December 19, 2023 5:10 am
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the force in Bahrain on Tuesday. Under the new initiative, dubbed Prosperity Guardian, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain will protect transiting ships. Some will conduct joint patrols while others provide support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The attacks have led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed.
December 19, 2023 5:09 am
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has struck southern Gaza, killing at least 28 people, and raided one of the last functioning hospitals in the north. Israel is pressing ahead with its offensive against Hamas with renewed backing from the United States, despite rising international alarm over the war’s toll. The offensive, launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, has killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians, displaced some 1.9 million and demolished much of northern Gaza. Attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have prompted the U.S. and its allies to launch a new mission to counter the threat. But after meeting with Israeli officials on Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signaled that U.S. support for Israel’s offensive remains unwavering.
December 19, 2023 5:03 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking for information after a female black bear was illegally killed in Fayette County. According to a Facebook post, the bear was found dead on Dec. 2 off of Saylor Road in Stewart Township. Investigation shows the bear was likely killed by a large-caliber gunshot wound between Nov. 29 and Dec. 1. The Pennsylvania Game Commission said the individual dressed the black bear but did not retrieve it from the woods. The game commission is looking to identify two men seen on trail camera video because they may be involved. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southwest Region at 1-833-742-4868 or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001.
December 19, 2023 2:53 am
Washington Police are searching for the shooter who injured a man Sunday morning at the Family Dollar store along Highland Avenue. Police Chief Dan Rush says 25 year old Nahzier Muhammad of Washington suffered a gunshot wound to the leg around 10:30 a.m. He was transported from the scene but there is no word on his condition. Rush says the shooter has only been identified as a black male. Another man, 26 year old Ross Goldstone of North Carolina and formerly of Washington has been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery , aggravated assault and hindering apprehension. He is last reported in the Washington County Jail. Police are searching for his gray, Dodge Avenger which was used by the shooter to flee the scene. Police say the investigation is on-going and anyone with information is asked to contact the City of Washington Criminal Investigations Section at 724-223-4226. Callers can remain anonymous.
December 19, 2023 2:42 am
A Washington County priest facing more than 200 charges of theft, forgery, bad checks and unauthorized withdrawals from ATMs faced his preliminary hearing on Monday and waived all charges to court. Father George Athanasiou, 34 of the All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg was arrested in November after church leaders noticed discrepancies in church ledgers and asked police to investigate. Approximately $117,000 has been identified as missing so far. Athanasiou is free on $250,000 unsecured bond. He will be formally arraigned on January 25.
December 19, 2023 2:31 am
The preliminary hearing for April Sloane has been moved. The 43 year old Washington County Controller was originally scheduled to appear before District Judge Michael Manfredi Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. The hearing has now been moved to Central Court at the Washington County Courthouse on January 16 at 1 p.m before Magisterial District Judge James Saieva. Sloane is charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty and a misdemeanor count of neglecting to provide veterinary care to her dog. The animal was found in the garage of Sloane’s home on December 6. Officials say the animal had been dead since November 27.
December 18, 2023 1:42 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — The promise of self-checkout has meant that customers can avoid long lines by scanning and bagging their own items, workers can be freed of doing those monotonous tasks themselves and retailers can save on labor costs. But it has also meant customers griping about clunky technology, workers having to stand around and monitor both humans and machines, and retailers contending with theft. Now, self-checkout faces a reckoning of sorts just as retailers are in the midst of their busiest time of the year. This past fall, Walmart removed self-checkout kiosks in three stores in Albuquerque, New Mexico. To reduce wait times, Target is now limiting the number of items to 10 that shoppers can scan in a handful of stores nationwide.
December 18, 2023 1:39 pm
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. The Vatican issued a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office was released Monday. It elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals and published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.
December 18, 2023 6:59 am
PITTSBURGH – Japan’s largest steelmaker, Nippon Steel Corporation, is planning to purchase U.S. Steel. A press release issued on BusinessWire says NSC plans to acquire U.S. Steel for $55 per share, for a total of nearly $15 billion. The release says this acquisition was unanimously approved by the board of directors for both NSC and U.S. Steel. It’s expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2024. U.S. Steel will reportedly retain its name, brand and headquarters in Pittsburgh. The deal will also honor collective bargaining agreements with the United Steelworkers Union. NSC says this transaction will “enhance its world-leading manufacturing and technology capabilities” and allow the company to expand geographically for the benefit of stakeholders. We look forward to collaborating closely with the U. S. Steel team to bring together the best of our companies and move forward together as the ‘Best Steelmaker with World-Leading Capabilities,'” his statement said in part.
December 18, 2023 5:11 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea in a resumption of its weapons testing activities. Monday’s launch is the North’s second weapons firing in less than a day. It comes as North Korea vows retaliatory steps against the U.S. and South Korea for their decision to boost their nuclear deterrence plans. South Korea’s military says North Korea launched what appeared to be a long-range ballistic missile from its capital region Monday morning. North Korea’s Defense Ministry called its rivals’ decision to include nuclear operation scenarios in their joint drills an open threat to potentially use nuclear weapons against the North.
