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Fighting flares again in a breakaway region in the Caucasus Mountains

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Azerbaijan’s forces rained artillery fire on Armenian positions in Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday, and local officials reported at five civilians were killed and scores wounded in shelling around the breakaway region’s capital. Authorities in Azerbaijan accused the other side of killing a civilian.Ethnic Armenian authorities in the Caucasus Mountains region urged Azerbaijan to sit down for talks, but Azerbaijan’s presidential administration said what it called the “anti-terrorist operation” will continue until “illegal Armenian military formations” surrender and the separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh dismantles itself.The reports raised concerns that a full-scale war in the region could resume between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have faced off for more than three decades in a conflict over the mountainous territory. The most recent heavy fighting there occurred for six weeks in 2020.Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry announced the start of ...

Network of ancient American Indian earthworks in Ohio named as UNESCO World Heritage sites

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A network of ancient American Indian ceremonial and burial mounds in Ohio described as “part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory” was added Tuesday to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Preservationists, led by the Ohio History Connection, and indigenous tribes, many with ancestral ties to the state, pushed to recognize the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks for their good condition, distinct style and cultural significance — describing them as “masterpieces of human genius.” The application process for the heritage designation was slowed by a protracted court battle to restore public access to the earthworks site leased to Moundbuilders Country Club, whose members-only golf course sits inside it. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee approved the application during a meeting in Saudi Arabia. The massive earthworks join a list of famed sites that includes Greece’s Acropolis, Peru’s Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China. “Pure excitement ...

Climate change made storm that devastated Libya far more likely and intense, scientists say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

The devastating storm that dumped torrential rains along the Libyan coast this month was up to 50 times more likely to occur and 50% more intense because of human-caused climate change, according to an analysis released Tuesday.Before crossing the Mediterranean, the storm raged for four days and caused extensive damage in central Greece and parts of Bulgaria and Turkey, a region where such extreme storms are up to 10 times more likely and up to 40% more intense because of climate change, scientists said.Heavy one-day rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel caused massive flooding across eastern Libya that overwhelmed two dams, sending a wall of water through the coastal city of Derna that destroyed entire neighborhoods and swept bridges, cars and people out to sea. The death toll has varied, with government officials and aid agencies giving tallies ranging from about 4,000 to 11,000 dead.The analysis was conducted by the World Weather Attribution group, which aims to quickly evaluate ...

Minnesota professor dismissed over showing Islamic art can proceed with lawsuit, judge rules

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A former Hamline University adjunct art professor can proceed with her lawsuit against the private Minnesota school but only on the basis of religious discrimination, a federal judge has ruled.Erika López Prater sued Hamline University earlier this year after she was dismissed following a complaint from a Muslim student that she showed ancient images of the Prophet Muhammad in a global art course last year. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez on Friday dismissed several other claims in López Prater’s lawsuit, including those claiming reprisal, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and retaliation, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported. López Prater’s attorney has argued that the school would have treated her differently if she were Muslim.The judge noted that López Prater’s religious discrimination argument is novel and that it will likely be hard to show that the university would have treated her differently if she were Muslim. ...

Bagels and lox. Kugel. Babka. To break the Yom Kippur fast, think made-ahead food, and lots of it

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which begins this year on Sunday evening (Sept. 25), is a solemn 25 hours of fasting and atonement.But when it’s over, fast turns to feast.The spread at a “break fast” gathering (not to be confused with breakfast) traditionally consists of foods that are made ahead, served either at room temperature or reheated right before serving. Observant Jews don’t cook on Yom Kippur, and even if you’re less observant, it’s pretty hard to stand in the kitchen cooking while you’re fasting.BAGELS, LOX, THE FIXINGSPerhaps the most common foods used to break the fast are bagels and lox (or smoked salmon) with all the fixings. Those typically involve dairy and fish dishes, such as smoked fish, whitefish salad, flavored cream cheeses (“schmears” or “shmears”), pickled herring, capers and cucumber salad.The break fast meal is usually meat-free, since meat and dairy don’t mix in kosher foods.I always include a noodle kugel in my break fast menu,...

Stock market today: Wall Street slips as oil prices keep rising ahead of Fed decision on rates

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are slipping Tuesday, and oil prices keep rising while Wall Street waits for the Federal Reserve’s latest decision on interest rates.The S&P 500 was 0.7% lower in afternoon trading, a day after barely budging. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 273 points, or 0.8%, at 34,349, as of 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.8% lower.Stocks have been see-sawing for weeks on uncertainty about whether the Fed is done with its market-shaking hikes to interest rates. By pulling its main interest rate to the highest level in more than two decades, the Fed has helped inflation to cool from its peak last year but at the cost of hurting prices for investments and damaging some corners of the economy.The Fed is beginning its latest meeting on interest rates Tuesday, with an announcement scheduled for Wednesday. The overwhelming expectation is for the Fed to announce no change to rates. More focus will be on updated projections Fed officials give ...

Nigeria’s opposition candidate appeals election verdict, asks court to declare him winner instead

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s main opposition candidate in this year’s presidential election appealed a ruling that upheld President Bola Tinubu’s victory and asked the nation’s Supreme Court to declare him the winner instead, according to documents seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday.In the documents filed, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the election, said the appeals court which dismissed challenges against Tinubu’s election victory this month “erred in law” by not supporting claims of illegality.The appeal is the first of three expected from the opposing candidates challenging the election of Tinubu who is attending this year’s United Nations General Assembly as a first-time president. Observers said though the conduct of the election was an improvement from previous ones, delays in uploading and announcing the results might have given room for ballot tampering.Abubakar said Nigeria’s election commission did not follow the due ...

Who is the Blackhawks captain this year? No one

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

CHICAGO — In one sense, the Blackhawks will not have a replacement for Jonathan Toews during the 2023-2024 season. On Tuesday morning, general manager Kyle Davidson announced that the team will not have a captain for the upcoming campaign as they continue their lengthy rebuild. Instead, the Blackhawks will have a rotation of alternate captains over the course of the preseason and 82-game regular season."The only plan right now is to sort of just let it breathe for a year. We came off such a successful tenure with Jonathan," said Davidson of the decision not to name a captain. "A little bit of it is just out of respect to Jonathan, to not fill that spot right away, and the other part is not to put that pressure on someone else when you're coming out of a period of such greatness. Blackhawks’ 2023 training camp includes a minor change for fans "You want the next person to be in a position to succeed, and there's no requirement to have a captain. We just felt that it was best to leav...

A number of former Bears are Hall of Fame Class of 2024 modern-era nominees

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

CANTON, OH — One former member of the Bears already knows he'll be up for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2024. Now a collection of players that used to play in Chicago are just starting their process for enshrinement next August, with a few joining the list for the first time.The Hall of Fame announced the list of 173 modern-era nominees for the Class of 2024 on Tuesday morning. This comes a little under a month since former defensive tackle Steve McMichael was named a Seniors Committee finalist and will be up for a vote to get in Super Bowl week. This massive list will eventually be trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November and then a group of 19 will meet to decide the Class of 2024 before Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)A few former Bears are on the ballot for the first time since they last played in the NFL in 2018.Wide receiver Brandon Marshall - 2012-2014Defensive end Julius Peppers - 2010-2013Offensive lineman Josh Sitt...

A Mediterranean-Inspired Take On Surf N Turf

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:21 GMT

Kinzie Chophouse one of the city's most beloved steakhouses has reimagined their menu with the addition of Greek and Mediterranean flavors. Here in our studio 41 kitchen with a look at a Mediterranean-inspired take on surf and turf is chef de cuisine - Kevin Girshman.400 N. Wells StFacebook @kinziechophouseInstagram @kinziechophousekinziechophouse.comDry-Aged Lamb Chops ½ Rack of Lamb ChopsSalt & Pepper to taste1 tbsp butter2 cloves of garlic1 Sprig of thymeIn a very Hot pan, begin to sear the lamb chops on one side with just oil and seasonings. Once you have a really nice color on that side, add butter and aromatics, flip the lamb chop and baste to desired completion. Rest for 2 minutes.Crab Tartare1lb Poached Crab½ cup diced tomato½ cup diced red chili's½ cup diced cucumber½ cup diced chives1 cup Lemon/Basil oil (1/2 cup of lemon juice, 1 ½ cups of olive oil, ¼ cup of Dijon mustard, hand full of torn, fresh basil)Poach Lobster in butter or a lobster st...