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Alleged ex-member of Syrian militia arrested in Germany, accused of crimes against humanity

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — An alleged former member of a Syrian pro-government militia has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of crimes against humanity related to the abuse and torture of civilians in the early years of his country’s civil war, prosecutors said Thursday.The man, identified only as Ahmad H. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in Bremen on Wednesday, federal prosecutors said. He is suspected of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes by torture and enslavement.Between 2012 and 2015, the suspect was a local leader of a militia loyal to the government of President Bashar Assad in the Damascus suburb of Tadamon which was tasked with working with Syrian military intelligence to repress attempts at opposition, prosecutors said in a statement. They said the militia ran checkpoints and carried out arbitrary arrests, which it used to extort money, torture people or force them to work.The suspect was personally involved in abusing civilians on various occasi...

No injuries after timber beam falls from Hibernia offshore oil platform

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum regulator says nobody was injured in a potentially deadly accident on the deck of the Hibernia Platform last month.The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board says that on July 25, a 1.8-kilogram piece of timber dropped 15 metres onto the deck as a chemical tank was being lifted from the platform to a support vessel via a crane.The report says nobody was inside the lifting zone on the platform or the vessel, but the incident could have been fatal.A news release says Hibernia’s management are investigating the incident, and the regulator will continue to monitor the situation.Hibernia was the province’s first offshore oil installation, located over 300 kilometres off the coast of St. John’s.ExxonMobil Canada, Chevron Canada Resources and Suncor are among Hibernia’s owners.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2023.The Canadian Press

Death of off-duty Chicago firefighter who died while swimming ruled accidental drowning: medical examiner

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

CHICAGO — The death of an off-duty Chicago firefighter who died Sunday while swimming has been ruled an accidental drowning, according to the Cook County medical examiner.The firefighter, identified as 43-year-old Wilbert Hayes, was swimming with his family in Lake Michigan after his shift when the incident occurred. According to the Chicago Fire Department, Hayes' death will be considered an "off-duty accidental death of an active-duty member."Visitation and funeral services have been set for the fallen firefighter. Off-duty Chicago firefighter who died while swimming with his family in Lake Michigan ID’d "It is my sad duty to inform you that Engineer/EMT Wilbert B. Hayes assigned to Engine 16 diedSunday, July 30, 2023. As Fire Commissioner, I encourage all members of the Fire Departmentto join me in paying our respects. I further encourage all off-duty members to attend andparticipate in the service," Fire Commissoner Annette Nance-Holt said in an announcement.Visitation for Hay...

18-year-old fatally shot in face on South Side ID'd

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

CHICAGO -- An 18-year-old man who succumbed to his injuries after being found in the street with gunshot wounds has been identified. The medical examiner's office identified him as Jacarrion S. Johnson from Chicago.Police said he was found in the 800 block of West 54th Street in Back of the Yards with gunshot wounds to the face and chest. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. Woman killed, toddler son among 3 others shot on South Side He was pronounced dead a short time after.There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Russia fines Apple, Wikipedia for spreading 'false information' about Ukraine conflict

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Thursday imposed fines on Apple and the host of Wikipedia for failing to remove material deemed to be “false information” about Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.A justice of the peace in a magistrate's court, which handles administrative violations and low-level criminal cases, fined the Wikimedia Foundation 3 million rubles ($33,000) for retaining material on Russian-language Wikipedia pages that violated a law against discrediting Russia's military and spreading false information about the Ukraine conflict, the Interfax news agency reported.The same justice found Apple guilty of failing to delete podcasts and apps with such information and fined the company 400,000 rubles ($4,400). Russia accuses Ukraine of striking same Moscow building that was hit by drone days ago Since sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has enacted an array of measures to punish any criticism or questioning of the military campaign.Some critics have rece...

California residents say HGTV star evicting them for a big 'flip'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

LOS ANGELES, Calif (KTLA) - A group of North Hollywood renters is outraged at the threat of being evicted and displaced by HGTV reality star Tarek El Moussa for a new real estate project.El Moussa is best known for the hit HGTV renovation series, “Flip or Flop,” which he co-hosted with ex-wife Christina Hall from 2013 to 2022. He launched a second show in 2020 called, “Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa.”Residents of the rent-controlled apartment property on Hartsook Street near the Arts District said El Moussa plans to transform the nearly 100-year-old complex into a state-of-the-art residential complex.Tarek El Moussa, left, and Christina El Moussa pose in the press room at the 44th annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Center on Sunday, April 30, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)According to El Moussa, the project, called NoHo 138, would mark the biggest real estate “flip” he’s ever attempted.In a video the reality star posted on social m...

Taylor Swift reveals new US tour dates for 2024; 'Turns out it's NOT the end of an era'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

(WGHP) — As pop star Taylor Swift neared the last of her previously announced U.S. tour dates on "The Eras Tour," she took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to reveal new dates for 2024.As of Thursday, Swift has six dates left in 2023, all in Los Angeles at the Sofi Stadium. "Turns out it's NOT the end of an era," the singer wrote in a post. The new dates span October and November 2024 and will take place in Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, and Toronto, Canada. Taylor Swift urged to postpone Los Angeles shows Joining her on these additional dates will be Gracie Abrams, a singer-songwriter who released her debut album, "Good Riddance," earlier this year. Abrams is currently opening for Taylor Swift at her Los Angeles shows, alongside HAIM with whom Swift previously collaborated with on the song "no body, no crime" off of her 2020 album, "Evermore."The new U.S. tour stops include: Hard Rock Stadium - Miami, Florida; Oct. 18-20, 2024Caesars Superdome - New Orlea...

Uninsured rate hits record low, just as millions start losing Medicaid coverage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

(The Hill) -- An all-time low of 7.7 percent of Americans had no health insurance in the first three months of 2023, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.But that number, which still translates to more than 25 million people, is likely already higher now as states disenroll millions who gained Medicaid coverage during the pandemic public health emergency. Federal legislation passed during the pandemic gave states extra money for Medicaid, but only if they kept people continuously enrolled in the program.Before the pandemic, people “churned” in and out of Medicaid for various reasons. Participants lost their coverage if they earned too much or didn’t provide the information needed to verify their income or residency.But during the emergency period, income changes or missed paperwork didn't matter. If someone was enrolled in Medicaid in March 2020, or if they became eligible at any point during the pandemic, they remained eligible the e...

Austin performer joins new lawsuit to block Texas drag performance law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin-based drag performer added her name to a lawsuit filed Thursday aimed at blocking a Texas law that the plaintiffs argue would amount to a "drag ban" in the state. Brigitte Bandit, the local drag artist, is among the plaintiffs now suing the interim Texas attorney general and other officials over Senate Bill 12, which is set to go into effect on Sept. 1. The other groups that filed the lawsuit are the ACLU of Texas, two community Pride organizations and a couple of drag performance companies, including Extragrams based in Austin. Parents, doctors sue Texas to block transgender minor health care ban According to a news release announcing the lawsuit, the ACLU of Texas called the law unconstitutional, arguing it violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. It also contends the law "threatens the livelihood and free expression of many Texans, including drag performers.""The law is written in a way that could censor a large number of constitutionally protect...

Photos: Central Texans capture first supermoon of August

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) -- Folks across Central Texas witnessed Tuesday the first of two supermoons that appearing in August. Tuesday's moon, called the "Sturgeon Moon," is one of four supermoons in 2023, according to NASA. A supermoon happens when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth, making the moon appear 7% larger and up to 30% brighter.Enjoy viewer photos of the supermoon from across the KXAN viewing area in the gallery below. Aug. 1, 2023, supermoon spotted in Central Texas (Courtesy: Ricardo Meza)Aug. 1, 2023, supermoon spotted in Central Texas (KXAN Viewer Photo)Aug. 1, 2023, supermoon spotted in Central Texas (KXAN Viewer Photo)Aug. 1, 2023, supermoon spotted in Central Texas (KXAN Viewer Photo)Aug. 1, 2023, supermoon seen from southeast Austin near FM 973 (Courtesy: Gary Johnson Hicks)Aug. 1, 2023, supermoon seen from southeast Austin near FM 973 (Courtesy: Gary Johnson Hicks)Aug. 1, 2023, supermoon spotted in Central Texas (Courtesy: Lauren Lynn Ta...