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UN votes to establish independent body to clarify fate of over 130,000 Syrians missing in conflict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Thursday that will establish an independent body to determine what happened to more than 130,000 people missing as a result of the conflict in Syria.The resolution, an important response to appeals by their families and loved ones, was adopted by the 193-member world body on a vote of 83-11 with 62 abstentions. Among those opposing the resolution was Syria, which said it will not cooperate with the new institution. Russia, China, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and Iran also voted no.The resolution, spearheaded by Luxembourg, noted that after 12 years of fighting in Syria “little progress has been achieved in alleviating the suffering of families by providing answers as to the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons.”It authorizes the establishment of an Independent Institution of Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, under U.N. auspices, “to clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons … and to...

Wall Street execs host Biden fundraisers as president closes out an end-of-quarter campaign blitz

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden closed out an end-of-quarter campaign blitz Thursday with a pair of Manhattan fundraisers hosted by Wall Street power brokers, a funding push designed to put Biden on strong financial footing for a 2024 White House contest expected to set spending records.The pair of evening events are Biden’s 9th and 10th fundraising receptions of the past two weeks, numbers matched by Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. The Biden campaign has been mum before the July 15 reporting date about how much he has raised at the often freewheeling gatherings but is confident about the size.“The reason I’m standing here is in large part because of you all,” Biden said to a small crowd gathered in a high rise overlooking Central Park. “I’m not the essential man, but I represent the essential country.”The president is also marshaling the whole of the Democratic Party to dial for dollars, enlisting help from Govs. Gavi...

North Carolina measure limiting LGBTQ+ curriculum heading to governor’s desk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers on Thursday finalized legislation touted by Republicans as giving parents greater authority over their children’s public school education and health care, with limits on LGBTQ+ instruction in early grades a key provision.The Senate, which passed the measure the day after the House pushed through some alterations, now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is expected to veto it. The bill also would require public school teachers in most circumstances to alert parents before they call a student by a different name or pronoun. The provision prohibiting instruction about gender identity and sexuality in the curriculum for K-4 classrooms have been likened by critics to the Florida law that opponents call “ Don’t Say Gay.” But supporters say at these ages such topics should be left to parents to address. A similar “Parents’ Bill of Rights” measure advanced during last year’s session, but had idled in the House in par...

Biden’s envoy for Iran placed on leave while facing a review of his security clearance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration’s special envoy for Iran has stepped aside from his duties pending a review of his security clearance by U.S. authorities.Rob Malley has led administration efforts to revive the faltering Iran nuclear deal and resolve issues related to detained Americans in Iran, but has not been active in his job for weeks. There was no immediate indication of why Malley’s clearance was being reviewed, but a State Department official said the agency’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security was leading the inquiry. That official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity due to privacy reasons.Malley did not immediately respond to a query about the situation from The Associated Press but said in a short statement to numerous news outlets that he had “been informed that my security clearance is under review.”“I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave,” he said...

CPD officer jumps into Lake Michigan, rescues drowning woman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer is being hailed a hero for going above and beyond the call of duty, jumping into Lake Michigan on Thursday to save a drowning woman. She says she has her mom to thank. It was around 5:30 a.m. that 18th District CPD officer Joanna Tys received a distress call for a woman in the water. "Once we approached, right away I was thinking, 'Is anybody going to be jumping in?'" Tys said. "We knew the marine unit was on their way."Although the rescue boat was en route, it was still several minutes away. "Four minutes is a long time. The lady, I believe, was out there for 15 to 20 minutes already, so I decided it was time for me to jump in," Tys said. "I looked at one of my coworkers. We signaled to each other."With her vest, duty belt and shoes off, Officer Tys jumped from the North Avenue Beach Pier into Lake Michigan to save the 26-year-old victim. "I used to take swimming lessons thanks to my mom and all the summer camps she signed me up for, so I was very...

Skilling: Cloud, hazy to continue into Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

A wide swath of the Midwest is outlooked by the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center for potential severe weather Thursday.A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was effect for LaSalle County Thursday afternoon. Additionally, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was also in effect for the most of the Chicago area Thursday evening. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 5PM for most of the #Chicago area. Widespread wind gusts up to 80 mph are expected, scattered hail up to tennis ball size & a couple of tornadoes are possible. Have multiple ways to receive warnings this afternoon. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/3rINNq8qVV— Mike Janssen (@MikeJanssenWX) June 29, 2023A strong thunderstorm swept portions of Cook County just after 5 a.m.Another wave of showers and thunderstorms is to sweep into the area this afternoon with potentially more significant coverage than the storms which swept through portions of the Chicago metro area this morning. Interactive Radar: Track showers...

Man with ties to Jan. 6 riot arrested near Obamas' DC home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

(The Hill) – D.C. police and federal law enforcement arrested a man near former President Obama’s home in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, officials said.A spokesperson for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department said 37-year-old Taylor Taranto was arrested and charged as a Fugitive from Justice — defined as anyone who has fled from authorities to avoid prosecution for a crime or avoid giving testimony — pursuant to an arrest warrant, which was not specified.Multiple outlets are reporting that the warrant relates to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.MPD said Taranto was arrested in the 2400 block of Kalorama Road Northwest in D.C., but did not confirm ties to the insurrection. The Obamas own a home in the Kalorama neighborhood. Wet bulb temps reach 'extreme threat' level in South CBS News, which first covered the incident, reported that Taranto ran toward the Obama home, was spotted by Secret Service and then attempted to flee before he was arrested. NBC News reports that T...

A major UPS strike is looming — here's what that means for your packages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

Tens of thousands of unionized workers for the United Parcel Service are on the verge of going on strike as negotiations between the company and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for better benefits and working conditions reach a critical point.Workers dialed up the pressure on the shipping giant this week, demanding the company present its “best and final offer” by Friday, June 30, or it would begin the largest single employer strike in decades.A Teamsters representative did not respond to a request for clarification on what a strike may consist of for workers and consumers and when it might commence.UPS has said it transports about six percent of the nation’s GDP on a daily basis, and more than three percent of the global GDP.More to the story: Teamsters strike with UPS could snarl commerce as labor flexes muscleThe UPS Teamsters contract expires July 31 and if a deal isn't made soon, a chunk of its workforce could have picket signs in hand later this summer.Just over a m...

Rapper Travis Scott won't face criminal charges in deadly Astroworld crowd surge: lawyer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury has declined to indict rapper Travis Scott in a criminal investigation into a massive crowd surge that killed 10 people at the 2021 Astroworld music festival in Houston, his attorney said Thursday.Lawyer Kent Schaffer confirmed that the grand jury had met and decided not to indict his client on any criminal charges stemming from the concert. Schaffer said he was not sure what charges the grand jury had considered.“He never encouraged people to do anything that resulted in other people being hurt,” Schaffer said, adding that the decision is “a great relief.”Houston police and federal officials have been investigating whether Scott, concert promoter Live Nation and others had sufficient safety measures in place. Kylie Jenner, Travis Scott changing son’s name because it ‘didn’t feel like it was him’ Schaffer said he feels sympathy for those who were killed at the festival and their families.FILE - Travis Scott performs at Day...

What will colleges do in wake of affirmative action ruling?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:07 GMT

The Supreme Court just shot down the use of race-based admissions in a move that will force many colleges to change the standards by which they admit students. The ruling came in response to cases against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), which both released statements that didn’t outline their next steps but emphasized their commitment to diversity on campus. The situation is bound to lead to other fights as many are already speculating colleges are going to try to find loopholes in the court’s ruling, with Democrats and supporters of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts forcefully denouncing the move.“The Court recognized the Constitution guarantees equal treatment for all races, and exceptions to that rule should be rare and fleeting. I do not expect universities to take this decision lightly — DEI has become one of the highest (if not the highest) priority at many schools — and I expect universities to look for looph...