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Colombia signs 3-month cease-fire with FARC holdout group

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s government and the rebel group known as FARC-EMC on Monday signed a three-month cease-fire and formally began peace talks, as President Gustavo Petro tries to bolster his plans to pacify rural areas ahead of regional elections that will take place at the end of October.In an event that took place in the township of Tibu, near Colombia’s border with Venezuela, both sides also agreed to cease attacks on civilians and set up a group that will monitor the cease-fire and could include United Nations personnel.“Peace today seems to have been eclipsed when sirens, bombs, shouts of pain and desperation can be heard in places like the Middle East, Europe or sub-Saharan Africa” said Camilo González, the government’s lead negotiator. “These peace talks (in Colombia) are a bet on life and freedom.”FARC-EMC are currently Colombia’s third largest armed group, with around 3,500 members. The group is led by left-wing guerrilla fighters who refused to join a ...

Tim Scott praises ‘restraint’ of Israel’s Netanyahu, says US should move more firepower to region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina on Monday praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for showing what he called “restraint” after Hamas attacked Israel over a week ago.The Republican presidential candidate said Netanyahu “waited” and showed “patience” and “humanity” in response to the Oct. 7 attack. Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza the day of the attack and Netanyahu declared war with Hamas, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.” The war has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead.“One of the first things that Israel’s done is they waited,” Scott said about Israel as he spoke at an event focused on U.S. foreign policy and national security at Georgetown University in Washington. “Now how Prime Minister Netanyahu had the kind of restraint to refrain from immediate action, it just talks about the morality and the humanity that we see coming from Netanyahu into Gaza,” the senator said.Hamas militants’ surpr...

Justice Barrett expresses support for a formal US Supreme Court ethics code in Minnesota speech

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett said Monday that it would be a good idea for the nation’s highest court to adopt a formal code of conduct, but she said the nine justices already agree that they should hold themselves to the highest ethical standards possible.Barrett spoke at a University of Minnesota Law School event just two weeks after the high court opened its current term in October with fresh cases on guns, abortion and the power of regulatory agencies on its docket, but with ethical concerns high on many observers’ minds. Ethics issues have dogged some justices — including conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito and liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor.“I think it would be a good idea for us to do it, particularly so that we can communicate to the public exactly what it is that we’re doing — and in a clearer way than perhaps we have been able to do so far,” Barrett said. “I will say this, there is no lack of con...

Californians plead guilty in $600 million nationwide catalytic converter theft scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Three members of a California family pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy for their role in a ring that shipped $600 million worth of stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey, federal prosecutors said.Brothers Tou Sue Vang, 32, and Andrew Vang, 28, along with their mother, Monica Moua, 58, were part of “a national network of thieves, dealers, and processors” who provided the stolen auto anti-smog devices to a metal refinery for more than $600 million dollars, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.Twenty-one people from California and New Jersey have been charged in the case, prosecutors said. The three Sacramento family members pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport the devices in return for more than $38 million.Tou Sue Vang also pleaded guilty to 39 charges related to money laundering, prosecutors said.Catalytic converters are easily stolen and contain precious metals including platinum.“Some of these precious m...

UN Security Council rejects Russia’s resolution on Gaza that fails to mention Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council rejected a Russian resolution Monday night that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians but made no mention of Hamas, whose surprise attack that killed 1,300 Israelis was the worst Jewish massacre since the World War II Nazi Holocaust.Only four countries joined Russia in voting for the resolution. Four countries voted against it, including the United States. Six countries abstained.Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, had urged support for the resolution to respond to the “unprecedented exacerbation” of the situation, citing the council’s inaction since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.It was unclear if the council would vote Monday night on a rival resolution from Brazil that would condemn’s the Hamas attack. The U.N.’s most powerful body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, has not taken a position on the Hamas assault or on Israel’s re...

Silver Cross Hospital CEO dies unexpectedly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

CHICAGO -- The President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox passed away unexpectedly Sunday.Ruth Colby, who served as the President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox since 2017, died on Sunday at the age of 69.During her time, Silver Cross Hospital was named one of the nation's 100 top hospitals 11 times.The Will County executive said Colby "was a servant leader and her legacy is the outstanding health care institution she helped create in Will County."Along with her duties at Silver Cross Hospital, Colby served as chair-elect of the Illinois Health and Hospital Assocation.She was slated to become chair in 2024.For more information, click here.

Texas men's hoops ranked No. 18 in preseason AP poll, hosts Orange-White scrimmage Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fresh off an Elite Eight appearance last season, the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team checked in at No. 18 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday.The Longhorns are the third-highest ranked Big 12 Conference team in the AP Top 25 with Kansas earning the No. 1 ranking and Houston at No. 7. Baylor is the remaining Big 12 team in the rankings at No. 20. The Longhorns were also picked to finish third in the Big 12 behind the Jayhawks and Cougars.Full preseason AP Top 25The Field of 68 Media Network announced its "Almanac" Top 25 earlier in the summer and picked Texas as the No. 12 team in the country.Four players were tabbed as preseason All-Big 12 honorees with Oral Roberts transfer Max Abmas named to the first team. Abmas is the NCAA Division I active leader in scoring with 2,562 points. Dylan Disu, Tyrese Hunter and Dillon Mitchell were all named honorable mention. Hunter and Mitchell came back to Austin after declaring for the 2023 NBA Draf...

Jury selected in APD officer's murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Monday, the court selected a jury for the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor shot and killed Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot in April 2020.On Monday, attorneys asked potential jurors if they could remain fair and unbiased despite their personal views. Regarding this case specifically, Taylor's attorneys asked the jury pool about their prior knowledge of this case as well as their experience and perspectives about law enforcement in general. In May, a judge granted the defense's motion for a mistrial following several snags in the jury selection process. The court chose from jury pools of 80 and 50, and could not find enough eligible jurors to sit on the case. This time around, the court will conduct jury selection differ...

Justice Barrett expresses support for a formal U.S. Supreme Court ethics code in Minnesota speech

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett said Monday that it would be a good idea for the nation’s highest court to adopt a formal code of conduct, but she said the nine justices already agree that they should hold themselves to the highest ethical standards possible.Barrett spoke at a University of Minnesota Law School event at Northrup Auditorium just two weeks after the high court opened its current term in October with fresh cases on guns, abortion and the power of regulatory agencies on its docket, but with ethical concerns high on many observers’ minds. Ethics issues have dogged some justices — including conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito and liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor.“I think it would be a good idea for us to do it, particularly so that we can communicate to the public exactly what it is that we’re doing — and in a clearer way than perhaps we have been able to do so far,” Barrett said. “I will say this, there...

Democrats float idea of bipartisan House speaker as Republicans fail to unite

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — As Republicans struggle to select a speaker of the House, Democrats are pushing the idea of picking a bipartisan leader. It's been nearly two weeks without an official House speaker. With war in Israel and a looming government funding deadline, there's pressure to choose one soon. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told NBC he's open to making a deal with Republicans.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "We are ready, willing and able to enter into a bipartisan governing coalition," Jeffries said. In order for that to happen, he says they'd need to find a leader that would allow votes on bills that both parties support. "We can change the rules to facilitate bipartisanship, and that should be the starting point of our conversation," Jeffries added. Many Republicans seem reluctant to give House Democrats any power. Congressman Mike Turner said on CBS he's not a fan of the idea of choo...