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Israel-Hamas war poses long-term security threat, Belgian minister warns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

The Israel-Hamas war has created a long-term threat to European security that is likely to last beyond any ceasefire, Belgium’s Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden has warned. Several countries, including Belgium, have raised their security threat level after terror attacks carried out by lone actors in the wake of the renewed conflict in the Middle East. Belgian analysts have picked up intelligence on activities stemming from the Gaza war, prompting the government to send additional police to certain areas, such as the Jewish neighborhood in Antwerp, the country’s second-biggest city. In an interview with POLITICO, Verlinden said it was hard to predict when the country would be able to lower the threat level again, which has been at the second-highest rating since the October 16 terror attack, when a Tunisian gunman shot and killed two Swedish football fans in Brussels. She said she expected the increased police presence “will go on for a while”. “Even if t...

Rohingya refugees in Sri Lanka protest planned closure of U.N. office, fearing abandonment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A group of Rohingya refugees living in Sri Lanka staged a protest outside the office of the U.N. refugee agency Tuesday, saying they fear losing their living allowance once the agency’s office in the island nation closes at the end of this year.The protesters also want to be resettled in another country because Sri Lanka does not allow them to live there permanently.About 100 Rohingya refugees live in Sri Lanka, most of them rescued at sea by the navy while they were trying to reach Indonesia after fleeing Myanmar for Bangladesh.About 740,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh after fleeing their homes in Myanmar to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by security forces. But the camps in Bangladesh are squalid, with surging gang violence and rampant hunger, leading many to flee again. Ruki Fernando, a rights activist in Sri Lanka, said the refugees receive basic allowance from the U.N. agency and are provided with limited health care by the ...

Spaniard imprisoned in Iran after visiting grave of Mahsa Amini arrives home after release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

MADRID (AP) — A Spaniard who spent 15 months in an Iranian prison after visiting the tomb of Mahsa Amini returned home to Madrid on Tuesday after being released.“I can’t believe it. This has been very hard, but I am here. We have no idea how fortunate we are to have been born in his country,” Santiago Sánchez Cogedor told a group of reporters at the airport after he was embraced by family and friends upon arrival.Sánchez Cogedor was on a solo walking trek to the men’s soccer World Cup in Qatar when he was arrested in Iran in October 2022. His arrest followed his visit to the tomb of Amini, a woman whose death while being held by Iran’s morality police for violating Iran’s Islamic dress code sparked protests in the country.He remained behind bars until Iran’s embassy to Spain announced his release on Sunday.The 41-year-old was walking all the way from Spain with the goal of reaching Qatar to support Spain’s national team at soccer’s biggest global event.Sánchez Cogedor sa...

What does a total abortion ban look like in Dominican Republic?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican Republic is one of four Latin American nations that criminalizes abortion without exceptions. Women face up to 2 years in prison for having an abortion, while the penalties for doctors or midwives range from 5 to 20 years. Abortion rights activists argue that the country’s total abortion ban not only restricts women’s reproductive choices but also puts their lives in danger.Here’s a look at the country’s ban.What role does religion play?No other nation bears a Bible on its flag.The country’s motto is “God, Country, Freedom,” and the government holds a concordat, or agreement, with the Vatican, which implies that the official religion is Catholicism, although the constitution allows freedom of worship.The Catholic Church influences sex education. The “Learning to Love” program, recently implemented by the Ministry of Education, aims to reinforce Catholic values for students.Catholics and evangelicals are united against decriminal...

How Dominican women fight child marriage and teen pregnancy while facing total abortion bans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

AZUA, Dominican Republic (AP) — It was a busy Saturday morning at Marcia González’s church. A bishop was visiting, and normally she would have been there helping with logistics, but on this day she was teaching sex education at a local school.“I coordinate activities at the church and my husband is a deacon,” González said. “The bishop comes once a year and children are being confirmed, but I am here because this is important for my community.”For 40 years, González and her husband have pushed for broader sex education in the Dominican Republican, one of four Latin American nations that criminalizes abortion without exceptions. Women face up to 2 years in prison for having an abortion; penalties for doctors or midwives range from 5 to 20 years.With a Bible on its flag, the Caribbean country has a powerful lobby of Catholics and evangelicals who are united against decriminalizing abortion.President Luis Abinader committed to the decriminalization of abortion as a candidate in 2020, b...

Turkey detains 33 people suspected of spying for Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish authorities have detained 33 people suspected of spying for Israel, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported on Tuesday.Authorities were still searching for 13 others believed to have links to Israel’s Mossad security service, the Anadolu Agency reported.The suspects were detained in raids in Istanbul and seven other provinces for allegedly planning to carry out activities that included “reconnaissance” and “pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping” foreign nationals living in Turkey, the agency reported.The suspects were allegedly recruited to spy on Palestinians residing in Turkey as well as Israeli activists opposed to their government, Anadolu said. Israeli officials allegedly contacted the suspects via social media, it said.The report comes weeks after the head of Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet, said in an audio recording that his organization is prepared to destroy Hamas “in every place,” including in Lebanon, Turkey and Q...

Israel says it will defend itself against genocide accusations at world court filed by South Africa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli official says Israel will defend itself against genocide accusations filed by South Africa with the world court.Eylon Levy, an official in the Israeli prime minister’s office, on Tuesday accused South Africa of “giving political and legal cover” to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered Israel’s war against the militant group.“The state of Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice at the Hague to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel,” Levy said.South Africa launched the case Friday at the U.N.’s top court, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks.Israel dismisses international cases against it as unfair and biased and rarely cooperates. The Israeli response signals the government is taking the case seriously.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Heavy fighting was reported in the southern ...

Police still searching for parents of toddler found wandering alone on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are still asking for help to identify a child found alone on the city's South Side.Police said the toddler, who appears to be 2 or 3-years-old, was seen walking alone in the 100 block of West 107th Street in the Roseland neighborhood on December 21.The child is described to be about 31 pounds with dark brown straight hair, light complexion, hazel eyes and was found without shoes or pants. The toddler only speaks Spanish.According to police, he was transported to Roseland Hospital for a medical evaluation where doctors found him to be healthy with no signs of physical abuse. Vigil held for 5-year-old migrant boy who died at Chicago shelter Anyone who recognizes the child or has any information that would assist in locating his parents, please call 911 or contact the Area Two Special Victims Unit at (312) 747-8274.

Dane Mizutani: Who cares who the Vikings start at quarterback? It doesn’t matter.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

Each time the Vikings have walked off the field over the past month, they have done so without any idea as to who was going to start at quarterback the following week.Was it going to be the journeyman Josh Dobbs? Was it going to be the gunslinger Nick Mullens? Was it going to be the rookie Jaren Hall?This is the life of being forced to rely on a backup. There usually aren’t many good options.That’s been painstakingly obvious over the past month and a half, as the Vikings have benched Dobbs in favor of Mullens, and benched Mullens in favor of Hall. Naturally, the trend continued on New Year’s Eve, as the Vikings benched Hall in favor of Mullens on their way to an embarrassing 33-10 loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.Asked who the Vikings would start at quarterback against the Detroit Lions, head coach Kevin O’Connell even left the door open for benching Mullens in favor of Dobbs. Why not? Might as well bring things full circle in what could very well b...

5 things to know this Tuesday, January 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:28 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy 2024! We hope everyone had a happy and healthy New Year's Eve weekend! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, temperatures will top off around 40 degrees today under partly sunny skies after a cold start to the morning. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed with NEWS10 that they are currently searching for two missing vulnerable adults. Law enforcement is currently near Mariaville and Featherstonhaugh Lake searching for Malachi Williams and Ryan Williams who have special needs. Also, police are investigating after a fiery two-vehicle collision killed two people and injured five others in Rochester, New York, early on New Year’s Day, officials said.1. Search for two missing adults with special needs in MariavilleThe Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed with NEWS10 that they are currently searching for two missing vulnerable adults. Law enforcement...