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Saudi Arabia to cut oil output by 1 million barrels per day to boost slumping prices

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Saudi Arabia said Sunday that it will reduce how much oil it sends to the global economy, taking a unilateral step to support the sagging cost of crude after two previous cuts to supply by major oil-producing countries in the OPEC+ alliance failed to push prices higher.The announcement of Saudi’s cuts of 1 million barrels per day, which will start in July, followed a meeting of the alliance at OPEC headquarters in Vienna. The rest of the OPEC+ producers agreed to extend earlier production cuts through the end of 2024.“This is a grand day for us, because the quality of the agreement is unprecedented,” Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman said at a news conference, adding that the new production targets are “much more transparent and much more fair.”Calling the Saudi reduction a “lollipop,” bin Salman said, “We wanted to ice the cake.” He said the cut could be extended and that the group “will do whatever is necessary to bring stability to this ma...

Doors close for final time on Amsterdam museum’s blockbuster Vermeer exhibition

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The blockbuster exhibition of paintings by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer closed its doors for the final time on Sunday, with the art and history national museum of the Netherlands hailing the show as its most successful ever.The Rijksmuseum said the exhibition that drew on collections around the world to bring together 28 of the 37 paintings generally ascribed to Vermeer attracted 650,000 visitors from 113 countries during its 16-week run that started in early February.The large number of visitors — including French President Emmanuel Macron, movie director Steven Spielberg and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis — came despite the museum limiting numbers to ensure everybody got a good view of masterpieces such as “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and “The Milkmaid.”“Vermeer is the artist of peacefulness and intimacy. We wanted the visitors to enjoy it to the fullest,” museum general director Taco Dibbits said. “This was only possible by limiting the number of visitors.”The exh...

Official: Almost 80 schoolgirls poisoned, hospitalized in northern Afghanistan

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Nearly 80 girls were poisoned and hospitalized in two separate attacks at their primary schools in northern Afghanistan, a local education official said Sunday. It is thought to be the first time this kind of assault has happened since the Taliban swept to power in August 2021 and began their crackdown on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls. Girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade, including university, and women are barred from most jobs and public spaces. The education official said the person who orchestrated the poisoning had a personal grudge but did not elaborate.The attacks took place in Sar-e-Pul province over Saturday and Sunday. Nearly 80 female students were poisoned in Sangcharak district, said Mohammad Rahmani, who heads the provincial education department. He said 60 students were poisoned in Naswan-e-Kabod Aab School and 17 others were poisoned in Naswan-e-Faizabad School.“Both primary schools are near to each other a...

Michigan wildfire that’s burned more than 3 square miles was sparked by campfire on private land

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

GRAYLING TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan wildfire that’s burned more than 3 square miles (7.7 square km) amid hot, dry conditions was sparked by a campfire, the state Department of Natural Resources said Sunday.The Wilderness Trail Fire in Crawford County began about 1 p.m. Saturday near Staley Lake in Grayling Township and was traced to a campfire on private property, the department said in a Sunday update.Michigan Department of Natural Resources said the fire, which has scorched more than 2,000 acres (809 hectares), was 85% contained by Sunday morning after the agency’s fire crews and partner agencies worked through the night to combat the blaze.“The crews were working in hilly, sandy terrain and that was difficult. Weather conditions also were hot, dry and windy,” Mike Janisse, an incident commander with the Michigan DNR, said in a statement.On Saturday, the wildfire pushed west and southwest, burning through stands of jack pine, mixed pines and oak, threatening mul...

Pakistani Taliban claim attack in northwest that left 2 soldiers, 2 militants dead

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack in northwest Pakistan that left two soldiers and two militants dead.The army said in a statement that militants opened fire on a security checkpoint Saturday evening in the Jani Khel area of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, leading to a shootout with Pakistani troops. A search operation was underway to track the militants behind the attack.Taliban spokesman Mohammad Khorasani said in a statement on the group’s website that the group carried out the “joint attack” in collaboration with another faction of the Pakistani Taliban, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group. The militant group has been distancing itself from the Taliban, also known as TTP, and carrying out attacks independently. The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but are allied with the Afghanistan Taliban, who took over Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from the country. The takeove...

Mundelein man taken into custody after K9 bites him in arm

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

BEACH PARK, Ill. -- A K9 took a Mundelein man into custody after biting him in the arm during a pursuit in Beach Park overnight. According to police, 31-year-old Ricardo Perez will face two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm without a FOID or CCL card. Police responded to reports of a fight at a Beach Park motel in the 3900 block of North Sheridan Road. When officers arrived on the second floor of the motel and knocked on the room where the fight was taking place, Perez jumped out a second-floor window and fled on foot while armed with a pistol. 19 people shot, 3 dead in overnight violence on the South Side Canine Dax arrived on scene and recovered Perez's pistol discarded in a bush. He then tracked Perez hiding behind a bush.Ricardo Perez, 31,Police stated that Perez wound not surrender so Canine Dax bit him. Perez was transported to a local hospital for the dog bite and a leg injury he suffered after jumping from the motel window. He was discharged from the ho...

How to pay for pet care in an emergency

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

(NerdWallet) - "He's my little ball of sunshine," Mallory Bartels says of her 13-year-old Boston terrier, Buddha. With his shiny black coat and white spots on his paws that look like socks, Bartels describes him as a sweet pup with a playful personality.Buddha's zest for life was apparent when he jumped off the couch in Bartels' home near Seattle. The leap landed Buddha in urgent veterinary care with a ruptured disk and paralyzed legs that required spinal surgery.On top of being "a bawling mess" at the vet, Bartels also received a vet bill for over $5,000. "I didn't have savings or cash to pay for it," she says.According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent nearly $36 billion in veterinary care, surgical procedures, medication and other products through vet clinics in 2022. The APPA expects that number to increase by $1 billion in 2023.How do pet owners pay for emergency pet care? Here are options plus tips to prepare when Fido or Fluffy takes a tumble and needs...

What are Austinites' favorite doughnut shops?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — We asked, you answered: While National Doughnut Day was celebrated on Friday, enjoying fried, sweet doughy treats is a yearlong love affair.Where are the best doughnut shops in the greater Austin area? Here are the spots KXAN viewers recommended.Round Rock DonutsFor nearly 100 years, Round Rock Donuts has been nationally renowned for its recipe, noted for its unique, orangey yellow dough tint. Its original location is at 106 W. Liberty Ave. in Round Rock, with a second location at 1614 E. Whitestone Blvd. in Cedar Park.Donut PalaceLocated at 820 S. Colorado St. in Lockhart, Donut Palace features daily menu offerings that include raised, cake and specialty donuts along with kolaches, croissants, biscuits and a variety of drinks.Voodoo DoughnutPortland's funky, pink-tinted doughnut brand Voodoo Doughnut has become a staple in the Lone Star State's capital, with two locations in Austin off East 6th Street and Burnet Road. Grand DonutsLocated at 615 W. Slaughter Lane, St...

Maplewood’s Devin Padelford ecstatic over making MLS debut for Loons

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

Devin Padelford was a sophomore at Woodbury High School who needed extra money for a club soccer trip to Spain in 2019, so the Maplewood native took a temp job working concessions at Allianz Field during Minnesota United’s inaugural game that April in St. Paul.“I don’t really remember working; I was just watching the game,” Padelford recalled.Padelford’s newer full-time job is Loons’ left back and the 20-year-old Minnesotan made his MLS debut in a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday.“It was electric,” Padelford said postgame. “… I kind of just blacked out. But it was awesome and so happy to do it.”In March 2022, Padelford signed a three-year contract with the club he grew up supporting. He had designs on playing more last season, but only had cameos with the first team in the U.S. Open Cup and an international friendly match against Everton. Instead, Padelford spent most of last season and so far much of this year with MNUFC2, the club’s developmental team.“I got really down on mys...

Business People: Securian taps Target exec Malik to lead diversity efforts

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:51 GMT

OF NOTETariq MalikSecurian Financial, St. Paul, announced the hire of Tariq Malik as second vice president and chief diversity officer. Malik joined the company on April 24. Malik joins Securian from Target Corp., where he most recently was director of diversity, equity and inclusionARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERINGGolden Valley-based engineering and consulting firm WSB announced the promotions of Brad Oswald to director of survey and Pete Helder to director of survey operations, Minnesota.DESIGNMax Allers, of Max Marketing Communications, St. Paul, announced he has received a 13th national GDUSA American Digital Design Award for Print Design, Advertising Design and Website Design.FOODGeneral Mills, Golden Valley, announced Lanette Shaffer Werner has been named chief innovation, technology and quality officer, effective June 1. Werner joined General Mills as a research and development intern in 1995.FINANCIAL SERVICESU.S. Bank, Minneapolis, announced that it has named Beth Ann Bovino chief e...