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Myanmar ethnic armed group seizes another crossing point along the Chinese border, reports say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — An ethnic armed group in northeastern Myanmar has seized a major crossing point for trade along the Chinese border, residents and media reports said.The border gate in Laukkaing township, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone in the northern part of Shan state, became the fifth crossing seized by the group since it launched a coordinated offensive on Oct. 27 with two other ethnic armed groups.The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which took control of the crossing, joined with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army for the offensive that began in October and call themselves the Three Brotherhood Alliance.Laukkaing is known for hosting major organized criminal enterprises including cyberscam operations controlled by Chinese investors in cooperation with local Myanmar warlords.The Chinese government in recent weeks has initiated a crackdown on these operations, and thousands of people involved have been repatriated to China. Many of ...

Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community hopeful as marriage equality bill is set to be discussed in Parliament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Naphat Krutthai and Rasithaya Jindasri have been in a committed relationship for eight years, but only now can they consider getting married.In a clothing shop in Siam Square, a commercial hub in Thailand’s capital, the happy couple excitedly eyed multi-colored garments as they discussed their potential wedding. Naphat, a transgender man, and Rasithaya, a woman, want to formalize their union, as Parliament is set to debate Thursday a final C abinet-endorsed draft bill to pass landmark legislation allowing members of the LGBTQ + community to get married.The bill seeks to amend the Civil and Commercial Code, changing the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners.” Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters Tuesday after the Cabinet meeting that it will grant LGBTQ+ couples the “exact same equal rights” as heterosexual couples. This would make Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to pass such a law and the thir...

Ex-New York Giants running back Derrick Ward arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Derrick Ward, a former running back and one-time member of the 2008 Super Bowl-winning New York Giants team, has been arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of robbery.Ward, 43, was arrested Monday in the North Hollywood area, police said. He was being held Tuesday on $250,000 bail, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate search website.Police didn’t immediately provide details of the alleged crime, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether Ward had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.A call by The Associated Press to the police department seeking information wasn’t immediately returned Tuesday evening.Police told NBC News that Ward allegedly robbed five businesses, including gas stations, and that the 6-foot-tall, 230-pound ex-player didn’t use a gun during the alleged crimes.Ward, who grew up in Southern California, was drafted by the New York Jets in 2004 in the seventh round but was cut without playing a re...

3 injured in high-rise fire in Uptown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Three people were hospitalized after a fire broke out at a high rise in Uptown on Tuesday evening.SkyCam9 was over the scene in the 4600 block of North Sheridan Road around 5:35 p.m. when several emergency vehicles could be seen outside of the 27-story building. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines According to Chicago fire officials, the blaze started in an apartment on the fourth floor and crews say it was contained to a single unit thanks to a sprinkler system in the hallway.Officials say three people suffered injuries in the blaze and were taken to the hospital. Two of those people, a man and a woman, were transported in critical condition.Currently, it is unclear how the fire broke out.

After 44 years, body found near Las Vegas Strip ID'd as missing Ohio 19-year-old

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Police have identified a homicide victim whose body was located in a desert area near the Las Vegas Strip in 1979 as a missing Ohio woman.Gwenn Marie Story, 19, of Colerain Township, Ohio, was murdered near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue on Aug. 14, 1979, police said.A man discovered her remains on the site of the demolished El Rancho hotel, though the nearby intersection gave her the moniker “Sahara Sue Doe.”DNA testing led to Story's identification last month. Texas-based Othram Labs, which works with police to identify cold case victims, made the match through familial DNA, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department cold case investigator Terri Miller told Nexstar's KLAS.Gwenn Marie Story, 19, of Colerain Township, Ohio, was murdered near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue on Aug. 14, 1979, police said. (LVMPD/KLAS)Witnesses saw Story and an unidentified man visit a now-closed liquor store near the intersection a...

Ramsey County awards $2.9 million to 11 affordable housing projects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners this month awarded $2.9 million to 11 affordable housing projects being undertaken by emerging and diverse developers.The developments, 10 of which are located in St. Paul, will add or preserve 174 units of affordable housing in the county, according to a news release issued Tuesday. The 11th development is located in Falcon Heights.The funds were awarded through the county’s Emerging and Diverse Developers solicitation process, which targets firms and individuals that have owned or developed no more than five Minnesota housing properties in the past decade.The EDD program was launched in August “to address racial barriers in real estate, providing emerging and diverse developers with a fair and equal opportunity to thrive in the early stages of the development process,” the county’s news release said.Participants in the program will receive mentorship from industry experts, education and training, as well as networkin...

Stolen car seen in Central West End belongs to long-time police officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS – FOX 2 has confirmed new information in a case of brazen car crime in the Central West End. Authorities are sharing startling neighborhood surveillance video and boosting a reward in the case.The video shows gunmen with assault-style rifles ditching one stolen car and driving away in another, just before 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, on Walton near McPherson in the heart of the neighborhood.That second stolen car has been recovered. The suspects may be stunned to hear who owns it.The car left behind was stolen earlier from Ferguson, according to police. It was a black Hyundai Elantra.The suspects left in a black Kia Optima that had just been stolen around the block. According to police, it’s a common tactic for thieves to abandon one stolen car and steal another very similar in color, make, and model.“It tries to throw off law enforcement; keep us on our toes,” Ferguson Police Captain Harry Dilworth said. “At one point in time during our afternoon watch, we had four or five ...

115 million Americans expected to travel this holiday season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The busy holiday travel season is in full swing at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, as the Transportation Security Administration expects nearly 16,000 people to pass through checkpoints, and Tuesday’s not even one of the busiest days during these last two weeks of December."When we traveled, you could definitely see so many people,” Latrice Walton said.The travel numbers are back up."TSA lines were a lot longer," Linda Williams said.AAA is predicting that 115 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday season. Charges reduced for Bar:PM owner arrested after police crash "The crowds were busy at the airport last Friday, and they certainly were in Vegas," Felisha Bochantin said.While the holiday travel season does not officially start until this Saturday, TSA predicted The busiest travel day during these last two weeks of the year was last Friday, Dec. 15, with close to 20,000 travelers moving through TSA checkpoints at St. Louis Airpor...

Westminster man arrested at Denver airport allegedly planned to fight for Islamic State group

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

An 18-year-old Westminster man was arrested by the FBI at Denver International Airport on Monday as he allegedly began an overseas trip to join the Islamic State group as a fighter.Humzah Mashkoor was arrested at the airport at about 9 a.m. after clearing security but before he reached the terminal trains, according to a complaint filed in federal district court on Monday.Mashkoor is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.According to a 37-page complaint filed by the FBI, Mashkoor began communicating with agency employees posing as Islamic State group supporters online in September 2022.Over the following 14 months, Mashkoor “repeatedly expressed his intent to travel in order to join ISIS as a fighter, to provide money to ISIS to support their efforts, and to recruit others to also support ISIS through travel and/or financial contributions,” according to the complaint.Mashkoor also told FBI employees that an Islamic State g...

Slim Jim says its custom sports car dubbed 'Fast Meat' was stolen in L.A. area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:50 GMT

A crime has allegedly been committed in Los Angeles County and the victim is an iconic American meat snack.Slim Jim, the long thin tube of meat that comes wrapped in plastic and is sold in convenience stores across the country, says someone has stolen its custom sports car known as "Fast Meat."The custom Nissan Z is wrapped with Slim Jim branding and was made as part of a partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment. In recent weeks, it's been traveling across the country for WWE events, including making a recent stop in Chicago for the company's "Survivor Series" event. The vehicle has been appearing in commercials with WWE Superstar L.A. Knight, who tells viewers to "Snap into a Slim Jim," taking over the mantle for pro wrestling icon "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who starred in similar commercials in the 1990s.Recently, Fast Meat was routed to Los Angeles for a custom video shoot, according to Conagra Brands, Slim Jim's parent company. While en route, it was apparently stolen — at ...