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Virgin Galactic plans its next commercial flight to the edge of space for August

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Virgin Galactic is aiming for early August for its next flight to the edge of space, a trip that is expected to include the first of many ticket holders who have been waiting years for their chance at weightlessness aboard the company’s rocket-powered plane.The company announced Thursday that the window for the commercial flight from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico will open Aug. 10. The short up-and-down flight will be streamed live on Virgin Galactic’s website.Virgin Galactic confirmed that three private passengers will be on the flight. The plane has room for six — two Virgin Galactic pilots and four passengers. Hundreds of people have purchased tickets over the years, including celebrities, scientists and entrepreneurs. The company is expected to release more details about the crew and three passengers next week.The flight will mark Virgin Galactic’s third this year. The most recent was in June — a research flight during which ...

Iraqi officials are defending a barter deal with Iran, say it doesn’t violate US sanctions on Tehran

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials defended Thursday a deal inked this week to barter oil for gas with Iran, saying it does not violate U.S. sanctions on Tehran but will help alleviate a worsening electricity crisis in Iraq.The remarks come as the government in Baghdad struggles to balance between its two key allies, Washington and Tehran. A previous arrangement in which Iraq was buying gas from Iran and paying dollars for it was held up because Washington declined to approve sanctions waivers. That in turn led Iran to cut the gas supply, triggering severe power shortages in Iraq.After decades of electricity shortages because of war, corruption and mismanagement, oil-rich Iraq has become heavily reliant on imported Iranian gas to meet its electricity needs. The shortages in recent months are in part due to U.S. restrictions on transferring funds to Iran.Imports from Iran are especially vital during the scorching summer months when Iraqis are forced to pay for private diesel generators o...

Mexico frees 20 kids who worked 12 hour days selling snacks, trinkets at Playa del Carmen resort

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Police in Mexico rescued 20 kids ranging in age from 1 to 17 from rented rooms in the resort town of Playa del Carmen, where they were forced to work 12 hours per day selling snacks and trinkets on the streets and beaches, authorities said Thursday.Prosecutors in the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo, where Playa del Carmen is located, said that the children and adolescents were from the largely indigenous and impoverished state of Chiapas. The children had been promised that they would be paid and could send money home to their families. But when they asked for their pay, the adults they worked for said it had already been sent to their parents. Notebooks were found with registers of names and amounts, prosecutors said, but it remained under investigation whether the money had been sent. Prosecutors said the kids were forced to work dawn to dusk, and were filthy, poorly dressed and undernourished when found. Two suspects were detained at the low-slung complex...

9 suspects wanted after gun store burglaries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Nine people are wanted after a series of gun store burglaries this week across the southern Denver area.According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, there were five gun store robberies in Centennial, Englewood and Denver on July 9 and July 10. July 9 at 12:05 a.m. – Centennial Gun Club, 11800 E. Peakview Ave., CentennialJuly 9 at 12:25 a.m. – Bowers Tactical, 6931 S. Yosemite St., CentennialJuly 9 at 5:41 a.m. – Bighorn Firearms, 2175 S. Jasmine St., DenverJuly 10 at 3:35 a.m. – The Shootist, 2980 S. Galapago St., EnglewoodJuly 10 at 5:30 a.m. – Mile High Armory, 785 S. Vallejo St., DenverWhen investigators arrived at the Centennial Gun Club they found a smashed window. Surveillance video showed nine people trying unsuccessfully to get into the building, all of whom were wearing hoodies or hooded sweatshirts and covering their faces. Problem Solvers: No punishment for detective after teenage son uses duty weapon to shoot homes Video from Bowers Tactical show...

Hialeah Police investigate shooting at Rainbow Motel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

Hialeah Police are currently investigating a shooting incident that occurred at the Rainbow Motel that sent one person to the hospital.The shooting occurred at 2801 W. Okeechobee Rd, Thursday afternoon. Authorities responded to the scene and made contact with a white Hispanic male in his mid-20s, who sustained a non-life-threatening injury. The injured individual was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.The shooter was found in close proximity to the scene and had been waiting for the arrival of police. The suspect was taken into custody without any further disturbance or resistance.Detectives from the Hialeah Police Department are currently conducting interviews with both parties involved in the incident, along with additional individuals who may have witnessed the event. As of now, this case remains an open and active investigation.

France tells EU Commission to rethink American choice for top job

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

French ministers lashed out Thursday at the European Commission for picking a U.S. professor for a top antitrust job overseeing U.S. Big Tech firms.France’s Europe Minister Catherine Colonna said she was “astonished” by the choice of Fiona Scott Morton as chief competition economist, “which deserves to be reconsidered by the Commission.”Digital Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the Commission should rethink the hire, which raises “legitimate questions” at a time when the EU is rolling out ambitious digital enforcement legislation.Some Commission officials earlier questioned the appointment and how it was made earlier this week without wide consultation and without any in-depth discussion of Scott Morton’s previous consulting work for Big Tech firms. Pressure is now growing on EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager over the appointment.French Secretary for Europe Laurence Boone swiftly joined her government colleagues, saying she’d ta...

Manchester police arrest suspect after learning he returned to crime scene less than 24 hours after shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

Police in Manchester, New Hampshire, say they have made an arrest in connection with a shooting on Front Street that left a victim with non-life-threatening injuries.Anthony Barahona, 26, was taken into custody a day after authorities spent hours searching for him, warning the public at one point that he was considered armed and dangerous.Barahona was arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred around 3 p.m. at 389 Front Street. Police said a 34-year-old victim was later hospitalized and treated while they continued to look for the shooter. The 26-year-old Manchester resident was named a suspect soon afterwards. In an update Thursday morning, Manchester PD said Barahona was apprehended after police learned he had returned to 389 Front St.“Police again set up a perimeter, deployed a drone, and searched for Barahona,” the department stated. “He was located hiding inside, on the second floor of the house.”According to authorities, the 26 year old is now...

Man accused of trying to open jet’s door, attacking crew, found not competent for trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

A man charged with attacking a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon and attempting to open an airliner’s emergency door on a cross-country flight in March is not currently competent to stand trial, a federal judge ruled.Magistrate Judge Judith Dein, basing her decision on a mental health evaluation of Francisco Severo Torres and her own observations in court, determined Wednesday that further treatment is warranted, according to court records.“The Court hereby finds … that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense,” Dein wrote in her decision.She also wrote that she denied a request by Torres to be freed so he could “further investigate the conspiracy which eventually led to his actions on the plane.”Torres, of Leominster, Massachusetts, is ...

Hollywood actors join screenwriters in historic industry-stopping strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leaders of a Hollywood’s actors union voted Thursday to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades, shutting down production across the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with studios and streaming services broke down.Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, executive director of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, said at a news conference that the union leadership voted for the work stoppage hours after their contract expired and talks broke off with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers representing employers including Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others.“A strike is an instrument of last resort,” he said. Union leaders said at a news conference that they voted unanimously for a strike to begin at midnight. Outside Netflix’s Hollywood offices, picketing screenwriters chanted “Pay Your Actors!” immediately after the strike was announced.It&...

Released by Washington Nationals, Junior Martina finds home with Windy City ThunderBolts. ‘The hunger is still there.’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:40 GMT

In his first season with the Windy City ThunderBolts, infielder Junior Martina is a long way from his home in South Holland.No, not the one in the south suburbs about 10 miles from the T-Bolts’ home at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. Martina lives in Voorschoten, South Holland, in the Netherlands.“Baseball has taken me a lot of places around the world,” Martina said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”Martina got in on the fun Tuesday as the T-Bolts hosted a new event — the Frontier League skills competition, held a day before the league’s All-Star Game.Martina participated in the precision hitting contest. Batters had to hit four targets around the field before capping it off by hitting a pitch into center field for a teammate to catch, stopping the clock in the timed competition.Martina completed the challenge in 2 minutes, 10 seconds but finished last among the four competitors. Craig Massey of the Florence Y’alls won the event with times of...