India’s spacecraft is preparing to land on the moon in the country’s second attempt in 4 years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

India’s spacecraft is preparing to land on the moon in the country’s second attempt in 4 years NEW DELHI (AP) — India was counting down to landing a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole Wednesday — an unchartered territory that scientists believe could hold important reserves of frozen water and precious elements.A lander with a rover inside was orbiting before attempting to touch down on the lunar surface, creating an agonizing wait for India’s space scientists in the southern city of Bengaluru. India is making its second attempt in four years to join the United States, the Soviet Union and China in achieving the landmark. India unexpectedly got into a race with Russia, which had planned to land its Luna-25 spacecraft in the same lunar region on Monday. But Luna-25 crashed into the moon after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit. It would have been the first successful Russian lunar landing after a gap of 47 years. Russia’s head of the state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos attributed the failure to the lack of expertise due to the long break in lunar research tha...

Commission to assess the proposed acquisition of Nasdaq Power by EEX

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Commission to assess the proposed acquisition of Nasdaq Power by EEX The European Commission has accepted the requests submitted by three EU member states and one EFTA member state to assess the proposed acquisition of Nasdaq's European power trading and clearing business by European Energy Exchange AG (‘EEX') under the EU Merger Regulation (‘EUMR').EEX, a German subsidiary of Deutsche Börse AG, is the leading energy exchange in Europe. It develops, operates and connects markets for energy and commodity products. Nasdaq Power, a Swedish and Norwegian subsidiary of Nasdaq, Inc., provides a regulated marketplace offering trading and clearing services of Nordic, German and French futures contracts for electricity as well as for EU emission allowances.The proposed acquisition does not reach the notification thresholds set out in the EUMR, and it was not notifiable in any member state. Denmark and Finland submitted initial referral requests to the Commission pursuant to Article 22(1) of the EUMR on their own initiative. This provision allows member states...

Dear Abby: My husband says I ruin his fun at parties, but I’m mortified by what he does

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Dear Abby: My husband says I ruin his fun at parties, but I’m mortified by what he does DEAR ABBY: My husband has, for years, felt the need to talk filthy and ask sexual questions of other women.It bothers me something terrible. He’s upset that I ruin his “fun,” and insists he isn’t hurting anyone and that he likes being the life of the party. We have fought over this for years, and I’m exhausted from it.I told him I don’t see the need for him to do this, and he continues to tell me I need to quit being so unreasonable.I don’t know what to do, and I’m ready to just give up. It doesn’t make me love or respect him. I actually loathe him when he does it. Please help.— REPELLED IN IOWADEAR REPELLED: It’s sad that your husband would continue to do something he knows embarrasses you. You can’t change him, so it’s time to change the way you react to his outrageous behavior. Try ignoring him and distancing yourself when it happens.It would be interesting to know how his questions affect the women he&...

Sale closed in Dublin: $1.9 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Sale closed in Dublin: $1.9 million for a three-bedroom home A spacious house located in the 11900 block of West Vomac Road in Dublin has new owners. The 2,286-square-foot property, built in 1980, was sold on July 12, 2023. The $1,900,000 purchase price works out to $831 per square foot. This single-story house has three bedrooms and three baths. The home’s outer structure has tiles on the roof. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:A 2,540-square-foot home on the 8200 block of Rhoda Avenue in Dublin sold in May 2023, for $1,500,000, a price per square foot of $591. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In August 2022, a 2,389-square-foot home on West Vomac Road in Dublin sold for $1,530,000, a price per square foot of $640. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.On Rhoda Avenue, Dublin, in August 2022, a 2,483-square-foot home was sold for $1,500,000, a price per square foot of $604. The home...

Connecticut hosts New York following Laney’s 22-point game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Connecticut hosts New York following Laney’s 22-point game New York Liberty (25-7, 13-3 Eastern Conference) at Connecticut Sun (23-10, 13-3 Eastern Conference)Uncasville, Connecticut; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: New York takes on the Connecticut Sun after Betnijah Laney scored 22 points in the Liberty’s 85-63 win against the Phoenix Mercury.The Sun have gone 13-3 against Eastern Conference teams. Connecticut has a 1-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.The Liberty are 13-3 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York leads the Eastern Conference scoring 88.0 points per game while shooting 45.5%.The teams square off for the third time this season. The Liberty won the last matchup 89-81 on June 27. Breanna Stewart scored 24 points to help lead the Liberty to the win.TOP PERFORMERS: Alyssa Thomas is shooting 46.9% and averaging 15.7 points for the Sun. DeWanna Bonner is averaging 17.1 points over the last 10 games for Connecticut.Stewart is averaging 22.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks for ...

Seattle visits Indiana after Mitchell’s 28-point game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Seattle visits Indiana after Mitchell’s 28-point game Seattle Storm (10-22, 7-9 Western Conference) at Indiana Fever (9-24, 4-13 Eastern Conference)Indianapolis; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Indiana hosts the Seattle Storm after Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points in the Indiana Fever’s 83-73 win against the Phoenix Mercury.The Fever are 3-12 in home games. Indiana is second in the WNBA with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Aliyah Boston averaging 3.1 offensive boards.The Storm are 6-9 in road games. Seattle is sixth in the WNBA allowing 83.0 points while holding opponents to 44.6% shooting.The teams play for the third time this season. The Storm won the last meeting 85-62 on July 30, with Jewell Loyd scoring 26 points in the victory.TOP PERFORMERS: Boston is averaging 14.7 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Fever. Mitchell is averaging 19.0 points over the last 10 games for Indiana.Sami Whitcomb is averaging 9.2 points for the Storm. Loyd is averaging 23.6 points over the last 10 games for Seattle.LAST 10 GAMES: Fever: 3-7, ...

Las Vegas aims for 30th win this season in matchup against Chicago

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Las Vegas aims for 30th win this season in matchup against Chicago Las Vegas Aces (29-4, 15-2 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (12-20, 3-14 Eastern Conference)Chicago; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas will aim for its 30th victory this season when the Aces visit the Chicago Sky.The Sky are 6-11 in home games. Chicago is fifth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 33.0 rebounds. Alanna Smith leads the Sky with 6.9 boards.The Aces are 13-3 in road games. Las Vegas is fourth in the WNBA with 34.8 rebounds per game led by A’ja Wilson averaging 9.5.The teams square off for the third time this season. The Aces won the last matchup 107-95 on July 25. Kelsey Plum scored 27 points to help lead the Aces to the victory.TOP PERFORMERS: Courtney Williams is shooting 42.3% and averaging 10.0 points for the Sky. Kahleah Copper is averaging 20.3 points over the last 10 games for Chicago.Chelsea Gray is averaging 15.1 points and 7.2 assists for the Aces. Wilson is averaging 26.3 points over the last 10 games for Las Vegas.LAST 10 GAMES: Sky...

Sabally and the Wings host conference foe Minnesota

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Sabally and the Wings host conference foe Minnesota Minnesota Lynx (15-17, 10-8 Western Conference) at Dallas Wings (18-14, 9-8 Western Conference)Arlington, Texas; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx take on Satou Sabally and the Dallas Wings in Western Conference play Thursday.The Wings have gone 9-8 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas ranks fourth in the WNBA with 27.2 defensive rebounds per game led by Sabally averaging 6.1.The Lynx are 10-8 in Western Conference play. Minnesota has a 7-12 record against opponents over .500.TOP PERFORMERS: Natasha Howard is averaging 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Wings. Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 19.1 points over the last 10 games for Dallas.Collier is scoring 21.2 points per game and averaging 8.0 rebounds for the Lynx. Kayla McBride is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Minnesota.LAST 10 GAMES: Wings: 5-5, averaging 89.2 points, 38.3 rebounds, 21.2 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from ...

Russia threatens to annex Georgia’s breakaway regions

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Russia threatens to annex Georgia’s breakaway regions Moscow could annex Georgia’s Russian-backed breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, warned Kremlin security council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev.The former Russian president and prime minister accused NATO of escalating tensions by discussing Georgia’s potential membership to the alliance, something Georgia has shown interest in.“In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the idea of joining Russia is still popular. And it may well be implemented, if there are good reasons for it,” Medvedev said in a scattergun opinion piece published Wednesday morning on Russian news site Argumenty i Fakty in which he attacked NATO and the West at length.The two Moscow-backed regions were at the center of a brief war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008. Following the conflict, during which Russian forces occupied nearly 20 percent of Georgia’s territory, Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of the two regions.On the 15th anniversary of the conflict, Medvedev, who was presiden...

Philippine supply boats breach a Chinese coast guard blockade in the hotly contested South China Sea

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:19:13 GMT

Philippine supply boats breach a Chinese coast guard blockade in the hotly contested South China Sea ABOARD BRP CABRA (AP) — As a United States Navy plane circled overhead, two Philippine boats breached a Chinese coast guard blockade in a dangerous confrontation Tuesday in the disputed South China Sea to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino forces guarding a contested shoal.Two Philippine coast guard vessels escorting the supply boats, however, were blocked by at least four Chinese coast guard ships for about five hours in the tense standoff near Second Thomas Shoal.The dangerous encounter is the latest flare-up from the long-seething territorial disputes in the busy sea that involve China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. It’s regarded as an Asian flashpoint and has become a delicate fault line in the U.S.-China rivalry.The Philippine coast guard invited a small group of journalists, including two from The Associated Press, to join its ships that secured the supply boats as part of a new strategy aimed at exposing China’s increasingly aggressive action...