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Albania's ex-Prime Minister Berisha put under house arrest while investigated for corruption

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court has ordered house arrest for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha , who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is being investigated for possible corruption. A judge at a special court that handles cases involving senior officials and politicians granted prosecutors’ request to put Berisha under house arrest after he violated a previous requirement to check in every two weeks. His lawyer said the court on Saturday also barred Berisha from communicating with people other than his family. The lawyer says an appeal is planned. Berisha has criticized the investigation of him and his arrest as political repression ordered by Albania's current prime minister.

Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion target bank and block part of highway around Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Climate activists have blocked part of the main highway around Amsterdam for hours near the former headquarters of ING bank. They're protesting the bank's financing of fossil fuels. Amsterdam Municipality says that traffic authorities closed part of the road early Saturday afternoon and diverted traffic “to prevent a life-threatening situation." It's the latest road blockade organized by the Dutch branch of Extinction Rebellion. Earlier this year, the activist organization repeatedly blocked a highway leading into The Hague. Late in the afternoon police moved in to end the protest, peacefully detaining dozens of activists who ignored orders to leave the road.

Revelers set to pack into Times Square for annual New Year's Eve ball drop

NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of thousands of New Yorkers, tourists and celebrities are expected to pack into Times Square on Sunday for the annual New Year's Eve bash. In recent days, organizers have readied heaps of confetti, the giant 2024 sign, and the glittering ball that will descend from its pole as the clock strikes midnight. City officials said there were no known security threats to the event. But they said they were taking precautions, expanding the security perimeter to prevent disruptions amid near daily protests in New York against Israel's war in Gaza.

Flash floods kill 21 people in South Africa's coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, police say

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African police spokesperson says flash floods killed 21 people in the small town of Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal province. The floods hit the town on Christmas Day, destroying about 1400 homes, with the death toll expected to rise as an unconfirmed number of people are still missing, he said. Search and rescue teams have been scouring rivers to recover bodies with the operation expected to continue throughout the weekend. KwaZulu-Nata province has witnessed devastating floods lately. In June, heavy rainfall triggered deluges that killed seven people and in April last year, devastating floods killed more than 440 people.

Eurostar cancels trains due to flooding, stranding hundreds of travelers in Paris and London

LONDON (AP) — Eurostar services to and from London have been canceled after a tunnel under the River Thames became flooded, disrupting festive travel plans for scores of people. Dozens of travelers trying to get across the English Channel were stranded at London’s St. Pancras International station and the Gare du Nord station in Paris. Eurostar, which runs services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, said it would be running no high-speed train services throughout Saturday because of the flooding. The U.K. has been battered by strong, gusty winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Gerrit throughout the festive period. More stormy weather and travel disruption is expected during the last weekend of the year.

Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using 'incognito mode'

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google has agreed to settle a $5 billion privacy lawsuit alleging it spied on people who used the “incognito" mode in its Chrome browser — along with similar “private” modes in other browsers — to track their internet use. The lawsuit filed in 2020 says Google misled users into believing that it wouldn't track their internet activities while incognito. The settlement was reached Thursday. It must still be approved by a federal judge. Terms weren't disclosed, but the suit originally sought $5 billion on behalf of users. Plaintiffs' lawyers said they expect to present the court with a final settlement agreement by Feb. 24. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Powerful Pacific swell brings threat of more dangerous surf to California

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Bulldozers have built giant sand berms to protect beachfront homes in one of the California coastal cities hit hard this week by extraordinary waves generated by powerful swells from Pacific storms. The emergency barriers are being built Friday in the Pierpont area of the city of Ventura, where a rogue wave on Thursday smacked spectators and vehicles as it overran the beach and flowed into a neighborhood. Eight people were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries after the Pierpont incident, and Ventura County authorities have closed beaches, piers and harbors. Similar waves also hit elsewhere on the California coast. The National Weather Service warns that another round of extremely dangerous surf conditions would return Saturday.

5.9 magnitude earthquake shakes Indonesia's Aceh province. No casualties reported

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — A strong and shallow undersea earthquake has shaken part of Indonesia’s Aceh province, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties. The U.S. Geological Survey said Saturday the magnitude 5.9 earthquake was centered 225 miles east of Sinabang, a coastal town in Aceh province at a depth of 6.2 miles. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami but warned of possible aftershocks. The agency put a preliminary magnitude at 6.3. In 2004, an extremely powerful Indian Ocean quake set off a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries.

Maine's deadliest shooting propels homicides to new high in the state

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The deadliest mass shooting in Maine history propelled homicides to a new high in the state in 2023. The Maine Department of Public Safety says there have been at least 51 homicides as the countdown begins to year’s end, with several active death investigations still underway. The previous record high for homicides in Maine was 40 in 1989. All told, 18 people were killed and 13 hurt in the Oct. 25 shootings in Lewiston. The body of the Army reservist who opened fire was found two days later. An autopsy concluded he died by suicide.

Suspect in 2 killings, high-speed chase was armed with stolen rifle from Vegas gun show, police say

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say a man who fatally shot his mother two days after Christmas and set off a high-speed police chase through the suburbs of Las Vegas was armed with two rifles. One of them had been stolen from a gun show in Las Vegas and the other had an obliterated serial number. A police official identified the suspect as 36-year-old Justin Davidson. They say that Davidson stole a police cruiser and carjacked bystanders at gunpoint during the chase. A father of seven was killed in the final carjacking after pulling over for emergency vehicles pursuing the suspect. Police officers fired 53 rounds at the suspect after the final carjacking. A police official says they've found evidence that suggests the suspect could've been planning for a larger attack.