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Kazakhstan's commitment to human rights: Evaluating progress and forging ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

The 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a uniqueopportunity for us to come together and reflect on the progress that has been made onhuman rights in recent history. As well as looking back at our collective history, weshould also examine the responsibilities that we have as individual countries, and takestock of how well we have performed as a global community of states, writes Elvira Azimova, Chairwoman of the Constitutional Court of KazakhstanSince Kazakhstan gained its independence in 1991, the principles outlined in theUniversal Declaration have been fundamental to the founding principles of ourstatehood. While these values are embedded in our national culture and ourconstitution and laws, like any other country, we recognize the need to continuallyadjust, and to strengthen our human rights protections as we evolve as a nation.With this in mind, and in the spirit of reflection precipitated by this momentous globalmilestone, it is important to assess ...

Top 10 Concerts of 2023: Can anyone top Taylor Swift for No. 1 on the list?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

Live music was firing on all cylinders in 2023.Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Karol G, Dead & Company and other megastars filled massive stadiums. The arena and amphitheater circuit thrived thanks to high-profile tours from Pink, Kane Brown, Doja Cat, Offspring and other top performers.And the smaller venues continued to draw sizable crowds to see the Dandy Warhols, ABC, Cowboy Junkies and other longtime favorites as well as newer acts like Morgan Wade, Palo Alto’s Molly Tuttle, J.I.D and Smino.In other words, 2023 was an absolute blast for fans living in the Bay Area. Not only did we have the opportunity to experience all that was mentioned above, but we also got to enjoy some of the best music festivals in the world.We loved so much of what we saw and heard in 2023. Yet, it’s now time for us to play favorites and look back at the very best from the past 12 months. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Bay Area Concerts of 2023.1. SZAWhen & Where: March 14, Oakl...

10 highly anticipated Bay Area restaurant openings for early 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

A new year, a new crop of exciting-looking restaurants popping up around the Bay. In Livermore, a pair of sushi-restaurant vets are opening a raw bar that highlights local sake. A sprawling food hall with a dozen restaurants is scheduled for downtown San Jose, an oyster bar with whole cracked Dungeness crabs is coming to Oakland’s Jack London Square and a Sicilian joint based on good ol’ momma’s cooking is launching in Danville.In no particular order, here are 10 of the most eagerly anticipated restaurants expected to make their debut in early 2024, and a couple more inching closer to opening day.Downtown Food Hall, San JoseThe San Jose Downtown Food Hall is expected to open soon inside the Odd Fellows historic building at 82 through 96 East Santa Clara Street near South Third Street. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group) All will be revealed soon at the hush-hush food hall at the prime downtown corner of Third and Santa Clara streets.Thanks to an early build-ou...

‘Love at first bite’: Q&A with the American Truffle Company’s Robert Chang

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

Robert Chang tasted a truffle for the first time at a trattoria in Germany — and it changed his life.Today, as chief truffle officer at the American Truffle Company, Chang works with scientist Paul Thomas and clients around the country to plant oak and hazelnut orchards with a goal of getting black truffles to grow beneath the trees. And the company hosts the annual Napa Truffle Festival — this year’s will be Jan. 12-15 — which offers educational talks as well as a series of truffle-loaded meals sure to make foodies swoon.Chang recently chatted with us about what it takes to grow truffles outside Europe — and why sharp-nosed dogs are now preferred over truffle-hunting pigs.American Truffle Company’s chief scientist Paul Thomas, third from left, and chief truffle officer Robert Chang, to his right, invite chefs to prepare a high-end meal highlighting truffles each year at the Napa Truffle Festival. (Courtesy American Truffle Company) Q. I know...

A ‘pocket of hope’: This Bay Area school district made a difference on Black students’ scores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

For most K-12 student groups in California, test scores have been maddeningly flat since the pandemic. But for Black students, stagnant scores have been particularly frustrating: Black students’ math and English language arts scores inched downward for most grade levels last year, notching some of the lowest scores among any student group.Related ArticlesEducation | Cursive writing was so yesterday in California, but in 2024 it’s back in class Education | Evelyn Chua reappointed as Milpitas vice mayor Education | Saratoga High student musicians represent at state level Education | Los Gatos High student musicians represent at state level Education | At Farm Discovery at Live Earth, kids get up close with farm animals and see how their food is grown At least one district, however, has reversed that trend. Emery Unified, a small district tucked between Berkeley and Oakland in the east Bay Area, saw i...

No evidence of nexus to terrorism in deadly Rochester crash, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

(CNN) — [Breaking news update, published at 10:55 a.m. ET]The suspect in the deadly Rochester, New York, crash has died, and there is no indication of “political or social biases,” authorities say. Two other people were killed in the crash.“We’ve not uncovered any information leading us to believe that the actions of Michael … are motivated by any form of political or social biases,” Rochester Police Chief David M. Smith said Tuesday.Officials have not identified a nexus to terrorism in the incident, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Bell. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident, he said, but added that is “not abnormal.”[Previous story, published at 9:33 a.m. ET]A deadly car crash outside a New Year’s concert in Rochester, New York, is being investigated as domestic terrorism after the suspect allegedly left a suicide note and journal in his hotel room, according to a source...

Service resumes after BART train derails, catches fire near Orinda Station Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

ORINDA, Calif. (KRON) -- Bay Area Rapid Transit train service on the Yellow Line in the Antioch and San Francisco International Airport directions was halted after a train derailed and caught fire between Orinda and Lafayette stations Monday morning. BART will be running normal train service on Tuesday between Rockridge and Walnut Creek stations following overnight repairs and safety inspections in the area.A Yellow Line train heading eastbound was derailed outside of the Orinda Station around 9 a.m. Monday. The passengers self-evacuated and were escorted to Orinda Station by BART personnel, according to the BART Police Department.As of 4 p.m. Monday, two lanes of eastbound Highway 24 were closed and a crane was enroute for placement. Around 7:10 p.m., both of the impacted cars were re-railed and were being towed away to the yard.According to BART, two train cars were on fire. Orinda-Maraga Fire District crews were able to extinguish the flames.Nine passengers on the derailed train ...

Person arrested for selling illegal fireworks in San Rafael

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

(KRON) – A person was arrested for selling illegal fireworks in San Rafael the weekend before New Year's Day. The weekend prior to the New Year, officers contacted a suspect in possession of and selling fireworks on the corner of Medway Road and Canal Street in San Rafael. One dead, two injured in SF rollover vehicle accident According to police, the suspect admitted to selling fireworks to the public. The officers seized the illegal fireworks as evidence.(Photo: San Rafael Police Department)The suspect was arrested for illegal fireworks possession and sales.The San Rafael Police Department announced the department received over 40 calls regarding illegal fireworks on New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day. 

Stock market today: Wall Street slips to start 2024 and gives back some of last year’s big gains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is starting 2024 weakly on Tuesday and giving back some of its powerful gains from the year before.The S&P 500 was 0.6% lower in midday trading after pulling to the brink of its all-time high set roughly two years ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 11 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.4% lower.Some of last year’s biggest winners were slipping the most, including a 2.9% drop for Apple. Tesla, another one of the “Magnificent 7” Big Tech stocks that drove much of Wall Street’s gains last year, was swinging between losses and gains after reporting its deliveries and production for the end of 2024. It was most recently 0.7% higherNetherlands-based ASML sank after the Dutch government partially revoked a license to ship some products to customers in China. The United States has been pushing for restrictions on exports of chip technology to China. ASML’s U.S.-listed shares fell 3.9%, an...

Nuevas leyes: varios estados verán cambios en educación, anticonceptivos y acceso a las armas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:00 GMT

Varios estados a lo ancho del país recibieron el año nuevo con leyes que entrarán en vigor a lo largo de 2024 sobre temas como la violencia armada, la prohibición de libros y las secciones de juguetes neutrales al género.Un número cada vez mayor de estados requerirá cursos de educación financiera en las escuelas secundarias, mientras que unos pocos otros agregarán acceso a anticonceptivos al eliminar la necesidad de recetas médicas.Mientras las legislaturas estatales se preparan para otro año de propuestas que abordarán los temas más divisivos del país, estas son algunas de las leyes que se harán realidad este 2024:PASILLOS DE JUGUETES NEUTROS EN CUANTO AL GÉNEROA partir de enero, California exigirá que los principales minoristas del estado incluyan secciones de juguetes neutrales al género en sus tiendas. No se permitirá que las nuevas secciones se comercialicen solo para niños o niñas, sino que deben incluir una “selección razonable” de juguetes que puedan comercializarse para men...