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Scientists race to understand highly mutated coronavirus variant spotted in four countries, including the US

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

(CNN) — A highly mutated new variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 has countries on alert as scientists scramble to understand how far it has spread and how well our immunity will defend against it.The new variant, called BA.2.86 and nicknamed Pirola by variant hunters on social media, has more than 30 amino acid changes to its spike protein compared with its next closest ancestor, the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, according to Dr. Jesse Bloom, who studies viral evolution at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.“This makes it an evolutionary jump comparable in size to that which originally gave rise to Omicron,” Bloom posted on his lab’s website.The World Health Organization designated BA.2.86 a “variant under monitoring” on Thursday, a designation that encourages countries to track and report the sequences they find.A variant under monitoring that causes more severe disease or evades existing vaccines or treatments can be upgraded to WHO’s list of variants ...

Yoshida, Bello lead Red Sox over skidding Yankees, who drop sixth straight and fall two under .500

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Masataka Yoshida hit a three-run homer four batters into the game and drove in four runs, and Brayan Bello pitched six innings Friday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 8-3 victory over the skidding New York Yankees, who dropped two games under .500.Justin Turner singled in each of his first three at-bats and hit a pair of RBI singles. Alex Verdugo also had an RBI single to start Boston’s three-run second that followed a fielding error by New York second baseman Gleyber Torres.“Just to kind of step on the throats instantly was a good tone setter, especially to start the series,” Verdugo said.Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Garrett Whitlock, but the Yankees dropped their sixth straight — their longest skid since losing seven in a row Sept. 4-10, 2021. New York also dropped two games under .500 this late in a season for the first time since it was 57-59 following an 11-6 win over the Angels on Aug. 31, 1995.“It’s frustrating and disappointi...

Adley Rutschman or Cedric Mullins: Who should be the Orioles’ leadoff hitter?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

In earlier eras, who to bat atop the Orioles’ lineup would’ve been an obvious decision.Cedric Mullins, with his speed and base stealing ability, is a prototypical leadoff hitter — the role he’s occupied for most of his career.Those traits are still valued in today’s game — especially this season with MLB’s new base runner-friendly rules — but it’s no longer a prerequisite to lead off games. Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and San Francisco’s Lamonte Wade Jr. are both their team’s primary leadoff hitters despite below-average speed with little-to-no stolen base potential.The Orioles have joined that group of teams in recent weeks with Adley Rutschman, the club’s new leadoff hitter (for now), after he assumed the role with Mullins in the injured list. Rutschman, who leads the team with a .367 on-base percentage but has yet to steal a base this season, has led off Baltimore’s past 19 games.With Mullins ba...

Russian missile attack kills 6 in northern Ukrainian city as Zelenskyy visits NATO candidate Sweden

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Sweden on Saturday, his first visit to the country since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, while at home a missile strike in the center of a northern city killed six people and wounded dozens.The Swedish government said Zelenskyy will meet officials at Harpsund, the prime minister’s official summertime residence, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Stockholm. He will also meet Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at a palace in the area.Sweden abandoned its longstanding policy of military nonalignment to support Ukraine with weapons and other aid in the war against Russia. The government says Sweden has provided 20 billion kronor (1.7 billion euros) in military support to Ukraine, including Archer artillery units, Leopard 2 tanks, CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers, anti-tank weapons, mine clearing equipment and ammunition. Sweden also applied for NATO mem...

Pedestrian struck by vehicle, suspect fled scene in Mississauga

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

One person has been taken to a trauma centre after they were struck by a vehicle in the Dundas Street West and Old Carriage Road area of Mississauga on Saturday morning.Just after midnight Peel police reported that a single vehicle struck a pedestrian.The pedestrian was taken to a trauma centre and the suspect vehicle fled the scene.Eastbound and westbound traffic on Dundas Street West is blocked off.Police advise to avoid the area.**Motor vehicle accident**-Single vehicle struck a pedestrian -Dundas street west at Old Carriage Rd #Mississauaga -pedestrian taken to trauma centre -suspect vehicle fled the scene -eastbound and westbound Dundas traffic is blocked off -Please avoid area PR230267933— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) August 19, 2023

England women’s team unites fans as once ignored squad eyes nation’s first World Cup title since ’66

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — It’s easy to understand why Gail Newsham can’t stop grinning as she prepares for England’s soccer team to play in the final of the Women’s World Cup.Newsham, 70, grew up at a time when women in England were banned from the sport — called football here — and helped lead a resurgence in the game once those restrictions were lifted. Now she’s getting ready to watch Sunday’s game against Spain on TV and hoping to see her team bring home a world championship.“I’ll be wearing my shirt, I’ll be having a sausage roll and a glass of bubbles,” Newsham said, already sporting her blue England jersey. “That’s what I’ve done every match, so I’m going to do it again on Sunday and just, you know, cheer the girls on.”She won’t be alone.When the Lionesses take to the field, they will be backed by hordes of girls rooting for their heroes, mothers and grandmothers celebrating the progress that has been made since they were denied a chance to play the game, and rabid fans — men and women —...

A raid on a Kansas newspaper likely broke the law, experts say. But which one?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A central Kansas police chief was not only on legally shaky ground when he ordered the raid of a weekly newspaper, experts said, but it may have been a criminal violation of civil rights, a former federal prosecutor added, saying: “I’d probably have the FBI starting to look.”Some legal experts believe the Aug. 11 raid on the Marion County Record’s offices and the home of its publisher violated a federal privacy law that protects journalists from having their newsrooms searched. Some believe it violated a Kansas law that makes it more difficult to force reporters and editors to disclose their sources or unpublished material.Part of the debate centers around Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody’s reasons for the raid. A warrant suggested that police were looking for evidence that the Record’s staff broke state laws against identity theft and computer crimes while verifying information about a local restaurant owner. But the police also seized the computer to...

One in life-threatening condition, 7 vehicles involved in Scarborough collision

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

A person is in life-threatening condition due to a crash involving seven vehicles on Highway 401 at Kennedy Road in Scarborough on Saturday morning.At approximately 6:54 a.m. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrived on scene after a seven-vehicle crash including three tractor trailers on the highway express lanes.One person is in life-threatening condition.Westbound express lanes between Brimley Road and Kennedy Road are closed and the closure is expected to last until 1pm.Collision: #hwy401 WB Express at Kennedy Rd. 7 vehicles involved, including 3 tractor trailers. 1 person in life-threatening condition. Closure is expected to last until 1pm. #TorontoOPP pic.twitter.com/grBqtJa262— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) August 19, 2023

Crews fighting 150-acre fire in Caldwell County

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) — Fire crews are fighting a brushfire in Lockhart that started Friday afternoon. WILDFIRE TRACKER: How many acres have burned in Central Texas this year? The Texas A&M Forest Service estimates the fire is 150 acres and 85% contained as of Friday night. It has been named the Barth Fire.Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management said crews will patrol the scene Friday night into Saturday. Parts of State Highway 130 and U.S. 183 were closed Friday. Lockhart Police said all lanes of SH 130 and U.S. 183 northbound are reopened. Only one lane U.S. 183 southbound is open. Barth Fire in Lockhart (KXAN photo)Barth Fire in Lockhart (KXAN photo)LPD said evacuated residents were allowed to return home. Officials urged drivers to find alternative routes and be mindful of emergency personnel in the area.

Minnesota’s labor force grows in July, even as job data change is minimal

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:52:24 GMT

Minnesota’s labor force increased by more than 3,900 people in July, the fifth month in a row of growth, the state said Thursday, even as changes in employment from June to July were minimal.The state lost 400 jobs from June to July on a seasonally adjusted basis, with the state’s private sector down 300 jobs, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development said in a news release. Minnesota’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a point to 3% from June to July; nationally, the unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a point to 3.5%.The gains highlighted in the state’s labor force bumped the participation rate up one-tenth of a point to 68.5% compared with 62.6% nationally. The participation rate measures the portion of the working-age population who are working or actively seeking work, and it is used to calculate the headline unemployment rate.“Ongoing growth in our state’s labor force is a positive sign as many Minnesota employers continue looking for the...