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Russia illegally used facial recognition to arrest protestor, human rights court rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

Russia’s use of facial recognition technology to arrest a protester on the Moscow subway violated his human rights, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Tuesday.“The use of facial-recognition technology in his case ha[s] been incompatible with the ideals and values of a democratic society governed by the rule of law,” the court said in its ruling.Nikolay Glukhin, a Russian citizen, travelled on Moscow’s underground in August 2019 carrying a life-sized cardboard figure of the dissident Konstantin Kotov, who was imprisoned for taking part in unsanctioned rallies. The cutout of Kotov was holding a banner that said “I’m facing up to five years … for peaceful protests.”Glukhin was arrested several days after his solo protest while travelling on the metro, and charged with failing to notify the authorities of his demonstration. He was fined 20,000 roubles (around €200).“The processing of Mr. Glukhin’s personal data in the context of his...

Police responding to crash involving tractor-trailer on 93 southbound in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

Emergency crews are responding to a serious crash involving a tractor-trailer on Route 93 in Boston. Video showed traffic at a standstill as crews worked to remove the tractor-trailer from the roadway.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

En Vogue ready to take the stage alongside the Pops for Fourth of July performance in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

R&B group En Vogue is among the headliners for this year’s Boston Pops Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade in Boston and the trio say they’re ready to go for their big performance.In an exclusive interview with 7NEWS, the group says they’re particularly excited about performing alongside the Boston Pops. “We’ve heard how amazing they are, especially the conductor, Keith Lockhart, so we’re really excited.” “We’re looking forward to rockin’ out and having a great time with the crowd, it’s going to be such a festive mood and so celebratory, so we just really want to connect with the audience and have a great celebration.” En Vogue has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide during their three decades performing and received 7 Grammy nominations.

Turkey and Egypt reappoint ambassadors and end years of tensions between the regional powers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Egypt and Turkey took a further step toward restoring full diplomatic ties on Tuesday by dispatching ambassadors for the first time in years, the latest step in the reconciliation between the two regional powers.In a joint statement, the two countries announced the appointment of Salih Mutlu Sen as Turkish ambassador to Cairo and of Amr Elhamamy as the Egyptian ambassador to Ankara.“This step aims to establish normal relations between the two countries once again and demonstrates their mutual determination to work towards enhancing their bilateral relations for the best interest of both the Turkish and Egyptian peoples,” the statement said.Egypt and Turkey withdrew their ambassadors as tensions between them flared following the Egyptian military’s 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi amid mass protests against his divisive one year of rule. Morsi hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood group, which Turkey supported. Egypt has designated the group a terro...

UN nuclear agency endorses Japan’s plan to release treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The U.N. nuclear agency gave its endorsement on Tuesday to Japan’s planned release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, saying it meets international standards and its environmental and health impact would be negligible.The plan is opposed by groups in South Korea, China and some Pacific Island nations because of safety concerns and political reasons. Local fishing organizations are worried that their reputation will be damaged even if their catch isn’t contaminated.Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, submitted its final assessment of the plan to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday. The report is a “comprehensive, neutral, objective, scientifically sound evaluation,” Grossi said. “We are very confident about it.” The report said IAEA recognizes the discharge “has raised societal, political and environmental concerns, associated with the radiological aspects.”...

First Brexit, now Orxit? Politicians on Scotland’s Orkney Islands vote to explore more autonomy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Officials on the Orkney Islands, a corner of Scotland with Viking roots and an independent spirit, seized a moment in the global spotlight on Tuesday and voted to explore ways of seeking more autonomy — or even independence — from neglectful U.K. governments.Journalists from across Britain and around the world tuned in remotely as Orkney Islands Council voted to study “alternative models of governance” for the archipelago, which has a population of 22,000.The proposal from council leader James Stockan grabbed international headlines with its mention of potentially restoring Orkney’s “Nordic connections.” Orkney was under Norwegian and Danish control for centuries until 1472 when the islands were taken by the Scottish crown as part of Margaret of Denmark’s wedding dowry to King James III of Scotland.Stockan said his proposal “is not about us joining Norway,” but about countering the “discrimination that we’ve had against this community” from the Scottish and U.K. govern...

Shooting after local festival leaves three dead and eight injured in Texas, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Authorities in Texas say three people were killed and eight people were injured when gunfire erupted following a local festival. The shooting in Fort Worth happened Monday night in the Como neighborhood in the city’s southwest. WFAA, citing police, reports the shooting occurred just hours after the end of the neighborhood’s annual ComoFest. The report said no arrests had been made as of Tuesday morning. It was also unclear how many people may have opened fire.Associated Press, The Associated Press

Masked assailants attack a journalist and a lawyer in Russia’s Chechnya province

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Masked assailants in the Russian province of Chechnya attacked and beat a journalist and a lawyer on Tuesday, an assault that highlighted a violent pattern of rampant human rights abuses in the region.Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov had just arrived in Chechnya to attend the trial of Zarema Musayeva, the mother of two local activists who have challenged Chechen authorities.Just outside the airport, their vehicle was blocked by several cars and they were beaten by several unidentified masked assailants, who put guns to their heads and broke their equipment.Novaya Gazeta said that Milashina sustained a brain injury and had several fingers broken, and Nemov had a deep cut on his leg. They were taken to a hospital in Chechnya’s main city, Grozny, and later to Beslan in the nearby region of North Ossetia. The newspaper said that Milashina repeatedly lost consciousness.Officials were considering their medical evacuation to Moscow.Kre...

The Taliban ban women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban are banning women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan, a government spokesman said Tuesday. It’s the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment.A spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, Mohammad Sidik Akif Mahajar, didn’t give details of the ban. He only confirmed the contents of a letter circulating on social media.The ministry-issued letter, dated June 24, says it conveys a verbal order from the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The ban targets the capital, Kabul, and all provinces, and gives salons throughout the country a month’s notice to wind down their businesses. After that period, they must close and submit a report about their closure. The letter doesn’t give reasons for the ban.Its release comes days after Akhundzada claimed that his government has taken the necessary steps for the better...

Retailers, beware: Resumption of student loan payments could lead some buyers to pull back

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The reprieve is over. Just as the American economy is struggling with high inflation and interest rates, the coming resumption of student loan payments poses yet another potential challenge.The suspension of federal student loan payments, which took effect at the height of the pandemic in 2020, expires late this summer. Interest will start accruing again in September. Payments will resume in October.Though many hoped their loans might at least be lightened, the Supreme Court last week struck down a Biden administration plan that would have given millions of people some relief from the return of the loan payments. The Biden plan would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million borrowers; 20 million would have had their loans erased entirely. The court ruled that the plan exceeded the government’s authority.The restart of those payments will force many people to start paying hundreds of dollars in loans each month — money they had been spendi...