Albert Wagner 
A U.S. appeals court panel on Friday declined to delay Idaho’s scheduled execution next week of one of the nation’s longest-serving death row inmates. Thomas Creech was sentenced to death in 1983 for killing a fellow prison inmate, David Jensen, with a battery-filled sock. Creech, 73, had previously been convicted of four murders … Read more
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration, leaders of four Columbia River Basin tribes and the governors of Oregon and Washington celebrated on Friday as they signed papers formally launching a US$1 billion plan to help recover depleted salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. The plan, announced in December, stopped short of calling for the … Read more
PARIS – French actor Judith Godreche called on France’s film industry to “face the truth” on sexual violence and physical abuse during a live broadcast Friday of the Cesar Awards ceremony, France’s version of the Oscars. “We can decide that men accused of rape no longer rule the (French) cinema,” Godreche said. … Read more
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index gained almost 100 points Friday, while U.S. markets mostly held on to their gains after soaring the day before. This was a strong week for earnings, with a focus on chipmaker Nvidia and its “halo effect” on markets, said Tamsin Wilding, principal and portfolio manager for fixed … Read more
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration on Friday restored a U.S. legal finding dating back nearly 50 years that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are “illegitimate” under international law. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. believes settlements are inconsistent with Israel’s obligations, reversing a determination made by his predecessor, … Read more
KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian forces downed a Russian early warning and control aircraft Friday, the air force chief said, a major win for the country as its army fights to repel persistent Russian attacks along the front line as the war enters its third year. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk thanked Ukraine’s military intelligence for … Read more
DENVER – A former funeral home owner accused of hiding a woman’s corpse in the back of a hearse for two years and hoarding the cremated remains of at least 30 people has been arrested, authorities said. Thursday night’s arrest of Miles Harford, 33, is the latest allegation of misconduct by Colorado funeral … Read more
New York – From Dua Lipa to “silent” book clubs, Millennials and Gen Z are joining book clubs as a way to socialize. Book club event listings grew 24% in the United States in 2023 from the previous year, according to ticketing platform Eventbrite. Meetup saw a 10% increase in book club listings. … Read more
A northern Ontario man has been fined $5,500 after pleading guilty to hunting a cow moose without a proper licence. The court heard conservation officers were patrolling the Ann Bay Road area north of Atikokan in northwestern Ontario Oct. 16, 2022, when they came upon two hunters with a cow moose in the back of … Read more
The Public Health Agency of Canada is strongly advising everyone in Canada to check that they’re fully immunized against measles, especially before travelling. Amid a global rise in measles, the agency says it’s concerned the upcoming March break travel season could lead to more cases of the highly contagious disease coming into this … Read more
