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Thousands march at Budapest Pride as LGBTQ+ community voices anxiety over Hungary’s restrictive laws

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Thousands of participants of the Budapest Pride march wound through the streets of the Hungarian capital on Saturday with marchers voicing their anxiety over the increasing pressure on the LGBTQ+ community from the country’s right-wing government. The 28th annual event comes as the country’s laws, which ban the depiction of homosexuality or gender transition, to minors under 18 have begun to be applied with increasing regularity, resulting in fines and other penalties for those who disseminate LGBTQ+ content. Before the march, which began in Budapest’s city park, Pride organizer Jojo Majercsik said that while the laws, passed in 2021, didn’t have immediate practical effects, they are now increasingly being used to crack down on LGBTQ+ visibility.“You can now see how the propaganda law passed two years ago is being applied in practice and how the public discourse has become more angry,” Majercsik said, referring to the 2021 law. “It is...

Pope recognizes China’s unilateral appointment of Shanghai bishop, three months after the fact

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis gave in Saturday to China’s unilateral appointment of a new bishop in Shanghai, formally recognizing Beijing’s installation of Bishop Shen Bin three months after the fact.In its daily noon bulletin, the Vatican said Francis had appointed Shen as bishop of Shanghai, transferring him from Haimen. The announcement came after the Holy See conceded in April that it had learned of Shen’s appointment to lead the Catholic Church in Shanghai from media accounts.The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Francis decided to accept China’s unilateral appointment for the “greater good” of the faithful in Shanghai. But Parolin made clear China’s move had violated the “spirit of collaboration” outlined in a 2018 accord between the Holy See and Beijing on bishop appointments.In comments to Vatican media explaining the pope’s decision, Parolin said Francis approved Shen’s appointment to allow the bishop to lead his flock and t...

Mexico seeks a Gold Cup championship against Panama in redemption tour after disappointing World Cup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The game is not going to be against the rival Mexico expected, but seven and a half months after the country’s worst performance in a World Cup in 44 years, Mexico will seek to restore a bit of its tarnished image when it plays the surprising Panama in the Gold Cup final.With Jaime Lozano, their third coach in less than a year, the Mexicans will try to win their ninth Gold Cup title on Sunday.Panama beat the U.S. to advance to its first final since 2013. The country is looking for its first Gold Cup championship.“Usually, the dream final is the United States against Mexico, but that is not going to happen and it doesn’t matter to me,” said Lozano, who is an interim coach. “For me the goal is the same, if Panama is in the final it is because they did something better than the United States.”Mexico and Panama recently played for third place in the CONCACAF Nations League and El Tri won 1-0 in what was the last match with Argentine coach Diego Cocca at the helm.Cocca...

Ottawa unveils pathway to permanent residency for Ukrainians who have fled to Canada

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government is announcing details of a long-awaited pathway for Ukrainians to seek permanent residency in Canada starting this fall.Ottawa says those who have fled Russia’s illegal invasion and want to stay in Canada will be able to apply for permanent residency as of Oct. 23, as long as they have temporary resident status and at least one family member in Canada.Those who are eligible include Ukrainian spouses, common-law partners, parents, grandparents, siblings and children or grandchildren of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.The announcement comes the same day a program offering temporary emergency visas to Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression formally closed, though Ukrainians and their family members can still apply for a temporary resident visa to come to Canada under pre-existing immigration measures.The emergency visa was available to an unlimited number of Ukrainians, allowing them to work and study in Canada for three years as temporary reside...

Cambodian opposition party officials arrested for allegedly encouraging casting of spoiled ballots

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Two senior members of the only major functioning opposition party in Cambodia have been arrested for allegedly teaching voters how to cast a spoiled ballot in this month’s general election, their party and a government spokesperson said Saturday.They are the first people to be arrested under the country’s recently amended election law. It penalizes politicians who encourage election boycotts in a country where the party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for 38 years, is running virtually unopposed.The Candlelight Party, the only other contender capable of mounting a credible challenge in the July 23 election, was barred on a technicality from contesting the polls by the National Election Committee. Its decision was widely seen as political. With the party not running, some opponents of the Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party see the use of spoiled ballots as the only way of registering a protest while still showing up to v...

Who is Rex Heuermann? What we know about Long Island serial killer suspect

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (WPIX) – Officials in New York have arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Long Island, in connection with a string of killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. Heuermann was arrested Thursday night near his office on Fifth Avenue in New York City, police said. Timeline of the long-unsolved Gilgo Beach serial murders investigation Here's what we know about Rex HeuermannThe suspect grew up on Long Island, according to a 2022 interview he conducted with Bonjour Reality, and lived in Massapequa Park his whole life, according to local news outlet News 12. Neighbors told the outlet he has a wife and two children.Heuermann worked on construction and renovation projects in New York City, an employee of his Nexstar's WPIX. Damien Richards, who was hired in 2020, said that Heuermann went into his office every day or worked remotely on job sites and his daughter usually joined him at work. ‘Total shock’: Employee talks arrest of NY architect in Gilgo ...

APD: No suspect in custody after west Austin homicide

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Saturday, the Austin Police Department said it was investigating a homicide in west Austin.A public information officer held a briefing Saturday morning and said officers responded at 6:40 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing several gunshots at an apartment complex in the 3500 block of North Capital of Texas Highway.When officers arrived, a man in his 40s was found lying next to a vehicle with trauma to his body, according to APD. Life-saving measures were performed, but APD said the man was pronounced dead at 6:58 a.m.APD homicide detectives began investigating the incident and canvassing the area for witnesses, according to police. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? During the briefing, APD said there was no suspect information available, and no one was in custody.This incident is being investigated as Austin's 36th homicide of 2023.

Excessive heat, gusty winds raising wildfire risk throughout SoCal 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

An excessive heat warning is in effect for much of the interior areas of Southern California through Monday evening, and now some coastal communities are finding themselves under a heat advisory. In addition to the triple digit temperatures, winds are expected to pick up on Saturday afternoon, with gusts of up to 25 miles per hour in some parts of Los Angeles and upwards of 40 miles per hour in mountain areas. “We are going to see elevated fire danger for the interior sections because of the wind, the triple digits and the low relative humidity,” said KTLA 5 Meteorologist Kacey Montoya.   Click here to view up to date weather data for your community An excessive heat warning is in effect for much of the interior areas of Southern California through Monday evening, and now some coastal communities are finding themselves under a heat advisory. (KTLA)Temperatures across the desert Southwest are forecast to soar well over 100 degrees; the high in Blythe, California – a ...

Bay Area heat wave: Here’s where it’s expected to be hottest Saturday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

Sweltering temperatures were forecast to scorch much of the Bay Area on Saturday, with highs expected to soar into the triple digits across many inland parts of the region, prompting warnings to take refuge from the potentially dangerous heat.An excessive heat warning was set to go into effect for most inland areas at 11 a.m. The National Weather Service encouraged everyone to limit outdoor activities during the afternoon and stay hydrated.Excessive Heat Warning for inland areas beginning later this morning. The hottest temperatures arrive this afternoon and linger into Sunday evening. Be sure to stay cool and hydrated this weekend! #cawx pic.twitter.com/xvA8GbK9Fm— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) July 15, 2023The hottest temperatures were expected for the East Bay and North Bay. Highs were forecast to hit 107 in Antioch, 105 in Livermore, 104 in Concord, 96 in Santa Rosa and 92 in San Jose.It should be much cooler by the water, with highs in the 70s in Oakland and downtown San Fr...

Map: Rabbit Fire and two other wildfires prompt evacuations in Southern California

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:22 GMT

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters in Southern California were battling three brush fires that started Friday afternoon amid a blistering heat wave.The fires were within 40 miles of each other in mostly rural areas across Riverside County.Nearly 1,000 homes were under evacuation orders at one point, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or property loss, according to officials from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.Two of the fires — Reche and Highland — had stopped spreading by Friday evening. The third — Rabbit, southwest of Beaumont — grew at a “rapid rate” to more than 2 square miles in a matter of hours, Cal Fire said in a social media post.The report Saturday morning from Cal Fire said the Rabbit Fire was at 4,500 acres, or 7 square miles, with 5% containment.Riverside County’s emergency services page said the remaining evacuation warnings were advisory rather than mandatory.California is bracing for its ho...