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Jury selection begins in trial of fallen cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury selection began Tuesday in the fraud trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried after a prosecutor revealed that no discussions about a potential plea agreement took place in the 10 months since the cryptocurrency executive was arrested and brought to the United States.Once a billionaire, the 31-year-old crypto mogul faces the possibility of a long prison term if convicted at a trial that is expected to last up to six weeks.Prosecutors say he defrauded thousands of people who deposited cryptocurrency on the FTX exchange by illegally diverting massive sums of their money for his personal use, including making risky trades at his cryptocurrency hedge fund, Alameda Research. He’s also accused of using customer money to buy real estate and make big political contributions as he tried to influence government regulation of cryptocurrency.U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who is overseeing the prosecution, has called it one of the biggest frauds in the country’s h...

Quebec author Kevin Lambert dropped from contention for French literary prize

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec author Kevin Lambert has been dropped from contention for the prestigious French Prix Goncourt.The Saguenay, Que., author didn’t make the cut when the literary prize’s selection committee narrowed its list of finalists from 16 to eight.Lambert’s novel “Que notre joie demeure” was named on Sept. 5 to the long list of nominees for the prize, which will be awarded in November.Published last year, the book includes detailed discussions on architecture, and centres on the excesses of the ruling class and gentrification in Montreal.According to numbers from book promotion group BTLF, sales nearly doubled in recent months after the novel sparked an online quarrel between the author and Quebec Premier François Legault.Legault published a short review praising the book on social media but was rebuked by Lambert, who accused the premier of failing to understand the novel’s message.Lambert found himself at the centre of a debate in France a...

Insurance regulator takes action against life insurance sales practices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

TORONTO — Ontario’s insurance regulator says it has taken enforcement action after finding widespread deficiencies related to the sale of life insurance products.The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario says it looked into the conduct of life insurance agents at companies that use a multi-level marketing model for recruitment and found “unacceptable” levels of non-compliance.The agency’s review of 130 agents found 50 per cent had practices that went against the Insurance Act, including failing to disclose conflicts of interest, misrepresentation to the regulator and gaps in training.FSRA says two agents surrendered their license after being told they were under review, while the agency took action against 65 agents. It also plans more enforcement, new rules and guidance and a whistleblower protection program to further crack down.The regulator has been looking for some time into issues around multi-level marketing sales models, especially their ...

A conversation with Chappell Roan, the yodeling, queer pop icon of tomorrow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the first few minutes on the phone with The Associated Press, Chappell Roan shared a revealing fact about herself. “I have a ‘princess’ tramp stamp, that was my first tattoo,” the 25-year-old pop singer laughed.“And it was kind of a ‘f—- you’ to my upbringing of very conservative, Christian, ‘modesty is hottest’ mentality,” she continued. “I feel like the pendulum has just swung so far because of how restricted I felt.”Roan’s glittery, innuendo-stuffed debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” was released Sept. 22. Born and raised in Missouri, Roan left the state for Hollywood not long after being discovered on YouTube by Atlantic Records. They dropped her in 2020, and she moved back home for a few months, where she considered leaving music all together. Eventually she returned to LA, Amusement/Island Records signed her in 2023, and the rest is history — in the making. With over a million monthly listeners on Spotify, a thriving...

Brookfield raises US$12 billion for new global private equity fund

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

TORONTO — Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. says it has raised US$12 billion for its latest global private equity fund.The company says Brookfield Capital Partners VI is the largest private equity fund it has raised.The fund includes institutional investors, including public and private pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, endowments and foundations, and family offices. Brookfield has committed US$3.5 billion to the fund.It says, to date, the fund has committed about US$4 billion to acquire six businesses.Brookfield Asset Management has US$850 billion of assets under management.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:BAM, TSX:BN)The Canadian Press

Georgia high school football player dies after falling ill on sidelines, district says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A high school football player died after suffering a “medical emergency” on the sidelines of a game in Georgia, the school district said. The junior varsity team from Windsor Forest High School was playing Monday night when on-site emergency responders rushed to help one of its players, the Savannah-Chatham County school district said in a news release. It said the player was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, but gave no further details about what happened. The name of the player was not released. School officials said the student had played earlier in the game, but had rotated out before needing medical attention.The Associated Press

Nearly 273K Ram trucks recalled over rear view camera image issue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Stellantis is recalling nearly 273,000 trucks in the U.S. because the radio software can stop the rear view camera image from being displayed.The recall announced Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators covers certain Ram 1500 pickup trucks and some Ram 3500 chassis cabs from the 2022 and 2023 model years. Also covered are 2022 through 2024 Ram 2500 trucks. Does your vehicle have a recall? Here’s how to check. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a rear view display without an image reduces a driver's view and increases the risk of a crash.Dealers will update the radio software at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letter starting Nov. 17.How to check your vehicle for recallsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that you can check to see if your vehicle has any recalls by using its website.Once you are on the website, you can type in Vehicle Identification Number or VIN to see if it has a safety recall....

Chicago honored again as the best big city in US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

CHICAGO — The qualities of the "Windy City" have earned it a prestigious honor for a seventh straight year.Condé Nast Traveler has once again named Chicago as the best big city in the United States in the well-known magazine's Readers Choice Awards. It's an honor the city has earned every year since 2017. The 2023 results being based on the votes of 520,000 readers. “Today's recognition of our great city as the Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Big City in The U.S., for the seventh year in a row, is proof that Chicago continues to be a force as a destination for visitors from all over the globe," said Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement. "We have something for everyone — 77 amazing communities, beautiful parks and lakefront, world class arts, culture and food, and much more. See the Haunted Houses in the Chicago area in 2023 "This is a distinction to be proud of, and we will continue to welcome travelers from all over the world to experience all our city has to offer and t...

This is the wealthiest person in your state, new Forbes report shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — You can probably name some of the richest people in the country: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett. But do you know the wealthiest person in your state?Unless you have a few billion dollars lying around, it likely isn’t you. Every year, Forbes releases a list of the 400 wealthiest people in the U.S. This includes those who have garnered their wealth through investments, software, sports, retail, real estate, family ties, and food. The 2023 list includes some notable firsts. Michael Jordan, for instance, is the first professional athlete to land on the Forbes 400. His off-the-court income, namely from his deals with Nike and the sale of his stake in the Charlotte Hornets, propelled him onto this year’s list. Another newcomer is Josh Kushner, the son of real estate developer Charles Kushner and brother of Jared Kushner. The latter Kushner’s father-in-law, former President Donald Trump, failed to make the Forbes 400 this year. Another name to fall off the...

Communication, shelter issues identified during 'hurricane-level' Austin ice storm, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:50 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for Oct. 3, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Communication difficulties between city and county staff, translation service mishaps and shelter security issues were some of the necessary improvements flagged in the City of Austin and Travis County's winter storm after-action report.The report evaluated the city and county's response to the extreme winter storm that slammed the region in late January and early February 2023, leading to thousands without power and ice coating the greater Austin area. Here’s what Austin Energy needs to fix or improve, according to 2023 winter storm after-action report The report reviewed six key areas of emergency response efforts:CommunicationsPlanning and preparationOperational coordinationResource and asset managementTechnology and infrastructureShelter managementPre-storm communications thrived, but broke down following 'hurricane-level' ice stormThe report noted strong efforts from both ci...