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US announces sanctions on Iran drone procurement network

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States said Tuesday it is imposing a new round of sanctions on Iranian firms and people accused of procuring equipment used for Iranian drones. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control coordinated with the FBI to designate four firms and three people in Iran and Turkey for allegedly buying equipment, including European-made engines, to be used for Iran’s drone and weapons programs.Those targeted for sanctions include the Iran-based Defense Technology and Science Research Center, its procurement firm Farazan Industrial Engineering Inc. and two other firms along with purchasing agents from the companies. “Iran’s well-documented proliferation of UAVs and conventional weapons to its proxies continues to undermine both regional security and global stability,” said Brian Nelson, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. Nelson was referring to unmanned aerial vehicles.“The United States will continue to expose foreign procure...

Killing of Kurds in northern Syria sparks protests, tensions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

JINDERIS, Syria (AP) — Thousands of Kurds took to the streets of the earthquake-ravaged Syrian town of Jinderis on Tuesday to protest the killing of four men as they lit a fire to celebrate the Kurdish new year the night before.The attack on the Kurdish men rekindled tensions between Turkish-backed armed groups controlling the area and Kurdish residents. It fed into a power struggle between rival armed factions that control different parts of northwest Syria.At the request of Kurdish residents, fighters from the armed opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham deployed en masse around Jinderis on Tuesday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, reported that the group had taken over the headquarters of the Ahrar Sharqiya group, a Turkish-backed armed opposition group, in the area.A HTS spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, but there was a heavy presence of the group’s fighters in and around the city as crowds of Kurds attended the funerals of the vic...

‘Succession’ star Sarah Snook pregnant with 1st child

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “Succession” star Sarah Snook had a surprise reveal at the show’s season four premiere — she is pregnant with her first child.Snook proudly showed off her baby bump in New York at Monday’s premiere, which was attended by fellow stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Matthew MacFadyen, Kieran Culkin and Alan Ruck.Snook’s pregnancy is the latest surprise for “Succession” fans, who learned in February from series creator Jesse Armstrong that the show’s fourth season would be its last.“Succession” follows a wealthy family that owns a major media conglomerate and struggles to maintain its power. It stars Cox as the Roy family patriarch and Snook plays his lone daughter among the children conniving to succeed their father as the company’s leader.Snook married actor-comedian Dave Lawson in 2021.“Succession” has won 13 Emmy Awards so far, including several for Armstrong for writing and two drama series awards. Its final season premieres on March 26.Source

French protests drag on after Macron’s pension plan push

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French garbage collectors, refinery workers and others were striking again on Tuesday against President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to force the divisive bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 through without a vote in parliament.Macron’s move infuriated many in the country. Paris police said Tuesday that 234 people were arrested overnight in the capital mostly for setting fire to garbage in the streets.Mostly small, scattered protests were held in cities around France, some degenerating into violence late Monday. In Paris, small groups took to the streets to set fire to piles of trash that have formed because of a strike by garbage collectors in the capital that is in its 16th day. Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez said the violence was caused by groups of up to 300 people quickly moving through the capital.Nunez news broadcaster BFM TV that he ordered an internal investigation after an officer was filmed punching a man who was walking backwards, mak...

“Pensé que me había muerto”: maestra de Virginia baleada por estudiante rompe el silencio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

Lo que comenzó como un día normal para una maestra de la escuela primaria Richneck el 6 de enero, terminó en tragedia luego de que su estudiante de 6 años le disparara en la mano y en el pecho. Tras dos meses de recuperación, Abigail Zwerner relató por primera vez los detalles del incidente que le cambió la vida. “Nunca olvidaré la mirada en su rostro que me dio mientras me apuntaba con el arma directamente”, afirmó la docente de 25 años en una entrevista que se transmitió el martes en “TODAY” de NBC. Policía termina la investigación sobre niño que disparó a maestra en escuela de Virginia Abogada: maestra de Virginia demandará tras tiroteo; oficiales recibieron 3 advertencias de niño armado Maestra de Virginia herida de bala sabía que niño tenía arma en su mochila, según fuentes Sin embargo, Zwerner admitió que el disparo pudo haber sido mortal si no se hubiese protegido con su m...

Ringling Bros. circus to come to Colorado, minus animals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus has been reimagined and reborn without animals as a high-octane family event with highwire tricks, soaring trapeze artists and bicycles leaping on trampolines.Feld Entertainment, which owns the “Greatest Show on Earth,” revealed to The Associated Press what audiences can expect during the show's upcoming 2023 North American tour kicking off this fall.The 75 performers from 18 countries will include performers on a triangular high wire 25 feet off the ground, crisscrossing flying trapeze artists, a spinning double wheel powered by acrobats and BMX trail bikes, unicycle riders and skateboarders doing flips and tricks.The tour kicks off in Bossier City, Louisiana, from Sept 29-Oct. 1 and then goes to Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana and ends the year in Oklahoma. It restarts in 2024 in Florida, home to Feld Entertainment.The show will come to Denver, but the official da...

‘God will help us through this,’ pastor says after church fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (KYW) — A massive eight-alarm fire was under control Tuesday morning after it damaged a South Jersey church and threatened a nearby school Monday night.Firefighters were still getting to some remaining hotspots, and the remnants of the church were still smoking Tuesday morning.Just after 6 p.m., hundreds of firefighters were at the Fountain of Life Center in Florence Township, New Jersey. The church is located at 2035 Columbus Rd.“It’s a devastating loss,” Russell Hodgins, a senior pastor at the Fountain of Life Center, said.More than 100 emergency teams from five counties across New Jersey battled raging flames and heavy smoke that consumed the church.“The sanctuary’s just been completely burned,” Hodgins said. “The roof collapsing is a pretty embedded image in my mind.”Flames engulfed the entire front part of the church. Hodgins said a dome and cross on top of the roof collapsed into the sanctuary....

Cameraman left paralyzed during shooting outside The Licking in Miami Gardens files lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

A man who was left paralyzed after a shooting broke out at a South Florida restaurant has filed a lawsuit.The victim, Carlos Wilkerson, is suing Karim Kharbouch, rapper French Montana and popular restaurant Miami Finga Licking.This incident happened on Jan. 5 in Miami Gardens, where French Montana was filming a music video at the restaurant. An unknown gunman appeared outside the restaurant and opened fire at the crowd. Ten people were shot. Wilkerson, a cameraman, was caught in the crossfire. According to police, French Montana failed to get the necessary permits required by the City of Miami Gardens, and organizers of the music video did not follow the proper protocol with the city that would have provided them police protection.Wilkerson retained South Florida attorneys Marwan Porter, Esq. and Yolanda Strader, Esq. to seek justice and accountability for the victims who were injured.

Man plans to paddle 80 miles from Bimini to Florida to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

SARASOTA, Florida (WFTS) — A Sarasota County man prepares to paddle from the Bahamas to Florida to raise money for an organization that helps people living with cystic fibrosis.Robert Martini is a lifeguard on Siesta Key. In his free time, he looks for his next challenge.“As a water man, I’ve done the Molokai to Oahu prone 32 miles and I’ve also done the Catalina Classic from Catalina Island to Manhattan Beach prone as well that’s also 32 miles. I just needed something to challenge myself mentally and physically,” said Martini.In June, Martini and about 200 other paddlers are participating in The Crossing For Cystic Fibrosis, a long-distance endurance paddle challenge. Paddlers will travel about 80 miles across the Gulf Stream from Bimini in the Bahamas back to Florida’s Lake Worth Beach. The event was inspired by the health benefits of the ocean for those living with cystic fibrosis.Martini has raised more than $2,000 for cystic fibrosis. The event sup...

Authorities seek information on homicide of NW Miami-Dade resident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:16 GMT

On March 7, Dory Veldine Pierre was critically injured in the area of Northwest 123rd Street and Northwest 21st Place. The authorities are now seeking information from the public to help solve the case.The 21-year-old, a resident of the area, was taken to Ryder Trauma Center where she succumbed to her injuries one week later. The Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) has launched an investigation into the incident and is asking anyone with information to come forward.Dory Veldine PierreAnyone with information relating to the case is being asked to contact MDPD Detective P. Klimick at 305-471-2400. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.