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France issues arrest warrant for Syrian President Assad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

By Chris Liakos, Claudia Colliva and Dalai Mawad | CNNFrance has issued an arrest warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the alleged use of banned chemical weapons against civilians in Syria, a judicial source told CNN on Wednesday.According to the source, two investigative judges on Tuesday issued four warrants against Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and two other senior officials, for complicity in crimes against humanity and complicity in war crimes.This is the first international arrest warrant against Assad. An Interpol ‘Red Notice’ is expected to follow, according to Michael Chammas, one of the plaintiff lawyers, who spoke to CNN from Germany.A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest someone pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action, according to Interpol.“All Interpol member states should then comply with the arrest warrant,” Chammas told CNN.The legal case was brought forward by the Syrian Centre for...

Private grocery stores catering to well-to-do Cubans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

By Andrea Rodriguez | Associated PressHAVANA — Until recently, the space was the one-car garage of a private home in Cuba’s capital, Havana. Today, it is a well-stocked, if small, grocery store whose big board at the gate entices shoppers with such offerings as cooking oil, tomato sauce, Hershey’s cocoa powder, Nutella, shampoo, cookies and jam — a treasure trove in a country that is short of supplies.The nameless shop in the residential neighborhood of El Vedado is one of dozens of tiny grocery stores that have sprung up around Cuba in recent months. Locals refer to them as “mipymes” — pronounced MEE-PEE-MEHS. The name derives from the Spanish words for the small- and medium-sized enterprises that were first allowed to open in 2021.By allowing the new businesses, the Cuban government hoped to help an economy in crisis and strengthen local production. The almost 9,000 enterprises approved so far include the likes of sewing workshops, fisheries and constructio...

NBA asked to suspend minority owner of Cleveland Cavaliers over threatening message to pro-Palestine group

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

By Dianne Gallagher | CNNThe NBA has been asked to suspend Gary Gilbert, a part-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, over threatening social media messages he sent to a pro-Palestinian group promoting a rally for a ceasefire in Gaza.The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) requested a meeting with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to discuss the messages sent from Gilbert’s social media accounts.Gilbert is an Academy Award nominated film producer and minority-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His brother, Dan, is majority owner of the team.“We are requesting a meeting with you to discuss the ways that you and your team will ensure that hate and bigotry against our community finds no home in the NBA,” Abed Ayoub, executive director of the anti-discrimination organization, wrote in a letter to the commissioner and obtained by CNN.“We demand that [Gary] Gilbert be immediately suspended from all NBA arenas for the safety of Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim fans.”Last week, J-Town Acti...

APEC updates: Biden Xi meeting underway, protests in SF

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting entered its fifth day, protests erupted across San Francisco resulting in Muni being rerouted. To the south, there are also protests near the planned location for Wednesday's meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping. With widespread street closures in effect, including two lanes shut down on the Bay Bridge, San Francisco has been transformed by the conference, which is expected to draw 20,000 people and 22 world leaders to the city. APEC street closures: How to navigate traffic, closures, and tow away zones Follow our live blog for the latest updates on protests, road closures and more.APEC San Francisco 2023 live updates:Wednesday, Nov. 1511:30 a.m. -- Biden-Xi meeting underway in WoodsidePresident Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping opened their first face-to-face meeting in more than a year Wednesday with a solid handshake ahead of talks with far-reaching implications for a world grap...

Victim swept into ocean at Point Reyes identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

(KRON) -- A man died last Friday after waves swept him into the ocean at Point Reyes. Police have identified the victim as Richard Norio Sumi, 73, from Hercules.Around 9:07 a.m. on Nov. 10, police responded to reports of a man who was fishing near the shoreline having been swept out to sea by a rogue wave. Big waves, including sneaker waves, were breaking along Marin County beaches at the time, KRON4 previously reported. When is APEC over? Responders with the National Park Service, Marin County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Marin County Fire Department and REACH were dispatched to the scene and recovered Sumi's body floating in the water at around 9:49 a.m.He was airlifted back to shore where he was pronounced dead.

Google Activists Circulated Internal Petition on Israel Ties. Only the Muslim Got a Call from HR.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

A Google employee protesting the tech giant’s business with the Israeli government was questioned by Google’s human resources department over allegations that he endorsed terrorism, The Intercept has learned. The employee said he was the only Muslim and Middle Easterner who circulated the letter and also the only one who was confronted by HR about it.The employee was objecting to Project Nimbus, Google’s controversial $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government and its military to provide state-of-the-art cloud computing and machine learning tools.Since its announcement two years ago, Project Nimbus has drawn widespread criticism both inside and outside Google, spurring employee-led protests and warnings from human rights groups and surveillance experts that it could bolster state repression of Palestinians.Mohammad Khatami, a Google software engineer, sent an email to two internal listservs on October 18 saying Project Nimbus was implicated in human rights abuses against...

Seven-wicket Shami destroys New Zealand’s hopes at Cricket World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

MUMBAI, India (AP) — Mohammed Shami grabbed 7-57 against New Zealand to become the quickest bowler in the history of the Cricket World Cup to complete a 50-wicket haul on Wednesday.Shami needed just 17 matches to reach the landmark two games quicker than previous record holder Mitchell Starc of Australia.Shami’s brilliant bowling propelled India to a thumping 70-run win over the Black Caps in the first of the semifinals. It stretched the hosts’ unbeaten record to 10 ahead of the final against either Australia or South Africa, which play Thursday. Shami also registered India’s best-ever bowling figures at the World Cup.“I was waiting for my chances,” Shami said after he wrecked New Zealand’s hopes of reaching the final.Shami didn’t feature in India’s first four games at the World Cup before he made an impressive entry at Dharamsala with figures of 5-54 against New Zealand in the group stage. He went on to take 11 more wickets in the next three games against England,...

Hunter Biden wants Trump documents subpoenaed to investigate any political pressure on criminal case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden asked a judge on Wednesday to approve subpoenas for documents from Donald Trump and former Justice Department officials related to whether political pressure wrongly influenced the criminal case against him.Biden’s attorneys allege there were “certain instances that appear to suggest incessant, improper, and partisan pressure applied” by Trump to his then-Attorney General William Barr and two top deputies, Jeffrey Rosen and Richard Donoghue. While charges against President Joe Biden’s son were not brought until this year, the investigation into his taxes and a gun purchase began in 2018, while Trump, a Republican, was still president. The court filing cites public comments made by Trump, information from the House panel that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and details from Barr’s book in which he described bubbling tension after Trump tried to pressure him over the status of the Hunter Biden probe. The push f...

Video shows terrifying moments as Bahamas tour boat sinks; US tourist dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A video shows the terrifying moments a ferry carrying tourists heading to Blue Lagoon in the Bahamas sunk Tuesday at around 10:30 a.m. A 74-year-old woman from Broomfield, Colorado, was killed, police confirmed to The Associated Press. She had been on vacation with her family when the boat sank. According to local Bahamas news outlets, the Colorado woman was able to make it to land but died "as a result of the incident." The cause of her death is unknown. Two other people were hospitalized after the incident. Kelly Schissel, a passenger on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, was aboard the two-tier ferry with over 100 other people heading to Blue Lagoon when she noticed something was wrong. Frontier Airlines launches $499 ‘all-you-can-fly’ annual pass Schissel said she was on the top deck when she heard people "freaking out" and saw water coming into the boat after the boat took a sharp turn."Well the Bahamas is off to a fun start… our ferry went dow...

Tips to prepare for ski season in Colorado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:02 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Ski and snowboard season has officially begun, and skiers around Colorado are preparing to hit the slopes.With so many things to prepare, such as equipment, gear and physical conditioning, it can be easy to miss something. How do ski areas make snow? Experts at the University of Colorado Boulder compiled a guide for skiers and snowboarders, whether experienced or trying it for the first time, to be completely prepared for this season. Here are some basic tips and resources to get started with.Get necessary gearHaving everything you need in advance can help maximize your time on the slopes and keep you safe and comfortable.Properly fitting helmetNeck gaiterGogglesSunscreenWater bottleLayersWaterproof clothing GlovesHand and foot warmersSki pass How long does ski gear last? Inspect existing gearIf you have equipment already, make sure it's ready for another season. Make sure there are no holes in your snow pants, boots or coats and that they fit right.Double-check...