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UN expert group calls for release of Cambodian-American human rights activist after investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A United Nations expert group is calling for the immediate release of a Cambodian-American human rights activist, saying an investigation it conducted has concluded she was being “arbitrarily detained in violation of international law.”The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said in a judgment late Wednesday that while attorney Theary Seng had been convicted of conspiracy to commit treason and other charges last year, she was in reality being punished for “making two posts on Facebook critical of Hun Sen,” Cambodia’s autocratic prime minister.The judgment comes a little more than a week before Cambodia’s general election, in which Hun Sen, who has been in power for 38 years, and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party are virtually guaranteed a landslide victory, since the Candlelight Party, the only other contender capable of mounting a credible challenge, was barred on a technicality from contesting the polls by the National Elec...

Astana City celebrates its 25th birthday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

The sixth of July marked the day when the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan adopted the decree on the transfer of the capital of Kazakhstan, which paved the way for Astana to officially become the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the international presentation of Astana that took place in 1998. It is a milestone for the city, which is renowned for rapid growth, distinct architecture and for being a dialogue platform that put Astana on the global map. Walking through Astana’s streets today, it is as if its agricultural past barely existed. Yet those who have lived here for decades, went to schools and grew up in its neighborhoods remember the old days. Gulzi Nabi, a native of Tselinograd, the former name of the capital, has had a front-row seat of the rapid pace of change the city experienced through the decades.She shared her memories of the not-so-long-ago urban history of Astana and events that helped shape the capital into what it is today.Tselin...

Sale closed in Danville: $2.2 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

917 Ocho Rios Drive – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 900 block of Ocho Rios Drive in Danville was sold on June 22, 2023. The $2,155,000 purchase price works out to $851 per square foot. The house, built in 1958, has an interior space of 2,532 square feet. This single-story home provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and three baths. Inside, there is a fireplace. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. In addition, the house features an attached two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The property encompasses a generous 0.3-acre of land, featuring abundant outdoor space and a pool.These nearby houses have also recently been sold:On Podva Place, Danville, in November 2022, a 3,768-square-foot home was sold for $3,625,000, a price per square foot of $962. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 2,251-square-foot home on the first block of Ocho Rios Place in Danville sold in December 2022, ...

México golea a Jamaica y clasifica a la final de la Copa Oro contra Panamá

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

REDACCIÓN DEPORTES – La selección mexicana goleó este miércoles por 0-3 a Jamaica para clasificarse a la final de la Copa Oro de la Concacaf, a la que se enfrentará el próximo domingo en Los Ángeles a Panamá.Henry Martín, Luis Chávez y Jesús Gallardo convirtieron por los mexicanos del seleccionador Jaime Lozano, que mostraron en el primer tiempo su mejor juego en muchos meses.México tomó ventaja apenas en el minuto dos con un contragolpe; Luis Romo salvó una pelota y se la puso a Jesús Gallardo, quien asistió a Martín, letal en el remate de pierna zurda. Pasan a la final: Panamá derrota a EEUU en los penaltis de la Copa Oro Sorpresiva victoria: Catar derrota a México en la última jornada de la Copa Oro Con el marcador a favor los mexicanos insistieron en el ataque, recuperaron balones en mitad de cancha y mantuvieron en jaque a los caribeños, desconcertados.En el 24 Demarai Gray disparó de media distancia una pelota bien fil...

Russian general says he was fired after criticizing military leadership, accuses Shoigu of treason

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

A Russian general accused senior military leadership of acting “treasonously” and claimed he was fired for reporting the difficult frontline conditions faced by Moscow’s forces in Ukraine, amid rising tensions between warring factions in the military leadership.Major General Ivan Popov, the commander of Russia’s 58th Combined Arms Army that has been deployed to the frontline in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, said in a voice message addressing his former subordinates that he had been relieved of his duties after complaining to the military leadership about a lack of supplies and casualties. “I am awaiting my fate,” Popov said in the voice memo, which was posted on Telegram overnight by lawmaker Andrey Gurulyov, who is a member of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.“A difficult situation emerged with senior leadership, where I had to either shut up and make peace with that, and tell them what they wanted to hear, or say...

Girls Track All-Scholastics and league All-Stars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

Nethica Auguste (Bridgewater-Raynham) triple jumpKylee Bernard (Cambridge) 400Sarah Claflin (Pembroke) 100Sarah Dumas (Franklin) pentathlon/110 hurdlesAmelia Everett (Newton South) 800/mileEmerson Gould (Acton-Boxboro) pole vaultGrace Hanafin (Burlington) long jumpElizabeth Hopkins (Franklin) javelinCamille Jordan (Brookline) mileGiuliana Ligor (North Reading) 400 hurdlesAnna McElhinney (Billerica) 2-mileAlyssa Peasley (Natick) pole vaultSkye Petrie-Cameron (Newton North) shot putJayani Santos (Tewksbury) 200Catherine Sargent (Dedham) discusLindsey Wilson (Peabody) high jump4×100 (Pembroke) Ally Johnson, Sarah Claflin, Kaitlyn Gibbons, Catrena Ghattas4×400 (Needham) Carolina Sanz Arribas, Audrey Adam, Marisa Maio, Alex Bold4×800 (Wellesley) Delaney Dyer, Emma Tuxbury, Kayla Bohlin, Charlotte TuxburyNETHICA AUGUSTEBRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAMThe senior broke the Bridgewater-Raynham school record with a first-place finish in Div. 2 with a leap of 37-11 1/2. The UMass-Lowell-boun...

Tee Thursday: Lessons not required, but a good idea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

A recent pickleball experience led me to ponder more about golf, lessons and who needs them.I’m a tennis player, you see, but so many of my friends (and yours) have been swept up in the pickleball frenzy that I just had to join in.“You don’t need to know a thing to have fun at it. Just show up!” my friends counseled me. And so I did. But I found myself lacking. Sure, I could hit the ball over the next and get the general gist of that. But not understanding the basics just made it feel less fun to me.And so, even after my friends said I was fine, I headed to a beginners pickleball clinic. Like magic, understanding the basics and intent made it immediately more fun. (Important to note here that “understanding” and “playing better” are two unique things.) But still, knowing what I should be trying to do just brought up the fun factor for me.I feel the same way about golf. As an adult learner (and knowing my own sports coaching needs), I knew if I really want to become a competent and –...

Mass grave with at least 87 bodies found in West Darfur, United Nations says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — The bodies of dozens of people allegedly killed by Sudanese paramilitary and allied militia have been uncovered in a mass grave in West Darfur, the United Nations said Thursday.According to “credible information” obtained by the U.N. Human Rights Office, the bodies of the 87 people, some of whom belong to the ethnic African Masalit tribe, were dumped in a one-meter (around three-foot) shallow grave just outside the West Darfur city of Geneina.The first 37 bodies were buried on June 20, the agency said. The next day, another 50 bodies were dumped at the same site. Seven women and seven children were among those buried.Sudan has been rocked by violence since April 15 when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted into open fighting.Darfur has been at the epicenter of the 12-week conflict, morphing into ethnic violence with RSF troops and allied Arab militias attacking African ethnic groups.The Associated Press

No deal on Hollywood actors contract, strike vote will be held Thursday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The union representing film and television actors says no deal has been reached with studios and streaming services and its leadership will vote on whether to strike later Thursday.The Screen Actors Guild -American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said early Thursday that its decision on whether to join already striking screenwriters will be weighed upon by leadership at a meeting later Thursday.If the actors go on strike, it will be the first time since 1960 that actors and writers picket film and television productions.The actors’ guild released a statement early Thursday announcing that its deadline for negotiations to conclude had ended without a contract. The statement came hours after this year’s Emmy nominations, recognizing the best work on television, were announced. “The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reac...

Climate activists block runways at 2 German airports, causing numerous flight cancelations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Climate activists blocked a runway at Hamburg airport early Thursday, causing numerous flights to be canceled on the first day of the school vacation in the north German city.The group Last Generation said several of its members entered the grounds of Hamburg airport around 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) and glued themselves to the runway. “It can’t yet be predicted when operations can resume,” the airport operators said. “According to current information about a dozen flights have had to be canceled. Further cancelations and diversions aren’t ruled out.”Members of the group also cut through a security fence at Duesseldorf airport, in the west of the country, and blocked an access route to the runway.In a statement, the group accused the German government of lacking a strategy to tackle the climate crisis and called for immediate measures to cut emissions in the transport sector, including ending tax exemptions for airline kerosene.Aviation is responsible for a si...