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The EU’s drip-feed of aid frustrates Ukraine, despite the promise of membership talks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Drop by drop, Ukraine is being supplied with aid and arms from its European allies, at a time when it becomes ever clearer it would take a deluge to turn its war against Russia around. On Friday, EU leaders sought to paper over their inability to boost Ukraine’s coffers with a promised 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) over the next four years, saying the check will likely arrive next month after some more haggling between 26 leaders and the longtime holdout, Viktor Orban of Hungary. Instead, they wanted Ukraine to revel in getting the nod to start membership talks that could mark a sea change in its fortunes — never mind that the process could last well over a decade and be strewn with obstacles from any single member state. “Today, we are celebrating,” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. Ukrainian government bookkeepers are unlikely to join in. Kyiv is struggling to make ends meet from one month to the next and to make sure enough is left to bolster def...

Man in central Illinois killed three people and wounded another before killing self, authorities say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A man is believed to have killed three women and wounded a man before killing himself during a traffic stop in central Illinois, authorities said.Police were called to a home in rural Ashland, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Springfield, in response to a report of a man being shot late Thursday, The Springfield State Journal-Register reported. They discovered a man with a gunshot wound and a woman who was dead. The wounded man told police about a related attack at another Ashland home. Authorities found two women dead there. Police identified a suspect and officers located his vehicle in Jacksonville, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of Ashland. The man was found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the vehicle, the Jacksonville Journal Courier reported.The surviving man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn said in an email that he plans to release the victims and suspect&...

Turkish Airlines announces order for 220 additional aircraft from Airbus

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, said Friday that it is placing an order for 220 new planes from Airbus as it seeks to expand its fleet.In a statement to Turkey’s public disclosures platform, KAP, Turkish Airlines announced that it will buy 150 narrow-body A321 Neo aircraft in addition to 50 wide-body A350-900 jets, 15 of the A350-1000 planes and five A350F cargo aircraft.The company also would procure engine maintenance services and spare engines for the A350 aircraft from Rolls-Royce, according to the statement.Airbus said the latest order increases Turkish Airlines’ total order to 504 planes, adding that 212 have already been delivered.“By modernizing our fleet with more efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft, we are reinforcing our leading position in global aviation and contributing to the nation’s prominence as an aviation hub,” Turkish Airlines board Chairman Ahmet Bolat said in a news release from Toulouse, France-based Airbus...

In a rare appearance, Melania Trump welcomes new citizens at a National Archives ceremony

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

In a rare public appearance, former first lady Melania Trump stressed the importance of “guarding our freedom” and the responsibilities that accompany American citizenship as she spoke Friday at a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives.Born in Slovenia, Melania Trump is the only first lady who is also a naturalized U.S. citizen. She recounted her path to that citizenship, beginning with a worker visa upon arriving in New York City during her career as a model.“How fortunate to be with the naturalizing individuals and their families as they recite the Oath of Allegiance and become Americans before our great nation’s founding documents,” she said.The location of the ceremony was notable. The national repository for presidential documents has featured as part of one of the criminal cases pending against her husband, former President Donald Trump, as he seeks a second term in the White House.The National Archives sent a referral to the FBI stating that 15 boxes recovered from ...

Mexico’s president inaugurates first part of $20 billion tourist train project on Yucatan peninsula

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president on Friday inaugurated the first part of the pet project of his administration, a tourist train that runs in a rough loop around the Yucatan peninsula.The $20 billion, 950-mile line, called the Maya Train, is meant to connect beach resorts and archaeological sites. However, it is not finished yet. Officials pledged the rest of the line would be ready by the end of February.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador opened a 290-mile (473-kilometer) stretch Friday between the colonial Gulf coast city of Campeche and the Caribbean coast resort of Cancun. That is about one-third of the entire project, and covers the least controversial stretch.It will take about 5 1/2 hours to travel from Campeche to Cancun at an average speed of about 50 miles per hour (80 kph), though officials have promised the train will be capable of speeds of up to 75 mph (120 kph). There will be two trains per day each way, with stops in the colonial city of Merida, the Mayan ruin...

Judge denies cattle industry’s request to temporarily halt wolf reintroduction in Colorado

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A federal judge has allowed the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado to move forward after representatives of the state’s cattle industry asked for a temporary stay in the predators’ release in a lawsuit.While the lawsuit will continue, the judge’s ruling allows Colorado to proceed with its plan to find, capture and transport up to 10 wolves from Oregon starting Sunday. The deadline to put paws on the ground under the voter-approved initiative is December 31.The lawsuit from the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and The Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association alleges that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to adequately review the potential impacts of Colorado’s plan to release up to 50 wolves in Colorado over the next several years. The groups argued that the inevitable wolf attacks on livestock would come at significant cost to ranchers, the industry that helps drive the local economies where wolves would be released.Attorneys for the U.S. go...

This winter's El Niño could be one of the strongest in 70 years. What does it mean for Illinois?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The 2023-2024 El Niño is growing more likely to be one for the record books. In an update released Thursday, the Climate Prediction Center said this winter's El Niño was slightly favored to be "historically strong." The national forecasters gave it about a 54% chance of being one of the five strongest since 1950. ‘Strong’ El Niño winter coming: Here’s where we could see more snow Those odds are up from last month, when the Climate Prediction Center gave this year's El Niño a 35% chance of being among the strongest ever, like the one we saw 2015-2016 or 1997-1998.But a super-strong El Niño doesn't necessarily mean super-strong impacts, like storms, flooding or heavy snow. "While stronger El Niño events increase the likelihood of El Niño-related climate anomalies, it does not imply expected impacts will emerge in all locations or be of strong intensity," says the Climate Prediction Center. El Niño predicted to flood both coasts: Here’s where risk is highest What...

Man shot five times after basketball game in LA Fitness parking lot, 1 in custody: Tinley Park PD

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- A person is in custody after a man was shot five times in an LA Fitness parking lot following a basketball game in Tinley Park Thursday night. The Tinley Park police department said a man from Richton Park is in custody for shooting another man five times in the parking lot of an LA Fitness location in Tinley Park. Tow truck driver shot multiple times on Eisenhower According to the Village of Tinley Park Public Safety, the incident took place near the 18400 block of Convention Center Drive around 8:00 p.m.Police said an argument ensued at a basketball game inside the gym that carried into the parking lot.Shortly after, the man went to his car, retrieved a gun and walked back to the man and shot him five times. One person was transported to the hospital and another people is in custidy.This was an isolated incident, and the scene is secure.

Calls for ceasefire in Gaza split Texas Democrats

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War have driven a wedge between the top two Democrats running to take on U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.After the Texas Democratic Party unanimously passed a resolution supporting a ceasefire, Dallas Congressman Colin Allred stopped short of echoing their calls."What we have to do in terms of this conflict is continue to try and get humanitarian aid into Gaza to try and protect civilians as much as possible -- but, understanding, this is a war of choice by Hamas. They chose this war, they're still holding over two hundred hostages right now. They can release those hostages, they can lay down their arms," Rep. Allred told Nexstar in a Dec. 4 interview. Demonstrators hold rally, silent protest to demand Austin leaders call for ceasefire in Gaza As a member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, Allred said this is a time for "mature and solid leadership." He acknowledged Israel's obligation to follow international law while supporti...

Home prices in Austin continue to cool but have a ways to go to reach pre-pandemic levels

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:50:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Home prices in Austin continue to cool but are still quite high compared to this time four years ago, according to the Austin Board of Realtors November report. The report shows that the median home price in the Austin and Round Rock region – around $425,000 – is down nearly 10% compared to last month. Though prices are dropping, they remain considerably high relative to pre-pandemic princes, ABOR said. “On a year-over-year basis, we certainly saw a decline in November,” said Clare Losey, the housing economist for the Austin Board of Realtors. “However, relative to November of 2019, the median sales price in the Austin [metropolitan sales area] is about 40% higher.” “So overall, home prices are still very much elevated,” Losey continued. Nevertheless, Losey said the depreciation is a welcome relief, “especially to those lower income or first-time buyers who would not have otherwise been able to enter the door had home prices continued to appreciat...