US, Russia ratchet up their rhetoric over downing of drone

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

US, Russia ratchet up their rhetoric over downing of drone KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and the United States ratcheted up confrontational rhetoric over a U.S. surveillance drone that encountered Russian warplanes and crashed near the Crimean Peninsula, while both countries pledged to try to avoid escalation. The Kremlin said Tuesday’s incident again proved Washington is directly involved in the fighting, adding that Moscow would try to recover the wreckage of the drone from the Black Sea. U.S. officials said the incident showed Russia’s aggressive and risky behavior and would continue their surveillance. Russia has long voiced concern about U.S. surveillance flights near its borders, but the incident signaled Moscow’s increasing readiness to raise the ante amid soaring tensions between the two nuclear powers.Story BodyKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and the United States ratcheted up confrontational rhetoric Wednesday over a U.S. surveillance drone that encountered Russian warplanes and crashed near the Crimean Peninsula, while both count...

Bye, Labradors! French Bulldogs are now the most popular dog breed in the US

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

Bye, Labradors! French Bulldogs are now the most popular dog breed in the US (CNN) — Move over, Labrador Retrievers. There’s a new top dog in town.For the first time in 31 years, the Labrador Retriever has been unseated as the most popular dog breed in the US, according to the American Kennel Club’s 2022 registration statistics. In its place sits the cute and compact French Bulldog.The French Bulldog has been steadily climbing the AKC’s rankings over the last decades, hitting No. 14 in 2012. In 2021, the breed held the No. 2 spot, behind the popular labs but ahead of Golden Retrievers.Who, after all, can resist their adorable bat-like ears and wrinkly nose? The breed has become a favorite among celebrities, beloved by everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Megan Thee Stallion.Part of what makes this breed so easy to love is its small size and quiet demeanor, according to the AKC. French Bulldogs aren’t typically prone to barking and don’t need as much exercise as larger dogs, making them a good fit for those living in apartmen...

Turkey’s anti-Erdoğan opposition vows a reset on EU and NATO

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

Turkey’s anti-Erdoğan opposition vows a reset on EU and NATO Turkey’s opposition is confident it can unfreeze European Union accession talks and will end Ankara’s veto on NATO membership for Sweden and Finland, if it beats President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the hotly contested upcoming elections.Ünal Çeviköz, chief foreign policy adviser to the leading opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the May 14 elections, also said that a new government would seek to repair Turkey’s tarnished record on human rights. Crucially, he pledged the opposition would implement European Court of Human Rights decisions calling for the release of two of Erdoğan’s best-known opponents who are currently in jail: the co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party Selahattin Demirtaş and human rights defender Osman Kavala.The May presidential and parliamentary elections are expected to be the closest race in Erdoğan’s two-decade rule, and observers are watching closely to determine whether a new government could chart a ...

Police: New Bedford man arrested in connection with fight at Fairhaven Walmart

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

Police: New Bedford man arrested in connection with fight at Fairhaven Walmart A New Bedford man has been arrested in connection with an altercation involving a firearm at the Fairhaven Walmart Tuesday night, according to police. Brandin Gonsalves, 22, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of ammunition without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, and assault with intent to kill. He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in New Bedford District Court. Officers responding to the Walmart at 42 Fairhaven Commons Way just after 11 p.m. found that one of the individuals involved in the altercation, later identified as Gonsalves, allegedly pulled out a firearm and struck another person with the weapon. Police say the fight took place in the lobby of the store and officers located three unspend 9mm rounds of ammunition and a 9mm magazine loaded with additional rounds of ammunition. Gonsalves did not posses a License to Carry in Massachusetts, according to police. The victim who was allegedly struck was taken to a local hos...

Malawi death toll from Cyclone Freddy rises to 190

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

Malawi death toll from Cyclone Freddy rises to 190 (CNN) — At least 190 people have died after Tropical Cyclone Freddy ripped through southern Malawi, local authorities said Tuesday as survivors continue to look for loved ones in badly hit areas.At least 584 have been injured and 37 people have been reported missing in the country.The Malawi Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change said Tuesday the cyclone is “weakening but will continue to cause torrential rains associated with windy conditions in most parts of Southern Malawi districts.”“The threat of heavy flooding and damaging winds remains very high,” the report added.Charles Kalemba, a commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs agency, told CNN Tuesday that the situation had worsened in southern Malawi.“It’s worse today. A number of places are flooding and a number of roads and bridges are cut. Visibility is almost zero. Electricity is off and also network is a problem. It’s becoming more and...

Dow falls 500 points as banking fears spread

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

Dow falls 500 points as banking fears spread  (CNN) — The Dow opened the day with a decline of more than 500 points Wednesday as banking fears spread across global markets.The S&P and Nasdaq slipped roughly 2% and 1.5%, respectively.Shares of embattled Swiss lender Credit Suisse were down by more than 20% after its biggest shareholder chose not to increase its funding. That comes after the bank cited “material weakness” in its financial reporting Tuesday and got rid of executive bonuses.Shares of US banks also fell: Wells Fargo was down 4.9% and JPMorgan Chase stock dropped 3.6%.Wall Street also continues to grapple with banking tumult domestically, after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank rocked markets last week and early this week. While stocks recouped some of their losses on Tuesday, investors remain wary of the banking fallout and what it means for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate-hiking campaign going forward and the overall stability of the financia...

Must see TV as Jets target Aaron Rodgers to appear on Pat McAfee’s show this afternoon

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

Must see TV as Jets target Aaron Rodgers to appear on Pat McAfee’s show this afternoon The Aaron Rodgers drama could be coming to an end early Wednesday afternoon.The superstar quarterback will be stepping up to the mic on “The Pat McAfee Show” at 1 p.m. ET on the ex-NFL punter’s show on his YouTube channel.The 39-year-old quarterback has been the hot-button issue this offseason as the NFL world — especially the Jets — wait on him to finally make his decision regarding his future. He could remain with the Packers, accept a trade to the Jets (or another team) or retire from football altogether.Gang Green has been in hot pursuit of the four-time MVP this offseason. Jets’ brass including owner Woody Johnson, GM Joe Douglas, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and head coach Robert Saleh flew to California last week to try and convince Rodgers to join them.“It is always interesting meeting important figures in the sport,” Rodgers said about meeting with the Jets. “It is always interesting, it’s all I’m ...

Carbon monoxide leak at Concord senior living facility displaces 70

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

Carbon monoxide leak at Concord senior living facility displaces 70 A carbon monoxide leak at a Concord senior living facility has temporarily displaced dozens of residents and sent four individuals to the hospital.First responders evacuated 70 residents at Deaconess Abundant Life Community before bringing them to another location on site Wednesday morning.Two contractors working at the site and a pair of facility residents are receiving treatment at an area hospital as a precautionary measure, according to the Concord Fire Department.Concord first responders responded to a fire alarm at the senior living facility at 80 Deaconess Road, near Emerson Hospital and the Concord Turnpike, just after 7:35 a.m. Multiple carbon monoxide alarms were going off when firefighters arrived.First responders found “highly elevated levels” of carbon monoxide in the basement of the building’s northern section, Concord Fire Chief Thomas Judge said in a release. The incident reached a three-alarm response, with Judge’s department bringing in mutual aid from surrounding ...

State steps in to extend Mass and Cass Roundhouse program through July

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

State steps in to extend Mass and Cass Roundhouse program through July Some services at the old Roundhouse hotel on Mass and Cass now will run through the end of July, the state now says, to allow for a “winddown” rather than the March 31 closure that Boston Medical Center had planned.The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services said in a statement that it and Boston joining forces to extend the clinical services at the former hotel in the troubled area.“EOHHS, in partnership with the City of Boston, will continue to provide funding to Boston Medical Center to maintain clinical support services at the RoundHouse program through July 31, 2023, to allow for a well-planned winddown of services and transition of patients to appropriate clinical settings as needed,” the state said Wednesday.The state added, “EOHHS and the Commonwealth will continue to work diligently on long-term multifaceted interventions that include closure of the RoundHouse and identification of longer-term placements outside the area.&...

These San Diego County roads are closed due to inclement weather conditions

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:30:52 GMT

These San Diego County roads are closed due to inclement weather conditions SAN DIEGO -- It was a wet and windy morning for San Diegans on Wednesday with moderate to heavy rainfall dampening the morning commute. With stormy weather comes downed trees, flooding and delays for travelers. For those headed out in the rain, there are several road closures across the county that may affect your route. Moderate rainfall continues to soak San Diego, but a break is expected Here's a list of areas experiencing closures due to inclement weather conditions, according to the San Diego County Department of Public Works.-- Sandia Creek in the De Luz area is closed from Santa Margarita Preserve to Rock Mountain due to flooding.-- Camino Del Rey is closed from Via Maria Elena to Camino Del Cielo due to flooding.-- Cole Grade dip is closed from Spring Valley to Old Cole Grade.-- Harmony Grove Road is closed between Wilgen Road and Wild Willow due to flooding.-- Magnolia Avenue in the Ramona area is closed from Highway 78 and Magnolia Heights Road due to flooding in the di...