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Flights out of Taipei delayed after China launches satellite

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Flights out of northern Taiwan were delayed Sunday after China launched a rocket carrying a satellite that dropped debris into waters north of the capital Taipei.While the satellite launch had no obvious military purpose, it comes after China held large-scale military drills in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s transit visit to the United States earlier this month, during which she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Tensions remain high and China sent warplanes flying toward Taiwan more than 200 times last weekend, while its navy ships circled the self-ruled island it claims as Chinese territory to be annexed by force if necessary. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry issued a statement on public media, saying it had monitored the 9:36 a.m. launch from the Jiuquan base in northwestern China. While some rocket parts had landed within Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, they posed no threat to “our nation’s territory,” ...

Louisville shooter fires into park crowd; 2 dead, 4 wounded

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

An unidentified suspect fired a gun into a crowd of hundreds in a Kentucky park, leaving two people dead and four wounded Saturday night, police said.Police were called around 9 p.m. to Chickasaw Park in Louisville, authorities said.“Hundreds of people were in the park at the time of the shooting, when someone started shooting into the crowd, hitting at least six people,” Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said.There were no suspects in custody immediately after the shooting and police asked anyone with information to contact investigators. “As of right now we have no witnesses,” Humphrey said.“This has been an unspeakable week of tragedy for our city,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said at the scene Saturday night, referring to a shooting on Monday in which a gunman killed five Louisville bank employees while livestreaming the attack on Instagram. “On Monday, we lost five of our fellow citizens to a horrific act of workplace gun violence,” Greenberg said. “And no...

6 soldiers killed in attack in Indonesia’s restive Papua

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

JAYAPURA, Indonesia (AP) — Separatist gunmen opened fire on a military post in Indonesia’s restive Papua province, killing at least six soldiers and leaving dozens of others missing, the army and the rebels said Sunday.Attackers from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, carried out the assault against Indonesian soldiers on Saturday in the hilly district of Nduga, a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule in the mineral-rich but impoverished region since the early 1960s.Papua military spokesperson Col. Herman Taryaman said the soldiers at the Mugi army post were part of a group deployed to search for Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot for the Indonesian aviation company Susi Air who was abducted by the rebels in February.He said authorities are still searching for about 30 other soldiers still missing after the attack, including nine believed to be held by the rebels.“It’s still unknown exactly how many Indonesian army...

Young people drive bullfighting’s resurrection in Spain

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Álvaro Alarcón plays out the moment when he will enter Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring for his final challenge as a “novillero,” or apprentice bullfighter.The 24-year-old has been training in the dusty countryside outside the Spanish capital, and his skintight suit, delicately woven with beads and gold embroidery, is back from the tailor. If he can triumph this last time, he will be considered for the highest rank of “matador” — bullfighters who take on beasts weighing more than half a ton.“From the moment you get up until you go to bed, and even when you are asleep, you are dreaming about what you want to do in the bullring,” he said. “Being a bullfighter is a way of life.”The death of Spanish bullfighting has been declared many times, but the number of bullfights in the country is at its highest level in seven years, and the young are the most consistent presence as older groups of spectators drop away.On a Sunday afternoon, Alarcón must kill two young bulls...

OL Reign, Gotham FC win in stoppage time in NWSL

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Olivia Van der Jagt scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give OL Reign a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Wave on Saturday night. OL Reign’s first home match of the National Women’s Soccer League season was played in front of 9,219 fans at Lumen Field.Van der Jagt grew up in Seattle and played for the University of Washington before getting drafted by OL Reign in 2022. It was the second winning goal the midfielder has scored in stoppage time.After a scoreless first half, both teams had good chances but couldn’t find the back of the net due to some quality saves from both goalkeepers. Early in the second half, San Diego forward Alex Morgan had a shot in the box that was blocked by goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. The rebound fell to Jaedyn Shaw, and Tullis-Joyce dove backward to save her second attempt. Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan finished with four saves, including two big stops in the 74th and 78th minutes.The Reign improved to 2-1-0, and San Diego ...

Sudan doctors’ group says at least 56 killed, close to 600 wounded in two days of Sudan fighting

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sudan doctors’ group says at least 56 killed, close to 600 wounded in two days of Sudan fighting.Source

Ukraine criticizes Poland’s move to ban all its agricultural products

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

Ukraine criticized a decision by the Polish government on Saturday to ban imports of Ukrainian agricultural goods, including products intended for other countries, saying it violated a prior agreement between the two countries.The measure was announced by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki following an emergency cabinet meeting on the influx of Ukrainian goods into Poland. “We will never leave farmers without help. That’s why we have specific measures [including] a ban on grain entry from Ukraine to Poland,” Morawiecki said in a tweet.Ukraine’s agriculture ministry said it regretted Poland’s decision. “The Ministry of Agrarian Policy, for its part, has always been sympathetic to the situation in the Polish agricultural sector and responded promptly to various challenges,” the ministry said in a statement. “At present, unilateral drastic actions will not accelerate the positive resolution of the situation.”Last week, Poland ...

Dozens killed as army, rivals battle for control of Sudan

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — The Sudanese military and a powerful paramilitary group battled for control of the chaos-stricken nation for a second day Sunday, signaling they were unwilling to end hostilities despite mounting diplomatic pressure to cease fire.A doctors’ group said at least 56 civilians were killed and that it believed there were dozens of additional deaths among the rival forces. The Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate said close to 600 people were wounded, including civilians and fighters.The clashes capped months of heightened tensions between the military and its partner-turned-rival, the Rapid Support Forces group. Those tensions had delayed a deal with political parties to get the country back to its short-lived transition to democracy, which was derailed by an October 2021 military coup.Heavy fighting raged early Sunday morning in the capital of Khartoum and the adjoining city of Omdurman, There were fierce clashes around the military headquarters, Khartoum International Airpor...

EU leaders beat a path to Xi’s door seeking China’s help

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — In the weeks since Chinese leader Xi Jinping won a third five-year term as president, setting him on course to remain in power for life, leaders and diplomats from around the world have beaten a path to his door. None more so than those from Europe.French President Emmanuel Macron made a high-profile state visit to Beijing last week accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, just days after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in the northeast port city of Tianjin on Thursday, following a visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, would have been in China this week, too, but he tested positive for COVID-19.For the 27-nation trading bloc, the reasons to head to China are clear. As an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi could play a pivotal role in helping to end the war in Ukraine. The conflict has dragged on for over a ...

More than 6,000 troops to play role in Charles’ coronation

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:23:02 GMT

LONDON (AP) — More than 6,000 British military personnel will take part in the coronation of King Charles III, the U.K. forces’ biggest ceremonial deployment in seven decades, the government said Sunday.The Ministry of Defense said thousands of soldiers, sailors and aviators will escort the king and Camilla, the queen consort, between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey on their way to and from the May 6 ceremony. Gun salutes will ring out from British warships and army bases across the country, and later military aircraft — from World War II Spitfires to modern fighter jets — will perform a flypast over the palace.Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said it would be “a spectacular and fitting tribute” to the monarch, who is also commander-in-chief of the U.K. armed forces.Admiral Tony Radakin, chief of the defense staff, said the military side of the coronation “reflects centuries of tradition, but is indicative of the integral role the armed forces play in modern Britain and the ext...