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Iraqi Christian religious leaders demand an international investigation into deadly wedding fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Christian religious leaders in northern Iraq called for an international investigation Monday into a deadly wedding fire that killed more than 100 people last week and slammed the government’s probe, which had blamed the blaze on negligence and lack of precautionary measures.An Iraqi Syriac Catholic priest, meanwhile, said widespread corruption in the country and the influence of armed militias on the government was one of the factors that enabled the fire. Father Boutros Sheeto, spoke to The Associated Press over the phone from the town of Qaraqosh, where five members of his family, including his Iraqi-American sister, were buried on Monday morning. He claimed the fire was “intentional,” without offering any evidence. Scores of panicked guests surged for the exits on Tuesday night in the Haitham Royal Wedding Hall in the predominantly Christian area of Hamdaniya in Nineveh province after the ceiling panels above a pyrotechnic machine burst into flames.Iraq released t...

5 Papuan independence fighters killed in clash in Indonesia’s restive Papua region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

JAYAPURA, Indonesia (AP) — Five Papuan independence fighters were killed in a clash between security forces and a rebel group in Indonesia’s restive Papua region, police and rebels said Monday.A joint military and police force killed the five fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, in a battle on Saturday with dozens of rebels armed with military-grade weapons and arrows in the hilly Serambakon village in Papua Highland province, said Faizal Ramadhani, a national police member who heads the joint security force.Security forces seized two assault rifles, a pistol, several arrows, two mobile phones, cash, more than 300 rounds of ammunition and a “morning star” flag — a separatist symbol — after the clash, Ramadhani said.Clashes between the two sides began in mid-April when attackers from the liberation army ambushed dozens of government soldiers in Nduga district and killed at least six Indonesian troops who were searching for Phillip M...

Pakistan launches anti-polio vaccine drive targeting 44M children amid tight security

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan launched its second nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year Monday in an effort to inoculate 44 million children under the age of 5 amid signs the country was close to eradicating the disease. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul-Haq-Kakar launched the five-day vaccination campaign in the capital, Islamabad, and urged parents in a televised address to cooperate with the 350,000 health workers who are going door-to-door to administer vaccine drops to children.The campaign was taking place under heavy security. The government deployed police and security forces to ensure the safety of the inoculation drive workers.Vaccine providers and the police assigned to protect them have been attacked during past anti-polio campaigns, which militants falsely claimed were a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.Pakistan has registered two new polio cases since January, a blow to the goal of eradicating a disease that affects the nervous system and can cause severe para...

Armenian exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh ebbs as Azerbaijan moves to reaffirm control

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

The last bus carrying ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh left the region Monday, completing a grueling weeklong exodus of over 100,000 people — more than 80% of the residents — after Azerbaijan reclaimed the area in a lightning military operation.Gegham Stepanyan, Nagorno-Karabakh’s human rights ombudsman, said that the bus that drove into Armenia carried 15 passengers with serious illnesses and mobility problems. He issued a call to share information about any other residents who want to leave but have trouble doing so.In a 24-hour military campaign that began on Sept. 19, the Azerbaijani army routed the region’s undermanned and undergunned Armenian forces, forcing them to capitulate, and the separatist authorities agreed to dissolve their government by the year’s end.While Baku has pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, the bulk of them have hastily fled the region, fearing reprisals or losing the freedom to use their language ...

Spain’s king begins a new round of talks in search of a candidate to form government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

MADRID (AP) — King Felipe VI on Monday began a new round of talks with Spanish political party leaders with a view to choosing the person in the best position to gather enough support in Parliament to form the country’s next government.All signs indicate that king will call on acting Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to try to do so following the failure by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, head of the conservative opposition Popular Party, to win sufficient parliamentary support last week.The meetings take place Monday and Tuesday.Sánchez’s party finished second behind the Popular Party in July 23 elections. The elections produced a splintered parliament made up of 350 legislators from 11 parties, making the path to power difficult for any party.If no government is in place by Nov. 27, another national election will be held on Jan. 14.Feijóo’s bid was rejected by a vote 177-172 on Friday. Sánchez, whose party holds 122 seats, hopes he can now persuade the legislators tha...

Nobel Prize in medicine goes to 2 scientists whose work enabled creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for discoveries that enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.The award was given to Katalin Karikó, a professor at Sagan’s University in Hungary and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Drew Weissman, who performed his prizewinning research together with Karikó at the University of Pennsylvania."Through their groundbreaking findings, which have fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system, the laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times,” the panel that awarded the prize said.FILE - Katalin Kariko, speaks after receiving, together with six other scientists, the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research 2021 from Spain's Princess of Asturias Leonor, at a ceremony in Oviedo, northern Spain, Frida...

Cat reunited with owner after Lyft trip separates them

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

Note: the above video is from coverage on Sunday, Oct. 1. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Local cat owner Palash Pandey was reunited with his cat, Tux, overnight Sunday into Monday morning after the two were separated following a rideshare trip on Saturday. Pandey has posted updates on social media throughout his search for Tux. Pandey told KXAN over the phone that investigators hired by Lyft found Tux about a mile away from where the driver dropped Pandey off, and he was alerted around 1:30 a.m. Monday. He said Tux is back home, ate food and drank water, and will be taken to a vet later Monday. Palash Pandey's cat, TuxAccording to Pandey, he took the trip Saturday to bring his cat in for medical care at a Banfield Pet Hospital location on Research Boulevard in Austin. When they arrived, he exited the vehicle and went around to the other side in order to retrieve Tux's carrier.But before he could, the Lyft driver began to drive away. "I like ran behind him, screaming like 'wait, wait, wait,' I ban...

Bayport’s new interim police chief got start in Explorer program at 14

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

Jay Jackson, the new interim police chief in Bayport, says he learned policing from two of the best: the late Maplewood Police Sgt. Joseph Bergeron, who was killed in the line of duty in 2010, and former Bayport Police Chief Laura Eastman.Jackson, who grew up in North St. Paul, joined the Maplewood Police Department’s Explorer program when he was 14. Bergeron served as his mentor and Explorer advisor until Jackson went to college.Interim Chief Jay Jackson (Courtesy of Bayport Police Department)“After meeting (Bergeron) and participating in Explorers, it was pretty clear that that is what I wanted to do, and I never looked back afterwards,” Jackson said. “I learned from the best.”Eastman, he said, taught Jackson the importance of serving the community. “I want to continue Laura’s legacy,” he said. “She worked hard to build the community’s trust, and I’ve been alongside her for much of that journey. We both believe strongly in service to the communi...

Two employees stabbed at Saratoga Hospital by patient

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two employees at Saratoga Hospital were stabbed by a patient early Saturday morning. The two employees suffered visible but non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to make a full recovery. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police have identified a suspect and criminal charges are coming. This investigation is ongoing.

Public asked to avoid Moreau Lake State Park amid search for Charlotte Sena

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:40 GMT

MOREAU, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to a statement posted online from the Moreau Lake State Park, the public is being asked to avoid the park while law enforcement searches for Charlotte Sena. At this time, Moreau Lake State Park is closed until further notice, which includes activities such as hiking, camping, boating, and more. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In their statement, the state park says "Be respectful of our current situation. Please do not come to the park... Leave all the searching to the professionals."An AMBER alert was activated Sunday at 9:35 a.m. On Sunday, Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that Sena, while spending time at Moreau State Park, was reported missing at 6:47 p.m. on Saturday night by her parents. According to State Police, a command post has been established at the state park, with over 100 personnel deployed in the search. 24 hours into the search for Charlotte Sena The Governor continued, say...