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Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu’s divisive judicial overhaul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Supreme Court heard the first challenge Tuesday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul, deepening a showdown with the far-right government that has bitterly divided the nation and put it on the brink of a constitutional crisis.Netanyahu’s coalition, a collection of ultranationalist and ultrareligious lawmakers, unveiled the overhaul earlier this year, saying it was necessary to rein in an unelected judiciary they believe wields too much power. Critics say the plan — which would weaken the Supreme Court — is a profound threat to Israeli democracy and that it would concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. They say the court is a key counterweight on majority rule in a country with an otherwise weak system of checks and balances — with just one house of parliament where the governing coalition is headed by the prime minister. The country’s president has largely ceremonial powers, and there is no firm, writ...

Illinois appeals court hears arguments on Jussie Smollett request to toss convictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett’s lawyers told an Illinois appellate court Tuesday it should toss the former “Empire” actor’s convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police, arguing that anger over the case led to properly dismissed charges being improperly restored. Smollett, foregoing his usual three-piece suits in favor of a casual jacket and jeans — slipped into court for the hour-long oral arguments Tuesday and sat on spectator benches. He seemed to listen intently, leaning forward to follow the debate before the three-judge panel.One of his lawyers, Nenye Uche, told the panel that “public outrage” should not be allowed to override “the rule of law.” He said many of the issues surrounding the appeal boil down to the question: “Is it fair?”If the appeal before the Chicago-based First District Appellate Court fails, Smollett will have to finish a 150-day stint in jail that his trial judge orde...

How to help those affected by the Morocco earthquake and Libya flood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — International aid groups have mobilized in Morocco, where a 6.8 magnitude earthquake Friday night has killed 2,681 and injured more than 2,500, and Libya, where thousands are reported dead and more than 10,000 still missing from weekend flooding. Donors, both big and small, are also mobilizing to support those relief efforts.Experts say the most direct way to provide aid to those affected in both countries is to donate to organizations that already have operations on the ground in those countries.In Morocco, where the earthquake was centered in the Atlas Mountains, that takes on additional importance because so far the Moroccan government has accepted governmental aid from only four nations — Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates — as it tries to avoid a “counterproductive” lack of coordination.In Libya, where Mediterranean storm Daniel dumped nearly 16 inches of rain on Eastern Libya and caused two dams near the city of Derna to fail, many worry the fac...

Book Review: ‘Elon Musk’ offers a revealing but not surprising portrait of tech mogul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

For those who have been paying attention to Elon Musk for at least the past couple years, Walter Isaacson’s biography of the tech billionaire doesn’t feel that surprising.Isaacson’s biography “Elon Musk” does a good job hammering home the portrayal of the SpaceX founder and now owner of X — formerly Twitter — as a visionary but mercurial figure who’s given to mood swings and self-destructive behavior.It’s a familiar descriptor for Musk’s fans and detractors, but Isaacson’s biography still offers plenty of revealing details about the tech mogul.In the opening pages of the book on Musk’s childhood, he’s described as someone “not hardwired to have empathy,” a characteristic that comes into play throughout his work endeavors and personal life.What Isaacson doesn’t conclude is whether those characteristics are propelling Musk’s success or undoing it.The Musk biography is a fitting addition to Isaacson’s works c...

Zimbabwe’s newly re-elected president appoints his son and nephew to deputy minister posts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Newly re-elected Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa swore in a new Cabinet on Tuesday after appointing one of his sons and one of his nephews to deputy minister posts.Mnangagwa’s Cabinet was largely made up of loyalists from his ruling ZANU-PF party. The move to appoint his 34-year-old son David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa as deputy finance minister and nephew Tongai Mnangagwa as deputy tourism minister was criticized by the opposition.Mnangagwa, 80, did not include any members of the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change party, which has rejected his victory in elections last month.The credibility of the vote was also questioned by both Western and African observers.Mnangagwa retained many of his old ministers in his new Cabinet while also including several younger members of ZANU-PF.The opposition CCC said Mnangagwa appointing family members was “particularly worrying.”“Rather than think of the national plight, Mr. Mnangagwa has set up an infras...

UN says Nicaragua’s human rights violations and persecution of dissidents are on the rise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaragua has increased human rights violations and persecution of the opposition as it ratchets up its efforts to stifle dissent, a United Nations group of experts monitoring the country said Tuesday.The Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, that the government continues increasing pressure on human rights defenders to force them to leave the country.That persecution has extended to the education sector, where the government has systematically cancelled the legal status of private universities and seized their campuses.“We have observed the intentional and severe deprivation of economic and social rights, in particular the right to education and academic freedom,” said Jan-Michael Simon, chair of the group. “Today, the university sector of Nicaragua as a whole no longer has independent institutions. Nicaragua is being stripped of its intellectual capital and critical voices, leaving the country’s pro...

Iran identifies 5 prisoners it wants from US in swap for Iranian-Americans and billions in assets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran on Tuesday identified the five prisoners it hopes to see freed in the United States in exchange for five Iranian-Americans now held in Tehran and billions in assets once held by South Korea. The acknowledgment by the Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York comes as the Biden administration has issued a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. The moves by both Tehran and Washington appear to signal the prisoner swap is progressing as the money once held in South Korean won is converted into euros and moved to Qatar, where Iran will be able to use it for humanitarian purposes. In a statement to The Associated Press, Ali Karimi Magham, a spokesman for the Iranian mission, confirmed the list of prisoners that Tehran wants released. The five sought by the Iranians are:— Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, an Iranian charged in 2021 with allegedly...

WATCH LIVE | AJ Freund death, DCFS workers trial day 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers accused of child endangerment enters its second day Tuesday.The multiple felony charges filed in Sept. 2020 against Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta stem from the April 2019 death of five-year-old Andrew "AJ" Freund of Crystal Lake. They are accused of having known Freund's life was in danger four months earlier yet not taking action. Previous Coverage: Nearly 20 police reports can be used in AJ Freund DCFS trial The bench trial began on Monday with the McHenry County State's Attorney providing an opening statement for the prosecution, and separate attorneys providing statements for each of the defendants.Following the opening statements, the prosecution began calling its witnesses. They included a Crystal Lake police officer, a doctor who examined Freund in Dec. 2018, a man who knew Freund's father through Alcoholics Anonymous, and a retired DCFS supervisor.The trial is expec...

'It was surreal': Chicago girl featured in Times Square Down syndrome video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

NEW YORK — A 3-year-old Chicago girl was featured in Times Square over the weekend to represent those all over the country with Down syndrome.Olivia Smith was selected from over 2,400 applicants to have her smiling face put up in the Big Apple. After receiving the good news, her parents, Mike and Audrey, of Jefferson Park, made plans to drive to New York.The video presentation, which lasted an hour on Saturday, is an annual event in the New York City Buddy Walk. The National Down Syndrome Society puts on the walk and video with the goal of showcasing children, teens and adults with Down syndrome to promote inclusion.Olivia happy in Times SquareIt was Olivia's first time in New York and her parents said she was so excited.When her big moment came, Olivia and her parents were ready for it."When she's happy she loves to clap and when she saw herself she started clapping," father Mike Smith said. "The whole moment was surreal."The family then got to Central Park for the walk. The event ...

George Strait, Chris Stapleton will play Soldier Field in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:24 GMT

CHICAGO — A stadium tour that will feature two of the biggest names in country music will be making a stop in Chicago next year.On Tuesday, George Strait and Chris Stapleton announced an extension of their current performances at stadiums around the country into 2024, with Soldier Field being added to the list of venues.The pair will take the stage along with Little Big Town on the evening of Saturday, July 20, which was one of nine tour dates that were added on Tuesday. Aerosmith postpones Chicago stop on farewell tour For the Soldier Field show, aisle seating, early access, and VIP package presale tickets for the show will go on sale Friday, September 15 at 10 a.m. central time. Sales to the general public are slated to begin on Friday, September 22 at 10 a.m. central time. Here are the other dates that have been added to the May 4 - Indianapolis - Lucas Oil StadiumMay 11 - Jacksonville - EverBank StadiumMay 25 - Ames, Iowa - Jack Trice StadiumJune 1 - Charlotte - Bank of Ameri...