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Hungary forces new energy deals with Russia amid Ukraine war

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary signed new agreements Tuesday to ensure its continued access to Russian energy, a sign of the country’s continuing diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow that have confounded some European leaders amid the war in Ukraine.Speaking at a news briefing in Moscow, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Russian state energy company Gazprom had agreed to allow Hungary, if needed, to import quantities of natural gas beyond the amounts agreed to in a long-term contract that was amended last year. The price of the gas, which would reach Hungary through the Turkstream pipeline, would be capped at 150 euros ($163) per cubic meter, Szijjarto said, part of an agreement that will allow Hungary to pay down gas purchases on a deferred basis if market prices go above that level. Szijjarto’s trip to Russia’s capital was unusual for an official from a European Union country. Most members of the 27-nation bloc have distanced themselves from Russ...

Canadian charities struggle with staff burnout, revenue, escalating demand: report

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

TORONTO — A survey of nearly 3,000 Canadian charities finds more than half said they couldn’t meet demand for help, while nearly a third reported a significant drop in revenue.The sixth edition of the Giving Report points to “severe challenges” in the charitable sector, driven by “unprecedented growth in demand … compounded with inflation and revenue shortfalls.”The online Nanos poll, commissioned by the donation platform CanadaHelps, surveyed 2,948 charity professionals representing 2,860 charities between Nov. 14 and 22, 2022.“This year’s report makes it abundantly clear that many Canadian charities are beginning to buckle under the strain of increased demand for services and stalled revenues, and we are now at a point where the majority of charities cannot meet demand,” Duke Chang, president and CEO of CanadaHelps, said Tuesday in a release.The report found 57 per cent of respondents said they could not keep up with increasing need for help, 40 per cent reported higher leve...

Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia announced Tuesday she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease but vowed to continue her work in Congress, saying, “I’m not going to let Parkinson’s stop me from being me.”Wexton, serving her third term from a competitive district in Northern Virginia suburbs near Washington, revealed the diagnosis on World Parkinson’s Day. She said in a video that she hopes to be a voice for those coping with the disease and to fight in Congress to devote greater resources toward the search for a cure.The illness has primarily affected her speech and how her mouth moves, Wexton said. She speaks more quickly now, and the disease has affected how she walks and keeps her balance.“What Parkinson’s is not is an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. So please, you are welcome to empathize, but don’t feel sorry for me,” Wexton said.Wexton, a former state senator and prosecutor, said she fee...

Airstrikes on Myanmar village feared to have killed 100

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Airstrikes by Myanmar’s military on Tuesday killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule, said a witness, a member of a local pro-democracy group and independent media.The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 3,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since then by security forces.A witness told The Associated Press that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly into a crowd of people who were gathering at 8 a.m. for the opening of a local office of the country’s opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing region’s Kanbalu township. The area is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of Mandalay, the country’s second largest city. About half an hour later, a helicopter appeared and fired at the site, said the witness, w...

‘Ask a lot of questions’ before deciding what to do with your tax refund: experts

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

When Julian Shenoy receives his tax refund this year, he plans to set aside some of it for investments and the rest for travel. “With the pandemic and such, everything was closed over the last three years, so most likely (I’ll put) more of a proportion of it toward leisure — maybe 50 per cent of it toward investing and 50 per cent toward a holiday,” Shenoy said in a phone interview.The millennial based in Toronto said he’s “pretty lucky” not to have accumulated as much debt as many others have in his age group, which is why he plans to spend his tax refund this way.“It’s a little different for me to have more disposable income, but I think if you have more expenses, it might be difficult,” Shenoy added. With tax season upon us, experts say it’s best to take a hard look at your finances before deciding what to do with your tax refund — and they emphasize there is no one-size-fits-all approach for everyone to take. “There isn’t a cookie-cutter solution. Everybody’s d...

1st woman to lead UK communications intelligence agency GCHQ

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Anne Keast-Butler, who has spent 30 years working in national security for Britain, was named Tuesday as the first woman to head the U.K.’s communications intelligence agency.Keast-Butler, currently deputy director general at MI5, the domestic intelligence agency, will head the Government Communications Headquarters — better known as GCHQ. Her appointment comes as intelligence agencies focus on threats from Russia and China.“Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record working at the heart of the U.K.’s national security network; helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers,” Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in announcing her appointment.In her current post, Keast-Butler has been responsible for operational, investigative and protective security work that included preparing for and responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Keast-Butler will start her new job in May, replacing Jeremy Fleming, who announced in ...

Chicago selected to host 2024 Democratic National Convention

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago has been selected to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.Chicago last hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1996 at the United Center. In 2020, the convention was in Milwaukee.It will be held Aug. 19-22, 2024. The Sun-Times reports that evening events will be at the United Center and daytime business will be conducted at McCormick Place.Illinois Dem. officials have been pushing for Chicago to be selected for over a year.Chicago beat out bids from Atlanta, New York and Houston. The Sun-Times first reported the news. Previous: Chicago seeks to host 2024 Democratic National Convention Republicans will be hosting their convention beginning on July 15 just a little north in Milwaukee.“Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention,” said President Joe Biden. “Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down. From repairing our roads ...

Elderly woman dead, firefighter injured in Hammond house fire

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

HAMMOND, Ind. — An elderly woman died and a firefighter was injured early Tuesday morning in Hammond.Just after 4 a.m., authorities responded to the 7200 block of Lindberg Avenue on the report of a house fire.An elderly woman, whose age was not given, died as a result of the fire. A Hammond firefighter went through a floor and had to be rescued.He suffered some burns and was transported to a local hospital in good condition. Employee critical after steel pipe beating at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City The house sustained heavy damage and will need to be torn down, authorities said. The cause is still under investigation.

Cubs debut the newest update to Wrigley Field Monday

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the new features at Wrigley Field was on full display on Monday evening for the first time. This change at the "Friendly Confines" was something unique, and is a reason that the way the field looked seemed a little bit different to fans in person or at home. A first in a few ways for the Cubs in a 3-2, 10 inning win vs Mariners..1st walk-off win of 2023.1st career walk-off hit for Nico Hoerner.1st “Go Cubs Go” with the new Wrigley Field LED lights. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/NDW5D1FTCJ— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) April 11, 2023Wrigley Field's new LED lights were on full display for the team's first night game of the 2023 season on Monday night as the Cubs hosted the Seattle Mariners for the first of three games. The team replaced the light fixtures on the roof in November in order to put in the more energy-efficient lights to be used starting with the 2023 season. The higher-quality lights also decrease the ballpark's environmental footprint, which was a majo...

Comfort dog boosting spirits, attendance at suburban school

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 22:24:34 GMT

A suburban school district is taking a chance on a new staff member.Meet Davis. She is a pup helping to boost attendance and morale from the classroom to the teacher's lounge.Kelly Robinson is a school social worker at Frankfort Square Elementary.“We each had to make goals as staff members and our superintendent’s theme this year was ‘Think big.’ And so we had to write a goal that was ‘think big,’” Davis said. “Why not make this a think big goal and this is thinking big and we threw it out there to see what would happen.”And after a lot of research and proposal the school board approved Robinson’s plan.“I immediately started crying. It was a combination of extreme shock and happiness and I was like ‘Well, this is really going to happen,’” she said.Robinson got in contact with the group Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs which trained Davis for three years for this moment.Lisa Hyde is a teacher at Frankfort Square Elementary.“A lot of our students are filled with anxiety in the morning or a...