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China threatens consequences over US warship’s actions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — China threatened “serious consequences” Friday after the U.S. Navy sailed a destroyer around the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea for the second day in a row, in a move Beijing claimed was a violation of its sovereignty and security.The warning comes amid growing tensions between China and the United States in the region, as Washington pushes back at Beijing’s growingly assertive posture in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway it claims virtually in its entirety.On Thursday, after the U.S. sailed the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer near the Paracel Islands, China said its navy and air force had forced the American vessel away, a claim the U.S. military denied.The U.S. on Friday sailed the ship again in the vicinity of the islands, which are occupied by China but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam, as part of what it called a “freedom of navigation operation” challenging requirements from all three nations requiring either advance no...

Deaths of woman, girl raise issues over boyfriend’s release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Kirkland Warren was out on bail pending a long-delayed murder trial in Arkansas. But when he was arrested in southwestern Washington state early this month on charges that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend and fired a gunshot into her apartment, he quickly posted bond and was released again.Just a few days later, his ex-girlfriend, Meshay Melendez, 27, and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart, vanished. Police named Warren a person of interest in their disappearance.The discovery of their bodies in thick brush down a road embankment on Wednesday has raised questions about why someone facing a murder charge in another state would be released from custody after being arrested for a serious domestic violence offense.Cymber Tadlock, the deputy prosecutor who has handled Warren’s case in a 2017 killing in Jefferson County, Arkansas, said the Vancouver Police Department in Washington notified her on March 2 that they had arrested Warren for drive-by shooting and other charge...

Romania court extends detention of Andrew Tate pending trafficking investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

Andrew Tate, a social media personality, and Tristan Tate, his brother (pictured) will remain in police custody through late April pending an investigation into alleged sex traficking. A Romanian court extended their detention on Wednesday (22 March).Two Romanian women suspects and the Tate brothers, both of dual US-British nationality, have been held in detention since 29 December, as they are being investigated by prosecutors for human trafficking, sexual exploitation and rape. They denied all allegations.Wednesday's extension is the fourth for the brothers since their detention. It comes just days after the court refused their request to be released on bail. This decision was appealed.Prosecutors can request courts to extend the detention of suspects for as long as 180 days if they argue that the Tates pose a flight risk and would interfer with the evidence if they are released.Ioan Gliga, defence lawyer, stated that the prosecution had not brought any new elements to support the...

Video captures thieves smashing into Tujunga shop, stealing over $1 million worth of collectible items

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

A shop owner in Tujunga is devastated after a group of thieves smashed into his store and stole over $1 million worth of collectible items.Surveillance video captured the heist as three burglars broke into Kaptain Fish Collectibles on the 6500 block of Foothill Boulevard around 4:52 a.m. on Sunday morning.The thieves were seen backing a truck straight into the store’s front glass windows. As they entered, they grabbed anything they could get their hands on, completely robbing owner Sevag Mazakian of his livelihood.Within five minutes, Mazakian said the thieves got away with over $1 million worth of stolen goods. By the time officers arrived, the suspects were gone.The shop owners are hoping surveillance video will help authorities catch the thieves before they strike another business.Some of the items taken from the shop include, “sealed products with hobby boxes, loose boxes on our shelf, cards, even a signed pair of Kobe Bryant shoes,” said Mazakian. “I’ve been very on edge becaus...

Authorities pursued stolen vehicle in Ventura County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on Thursday night.The vehicle was reportedly taken from a liquor store in the Moorpark area. When California Highway Patrol tried pulling the suspect over, the driver sped off, leading authorities on a pursuit.The vehicle was seen speeding through red lights before parking momentarily at a Ralph's grocery store parking lot before driving off again.A spike strip was thrown onto the vehicle's path on the 101 Freeway, puncturing the suspect’s tires. The driver slowed down and exited the freeway in Sherman Oaks. A successful pit maneuver shortly afterward disabled the suspect’s vehicle.The driver, who appeared to be a female, exited the car and walked over to a sidewalk as authorities surrounded her, asking her to surrender.Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on March 23, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on March 23, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out...

Authorities search for missing teen girl who disappeared in Pico Rivera

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

Authorities are searching for a missing teenage girl who disappeared in Pico Rivera on Wednesday.The critically missing teen was identified as Annahi Tejeda, 13, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.She was last seen on the 8900 block of Gallatin Road around 11:51 p.m., authorities said.Tejeda is described as a Hispanic female standing 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 115 pounds with black wavy, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black sweater and gray and white pants.The girl's family is concerned for her well-being and is asking for the public’s help.Annahi Tejeda, 13, in a photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.A “critically missing person” is defined as:-The victim of a crime or foul play.-A person in critical need of medical attention.-A person who has no pattern of running away or disappearing.-The victim of a kidnapping or parental abduction.-A person who is mentally impaired to the extent that such person is unable to c...

North Korea claims ‘radioactive tsunami’ weapon test at sea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea claimed Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic “radioactive tsunami” that would destroy naval strike groups and ports. Analysts were skeptical that the device presents a major new threat, but the test underlines the North’s commitment to raising nuclear threats.The test this week came as the United States reportedly planned to deploy aircraft carrier strike groups and other advanced assets to waters off the Korean Peninsula. Military tensions are at a high point as the pace of both North Korean weapons tests and U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises has accelerated in the past year in a cycle of tit-for-tat responses.Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said the new weapon, which can be deployed from the coast or towed by surface ships, is built to “stealthily infiltrate into operational waters and make a super-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion to dest...

Kuzmenko sets Canucks mark in 7-2 win over Sharks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Andrei Kuzmenko scored his 35th goal, a Canucks franchise record for a first-year player, to lead Vancouver to a 7-2 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.The Russian forward, who also had an assist, topped the 34 goals scored by Pavel Bure in 1991-92.“Yes, it’s good. But I need to be better,” the 27-year-old Kuzmenko said of the milestone. “I need to score a lot of goals. Maybe 40, 45, I need.”J.T. Miller, Dakota Joshua, Conor Garland and Phillip Di Giuseppe also each had a goal and an assist, and Vasily Podkolzin and Sheldon Dries scored for Vancouver. Tyler Myers had a pair of assists and Thatcher Demko made 17 saves.“It was nice to see a couple of guys finish because they’ve had some chances in the past, but it’s nice to finish,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “It gets your confidence (up), loosens you up a little bit.”Tomas Hertl and Andrew Agozzino scored for the struggling Sharks, who are winless in their last eight games (...

Suspected Iran drone kills US worker in Syria; US retaliates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces retaliated soon after with “precision airstrikes” in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the military said. The strikes threatened to raise tensions Friday across the wider Middle East, which has been in turmoil after the collapse of Iran’s nuclear deal — but has seen nations including the Islamic Republic edge toward détentes in recent days.U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.“The airstrikes were conducted in response to today’s attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria” by groups affiliated with the Revolutio...

Guilty of abetting abortion, Polish woman vows to fight on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:10 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The way Justyna Wydrzyńska sees it, Ania was a victim of domestic violence just like she was. Another child and she’d be trapped. It was 2020. The pandemic lockdowns. Everyone worried that Poland’s borders might close, halting travel and postal services. Looking to help someone she identified with, Wydrzyńska gave Ania the abortion pills she kept on hand for herself. “I just sent the pills, just shared them, because I thought it would be good for her to have this tool and decide whatever she wants (and can) leave without another kid and be able to get free from this violent relationship,” Wydrzyńska told The Associated Press in Brussels on Thursday.“I knew for myself, the moment when I got pregnant again, living with a violent partner, that if I got stuck with another child, I will never (escape) from this marriage,” she said, explaining why she first bought the tablets. “I really see the same story in our lives.”But Poland’s justice system sees the situation differe...