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Government shutdown averted in last hour after Biden signs bill: recap

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

With less than three hours before a government shutdown would start, the Senate passed a stopgap funding measure first approved by the House, with more Democratic support than Republican. President Biden signed it into law shortly before the midnight deadline.The bill keeps the government funded until Nov. 17. It keeps the FAA funded through year's end.The "clean" continuing resolution notably lacks any funding for Ukraine, spending cuts or border policy changes.Follow along with live updates below.

A populist, pro-Russia ex-premier claims victory in Slovakia’s parliamentary elections

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — A populist former prime minister and his leftist party won early parliamentary elections in Slovakia, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message, according to almost complete results.With results 99.2% from some 6,000 polling stations counted by the Slovak Statistics Office early Sunday, former Prime Minister Robert Fico and the leftist Smer, or Direction, party led with 23.3% of the votes.The election was a test for the small eastern European country’s support for neighboring Ukraine in its war with Russia, and the win by Fico could strain a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO.Fico, 59, vowed to withdraw Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine in Russia’s war if his attempt to return to power succeeded.The country of 5.5 million people created in 1993 following the breakup of Czechoslovakia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded last February, donating arms and opening the bord...

Two killed in bear attack at Banff National Park, grizzly euthanized: Parks Canada

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

A bear attack in Alberta’s Banff National Park has left two people dead, Parks Canada announced late Saturday.Natalie Fay, external relations manager for Parks Canada’s Banff field unit, said the agency received an alert from a GPS device originating from the Red Deer River Valley at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday, indicating a bear attack.In a statement, Fay said a team specially trained in wildlife attacks was immediately mobilized, but weather hindered their response time.“Weather conditions at the time did not allow for helicopter use, and the response team travelled through the night to the location by the ground,” she said.“The response team arrived on-site at 1 a.m. and discovered two deceased individuals.”While in the area, the response team encountered a grizzly bear displaying aggressive behaviour, Fay said, leading Parks Canada staff to euthanize it on-site for public safety.RCMP arrived at 5 a.m. to transport the victims to Sundre, Alt...

Indonesia is set to launch Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway, largely funded by China

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia is launching Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway, a key project under China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative that will cut travel time between the capital and another major city from the current three hours to about 40 minutes.The project has been beset with delays and increasing costs, and some observers doubt its commercial benefit, but President Joko Widodo has championed it and will be inaugurating the 142.3-kilometer (88.4-mile) railway as it begins commercial operations Monday. The Chinese-made bullet train, called “Whoosh,” will connect Jakarta with Bandung, the heavily populated capital of West Java province. Widodo, along with other high-ranking officials, is expected to ride the Whoosh from its first station, Halim KCBJ in eastern Jakarta to Bandung’s Tegalluar station, the last of the line’s four stations.The $7.3 billion project, largely funded by China, was constructed by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China, known as ...

Powerball draws number for giant $960 million jackpot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The numbers were drawn Saturday night for an estimated $960 million Powerball jackpot and players across the country are waiting to see if there’s a big winner.The winning numbers announced were: 19, 30, 37, 44, 46 and red Powerball 22.Lottery official usually take several hours to determine if any player has won the giant jackpot.The $960 million jackpot is for a sole winner who opts for payment through an annuity, doled out over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option, which for Saturday’s drawing would be an estimated $441.4 million.Those winnings would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.The jackpot now ranks as the world’s ninth-largest lottery prize of all time, behind earlier prizes in the Powerball and Mega Millions games that all topped $1 billion.The jackpot has grown so large because there have been 29 consecutive drawings without a big winner, dating back to July 19. Powerball’s terrible odds of 1 in...

Promoting tradition as well as beans, Ethiopian coffee shops find fans far from home

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Growing up in Ethiopia, Yared Markos would often start his days the same way: with coffee. Family members, neighbors and passersby would be drawn in by the strong aroma of fresh beans roasting in a pot, often made by his mother or another family member. Regardless of who they were, all were welcome.And this tradition wasn’t limited to the morning. Coffee, or buna in Amharic, is typically drunk at the end of each meal. Drinking coffee was a communal experience for Markos, so when he first immigrated to London from Ethiopia 23 years ago, the culture shock hit hard.“They sell our coffee in Starbucks and other places but they don’t follow our traditions,” said Markos, who has owned Kaffa Coffee since 2004. The shop, now in the East London neighborhood of Dalton, hosts coffee ceremonies every weekend in the summer, as well as during cultural events year round, and special orders.“Tourists will walk by and smell the coffee and come in asking questions,” Markos said. “It make...

1 dead, 1 injured after boat runs aground along Fox River in McHenry

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — An investigation is underway on Saturday night after a boat crash on the Fox River in McHenry left one person dead and another injured, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).According to Sgt. Eric Schreiber from the IDNR, law enforcement officials were called to the scene after a boat ran aground near the 600 block of Country Club Drive, just off the Fox River.IDNR officials say one person was pronounced dead at the scene and another was taken to the hospital. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Connor Lively, a resident who lives nearby, says it was around 5:45 p.m. when he heard a big crash. Lively says he went outside and found the badly damaged boat out of the Fox River, flipped upside down."Walked out, saw a big boat in my neighbor's yard, flipped over, cracked in half," Lively said.Lively says he alerted someone to call 911 and began trying to move the boat off of a badly injured man and a woman.According to Lively, the ...

Saturday Forecast: Mostly clear & mild

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

Saturday night: Mostly clear & mild for the season. Patchy fog after midnight. SE 0-5 mph. Near: 60Sunday: Sunny & warm. Cooler by the lake.  SSE 0-5 mph. Highs low 80s, cooler lakeside. Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for sunshine and temps in the mid to low 80s for Mon/Tue and possibly Wednesday too as we see increasing clouds. Showers and possible thunderstorms look likely for Thursday with temps in the mid 70s and wind developing. Some rain at times and highs near 70 for Friday. 

Annual AIDS Run & Walk returns to Chicago's lakefront

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

CHICAGO — Over the years, thousands have supported Chicago's annual AIDS Run & Walk, which helps raise millions of dollars for the cause.Outside of Soldier Field, the tradition of taking steps along Chicago's lakefront to fight the aids epidemic continued on Saturday. 20 years ago Friday, the Bears opened new Soldier Field Money raised over the years has gone to support HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and communities impacted by the virus.WGN's Sean Lewis has more on the annual event.

APD investigating homicide near I-35

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said in a Saturday night social media post that it is investigating a death near I-35 as a homicide.According to that post, the homicide occured on the South I-35 Frontage Road, near where that road intersects with Rundberg Lane.No other details were provided by APD in the post.This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.