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  • Holy Catholic relics from shuttered institutions are preserved on a New York campus
    by Sara Hassan on December 17, 2024 at 7:23 pm

    As Catholic establishments shut down across North America, holy relics once housed inside them are making their way to Manhattan University, where they’re being collected and preserved for the faithful. The post Holy Catholic relics from shuttered institutions are preserved on a New York campus appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • Israel to expand Golan Heights settlements as Syria goes through political transition
    by Sara Hassan on December 16, 2024 at 9:38 pm

    The Golan Heights is recognized by the international community — except the US and Israel — as Israeli-occupied territory captured from Syria during the 1967 war. The World’s Host Marco Werman speaks with Joshua Landis, from the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, about the significance of this contentious area. The post Israel to expand Golan Heights settlements as Syria goes through political transition appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • Syrian prison offers a glimpse into Assad’s brutal rule
    by Anna Pratt on December 13, 2024 at 7:50 pm

    Sednaya prison in Damascus was once synonymous with death and disappearance. Yet over the past week, thousands of families rushed to the prison in the hope of finding their missing loved ones. Many left with no answer.  The post Syrian prison offers a glimpse into Assad’s brutal rule appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • As Ukraine loses ground in the east, the mobilization debate becomes more heated
    by Anna Pratt on December 13, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    In recent months, Russian forces have been advancing in eastern Ukraine at the fastest pace since the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia and Ukraine are seeing high casualty rates, which is forcing both sides to mobilize more troops to fill their ranks. But Ukraine’s leadership has been unwilling to mobilize younger men between 18 and 25 years old — despite pressure from its partners. The post As Ukraine loses ground in the east, the mobilization debate becomes more heated appeared first on The World from PRX.

  • After Assad’s fall, long-displaced Syrians begin to return home
    by Anna Pratt on December 13, 2024 at 5:40 pm

    Syrians waited in long queues at border gates in southern Turkey this week, preparing to return to their homeland. With a dictator gone and loved ones newly released from prison, many Syrians who have lived in Turkey for years are eager to return. Others say an evolving security situation and financial concerns are giving them pause.  The post After Assad’s fall, long-displaced Syrians begin to return home appeared first on The World from PRX.

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  • Shocking Google Street View pic ‘showing body loaded into boot’ leads to murder arrest after cops find butchered remains
    by Annabel Bate on December 18, 2024 at 10:56 am

    A JAW-DROPPING Google Street View image has led to murder arrests after cops discovered butchered human remains. The shocking picture shows a man stuffing a large plastic bag thought to contain the victim’s body into the boot of a car. SolarpixThe Google Street View image appears to show a man stuffing a large plastic bag thought to contain a body[/caption] SolarpixA view of cops searching for the missing body[/caption] SolarpixCops admitted the image was one of the clues they worked with to ‘resolve the crime’[/caption] A couple have been arrested on suspicion of murder after cops probing a mystery disappearance came across the picture – and also found human remains. The detainees are the wife of the Cuban man whose remains were discovered last week in a Spanish cemetery more than a year after he vanished and her former lover. The Google image and court-ordered phone taps have been described as “decisive” by local press covering the gruesome find in the tiny village of Andaluz in the northern Spanish province of Soria. Cops admitted yesterday the sinister image was one of the clues they worked with to “resolve the crime.” Central government officials for the region have already said they believe the human torso found belongs to that of a 33-year-old Cuban man who went missing last November. The Google Street View image, which is still online, shows a man in blue jeans and a jacket putting a large white plastic bin bag believed to contain the dead man’s body in the boot of a car. The body is bundled into a red Rover car in broad daylight. Local reports point to the victim being killed after flying to Spain and discovering his Cuban wife had been cheating on him with a man described as the second person being held in custody. The male suspect is a Spanish bar owner said to be nicknamed ‘The Wolf of Tayueco’ after the small village of just 56 inhabitants a 15-minute drive from the cemetery where the Google pic was taken. In their first comments about the investigation and arrests overnight, a spokesman for Spain’s National Police said: “National Police officers have detained two people allegedly involved in the disappearance and death of a man who was reported missing in November last year by a relative. “That relative had grown suspicious about messages he had received purporting to be from the missing man. “Part of the victim’s remains have been found buried in a cemetery in Andaluz in Soria using ‘advanced techniques.’ “One of the clues investigators were working with were images from an online search location application.” The force added in a statement: “The messages the missing man’s family received said he met a girl and was leaving Soria and getting rid of his telephone. “This made the relative suspect someone else was sending the messages and that led to him alerting police. “The police investigation focused on the missing man’s closest circle and led to the arrest of the two suspects believed to be responsible for his disappearance on November 12. “They were the missing man’s partner and a man who had been her partner. “They were initially held on suspicion of unlawful detention for failing to explain his disappearance. SolarpixA close-up of the Google Street View image[/caption] SolarpixThe investigation is ongoing[/caption] “Searches of the pair’s homes and vehicles were subsequently authorised by police, where evidence relevant to the investigation was uncovered.” The force also said that the image “was an additional piece of evidence” and that “both suspects have been remanded in prison by an investigating judge.” The spokesperson said: “The discovery of human remains buried underground in the cemetery in the province of Soria occurred on December 11 after they were sent to jail. “Those remains have yet to be fully identified by coroners but we believe they correspond to those of the missing man. “The investigation is ongoing.” This isn’t the first time criminal activity has been caught through Google Maps. Italian mafia fugitive Gioacchino Gammino was caught after 20 years on the run with the help of Google Maps. Italian police had a breakthrough when they came across an online image showing an elderly man outside a grocery shop in the town of Galapagar north of Madrid. Gammino, 60, had changed his name to Manuel. The store he was snapped outside on the Google Maps’ Street View feature was named El Huerto de Manu – Manu’s Garden. In 2010, three brazen heroin dealers were caught slinging dope on a street corner in Brooklyn, New York, when a Google Street View car rolled by. Shaundell Dade, Jamel Pringle and Jonathan Paulino were all snapped in front of a well-known dealing site. One of the angles even shows the blokes yelling at the mapping car. They were rounded up along with four others in an undercover NYPD sting operation shortly after. SolarpixA view of cops searching for the missing body[/caption]

  • Everyone can see the festive scene – but only people with a genius-level IQ can spot all 5 presents in 12 seconds
    by Juliana Cruz Lima on December 18, 2024 at 10:49 am

    SPOTTING the festive scene is easy, but can you outsmart everyone and find the five hidden presents in this optical illusion? Time to put your vision skills and IQ to the test and solve this tricky brainteaser in just 12 seconds or less. OnBuy.comCan you spot all five hidden presents in this Christmas scene?[/caption] The image above is known as an optical illusion, meaning there could be other not-so obvious elements to be found. Everyone can quickly see the festive scene full of Christmas icons. But only those with 20/20 vision and a high IQ can solve this mind-bending puzzle. Are you able to find all five hidden presents or will you be left scratching your head? It might seem a bit daunting at first, but the key is to carefully examine each section of the scene. You might wish to start from the top left corner of the image and work your way down, or maybe do the complete opposite – whatever gives you more confidence! Another useful tactic is picking an element of the picture and analyse what’s around it. Were you able to find all the missing gifts? If so, congratulations! Still struggling to figure this one out? Have a look at the solution image at the bottom to check if you were close enough. How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me? Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions. Some benefits include: Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility. Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function. Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes. Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus. Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief. Did you know that solving optical illusions is a great way of training your brain and improving creative thinking? Brainteasers are purposefully designed to trick our vision and can be used as simple determiners of intelligence. So you might want to try The Sun’s wide range of optical illusions created to stimulate the deepest parts of your brain. In this puzzle, everyone can see the bird but a missing puppy is lurking somewhere as he awaits a rescue. If you think you have a high IQ, then try spotting the escaped parrot in under seven seconds in this brainteaser. And if you are a true football fan with the eyes of a hawk, you will be able to spot the hidden ticket in under 45 seconds. OnBuyThere they are! Were you quick enough to spot all of them?[/caption] Bright SightCan you spot the missing puppy in this scene?[/caption] Can you spot the escaped parrot in under 7 seconds? SeatpicFind the hidden ticket in this dynamic football scene in under 45 seconds[/caption] Bright sightDid you find the puppy?[/caption] The hidden parrot can be seen on the left balcony SeatpicDid you spot the ticket?[/caption]

  • China announces £4BILLION megaproject to build world’s largest artificial island airport which will host 80M passengers
    by Juliana Cruz Lima on December 18, 2024 at 10:03 am

    CHINA has unveiled bold plans to build the world’s largest artificial island airport – costing an eye-watering £4 billion. Designed to handle a staggering 80 million passengers annually, this ambitious development will surpass the likes of Hong Kong International Airport and Japan’s Kansai Airport in scale. WeiboA £4billion project will see China having the world’s largest artificial island airport[/caption] GettyThe country aims to reshape the skyline and bolster regional connectivity in northern China[/caption] WeiboSet to be completed by 2035, the Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport will be able to handle 80 million passengers every year[/caption] Set to reshape the skyline and bolster regional connectivity, the project will transform an area spanning 20 square kilometres into a futuristic air hub, marking a new era in the country’s infrastructure development. The Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport – currently under construction – is set to be completed by 2035. Once operational, the airport is expected to host one million tonnes of cargo, cementing its place as a key regional gateway for international and domestic travel. Dalian, located in northeastern China, has long been a thriving coastal city with a population exceeding 6 million.  Its strategic position has fostered economic ties with neighbouring Japan and South Korea, and the city is a hub for oil refining, shipping, logistics, and tourism.  The new airport aims to bolster these industries further by improving connectivity and positioning Dalian as a regional air transport hub. The Jinzhouwan Airport will feature four runways and a 900,000-square-metre (9.69 million sq ft) terminal.  Its initial passenger capacity of 43 million annually is expected to double in the coming years. The new airport addresses limitations at the existing Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport, which was built during the Japanese occupation and is now constrained by its location in a valley surrounded by mountains. The difficult terrain has made navigation challenging for pilots, particularly in poor weather conditions, and the airport has reached its capacity limit after multiple expansions. Last year, it served 658,000 international passengers. The artificial island location of Jinzhouwan Airport offers a solution to these challenges, providing more space for expansion and enhancing safety measures, the South China Morning Post reports. Construction of the massive artificial island is already underway. In August, the deep foundation treatment for a 77,000-square-metre reclaimed area was completed, a critical step in preparing the ground for building on soft or unstable soil. By creating jobs, boosting tourism, and enhancing trade routes, the airport is expected to provide a significant boost to Dalian’s economy and solidify its position as a transportation and economic hub in northeast Asia. China's plan to build 22 new airports CHINA’S ambitions in aviation go far beyond the groundbreaking Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport. As of mid-2024, the country is actively constructing 22 new airports, representing a total investment of $19.6 billion, according to CAPA-Centre for Aviation, a leading market intelligence firm in the aviation industry.  These projects are part of China’s broader push to expand its aviation infrastructure, driven by rising passenger demand and the government’s vision to create an interconnected domestic and international air network. The scale of this expansion marks China’s strategic focus on improving regional connectivity and supporting economic growth in less-developed areas. New airports are being built in key locations to reduce congestion at existing hubs and provide greater access to air travel in underserved regions. These facilities will not only enhance passenger capacity but also strengthen cargo logistics, fuelling trade and economic development. By 2035, China is expected to handle over 2 billion annual air passengers, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). To meet this demand, the government has committed to increasing the total number of civil airports from 254 in 2022 to over 450 by 2035. It comes after a record-breaking undersea passage is set to form the world’s longest and deepest road tunnel – at a whopping £36 billion cost. The incredible mega-project will help cut a 21-hour journey by half via the 16-mile crossing. Dubbed The Rogfast, this tunnel will stretch across Norway and help connect two important cities. The incredible undersea subway will run between the municipalities of Randaberg and Bokn in Rogaland county. A large body of water separates these two spots and requires locals to use ferries to get across. This route would help to connect the southern city Stavanger to the more northern city of Bergen, according to World Highways. WeiboThe new airport is expected to host one million tonnes of cargo[/caption] WeiboIt will also have four runways and a 900,000-square-metre terminal[/caption]

  • ‘Brits and Americans’ among the 100,000 dead in Assad’s mass graves after timelapse shows grim site swell under regime
    by Ellie Doughty on December 18, 2024 at 10:00 am

    BRITISH and American victims are reportedly among the 100,000 bodies found in a mass grave in Syria following the fall of tyrant Bashar al-Assad. At least five similar sites have been discovered so far – holding Syrians and foreigners who were mercilessly slaughtered by the now deposed Assad regime. Some half a million people are estimated to have been killed in the country since civil war broke out in 2011 – although the real figure could be higher. Mouaz Moustafa, head of a US-based Syrian advocacy group, told Reuters that 100,000 is an “extremely” conservative estimate of victims found in a mass grave north of Damascus. The site in Al-Qutayfa, 50 kilometres northeast of the capital, exposed chilling evidence of the systematic disappearance of Assad’s enemies. Moustafa said: “One hundred thousand is the most conservative estimate. “It’s a very, very extremely, almost unfairly conservative estimate.” He is certain there are more than just five sites with bodies including US and American citizens, as well as other foreigners alongside Syrian victims. His claims have not been verified. After visiting two mass grave sites in Qutayfah and Najha near Damascus, former US war crimes ambassador Stephen Rapp said: “We certainly have more than 100,000 people that were disappeared into and tortured to death in this machine. “I don’t have much doubt about those kinds of numbers given what we’ve seen in these mass graves. “When you talk about this kind of organised killing by the state and its organs, we really haven’t seen anything quite like this since the Nazis.” The Syrian Civil Defence and local authorities recover bodies on December 17, 2024 An aerial view of the Adra mass grave, where countless persecuted enemies of Assad were carelessly buried Corpses are transferred to a truck for removal and further examination Before the outbreak of war in 2011, Al-Qutayfah appeared to be nothing more than open land. But timelapse satellite imagery and witness testimonies suggest the site became a graveyard of atrocities as early as 2012. By 2013, long trenches — up to 50 meters in length — were dug under strict military supervision, hidden from the public eye. And over the next several years, refrigerated trucks carrying bodies began arriving under the cover of darkness, dumping human remains into these pits. Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes.  Mohammad Abou al-Bahaa, a teacher performing military service in Al-Qutayfah, recalled the “worst smell you could ever smell” emanating from the area. Soldiers told him it was from “carcasses,” though it quickly became clear these were human bodies, victims of detention centre torture, disease, and execution. “I would see refrigerated trucks filled with bodies, some in plastic bags and others uncovered,” he told The Times. One local told Channel 4 News of when he saw a female gymnast among the dead, still wearing her sports clothes, moments before she was buried. Another, meanwhile,  recounted how the fire brigade was once called to thaw over 100 bodies that had frozen together, enabling soldiers to separate and bury them. “Blood would be pouring out the bottom of the trucks,” said a gravedigger near the site. For years, civilians were forbidden from approaching the area, their questions silenced by threats. The timelapse shows how the grave expanded dramatically between 2013 and 2015. Historic satellite images reveal the creation of a 10-acre burial site, which was later surrounded by high walls and bulldozed to erase evidence. In recent years, the area has been repurposed as a Hezbollah base, with army vehicles and communication equipment scattered across the grounds. And beneath it, an unthinkable number of bodies remain abandoned and unidentified. Moustafa, executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, told Channel 4 News: “Where are the forensic teams? Where are the experts to exhume and identify the remains? My friends and even family members could be buried here.”  Al-Qutayfah is not the only location to bear witness to the regime’s mass killing. The nearby Adra graveyard, located in a Damascus suburb, tells a similarly grim story.  The mass burial ground was constructed following the United States’ infamous “red line” warnings in 2014.  In response to Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapon attacks on civilians, President Barack Obama declared that further use of such weapons would trigger military intervention. Yet, weeks after Assad’s supposed renunciation of chemical weapons, satellite imagery reveals the construction of Adra’s purpose-built mass grave began in July 2014. Rows of meticulously planned trenches and roads designed for body-filled lorries soon appeared, suggesting a chilling level of organisation. The burial site, located near a government office, expanded systematically over the years, with grave lines appearing in successive satellite images until as recently as 2021. The timing of the site’s construction coincided with Assad’s contested election victory, which saw his third presidential term inaugurated on July 16, 2014. At the time, the international community widely condemned the election as illegitimate. William Hague, then British Foreign Secretary, remarked: “Assad lacked legitimacy before this election, and he lacks it afterwards. This election bore no relation to genuine democracy.” Despite the regime’s claims of normalcy, Adra’s graveyard became yet another tool of mass terror. Witnesses interviewed by ITV say that the bodies buried at the site belonged to civilian victims of the Assad regime. Blood-streaked trucks delivered corpses under the watchful eyes of soldiers, mirroring the practices described at Al-Qutayfa. The Assad regime’s systematic disposal of bodies reflects the brutal scale of Syria’s conflict. Of the 136,000 forcibly disappeared Syrians, at least 105,000 remain unaccounted for. The sites at Al-Qutayfa and Adra represent just a fraction of the fallen regime’s hidden atrocities. ReutersA man walks through the site of a mass grave in Najha, Syria, December 15[/caption] Forensic examiners at one of the mass grave sites

  • Adele song faces worldwide BAN after court ruling in plagiarism row with Brazilian composer
    by Aliki Kraterou on December 18, 2024 at 8:22 am

    A SONG by Adele was ordered to be BANNED across the world over a plagiarism row between the Brit and a Brazilian composer. A judge has ordered the 2015 hit “Million Years Ago” to be pulled worldwide including on streaming services. GettyA judge has ordered an Adele song to be pulled worldwide[/caption] GettyThe composer accused Adele of plagiarism[/caption] AlamyThe claim states the song plagiarises the song Mulheres by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila[/caption] A composer claims the song plagiarises the song Mulheres (Women), recorded by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila in 1995. The plagiarism claim which was brought in 2021 is ongoing, but the injunction calls for the song to be pulled while it continues. The injunction threatens the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music, Adele’s labels, with a fine of $8,000 (£6,300) “per act of non-compliance.” His preliminary injunction orders Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music to stop “immediately and globally, from using, reproducing, editing, distributing or commercializing the song “Million Years Ago”, by any modality, means, physical or digital support, streaming or sharing platform.” Lawyer for Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes, Fredimio Trotta said: “It is a landmark for Brazilian music, which… has often been copied to compose successful international hits.” “International producers and artists who have Brazilian music ‘on their radar’ for possible parasitic use will think twice, given this decision.” Geraes is suing for lost royalties, $160,000 in moral damages, plus songwriting credit on Adele’s track. He said his firm would work this week to ensure radio and television broadcasters and streaming services were alerted to the ruling. Sony Music Entertainment Brazil said it did “not have a statement at this time” and Universal Music Brazil did not respond to a request for comment. Adele was also accused by Turkish music fans of plagiarism in “Million years Ago” back in 2015. They claimed its tune was similar to one in a 1985 song by a Kurdish singer, Ahmet Kaya, called “Acilara Tutunmak” (“Clinging to Pain”). Famous song rows ADELE is not the first artist to be involved in a plagiarism row. Earlier this year pop star Miley Cyrus was accused of copying Bruno Mars’ hit “When I Was Your Man” in her number-one single “Flowers.” The lawsuit said that “Flowers” duplicates “numerous melodic, harmonic and lyrical elements” of Mars’ song. In 2022, a band called Artikal Sound System accused Dua Lipa of ripping off their song in her 2020 hit Levitating. A US federal judge dismissed a lawsuit. Previously, singer Lana Del Rey said Brit band Radiohead sued her over similarities between her song, Get Free, and their hit Creep. The dispute was later settled. In 2022, Ed Sheeran won a High Court copyright battle over his 2017 hit Shape of You. He had been accused of plagiarising the 2015 song Oh Why by Sami Chokri. A lawsuit accusing Taylor Swift of copying lyrics in her 2014 No 1 hit Shake It Off was later dropped. Two songwriters initially claimed the track was similar to the 3LW song Playas Gon’ Play. The superstar was seen weeping on stage last month as she said farewell to her fans ahead of a break from music after her two-year show ended. She welled up several times during her final two-hour show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Saturday and admitted: “I’m f****** crying again. “For f***’s sake. I have been crying all day.” “I’m not doing anything else. I’m actually sing myself about what I’m going to do. “I don’t have any f***ing plans. I guess I’ll just day-drink. “I just dunno when I want to next come on stage. And it’s time to move on. “It’s time for the next chapter and it’s time for the next season of my life.” XAdele had to have her make-up reapplied on stage as she said farewell to her fans[/caption]   XHer 100 Weekends With Adele performances and merchandise have earned her a massive nine-figure sum[/caption]