A key figure in a trucker protest that jammed Canada's capital and sparked a global movement against Covid mandates was found guilty Friday for his role in the blockade. The self-styled "Freedom Convoy" of big rig drivers and protesters rolled into Ottawa in early 2022 from across Canada to express anger at government protocols imposed to contain Covid-19. After three weeks of turmoil, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked rarely used emergency powers to dislodge the protesters. Pat King was among hundreds of people arrested, and the first of the protest leaders to be convicted. Two other organizers, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber faced a separate criminal trial but those verdicts are not expected until 2025. King faces up to 10 years in prison after being convicted on five charges, including mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and disobeying a court order. Acquitted of more serious charges, he smiled at a packed courtroom of supporters as the judge read the verdict. "Mr King was not merely engaging in political speech," Justice Charles Hackland said. "Rather, he was inciting the protesters to continue their ongoing blockade of downtown Ottawa." King led hundreds of big rigs and thousands of protestors to Ottawa, bringing the capital to a standstill for more than three weeks. Residents and business owners complained of incessant honking and harassment. As the demonstrators' demands expanded to a broader anti-establishment agenda, solidarity rallies popped up at Canada-US trade corridors and various places abroad. Most of the evidence at trial consisted of videos King posted on social media in which he urged his nearly 300,000 followers to rail against government overreach. "Hold the line," he said in video posts, appearing also to delight in the gridlock and misery of locals: "Pretty hilarious that people haven't been able to sleep for 10 days." Trudeau faced strong criticisms from civil liberties groups and the opposition Conservatives for invoking the Emergencies Act to dislodge the protestors. But a commission of inquiry ruled it had been "appropriate," calling it "a drastic move, but... not a dictatorial one." amc/bs/bfmIsaac Guerendo gets his shot as lead runner in 49ers’ decimated backfieldHOBBY Lobby lost out on a sale after its limited payment options had pushed one shopper to ditch their selections. Following the customer's outburst over the lack of Apple Pay , an employee warned other shoppers to be prepared. Launched in 2014, Apple Pay is a mobile payment system that permits shoppers to make secure, contactless payments via an iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad. The tap-to-pay service works with credit and debit cards from American Express , MasterCard , and Visa . The payment method is accepted by over 90% of retailers in the US, per Capital One Shopping , but the remaining percentage of stores without it has some shoppers up in arms. One Hobby Lobby shopper had gathered all her items and brought them to checkout to be promptly informed by the cashier that the arts and crafts store did not accept Apple Pay. Read More On Retail Annoyed by the prospect of having to go to her car and retrieve her wallet, the customer left her items on the checkout counter and walked out. The cashier immediately turned to the next customer in line before they could unload their items and warned them that the retailer did not accept Apple Pay. In-store and online: Visa MasterCard Discover American Express Hobby Lobby Gift Cards Online only: PayPay Apple Pay Although Hobby Lobby doesn't accept Apple Pay in-store, shoppers can pay via the mobile payment system online. BAD APPLE Hobby Lobby isn't the only retailer that has yet to integrate Apple Pay into its card readers. Most read in Money Major companies such as Amazon , H-E-B, Cabela's , and Bass Pro Shops have not fully implemented the tap-to-pay service. Walmart is also on the short list of retailers that don't accept Apple Pay, which has left many customers frustrated. Endless numbers of Walmart shoppers have called out the chain on social media for its outdated point-of-sale terminals. "Walmart not having Apple Pay has to be the most dumbest most inconvenient *$%# to ever exist," fumed one customer . "Even Dollartree has Apple Pay," pointed out another shopper. The retail giant spoke out on its decision to hold out on accepting the payment service. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon shared in an interview that the company might consider accepting it at some point, but that for the time being they hoped customers would use Walmart Pay. The touch-free payment option is available on the Walmart app, eliminating the need for cash or cards. "I think in our case, we would like to have the customers open our app in the store all the time," said McMillon. To use Walmart Pay, shoppers must save a credit, debit, or gift card to their Walmart account. Then, once consumers scan their items at checkout, they can either open Walmart Pay in the app or open their phone camera and scan the QR code on the register to pay. Read More on The US Sun Another Walmart customer was forced to abandon their full shopping cart after being denied Apple Pay. Plus, Home Depot confirmed it has rolled out Apple Pay after being bombarded with pleas from shoppers.
Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. US authorities on Tuesday charged the man suspected of gunning down a health insurance CEO in New York earlier this month with murder, including a charge of second-degree murder "as an act of terrorism." Mangione, 26, is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street on December 4, triggering a nationwide manhunt that ended last week when he was spotted at a Pennsylvania McDonald's. The former data engineer remains jailed in that state as he fights efforts to extradite him to New York to face charges there over the killing, which brought into focus widespread public anger against the US health care system. Mangione "is charged with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, including one count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism," said Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg said the terrorism charge was included because the shooting met the prerequisites for such a determination under New York law. "In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror and we've seen that reaction," he said. "This was not an ordinary killing." The maximum penalty for the murder charges Mangione faces is life in prison without parole, Bragg said. The suspect was also charged with several crimes related to his possession of a weapon, which authorities said was a 3D-printed "ghost gun." "We allege he... took out a nine-millimeter 3D-printed ghost gun equipped with a 3D-printed suppressor and shot (Thompson) once in the back and once in the leg," said Bragg. "These weapons are increasingly proliferating throughout New York City and the entire country. Evolving technology will only make this problem worse," he said. "Last year, over 80 ghost guns and ghost gun parts were recovered in Manhattan alone." - 'Shocking and appalling' - In the wake of Thompson's killing, many social media users have lionized Mangione, with some even calling for further killings of other CEOs. Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner, criticized members of the public who had praised the murder. "In the nearly two weeks since Mr Thompson's killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder," said Tisch. Mangione is due in Pennsylvania court on Thursday for a hearing on his extradition to New York. Police say a "life-changing, life-altering" back injury may have motivated Mangione, although they added that there was "no indication" that he was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare. When he was arrested, Mangione had a three-page handwritten text criticizing the US health care system. Police have said that Mangione's fingerprints matched those found near the crime scene, and that shell casings match the gun found on him when he was arrested. Bragg said that the suspect traveled to New York on November 24 with the intention of murdering Thompson. On December 4, he is alleged to have waited "for nearly an hour" outside the hotel where Thompson was shot early that morning. "This was a frightening, well planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," said district attorney Bragg. bur-aha/md Originally published as US CEO slaying suspect charged with murder as 'act of terrorism' More related stories Breaking News Council’s brutal call on homeless Aussies One local council has just made a shock move to ban homeless Aussies from keeping pets in public spaces. Read more Breaking News Syria’s first flight since Assad’s fall takes off Syria's first flight since Assad's fall takes off Read moreAmeriprise Financial Inc. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitors"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 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Graduating high school students in NSW and ACT as final Year 12 exam results are released. or signup to continue reading A record 69,962 students attained their HSC and another 9,522 completed at least one HSC course in 2024. NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car congratulated the class of 2024 saying it was "fantastic to see hard work helping students to reach their full potential". "Reaching the end of your schooling journey takes grit and dedication, and every student deserves to feel proud of their efforts and everything they have achieved," she said. "Whether you are moving into the workforce, furthering your education, going into a traineeship or joining TAFE, I wish all our students the very best as they take their next steps forward." Graduates in 2024 were part of "the largest HSC honour roll in NSW history" with 19,591 students receiving at least one band six. HSC results were released in NSW and ACT on December 18 . Professor Therese Keane, who has written 16 textbooks for senior information technology courses, said students disappointed with their results should remember there are many pathways to achieving their goals. "Falling short of desired results is simply a detour, not the final destination. Many students discover success through unforeseen opportunities," she said. "Many universities run days to help students with changing their preference if they do not get their desired ATAR. "Students need to understand their results, explore alternative pathways, reassess their goals, seek support and look for late or alternative offers." La Trobe University lecturer Dr Milorad Cerovac said fast-moving technological advances, such as artificial intelligence (AI), were changing job pathways for many students. "The rapid and evolving emergence of AI presents a significant challenge for students finishing secondary school as to which tertiary or vocational course will provide them with a pathway to a long and rewarding career," he said. "However, the emergence of AI also provides opportunities such as reshaping existing professions or creating new ones. "It's therefore important for students to consider carefully which course - and which subjects within the course - will allow them the best chance for future career success. "Selecting courses or subjects aligned with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines may help to better prepare students for an economy that is rapidly changing due to the transformative nature of AI." Dr Cerovac said AI would continue to shape education and knowing how to ethically use AI was "incredibly important" as students transition to university. Tertiary students face severe consequences for improper use of generative AI, he said. "It can be so easy to use it in a way that can compromise assessments, it can be so easy to let your guard down," the lecturer said. Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementThe Philadelphia Flyers are playing their best hockey of the season, but a fresh challenge awaits Thursday when they host the defending champion Florida Panthers. Philadelphia is 4-0-1 over its last five games with three overtime wins during that stretch. Rookie winger Matvei Michkov has scored OT goals in two of those victories. The 19-year-old Russian has three OT tallies in the last nine games, including Saturday's 3-2 win at St. Louis. "We've had some confidence with (overtime)," Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. "Michkov has helped us quite a bit there. Last year, we struggled with it." The Flyers have had a nice break since Saturday's victory, though, so it remains to be seen if their recent momentum will carry over into Thursday's contest. One area that could help against Florida is the potential return of No. 1 goaltender Samuel Ersson, who has been out since Nov. 11 with a lower-body injury. Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov have split time in net during Ersson's absence with mixed results. Tortorella is grateful for the opportunity to evaluate both of his team's backup goalies, but he also wants to continue assessing Ersson, who is in his first full season as a team's primary netminder. "All this stuff with the injuries, the goalie, our No. 1 guy gone, it gives us an idea of what we have," Tortorella said. "And that's a big part of this year and, quite honestly, next (year) because there are no free agents coming. We have to keep on evaluating what we have in the organization." Florida, of course, knows what it has in its top goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky. However, the Russian netminder has been out lately while awaiting the birth of his child. He likely will miss Thursday's contest, as well, which could mean another start for Spencer Knight. Knight allowed five goals on 16 shots in Tuesday's overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that left Panthers coach Paul Maurice with mixed emotions. "It was alright. I think that's how we felt about it," Maurice said. "I don't think we gave up a tremendous amount. I don't think we took advantage of some things that we normally do. I'm not 100 percent sure how I feel about that one." After winning their previous three games by a combined margin of 17-4, the Panthers trailed the Penguins 4-1 with under 14 minutes remaining. However, Matthew Tkachuk registered a goal and two assists in the third period to help force the extra session before his team ultimately fell short. "I guess it's a point that we're happy to get," said Tkachuk, who finished with two goals and two assists to surpass 600 points for his career. He now has 603 in his ninth season. "But when we fight back, you just really want to get that win." Joining Tkachuk with a multi-point effort was Jesper Boqvist (two assists), while his brother Adam Boqvist was among the other goal scorers for Florida. "We just know when we go out there that we can wear teams down," Adam Boqvist said. "I think we almost showed that tonight with the third period. Just move on from this." The Panthers defeated the Flyers 4-3 in a shootout last month in Florida. The teams will meet again Jan. 13 in Philadelphia. --Field Level MediaLumina Gold Announces US$6.0 Million Wheaton Precious Draw