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Turkey warns of more strikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria after bombing in Ankara

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Turkey’s foreign minister warned Wednesday that Kurdish militants behind a suicide bombing in the Turkish capital earlier this week would face continued retaliatory airstrikes on positions belonging to the militant group in Syria and Iraq.The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack outside the Interior Ministry in Ankara in which one attacker blew himself up and another would-be bomber was killed in a shootout with police. Two police were wounded in the attack.Turkish warplanes already have conducted two airstrikes against suspected Kurdish militant sites in northern Iraq following the attack, which came as parliament prepared to reopen after a long summer recess. Meanwhile, dozens of people suspected of links to the PKK have been detained in a series of raids across Turkey.Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference that Turkish intelligence officials have established that the two assailants arrived from Syri...

US appeals court hears arguments over 2010 hush-money settlement of Ronaldo rape case in Vegas

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A United States appeals court didn’t immediately issue a ruling after listening to arguments on Wednesday from lawyers trying to revive a woman’s bid to force international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to pay millions more than the $375,000 in hush money he paid her after she accused him of raping her in Las Vegas in 2009. An attorney for the woman is asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the dismissal of the case in June 2022 and reopen the civil lawsuit she first filed in Nevada in 2018.The appeal argues the federal court judge in Nevada erred in repeatedly rejecting the woman’s attempts to unseal and include as evidence the confidentiality agreement she signed in 2010 in accepting payments from Ronaldo.Judge Johnnie Rawlinson declared the three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based appellate court in recess and said they would consider the appeal as submitted following about 45 minutes of oral arguments Wednesday from lawyers for Ronald...

Tearful mourners pay their respects to Dianne Feinstein in San Francisco’s City Hall

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mourners bearing bouquets and cards paid their respects Wednesday to the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in San Francisco City Hall, where she launched her groundbreaking political career and spent a decade as the city’s first female mayor.Musicians played the violin and other string instruments as a steady line of people snaked into the City Hall rotunda, where her casket was on display behind velvet ropes. People brought flowers that were later whisked away by staff, stood for a few seconds in contemplation or squeezed back tears before moving on to a side room to sign condolence books.Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also of San Francisco, was among the officials in attendance. Feinstein died Thursday at her Washington, D.C., home after a series of illnesses.Jose Romero Cooper, 61, and 73-year-old Mark Cooper were among the first to say goodbye, waiting in line before doors were open to the public. The married couple said they had followed Feinst...

Biden suggests he has path around Congress to get more aid to Ukraine, says he plans major speech

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a likely roadblock from House Republicans on aid for Ukraine, President Joe Biden said Wednesday he’s planning to give a major speech on the issue and suggested there may be “another means” to provide support for Kyiv if Congress continues to balk.“I’m going to be announcing very shortly a major speech I’m going to make on this issue and why it’s critically important for the United States and our allies that we keep our commitment” to Ukraine, Biden told reporters after giving unrelated remarks at the White House.White House officials declined to say when Biden planned to give his speech. The president did not elaborate on the alternate method he was looking at to get additional military aid to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. “There is another means by which we may be able to find funding, but I’m not going to get into that right now,” he said.Aid for Ukraine has been a source of tension and uncertainty as several Republicans in the House have ...

Novavax touts non-mRNA COVID vaccine, future of domestic production remains uncertain

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

OTTAWA — The last remaining manufacturer to offer an alternative to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Canada is boasting about the importance of having several available vaccine options — though the company is providing little certainty about its ability to manufacture the shot domestically.Maryland-based Novavax held a press conference to tout the safety and efficacy of its updated vaccine, which targets more recent strains of COVID-19, and the importance of having an option for people who can’t or won’t accept an mRNA shot.The new formulation is awaiting Health Canada approval.The federal government has promised to make the Novavax vaccine in Canada at the purpose-built National Research Council’s biologics manufacturing centre in Montreal, but it has not yet been approved to start bulk production.This summer, Ottawa amended its purchasing agreement with Novavax, and now has the ability to end the deal if bulk production doesn’t start by the end of 2024.The company...

Capitol rioter from Illinois who attacked Reuters cameraman, police officer gets more than 4 years in prison

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

A man who attacked a police officer and a Reuters cameraman during the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced on Wednesday to more than four years in prison.Shane Jason Woods, 45, was the first person charged with assaulting a member of the news media during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.Woods, of Auburn, Illinois, took a running start and tackled the Reuters cameraman “like an NFL linebacker hunting a quarterback after an interception,” federal prosecutors wrote in a court filing.Woods also attacked and injured a Capitol police officer who was 100 pounds (45 kilograms) lighter than him, according to prosecutors. He blindsided the officer, knocking her off her feet and into a metal barricade. The next day, the officer was still in pain and said she felt as if she had been “hit by a truck," prosecutors said.“Woods’ actions were as cowardly as they were violent and opportunistic," prosecutors wrote. "He targeted people smaller than him who did not see him coming. He attacked people who had ...

Say goodbye to the COVID vaccine card: The CDC has stopped printing them

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

(AP) — It's the end of an era for a once-critical pandemic document: The ubiquitous white COVID-19 vaccination cards are being phased out.Now that COVID-19 vaccines are not being distributed by the federal government, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped printing new cards.The federal government shipped more than 980 million cards between late 2020, when the first vaccines came out, through May 10, according to the latest available data from the CDC.Federal and local health officials don't expect the discontinuation of the cards to be a particularly big change, since the days of keeping them tucked in purses and wallets to ensure entry into festivals, bars and restaurants are largely over. If you’ve held on to your card, it’s still valid as proof of vaccination. Otherwise, people who need their COVID-19 immunization records will need to request them just like any other vaccine. Free COVID tests are arriving – but they may look expired In many cases,...

Dean's Home Video: 'Loki' returns for a second season

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

CHICAGO — The second season of the latest television series featuring a Marvel character is due out at the beginning of October. "Loki" on Disney+ will begin streaming on Thursday with six episodes being released from then through November 9. That was one of the releases that was featured on this edition of "Dean's Home Video" on Wednesday's WGN Morning News. Dean Richards took a look at the new season of "Loki" as the month of October begins.He also previewed the release of season 2 of "Our Flag Means Death," "Everything Now," "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines," "Monster High 2," "Beckham," "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial," and more on the WGN Morning News on December 4.

What is Rule 26 and could it keep Trump from being speaker of the House?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

(The Hill) — A handful of Republicans have floated the possibility of electing former President Trump as the next House speaker, but that may not be possible under current GOP House conference rules.“Rule 26” started trending on X — the platform previously known as Twitter — shortly after Republicans started talking about backing Trump to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted from his leadership position Tuesday afternoon. Many users pointed out that since the former president is under numerous felony indictments, he may not be able to serve in Republican leadership based on this rule. Who is the new speaker of the House? It’s complicated While the House speaker is not required to be a sitting member of Congress, it is still highly unlikely that Trump could garner enough House Republican votes to actually become speaker. Here's what to know about the rule.What is Rule 26?Rule 26 is included in the House Republican Conference Rules of the 1...

Buying vs. renting housing in Austin, which is better? ABoR weighs in

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:46:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- If you live in or are considering moving to Austin, housing has certainly been on your mind. The key question when it comes to finding a place to live is buying vs. renting: which is better? The Austin Board of Realtors, or ABoR, released a report looking into the topic earlier this year. "Simply put, homeownership has been proven to be the best way to create generational wealth, as home buying is a long-term investment that poses significant benefits over time," ABoR said in a press release. "This was further supported by the 2023 Central Texas Buy vs. Rent Index, which was released earlier this year by the Austin Board of Realtors. The report found when comparing the tradeoff of buying vs. renting, homeownership tends to generate more wealth in contrast to renting and investing, a comparable alternative to homeownership."Kelea Youngblood, ABoR's chief marketing officer, joined KXAN's Jennifer Sanders to further break down the study. You can also view the...