompeii city over two days and killed many residents".Pompeii was located 23 km (14miles) south of Naples. It was the home of 13,000 people in 79 AD when it was submerged under ash and pumice stones.According to the Culture Ministry, "at least 15-20% of population" were killed. Archaeologists recovered more t...

L.A. Pride No Longer Part Of Dodgers LGBTQ+ Night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

The L.A. Pride organization announced it would no longer partake in the Dodgers LGBTQ+ celebration after the team’s decision to exclude the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.Pride had partnered with the Dodgers for nine seasons, helping put together the stadium event that typically included special guests from the LGBTQ+ community.A statement was put out by L.A. Pride, explaining their decision made in support of the drag organization:“As a longstanding partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, we are very disappointed in their decision to rescind their invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to be honored at the 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night. As a result and in solidarity with our community, LA Pride will not be participating in this year’s Dodgers Pride Night event.“Pride is a fight for equality and inclusion for the entire LGBTQ+ community and we’re not going to stop now. Let’s make this year’s Pride celebration louder than ever.”...

KMFDM is Harder Than the Rest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

KMFDM is Harder Than the Rest: The mood is dark in Los Angeles this week, what with the Sisters of Mercy in town and Cruel World Fest going on this weekend. The Damned are playing on Sunday too. That’s a whole lot of goth and dark punk and, as a result, a whole lot of black clothes.Stacking the pile further are Germany-based industrial troupe KMFDM (pronounced Kemferdem if you want to really annoy their fans between songs at this Belasco gig). That said, the industrial and goth crowds certainly have some crossover, but the general vibe is very different. At the Sisters of Mercy’s Hollywood Palladium show, the clothes were black but flowing, pre-Raphaelite in influence, romantic. The fashion on display at KMFDM had a different vibe. More rubber, more BDSM, more long rubber jackets. Both cool, both dark, but different.KMFDM have a ton of great songs. They’ve released 22 studio albums since 1984, which is slightly more than one every two years. That’s remarkably...

Family searching for answers one year after owner of popular Oakland Filipino restaurant was killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – An Oakland family is still searching for answers in the deadly shooting of their loved one. It’s now been exactly one year since the co-owner of a popular Filipino restaurant was killed. Still, no one has been arrested.Eleven-year-old Kiah Anabo witnessed the shooting that took the life of his father Jun Anabo. With no arrests made, the family is desperate for closure and justice. “What I miss most about my dad is how he used to care for the community, care for everyone before himself,” he said. Kiah has spent the last year without his father after witnessing his killing. He’s still coming to terms with a life without him.  Oakland Popeyes workers strike, claim child labor violations Jun Anabo was the co-owner of the restaurant Lucky Three Seven. He was shot on the night of May 18 last year near his restaurant on Brookdale Avenue."Kiah watched the whole thing… in front of him. That's not for any 11-year-old,” said Jun’s sister Analyn Novenario.&n...

NASCAR 75: Many would welcome a NASCAR return to Rockingham

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR is returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time in 27 years for this weekend’s All-Star race.Could Rockingham Speedway be the next track to be revitalized and brought back from near extinction?Driving legends Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Lyn St. James are among those who said they would like to see NASCAR take another walk down memory lane and return to racing at Rockingham, which last hosted a Cup Series event in 2004 but has began a repave after receiving $9 million from North Carolina as part of a federal economic effort.Petty, Gordon and James were among 12 veteran industry contributors The Associated Press polled on topics ranging from the greatest drivers, most memorable races to key challenges ahead as part of the celebration of NASCAR’s 75th season.Terry Labonte wasn’t among those interviewed for the poll, but recently said he’d push for a return to Rockingham, a one-mile track where he won twice during his Hall...

Takeaways of AP’s report on Chinese loans pushing poor countries to brink of collapse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

A dozen poor countries are facing economic instability and even collapse because of a common, undeniable factor: their struggle to pay back hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign loans, much of them from the world’s biggest and most unforgiving government lender, China. Here are the key takeaways:TOO MUCH DEBTAn Associated Press analysis of a dozen countries most indebted to China — including Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia and Laos — found the debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of tax revenue needed to keep schools open, provide electricity and pay for food and fuel. And it’s draining the foreign currency reserves such economies depend upon to pay interest on the loans and stave off collapse, leaving some with just months before the money is gone.Behind the scenes is China’s reluctance to forgive debt and its extreme secrecy about how much money it has actually loaned and on what terms, which has kept other major lenders from stepping in to help. On top of that is the discovery t...

Trudeau announces new Russian sanctions at G7 summit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is announcing new sanctions against Russia today while at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima.In short remarks made to media, the prime minister said the more than 70 new sanctions focus on people who are supporting Russia’s illegal military action and complicit in human rights violations.He says Canada will continue to support Ukraine and the international rules-based order.Earlier in the day, an anonymous government source said sanctions will target Russian companies involved in military technology, while other sanctions have to do with human rights violations, including the transfer and custody of Ukrainian children in Russia. The official is not being named because they was not authorized to discuss the details publicly. News reports suggest the G7 countries are working together to announce various sanctions against Russia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2023. Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canad...

Atomic bomb survivors look to G7 summit in Hiroshima as a ‘sliver of hope’ for nuclear disarmament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — This weekend’s Group of Seven leading industrial nations summit in Hiroshima provides a rare — and possibly final — chance for survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to push for nuclear disarmament before a global audience. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has roots in Hiroshima, chose the city in part to highlight their nuclear nonproliferation efforts, which have been shaken by Russia’s nuclear threats against Ukraine and rising aggression from nuclear-armed China and North Korea. He greeted leaders from the G7 on Friday at the city’s Peace Memorial Park and escorted them to pay respects to those who died from the attack after seeing exhibits at a museum dedicated to them, and met with a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. On Sunday, Kishida will also do the same for leaders from guest nations.Kishida has pledged to act as a bridge between nuclear and non-nuclear states, but some critics say his disarmament goals a...

7.7 magnitude earthquake causes small tsunami on South Pacific islands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:37 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A 7.7 magnitude earthquake caused a small tsunami to wash ashore on South Pacific islands Friday. No damage has been reported, and the threat passed in a few hours.Waves 60 centimeters (2 feet) above tide level were measured off Lenakel, a port town in Vanuatu, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Smaller waves were measured by coastal or deep-ocean gauges elsewhere off Vanuatu and off New Caledonia and New Zealand.Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office advised people to evacuate from coastal areas to higher grounds. The office said people should listen to their radios for updates and take other precautions.New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency said it expected coastal areas would experience strong and unusual currents, with unpredictable surges at the shoreline. The PTWC said small waves of 20 centimeters (8 inches) above tides were measured at North Cape, New Zealand.The tsunami danger passed within a few hours, though t...