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UNESCO names Erfurt’s medieval Jewish buildings in Germany as a World Heritage Site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A U.N. committee on Sunday named a group of medieval Jewish sites in the eastern German city of Erfurt as a World Heritage Site, the second time Jewish heritage in Germany has been added to the list in recent years.Among the buildings included in the new designation are Erfurt’s Old Synagogue, a 13th-century stone building that illustrates Jewish family life in the medieval era, and a traditional ritual bath, or mikveh.The decision was made at a meeting of the U.N. World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.Erfurt’s Jewish heritage sites have a long history, but had been largely forgotten until relatively recently. After pogroms in the 14th century drove much of Erfurt’s Jewish population out of the city, the Old Synagogue was used as a storehouse and then a restaurant and dance hall. Its historical importance was only rediscovered and established in 1988. The ritual bath wa...

Cord Jefferson’s ‘American Fiction’ wins People’s Choice at Toronto International Film Festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction” has won the People’s Choice prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.The satire about race and personal agency was announced as the winner during a TIFF awards breakfast this morning, concluding 11 days of in-person film screenings and celebrations.The film stars Jeffrey Wright as an African-American novelist grappling with an industry that is limiting his work to trauma and poverty narratives. The People’s Choice award is determined through online voting and is frequently considered a harbinger of success at the Academy Awards.Last year’s winner was Steven Spielberg’s coming-of-age ode to cinema, “The Fabelmans.”Meanwhile, the People’s Choice documentary award went to “Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe,” about beloved children’s performer Ernie Coombs, directed by Robert McCallum.The Canadian Press

NYC day care owner, neighbor arrested after toddler dies and 3 others show signs of opioid exposure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The owner of a New York City day care center and a tenant living in the building were arrested Saturday after a 1-year-old boy died and three other young children were sickened by what officials described as apparent exposure to opioids.The arrests came one day after authorities discovered four young children – ranging in age from 8 months to 2 years old – showing signs of suspected opioid overdose after spending time at the Bronx day care center, Divino Niño. Nicholas Dominici, a 1-year-old child, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Three others were revived after medics administered doses of the overdose-reversing drug Narcan, authorities said.On Saturday evening, police arrested the owner of the facility, Grei Mendez, 36, and a building tenant, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, 41, on charges of depraved indifference murder, assault and criminal possession of narcotics, including Fentanyl.They are expected to be arraigned on Sunday.Dominici’s cause of death remains und...

Atlantic storm Lee delivers high winds and rain before forecasters call off all warnings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — Atlantic storm Lee — which made landfall at near-hurricane strength, bringing destructive winds and torrential rains to New England and Maritime Canada — kept weakening Sunday after officials withdrew warnings and predicted the storm would disappear early this week.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Sunday morning that the post-tropical cyclone was about 135 miles (215 kilometers) west of Channel-Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland. The top sustained wind speed was 45 mph (70 kph) with some higher gusts expected.“Gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Lee could dissipate on Tuesday,” the U.S. hurricane center said.The sky was sunny in Maine on Sunday morning. Gov. Janet Mills suspended a state of emergency. Less than 5% of electricity customers were still without power, down from 11% by midday Saturday during the height of the storm. In Canada, 14% of Nova Scotia had no electricity, down from 27% on Saturday, with smaller numbers i...

Biden’s national security adviser holds two days of talks in Malta with China’s foreign minister

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser met with China’s foreign minister over the past two days on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta in an effort that the White House said Sunday was intended to “responsibly maintain the relationship” at a time of strained ties and mutual suspicion between the rival powers.The White House said in a statement that Jake Sullivan and Chinese envoy Wang Yi had “candid, substantive and constructive discussions” as the world’s two largest economies try “to maintain open lines of communication.”Washington and Beijing see themselves as competitors despite an extensive trade partnership. President Joe Biden recently spoke with Chinese Premier Li Qiang while in India at the Group of 20 summit and told reporters afterward that they had talked about “stability” and “it wasn’t confrontational at all.”Biden has worked to strengthen relations with Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam and others to count...

Canada joins allies in sending air defence missiles to Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada is joining a three-month-old partnership with several key allies to send air defence missiles to Ukraine.Defence Minister Bill Blair is in the United Kingdom today and announced Canada’s $33 million contribution on a visit to Canadian soldiers helping train Ukrainian recruits at Lydd Military Training Camp.The money comes from the $500 million fund Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in June 2023 for military assistance in Ukraine. That same month the U.K., Denmark, Netherlands and the United States partnered to deliver hundreds of short- and medium-range air defence missiles to help Ukraine protect itself against Russian missile and drone attacks.For a little more than a year, Canadian Armed Forces personnel have run training courses at Lydd for about 2,600 Ukrainian recruits in weapons handling, battlefield first aid and patrol tactics. Canada has contributed $8 billion in aid to Ukraine over the last year and a half, including $1.8 billion in military as...

Missing the Emmy Awards? What’s happening with the strike-delayed celebration of television

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a normal year — if there is any such thing in Hollywood anymore — the 75th Emmy Awards ceremony would be Monday night, and the many nominees from shows like “ Succession ” and “ Ted Lasso ” would be claiming their trophies or happily clapping for the winners.Instead, the actors and writers strikes brought a postponement until January.Here’s a look at what’s happening, and what may happen, with the awards that have been thrown off course.HOW THE STRIKES AFFECTED NOMINATIONSA shadow hung over this year’s Emmys from the start. Writers, who are essential to the process both as nominees and the people who provide jokes and patter for the show, had been on strike for more than two months when the nominees were announced June 11. Then just three days after “Succession,” “ White Lotus,” “ The Last of Us ” and “Ted Lasso” were named as the top nominees, leaders of the actors union announced they would join writers in a historic Hollywood wo...

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy killed in ambush shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

(KTLA) — A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has died after being shot in his patrol car Saturday evening. Authorities received reports of the shooting around 6 p.m. near the intersection of Sierra Avenue and Avenue Q in Palmdale, Sheriff Robert Luna said during a press conference late Saturday.There, a good Samaritan reportedly found Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, unconscious inside his patrol vehicle, Luna said. Clinkunbroomer was driving while on duty when he was apparently fired on by someone in a vehicle driving past him, Luna explained. The shooting was considered an ambush. California woman loses limbs after battling bacterial infection from tilapia The deputy was transported in critical condition to the Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster where he later died from his injuries. He leaves behind his fiancée, parents and grandparents. Clinkunbroomer, who joined the Palmdale station in 2018, had gotten engaged four days prior to his death, said Luna. He comes from ...

Los Angeles model found dead in apartment; second case in a week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

(KTLA) — Loved ones are distraught after a young model was found dead inside her downtown Los Angeles apartment, marking the second time a similar incident has occurred within a week.Family members who discovered the body of Nichole Coats, 32, known as Nikki, inside her apartment are devastated and frustrated at the lack of answers and information from investigators.“This is senseless and I want some answers because my daughter is gone,” Sharon Coats, Nikki's mother, told Nexstar's KTLA. “And it’s not fair. I want everybody to find out who did this to her. She shouldn’t be gone.”The last time anyone heard from Nikki, she told friends she was going out on a date on Friday, Sept. 8. That would be her last conversation with loved ones. Woman loses limbs after battling bacterial infection from tilapia When she didn’t answer any calls or texts that weekend, her father and aunt decided to visit her apartment complex, Eighth & Grand, on Sept. 10.That’s when they made the gut-wrenchin...

Bronx day care owner, cousin charged after 1-year-old dies of suspected overdose

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

BRONX, N.Y. (WPIX) – A Bronx day care owner and her cousin were charged after four children overdosed, one fatally, at the facility on Friday, authorities said Sunday. The owner, Grei Mendez, 36, and her husband's cousin, Carlisto Briton Acevedo, 41, were arrested Saturday and charged with murder, manslaughter, and several counts of assault, police said. Mendez's husband is also being sought by police. They are expected to be arraigned on Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Additional details were not immediately available. Watch: California police give pit bull puppy Narcan after possible fentanyl exposure Police were called to Divino Nino on Morris Avenue around 2:40 p.m. Friday. Three children — two boys and an 8-month-old girl — were taken to Montefiore Hospital with suspected drug overdoses. Another 2-year-old boy got sick at home and was revived with Narcan. One-year-old Nicholas Dominici died at Montefiore. Dominici’s cause of death remains under investigation by th...