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Moscow ‘reaps what it sows’: NATO members scramble to assess chaos unfolding in Russia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

Officials across NATO are scrambling to make sense of the fast-moving events inside Russia, as the Wagner Group’s mercenary fighters take more territory on what appears to be a march north toward Moscow.Many senior European politicians have issued carefully-worded statements that they are following the situation and consulting with allies. But some have already begun indicating that they see developments in Russia as a possible game-changer.“The Kremlin regime reaps what it sows. All the violence directed at Ukraine has backfired,” tweeted Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, whose country will host a gathering of NATO leaders next month.POLITICO spoke with seven officials from NATO countries, all of whom were granted anonymity to speak candidly about rapidly unfolding events. Many noted the need to stay focused on Ukraine even as Russia dominates the world’s attention.“We are expecting the situation to escalate there, but our main focus remains on helping Ukraine and ensuring...

Mercenary chief’s forces advance toward Moscow as Putin vows harsh punishment for rebellion leaders

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

By The Associated PressRussian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday vowed harsh punishment for the organizers of an armed rebellion spearheaded by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led his troops out of Ukraine and advanced toward Moscow.Putin denounced the uprising as “a stab in the back” in an address to the nation. It was the biggest threat to his leadership in over two decades in power. As Prigozhin’s forces rolled toward the capital, military trucks and armored vehicles were seen in several parts of Moscow. On its southern edge, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and put up machine guns.Authorities declared a “counterterrorist regime” in the capital and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents not to drive and said key city services were on high readiness. He declared Monday to be a nonworking day for most residents except publice servants and some industri...

A bridge over Yellowstone River collapses, sending a freight train into the waters below

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

COLUMBUS, Mont. (AP) — A bridge that crosses Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed overnight, causing portions of a freight train that was traveling over it to plunge into the water below.There was no immediate word from authorities on whether anyone was injured. Officials at the Montana Rail Link could not be reached immediately Saturday for comment.Numerous tank cars were partially submerged in the river early Saturday, and railroad crews were at the scene near the town of Columbus, about 40 miles (about 64 kilometers) west of Billings. An Associated Press reporter witnessed a yellow liquid pouring out of tank cars. The river was swollen with recent heavy rains although it is unclear whether that contributed to the bridge collapse.The Yellowstone saw record flooding in 2022 that caused extensive damage to Yellowstone National Park and adjacent towns in Montana.Matthew Brown, The Associated Press

Separatist group claims suicide bombing in southwest Pakistan, 1 police killed, 5 wounded

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber struck in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least one police and wounding five others in an attempt to target a paramilitary convoy, an official said.Authorities recovered the remains of a female bomber following the explosion in the southwestern city of Turbat, said Bashir Ahmed, a top administrative officer. Jeeyand Baloch, spokesman for the separatist Baluch Liberation Army, later claimed responsibility for the attack.Ahmed said the bomber had targeted a convoy of the paramilitary Frontier Corps but the main thrust of the blast hit a police vehicle. He said a Frontier Corps vehicle was slightly damaged and a female police officer was among the wounded. Southwestern Baluchistan province has been the scene of a low level insurgency by Baluch separatists under the umbrella group of the Baluchistan Nationalist Army. The Associated Press

Sierra Leone holds presidential election with an incumbent weakened by economic turmoil

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Voters in Sierra Leone were deciding Saturday whether to give President Julius Maada Bio a second term amid high unemployment and growing concern about the state of the West African nation’s economy.A dozen candidates hoped to unseat Bio, though experts predicted his main competition likely would be Samura Kamara, the head of the All People’s Congress Party. In the 2018 presidential election, Bio beat Kamara in a runoff by a margin of less than 5 percentage points. To win in the first round of voting and avoid a runoff, the top contender must secure 55% of the vote. Bio has faced increasing criticism because of debilitating economic conditions that Kamara pledged to improve. Nearly 60% of Sierra Leone’s population of more than 7 million are facing poverty, with youth unemployment being one of the highest in West Africa. Deadly anti-government protests have rocked the country during Bio’s presidency. The most recent one, fueled by the high co...

Wildfires: more evacuations ordered in northwestern Quebec

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

Officials in northwestern Quebec have ordered residents of two villages near the Ontario border to leave their homes as a wildfire continues to spread in the area.Residents of the villages of Val-Paradis and Beaucanton, home to around 340 people, were given an hour and a half to evacuate on Friday night due to the approach of a nearby fire.Officials said earlier in the day the blaze was around 12 kilometres from Val-Paradis, but poor visibility and high winds made operations with waterbombers impossible.Over the previous two days, more than 6,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in northwestern Quebec due to heavy smoke from the fires.The province’s wilderness firefighting agency is asking Quebecers not to launch fireworks or light bonfires as part of their celebrations of the provincial Fête Nationale holiday today.Outdoor fires are banned in much of Quebec, except for some regions south of the St. Lawrence river and the island cities of Montreal and Laval.

Man, 19, dead, boy injured after shooting at Scene75 Entertainment Center in Romeoville

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — A 19-year-old is dead and a 16-year-old is hospitalized after a shooting at an entertainment center in Romeoville Friday night, according to police.Police responded to a call of shots fired around 8:40 p.m. in the 400 block of South Weber Road at Scene75 Entertainment Center. Romeoville police said there was a verbal argument that ended in someone firing shots. The person then fled left the area in a car. Man found dead in car on fire in Austin: Police Two people were injured and transported to an area hospital with gunshot wounds. The 19-year-old man, of Chicago, died and the 16-year-old boy is stable.Police said they have identified the suspect, though not publicly, and said they are still looking for them.Illinois State Police located the suspected vehicle involved in the shooting near Interstate 80 at Torrence Avenue around 10:08 p.m. Friday evening and initiated a traffic stop. The driver and passenger were placed into custody but the suspect of the shooti...

Natalie Preddie travel expert: How to pack for kids on family trips

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

Travel expert Natalie Preddie joins WGN Weekend Morning News to share more on how to pack for kids on family trips.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Rhode Island woman hears 'buzzing noise' while preparing to shower, finds drone with camera peeping into bathroom window

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) – Police in Rhode Island have arrested a man accused of peering into a woman's bathroom using a drone.Officers with the Cranston Police Department responded to the woman's home Wednesday night, where she told officers she was preparing to take a shower when she heard a "buzzing noise" coming from outside, the department wrote in a news release.Initially believing the noise to be coming from her pool, police said the woman went out into her backyard to investigate. Once outside, she saw the drone hovering next to her bathroom window. WATCH: Gator grabs underwater drone during Marine unit training The drone quickly moved away when the woman approached, the woman told officers. It hit a branch and fell to the ground."She quickly grabbed the drone before it took off and submerged it in her pool to disable it and called police to report the drone looking in her bathroom window," the press release stated.The operator of the drone was eventually determined to be Chr...

Planned Parenthood volunteers create after-care kits for abortion and miscarriage patients

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:37 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – On Saturday, volunteers gathered at Planned Parenthood in Albany to put together after-care kits for patients who have had a miscarriage or an abortion. Organizers say after the Supreme Court decision last year to overturn Roe v. Wade, they have been receiving even more support from the community. The organization went from receiving about 35 volunteer applications to over a hundred. Madeline Reilly, Public Affairs Manager, says there is only one way to describe the response…“Overwhelmingly positive,” Reilly said. “We’ve had so many…an unprecedented number of people wanting to volunteer.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Each kit includes ginger ale, a stress ball, adhesive heat pads, feminine hygiene products, and cozy socks to help each patient. Chelly Hegan, Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood President and CEO, said there had been a positive response among patients receiving the kit so far.“When peopl...