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Israelis protest judicial overhaul despite violence surge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Thousands of Israelis gathered Saturday for a weekly demonstration against the government’s contentious judicial overhaul plans, despite security concerns stemming from a surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put his overhaul on hold after mass protests against the plan, which has brought together large swaths of Israeli society in opposition to a series of bills that aim to weaken the country’s Supreme Court.The main protest in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial hub, was held less than two kilometers (a mile) from Friday’s attack, in which an Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens were wounded when a car rammed into a group of tourists. In a separate incident, two British-Israeli women were shot to death near a settlement in the occupied West Bank.The spasm of violence in Israel and the West Bank has heightened fears of an even more intense surge, with the rare convergence of the holy Muslim ...

Yemen: Saudis free 13 Houthis as Omani officials in Sanaa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Saturday released over a dozen war prisoners to their rivals, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, a Houthi official said. The release came as Omani officials arrived in the Yemeni capital as part of international efforts to end Yemen’s years-long conflict.Abdul-Qader el-Murtaza, a Houthi official in charge of prisoner exchange talks in Yemen’s conflict, said 13 Houthi prisoners arrived Saturday in the capital, Sanaa.He said the prisoners were released in exchange for a Saudi prisoner the Houthis freed. He did not say when the rebels released the Saudi prisoner.Saturday’s release was part of a U.N.-brokered deal which Yemen’s warring parties stuck last month and includes the release of nearly 900 prisoners from both sides, el-Murtaza said.The U.N.-brokered deal is scheduled to be implemented this month.Yemen’s conflict began in 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the country’s north, ousting the internationally recognized government that fled to the s...

Israel beefs up security for Jerusalem religious ceremonies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s defense minister on Saturday extended a closure barring entrance to Israel for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip for the duration of the Jewish holiday of Passover, while police beefed up forces in Jerusalem on the eve of sensitive religious celebrations.The moves come after days of violence across the region at a time of heightened religious fervor – with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coinciding with Passover and Easter celebrations. Jerusalem’s Old City, home to key Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, has been teeming with visitors and religious pilgrims from around the world.Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that a closure imposed last Wednesday, on the eve of Passover, would remain in effect until the holiday ends on Wednesday night. The order prevents Palestinians from entering Israel for work or to pray in Jerusalem this week, though mass prayers were permitted at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday. Gallant also ordered the Is...

Signs calling for police to search landfills taped to Winnipeg police headquarters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

WINNIPEG — Protesters attending a rally honouring an Indigenous woman whose remains were recovered at a landfill taped their protest signs to the windows of the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters, demanding officials investigate the death further and search the city’s dumps for bodies of other missing women.The Friday afternoon event in memory of Linda Beardy began with attendees blocking the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street and was originally going to end with a march to City Hall.The plans changed, however, and police say approximately 150 people showed up at the force’s headquarters where a large window pane was broken near one of the station’s entrances.Video of the rally posted to social media showed the broken pane, as well as an attendee on a bullhorn pleading with people not to bang on the windows and instead tape their signs to them.Police said Thursday that Beardy’s death was not a homicide, saying the mother-of-four was last seen le...

Abbott calls for pardon of Daniel Perry after guilty murder verdict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott called for the pardon of Daniel Perry a day after he was found guilty by a jury for the 2020 murder of a Black Lives Matter protester in Austin."I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry," Abbott said in a tweet Saturday. Q&A: Daniel Perry was found guilty of murder. What happens now? In the tweet, Abbott said Texas has one of the strongest "Stand Your Ground" laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified.Texas' pardon process starts with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. The board can submit a pardon recommendation to the governor, who then can approve the pardon. Abbott said he requested the board request a pardon for Perry and "instructed the Board to expedite its review.""I look forward to approving the Board's pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk," Abbott's tweet said. Read the full comment from Abbott here.

Texas A&M researcher unraveling the mystery of a kidney disease epidemic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) — A Texas A&M researcher and her team are one step closer to determining the cause of a pervasive and fatal kidney disease that affects mostly young men working in agriculture in Central American countries. The puzzling disease has stumped scientists for decades. Chronic kidney disease typically affects people who are older, and it is usually associated with other health problems, such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. It is a serious medical condition that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and early death, according to the CDC.In the late 1990s, researchers discovered a peculiar phenomenon occurring in Central America, where ostensibly healthy men in their 20s and 30s were developing chronic kidney disease. Kidney disease is so pervasive in these regions it is now the leading cause of death.The epidemic is called Mesoamerica nephropathy – named for the location where it is common. “It’s a rapidly progressing kidney disease at fi...

City of Kyle adds new traffic solutions to decrease congestion, focus on first responder safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Kyle said the Kyle Police Department was integrating innovative traffic solutions to decrease congestion and focus on the safety of first responders while improving response times.The city said it selected Global Traffic Technologies' Opticom Cloud Platform for emergency vehicle preemption.  “The technology utilizes advanced algorithms to determine vehicle status. It sends that data to compatible intersections to make signal phasing requests, granting emergency responders the right-of-way to pass through an intersection. The system simultaneously reduces traffic flow on side streets, resulting in decreased response times, improved intersection safety, and saved lives,” the city said.According to the city, KPD initially purchased the Opticom Cloud Platform for 19 intersections and 50 vehicles. The Kyle Fire Department joined the system, adding 15 fire units, and the San Marcos Hays County EMS, who previously purchased GTT’s Opticom GPS syste...

This small Missouri town could become state's 'UFO Capital'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

PIEDMONT, Mo. - One small southeast Missouri town could potentially hold the title of the "UFO Capital of Missouri" as soon as this summer. State Rep. Chris Dinkins (R-District 144) introduced HB 1261 in an effort to recognize Piedmont, Missouri in Wayne County. Piedmont is home to around 2,000 people and sits nearly an hour and a half west of Cape Girardeau. According to the bill's language, Dinkins claims that "hundreds of UFO sightings occurred in Piedmont, Missouri, between February and April 1973." Trending: A Missouri barbecue spot shows up in ‘Ted Lasso’ episodes: This is why In 1973, now half a century ago, UFO sightings gained attention not just in Missouri, but nationwide. The Missouri Historical Society recently reviewed some accounts of mysterious lights in the skies that support the phenomenon around Clearwater Lake and the Missouri Lead Belt. A documentary titled "UFOs 1973: Aliens, Abductions and Extraordinary Sightings" uncovers some patterns, plus the case of an ...

Rain halts Masters play yet again, making Sunday a long day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

By DAVE SKRETTA and STEVE REED (AP Sports Writer)AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Heavy rains that left pools of standing water across Augusta National brought play to a halt at the Masters on Saturday, and Brooks Koepka and the rest of the field will have a long Sunday slog to decide who will wear the green jacket.Many players had returned to the course early to finish second rounds, which were suspended Friday when a storm came through the area. It caused three towering pine trees to fall — nobody was hurt — and workers made sure there there was little evidence it even happened by the time patrons returned to the course.The crushed chairs and other debris had been cleaned up, and all that was left were three 10-by-10 foot areas near the 16th green and 17th tee that were roped off. Some wood chips were scattered about where the workers had cut up the pines, and two of the areas were covered with green gravel and another with pine straw.Sergio Garcia teed off at the 17th as he ...

Masters Live Updates | Heavy rain halts play for rest of day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:21 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Live updates from Saturday’s second and third rounds of the Masters (all times local):3:25 p.m.Play has been halted for the day at the Masters because of nasty weather.A steady rain only got heavier after the third round began shortly before lunchtime, with those making the cut going off in threesomes from both the first and 10th tees.But it became impossible to carry on as large puddles began to form on the pristine greens.The horn sounded about 3:15 p.m. EDT, and Augusta National officials quickly announced that play was suspended for the rest of the day with the forecast showing no signs of improving.So, everyone will return to the course early Sunday to finish off the third round, with Brooks Koepka holding a four-shot lead over Jon Rahm. Then, they’ll jump right into the final round with hopes of completing play before sundown,At least Sunday’s forecast is much more promising, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-60s and s...