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US stikes Iran-backed groups in Syria

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon and U.S. officials say U.S. fighter aircraft conducted airstrikes on locations in eastern Syria involving Iranian-backed groups, likely causing casualties and destroying weapons stored at the two targets that were struck — a training facility and a safe house.A defense official said that the training facility also served as a weapons storage and that the safe house, located in the Bulbul district of Mayadin, functioned as a headquarters for Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated groups in the area. The official said Revolutionary Guard-related personnel were present at the time of the strikes and likely were hit, but the Pentagon had not confirmed whether they were killed.The defense official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details of the strikes.The U.S. has conducted three strikes over the last two weeks against Iranian-tied weapons depots in Syria to retaliate for the more than 50 rocket and drone a...

The Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics, but it has no means of enforcement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday adopted its first code of ethics, in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices, but the code lacks a means of enforcement. The policy, agreed to by all nine justices, does not appear to impose any significant new requirements and leaves compliance entirely to each justice.Indeed, the justices said they have long adhered to ethics standards and suggested that criticism of the court over ethics was the product of misunderstanding, rather than any missteps by the justices.“The absence of a Code, however, has led in recent years to the misunderstanding that the Justices of this Court, unlike all other jurists in this country, regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules,” the justices wrote in an unsigned statement that accompanied the code. “To dispel this misunderstanding, we are issuing this Code, which large...

Brush fire closes I-805 offramp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Fire-Rescue crews made quick work of a brush fire that broke out near Interstate 805 Monday morning.The fire, which was reported just before 11:20 a.m., was stopped at one acre, SDFD said on X, formerly known as Twitter. New atmospheric river heading for California next week, likely impact zone of Bay Area to San Diego Crews have closed the offramp from northbound I-805 to westbound 43rd Street.The fire did not cause any injuries or threaten any structures, SDFD said.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Royal Canadian Mint to begin circulation of coins with image of King Charles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

WINNIPEG — The first Canadian coins bearing the face of King Charles are soon to be circulated across the country. The Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg is set Tuesday to showcase its model of the King that will appear on one side of all Canadian coins.The monarch’s effigy is also to be pressed onto a loonie for the first time at the mint. The mint says a small amount of 2023-dated coins with the King are to circulate in early December.Coin exchanges are set to take place later in the month at the mint’s Ottawa and Winnipeg boutiques. The image features work by Canadian portrait artist Steven Rosati, who has designed other coins for the mint, including six silver National Hockey League goalie coins. Earlier this year, the federal government directed the mint and the Bank of Canada to replace the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II with one of the King on its coins and the $20 bill.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2023. The Canadian Press

MUST-WATCH: A Curse of a cultural phenomenon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

The latest project from a reality tv star that’s also a graduate of one of Canada’s top business schools is out now! But will this Curse of a show take the top spot, or could it go to a documentary about a beloved alternative comedian? Perhaps the return of a spacetime drama? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!BlackBerryWhere to watch: CBC GemFirst up, it’s time for an expanded version of a amazing Canadian film!The cast of BlackBerry, courtesy of Elevation Pictures.BlackBerry is a miniseries adaptation of the film by the same name that came out earlier this year. It’s directed by Matt Johnson (the director of Operation Avalanche) and stars Jay Baruchel (from This Is the End) and Glenn Howerton (from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the co-CEOs of Research in Motion. That’s the company that invented the iconic smartphone known as the BlackBerry. This three episode miniseries expands on the three eras shown in the film, adding in to...

Man accused of spraying officers with chemical irritant in Capitol riot makes 1st court appearance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

A New Jersey man accused of spraying police officers with a chemical irritant in the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol made an initial federal court appearance Monday and was ordered held without bail until trial.The FBI released photos at the U.S. District Court hearing in Trenton, saying they showed Gregory Yetman spraying the liquid on officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot. Yetman, 47, was assigned a federal public defender at the appearance.He is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and committing an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, according to the FBI.Yetman did not enter a plea. That is expected to occur when he is arraigned at a yet-unscheduled hearing in Washington.During the hearing, authorities unsealed an affidavit from an FBI officer who...

Encrypted email service denies accused RCMP leaker’s claim it has intelligence ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

OTTAWA — A company that provides encrypted email service is disputing a former RCMP official’s claim it secretly worked on behalf of an intelligence agency.Cameron Jay Ortis testified in Ontario Superior Court that a foreign ally told him of a plan to encourage targets to begin using Tutanota, an online encryption service that he called a “storefront” operation created by intelligence agents to snoop on adversaries.Ortis said he then began enticing investigative targets through promises of secret information, with the actual aim of getting them to communicate with him via Tutanota.In a statement on its website today, Tuta, as the company is now known, called Ortis’s claim completely false and denied ties to any secret service.Ortis, 51, has pleaded not guilty to violating the Security of Information Act by revealing secrets to three individuals and trying to do so in a fourth instance.The Crown argues Ortis lacked authority to disclose classified material and...

National Museum of Mexican Art founder & president Carlos Tortolero to retire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

CHICAGO — After more than 40 years, the CEO and founder of the National Museum of Mexican Art, is set to retire.Carlos Tortolero, who also acts as the Pilsen-area museum president, will step down on Dec. 31. How a Chicago Latina is emphasizing diversity leading into the 2024 Democratic National Convention “What an amazing journey,” said Tortolero in a release announcing his looming retirement. “It’s been challenging, but it’s been fun. I always held that the museum be located within Pilsen for greater community access and that admission must be free so everyone can enjoy it. From the beginning, there were roadblocks and naysayers. But look at us now! It’s truly been my honor to serve.”Opening to the public in 1987, the museum highlights Mexican art, visuals and performances.Originally known as the Mexican Fine Arts Center, the West Side staple showcases 3,600 years of creativity from both sides of the border, exemplifying the diversity of Mexican culture, according to the mus...

Kevin Turen, 'Euphoria' and 'Pearl' producer, dead at 44

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

(WGHP/NEXSTAR) — Kevin Turen, a man who had a hand in multiple popular and beloved shows and movies, has died at 44.Turen was a producer on HBO's mega-hit "Euphoria," "The Idol" and slasher flicks "X" and "Pearl," along with yet-to-be-released "MaXXXine," starring Mia Goth and Kevin Bacon."Kevin was so incredibly special, this world is going to be less without him," Turen's father, Edward Turen told Deadline on Saturday.NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 19: (L-R) Justin Nappi, Kevin Turen, and Teddy Schwarzman attend the screening of "At Any Price" during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 19, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/FilmMagic via Getty)Jay Penske, CEO of Penske Media Corporation and a friend of Turen's, confirmed the news to Nexstar on Monday, saying in a statement:Despite his many achievements in Hollywood, Kevin’s greatest passion was his family and friends. He was so proud of his children. He and his wife, Evelina, were resolved that their chil...

How specialty glasses are helping design Austin's light rail system

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Amid plans to build out the first phase of light rail in Austin, project leaders are working to see the user experience through the eyes of current mass transit riders — literally.The Austin Transit Partnership utilized specialty tech glasses that help track different biometric sensors, including how many steps users take while using mass transit, where their eyes look while accessing bus or rail services as well as their body temperature, heart rate and perspiration. The data is designed to help inform project heads on gaps in the current mass transit user experience and how to tailor the city's upcoming light rail system to better meet the needs of riders, said Peter Mullan, ATP's executive vice president of architecture and urban design. AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION NEWS: New rideshare company Wridz taking on Uber and Lyft with driver incentives "What are the typical frictions or challenges transit users face on their journeys, so that we can design a system that allev...