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Long-jailed former Philippine senator who fought brutal drug crackdown is granted bail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine court on Monday ordered the release on bail of a former senator jailed more than six years ago on drug charges she said were fabricated to muzzle her investigation of then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal crackdown on illegal drugs. Two other non-bailable drug cases against her have been dismissed.The European Union Parliament, some American lawmakers and United Nations human rights experts have long demanded the release of Leila de Lima, who was detained as an opposition senator in February 2017 in what they say was political persecution by Duterte and his allies and a major blow to Philippine democracy.Duterte, whose stormy six-year term ended in June last year, insisted on her guilt, saying that witnesses testified that she received payoffs from imprisoned drug lords.Regional Trial Court Judge Gener Gito reversed an earlier decision Monday and granted de Lima’s request for bail while being tried in a final drug case. Dozens of de Lima’s s...

Thousands flee Gaza’s main hospital but hundreds, including babies, still trapped by fighting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Thousands of people appear to have fled from Gaza’s largest hospital as Israeli forces and Palestinian militants battle outside its gates, but hundreds of patients, including dozens of babies at risk of dying because of a lack of electricity, remained inside, health officials said Monday.With only intermittent communications, it was difficult to reconcile competing claims from the Israeli military, which said it was providing a safe corridor for people to move south, and Palestinian health officials inside the hospital, who said the compound was surrounded by constant heavy gunfire.The military also said it had placed 300 liters (79 gallons) of fuel near the hospital to help power its generators, but that Hamas militants had prevented staff from reaching it. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza disputed that, and said the fuel would have provided less than an hour of electricity.World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebr...

A shooting at a Texas flea market killed a child and wounded 4 other people, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

PEARLAND, Texas (AP) — Two children and three other people were shot at a Texas flea market Sunday evening and one child later died at a hospital, police said.Officers responded to a call of shots fired at Cole’s Flea Market in the Pearland area at 5:34 p.m., the Pearland Police Department posted on X, formally known as Twitter. The victims were transported to hospitals. The shooting happened after an argument between two people who did not know each other, Officer Chad Rogers said in an evening news conference. The two people exchanged gunfire inside the market, police said.One suspect was still at large, police said. They didn’t immediately give details on the second shooter.The area is about 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of Houston.The Associated Press

More Sunshine and Nice Weather; Holiday Outlooks and Great Lakes Buoys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

Mild and dry with sunny skies MondayChicago area students will be fortunate much of this week and can enjoy outdoor recess, without the jackets or coats that are often needed this time of year  Late morning to midday temperatures Monday through Thursday are expected to be in the mid to upper 50s with plenty of sunshine.  With conditions like this, maybe the adults can find a reason to get outside and enjoy the weather as well.Over the next three months, we'll celebrate no fewer than four notable holidays.  The average temperatures in Chicago on Christmas, New Year's Day, and Valentine's Day are very similar. As we've learned, all those holidays can bring plenty of volatility and a wider range of weather conditions.Before we get to those winter holidays, we'll of course, celebrate Thanksgiving.  The late November holiday can also bring highly variable conditions.  Last Thanksgiving was mild, with a trace of rainfall and a low of 35º and a high of 54º.  Chicago's temperature records d...

Further €73 million in Cohesion Funds used to extend tram network in Bratislava, Slovakia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

The Commission has approved Cohesion Policy support of more than €73 million from the 2014-2020 programming period to build the second section of the Šafárik Square-Janíkov dvor tram line. The investment is part of an overall aim to improve public transport inthe Petržalka borough of the Slovak capital, Bratislava.The line will connect the southern part of Petržalka with the Old Town of Bratislava. It will run from Bosákova Street to Janíkov dvor for roughly 3.8 km. The new tram line will complement the first section of the line, which is already up and running from Šafárik Square to Bosákova Street.Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (pictured) said: “On working days, the line is expected to carry almost 50,000 passengers a day in each direction. Thanks to this EU support, the new tram line section is not only promoting more sustainable modes of transport,  it is also making the lives of citizens easier by cutting their daily commute into the city centre. Cohesion...

Above average snowfall expected for DC area this winter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

After a disappointing snowfall last year, D.C. area residents should have their shovels handy.Veronica Johnson, chief meteorologist for 7News First Alert Weather, told WTOP that the First Alert Weather team is predicting 17 to 22 inches of snow for the D.C. metro area this coming winter. She said the average snowfall for DC is 13.6 inches.In fact, counties farther north and west, including Loudon County, Virginia, and Frederick County, Maryland, could see as much as 30 inches of snow throughout this winter.7News First Alert Weather is predicting a much higher winter snowfall for this season. (Courtesy, Veronica Johnson/7News)As for Christmas?“I don’t think we can expect a white Christmas,” Johnson said. “But I’m not going to rule out a few snowflakes that may come mixing in.”Johnson said that, starting in late December or early January, you can expect a lot of minor storm systems.WINTER 2023-2024 D.C. AREA MONTHLY PREDICTIONDECEMBER 20231″ W...

Philippine court grants bail to former senator who was jailed six years ago on drug charges she says were fabricated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine court grants bail to former senator who was jailed six years ago on drug charges she says were fabricated.Source

EE.UU., Corea del Sur y Japón acuerdan un mecanismo para compartir datos sobre los lanzamientos de misiles norcoreanos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

(CNN) — Estados Unidos, Corea del Sur y Japón acordaron un nuevo mecanismo para compartir datos sobre los lanzamientos de misiles de Corea del Norte, según una declaración tras una reunión trilateral de ministros entre el secretario de Defensa de Estados Unidos, Lloyd Austin, el ministro de Defensa Nacional de Corea del Sur, Shin Won-sik, y El ministro japonés de Defensa, Minoru Kihara, este domingo.El anuncio se produce mientras Austin visita Seúl para reunirse con altos funcionarios surcoreanos, incluida la 55ª Reunión Consultiva de Seguridad anual y la Reunión Ministerial de Defensa inaugural de los Estados miembros del Comando de la República de Corea y la ONU.“Los tres líderes evaluaron que la asociación trilateral entre Estados Unidos, Japón y la República de Corea es más fuerte que nunca después de la Cumbre de Camp David y revisaron el progreso de la implementación de las iniciativas trilaterales de cooperación en seguridad anunciadas en la cumbre”, dice el...

UK’s Rishi Sunak fires Suella Braverman after row with police over pro-Palestinian marches

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak fired his home secretary, Suella Braverman, Monday after a bitter row over the policing of a pro-Palestinian march on the streets on London.Braverman published an explosive article in the Times last week accusing police of treating pro-Palestinian protesters more favorably than nationalists and the far-right. The article was not signed off by Sunak’s team in No.10 Downing Street.A No.10 official said: “Rishi Sunak has asked Suella Braverman to leave government and she has accepted.”Braverman is a popular figure on the right of the governing Conservative party, and is tipped to run for leader should the Tories, who are lagging in the polls, suffer a defeat under Sunak at the next general election. Her exit means Sunak will now have to pick a new top interior minister and reshuffle his Cabinet.Braverman’s dramatic sacking comes after violent scenes in London on Saturday. Far-right counter-protesters vowing to protect war memorials from the pro-Palestin...

UK leader fires interior minister who accused police of favoring pro-Palestinian protesters.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:16:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has fired Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who drew anger for accusing police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian protesters.The government says Braverman has left her job as part of a Cabinet shuffle on Monday.Sunak was under growing pressure to fire Braverman, a divisive figure popular with the authoritarian wing of the governing Conservative Party.In a highly unusual attack on the police last week, Braverman said London’s police force was ignoring lawbreaking by “pro-Palestinian mobs.” She described demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in Gaza as “hate marchers.”On Sunday, far-right protesters scuffled with police in London. Critics accused Braverman of helping to inflame tensions.The Associated Press