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Baldur’s Gate, The Legend of Zelda and Cocoon shine brightest in a stellar year for video games

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

By LOU KESTEN (Associated Press)It’s been a terrific year for video games. Developers hit their stride on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox X/S consoles, unleashing massive adventures big enough to satisfy gamers for weeks. The Switch is at the end of its lifespan, but Nintendo debuted two spectacular games on its way out. And indie studios held up their end, delivering distinctive takes on classic genres. Here are the top 10 games of 2023, as chosen by Associated Press writer Lou Kesten.Role-playing games were particularly ambitious this year, and none was more rewarding than this epic from Belgium’s Larian Studios. The main plot — you have a deadly parasite in your brain, and you need to get it out — is compelling enough, but your trek through the Forgotten Realms introduces a lively cast of characters and a cornucopia of fascinating side missions. It’s as close to the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop game as you can get digitally, and it’s a blast.Nea...

Coroner’s counsel asks jurors to rule Soleiman Faqiri’s death a homicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

Jurors examining the death of a mentally ill man at an Ontario jail are being asked to find he died as a result of a homicide.Coroner’s counsel this morning laid out a series of proposed recommendations for jurors at the inquest into the death of Soleiman Faqiri to consider to help prevent similar deaths in the future.Faqiri died in his segregation cell at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ont., on Dec. 15, 2016, after a violent struggle with correctional officers.He had been taken to the jail after allegedly stabbing a neighbour while experiencing a mental health crisis, and the inquest heard his condition deteriorated significantly while in custody.Establishing a cause of death is one of the findings jurors must make, but it does not carry legal liability, and the recommendations they make are not binding.Coroner’s counsel Prabhu Rajan presented 56 jointly proposed recommendations for jurors to consider, including the creation of an independent provincia...

Weather system may bring snow to parts of Metro Vancouver, gusts to north B.C. coast

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

VANCOUVER — Environment Canada has issued a series of warnings and advisories as a frontal system that could bring Metro Vancouver its first snowfall this winter nears the British Columbia coast.It says in a special weather statement that Metro Vancouver could see up to four centimetres of snow accumulating on Saturday in higher elevations such as the North Shore and Burnaby Mountain, although wet snow is forecast at sea level.Environment Canada also says up to 10 centimetres of snow is possible in higher terrain of the Sunshine Coast, while its coastal areas may see about 2 centimetres of accumulation.Whistler is forecast to receive up to 10 centimetres, and Environment Canada is warning of winter driving conditions on the Sea to Sky Highway north of Squamish starting Saturday morning.A wind warning is also in place for the central and north coast of B.C. and Haida Gwaii starting Friday evening, with gusts potentially reaching 110 kilometres an hour early Saturday.Environment Canad...

1 member of family slain in suburban Chicago was in relationship with shooting suspect, police say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) — The suspect in the September shooting deaths of a suburban Chicago family was in a relationship with one of the four people slain and his girlfriend allegedly helped plan the killings, police investigators said.Alberto Rolon, Zoraida Bartolomei, and their two sons, ages 7 and 9, were found shot to death on Sept. 17 in their home in Romeoville, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. Days later, suspect Nathaniel Huey Jr., 31, died in a car crash in Oklahoma that also killed his girlfriend, Ermalinda Palomo.The Romeoville Police Department said Thursday in a posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, that detectives have determined that Huey and Bartolomei “had a relationship together” and that Rolon and Palomo were both aware of it.Police said their investigation is nearly complete and the “evidence indicates Palomo had prior knowledge of Huey Jr.’s intent to commit the murders, was involved in the planning, and drove the vehicle to the crime...

Man freed after 11 years in prison sues St. Louis and detectives who worked his case

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis man who spent 11 years behind bars for a killing before his conviction was overturned is suing the city and detectives who worked on his case, claiming the conviction for a crime he didn’t commit violated his constitutional rights.Lamont D. Cambell’s lawsuit claims that a faulty investigation led to his years of incarceration. His lawsuit filed Monday seeks unspecified damages, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.Cambell was jailed following the 2011 killing of 29-year-old Lenny J. Gregory III. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced in 2017 to life in prison.A judge in 2022 overturned the conviction, ruling that that Cambell’s attorney didn’t do enough to counter a weak case or explore an alternative suspect. The judge also determined that investigators failed to disclose a romantic relationship between the lead homicide detective and a key witness.In January, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office formally dismis...

Police in Dominica probe the killing of a Canadian couple who owned eco-resort

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in Dominica are investigating the killings of a wealthy Canadian businessman and his partner who owned an eco-resort in the eastern Caribbean island.Two men have been arrested and charged in the slaying of Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand, officials announced at a press conference Thursday.A third person was arrested but not charged, police spokesman Jeoffrey James said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.“The work of the team has not ceased,” he said. “We are devoted to having justice served in this matter.”Authorities in Dominica said they have requested independent investigators to help with the probe and the DNA and forensic analysis of evidence gathered and have been in touch with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Police in Canada said they’re aware of the investigation in Dominica and that it works closely with its international partners. However, they said in a statement that they do not comment on specific criminal i...

Trial of ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber adjourned until 2024

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

OTTAWA — The criminal trial of “Freedom Convoy” leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber has adjourned after more than 30 days of evidence and arguments, and is expected to resume in January.The trial began in September and was originally scheduled to finish on Oct. 13, but it is now anticipated to continue well into the new year. Lich and Barber are both accused of mischief, intimidation and several charges related to counselling others to break the law.They were among prominent organizers who spearheaded the effort to bring massive crowds of protesters and scores of big-rig trucks to Ottawa in a demonstration against COVID-19 public-health restrictions.The protest lasted more than three weeks, as participants blocked downtown streets with their vehicles and camped out next to Parliament Hill.The trial is expected to resume briefly on Jan. 4, and no additional dates have been set.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2023.The Canadian Press

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott reveals the groups that got some of her $2.1 billion in gifts in 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $2.1 billion in the past year, she said in an online post, bringing her total reported giving to more than $16 billion since 2019.While previous announcements have included detailed essays about the reasons for her donations, Scott offered only a three-sentence post titled “(Giving Update)” this year, writing, “Excited to call attention to these 360 outstanding organizations, every one of whom could use more allies.” She added, ”Inspired by all the ways people work together to offer each other goodwill and support.”The gifts include three donations of $25 million to affordable housing nonprofit Mercy Housing, reproductive care organization Upstream USA and youth training group Year Up, according to her Yield Giving website.It’s not known if those are the largest gifts made in the past year as the database of gifts on the website withheld the amount donated to more than 100 of the recipients in 2023, with the explanation, “Disclosure...

Police responding to reports of grenade found in Value Village store in Toronto’s west end

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

A second-hand clothing store in the Toronto’s west end has been evacuated following reports that a grenade was found inside.Toronto police say they were called to a Value Village location on Rogers Road near Keele Street around 10 a.m. Friday.Police confirm a “potential grenade was found in a box” inside the store. The building has been evacuated and explosive experts are on scene investigating.No injuries have been reported.Rogers Road is closed in both directions for the investigation.

Spotify CFO becomes one of thousands departing the streaming service, after selling $9M in shares

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Spotify’s chief financial officer will step down next year, according to the music streaming service, just days after it announced its third round of layoffs for 2023.In a statement announcing CFO Paul Vogel’s departure, CEO Daniel Ek said that the two had “come to the conclusion that Spotify is entering a new phase and needs a CFO with a different mix of experiences.”Spotify said this week that it would be axing 17% of its global workforce, citing the need to slash costs and become profitable. About 1,500 people will lose their jobs, a spokesperson confirmed.Shortly after the layoffs were announced Monday, Spotify’s stock jumped about 8%. On Tuesday, Vogel moved to sell more than $9.3 million worth of shares, according to securities filings. Two other senior executives also cashed in over $1.6 million in shares, The Guardian reported.The Associated Press reached out to Spotify for further comment on Friday. Vogel will leave Spotify on March 31. Ben Kung, who c...