January 1, 2025 4:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has imposed sanctions on two groups linked to Russian and Iranian disinformation campaigns targeting this year’s election. Treasury officials announced the actions Tuesday, saying the two groups sought to spread false claims designed to stoke political tension and undermine the candidates ahead of November’s vote. Officials say the Russian organization worked with Russian military intelligence and used artificial intelligence to create fake videos about American candidates. The Iranian group is accused of working at the direction of Iran’s military to spread disinformation aimed at inciting voters. Both countries have rejected accusations that they sought to meddle with the election.
January 1, 2025 4:05 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Grieving relatives of people killed in a plane crash in South Korea have visited the site to pay respects to their loved ones on New Year’s Day. Only two of the 181 people aboard the Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air survived when it crashed in Muan International Airport in southern South Korea on Sunday. The bereaved families visited the site on Wednesday for the first time since the crash. They took turns laying white flowers and bowed deeply before a memorial table where food was placed. The food included “ddeokguk,” a Korean rice cake soup eaten on New Year’s Day.
January 1, 2025 4:02 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medics say Israeli strikes have killed at least nine people in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children. The nearly 15-month war ground on into the new year with no end in sight. One strike hit a home in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza, the most isolated and heavily destroyed part of the territory, where Israel has been waging a major operation since early October. Gaza’s Health Ministry says seven people were killed, including a woman and four children, and that at least a dozen other people were wounded. Another strike overnight into Wednesday in central Gaza killed a woman and a child, according to the hospital that received the bodies.
January 1, 2025 3:47 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court says the secretary of state has the authority to direct counties not to allow “unauthorized third party access” to voting machines or risk having those machines decertified and unable to be deployed for elections. In a 6-1 decision on Tuesday, the Commonwealth Court also ruled that the Department of State doesn’t have to reimburse counties when they decertify machines. It was a defeat for Fulton County in a dispute that arose after two Republican county commissioners permitted Wake Technology Services Inc. to examine and obtain data from Dominion voting machines in 2021.
January 1, 2025 3:43 am
BRADDOCK, Pa.—(WPXI)-The mayors of seven Pittsburgh communities sat down with Channel 11 on Tuesday to voice their concerns over a potential deal between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, fearing the economic consequences for their towns if the agreement falls through. “We’ve been down this road before,” said Markus Adams, mayor of East Pittsburgh, referring to the impact on the region when Westinghouse shut down years ago. “East Pittsburgh has never recovered from it.” The Edgar Thomson Plant, a key facility for U.S. Steel, was built at the heart of these communities. Local leaders worry that a failure to reach a deal could lead to plant closures or downsizing, devastating the already struggling area. “For every steel worker’s job it’s estimated that five to seven jobs are created by the work there. That’s the restaurants, hotels, the welders, the fabricators, it’s imperative we continue to fight for this,” said Chris Kelly who’s the mayor of West Mifflin. Mayors from nearly two dozen communities who are part of the newly formed Mayor’s Charitable Fund sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to consider the jobs and economic stability the steel industry provides. “That’s what I would tell him, Mr. President these are your people don’t put them out of work,” Kelly said. The main opposition to the sale comes from the United Steelworkers Union and politicians who want the company to remain domestically owned. “Our union has been calling for strict government scrutiny of the sale since it was announced. Now it’s up to President Biden to determine the best path forward,” said USW International President David McCall. The U.S. government’s committee on foreign investments has referred the decision to President Biden, who now has until Tuesday to approve or reject the deal. The mayors are hoping Biden will back their communities and prevent further economic decline. “We are here to resolve and save our communities,” said Cletus Lee, mayor of North Braddock. As the deadline approaches, the mayors are urging the president to act in the best interest of local workers and families. “If the Mon Valley falls, the rest of us fall,” said Coletta Perry, mayor of Crafton.
January 1, 2025 2:47 am
A Washington County family was on vacation in New Orleans and were unfortunate victims of the New Year’s Eve incident where a man drove his truck through the celebrating crowd and killed 15 people and injured more than 30 others. Heaven Sensky Kirsch said that her father was one of the injured in the violent crash. Jeremi Sensky, 51 of Canonsburg underwent surgery for several hours in an effort to repair his two broken legs. Sensky is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair. According to his daughter, he was struck by the truck and ejected from his wheelchair. Heaven Sensky Kirsch describes several hours of worry and search for her father. She and her mother were able to locate him in a nearby hospital trauma unit. Heaven describes Jeremi as “alive, full of life, resilient and he continues to live vibrantly.” The Sensky Family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of concern for Jeremi and the rest of the family. (Photo Courtesy of Sensky Family)
January 1, 2025 2:45 am
Additional expert testimony was provided in the Smith Township infant death case of Oliver George. His father Joshua George is charged with homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment in the December 2021 case where George is accused of assaulting the infant then delivering him to his maternal grandparents for babysitting. The defense asked that testimony be reopened to allow autopsy information from forensic pathologist Dr. Todd Luckacevic to be entered on the record. The defense wanted his testimony because they felt that it would tighten the timeline of events and benefit their defendant. Questions over why Luckacevic did not testify earlier were introduced. When county detectives were called to testify, they indicated that they had great difficulty locating Luckasevic after he retired from his position with the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. When they did locate him, he still exhibited reluctance in testifying, suggesting that others in Allegheny County testify on his behalf. Ultimately, he did appear for a September 26 hearing but was not called for his testimony. The judge will schedule further hearings for briefs seven days after transcripts of this hearing are filed. Joshua George faces the death penalty if he is convicted of homicide.
December 31, 2024 5:33 pm
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — From Sydney to Mumbai to Nairobi, communities around the world have begun welcoming 2025 with spectacular light shows, embraces and ice plunges. Auckland became the first major city to celebrate. Countries in the South Pacific Ocean are the first to ring in the New Year, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York. Conflict muted acknowledgements of the new year in places like the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine. American Samoa will be among the last to welcome 2025, a full 24 hours after New Zealand. (Photo: AP)
December 31, 2024 5:27 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has imposed sanctions on two groups linked to Russian and Iranian disinformation campaigns targeting this year’s election. Treasury officials announced the actions Tuesday, saying the two groups sought to spread false claims designed to stoke political tension and undermine the candidates ahead of November’s vote. Officials say the Russian organization worked with Russian military intelligence and used artificial intelligence to create fake videos about American candidates. The Iranian group is accused of working at the direction of Iran’s military to spread disinformation aimed at inciting voters. Both countries have rejected accusations that they sought to meddle with the election.
December 31, 2024 4:53 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine. Biden’s administration is working quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in three weeks. The package announced Monday includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. The deal also puts more long-term weapons packages on contract through a separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which pays for longer-term weapons deliveries. Biden said all longer-term funds have now been spent and pledged to use the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.
