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Heavy flooding in southern Myanmar displaces more than 14,000 people

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmar’s southern areas has displaced more than 14,000 people and disrupted traffic on the rail lines that connect the country’s biggest cities, officials and state-run media said Monday.State television MRTV reported Monday evening that the number of displaced people in Bago township, about 68 kilometers (42 miles) northeast of Yangon, the country’s biggest city, had climbed to that figure, and they were taking shelter in 36 relief camps. It said almost 1,000 more people in Mon state’s township, just east of Bago, were sheltering in three relief camps, and there some evacuations in a northern part of Yangon.A senior official at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Lay Shwe Zin Oo, said that constant rainfall in the Bago region that began last week caused the flooding in the low-lying areas of its capital, Bago township. She said there were no casualties reported so far. Bago township record...

Workers at Mack Trucks reject contract and join the thousands of UAW picketers already on strike

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks went on strike Monday after voting down a five-year contract agreement that negotiators had reached with the company. The United Auto Workers said 4,000 unionized workers walked out at 7 a.m., adding to labor turmoil in the industry that has ensnared all three big Detroit automakers. With those workers joining picket lines, the total number of UAW members that are on strike now exceeds 30,000 across 22 states, the union said Monday. Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday.The UAW represents Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1. UAW Locals 171, 677, 1247, 2301, and 2420 in UAW Region 8 and Region 9 represent workers at Mack Trucks in Macungie and Middletown, Pennsylvania; Hagerstown and Baltimore, Maryland; and Jacksonville, Florida. The deal nego...

Kenya court temporarily bars security forces deployment to Haiti for two weeks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s high court temporarily barred on Monday deployment of the country’s security forces to other countries for two weeks until a case filed by a local politician challenging such action as unconstitutional is looked into.This came after Kenya agreed to lead a multi-national force to combat gang violence in Haiti following a United Nations Security Council resolution approved last week. The mission would be funded by voluntary contributions, with the U.S. pledging up to $200 million.Former presidential candidate, Ekuru Aukot, filed a petition Friday against the deployment of Kenyan forces, arguing that the law allowing the president to do so conflicted with articles of the constitution.Aukot’s petition also faulted President William Ruto for agreeing to lead the international peacekeeping mission while Kenya struggles with security issues arising from militant attacks and most recently ethnic clashes.High Court justice, Chacha Mwita, on Monday, a...

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin hired as pro scout

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

Long-time Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin has joined the organization as a pro scout, general manager Brad Treliving announced on Monday.Muzzin, 34, has dealt with a number of injuries, including multiple concussions and a spine injury suffered during the 2022-23 campaign. He played only four games and was ruled out for the remainder of the season, as well as the upcoming season.The Maple Leafs acquired Muzzin in early 2019 from the Los Angeles Kings for Sean Durzi, Carl Grundstrom and a first-round pick in the 2019 draft. He signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs in February 2020.RELATED: Leafs’ goalie Matt Murray undergoes hip surgery, out 6-8 monthsMuzzin, who remains on long-term injured reserve, has one year left on his contract that will pay him $5.6 million this season.The 34-year-old appeared in 187 games with Toronto, including 22 playoff games. In all, Muzzin played over 600 games with the Kings and Leafs and accrued 294 ...

Mexico to send diplomatic note protesting Texas border truck inspections causing major delays

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Monday he is going to send a diplomatic note to the United States to protest Texas truck inspections that have caused major delays at border crossings. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador claimed Monday that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to enforce additional truck inspections was “very irresponsible” and politically motivated. Mexico’s national freight transport chamber said Sunday that 19,000 trucks were delayed at the border. The freight association claimed the delayed trucks were carrying about $1.9 billion in goods.It said in a statement that the delays were “severely affecting” cross-border trade. “We are going to send a diplomatic note today to protest the Texas’ governor’s attitude of putting up obstacles to free transit on our borders without any reason, but rather with political motivations,” López Obrador said. “He is using the immigration issue to play politics.” Bridge closures and train delays because of the ...

New book takes you behind-the-scenes of 'The Big Bang Theory'

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

Author Jessica Radloff and Senior West Coast Editor for Glamour Magazine talks new book, "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series."Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Powerball jackpot hits $1.55 billion: How much would a winner in your state get?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - The Powerball jackpot has propelled to an estimated $1.55 billion ahead of Monday’s drawing. But if you win, your payout could be much smaller. At its current size, the jackpot ranks as the third-largest in Powerball history and the fourth-largest in U.S. lottery history. It currently sits behind a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California last year, a $1.602 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in Florida in August, and a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot split by three tickets in 2016.Despite its record size, you won’t immediately see a check for $1.55 billion if you’re lucky enough to win during Monday’s Powerball drawing.The way the game is structured, plus taxes, will shrink your payout by as much as $741 million.  Win the Powerball jackpot? Think twice before taking the cash If you’re familiar with Powerball, you likely know there are two ways the jackpot is paid out to a winner. The first, and most common (and the one you may want to think twice about),...

Union workers go on strike at Mack Trucks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- Around 4,000 union workers at Mack Trucks facilities went on strike Monday morning after rejecting a tentative contract on Sunday evening.Striking Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida are represented by the United Auto Workers, which is also actively engaged in separate negotiations with the “Big Three” Detroit automakers. Seventy-three percent of workers voted against the tentative deal, UAW President Shawn Fain said in a letter sent Sunday to the director of employee relations at Volvo, which owns Mack.Mack workers walked out at 7 a.m., according to the union, upping the pressure on the automotive industry.More than 30,000 UAW workers across 22 states are now on the picket line, the UAW said in a statement released Monday. “I’m inspired to see UAW members at Mack Trucks holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it,” Fain said in the statement. GM agrees to place EV battery manufacturing under UAW agree...

Ken Paxton to file criminal doxing complaints against 12 House impeachment managers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday morning he intends to file criminal complaints against the 12 state representatives who led his impeachment trial. He claims they threatened him by publishing his personal information, including his home address, in a document release last week and broke a new state law. "The impeachment managers clearly have a desire to threaten me with harm when they released this information last week," Paxton said in a statement. "I’m imploring their local prosecutors in each individual district to investigate the criminal offenses that have been committed." Texas House releases new evidence not admissible during Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial Paxton said he will file the complaints in each of the managers' eight home counties. KXAN reached out Monday morning to all 12 state representatives for comment and will update this story once any responses are shared. Paxton said the lawmakers violated House Bill 611, which created a n...

Austin Fire responding to gas line hit in north Austin

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department is sending a hazmat task force to north Austin after reports of a gas line hit by an excavator.Crews are responding to the 1400 block of Meadowmear Drive. That's located near Dessau Road in north Austin.According to initial reports from AFD, an excavator hit a six-inch line within the block. AFD is asking people to avoid the area.In an update, AFD told KXAN three families in neighboring homes were evacuated. Dessau Road has been shut down in both directions as a result. AFD confirmed construction work was being done in the area when the line was hit.This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.