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Extreme weather claims 2 lives in Bulgaria and leaves many in the dark

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Gale-force winds and heavy rain and snow hit large parts of Bulgaria on Sunday, claiming the lives of two people and causing severe damage and disrupting power supply in towns and villages, officials said on Sunday.Residents in eastern Bulgaria, that was hit hardest by the storm said they had never experienced such weather.A state of emergency has been declared in the Black Sea city of Varna, where officials said the extreme weather poses serious risks to the population. The port city was struck by gale-force winds and torrential rain mixed with snow.The mayor’s office reported that the power supply is disrupted in all boroughs of Varna, key roads are blocked by fallen trees and branches, leaving vehicles stranded. It called on citizens to stay at home and not to use their cars except in urgent cases.Varna International Airport was open, but there were delayed and canceled flights, airport officials said.On Saturday, police reported that a man had died after h...

Roadside bomb kills 3 people in Pakistan’s insurgency-hit Baluchistan province

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A roadside bomb exploded, killing three people in insurgency-hit southwestern Baluchistan province on Sunday, police said.Police officer Mohammad Rahim said the bomb was planted on a dirt road in Balgatar area of Kech district and was detonated remotely. Three men, two of whom were brothers, were killed while on their way to a family gathering, and a privately owned car was destroyed, he said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast but suspicion falls on Baluch nationalists turned separatist groups who have been involved in low-level insurgency for over two decades in the gas and mineral-rich province. The groups have been calling for independence from the central government in Islamabad.Kech district and surrounding areas have suffered from insurgency for years. Insurgent groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on security forces and civilian targets in recent months. Islamic militants and a banned Sunni extremist group also operate...

At least 30 premature babies evacuated from Gaza’s main hospital, health officials say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 30 premature babies were evacuated from Gaza’s main hospital on Sunday and will be transferred to facilities in Egypt, the territory’s Health Ministry said.Medhat Abbas, a spokesman for the ministry, confirmed the evacuation in a phone call with The Associated Press. A World Health Organization team that visited Shifa Hospital on Saturday said 32 babies were among scores of critically ill patients stranded at the hospital, where Israeli forces have been operating since last week. It was not immediately possible to resolve the discrepancy in the numbers. There was no immediate comment from the WHO.The WHO team said earlier Sunday that 291 patients were left at Shifa after Israeli troops had others evacuate. They included the babies in extremely critical condition, trauma patients with severely infected wounds, and others with spinal injuries who are unable to move.The team was able to tour Shifa Hospital for an hour after about 2,50...

Horoscopes Nov. 19, 2023: Meg Ryan, start something new

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jodie Foster, 61; Meg Ryan, 62; Allison Janney, 64; Ann Curry, 67.Happy Birthday: Think outside the box, and act on gut feelings. Pay attention to the changes around you this year; you will instinctively know how to get what you want. Don’t let opportunities slip away because you are focusing on drama. Know when to call it quits and when to start something new. Be direct, confident and quick to respond. Your numbers are 8, 13, 17, 26, 31, 35, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Give yourself a moment to review details, and consider who or what you need to reach your goal. Look for the most cost-efficient way to proceed; you’ll impress and compel someone with something to contribute. A physical pick-me-up is apparent. 4 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t let mixed emotions confuse you or worry about someone backing out or taking a different path. Stick to what you want and concentrate on reaching your goal. Adapt and use your skills to fit ...

Word Game: Nov. 19, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — AMUSEMENT (AMUSEMENT: uh-MYOOZ-mint: A pleasurable diversion or pastime.)Average mark 47 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 59 or more words in AMUSEMENT?TODAY’S WORD — AMUSEMENT amen amuse ante aunt mane manse mast mate meanest means meant meat meme menu mesa meta mete muse must mute unease unmet unseat same sane sate sateen saute seam seamen seat seem seen semen senate sent smut stamen steam stem stun suet ease east eaten enate enema ensue name neat nest tame team tease teem teen tense tuna tuneTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns...

Ask Amy: After 25 years with my fiancé, I’m apparently not family yet

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

Dear Amy: I have been with my fiancé for 25 years. We’ve lived together all of that time.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I’m hurt that my friends didn’t realize I needed their help Advice | Ask Amy: We rushed home from our trip, and then we learned what our friend’s ’emergency’ was Advice | Ask Amy: Am I wrong to think my son should put aside his trauma for our family’s sake? Advice | Ask Amy: I found out why I was behaving badly, but my wife won’t come back Advice | Ask Amy: The bride and I aren’t speaking because of her non-negotiable demand I opened my door to his kids and thought we were all family, but I found out that’s not the case.My fiancé’s grandson died suddenly, and in the death notice my fiancé’s deceased wife was mentioned (as it should be) and all the aunts’ husbands were also mentioned, but nowhere was I mentioned as a loving partner to my...

Last Republican on Philly City Council Fired Staffer Who Reported Sexual Harassment, Says Lawsuit

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

The office of a Philadelphia City Council member fired a staff member who took medical leave for mental health treatment after a complaint that she was sexually harassed by another staffer.Philadelphia City Council member and Minority Leader Brian O’Neill, the last remaining Republican on the council after this month’s elections, fired an administrative assistant in his office in April 2017, less than six months after she accused a co-worker of sexual harassment, according to court documents.The administrative assistant, Linda Trush, sued the city in 2021 and alleged that she was repeatedly sexually harassed by a co-worker and subjected to a hostile work environment before being unlawfully terminated from her job. In her suit, Trush said she was retaliated against after reporting “severe and pervasive sexual harassment” and taking medical leave for mental health treatment as a result of the alleged harassment. (Trush’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.)&nb...

Beautiful, Sunny Start to New Week

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

Following clouds and milder temperatures on Saturday, more sunshine returns Sunday as an upper-level disturbance continues to depart from the Sunshine State.Expect mostly sunny skies for our Sunday with highs very seasonable into the low 80s. Humidity will be nice and low along with a light breeze out of the north.That wind will shift more out of the east by Monday morning though, allowing for a gradual warmup. Temperatures should gradually rise through Wednesday as a result, returning to the mid 80s for highs and lows back in the 70s.There will also be a brief increase in the beach breeze Monday into Tuesday, which will provide hazardous marine conditions.Through this early week period, the pattern will be quiet with bright and generally sunny skies and low rain chances.That will change by Thanksgiving, however, as a front nears South Florida. The model guidance remains in disagreement in regards to how far south this front will be. At this time, look for rain chances in the 20-30%...

‘Death zone:’ WHO slams situation at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

The World Health Organization described Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital as a “death zone,” after a U.N. team visited the largest medical complex in the Palestinian enclave on Saturday.“The team saw a hospital no longer able to function: no water, no food, no electricity, no fuel, medical supplies depleted,” WHO’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, wrote on social media. He announced WHO was trying to set up an urgent evacuation plan from the current situation, which was described as “unbearable and unjustifiable,” and called for a cease-fire. Some 290 patients, including 32 babies in extremely critical condition, were left at al-Shifa, according to the U.N.-led mission, which accessed the facility briefly. The team also saw a mass grave at the entrance of the hospital, it said.Meanwhile, the White House said the U.S. was working “hard” to get a deal between Israel and Hamas that would see the release of hostages seized by the militant group in e...

Saturday’s high school tournament scoreboard

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:56:10 GMT

FOOTBALLBen Scalzi’s third touchdown pass of the game, a 34-yarder to Mehki Bryan with 9:32 left, gave top-seeded Hanover (11-0) a hard-fought 27-24 win over No. 5 Danvers in a Div. 5 state semifinal.Alex Barlow rushed for 135 yards and a pair of scores as No. 1 Duxbury (9-1) defeated No. 4 Tewksbury 19-7 in a Div. 4 state semifinal. The Dragons will face Scituate in a rematch of the 2021 Div. 4 final.Patrick Miller threw three TD passes, while Nathan Ehui ran for two scores as No. 3 Milton (8-3) defeated 10th-seeded Westfeld 37-14 in a Div. 3 state semifinal.Justin Marques ran for 247 yards and five touchdowns on 44 carries as No. 8 Fairhaven (10-1) held off fourth-seeded Hudson 40-37 in a Div. 6 semifinal. Colby Correia added 152 yards and a touchdown on six carries.Jamie McNamara ran for a pair of scores as No. 1 West Boylston (11-0) blanked No. 4 Cathedral 36-0 in a Div. 8 semifinal.Charly Gublin threw for three scores and ran for a fourth as Hamden Hall (9-0) held off Dexter So...