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Ukraine’s dam collapse is both a fast-moving disaster and a slow-moving ecological catastrophe

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam was a fast-moving disaster that is swiftly evolving into a long-term environmental catastrophe affecting drinking water, food supplies and ecosystems reaching into the Black Sea.The short-term dangers can be seen from outer space — tens of thousands of parcels of land flooded, and more to come. Experts say the long-term consequences will be generational. For every flooded home and farm, there are fields upon fields of newly planted grains, fruits and vegetables whose irrigation canals are drying up. Thousands of fish were left gasping on mud flats. Fledgling water birds lost their nests and their food sources. Countless trees and plants were drowned. If water is life, then the draining of the Kakhovka reservoir creates an uncertain future for the region of southern Ukraine that was an arid plain until the damming of the Dnieper River 70 years ago. The Kakhovka Dam was the last in a system of six Soviet-era dams on the river...

Shootout in northwest Pakistan, along Afghan border, kills 3 soldiers, 3 militants, army says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Militants attacked a security checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan, along the border with Afghanistan, triggering a shootout that left three soldiers and three militants dead, the army said Sunday.Four militants were also wounded, the military said in a statement.The overnight shootout early Saturday took place in the Miran Shah tribal area of North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, a militant group also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.The Pakistani army carried out search operations to hunt down those responsible for the attack. They seized a cache of ammunition from the dead militants.The military said it was “determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism.”Although the army says it has cleared North Waziristan of militants, occasional attacks and shootouts continue, raising concerns that the Pakistani Taliban are regrouping in the area.Though a separate group, the TTP remains a cl...

European leaders hope to restore stability in Tunisia, a major source of migration

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia is hosting the leaders of Italy, the Netherlands and the European Union on Sunday for talks aimed at smoothing the way for an international bailout and restoring stability to a country that has become a major source of migration to Europe.Tunisia’s increasingly autocratic president is balking at conditions for $1.9 billion in stalled International Monetary Fund support, which include cuts to subsidies on flour and fuel, cuts to the large public administration sector, and the privatization of loss-making public companies. President Kais Saied warns such moves would unleash social unrest, and bristles at what he calls Western diktats. But Tunisia’s economy is teetering toward collapse. The population is already restive, and disillusioned with both Saied’s leadership and the country’s decade-long experiment with democracy.That has pushed more and more Tunisians to risk dangerous boat journeys across the Mediterranean to seek a better life in Europe. Tunisi...

Julien Alfred wins 100, 200 as Texas women take title at NCAA outdoor track and field championships

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Julien Alfred won the 100 meters, the 200 and ran the opening leg of the 4×100 meter relay for the Texas women and the Longhorns won fifth team title in program history Saturday night at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships. Alfred won the 100 meters with a wind-aided time of 10.72 seconds to become just the sixth woman in NCAA history to win the event in back-to-back years — the first at Texas — and ran the fastest all-conditions mark in collegiate history to win the 200 in 21.73 and become the first woman since 2016 to win both the 100 and 200 and just the third in the last 25 years. Texas finished with 83 points — a program record at the outdoor championships — 32 more than second-place Florida. Arkansas finished third with 46. The Longhorns’ 4×100 meter relay team of Alfred, Ezinne Abba, Rhasidat Adeleke and Kevona Davis defended its 2022 title in 41.60, just 0.05 seconds off its NCAA record set Thursday in the semifinals. The win m...

Detienen en Moscú a ciudadano estadounidense por narcotráfico tras comparecer ante el tribunal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

(CNN) — Un tribunal de Moscú confirmó la detención de un ciudadano estadounidense al que ha llamado “Travis Michael Leek” por cargos de drogas en un comunicado publicado este sábado por la tarde en el canal oficial de Telegram de los tribunales de jurisdicción general de Moscú.El comunicado del tribunal confirma que “el Tribunal del Distrito de Khamovniki de Moscú adoptó una medida preventiva contra un ciudadano estadounidense. El exparacaidista y músico está acusado de dedicarse al negocio de los estupefacientes mediante la captación de jóvenes”.El comunicado dice que el ciudadano estadounidense compareció ante el Tribunal del Distrito de Khamovniki de Moscú el 10 de junio, y que “se adoptó una medida preventiva en forma de detención contra Travis Michael Leek”.CNN se puso en contacto con la familia del ciudadano en Estados Unidos y fue informada, por su propia madre, que ella estaba al corriente de los informes sobre la detención de su hij...

Minor earthquake shakes Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — An earthquake shook South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg, early Sunday.The U.S. Geological Survey, which records earthquakes around the world, recorded a 5.0 magnitude earthquake at 2:38 a.m. local time. It said the epicenter was 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from Alberton, a town on the southeastern outskirts of Johannesburg..There were no immediate reports of casualties or any significant damage. An earthquake of that strength is classified as minor but would be clearly felt and might cause small damage to buildings.An Associated Press journalist who lives close to the epicenter said the shaking felt like being on a moving train and lasted for about a minute.Many South Africans in Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg, said on social media they awoke to find the walls of their homes shaking. Local media published videos showing the moment the quake struck.Earthquakes are rare in South Africa. The last one to measure 5.0 magnitude or higher was in ...

Novak Djokovic goes for Grand Slam title No. 23 in French Open final against Casper Ruud

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic is just one win away from his men’s-record 23rd Grand Slam singles championship.He will face Casper Ruud in the French Open final on Sunday.It is the No. 3-seeded Djokovic’s 34th major title match and No. 4 Ruud’s third. By winning Sunday, Djokovic would break a tie with Rafael Nadal, who has 22 Slam trophies — including 14 at Roland Garros — but has been sidelined since January with a hip injury and had surgery during this French Open.“I put myself, again, in a position to fight for another Grand Slam trophy. I’ve been very fortunate that most of the matches in tournaments I’ve played in the last few years, there is history on the line,” Djokovic said after eliminating No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. “I like the feeling. It’s a privilege.”The only two people in tennis history with 23 majors or more are Serena Williams, who retired after last season with 23, all during the Open era, and Margaret Court, who won 2...

Amanda Nunes beats Irene Aldana to retain bantamweight title at UFC 289, announces retirement

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Amanda Nunes beat Irene Aldana by unanimous decision at UFC 289 on Saturday night to hold on to her bantamweight title before announcing her retirement.Nunes dominated the fight, landing far more hits than her opponent, while Aldana’s corner repeatedly encouraged their fighter to go on the offensive.“It went exactly how I pictured it in my mind. I did what I was supposed to do,” Nunes said about her win. “When I started to mix it up. … (Aldana) wasn’t able to do anything.”Nunes entered the post fight press conference on crutches, revealing she has suffered nerve damage in one leg for some time.“I did everything, I broke a lot of records,” she said about her reputation, adding she wants to be remembered as the greatest female fighter of all time.Nunes said she’d like to stay involved in mixed martial arts in the future and would like to train a female champion, but will first take time to spend time with her wife and family in Brazil.Aldana su...

China complains to South Korean ambassador in tit-for-tat move after Seoul summoned Beijing’s envoy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese official lodged a complaint with South Korea’s ambassador to China, in a tit-for-tat move after Beijing’s envoy to South Korea was summoned last week over his comments accusing Seoul of tilting toward the United States.Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong expressed dissatisfaction with Seoul’s response to last week’s meeting between Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming and a South Korean opposition leader, according to a statement Sunday from China’s Foreign Ministry.Nong said it was Xing’s duty to meet with different people in South Korea and he hoped Seoul would reflect on the relationship between the two countries and work with China to promote healthy and stable ties, the statement added.The diplomatic row between China and South Korea comes amid fierce competition between Washington and Beijing for global influence. South Korea, whose economy depends greatly on exports of computer memory chips and other technology products...

Montenegro holds snap parliamentary election that could determine EU path

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:12 GMT

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Montenegro was holding an early parliamentary election Sunday, a vote that could put an end to deep political divisions and years of instability that have hampered the small NATO-member country on its route to joining the European Union.Some 542,000 voters are eligible to choose among 15 parties and coalitions fielding candidates, ranging from groups that are staunchly pro-Western to ones that are pro-Serbian and pro-Russian.Unlike in previous elections, when the focal point of campaigning was whether the country should be leaning toward the EU or closer to Russia and Serbia, the economy and living standards dominated the issues this time.“Finally, we are deciding on the quality of life, rather than on the East or West,” Tanja Bojovic, 38, said as she cast her ballot in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. “I expect the victory of those who will lead us to a better life.”The election is Montenegro’s first in more than 30 years that does not feature Milo D...