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More Sunshine and Nice Weather; Holiday Outlooks and Great Lakes Buoys

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

Mild and dry with sunny skies MondayChicago area students will be fortunate much of this week and can enjoy outdoor recess, without the jackets or coats that are often needed this time of year  Late morning to midday temperatures Monday through Thursday are expected to be in the mid to upper 50s with plenty of sunshine.  With conditions like this, maybe the adults can find a reason to get outside and enjoy the weather as well.Over the next three months, we'll celebrate no fewer than four notable holidays.  The average temperatures in Chicago on Christmas, New Year's Day, and Valentine's Day are very similar. As we've learned, all those holidays can bring plenty of volatility and a wider range of weather conditions.Before we get to those winter holidays, we'll of course, celebrate Thanksgiving.  The late November holiday can also bring highly variable conditions.  Last Thanksgiving was mild, with a trace of rainfall and a low of 35º and a high of 54º.  Chicago's temperature records d...

Further €73 million in Cohesion Funds used to extend tram network in Bratislava, Slovakia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

The Commission has approved Cohesion Policy support of more than €73 million from the 2014-2020 programming period to build the second section of the Šafárik Square-Janíkov dvor tram line. The investment is part of an overall aim to improve public transport inthe Petržalka borough of the Slovak capital, Bratislava.The line will connect the southern part of Petržalka with the Old Town of Bratislava. It will run from Bosákova Street to Janíkov dvor for roughly 3.8 km. The new tram line will complement the first section of the line, which is already up and running from Šafárik Square to Bosákova Street.Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (pictured) said: “On working days, the line is expected to carry almost 50,000 passengers a day in each direction. Thanks to this EU support, the new tram line section is not only promoting more sustainable modes of transport,  it is also making the lives of citizens easier by cutting their daily commute into the city centre. Cohesion...

Above average snowfall expected for DC area this winter

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

After a disappointing snowfall last year, D.C. area residents should have their shovels handy.Veronica Johnson, chief meteorologist for 7News First Alert Weather, told WTOP that the First Alert Weather team is predicting 17 to 22 inches of snow for the D.C. metro area this coming winter. She said the average snowfall for DC is 13.6 inches.In fact, counties farther north and west, including Loudon County, Virginia, and Frederick County, Maryland, could see as much as 30 inches of snow throughout this winter.7News First Alert Weather is predicting a much higher winter snowfall for this season. (Courtesy, Veronica Johnson/7News)As for Christmas?“I don’t think we can expect a white Christmas,” Johnson said. “But I’m not going to rule out a few snowflakes that may come mixing in.”Johnson said that, starting in late December or early January, you can expect a lot of minor storm systems.WINTER 2023-2024 D.C. AREA MONTHLY PREDICTIONDECEMBER 20231″ W...

Philippine court grants bail to former senator who was jailed six years ago on drug charges she says were fabricated

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine court grants bail to former senator who was jailed six years ago on drug charges she says were fabricated.Source

EE.UU., Corea del Sur y Japón acuerdan un mecanismo para compartir datos sobre los lanzamientos de misiles norcoreanos

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

(CNN) — Estados Unidos, Corea del Sur y Japón acordaron un nuevo mecanismo para compartir datos sobre los lanzamientos de misiles de Corea del Norte, según una declaración tras una reunión trilateral de ministros entre el secretario de Defensa de Estados Unidos, Lloyd Austin, el ministro de Defensa Nacional de Corea del Sur, Shin Won-sik, y El ministro japonés de Defensa, Minoru Kihara, este domingo.El anuncio se produce mientras Austin visita Seúl para reunirse con altos funcionarios surcoreanos, incluida la 55ª Reunión Consultiva de Seguridad anual y la Reunión Ministerial de Defensa inaugural de los Estados miembros del Comando de la República de Corea y la ONU.“Los tres líderes evaluaron que la asociación trilateral entre Estados Unidos, Japón y la República de Corea es más fuerte que nunca después de la Cumbre de Camp David y revisaron el progreso de la implementación de las iniciativas trilaterales de cooperación en seguridad anunciadas en la cumbre”, dice el...

UK’s Rishi Sunak fires Suella Braverman after row with police over pro-Palestinian marches

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak fired his home secretary, Suella Braverman, Monday after a bitter row over the policing of a pro-Palestinian march on the streets on London.Braverman published an explosive article in the Times last week accusing police of treating pro-Palestinian protesters more favorably than nationalists and the far-right. The article was not signed off by Sunak’s team in No.10 Downing Street.A No.10 official said: “Rishi Sunak has asked Suella Braverman to leave government and she has accepted.”Braverman is a popular figure on the right of the governing Conservative party, and is tipped to run for leader should the Tories, who are lagging in the polls, suffer a defeat under Sunak at the next general election. Her exit means Sunak will now have to pick a new top interior minister and reshuffle his Cabinet.Braverman’s dramatic sacking comes after violent scenes in London on Saturday. Far-right counter-protesters vowing to protect war memorials from the pro-Palestin...

UK leader fires interior minister who accused police of favoring pro-Palestinian protesters.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has fired Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who drew anger for accusing police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian protesters.The government says Braverman has left her job as part of a Cabinet shuffle on Monday.Sunak was under growing pressure to fire Braverman, a divisive figure popular with the authoritarian wing of the governing Conservative Party.In a highly unusual attack on the police last week, Braverman said London’s police force was ignoring lawbreaking by “pro-Palestinian mobs.” She described demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in Gaza as “hate marchers.”On Sunday, far-right protesters scuffled with police in London. Critics accused Braverman of helping to inflame tensions.The Associated Press

Indi Gregory, sick baby at center of legal battle in Britain, dies

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A terminally ill baby at the center of a legal battle involving her parents, British health officials and the Italian government has died, a group supporting her family said Monday,Christian Concern said Indi Gregory died in a hospice on Monday morning after her life support was withdrawn on Sunday.The 8-month-old baby had suffered brain damage as the result of a rare condition known as mitochondrial disease.Her doctors said her life support should be removed to allow her to die at a hospital or hospice. Her parents, Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, fought to continue life support in hopes that experimental treatments might prolong her life. The Italian government had sought permission for her to be treated at Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome and even granted the baby Italian citizenship.Doctors argued that Indi had no awareness of her surroundings and was suffering and should be allowed to die peacefully. Repeated legal attempts, backed by Christian Concern...

Live updates | Fighting outside Gaza’s largest hospital prompts thousands to flee

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

Fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants outside Gaza’s largest hospital has prompted thousands of people to flee from the sprawling medical facility, but hundreds of patients and others displaced by the war remained inside, health officials said Monday.World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a day earlier that the UN agency was in contact with Shifa hospital, which he said had been without electricity and water for three days, and noted that gunfire and bombings outside the compound “have exacerbated the already critical circumstances.”“Regrettably, the hospital is not functioning as a hospital anymore,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.Patients inside the hospital include dozens of babies at risk of dying because of a lack of electricity, health officials at the facility said.More than two-thirds of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have fled their homes since the war began.Gaza City, the largest urban...

European Commission reveals finalists of the Access City Award 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:04:51 GMT

Łódź (Poland), Saint-Quentin (France), San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Spain), South Dublin County (Ireland) and Tübingen (Germany) have been chosen as the finalists for the 2024 Access City Award. These cities have demonstrated best practices and highlighted their commitment to ensure accessibility to urban life for all, especially persons with disabilities and older citizens. In practice, this relates to buildings, public transport, facilities, and services as well as information and communication technologies.Values and Transparency Vice-President Věra Jourová (pictured) said: “Accessibility is an essential step towards equality, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the same level of freedom and autonomy. The Access City Award finalists are dedicated to removing barriers and championing inclusivity. I call on other cities to make urban life in Europe  more accessible to all citizens.”Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli said: “Cities across the EU are intensifying their commitment t...