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Saudi Arabia executes 2 Bahraini men over militant activities; Amnesty called trial ‘grossly unfair’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia said it executed two Bahraini men on Monday after being convicted of belonging to a militant group wanting to destabilize the two Mideast kingdoms. Amnesty International had criticized their trial as being “grossly unfair.”The Saudi Interior Ministry’s announcement, carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, identified the men as Jaafar Sultan and Sadeq Thamer. Last year, Amnesty said the men were detained in May 2015 and held incommunicado for three-and-a-half months.The Saudi statement said that the Specialized Criminal Court convicted the two men of belonging to a militant group — headed by a man wanted by the Bahrani authorities — spreading chaos and smuggling explosives to be used inside Saudi Arabia. The statement did not identify the group or their leader. Amnesty, however, had criticized their October 2021 trial and conviction, adding they also had faced charges for “participation in anti-government protests in Bahrain....

Why do Kosovo-Serbia tensions persist?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew this weekend after Kosovo’s police raided Serb-dominated areas in the region’s north and seized local municipality buildings. There have been violent clashes between Kosovo’s police and local Serbs, leaving several people injured on both sides. Serbia raised combat readiness of its troops stationed near the border and warned it won’t stand by if Serbs in Kosovo are attacked again. The situation has again fueled fears of a renewal of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives and left more than 1 million homeless.WHY ARE SERBIA AND KOSOVO AT ODDS?Kosovo is a mainly ethnic Albanian populated territory that was formerly a province of Serbia. It declared independence in 2008. Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo’s statehood and still considers it part of Serbia, even though it has no formal control there. Kosovo’s independence has been recognized by about 100 countries, including the United ...

Why some convicted moms live with their kids in prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

It’s a rarely used program—tough to qualify for and little-known—that allows children under five to live inside Canadian women’s prisons with their mothers. Taking a closer look at the institutional mother-child program, offers a glimpse we don’t often get into Canada’s correctional facilities.Cristina Howorun, City News reporter and host and writer of the documentary VeraCity: Prison Moms, witnessed firsthand the impact the program was having on some incarcerated mothers and their children. “There was a real genuine care for this child from all of these women that surrounded him. It was really quite touching because a lot of these women, two thirds of women serving time in federal institutions, are moms,” says Howorun.So who can qualify for this program? Is it better for some kids to remain with their mothers, even if it means living inside a correctional facility? And what is it actually like to grow up inside a Canadian prison?You can subscribe to The Big ...

Temperatures expected to soar to high 20s in Toronto with June around the corner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

It still says May on the calendar, but Toronto and the GTA are in for summer-like weather this week as we head into June.CityNews 680 meteorologist Jill Taylor says the region will experience a stretch of sunny and very warm temperatures this week.Temperatures are expected to soar to between 25-27 over the next three days, and we welcome the first day of June on Thursday with a high of 29 C. The school and work week rounds out with a high of 28 C on Friday.Humidity is not expected to be a major factor, and rain is nowhere to be found in the forecast.Summer officially arrives on Wednesday, June 21, at 10:58 a.m. ET.

The forgotten history of Memorial Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

(The Conversation) - In the years following the bitter Civil War, a former Union general took a holiday originated by former Confederates and helped spread it across the entire country.The holiday was Memorial Day, an annual commemoration was born in the former Confederate States in 1866 and adopted by the United States in 1868. It is a holiday in which the nation honors its military dead.Gen. John A. Logan, who headed the largest Union veterans’ fraternity at that time, the Grand Army of the Republic, is usually credited as being the originator of the holiday.Yet when General Logan established the holiday, he acknowledged its genesis among the Union’s former enemies, saying, “It was not too late for the Union men of the nation to follow the example of the people of the South.”I’m a scholar who has written – with co-author Daniel Bellware – a history of Memorial Day. Cities and towns across America have for more than a century claimed to be the holiday’s birthplace, but we...

Austin firefighter stabbed while responding downtown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A firefighter with the Austin Fire Department was stabbed early Monday morning in downtown Austin, according to AFD.Austin Fire said the incident occurred near Rainey Street.Austin Fire said crews were called into the area to put out a few fires along Interstate 35 near the Riverside Drive exit, and while they were doing their duties, a person approached them, and becoming violent and aggressive, eventually stabbed one the firefightersAFD said the firefighter was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the suspect was in custody.The scene has since been cleared.

San Marcos River: Texas tubing, floating destination at little cost

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Winding through the busy city of San Marcos is its cool and calming 72° river. The San Marcos River is a staple in Central Texas for summer travel destinations. "You never really see anyone unhappy out here. Always smiles," said the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Christie Murillo.Murillo said the river gets visitors year round, but its busiest time is when the temperature starts heating up. "By the time we're at the end of the summer, we have tons of families, tons of community members," Murillo said. "Everyone's out here enjoying the river and the parks."The San Marcos River winds through over 130 acres of parkland. (Photo: KXAN)The San Marcos River winds through over 130 acres of parkland. (Photo: KXAN)The San Marcos River winds through over 130 acres of parkland. (Photo: KXAN)The San Marcos River winds through over 130 acres of parkland. (Photo: KXAN)The San Marcos River winds through over 130 acres of parklan...

Garlic Town, USA returning to downtown Bennington

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Garlic Town, USA, will return to downtown Bennington, Vermont, on Saturday, September 2. The event, formerly known as Garlic Fest, celebrates all things garlic, Vermont, and community. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Producers plan to have over 120 vendors, food trucks, craft producers, bands, kid activities, and more available at the event. Over 7,500 people took part around downtown Bennington with garlic, food vendors, sidewalk sales, tractor rides, and more in last year's event. Bennington's garlic events have become recognized among the top 10 garlic festivals in the world by Reuters, have been featured in Yankee Magazine, and more. 5 things to know this Memorial Day “We are excited to bring this regional event to downtown once again,” remarked Matt Harrington, the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “We will have all the elements that the crowds have come to love with a few tricks...

New names added to court of honor at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS – As we commemorate those courageous American souls who died in combat, the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum is making the day of dedication even more meaningful for hundreds of St. Louis families, as new names are engraved in the museum’s court of honor.

Sunny skies today, chance of isolated storms by midweek

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Sunday's sunny and warm conditions continue on Memorial Day. Monday is a few degrees warmer—85° for a high—but we're still projecting low humidity.When we head back to work on Tuesday, the warming trend will continue, with a noticeable rise in humidity. Out-the-door temperatures are expected to be in the low 60s, with highs near 90°.By Wednesday, not only is it going to be warmer and muggier, but we'll start to watch for pop-up showers and see an increase in isolated storms by that afternoon. That pattern continues through the end of the week. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here