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Five Bulgarian nationals to be charged in UK with spying for Russia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

Five people suspected of spying for Russia are to be charged with conspiracy to conduct espionage - reports BBC News in the UK.Orlin Roussev, Bizer Dzhambazov, Katrin Ivanova, Ivan Stoyanov, and Vanya Gaberova will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.The Bulgarian nationals are accused of conspiring to gather information which would be useful to an enemy between August 2020 and February 2023.It follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.The defendants are alleged to have worked in an operational spy cell for the Russian security services and this work involved conducting surveillance on targets.They are accused of working on active operations in the UK and Europe and collecting and passing information to the Russian state.Mr Roussev, 45, is alleged to have run operations from the UK and acted as the link to those who received the intelligence.Officers who searched properties in London and Norfolk occupied by three of the defendants - Mr Roussev, Mr Dzhambazo...

Deadly crash prompts major delays on 405 Freeway through Sepulveda Pass

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

One person was killed in a crash on the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass area, prompting officials to close the southbound lanes Thursday morning.The crash was reported around 4:45 a.m. on the freeway near Skirball Center Drive in Brentwood, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.Two lanes are closed after a fatal crash on the 405 Freeway on Sept. 21, 2023. (KTLA)First responders found a vehicle had collided with the back of a trailer being pulled by a big rig. One unidentified patient was pronounced dead at the scene, a Fire Department spokesperson confirmed. All lanes on the southbound side were closed immediately following the crash. Sky5 video over the scene showed that two lanes remained closed as of 6:11 a.m.Traffic was backed up to the 118 Freeway with some drivers exiting on Sepulveda Boulevard as an alternate. The closure was expected to continue until at least the 7 a.m. hour. Motorists were told to avoid the immediate area and consider an alternate route.

1 dead, 3 hurt in crash near Hollywood Bowl; Highland Avenue closed for hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

An early-morning crash near the Hollywood Bowl killed one person and injured three others, and the investigation will impact traffic on Highland Avenue for several hours.Two vehicles collided at Highland and Milner Road just before 3 a.m., according to Los Angeles Police Department Officer Ratamoza.The vehicles each contained two people, and one of them, a man who was driving, was declared dead at the scene. The three others, all women, were taken to local hospitals for treatment."As far as we can tell, speed was a factor. Other than that, it's all we know so far," Ratamoza said.Skid marks at the scene appears to show that one vehicle was traveling the wrong direction before the crash, and witnesses told police that one of the cars was driving recklessly."Don't speed," Ratmoza said. "It's pretty common knowledge, I would think, but there's wide-open streets in the middle of the night. We tend to get a lot of people going way too fast, and this is an unfortunate outcome of everything...

School’s In: PR firm Charm School Media teaches the world a lesson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

School’s In: In April of last year, Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre told us that BK was nothing like as popular when it was first around as it is now. Speaking to us just before a show at the Greek Theatre, Hanna reminisced about sweaty basement shows and meatheads shouting sexist shit at them.Clearly, there’s plenty of work to be done when it comes to smashing the patriarchy and muting misogyny. But it is great that bands such as BK, Le Tigre, L7 and others from in and around the riot grrl scene are receiving the sort of adulation and attention that they should have been getting decades ago.One of the people playing a part that you likely have never heard of is Sarah Avrin, who owns publicity firm Charm School Media. On the roster is Hanna’s bands, L7, Bratmobile, and a lot of younger artists, too. Avrin had already done a lot of great work with PR company Girlie Action, but a year ago she decided to go out on her own.“My career in the music industry began with me being ...

Bay Area high school football 2023: Week 5 preview, schedule

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

Week 5 of the high school football season is here.After all eight of its schools had last week off, the West Catholic Athletic League schedule gets started with Archbishop Mitty playing at St. Francis on Friday and a duel between Riordan and St. Ignatius and Bellarmine and Valley Christian on Saturday.In what could be a preview of an upper-division NorCal title game, De La Salle will travel to Folsom for what has become a yearly matchup between Bay Area and Sacramento-area powers. Campolindo will face off against Monte Vista in a game that could have massive North Coast Section Division I playoff implications.  The Bay Area News Group will have complete coverage this weekend and all season. If you have not already, please sign up for a digital subscription. Your contributions keep us going.Here are this week’s top matchups and schedule:FridayNo. 2 De La Salle (2-2) at Folsom (3-1), 7 p.m.: This is the fifth meeting between the teams since 2021. They have split the previous four, wit...

7 awesome Bay Area things to do this weekend, Sept. 22-24

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

From a world famous jazz festival to a John Wick prequel to killer Korean barbecue, there’s a lot to see and do this weekend in the Bay Area — so let’s get to it, shall we?As with everything these days, be sure to double check websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.1 SEE & HEAR A legendary festival returnsThe Monterey Jazz Festival, which returns Friday through Sunday, is one of the best music events in Northern California — the tunes are great and the vibe is even better. So say hello to the guy who runs it, and read some of his recommendations for this year’s star-studded lineup.2 DINE: Killer Korean BBQThere’s a reason why tables and reservations at the beyond-hip Korean barbecue joint Baekjeong in Santa Clara are hard to get. W...

Quick Cook: Beets and goat cheese grab the spotlight in this sheet-pan recipe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

The classic combo of beets, goat cheese and pistachios is one-upped by bringing sizzled radicchio leaves and fennel on board in this easy sheet pan meal. Whipping the goat cheese into Greek yogurt lends a billowy softness to the root-heavy dish, with fresh mint, caraway seeds and toasted pistachios for all the color, crunch and flavor we love with beets.Feel free to use any combination of beet colors, including golden, red, purple, Chioggia or whatever you can get your hands on. Don’t have pistachios? Substitute toasted walnuts or pecans. The roasted beets, radicchio and fennel store well in the refrigerator for several days, but be sure to add the toppings just before consuming.Sheet Pan Beets, Radicchio and Fennel with Whipped Goat Cheese and MintServes 3 to 4INGREDIENTS2 large red beets (softball sized), peeled, halved and sliced into ½-inch wedges2 large golden beets, peeled, halved and sliced into ½-inch wedges2 fennel bulbs, halved and sliced into ¼-inch wedges2 tablespoons ol...

Family sues Google alleging its Maps app led father to drive off collapsed bridge to his death, attorneys say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

By Jamiel Lynch | CNNGoogle has been sued by the family of a North Carolina man claiming the company’s Maps application last year led him to drive off a collapsed bridge and fall about 20 feet to his death, according to the lawsuit.Philip Paxson was following Google Maps directions while driving home late at night in September 2022 from his daughter’s 9th birthday party when the navigation system directed him to go over an unmarked and unbarricaded bridge that had collapsed years prior, the suit filed Tuesday states.Philip Paxson, pictured with his wife, Alicia Paxson, drowned on September 30, 2022, after driving off a collapsed bridge, according to a lawsuit. (Courtesy Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky via CNN) Paxson drove off the unbarricaded edge of the bridge in Hickory, North Carolina, and drowned, the suit says.The lawsuit claims neighbors had expressed concern Google Maps had led drivers over the bridge, which allegedly has not been repaired since its partial collapse in 2013.“...

Who are these guys? Five new San Jose Sharks players to watch as camp gets underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

With San Jose Sharks training camp just getting underway, it might take some time for fans – and the players themselves — to get used to every new face on the team’s roster.That’s what the next three weeks are for.The holdover Sharks will try to mesh with the eight or so new players on the team’s roster between now and San Jose’s regular season opener on Oct. 12 at home against the Vegas Golden Knights.In that time, the Sharks coaching staff will need to decide who plays on what line, which defense pairs will work best together, which youngsters will crack the roster, and if that happens, which veterans will be on the outside looking in.Whatever happens, by the time camp ends in three weeks, the Sharks’ lineup will look a lot different than it did toward the end of last season.Here are five players to watch during the Sharks training camp.FILIP ZADINA, winger – Zadina, 23, sought a fresh start elsewhere after an inconsistent five-year tenure with Detroit. After he and the Red ...

Pedestrian fatally struck by CHP patrol car in San Mateo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

(KRON) -- A pedestrian was struck and killed on eastbound Highway 92 in San Mateo Wednesday night by a CHP Redwood City officer driving a marked patrol vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol.The fatal crash happened just after 10 p.m. Wednesday night on the eastbound lanes of Highway 92 near the Delaware Street offramp in San Mateo. The CHP said one of its officers was driving a marked patrol car when a pedestrian ran out in front of the vehicle.The pedestrian was pronounced dead on the scene by emergency personnel.All lanes of Highway 92 were shut down for several hours in the eastbound direction as crews investigated the scene. All lanes have since reopened. Only one CHP officer was in the patrol car at the time of the crash, and that officer is OK, the CHP said. No other vehicles were involved. Mystery surrounding illness deepens for San Jose woman who lost limbs The agency said the crash is still being investigated.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.