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US sets date to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots as Norway pledges jets

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

The United States will begin training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 warplanes in October, as Norway joins other European countries pledging fighter jets to Kyiv.  The U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday that the training is expected to start in the fall in Arizona. “The training provided by the United States will complement the F-16 pilot and maintenance training that’s already underway in Europe and further deepens our support for the F-16 Training Coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands,” Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said. Prior to starting their training on how to fly and maintain F-16 jets, Ukrainian forces will receive English language training in Texas, Ryder said. This is needed “given the complexities and the specialized English that’s required to fly these aircraft,” he added.  Ryder said it is not yet known how many Ukrainian pilots will participate in the training but he said the U.S. is expecting it will include “se...

Maui County sues power company, saying utility did not turn off electricity during deadly wildfires

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER and GENE JOHNSON (Associated Press)HONOLULU (AP) — Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric Company on Thursday over the fires that devastated Lahaina, saying the utility negligently failed to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions. Witness accounts and video indicated that sparks from power lines ignited fires as utility poles snapped in the winds, which were driven by a passing hurricane. The Aug. 8 fires killed at least 115 people and left an unknown number of others missing, making them the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. Hawaii Electric said in a statement it is “very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding.”The lawsuit said the destruction could have been avoided and that the utility had a duty “to properly maintain and repair the electric transmission lines, and other equipment including utility poles associated with their transmiss...

Nerve agents, poison and window falls. Over the years, Kremlin foes have been attacked or killed

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The attacks range from the exotic — poisoned by drinking polonium-laced tea or touching a deadly nerve agent — to the more mundane of getting shot at close range. Some take a fatal plunge from an open window.Over the years, Kremlin political critics, turncoat spies and investigative journalists have been killed or assaulted in a variety of ways.None, however, has been known to perish in an air accident. But on Wednesday, a private plane carrying a mercenary chief who staged a brief rebellion in Russia plummeted into a field from tens of thousands of feet after breaking apart.Assassination attempts against foes of President Vladimir Putin have been common during his nearly quarter century in power. Those close to the victims and the few survivors have blamed Russian authorities, but the Kremlin has routinely denied any involvement.There also have been reports of prominent Russian executives dying under mysterious circumstances, including falling from windows, ...

Australian, US, Filipino militaries practice retaking an island in a drill along the South China Sea

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Australian and Filipino forces, backed by U.S. Marines, practiced retaking an island seized by hostile forces in a large military drill Friday on the northwestern Philippine coast facing the disputed South China Sea.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles watched the mock beach landings, assaults and helicopter insertion of forces on a Philippine navy base with 1,200 Australians, 560 Filipinos and 120 U.S. Marines participating.The three countries are among the most vocal critics of China’s increasingly aggressive and confrontational actions in the disputed waters, but the Philippine military said Beijing was not an imaginary target of the combat drills, which were the largest so far between Australia and the Philippines.“It’s is an important aspect of how we prepare for any eventuality and considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region,” Marcos said in ...

UNICEF says a year on from Pakistan’s catastrophic floods, millions of children still need support

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The United Nations children’s agency on Friday warned that a year on from Pakistan’s devastating floods, an estimated 4 million children continue to need humanitarian assistance and access to essential services as a shortage of funds remains a hurdle in recovery. The warning from UNICEF comes as authorities in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province are racing against time to evacuate people from areas affected by the overflowing River Sutlej. Since Aug. 1, rescuers have evacuated over 100,000 people from marooned areas in the districts of Kasur and Bahawalpur.More than six months ago, dozens of countries and international institutions at a U.N.-backed conference in Geneva pledged more than $9 billion to help Pakistan recover and rebuild from last summer’s floods. But most of the pledges were in the form of loans for projects, which are still in the planning stages.“This season’s monsoon rains are worsening the already challenging conditions for flood-a...

Create your maps with IMAGE, our map generator tool

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

Have you ever wondered how statistical maps are prepared? Would you like to prepare your own?The Interactive Map Generator (IMAGE) is a web-based tool that allows users to quickly make professional statistical maps in several predefined map layouts. You can add your data, or load data directly from the Eurostat database. What’s special about our map generator is that it offers a wide variety of options. For example, you can create maps of the EU at the national and regional level, including all the overseas regions, but also a map of your own country or a world map.Another interesting feature is the map type, where you can choose the map format according to the characteristics of the data and what you want to show. For example, we have choropleth maps for densities, proportions and rates of change, but if you want to show volumes and total amounts, we recommend the use of proportional symbols. To make sure all the requirements to have the perfect map are met and the best practi...

Washington hosts Las Vegas in cross-conference contest

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

Las Vegas Aces (29-4, 15-2 Western Conference) at Washington Mystics (15-18, 8-10 Eastern Conference)Washington; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Brittney Sykes and the Washington Mystics host A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in out-of-conference action.The Mystics are 10-7 on their home court. Washington is 3-10 against opponents over .500.The Aces are 14-3 on the road. Las Vegas currently has the WNBA’s best offense averaging 93.7 points while shooting 49.0%.The teams meet for the second time this season. The Aces won 113-89 in the last meeting on Aug. 12. Wilson led the Aces with 40 points, and Natasha Cloud led the Mystics with 21 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Sykes is averaging 15.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals for the Mystics. Cloud is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games for Washington.Wilson is averaging 22.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Aces. Kelsey Plum is averaging 18.3 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 45.2% over the last 10 games...

New York plays Minnesota after Stewart’s 24-point performance

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

New York Liberty (26-7, 14-3 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (16-17, 11-8 Western Conference)Minneapolis; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: New York plays the Minnesota Lynx after Breanna Stewart scored 24 points in the Liberty’s 95-90 overtime victory against the Connecticut Sun.The Lynx are 7-10 in home games. Minnesota ranks eighth in the WNBA with 7.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Jessica Shepard averaging 2.2 offensive boards.The Liberty are 14-3 in road games. New York leads the WNBA averaging 11.1 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 37.5% from downtown. Sabrina Ionescu leads the team averaging 3.6 makes while shooting 44.2% from 3-point range.The teams play for the third time this season. The Liberty won the last meeting 76-66 on Aug. 5, with Ionescu scoring 18 points in the victory.TOP PERFORMERS: Napheesa Collier is shooting 48.3% and averaging 21.5 points for the Lynx. Kayla McBride is averaging 17.2 points over the last 10 games for Minnesota.Stewart i...

Erik Spoelstra believes coaching in Philippines at World Cup is a perfect homecoming

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Erik Spoelstra had a plan. He was going to finish college and head to the Philippines to play professional basketball in his mother’s homeland. He’d been watching games from that part of the world on VHS tapes for years and wanted to experience those atmospheres for himself.The plan changed. The paperwork he needed to play in the Philippines got delayed, so he played in Germany instead. And after a little time there, he got a chance to interview for a video-room job with the Miami Heat. The rest is history. He never got to Manila as a player.But on Saturday, 30 years or so behind his original schedule, Spoelstra has a game awaiting in the Philippines. He’s an assistant coach for USA Basketball, which plays its World Cup opener in Manila against New Zealand on Saturday night. Spoelstra will wear the red, white and blue of the U.S. — in an arena where the blue, red and white of the Philippines flag will sway. And, after thousands of games he’s been par...

Heineken completes exit from Russia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:55:16 GMT

Heineken said on Friday it had completed its exit from Russia, over a year after first announcing its plans to leave following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.The Dutch brewing giant said it had sold all its Russian operations to manufacturer Arnest Group for €1, in an exit that is expected to cost the company €300 million. All assets — including its seven breweries in Russia — will be transferred to the Russian packaging group, which has committed to guarantee work for Heineken’s 1,800 employees in Russia for three years.“Recent developments demonstrate the significant challenges faced by large manufacturing companies in exiting Russia,” CEO Dolf van den Brink said. “While it took much longer than we had hoped, this transaction secures the livelihoods of our employees and allows us to exit the country in a responsible manner.”Heineken first announced its plans to leave Russia in March 2022, alongside many other companies and businesses that pulled out of the country follow...