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Thai police seize a record haul of 50 million methamphetamine tablets near border with Myanmar

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai police have seized what is being called a record haul of methamphetamine tablets in the western province of Kanchanaburi, close to the Myanmar border.Officers found an estimated 50 million tablets hidden in sacks in a six-wheeler truck they stopped at a joint police-military checkpoint on Tuesday. The occupants of the truck – a man and a woman – were arrested.The quantity of methamphetamine tablets seized is a record for Thailand, Jeremy Douglas, the Southeast Asia regional representative for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, said Wednesday. The region’s biggest known seizure took place in neighboring Laos in October 2021, when a consignment of 55 million pills was discovered.“We’ve not seen major cases here in Kanchanaburi for a couple of years, and never anything like this,” Douglas said. “But it’s also not a surprise given the extreme supply being produced by militias and traffickers in northern Myanmar.”Myanmar has historically been the regi...

Gunmen kill four soldiers, abduct two South Koreans in ambush in southern Nigeria

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least four Nigerian soldiers were killed while two South Koreans were abducted during an attack by gunmen in Nigeria’s oil-rich southern Rivers state, authorities said.The gunmen ambushed a convoy escorting the Koreans on a work trip in the Ahoada East council area, resulting in a shootout, Maj. Jonah Danjuma, an army spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday.“Troops are currently combing the general area to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Additionally, efforts are ongoing to ensure that the unaccounted oil workers are found,” Danjuma said.Abductions for ransom are common in parts of Nigeria, but it has been especially widespread in Rivers and other parts of the oil-rich Niger Delta region where many foreign companies in the oil and engineering sectors operate. The region also struggles with high poverty and hunger despite its natural resources.Hostages are usually released after the payment of large ransoms, though security forces in the pa...

Pakistan court says military trials can resume for 103 supporters of Imran Khan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s top court on Wednesday allowed military courts to resume the trials of more than 100 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on charges of attacking military installations during violent demonstrations that broke out following Khan’s arrest in May. The latest order by the Supreme Court came less than two months after five judges on the same court stopped the trial of 103 civilians who were arrested as part of a crackdown on Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The violence subsided only after Khan was released on orders of Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Khan, 71, is currently serving three sentences at a high-security prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. He was removed as prime minister in April 2022 following a vote of no confidence in Parliament. Though Khan is also accused of inciting people to violence, he is not facing military trial.According to the prosecution, Khan was indicted by a special court on charges of revealin...

Inflation is pinching Hungary’s popular Christmas markets. $23 sausage dog, anyone?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — On a cold night in Hungary’s capital, shoppers at one of Europe’s most famous outdoor Christmas markets browsed through food stalls of steaming local specialties and sipped from paper cups of hot mulled wine. A holiday light show played on the facade of the St. Stephen’s Basilica.But despite the Christmas cheer, a cost-of-living crisis in the Central European country means that many Hungarians and tourists alike are getting sticker shock at the beloved annual markets.A bowl of Hungary’s trademark goulash soup for $12. Stuffed cabbage for more than $18. A sausage hot dog for $23. Such were the prices on Monday at the bustling Budapest square. In a country where the median net wage is below $900 per month, the ballooning costs have left some Hungarians feeling that the markets aren’t priced for them.“This isn’t designed for Hungarian wallets,” said Margit Varga, a first-time visitor from the southern city of Pecs. “The prices are simply unrea...

Attacks on referees could kill soccer, top FIFA official Pierluigi Collina says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The attack on a top Turkish referee this week was an example of the “cancer” that threatens to kill soccer, leading FIFA official Pierluigi Collina said on Wednesday. Halil Umut Meler was hospitalized after being attacked by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca at the end of a match on Monday. He was also kicked by fans who invaded the field.“It’s a responsibility for all those who love the ‘beautiful game’ to take action and do something. Before it’s too late, before this cancer will kill football,” said Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee. Meler sustained a slight fracture near his eye and was discharged from hospital on Wednesday. Koca punched the referee after the final whistle of a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game against Caykur Rizespor. Meler fell to the ground and was also kicked in a melee when fans invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.Koca and two other people have been placed under pre-trial detention, facing cha...

How to put a ring on it and save for a house, too

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

Planning a wedding and buying a home are two expensive milestones in adult life. Couples with both of these goals may wonder just how they’ll pay for it all.While some couples may be fine keeping the wedding small (or skipping it altogether) in order to save for a house, others have their hearts set on something grander and will need to find a way to make the most of their budget.When deciding whether to prioritize buying a house or having a wedding first, “the better financial decision is to save for a down payment” says Haley Sacks, a Brooklyn-based content creator known online as Mrs. Dow Jones. “A house is forever, and a wedding is one day.” Still, she concedes that the choices are emotional as well as practical.By setting smart budgeting strategies and leveraging the wedding to support homebuying goals, couples can go after these dual dreams.SET PRIORITIES TO AVOID OVERSPENDINGWhen planning for the big day, couples can start by refining their list of priorities to avoid getting...

Oklahoma City voters approve sales tax for $900 million arena to keep NBA’s Thunder through 2050

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City voters on Tuesday approved a 1% sales tax for six years to help fund a new downtown arena for the NBA’s Thunder that is expected to cost at least $900 million.The Oklahoma State Election Board reported that 71% of the city’s voters approved the plan.The vote is an example of the connection between the team, fans and the community, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.“We are grateful to the people of Oklahoma City for the confidence they have shown in both the Thunder and the NBA as we embark on a new era of global sports and entertainment,” Silver said.Under the deal, the Thunder agree to stay in Oklahoma City through at least 2050.The Thunder’s ownership group will contribute $50 million toward construction of the new arena. The deal also calls for $70 million in funding from a sales tax approved by voters in 2019 for upgrades to the existing Paycom arena. The proposal was strongly endorsed by Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and ...

Father of Highland Park parade shooting suspect, Robert Crimo Jr., to be released from jail Wednesday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The father of the man accused in the Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting will be released from jail.Robert Crimo Jr. is charged with seven counts of felony reckless conduct. Prosecutors allege that Crimo Jr. was criminally reckless at the time that he helped procure a FOID card for his son Robert Crimo III.After reaching a deal to plead guilty last month, Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in the Lake County Jail and two years probation with 100 hours of public service.  According to Lake County Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli, Crimo Jr. is expected to released from jail Wednesday morning. He served less than a month. Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo III to represent himself On Monday, a judge in Lake County set a trial date for February 2024 for Crimo III, who now plans to represent himself.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Tony Shalhoub is back as Monk, fans' favorite obsessive-compulsive detective

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Fourteen years ago, Tony Shalhoub said goodbye to one of his most beloved creations — the obsessive-compulsive private detective Adrian Monk. Monk's last TV appearance in 2009 was even called "Mr. Monk and the End.”There was talk over the years of a potential reboot and some possible scripts were floated. But Shalhoub said there wasn't enough of a compelling reason to return to his phobia-obsessed character.Then the pandemic hit.Monk suddenly wasn't the only germaphobe wiping down their groceries, stocking up on antibacterial wipes and shuddering at the sight of crowded places.“Monk, in a way, was the canary in the coal mine,” Shalhoub tells The Associated Press. "He seemed so out of touch and so neurotic and so forth. The pandemic was the great equalizer. Everybody got to sort of see the world through Monk’s eyes.”Viewers have caught up with Monk and so fans get another goodbye with the 90-minute “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie” hitting Peacock on Frid...

Scattered showers leading up to heavier rain Friday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Scattered light rain is likely in spots today, but the more meaningful rain will hold off until Friday.Cloudy skies will blanket the area through the day keeping our warm up at a minimum (highs: upper 50s). Scattered light rain will show up in pockets this morning and early afternoon, but accumulation looks to be less than a tenth of an inch for most.Drier skies will fill in late today into tomorrow... ahead of an active day of weather on Friday.Stormy Friday morningThe main round of rain comes on Friday when a Pacific storm crosses the state. While severe storms and flooding are not currently expected, periods of heavy rain with lightning and thunder are likely -- especially early in the day Friday.Main round of rain comes in early in the day on FridayThis is expected to be our heaviest, most widespread rain event since October with 0.5" to 1.5" of rain expected for most, isolated pockets of more.Rainfall accumulation looks to total 0.5"-1.5" in most areasLow local...