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US quietly acknowledges Iran satellite successfully reached orbit as tensions remain high

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States has quietly acknowledged that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard successfully put an imaging satellite into orbit this week in a launch that resembled others previously criticized by Washington as helping Tehran’s ballistic missile program. The U.S. military has not responded to repeated requests for comment from The Associated Press since Iran announced the launch of the Noor-3 satellite on Wednesday, the latest successful launch by the Revolutionary Guard after Iran’s civilian space program faced a series of failed launches in recent years.Early Friday, however, data published by the website space-track.org listed a launch Wednesday by Iran that put the Noor-3 satellite into orbit. Information for the website is supplied by the 18th Space Defense Squadron of the U.S. Space Force, the newest arm of the American military. It put the satellite at over 450 kilometers (280 miles) above the Earth’s surface, whic...

First report on the State of the Digital Decade calls for collective action to shape the digital transition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

The first report on the State of the Digital Decade, published today, provides a comprehensive look at progress towards achieving the digital transformation to empower a more digitally sovereign, resilient, and competitive EU. It includes an assessment of the EU's performance towards Europe's 2030 objectives and targets focusing on four main pillars: digital skills, digital infrastructure, digitalisation of businesses, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digitalisation of public services. It also includes the monitoring of the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, which reflects the EU's commitment to a secure, safe and sustainable digital transformation, putting people at the centre.The 2023 report, which is the first of a series of annual reports, is a call to member states for collective action to address the current investment gaps, accelerate digital transformation in Europe and intensify efforts to reach the objectives of the Digital Decade ...

Jointly Usher in a Brighter Future Guided by the Vision of a Global Community of Shared Future

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

H.E. Mr. Cao Zhongming, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of BelgiumOn 26 September, China released the white paper A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Actions. - The white paper systemically outlines the core components of the thinking behind the vision and how it has been practised and aims to help the international community to gain a fuller understanding of the far-reaching significance of the vision and get to know the ideals underpinning China’s major-country diplomacy.This year marks the tenth anniversary of the vision of building a global community of shared future put forth by President Xi Jinping. Ten years ago, President Xi Jinping propounded the idea of building a global community of shared future, answering a question raised by the world, by history, and by the times: “Where is humanity headed?” His proposal lights the path forward as the world fumbles for solutions, and represents China’...

Actors and Studios To Meet For Contract Negotations

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

Striking Hollywood actors said they’d be returning to the negotiation table with production companies on Monday, October 2.The announcement from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) came a day after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and  Writers Guild of America came to terms on a new contract.“SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP will meet for bargaining on Monday, Oct. 2,” SAG-AFTRA wrote in a statement Wednesday. “Several executives from AMPTP member companies will be in attendance. As negotiations proceed, we will report any substantiative updates directly to you.”The WGA accepted new contract terms with Hollywood production companies, effectively ending their 149-day strike Wednesday. Soon after, SAG-AFTRA said it would take a look at the writers’ contract and keep it in mind for their own negotiations.“We look forward to reviewing the terms of the WGA and AMPTP’s tenta...

Woman pleads no contest to 1993 murder of San Carlos store owner

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

SAN CARLOS — A 61-year-old Oklahoma woman is facing 18 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a San Carlos store owner during a robbery more than 30 years ago, prosecutors said.Rayna Ramos, also known as Rayna Hoffman, pleaded no contest Wednesday to one count of second-degree murder and admitted to using a firearm in the commission of the crime, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.The court approved the plea bargain, which called for her to serve 18 years to life.The case was only solved last year when detectives obtained a journal in which Ramos expressed regret for killing Devonshire Little Store owner Shu Ming Tang, prosecutors said.On April 26, 1993, Ramos entered the business at 20 Devonshire Blvd. at the direction of her husband, who instructed her how to use a handgun to commit the robbery, according to the district attorney’s office. Ramos’ husband waited outside in a car.Tang resisted and fought with Ramos, who fatally shot him during the str...

Oakland couple killed in stolen car crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – Oakland police say 64-year-old Derrick Shaw and his fiancee were killed by a speeding hit-and-run driver Sunday morning. Shaw’s family is raising money to help give their dad a proper burial.Shaw’s family says the father and grandfather meant the world to those in his life. His son says his dad died in a senseless crime as he was on his way to church. One dead in crash on Bay Bridge Demariae Shaw reflected on the death of his father Derrick and his father’s fiancee Vera Hampton. The couple was struck and killed by a driver speeding around East Oakland. Investigators later revealed that car was stolen.“I kind of hated how my dad was taken away from me like this,” he said. “Especially in this type of way. It shouldn’t have happened this way.”On Sunday morning, Shaw and Hampton were driving along 73rd Avenue in a white SUV. As Shaw was turning onto Holly Street, police say a driver in a stolen sedan slammed into them. The couple and a friend were on their way...

Oakland town hall attendees mostly in favor of reinstating Armstrong as OPD chief

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – On Thursday, the Oakland Police Commission held a town hall to discuss if they should recommend the mayor to reinstate former Oakland police chief LeRonne Armstrong. Attendees were eager to share their opinions on the matter.People came out to the town hall and they overwhelmingly supported former Armstrong being reinstated. Very few people spoke against him being reinstated."Not surprised,” said Oakland Police Commission Chair Tyfahra Milele. “We have had five public forums. We have heard from 350 people before tonight. Over and over again we heard the same thing when we ask, ‘What do you want in a new chief?’ They say we want LeRonne Armstrong."Milele says they canceled a meeting Thursday because not enough commissioners attended."Folks who for whatever reason abstained from participating could possibly prevent us from recommending any chief,” she said.  Thao will not reappoint ex-chief Armstrong if given opportunity Milele says she knew this would happe...

Live updates |Ryder Cup gets going with noise and heckles

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — Two of golf’s best players finally got its biggest spectacle started Friday at the Ryder Cup.Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, hit the opening tee shot at Marco Simone, the golf ball disappearing in a thick collar of rough down the left side of the fairway. Masters champion Jon Rahm found the right side of the fairway.Anticipation from the two-year wait was evident in the pre-dawn darkness as thousands upon thousands of fans poured through the gates. And it didn’t take long for the home crowd to remind the Americans they weren’t at the comfort of home.“You stink, Scottie,” one fan shouted as he was about to tee off. Another told Sam Burns to lay up when he was playing from the rough. That’s nothing unusual from home fans at a Ryder Cup, the most raucous event in golf.The Americans are coming off a 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits two years ago. They have not won on European soil since 1993.___AP golf: https:...

J.P. Crawford has 2-out hit in the 9th inning to lift Mariners past Rangers, 3-2

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — J.P. Crawford stood with his arms out, ready to accept the cooler filled with water about to be dumped across his back. Even on a chilly night, the water and the celebration around it felt terrific after Crawford kept the Seattle Mariners playoff hopes very much alive. Crawford lined a two-run double with two out in the ninth inning, lifting the Mariners to a 3-2 win over Texas on Thursday night and stopping the Rangers from clinching a playoff berth for at least one day.“Honestly, all that was going through my head was just ‘get it done,’” Crawford said. “Like I said earlier, just be him. There’s really nothing else to it. Keep it simple, do your job. End of story.” Crawford has been the backbone to Mariners this season, even with most of the attention being placed on their terrific pitching or young star Julio Rodríguez. But it was Crawford that helped carry Seattle through its struggles early in the season and to the point where the final three games have a c...

Braves clinch home field throughout playoffs with sweep of slumping Cubs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:50:25 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Max Olson hit his major league-leading 54th homer, and the Atlanta Braves clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason with a 5-3 win over the slumping Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.Austin Riley had three hits and scored two runs as the Braves (103-56) won for the sixth time in seven games. The NL East champions can match the franchise record for wins with a season-ending sweep of the Nationals.“(Truist Park) is one of the best atmospheres in baseball,” Olson said of clinching home-field advantage. “A bunch of fans who come out and support, understand the game. It’s the best place to play.”Chicago has dropped 13 of 19 to fall out of position for an NL wild card. With the three-game sweep by the Braves, the Cubs (82-77) fell a half-game back of Miami for the third wild card.“Very frustrating,” Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman said. “We seem defeated at times. Everything that could be going wrong is going wrong. Hopefully luck starts to go in our favor in M...