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Russian authorities seek to fine a human rights advocate for criticizing the war in Ukraine

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russian authorities on Wednesday sought to impose a fine on a prominent human rights advocate on trial for criticizing the war in Ukraine, the latest step in a relentless crackdown on activists, independent journalists and opposition figures.Oleg Orlov, co-chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial, has been charged with publicly “discrediting” the Russian military after he wrote a Facebook post denouncing the invasion of Ukraine. Under a law adopted shortly after the Kremlin sent troops across the border, it is a criminal offense if committed repeatedly within a year; Orlov has been fined twice for antiwar protests before facing criminal charges. A Moscow court began hearing the case in March, and Orlov faced up to five years in prison if convicted. In closing arguments Wednesday, however, the prosecution asked the court to impose a fine of 250,000 rubles (about $2,500). “Thank God!” gasped Orlov’s wife when she heard that in...

Scientists winkle a secret from the `Mona Lisa’ about how Leonardo painted the masterpiece

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The “Mona Lisa” has given up another secret.Using X-rays to peer into the chemical structure of a tiny speck of the celebrated work of art, scientists have gained new insight into the techniques that Leonardo da Vinci used to paint his groundbreaking portrait of the woman with the exquisitely enigmatic smile.The research, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, suggests that the famously curious, learned and inventive Italian Renaissance master may have been in a particularly experimental mood when he set to work on the “Mona Lisa” early in the 16th century. The oil-paint recipe that Leonardo used as his base layer to prepare the panel of poplar wood appears to have been different for the “Mona Lisa,” with its own distinctive chemical signature, the team of scientists and art historians in France and Britain discovered.“He was someone who loved to experiment, and each of his paintings is completely different technically,” said Victor G...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in low 60s with rain and storms expected this afternoon

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

CHICAGO — Frost Advisory until 8 a.m. Wednesday (not for central/north Cook or Lake IL). Increasing clouds, afternoon rain and storms expected. Winds: SW 0-5. High: 63. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly cloudy tonight with showers and storms. Winds: E 5-10. Low: 53.Thursday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, rain and storms, wide temp range, E 10-15 G25. High: 59.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Breast cancer rates are rising. But more women are surviving too 

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

(The Hill) - Tammy Moyle’s annual mammogram in March was clean. But then she discovered a small lump a few months later. The diagnosis came in August. It was early-stage invasive lobular carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer that’s treatable if caught early enough. Because it was caught so early, the 45-year-old mother of three said doctors told her there’s a 96 percent cure rate. She will need 12 weeks of chemotherapy, and will also be taking an infusion drug called Herceptin for the next nine months.  "If I had to get cancer, like God forbid anyone ever gets cancer, but if I had to get cancer, I feel like this is the time to have it. You know, we have so many advancements. I feel really hopeful about my outcome,” Moyle said.    Moyle’s experience captures both the exasperation and optimism in the battle against breast cancer. While rates continue to creep up year-on-year, particularly among younger women, evolutions in diagnostics and tr...

Temperature swing ahead of this weekend

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the rain moves out, our focus now turns to our next weather-maker -- a breezy autumn cold front.Leftover moisture from former Hurricane Lidia and Tropical Storm Max continue to bring cloudy skies and spots of light rain to our area this morning. Although the clouds hold through the day, any lingering rain is expected to clear by late morning.A mix of sun and clouds can be expected tomorrow, but the main headline will be the jump in temperatures. Afternoon highs will warm well into the 80s Thursday, continuing to climb Friday with temperatures in the 90s again. This unusual autumn heat comes ahead of a dry cold front arriving late in the day Friday, clearing skies and dropping temperatures for ACL weekend two.Dry cold front brings breezy winds and cooler temperatures for the weekendACL weekend 2 looking fantastic with highs in the 70s/80s behind Friday's cold frontLong term forecast models are pointing at the potential for wetter weather for the third week of Octo...

Trudy Rubin: Israeli government strategy enabled Hamas horrors and must change to defeat them

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

“Crazy, crazy, crazy!” were the words of an Israeli friend on the phone, describing the massive Hamas attack on Saturday. An attack that was deliberately conducted on the day after the 50th anniversary of the surprise Arab attacks that began the 1973 Yom Kippur War.It was the shocking implausibility — and the personal immediacy — of what had happened, that shook my friend to her core. Many others told me this was worse than 1973, which mostly took place in the Sinai or on the Golan Heights — because this attack happened inside Israel proper, and was mainly aimed at civilians. Everyone I reached in Israel either had personal connections with someone killed or injured, or had immediate relatives or friends who have been called up by the military since the attack.How was it possible, they all asked, that hundreds of Gazan terrorists on motorcycles, bicycles and foot could cross a supposedly well-protected border, kill at least 700 Israelis in a day, and in...

Leaf Peeping: Biplane Fall Foliage Flight

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

RED HOOK, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Travel back in time, while you enjoy the scenic views of fall foliage from an open cockpit. At Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, you can jump aboard a 1929 New Standard D-25 to experience a thrilling way to go leaf peeping. Off the Beaten Path: Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome The 15-minute ride allows passengers to fly 1-2 miles over the Hudson River, where you can soak up views of the Catskill Mountains and the Taconics. They also offer a 30-minute ride and a lighthouse tour.Ready to fly? Biplane rides are available weekdays until the end of October, weather permitting. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Book is available by reservation 845-752-3200. Additionally, may be available, first come-first served, depending on pilot and aircraft availability. Leaf Peeping: Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride at Whiteface Mountain Biplane rides take place at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, which we recently in this week's Off the Beaten Path. It's located at 9 Norton Rd. in Red Hook.

UCDA: Former Ulster County executive stole $95K from not-for-profit

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

ULSTER COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A former Ulster County Finance Director pleaded guilty to two counts of grand larceny on Tuesday, stealing over $95,000 from a not-for-profit children's summer camp, according to the Ulster County District Attorney's Office. Burton Gulnick, Jr., will be sentenced in January 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Following a lengthy investigation by New York State Police, Gulnick was arrested in June in connection to thefts from the Hurley Recreation Center (Hurley Rec). Hurley Rec is a not-for-profit organization that provides summer activities and programs for families, including a children's summer camp.According to the Ulster County District Attorney's Office (UCDA), Gulnick was the former treasurer of Hurley Rec, which suffered losses of over $95,000 and disruptions to children's programs and activities. Police also found Gulnick stole thousands of dollars from an election campaign bank accou...

Crews investigating fatal crash in front of Enterprise Center

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police are on the scene of a deadly crash.One person is dead after a crash that happened on 14th and Clark a bit after 3:30 a.m., right in front of Enterprise Center. From what can be seen, there was a white box truck and a maroon sedan involved. The car was smashed into a light pole. Monthly $500 payments coming soon for some St. Louis families Police have 40 West blocked off at this time. The officers have not stated which vehicle the driver was driving.The accident reconstruction team with SLMPD is investigating. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

St. Louis County Council approves $5M to improve cybersecurity

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:44:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS OCUNTY, Mo. - The St. Louis County Council approves spending millions of dollars to help improve the county's cybersecurity systems. This comes after hackers breached an important law enforcement system last month.This was a big financial move by county council members Tuesday night. The council voted to spend $5 million to help beef up cybersecurity. Council member Ernie Trakas was a main sponsor of the measure. Described as an "emergency appropriation," Trakas says the funds will be used for improvements, including figuring out and fixing weaknesses in the county's systems, buying new technology, and hiring consultants to transfer information technology capabilities from servers to the cloud. Dead tree is a big problem for elderly St. Louis homeowner Trakas concedes that the $5 million will basically drain the county's emergency savings, but Trakas made the case that the major expense is worth it to shore up the county's cybersecurity systems against future attacks. C...