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Deluge from ruptured Ukrainian dam is latest tragedy for Kherson residents since Russian invasion

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — Yurii, a former Ukrainian soldier, knows all too well about living in his rickety attic: It was here, during Russia’s eight-month occupation of the southern city of Kherson, that he hid to avoid capture by the invaders.Now, the 51-year-old in fatigues is taking refuge again, after the latest big development in Russia’s war in Ukraine: A breach of the Kakhovka dam upstream on the Dnieper River that sent floodwaters gushing through his home and rising to the low edge of his corrugated metal roof.Authorities on both sides of the river – Russians control the east bank near the delta, the Ukrainians the west — say thousands of people have lost their homes in the torrential flood, where waters were still rising on Wednesday. Like many other determined and defiant Ukrainians, Yurii has faced disaster after disaster since Russian forces swept into Ukraine over 15 months ago. Like many, his anger has grown over their perceived disregard for peaceful Ukrainians.“They d...

Russia shells Ukrainian city inundated by dam collapse after Zelenskyy visits area

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces on Thursday shelled a southern Ukrainian city that was inundated in a catastrophic dam collapse, Ukrainian officials said, forcing a suspension of some rescue work hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the area to assess the damage. At least five people have died, many are homeless, and tens of thousands are without drinking water after the Kakhovka dam’s destruction. Ukraine accused Russia of blowing of the facility, which Moscow’s forces controlled, while Russia said Ukraine bombarded it.The ensuing flooding has ruined crops, displaced land mines, wrought widespread environmental damage, and set the stage for long-term electricity shortages. Exclusive drone footage captured by The Associated Press showed the ruined dam falling into the flooded river and hundreds of submerged homes, greenhouses and even a church.In Kherson city, the largest municipality affected, repeated Russian shelling echoed overhead in the earl...

Alcaraz and Djokovic demand attention at French Open; Ruud and Zverev are in the semis, too

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

PARIS (AP) — As intriguing as Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic is — and it’s plenty intriguing — there are storylines worth following in the other French Open men’s semifinal, too.No, frankly, Casper Ruud vs. Alexander Zverev, which will be played second on Friday, does not deserve the same billing. It’s missing the cache and the resumes that the other two guys remaining in the field at Roland Garros will carry into Court Philippe Chatrier.Still, even without Djokovic’s 22 Grand Slam titles — with a chance to break a tie with Rafael Nadal for the most earned by a man in tennis history — or even Alcaraz’s lone such trophy, and even without Alcaraz’s current No. 1 ranking or Djokovic’s current No. 3 with a shot at moving back up (along with the career record for most weeks atop the ATP), No. 4 Ruud and No. 22 Zverev bring terrific games and past close-and-yet-so-far history at major tournaments.Let’s examine Ruud first.He is a 24-year-old from Norway who is coached by his father, a f...

Pakistani Taliban target police in northwestern province, kill 2 officers and guard at a local bank

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The Pakistani Taliban targeted security forces in a northwestern province in Pakistan on Thursday, killing two officers and a guard at a nearby bank, authorities said. The attack took place near a fruit market in the town of Mingora, located in the district of Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to senior local police officer Shafiullah Khan. Police cordoned off the area and were searching for the three attackers who had fled the scene. The Pakistani Taliban — also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP — claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to the media.Thursday’s attack followed as shootout on Sunday between Pakistani troops and militants in North Waziristan, also a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The region is a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban. Although the Pakistani military claims it has cleared the region of militants, occasional attacks and shootouts continue, raising concerns that the Pakistani Taliban...

Man City, Inter Milan meet in Champions League final of contrasting club history

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

Manchester City will enter the Champions League final on Saturday as a modern soccer and financial heavyweight compared to Inter Milan.That is a new twist in the European history of two clubs who have rarely operated at the same level and whose respective status, on and off the field, flipped about 12 years ago.Inter had the aristocratic, storied tradition and trophies while City was an English third-tier team when crosstown rival Manchester United lifted the iconic European Cup trophy in 1999.“One is a kind of old nobility,” European soccer consultant Olivier Jarosz told The Associated Press about Inter, “and one comes from a working-class family that has made a nice marriage with money.”Yet both City and Inter were teammates on the failed Super League project in 2021, albeit for different reasons. Loss-making Inter was seeking to avoid being left behind by English Premier League dominance; financial juggernaut City, backed by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth, didn’t want to be lef...

Man, 54, dead after gas station shooting in Alsip

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

ALSIP, Ill. — A 54-year-old man is dead after a shooting near a gas station in Alsip Thursday morning. According to reports, there was a verbal altercation near the 700 block of South Cicero Avenue around 4:19 a.m. between two men when one man produced a firearm and shot the victim. Police say he sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead. CPD: Man charged in connection to death of missing Logan Square woman The offender got into a red sedan and fled southbound on Cicero Avenue. There were no other injuries reported and there is no one in custody at this time. Police are actively investigating the incident.

Blackhawks are bringing back Darren Pang as TV broadcaster

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

CHICAGO - The Blackhawks are turning a former player and commentator to fill a prominent role on their broadcasts.The Blackhawks have made official the hiring of Darren Pang as their new color analyst for television broadcasts with play-by-play announcer Chris Vosters..Pang began his career working for radio broadcasts for the Blackhawks in the early 1990s..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/dabFmjTZHb— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) June 8, 2023Darren Pang, a longtime television analyst in the NHL and former goalie for the team, will become the Blackhawks television color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Chris Vosters. This comes after spending the last 14 years as the color analyst for the St. Louis Blues broadcasts on Bally Sports Midwest. Pang is continuing his duties as an on-ice reporter and lead analyst for TNT's national NHL coverage and is currently working the Stanley Cup Final between the Golden Knights and Panthers. It's a full circle moment for Pang, who started h...

Dean's A-List Interview: Co-star Toby Nwigwe Dominique and Fishback in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts'

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

Rapper turned actor,Toby Nwigwe sits down with WGN Entertainment reporter Dean Richards to talk about his special big break in the Transformers franchise. Richards also talks to co-star Dominique Fishback in the new 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' and remembers her time in Chicago when filming 'Judas and the Black Messiah.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

NOAA declares El Niño, advisory issued

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- NOAA declared early Thursday morning that El Niño conditions are present and are expected to gradually strengthen later this winter.All of the deterministic regions of the equatorial Pacific met the +0.5°C threshold for an El Niño to be in play. And in addition to the water requirement, low-level and upper-level winds also showed correlating El Niño conditions.Warmer than normal temperatures in the upper-ocean levels observed since March 2023Computer models point towards further strengthening of El Nino conditions through Winter 2023-2024Forecast:  By winter, there is an 84% chance of a moderate El Niño or stronger, and a 56% chance of a strong El Niño developing. An El Niño Advisory is in now in effect. El Niño conditions have been observed and are expected to continue to strengthen through the upcoming winter.What does El Niño mean for winter?El Niño conditions typically result in a warmer Pacific Northwest, wetter in the south, southwest and coastal southeast wit...

Local museum to host week-long festival leading up to Juneteenth

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center will host the fourth annual Stay Black and Live (SB&L) Juneteenth Festival from June 12 until 19. According to the June 5 announcement, this year’s theme is Austin Family Reunion and will center local collaborations and partnerships with organizations and individuals making an impact. “We are incredibly proud to continue Austin’s Juneteenth celebration and tradition at our historic museum,” said Carre Adams, museum director at the Carver Museum in the press release, “With a robust week of programming, we aim to honor the significance of Juneteenth as we foster a deeper understanding of our shared history. We invite the Austin community to join us as we commemorate this momentous occasion and bring Black history past, present and future to the forefront.”The George Washington Carver Museum is located at 1165 Angelina St. Here's a list of events happening during the festival: June 126 p.m.: Free Yo...