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Internet collapses in war-torn Yemen after recent attacks by Houthi rebels targeting Israel, US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Internet access across the war-torn nation of Yemen collapsed early Friday without explanation, web monitors said. The outage began early Friday around 0000 GMT and affected the YemenNet, which is now controlled by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Both NetBlocks, a group tracking internet outages, and the internet services company CloudFlare reported the outage. The two did not offer a cause for the outage. The Houthis and Yemen telecommunication officials did not immediately acknowledge the outage. A previous outage occurred in January 2022 when the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis in Yemen bombed a telecommunications building in the Red City port city of Hodeida. There was no immediate word of a similar attack.The undersea FALCON cable carries internet into Yemen through the Hodeida port along the Red Sea for TeleYemen. The FALCON cable has another landing in Yemen’s far eastern port of Ghaydah as well, but the majority of Yeme...

Weekend need-to-know: Greater Toronto Area Remembrance Day services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

With Remembrance Day being recognized across Canada on Saturday, there will be several services across the Greater Toronto Area.This weekend will also be the last one to enjoy the 101st Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at Exhibition Place.Meanwhile, there will be a number of Diwali celebrations in the GTA.Here’s what’s going on this weekend:An honour guard is seen through a wreath during the Remembrance Day ceremony in Kingston, Ont., on Nov. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars HagbergRemembrance Day events on SaturdayOld City Hall (60 Queen St. W., Toronto) at 10:45 a.m.Scarborough War Memorial (2190 Kingston Rd.) at 10:45 a.m.East York Civic Centre Memorial Gardens (850 Coxwell Ave.) at 10:45 a.m.York Cemetery Cenotaph (160 Beecroft Rd.) at 10:45 a.m.York Civic Centre Cenotaph (2700 Eglinton Ave. W.) at 10:45 a.m.Etobicoke Civic Centre Cenotaph (399 The West Mall) at 10:45 a.m.Fort York National Historic Site (100 Garrison Rd.) at 10:40 a.m.Ken Whillans Square at Brampton City Hall (2...

Driver charged in 2022 crash that killed Los Angeles sheriff’s recruit, injured 24 others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A driver who plowed into a group of Los Angeles County sheriff’s recruits on a training run last year, killing one and injuring 24 others, was charged Thursday with vehicular manslaughter, authorities said.Nicholas Gutierrez, 23, was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine counts of reckless driving causing great bodily injury, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.If convicted, he could face up to 12 years in state prison.The Diamond Bar man was arrested after the Nov. 16, 2022 crash in Whittier but released while authorities investigated further. He was arrested again on Thursday, the DA’s office said.About 75 recruits, from the county Sheriff’s Department and several local police agencies, were running in formation on a street near the Los Angeles suburb of Whittier when an SUV veered onto the wrong side of the road and into the cadets, then crashed into a pole, autho...

Police look to identify suspects in GTA roofing scam investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

Police are looking to identify two men as part of an ongoing roofing scam investigation that has targeted homeowners across the GTA.Investigators say the suspects, who claim to be owners of a roofing company called Alfa Masonry, go to homes unsolicited and inform homeowners that emergency roof or chimney repairs are needed. They use pressure tactics to get the homeowner to hire them to do the repairs, negotiating a cash deal in the process.Police say once repairs are started, the men inform the homeowner that further work is required and ask for more money. After receiving the additional cash payment, the duo fail to return to complete the repairs and cease all communication.The first man is described as having a medium build with a short black beard. He was last seen wearing a black and white plaid jacket, light blue jeans and a grey hat with a black brim.The second man is also described as having a medium build with blond hair and a short blond beard. He was last seen wearing a bl...

Chicago police officer charged, relieved of police powers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago Police Department officer is charged after reportedly hitting an eighth grader while off-duty.Craig Lancaster, 55, is now facing felony aggravated battery charges. MORE INFO: Off-duty CPD officer under investigation after shoving 8th grader The police department said he has been relieved of his police powers.School surveillance video from Gresham Elementary shows the officer striking a 14-year-old boy last May.The video does not show the teen interacting with Lancaster before the incident. Lancaster will make his first court appearance next week.

Man convicted nearly 7 years after death of 11-year-old girl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been convicted nearly seven years after the death of an 11-year-old girl in Chicago.A jury convicted Antwan Jones, 26, of fatally shooting Takiya Holmes. Man, 19, charged in fatal shooting of 11-year-old Takiya Holmes Holmes died from a stray bullet in the Parkway Gardens neighborhood in February 2017.Prosecutors said Jones fired 12 rounds at rival gang members, but the shots hit a minivan with Holmes inside.Her family released a statement saying justice has finally been served.

Concerns raised over aviation safety after multiple near crashes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The push to increase safety at airports across the nation is heating up.This comes after reported close calls and near misses between airplanes, and now the topic is front and center."Our nation is experiencing a aviation safety crisis," said U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois.On Thursday, the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, discussed close calls and how to improve aviation safety.Lawmakers said a wave of retirements and buyouts drained valuable experience from the U.S. aviation system in recent years."Coupled with the surge in demand, created essentially a perfect storm that has eroded the systems safety margins down to dangerously thin levels," Duckworth said.Austin is no stranger to these safety concerns. Back in February a FedEx flight and Southwest flight nearly collided."We have had too many near misses including one that could have been a total catastrophe," said U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas.That same flight highlig...

Leander ISD board considers creating district police department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) -- One of the largest school districts in Central Texas looked at the cost to build its own police force to comply with a new state law.During a Leander Independent School District board meeting, trustees looked at a budget request, which is more than $1.1 million. The district does not have its own police force and instead is using other law enforcement as resource officers.This discussion comes after House Bill 3 went into effect on Sept. 1, which requires armed security officers at every campus. Schools struggle to find money, hire more officers after lawmakers gut safety bill The budget request from LISD includes a chief, at least 10 marshals, which also includes training and equipment.Part of the discussion included adding to the resolution what the police training should have according to the Texas School Safety Center."Mandated training includes child adolescent brain development, mental health crisis prevention, behavioral needs of children with disab...

Texas boasts top women's hoops recruiting class in early signing period

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to ESPN, the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team has the top 2024 recruiting class in the country.With three players ranked inside the top 50, and two in the top 10, the Longhorns are loading up for next season and starting the early signing period off strong. No. 13 Texas women’s hoops thumps Southern in season opener Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer announced Wednesday the signings of Justice Carlton, Jordan Lee and Bryanna Preston as the early signing period for Division I basketball began. Carlton, a 6-foot-2 forward from Katy Seven Lakes High School, is the No. 7-ranked recruit by ESPN. She averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds per game in her junior season and holds seven school records at Seven Lakes, including most points in a game (46), most blocks in a game (10) and most rebounds in a game (23)."Justice Carlton may be the most physical high school player I've seen in a long time," Schaefer said. "Her ability to finish with contact is very unu...

High school football: Byron edges Hill-Murray in Class 4A state quarterfinal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:08 GMT

Down by nine with less than three minutes remaining, things looked extremely bleak for Hill-MurrayBut the Pioneers would not go down that easily.Stopping a fake punt that for all intents and purposes would have sealed a Byron win, Hill-Murray made the most of its nearly last-gasp opportunity.On the first offensive play, Jackson Reeves dropped back, stepped up under pressure and threw a perfect strike to Gavin Berg, who didn’t stop running until he found the end zone to complete a 50-yard play and the Pioneers, who began the fourth quarter down by 10, were within 31-28.With just one timeout left and 2:21 on the clock, an onside kick had to be the call. The first attempt was called back as a Pioneer was offside.Take two was recovered by the Pioneers near the Byron sideline. Bears players and coaches were animatedly adamant a Hill-Murray player touched the ball before it went 10 yards.The officials gathered.And talked.And talked.And talked a little more before ruling a Pioneer did touc...