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Five Critically Injured in Catastrophic Explosion at Upstate New York Church

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A powerful explosion devastated the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in this rural community on Tuesday morning, February 17, 2026, leaving five people—including the church’s pastor and four firefighters—critically injured, authorities said.

The blast occurred around 10:25–10:30 a.m. at the church located on State Route 12 in the Town of Boonville, Oneida County, approximately 50 miles northeast of Syracuse. Emergency responders were initially dispatched after reports of a strong gas odor inside the building.

According to New York State Police, a preliminary investigation indicates that four individuals were in the church basement when the furnace activated, triggering the explosion.

A fifth person a firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the structure and was thrown against a wall by the force of the blast.

The injured have been identified as:

– Brandon Pitts, 43, pastor of Abundant Life Fellowship Church

– David Pritchard Jr., 60, Boonville Fire Chief

– Allan Austin, 67, Boonville Fire Department firefighter

– Nicholas Amicucci, 43, Boonville Fire Department firefighter

– Richard Czajka, 71, Boonville Fire Department firefighter

All five victims were transported to regional hospitals, including Upstate University Hospital and Wynn Hospital, where they remain in critical but stable condition.

The explosion caused catastrophic damage to the church building, which officials now consider “destroyed.”

Thick black smoke billowed from the site following the blast.

State police emphasized that there is no indication of criminal activity at this time, and the incident appears to stem from a propane or gas-related issue in the heating system.

The investigation is ongoing.Community members and first responder agencies have expressed support for the injured and their families as recovery efforts continue.

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International

Trump warns Entire Iran could be ‘taken out’ Tuesday night

” The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be Tuesday night,” he said.

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US President Donald Trump says Iran could be “taken out” in one night as the deadline set for the country to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic approaches.

On Saturday, Trump gave Iran 48 hours to comply or risk facing “hell”.

He later threatened that the US would blow up Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran failed to adhere to his warning.

The US president said Iran had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET (1 am WAT) to make a deal.

In a press conference on Monday, Trump reiterated and intensified his threats.

“The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be Tuesday night,” he said.

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International

Trump orders Iran to open Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday or face ‘hell’

The president threatened to bomb the country’s power plants and bridges.Trump subsequently posted “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” without further explanation.

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President Donald Trump gave Iran until Tuesday to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants.

Consequently, U.S. crude oil futures for May pared earlier gains to rise 0.5% at $112.08 per barrel at 9:28 p.m. ET. International benchmark Brent prices for June delivery also scaled back to 1.3%, trading at $110.47 per barrel.

Trump gave the warning on Sunday in an expletive-filled social media post that Iran would be “living in Hell” if they do not open the Strait.

The president threatened to bomb the country’s power plants and bridges.Trump subsequently posted “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” without further explanation.

Iran has effectively kept the Strait closed through attacks on oil tankers.

The sea route connects the Persian Gulf to world markets. About 20% of global supplies passed through the Strait before the war.

The closure of the Strait has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history. Crude, jet fuel, diesel and gasoline prices have surged since the war started.

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Crime

Vietnam Police Dismantle Multi-Billion Dollar Cryptocurrency Fraud Operation

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Vietnamese authorities have busted what officials describe as one of the country’s largest cryptocurrency scams, arresting key suspects in a multi-billion dollar Ponzi-style scheme that allegedly defrauded thousands of investors both domestically and overseas.

The operation, centered around a fraudulent digital token known as Paynet Coin (PAYN), was dismantled by police in Phu Tho province in August 2025. Authorities charged at least 20 individuals, including the alleged ringleader, Nguyen Van Ha, a 45-year-old entrepreneur and founder linked to the Hahalolo platform.

According to reports from local state media, including Công an Nhân dân, the suspects operated an illegal multi-level marketing (MLM) network disguised as a legitimate cryptocurrency investment platform.

Victims were lured with promises of high returns through the Paynet Coin scheme, which authorities labeled as the biggest crypto fraud uncovered in Vietnam to date. The operation reportedly spanned multiple provinces and attracted investors from abroad.

Police seized evidence related to the scheme and charged the suspects with fraud and organizing illegal MLM activities. Estimates of the total scale have varied in reports, with some describing losses in the billions of dollars, though exact figures for victim losses and assets recovered have not been fully disclosed publicly.

This bust is part of a broader crackdown on cryptocurrency-related crimes in Vietnam, where digital asset trading has grown rapidly in recent years but has also attracted scammers exploiting regulatory gaps.

Other recent cases include arrests tied to platforms like ONUS and HanaGold for alleged price manipulation, as well as smaller scams involving fake exchanges and investment schemes totaling millions of dollars.

Vietnamese law enforcement has intensified efforts against online fraud, Ponzi schemes, and unlicensed crypto operations amid a surge in investor complaints. Officials have warned the public to exercise caution with high-yield crypto investments promising unrealistic returns.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities urging additional victims to come forward. This case highlights the risks in Vietnam’s booming but largely unregulated crypto market, where millions of citizens hold digital assets.

No further details on trial dates or additional arrests have been released as of the latest reports.

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