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A British sea monitoring agency says another vessel has been hijacked near Somalia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Another vessel has been hijacked near the coast of Somalia, a British sea trade monitoring agency said Friday, raising more concerns that Somali pirates are active again, nearly a decade after they caused chaos for international shipping.A dhow trading vessel was seized by heavily armed people near the town of Eyl off the coast of Somalia, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. It cited military authorities as the source of the information.The agency did not offer any details on who the hijackers were but said an investigation is underway.The European Union’s Naval Force reported that a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel was hijacked in the nearby Arabian Sea last week and moved to the same area off Somalia’s coast. The bulk carrier Ruen had 18 crew onboard when it was hijacked near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometers (150 miles) off Somalia.One crew member was evacuated to an Indian navy ship for medical care, the ...

Truck carrying gas hits railroad bridge and explodes as a train passes overhead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

GLENVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A tractor-trailer loaded with what authorities believe were gas containers slammed into the bottom of an overhead railroad bridge in upstate New York and exploded Thursday night as a freight train was traveling on the tracks above.The crash seriously injured the truck driver and briefly knocked out power to local homes and businesses. At about 6:30 p.m, the truck hit the bridge in Glenville, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Albany. Police said the driver apparently failed to heed signs warning that the height clearance was 10 feet (3 meters).Video and news photos from the scene showed flames shooting into the sky as the wrecked truck was stuck under the bridge and nearly tipped over. Officials believe it was carrying containers of compressed natural gas. Authorities said there was no major damage reported to the train, which did not stop.“The first thought was ‘god forbid if there is a fatality here,’” Christopher Koetzle, the Glenville town s...

RCMP union seeks boost to cadet training allowance to compete with other forces

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

OTTAWA — The union representing rank-and-file Mounties has asked the federal government for $24 million annually to boost the RCMP cadet training allowance to help attract the best recruits.The National Police Federation says the RCMP must appropriately compensate cadets while they attend training to remain competitive with other forces.The federation notes cadets are not considered RCMP employees until they have completed their 26-week training, and therefore are not covered by a collective agreement.During this period, cadets receive an allowance of $525 per week, and the RCMP covers the cost of accommodation, meals, uniforms, training courses, insurance and limited travel.The federation says that since 2008, the $525 allowance has not changed or been adjusted to match inflation.It says at the current rate, cadets are making less than what minimum-wage workers earn in most provinces.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2023.The Canadian Press

Trump says he’s eager to debate Biden in 2024, even if controversial commission plans events

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump says he is eager to debate President Joe Biden, even if the debates are sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. And he says he is open to debating a single Republican rival if a serious challenger emerges after the New Hampshire primary.Trump, who has skipped all of the primary debates so far citing his commanding lead in the polls, was asked if he will debate Biden if named his party’s nominee during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Friday.“Oh will I look forward to that,” Trump responded. “How about 10 debates?” That’s even, he said, if the debates are sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which he and fellow Republicans have railed against for years.“They are totally corrupt and they’re terrible. With that being said, I would do 20 debates, even if it was organized by them. I would do as many debates as they want,” he said. “I’d do a debate every nigh...

TSA urges holiday flyers to keep their presents unwrapped

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) – Transportation Security Administration officials are urging the millions of people who are expected to fly this holiday season to keep their presents unwrapped until they reach their final destination.Holiday travelers are encouraged to put presents in gift bags, unwrapped, in case TSA employees need to inspect them, according to the agency. Everyone you know sick? 9 states reach CDC’s highest level for respiratory illness "That way, if the item triggers an alarm, our officers can easily resolve the alarm without needing to unwrap the gift,” said TSA Federal Security Director Thomas Carter. Baked goods such as cakes, cookies, pies, brownies, and other solid foods are allowed through the security checkpoint, according to the TSA. But some other festive liquids or beverages like maple syrup, champagne, and eggnog need to be packed in a checked bag. TSA: Peanut butter 'is a liquid' This holiday season is expected to be the busiest on record with 7.5 mill...

Man stole live tarpon from Bass Pro Shops in Florida, deputies say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida officials are searching for a man who allegedly stole a large fish from a Bass Pro Shops in Fort Myers.The unidentified suspect is accused of entering the Bass Pro Shops location with a net and scooping a tarpon out of the store's indoor pond, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.Part of the incident, which unfolded Wednesday, was also caught on camera. Bystander video provided by the sheriff's office showed the man carrying the flopping animal through the sales floor, followed by another man who appeared to be filming. What’s the deal with the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis? The sheriff's office is working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to investigate the alleged theft. According to FWC, tarpon are a protected species and, if caught in the wild, must be released. "We’re #FishingForInformation and would love nothin’ more than to chum it up with this guy," the sheriff's office wrote in its pun-filled so...

1 dead, 1 in critical condition following rollover in SE Travis County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Friday, Dec. 22, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A person died Friday afternoon and another person has critical, life-threatening injuries following a single-vehicle rollover crash in southeastern Travis County, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.ATCEMS said there were four patients involved, and three ambulances were called to the scene, according to ATCEMS.Officials responded to the 11200 block of South State Highway 130 service road at approximately 1 p.m. in connection with a vehicle rescue.ATCEMS said to avoid the area and expect delays and closures in the area.

Austin Energy: Rate increasing 5% beginning New Year's Day; future increases possible

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Friday, Dec. 22, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Effective Jan. 1, Austin Energy (AE) said it would implement a 5% increase to the Power Supply Adjustment (PSA) rate.The utility said the impact of the increase would be approximately $2 a month for the typical residential customer.The utility company most recently applied a 5% rate increase that began Dec. 1. Austin Energy rate increasing 5% in December Per Austin Energy’s policy, the utility can only adjust the PSA in increments of up to 5%.“The increase is required to continue making progress on recovering power supply costs in order to position Austin Energy for an anticipated PSA under-recovery during the summer months,” AE said.In November 2022, AE said it had an under-recovered PSA balance of $102 million, so it began planning to recover the balance over the next three years.As of Nov. 30, 2023, AE said the current under-recovered balance was $78 million.Read the full mem...

Trump’s swing-state strategy targets Black voters unhappy with Biden

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

Donald Trump’s lead in 2024 election polls has him eyeing a long-shot gambit: attracting a larger share of Black voters than any Republican presidential candidate in modern history.Despite a long history of racially divisive comments and repeated contacts with White nationalists, Trump now enjoys the some of the highest ratings among Black voters of any candidate from his party, according to some national and swing state polls. That’s because discontent with Joe Biden, especially on economic issues, has eroded the president’s support in a group that is likely to be key to his bid to win reelection in November.The Trump campaign’s push, kicking off once he gets through the primaries and including television ads and outreach by prominent Black supporters aimed at portraying the billionaire as sympathetic to the working class, is ambitious. Allies are aiming for Trump to collect as much as a quarter of the Black vote — well above the 5% to 12% that surveys show he won in 2020.In a race...

Lions at Vikings picks: One vote for a Christmas miracle, two votes for Grinch dousing Vikings’ playoff hopes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:35 GMT

Pioneer Press reporters who cover the Vikings forecast Sunday’s home game against the Detroit Lions:DANE MIZUTANIVikings 24, Lions 23Everybody is expecting the Vikings to lose this game. Which means they will undoubtedly win to keep things interesting down the stretch. Think of it as a Christmas Miracle.JOHN SHIPLEYLions 27, Vikings 17With seven wins, this team already is overachieving. Win, lose or draw on Sunday, the Vikings have daunting work ahead of them.CHARLEY WALTERSLions 27, Vikings 17Determined Lions are sniffing their first division championship in 30 years. This could be a mauling.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | What’s at stake for Vikings over the next few weeks? Here’s how they can make the playoffs. Minnesota Vikings | The Loop NFL Picks: Week 16 Minnesota Vikings | Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson knows 1,000 yards is still within reach Minnesota Vikings | Vikings have lengthy injury re...