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Putin hosts Assad, expected to focus on rebuilding Syria

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosted Syrian leader Bashar Assad in the Kremlin for talks expected to focus on rebuilding Syria after a devastating civil war and mending Damascus’ ties with Turkey.Welcoming Assad at the start of the meeting that comes on the anniversary of Syria’s 12-year uprising-turned-civil war, Putin emphasized the Russian military’s “decisive contribution” to stabilizing the country.Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight back armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. While Russia has concentrated the bulk of its military resources in Ukraine, Moscow has maintained its military foothold in Syria and kept warplanes and troops at its bases there.Assad thanked Putin for backing Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that the Kremlin’s support has remained strong despite the fighting in...

Floods kill 14 in Turkish earthquake-battered provinces

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Floods caused by torrential rains hit two Turkish provinces that were devastated by last month’s catastrophic earthquake, killing at least 14 people and increasing the misery for thousands who were left homeless, officials said Wednesday. Rescue teams were still searching for five people reported missing in three locations, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.Soylu said 12 people were killed by the floods in the southeastern Sanliurfa province while two others died in neighboring Adiyaman province.In Adiyaman, victims drowned after surging waters swept away a container home sheltering a family of earthquake survivors, HaberTurk television reported.The victims in Sanliurfa included five Syrian nationals whose bodies were found inside a flooded basement apartment and two other people who died inside a van that was trapped at an underpass.Television footage from Sanliurfa showed flood waters surging along a street and sweeping away cars, as well as a man being r...

Flair launches $50-million lawsuit against leasing companies following plane seizures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

TORONTO — Flair Airlines has filed a $50-million lawsuit against several plane-leasing companies over what it claims were unlawful seizures of four of its aircraft over the weekend.The filings in Ontario Superior Court state that a trio of leasing companies found a better deal for the planes with a third party and then set Flair up for default.Flair claims in the court document that is an unlawful termination of leases.The statement of claim says the lessors dispatched agents to three Canadian airports to seize the four Boeing 737 Maxes “in the middle of the night as passengers were boarding planes for spring break vacations.”Flair also claims the lessors — Columba Lights Aviation Ltd., Corvus Lights Aviation Ltd., and MAM Aircraft Leasing 4, all based in Ireland — carried out the allegedly “malicious” seizures despite having made no objection to an arrangement put forward by Flair that would see it initiate payment early this week.Claiming substantial damage...

Jewish Americans press Israeli leaders to compromise

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — A senior delegation of Jewish-American leaders on Wednesday paid a flash visit to Israel to urge leaders to find a compromise over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system.The arrival of some 30 leaders from the Jewish Federations of America marked a rare foray by the American Jewish community into domestic Israeli affairs and reflected concerns that the turmoil inside Israel could spill over to Jewish communities overseas.Eric Fingerhut, the president and chief executive of the Jewish Federations, said the 24-hour visit, coming at short notice, illustrated the “grave concern and worry” the Israeli debate has raised among American Jews.Netanyahu’s allies, a collection of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist parties, launched the overhaul in January days after taking office. The program aims to weaken Israel’s Supreme Court and would give Netanyahu’s allies control over the appointment of the nation’s judges.They s...

5 in custody after attempted robbery on CTA train in Loop

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

CHICAGO — Five people are in custody after an attempted robbery on a CTA train in the city's Loop.The incident happened in the 1100 block of South State Street around 3:05 a.m. Wednesday. A preliminary report states officers witnessed the attempted robbery involving five individuals.During the incident, one of the offenders discharged pepper spray before attempting to flee the scene.Police said all five individuals are in custody. No one was injured. 3 teens shot in separate shootings on South Side; 1 critical One offender was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.

David Montgomery thanks Bears fans after going to the Lions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

LAKE FOREST - Not long after making the decision to join an NFC North rival, David Montgomery is taking some time to thank his former team and fans this week.On his Instagram account late Tuesday night, the running back posted a video tribute on his time with the Bears and made sure to say thanks to those who have supported him during the first four years of his career"Thank You For taking a chance on a kid who had nothing, I will love you forever !!!! THANK YOU CHICAGO," said Montgomery in his post on Instagram. He also included a lengthy video that featured some highlights from his time with the Bears along with a few interviews he did through the years in Chicago. Bears’ David Montgomery signing with NFC North rival Lions, report says Drafted in the third round by the team in the 2019 NFL Draft, Montgomery was the primary running back during most of his four seasons with the Bears. He rushed for 3,609 yards with a 3.9 per carry average in 60 regular season games that included ...

Retired teacher and daughter scammed out of $200K while trying to buy townhome

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) -- A mom and her daughter in Colorado want to warn others after they were scammed out of almost $200,000 while trying to buy a townhome. They said hackers created spoof emails posing as their lender, title company and realtor as they went through the home-buying process.“At some point, the chain of emails got hacked. I started getting fraud emails and I didn’t realize they were fraud emails," said Vicki Ragle, the victim of the scam. Ragle and her daughter, Sarah, said the fraudulent emails looked identical to the authentic emails they had been receiving before the scammers got involved. Are your old coins and bills valuable? Expert explains what to look for On Wednesday, two days before they were supposed to close on the townhome, Ragle said the people, who she believed at the time were the title company, requested the $196,662.81 due to close. The email said they required the funds to be sent within 48 hours in order to close on the home. “We were suppose...

Wizardry, warfare, and Wii on ballot for this year's World Video Game Hall of Fame class

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Wizardry, warfare and Wii are on the ballot as the World Video Game Hall of Fame narrows down its contenders for the class of 2023.The Hall of Fame on Wednesday announced 12 finalists that are being considered for induction in May. The games for consideration include Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Barbie Fashion Designer, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Computer Space, FIFA International Soccer, GoldenEye 007, The Last of Us, NBA 2K, Quake, Wii Sports and Wizardry.A panel of experts and the public will vote on the winners. ‘Family Feud’ contestant accused of murdering estranged wife “It’s always difficult to narrow the World Video Game Hall of Fame nominations down to just 12 finalists because there are so many games that have had an enormous influence on popular culture or the video game industry itself," said Jon-Paul C. Dyson, director of the The Strong's International Center for the History of Electronic Games in Rochester, where the hall is based.“This ye...

United Airlines wants to turn algae into jet fuel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

(KTLA) -- United Airlines has made a multimillion-dollar investment into a technology company that is hoping to turn algae into jet fuel.United announced the $5 million investment in the biofuel company Viridos on Monday. Viridos specializes in bioengineering microalgae into algae oil, which could one day be scaled to produce sustainable aviation fuel, aka SAF.The airline has made an ambitious goal of being a 100% green company by 2050 and has started a venture fund to identify and invest in technology that will help the company achieve that goal. SAF is made from used cooking oil or agricultural waste, but scientists hope it can eventually be made from such things as household trash, forest waste or, in the case of Viridos, algae.Viridos identifies itself as a leader in bioengineering microalgae and says its algae have already achieved seven times the oil productivity compared to wild algae. With those scientific advancements comes the potential to create a more effective and susta...

Luck Reunion postponed due to weather threat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News Today's morning headlines for March 15, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you have tickets to Willie Nelson's Luck Reunion show, you'll have to wait one more day.Luck Presents announced Wednesday it made the decision to postpone Luck Reunion to Friday, March 17. The festival was originally scheduled to start Thursday, but it was pushed back due to expected severe weather. The KXAN First Warning Weather team is forecasting three rounds of storms Thursday, with the most severe round expected late Thursday into early Friday. Severe risk tomorrow ahead of colder, wet weather "The safety of fans, performers, vendors, and staff remains paramount. Without them, there is no Luck," the announcement said. "Same venue, same vendors, same Willie, and a little more sunshine. Hope to see you out at Luck on Friday."All existing tickets, parking passes and press credentials will be honored for the rescheduled Luck Reunion date on Friday. Any m...