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Iran strikes divide local Iranian-Americans, Washington lawmakers split on military action

“People will finally be free to make their own decisions like who they want as their next leader.”There is one issue Kamyab and Iranian American protestors calling for an end to the use of military force share in common, and that is their combined support for a change in Iran’s leadership.“This regime has been killing our people, in the tens of thousands,” Kamyab said. “If you remember, just two months ago, on January 8 and January 9, in two days they killed o

Man who rammed car into Chabad headquarters in NYC charged with damaging religious property

<block>NEW YORK (AP) — A man who drove his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in New York City has been charged by federal prosecutors with intentionally damaging religious property. Dan Sohail, 36, was set to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Brooklyn federal court for the Jan. 28 incident, which damaged the entrance of the revered Jewish site, but did not cause any injuries. An attorney for Sohail did not immediately return a request for comment Monday. He was previously arrested by New York City police at the scene and charged with multiple hate crimes by state prosecutors. He later told officials that he had recently learned he had Jewish heritage and had been invited to the headquarters that night to learn more about the religion’s traditions, according to the federal complaint unsealed Monday. Several people close to him — including family members and Chabad rabbis — have said Sohail did not seem to harbor any hatred toward Jews, and confirmed that he had expressed interest in converting to the religion. Weeks before the incident, he had attended a social gathering at the Chabad headquarters, where he was seen on video dancing with Orthodox men, according to police. Sohail’s father <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/01/29/man-who-rammed-car-into-brooklyn-chabad-headquarters-hoped-to-convert-to-judaism-father/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Daily News</a> that his son suffered from “mental problems,” but had “a very good friendship, relationship with the Jews.”Sohail initially claimed that his “clunky boots” had slipped, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, according to police. Federal prosecutors said he was seen removing several blockades and cleared snow away from a sidewalk before driving into the building at least five times. The charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison if the damage is found to have exceeded $5,000. Jailed since his arrest, Sohail was temporary released Monday to the custody of the U.S. Marshals for his federal court appearance, online records show. His next hearing in the state case is March 31.A spokesperson for Chabad did not respond to inquiries about the federal charges. The crash occurred on the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson becoming the leader of the Lubavitch movement and prompted immediate concern in the city. Schneerson died in 1994 but remains a revered figure globally.There has been a near constant police presence around the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters for years.The site was at the epicenter of the Crown Heights riots in 1991, when Black residents of the neighborhood attacked Jews after a child was killed by a car traveling in Schneerson’s motorcade. In 2014, a disturbed man entered the synagogue and stabbed a rabbinical student, wounding him, before being shot dead by police.</block>

Judge nixes latest policy requiring 7 days’ notice for Congress members to visit ICE facilities

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge agreed on Monday to temporarily suspend the latest version of a Trump administration policy that requires members of Congress to provide a week’s notice before they can visit immigration detention facilities.U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington ruled that a group of Democratic lawmakers is likely to succeed in showing that the seven-day notice requirement is illegal and exceeds the government’s statutory authority.The judge said the Republican admini

Supreme Court could loosen law barring marijuana users from owning guns

But both liberal and conservative justices seemed skeptical.“What is the government’s evidence that using marijuana a couple of times a week makes someone dangerous?” said conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett.The Trump administration has asked the court to strike down other gun control laws in the past, but Principal Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris defended the illegal drug user law as a reasonable measure to keep firearms from potentially dangerous people.Justice Neil Gorsuch, tho

FBI joins Cincinnati police search for suspect after 9 wounded in nightclub shooting

Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie said all the victims were in stable condition.The FBI was working with the Cincinnati Police Department on the investigation, said spokesperson Todd Lindgren, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offered a $5,000 reward for information identifying a suspect.Though it occurred almost simultaneously to a deadly bar shooting in Austin, Texas, which is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, authorities in Ohio ha

US sanctions Rwanda’s defense force over support for M23 rebels in Congo

Treasury Department said, accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo, as fighting in the region continues.“The Rwandan Defense Force is actively supporting, training, and fighting alongside the March 23 Movement (M23), a U.S.- and United Nations-sanctioned armed group responsible for human rights abuses and a mass displacement crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” a statement by the U.S. Treasury Department read.Four individuals have been sanctioned, includin

Federal and city officials say the man who opened fire outside a Texas bar was not on their radar

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Federal and city authorities say the gunman who opened fire outside a Texas bar, killing two people and wounding 14 more was not on their radar before the attack.Both the FBI and police in Austin said Monday that it’s too soon to identify the motive behind the mass shooting early Sunday.The FBI has said it’s investigating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran.Police identified the gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne

Iranian drones buzz across the Persian Gulf after their pivotal use by Russia in Ukraine

Since then, Russia has battered Ukraine with hundreds of drones in a single night – more than were used during some entire months in 2024.By using large numbers in a single attack, Moscow’s strategists seek to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and distract them from engaging more expensive cruise and ballistic missiles that Moscow often uses alongside the drones to hit high-value targets.And while it flies slow at 180 kph (just over 110 mph), it can range as far as 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles)

WA gas prices are 45% higher than national average as oil markets react to Iran strikes

The price per gallon in Washington is the third highest in the nation.Across the greater Seattle area, the average price per gallon of regular gas is $4.585, a whopping 53% higher than the national average.RELATED STORIESWhidbey Island Growlers now flying combat missions against IranWar widens as Israeli and US planes pound Iran and Tehran and its proxies hit backOil prices surge as Strait of Hormuz tanker disruptions rattle global supplyWashington counties’ gas pricesAverage gas prices in Washi

Melania Trump will preside at UN Security Council meeting on children in conflict as US attacks Iran

Security Council meeting on Monday that will focus on children in conflict, one of her signature issues, at a turbulent time as the United States has joined Israel in attacking Iran.The U.N. says she will be the first spouse of a world leader to take the president’s seat at the United Nations’ most powerful body, which is charged with ensuring global peace and security. The wife of President Donald Trump was given the opportunity as the United States takes over the council presidency for

Travelers stranded as Middle East conflict spreads as governments scramble to bring citizens home

Babiš said there are some 6,700 Czechs in the region.Four more planes are heading to Muscat and Salalah in Oman to fly home Czech tourists.In Asia, thousands of travelers were stranded on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali because international flights were cancelled.Bali’s international airport said at least 15 flights, including eight departures and seven arrivals, on routes to Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were cancelled as of Monday afternoon.Air France canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Bei

A long way from the war, Iran loses its opening Women’s Asian Cup game to South Korea

Her team had only 21% of possession in the game and had just three shots at goal compared with 32 for the South Koreans.Iran will next play tournament host Australia on Thursday at the same venue on the Gold Coast, a beachside tourist destination in Queensland state.A tournament record crowd of 44,379 attended the opening game in Perth on Sunday to see hometown star Sam Kerr score in Australia’s 1-0 win over Philippines.After that win, Kerr acknowledged the difficult circumstances for the

Britain says it’s not at war after a drone strikes its Akrotiri base in Cyprus

to use British bases during its war with Iran and after a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus was struck by an Iranian-made drone.Sirens sounded again at RAF Akrotiri on Monday and British warplanes were scrambled, apparently in response to a new threat.More than two decades after Britain followed the United States into a devastating war in Iraq, it is trying to avoid being drawn into a new Middle East conflict with unpredictable consequences.Akrotiri attackedU.K. officials say an attack drone hit th

Photos show Lebanese people fleeing after Israeli strikes

<block>Many people in Lebanon are fleeing their homes after Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel early Monday from Lebanon in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and Israel retaliated with strikes on Lebanon. At least 31 people were killed, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.</block>

Where things stand after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran

Iran said strikes also targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment site.Khamenei had no designated successor. Iran has set up a three-member leadership council, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said a new supreme leader would be chosen in “one or two days.” On the streets, there have been scattered celebrations over Khamenei’s death. Internet restrictions in Iran have complicated efforts to monitor what’s happening.In retaliation, Iran’s military has struck Israel, where several people have be

Pakistan deploys troops, imposes 3-day curfew after deadly protests over US-Israeli strikes on Iran

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani authorities deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew before dawn Monday in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu after several people died and tens were injured in violent protests following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes, officials said.Thousands of Shiite demonstrators attacked on Sunday the offices of the U.N. Military Observer Group, which monitors the ceasefire along the disputed Himalayan region of Kas

The Seattle Zombie Woman: An Internet Mystery

Check out my new second channel here! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjaHWEbTV7DaoycGI0AK3A On March 5th, 2022 a ...

Photos show Israel after Iran retaliated with missiles

<block>Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel while Israel and the United States pounded targets in Iran as the war expanded.This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.</block>

Rev. Jesse Jackson returns home to South Carolina to lie in state

He stepped forward as the Civil Rights Movement’s torchbearer after King’s assassination, and would run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.Jackson continued to be active in his home state, pushing in 2003 for Greenville County to honor King by matching the federal holiday in his honor and in 2015 by advocating for removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina Statehouse grounds after nine Black worshipers were killed in a racist shooting at a Charleston church.Jackso

What to know about Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a powerful force within the country’s theocracy

<block>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has grown into a powerful force within the country’s theocracy, answering only to its supreme leader and overseeing its ballistic missile arsenal and launching attacks overseas. The force is again in the spotlight as Iran widens its attacks across the Middle East following the start of a U.S.-Israeli airstrike campaign that’s already killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Here’s what to know about the Guard. <hl2>Born out of a revolution</hl2>The Guard rose out of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution as a force meant to protect the country’s Shiite cleric-overseen government and later became enshrined in its constitution. It operated parallel to Iran’s regular armed forces, growing in prominence and power during a long and ruinous war with Iraq in the 1980s.Though it faced possible disbandment after the war, Khamenei granted it powers to expand into private enterprise, allowing the force to thrive. The Guard runs a massive construction company called Khatam al-Anbia and has firms that also build roads, man ports, run telecommunication networks and even offer laser eye surgery. <hl2>Foreign operations are key for the Guard</hl2>The Guard’s expeditionary Quds Force was key in creating what Iran describes as its “Axis of Resistance” against Israel and the United States. It backed Syria’s former President Bashar Assad, Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group, Yemen’s Houthi rebels and other groups in the region, growing in power in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.U.S. officials say the Guard taught Iraqi militants how to manufacture and use especially deadly roadside bombs against U.S. troops there. The Quds Force, as well as Iranian intelligence agencies, are believed to have hired criminal gangs and others to target dissidents and Iran’s perceived enemies abroad. Since the latest Israel-Hamas war, Israel has arrested citizens it has accused of receiving orders from Iran to surveil targets or conduct vandalism. Iran has denied being involved in those plots. The Guard is also believed to be heavily involved in smuggling throughout the Middle East. <hl2>Guard’s intelligence arm is tied to arrests of foreigners</hl2>The Guard also operates its own intelligence services and has been behind a series of arrests and convictions of dual nationals and those with Western ties on espionage charges in closed hearings. Western nations and others described Iran as using those prisoners as bargaining chips in negotiations, particularly over its nuclear program. <hl2>War with Israel puts new pressure on the Guard</hl2>The Guard’s carefully laid “Axis of Resistance” has faced its greatest challenge in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza. The Palestinian militant Hamas group is among those backed by Iran. Israel is still battling Hamas in Gaza even as it has targeted other Iranian-backed groups, decimating Hezbollah and repeatedly targeting the Houthis in Yemen.In Syria, Assad’s government fell in December 2024, taking away a key ally for Tehran and the Guard. Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire, something overseen by the Guard. In June, Israel launched a massive airstrike campaign targeting Iran. In its first day, those strikes killed top generals in the Guard, throwing the force into disarray. Israeli attacks also destroyed ballistic missile sites and launchers, as well as Guard-manned air defense systems. <hl2>Crackdown on recent protests</hl2>In Iran, one of the main ways its theocracy can squash demonstrations is through the Basij, the Guard’s all-volunteer arm. Videos from the protests that began on Dec. 28 show Basij members holding long guns, batons and pellet guns. Their forces have been seen beating protesters and chasing them through the streets. One well-known Basij commander even went on state television to warn parents to keep their children at home as he called for the force’s members to assemble to put down the demonstrations. The European Union in January listed the Guard as a terrorist organization over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on the protests.<hl2>Who controls the Guard now in question</hl2>Iran’s foreign minister has suggested his country’s military units are acting independently from any central government control after being pressed about attacks on Gulf Arab nations that have served as intermediaries for Tehran in the past.Already, there have been attacks on Oman, which served as an intermediary in recent nuclear talks with the United States, and on Qatar, which also has negotiated with Tehran and shares a massive offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf with the Islamic Republic.“What happened in Oman was not our choice. We have already told our, you know, army, armed forces to be careful about the targets that they choose,” Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on March 1. “As a matter of fact, our, you know, military units are now in fact independent and somehow isolated and they are acting based on instructions — you know, general instructions — given to them in advance.”Militaries around the world do contingency planning for wars, including what to do if their central governments are affected. But Iran is a special case given that the Guard controls its vast ballistic missile arsenal and much of its stockpile of bomb-carrying drones.Araghchi’s comments also could serve as an excuse for the attacks as well to try to ease tensions with Iran’s Gulf Arab neighbors, who have grown increasingly enraged by the constant fire targeting them despite efforts at easing tensions in recent years.</block>