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Libya deploys security forces across Tripoli after clashes between rival militias left 27 dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Libyan security forces patrolled the streets and fanned out across Tripoli on Wednesday, a day after clashes between rival militias killed at least 27 people in the country’s capital, authorities said.The fighting was some of the most intense to shake Tripoli this year and in addition to the 27 deaths, over 100 people were wounded, Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Center said. The clashes erupted late on Monday between militiamen from the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force, and continued into Tuesday evening. Tensions flared after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by the rival group at an airport in Tripoli, according to local media reports. Hamza was later released as part of deal aimed at quelling the violence, the reports said. It was unclear how many of the dead were militiamen or civilians.Libya’s Interior Ministry said security forces were deployed to areas where the fighting was most intense, includ...

Former West Virginia coach Bob Huggins enters diversion program after drunken driving arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

Former West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins has entered a 12-month diversion program to resolve a drunken driving arrest.Huggins had been scheduled for a formal arraignment on Thursday. According to court records in Pittsburgh, that hearing was canceled last month after he was accepted into the program. Under the agreement, his one-year probation period can be done after six months if he meets all conditions, including completion of an alcohol treatment program.Huggins was assessed $2,810 in court costs and fees, including $300 for an alcohol highway safety program. His driver’s license was suspended for at least 60 days.The diversion program was first reported by West Virginia network MetroNews.Huggins stopped his SUV in the middle of traffic in Pittsburgh with a shredded tire on June 16. A breath test determined his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit and he was arrested.West Virginia announced the next day that Huggins had resigned, based in part...

Two people missing after float plane crashes in St. Lawrence River near Quebec City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

QUEBEC — Two people are missing after a float plane crashed Tuesday in the St. Lawrence River southwest of Quebec City.Quebec provincial police spokesperson Sgt. Nancy Fournier says authorities received a call at around 8 p.m. about a crash in the water between Neuville, Que., and St-Antoine-de-Tilly, Que.Police officers, firefighters and coast guard members were deployed to search for the aircraft, with aerial support from the army.Fournier says they located debris later that evening but have not found the bulk of the aircraft.Two men, aged 55 and 57, are missing.Provincial police divers joined the search this morning.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2023.The Canadian Press

A Muslim mob attacks churches in eastern Pakistan after accusing Christians of desecrating the Quran

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Angry Muslims went on a rampage Wednesday, attacking a Christian area in eastern Pakistan, burning a church and damaging two others, police said. The mob also demolished a man’s house after accusing him of desecrating Islam’s holy book and attacked several other Christian homes.The attacks in Jaranwala, in the district of Faisalabad in Punjab province, erupted after some Muslims living in the area claimed that a local Christian, Raja Amir, and his friend had torn out pages from a Quran, thrown them on the ground and written insulting remarks on others. Police chief Rizwan Khan said this angered the local Muslims. A mob gathered and began attacking multiple churches and several Christian homes, burning furniture and other household items. Some members of the Christian community fled their homes to escape the mob. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.Police eventually intervened, firing into the air and wielding batons before dispersing the a...

North Korea offers the first official confirmation that it has detained US soldier Travis King

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Wednesday offered its first official confirmation that it had detained a U.S. soldier who bolted into its country last month, releasing a statement through its propaganda outlet attributing unverified statements to the Army private that criticized the United States. One expert called the announcement “100% North Korean propaganda.”There was no immediate verification that Pvt. Travis King actually made any of the comments about his home country. King, who had served in South Korea and sprinted into the North while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18, became the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.The official Korean Central News Agency, citing an investigation, reported that King told them he decided to enter North Korea because he “harbored ill feelings against inhuman mistreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army.” The report said King also expressed his willingness to seek re...

A $5.4 billion international chip deal with Intel is off after greenlight from China never arrives

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A $5.4 billion acquisition of Israeli chip manufacturer by Intel has been called off after China failed to sign off on the deal amid rising tensions with the United States. It was a mutual decision between Intel and Tower Semiconductor, the companies said Wednesday. Intel said that the deal was terminated “due to the inability to obtain in a timely manner the regulatory approvals required under the merger agreement.”The deal required approval from a number of regulators worldwide, including those in China. Chinese regulators failed to approve the deal by a deadline Wednesday, even after Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger traveled to China last month in a bid to win them over.The scuttled deal between the two companies comes amid increasing U.S.-China tensions, particularly as the U.S. has tightened export controls and imposed restrictions aimed at crippling China’s ability to purchase and manufacture advanced chips.In response, China’s antitrust regulator, the State Admini...

US state secretary says 1943 Bialystok ghetto uprising in Poland was an act of bravery and dignity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken sent a message Wednesday marking the anniversary in Poland of the 1943 Bialystok ghetto uprising, saying it was an act of “bravery” that reaffirmed the dignity of Jews during the Holocaust. Blinken’s mother, Judith Pisar, the widow of one of the ghetto survivors, Samuel Pisar, the state secretary’s late stepfather, took part in the observances in Poland’s eastern city of Bialystok. U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski also attended. “I see it as one of countless acts of resistance by Jews in ghettos and Nazi German concentration camps across Europe to reject their dehumanization, to reaffirm their dignity,” Blinken said in a prerecorded message.It was an act “not of futility but of bravery,” he said, even though “survival was not on the cards” when the uprising began on the night of Aug. 16, 1943. For its leaders, the revolt was to “determine how, not whether they would die,” Blinken said.The participants, wh...

A Bulgarian businessman was shot dead in broad daylight in a suburb of Sofia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A prominent Bulgarian businessman whose rollercoaster career reflected his country’s transition from communism to democracy was shot dead in broad daylight on Wednesday, police said. Police said that Alexey Petrov died on the spot after being shot by persons unknown around noon in a suburb of the capital, Sofia. A woman who was with him was injured and was taken to an emergency hospital with a gunshot wound. Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated and police are examining the crime scene.Petrov, 61, was the target of at least two other attempts on his life. A karate champion and former state security agent, Petrov left his job in the police after the fall of communism to start a private business. It boomed, and he became an associate in over 50 companies by 2002.In 2010, he was arrested and charged with running a criminal group engaged in extortion, racketeering, drug trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion.He was released on bail and eventually acqui...

Swiss government lines up behind EU’s 11th round of sanctions against Russia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland’s government has lined up with the European Union’s 11th round of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. The Swiss executive branch decided Wednesday that the new measures adopted by the European bloc on June 23 would take effect later in the day in the Alpine country.Switzerland, which is not a member of the 27-country bloc, is a key EU trading partner and has followed every set of its sanctions against Russian companies and individuals since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine in February last year.The 11th round of EU sanctions aims to close loopholes so that goods vital to Putin’s war effort don’t get through to Russia by way of countries that trade with the EU and have maintained a business-as-usual relationship with Moscow.The multiple rounds of sanctions have affected banks, companies and markets, and even parts of the sensitive energy sector. More than 1,000 officials are subject to asset freezes a...

Longtime Highland fire chief dies suddenly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:53 GMT

HIGHLAND, Ind. — The Town of Highland is mourning the sudden loss of its fire chief.Longtime Fire Chief William “Bill” Timmer died suddenly at his home Monday morning.His body was accompanied to the Lake County Coroner’s office by Highland Police, Fire and Superior Ambulance.“We have been both blessed and lucky to have had the dedication of Chief Timmer for these past 30 years. Our town is better because of him,” Highland Council President Tom Black said. “We extend our prayers and condolences to the entire Timmer family – wife Bonnie, son Matthew and daughters Melissa and Jessica and the grandchildren he loved so much.”In Chief Timmer’s honor, flags have been lowered to half-staff.