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Russia’s parliament approves budget with a record amount devoted to defense spending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

Russia’s parliament approved a federal budget Wednesday that increases spending by around 25% in 2024-2026 and devotes a record amount to defense.The budget was passed unanimously by the Federation Council — the upper chamber of the Russian parliament — and will be sent to President Vladimir Putin to sign it into law.The budget for 2024-2026 was developed specifically to fund the Russian military and to mitigate the impact of “17,500 sanctions” on Russia, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said after the lower chamber approved it on Nov. 17. Under the budget, the country’s largest, defense expenditure is expected to overtake social spending next year for the first time in modern Russian history. It comes as the Kremlin is eager to shore up support for President Vladimir Putin before a March presidential election. Record low unemployment, higher wages and targeted social spending should help the Kremlin ride out the domestic impact of pivoting the economy to a war footing b...

Biden declares emergency over lead in water in US Virgin Islands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

President Joe Biden declared an emergency over lead-in-water contamination in the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this week after tests on St. Croix revealed levels more than 100 times the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency – among the worst results a U.S. community has seen in decades.“On a personal level, it’s been frightening and frustrating,” said resident Frandelle Gerard, executive director of Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, Inc.Officials told residents to stop using their taps and began distributing bottled water. Lead can have devastating effects on childhood development, behavior and IQ scores.But experts consulted by The Associated Press said the frightening results may be false because they came from testing that does not meet EPA standards.“The data should be thrown into the garbage,” said Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech lead and water expert who helped identify the lead problems in Flint, Michigan.If the information given to St. Croix residents turns out t...

Cineplex selling Player One Amusement Group business for $155 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

TORONTO — Cineplex Inc. has signed a deal to sell its Player One Amusement Group business to OpenGate Capital for $155 million in cash.Player One Amusement Group sells, distributes, operates and services arcade games and other equipment. Cineplex chief executive Ellis Jacob says the company built the business being sold through several acquisitions and organic growth, to become a North American leader.The company says the sale unlocks value for Cineplex and its stakeholders and provides immediate liquidity for debt repayment.Under the deal, Player One Amusement Group has signed a long-term agreement to continue to supply and service games in Cineplex’s theatres and location-based entertainment venues.The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024 and is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:CGX)The Canadian Press

Home sales fall to 13-year low in October

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

(The Hill) – The sale of previously owned homes fell to an annualized rate of 3.79 million in October, marking a 13-year low, according to data released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) on Tuesday.Existing home sales, which fell 4.1% from September and 14.6% from last year, reached its lowest point since August 2010, the data showed.“Prospective home buyers experienced another difficult month due to the persistent lack of housing inventory and the highest mortgage rates in a generation,” Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said in a press release. “Fortunately, mortgage rates have fallen for the third straight week, stirring up buying interest,” Yun added. “Though limited now, expect housing inventory to improve after this winter and heading into the spring. More inventory will result in more home sales.” Student debt? Buy a house in these states and get relief Housing inventory was up 1.8% from September, but down 5.7% from last October, while the average for a...

Oregon mom convicted after preventing daughter from receiving cancer surgery, giving her CBD oil instead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An Oregon mother has been found guilty on three charges for using alternative medicine like CBD oil to treat her daughter’s liver cancer, and for keeping the teenager away from scheduled surgery.Wilsonville resident Christina Dixon, 39, was first indicted in 2019 after she and daughter Kylee Dixon — who was 13 at the time — failed to show up for a medical procedure scheduled for June 6.Officials declared Kylee Dixon a ward of the state, and ordered Christina Dixon to bring the teen to the Oregon Department of Human Services.A 2019 photo shows Christine Gale and her daughter Kylee Dixon. (Clackamas County Sheriff's Office)During the early phases of authorities’ search for the mother and daughter, investigators believed they were somewhere along the Oregon Coast. But on June 13, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office announced that Christina Dixon and Kylee Dixon were found in the Longhorn Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. The teen was taken into protective custody...

64-year-old man shot to death in Pilsen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A 64-year-old man was shot to death early Wednesday morning in Pilsen. At around 3:55 a.m., the man was sitting in his vehicle in the 1800 block of South Canalport when an unknown male approached.The gunman shot the 64-year-old man approximately 14 times. The man was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Woman finds, adopts terrified girl hiding in nursing facility. Then came a second surprise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) - An administrator at a skilled nursing facility in the Oklahoma City area was shocked to find a terrified and hungry 9-year-old girl hiding behind a recliner in a resident's room. Savanah Patt knew what she had to do next.Renlee Patt. (Photo: Savanah Patt)"She looked at me and she wouldn't talk at all. And the resident, I was like, 'Um, who is this?' And she said, 'Oh, that's my granddaughter,'" Patt said. "She smelled terrible, she was very dirty, she didn't have shoes."Nine-year-old Renlee had been hiding in her grandma's room for a week after a neighbor dropped her off at the facility after finding the tiny girl living alone with her older brother for weeks.Their home was a hoarded trailer in southeast Oklahoma City that they shared with "a ton of cats and dogs," little Renlee said. She also remembers holes in the floor, filth and feces. Community leaders helping families in need have dream thanksgiving For Renlee, food was scarce -- and so were her parent...

Truck carrying 40,000 pounds of green beans crashes in Fayette County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A truck carrying 40,000 pounds of green beans crashed in Fayette County early Wednesday morning.The Fayette County Sheriff's Office posted about the crash on social media around 2:15 a.m.The crash happened on westbound Interstate 10 at mile marker 673. Deputies say the 18 wheeler left the road and crashed down into a creek. The driver was said to be "okay."A truck carrying 40,000 pounds of green beans crashed in Fayette County early on Nov. 22, 2023. (Fayette County Sheriff's Office photo)A truck carrying 40,000 pounds of green beans crashed in Fayette County early on Nov. 22, 2023. (Fayette County Sheriff's Office photo)A truck carrying 40,000 pounds of green beans crashed in Fayette County early on Nov. 22, 2023. (Fayette County Sheriff's Office photo)Fayette County EMS, Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department and Texas DPS also responded to the scene.

Robot shoes can help you walk 3x faster; how do they work?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Named one of Time Magazine's "Best Inventions of 2023," Moonwalkers are one of the most interesting shoes you will likely see. Designed by Austin-based Shift Robotics, they initially look like roller skates, but motors and artificial intelligence allow users wearing these "robot shoes" to walk three times faster than they normally would. "I have always been excited and interested in personal mobility," said Xunjie Zhang, CEO of Shift Robotics.Zhang studied robotics and two-legged movement at Carnegie Mellon University. After a car accident involving a scooter, Zhang noticed that people walking on sidewalks were safer than scooters and bikes."I start asking myself why I never walked, even though walking is the safest way of getting around the cities."Walking with the robotsWe tested out the company's Moonwalkers to learn how they work. While they look like roller skates, motorized wheels propel you forward with each step. It feels like walking on one of those moving w...

Invasive zebra mussels found in Massachusetts lake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:59 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is informing residents of the recent discovery of an invasive species. The zebra mussel species has been spotted at Onota Lake. Only 64 people live in Massachusetts’ smallest town The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) detected eDNA of the invasive species inside the lake during routine monitoring. Environmental DNA, called eDNA, is cellular material that sheds from an organism and is used as an early detector of invasive or rare species.Zebra mussels are invasive freshwater mollusks that are the size of a fingernail. Their name comes from the zig-zagged stripes on their shells. This species has a negative impact on the local environment, as they can filter out algae that native species need for food in order to survive and can attach to native mussels.The detection of this species at this time only impacts boating operations at Onota Lake, and has no impact on other recreational uses of the lake. The c...