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The UK and France reiterate that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must end in failure as US aid falters

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Britain and France reiterated their determination Tuesday that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine ends in failure, with the U.K. foreign minister saying that Ukraine’s allies must better leverage their economic might to vastly outmatch Moscow’s war machine. The renewed insistence from U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French counterpart Catherine Colonna that Russia can’t be rewarded for its aggression comes as wartime aid from Ukraine’s biggest single military backer — the United States — is faltering. Cameron, speaking after talks with Colonna in Paris, said that if the economies of Ukraine’s Western partners are calculated together, “we outmatch the Russian economy by 25 to one or more.”“What we have to do is make that economic strength and that commitment pay,” he said. “If we can, I have no doubt that we can make sure that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin loses and it’s essential that he does lose.”Neither Cam...

Militants with ties to the Islamic State group kill 10 people in Uganda’s western district

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — At least 10 people have been killed by militants with ties to the Islamic State group during an attack in Uganda’s western district of Kamwenge, the East African nation’s military said Tuesday.The Allied Democratic Forces militants attacked the village early Tuesday morning, said the Uganda People’s Defence Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, without providing further details. It’s the latest in a series of attacks this year blamed on the ADF, a group established in the early 1990s by Ugandan Muslims who said they were sidelined by the policies of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986. The ADF militants who attacked Kamwenge district had crossed from the neighboring Congo last month and were being hunted by the military, Brig. Kulaigye said. “These ADF attackers are remnants of the group that is scavenging for food,” he said.Despite airstrikes and joint security operations by the militaries of Uganda and Congo, the militants ...

A look at recent deadly earthquakes in China

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — An earthquake that killed more than 120 people in China this week was the country’s deadliest in nearly a decade. Earthquakes happen most frequently in western China on the Tibetan Plateau or its fringes. Sichuan province in the southwest has had several large quakes including by far the deadliest one in recent years in 2008, which killed nearly 90,000 people. The collapse of schools and other buildings led to a yearslong effort to rebuild using more quake-resistant materials.Other deadly earthquakes have struck in Yunnan province to the south of Sichuan and in Qinghai and Gansu provinces. Here’s a list of major recent earthquakes: — May 2008: A magnitude 7.9 earthquake leaves nearly 90,000 people dead or missing and presumed dead in Sichuan province. — April 2010: A magnitude 7.1 earthquake kills 2,698 people in Qinghai province.— April 2013: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake kills 196 people in Sichuan.— July 2013: A magnitude 6.6 earthquake kills 95 people in ...

Meta’s initial decisions to remove 2 videos of Israel-Hamas war is reversed by Oversight Board

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — A quasi-independent review board is recommending that Facebook parent company Meta overturn two decisions it made this fall to remove posts “informing the world about human suffering on both sides” of the Israel-Hamas war. In both cases, Meta ended up reinstating the posts — one showing Palestinian casualties and the other, an Israeli hostage — on its own, although it added warning screens to both due to violent content. This means the company isn’t obligated to do anything about the board’s decision. That said, the board also said it disagrees with Meta’s decision to bar the posts in question from being recommended by Facebook and Instagram, “even in cases where it had determined posts intended to raise awareness.” And it said Meta’s use of automated tools to remove “potentially harmful” content increased the likelihood of taking down “valuable posts” that not only raise awareness about the conflict but may contain evidence of human...

Germany’s top court orders a repeat of the 2021 national election in parts of Berlin due to glitches

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s highest court on Tuesday ordered the 2021 national election to be partially repeated in Berlin because of severe glitches at many polling stations in the capital. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the election must be repeated in 455 of 2,256 precincts in the city. It largely upheld a decision by the parliament, which decided last year on a limited rerun with the votes of Chancellor OIaf Scholz’s three-party coalition, though it slightly widened the scope of the new vote.The issue landed at the court after Germany’s main conservative opposition bloc complained, seeking a much more extensive rerun. Berlin’s top election official, Stephan Bröchler, said that the new vote would be held on Feb. 11.Although opinion polls now paint a very different picture from the results of the 2021 election, with two of three parties in the unpopular governing coalition far below their level in that vote, the rerun ordered Tuesday is much too limited ...

Good news, late holiday shoppers: Retailers are improving delivery speeds

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Haven’t ordered any of your holiday gifts yet?Well, you might find solace in discovering some of America’s biggest retailers are working to increase their shipping speeds to please shoppers expecting faster and faster deliveries.Walmart, Target and Amazon are all-in on the shipping wars, a move retail experts say will help them maintain a competitive edge against low-cost Chinese retailers Shein and Temu. For Walmart and Target, their investments are also aimed at narrowing the gap in delivery speed with Amazon, which has set the standard for fast shipping and remains the king of speed.Amazon packages have been arriving at the doors of Prime customers even faster this year under the company’s new distribution model, which divides the country into eight regions and predominantly ships items from warehouses in those areas. The idea, according to Amazon, is to get shipments to travel shorter distances with fewer touchpoints, which helps the company not only speed up del...

Children get to 'shop with a cop' Tuesday

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A group of Austin elementary school children will spend Tuesday morning shopping with local law enforcement.Amigos en Azul and Austin Police will host the second of their two “Shop with a Cop” events Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Target at Southpark Meadows. 2021: Amigos en Azul hosts "Shop with a Cop" event The first event was at the Target at Capital Plaza on Dec. 15.Officers with Amigos en Azul (Friends in Blue) take a group of disadvantaged children on a shopping spree every year.Amigos en Azul will host 300 students from ten schools this year, APD said. The students will be paired with an officer and each student will spend approximately $150, according to APD.According to the department, Amigos en Azul was founded in 1982 to better bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and APD. Every year, it awards scholarships to area high school students.

Historic preservation survey to examine downtown Austin

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin said Monday that a local-based historic preservation firm will survey downtown and surrounding neighborhoods for what the city calls an equity-based preservation plan that replaces one instituted 42 years ago.The city’s Historic Preservation Office said the survey from HHM & Associates, Inc. will focus on the architecture, history and culture of the area. Preserving Austin's Diverse History Researchers will gather information for the proposed preservation plan, said Kalan Contreras, Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Austin.  That draft plan will be released in early 2024 for public review and feedback, according to the plan's website.     As KXAN reported, since the last historic preservation plan was developed in 1981, Austin has exploded. The population has nearly tripled, causing housing issues to become front and center from affordable housing to urban density concerns.

5 things to know this Tuesday, December 19

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Tuesday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect a mostly cloudy, windy day with a few snow showers to the west. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Rainfall from the coastal storm continues to impact roadways throughout New York and the Northeast Region. A State of Emergency was enacted in Warren County on Tuesday afternoon as flooding and road damage has worsened. Also, a body was recovered from a submerged car in Greene County due to flooding Monday morning. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Tuesday. 1. Rainfall causes washouts, road closures in Warren CountyRainfall from the coastal storm continues to impact roadways throughout New York and the Northeast Region. A State of Emergency was enacted on Tuesday afternoon as flooding and road damage has worsened.2. Body recovered from submerged car in Greene CountyAn individual has passed away after their vehicle w...

Traffic stop leads to heroin-related arrests in Albany

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:42:49 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Ravena man and Catskill woman were arrested Monday following a traffic stop near Henry Johnson Boulevard and Livingston Avenue in Albany. Brian Morrill, 55, and Kasmira Pepper, 36, face multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Monday, the Albany County Sheriff's Office deputies pulled a car over near Henry Johnson Boulevard and Livingston Avenue for a traffic violation. They identified Morrill as the driver and Pepper as the passenger. Amid their investigation, deputies say they found a quantity of heroin and cocaine. Morrill Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceFourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceSeventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceTampering with physical evidenceSecond-degree obstructing governmental administrationResisting arrest Rainfall causes washouts, road ...