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Some 300 Indian travelers are sequestered in a French airport in a human trafficking probe

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

PARIS (AP) — About 300 Indian citizens heading to Central America were sequestered in a French airport for a third day Saturday because of an investigation into suspected human trafficking, authorities said.The 15 crew members of the Legend Airlines charter flight en route from United Arab Emirates to Nicaragua were questioned and released, according to a lawyer for the small Romania-based airline. She said they are deeply shaken by what happened.The flight stopped Thursday at the Vatry Airport in Champagne country for refueling, and was grounded by French police based on an anonymous tip that it could be carrying victims of human trafficking, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. It said two people have been detained and special investigators are questioning the other passengers.The unusual and sudden probe disrupted holiday weekend air travel as police cordoned off the airport and all flights in and out of the regional airport were halted, according to the administration for the Mar...

Czech Republic holds a national day of mourning for the victims of its worst mass killing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — National flags on public buildings were at half-staff and people across the Czech Republic are set to observe a minute of silence as the country holds a day of national mourning on Saturday to honor the victims of the worst mass killing in Czech history.The shooting inside a university building at the heart of the Czech capital on Thursday left 14 dead and dozens injured.Police and prosecutors said they have evidence the 24-year-old shooter also killed his father earlier in the day and a man and a baby in Prague last week.Bells will toll at churches at noon and a Mass at St. Vitus cathedral in Prague, the biggest in the country, will be celebrated for the victims. President Petr Pavel is scheduled to attend the service that is open to everyone.Similar religious services will be held in other cities and towns, while Christmas markets in a number of places were closed or reduced their programs amid boosted security measures.Authorities said that 13 people died at the sce...

Israeli strike kills 76 members of one Gaza family, rescue officials say as combat expands in south

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike killed 76 members of an extended family, rescue officials said Saturday, a day after the U.N. chief warned again that nowhere is safe in Gaza and that Israel’s ongoing offensive is creating “massive obstacles” to the distribution of humanitarian aid.Friday’s strike on a building in Gaza City was among the deadliest of the Israel-Hamas war, now in its 12th week, said Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense department. He provided a partial list of the names of those killed — 16 heads of households from the al-Mughrabi family — and said the dead included women and children.Among the dead were Issam al-Mughrabi, a veteran employee of U.N. Development Program, his wife, and their five children.“The loss of Issam and his family has deeply affected us all. The U.N. and civilians in Gaza are not a target,” said Achim Steiner, the head of the agency. “This war must end.” Israel declared war after Hamas militants st...

Anger in remote parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir after 3 are killed while in army custody

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Anger spread in some remote parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir after three civilians were killed while in army custody, officials and residents said Saturday. This comes two days after a militant ambush killed four soldiers. Locals said the Indian army detained at least eight civilians on Friday for questioning, a day after rebels fighting against Indian rule ambushed two army vehicles in the southern Poonch district, killing four soldiers and wounding three others.The districts of Poonch and Rajouri are close to the highly militarized line of control that divides the disputed Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.Locals accused army personnel of torturing the three to death in a nearby military camp. The bodies were later handed to the local police who in turn contacted the families. Residents said the bodies bore marks of severe torture. The five other detainees were taken to an army hospital after they were severely tortured, their families said.Mohammed Yo...

Word Game: Dec. 23, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — SEMIPRO (SEMIPRO: SEM-ee-pro: One who engages in an activity for pay, but not as a full-time occupation.)Average mark 37 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 46 or more words in SEMIPRO? The list will be published Monday.YESTERDAY’S WORD — SMOLDER seldom sled sloe sold solder sole some sore meld mode model mold molder mole more morel mores morsel older lode lord lore lose loser demo doer does dole dome dorm dose doser redo resold rode role roseTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are ...

Horoscopes Dec. 23, 2023: Noel Wells, shoot for the stars

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Noel Wells, 37; Eddie Vedder, 59; Susan Lucci, 77; Harry Shearer, 80.Happy Birthday: Take pride in what you do and finish what you start. Clear up unfinished business and prepare for what’s to come; opportunity knocks. Positive change will give you hope for a brighter future. Your dedication and insight won’t disappoint you as you race to turn your dreams into a reality. There is no time to waste, so put on your runners and shoot for the stars. Your numbers are 5, 11, 19, 24, 32, 41, 48.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Travel, communication and reunions will get you thinking about your future and what you want to pursue. Share your thoughts with someone you love and respect; the input will help you stop second-guessing. Diversify your skills and plan your next move. Trust your instincts. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a step forward, make the first move and share your intentions with someone you love. Be sure to stick to a budget and file o...

Ask Amy: Would it be odd for her to give the bride a present?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Dear Amy: My daughter, who is in college, will be attending the wedding of her boyfriend’s aunt.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I went behind my wife’s back to deal with her high-strung friend. Was I wrong? Advice | Ask Amy: She was such a fun friend, and I’m stunned she turned on me like this Advice | Ask Amy: I’m annoyed when people give gifts to children for no occasion Advice | Ask Amy: I felt awkward when my boss made this odd comment Advice | Ask Amy: A boy reading Judy Blume, and other inspiring tales The wedding is on the smaller side.The invitation came to her boyfriend at college and was addressed to the two of them. They do not live together but they have been together for almost a year and have visited each other over the summer, so our daughter has met several members of his extended family.I suggested that she ask for their registry information so she can send a gift. Sh...

Exclusive: Israeli Military Censor Bans Reporting on These 8 Subjects

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Weapons used by the Israel Defense Forces, security cabinet leaks, and stories about people held hostage by Hamas — these are some of the eight subjects the media are forbidden from reporting in Israel, according to a document obtained by The Intercept.The document, a censorship order issued by the Israeli military to the media as part of its war on Hamas, has not been previously reported. The memo, written in English, was an unusual move for the IDF’s censor, which has been part of the Israel military for more than seven decades.“I haven’t ever seen instructions like this sent from the censor aside from general notices broadly telling outlets to comply, and even then it was only sent to certain people,” said Michael Omer-Man, a former editor-in-chief of the Israel’s +972 Magazine and today the director of research for Israel–Palestine at Democracy in the Arab World Now, or DAWN, a U.S. advocacy group.Titled “Operation ‘Swords of Iron’ Israeli Chief Censor Directive to the Med...

Ni China ni Corea del Norte: la historia del país de América Latina que “eliminó” la Navidad del calendario oficial hace más de 100 años

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

(CNN Español) — Las listas de los países que no reconocen la celebración de la Navidad —o incluso la prohíben— suelen estar dominadas por regímenes autoritarios o naciones que profesan de manera oficial religiones diferentes a la católica. Sin embargo, hay un país laico de Latinoamérica que hace más de 100 años, y en plena democracia, eliminó del calendario oficial la fiesta del nacimiento de Jesús y la reemplazó por una que hoy, curiosamente, puede que sea más representativa para millones en todo el mundo: el Día de la Familia.Desde 1919, la ley uruguaya no reconoce el feriado de Navidad y tampoco el Día de Reyes, la Semana Santa ni el Día de la Virgen. Estas fechas se siguen celebrando, y en grande, pero en el calendario oficial tienen otras denominaciones: la Navidad es el Día de la Familia, el Día de Reyes es el Día de los Niños, la Semana Santa es la Semana de Turismo y el Día de la Virgen es el Día de las Playas.La secularización de los feriados religiosos es apenas una ...

Retiran de la calle una obra de Banksy menos de una hora después de que la publicara en línea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

(CNN) — Una nueva obra de Banksy fue retirada de una calle de Londres poco después de que el artista la publicara en Instagram, según reportes.El artista publicó una serie de fotos de la obra —que consiste en tres drones en una señal de alto— en las redes sociales alrededor del mediodía del viernes hora local (7 a.m. hora de Miami).Pero a las 12.30 p.m. dos hombres fueron vistos quitando la señal de un cruce en Peckham, al sureste de Londres, dijeron testigos a la agencia de noticias PA Media.“Abrí Instagram y vi que lo habían publicado cuatro minutos antes y estaba a punto de irme a mi hora de comer. Había unas dos personas cuando llegué. Todos estábamos como admirándolo y haciendo fotos”, contó Alex, de 26 años, a PA.“Nos quedamos mirando atónitos cómo lo destrozaban”, añadió Alex, que relató cómo el hombre no consiguió quitar el cartel con las manos y se marchó unos minutos antes de volver con una cizalla.“Dijimos: ‘¿Qué haces?’, pe...