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UN report finds Russia tortured, executed civilians in Ukraine; Kyiv also abused detainees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Russian forces carried out widespread and systematic torture of civilians who were detained in connection with its attack on Ukraine, summarily executing dozens of them, the United Nations human rights office said Tuesday.The global body interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses for a report detailing more than 900 cases of civilians, including children and elderly people, being arbitrarily detained in the conflict, most of them by Russia.The vast majority of those interviewed said they were tortured and in some cases subjected to sexual violence during detention by Russian forces, the head of the U.N. human rights office in Ukraine said.“Torture was used to force victims to confess to helping Ukrainian armed forces, compel them to cooperate with the occupying authorities or intimidate those with pro-Ukrainian views,” said Matilda Bogner.The report, which covers a 15-month period from the start of the Russian invasion to May 2023, also documented 75 cases of arbitr...

Europe’s interest rates to stay high as long as needed to defeat inflation, central bank chief says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned Tuesday that inflation is holding its grip on the economy and underlined that the bank intends to raise rates high enough to “break this persistence.” Lagarde acknowledged that inflation has fallen from all-time highs last year as energy prices plunged and the bank rolled out a rapid series of rate increases, which are meant to fight price spikes by making it more expensive for consumers and businesses to borrow and spend.“We are seeing a decline in the inflation rate as the shocks that originally drove up inflation wane and our monetary policy actions are transmitted to the economy,” she said in a speech opening the ECB’s annual policy conference in Sintra, Portugal.“But the pass-through of those shocks is still ongoing, making the decline in inflation slower and the inflation process more persistent,” Lagarde added.Businesses initially passed on their rising costs by charging customers higher ...

Pope’s peace envoy is heading to Moscow after the short-lived Wagner rebellion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis’ peace envoy is heading to Moscow on Wednesday in hopes of helping find “a solution to the tragic current situation” of the war in Ukraine, the Vatican said Tuesday.The two-day mission by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a veteran of the Catholic Church’s peace initiatives, comes as the Kremlin is reeling from the weekend armed rebellion led by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Russia has since dropped charges against Prigozhin and others who took part in the brief rebellion.It follows Zuppi’s visit to Kyiv earlier this month, which the Vatican described as an initiative to try to find paths of peace.On the Moscow leg, Zuppi will be accompanied by an official from the Vatican secretariat of state, according to a statement from the Holy See press office. He is due to be remain until Thursday, which is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul — an important day for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians.“The principle aim of the initiative is to encourage gestures of hu...

Millennial Money: You’re not too young to make a will

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Making a will isn’t a task just for the old and wealthy. It’s also for the well-prepared.Recent years serve as a heavy reminder that you might not know when your last days are. Life expectancy in the U.S. dropped in both 2020 and 2021, driven by COVID-19 deaths and an increase in accidental deaths, according to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Over 1 million people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19, according to the CDC. And in 2021, accidents or unintentional injuries were the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., the organization found.It’s unlikely that you’ll die young. But if the unexpected happens, having a will in place — even if it feels like you don’t need one — can be a simple way to avoid leaving important decisions about your assets and guardianship wishes to your state’s laws and courts. It doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars, either.WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE A WILLIf you don’t have a will — called “dy...

Travis County land appraisal values confuse homeowner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – When Darletta Jaycox opened her property tax appraisal this year, she felt like a lot of other Travis County homeowners: perplexed.Jaycox, a south Austin homeowner who lives near the intersection of Menchaca Road and Dittmar Road, was particularly puzzled by the land value assigned by the Travis Central Appraisal District. At $275,000, her land value was about $46 per square foot. She looked online at the appraisal values of her brother’s house, which is just a few doors down on the same street. Despite having a differently sized lot, her brother’s land value was also $275,000, the exact same. NEXT: Over 165K protests sent to Travis Central Appraisal District Then Jaycox looked up a random parcel on a street in Circle C, a pricier neighborhood to the west. She discovered the appraisal district valued land there at roughly $20 per square foot. How could land in one of the priciest neighborhoods in far south Austin be less valuable than hers, she wondered. She also n...

Off the Beaten Path: Gracie's Luncheonette

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

LEEDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Opened in 2016, Gracie’s Luncheonette on Main Street in Leeds specializes in comfort food made from scratch. The establishment is the child of engaged couple, Andrew Spielberg and Ally Merritt.Before opening their doors in 2016, they started their culinary endeavors at the farmers market. They eventually purchased a food truck before ultimately opening a permanent location. Off the Beaten Path: Fred’s Coffee & Donuts Their philosophy has always been good food doesn’t have to be complicated. They make everything from the buns to the bacon from scratch.“People come from all over the place to try our donuts. We get a lot praise about it,” said Andrew. Off the Beaten Path: Sweet Mimi’s Café & Bakery Gracie's is located at 969 Main Street in Leeds. They are open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

5 things to know this Tuesday, June 27

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Tuesday and Happy Primary Day! When you get the chance today, get out and vote! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect another round of downpours similar to what we got yesterday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! As mentioned, today is Primary Day. Take a look at NEWS10's 2023 Capital Region Primary Election Guide as you head out to vote! Also, yesterday, a former Johnstown funeral home director faced sentencing after mishandling human remains. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Tuesday morning. 1. 2023 Capital Region primary election guideEarly voting, which runs until June 25, is underway for local primary elections. Primary Day in New York State is set for June 27.2. Johnstown funeral home director faces sentencingBrian Barnett, the Johnstown funeral home director who mishandled human remains will now spend two to seven years in prison.3. Alb...

St. Louis Public Schools starting chain-link fencing replacement today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Public Schools are replacing chain-link fencing with more environmentally friendly material.Columbia Elementary was built in 1929 according to the school's website. It was once destroyed in a tornado, and restored to what it is today, but old buildings like the school's often have fences that contain poisonous lead. So those are being replaced with more environmentally friendly materials.The Board of Education voted to remove and replace of around 6.2 miles of fencing across St. Louis Public Schools. Fences containing lead will be replaced with an environmentally safe vinyl coated galvanized steel. Open house on Metro’s ‘Secure Platform Plan’ today It's a project made possible by a combination of state and federal money. It's all thanks to House Bill 20 and the federal government's elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund. The project costs $2.1 million. It was championed by Senator Steve Roberts, and representative Lakeysha Bosley.Since 2007, SL...

Open house on Metro's 'Secure Platform Plan' today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - MetroLink's new $52 million plan to secure its rider platforms will be the focus of a public open house later Tuesday.Washington park Metro Station just off Kingshighway and three others in Illinois will be the first to get the security upgrades. Metro officials say the changes known as the 'Secure Platform Plan,' are a key component of their efforts to increase ridership.Only ticketed riders will be able to get through the new gates. There will be no more open train platforms. Eight-foot high fencing will surround all the access points to the platforms.The goal is to transform the original open access MetroLink platform system into a closed platform system with centralized and secured customer service entrances at all MetroLink stations. The first four stations in Illinois should be done in the next eight to nine months. St. Louis Public Schools starting chain-link fencing replacement today Six more stations including the Central West End and Delmar Loop stops ...

Crews responding to garage fire in south St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Emergency crews are at the scene of a garage fire in south St. Louis Tuesday morning. Our Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX helicopter was flying over the area located on the 3900 block of Virginia Avenue, where white smoke can be seen coming from the home as firefighters are getting control of the flames. Open house on Metro’s ‘Secure Platform Plan’ today So far, there's no word on the cause of the fire or if anyone was hurt. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.