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Putin sends cannibals to fight in Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

Russia needs fresh meat for its meat grinder of a war in Ukraine. So it’s using cannibals.In the best traditions of the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlin uses convicted criminals of all sorts as soldiers and pardons those who fight in its war against Ukraine as “Heroes of the Special Military Operation.”Two convicted killers, who ate the flesh of their victims, have recently joined the heroes’ cohort and were reportedly pardoned by Russian authorities and released, several Russian media outlets reported.Sibir.Realii, a Russian branch of Radio Liberty, reported that Denis Gorin, a cannibal from Sakhalin, who killed four people and was sentenced to 22 years in prison, is now a free man and receiving treatment in a hospital in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.Gorin — who has posted photos online in military uniform with a Z, a symbol of Russian aggression against Ukraine — was convicted of murder and mutilation of a body in 2003, and was released in 2010 on parole. He...

City of Toronto plans to clear encampment near Kensington Market this morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

The City of Toronto has confirmed it is planning to clear an encampment near Kensington Market, due to what it calls an “immediate and continuing public safety risk.”In a statement, the city says the encampment on Bellevue Avenue near College Street will be serviced on Friday morning.“While this is a tool of last resort, we must address the accumulation of combustible and hoarded materials on site, posing substantial risk to both those encamped there and those in the surrounding area, including the church located at this address,” reads a statement from city spokesperson Russell Baker.The encampment is located right outside the St. Stephen-In-The-Fields Church, located on what the city calls a “city-owned right-of-way.”Baker says there are around eight people who are still living at the site, and says they were given a notice of the planned clearance on Nov. 21.“(They) will receive information about next steps later today,” reads the s...

Nissan will invest $1.4 billion to make EV versions of its best-selling cars at its UK factory

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Nissan will invest $1.4 billion to update its factory in northeast England to make electric versions of its two best-selling cars, a boost for the British government as it tries to revive the country’s ailing economy. The Japanese automaker manufactures the gasoline or gas-hybrid Qashqai and smaller Juke crossover vehicles at the factory in Sunderland, which employs 6,000 workers. Nissan Motor Co. said it’s directly investing up to 1.12 billion pounds ($1.4 billion) to produce electric successors to the two models. The money also will enable “wider investment in infrastructure projects and the supply chain, including a new gigafactory” for EV batteries at the site, the government said in a separate press release. “Nissan’s investment is a massive vote of confidence in the U.K.’s automotive industry,” which contributes 71 billion pounds a year to the economy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. Sunak visited the factory for the announcement, posing for ph...

Woman stabbed in head, man stabbed in hand on SW side overnight: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two people are injured after they were stabbed during an altercation on the Southwest Side overnight. According to police, there was a verbal altercation inside a home in the 4700 block of south Springfield Avenue around 12:13 a.m. when a 44-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were stabbed. 3 men charged in Midlothian liquor store attempted armed robbery The 44-year-old woman suffered a stab wound to the head and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition. The man was transported to Christ Hospital in fair condition with stab wounds to the hands.There is a suspect in custody and detectives are investigating the incident.

Spotty weekend rain as chilly stretch continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We continue our streak of cooler than normal temperatures today, and likely for the rest of the month.Black Friday shoppers out and about early this morning can expect cold temperatures and patchy fog. Sunshine will break by late morning giving way to a cool but dry Friday afternoon.Weekend forecastClouds will be on the increase Saturday with a few spotty rain showers in the mix. Very little accumulation will come with any developed spot of rain, with flooding nor severe weather a concern.Light rain showers will continue to be possible late Saturday into Sunday. By midday Sunday, a cold front will roll in from the north bringing gusty winds and colder air. NWS Austin to start issuing ‘Ice Storm Warnings’ NEW BLOG: NOAA updates December, winter forecasts Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up f...

Austin holiday tradition: When did the Zilker tree lighting start?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A more than 50-year-old city tradition will continue this Sunday at the annual Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting in Austin's Zilker Park. The Zilker holiday tree tradition started in 1967, according to the city. It was lit by Austin Mayor Pro Tem Emma Long. Since then, the lighting honor has gone to the winner of the city's tree art contest. LIST: Holiday light events in Central Texas There are over 3,300 lights on the tree with 39 streamers stretching from the ground to the double-star topper, per the city. The bulbs were changed to LED lights in 2019 to consume less electricity. A few years of tree lightings were impacted over time, such as in 1973 when President Richard Nixon declared an energy crisis and the tree was not lit. Because of the pandemic, the tree lighting was virtual in 2020View of the Zilker Park Christmas Tree at night during Yule Fest on December 5, 1968. Cars are visible around the base of the moontower. (Courtesy Austin History Center, Austin Publ...

How one company uses Styrofoam to tackle natural disasters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Styrofoam is considered poor for the environment for a number of reasons -- including how difficult it is to recycle, the chemicals involved in making it and the potential for animals to consume it. However, one company is using Styrofoam, along with concrete, to 3D print more resilient structures capable of withstanding more destructive weather that are, in some ways, becoming more common due to man-made climate change.KXAN Meteorologist Nick Bannin spoke with the CEO of Vero Building Systems about their building technology that combines Styrofoam with concrete, and how they're limiting Styrofoam waste in the process.KXAN Meteorologist Nick Bannin: Annette, you have technology that combines concrete with Styrofoam to protect infrastructure during natural disasters. How does this work?Annette Rubin, CEO of Vero Building Systems: Yeah, absolutely. So we are a U.S. based manufacturer, we manufacture "SCIP" panels. It's called a Structural Concrete Insulated Panel. The...

Andreas Kluth: Warts and all, international law is still better than no law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

Pundits of all stripes are tearing into one another right now about how to interpret international law. Hamas has indubitably broken it in the worst possible ways. But is Israel doing so as well? As political as it is legal, that controversy raises an older question: What is international law, and does it even exist?There’s no question that Hamas committed heinous war crimes on Oct. 7, when it attacked Israel and sadistically slaughtered about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. It broke additional international laws when it took civilian hostages, and yet more when it started using 2 million Gazan civilians as human shields. All of these acts are illegal in both customary and treaty-based international law.As for Israel, the victim nation, international law expressly gives it the “right to war” (jus ad bellum) in self-defense. But it also governs how it must fight “in war” (jus in bello). Here, the legal reasoning is clear in theory but slippery in practic...

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train returns to Capital Region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- All aboard! The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is returning to the Capital Region on Friday, and making multiple stops into Saturday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The first stop is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Menands, followed by Mechanicville and Saratoga Springs by 7:30. The train will make another stop in Fort Edward on Saturday.

5 things to know this Black Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Black Friday! We hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect blustery conditions throughout the day. The Schenectady City Mission hosted hundreds on Thursday for its annual Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, assisted with the Turkey Day tradition of giving back. Meanwhile, the Pittsfield Police Department was sent to Thistle & Mirth on West Street for reports of a stabbing Wednesday night. When officers arrived at around 9:40 p.m., they saw evidence of a stabbing but no victim, according to the Pittsfield Police Department. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Friday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! 1. Schenectady City Mission helping those in need, Gov. Hochul serves mealsThe Schenectady City Mission hosted hundreds on Thursday for its annual Than...