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The fall of an enclave in Azerbaijan stuns the Armenian diaspora, extinguishing a dream

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — The swift fall of the Armenian-majority enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani troops and exodus of much of its population has stunned the large Armenian diaspora around the world. Traumatized by genocide a century ago, they now fear the erasure of what they consider a central and beloved part of their historic homeland.The separatist ethnic Armenian government in Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday announced that it was dissolving and that the unrecognized republic will cease to exist by year’s end – a seeming death knell for its 30-year de-facto independence.Azerbaijan, which routed the region’s Armenian forces in a lightning offensive last week, has pledged to respect the rights of the territory’s Armenian community. But by Thursday morning, 74,400 people – over 60% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population — had fled to Armenia, and the influx continues, according to Armenian officials.Many in Armenia and the diaspora fear a centuries-long community in the territory they call ...

Algeria expands English-language learning as France’s influence ebbs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — More than a year after Algeria launched a pilot program to teach English in elementary schools, the country is hailing it as a success and expanding it in a move that reflects a widening linguistic shift underway in former French colonies throughout Africa.Students returning to third and fourth grade classrooms this fall will participate in two 45-minute English classes each week as the country creates new teacher training programs at universities and eyes more transformational changes in the years ahead.“Teaching English is a strategic choice in the country’s new education policy,” Education Minister Abdelkrim Belabed said last week, lauding the move as an immense success.English is the world’s most widely spoken language, accounts for the majority of content on the internet and remains a common language in business and science. And as France’s economic and political influence wanes throughout Africa, Algeria is among a longer list of countries gradual...

Brazil’s President Lula set to undergo hip replacement surgery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled to undergo hip replacement surgery Friday, a procedure likely to put a temporary halt to his frequent international trips but otherwise not disrupt his activities.The 77-year-old leader should spend a few days in the Hospital Sirio-Libanes in the capital, Brasilia, before heading back to the presidential palace early next week, said Andrea Cordeiro of the president’s press office.“The impact of Lula’s surgery will probably be small and should not affect the decision-making process or negotiations in a significant way,” said Paulo Calmon, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia. “It is very likely that Lula, even in recovery, will continue to influence main decisions and will certainly demand to be informed of everything that is happening,” Calmon added.Hip replacement surgery is a common procedure, which usually takes one to two hours, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic ...

Ex-Detroit police chief James Craig will join GOP primary for US Senate in Michigan, sources tell AP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who was a leading GOP candidate for governor last year before fraudulent signatures on his paperwork derailed his campaign, is planning to enter the race for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat, according to two people familiar with the matter. Craig will join a growing field of GOP candidates trying to flip a seat that’s remained in Democratic control for over two decades. Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers announced a bid less than a month ago and several others, including former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, are still considering campaigns. The people familiar with the matter spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement scheduled for next week.Craig is positioning himself to win the support of former President Donald Trump, who has often swung Republican primaries with his endorsement. He has supported Trump for president in 2024 and wrote in a column this month for the conservative Dail...

Smash-and-grab robbers storm Palmdale jewelry store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

Security cameras captured the moment a group of smash-and-grab robbers escaped with over $15,000 worth of merchandise in Palmdale on Thursday.The owners of Kimberly’s Jewelry located on the 440 block of E Palmdale Boulevard said the theft happened around 12:06 p.m. when three masked thieves stormed into the shop.Video shows one suspect immediately spraying the security guard with bear spray before directing the spray toward two other employees.A second suspect wielding a hammer focused on smashing the store’s glass display cases.A third suspect followed closely behind and was seen grabbing all the jewelry and merchandise from the shattered display cases and throwing them into a large plastic bin.Security cameras captured a group of smash-and-grab robbers escaping with over $15,000 worth of merchandise in Palmdale on Sept. 28, 2023. (Kimberly's Jewelry)Security cameras captured a group of smash-and-grab robbers escaping with over $15,000 worth of merchandise in Palmdale on Sept. 28, ...

Suspect in Albany Toyota service center shooting identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

(KRON) -- The man who allegedly killed the mother of his child at a Toyota service center on Sept. 21 was identified as Lamar Walker, 24, of Vacaville by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) on Thursday. Walker is believed to have shot Alonna Gallon, 24, of Richmond before he was killed by police. ACSO was tight-lipped in its initial press conference the day of the shooting, but in a press release on Thursday, it revealed more information about the day's events. Worker dies after being trapped under 8 feet of dirt in San Francisco The Sheriff's Office said the Albany Police Department and Berkeley Police Department responded to the service center at 1025 Eastshore Highway just before 11:15 a.m. for the report of an active shooter. Dispatchers were told a man with a gun entered the business and started shooting. Officers with the Berkeley Police Department entered the building and went to look for victims and the suspect. They saw Walker crouched near a desk in a "large ope...

New film documents Carlos Santana's journey from SF to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

(KRON) -- He's a pioneer of Latin rock and truly needs no introduction. A new documentary released this month is giving fans of Carlos Santana an in-depth look at his life and legacy. La Doña singer goes from the Mission District to the main stage From launching his career right here in San Francisco to earning more than a dozen Grammys and a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Santana spoke about it all with KRON4. Watch the full story in the video player above.

Aprueban en Argentina la eliminación del impuesto a las ganancias para unos 800.000 trabajadores y jubilados

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

(CNN Español) — El Senado de Argentina convirtió en ley el proyecto que elimina el impuesto a las ganancias para más de 800.000 trabajadores y jubilados, después de la media sanción que obtuvo el martes en la Cámara de Diputados.Con 38 votos a favor y 27 en contra, la medida quedó aprobada por el Senado, tras un debate que se extendió por varias horas.La iniciativa, impulsada por el ministro de Economía y candidato a presidente por el oficialismo, Sergio Massa, fue anunciada el pasado 11 de septiembre y enviada en forma de proyecto de ley ese mismo día al Congreso de la Nación.“Para mí el salario no es ganancia, es remuneración”, indicó entonces Massa.Las claves de la modificación del impuesto a las ganancias que podría convertirse en ley esta semana en ArgentinaEn la Cámara Baja, el proyecto obtuvo 135 votos a favor, aportados por los bloques del oficialista Frente de Todos, la izquierda, los libertarios, los federales, Provincias Unidas, y de los gobernadores ele...

Doyle drives in 4 runs and Montero finishes a triple shy of cycle as Rockies beat Dodgers 14-5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Brenton Doyle drove in four runs, Elehuris Montero finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and the Colorado Rockies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 14-5 Thursday night in a matchup of the first- and last-place teams in the NL West.Colorado, which was 2-10 against the Dodgers this season entering the game, had lost nine of its last 10 games and had scored just 16 runs in its last eight games. The nine-run setback was tied for the third-most lopsided loss of the season for division-champion Los Angeles. The Rockies pounded out a season-best 18 hits and their 14 runs tied a season high. Every Colorado starter had a hit and seven had at least two hits.Montero, Charlie Blackmon and Sean Bouchard homered for the Rockies.The 37-year-old Blackmon had three hits and two RBIs. Bouchard’s home run was his second in as many days, giving him homers in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.Chris Flexen (1-8) earned the win. The 29-year-old right-handler gave up...

The headaches a government shutdown could create for people in the process of buying a home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:50:36 GMT

A government shutdown (if it happens) could add headaches to the home buying process for thousands of people nationwide, and that includes buyers in the D.C. area, especially government workers in the process of buying.“Federal employees, who might be in the middle of a mortgage application, who may be furloughed during that time and not get paid, that could cause a big slowdown in their process,” said Francki DiFrancesco, branch manager and senior vice president of mortgage lending for OriginPoint in Chevy Chase, Maryland.The problem for federal employees is mortgage lenders need to verify the income of a buyer, but if a buyer is not getting paid, they wouldn’t have the paystubs necessary to close.Also, anyone looking for a government-backed loan could also see delays in the processing of their applications.“[Federal Housing Administration] and [Veterans Affairs] loans will operate on a reduced capacity,” said DiFrancesco.Loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture wo...