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Palestinian foreign minister promises cooperation with international courts on visit to The Hague

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister told reporters Thursday that he fully supports an International Criminal Court investigation into the Palestinian territories, and he called for a full cease-fire to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The court in The Hague investigates and prosecutes people for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki met with chief prosecutor Karim Khan twice during a two-day visit to the Netherlands to drum up international support for an ICC investigation.Asked by journalists if he would support the court looking into Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel, he said that the Palestinian Authority would not interfere with the investigation. “We cannot say ‘Investigate here, don’t investigate there,’” al-Maliki said. The international court launched an investigation in 2021 into alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories, focusing on militar...

South Korean scholar acquitted of defaming sexual slavery victims during Japan colonial rule

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s top court on Thursday cleared a scholar of charges of defaming the Korean victims of sexual slavery during Japanese colonial rule, in a contentious book published in 2013. Thursday’s ruling in the criminal case of Park Yu-ha isn’t the end of her long-running legal battle, as she faces a separate civil suit. She’s suffered harsh public criticism over her book “Comfort Women of the Empire,” triggering debates over the scope of freedom of speech in South Korea.In 2017, the Seoul High Court fined Park, an emeritus professor at Seoul’s Sejong University, 10 million won ($7,360) over some of the expressions she used in her book to describe Korean women who were forced to serve as sex slaves for Japan’s troops during the first half of the 20th century. But the Supreme Court ruled Thursday it was difficult to determine those expressions constituted criminal defamation, saying it was more appropriate to assess them as Park’s academic arguments or expre...

The last new Beatles song, ‘Now And Then,’ will be released next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Sixty years after the onset of Beatlemania and with two of the quartet now dead, artificial intelligence has enabled the release next week of what is promised to be the last “new” Beatles song.The track, called “Now And Then,” will be available Thursday, Nov. 2, as part of a single paired with “Love Me Do,” the very first Beatles single that came out in 1962 in England, it was announced Thursday.“Now And Then” comes from the same batch of unreleased demos written by the late John Lennon, which were taken by his former bandmates to construct the songs “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” released in the mid-1990s.Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison worked on “Now And Then” in the same sessions, but technological limitations stood in the way.With the help of artificial intelligence, director Peter Jackson cleared those problems up by “separating” Lennon’s original vocals from a piano used in the late 1970s. The much clearer vocals allowed McCartney and S...

Joliet police chief struck in face, bitten during arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. — The police chief of Joliet was struck in the face Wednesday night during an arrest.Just before 6:30 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of North Chicago Street for a disturbance.Officers learned that a man, later identified as Joshua Medina, 39, of Joliet, was allegedly going through a garbage can on a private property. Police said they discovered that Medina had to be warned by employees of Cut 158, located next door, to leave the premises.Medina then allegedly struck the owner of Cut 158 in the chest.Joliet police chief Bill Evans was nearby and intervened. Evans indicated that Medina was under arrested and he was allegedly struck in the face by the 39-year-old.On the ground, Medina allegedly bit Evans' pinky finger. He was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.Medina was charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, battery and obstructing justice.

IDOT: New ramp closures on Kennedy Expressway starting Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

CHICAGO — New ramp closures are coming to the inbound Kennedy Expressway as part of the ongoing rehabilitation project.The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that the closures will begin Monday, October 30 — weather permitting.According to IDOT, the closures are needed to accommodate ongoing bridge rehabilitation and ramp repairs. Starting at 6 a.m. Monday, the following ramps will close:Division Street to inbound Kennedy — anticipated to reopen in two weeks.Inbound Kennedy (mainline) to the Ohio Feeder — anticipated to reopen in two weeks.Current ramp closures, additional time is needed to complete the work:Montrose Avenue to inbound Kennedy — anticipated to reopen early November.Kedzie Avenue to inbound Kennedy — anticipated to reopen early November.Inbound Kennedy to North Avenue (Illinois 64) — anticipated to reopen mid-November.Armitage Avenue to inbound Kennedy — anticipated to reopen mid-November.IDOT advises motorists to follow the posted detours.The o...

85-year-old hostage released says captives were treated well, received medical care and food

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Eighty-five-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz, one of the two hostages released by Hamas said the people ordered to guard her, “told us they are people who believe in the Quran and wouldn’t hurt us."Lifshitz was the first of the four hostages released so far to speak of their experience, from the initial attack through the more than two weeks of captivity. Lifshitz and Cooper were the second pair of hostages to be released. On Friday, Hamas freed two Israeli American women.The people assigned to guard her “told us they are people who believe in the Quran and wouldn’t hurt us.”Lifshitz said captives were treated well and received medical care, including medication. The guards kept conditions clean, she said. Hostages were given one meal a day of cheese, cucumber and pita, she said, adding that her captors ate the same.Her 83-year-old husband, Oded, remains a hostage in Gaza.Lifshitz, a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was among the more than 200 Israelis and fo...

Oklahoma trailer park python captured after 6 months

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - After surviving six months inside a southeast Oklahoma City trailer park, an albino python was found and wrangled by a man who lived there."The thing was found under the same home that management had thought it was under," said one anonymous resident. "One of the neighbors came out around 2 this morning and grabbed it. They put it in a hamper, sealed it with duct tape, and left it out front of their home until the office opened up to take care of it."The snake is now in the hands of Michael Wilkins, of Oklahoma Exotics and Rescue. It had been surviving in the Burntwood Mobile Home Park. Experts had said previously that after viewing it through their cameras, they believed it was 13 feet long and because residents claimed half the cats were missing in the neighborhood, that it had been eating cats."No, I would say it is about 8 feet, maybe a little more," said Wilkins while taking out the snake to show Nexstar's KFOR. "It's a juvenile, maybe a little older and ...

Flash Flood risk continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- 3-6" of rain has fallen overnight in portions of the Hill Country causing some localized flooding including minor flooding along the Llano river.The National Weather Service has expanded the timing and area of the Flood Watch to include ALL of the Austin Metro Counties. The Flood Watch now continues into early Thursday afternoon.Flood Watch until 1 p.m. ThursdayThe rain will continue its eastward movement and approach I-35 during the Thursday morning commute before moving into our eastern counties by late morning. Live, updated rain totals During the day on Thursday a 2 out of 4 flash flooding risk is in place for the Austin Metro. Watch out for localized heavy downpours on Thursday, which will be most widespread in the morning and become less numerous during the afternoon.Flash flooding risk Thursday (WPC)Another round of rain and thunderstorms happens Friday. Saturday looks drier, but more storms arrive ahead of a very potent cold front due to arrive late Sunday...

Llano ISD delays start by 2 hours Thursday due to weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top morning headlines for Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. LLANO, Texas (KXAN) – Due to the rain moving through Llano County Thursday morning, the Llano Independent School District is delaying the start of classes by two hours, according to a Facebook post by the Llano County Office of Emergency Management. Flash flood risk continues The OEM said buses will run two hours later than normal. The county's Facebook page is also providing updates on flooded roads and other weather conditions in the area. This is a developing story.

BLOG: Severe weather in Central Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:59 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top morning headlines for Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Severe weather is moving across Central Texas Thursday morning. Tornado Warnings were briefly issued in various counties across the KXAN viewing area. A live blog of up-to-date weather coverage is below. 8:40 a.m.Tornado Warnings expired, per the National Weather Service. Find more on current weather conditions on the KXAN First Warning Weather page. 8:37 a.m.Del Valle Independent School District says students are taking shelter at all DVISD schools; Creedmoor Elementary, Poppum Elementary, Ojeda Middle School. Del Valle ISD is working on being as safe as possible for students. 8:23 a.m.The National Weather Service said a confirmed tornado was located at 8:22 a.m. over Mustang Ridge, or 10 miles south of Austin Bergstrom International Airport, moving northeast at 15 mph.8:20 a.m.Tornado Warning issued for Caldwell County on Thursday morning. According to the National ...