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AP PHOTOS: Crowds bundle up to take snowy photos of Beijing’s imperial-era architecture

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Throngs of people in down parkas and boots climbed a hill that overlooks the Forbidden City this week to jostle with others trying to get a shot of the snow-covered roofs of the former imperial palace.For many people in Beijing, a snowfall means it’s time to bundle up and head out to take photos of a city dotted with traditional architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties that ruled the country for more than five centuries.Successive snowstorms, a relative rarity in the normally arid Chinese capital, drew crowds to the hill and other popular spots with restored ornate buildings as a backdrop.Some people posed like models in period costumes or modern outfits, some for photos no doubt destined for social media posts.Snow fell across much of northern and central China on Monday, and again on Wednesday and Thursday. Nearly 200 sections of highways and other roads were closed in 10 provinces on Thursday morning, though dozens had reopened by the afternoon, the Transport ...

President Vladimir Putin says Russia’s goals in Ukraine remain unchanged, no peace until they’re achieved

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin says Russia’s goals in Ukraine remain unchanged, no peace until they’re achieved.Source

Hallelujah! National Philharmonic performs Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at Strathmore and Capital One Hall

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

The National Philharmonic performs Handel's "Messiah." (Courtesy Strathmore) The National Philharmonic performs Handel's "Messiah." (Courtesy Strathmore) The spiritual music has endured for centuries with transcendent performances every holiday season.The National Philharmonic performs Handel’s “Messiah” at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, on Dec. 16 and 17, followed by a performance at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia, on Dec. 20.“It’s the longest nonstop-running show in the history of civilization,” music director Piotr Gajewski told WTOP. “From the year it premiered in 1742, it’s had revivals every single year, first only in England, then it came over t...

Tulane hosts Furman following Williams’ 31-point outing

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

Furman Paladins (5-5) at Tulane Green Wave (6-2)New Orleans; Thursday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Green Wave -6; over/under is 172.5BOTTOM LINE: Furman visits the Tulane Green Wave after Alex Williams scored 31 points in Furman’s 100-58 victory over the Bob Jones Bruins.The Green Wave have gone 4-0 at home. Tulane scores 86.9 points and has outscored opponents by 7.6 points per game.The Paladins are 0-3 in road games. Furman ranks third in the SoCon scoring 37.6 points per game in the paint led by Marcus Foster averaging 11.0.Tulane’s average of 5.6 made 3-pointers per game is 1.8 fewer made shots on average than the 7.4 per game Furman allows. Furman averages 84.1 points per game, 4.8 more than the 79.3 Tulane gives up to opponents.TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin Cross is scoring 18.0 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Green Wave. Kolby King is averaging 15.1 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 54.2% for Tulane.Foster is scoring 19.8 points per ...

Senate passes sweeping defense policy bill

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

(CNN) — The Senate voted on Wednesday to pass a critical defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets the policy agenda and authorizes funding for the Department of Defense annually.The final negotiated version of the NDAA for fiscal year 2024 authorizes $886 billion in national defense funding, an increase of $28 billion over last year.It is expected to be approved by the Senate with bipartisan support and would next go to the House, with lawmakers hoping it will pass through both chambers before the end of the week. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 87 to 13.The sweeping legislation authorizes a 5.2% pay raise for members of the military as part of a wide range of provisions related to service member pay and benefits, housing and childcare. In a move that sparked anger from some lawmakers, the bill will include a short-term extension of a controversial law that permits warrantless...

Two transported to hospital after 3-alarm fire in Orange, house a total loss

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

Two people were rushed to the hospital after being rescued from a three-alarm fire in Orange Thursday morning.Fire crews arrived at the house on West River Street just after midnight, battling the blaze for over three hours.Two residents who were trapped inside the home were located and removed by firefighters before being transported to local hospitals. Three animals, also trapped inside, were removed safely.Orange Fire Chief James Young said the house was a “total loss” from the fire.

Police searching for 3 missing boys last seen in downtown Toronto

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

Toronto police are concerned for the safety of three boys who have been missing since Wednesday afternoon.Police say nine-year-old Sylas, 12-year-old Dallas, and 14-year-old River were last seen around 3:30 p.m. in the King Street and University Avenue area of downtown Toronto.The boys are being described as:Sylas, 9, is four feet six inches tall with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red an black coat, grey sweater, grey pants, black shoes, black hat and a black packpackDallas, 12, is five feet six inches tall with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black coat, black pants, black shoes and a green backpackRiver, 14, is five feet five inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black jacket, tan pants, black shoes and a black backpackMISSING: (CONTINUED)Sylas, 9Dallas, 12River, 14– Dallas is 5'6, short brown hair and brown eyes, wearing black coat, black pants, black shoes, green backpack– ...

WSJ reporter Gershkovich to remain in detention until end of January after court rejects his appeal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia on espionage charges, lost an appeal on Thursday to be released from jail and will remain in custody at least until Jan. 30. Gershkovich, 32, was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow. Russia’s Federal Security Service alleged that the reporter, “acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.” He has been behind bars ever since. The Lefortovo District Court in Moscow on Nov. 28 ruled to extend his detention until the end of January, and the appeal Gershkovich has filed against that ruling was rejected by the Moscow City Court at a hearing Thursday.Gershkovich and the Journal deny the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russia...

Pope, once a victim of AI-generated imagery, calls for treaty to regulate artificial intelligence

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Thursday called for an international treaty to ensure artificial intelligence is developed and used ethically, arguing that the risks of technology lacking human values of compassion, mercy, morality and forgiveness are too great.Francis added his voice to increasing calls for binding, global regulation of AI in his annual message for the World Day of Peace, which the Catholic Church celebrates each Jan. 1. The Vatican released the text of the message on Thursday.For Francis, the appeal is somewhat personal: Earlier this year, an AI-generated image of him wearing a luxury white puffer jacket went viral, showing just how quickly realistic deepfake imagery can spread online. The pope’s message was released just days after European Union negotiators secured provisional approval on the world’s first comprehensive AI rules that are expected to serve as a gold standard for governments considering their own regulation.Artificial intelligence has captured world a...

Turkish minister says Somalia president’s son will return to face trial over fatal highway crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:47:57 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The son of the president of Somalia will return to Turkey in the coming days to face trial over a fatal highway crash in Istanbul, Turkey’s justice minister said Thursday.Yunus Emre Gocer, a 38-year-old motorcycle courier, was hit by a car driven by the Somalia president’s son, Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on a highway in Istanbul. The man died in a hospital six days later on Dec. 6. Turkish authorities ordered the president’s son arrested and barred him from traveling abroad, but reports said Mohamud had already left Turkey by the time the warrant was issued. Turkey also launched an investigation into officials who conducted an initial investigation into the crash and reportedly allowed Mohamud to go free. “We have held talks with Somali judicial authorities,” Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc told reporters. “It will be possible for the defendant to come to Turkey and to participate in the trial process in the coming days.”“I have talked to the Somali justice m...