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A cargo ship picking up Ukrainian grain hits a Russian floating mine in the Black Sea, officials say

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A civilian cargo ship struck a Russian mine in the Black Sea near Ukraine’s Danube ports Thursday, injuring two sailors, officials and analysts said, in an incident that underscored the dangers faced by those exporting Ukrainian grain during the war.The Panama-flagged vessel struck the floating mine during stormy weather as it went to pick up grain, according to Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, adding that churning seas often increase the risk from mines.As the fighting grinds on through the winter and likely into a third year after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, and with little recent change along the front line, Ukraine is aiming to strengthen its financial resources for what could be a protracted war.After Russia pulled out of a U.N.-brokered export agreement last summer, Ukraine launched a new Black Sea shipping corridor to get grain, metals and other cargo to world markets. That has given a boost to Ukraine’s agriculture-dependent economy.The mine incid...

China reaffirms its military threats against Taiwan weeks before the island’s presidential election

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Weeks before Taiwan holds elections for its president and legislature, China renewed its threat to use military force to annex the self-governing island democracy it claims as its own territory. Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian on told reporters Thursday at a monthly briefing that China’s armed forces would “as always take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Taiwan’s 23 million people overwhelmingly favor maintaining the island’s de-facto independent status, leaving the Jan. 13 polls to be decided largely by concerns over housing prices, health care, employment and education. China has continued sending warships and fighter jets near Taiwan as an intimidation tactic, even as Taiwan’s military said it’s raising alert levels before the vote. The ruling party’s candidate, William Lai, holds a lead in most surveys, while the main opposition Nationalist Party’s candidate, Hou You...

Storm Gerrit disrupts trains and leaves thousands without power as it batters northern UK

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A storm that battered the U.K. with high winds and heavy snow and rain damaged houses, canceled trains and left thousands of people without electricity on Thursday across Scotland and parts of northern England.Workers faced wind speeds of 80 miles (128 kilometers) per hour in some coastal areas of Scotland as they tried to restore power that was cut off when falling branches and other debris hit utility lines.About 14,000 homes remained without power on Thursday morning.Police in Manchester in northwest England said they received numerous reports late Wednesday of homes damaged by a brief “localized tornado.” Photos showed roofs torn from houses and cars smashed by fallen trees, and residents reported garden sheds being blown away.The U.K.’s weather forecaster, the Met Office, said a “supercell thunderstorm” with a “strong rotating updraft” crossed the Greater Manchester area late Wednesday.Local officials said some 100 properties were evacuated overnight. Greate...

Chicago police looking for man who attempted to kidnap 14-year-old on city's North Side

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are looking for a man who attempted to kidnap a 14-year-old on the city's North Side on Wednesday afternoon.Police say the child was on a sidewalk in North Park, in the 5400 block of N. Kimball Ave., at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when a man jumped out of a car and tried to put his intended victim in a headlock. According to police, the child was able to squirm away.Police say the suspect is a man in his 30s with brown, wavy hair and is driving a black Jeep with the license plate EE81455.

Woman killed in sledgehammer attack while walking dog on California college campus

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

(KTLA) — Loved ones are devastated after a woman was killed in a violent attack on the campus of El Camino College near Torrance, California, over the weekend.The victim, identified only as a woman in her 60s, was walking her dog on Christmas Eve morning around 7 a.m. when the alleged attack happened, according to campus police.As the victim was collecting recyclables, she was suddenly attacked by a man with a sledgehammer, police said. He fled the scene before authorities arrived.A passerby had spotted the fallen woman next to the gymnasium building. Arriving officers found the woman unconscious and bleeding from her head. Gypsy Rose Blanchard, convicted in mom’s murder, to be released from prison Her dog had remained by her side. Paramedics transferred the woman to a local hospital where she died on Christmas Day from her injuries.After reviewing surveillance footage, campus police identified the suspect as Jeffery Davis, 40, a man they’ve spotted in the community before.El Cami...

Powerball jackpot hits $760M, among largest on record: How long until the next drawing?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

(WKBN/NEXSTAR) — The Powerball jackpot has rolled again, reaching an estimated $760 million after no ticket had the winning numbers in Wednesday's drawing. Those numbers for Wednesday night's drawing were white balls 4, 11, 38, 51, 68, and red ball 5. The Power Play was 3X. While nobody matched all six winning numbers, a ticket sold in Texas matched all five white numbers and the Power Play, making it worth $2 million. A ticket in California matched all five white numbers, making it worth $1 million.The current jackpot — now worth an estimated $760 million with a cash value of $382.5 million — has been building since October, when a California ticket landed a prize worth $1.765 billion. Record $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot claimed in Florida: What we know about the winner Should the jackpot be won this month, it would be the largest-ever December prize in Powerball history, according to game records. That title is currently held by a $298.3 million jackpot won by a New York...

Here are the new nonstop flights coming to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 2024

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video highlights Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's busiest days.AUSTIN (KXAN) — As what is likely to be a record-breaking year at Austin airport draws to a close, we're looking ahead to 2024 to see what new options passengers will have.Eight new flights have already been scheduled from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in the new year: four seasonal and four year-round.Southwest Airlines will kick things off on March 9, with a new nonstop route to San Juan, Puerto Rico. American Airlines previously operated this route, but canceled it in November 2022, saying it did not meet performance expectations. Passenger totals, airline delays, new routes: Everything to know about Austin airport Also in March, low-cost Mexican airline Viva Aerobus will launch service to Monterrey, picking up a route that Spirit Airlines dropped in September citing low demand.In April, Delta will launch three new routes from AUS, to McAllen, Midland/Odessa and Nashville. I...

Shen 7th grader's artwork featured in NASA calendar

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ratnottama Bhattacharyya, a seventh grader at Koda Middle School in the Shenendehowa Central School District, will have her out-of-this-world artwork on display in NASA's "commercial crew" calendar. Bhattacharyya's piece titled "In The Palm of Your Hand" was chosen from participants all over the world, and will be the digital cover as well as the picture for March. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! 36 winners from around the globe were selected to be featured in the calendar. Bhattacharyya placed third in the age 10-12 bracket for the astronaut category.

5 things to know this Thursday, December 28

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Thursday! According to Meteorologist Matt Mackie, we can expect more showers throughout the day with temperatures ranging from the low to high 40s. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Governor Kathy Hochul announced the 2023 Capital Region winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative to be Lake George. It will be one of ten communities in New York to receive $10 million. Also, the Community Police Review Board (CPRB) sued the city, the police department, and the union. NEWS10 spoke with the Police Benevolent Association’s president for more on the investigation. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. Lake George gets $10 million in Downtown RevitalizationGovernor Kathy Hochul announced the 2023 Capital Region winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative to be Lake George. It will be one of ten communities in New York to receive $10 million.2. Albany ...

Opinion: Follow the money to find the source of antisemitism on America’s campuses

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:01:14 GMT

Hostility toward Israel on many college campuses has bled over to unchecked antisemitism and a plurality of Jewish students report that they don’t feel physically or emotionally safe. The roots of this hatred grew from anti-Zionism, the boycott divestiture and sanctions movement, and foreign money planted at universities across America.Since the beginning of this school year alone, a staggering 73% of Jewish college students surveyed by the ADL Center for Antisemitism Research, Hillel International and College Pulse, have experienced or witnessed antisemitism.Things have gotten so bad that Jewish students are hiding their faith for self-protection. Since Oct. 7, the percentage of Jewish students who said they feel comfortable with others on campus knowing they are Jewish dropped by half. Imagine being afraid to walk through campus, attend classes, wear kippot, or live in a Jewish fraternity or sorority. Today’s reality is unacceptable.Of the non-Jewish students erroneously assumed t...