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Year: 2024

Taliban arrest women for ‘bad hijab’ in the first dress code crackdown since their return to power

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban spokesman says authorities have arrested women in the Afghan capital Kabul for wearing “bad hijab.” It’s the first official confirmation of a crackdown on women who don’t follow the dress code imposed by the Taliban since they returned to power in 2021. Thursday’s development is the latest blow to

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Road closures in El Paso County, Las Cruces Thursday, January 4

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Here is a list of road closures scheduled for Thursday, January 4 for El Paso County and the City of Las Cruces. For updates in El Paso, click here.  (https://twitter.com/txdotelp) For a look at more information from TxDOT, click here. (https://www.txdot.gov/about/newsroom/local/el-paso.html) For updates in Las Cruces, click here. (https://www.lascruces.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=20) I-10 Widening West

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Airstrike in central Baghdad kills Iran-backed militia leader as regional tensions escalate

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and ABBY SEWELL Associated Press BAGHDAD (AP) — Officials say an airstrike on the logistical support headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad has killed a high-ranking militia commander. Thursday’s strike comes amid mounting regional tensions fueled by the Israel-Hamas war and fears that it could spill over into surrounding countries.

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Germany’s CO2 emissions are at their lowest in 7 decades, study shows

By GEIR MOULSON Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — A study shows that carbon dioxide emissions in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, dropped to their lowest level in seven decades. The use of coal declined unexpectedly sharply in 2023 and economic pressures weighed down production by energy-intensive industry. The Agora Energiewende think tank said Thursday its preliminary

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Extreme cold leaves thousands without power in Nordic countries as floods persist in Germany

By JAN M. OLSEN Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Extremely cold temperatures compounded by strong winds and snow are wreaking havoc across the Nordic region, leaving thousands without power while others braved the cold for hours stuck in their cars along clogged highways. Serious problems with rail services have been reported as a result

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Biden administration announces $162 million to expand computer chip factories in Colorado and Oregon

By JOSH BOAK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is providing $162 million to Microchip Technology to support the domestic production of computer chips — the second funding announcement tied to a 2022 law designed to revive U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. The incentives announced Thursday include $90 million to improve a plant in Colorado

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French report says the UK isn’t cooperating enough to curb migrant crossings across the Channel

By SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press PARIS (AP) — A French report says the United Kingdom is not sufficiently coordinating with France in efforts to reduce the number of migrants illegally crossing the English Channel in small boats. The report from the Court of Account released Thursday also points to the “uncertain effectiveness” of illegal migration

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Denmark’s queen makes one last public appearance before stepping down in a rare abdication

By JAN M. OLSEN Associated Press COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Europe’s longest reigning monarch Queen Margrethe rode through Denmark’s capital Thursday in a gilded, horse-drawn coach as she concluded her final public New Year’s before her abdication later this month. Thousands, many cheering and waving flags, braved the freezing temperatures, strong winds, snow and sleet

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Microsoft’s new AI key is first big change to keyboards in decades

By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer Computer keyboards are making room for an artificial intelligence chatbot button as Microsoft unveils its first major keyboard redesign in three decades. Starting this month, some new personal computers that run Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system will have a special “Copilot key” that launches the software giant’s AI chatbot.

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2 men charged in shooting death of Oakland officer answering a burglary call at a marijuana business

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say two men have been charged with murder in the death of an Oakland police officer who was shot while answering a burglary report at a marijuana dispensary. Charges were filed Wednesday against Mark Sanders of Tracy and Allen Starr Brown of Chico. They’re scheduled for arraignment Thursday. The two

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Myanmar’s military government pardons 10,000 prisoners to mark Independence Day

By GRANT PECK Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government has pardoned nearly 10,000 prisoners to mark the 76th anniversary of gaining independence from Britain, but they apparently included just a small proportion of the thousands of political detainees jailed for opposing army rule.. State-run MRTV reported that the head of Myanmar’s military council,

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El Salvador President Nayib Bukele takes his reelection campaign beyond the borders

By MARCOS ALEMAN Associated Press SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele has taken his presidential reelection campaign beyond the tiny Central American country’s borders to capitalize on his rising profile across Latin America. During a two-hour forum Wednesday on the platform X, Bukele accused critics of his controversial policies of trying

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Scenes of loss play out across Japan’s western coastline after quake kills 92, dozens still missing

By HIRO KOMAE, AYAKA MCGILL and YURI KAGEYAMA Associated Press SUZU, Japan (AP) — Rescue workers are braving the cold to save people still trapped under collapsed buildings in western Japan. More soldiers have been ordered to bolster the rescue operations Thursday, providing those in need with drinking water, hot meals and setting up bathing

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