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Russia’s assault on a key eastern Ukraine city is weakening, Kyiv claims, as the war marks 600 days

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A dayslong attempt by Russian forces to storm a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine appears to be running out of steam, Kyiv officials claimed Monday, as the Kremlin’s war entered its 600th day.Ukrainian forces repelled 15 Russian attacks from four directions on Avdiivka over the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian General Staff said.That compared with up to 60 attacks a day in the middle of last week, according to Vitalii Barabash, head of the city administration. The slackening suggests the Russian effort to capture Avdiivka has “deflated,” Barabash said.A Washington-based think tank broadly concurred with that assessment. “Russian forces continued offensive operations aimed at encircling Avdiivka … but have yet to make further gains amid a likely decreasing tempo of Russian operations in the area,” the Institute for the Study of War said in analysis published late Sunday.Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, told a U.N. Securit...

France’s Macron holds security meeting amid heightened alert after deadly school stabbing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

ARRAS, France (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron was holding Monday a special security meeting amid heightened alert against feared terror threats, as a high school where a teacher was fatally stabbed in an attack last week has been evacuated over a bomb alert. Several hundreds of students and teachers could be seen going back into the high school in the northern town of Arras after what appeared to be a false. It comes after a teacher was killed and three other people wounded Friday in an attack by a former student suspected of Islamic radicalization.The prefecture of the northern region where the high school is located said that “all precautionary and safety measures” have been taken after the bomb threat was made via a police website. A demining team was on site.The Louvre Museum in Paris and Versailles Palace evacuated visitors and staff Saturday after receiving bomb threats. Macron cut short travel plans abroad to hold a security meeting at midday with the prime minister a...

Athlete-mothers juggle priorities as they prepare to compete at the Pan American Games in Chile

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — As the Pan American Games quickly approach, a certain section of athletes find their focus is constantly being pulled in different directions — from practicing their sport to taking care of their children.Half of the estimated 7,000 participants getting ready for this year’s Olympic-style multi-sport event in Santiago, Chile, are women. And some of them are mothers, juggling family responsibilities with the rigors of elite competition.“I have a 1-year-old waiting for me at home, that is my priority,” Brazilian diver Giovanna Pedroso told The Associated Press.Pedroso, who lives in an impoverished region of Rio de Janeiro, is one of several mothers planning to compete at the Pan Am Games from Oct. 20-Nov. 5 while still taking care of their children. It’s a demanding task.The 24-year-old Pedroso, a Pan Am Games silver medalist eight years ago in Toronto, said she hasn’t been able to focus 100% on her sport since her son was born last year.She oft...

Kenya seeks more Chinese loans at ‘Belt and Road’ forum despite rising public debt

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s President William Ruto sought $1 billion more in loans from China Monday, despite rising public debt that has now reached $70 billion in the Eastern African country, according to National Treasury figures for 2022/2023. President Ruto was was one of a number of global leaders in Beijing to attend the tenth anniversary meeting of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the ambitious plan that aims to connect Africa, Asia and Europe through massive infrastructure and energy projects.A statement from Kenya’s State House Spokesman Hussein Mohammed said “the president will deliver a keynote address headlined ‘Digital Economy as a New Source of Growth’ at the High-Level Forum.”“Additionally, the president will participate in a Kenya-China investors roundtable to emphasize Kenya’s standing as an investment hub for Chinese companies,” said the statement.One of the signature BRI projects in Kenya is the Standard Gauge Railway line, which runs from the port city of Mom...

Liz Weston: Someday your boss could help you save for emergencies

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

When I wrote about employer-provided emergency savings accounts four years ago, the idea was still pretty novel. Some companies were experimenting with ways to help their workers save for short-term needs, but the concept wasn’t even on the radar for many employers.What a difference the pandemic made. Millions were thrown out of work with little warning, and few had the financial reserves to survive even a few months of unemployment. Big employers, and lawmakers, took notice, says Claire Chamberlain, global head of social impact for investment manager BlackRock. The result: Hundreds of thousands of workers now have options to build emergency savings through their employers, and Congress passed laws to encourage more companies to add short-term savings options.“I think a lot of people woke up,” Chamberlain says.PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED AMERICANS’ FINANCIAL FRAGILITYEmployers tend to overestimate their workers’ financial stability, says Timothy Flacke, co-founder and executive director of...

Man facing hate crime charges after allegedly killing 6yo, injuring mother in stabbing attack in Will County

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

WILL COUNTY, Ill. — A man accused of brutally killing a 6-year-old boy Muslim boy and seriously injuring his 32-year-old mother in unincorporated Plainfield Township is facing hate crime charges, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.Authorities say 71-year-old Joseph Czuba has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crime and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.Detectives say they were able to determine that both victims were allegedly targeted by the suspect due to their Muslim faith and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The charges stem from a violent attack that occurred at a home in the 16200 block of South Lincoln Highway, just after 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.Will County deputies and officers from the Plainfield Police Department initially responded to the scene on reports that a woman was allegedly being attacked by her landlord with a knife. Authorities say the woman told au...

'Unprecedented': Taylor Swift movie hits No. 1 at box office, eyes 'Joker' record

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

*Related video of previous coverage.Movie theaters turned into concert venues this weekend as Swifties brought their dance moves and friendship bracelets to multiplexes across the country. The unparalleled enthusiasm helped propel “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” to a massive, first-place debut between $95 million and $97 million in North America, AMC Theatres said Sunday.It’s easily the biggest opening for a concert film of all time, and, not accounting for inflation, has made more than the $73 million “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” earned in 2011. In today’s dollars, that would be around $102 million. And if it comes in on the higher end of projections when totals are released Monday, it could be the biggest October opening ever. The one to beat is “Joker,” which launched to $96.2 million in 2019.A unique experiment in distribution, premium pricing, star power and loose movie theater etiquette—more dancing and shouting than a Star Wars premiere—have made it an undeniable hit. Compi...

Months after mistrial, jury selection begins in Austin police officer's murder trial

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Jury selection begins Monday for the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor shot and killed Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot in April 2020.In May, a judge granted the defense's motion for a mistrial following several snags in the jury selection process. The court chose from jury pools of 80 and 50, and could not find enough eligible jurors to sit on the case. This time around, the court will conduct jury selection differently, according to Ken Ervin, one of Taylor’s attorneys. The court will order three panels of 100 potential jurors and move to a bigger courtroom for jury selection PREVIOUS: Motion denied for change of venue request in APD officer’s trial During the previous jury selection process in May, Judge Dayna Blazey said she expects the trial to last three to four weeks. Former prosecutor Gary Cobb is coming out o...

Study reveals the most common car colors on the road in Austin

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Drive down any road in Austin and what colors do you see around you? Chances are most cars next to you will be black, white or gray.A new study by iSeeCars reveals the most popular car colors in Austin, based on used car sales.According to the study, just over a quarter of all cars in the city are white, while about a fifth are black. Another 18% are gray and 12.5% are silver.Colorful cars are much less common. Only 8.8% of cars in Austin are blue, while 8.3% are red. Other colors, like brown, green, orange and purple, make up about 3% combined.The study looked at more than 10 million used cars sold across the country between 2018 and this year. The numbers are in line with a similar study conducted last year.Just like in Austin, grayscale colors dominate the market nationwide. In 2018, 77.2% of used cars sold in the United States were either black, white, gray or silver. That number increased to 78.9% this year.Across the board, used car prices have increased since ...

New York State colleges waive application fees this month

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:39:12 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WETM) -- High school seniors will be able to apply to all State University of New York (SUNY) schools, all City University of New York (CUNY) schools, and 40 private colleges across the state for free this month. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to Governor Hochul, this is the first time that some of New York's private colleges are joining all of the state's public colleges in waiving fees for students who apply during October, which is New York State College Application Month. The purpose of the fee waivers is to encourage students who can't afford application fees or might otherwise not apply for college to submit applications.“As we embark on College Application Month, we are reminded that higher education is a critical pathway to success, and we must break down every barrier that stands in the way of students achieving their dreams," said President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corpo...