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Historic acquittal in Louisiana fuels fight to review ‘Jim Crow’ verdicts

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Evangelisto Ramos walked out of a New Orleans courthouse and away from a life sentence accompanying a 10-2 jury conviction, thanks in large part to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision bearing his name. Ramos v. Louisiana outlawed nonunanimous jury convictions as unconstitutional, with justices on the 6-3 majority acknowledging the practice as a vestige of racism from the era of “Jim Crow” laws enforcing racial segregation.The 2020 ruling meant a new trial for Ramos, who was acquitted in March — this time by a unanimous jury — after defense lawyers highlighted weakness in the investigation leading to his prosecution.“I knew my case was important because a lot of people were going to get their freedom back,” Ramos, a Black immigrant from Honduras, told The Associated Press, answering emailed questions about his time in prison and his pursuit of a new trial. But prospects for freedom remain murky for hundreds of people convicted on 10-2 or 11-1 jury votes whose ...

Sleepless in Kyiv: Nighttime Russian air campaign terrorizes citizens in Ukrainian capital

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The attacks come at night, when most in Kyiv are sound asleep. The sirens wail across the Ukrainian capital, rousing bleary-eyed residents, who, after 15 months of war, have customized individual routines to cope with Russia’s latest air campaign.In the recent escalation of Russian attacks, Olha Bukhno, 65, a cleaner, says a prayer every night. “Please,” she asks, closing her eyes and addressing the heavens, “Let it be quiet.”By her bedside is a bag packed full of essentials: documents, dry foods and water. At the sound of the alarm, she dashes downstairs to her building’s basement and takes shelter. Nearly two weeks ago, debris from a shot-down missile landed on the roof of a building next to hers in Kyiv’s Darnytsia district, causing a large fire.“Every night, we are afraid,” she said, tearing up.When the alarm blares, some in the city are consumed by fear, imagining the worst-case scenarios that could unfold; displacement, being trapped under rubble, being ki...

Nepal honors Sherpa guides, climbers to mark 70th anniversary of Mount Everest conquest

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s government honored record-holding climbers Monday during celebrations of the first ascent of Mount Everest 70 years ago.Hundreds of people from the mountaineering community, Sherpa guides and officials attended a rally in Kathmandu to mark the anniversary. Participants waved celebratory banners and walked in the center of Kathmandu to tunes played by military bands.Among those honored were Sherpa guides Kami Rita, who climbed the world’s highest mountain twice this season for a record 28 times overall, and Sanu Sherpa, who has climbed all of the world’s 14 highest peaks twice. Hari Budha Magar, who became the first double above-the-knee amputee to climb Everest, was also honored by the country’s Tourism Minister Sushila Sirpali Thakuri.“May 29 is a day when we all always remember and be proud of when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing (Norgay) Sherpa reached the top of Everest and it is the day the Sherpas became known,” Sanu She...

Drought-struck Barcelona quenches thirst with costly desalination

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

EL PRAT DE LLOBREGAT, Spain (AP) — Where once the population of Barcelona drank mostly from its rivers and wells, Spain’s second city now relies upon a labyrinth-like mesh of green, blue and purple pipes inside an industrial plant to keep it from going thirsty amid a prolonged drought.Water is pumped from two kilometers (1.2 miles) into the Mediterranean Sea to where the Llobregat desalination plant sits on an isolated stretch of beach. After journeying through several cleaning and filtering systems it reaches its final stop: the twisting and turning multi-colored channels that squeeze every drop of water free of its salt.Barely used after being built in 2009, Europe’s largest desalination plant for drinking water is running at full throttle to help the greater Barcelona area and some five million people adapt to the impact of climate change, which has contributed to the drying up of southern Europe’s fresh water reserves through heat waves and drought.In April 2021, before th...

Kosovo Serbs gather to take over municipality buildings in the north

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

ZVECAN, Kosovo (AP) — Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo on Monday tried to take over the local government buildings where Albanian mayors entered last week with the help of police.Kosovar police and NATO-led Kosovo Force were seen protecting the municipality building in Zvecan, one of the four communes to hold snap election last month that was largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected in the mayoral posts and assemblies.More than a dozen Serbs and five Kosovar police officers were injured in clashes last Friday, and Serbian troops on the border with Kosovo were put on high alert the same day. Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, who are a majority in that part of the country, tried to block recently elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings. Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices.The United States and the European Union condemned Kosovo’s go...

Pay per wave: Native Hawaiians divided over artificial surf lagoon in the birthplace of surfing

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

EWA BEACH, Hawaii (AP) — Brian Keaulana is the quintessential Native Hawaiian waterman, well-known in Hawaii and beyond for his deep understanding of the ocean, gifted with surfing and lifeguarding skills passed down from his big-wave rider father.Now, as one of the islands’ standard-bearers of surfing, Keaulana wants to further boost the sport in his homeland by building an artificial wave pool just down the road from the beach — a spot where competitive surfers could always be guaranteed the perfect breaks that are sometimes elusive in nature.The bold proposal has made waves in Hawaii, particularly among some Native Hawaiians, and raised questions about how a modern-day sport followed by millions worldwide fits into the cultural legacy of islanders who have been riding waves for millennia. The project has landed in court and reflects the unease some Native Hawaiians feel about the commercialization of what long has been a cultural touchstone.“They’re profiting off a cultural...

Ukraine says Russia plans to simulate accident at nuclear power plant

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

Ukraine's defence ministry on Friday (26 May) said Russia was planning to simulate a major accident at a nuclear power station controlled by pro-Moscow forces to try to thwart a long-planned Ukrainian counteroffensive to retake territory occupied by Russia.The Zaporizhzhia plant (pictured), which lies in an area of Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, is Europe's biggest nuclear power station and the area has been repeatedly hit by shelling that both sides blame each other for.The defence ministry's intelligence directorate said Russian forces would soon shell the plant and then announce a radiation leak. This would force an investigation by international authorities, during which all hostilities would be stopped.The directorate statement, posted on Telegram, did not provide any proof. It said Russia had disrupted the planned rotation of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, who are based at the plant.The Vienna-based IAEA, which frequently posts updates on the plant...

Three dead, one still missing after capsize of tourist boat in storm on Italian lake

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

MILAN (AP) — Italian firefighters said Monday that they have recovered three bodies from a northern Italian lake after a tourist boat capsized in a sudden, violent storm.Divers backed by a helicopter continued to search Lake Maggiore, in the northern Lombardy region, for one person left missing after a whirlwind overturned the boat carrying more than 20 tourists and crew late Sunday. Firefighters said 19 people were saved. Many reportedly managed to swim to shore, or were picked up by other boats.Firefighter video released Sunday showed pieces of wood floating in the lake as a helicopter flew overhead.The whirlwind was part of a storm system that hit Lombardy Sunday evening, forcing delays at Milan’s Malpensa airport.Source

Alonso feels he’s far from catching F1 leader Verstappen despite his own remarkable form

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

MONACO (AP) — Fernando Alonso has five podiums in six races in a remarkable season for Aston Martin, yet still feels he’s no closer to catching Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The two-time Formula One champions now head to a race with special significance for both of them.Next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix is where Verstappen won his first race as an 18-year-old in his Red Bull debut in 2016. It’s also where Alonso last won a race in 2013, so it would be the perfect place for the 41-year-old Spaniard to end his winless run.“Yeah, but I will not put any pressure on my team or myself,” Alonso said after finishing second behind Verstappen at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. “I will not get into Barcelona thinking that I will win, and (then) disappoint anyone. We have to have (our) feet on the ground.”Verstappen’s win seven years ago in Spain was a performance of stunning audacity. It showcased a raw ability that has since carried him to two world ch...

La política podría ensombrecer el turismo en Florida

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:12:06 GMT

(CNN) — Florida cuenta con cientos de kilómetros de playas, temperaturas cálidas todo el año y alberga a Walt Disney World, el parque temático más famoso del mundo.El turismo es uno de los principales motores de la economía del estado, con unos ingresos estimados de US$ 101.600 millones, según Visit Florida, y más de un millón de puestos de trabajo. Pero las batallas políticas de los últimos meses podrían ensombrecer el atractivo turístico del Estado del Sol.Una reciente advertencia de viaje de la Asociación Nacional para el Progreso de las Personas de Color (NAACP, por sus siglas en inglés), en la que advierte que “Florida es abiertamente hostil hacia los afroamericanos”, es una de las varias advertencias emitidas por grupos minoritarios. Equality Florida, la Campaña de Derechos Humanos y la Liga de Ciudadanos Latinoamericanos Unidos (LULAC, por sus siglas en inglés) también advierten sobre los viajes, al citar una serie de leyes que demuestran cómo el estado es &...