Serbia’s education minister resigns following mass shootings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Serbia’s education minister resigns following mass shootings BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s education minister submitted his resignation Sunday following two mass shootings, one of them at a primary school, left 17 people dead, while the European country’s government urged citizens to turn in all unregistered weapons or run the risk of a prison sentence. Education Minister Branko Ruzic is the first Serbian official to resign over the shootings despite widespread calls for more senior officials to step down in the wake of the back-to-back bloodshed. Ruzic cited the “catastrophic tragedy that has engulfed our country” in explaining his decision. Soon after the attack at the school in belgrade, Serbia’s capital on Wednesday, Ruzic was quick to blame “the cancerous, pernicious influence of the internet, video games, so-called Western values.” Such criticism is common in the Blakan nation, where pro-Russian and anti-Western sentiment have thrived in recent years.On Sunday, the Interior Ministry said individuals could hand over ...

Out-of-control wildfires in northeastern B.C. expected to worsen due to strong winds

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Out-of-control wildfires in northeastern B.C. expected to worsen due to strong winds The two out-of-control wildfires in northeastern British Columbia that have already forced some residents leave their homes are expected to grow bigger in the next few days.The Peace River Regional District says in a statement that strong winds are “expected to contribute to the continued growth” of both the Boundary Lake and Red Creek wildfires, located about 1,300 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, for the next 24 to 48 hours.District board chair Leonard Hiebert says in a statement that the wildfires are “aggressive” in their spread since their discoveries on Friday, and the safety risk is significant enough that all residents of areas covered by evacuation orders should leave immediately.The regional district’s area that covers both Boundary Lake and Red Creek has declared a state of local emergency to allow it to respond quicker to the wildfires.The Boundary Lake wildfire covers 1,900 hectares near Goodlow, B.C., while the Red Creek blaze encompasse...

Police investigating death of Gaspé man found trapped under farm tractor

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Police investigating death of Gaspé man found trapped under farm tractor NEW-RICHMOND, Que. — Quebec provincial police say they’re investigating the death of a 29-year-old man who was trapped under a tractor on a farm on the province’s Gaspé Peninsula.Police spokesman Sgt. Stéphane Tremblay says emergency services were called to the farm in New Richmond, Que., across Chaleur Bay from New Brunswick, shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday.He says the man was transported to hospital, where he was declared dead.Tremblay says the tractor likely overturned on a slope. He says a collision investigator is analyzing the scene.Police have not released the man’s identity. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2023.The Canadian Press

Use visit by India trade chief to push forward negotiations, business council says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Use visit by India trade chief to push forward negotiations, business council says OTTAWA — As India’s trade minister visits Ontario this week, corporate Canada is hoping both countries will commit to signing a trade agreement this year after more than a decade of talks.“It just seems to me like a no-brainer,” said Goldy Hyder, head of the Business Council of Canada.“We need to have the capacity to demonstrate that democracies can work for business, because when they work for business, they work for people.”Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is to meet his Canadian counterpart, Mary Ng, at an event Monday in Ottawa, before plans to join a delegation of large Indian businesses Tuesday in Toronto.In an interview, Hyder said he’s hoping the two agree during the visit to push for some form a trade deal this year, since multiple negotiations have been underway since 2010 and electoral cycles could further prolong these talks.For decades, outsiders have seen India as a poorer country with a protected market that makes it hard for f...

SUV driver hits crowd at Texas bus stop near border; 7 dead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

SUV driver hits crowd at Texas bus stop near border; 7 dead Seven people were killed and up to six were injured Sunday after they were struck by a vehicle while waiting at a city bus stop outside of a migrant shelter in the border city of Brownsville, Texas, police said.Brownsville police investigator Martin Sandoval said the crash happened about 8:30 a.m.Shelter director Victor Maldonado of the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center said he reviewed the shelter’s surveillance video on Sunday morning after receiving a call about the crash.The city bus stop is across the street from the shelter and is not marked. There was no bench, and people waiting there were sitting along the curb, Maldonado said. He said most of the victims were Venezuelan men.“What we see in the video is that this SUV, a Range Rover, just ran the light that was about a hundred feet away and just went through the people who were sitting there in the bus stop,” Maldonado said.The Ozanam shelter is the only overnight shelter in the city of Brownsville and manages the relea...

Former MLB pitcher, Vida Blue, dies

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Former MLB pitcher, Vida Blue, dies OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – Former Oakland Athletics pitcher and three-time World Series champion, Vida Blue, passed away on Saturday. He was 73.Blue made his Major League Baseball debut when joined the Oakland A’s organization in 1969. He was an American League MVP and helped the Oakland A's win three consecutive World Series championships from 1972 to 1974. Blue, who wore the number “35”, was also a six-time MLB All-Star.Major League Baseball released the following statement on Blue's passing: "We mourn the passing of Vida Blue, a Cy Young, MVP and three-time World Series winner. He was 73."The Oakland A’s released a statement Sunday morning that read in part: “Vida will always be a franchise legend and friend. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this arduous time.”A cause of death was not listed for the Oakland A's Hall of Famer.Blue was voted the 1971 American League Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player after going 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA and 301 s...

BPD: 7 killed when struck by SUV in front of migrant shelter

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

BPD: 7 killed when struck by SUV in front of migrant shelter BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) - Brownsville police say seven people were killed Sunday morning and it appears they may have been intentionally run over by a motorist.The FBI has been brought in to help with the investigation.The incident happened at 8:30 a.m. near Minnesota Road and North Bernal Road in front of the Ozanam Center, which is a shelter for migrants and homeless. One of the victims said they were sitting on the curb near a bus stop when a gray colored Range Rover slammed into the group. Luis Herrera said he and his friends were waiting to go to the airport when they were struck."We were going to the airport and it happened unexpectedly because a woman in a car passed by and advised us to separate and moments later the killer was coming in the car gesturing and insulting us," Herrera said.Lt. Martin Sandoval said seven victims died at the scene and another 10 victims were taken to area hospitals.Sandoval said the driver was arrested o...

Serbia's education minister resigns following mass shootings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Serbia's education minister resigns following mass shootings BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia's education minister submitted his resignation Sunday following two mass shootings, one of them at a primary school, left 17 people dead, while the European country's government urged citizens to turn in all unregistered weapons or run the risk of a prison sentence. Education Minister Branko Ruzic is the first Serbian official to resign over the shootings despite widespread calls for more senior officials to step down in the wake of the back-to-back bloodshed on Wednesday and Thursday. Ruzic cited the “catastrophic tragedy that has engulfed our country” in explaining his decision. Soon after the first attack, at the school in Belgrade, Serbia's capital, Ruzic was quick to blame “the cancerous, pernicious influence of the internet, video games, so-called Western values.” Such criticism is common in the Blakan nation, where pro-Russian and anti-Western sentiment have thrived in recent years.On Sunday, the Interior Ministry said individuals could hand ove...

Students rally for Kyra’s Law to share child safety awareness

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Students rally for Kyra’s Law to share child safety awareness On Sunday, students, elected officials, and other community members wanted to honor those who lost a child by supporting Kyra’s Law with a Bereavement Mother’s Day event.Over 100 middle and high school students from around Albany signed up to rally for the immediate passage of Kyra's Law to help end child homicides in custody cases. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In 2016, Kyra was just 2-years-old when the court granted her father unsupervised visits, despite reports of suicidal and anger issues. During a weekend visit, she was shot and killed by her father while she was sleeping. He then took his own life.Today, Kyra’s mom, Jacqueline Franchetti, wants to make sure these types of incidents never happen again to a child through her non-profit Kyra's Champions in honor of her daughter.“Kyra was a silly, giggling, happy toddler. She was fiercely independent. She loved Elmo. That’s why we have Elmo today here…and Minnie Mouse...

Wrong way driver busted for DUI in Ventura 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:29:23 GMT

Wrong way driver busted for DUI in Ventura  A Ventura man was arrested for DUI and driving the wrong way on a freeway causing injury on Sunday morning. According to a release from CHP, they received calls of a wrong way vehicle traveling northbound on the 101 Freeway in the southbound lanes near Telephone Road just before 2 a.m. Deputies attempted to stop the wrong way vehicle, a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant, but when the patrol car struck the Mitsubishi, it kept going. “As the CHP unit attempted to make a forcible stop on the Mitsubishi, it turned into the center median and the patrol vehicle struck the left side of the Mitsubishi,” CHP said in a statement. “The Mitsubishi [then] continued northbound in the southbound lane.”  UFC fighter Tony Ferguson arrested for DUI in Hollywood after multi-car crash Another car going southbound on the 101 Freeway was forced to swerve off the road to avoid hitting the wrong way driver. That vehicle, a 1998 Toyota Avalon, “traveled off the side of the south road edge at the Telephone ...