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US military in talks to escort commercial ships in Red Sea amid attacks from Iranian-backed militants

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

Washington (CNN) — The US is considering beefing up protections for commercial ships around a vital Red Sea shipping route amid a series of recent missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants operating out of Yemen, according to military officials.The US has discussed ways to increase security in the area with members of the Combined Maritime Forces, a multi-national naval task force charged with protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. US officials have said publicly that discussions have centered on the possibility of escorting ships operating in the Red Sea and through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait into the Gulf of Aden — the narrow channel that separates Yemen and the Horn of Africa.Seven members of the task force — made up of 39 nations that rotate command — have already offered to help, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told an audience at the Atlantic Council in Washington on Monday. US officials have dec...

A painting valued at $15,000 turned out to be by Rembrandt. Now it has sold for almost $14 million

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

London (CNN) — A painting valued at $15,000 just two years ago fetched almost £11 million ($13.8 million) at a Sotheby’s auction on Wednesday after being identified as the work of the Dutch master Rembrandt.“Adoration of the Kings” had been virtually unseen since the 1950s, when it first came to light. It was acquired by collector J.C.H. Heldring in Amsterdam in 1955. His widow sold it to a German family in 1985, where it remained until it was sold by Christie’s in Amsterdam two years ago.At the time of that sale, Christie’s attributed the biblical scene to the “Circle of Rembrandt,” suggesting it had been carried out by a student or an artist close to the famous painter, and estimated its value at between €10,000 and €15,000 (then around $10,600 to $15,900).The monochromatic painting, which measures 9.6 x 7.3 inches, was purchased by an anonymous buyer for €860,000 (then around $910,000) at the Christie’s sale — more than 50 times the painting’s estimated v...

Patriots-Steelers preview: What to watch for on Thursday Night Football

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

Barring a small football miracle, Thursday night will be an ugly, low-scoring affair in Pittsburgh.Backup quarterbacks, rugged defenses and teams coming off a short week after disappointing losses.But it won’t take a miracle for the Patriots to pull an upset.How so? Here’s what to watch for against the Steelers:When the Patriots runWithout Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott will take over lead duties in the backfield Thursday.Elliott rushed for 52 yards on 17 carries in Stevenson’s absence last week. Elliott, even in the twilight of his career, offers plus power and an all-around skill set, which could force him to play most third downs and perhaps upwards of 70% of the team’s offensive snaps. On the season, he’s averaging 3.8 yards per carry.“He runs very tough and physical,” Pats center David Andrews said of Elliott this week. “He’s got great vision, good quickness. I think he’s just a tough, physical back, and I’ve always thought ...

Officer and utility worker killed in hit-and-run crash; suspect also accused of stealing cruiser

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — A pickup truck driver in a suburb of Boston is accused of crashing into a police officer and a utility employee at a work site, killing them, then pulling a knife on another officer before stealing his cruiser and crashing, law enforcement officials said.Two other utility workers were injured in the initial crash Wednesday afternoon in Waltham, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Boston, and “multiple other vehicles” were struck by the truck before it was abandoned, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a news release. “Clearly what happened … is an unimaginable tragedy,” Ryan said at a news conference. “These two men were doing their job at 4 o’clock in the afternoon when they were killed and crashes like this happen far too often.” After the cruiser crashed, police said they arrested the driver after a brief foot pursuit. A 54-year-old man from Woodsville, New Hampshire, was charged with two counts of manslaughter and armed robbery and was ...

UK says Russia’s intelligence service behind sustained attempts to meddle in British democracy

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Russia’s intelligence services targeted high-profile British politicians, civil servants and journalists with cyberespionage and “malicious cyberactivity” as part of sustained attempts to interfere in U.K. political processes, Britain’s government said Thursday. The Foreign Office said Russia’s FSB agency was responsible for a range of cyberespionage operations in the U.K., including targeting British parliamentarians from multiple parties and “high-profile individuals and entities” from at least 2015, and selectively leaking and amplifying sensitive information to serve Russian interests.Foreign Office minister Leo Docherty told lawmakers that a cybergroup known as “Star Blizzard,” which British cybersecurity officials believe to be “almost certainly subordinate” to an FSB unit, created false identities to impersonate legitimate contacts and compromise email accounts in the public sector.“The targeting of this group is not limited to poli...

Pedestrian seriously hurt after getting trapped under bus in Mississauga

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

A woman is expected to survive after being struck and then becoming trapped under a bus in Mississauga on Wednesday night.Emergency crews were called to Elm Drive and Mississauga Valley Boulevard, near Central Parkway East and Hurontario Street, around 8:15 p.m. for reports of a bus hitting a pedestrian.A woman was found trapped underneath a MiWay transit bus at the intersection.The victim was initially rushed to hospital with critical injuries, but police tell CityNews she is expected to survive.No charges have been laid as of yet. The investigation is ongoing.

British poet and political activist Benjamin Zephaniah dies at age 65

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Benjamin Zephaniah, a British dub poet and political activist who drew huge inspiration from his Caribbean roots, has died. He was 65.In a statement on Instagram, his family said Zephaniah died Thursday after being diagnosed with a brain tumor eight weeks ago. The statement was confirmed by his agent, Jodie Hodges. “We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news,” the family said.Zephaniah, who was born in Birmingham on April 15, 1958, is best known for his work on racism, refugees and healthy eating. He also appeared on the popular BBC television show Peaky Blinders.“Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator, he gave the world so much,” the family said. “Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television, and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy.”The Associated Press

Laurentian Bank reports $30.6M Q4 profit, down from $55.7M a year ago

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

MONTREAL — Laurentian Bank of Canada reported its fourth-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as it was hit by restructuring and other costs related to its strategic review and a major computer outage in September.The Montreal-based bank says it earned $30.6 million or 67 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 31, down from a profit of $55.7 million or $1.26 per diluted share a year earlier.The bank says the results included a $5.3-million charge related to the mainframe outage and $15.9 million in restructuring and strategic-review related charges.Revenue for the quarter totalled $247.4 million, down from $257.1 million a year ago, while provisions for credit losses totalled $16.7 million for the quarter compared with $17.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.On an adjusted basis, Laurentian says it earned $1 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $1.31 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.Laurentian named Éric Prov...

Seychelles declares state of emergency after huge explosion; at least 3 dead in separate flooding

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

VICTORIA, Seychelles (AP) — The president of Seychelles declared a state of emergency on Thursday after a huge blast at an explosives depot and flooding in other parts of the country’s main island. Three people have died in the flooding, local media reported.The explosion overnight in the industrial area of Providence, southeast of the capital, Victoria, caused “massage damage” to it and surrounding areas, President Wavel Ramkalawan’s office said in a statement, which ordered the state of emergency. It ordered people to stay at home to give emergency services space to work.“Everyone is being asked to stay at home,” the statement said. “All schools will be closed. Only workers in the essential services and persons traveling will be allowed free movement.”“This is to allow the emergency services to carry out essential work.”The flooding has caused “major destruction,” the statement said.Ramkalawan told reporters later Thursday that three people had died in the heavy ...

St. John’s airport reopens after investigation into suspicious package

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:26 GMT

The international airport in St. John’s, Newfoundland, has been reopened following an investigation into the discovery of a suspicious package.The airport’s social media account on X, the platform formally known as Twitter, says the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has resolved the situation, and the airport is once again open for operations.The R-N-C’s X account noted that patrol officers initially took control of the situation, and then utilized a specialized unit to make the area safe.Police are expected to provide an update later this morning.Due to the interruption in service at the airport, travellers may see a slight delay.Airport officials are urging passengers to contact their airline directly for flight information.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2023.The Canadian Press