Justice Department closes investigation into Muslim-centered community near Dallas
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has closed a federal civil rights investigation into a Muslim-centered planned community around one of the state's largest mosques near Dallas without filing any charges or lawsuits.
The Justice Department had opened the investigation after U.S. Sen. John Cornyn called for it, arguing that the development could discriminate against Christian and Jews.
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Winnipeg Free Press
13 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vietnam ends death penalty for 8 crimes, may spare real estate tycoon
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has lifted the death penalty for eight crimes in legal reforms that may spare the life of a real estate tycoon imprisoned in the country's largest financial fraud case. The legal reforms in Vietnam ended the death penalty for eight crimes, including trying to overthrow the government, damaging state infrastructure, making and selling fake medicine, starting wars, spying, drug trafficking, embezzlement, and taking bribes. Vietnamese lawmakers passed the reforms on Wednesday, according to state media. Truong My Lan, sentenced to death for her involvement in Vietnam's largest financial fraud case, will be eligible to have her sentence reduced after the reforms, her lawyer said Thursday. The 67-year-old chair of the real estate company Van Thinh Phat who was facing execution for her involvement in fraud amounting to $12.5 billion — nearly 3% of the country's 2022 GDP — will now be 'eligible for the exemption for the death penalty' according to the new rules, her lawyer Phan Minh Hoang told The Associated Press. 'We are still waiting for the official instructions of implementing the law amendment for next steps in her case,' Hoang said. The new rules also say that anyone already sentenced to death for these crimes but not yet executed by July 1 will have their sentence changed to life in prison after a final decision by Vietnam's highest court. After the legal changes, the maximum punishment for Lan's crimes will be life imprisonment without parole. Hoang said that they were continuing to work on repaying the damages to get her sentence further reduced. The law change will likely impact other ongoing trials such as the one that started earlier this week involving the real estate and infrastructure development company Phuc Son Group, whose chairman Nguyen Van Hau is accused of paying over $5 million in bribes to win contracts for major infrastructure projects across three provinces. Following the change, Vietnam now has the death penalty for 10 crimes like murder, sexual abuse of children, treason and terrorism.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
All day and all night, Greenlanders revel in 24-hour sunlight to play soccer
NUUK, Greenland (AP) — For most of the year, Greenland is covered in ice and snow and its locals retreat indoors. But for three short months beginning in June, everyone heads outside — day and night — to watch or play soccer, the island's favorite sport. On an island of roughly 56,000 people, about 5,500 — nearly 10% of the population — are registered soccer players. So it was a crushing blow in early June when the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, or CONCACAF, unanimously rejected the Greenlandic Football Association's application to become a member. Some blamed politics for the decision in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated wish to take control of the strategic, mineral-rich island. CONCACAF is one of six continental federations under FIFA, soccer's world governing body that oversees the World Cup. The U.S. president hasn't ruled out military force despite strong rebukes from the governments of Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland. Danish and Greenlandic leaders say the island is not for sale and have condemned reports of the U.S. stepping up intelligence gathering on the semiautonomous Danish territory. But Patrick Frederiksen, captain of the national team, thinks CONCACAF's rejection came down to money. 'We all know it's really expensive to travel to Greenland,' he said. Earlier this month, the first direct flight from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline landed in the capital, Nuuk. The one-way ticket from Newark International Airport in New Jersey cost roughly $1,200. The return flight from Nuuk had a $1,300 to $1,500 price tag. Other flights require a layover in Iceland or Copenhagen, Denmark. CONCACAF didn't respond to a request for comment. Greenland, technically European territory, might have been expected to seek membership in UEFA. But the European federation only allows members from countries recognized as independent per sovereignty rules introduced in 2007. CONCACAF has no such restrictions. Despite the recent headlines, the Arctic island's inhabitants are more concerned this summer with getting to the nearest field. They want to take advantage of the 24-hour sunlight even if the temperatures hover around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (41 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit) in Nuuk. 'We meet outside and play football all night long,' player Angutimmarik Kreutzmann said. 'It's not getting dark and we have so much freedom.' 'Come watch a game' From youth clubs to the national team, soccer energizes the entire island. Picturesque outdoor fields, featuring views of drifting icebergs and snow-capped mountain peaks even in late June, range from artificial turf to dirt to real grass, though older players remember dribbling across gravel pitches. 'You should come watch a game,' said Oscar Scott Carl, coach of the B-67 club in Nuuk. 'You can see how much people go into the game, how much cheering from the attenders.' 'It's also a big part of creating unity in the country, having a sport to gather around and celebrate wins and being a part of something bigger than only football, to be honest,' he added. The Kalaallit Arsaattartut Kattuffiat, Greenland's national football association, was founded in 1971 and regulates multiple men's and women's teams. Community projects are also important to the island's soccer culture and national team players serve as role models for local youth. 'They want to take pictures with us or get our autograph,' Frederiksen said. 'We get a lot of attention and a lot support from the kids.' During the long winter, many players turn to futsal. The sport is a form of indoor soccer, generally played with a special ball on a handball court with five players on a side. Even the national team plays: They traveled to Brazil in March for the Intercontinental Futsal Cup. 'Something to show the world' The national team of the Faeroe Islands, a semi-independent Danish territory in the North Atlantic, is a member of FIFA and UEFA, which oversees European soccer. It's a sore spot for Greenlanders, especially after CONCACAF's decision. The Faeroe Islands team joined the tournaments more than three decades ago, before there were requirements such as a stadium with tens of thousands of seats, among others. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Visit Greenland, the government's tourism agency, said that a national stadium has 'long been on the wish list for many in Greenland.' But with such a small population, an arena with a minimum of 40,000 seats — more than 70% of the island's inhabitants — 'is sadly not in the pipeline,' the agency wrote on its website. Still, Jimmy Holm Jensen, chairman of Nuuk's B-67 club, wishes Greenland's teams could at least play in international soccer tournaments. Right now, they only can compete in friendly matches abroad. 'I think we have something to show the world,' he said. ___ AP journalists Stefanie Dazio and Ciarán Fahey contributed to this report from Berlin.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Colombia's president signs a labor overhaul into law after 2 failed attempts
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed into law on Wednesday a controversial labor overhaul with the potential to profoundly shift the balance of power from employers to workers, a key victory for the left-wing leader even as Congress compelled him to scale back his more radical ambitions. The enactment of the law marks a milestone for a president who has struggled to deliver on his promises to reduce inequality in one of the region's most unequal nations. But it's faced opposition from business leaders and Colombian government bonds have suffered as markets worry about the fiscal and economic effects. The law increases overtime pay for salaried workers and limits the use of short-term contract workers, while requiring companies to provide medical coverage and social security for gig workers like food delivery drivers. It also promises student interns proper contracts and benefits like vacation time and severance pay. Many of Petro's efforts to vastly expand social programs have stalled in Congress, with lawmakers shooting down this labor law twice. Lawmakers let the legislation squeak by last week after Petro's moved to call a public referendum. Petro signs the law at the home of Simón Bolívar Petro signed the legislation at the historic home of 19th-century war hero Simón Bolívar, who led South America's fight against imperial Spain. He posted on social media platform X: 'I sign the labor reform into law before Bolívar and the working people.' 'We must elect a government that will uphold this law and enforce it,' Petro said, alluding to the 2026 presidential elections. Opposition says the law will hurt employment The reform was cheered by trade unions and Petro's political allies Wednesday. But his push to strengthen worker protections has proved controversial, as the expensive benefits are expected to hike up costs for business owners. Petro's government has promised to push through a new bill to help small businesses, though the details remain unclear. Opposition lawmakers have painted a nightmare scenario of mass layoffs that will push more workers into Colombia's already vast informal economy. Many say that the mandated reductions in working hours, increases in overtime pay for Sunday and holiday shifts will especially squeeze small and medium-sized businesses. Already, his government's increased spending and reduced tax income have challenged fiscal stability. Critics also say that the changes won't help informal workers without contracts, who represent over half of Colombia's total labor force, according to the latest figures. The legislation guarantees health and pension benefits for only some gig workers, such as app-based delivery workers. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Then there's the question of compliance. 'I want to tell those employers who say they won't implement the labor reform that they're not intelligent,' Petro said on Wednesday. Petro had to scale back the law to get it through Even as he hailed the law, it fell short of Petro's ambitions. He was forced to compromise on some key provisions to push it through a hostile Congress. Provisions stripped from the final version included extended paternity leave, paid leave for women with debilitating menstrual pain and some collective bargaining rights for unions. The signing of the law comes at a tumultuous time for the third largest nation in Latin America, with a wave of bombing attacks shaking the northeast and an assassination attempt on conservative presidential hopeful and senator Miguel Uribe stunning the country. Uribe remains in intensive care.
