December 4, 2022 8:17 am
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the U.S. is at a pivotal point with China and will need military strength to ensure that American values, not Beijing’s, set global norms in the 21st century. Austin’s speech Saturday caps a week in which the Pentagon has been squarely focused on China’s rise, with the release of a dire report warning of China’s growing nuclear arsenal, and the rollout of the U.S.’ newest strategic bomber. Austin says China “is the only country with both the will and, increasingly, the power to reshape its region and the international order to suit its authoritarian preferences.” He says the U.S. “will not let that happen.”
December 4, 2022 8:15 am
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The OPEC oil cartel and allied producers including Russia aren’t changing their targets for shipping oil to the global economy. The decision Sunday comes amid uncertainty about the impact of new Western sanctions against Russia that could take significant amounts of oil off the market. Starting Monday, a European Union boycott of most Russian oil and a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian exports by the EU and the Group of Seven democracies take effect. On the other side, oil has been trading at lower prices on fears of a slowing economy reducing demand. OPEC said in October that’s why it was a slashing production by 2 million barrels per day starting in November. That remains in effect.
December 4, 2022 8:10 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) — A 20-year-old was killed in a car crash that happened on I-376 overnight. According to Pennsylvania State Police, the crash happened on I-376 East off of 2nd Avenue in the City of Pittsburgh at around 3:18 a.m. The driver, identified by police as Jaquawn Walton, from McKeesport, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said just before the Oakland exit, the car went off the roadway and crossed the north fog line, entering the north shoulder. The car then hit the north concrete barrier and went around 100 feet east into a PennDOT pole.
December 4, 2022 8:07 am
GERMAN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI) — One person was flown to a hospital after a vehicle and pedestrian accident in Fayette County, investigators said. Fayette County dispatchers say police, firefighters and medics were called to Sixth Street in German Township at around 5:42 pm. Saturday. A member of the Adah Volunteer Fire Department said the victim was a juvenile girl. The girl’s status is unknown at this time. State police are also helping with the investigation.
December 4, 2022 8:05 am
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — The parents of a gunman who killed a Pennsylvania state trooper and permanently disabled another eight years ago in an ambush of a police barracks have settled a lawsuit accusing them of partial responsibility. Tiffany Dickson, widow of Cpl. Bryon Dickson II, and Trooper Alex Douglass had alleged that Eugene and Deborah Frein knew their son Eric was mentally unstable and dangerous before the September 2014 attack outside the Blooming Grove state police barracks. The Freins had vehemently denied responsibility. The Citizens’ Voice of Wilkes-Barre reports that Douglass’s attorney declined to reveal details of the confidential settlement but says his client is relieved it is over. (Photo: AP)
December 4, 2022 3:27 am
BETHEL PARK-(WPXI) — Police said an organized group of thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of electronics at the Best Buy in Bethel Park along Alicia Drive Thursday afternoon. The police chief said four men stole more than $10,000 worth of laptops and a car system. Larry Jackson, Jordan Shine, Emmitt Bell-Young and Dion Crawford were arrested. “We believe the same people we arrested yesterday are the same people that have been hitting stores around the area,” said Chief Timothy O’Connor with Bethel Park Police. The chief said the men might be connected to a spree of thefts. “Our detectives are working with other detectives in jurisdictions in the North Hills and around Allegheny County,” said O’Connor. “We understand there were other high-value thefts from additional Best Buy stores around the county and even beyond.” Police said thieves target stores this time of year because they know the workers are busier. “These shoplifters, especially the organized ones, will blend in, so it’s up to the managers and loss prevention personnel to be on the lookout,” said O’Connor. Right now, the men face felony retail theft charges.
December 3, 2022 9:17 am
HILO, Hawaii (AP) – Many people on the Big Island of Hawaii are bracing for major upheaval if lava from Mauna Loa volcano blocks the quickest route connecting two sides of the island. The molten rock could make the road impassable and force drivers to find alternate coastal routes in the north and south. That could add hours to commute times, doctor’s visits and freight truck deliveries. The lava is oozing slowly at a rate that could reach the road next week. But its path is unpredictable and could change course, or the flow could stop completely and spare the highway.
December 3, 2022 9:16 am
BEIJING (AP) – Chinese authorities have announced a further easing of COVID-19 curbs with major cities such as Shenzhen and Beijing no longer requiring negative tests to take public transport. The slight relaxation of testing requirements comes even as daily virus infections reach near-record highs and follows weekend protests across the country by residents frustrated by the rigid enforcement of anti-virus restrictions. Along with the relaxation in the capital Beijing, the southern city of Shenzhen said Saturday that commuters no longer need to show a negative COVID-19 test result to use public transport or when entering pharmacies, parks and tourist attractions.
December 3, 2022 9:13 am
A surge of anti-Jewish vitriol spread by celebrities is stoking fears that public figures are normalizing hate and ramping up the risk of violence. Former President Donald Trump hosted a Holocaust-denying white supremacist at Mar-a-Lago. The rapper Ye expressed love for Adolf Hitler in an interview. Basketball star Kyrie Irving appeared to promote an antisemitic film on social media. Those are just a few recent examples of influential people abusing their platforms to amplify antisemitism in a way that has been taboo for decades in the U.S. Some people say the incidents harken back to a darker time in America when powerful people routinely spread conspiracy theories about Jews with impunity.
December 3, 2022 9:11 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is being warned about the potentially dire consequences of a case next week involving a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for same-sex couples. Liberal groups say ruling for the designer will expose not only same-sex couples but also Black people, immigrants, Jews, Muslims and others to discrimination. Conservative groups argue that ruling against her will force artists to do work that is against their faith. Both sides have described for the court what lawyers sometimes call “a parade of horribles” that could result if the ruling doesn’t go their way. The case marks the second time in five years that the Supreme Court has confronted a similar issue.
