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UK police investigate sexual assault report after Russell Brand allegations

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

(CNN) — London’s Metropolitan Police said Monday they were investigating an allegation of sexual assault in 2003, after a joint investigation into the comedian and actor Russell Brand by three British media outlets was published Saturday.The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s “Dispatches” published an investigation in which four women alleged Brand sexually assaulted them in separate instances between 2006 and 2013. One of the women said she was 16 and Brand was 31 at the time of the alleged assault in London.Without naming the British comedian – who denies the allegations – a Met spokesperson said on Monday: “We are aware of reporting by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches about allegations of sexual offenses. “On Sunday, 17 September, the Met received a report of a sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003. Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support.”Downing S...

Benjamin Netanyahu asks Elon Musk to ‘roll back’ antisemitism on X

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

(CNN) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Elon Musk to ‘roll back’ antisemitism on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, during an in-person conversation broadcast live on Monday afternoon.After an exchange about the regulation of artificial intelligence, Netanyahu praised Musk for his commitment to freedom of speech and pleaded with him to fight back against hate speech.“I know your commitment to free speech,” Netanyahu told Musk. “But I also know your opposition to antisemitism. You’ve spoken about it, tweeted about it. And all I can say is, I hope you find, within the confines of the First Amendment, the ability to stop not only antisemitism, or roll it back as best you can, but any collective hatred of people…. I know you’re committed to that and I hope you succeed. And it’s not an easy task, but I encourage you and urge you to find a balance.”Musk replied that he was “against attacking any group, doesn’t matter who it is,” and that his vision for hum...

Five Americans detained in Iran walk free, released in deal for frozen Iranian assets

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

By JON GAMBRELL, LUJAIN JO and MATTHEW LEE (Associated Press)DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Five Americans detained for years in Iran walked off a plane and into freedom Monday, many arm-in-arm, as part of a politically risky deal that saw President Joe Biden agree to the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets owed by a third country, South Korea. The successful negotiations for the Americans’ freedom brought Biden profuse thanks from their families but heat from Republican presidential rivals and other opponents for the monetary arrangement with one of America’s top rivals.“Today, five innocent Americans who were imprisoned in Iran are finally coming home,” Biden said in a statement released as the plane carrying the group from Tehran landed in Doha, Qatar. A plane carrying the Americans home to the United States was due to land Monday night.Iran’s hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, on hand for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, ...

Quick Fix: Scampi-Style Chicken and Linguine with Zucchini full of classic Italian flavors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News Service (TNS)A garlicky wine sauce is well known as the basis for the classic Italian dish, shrimp scampi. The sauce is delicious and perfect for sopping up with some crusty bread. For this recipe, I thought the sauce would be a great preparation for chicken thighs. Lots of garlic, some red vermouth and fresh parsley coat the chicken and add flavor to the linguine.Helpful Hints:— You can use dried linguine instead of fresh. Boil for 8 to 9 minutes.— You can use red or white wine instead of red vermouth.— The quickest way to chop parsley is to snip the leaves with a scissors.Countdown:— Place water for linguine on to boil.— Prepare all ingredients.— Make chicken.— Cook linguine and zucchini.Shopping List:To buy: 1 pound skinless chicken thighs with the bone, 1 bottle red vermouth, 1 container fresh linguine, 1/2 pound zucchini, and 1 bunch fresh parsley.Staples: olive oil, garlic, butter, salt and black peppercorns.—SCAMPI-STYLE CHICKENRecipe by Lind...

On Nutrition: Sunflower season

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

Barbara Intermill | Tribune News Service (TNS)This time of year, the sight always takes my breath away: acres and acres of sunflowers in full bloom, smiling at the sun as we drive through rural areas of our state.The cultivated beauties are related to the smaller and more prolific sunflowers (they’re too pretty to call weeds) that pop up along roadsides and hills throughout much of North America.Native Americans were the first people to domesticate wild sunflowers for their seeds, according to the National Sunflower Association.Today, there are two basic varieties of commercial sunflowers: one that produces the typical black-and-white striped seeds we eat for snacks, and another that bears smaller black seeds used to make oil.And just so I get my semantics right, there is a difference between a sunflower kernel and a sunflower seed. The kernel is the “meat” that has been removed from the outer shell (or hull) of a sunflower seed, say experts. When we eat sunflower seeds,...

Wild black bear at Walt Disney World in Florida captured after search

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — It wasn’t an escapee from the Country Bear Jamboree attraction, but a wild black bear managed to be the star of its own show Monday at Walt Disney World.The presence of the black bear in a tree in the Magic Kingdom delayed the opening of three lands Monday morning — Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland.Staffers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were at the park, attempting to capture and relocate the bear, Disney World said in a statement. The bear was eventually captured Monday afternoon.The bear was likely in search of food as it looks to pack on fat reserves for the winter, the wildlife commission said in a statement. “In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own, but given this situation, staff are working on capturing and relocating the bear,” the wildlife commission said.The Associated Press

Removal of B.C. MLA Adam Walker from NDP caucus unrelated to police, harassment: Eby

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

RICHMOND, B.C. — British Columbia Premier David Eby says a complaint by an employee in late July led to the removal of MLA Adam Walker from the New Democrat caucus, but the issue doesn’t involve police or sexual harassment.Speaking to reporters for the first time since Walker was kicked out over the weekend, Eby says he decided the member could no longer be part of the group after a formal investigation by NDP caucus.Eby says he wishes he could share more but rules related to human resources and privacy prevent him going into specifics about the accusations, which are not a criminal matter.The premier says he doesn’t believe what the investigation found could be remedied by a training process for Walker, who will now sit as an independent.An emailed statement from Walker’s constituency office says it does not have a comment to provide on the situation.The premier says the situation was “challenging” and informing Walker he was being removed was “n...

Netanyahu talks to Elon Musk in California about antisemitism on X and artificial intelligence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kicked off a U.S. trip in California to talk to billionaire businessman Elon Musk about antisemitism on his social media platform X — while Musk asked him to address his judicial overhaul in Israel. The two also discussed artificial intelligence in a sparsely-attended livestream event Monday.Netanyahu’s high-profile visit to the San Francisco Bay Area comes at a time when Musk is facing accusations of tolerating antisemitic messages on his social media platform, while Netanyahu is confronting political opposition at home and abroad. Protesters gathered early Monday outside the Fremont, California factory where Tesla makes its cars.The video livestream kicked off shortly before 9:30 a.m. with Netanyahu and the Tesla CEO. Netanyahu’s official X account posted that he is holding a “one on one conversation” with Musk. The number of viewers hovered around 700-800 people. The two kicked off with a joke about dee...

Couple, 2 children and 3 dogs found shot to death in suburban Chicago home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A couple, their two children and three dogs were found fatally shot Sunday in a suburban Chicago home.The bodies were found about 8:40 p.m. in Romeoville by officers sent to the home by concerned relatives of the victims to conduct a well-being check, Romeoville Police Deputy Chief Chris Burne told reporters Monday.The victims were believed to have been shot between Saturday night and early Sunday, Burne said. The deaths are being investigated as murders, he added.The adults were identified as Roberto Rolon and Zoraida Bartolomei. The names and ages of their children were not immediately released.“A member of the family did not show up for work at 6 a.m. Sunday and did not respond to phone calls throughout the day,” Burne said. “Family members became concerned.”Romeoville is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.The Associated Press

Ex-DOJ official Jeffrey Clark acted within the scope of official duties in Georgia case, lawyer says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:43 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark was acting within the scope of his official duties when he wrote a letter expressing concern about alleged problems with the 2020 election in Georgia, his lawyer said Monday as he sought to move charges against Clark to federal court.Clark is charged along with former President Donald Trump and 17 others, accused of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election victory and keep the Republican Trump in power. All 19 defendants have pleaded not guilty.U.S. District Judge Steve Jones presided over the hearing on Clark’s attempt to move his case to federal court from Fulton County Superior Court. Jones earlier this month rejected a similar effort from Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Unlike Meadows, who testified at his own hearing last month, Clark was not in court as his lawyer argued on his behalf.Clark’s attorneys last week submitted a declaration...