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Bulgarian vote too early to call, narrow lead for reformists

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A reformist coalition led by former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov is the likely winner of Bulgaria’s parliamentary election after exit poll results showed it placing first on Sunday.The exit poll conducted by the Gallup International pollster showed the coalition between the We Continue the Change party and the right-wing Democratic Bulgaria with 25.3 %, apparently edging out the center-right GERB party ex-premier Boyko Borissov on 24.7 %.Initial results are expected on Monday, but it could take days before the final official results are announced. If they confirm the exit poll, Petkov’s coalition will be handed a mandate to form a cabinet.It looks, however, that it will be an uphill task for him to find allies to form a governing coalition in a fragmented parliament.In their first comments, political analysts predicted that the results, which do not differ significantly from the previous four elections held within the last two years, could lead to a viable coal...

Saudis, other oil giants announce surprise production cuts

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers on Sunday announced surprise cuts totaling 1.15 million barrels per day from May until the end of the year, a move that could raise prices worldwide.Higher oil prices would help fill Russian President Vladimir Putin’s coffers as his country wages war on Ukraine and force Americans and others to pay even more at the pump amid inflation fueled in part by that conflict.It was also likely to further strain ties with the United States, which has called on Saudi Arabia and other allies to increase production as it tries to bring prices down and squeeze Russia’s finances.The Saudi Energy Ministry said its own reduction of 500,000 barrels per day would be made in coordination with some OPEC and non-OPEC members, without naming them. The cuts are in addition to a reduction announced last October that infuriated the Biden administration.The ministry described the move as a “precautionary measure” aimed a...

Giants place catcher Joey Bart on 10-day IL with back strain

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a strain in the middle of his back.The move was made retroactive to March 31, and the team recalled right-handed reliever Sean Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento before its series finale against the New York Yankees.Bart was scratched from the lineup Saturday with back tightness, and manager Gabe Kapler said a scan showed a “very small” mid-back strain.“We don’t expect it to be a long-term thing. It feels more short term,” Kapler said. “We discussed the possibility of like, seven days. Maybe a few more.”Versatile rookie Blake Sabol was set to start behind the plate Sunday at Yankee Stadium. The 25-year-old Sabol was selected by Cincinnati from Pittsburgh in the Rule 5 draft for unprotected players at the winter meetings and then traded to San Francisco hours later.He made his major league debut on opening day and started the first two games of the season in left field, but Sab...

More oil producers join Saudis in announcing surprise production cuts, a total of 1.15 million barrels per day

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — More oil producers join Saudis in announcing surprise production cuts, a total of 1.15 million barrels per day.Source

Swiss prosecutor probes Credit Suisse takeover

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

Switzerland’s Federal Prosecutor has opened an investigation into the state-backed takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS Group, the office of the attorney general said Sunday.The prosecutor, based in the Swiss capital Bern, is looking into potential breaches of the country’s criminal law by government officials, regulators and executives at the two banks, which agreed on an emergency merger last month to avoid a meltdown in the country’s financial system.There were “numerous aspects of events around Credit Suisse” that warranted investigation and which needed to be analyzed to “identify any criminal offenses that could fall within the competence of the [prosecutor],” it said in a statement.“The Office of the Attorney General wants to proactively fulfill its mandate and responsibility to contribute to a clean Swiss financial center and has set up a monitoring system so that it can take action immediately on any issues that fall within its ar...

Recent Queen’s grads being investigated for Indigenous identity fraud 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

By Jeff PelletierLocal Journalism Initiative Reporter with Nunatsiaq NewsTwo Kingston residents and recent graduates from Queen’s University are being investigated by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc (NTI), an organization responsible for representing the Inuit of Nunavut, for what it describes as “potential” enrolment fraud who claimed Inuk heritage. According to a news release sent by NTI on Thursday evening, a woman named Karima Manji claimed her twin daughters, Amira and Nadya Gill, were adopted from an Inuk mother.However, according to the news release, NTI has received information from the woman identified as their birth mother that the Gill sisters are not her children.“Today, she initiated the process to have Amira and Nadya removed from the Inuit enrolment list,” NTI’s news release said.“The Iqaluit Community Enrolment Committee will review the removal application and make a decision.”NTI said this type of investigation has never happened previously in the organization’s history...

Recent wildfires a glaring reminder to protect your home

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Scars of Jefferson County’s latest fire, the Hogback Fire, served as a glaring reminder that wildfires are a very real threat in Colorado. “If it's not raining currently, give it an hour when things dry out. We call them the one-hour fuel, they're ready to burn after that,” said West Metro Fire Capt. Branden Finnegan. “There is no traditional fire season in Colorado anymore.” Colorado Wildfire Map Though the Hogback Fire kept to less than 50 acres, West Metro crews couldn’t help but draw parallels to the Marshall Fire.“So, you know when we talk about the wildland-urban interface where our structures meet up to the wildland areas, and sometimes those grasslands were left out of that equation and we saw it in the in the Marshall Fire how fast that rips through the grasslands and then up against combustible materials in our subdivisions,” said Finnegan. “The structures in our current common subdivisions, they're very close together and there's not a ...

No growth overnight in Stove Prairie Fire

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

BELLVUE, Colo. (KDVR) — A fire spanned dozens of acres in northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon.The Stove Prairie Fire was burning grass in the Cache la Poudre Wilderness, according to the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service.The fire was estimated to be about 45 acres and 50% contained and saw no growth overnight and into Sunday. No structures were reported as threatened. Colorado Wildfire Map: Updates, warnings, and smoke forecast The fire marked yet another after days of whipping winds in Colorado, including hurricane-force winds on Friday, which led to fires across the Front Range. The Pinpoint Weather team said gusts continued to hit northern Colorado on Saturday and were expected to pick up at night, with more windy weather in the forecast ahead.The National Weather Service had issued a hazardous weather outlook for northeast Colorado and into the Front Range mountains, with a red flag warning also in effect for South Park, the Palmer Divide and adjacen...

Saudis, OPEC+ states announce surprise oil cuts

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers announced surprise cuts totaling 1.15 million barrels per day from May until the end of the year, a move that could raise prices worldwide.Higher oil prices would help fill Russian President Vladimir Putin’s coffers as his country wages war on Ukraine and force Americans and others to pay even more at the pump amid worlwide inflation.The Saudi Energy Ministry said Sunday its own reduction of 500,000 barrels per day would be made in coordination with some OPEC and non-OPEC members, without naming them. The cuts are in addition to a reduction announced last October that infuriated the Biden administration.The ministry described the move as a “precautionary measure” aimed at stabilizing the oil market. The cuts represent less than 5% of Saudi Arabia’s average production of 11.5 million barrels per day in 2022.Iraq said it would reduce production by 211,000 barrels per day, the United Arab E...

Broad swaths of US reel from tornadoes that killed 29

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:01:58 GMT

WYNNE, Ark. (AP) — Residents across a wide swath of the South and Midwest on Sunday raced to assess the destruction wreaked by storms that dropped possibly dozens of tornadoes and killed at least 29 people in small towns and big cities, as severe weather moved into parts of the Northeast.Earlier storms tore a path through the Arkansas capital, collapsing the roof of a packed concert venue in Illinois and stunning people throughout the region Saturday with the damage’s scope.“That means that there is now assistance from the federal government to support the incredible efforts that are already underway from the state and the local communities,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in Little Rock, Arkansas, after visiting some of the hardest hit areas.Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders had already declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. At least five people were killed in her state.Confirmed or suspected tornadoes in 11 states destroyed homes an...