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Saudi crown prince says in rare interview ‘every day we get closer’ to normalization with Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says in an interview with Fox News airing Wednesday that ongoing negotiations over Israel means the prospects of normalized relations between both countries “get closer” every day but that treatment of Palestinians remains a “very important” issue to be resolved. Saudi Arabia is discussing a major agreement with the United States in which it would normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact and aid in developing its own civilian nuclear program. The Saudis have said any deal would require major progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state, which is a hard sell for the most religious and nationalist government in Israel’s history.Widely known as MBS, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader was asked during an interview on “Special Report with Bret Baier” what it would take to normalize relations with Israel and answered that the Biden administration supports that happening.“For us, the Palestinian is...

Emergency lane along Parliament lost during ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest, court hears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

OTTAWA — The emergency lane on the street along Parliament Hill was blocked by trucks that had chained themselves together during the “Freedom Convoy” protest in Ottawa last year, the city’s emergency services manager told the court Wednesday.The defence lawyer for one of the protest organizers says that statement doesn’t add up with the manager’s prior testimony. Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are on trial for alleged mischief and counselling others to commit mischief, intimidation and other offences during the protest against COVID-19 public-health measures.Kim Ayotte said the city and police had planned to keep one lane open for emergency vehicles, but it was “lost” after the first night of the protest. Lich’s lawyer Lawrence Greenspon pointed out that Ayotte gave a different answer when asked about emergency lanes last year as part of a federal inquiry into the invocation of the Emergencies Act.“Mr. Ayotte confirmed that convoy...

Travellers rattled by Canada-India row, but trip plans remain unchanged

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

MONTREAL — Travellers and the transportation sector at large have been rattled by the sudden ramp-up in tensions between Canada and India, but see no reason to rethink their overseas plans for now.“People are a little scared,” said Urvi Chawla, who works at Sahib Travel Agency in Brampton, Ont.The agency has been inundated with questions about visas and flight availability. However, no signs of a dip in demand have emerged.“People are asking if anything’s going wrong or if flights will be cancelled,” she said.On Wednesday, Indian officials warned students bound for Canada of security risks here, ratcheting up a spat that erupted after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.The fallout continues to play out, right down to the retail level.“‘Should I make the booking or not? What about relations between India and Canada?'” Chawla said, paraphrasin...

What is an inverse vaccine and how can it reverse autoimmune disorders?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

Inverse vaccines are opposite of the vaccines we have come to know. Instead of giving a shot to rev up the immune system, these vaccines give orders to stop the immune response to certain cells. Chicago area doctors believe with the inverse vaccine, they may have found the key to disabling some of the most debilitating autoimmune diseases. Dr. Jeffrey Hubbell is an immuno engineer with the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering“A regulatory vaccine, an inverse vaccine, revs up regulatory mechanisms to protect your own cells,” he said. Recent Coverage: Emerging technique offers less invasive, gentler treatment for prostate cancer Think of it as the opposite of a typical vaccine. Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have figured out a way to tell the immune system which cells in the body to leave alone. In other words, mark healthy cells otherwise destroyed by multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes or ce...

Justin Fields says he was 'robotic' in loss to Bucs. Is that because of coaching?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill — Many outside the organization have been free to express their frustrations at the start of the Bears' season, and their quarterback is no different. Justin Fields was honest about his play last week and the reason why, during his news conference at Halas Hall on Tuesday afternoon."I felt like I wasn't necessarily playing my game. I felt like I was kinda robotic," said Fields when asked about what he didn't like about his performance in a 27-17 loss to the Bucs. "Not playing like myself." So why did he feel like he was not playing that way? His next response has generated plenty of attention on Wednesday."Could be coaching, I think," said Fields in response to that question. "At the end of the day, the're doing their job when they're giving me what to look at and stuff like that, but at the end of the day, I can't be thinking about that when the game comes. I prepare myself throughout the week, and when the game comes, it's time to play free at that point."Just thi...

From classroom to construction site: Geometry students building homes for community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Evanston Township High School is taking a new approach to math homework by handing students a construction helmet. The class is called Geometry in Construction and the students, lead by teacher Matther Kaiser, are building a lot more than just four walls."You have these freshman come in that have no idea how to hold a hammer, how to turn a screw and by the end of the year, they're up on roofs, they're siding houses, using power nailers and the whole time learning geometry through that construction,” Kaiser said.This is the class’s eleventh year. Geometry students gathered on an adjacent lot to build a house from the ground up."I realized you can use math like in your daily life," Hooria Ahmad said."These students are really able to see that math come alive and practice in a way that happens in the real world," Kaiser said. Chicago-based company provides free house cleanings to cancer patients It takes almost a full year of working in all the elements to frame...

Man who died after being punched at NFL game had medical issue: autopsy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A man who died at a New England Patriots home game last weekend after he was punched at least twice in the head did not suffer a “traumatic injury” in the stands but had a medical issue, authorities in Massachusetts announced Wednesday.Police and safety personnel responded to the upper deck at Gillette Stadium shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday and found Dale Mooney, 53, of Newmarket, New Hampshire, “in apparent need of medical attention,” the Norfolk County district attorney’s office said in a statement Monday.Mooney was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.“Our investigation has included numerous law enforcement interviews and the examination of multiple angles of video capturing the scuffle prior to Mr. Dale Mooney’s collapse during the Sunday night game at Gillette Stadium,” the district attorney's office said in a statement.“Preliminary autopsy results did not suggest traumatic injury, but did identify a medical issue,” according to the statement. “Cause a...

Fire contained in south Austin, AFD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A grass fire in south Austin was contained Wednesday, according to the Austin Fire Department.AFD initially responded to two grass fires in the 13200 block of South Interstate 35 just before before 3 p.m., the agency said on social media.AFD added the fire was contained and extinguished shortly before 4 p.m., and there were no reported injuries.

Man gets 20 years for northwest Austin intoxication manslaughter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison on a charge of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle in connection with an August 2021 incident in northwest Austin.According to Travis County court documents, Scott Allan Taylor, 45, was convicted by a court Aug. 22.The intoxication manslaughter charge was related to the death of 20-year-old Colton Roberts, a college student, who died in the 11000 block of Jollyville Road after a head-on collision Aug. 17, 2021. RELATED: Man allegedly hits, kills 20-year-old after multiple DWI arrests Documents showed Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge prior to his sentencing.Taylor received a jail credit of 151 days toward his sentence, according to documents.

Austin Transit Partnership OKs $190M spending plan for FY24

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Transit Partnership's board of directors approved Wednesday a $190 million spending budget for fiscal year 2023-24, with key focuses on light rail capital funding, CapMetro projects and anti-displacement funding efforts.Under the now-approved spending plan, $115 million will go toward the Austin light rail capital fund. That chunk of change breaks down into $11 million for right-of-way and real estate acquisitions, $58 million in professional services and $46 million allocated to administrative expenses like personnel, business support contracts and other materials. PROJECT CONNECT NEWS: What does the next year look like for Project Connect’s light rail development? Of that $115 million portion, $82 million extend from appropriations remaining from previous years, with $33 million marked as new appropriations.Approximately $23 million will go toward CapMetro project components. Those include:$4 million for McKalla Station$9 million for MetroRapid Expo C...