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Russia hosts the Taliban for talks on regional threats and says it will keep funding Afghanistan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Moscow will keep helping Afghanistan on its own and through the U.N. food agency, Russian officials said Friday as they hosted Taliban representatives for talks on regional threats. The talks in the Russian city of Kazan came as Moscow is trying to maintain its influence in Central Asia even as it wages war on Ukraine. The discussions focused on regional threats and creating inclusive government, Russian state news agency Tass reported. President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov attended the gathering and said Russia is inclined to keep helping Afghanistan independently and through the World Food Program. A letter from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was read at the talks, accusing Western countries of “complete failure” in Afghanistan, saying they should “bear the primary burden of rebuilding the country.”The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final weeks of t...

14-year-old boy shot in South Shore

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

CHICAGO — A 14-year-old boy was shot early Friday morning in South Shore.At around 3:05 a.m., police said the boy was walking on a sidewalk with another male in the 2100 block of East 75th Street. Shots were fired by an unknown male suspect and the 14-year-old was shot in the back.He was transported to Comer Children's Hospital in fair condition.No one is in custody.

16-year-old boy accused of cutting down landmark tree 'loved by millions' in England

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The 16-year-old boy arrested for felling a 300-year-old sycamore tree near the Roman landmark of Hadrian's Wall in the north of England has been released on bail, police said Friday.The boy was arrested Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage after the tree was felled overnight.Why anyone would want to cut down one of England’s most iconic trees has left people across the U.K. baffled and angry.Robert Macfarlane, a renowned nature writer, said he was “sick to the core” to hear the news about the tree, which was “known and loved by millions.”“I just see this as part of a piece with a much broader hostile environment towards the living world in this country,” he told BBC radio. “It was a tree that ashes were scattered under, marriages were made under, and it was a shelter for tired walkers.”Macfarlane said he was buoyed by the widespread disgust that followed news of the tree's felling and suggested that a new forest be planted in its honor. How would a government sh...

Travis County resident dies from West Nile virus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

Note: The above video shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Travis County resident has died after getting sick from West Nile virus. It marks 2023's first reported death from the virus in the county, according to Austin Public Health. APH said the Environmental Health Services Division has identified 26 positive pools of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus this year in 12 zip codes: 78702, 78703, 78704, 78721, 78722, 78723, 78727, 78741, 78751, 78754, 78757 and 78759. “We are sad to report the first death of the year from West Nile virus in Travis County,” said APH Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes. “This death is a stark reminder that West Nile virus poses a serious risk, especially to older people and those with weakened immune systems. We’re seeing an uptick in mosquito breeding due to the recent rains and cooler weather in Texas, we should all take precautions to ‘Fight the Bite.’" Human case of West Nile Virus found in ...

Texas law targeting 'sexually explicit' books set to take effect soon, after appeals court overturns ruling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A Texas law meant to keep some books out of public school libraries is once again set to take effect. The law, House Bill 900, targets books with content deemed "sexually explicit." The law was supposed to go into effect this month, but a lower court judge ruled it unconstitutionally vague and said it couldn't be enforced criminally or civilly. Judge rules on Texas law restricting books However, an appeals court overturned that ruling this week. The decision is temporary until the full court can take up the case, which will likely be next month. An Austin bookstore, BookPeople, along with the Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston and other national organizations sued over the law. BookPeople in Austin joins lawsuit challenging new Texas law about ‘sexually explicit’ books They say the law requires vendors to rate the books they sell to school libraries. Books found on school shelves without a rating would be removed. Texas Representative Jared Patterson, R-...

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at age 90

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

By MICHAEL BLOOD, MARY CLARE JALONICK, LISA MASCARO and MICHAEL BALSAMO (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a centrist Democrat who was elected to the Senate in 1992 in the “Year of the Woman” and broke gender barriers throughout her long career in local and national politics, has died. She was 90.Three people familiar with the situation confirmed her death to The Associated Press on Friday.Feinstein, the oldest sitting U.S. senator, was a passionate advocate for liberal priorities important to her state — including environmental protection, reproductive rights and gun control — but was also known as a pragmatic lawmaker who reached out to Republicans and sought middle ground.She was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969 and became its first female president in 1978, the same year Mayor George Moscone was gunned down alongside Supervisor Harvey Milk at City Hall by Dan White, a disgruntled former supervisor. Feinstein fou...

Saratoga Wing Off returning for 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Saratoga Wing Off is returning to restaurants around Saratoga County for 2023. The event is set for Saturday, October 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Saratoga Wing Off features wing samples, live music, and family-friendly activities at participating restaurants around Saratoga County. The wing samples will be sold for $2 each.Attendees can then vote for their favorite wings for People’s Choice and Wildest Wing (most creative). You can vote on the Discover Saratoga website. The winner will be announced on social media and awards will be presented at Bailey’s Saratoga at 5:30 p.m. National Coffee Day deals in the Capital Region "We’re excited to partner with Bailey’s Saratoga on this growing event," said Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri. "Saratoga Wing Off is an exciting opportunity for local chefs and culinary teams to showcase their skills and co...

Sen. Dianne Feinstein dies at age 90

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), one of the Senate’s most prominent women, has died at the age of 90, a person with knowledge of her passing confirmed. Feinstein served three decades as a senator from California, becoming an icon and a trailblazer in the process.A former mayor of San Francisco, Feinstein is the longest-serving member of the Senate Democratic conference and during her Senate tenure left a mark on a range of issues, including national security and gun control.Feinstein had been struggling with her health, and had missed some work this week."She didn't feel well this morning," Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Thursday, noting Feinstein was unable to attend a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Punchbowl first reported the news of Feinstein’s death.  Feinstein had taken part in Senate votes on Thursday morning.Feinstein had to rely on a wheelchair to get around the Senate after she missed nearly three months of work in Washington because of a severe b...

City Hall homeless encampment growing downtown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A homeless encampment is growing on the lawn of St. Louis City Hall, and it's getting the attention of multiple city officials.We're told at least part of the encampment at Tucker and Market is visible from Mayor Tishaura Jones' window. The growth of the camp illustrates the struggle that the city has in dealing with homelessness.The tents are on the City Hall lawn right by Market Street. FOX 2's St. Louis Post-Dispatch partners reported that late last week there were 14 tents in the encampment, but on Thursday that number had grown to at least 25. The encampment can be an eyesore, as trash litters the ground, areas smell of urine, and reported drug use.It's understood that just Thursday, paramedics were called to help a man who had slid off a step and was unresponsive. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick Nick Dunne, a spokesperson for Mayor Jones, told the Post that the city still has no immediate plans to move anyone at lea...

California Highway Patrol officer gets hurt during confrontation with protester (video)

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

A protest over rent and wages turned violent Thursday when California Highway Patrol officers tried to remove demonstrators from a state office building in downtown Los Angeles.The chaos ensued as union organizers and supporters of the Alliance for Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) rallied in front of the Ronald Reagan State Building on South Spring Street.The group is calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign Senate Bill 567, making it more difficult for landlords to evict tenants.A CHP officer is seen brandishing his service weapon after falling to the ground. Los Angeles, Calif. Sept. 28, 2023. (KTLA)Video recorded by a KTLA photojournalist shows a CHP officer escorting a demonstrator from the lobby of the building and attempting to close the front doors behind him.When another protestor, a man in a yellow shirt, tries to hold one of the doors open, the officer shoves him and they both eventually fall to the ground.A CHP officer is seen brandishing his service weapon after...