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Ex-US intelligence officer for North Korea points to growing concern on nuclear threat toward South

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The founder of North Korea’s ruling dynasty, an isolationist totalitarian leader named Kim Il Sung, was still building some of the country’s first nuclear facilities when Syd Seiler arrived on the Korean Peninsula as a young U.S. military intelligence officer. Over the four decades since, Seiler has watched closely as Kim, his son and now his grandson have clung to their nuclear program and developed the potential to lob nuclear warheads at the U.S. and its allies if they choose. Now Seiler is freshly retired after decades of advising presidents, military commanders and diplomats, making reported secret trips to North Korea and serving as a lead negotiator on talks to contain its nuclear program. And he has a parting message to American leaders: Don’t be discouraged.North Korea’s fiery rounds of missile test launches are no reason to give up on the international sanctions and pressure, or to simply accept that the ruling Kim family is now a nuclear-arme...

A helicopter crashes off the United Arab Emirates coast, killing 1 pilot while another missing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A helicopter crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, killing one pilot while another remains missing, authorities said Friday.The crash happened offshore, though the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authorities did not specify where. It identified the aircraft involved as a Bell 212, which can carry 14 passengers and a pilot. Officials said the two pilots aboard were from Egypt and South Africa and had taken off Thursday night from Al Maktoum International Airport, the second airfield in Dubai. Late Friday, authorities said one pilot had been found dead.Aerogulf, the owner of the helicopter, described the flight as “routine training operations between Al Maktoum International Airport and an offshore rig.” The oil-rich UAE has multiple oil rigs off the coast in the Persian Gulf. “We are working with the aviation authorities and doing all we can to gather information as quickly as possible,” Aerogulf said in its statement. “At this momen...

EXPLAINER: Abortion access has expanded but remains difficult in Mexico. How does it work now?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The decision by Mexico’s Supreme Court ending federal criminal penalties for abortion was a boost to activists who waged decades-long campaigns for safe abortion access nationwide. The mostly Catholic country still has significant barriers to overcome before Mexican women gain universal access.Twenty of Mexico ’s 32 states have laws classifying abortion as a crime that allow exceptions only in cases of rape. Some also include exceptions if the mother’s life is in danger, or if there are severe fetal anomalies.Mexican Supreme Court decisions are not automatically the law of the entire nation: They often have reach that’s somewhat limited. Wednesday’s decision applied to federal anti-abortion penalties, meaning that the instant impact will be felt in the massive federal health system. While millions of women receive services through that system, many get them through other providers.A 2021 Supreme Court decision that overturned a law criminalizing ...

Canada’s sports minister tells hockey leaders at summit to ‘step up’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

Canada’s new sports minister isn’t ready to laud Hockey Canada on its efforts to change the sport’s culture.“Nobody’s going to hear me congratulate anybody on what’s been done so far because we’re not there yet,” Carla Qualtrough told The Canadian Press. “Kids are still at risk and we can do better.”The Delta MP, who was re-appointed to the sports portfolio in July after serving in it from 2015 to 2017, was on the slate of Friday speakers at Hockey Canada’s “Beyond The Boards Summit” in Calgary.The two-day summit, which Hockey Canada intends to be one in a series, will tackle toxic masculinity and the culture of elite men’s hockey.Hockey Canada became a lightning rod in what Qualtrough’s predecessor Pascale St-Onge called Canada’s safe-sport crisis last year when it came to light that the organization settled a lawsuit with a woman alleging she was gang-raped by members of the 2018 world junior men’s hockey team at a gala event.The allegations have not been proven in court. The furo...

Feds leave future of Dakota Access pipeline’s controversial river crossing unclear in draft review

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Federal officials on Friday released a draft environmental review of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, but said they’re waiting for more input before deciding the future of the line’s controversial river crossing in North Dakota.The draft was released over three years after a federal judge ordered the environmental review and revoked the permit for the Missouri River crossing, upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation. The tribe is concerned a pipeline oil spill could contaminate its water supply.The environmental review is key for whether the federal government reissues the permit. The pipeline has been operating since 2017, including during the environmental review.The draft environmental impact statement, which is dated in June but was made public Friday, noted that the Corps “has not selected a preferred alternative,” but will make a decision in its final review, after considering input from the public and other agencies.The dr...

Illinois makes the rarest of road trips on Friday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When it comes to a road trip for a football game, this is as rare as one gets for the Illinois football program. You have to go back well over a century to find the last time the Illini took the field against Kansas on their home field. But Illinois will make its return to Lawrence to face the Jayhawks on Friday, doing so for the first time since October 27, 1892. That was the third year that the Illini were playing football, doing so under the direction of E.K. Hall, losing to Kansas that day 26-4.It's a rare match-up between the schools as they will meet for just the sixth time on Friday, with their last meeting coming in 1968, a 47-7 Jayhawks win. Illinois won match-ups in 1916 (30-0), 1917 (22-0), and 1929 (25-0) in Champaign. The 2023 game is a match-up between programs looking for a major breakthrough after making progress last season. In the second year under Bret Bielema, Illinois went 8-5 in 2022 and earned a berth to the ReliaQuest Bowl, their first posts...

Austin Energy rate to increase 5%, will cost customers roughly $2 more

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Energy sent a memo to the city council Thursday informing them of a rate increase that will start in October. Austin Energy said in the memo there will be a 5% increase to its Power Supply Adjustment, or PSA, effective Oct. 1. The bill impact will be "less than $2 per month" for the typical residential customer, according to the utility. "This increase is due to further increases in wholesale power market costs, resulting in a lack of progress toward making up for the existing PSA under recovery," the memo read in part. BackgroundAccording to Austin Energy, the PSA is a dollar-for-dollar cost pass-through to electric utility customers for the recovery and crediting of ERCOT settlements, fuel costs, and net purchased power costs, with an adjustment for the over- or under-recovery balance for the period preceding the adjustment of the PSA. The PSA is assessed on all electric customers based on the actual number of kWh consumed, the memo said. Weather and ERCOT ...

Residential, commercial construction zones spilling onto roadways in Austin

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An update to a story we brought you last month — old stripes on the road on South Lamar Blvd were confusing some drivers who let us know they had a hard time figuring out which lane they were supposed to be in.But as of this week, it appears those lines are a little clearer near Treadwell St. It's one of many locations with construction-related lane closures and lane shifting that can be found throughout the city.Driving around Austin you'll see many areas like this - take the corridor of Lavaca & Guadalupe around 5th & 6th Street in the heart of Downtown Austin, where there are multiple lanes closed and shifting due to real estate construction.The Sixth and Guadalupe Tower is expected to be done in 2026.And catty-corner to that—the ATX Tower. It too requires lanes closed on 6th and Guadalupe during construction. It's expected to be done in 2025The city wasn't able to give a specific timeline on road closures and when things would open again. So in the meanti...

Vikings picks: Week 1 foe, the Buccaneers, opens the door for a good start this season for Minnesota

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

Dane MizutaniVikings 27, Buccaneers 17: There are going to be some wrinkles the Vikings need to iron out. Especially on defense. Luckily for them, the Buccaneers don’t seem all too invested in winning this season, which should make for a pretty easy game.John ShipleyVikings 24, Buccaneers 13: One of the worst losses of the Mike Zimmer Era in Minnesota was a 14-7 setback to Cleveland on Oct. 3, 2021. The Browns’ quarterback was Baker Mayfield, who made a handful of big passes but was otherwise miserable. The Bucs are in for a long season.Charley WaltersVikings 21, Buccaneers 10: This is the first time in years the Vikings will start a season without Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen. Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield gets his last chance to be a starter — and falters.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | The Loop NFL Picks: Week 1 Minnesota Vikings | Vikings star Justin Jefferson downplays contract talks: ‘My focus is on playing football’ Mi...

Two injured in crash on State Route 28 in Kingston

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:04 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State Police say two individuals were injured in a crash on State Route 28 on Tuesday evening. One of the drivers, Steven Kapushy of Boiceville, sustained a neck injury and injuries to his left hand and right shoulder. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Investigations determined that Kapushy was traveling west when he moved into the passing lane, attempting to pass a 2012 Toyota operated by Steven Beckerman of Woodstock. At this moment, Beckerman attempted to make an unauthorized left turn and struck Kapushy's vehicle.A passenger in Kapushy's vehicle also sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The two were transported to Health Alliance for treatment. Beckerman was not injured. The investigation is pending.