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Legal dispute facing Texan ‘Sassy Trucker’ in Dubai shows the limits of speech in UAE

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Houston woman known online as the “Sassy Trucker” has been stuck in Dubai for months after an altercation at a car rental agency, the latest case showing the limits of speech in this skyscraper-studded city-state. The case against Tierra Young Allen, 29, comes as the seven sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates have rules that strictly govern speech far beyond what’s common in Western nations. A middle finger raised in a traffic dispute, a text message calling someone a name or swearing in public easily can spark criminal cases — something that foreign tourists who flock here may not realize until it is too late. Allen traveled to Dubai in April, with her social media accounts with tens of thousands of followers showing videos of her test-driving a Mercedes semitruck, going to the beach, seeing tourist attractions and partying in nightclubs. But toward the end of Allen’s trip, a rental car driven by a friend she was with was involved ...

Putin and Lukashenko to meet after Russia warns about aggression against Belarus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko (both pictured) met on Sunday (23 July), the Kremlin said, two days after Moscow warned that any aggression against its neighbour and staunchest ally would be considered an attack on Russia.After Poland decided earlier this week to move military units closer to its border with Belarus in response to the arrival in Belarus of forces from Russia's Wagner Group, Putin said Moscow would use all means it has to react to any hostility towards Minsk.The Kremlin said Lukashenko is paying a working visit to Russia and will talk to Putin about further development of the countries' "strategic partnership".While not sending his own troops to Ukraine, Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022 and has since met with Putin frequently.The two countries have since held multiple joint military training exercises, and in June Lukashenko allowed his count...

Three-bedroom home sells in Fremont for $1.7 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

36062 Plumeria Way – Google Street ViewA house located in the 36000 block of Plumeria Way in Fremont has new owners. The 1,936-square-foot property, built in 1968, was sold on June 8, 2023, for $1,701,000, or $879 per square foot. The layout of this single-story home consists of three bedrooms and two baths. Additionally, the house includes a garage. The lot size of the property measures an impressive 10,829 square feet.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:A 1,084-square-foot home on the 36000 block of Niles Boulevard in Fremont sold in January 2023, for $800,000, a price per square foot of $738. The home has 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom.On Larch Way, Fremont, in September 2022, a 1,576-square-foot home was sold for $1,600,000, a price per square foot of $1,015. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In January 2023, a 1,689-square-foot home on Linda Drive in Fremont sold for $1,080,000, a price per square foot of $639. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 

Philippines shocks co-host New Zealand 1-0 for its first win at the Women’s World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — With its first goal at its first Women’s World Cup the unfavored Philippines achieved its first win Tuesday, shocking host New Zealand 1-0 in a Group A match made contentious when a potential equalizer was disallowed.New Zealand achieved its first World Cup win when it upset favored Norway in the opening match of the tournament five days ago. For the first time in six World Cups, the Football Ferns went into a match as favorite, almost certain with another win to become the first team to reach the round of 16.But Sarina Bolden scored the Philippines’ historic match-winner from its first shot on goal in the 24th minute, flipping the script and silencing a packed stadium of 33,000 mostly newly-minted Kiwi soccer fans.New Zealand had been ascendant in the first 20 minutes, playing with a confidence which reflected its expectation that this would be its best shot at winning in the group stage. It had 80% of possession, 74 completed passes to 11...

Philippines 1, New Zealand 0

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

Philippines10—1New Zealand00—0First Half_1, Philippines, Bolden, (Eggesvik), 24th minute.Second Half_None.Goalies_Philippines, Olivia Davies McDaniel, Kaiya Jota, Kiara Fontanilla; New Zealand, Victoria Esson, Erin Nayler, Anna Leat.Yellow Cards_Wilkinson, New Zealand, 42nd; Beard, Philippines, 49th.Referee_Katia García. Assistant Referees_Karen Janett Diaz Medina, Enedina Caudillo Gomez, Abdulla Ali Al-Marri. 4th Official_Kim Yujeong.___Source

Washington visits Minnesota after Cloud’s 23-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

Washington Mystics (12-10, 6-8 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (10-13, 8-7 Western Conference)Minneapolis; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Washington takes on the Minnesota Lynx after Natasha Cloud scored 23 points in the Mystics’ 84-69 victory against the Phoenix Mercury.The Lynx have gone 5-8 in home games. Minnesota has a 3-7 record in games decided by 10 or more points.The Mystics are 4-6 in road games. Washington is sixth in the Eastern Conference scoring 31.2 points per game in the paint led by Shakira Austin averaging 8.8.The two teams play for the second time this season. The Lynx defeated the Mystics 80-78 in their last matchup on June 3. Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 24 points, and Ariel Atkins led the Mystics with 18 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Napheesa Collier is averaging 21.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals for the Lynx. Diamond Miller is averaging 13.5 points over the last 10 games for Minnesota.Tianna Hawkins is averaging 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds fo...

Forenses declaran como “indeterminada” la causa de muerte de Julian Sands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

LOS ÁNGELES – La oficina forense del condado de San Bernardino (California, EEUU) declaró este lunes como “indeterminada” la causa de muerte del actor británico Julian Sands, cuyo cuerpo sin vida fue identificado el pasado 27 de junio en un desierto al sur de California tras meses desaparecido.“La causa se considera indeterminada debido a la condición del cuerpo y al hecho de que no se descubrieron otros factores durante la investigación del forense. Esto es común cuando en casos de este tipo”, aseguraron los forenses en un comunicado.Asimismo, se añadió que esta era la “resolución final”, la cual llega cuatro semanas después del hallazgo de sus restos en el desierto de Mount Baldy (sur de California) tras desaparecer en enero. Confirman que los restos encontrados en una zona silvestre de California son del actor Julian Sands Hallan restos humanos en las montañas de California donde desapareció el act...

Jury to deliver verdict over Brussels extremist attacks that killed 32

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — A jury is expected to render its verdict Tuesday over Belgium’s deadliest peacetime attack, suicide bombings at the Brussels airport and a busy subway station in 2016 that killed 32 people in a wave of violence in Europe claimed by the Islamic State group.Among the 10 defendants is Salah Abdeslam, who already is serving a life sentence without parole in France over his role in attacks that hit Paris cafes, the Bataclan theater and France’s national stadium in 2015. The suspects in Brussels were tried on charges including murder, attempted murder and participation in the acts of a terrorist group.The biggest trial in Belgium’s judicial history unfolded over more than half a year in a special court to address the exceptional case. Survivors and families of victims hoped the trial and verdict would help them work through the trauma and find closure.The morning rush hour attacks on March 22, 2016 at Zavantem Airport and on the Brussels subway’s central commut...

EU agriculture ministers meet to discuss vital Ukraine grain exports after Russia nixed deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union agriculture ministers met Tuesday to discuss ways of moving grain vital to global food security out of Ukraine after Russia halted a deal that allowed the exports. At the same time, they want to protect prices for farmers in countries bordering the war-ravaged nation.Germany’s agriculture minister, Cem Ozdemir, warned that the ministers must seek to balance those two issues without eroding the EU’s support for Ukraine in the war sparked by last year’s invasion. If cracks open up in EU unity, “the only one who is happy is Vladimir Putin,” he said.The ministers met in Brussels for the first time since Russia pulled the plug last week on the wartime deal that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.The deal provided guarantees that ships would not be attacked when entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, wh...

First Lady Jill Biden to mark US reentry into UNESCO with flag-raising ceremony in Paris

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:41 GMT

PARIS (AP) — United States First Lady Jill Biden is in Paris on Tuesday to attend a flag-raising ceremony at UNESCO, marking the United States’ official reentry into the United Nations’ educational, scientific and cultural organization after a five-year hiatus.Biden will also make remarks about the importance of American leadership in preserving cultural heritage and empowering education and science across the globe.The U.S. had announced its intention to rejoin UNESCO in June, and the organization’s 193 member states earlier this month voted to approve the U.S. reentry. Tuesday’s ceremony, which will also feature a speech by UNESCO’s Director General Audrey Azoulay, will formally signify the U.S. becoming the 194th member of the body.The U.S. decision to return to the Paris-based UNESCO was based mainly on concerns that China has filled a leadership gap since the U.S. withdrew during the Trump administration.The U.S. exit from UNESCO in 2017 cited an alleged anti-Israel bias within...