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France heightens security for New Year’s Eve, with 90,000 police officers to be mobilized

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Security will be tight across France on New Year’s Eve, with 90,000 law enforcement officers set to be deployed, domestic intelligence chief Céline Berthon said Friday.Of those, 6,000 will be in Paris, where French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said over 1.5 million people are expected to attend celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.Speaking at a press conference, Darmanin cited a “very high terrorist threat” because, in part, of “what is happening in Israel and Palestine.”Darmanin said that police for the first time will be able to use drones as part of security work, and that tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers would also be deployed.New Year’s Eve celebrations in Paris will center on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, including DJ sets, fireworks and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe.The security challenge ahead of the Olympics was highlighted when a tourist was killed in a knife attack near the Eiffel Tower on Dec. 2. Large-scale attacks — such a...

What stores are open and closed for New Year’s Eve 2023? See hours for Walmart, Target, CVS and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

It’s just about time to celebrate New Year’s Eve and say goodbye to 2023. Preparing for a midnight toast and more year-end festivities may require a run or two to the store — but it’s wise to expect some limited business hours. While a handful of major chains operate normally on the final day of the year, many others close up shop early. Much of this depends on location and each company’s policy — so when in doubt, call ahead or check online for more specific schedules near you.Here’s a rundown of New Year’s Eve hours for stores across the U.S. this year.WALMART NEW YEAR’S EVE HOURSWalmart is open with regular operating hours on New Year’s Eve.TARGET NEW YEAR’S EVE HOURSMost Target stores will close at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.COSTCO NEW YEAR’S EVE HOURSCostco’s warehouses will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, although hours may vary between locations. You can check local hours here.CVS NEW YEARR...

Poland says an unidentified object has entered its airspace from Ukraine. A search is underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s armed forces said Friday an unknown airborne object entered the country’s airspace from the direction of Ukraine and subsequently vanished off radars.The Operational Command of the Armed Forces said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that the unidentified airborne object was observed by radars of Poland’s air defense system from the moment it crossed the border until the signal disappeared.It said troops have been mobilized to identify and find the object.Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened a meeting with the defense minister, military commanders and heads of national security bodies, to be followed by a meeting of the National Security Bureau.There were no immediate reports of any explosion or casualties.The governor of Lublin province in eastern Poland, Krzysztof Komorski, told the Onet news portal that the unidentified object appeared on radars near the town of Hrubieszow, where a border crossing with Ukraine is located. Komor...

China appoints a new defense minister after months of uncertainty following firing of predecessor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China on Friday said it had appointed a new defense minister after months of uncertainty following the firing of his predecessor for reasons still unexplained. The official Xinhua News Agency announced former navy commander Dong Jun would serve in the largely ceremonial role, but offered no comment on the reasons for the switch or the current circumstances of previous minister Li Shangfu, who has not been seen or heard from since August. The uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the world’s largest standing military comes as Washington and its Asian allies are offering stronger resistance to China’s bid to assert itself as the dominant military power in the region. Dong’s naval background is significant in that China has largely asserted its territorial claims using its massive force of warships, coast guard cutters and fishing boats acting as a maritime militia in the South China Sea. China’s navy has also expanded its range to the Mediterranean Sea, ...

Body found in Illinois concludes search for missing St. Louis mother; ex-boyfriend charged with her murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — The family of Marquisha Williams is heartbroken, but they say the discovery of her body in the Chicago area brings them some closure after Williams had been missing for over a week.The search ended Thursday in Des Plaines when Williams' body was found in the 2100 block of E. Algonquin Road at the Cook County Forest Preserve. Williams, a 29-year-old mother of four from St. Louis, went missing a week before Christmas.Prosecutors have charged Trenton Ivy, her ex-boyfriend, with murder. Ivy was arrested in Racine, Wisconsin, last week Friday on unrelated charges. Investigators say after his arrest, Ivy confessed to killing Williams in St. Louis. He also admitted to having a physical altercation and then dumping Williams' body at an undisclosed location.Williams' mother, Norvette Chavis Williams, said she last saw her daughter last Wednesday morning, Dec. 20, when she dropped off one of her kids. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines "I'm just glad that we found...

Man stabbed to death at Burger King in Des Plaines identified; police still searching for suspect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — The man who was stabbed to death Wednesday night at a Des Plaines Burger King has been identified, but police are still searching for the man who stabbed him.Des Plaines police have identified the victim as Mario Jara-Antemante, a 28-year-old man from Mt. Prospect.Investigators say Jara-Antemante got into a fight outside the Burger King on the 800 block of South Elmhurst Road on Wednesday night with a man, who then chased Jara-Antemante inside and stabbed him. Authorities say the suspect then ran north on Elmhurst Road. Police are still trying to find him. Jara-Antemante suffered multiple stab wounds and died shortly after being rushed to the hospital. A witness said Jara-Antemante tried to get away from his assailant but was tripped and then stabbed on the floor.As authorities wrapped up their on-scene investigation Thursday morning, they said the suspect remained at large and that they did not have a description of the suspect. T...

Friday Forecast: Showers decrease, overcast, low 40s

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

Friday: Showers likely early, decrease throughout the day. Staying overcast. chilly, North 5-15 mph winds, low 40s Friday Night: Partly cloudy, patchy fog possible, low 30s. NW/W 5-10 mphChicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Saturday: Partly cloudy, low 40s

WATCH: Rogue wave slams into Southern California beachgoers; 9 hospitalized

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

VENTURA, Cali. (KTLA) — Video captured the terrifying moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura, California, on Thursday. The incident happened as locals were being warned about a massive swell pounding the Southern California coastline this week.The rogue wave submerged bystanders at Pierpont Beach on Seaward Avenue around 11 a.m. That area has been hit the hardest with what the National Weather Service called “tremendous wave energy.”A witness, Colin Hoag, captured cell phone video of the explosive wave and shared it with Nexstar's KTLA. As the waters suddenly flooded an observation zone, both people and vehicles were instantly swept away. Ventura Police shared a similar video, seen in the player above.Beachgoers were seen frantically running for their lives. The raging waters destroyed the windows of nearby beachfront buildings and hotels on its destructive path.Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura ...

SmileDirectClub is shutting down: What does that mean for customers?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Just months after filing for bankruptcy, SmileDirectClub announced it was shutting down its global operations and halting its teeth-aligner treatments.That leaves existing SmileDirectClub customers with a lot of questions and few available answers. The company is offering no more customer care support and few details about possible refunds are available yet. Multiple dental organizations and orthodontists also caution patients about safety concerns arising from “direct-to-consumer” dentistry.Here's what you need to know.WHAT IS THE COMPANY AND WHY IS IT CLOSING SHOP?SmileDirectClub — which served over 2 million people since its 2014 founding — once promised to revolutionize the oral-care industry by selling clear dental aligners that were marketed as a faster and more affordable alternative to braces. It sold its aligners directly to consumers by mail and in major retailers.When SmileDirectClub's stock began trading on the stock market in 2019, the company was v...

Shed at southeast Austin elementary school catches fire; No injuries reported

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Fire Department responded to a fire at a building on a southeast Austin elementary school campus Friday morning. According to AFD, a shed in the courtyard of Rodriguez Elementary School caught fire and extended slightly into the school's interior. The school is located at 4400 Franklin Park Drive, off of Teri Road. The department said the fire was out by 6 a.m. and crews were working on smoke removal. An AFD crewmember on scene told KXAN the department is treating the fire as suspicious until there is reason to believe otherwise and investigators are coming to the scene. Austin Independent School District Police also responded to the scene. AFD said the scene will be turned over to AISD police once the fire is out. AFD responds to fire in shed at Rodriguez Elementary School in southeast Austin Dec. 29, 2023 (AFD photo) AFD responds to fire in shed at Rodriguez Elementary School in southeast Austin Dec. 29, 2023 (AFD photo) AFD responds to fire in shed at ...