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South African army general in Moscow days after country accused of sending weapons to Russia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Russia’s top army general and his South African counterpart discussed “military cooperation” while meeting Monday in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The announcement came hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied accusations by the United States that his country was siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and had sent weapons to help it.Gen. Oleg Salyukov, the commander of Russia’s ground forces, met the chief of South Africa’s army, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Mbatha, at Russia’s general command headquarters in Moscow, the Russian ministry said.“The sides discussed issues of military cooperation and the implementation of projects geared to enhance the combat readiness of the two countries’ armies,” the ministry said in a statement. “The meeting between the military commanders yielded agreements on the further expansion of cooperation between the land forces in various areas.”The Defense Ministry said a ...

Biden is just ‘pop’ at granddaughter Maisy Biden’s graduation from the University of Pennsylvania

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joe Biden took a brief break from being president on Monday to focus on being “pop,” attending his granddaughter Maisy Biden’s graduation from the University of Pennsylvania.Maisy is the youngest daughter of Hunter Biden and his former wife, Kathleen Buhle, who both attended the ceremony. Also present were Maisy’s older sisters, Naomi and Finnegan, first lady Jill Biden, and the Bidens’ daughter, Ashley Biden. Before the commencement, some students waved at the president and took photos. He waved back and pumped his fist. But other than that, Biden was just another face in the crowd, albeit a very recognizable one. The family sat stage left, apart from the rest of the audience.Idina Menzel, the actress and singer, delivered the commencement address, even belting out a few lines of a song from the musical “Rent.”After the ceremony, Biden and his family went to a lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant. Chris Megerian, The Associated Press

Russia aims to obtain more attack drones from Iran after depleting stockpile, White House says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday said Russia is looking to buy additional advanced attack drones from Iran for use in its war against Ukraine after using up most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased from Tehran.The Biden administration last year publicized satellite imagery and intelligence findings that it said indicated Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia. And for months, officials have said the United States believed Iran was considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington did not have evidence a deal was consummated.“Iran also continues to provide Russia with one-way attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Since August, Iran has provided Russia with more than 400 UAVs primarily of the Shahed variety,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “Russia has expended most of these UAVs, using them to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure inside Ukraine. By providing Russia with these UAVs, Iran has ...

Israeli foreign minister makes first visit to Sweden in two decades

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Israel’s foreign minister on Monday paid a visit to Sweden in a new sign of warming ties between the two nations.Eli Cohen said his visit to Stockholm was the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years.“We are opening a new page in relations between Israel and Sweden after years in which Sweden took a critical line against Israel,” he said in a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. He said his meeting with his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstrom, signaled a “change in direction” of ties.Billstrom called the meeting “very good and productive” in a statement on Twitter. “The first one in 20 years, so long overdue,” he added.Sweden’s previous Social Democratic government had a rocky relationship with Israel after recognizing a Palestinian state in 2014, a move that prompted Israel to temporarily recall its ambassador to Sweden. Two years later, Israel said Sweden’s foreign minister at the time was “not welcome” after critical comment...

K’atl’odeeche First Nation, Hay River, N.W.T., order evacuations as wildfire spread

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

HAY RIVER, N.W.T. — A First Nation reserve and nearby town in the southern Northwest Territories have been evacuated as a wildfire spreads in the area. K’atl’odeeche First Nation ordered an evacuation Sunday afternoon advising residents to register at the evacuation centre in nearby Hay River.The Town of Hay River then ordered an evacuation at 11 p.m. Sunday. Residents of both communities have been advised to register at the Hay River Community Centre if they need help leaving, or the Yellowknife Multiplex, located about 480 kilometres away.Michael St. Amour, mayor of the neighbouring community of Enterprise, said there was a two-hour wait at the gas station as hundreds of people passed through the hamlet.“We tried to make them as comfortable as possible and give them the direction to go to Yellowknife,” he said.St. Amour said Enterprise has opened its community hall to evacuees and was serving breakfast Monday morning. He said about 300 people are still in t...

Dubai-based professional baseball league announces first franchise, Mumbai Cobras

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Baseball United, which swung for the sporting history fences by establishing the first professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia, announced Monday its first franchise, the Mumbai Cobras.The Cobras are the first of four teams that will be announced in the coming weeks, with the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based Baseball United poised to host a showcase tournament in November at Dubai International Stadium. The tournament will take place a year after Baseball United was first established.Baseball United’s player pool consists of more than 200 players from more than 30 countries. Of those, 64 players will be selected for the teams. The remaining players will be drafted in anticipation of the organization’s inaugural season starting in the fall of 2024.Baseball United has said several players from the U.S. will play in the league, though it has yet to announce any names.“Major League Baseball is over 150 years old and has so much r...

Oakland A’s reach agreement for potential stadium site on Las Vegas Strip

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement with Bally’s and Gaming & Leisure Properties to build a potential stadium on the Tropicana hotel site along the Las Vegas Strip.Bally’s Corp. made the announcement Monday for a 30,000-seat stadium on the 35-acre site. The project is expected to cost about $1.5 billion, and the A’s are asking for nearly $400 million in public support from the Nevada Legislature, which could vote on a proposal this week.The A’s previously previously signed an agreement to build a stadium also on Tropicana Avenue but on the other side of Interstate 15 that runs alongside the Strip. They were expected to ask the Legislature for $500 million in public funds for the 49-acre site that would have included much more than a stadium.The new agreement is a scaled-down proposal but the location is in closer walking distance for fans who are staying in hotels on the south end of the Strip.“We are excited about the potential to ...

Extended boycott disqualifies 2 GOP senators, 1 independent in Oregon Senate from being reelected

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Republicans and an independent senator in the Oregon Senate stretched a walkout Monday to 10 days, triggering a new constitutional provision that prohibits lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from being reelected.The walkout that began May 3 has stalled action on hundreds of bills, including on gun control, gender-affirming care and abortion rights, as a deadline threatened to disqualify them from being reelected. Three of the boycotting senators — two Republicans, Sen. Dennis Linthicum and Sen. Daniel Bonham; and an Independent, Sen. Brian Boquist — reached the 10-day limit on Monday, meaning they are automatically disqualified from holding office as a lawmaker for the next four-year terms.The walkout by GOP senators in the Democrat-dominated Legislature has prevented a quorum of the Senate, with two-thirds of members required to be present for the chamber to debate and vote on bills. Republicans have used the tactic in previous years.On Monday, only 16 ...

Monday Forecast: Temps near 70 with sunny conditions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

CHICAGO — Partly sunny Monday with cooler conditions lakeside. Winds: NE 5-10. High: 67/58. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with a chance for showers south. Low: 51.Tuesday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, temp drop late day. (pneumonia front possible). Winds: W 5-15 G20. High: 80.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Motorcyclist, 60, dead after car crash in Des Plaines

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:38:26 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — A 60-year-old man is dead after he was struck by a vehicle while driving a motorcycle in Des Plaines Saturday evening. Police said that John E. Lawson was driving a motorcycle and turning left onto Golf Road westbound from Rand Road when he was struck by a kia traveling southeast on Rand Road. According to police reports, the boy who was the driver of the kia was transported to hospital, along with a passenger, with non-life-threatening injuries. Chicago off-duty officer, 33, found dead inside her home on West Side Lawson was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators are determining the cause of the crash. There is no further information provided.