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US moves to advance prisoner swap deal with Iran and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

By MATTHEW LEE (AP Diplomatic Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. In addition, as part of the deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States.Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on the sanctions waivers late last week, a month after U.S. and Iranian officials said an agreement in principle was in place. Congress was not informed of the waiver decision until Monday, according to the notification, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The outlines of the deal had been previously announced and the waiver was expected. But the notification marked the first time the administration said it was releasing five Iranian prisoners as part of the deal. The prisoners have not been na...

Portugal routs Luxembourg in record 9-0 win without suspended Ronaldo. Drone delays Armenia-Croatia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

Portugal didn’t need Cristiano Ronaldo to rack up its biggest-ever win in a competitive game.A 9-0 rout of Luxembourg in European Championship qualifying on Monday was achieved without Ronaldo, who was suspended because of an accumulation of yellow cards in earlier Group J games.In the absence of the five-time world player of the year and record scorer in men’s internationals, Goncalo Ramos, Goncalo Inacio and Diogo Jota all scored twice along with goals for Ricardo Horta, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix in the Algarve.“It was a satisfactory aspect that, being 4-0 or 5-0 up, the team kept playing the same way as if it was 0-0,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said. “When you get that, it shows you the values of the players and that the respect toward the team is essential — that was really good to see.”The 38-year-old Ronaldo missed a great chance to add to his haul of 123 international goals but there’ll be four more opportunities in a group that Portugal is ...

UN says Colombia’s coca crop at all-time high as officials promote new drug policies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Coca cultivation reached an all-time high in Colombia last year, the U.N. said, as the administration of President Gustavo Petro struggles to reduce poverty in remote areas and contain armed groups that are profiting from the cocaine trade.The new findings on coca growing were published over the weekend by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, which said 230,000 hectares (nearly 570,000 acres) of farmland in Colombia were planted with coca in 2022, a 13% increase from the previous year.The South American nation is the world’s largest exporter of cocaine, which is made from coca leaves. Colombia provides 90% of the cocaine sold in the United States each year.Colombia’s government said Monday that the amount of land planted with coca is increasing at a slower pace than in previous years. It hopes new programs that provide greater economic incentives for farmers to adopt legal crops will help reduce cocaine production in coming years. “We are flattening t...

UEFA hosts women soccer stars for expert advice. Then it thanks ousted Luis Rubiales for his service

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — One day after Spanish official Luis Rubiales finally resigned from his leadership jobs, European soccer body UEFA hosted a storied group of women players and coaches for a conference Monday to help shape a brighter future for their game. And when it was over, UEFA thanked its now-former vice president “for his many years of service” in its first major statement since Rubiales’ conduct at the Women’s World Cup final three weeks ago that is now under criminal investigation in Spain. Three Ballon d’Or winners joined the UEFA meeting in person or online. They included Alexia Putellas, one of Spain’s World Cup-winning team whose triumph has been tarnished by the furor since Rubiales kissed her teammate Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy ceremony. Hermoso said it was without her consent.At UEFA’s headquarters was Veró Boquete, who as Spain captain eight years ago joined a player revolt that removed the long-time and unpopular male coach of the national te...

Man charged with aiding Whitmer kidnap plot says he should have called police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

A man charged with assisting the leaders of a plan to kidnap Michigan’s governor denied any role Monday but conceded he should have contacted police when talk turned to obtaining explosives.“It seemed to be getting serious,” William Null, 41, told jurors in a northern Michigan courtroom. “I don’t know if they were ever going to go through with it, but it was enough for me to not want to be involved.”Null, brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor are on trial in Antrim County, the last of 14 men charged in state or federal court since FBI agents broke up a kidnapping conspiracy against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer just weeks before the 2020 presidential election.Authorities said the men were anti-government extremists who were also furious over restrictions ordered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nulls and Molitor are charged with providing material support for terrorist acts, namely aiding leaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., who were convicted last year in federal court....

Women treated for cancer as a child face increased risk for breast cancer — and more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

Medical Watch for Sept 11Risk for breast cancerWomen who were treated for cancer as a child face an increased risk for breast cancer.Certain types of chemotherapy drugs increased the threat for a secondary cancer according to results from a large scale international study of childhood cancer survivors.The results, published in the Journal Nature Medicine point to the need for earlier breast cancer screening for cancer survivors.Women treated with anthracycline chemotherapy including doxorubicin had a six times greater likelihood for breast cancer younger than 40.When the childhood cancer treatment also included radiation, women had the greatest chance for a breast cancer diagnosis.Anthracyclines are important for childhood cancer survival but doctors and patients need to know the potential future threat.Antidepressants & memoryAntidepressants do more than boost mood, they may enhance memory.While prescribing antidepressants to people suffering from depression helps quiet negativ...

NBA player accused of assaulting girlfriend in New York City hotel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) — An NBA player has been accused of strangling his girlfriend at a Manhattan hotel Monday morning, according to police. Bryan Kevin Porter Jr., 23, allegedly put his hands around the 26-year-old woman's neck and hit her several times inside the Millennium Hilton Hotel on UN Plaza at around 6:45 a.m., according to the NYPD. The woman had cuts to her face and pain in her neck, police said. The Houston Rockets guard was arrested and charged with assault and strangulation, according to police. Escaped dog at Atlanta airport found after three weeks He remained in police custody as of Monday afternoon. It wasn’t immediately known if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. A message seeking comment was left for his agent.Additional details weren't immediately available. In a statement, the Rockets said: “We are in the process of gathering information surrounding the matter involving Kevin Porter Jr. We have no further comment at this time.”Porter, a 2019 first-rou...

'My heart's gone': Family loses mom to catastrophic childbirth complication

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR) — An Oklahoma woman died following a rare and unpredictable childbirth complication last week.Throughout the pregnancy, Kelli Tyler had been posting about the progress of her latest bundle of joy.“We’re still taking name suggestions for our sweet girl. T-minus 9 weeks and counting,” wrote the 35-year-old mother of four.On Tuesday, Sep. 6, Tyler updated her profile picture on social media, as she was preparing to give birth to her fifth child. Hey Dude to pay $1.95 million to FTC for suppressing negative reviews, other violations Kelli died Wednesday following a sudden complication during childbirth. "The amniotic fluid got into Kelli's bloodstream [and] she was losing blood more than she could take in," said Julie Roach, Kelli Tyler's mother. "I think her last words my granddaughter said—she said—were, 'I'm about to faint.'"Courtesy: Julie RoachCourtesy: Julie RoachCourtesy: Julie RoachAmniotic embolisms are often unpredictable. A 2016 medical paper des...

Ed Sheeran crashes wedding hours before postponing Las Vegas show

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Before postponing his show Saturday night at the last minute, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran was crashing a Las Vegas wedding.Saturday afternoon, the "Thinking Out Loud" singer stopped by the iconic Little White Wedding Chapel to surprise Jordan and Carter Lindenfield, serenading the couple mid-wedding with his new song, "Magical."Sheeran even signed the couple's marriage license as the witness on their "Perfect" day. Ed Sheeran crashes a wedding at the Little White Wedding Chapel. (Mark Surridge)Ed Sheeran crashes a wedding at the Little White Wedding Chapel. (Mark Surridge)Ed Sheeran crashes a wedding at the Little White Wedding Chapel. (Mark Surridge)Ed Sheeran crashes a wedding at the Little White Wedding Chapel. (Mark Surridge)Speaking with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Lindenfields said a representative for the chapel contacted them last month about letting an anonymous celebrity drop by the ceremony as "a PR stunt." While they ini...

Rain chances increase late week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a bit of rain this morning in San Saba County, we look for a few more storms and showers to return later tonight in the Hill Country.Most of the I-35 corridor and eastern counties will stay dry, but a few surviving storms from a larger complex in West Texas may hold together long enough to reach parts of our area this evening. Storms will be capable of strong winds and small hail, so be sure to check the KXAN Weather app before heading out to any late evening activities. NEW BLOG: Peak Atlantic hurricane season is here, what’s next? A few spotty storms will be possible again Tuesday and Wednesday as a cold front hangs to our north, but better rainfall chances look to arrive Thursday through Saturday. Rainfall totals for the next 7-days still appear to bring most of us 0.5"-1.5" of rain with localized amounts 2"+ in our northern and northwestern counties.Potential rainfall through the end of the weekAfter 78 days of triple digit heat this summer, our temperat...