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India expels Rahul Gandhi, Modi critic, from Parliament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s top opposition leader and fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expelled from Parliament Friday, a day after a court convicted him of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison for mocking the surname Modi in an election speech.The actions against Rahul Gandhi, the great-grandson of India’s first prime minister, were widely condemned by opponents of Modi as the latest assaults against democracy and free speech by a ruling government seeking to crush dissent. Removing Gandhi from politics delivered a major blow to the opposition party he led ahead of next year’s national elections.A local court from Modi’s home state of Gujarat convicted Gandhi on Thursday for a 2019 speech in which he asked, “Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?” Gandhi then referred to three well-known and unrelated Modis in the speech: a fugitive Indian diamond tycoon, a cricket executive banned from the Indian Premier League tournament and the prime mi...

Border crossings returning to pre-pandemic opening hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

OTTAWA — Opening hours are being extended at 39 border crossings with the United States and at several airports across the country as the Canada Border Services Agency returns to pre-pandemic hours. The changes will take effect on March 31.The border agency first restricted hours at land border crossings in April 2020, closing many points of entry early and stopping 24-hour service at seven crossings.Six crossing points in Quebec and the Regway crossing in Saskatchewan will again be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The three airports getting updated hours are Whetstone International Airport in Del Bonita, Alta., Piney Pinecreek Border Airport in Piney, Man., and Scobey Border Station Airport in Coronach, Sask. The news comes days after U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Ottawa for meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on cross-border issues.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2023.The Canadian Press

Rushed daylight-saving decisions puts Lebanon in 2 time zones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese government’s last-minute decision to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan resulted in mass confusion Sunday.With some institutions implementing the change while others refused, many Lebanese have found themselves in the position of juggling work and school schedules in different time zones — in a country that is just 88 kilometers (55 miles) at its widest point.In some cases, the debate took on a sectarian nature, with many Christian politicians and institutions, including the small nation’s largest church, the Maronite Church, rejecting the move.The small Mediterranean country normally sets its clocks forward an hour on the last Sunday in March, which aligns with most European countries.However, on Thursday, the government announced a decision by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to push the start of daylight saving to April 21.No reason was given for the decision, but a video of a meetin...

Burned homes sit for months in Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — Neighbors in two different parts of Austin, Texas, are frustrated as burned and damaged properties have sat in disrepair for months. Diana Melcer Whitson said the view from her north Austin home is eye-catching for all the wrong reasons. Her neighbor's home is fire-damaged, and the yard is filled with mannequins, vacant vehicles and painted signs. “It says, 'Love thy neighbor, even if she is bat-s--- crazy'”, Whitson read as she looked across the street. “It's just gotten worse.”Whitson said neighbors in her community have been trying for years to get the owner to clean up. Austin Code Department records show eight complaints in the last three years.A code department spokesperson described a back-and-forth process where the owner would clean up sometimes to get in compliance, but not act on other violation notices.The code department even got a warrant to remove junk from the front and back yards, but the spokesperson said the owner kept collecting more stuff....

In The Month Of Ramadan, We Honour Fatima Al-Fihri

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

Trial set to begin this week for man accused of shooting, killing Austin protester in 2020

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The first steps of a trial for the man accused of shooting and killing Austin protester Garrett Foster in July 2020 happen Monday. Daniel Perry, an Army sergeant, was indicted in the case in 2021 on felony charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of deadly conduct.Investigators say Foster, 28, had been participating in a march against police violence when he was shot and killed.Police said Perry was driving downtown when he turned onto Congress Avenue near Fourth Street. Protesters — including Foster, who was armed — surrounded the car, and Perry fired from inside the car, the Austin Police Department said.Perry’s attorney said at the time the shooting was in self-defense. Soldier who shot Austin protester Garrett Foster reveals identity, claims self defense, attorney says Jury selection for the trial begins Monday at 9 a.m., according to Perry's attorneys Clint Broden and Douglas O'Connell.Separately, Foster's family...

Mentions of climate change in scripted entertainment largely absent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Movies and television have been shown to help viewers better comprehend a topic, which, in return, can help empower them in decision making. While there has been much research on social, political and economic issues in media and its impact on viewers, there has been little to none on climate change. It's a major topic, as the United Nation's latest report keeps pleading for more aggressive and accelerated actions in order to avert a climate catastrophe. The USC Norman Lear Center's Media Impact Project conducted a research project analyzing more than 37,000 scripts in entertainment to learn about how often climate change was acknowledged or mentioned. The Media Impact Project is a "hub for collecting, developing and sharing approaches for measuring the impact of media in order to better understand the role that media plays in changing knowledge, attitudes and behavior among individuals and communities." They worked on this project in conjunction with Good Energy, a ...

Five planets line up near the moon this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

Keep an eye to the sky this week for a chance to see a planetary hangout.Five planets — Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars — will line up near the moon.WHERE AND WHEN CAN YOU SEE THEM?The best day to catch the whole group is Tuesday. You’ll want to look to the western horizon right after sunset, said NASA astronomer Bill Cooke.The planets will stretch from the horizon line to around halfway up the night sky. But don’t be late: Mercury and Jupiter will quickly dip below the horizon around half an hour after sunset.The five-planet spread can be seen from anywhere on Earth, as long as you have clear skies and a view of the west.“That’s the beauty of these planetary alignments. It doesn’t take much,” Cooke said.DO I NEED BINOCULARS?Maybe. Jupiter, Venus and Mars will all be pretty easy to see since they shine brightly, Cooke said. Venus will be one of the brightest things in the sky, and Mars will be hanging out near the moon with a reddish glow...

$50K Powerball ticket sold at Schenectady Stewart's

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A lucky Stewart's Shop customer purchased a Powerball ticket worth $50,000 for the March 25 drawing. The ticket was sold at the Guilderland Avenue Stewart's location. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The winning numbers for the drawing were 15, 17, 18, 47, 57, and the Powerball was 19. The winning numbers for the Powerball are drawn from a field of one to 69, and the Powerball is drawn from a separate field of one to 26. The drawing is televised every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 11 p.m. The New York Lottery contributed $3.6B in the 2021-2022 fiscal year to help support education in New York State. New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the State's toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). Standard text rates may apply.

COELIG hosting public hearing Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:29:53 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) will have a public hearing on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New York Law School. The hearing will take testimony and receive comments regarding the operation of COELIG, proposed or potential changes in the laws under its jurisdiction, and more. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Those interested in attending are asked to sign up in advance by emailing [email protected]. Anyone who would like to testify by remote video conference can email the same address to reserve an approximate time and receive a Webex link to the hearing. The hearing will be live-streamed on COELIG's website.