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18 bodies found in Greece as firefighters battle wind-driven wildfires across the country

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

By COSTAS KANTOURIS and ELENA BECATOROS (Associated Press)ALEXANDROUPOLIS, Greece (AP) — Firefighters on Tuesday found the burnt bodies of 18 people believed to have been migrants who had crossed the Turkish border into an area of northeastern Greece where wildfires have raged for days.The discovery near the city of Alexandroupolis came as hundreds of firefighters battled dozens of wildfires across the country amid gale-force winds. On Monday, two people died and two firefighters were injured in separate fires in northern and central Greece.With their hot, dry summers, southern European countries are particularly prone to wildfires. Another major blaze has been burning across Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands for a week, although no injuries or damage to homes was reported.European Union officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Europe, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 20...

Hawaii officials urge families of people missing after deadly fires to give DNA samples

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

By AUDREY McAVOY, CLAIRE RUSH and JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER (Associated Press)LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Authorities in Hawaii on Tuesday pleaded with relatives of those missing after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century to come forward and give DNA samples, saying the low number provided so far threatens to hinder efforts to identify any remains discovered in the rubble.Some 1,000 to 1,100 names remain on a tentative, unconfirmed list of people unaccounted for after wildfires destroyed the historic seaside community of Lahaina on Maui. But the family assistance center so far has collected DNA samples from just 104 families, said Julie French, who is helping lead efforts to identify remains by DNA analysis.Maui Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin, who is running the center, said the number of family members coming in to provide DNA samples is “a lot lower than they’ve seen in other disasters,” though it wasn’t immediately clear why.“That...

Crews continue battling N.W.T. wildfires, blaze remains 15 km from Yellowknife

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Crews continued Tuesday to battle wildfires that have forced seven out of every 10 Northwest Territories residents from their homes — or about 30,000 people.Environment and Climate Change Minister Shane Thompson said it was another challenging day for firefighters.“Crews continue to work hard to prevent these wildfires from reaching our communities,” Thompson said during a media briefing late Tuesday.“While we cannot control the weather, we can influence fire behaviour by cutting away fire fuels and strengthening defences around our communities. “And that’s exactly what crews are working so hard to do.”Fire information officer Mike Westwick said one fire remains about 15 kilometres from Yellowknife, the capital of 20,000 people, and one of multiple communities under an evacuation order.Westwick said firefighting work at Fort Smith, on the Alberta-N.W.T. boundary, was expected to be particularly challenging as temperatures approach 30...

Drones downed in Moscow and surrounding region with no casualties, Russian officials say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

Russian defenses downed Ukrainian drones in Moscow and the region around the capital early Wednesday, the defense ministry and the mayor said. No casualties were reported.Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said one drone fell into a building under construction in Moscow City, a prestigious business complex hit by drones twice before. Several windows were broken in two buildings nearby and emergency services responded to the scene.Russia’s Ministry of Defense said the drone had been electronically jammed.It blamed the attack on Ukraine and said two other drones were shot down by air defense systems in the Mozhaisk and Khimki areas of the Moscow region. Moscow airports briefly closed but have now reopened, according to Russian state media.Ukraine has since early this year sought to take the war into the heart of Russia. It has increasingly targeted Moscow’s military assets behind the front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine and at the same time has launched drones against Moscow.Though d...

Belt comes up clutch with home run as Blue Jays beat Orioles in extra innings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

Brandon Belt hit a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays picked up a crucial 6-3 win against the division-leading Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.Blue Jays batters combined for 12 hits, none more important than Belt’s 14th home run of the season in extras off Orioles reliever Michael Baumann.Brandon Belt would like us to tell you he's the MVP.This tweet may or may not have been written by Brandon Belt. pic.twitter.com/qITj9Y2WI2— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 23, 2023Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits, including a double, while Daulton Varsho had two hits, including a two-run home run in the second inning. It was Varsho’s 16th home run of the year.Kevin Kiermaier added an RBI double, while Matt Chapman finished with two hits.Blue Jays bullpen shuts down OriolesToronto was forced to utilize six relievers after starter Yusei Kikuchi could only get through 4 2/3 innings. Kikuchi gave up seven hits and three earned runs, strikin...

Illinois operators warn of day care crisis

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

Illinois day care operators fear a renewed focus on staffing requirements amidst an ongoing shortage of qualified workers could impact a parent’s ability to find a place to care for their kids.“We just don’t have the staff to take care of the children,” said Sarah Stoliker who is the president of the Illinois Directors/Owners of Child Care Centers.  Stoliker said many day care operators have been struggling to find qualified staff since before the pandemic.  Amidst the shortage, she said many have turned to assistant teachers as a backstop to supervise children.    Now, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is underscoring what’s known as the “3-Hour rule” which restricts the use of assistant teachers in rooms serving children age 2 and younger, requiring a certified teacher be present in the room. More from Investigates: Naked neighbor exposes cracks in indecency laws “[The rules were] never intended to allow teaching assistants to super...

Protesters stood outside Austin high school with anti-LGBTQ, abortion messages

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As students were released from McCallum High School Tuesday afternoon, the district confirms roughly eight protesters stood outside with anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion signs. "The protesters were on the sidewalk but were blocking the buses, so they were asked to move," a spokesperson for AISD said. "Austin ISD Police officers were on-site to ensure everyone's safety, and the protesters left after about an hour."KXAN does not share photos or videos of possible hate speech as standard practice. Texas State student accused of setting fire to Austin synagogue arrested "Instead we need to be standing up and saying that everyone belongs, and this is a community for everyone," said Council Member Alison Alter of District 10. In July, Alter officially helped launch an anti-hate campaign called "We All Belong." The program came about after a series of hate speech incidents and a hate crime in which Alter's synagogue -- Congregation Beth Israel -- was lit on fire in 2021. We...

Drone, firefighting aircraft nearly collided in Caldwell Co. fire, Texas A&M Forest Service says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A helicopter delivering water to the 150-acre Barth Fire in Caldwell County nearly collided with a drone that came within feet of the aircraft, the Texas A&M Forest Service said in a news release Tuesday.The agency said drones are a serious safety hazard for both the aviation resources, as well as the firefighters on the ground and can cause a serious or fatal accident if they collide with firefighting aircraft. 150-acre fire in Caldwell County fully contained “Pilots have no way to detect a drone or know there is one present in the airspace until they see it,” said Jared Karns, Texas A&M Forest Service State Aviation Manager. “Suppression aircraft can respond to wildfires quickly, increasing the likelihood that a new ignition remains a small, manageable wildfire. Utilizing aircraft greatly enhances the state’s firefighting efforts, but they have to be able to fly in a safe environment.”Furthermore, aerial firefighting may be suspended until the drone leav...

Bullpen blowup dooms Twins in loss to Brewers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

MILWAUKEE — Single after single found the outfield, and by the time Dylan Floro’s turbulent sixth inning was over, the Milwaukee Brewers had scored five runs.Some of the contact was soft — and one of the singles was nearly nabbed by shortstop Carlos Correa — but at inning’s end, six singles had produced five Brewers runs. That turned a slim advantage into a large hole that the Twins couldn’t climb out of in a 7-3 loss on Tuesday night at Miller Park.Floro had come on in relief for starter Bailey Ober, who was pulled after five innings in which he gave up two runs — both on a Willy Adames home run in the first inning.Ober’s pitch count was in check — at just 78 — but the righty has breezed past the most innings he has ever thrown as a professional this season, and earlier in the day, manager Rocco Baldelli suggested the Twins might try to lighten the load on Ober “giving him a day or a shorter outing.”Perhaps, the early exit was for that reason. At the time he left, the Twins were pr...

Carleton comes off bench to lead Lynx past Dallas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:58 GMT

Bridget Carleton made the most of her increased playing time.Carleton tied a season-high with 14 points off the bench before being ejected, and the Lynx held on to beat Dallas 91-86 Tuesday in a game that got extremely chippy and close at the end.Minnesota (16-17) moved within two games of the fourth-place Wings (18-15) in the league standings with seven games to play, including a rematch Thursday in the Lone Star State.Up 85-79, Carleton was whistled for her second flagrant foul to end her night with 25.4 seconds left. Satou Sabally made three ensuing free throws — after a few fans behind the Lynx bench were escorted out — and Veronica Burton one of two to get Dallas within two points.Napheesa Collier made a pair of free throws with 22.1 seconds left, Arike Ogunbowale countered with a trey. And after a time out, Kayla McBride added two free throws.Ogunbowale had a good look for Dallas, but her shot went off the rim and was grabbed by Collier, whose two free throws with 8.1 seconds ...