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New info hints at Wagner group role in Iran or Lebanon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

By Natasha Bertrand | CNNThe White House released recently declassified intelligence on Tuesday confirming that the Russian mercenary organization Wagner group has been preparing to provide an air defense capability “to either Hezbollah or Iran,” according to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.Wagner was preparing to provide the capability at the direction of the Russian government, Kirby said.The newly downgraded intelligence did not specify where the missile system would be coming from. But CNN previously reported that the Wagner Group had been tasked with carrying out the delivery of a surface-to-air SA-22 missile system from Syria to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed to provide Hezbollah with the Russian-made missile defense system, known as a Pantsir, two people familiar with the intelligence told CNN last month.“We will closely monitor for whether Wagner provides military equipment to Hezbollah or Iran,” ...

Pac-12 postseason awards: Our look at the frontrunners for individual honors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

One weekend remains in the Pac-12’s final regular season, but the coaches have two weeks to settle on their picks for the individual award winners.A few years ago, the conference adjusted the timing of the vote for postseason honors. Instead of selecting the all-conference team and individual winners prior to the conference championship, the coaches were given through the Pac-12 title game to decide.As a result, Dec. 5 is the planned date for the reveal.Some races have more clarity than others.Here’s our view …Coach of the YearFrontrunners: Arizona’s Jedd Fisch and Washington’s Kalen DeBoerForecast: Too close to callComment: Fisch has orchestrated the biggest upside surprise as his Wildcats, picked eighth in the preseason media poll, are alone in third place with a chance to win the conference title. (Arizona needs a victory over ASU and an Oregon loss to claim a berth in Las Vegas opposite Washington.) Meanwhile, DeBoer is one win from the first perfec...

Zuckerberg's nonprofit donates $1 million to Half Moon Bay mass shooting victims

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

(KRON) -- Mark Zuckerberg's wife, Priscilla Chan, announced that the wealthy couple's nonprofit organization will donate $1 million to help build housing for victims of the Half Moon Bay mass shooting and other farmworkers along the coast. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative awarded the grant to San Mateo County. Chan said, "There are few communities more deeply impacted by the rising cost of housing than farmworkers. This project will help add more safe and affordable housing options for farmworkers and their families in Half Moon Bay, and we hope it will be a catalyst for similar investments throughout the region."A photograph of one of the Half Moon Bay mass shooting victims is displayed at a candlelight vigil on January 25, 2023. (Photo by SAMANTHA LAUREY/AFP via Getty Images)County officials said homes will be offered at below-market rates to farmworkers and their families who were displaced by the January mass shooting that killed seven farmworkers in Half Moon Bay. Seven Hispanic ...

Pac-12 winds down possible final season with 2 teams in playoff hunt

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

The Pac-12 has hit the final stretch of what may be the conference’s final season.It’s been a wild ride so far, with two teams in contention for the College Football Playoff and the second spot in the Pac-12 championship game against No. 4 Washington still up for grabs.There’s been surprises, disappointments and plenty of memorable moments as the Pac-12 prepares to lose 10 of its members to other conferences next season.A rundown of the way it went before the conference potentially goes dark:STAR POWERBo Nix, Oregon. The Ducks’ quarterback has been stellar in his second season since transferring from Auburn. Nix is among the frontrunners to win the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,539 yards and 35 touchdowns with two interceptions while completing 78% of his passes.Michael Penix Jr., Washington. The Huskies’ quarterback gives the Pac-12 two legitimate Heisman contenders. Penix has thrown for 3,695 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven interception while...

Live updates | Both sides say close on deal for cease-fire that would free some hostages

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

Senior Hamas officials said Tuesday that an agreement could be reached soon in which the militant group would release hostages and Israel would free Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, Israeli officials announced that meetings of key decision-making bodies would be held late Tuesday to discuss “the issue of the release of hostages.”Israel, the United States and Qatar, which mediates with Hamas, have been negotiating for weeks over a hostage release that would be paired with a temporary cease-fire in Gaza and the entry of more humanitarian aid. Similar predictions of a hostage agreement in recent weeks have proven premature.Israel’s army is widening its operations across northern Gaza, where they battled Palestinian militants on Tuesday in the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp, the territory’s largest.The military said forces are “preparing the battlefield” in the Jabaliya area, just north of Gaza City, and have killed dozens of militants in recent days. Troops discov...

Deliveroo riders aren’t entitled to collective bargaining rights, UK court says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s top court said Tuesday that riders for one of the country’s biggest meal delivery companies don’t have collective bargaining rights because they aren’t employees, a setback for gig economy workers who are pushing for better pay and working conditions.The Supreme Court’s ruling came in a case filed by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, which had sought to organize the people who deliver takeout meals for Deliveroo, a rival of companies like Uber Eats and Just Eat. After Deliveroo refused to negotiate, the union appealed, arguing that the company was violating rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.But the court ruled that the right to collective bargaining applies only when there is an “employment relationship” between the workers and the company. Deliveroo riders aren’t employees because their contract gives them the “virtually unfettered right” to pass deliveries on to a substitute, the court said.The decision is the latest...

Teen driver suspected of DUI hasn’t been charged in Fairfax Co. crash that seriously injured 6 other teens

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

Six teenagers were seriously injured and another teen was arrested after a single-vehicle crash Monday morning in Fairfax County, Virginia. (WTOP/Shayna Estulin) Six teenagers were seriously injured and another teen was arrested after a single-vehicle crash Monday morning in Fairfax County, Virginia. (WTOP/Shayna Estulin) A day after a crash in Fairfax County, Virginia, where several teenagers were ejected from an SUV, six of them continue to battle life-threatening injuries Tuesday. The teen who was suspected of driving under the influence has not been charged, police say.The crash happened in the intersection of Pioneer Lane and Shreve Road just before 5 a.m. Monday, according to a new release from police.A 17-y...

Founder of Binance, world’s largest crypto exchange, pleads guilty to anti-money-laundering charge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — The founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge that he failed to take steps to prevent money laundering as the company agreed to pay more than $4 billion following an investigation by the U.S. government.CEO Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to one count of failure to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program in federal court in Seattle. Binance is a Cayman Islands limited liability company.The plea comes as the company agreed to pay over $4 billion as part of an agreement with the U.S. government, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press. The person confirmed the amount on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the agreement ahead of an expected announcement.Over the summer, the company was accused of operating as an unregistered securities exchange and violating a slew of U.S. securities laws in a lawsuit from regulators. That case w...

Trump felicita a Milei por su triunfo electoral: “Verdaderamente harán a Argentina grande otra vez”

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

(CNN Español) — Donald Trump, expresidente de Estados Unidos, felicitó este martes a Javier Milei por su triunfo en las elecciones presidenciales del domingo en Argentina.En su cuenta de Truth Social, Trump realizó su felicitación e hizo énfasis en que el Gobierno de Milei logrará dar la vuelta a la situación en el país sudamericano, que actualmente registra una inflación interanual de 142,7%.“Una muy especial felicitación a Javier Milei por una gran carrera por la presidencia en Argentina. El mundo entero estaba observando y estoy muy orgulloso de ustedes. Le darán vuelta a la situación en Argentina y verdaderamente harán a Argentina grande otra vez”, indicó el exmandatario, quien es el político que lidera las encuestas para ser elegido como el próximo presidente de Estados Unidos en 2024.Las primeras medidas anunciadas por Javier Milei como presidente electoTrump utilizó la frase en inglés “Make Argentina Great Again”, lo que es una referencia a su tí...

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts lower in a rare stumble following its big rally

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:12:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is drifting lower Tuesday following a strong rally that had vaulted it to its highest level since the start of August.The S&P 500 was 0.2% lower in afternoon trading and on track for just its third loss in the last 17 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 66 points, or 0.2%, as of 2:30 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% lower.Retailers were mixed after several reported their earnings for the latest quarter and, more importantly, their forecasts for the upcoming holiday shopping season.Lowe’s sank 3.2% despite reporting better profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s estimates, and it also cut its forecasts for revenue and profit over the full year. Sales for do-it-yourself projects have been lower than expected at the home improvement retailerBest Buy fell 1.4% after likewise beating analysts’ expectations for profit in the latest quarter but falling short on revenue. Its...