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Police believe Ukraine war has triggered a crime wave … in rural England

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

LONDON — Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has had repercussions for every part of Europe. A spate of burglaries in the sleepier corners of rural England may seem an unlikely addition to the list.But British police say organized criminal gangs are sending machinery and equipment stolen from farms across the U.K. to Eastern Europe in rapidly-increasing quantities, and blame the crippling Western sanctions imposed on Russia for soaring demand.“We know from where we’ve recovered equipment, where we are seeing equipment we have recovered but also that’s being tracked before we can intercept it, it’s heading to Eastern Europe, without a doubt,” Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, who leads the U.K.’s National Rural Crime Unit, told POLITICO. Huddlestone has no conclusive evidence the equipment is ultimately destined for heavily sanctioned Russia, but says he and senior colleagues are in little doubt.“If you asked me my professional opinion, for a country that’s under ...

Mexico president’s ruling party forecast to win governorship of country’s most populous state

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

NAUCALPAN, Mexico (AP) — A quick-count sampling of votes for governor of Mexico’s most populous state suggested a victory late Sunday for the candidate from the governing party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which would end nearly a century of uninterrupted rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party.Preliminary results indicated Delfina Gómez of the Morena party was likely to win between 52.1% and 54.2% of the ballots in the State of Mexico, compared with 43% to 45.2% for Alejandra del Moral, representing the opposition coalition, according to the National Electoral Institute.The forecast was based on representative sampling of voting stations with at least 95% certainty. The outcome will not be final until all ballots were counted. Participation was between 48.7 and 50.2% of eligible state voters.The State of Mexico hugs Mexico City on three sides, encompassing urban sprawl and rural ranches, as well as stunning inequality, violence and corruption. For decades i...

Australian mother imprisoned 20 years pardoned and freed because of doubt she killed her 4 children

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian woman who spent 20 years in prison was pardoned and released Monday based on new scientific evidence that her four children died by natural causes as she had insisted.The pardon was seen as the quickest way of getting Kathleen Folbigg out of prison, and a final report from the second inquiry into her guilt could recommend the state Court of Appeals quash her convictions.Folbigg, now 55, was released from a prison in Grafton, New South Wales state, following an unconditional pardon by Gov. Margaret Beazley.Australian state governors are figureheads who act on instructions of governments. New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley said former justice Tom Bathurst had advised him last week there was reasonable doubt about Folbigg’s guilt based on new scientific evidence that the deaths could have been from natural causes.“There is a reasonable doubt as to Ms. Folbigg’s guilt of the manslaughter of her child Caleb, the infliction of gri...

Heat roar back in the fourth quarter, beat Nuggets 111-108 to tie NBA Finals series

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Staring down a 2-0 deficit in the NBA Finals, as the visitors in a hostile arena where no road team had prevailed in more than two months, the Miami Heat decided to do what they’ve done throughout the post-season.They found a way. Against all odds. Again.The Heat tied the NBA Finals and had to overcome a monster 41-point effort from Nikola Jokic to do it. Gabe Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 and Heat beat the Denver Nuggets 111-108 in Game 2 on Sunday night.“Our guys are competitors,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They love these kind of moments.”Evidently.They were down by as many as 15 points, down eight going into the fourth, and those numbers signified they were going to lose. Denver was 11-0 in these playoffs when leading by double digits at any point in a game, and 37-1 this season overall when leading by at least eight going into the fourth.The Heat didn’t care. They outscored Denver 17-5 in the first 3:17 of the fourt...

Award-winning Hong Kong journalist wins appeal in rare court ruling upholding media freedom

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — An award-winning Hong Kong journalist won an appeal quashing her conviction related to work on her investigative documentary Monday in a rare court ruling upholding media freedom in the territory.Bao Choy was found guilty in April 2021 of deceiving the government by getting vehicle ownership records for journalistic purposes after she had declared in her online application that she would use the information for “other traffic and transport related issues.” The investigative journalist was trying to track down perpetrators of a mob attack on protesters and commuters inside a train station during the massive anti-government protests in 2019 for her documentary.Choy was fined 6,000 Hong Kong Dollars ($765) for two counts of making false statements at that time and called it “a very dark day for all journalists in Hong Kong.” That ruling also sparked outrage among local journalists over the city’s shrinking press freedom.On Monday, judges of the city’s top court unanimo...

Sunday night Forecast: mostly clear and low of 62

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. NE 5-10 mph. Low: 62, upper 50s away from the lakeMonday: Increasing clouds & slight chance of late evening showers. NE 10-15 mphHigh: 82, Low: 73 by the lakeExtended outlook calls for a weak cold front to move through Monday into Tuesday that could deliver a brief spotty shower or two. Tuesday more cloud cover and highs a bit cooler into the low 70s, 60s by the lake. We'll get back into the upper 70s for Wed/Thu. Friday temps close to 80 and chance of late day showers with some continuing into Saturday. attached: ontario fire risk and active fires from Ontario Ministry of Nat'l Resources & Forestry and the AirNow Air Quality Map fr the U.S. Geological Services Attached: Ontario fire risk and active fires from Ontario Ministry of National Resources & Forestry and the AirNow Air Quality Map from the U.S. Geological Services 

Officers responding to 911 call shoot and kill man in St. Croix County

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

Law enforcement officers in St. Croix County on Saturday night shot and killed an armed 42-year-old man whose wife called 911 to report that her husband was “out of control” and “ready” to bring out his assault rifle, officials say.Officers from the New Richmond Police Department and St. Croix County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 911 call that came in about 10:45 p.m. Saturday at a home in the 1900 block of County Trunk Highway CC in Star Prairie Township, Wis., according to a news release Sunday.When they arrived, the woman was outside but two juveniles were still inside the home. According to the release, the man threatened law enforcement officials, who saw through a window that he was armed with a hunting rifle. He continued to make threats and then left the house with a long gun “to confront” the law enforcement officers, the release says, and a sheriff’s deputy and a New Richmond police officer both shot the man. He died at...

After appealing closure, Duluth Heights church reopens with Vatican blessing

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

Sunlight filtered in through green, red and yellow stained glass in the St. Joseph Catholic Church sanctuary.Parishioners knelt, sang and prayed with the Rev. John Petrich at the altar, and the 11-person worship team was ready to chime in. The pews and the parking lot were nearly full, and searching for open spots seems a welcomed task for these parishioners.For more than two years, the church, located at 151 Linden St., in the Duluth Heights neighborhood, remained empty due to a decree, set forth by the Diocese of Duluth, to close in 2019.In a very rare occurrence, St. Joseph parish appealed to the Vatican, which, after a long process, ordered the church to reopen as an independent entity, which it did Nov. 6, 2021, with Petrich at the helm.“The universal church for Catholics throughout the whole world listened to people from a little tiny parish in the middle of a little tiny town called Duluth, Minnesota. They presented their case, and the Vatican said, ‘You shouldn’t have ...

LGBT Pride Month celebrations return to Glens Falls

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The first full week of Pride Month is kicking off with the Glens Falls Pride Festival. For the first time in about five years, everyone in the city was able to celebrate and express themselves.Lower Adirondack Pride, formerly known as The Bridge, regrouped in time for June's Pride events. President of the non-profit, Cam Cardinale, says the name isn’t the only thing that has changed. “We are excited to take it back to Glens Falls. We moved it from Crandall Park back here to City Park to make the event more visible," said Cardinale. Capital Pride Parade and Festival 2023 announced Members of the LGBTQ+ say being able to shine and show their true colors helps strengthen the community. That spirit of togetherness bringing a tear to attendee, Tiger Lily Dickey's, eyes. “Very excited, a little emotional. Just getting to see everyone in their element and being themselves," described Dickey. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivere...

Police: Woman found dead in Castle Point home

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:55:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department are investigating a homicide after a woman was found dead in a Castle Point home on Sunday.According to Officer Adrian Washington, a county police spokesman, officers from the North County Precinct were called to a home in the 10500 block of Earl Drive shortly after 4:20 p.m.Officers found the body of a woman inside a bedroom. Ballwin man killed in I-44 collision with abandoned truck Investigators determined the woman died as a result of an incident between individuals who knew one another, Washington said.As of Sunday night, police have not released any additional information.Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous and receive a cash reward can call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.