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A drone strike in Syria kills 1 militant with Islamic State links and wounds a passerby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A drone strike believed to have been carried out by the U.S.-led coalition in northern Syria Friday killed one man with Islamic State links and wounded a passerby, a paramedic group and an opposition war monitor said. The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, said the man was killed while riding a motorcycle. It added that a passerby was also wounded.Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the man targeted by the drone was a militant linked to the Islamic State group. The Observatory said the attack occurred on the road connecting the town of al-Bab with the village of Bazaa.The U.S.-led coalition has been targeting militants linked to al-Qaida and IS for years.In May, the U.S. military said it was investigating reports that it had killed a civilian in a strike earlier that month in northwest Syria while targeting a senior al-Qaida leader.On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along...

Family of Jared Lowndes sue RCMP over 2021 shooting death in Campbell River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

VANCOUVER — Family members of a man shot and killed by the RCMP have filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court, the day before the two-year anniversary of his death. Relatives of Jared Lowndes say in a notice of civil claim that the Campbell River man was shot and killed by unnamed members of the RCMP at a Vancouver Island Tim Hortons on July 8, 2021. Lowndes’ mother Laura Holland and his daughters Phoenix and Patience say in their lawsuit that Lowndes was in his vehicle the day he was killed, boxed in by multiple police cars and attacked by a police dog that was sent in through a window. The lawsuit says the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia, which is tasked with probing police-involved deaths, referred the case to Crown prosecutors in December 2022, believing charges may be warranted against three Mounties over the use of force. Lowndes’ family say they’ve suffered great anguish since the killing, developing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic...

Wisconsin judge: Lawsuit to repeal abortion ban can continue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A judge refused Friday to toss out a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s 174-year-old abortion ban, keeping the case inching toward the state Supreme Court in a state where debate over abortion rights has taken center stage.Wisconsin lawmakers enacted statutes outlawing abortion in all cases except to save the mother’s life in 1849, a year after Wisconsin became a state. The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion had nullified the ban, but legislators never repealed it. Then, the high court’s decision last June to overturn Roe v. Wade reactivated the statutes.The state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Kaul, has vowed to restore abortion access. He filed a lawsuit in Dane County days after Roe v. Wade was overturned, seeking to repeal the ban. Kaul argues that the ban is too old to enforce and that a 1985 law that permits abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb supersedes the ban. Three...

Israeli forces kill 3 Palestinians in new West Bank violence, days after major offensive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

NABLUS, West Bank (AP) — Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, including two militants shot dead in a gunbattle, in new West Bank violence on Friday, days after Israel concluded a major two-day offensive meant to crack down on militants. The persistent violence raised questions about the effectiveness of the raid earlier this week in the Jenin refugee camp, which saw Israel launch rare airstrikes on militant targets, deploy hundreds of troops and cause widespread damage to roads, homes and businesses. Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed in the operation.In the nearby city of Nablus, the West Bank’s commercial capital and a flashpoint city, two militants were killed in a gunbattle with Israeli forces. Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said the men were behind a shooting attack this week on a police vehicle.Later Friday, Palestinian health officials said a man was fatally shot in the chest by Israeli forces during a demonstration in Umm Safa, a town...

Dutch media report that the Dutch government has failed to agree on a new migration package

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Tense talks between the four parties that make up Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s ruling coalition failed to broker a deal over ways to rein in migration, Dutch media reported Friday, citing unnamed sources.If months of talks on the thorny issue end in failure, it could bring down the administration and force a general election. The government did not confirm the reports and no ministers immediately emerged from the meeting near Rutte’s office.Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest serving premier, presided over late-night meetings Wednesday and Thursday that failed to result in a deal. More talks got underway Friday evening, and he declined to answer questions about the issue at his weekly press conference before the discussions.“Everybody wants to find a good, effective solution that also does justice to the fact that this is about human lives,” Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag, a member of the centrist D66 party, said before the talks began.The discussi...

The US will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will provide thousands of cluster munitions to Ukraine, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday, vowing the U.S. will not leave Ukraine defenseless and that Kyiv has promised to use the controversial munitions carefully.The decision comes on the eve of the NATO summit in Lithuania, where President Joe Biden is likely to face questions from allies on why the U.S. would send a weapon into Ukraine that more than two-thirds of alliance members have banned because it has a track record for causing many civilian casualties.The munitions — which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets — are seen by the U.S. as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines. U.S. leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before Biden made the final decision this week.Sullivan defended the decision, saying the U.S. will send a version of the munition that...

Springsteen has mortality on his mind but celebration in his songs at London show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Bruce Springsteen was not going to let concert promoters pull the plug on him like the last time he played Hyde Park 11 years ago.“F— ’em is right,” Springsteen growled in delight as he feigned concern that a looming curfew would bring down the lights on his sold-out show Thursday before 65,000 faithful.Blowing the deadline was never a real threat as Springsteen, still going strong at 73, got an earlier start and powered through a three-hour set Thursday in rapid-fire succession. He only broke stride a few times to reflect on the passing of time and the passing of friends.The 28-song set included anthemic classics like “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Prove it all Night” and “Born to Run,” along with several newer tunes and one cover in a show that leaned heavy on a message of mortality but felt more like a celebration of life as an enthusiastic audience sang along on a beautiful summer evening.“London is there anyone alive out there tonight?” he boomed in an intro to “Mar...

White House cocaine found near Situation Room, despite reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Officials conducting the White House cocaine inquiry have updated the location of the powder's discovery, stating that it was found near the White House's West Executive entrance, rather than the previously reported West Wing. Investigators said the bag of powder was found between the foyer and lower-lower level lobby in the West Executive entrance. This location is situated one level below the main West Wing offices and shares the same floor as the Situation Room. It’s near the area where some vehicles, like the vice president's limo and SUV, are parked.The White House is not only facing security concerns due to the incident, but it's also causing distractions from President Joe Biden's focus on the economy this week, despite the White House's assurance of taking this matter seriously. Secret Service seeking source of cocaine found at White House The White House press office still hasn't answered questions regarding the investigation. The response ...

City appoints new Downtown Austin Community Court Administrator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said it appointed Robert Kingham as the next Downtown Austin Community Court Administrator.According to a release from the city, Kingham served as the Court Operations Manager for DACC since 2017.“Robert Kingham is an excellent choice as the next Court Administrator for the Downtown Austin Community Court,” Bruce Mills, Interim Assistant City Manager for Public Safety, said.  “He has the experience and knowledge needed to ensure the DACC continues to integrate new processes and policies that will help meet the needs of our court clientele and the community.”The city said during his time with DACC, Kingham led the transition of two important community programs to come under DACC’s purview.Austin Homelessness Advisory Council: Ensures voices of people with lived experience participate in planning processes for policies and programs impacting people experiencing homelessness to help achieve long-term stability.Violet KeepSafe Storage program: Ser...

Video shows Britney Spears inadvertently hit herself in the face

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — No charges will be filed following a brief investigation of the altercation involving pop star Britney Spears, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama and a member of the player’s security team, Las Vegas police said Friday.Spears said she was struck by a security guard as she tried to approach Wembanyama near a restaurant in a Las Vegas casino complex on Wednesday night. Wembanyama said a person — he later was told it was Spears — grabbed him from behind.Spears filed a police report, alleging battery. The Las Vegas Metro Police Department said its investigation is over and “no charges will be filed against the person involved.”Police say surveillance video shows Spears inadvertently hit herself in the face after her hand was pushed off Wembanyama.Wembanyama is scheduled to make his NBA Summer League debut for the Spurs in Las Vegas on Friday night. The 7-foot-3 French teen was the No. 1 pick in last month’s NBA draft and is entering the league with a...