Henry Kissinger was a trusted confidant to President Nixon until the bitter, bizarre end

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

Henry Kissinger was a trusted confidant to President Nixon until the bitter, bizarre end WASHINGTON (AP) — Decades later, the scene still is almost too bizarre to imagine: a tearful president and his perplexed aide, neither very religious, kneeling on the floor of a White House bedroom in prayer in the waning hours of a shattered presidency.Until the bitter end, Henry Kissinger was one of the trusted few in Richard Nixon’s tight circle. That trust, combined with Kissinger’s intellectual heft and deft manipulation of power, made him a pivotal player in a tense period in American history, a giant of U.S. foreign policy and a fixture in pop culture who stood witness to some strange moments in the White House.The German-born diplomat who got the U.S. out of Vietnam after bloody, costly years of delay and into China in a sudden burst of secret diplomacy died Wednesday at his home in Connecticut. He was 100. With his gruff yet commanding public presence and behind-the-scenes maneuvers, Kissinger exerted unprecedented influence on global affairs under Presidents Nixon and Gera...

Oklahoma prepares to execute man for 2001 double slaying despite self-defense claim

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

Oklahoma prepares to execute man for 2001 double slaying despite self-defense claim McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma is preparing to execute a man for a 2001 double slaying despite his claims that he acted in self-defense. Phillip Hancock, 59, is scheduled to receive a three-drug lethal injection at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 this month to recommend Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt spare Hancock’s life, but Stitt had taken no action on the recommendation by early Thursday morning.Stitt previously commuted the death sentence of Julius Jones in 2021 just hours before Jones was scheduled to receive a lethal injection, but he rejected clemency recommendations for two other death row inmates, Bigler Stouffer and James Coddington, both of whom were later executed.A spokeswoman for Stitt has said the governor planned to interview prosecutors, defense attorneys and the victims’ families before making a decision.Hancock has long claimed he shot and killed Robert Jett Jr., 37, and Jame...

OPEC+ suppliers struggle to agree on cuts to oil production even as prices tumble

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

OPEC+ suppliers struggle to agree on cuts to oil production even as prices tumble LONDON (AP) — The OPEC oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia and allied producers including Russia will try to agree Thursday on cuts to the amount of crude they send to the world, with prices having tumbled lately despite their efforts to prop them up.That’s been a good thing for U.S. drivers, who have been able to fill their gas tanks for less money in recent months and whose costs at the pump can be sensitive to moves by the OPEC+ coalition. But it’s bad news for OPEC+ countries whose oil income props up their economies and who have faced setbacks in keeping prices up despite initial fears that the Israel-Hamas war could affect oil flows.Now, they are struggling to come to a consensus on production cuts, analysts say. The group postponed its meeting originally set for Sunday by four days, indicating that a new agreement will prove to be challenging, said Jorge Leon, senior vice president of oil market research for Rystad Energy.“Despite the challenges, we still expect OPEC+ ...

Man shot, killed in San Dimas possibly followed home by gunman

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

Man shot, killed in San Dimas possibly followed home by gunman Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating whether a 42-year-old man who was shot and killed in his garage Tuesday night in San Dimas may have been followed home and targeted.  Deputies responded to the 1800 block of Hawbrook Drive just before 7 p.m. on reports of the incident.  At the scene, authorities discovered the man, who family identified as Nicholas, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Medical personnel with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded and declared the 42-year-old dead at the scene.  Now, the search is on for the suspect or suspects that claimed the life of the man known to his two young children, wife and family as Noli.  “I cannot even express my feelings, how devastated we are right now,” the victim’s aunt, Fanny Prentice, told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson.  Surveillance video from a neighbor captured what could be the sounds of gunshots ringing out in the normally quiet San Dimas neighborho...

Gary Payton II out indefinitely with torn calf: report

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

Gary Payton II out indefinitely with torn calf: report (KRON) -- The Warriors could be without Gary Payton II for an extended period of time. The 30-year-old guard left Tuesday's game in Sacramento with an injury, and The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that he is out indefinitely with a torn calf.Payton suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Warriors' loss to the Kings. It appeared to be a non-contact injury -- he grabbed at his right calf after navigating a screen on defense.Payton is listed as out for Thursday's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a calf strain. Warriors IR for Thursday. Chris Paul not playing. pic.twitter.com/xk9NLn0Hhg— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) November 30, 2023In the 2023-24 season, Payton is averaging 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game off the bench. He was a key part of the Warriors 2022 NBA championship team. Another Warriors reserve guard got injured on Tuesday. Chris Paul left the game with a leg injury. The Warriors said Paul will miss Thursday's game...

Son speaks out after father is injured at Martinez refinery

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

Son speaks out after father is injured at Martinez refinery (KRON) -- A son is speaking out about his father being injured in a refinery fire in the East Bay. Jerome Serrano was working at the Martinez Renewable Fuels facility when an accident took place. He suffered life-threatening burns and was rushed to a hospital. KRON4 spoke with the man's son.Serrano's son says his dad is in the fight of his life. He suffered burns on 80 percent of his body. Family friends set up a GoFundMe to help out as they are struggling to deal with this horrible situation. Flaring reported at Martinez Refinery "It is really hard, we are just in shock," said Serrano's son John Stevenson.Stevenson spoke to KRON4 on the phone Wednesday afternoon about his dad. He says family members have been by his bedside nonstop ever since the accident on Nov. 19.Stevenson says his dad, a process operator at the Marathon Renewable Fuels facility, loved his job. He had recently relocated from Texas to take care of his aging parents."There was no one to help, so (my father) step...

Can lessons from Europe help guide flood-prone Annapolis’ plan to stay dry?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

Can lessons from Europe help guide flood-prone Annapolis’ plan to stay dry? #tnvbNcaMHUrl {margin-bottom: 30px;padding: 20px 10px;background: #D30000;text-align: center;font-weight: bold;color: #fff;border-radius: 5px;}This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker.In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "2b578d13-8599-48cf-973b-91ab8d663a52"}).render("b9cb811548c649f0a7a065140218402c"); });Downtown Annapolis, Maryland, floods a lot. Sometimes the flooding, classified as nuisance flooding, is just that, a nuisance that might get your shoes wet.But there are times when the waters can rise several feet, surpassing sandbags set up in front of doorways on Dock Street, where business owners have to pump the water back out of their stores.“I’ve been in my kayak and I paddled up to th...

No. 18 Notre Dame rallies from 16-point deficit to beat 20th-ranked Tennessee

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

No. 18 Notre Dame rallies from 16-point deficit to beat 20th-ranked Tennessee KNXOVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Maddy Westbeld had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Natalija Marshall added 15 points and nine rebounds, and No. 18 Notre Dame rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat No. 20 Tennessee 74-69 on Wednesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.Notre Dame trailed 45-29 with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter. The Irish went on a 15-3 run to get within 50-48 before Tennessee guard Jasmine Powell closed the frame by completing a three-point play with 1.7 seconds left for a five-point lead entering the fourth.Anna DeWolfe scored with 4:25 remaining in the fourth to give Notre Dame its first lead, 62-61, since it was 9-8 midway through the first frame. KK Bransford spun into the lane and sank a shot with 47.7 seconds left to give Notre Dame the lead for good. No. 25 PRINCETON 75, SETON HALL 71, 2 OTPRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Kaitlyn Chen scored 21 points, Skye Belker added 18 and a key blocked shot, and Princeton held off Seton Hall.Belker hit the go-ahead jumper with 37 seconds lef...

A look at what to expect as latest UN climate talks get under way in oil-rich UAE

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

A look at what to expect as latest UN climate talks get under way in oil-rich UAE DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Middle East plays host to its second straight U.N. climate conference over the next two weeks, with countries hoping to agree on new ways to keep the planet from heating too much by the end of the century. Distractions abound, most notably war between Israel and Hamas.Dubai in the United Arab Emirates will welcome thousands of attendees for the 28th “Conference of the Parties” of the U.N. climate conference from Thursday until Dec. 12, amid lingering doubt about how far the oil-rich country will go to help end a climate crisis driven largely by fossil fuel use.Here’s a look at the backdrop, stakes and challenges ahead at COP28.WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST ONEThe world has gotten hotter since last year’s conference in Egypt. Some experts say 2023 is already the hottest year ever recorded. The northern hemisphere had record highs this summer, and Brazil – where it’s not summer yet – this month saw all-time high heat and humidity.“Practica...

Stock market today: Asian shares mostly higher ahead of US price update, OPEC+ meeting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:17:03 GMT

Stock market today: Asian shares mostly higher ahead of US price update, OPEC+ meeting BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Thursday ahead of an update on U.S. consumer inflation and a meeting of oil producers in Vienna. Benchmarks rose in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai. They fell in Seoul and Bangkok. U.S. futures rose while oil prices slipped. Later Thursday, the U.S. government is due to release its October data on the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation. Economists expect that measure to continue easing, as it has been since the middle of 2022. The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its benchmark interest rate steady when it meets in December and to eventually begin paring rates down if inflation remains under control. Wall Street got the encouraging news Wednesday that t he U.S. economy grew at a brisk 5.2% annual pace from July through September, an upgrade from the earlier estimate of 4.9%. Consumer spending, the lifeblood of the economy, rose at a 3.6% annual rate from July through September. That’s still healthy, but a downgrade from th...