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China, Russia, Iran hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia — all countries at varying degrees of odds with the United States — are staging joint drills in the Gulf of Oman this week, China’s Defense Ministry has announced.Other countries are also taking part in the “Security Bond-2023” exercises, the ministry said Tuesday without giving details. Iran, Pakistan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates all have coastline along the waterbody lying at the mouth of the strategic Persian Gulf.“This exercise will help deepen practical cooperation between the participating countries’ navies … and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability,” the ministry statement said.The exercises scheduled for Wednesday through Sunday come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over a range of issues, including China’s refusal to criticize Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and continuing support for the Russian economy. The U.S. and its allies have condemned the invas...

How the last banking tumult fuels today’s populist politics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Pence and Bernie Sanders are hardly political allies.But in the aftermath of two large bank failures, the conservative former vice president and the democratic socialist senator are striking remarkably similar tones. Pence, a Republican, bemoaned that “we live in a world where certain politically favored businesses are propped up, backstopped and bailed out by government.” Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said “we cannot continue down the road of more socialism for the rich and rugged individualism for everyone else.” Their sentiment reflects the populism that has coursed through both political parties in the 15 years since shaky financial institutions last spurred anxiety about the broader economy. The 2008 financial crisis unleashed a political realignment that rejected perceived elites and establishment figures, often with unpredictable results for Democrats and Republicans alike.“There is rising discontent with corporate greed, wh...

Texas drove out Chinese firm, not the wind farm it planned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — Long before a Chinese spy balloon captivated and spooked the U.S. public, Kyle Bass foresaw what he deemed another foreign danger slated for skies above the Texas-Mexico border: wind turbines.Dozens of them, roughly 700 feet (213 meters) tall — as big as San Antonio’s tallest skyscraper — were set to sprout across thousands of scrubby acres near the pristine Devils River. Protests that a wind farm would harm a sensitive ecosystem in Texas flopped, but when attention turned to a Chinese billionaire behind the project, state lawmakers raced to pull the plug.“Drumming up the ire against the national security issues was easier than the environmental issues,” said Bass, whose Monarch Ranch near the Mexico border and the planned wind farm is a flight path for migrating birds and butterflies.U.S.-China ties are strained amid growing tensions over security and trade. In nearly a dozen statehouses and Congress, a decades-old worry about foreign land ownership has ...

Turkey floods kill 5 in earthquake-affected provinces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Floods caused by torrential rains hit two provinces that were devastated by last month’s earthquake, killing at least five people and increasing the misery for thousands who were left homeless, officials said Wednesday. A number of other people were reported missing.One person was killed in the town of Tut in southeastern Adiyaman province, where surging waters swept away a container home where a group of earthquake survivors were living, Gov. Numan Hatipoglu said. Four people were missing.Four other people were killed and two firefighters were reported missing from the floods in neighboring Sanliurfa province, Gov. Salih Ayhan told HaberTurk television.Television footage from Sanliurfa showed flood waters surging along a street and sweeping away cars.Several people were evacuated from a drenched campsite in Sanliurfa where earthquake survivors were sheltering in tents. Patients were also evacuated from a hospital, HaberTurk reported. The powerful earthquake st...

‘Family Feud’ contestant accused of murdering estranged wife

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

(NewsNation) — A man who appeared on “Family Feud” is accused of murdering his estranged wife, according to reports.Timothy Bliefnick, 39, a former contestant of the game show in 2020, is facing first-degree murder and home invasion charges in connection to the death of Rebecca Bliefnick in Quincy, Illinois.The mother of three was discovered shot to death inside her home along Kentucky Road on Feb. 23. Timothy Bliefnick was taken into custody on March 13. Biden to sign executive order to increase background checks While the investigation continues, the Quincy Police Department called Timothy Bliefnick’s arrest a “significant step forward in the search for justice for Rebecca.”Authorities say the Rebecca’s death has shaken the Quincy community.“This brutal crime has had the Quincy community on edge and our residents living in fear,” the police department posted to their Facebook page.KHQA reports the couple married in 2009, but were going through divorce proceedings at the time of ...

Abortion pill challenge goes before Texas judge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a high-stakes court case that could threaten access to medication abortion and blunt the authority of U.S. drug regulators.Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas is weighing a lawsuit from Christian conservatives aimed at overturning the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The drug, when used with a second pill, has become the most common method of abortion in the U.S.There is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the scientific decisions of the FDA. And legal experts have warned of far-reaching consequences if judges begin second-guessing FDA decisions on drug safety and effectiveness. Senate Democrats press pharmacies to ensure access to abortion drug Wednesday's hearing is the first in the case, which is being intensely tracked by groups on both sides of the abortion issue after last year's reversal of ...

Severe risk tomorrow ahead of colder, wet weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A risk of strong to severe storms tomorrow will be followed by a much colder, and at times wetter, pattern this weekend into next week.Today will feature a nice warm up as afternoon highs return to the mid-70s under a mix of sun and clouds. Winds will begin to increase out of the southeast late day helping to bring up temperatures and humidity. NEW BLOG: How a switch to El Niño could affect hurricane season THUSDAY: rounds of storms/showersThree rounds of rain and storms are expected tomorrow. Below is a breakdown of each.ROUND #1 - Thursday morning: spotty to scattered light rain, no severe risk.ROUND #2 - Thursday early afternoon (12PM-4PM): a few spotty to scattered storms and showers will develop ahead of an incoming dryline. There is a risk for isolated severe storms, mainly east of I-35, with potential for large hail and damaging winds.Low risk of severe storms east of I-35 Thursday afternoonROUND #3 - late Thursday night into early Friday morning (8PM THU -...

Seven, including six from Texas, charged in $111 million scheme to defraud IRS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (KXAN) – The Department of Justice said Monday seven people, including six from Texas, face multiple charges in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service using stolen identities. According to the DOJ announcement, a federal grand jury in Austin indicted the seven on March 7, charging them with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and other crimes. Those indictments were unsealed on Monday. The DOJ says indictments alleged that from 2018 through 2021, the following seven people engaged in a conspiracy to claim fraudulent tax refunds using the stolen identities of accountants and taxpayers by filing at least 371 false tax returns claiming over $111 million in refunds from the IRS.Abraham Yusuff, Round Rock Meghan Inyang, San Antonio Christopher Eduardo, Round Rock Christian Mathurin, Nashville, Tennessee Dillon Anozie, San Antonio Babajide Ogunbanjo, Austin Aydin Mammadov, Houston The DOJ announcement says Yusuff allegedly recruited and direc...

APD looking for suspect who attacked man in his 80s at restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police are looking for a suspect who attacked a man in his 80s inside a restaurant in east Austin in December.According to a release from APD on Tuesday, the assault took place Dec. 8 around 1:30 p.m. in a restroom at the Casa Colombia restaurant at 2409 E. 7th St. APD said the suspect confronted the victim, pulled out a handgun and slapped the older man in the face.APD said the suspect had visited Casa Colombia several times. Austin Police sketch of suspect in Dec. 8 assault at Casa Columbia restaurant. (Courtesy: Austin Police)The suspect may have been trying to clear everyone out of the restroom before the attack happened, and the two men were the only ones inside the restroom, according to APD. APD released a composite sketch of the suspect. He is described as: Hispanic maleLight complexion5’8" to 5’9” tallLast seen wearing a blue shirt and dark pants.Austin Police say if you have had a similar experience at Casa Colombia or other nearby establishments, i...

Round Rock adding 20+ acres of parkland to downtown area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:28 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- The Round Rock city council approved the creation of a master plan for about 22 acres of more parkland north of the downtown area. The land, which will be known as the Lawn at Brushy Creek, runs along the banks of the creek between Mays and Georgetown Streets, and will also create more trail connectivity. What will the park look like? It is unknown what the park will look like at this time, but the city approved a $277,834 contract with Design Workshop to create the master plan. The firm has helped design parks around Texas in the past. Round Rock mayor Craig Morgan said he envisions the park to have "passive activities" running along a trail that will pass through the entirety of the land. Trail connectivity in the parkA main feature of the newest park land will be the connection of the Heritage Trail West project, which was approved in October of 2020 but paused after the original construction company contracted to do the job went bankrupt. City council...