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Austria says 2 citizens held in Iran released, thanks Belgium and Oman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Two Austrian citizens who were held in Iran have been released and are on their way home, Austria’s foreign minister said Friday.Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said he was “very relieved” that Kamran Ghaderi and Massud Mossaheb were being brought home after “years of arduous detention in Iran.” He thanked the foreign ministers of Belgium and Oman for providing “valuable support,” without elaborating on what form it took. Iranian state media and officials did not immediately acknowledge a release on Friday, which is part of the weekend in the Islamic Republic.Last week, a prisoner exchange between Belgium and Iran saw an Iranian diplomat convicted of attempting to bomb exiles in France returning to Tehran while a visibly gaunt aid worker headed back to Brussels.Iran has detained a number of foreigners and dual nationals over the years, accusing them of espionage or other state security offenses and sentencing them following secretive trials...

Germany to look into report that ex-air force officers training Chinese pilots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s defense minister said Friday his country will look into a report that former German air force fighter plane pilots have been training pilots for the Chinese military.News magazine Der Spiegel and public broadcaster ZDF reported Friday that “at least a handful” of former German air force officers are working as trainers in China, and that in several cases they were apparently paid through companies in the Seychelles. They said that such training has been going on for years, that several pilots didn’t respond to requests for comment or were unreachable, and that one rejected the allegations.Asked about the report during a visit to Singapore, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that there are clear rules on what servicepeople are allowed to do after they leave the armed forces and what activities they have to notify about, and that there also are clear rules on confidentiality requirements.“Every individual case must be examined,” he said. “We will...

Officials: 5,000-acre wildfire 50% contained; New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway still shut down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

BASS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A long stretch of New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway remained shut down Friday as firefighters worked to contain a 5,000-acre forest fire spewing thick plumes of smoke.The fire broke out Wednesday night in the Bass River State Forest, along the border of Burlington and Ocean counties in southern New Jersey. It was 50 percent contained and no longer threatening any structures or residential areas as of Friday morning, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said, though roughly 40 people were evacuated Thursday from a camping area as a precaution, and that site remained shuttered Friday..Authorities were still working to determine the cause of the wildfire. Another 158-acre blaze burned from Monday night into Tuesday in the White Oaks Wildlife Management Area in Monroe and Franklin townships in Gloucester County, causing no reported injuries or property damage.The Associated Press

Clashes in Senegal kill at least 9; government bans social media platforms and closes university

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Clashes between police and supporters of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko left nine people dead, the government said Friday, with authorities issuing a blanket ban on the use of several social media platforms in the aftermath of the violence.The deaths occurred mainly in the capital, Dakar, and Ziguinchor in the south, where Sonko is mayor, Interior Minister Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome said in a statement. Some social media sites used by demonstrators to incite violence, such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter have been suspended, he said. “The state of Senegal has taken every measure to guarantee the safety of people and property. We are going to reinforce security everywhere in the country,” Diome said.Sonko was convicted Thursday of corrupting youth but acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlor and making death threats against her. The court sentenced Sonko to two years in prison. He didn’t attend his trial in Dak...

Child in serious condition after dog attack in Ottawa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

OTTAWA, Ill. — A child is suffering serious injuries after being attacked by a dog in Ottawa Thursday. According to Ottawa Police Department, first responders were dispatched to the 400 block of View Street for a report of a boy being mauled by a dog. 14-year-old killed, 4 wounded after shooting involving police on South Side; 1 in custody Police say as officers approached, the dog retreated into the yard.The child suffered severe injuries as a result of the incident and was transported to OSF St. Elizabeth and later transported by life flight to OSF St. Francis in Peoria. The dog was transported to a facility for quarantine with accordance to State and Local law.

Bill Cosby faces new sexual assault lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

(KTLA) – Disgraced comedian and actor Bill Cosby is facing a new lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct in Los Angeles County, The Washington Post reports. Cosby, 85, is being sued by Victoria Valentino for an alleged drugging and rape that took place in 1969.According to Valentino, Cosby offered her and her friend pills at a Los Angeles restaurant, then later took them to his office, where they passed out from the drugs and he tried to rape Valentino's friend.When Valentino awoke, she stopped Cosby, who then raped her instead, she claims. Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse, awards accuser $5M Valentino, a former Playboy model, came forward with rape claims against Cosby in 2014, being one of dozens of women who have done so.She filed this lawsuit under California's Assembly Bill 2777, a law that allows sexual abuse victims to sue the perpetrators even if the crime occurred outside of the statute of limitations, according to the National Law Review. Bill Cosby says he’s plann...

3 dead, 2 missing after family fishing trip in Alaska becomes nightmare

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (KTLA) — An Alaska fishing adventure became a nightmare for a family of eight when disaster struck one of the two boats they chartered over the Memorial Day weekend, leaving three people dead and two more missing despite a desperate search over hundreds of square miles of ocean.The tragedy tore the Tyau family apart: Two sisters and one of their husbands are dead, while the other’s partner and the boat captain remain missing off southeast Alaska four days after the boat was found partially submerged off an island.This undated photo provided by James Solis shows Robert Solis, left, and his partner Brandi Tyau. Robert Solis and Tyau were aboard the charter fishing vessel Awakin when it ran into trouble Sunday in rough seas off the coast of southeast Alaska. The bodies of three of the five people aboard have been found but two people remain missing. Those on the vessel were Solis and Tyau, Tyau's sister and her partner and the boat captain. (James Sol...

Itasca ISD superintendent arrested in alleged child sex sting operation in Houston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) — A superintendent of a school district in the Texas Hill Country was arrested for online solicitation of a minor by authorities in Houston.Michael Stevens, superintendent of Itasca ISD, is one of seven men busted over the last six weeks in an undercover operation, according to a social media video made by Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen.He was taken into the custody at Itasca High School on Thursday.Rosen claims that Stevens came to Houston with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, who actually was an undercover investigator. He allegedly sent lude photos of himself to the investigator, Rosen said.Stevens, 47, is a former coach, principal and assistant principal, Rosen said.Itasca ISD has put out a statement about the arrest: “On June 1, 2023, the District was contacted by a detective with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. According to the detective, Superintendent Michael Stevens was taken into custody. Until more...

Florida man accused of sex crimes in Amsterdam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Tallahassee, Florida man was arrested on Wednesday, May 17 following a six-month-long investigation regarding sex crimes. Anthony Morales, 43, faces several charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to Amsterdam Police, on April 27, an arrest warrant was issued for Morales, and was sent to the United States Marshal Service for assistance in finding Morales, who was now residing in Florida. Amsterdam detectives were alerted on Thursday, May 4, that Morales had been taken into custody in Tallahassee and was held pending an extradition hearing at the Leon County Correctional Facility.Morales waived extradition on Wednesday, May 17, and Amsterdam detectives traveled to Tallahassee to bring him back to Amsterdam. NYSP: Albany woman drove a stolen car while drunk Charges:Predatory sexual assault against a childFirst-degree criminal sexual act (four counts)Morales was arraigned in Amsterda...

Two dead, one injured in St. Louis after shootings at three crime scenes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Three St. Louis shooting are under investigation. In the first incident, police responded to a call in the Fountain Park neighborhood of North St. Louis near Bayard and Page. A man around 30 years old was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The authorities are still gathering information to determine the exact circumstances of the incident, but they believe it occurred outside.Shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, another shooting occurred at 13th and Chestnut in downtown St. Louis. Police discovered a man with a gunshot wound to the head at a homeless encampment in a nearby park. The location is close to city hall and the circuit attorney's office. The victim, a man in his late twenties or early thirties, was declared dead at the scene. Authorities are hopeful that a couple of witnesses might assist in their investigation.Just after midnight, another shooting took place at Greer and Marcus in north St. Louis. The victim, an adult male,...