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Greek parliament passes government’s 2024 budget

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Greek parliament on Sunday evening approved the government’s 2024 budget, the first in 14 years with Greek debt listed at investment grade.The budget passed on a 158-142 vote in the 300-member body, with only lawmakers from the governing conservative New Democracy party voting for it. In a separate vote, the defense budget was approved 249-51, an unusually wide margin.A relatively low-key debate over the budget lasted five days.The budget forecasts 2.9% growth in the economy for 2024, up from a projected 2.4% in 2023, which is four times faster than the Eurozone average. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he hoped the economy could grow at least 3%, based on strong investment spending, forecast to rise 15.1%.Greece’s gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, was predicted to top 200 billion euros ($218 billion) for the first time since 2010, when Greece had to be rescued after defaulting on its debt.Inflation was forecast to average 2.8%, s...

16 killed in Christmas-season shootings in central Mexico state of Guanajuato

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Gunmen attacked a Christmas season party early Sunday, killing a dozen people in the town of Salvatierra in Mexico’s north-central state of Guanajuato, prosecutors said. State prosecutors also reported that four other people died in a shooting in the city of Salamanca, but did not describe the circumstances of that attack. Local media said the victims in Salvatierra were leaving an event hall following a Christmas party known as a “posada” when they were gunned down. Guanajuato has been the scene of bloody turf battles between the Jalisco cartel and local gangs backed by the Sinaloa cartel. The state has long had the highest number of homicides in Mexico.The Associated Press

Authorities: 5 people including 3 young children die in house fire in northwestern Arizona

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP) — Five people, including three young children, have died in a house fire in northwestern Arizona, authorities said Sunday, adding it appeared no adults were home at the time.Bullhead City police said the fire broke out around 5 p.m. Saturday and the victims did not make it out of the two-story duplex in that community near the Colorado River.A city fire department spokeswoman said the five victims were ages 2, 4, 5, 11 and 13. Their names weren’t immediately released Sunday.Authorities said the cause of the fire isn’t known yet.Police said there reportedly were no adults home at the time, but officials gave few other details.The fire is being investigated by the city’s police and fire departments and other agencies including the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.The Associated Press

Colombia’s leftist ELN rebels agree to stop kidnapping for ransom, at least temporarily

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Rebels from Colombia’s leftist National Liberation Army said Sunday they have agreed to stop using kidnapping as a fund-raising tactic, if the current cease-fire with the government is extended. The pledge came at the end of a round of talks between the two sides over the weekend in Mexico City.Colombians have grown angry at kidnappings by the guerrillas, known by their Spanish initials as the ELN. That anger mounted in October when the rebels abducted the father of soccer star Luis Díaz, and held him for 12 days before he was released. Diaz’s mother was rescued within hours by police. It is not clear if the rebels will release an estimated 38 Colombians they currently hold in captivity, often pending a ransom demand. Nor was it clear if the pledge would be respected in the cease-fire — declared in August and due to expire Jan. 29 — is not extended.Overcoming the kidnapping scandal marked a renewed breath of air for the often maligned peace talks.“After...

Senate border security talks grind on as Trump invokes Nazi-era ‘blood’ rhetoric against immigrants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House and Senate negotiators dug in Sunday laboring to reach a U.S. border security deal that would unlock President Joe Biden’s request for billions of dollars worth of military aid for Ukraine and other national security needs before senators leave town for the holiday recess. The Biden administration, which is becoming more deeply involved in the talks, is facing pressure from all sides over any deal. Negotiators had hoped to reach a framework by the weekend, but that’s highly unlikely. Republican leaders signaled that without bill text, an upcoming procedural would likely fail.The talks come as Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner in 2024, delivered alarming anti-immigrant remarks about “blood” purity over the weekend, echoing Nazi slogans of World War II to cheers at a political rally.“They’re poisoning the blood of our country,” Trump said about the record numbers of immigrants coming to the U.S. without immediate legal sta...

Chicago Bears blow another late lead, Mooney boots Hail Mary, bears lose to Cleveland Browns, 20-17

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

CLEVELAND – The Chicago Bears played inspired football for most of Sunday afternoon, especially on defense, but like they have done so many times under the Matt Eberflus-Luke Getsy regime, the Bears squandered a late lead and lost to the Cleveland Browns, 20-17.Defensive end Montez Sweat notched 7 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks and a tackle-for-loss, bringing his career-high total to 12.5 on the season, Chicago’s defense intercepted Browns quarterback Joe Flacco three times – including a pick six by Tremaine Edmunds – but Justin Fields and Getsy’s offense couldn’t muster enough when they were needed most to help Chicago climb back into the NFC playoff picture.Fields finished the day 19/40 for 166 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions through the air, and 7 carries for 30 yards on the ground. Chicago Bears release linebacker, promote tight end, linebacker to active roster Cleveland won the time-of-possession battle, edging the Bears by an even two minutes, 31:00-29:00, while also...

1 dead, 1 injured in West Side shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is dead and another is injured after a shooting on the city's West Side on Sunday.According to Chicago police, the deadly shooting happened just before 11 a.m. in the 3800 block of West Gladys Avenue in Garfield Park.Officers say they were called to the scene after receiving a gunshot detection alert and when they arrived, they found an unresponsive 28-year-old man who had suffered several gunshots.  Chicago man accused of concealing death of woman found in Auburn Gresham The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police a second unidentified man suffered a graze wound to his face, but refused medical treatment on the scene and was uncooperative with officers during an initial investigation.Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and an investigation is underway. Authorities say no arrests have been made in connection with the deadly shooting.  Search underway after bank robbery in Elmhurs...

Storm moving up East Coast after drenching Florida and South Carolina

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (AP) — A late-year storm unleashed heavy rain and gusty winds as it barreled up the East Coast on Sunday, flooding streets and forcing water rescues while causing the cancellation of holiday celebrations.In the waterfront community of Georgetown authorities made dozens of rescues after motorists were stranded by floodwaters, according to Jackie Broach, public information officer for Georgetown County, situated between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. More than 9 inches of rain fell in the area since late Saturday, causing high waters.“It’s not just the areas that we normally see flooding, that are flood-prone,” Broach said. “It’s areas that we’re not really expecting to have flooding issues.”Water rescues also took place on Kiawah and Seabrook islands, according to media outlets.There were numerous road closures across South Carolina's Lowcountry as the storm dumped heavy rain. The tide gauge at Charleston swelled to reach the city's highest nontropical tide on record a...

Dry through mid-week before several days of rain

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- What a treat of a Sunday with sunshine and highs in the low 70s after a cold start.Tonight won't be as cold as winds shift from the southwest to the north thanks to an arriving cold front. Overnight lows will drop down into the low to mid 40s.Tonight's forecastThis front won't bring rain or clouds, but a wind shift for Monday that will make the afternoon a little cooler. Afternoon highs on Monday should reach the mid 60s, roughly 5-6 degrees cooler than Sunday afternoon.Highs on MondayOur next cold night is Monday night with widespread 30s to start Tuesday morning. Some parts of the Hill Country might see a brief freeze again.Tuesday morning lowsClouds thicken up slowly on Tuesday and we turn mostly cloudy on Wednesday as temperatures climb back up to near 70º.A strong Pacific storm will bring low rain chances our way starting Thursday, but we're in for a much better chance of rain Friday through Sunday morning. It's a little too early to say if all of the rain will...

Texas Longhorns capture back-to-back NCAA volleyball titles, beat Nebraska 3-0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:02:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns are the NCAA volleyball champions again.The Longhorns (28-4) repeated as national champions with a dominant 3-0 win Sunday over top-ranked Nebraska (33-2) at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, thanks to some great serving in the second set.Texas's Emma Halter (2) celebrates with her teammates after winning the NCAA Division I women's college volleyball tournament against Nebraska on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)After winning the first set 25-22, the Longhorns trailed the Cornhuskers 10-7 until Asjia O'Neal stepped to the service line. She helped spark an 11-0 run with four aces to take control of the set. Texas had seven aces in the set, two from freshman setter Ella Swindle and another by Keonilei Akana, to win the set 25-14. Texas finished the match with a title match record 12 aces to Nebraska's two.Texas claimed the third set 25-11 for its second consecutive championship sweep after beating the Louisville Cardinal...