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Saudi man receives death penalty for posts online, latest case in wide-ranging crackdown on dissent

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Saudi court has sentenced a man to death over his posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and his activity on YouTube, the latest in a widening crackdown on dissent in the kingdom that has drawn international criticism. The judgement against Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, seen Wednesday by The Associated Press, comes against the backdrop of doctoral student Salma al-Shehab and others facing decadeslong prison sentences over their comments online. The sentences appear part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s wider effort to stamp out any defiance in the kingdom as he pursues massive building projects and other diplomatic deals to raise his profile globally.“Al-Ghamdi’s death sentence over tweets is extremely horrific but stands in line with the Saudi authorities’ escalating crackdown,” said Lina Alhathloul, the head of monitoring and advocacy at the London-based advocacy group ALQST. “Lengthy prison sentences issued for free speech, s...

Belgium’s asylum shelters will no longer take in single men in order to make room for families

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Belgian government said Wednesday it will no longer provide shelter for single men seeking asylum, arguing its insufficient reception capacity should prioritize families, women and children. Europe’s foremost human rights organization and aid groups condemned the move as reneging on international commitments. Belgium has long come under criticism for failing to provide enough shelter to the thousands of people who are seeking protection from persecution back home. Long lines of tents along streets outside the main processing center in Brussels have become a stain on Belgium’s reputation.On Wednesday, Asylum State Secretary Nicole de Moor said increasing pressure on asylum housing was expected over the coming months and she wanted “absolutely to avoid children ending up in the streets this winter.” Instead, single men will have to fend for themselves. According to the EU Agency for Asylum, male applicants last year accounted for 71% of asylum claims. B...

Toronto Zoo devastated after ‘beloved’ 2-year-old tiger dies from tragic fall

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

The Toronto Zoo is mourning the sudden death of a two-year-old female Amur tiger, who moved away from her mother in Toronto earlier this year.The zoo said Mila had been on her own at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado in solitary confinement after she experienced a dental issue that required surgery.After the zoo staff administered anesthesia, they said Mila was resting on a bench to lay down and let the anesthetic drugs take effect peacefully.Less than a minute after lying down, the zoo said Mila slipped off the waist-high bench, causing a fatal spinal injury.Dr. Eric Klaphake, head veterinarian at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, said the young Amur tiger could have slid off from that height “a hundred times” and landed in various other positions and been unaffected.“The team quickly entered her den when it was safe and diligently tried for 40 minutes to give her life-saving care,” Dr. Klaphake said.Toronto Zoo, community mourning Mila’s passing: CEOAmur tigers ...

Montreal will not replace toppled John A. Macdonald statue that stood downtown

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

MONTREAL — The City of Montreal says it won’t replace a toppled statue of Canada’s first prime minister in a downtown park.The city’s executive committee says it will instead partner with a local institution to display the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in a different location with more contextual information for onlookers.Erected in 1895, the statue was frequently the target of vandalism before protesters tore it down from its pedestal in downtown Montreal’s Place du Canada in August 2020.Macdonald championed the assimilation of Indigenous people and is considered to be the architect of the residential school system.The statue remained in storage while the city considered its future.The now-empty pedestal, meanwhile, will remain in Place du Canada as a reminder of the statue’s history.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2023.The Canadian Press

Lawsuit accuses University of Minnesota of not doing enough to prevent data breach

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A lawsuit filed on behalf of a former student and former employee at the University of Minnesota accuses the university of not doing enough to protect personal information from a recent data breach.Attorneys for the two plaintiffs said in the lawsuit filed in federal court Friday that the university “was fully capable of preventing” the breach, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Wednesday.The university declined comment on the lawsuit but spokesperson Jake Ricker told the newspaper in an email that the safety and privacy of everyone in the university community is a top priority.After being questioned by the Star Tribune, the university acknowledged last week that it learned July 21 “that an unauthorized party claimed to possess sensitive data allegedly taken from the University’s systems.”The university did not specify how it learned of the issue. But also on July 21, the Cyber Express, a news site focused on cybersecurity, posted a story about a hacker’s claim...

Woman shot at White Sox game denies bringing gun into ballpark: report

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman who was hit by gunfire at a Chicago White Sox game says she did not carry a gun into the ballpark, according to the Chicago Tribune.The Tribune reports an attorney for the 42-year-old woman shot in the leg denies bringing a gun into Guaranteed Rate Field. WGN has also learned that the 26-year-old woman, who suffered a graze wound to her stomach, is a Chicago Public Schools teacher.The shooting happened in left field during the third inning of Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics.The brother of the 26-year-old woman told the Chicago Sun-Times they heard a pop, but didn't think it was a gunshot. They weren't sure what happened until they looked behind them to see the other woman who had been injured.Security and police cleared out the section where they were sitting, but the game continued. Initially, police had asked the White Sox to pause the game — but it was later determined there was no active threat so the game continued. Police said they did not want to...

U.S. DOT Secretary Buttigieg visits Gary airport

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

GARY, Ind. — U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in the Chicago region Wednesday to visit a local airport.Buttigieg is kicking off a three-day tour of Indiana, plus a stop in Chicago, by touring ongoing projects at the Gary / Chicago International Airport. This includes improvements to the airport's cargo operations "which support manufacturing and our national supply chains," according to a press release from his office. SKY STRIKER: Midwest’s tallest pendulum thrill ride coming to Six Flags Great America in 2024 Gary Mayor Jerome Prince, INDOT Commissioner Michael Smith, and U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan are expected to join the secretary for the tour and the related press conference.This stop is the first in a series across Indiana intended to "highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration is investing in America and creating good-paying jobs in Indiana and across the country," according to the press release. He also has planned stops in Elkhart to cele...

Dundee-Crown High School on lockdown; students, staff deemed safe

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. — Dundee-Crown High School is on lockdown Wednesday morning.In a message to parents and students, Supt. Susan Harkin said all students and staff are safe.However, no one is currently allowed to enter or exit the building."Walkers, bike riders and families dropping off students at Dundee-Crown this morning are advised to await the direction of the building administration until we communicate that the lockdown has been lifted. Students who take bus transportation must remain in their bus until the lockdown has been called off," Harkin said in a note.Parents are advised to monitor emails regarding the situation.SkyCam9 at the scene showed a large police presence.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

US questions Tesla move to allow hands-free driving longer with Autopilot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is allowing some drivers to use its Autopilot driver-assist system for extended periods without making them put their hands on the steering wheel, a development that has drawn concern from U.S. safety regulators.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ordered Tesla to tell the agency how many vehicles have received a software update making that possible and it's seeking more information on what the electric vehicle maker's plans are for wider distribution.“NHTSA is concerned that this feature was introduced to consumer vehicles, and now that the existence of this feature is known to the public, more drivers may attempt to activate it,” John Donaldson, the agency's acting chief counsel, wrote in a July 26 letter to Tesla that was posted on the agency's website. “The resulting relaxation of controls designed to ensure that the driver remain engaged in the dynamic driving task could lead to greater driver inattention and failure of the driv...

Dean fires up the grill for Labor Day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:35:32 GMT

WGN's Dean Richards shares some recipes involving the grill — just in time for Labor Day!Pasta salad with grilled vegetables  Ingredients:1 lb. uncooked orzo1/3 cup basil pesto2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil2 tsp. grated lemon zest plus 2 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon)1 (15-oz.) can white beans, drained and rinsed1 pt. cherry tomatoes, halved1 green zucchini,  sliced lengthwise1 yellow zucchini,  sliced lengthwise ½ pound asparagus1 tsp. kosher salt4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup), divided1/2 cup chopped roasted salted pistachiosDirections:Cook orzo according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water until pasta feels cool to the touch.Cut the zucchini into medallions. Cut the asparagus into 2 inch pieces.   Sprinkle with olive oil,  salt and pepper.Seal into a foil packet. Grill over medium/high heat for 10 minutes; ...