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Pakistan’s supreme court hears petition against forceful deportation of Afghans born in the country

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s top court opened a hearing Friday on a petition by human rights activists seeking to halt the forceful deportation of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and those who would be at risk if they were returned to Afghanistan. The deportations are part of a nationwide crackdown by the government in Islamabad that started last month on Afghans who are in Pakistan without papers or proper documentation. Pakistan claims the campaign does not target Afghans specifically, though they make up most of the foreigners in the country. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. In addition, more than half a million people fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power in August 2021, in the final weeks of U.S. and NATO pullout. Since Islamabad launched the crackdown in October, giving Afghans until the end of the month to go back or face arrest, hundreds of thousands have returned home, many in Pakistan-or...

New traffic pattern for SR-836 eastbound to I-395

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

In a move to improve traffic flow, a new traffic pattern will be introduced for drivers on State Road 836 heading to eastbound Interstate 395 starting Friday. The change involves diverting drivers onto a new connector bridge, with specific lane assignments for those heading to northbound I-95, southbound I-95, or exiting at Northwest Eighth Street.To implement the new pattern, roads were closed on Thursday. Motorists are advised to follow electronic message boards and signage to navigate the new traffic pattern. A video demonstration of the changes is available here. For detailed detour maps and more information, visit the official project website.

Renewed Israel-Gaza war crowds out climate at COP28

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The war in Gaza crashed into the United Nations climate summit on Friday, as furious sideline diplomacy, blunt censures of violence and an Iranian boycott shoved global warming to the side.It was a sharp change in tone from the COP28 opening on Thursday, which ended on an upbeat note as countries promised to support climate-stricken communities. The mood darkened the following day as news broke that the week-old truce between Israel and Hamas was collapsing. Israeli President Isaac Herzog spent much of the morning in meetings telling fellow leaders about “how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements,” according to a post on his X account. He ended up skipping a speech he was meant to give during Friday’s parade of world leaders.There were other conspicuous no-shows. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was absent, despite being listed as an early speaker. And Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, also disappeared...

5 ways to save money and time during the holidays at Disney World

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

By Sally French | NerdWalletThe winter holidays are one of the best times to visit Walt Disney World. The parks and hotels are decked out in fresh decor and there’s no shortage of holiday-themed entertainment. Characters turn up for photos wearing winter garb while some rides get festive overlays (for example, the Jungle Cruise becomes the Jingle Cruise).But the season also makes for one of the most crowded — and most expensive — times to visit the Disney resort, as Disney engages in variable pricing where tickets cost more on high-demand days. If you’re headed to Disney World this winter, these lesser-known tricks can save money and time.1. Find the least busy day to visit(Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World)Disney trip planning site Touring Plans collected 43 million average wait times for rides over the past 13 years to best predict crowds by day. After rating days on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being the least busy and 10 being the busiest), here are Touring Plans’ crowd predictions...

Lawsuits against Trump over Jan. 6 riot can move forward, appeals court rules

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawsuits against Donald Trump over the U.S. Capitol riot can move forward, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday, rejecting the former president’s bid to dismiss the cases accusing him of inciting the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit court knocked down Trump’s sweeping claims that presidential immunity shields him from liability in the lawsuits brought by Democratic lawmakers and police officers. But the three-judge panel said the 2024 Republican presidential primary frontrunner can continue to fight, as the cases proceed, to try to prove that his actions were taken in his official capacity as president. Trump has said he can’t be sued over the riot that left dozens of police officers injured, arguing that his words during a rally before the storming of the Capitol addressed “matters of public concern” and fall within the scope ...

Katie Ledecky loses a home 400-meter freestyle race for the first time in 11 years

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — For the first time in 11 years, Katie Ledecky has lost a 400-meter freestyle race in an American pool.Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh took the title at the U.S. Open championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Thursday, beating Ledecky by nearly 3 seconds.McIntosh took the title in a meet record of 3 minutes, 59.42 seconds, while Ledecky touched next in 4:02.38.Ledecky’s last loss in the 400 free in her home country was at the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials, when she placed third at age 15.Last March, the 17-year-old McIntosh also snapped Ledecky’s nine-year U.S. win streak in the 200 free.The significance of McIntosh’s latest victory is difficult to gauge, since swimmers are at different stages of their training cycles as they ramp up preparations for next year’s Paris Olympics.McIntosh held the 400 free world record for three months before it was reclaimed by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus with a winning time of 3:55.38 at this summer’s ...

King Charles III draws attention by wearing a Greek flag tie after London-Athens diplomatic spat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III caused some raised eyebrows Friday when he wore a tie adorned with a pattern of Greek flags to the COP28 climate summit days after a diplomatic spat between the U.K. government and Greece over the Parthenon Marbles.The British monarch is meant to be above politics, but many in Greece interpreted the tie as a gesture of solidarity with their cause. Charles wore it as he met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and made a speech at the U.N. summit in Dubai.The king’s late father, Prince Philip, was born into the Greek royal family, and Charles has deep ties to the country.Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the king’s neckwear, which was complemented by a matching blue-and-white pocket handkerchief. But officials pointed out that Charles has worn the tie before, as recently as last week.That was before Sunak surprised and annoyed the Athens government by canceling a planned Tuesday meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hours before it ...

West Virginia places anti-abortion pregnancy center coalition at the helm of $1M grant program

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia coalition that helps support a network of anti-abortion pregnancy centers in the state is receiving $1 million in taxpayer dollars to distribute to organizations committed to encouraging people not to end their pregnancies. The West Virginia Pregnancy Center Coalition has been selected to manage the new West Virginia Mothers and Babies Support Program, the state department of health and human resources announced this week. Authorized by the GOP-dominated state Legislature and Republican Gov. Jim Justice earlier this year, officials said the program is intended to help support pregnant women and families following the passage of the state’s near-total abortion ban in September 2022. In a statement, West Virginia Pregnancy Center Coalition Executive Director Jenny Entsminger commended Justice and other state leaders for recognizing “the need of our state to support pregnant women and families with practical help as they seek to provide sa...

A Kansas woman died in an apartment fire. Her family blames the 911 dispatch center’s mistakes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The family of a 22-year-old woman who died in an apartment fire in Kansas’ largest city after mistakes by the 911 dispatch center believes the center has “systemic issues,” and the local firefighters union is calling for an independent investigation.Paoly Bedeski’s family in Wichita issued a statement Thursday, The Wichita Eagle reported. It was the family’s first since the fatal fire and it came two days after the city firefighters union held a news conference to detail “significant and devastating” errors by the dispatch center in Sedgwick County, where the city is located.The dispatch center failed to relay the number of Bedeski’s third-floor apartment to firefighters and waited 17 minutes to sound a second alarm to bring more crews to the scene. Bedeski called 911 just before 4 a.m. on Oct. 13 to report her apartment was on fire.County officials said they are still gathering information and expect to have an advisory board review the ...

Walmart Canada investing $1 billion in modernization, ‘store of the future’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:31 GMT

Walmart Canada says it will invest nearly $1 billion this fiscal year on a slew of projects meant to modernize the retail giant’s Canadian footprint.The spending will include more than $300 million for store remodels and renovations.Some of the chain’s stores will be altered to include larger produce areas with an expanded assortment of products, more space for employees to prepare customer orders and clearer aisle markers.Walmart will also bring a “store of the future” to Mississauga, Ont., where shoppers will find electronics typically stored in product cases are instead set up in open displays allowing for more interaction.Also in the electronics department, customers will be able to see real-time product availability, scan a QR code to place orders and experience immediate on-site delivery by an associate.The location will be rounded out with a health hub that brings Walmart’s pharmacy, vision centre and medical clinic into one area.The changes are ...