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An earthquake in northwestern China kills at least 126 people in nation's deadliest quake in 9 years

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A strong overnight earthquake rattled a mountainous region of northwestern China, authorities said Tuesday, destroying homes, leaving residents out in a below-freezing winter night and killing 126 people in the nation’s deadliest quake in nine years.The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck just before midnight on Monday, injuring more than 700 people, damaging roads and knocking out power and communication lines in Gansu and Qinghai provinces, officials and Chinese media reports said.As emergency workers searched for the missing in collapsed buildings and at least one landslide, people who lost their homes were preparing to spend a cold winter night in tents at hastily erected evacuation sites.“I just feel anxious, what other feelings could there be?” said Ma Dongdong, who said in a phone interview that three bedrooms in his house had been destroyed and a part of his milk tea shop was cracked wide open.Afraid to return home because of aftershocks, he spent the night in a f...

Live updates | Israel launches more strikes in Gaza as UN delays vote on a cease-fire resolution

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

Israeli troops launched more deadly strikes in Gaza on Tuesday and raided the last working hospital in Gaza City, while the U.N. Security Council delayed voting on an Arab-sponsored resolution for an urgent cessation of hostilities. A strike on a home in Rafah where displaced people were sheltering killed at least 25 people, including women and children, and another killed at least three people, according to Associated Press journalists who saw the bodies arrive at two local hospitals early Tuesday.Nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Thousands more lie buried under the rubble of Gaza, the U.N. estimates. Israel says 127 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking about 240 hostages. Currently: — UN Security Council delays ...

German railway operator Deutsche Bahn launches effort to sell logistics unit Schenker

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s main national railway operator, Deutsche Bahn, on Tuesday launched an effort to sell its logistics unit, DB Schenker, as the company seeks to concentrate on its core business at home.Schenker has about 76,600 employees in more than 130 countries and for years generated high profits, helping push Deutsche Bahn into the black. The state-owned parent company describes it as one of the world’s top four logistics firms.Deutsche Bahn issued an announcement that it’s considering selling “the entire share capital of Schenker AG in an open, transparent and nondiscriminatory process” and called for potential bidders to indicate their interest by Jan. 15.The company said that it would retain all proceeds from a sale, which would go in large part to reducing debt, and that disposing of Schenker would “significantly accelerate” its focus on its core business. It already has sold several business units outside Germany, including European public transport ...

US moves to protect old growth forests as climate change threatens their survival

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration is moving to conserve groves of old-growth trees on federal land by revising management plans for national forests and grasslands across the U.S. as climate change amplifies the threats they face from wildfires, insects and disease.Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack said the goal was to provide an “ecologically-driven” approach to older forests — an arena where logging interests have historically predominated. It would be the first nationwide amendment to U.S. Forest Service management plans in the agency’s 118-year history, he said.Details were obtained by The Associated Press in advance of Tuesday’s public release of the proposal.It follows longstanding calls from environmentalists to preserve older forests that offer crucial wildlife habitat and other environmental benefits. The timber industry has fought against logging restrictions on government-owned lands. President Joseph Biden’s administration appears to be aiming for a middle...

Vice President Harris announces nationwide events focused on abortion

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is redoubling her focus on abortion rights as the election year begins, planning a nationwide series of events as Democrats try to rally voters to give President Joe Biden a second term and regain full control of Congress.Her first event is scheduled for Wisconsin on Jan. 22, which would have been the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide. The court overturned the decision in 2022 in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.“I will continue to fight for our fundamental freedoms while bringing together those throughout America who agree that every woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body — not the government,” Harris said in a statement. Wisconsin is a critical battleground state where access to abortion has seesawed since the Supreme Court decision. Other dates and locations for Harris’ tour have not yet been announced.The loss of...

German court orders repeat of 2021 national election in parts of Berlin due to glitches

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court on Tuesday ordered the 2021 national election to be partially repeated in the German capital because of severe glitches at many polling stations. The court ruled that the election must be repeated in 455 of 2,256 constituencies in the state of Berlin, which is one of three German cities that is also a state.A state election that was held the same day was completely rerun in February. The ruling is not expected to change the current national government’s majority.Berliners have long been frustrated by the German capital’s notoriously dysfunctional ways, which have been defying clichés of German efficiency for years and have made the city the laughing stock of the rest of the country.Berlin held four votes on Sept. 26, 2021: the state election, a vote for the city’s 12 district assemblies, the German national election and a local referendum.The Berlin Marathon, also held the same day, added to logistical difficulties. Long lines had...

A Bangladesh minister accuses the main opposition party of arson after train fire kills 4

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s railway minister accused the country’s main opposition party of “arson” and “sabotage” after a fire broke out early Tuesday on a passenger train in the capital, killing four people including a mother and child.Nurul Islam Sujon accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, of resorting to violence in the name of anti-government protests to thwart the Jan. 7 national election and “create chaos.” Zia’s party — which is boycotting the election — issued a statement denying the accusation. “There is deep suspicion among the public whether this incident has been carried out as a ploy to divert public attention from the ongoing democratic movement,” said the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The party has been intermittently enforcing transportation blockades and general strikes demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who seeks to return to power for a fourth c...

What you need to know about the deadly outbreak tied to cantaloupes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

Hundreds of people in the U.S. and Canada have been sickened and at least 10 people have died in a growing outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to contaminated whole and pre-cut cantaloupe.Health officials are warning consumers, retailers and restaurants not to buy, eat or serve cantaloupe if they don’t know the source.That’s especially important for individuals who are vulnerable to serious illness from salmonella infection and those who care for them. High-risk groups include young children, people older than 65 and those with weakened immune systems.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is especially concerned because many of the illnesses have been severe and because victims include people who ate cantaloupe served in childcare centers and long-term care facilities.Here’s what we know about this outbreak:How many people have been sickened in the cantaloupe salmonella outbreak?Overall, at least 302 people in the U.S. and 153 in Canada have been sickened in this o...

Siena women march out of the Mount with a win

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

EMMITSBURG, MD (NEWS10) -- The longest road trip of the 2023-24 season kicked off on a high note for Siena Women’s Basketball, getting the team to its first conference win and first-ever win against a new league foe Monday evening. The Saints (4-5, 1-1) defeated MAAC foe Mount St. Mary’s (3-6, 0-2), 61-55, to collect the program’s first win over the Mountaineers and the first win in the state of Maryland since 2015. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! After dropping a narrow MAAC-opening contest at home to Canisius just over 48 hours ago, the Green and Gold began a 1,573-mile round trip affair by holding a 15-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, which included an early nine-point advantage.Playing in front of friends and family, freshman and Northern Virginia native Alden Yergey recorded six first-half points, while senior Ahniysha Jackson found scoring inside the perimeter for seven points at the intermission, in wh...

Commission improves transport in Latvia with 23 new electric trains thanks to Cohesion Policy funds

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:51:38 GMT

A major revamp of Latvia's rail service was inaugurated with the first of 23 new electric trains commencing its passenger service in Riga and its surrounding regional network. Co-financed by EU Cohesion Funds from the 2014 – 2020 programming period, with a total of €114 million, the highly anticipated new service departed from Riga Central Station this morning with many enthusiastic passengers.To celebrate the project, Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis (pictured) for an economy that works for the people and commissioner for trade, together with the Latvian Transport Minister Kaspars Briškens, embarked on the inaugural journey.Executive Vice President Dombrovskis said: “I am very pleased that EU funding is contributing to a significant upgrade of the Latvian public transport system so that thousands of passengers in the country can benefit. This new train service will improve their daily lives, connecting people and places like never before. We need to continue w...