MONTREAL — A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim’s sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Thi Cam Nhung Lê says she grew up with Sebastien Gauthier in Quebec City and considered him her best friend. Lê says Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat in Florida’s Broward County when it exploded and she was taken to a hospital. She says Gauthier’s family was in Florida to celebrate the holidays and that his sudden death feels “unimaginable.” Video posted on social media Monday shows the vessel engulfed in flames following the explosion, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has confirmed that Gauthier died of his injuries, saying a preliminary investigation shows the 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were started. Lê remembers Gauthier as someone who was always smiling and says she is waiting for answers about what led to her friend’s death. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joe Bongiorno, The Canadian Press
Should AI resurrect extinct species like Neanderthals?MONTREAL - A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim’s sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Thi Cam Nhung Lê says she grew up with Sebastien Gauthier in Quebec City and considered him her best friend. Lê says Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat in Florida’s Broward County when it exploded and she was taken to a hospital. She says Gauthier’s family was in Florida to celebrate the holidays and that his sudden death feels “unimaginable.” Video posted on social media Monday shows the vessel engulfed in flames following the explosion, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has confirmed that Gauthier died of his injuries, saying a preliminary investigation shows the 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were started. Lê remembers Gauthier as someone who was always smiling and says she is waiting for answers about what led to her friend’s death. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024.
A new chapter in accountability is unfolding in Ghana as the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team gears up to investigate several high-profile corruption cases under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration. The newly established team has a clear mandate: to investigate suspected corruption, reclaim stolen state resources, and prosecute those responsible in collaboration with relevant agencies. ORAL’s focus is on increasing transparency and addressing public concerns about government spending. Among the key cases under investigation are: The National Cathedral Project, a $58 million initiative that has made little progress despite significant payments to contractors and consultants. Notably, architect Sir David Adjaye received GH¢113 million, while Cary Summers, CEO of Nehemiah Group, was paid $6 million for coordination. The project has raised only GH¢794,990.01 from the public, leading to questions about financial mismanagement and corruption. Additionally, GH¢2.2 million in salaries was paid to top officials associated with the project over 31 months, despite no major advancements since March 2022. The ambulance procurement scandal, in which $34.9 million was reportedly spent on spare parts for 307 ambulances, translating to an average of $113,695 per vehicle. ORAL will investigate these inflated costs and scrutinize future procurement processes for potential transparency improvements. The presidential jet scandal, which involves the use of luxury private jets by President Akufo-Addo for international travel, despite having a functional presidential jet. Each trip reportedly cost between GH¢2.8 million and GH¢4 million, with the government citing national security concerns to withhold details. Public dissatisfaction has grown, especially amidst the country’s ongoing economic challenges. The Sputnik V vaccine scandal, in which vaccines were procured at an inflated price of $19 per dose, nearly double the standard price of $10, but were never delivered. ORAL will revisit this case, examining the role of key figures, including Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, and reviewing the government’s procurement practices and oversight processes. As the ORAL team begins its investigations, these cases represent a pivotal moment for Ghana’s fight against corruption and efforts to restore public trust in government institutions.DJ Lagway, Florida pull away from Tulane to win Gasparilla Bowl
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California’s coast had residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man’s death and the partial collapse of a pier , which propelled three people into the Pacific Ocean. The National Weather Service on Christmas Eve warned of dangerous, large-breaking waves of up to 35 feet (10.7 meters). Its latest high surf warning will be in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday. “Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches,” the weather service said in a Christmas Eve bulletin. In Santa Cruz, where a municipal wharf under construction partially collapsed on Monday, most beaches were cordoned off as they were inundated with high surf and debris. Residents received an alert on their phones Tuesday morning notifying them to “avoid all beaches including coastal overlook areas such as rocks, jetties or cliffs.” It warned powerful waves could sweep entire beaches unexpectedly. Local officials said there could be further damage to the wharf, but no more pieces broke off overnight. The wharf collapsed and fell into the ocean midday Monday, taking three people with it. Two people were rescued by lifeguards and a third swam to safety. No one was seriously injured. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said in the weeks and months ahead officials will have to assess long-term solutions for protecting the coastal city from the impacts of climate change . “Hallelujah that no one was hurt in this, which could have been orders of magnitude worse in terms of any injuries to human beings and damage to property onshore and offshore,” he said at a media briefing Tuesday. “But I think we have somewhat of a question mark as we move through time,” he added. “And I don't think we're by ourselves. I think this is what coastal communities around the world are probably dealing with.” The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco. “It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, who was allowed onto the pier on Monday to check on his business, Venture Quest Kayaking. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Building inspectors were looking at the rest of the pier’s structural integrity. Some California cities ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon as forecasters warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. In Watsonville along the Monterey Bay, first responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park, around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of a man trapped under debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office believes a large wave pinned him there. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital. The storm’s high surf also likely pulled another man into the Pacific Ocean around noon Monday at Marina State Beach, nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville, authorities said. Strong currents and high waves forced searchers to abandon their efforts roughly two hours later as conditions worsened. The man remained missing Monday evening. Further south in Carmel Bay, a man remained missing as of Tuesday afternoon after reports that someone was swept off the rocks into the ocean at Pebble Beach on Monday, local emergency responders said. The U.S. Coast Guard will "transition to a recovery search as ocean conditions improve in the coming days,” officials said in a statement. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said, “It will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento and Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed.
ASIA-PACIFIC: Mixed economic signals from the Asia-Pacific region left markets in a state of flux on Friday, as investors digested a range of data from China and Japan, with notable developments in inflation and industrial profits. The trading session saw a return to action in Australia and New Zealand following the Boxing Day holiday, while markets across Asia reacted to a mix of economic reports. In a Sharecast news report, Swissquote Bank senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya summed up the sentiment: “Those glued to their screens, hoping for Santa’s arrival, were left disappointed.” Despite a mixed set of U.S. job data showing a rise in jobless claims—the highest in three years—there was no immediate boost for equity markets or dovish sentiment from the Federal Reserve. In China, equities saw some support after the government announced a massive fiscal stimulus plan, including the sale of a record 3 trillion yuan in special treasury bonds aimed at bolstering consumption and investment. However, economic data revealed ongoing struggles, with industrial profits down nearly 5% year-on-year and a major workforce contraction in the property sector, underscoring the bumpy road ahead for the country’s recovery. Nikkei soars while South Korea, and Hong Kong struggle Japan’s Nikkei 225 index surged 1.8%, closing at 40,281.16, with notable performances from companies like DeNA and Nidec Corporation, which jumped 15.58% and 4.14%, respectively. The Topix also gained 1.26%. China’s Shanghai Composite managed a slight uptick of 0.06%, closing at 3,400.14, while the Shenzhen Component dipped 0.13%. Stocks like Fujian Dongbai Group and Anyuan Coal Industry Group saw impressive gains, rising over 10%. In contrast, South Korea’s Kospi 100 fell 0.61%, dragged down by sharp losses in Korea Zinc and Samsung Securities. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also saw a minor dip of 0.04%, with declines in Zhongsheng Group, Nongfu Spring, and JD.com contributing to the lacklustre performance. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 managed a modest 0.5% rise, driven by strong performances from Mesoblast and Iperionx, while New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 outperformed with a 1% gain, buoyed by advances from Pacific Edge and Ryman Healthcare. Currency markets, oil prices show small moves In the currency markets, the U.S. dollar showed a mixed performance, slipping 0.16% against the yen to JPY 157.74 but gaining 0.14% against the Aussie to AUD 1.6097. The Kiwi fell slightly by 0.1%, trading at NZD 1.7765. Oil prices saw modest gains, with Brent crude futures up 0.76% to $73.82 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 0.8% to $70.18. In economic news, China’s industrial profits fell at a reduced rate in November, declining 7.3% year-on-year—an improvement over October’s 10% drop. However, industrial profits were still on track for their steepest decline in over 20 years, reflecting persistent weaknesses in domestic consumption and a sluggish housing market. On a more optimistic note, the World Bank slightly revised China’s 2024 growth forecast upward to 4.9%, offering some hope for the year ahead, though the industrial sector remains in a tough spot. Meanwhile, Japan saw its core inflation accelerate to 2.4% in December, up from 2.2% in November, driven by sustained inflation in services. Factory output, however, fell in November, marking the first decline in three months, pointing to weak external demand. Japan’s labour market remained steady, with the jobless rate holding at 2.5%, but the broader economic outlook faces pressure as the government unveiled a record budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This ¥115.5 trillion budget, focused on debt servicing and social security costs, faces political hurdles as the ruling government lacks a parliamentary majority. Looking ahead As markets enter the final stretch of the year, the mixed economic data from China and Japan, coupled with ongoing inflation concerns, leaves investors uncertain about the direction of global recovery. With China’s road to recovery expected to be challenging and Japan’s inflationary pressures mounting, the region remains in a state of economic flux, with markets waiting for clearer signs in the new year.
Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano HONOLULU (AP) — Lava is erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano for the second straight day. The eruption has stayed within Kilauea’s summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and no homes are threatened. Molten rock began spewing out of the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and shot lava high into the air. It then oozed across the caldera floor. Scientists expect activity to fluctuate in coming days. The lava paused Monday afternoon but fountains reemerged Tuesday morning. The eruption has occurred in an area that’s been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards including crater wall instability and rockfalls. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled.
Threadgill Financial LLC Increases Holdings in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)Martinez had gone eight matches since last finding the back of the net against Venezia on November 3 but after Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the 54th minute, the Argentina international struck in Sardinia. The Inter captain took his tally against Cagliari to 10 goals in as many games after 71 minutes before Hakan Calhanoglu capped an excellent night for the visitors from the penalty spot a few moments later. This moment >>> #ForzaInter #CagliariInter pic.twitter.com/aZwbAZvRVI — Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) December 28, 2024 Inter’s fifth-successive league victory led to them temporarily leapfrogging Atalanta, who reclaimed top spot but saw their lead cut to a single point following a 1-1 draw at Lazio. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side were grateful for a point in the end after falling behind to Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s first-half strike, only drawing level with two minutes remaining thanks to Marco Brescianini. Lautaro Valenti’s last-gasp strike condemned rock-bottom Monza to a 10th defeat in 18 matches as Parma edged a 2-1 victory, while Genoa defeated Empoli by the same scoreline.Julia Bradbury on lifestyle change and going teetotal after cancer diagnosisThe Friday college basketball slate is stacked and Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB guarantees a 50% deposit bonus up to $1,000 to all new customers. Wager on college basketball props for all available games including: Simply register using our Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB , then make an initial deposit. That investment will be matched 50% of the way up to $1,000. Underdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB for college football: $1,000 deposit match for NCAAF player props & more If you seek an alternative to sportsbooks or you aren't in a legal betting state, Underdog is for you. It's widely available and offers the chance to combine multiple Higher or Lower (Over/Under) picks into a single entry, just like a parlay. Underdog also has live props throughout the game. Registering by clicking one of our links or entering Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB while signing up means qualifying for a bonus up to $1,000 once you register and make an initial deposit, which Underdog matches 50% of the way. Note: This Underdog Fantasy bonus is available in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MN, MS, NE, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY & All Canadian Provinces except ON. All new customers can earn up to $1,000 in bonuses to play with at Underdog. Follow the steps listed below to claim the promo: The bonus will land in your account within 72 hours and must be used within 60 days. This is a great way to test out the platform. Underdog Fantasy is available in over 30 states including many without legal sports betting. If you live in an eligible state, you can take full advantage of the platform and sign up to play fun daily fantasy contests. Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB for college basketball on Nov. 22 In the run up to Thanksgiving, the college basketball slate is packed with holiday tournaments and wall-to-wall action. As a result, there are several appetizing games every day and perhaps none more so than No. 17 Arizona vs. No. 12 Duke (10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2). The schedule includes: Duke is 3-1 but is playing its first game away from home while Arizona is 2-0 and remains in the friendly confines of the McKale Center for this one. Arizona is a slim 1.5-point favorite with the total at 161 points at DraftKings. Claim $1,000 deposit bonus from Underdog Fantasy Each game houses plenty of college football player props and for each one, bettors must choose Higher or Lower on the total set by Underdog. This includes points, rebounds, assists, stat combinations and more. From there, make between 2 and 8 selections to put into an entry, with the payouts increasing with each added selection. For entries of three selections or more, a 'flex' option is available that will pay out a portion of winnings even if one of your selections falls short. Please note that college football props may be limited to select states, so check your local listings on the Underdog app. Underdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB: How to play Underdog Fantasy There are a variety of contests that users can enter on the Underdog Fantasy platform. These are different game styles that let users test their knowledge in different ways. After you take advantage of the Underdog Fantasy promo bonus using the code BETFPB , you will see all of these different game types offered to you. There are two main contests that are used for contests at Underdog Fantasy. They are the Pick ‘Em contest and the Draft contest. They work as follows. You must be over 21 to play. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. 1-800 GAMBLER.
