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US sanctions group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong tied to Iran ballistic program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. said Tuesday it is sanctioning a group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong associated with the alleged development of Iran’s ballistic missile program.The network of seven people and six firms “facilitated procurement of sensitive and critical parts and technology for key actors in Iran’s ballistic missile development,” including Iran’s defense ministry and its affiliated firms, according to the Treasury Department. Among the sanctions targets are the China-based firm Zhejiang Qingji, which has allegedly sold centrifuges and other materials to an Iran-based firm affiliated with the nation’s defense ministry. Also designated for sanctions were several executives at Qingji and the Hong Kong-based Lingoe Process Engineering Limited, which Treasury said served as a front company for the Chinese firm. Also named is Iran’s Defense Attaché in Beijing, Davoud Damghani, who is alleged to coordinate purchases from China for Iran end-users....

US-Apple-Podcasts-Top-Podcasts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

Top New Shows (US):1. The Broski Report with Brittany Broski, Brittany Broski & Audioboom Studios2. Pretty, Not Smart with Louie and Yoatzi Castro, Louie and Yoatzi Castro & Studio713. The Smylie Show, SiriusXM4. Queen Havoc and Her Murder Cult, iHeartPodcasts 5. Oversharing with Colleen Ballinger & Trisha Paytas, Colleen Ballinger & Trisha Paytas6. Codependents, Ciara Miller & Mya Allen7. The King Road Killings: An Idaho Murder Mystery, ABC News8. The Overcomers with Matt Chandler, Matt Chandler9. Jen Rubin’s Green Room, Politicon10. Keep it Positive, Sweetie, Crystal Renee HayslettThe Associated Press

EU member Slovenia overwhelmingly defeats Moscow ally Belarus for a seat on the UN Security Council

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In an election reflecting opposition to Russia’s war against Ukraine, European Union member Slovenia overwhelmingly defeated Moscow’s close ally Belarus on Tuesday for a seat on the U.N. Security Council starting in January.The race between the two members of the U.N.’s East European group was the only contested election for five seats on the U.N.’s most powerful body, and was closely watched because of the two countries’ opposing views on Russia’s Feb. 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine.In the secret ballot election in the 193-member General Assembly, Slovenia received 153 votes while Belarus got just 38 votes.The four other countries elected to the Security Council to serve two-year terms were Guyana which received 191 votes, Sierra Leone 188 votes, Algeria 184 votes and South Korea 180 votes.The five new council members will start their terms on Jan. 1, replacing five countries whose two-year terms end on Dec. 31 — Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emi...

Milley says fighting in Ukraine has increased and cautions it will continue for lengthy time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

AMERICAN CEMETERY, Normandy, France (AP) — U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Tuesday that fighting in Ukraine has increased, but he cautioned against reading too much into each day’s operations.“There’s activity throughout Russian-occupied Ukraine and fighting has picked up a bit,” Milley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France — the final resting place of almost 9,400 troops who died 79 years ago during the allied D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.Milley said it was up to Ukraine to announce whether its counteroffensive campaign has formally begun, but he said Ukrainian troops are ready for this fight. “It’s our estimation that the Ukrainian military is well prepared for whatever they do — they choose to fight in the offensive fight or in the defense,” he said. “They’re well-prepared.”But he also warned that as time goes on the fighting will vary.“Like the Battle of Normandy or any other major bat...

Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina star in ‘Based on a True Story,’ a tale of a killer idea that goes awry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

In the new Peacock series “ Based on a True Story,” debuting Thursday, Kaley Cuoco plays Ava, a woman obsessed with true crime. She consumes these dark stories all day, analyzes the cases with her friends and murder-centric podcasts help lull her to sleep at night.“Do we have to wake up to murder every morning?” her husband Nathan, played by Chris Messina, asks in a scene. The series highlights an explosion of coverage of true crime in recent years. It is the subject of podcasts, documentary series, books, and social media posts where amateur sleuths breathlessly weigh in on the latest crime du jour. In “Based on a True Story,” Ava hatches a plan to start a podcast — hosted by the couple — to interview a serial killer. She is confident that it will be lucrative and add excitement into their otherwise middle-aged monotony. The choices made by Ava and Nathan in the series, argues Cuoco, are similar to the subjects of actual true crime stories whose fate is determined by on...

Poilievre calls on Liberals to make killers like Bernardo stay in max-security prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should see to it that mass murderers serve their entire sentences in maximum-security prison. The call comes as Trudeau’s government deals with the fallout from a Correctional Service of Canada decision to transfer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security institution in Quebec. Anne Kelly, commissioner of the federal correctional service, announced the move was under review after Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said he expressed to her how shocked Canadians were by the decision.Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murders of 15-year-old Kristen French in 1991 and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in 1992. Mendicino said he is unable to reverse the decision himself because the federal correctional service operates as an independent institution. “I’m calling on the prime minister to direct his public safety minister to say that all mass murderers should have to s...

Papa Jake survived D-Day on Omaha Beach, now he’s a TikTok star

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) — World War II veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name “Papa Jake,” enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations. Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.“I got in on the planning of D-Day … I’m just a country boy. Now I’m a star on TikTok,” he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm. “You can see me all over: ‘Papa Jake.’ I’m a legend! I didn’t plan this, it came about.”Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded.“I’m 100 without an ache or a pain. You can’t fake that,” he said.On Monday, Larson went to the Pegasus Memorial, a site commemorating a key D-Day operation, when ...

Grimace has inspired a new McDonald's meal. But what the heck is he?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Twitter users who follow the official McDonald’s account were greeted to a nostalgic sight on Monday: the large purple face of Grimace — bug-eyed and nearly expressionless — staring directly back at them.McDonald’s ultimately revealed that Grimace is back to promote its upcoming “Grimace Birthday Meal,” which comes complete with a brand-new (and very purple) berry-vanilla shake.There’s just one thing McDonald’s declined to fully explain: Just what the heck are we looking at, here?Grimace, by McDonald’s own admission, is an “ambiguous” blob of a mascot. Introduced in 1971 as “Evil Grimace,” the character was first depicted as a villain — with four arms — who was singularly focused on stealing McDonald’s milkshakes, as seen in early TV commercials.Over the years, Grimace eventually lost his mad lust for milkshakes (and two of his arms) and became best buds with Ronald McDonald. The original Taco Bell menu had only five items, and one was a burger But Grimace wa...

Family of man killed by APD officer last year push for police to commend de-escalation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The family of a man shot and killed by an Austin police officer last year are now calling on the department to recognize efforts in the future that avoid the use of deadly force. The mother and brother of Rajan Moonesinghe held a news conference Tuesday morning outside Austin City Hall, where they pushed for the Austin Police Department and Chief Joseph Chacon to create a new award to give to officers. Mark Moonesinghe, Rajan's oldest brother, said police should "establish a preservation of life medal that commends those that employ de-escalation tactics to preserve a life"Mark said the foundation created by his family in memory of his brother would even fund such an effort. He also pointed the police departments in Philadelphia and Los Angeles already give out similar honors to their officers. "De-escalation and preservation of life need to be rewarded on the same stage with officers who receive medals for valor, for Purple Hearts, for community service and the 20 e...

APD officer faces 2nd indictment after 2020 protests; 2 more officers indicted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin Police Department officer who was indicted last year in connection with May 2020 racial justice protests has been indicted on a second charge, according to court documents and a release from the officer's defense attorneys. In addition, KXAN has learned the names of two other officers indicted last week through court documents and sources.Jeffrey Teng was one of 19 officers indicted last year over claims of excessive force during protests in downtown Austin in 2020. He now faces a charge of deadly conduct by discharging a firearm. 19 APD officers indicted accused of harming a total of 10 during May 2020 protests Teng was originally indicted in February 2022 on a charge of aggravated assault by a public servant and placed on administrative leave.Jeffrey Teng. Mugshot: Austin Police Department"The Austin Police Department will continue to support the officers who work daily to protect and serve our community.  We just received copies of the indic...