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UN says 5 staff members kidnapped in Yemen 18 months ago walk free

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations said Friday that five staff members who were kidnapped in Yemen 18 months ago have walked free.In a brief statement, Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said all “available information suggests that all five colleagues are in good health.” Haq named the freed men as Akm Sufiul Anam; Mazen Bawazir; Bakeel al-Mahdi; Mohammed al-Mulaiki; and Khaled Mokhtar Sheikh. All worked for the U.N. Department of Security and Safety, he said.“The secretary-general reiterates that kidnapping is an inhumane and unjustifiable crime, and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable,” Haq said.The identity of the kidnappers was not revealed.In February 2022, suspected al-Qaida militants abducted five U.N. workers in southern Yemen’s Abyan province, Yemeni officials told the Associated Press at the time.When asked about the abduction then, Guterres’ lead spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said, “We are aware of this ca...

Taste of the Danforth returns to Greektown for first time since 2019

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

The Taste of the Danforth has returned for the first time since 2019, and hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the food street festival in Greektown.The festival, which runs Aug. 11-13, was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID restrictions. It wasn’t held last year due to the GreekTown on the Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA) having issues finding space on Danforth Avenue caused by bike lanes and CaféTO installations. The festival will now share a “re-imagined” space for 2023.The owner of Soulas Modern Greek Cuisine (500 Danforth Ave.), Chris Christodoulou, says that his restaurant will only have a takeout stand, and will not be able to cook outside like in previous editions due to the space restrictions.But the festival’s director ensures that while the look may be a bit different, the quality of the product remains up to standard.“Many people will experience the same things that they’ve always loved about the festival, and then...

Effects of ransomware attack, softer demand weigh on Indigo’s first-quarter results

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

TORONTO — Indigo Books & Music Inc. CEO Peter Ruis says the aftereffects of a ransomware attack and challenging macroeconomic conditions weighed on the company’s first-quarter results. On a call with analysts, Ruis said Indigo’s search engine optimization was heavily impacted by the attack, which happened in February, resulting in lower online traffic. The company says its ability to replenish inventory was challenged, which impacted its retail and online assortment, while consumers were also more sensitive to prices. The remarks came the day after Indigo reported a loss of $28.5 million in its first quarter, compared with a loss of $25.4 million in the same quarter last year.The Toronto-based retailer says revenue for the quarter ended July 1 was $179.2 million, down from $204.6 million last year.Loss per diluted share amounted to $1.02, down from a loss of 91 cents a year ago.This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 11, 2023.Companies in this st...

Illinois Supreme Court upholds state's ban on semiautomatic weapons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld the state's ban on the sale or possession of the type of semiautomatic weapons used in hundreds of mass killings nationally.In a 4-3 decision Friday, the high court found that the Protect Our Communities Act does not violate the federal Constitution's guarantee of equal protection of the law nor the state constitution's bar on special legislation.The court also decreed that state Rep. Dan Caulkins, a Decatur Republican, and like-minded gun-owners who brought the lawsuit had earlier waived their claims that the law infringes on the Second Amendment to own firearms and could not raise it before the Supreme Court.The Second Amendment claim is alive, however, in several federal lawsuits filed in southern Illinois, later consolidated and awaiting appeals court action.The law bans dozens of specific brands or types of rifles and handguns, .50-caliber guns, attachments and rapid-firing devices. No rifle is allowe...

Riot Fest releases 2023 aftershow lineup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

CHICAGO — It'll be another explosive weekend of music at Riot Fest next month, but in case you aren't going there's plenty of great aftershows recently released.The annual festival takes place in Douglass Park from Sept 15-17 with Foo Fighters, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie and The Cure headlining.Some highlights:Kim GordonRock and Roll royalty has always come through The Empty Bottle and Saturday, Sept. 16 will be no different when Kim Gordon, of Sonic Youth, graces the stage.Listen in: Sonic Youth's Teenage RiotNEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: Musician Kim Gordon performs live at 'A Night Of Improvised Round Robin Duets' during the 2013 Red Bull Music Academy at Brooklyn Masonic Temple on May 1, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images)The Black AngelsFans of the first season of "True Detective" will recognize The Black Angels from their excellent "Young Men Dead" being selected for the end of the credits. They also play Saturday, Sept...

Dunkin' teases line of 'Spiked' iced coffees, teas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

(WJW) – Tired of spiking your own morning coffee from Dunkin'? There may be hope on the horizon.The Massachusetts-based coffee chain is teasing plans to release its very own line of hard iced coffees and teas to be sold under the "Dunkin' Spiked" name. Experts warn about ‘bed rotting’ trend As first reported by VinePair, the company has re-teamed with Harpoon Brewery — with whom Dunkin' previously collaborated on a line of Dunkin' Harpoon beer — to produce the spiked beverages. Dunkin' had also previously received approval for its Dunkin' Spiked product labels from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the outlet reported. A Dunkin' Spiked website touting the new beverages has since gone live, previewing a menu of canned iced coffees in "original," "caramel," "mocha" and "vanilla" flavors, each with an alcohol content of 6%. The spiked teas, at 5% ABV each, come in "slightly sweet," "half and half," "strawberry dragonfruit" and "mango pineapple" varieties.The products are ...

Dean's reviews: 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

Check out Dean's Reviews on the new The Last Voyage of the Demeter' movie in theaters.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Grand jury indicts Raul Meza on murder, capital murder connected to woman's 2019 death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A grand jury has indicted Raul Meza, Jr., 62, in the 2019 death of his neighbor Gloria Lofton according to the Travis County District Attorney's Office. Online court records show he's being held on $1,000,000 bond. He was arrested by the Austin Police Department in May for capital murder. TIMELINE: What we know of Raul Meza’s criminal history In May, he was also charged with murder in the death of his roommate Jesse Fraga, 80.A grand jury also indicted Meza in that case on charges of murder and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. According to indictment documents for Lofton's case, the grand jury ruled that Meza strangled Lofton "in the course of committing and attempting to commit the offense of aggravated sexual assault."Indictment documents for Fraga's case, the grand jury ruled Meza knowingly caused Fraga's death by cutting, stabbing and strangling him. On May 24, Meza called the APD 311 line and was transferred to the homicide line, police said. Meza told a...

Construction on south I-35 could impact your back-to-school commute

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Over the last few months, the quiet summer traffic conditions and lack of rain allowed the construction crews working on the I-35 Capital Express South Project to ramp up work between Ben White Blvd and State Highway 45 Southeast.That's where two non-tolled High Occupancy Vehicle, or H-O-V lanes are being built in each direction in South Austin.Construction on I-35 Capital Express South Project near William Cannon DrTxDOT is also reconstructing bridges there, adding pedestrian and bicycle paths, and making additional safety and mobility improvements. PAST COVERAGE: TxDOT breaks ground on I-35 Capital Express South Project If this is where you commute, plan accordingly for your drive to take even more time than it did the last time school was back in session in the spring.And remember that speeding through a construction zone can result in a ticket that's at least $350.With back to school underway adding to the delays, the fine for not following the laws in school ...

ABJ: Austin's future may depend on these farmers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:18 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- About 70 miles north of Austin, in a 20-acre agricultural manufacturing site, scores of lettuce seeds are evenly sowed by machines into dirt rows in palettes. Those palettes are then shuttled through a labyrinth of machines and conveyor belts, before coming to rest floating in water in a humid greenhouse.Over the next 20 days, their exposure to sun is varied by a retractable roof and potential contaminants are meticulously measured. When the plants are ready to harvest, the palettes are moved back along conveyor belts into a frigid room, where machines and humans work hand-in-hand to pick them, wash them, package them and send them to grocery stores throughout the South.It's a process that might be the future of farming and it's happening daily at Revol Greens Inc.'s new indoor greenhouse in Temple. ‘World’s largest lettuce greenhouse’ opens in Temple, Texas The company — which has brought its headquarters to Austin and its largest farming facil...