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Russia alleges border incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs; Kyiv claims they are disgruntled Russians

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian officials claimed that Ukrainian military saboteurs launched an attack across the border Monday, wounding eight people in a small town. Kyiv officials denied any link with the group and blamed the fighting on a revolt by disgruntled Russians against the Kremlin.Neither version of events could be independently verified in an area that has witnessed sporadic spillover from the almost 15-month war in Ukraine.The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said that a Ukrainian Armed Forces saboteur group entered the town of Graivoron, about five kilometers (three miles) from the border. The town also came under Ukrainian artillery fire, he said.Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said eight people were wounded and most residents have left the area, but the situation remains “tense.” In nearby Zamostye village, a projectile hit a kindergarten and caused a fire. One woman was wounded in her hand, Gladkov said. He also reported that Russian anti-aircraft ...

Florida man loses arm after gator attack behind bar

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — A man in Florida lost his arm after being attacked by an alligator behind a bar, according to wildlife authorities.The 23-year-old man was attacked early Sunday behind a bar in Port Charlotte, Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.The man had been a patron at Banditos Bar, which is located next to a pond. Another bar patron, Manny Hidalgo, told The Daily Sun that he heard the man screaming from the pond area and went outside looking for him in the early morning darkness.“He was yelling and swimming toward the shoreline,” Hidalgo said. “I ran and dragged him up onto the sand. I was scared to get close to the water because it was dark out.”The man was taken by helicopter to Gulf Coast Hospital in Fort Myers, where his arm was amputated, said Todd Dunn, a spokesman for Charlotte County Fire and EMS.A nuisance alligator trapper removed the 10.5-foot (3.2 meters) alligator from the property, according to wildlife officials...

China’s Sinopec signs agreement to enter retail fuel market in crisis-hit Sri Lanka

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Chinese petroleum giant Sinopec signed an agreement with Sri Lanka on Monday to enter into the South Asian island country’s retail fuel market as it struggles to resolve a worsening energy crisis amid an unprecedented economic upheaval.The contract agreement would enable Sinopec to import, store, distribute and sell petroleum products in Sri Lanka, which has had a fuel shortage for more than a year.The move comes as Beijing looks to consolidate investments in Sri Lanka’s ports and energy sector amid growing security concerns raised by the island nation’s immediate neighbor, India, which considers Sri Lanka to be its strategic backyard.Sri Lanka, which is facing a foreign exchange crisis, hopes the deal will help to resolve its energy crisis.The agreement signed Monday in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, was made to “ensure uninterrupted fuel suppliers to consumers,” the president’s office said in a news release.Under the pact, Sinopec will be gr...

G20 delegates begin meeting in disputed Kashmir, with region’s intense security largely out of view

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Delegates from the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations began a meeting on tourism in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday that was condemned by China and Pakistan, as authorities reduced the visibility of security in the disputed region’s main city.The meeting is the first significant international event in Kashmir since New Delhi stripped the Muslim-majority region of its semi-autonomy in 2019. Indian authorities hope the meeting will show that the contentious changes have brought peace and prosperity to the region.The delegates will discuss topics such as ecotourism, destination management and the role of films in promoting tourist destinations.The main city of Srinagar appeared calm on Monday and roads were unusually clean. Most of the usual security checkpoints had been removed or camouflaged with G20 signs. Officials said hundreds of officers were specially trained in what they called “invisible policing” for the event.Shops in the city center ...

Ford’s Farley: Cut costs, improve quality and boost margins through software and services

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford CEO Jim Farley says his company is remaking itself by cutting costs, raising quality and offering software, services and new vehicles that will make profit margins among the best in the industry.Farley and other executives gave details on how it will get there over the next few years during a capital markets day event Monday near its Dearborn, Michigan headquarters. One way is to reduce investment in hypercompetitive market segments such as two-row smaller SUVs, Farley told industry analysts. The company, he said, has been “stuck in a box,” with thin profit margins, weak growth and low stock valuation.Ford, Farley said, will emphasize software and services as well as iconic vehicles such as pickup trucks, large SUVs, commercial vehicles and advanced second-generation electric vehicles. He said the company is eliminating waste to close a cost gap with the best in the industry with a “lean disciplined operating system” that reaches into all Ford factories.B...

Accidente vehicular múltiple deja gravemente heridos a un niño y adultos al noroeste de DC

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

Un niño fue trasladado en helicóptero a un hospital y al menos tres adultos resultaron heridos después de un accidente en el noreste de Washington, DC el lunes que involucró a varios vehículos.Unidades del Departamento de Bomberos y Emergencias de DC respondieron al lado este de la cuadra 2800 de New York Avenue NE, cerca de Bladensburg Road, alrededor de las 10:30 a.m.El niño estaba dentro de uno de los vehículos y sufrió heridas graves, según las autoridades.Asimismo, un adulto resultó con heridas críticas, otro con heridas graves y un tercero con heridas leves. Fueron llevados para recibir tratamiento por transporte terrestre, informó el Departamento de Bomberos. La policía de DC cerró New York Avenue NE pasando Bladensburg Avenue. El tráfico se desvía hacia Bladensburg Road, indicó el Programa de Coordinación de Operaciones de Transporte del Área Metropolitana (MATOC, en inglés).Se espera un cierre prolongado, anticipó la agencia. El tráfico en el lado oeste de New York Avenue s...

Judge enters not guilty pleas for suspect in stabbing deaths of 4 University of Idaho students

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A judge entered not guilty pleas Monday for a man charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, setting the stage for a trial in which he could potentially face the death penalty.The Nov. 13, 2022, killings stunned the rural community of Moscow, Idaho, and prompted many students to leave campus early, switching to remote learning for the remainder of the semester.Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested late last year and charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in connection with with the slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus.Kohberger refused to enter pleas in Latah County District Court, prompting the judge to make them on his behalf.The judge set the trial date for Oct. 2, although it could be delayed.He was a graduate student studying criminology at nearby Washington State University at the time, but prosecutors have not released any...

Herndon High School Band celebrates 75 years with free concert

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley salutes 75 years of Herndon High School Band (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); The Herndon High School Band is celebrating its 75th anniversary in Fairfax County, Virginia.You can join The Pride of Herndon for a free concert in the auditorium this Thursday at 7 p.m.“We would love to have people from all over come celebrate with us,” Band Director Kathleen Jacoby told...

Woman arrested in active shooter threat call at Hazel's in Boulder

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Boulder Police Department says a large law enforcement presence at a liquor store Saturday night was in response to a call that a masked person was inside a bathroom with an assault rifle.BPD said a person called dispatch at 10:23 p.m. and reported there was an active shooter situation at Hazel's Beverage World at 1955 28th St., which closed at 10 p.m. When will the hazy skies get clearer? Police arrived at the store at 10:25 p.m. and went into the store."Without hesitation and not knowing what they would find, officers entered the store within seconds and began their coordinated response just as our continued training as taught us," BPD shared.BPD said they quickly determined the threat was not credible.“We are very thankful this turned out not to be a real active shooter call, but our officers clearly demonstrated that if it would have been, their extensive training, bravery, and commitment to protecting our community would have kept the community safe,” Dep...

Fatal collision involving Brightline, FEC train and pedestrian in Deerfield Beach under investigation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:32:15 GMT

Broward Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives are currently investigating a collision that claimed the life of a pedestrian in Deerfield Beach on Sunday morning. The incident involved a Brightline train, a Florida East Coast (FEC) train and an individual walking along the tracks.At approximately 9:07 a.m., Broward County Regional Communications received multiple reports of a crash near Dixie Highway, just north of Hillsboro Boulevard. BSO deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue arrived at the scene, where a female pedestrian was pronounced dead.According to detectives, witnesses stated that the pedestrian had deliberately bypassed the protective barrier on Hillsboro Boulevard. Ignoring the safety precautions, she proceeded to walk northbound on the Brightline train tracks. At that very moment, an FEC Railway cargo train was passing on the adjacent east side track, traveling southbound. The Brightline train, heading southbound on its designated track, struck the pedestrian. The impac...