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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fires nearly all governors in West Bank in major upheaval

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fired most of the governors in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, responding to long-standing demands for a political shake-up as frustration grows with the semi-autonomous Palestinian Authority.Abbas issued a decree dismissing the governors of eight provinces under Palestinian administration in the occupied territory. The upheaval included the restive northern cities of Nablus, Jenin and Tulkarem, the focus of a recent surge in Palestinian militancy that has undermined the authority’s leadership. Only three areas — including Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority — retained their governors. The president’s office said that he would form a committee to suggest replacements.Although the decision is unlikely to have an immediate impact on the ground, experts said it signals Abbas’ recognition of the authority’s deepening unpopularity and his desire to show that he is heeding calls for change in the face of mounti...

White House will ask Congress for $13 billion more to fund Ukraine war and $12 billion for disaster fund, AP source says (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert erroneously reported $12 billion for Ukraine and $13 billion for disaster fund)

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House will ask Congress for $13 billion more to fund Ukraine war and $12 billion for disaster fund, AP source says (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert erroneously reported $12 billion for Ukraine and $13 billion for disaster fund).Source

Phil Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion, according to book by renowned gambler Billy Walters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

Phil Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion over the last three decades and wanted to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup while playing for Team USA, according to a much-anticipated book by renowned gambler Billy Walters.The stunning betting estimates Walters provides — from his own detailed record from what he describes as two reliable sources — are detailed in an excerpt of Walters’ book, “Gambler: Secrets from a Life of Risk.”It is schedule to be available Aug. 22. The FirePit Collective obtained an except of the book. Mickelson’s management group did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.Walters is widely regarded as America’s most famous gambler who claims to have a winning streak of more than 30 straight years.He said he ended his betting partnership with Mickelson in 2014. Two years later, Mickelson was a relief defendant in Walters’ insider trading case. Mickelson was never charged and had to re...

Lego Discovery Center opens at Springfield Town Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

LEGO’s newest LEGO Discovery Center officially opens to the public August 14 at Springfield Town Center in Virginia after an official ribbon-cutting and preview on August 9.The LEGO Discovery Center will also be open August 10 through August 13 for a First Play Days preview.The 32,000-square-foot indoor attraction is on the lower level of the mall directly off the main entrance.There is plenty for kids and their parents to do, including a DUPLO Park for young children, an entire area for kids to create and build with LEGO bricks, a Mini-World that features LEGO creations made from more than 1.5 million bricks, a train ride through a LEGO world with games and moving models, a creative lab, a 4D theater and a workshop where master builders display their creations.There is also a cafe and a space mission gallery where children build spaceships and fly them through virtual galleries.Tickets start at $28.99 with online ticket purchases recommended.It is the region’s first LEG...

Western officials say Niger’s junta threatened to kill deposed president if neighboring countries intervened militarily

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Western officials say Niger’s junta threatened to kill deposed president if neighboring countries intervened militarily.Source

Hialeah mayor addresses missed 911 calls after city officials prompt investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

Hialeah city officials are investigating an alarming amount of missed 911 calls and the mayor addressed the situation after a councilman called attention to the issue. Mayor Esteban Bovo said in a news conference on Thursday that the city’s call center is working efficiently and explained how these calls might be seen as “missed.” “There are no missed calls,” said the mayor. “There are calls that go into our system and are somehow another loss due to somebody hanging up. As I said, a misdial. If it does ring once or twice and somebody hangs up, it could be a nervous caller. And then they’re being called back.”In a press conference held on June 26, Councilman Brian Calvo called for an investigation into the city’s 911 call center after multiple sources documented deterioration of service, including a March 2022 report he said was commissioned by the mayor. “This report showed, and I quote, ‘That the city’s 911 system is woef...

Movie weapons supervisor pleads not guilty to manslaughter in fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The woman who oversaw the use of weapons on the movie set where Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence, New Mexico court officials said.Movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed waived her right to an arraignment on the charges in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie “Rust,” officials said Wednesday.A state district judge tentatively scheduled a trial for December.A defense attorney for Gutierrez-Reed has characterized it a tragic accident and says the weapons specialist committed no crime. Prosecutors allege Gutierrez-Reed was negligent in the handling of firearms and ammunition on the set.“Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls has pleaded no contest to a charge of unsafe handling of a firearm and received a suspended sentence of six months’ probation.In April, prosecutors dropped charges against Baldwin, who...

Iran puts 5 Iranian-American prisoners under house arrest, lawyer says; Tehran does not acknowledge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has put five Iranian-American prisoners to house arrest, a U.S.-based lawyer said Thursday, a move coming as Tehran for months has suggested a prisoner swap was possible between it and Washington. Iran did not immediately acknowledge the move.The move comes amid months of heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. A major American military buildup in the Persian Gulf is underway, with the possibility of armed U.S. troops boarding and guarding commercial ships traveling through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of all oil traded passes.It remains unclear whether the Iranian-Americans’ transfers reflect significant progress in a possible prisoner swap between the two countries. Iran in past months has overstated progress in talks, likely conducted with mediation from Oman and Qatar, on a potential trade.The U.S. in March called remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian that a deal for a swap was close a “cruel ...

Police conduct mass casualty exercise at Downtown Doral Upper Charter School in preparation for upcoming school year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

A South Florida police department is making sure it’s ready to respond to any emergencies on campus as the school year is set to start. On Thursday, Doral Police hosted a training exercise at Downtown Doral Upper Charter School, located at 7905 NW 53rd St.To prevent any potential dangers, police need to train for mass casualty events. “We are not immune to these types of incidents,” said Doral Police Chief Eddie LopezThe reenactments are done in a realistic manner to better prepare officers. “With just about one week away from the start of the school year, it’s imperative that our police officers are equipped and trained on how to respond during a critical incident, Lopez said.” The drills at the school also focused on how different agencies and the school administration would work together as quickly as possible.“First, we want to stop the killing, second we want to stop the dying and third, we want to make sure the injured are evacuated an...

Biden will ask Congress for $13B to support Ukraine and $12B for disaster fund, an AP source says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday will ask Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, another massive infusion of cash as the Russian invasion wears on and Ukraine pushes a counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s deeply entrenched forces, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The last such request from the White House, made in November, was met and then some — Congress approved more than what the Democratic president had requested. But there’s a different dynamic this time. A political divide on the issue has grown, with the Republican-led House facing enormous pressure to demonstrate support for the party’s leader, Donald Trump, who has been very skeptical of the war. And American support for the effort has been slowly softening.The White House also is expected to ask for $12 billion to replenish federal disaster funds, according to the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly about a request...