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Germany arrests French woman who allegedly committed war crimes after joining IS in Syria

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities said Thursday they had arrested a French woman who allegedly committed war crimes is Syria after joining the Islamic State extremist group.Germany’s federal prosecutor said the woman, who was only identified as Samra N. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested Tuesday in the western city of Trier.The woman is suspected of having participated as a member of two foreign terrorist organizations as a teenager, the prosecutor’s statement said.She allegedly traveled to Syria in September 2013, where she first joined Jabhat al-Nusra and married one of the group’s fighters according to Islamic rites. In November 2013, the couple joined the Islamic State extremist group.While in Syria, N. allegedly tried to persuade people living in Germany to also go to Syria to become a member of Jabhat al-Nusra. She also temporarily took in a woman who had been persuaded to leave the country in this way. The suspect ran the household for her husban...

YouTube Canada reveals top content creators, trending videos of 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

What do a self-taught contortionist, a gamer, a chef, a comedian and a parkour expert all have in common?They were all named the top Canadian content creators in YouTube’s year-end report released on Thursday morning.Despite their seemingly disparate disciplines, Head of Communications for YouTube Canada, Zaitoon Murji, says the top creators all possess a spirited approach to sharing their passions.“I think the recipe (for YouTube success) is truly being able to take your passion or your expertise and connect with viewers on a personal level,” Murji told CityNews.“The top Canadian creators this year were able to do that, whether it was their passion in cooking or parkour or gaming, they’ve been able to build a content business on something that they are extremely passionate about and that’s something that viewers are able to connect with.”Top Canadian creatorsAnna McNultyCorey TongeIron Chef DadKallmekrisMatt LaroseTop breakout creatorsCorey...

Biden administration proposes biggest changes to lead pipe rules in more than three decades

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

Most U.S. cities would have to replace lead water pipes within 10 years under strict new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency as the Biden administration moves to reduce lead in drinking water and prevent public health crises like the ones in Flint, Michigan and Washington, D.C.Millions of people consume drinking water from lead pipes and the agency said tighter standards would improve IQ scores in children and reduce high blood pressure and heart disease in adults. It is the strongest overhaul of lead rules in more than three decades, and will cost billions of dollars. Pulling it off will require overcoming enormous practical and financial obstacles.“These improvements ensure that in a not too distant future, there will never be another city and another child poisoned by their pipes,” said Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and clean water advocate.The Biden administration has previously said it wants all of the nation’s roughly 9 million lead pipes to be removed, ...

Inflation in Europe falls to 2.4% as interest rates pack a punch. But the economy has stalled

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Europeans again saw some relief as inflation dropped more than expected to 2.4% in November, the lowest in more than two years, as plummeting energy costs have eased a cost-of-living crisis but higher interest rates squeeze the economy’s ability to grow.Inflation for the 20 countries using the euro currency fell from an annual 2.9% in October, according to numbers released Thursday by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency. It’s a far cry from the peak of 10.6% in October 2022 as an energy crisis left Europe’s households and businesses struggling to make ends meet.The new figure is close to the European Central Bank’s inflation target of 2% following a rapid series of interest rate hikes dating to summer 2022. But the tradeoff is stalled economic growth.Much-watched core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, fell beyond analysts’ predictions — to 3.6% this month from 4.2% in October. It raises expectation...

WATCH: Underwater video shows stuck Navy plane's tires touching coral reef

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — Tires from a large airplane that's been stuck in a Hawaii bay for more than a week are resting on parts of a reef, according to video the U.S. Navy released Wednesday as it figures out a plan to remove the aircraft.There were no injuries to the nine people who were on board when the plane landed Nov. 20 in shallow water just offshore of Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Honolulu. The Navy is investigating what caused the plane to overshoot a runway.In this image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy, Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU-1) conduct an underwater survey of the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. The U.S. Navy said the underwater footage shows two points where the large plane is touching coral in the Hawaii bay. It's been more than a week since the Navy plane overshot a runway and landed in shallow water j...

Lights tested ahead of Trail of Lights opening

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Organizers at the Trail of Lights tested out the bulbs at the trail at Zilker Park on Wednesday. They said the lights worked. The holiday display runs from Dec. 8 to Dec. 23. KXAN's Britt Moreno will emcee the opening ceremony on Dec. 8. Trail of Lights makes national list of 25 best Christmas light displays The following nights are free admission from 7 to 10 p.m.: Dec. 8Dec. 10Dec. 12Dec. 13Dec. 14Dec. 15Dec. 19Here's a link for tickets and times. Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Trail of Lights 2023. (KXAN: Frank Martinez)Austin Trail of Lights Shuttles will operate from two locations:Republic Square Park at 422 Guadalupe St. Toney Burger Event Center on 3200 Jones Rd.Shuttles will operate on the following nights: Dec. 8Dec. 9Dec. 15Dec. 16Dec. 17Dec. 19Dec. 20Dec. 21Dec. 22Dec. 23

UT Austin launches 'Longhorn Lights'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The University of Texas at Austin launched a burnt orange and white holiday light show along the Drag Wednesday night. The university said everyone is invited to drive or walk along the light display along Guadalupe Street, between 21st and 24th Streets, called Longhorn Lights. Longhorn-themed lights show to dazzle the Drag this holiday season "UT takes our role in the City of the Austin very seriously and we've benefiting from that and we try to do what we can to give back," UT President Jay Hartzell said.Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Longhorn Lights show about to kick off for the 2023 winter season. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)The display will run ...

Local electric co-op reaches milestone

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

BUDA, Texas (KXAN) – Pedernales Electric Cooperative said Tuesday it reached a milestone by placing its 400,000th meter at a new Buda fire station. The nation's largest electric co-op serves the Texas Hill Country. PEC said it has experienced massive growth across its service area as many areas, including sections of Hays County, have urbanized. Hays is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, with a growth rate of 5.14% between 2021 and 2022. In 1938, PEC incorporated with 3,000 paid memberships. According to co-op, it took more than 60 years to reach 200,000 meters in 2005. The co-op had 300,000 meters by 2018 but only needed five years to reach the 400,000 mark. By contrast, Austin Energy served 520,757 customers in 2021.“As we look ahead, we are deeply focused on meeting the needs of all our growing communities that depend on the member-focused service we’ve provided over the past 85 years," said PEC CEO Julie C. Parsley in a statement to KXAN.PEC said it will continu...

Mandalay Kitchen brings traditional Karen and Burmese flavors to Frogtown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

The first day Mandalay Kitchen opened was also the first day the new restaurant’s founder and owner, Chris Tunbaw, had worked in food service.But earlier this year, when he told his family and friends that he’d signed a lease, those who knew him well were not surprised: Ever since he was a boy, he said, he’s been dreaming of opening a restaurant serving traditional Karen and Burmese food.Chris Tunbaw, owner of the new Frogtown restaurant Mandalay Kitchen that serves traditional Karen, Burmese and Thai dishes. (Photo courtesy Chris Tunbaw)Mandalay Kitchen opened in early November, in the former Marc Heu Patisserie spot on the corner of University and Western avenues, with a variety of noodle and rice salads, soups, stir-fries and other entrees.Tunbaw’s family is Karen, a minority ethnic group in Myanmar that has long faced persecution and sought independence. Over the past half-century in particular, many Karen people — including Tunbaw’s family — have fled the country. Now, signific...

Other voices: Supreme Court needs a real ethics code

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:29 GMT

Holding judges to high ethical standards is essential to the U.S. legal system. The Supreme Court’s recent adoption of an ethics code is an overdue acknowledgement of this reality. But the court’s failure to include any enforcement provisions reduces the code to a paper tiger. The public shouldn’t fall for it.Where ethics are concerned, the high court has long taken the approach of adopting “rules for thee but not for me” — requiring all other federal judges to adhere to high standards while exempting itself. Not surprisingly, the justices have exhibited a series of embarrassing ethical lapses, including failing to recuse themselves despite owning stock in companies appearing before them; failing to disclose lavish vacation gifts; using public employees to help promote and sell books; and accepting free accommodations for themselves and guests.These breaches have led to a public outcry, and rightly so. They stain the court’s reputation and r...