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Probe finds ‘serious failings’ in way British politician Nigel Farage had his bank account closed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — An independent probe on Friday found “serious failings” in how NatWest Group’s private and exclusive Coutts Bank shut down the account of the right-wing British politician Nigel Farage.Law firm Travers Smith was appointed to conduct a review in the wake of Farage’s so-called “debanking” at Coutts Bank, which has a long-established reputation of being the private bankers to members of Britain’s royal family and nobility. Farage, who was one of the most prominent politicians behind Britain’s departure from the European Union, claimed in July that his account was closed because of his political views. The ensuing furor led to the departures of the CEOs of both Coutts and NatWest.The investigation by Travis Smith found failures in how NatWest treated confidential information and how it communicated with Farage. NatWest CEO Alison Rose was forced to quit after acknowledging that she had discussed Farage’s personal details with a journalist.“She honestly, b...

Daughter of divisive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin named head of political party linked to him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s ruling party on Friday selected as its leader the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the country’s divisive former prime minister, highlighting the family’s continuing influence more than two decades after Thaksin entered politics.Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, who is Thaksin’s youngest daughter, was voted into the position at a meeting of executives and other members at the Pheu Thai Party’s Bangkok headquarters. Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties believed to be supported by Thaksin and serving his political interests.The party’s previous leader, Chonlanan Srikaew, resigned for breaking a pledge that Pheu Thai would not form a government with any military-aligned parties. Pheu Thai finished second in May’s election, but the winning Move Forward Party failed to win enough support from conservative lawmakers to form a government, opening a path for Pheu Thai to take power by joining with former political foes.“We will not give up the original DNA of Ph...

Iran’s deputy foreign minister met Hamas representatives in Moscow, Russian state media says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs met Hamas representatives in Moscow, Russian state news agency Tass said Friday.Iran discussed a cease-fire and providing humanitarian support to Gaza at Thursday’s meeting, Tass said. The meeting is likely to draw condemnation from Israel, whose foreign ministry slammed Russia’s decision to invite Hamas representatives to Moscow as “an act of support of terrorism,” and called for the delegation to be expelled from Russia. The Kremlin had responded by saying that Moscow believes it is necessary to maintain contacts with all parties. The visit of the Iranian deputy foreign minister and the Hamas delegation highlights how Russia is trying to assert its role as a power broker in the Middle East conflict even though it continues to be occupied with its war in Ukraine. It is not clear if representatives from Russia, Iran and Hamas all met together on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov,...

It’s time for Taylor Swift’s re-imagined ‘1989’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

Taylor Swift’s reimagined “1989” is here, the album that ushered in the first Peak Swift era — revisited at the height of her massive pop culture dominance.Released in 2014 and named for her birth year, the original “1989” signified a sonic rebirth. Swift had shed the Nashville country roots of her first four studio albums and announced herself a full-fledged pop superstar.“1989 (Taylor’s Version),” out Friday, takes that version of Swift — then in her mid-20s, living in New York, prepared to take on the world with an arsenal of ’80s synth sounds and a new producer named Jack Antonoff — and includes five unreleased “vault” tracks that deliver more clues about the artist she was then.Previous “Taylor’s Version” releases have been more than conventional rerecordings, arriving with new music, Easter eggs and visuals that deepen understanding of her work. The project — the f...

US expands its effort to cut off funding for Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The United States on Friday expanded its effort to cut off funding for Hamas, announcing a second round of sanctions against people and organizations linked to the group since it launched an attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people.The new sanctions highlight Iran’s role in providing financial, logistical and operational support to Hamas, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement. They include a Hamas representative in Iran and members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.The sanctions were announced as Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo travelled to London to shore up support from Britain, one of America’s closest allies, for the drive to squeeze off funding for Hamas, which both countries consider a terrorist organization.“Today’s action underscores the United States’ commitment to dismantling Hamas’s funding networks by deploying our counterterrorism sanctions authorities and working with our global partners...

Malaysia picks powerful ruler of Johor state as country’s new king under rotation system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia ‘s royal families have elected the powerful and wealthy ruler of southern Johor state as the country’s new king under a unique rotating monarchy system, the palace said Friday.Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 64, will ascend to the throne on Jan. 31 for a five-year term. the palace said in a statement. His election had been widely expected, as the ruler of Johor state bordering Singapore was next in line based on a rotation order established among the country’s nine state rulers.He succeeds incumbent Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of central Pahang, who presided over a tumultuous period that included COVID-19 lockdowns and political instability that has seen four prime ministers since 2018 general elections.Nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns serving as Malaysia’s king for five-year terms under the world’s only such system, which has been maintained since the country’s independence from Britain in 1957.Known as the Yang Di-Pertuan ...

Volunteer youth bowling coach, 'hero' bar manager among Maine shooting victims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

A volunteer youth bowling coach known for encouraging children and a bar manager whose father said tried to confront the gunman and died "a hero” were among the at least 18 people killed and 13 injured in two mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine.According to Maine State Police, seven people died Wednesday night at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley. Six were male and one was female. Eight more people, all male, died at Schemengees Bar and Grille. Three others died after being taken to area hospitals.Jess Paquette expresses her support for her city in the wake of Wednesday's mass shootings at a restaurant and bowling alley, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. Police continue their manhunt for the suspect. Authorities urged residents to lock themselves in their homes and schools announced closures on Thursday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)Authorities have not released the victims' names, but their family members have been confirming their deaths.BOB VIOLETTERetiree Bob Violette...

Fearful Maine residents remain behind locked doors amid massive search for mass killing suspect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Shocked and fearful Maine residents kept to their homes for a second night as hundreds of heavily armed police and FBI agents searched intensely for Robert Card, an Army reservist authorities say fatally shot 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in the worst mass killing in state history.Much of Thursday’s search focused on a property belonging to one of Card’s relatives in rural Bowdoin, where trucks and vans full of armed agents from the FBI and other agencies eventually surrounded a home. Card and anyone else inside were repeatedly ordered to surrender.“You need to come outside now with nothing in your hands. Your hands in the air,” police said through a loudspeaker. In most instances when police execute warrants — even for suspects wanted for violent crimes — they move quickly to enter the home.Police officers speak with a motorist at a roadblock, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lisbon, Maine, during a manhunt for the suspect of Wednesday's mass sh...

Williamson County elections employee fired after votes go uncounted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said a county elections employee has been terminated after a programming error resulted in 18 votes on a sales and use tax election going uncounted.Gravell said the error was limited to voters deciding on a proposition in Emergency Services District #9 which serves the Round Rock and Leander area.He said the voters affected all live in a part of the county that was annexed into ESD #9 back in 2021 which was not properly programmed into the ballot system.According to the ESD's website, if the prop is passed it would allow the district to increase the revenue it gets from certain parts of its coverage area by 2%.Accompanied by Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason and attorney for ESD #9 Ken Campbell, Gravell said a voter brought this to the county's attention after they noticed they did not have the proposition on their ballot.Gravell said the county has checked other elections on the ballot and that no similar i...

International buyer interest in Central Texas housing holds steady, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Board of Realtors said Thursday international buyers remain interested in investing in the Central Texas housing market.The Central Texas International Homebuyers report from ABoR said international buyers purchased $609 million in residential real estate between April 2022 through March 2023. That is similar to the level seen in the same period in 2021-22 ($613 million). Buying vs. renting housing in Austin “The Central Texas region continues to be a magnet for international homebuyers and investors,” Ashley Jackson, 2023 ABoR president, told KXAN in a statement. “One in six new Austin-area residents come from abroad, which is a testament to our business-friendly environment, thriving entrepreneurial spirit and the incredible quality of life Austin provides."Both amounts represent 3% of the total sales dollar volume in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area, the report said.The top five countries of origin for the 2022-23 repor...