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Live updates | Bombardment levels swaths of Gaza after Israeli troops and tanks briefly enter

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

More airstrikes have ravaged swaths of the Gaza Strip, and residents are running out of food, water and other supplies. The bombardment continued as the Israeli military said its troops and tanks briefly entered northern Gaza to prepare for a full-scale incursion, the Israeli raid since the war began more than two weeks ago. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official told The Associated Press that the Palestinian militant group needs greater intervention from its allies, including Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in its war with Israel.The war, now in its 20th day, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday that more than 7,000 Palestinians have been killed so far — more than three times the number killed in the six-week-long Gaza war in 2014. In the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids following Hamas’ surprise rampage on Oct. 7 in southern Israel.The Associated Press couldn&#...

Smith scores twice, Penguins end Colorado’s NHL-record road winning streak at 15 in 4-0 win

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Reilly Smith scored twice, Tristan Jarry stopped 30 shots and the Pittsburgh Penguins ended Colorado’s NHL-record road winning streak with a decisive 4-0 victory on Thursday.The Avalanche had won 15 straight away from Ball Arena dating back to March and came in as one of three teams in the league unbeaten on the young season. Both runs came to a halt on a night the Penguins offered a glimpse of the team they hope they can become more regularly over the next six months.Smith beat Alexandar Georgiev twice in the first period to put Colorado down multiple goals for the first time all season. Lars Eller added his first goal for Pittsburgh in the second period and Sidney Crosby scored his fourth goal midway through the third. Jarry did the rest while picking up his 15th career shutout.Georgiev, making his seventh start in seven games, stopped 19 of 23 shots before exiting after Crosby’s goal put the game out of reach 9:25 into the third. Georgiev’s per...

Johansson makes 23 saves, Stamkos has goal and assist, and Lightning hammer Sharks 6-0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jonas Johansson made 23 saves for his second consecutive shutout, Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning hammered the winless San Jose Sharks 6-0 on Thursday night.Tampa Bay also got goals from Brayden Point, Michael Eyssimont, Brandon Hagel, Nicholas Paul and Luke Glendening.San Jose goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, under constant siege, was pulled at 7:29 of the second after allowing five goals on 21 mostly quality shots.The Sharks have opened the season at 0-6-1. Dating to a 7-2 win at Arizona last Apr. 1, San Jose is winless in 13 games at 0-11-2.“We’ve just to play with more of a competitive edge to our game,” Sharks coach David Quinn said before the game. “I mean, just because you are around a battle doesn’t mean you’re in the battle. There’s a big, big difference. We have to play with a more freakin’ attitude if we’re going to be successful and generate more offense and spend less time in our end.”San Jose has eight goals in its sev...

Hurricane Otis survivors search for friends and necessities in devastated Acapulco

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Survivors of a Category 5 storm that killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco spent Thursday searching for acquaintances and necessities and hoping that aid would come quickly in the wake of Hurricane Otis.The Pacific storm had strengthened with shocking swiftness before slamming into the coast early Wednesday, and the Mexican government deployed around 10,000 troops to deal with the aftermath. But equipment to move tons of mud and fallen trees from the streets was slow in arriving.Resentment grew Thursday in impoverished neighborhoods as residents worried that government attention would go to repairing infrastructure for the city’s economic engine of tourism rather than helping the neediest. Flora Contreras Santos, a housewife from a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of the city, sought help in looking for a 3-year-old girl who was swept away from her mother in a mudslide. She went from soldier to soldier trying to i...

Fairfax Co. elementary school teacher charged with exposing himself to child

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

A 27-year-old elementary school teacher has been arrested and accused of exposing himself to a child and several others in the Fort Hunt area of Fairfax County, Virginia, police said in a news release Thursday.Police say James Nugent, of Alexandria, a special-education teacher at Groveton Elementary School, approached a child while in his Toyota Sienna near the intersection of Camden Street and Wittington Boulevard around 1:30 p.m. Saturday.Police said Nugent lured the child to his van then exposed himself. The child ran away and called police.Thanks to surveillance from someone in the area, police said they were able to identify the van and Nugent. During a search of his home Thursday morning, police said they found numerous child sex abuse materials. Nugent is charged with taking indecent liberties with child and 13 counts of distributing child porn.Police said they believe Nugent has exposed himself to at least four others near Stratford Elementary School within the past two week...

Devin Booker, Bradley Beal unable to play in Suns’ 2nd game of the season vs the Lakers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are sitting out due to injuries when the Phoenix Suns visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said Booker “tweaked his foot” late in the Suns’ season-opening victory over Golden State, and the high-scoring guard “is dealing with significant left foot soreness.” Booker led Phoenix with 32 points against the Warriors.Beal has yet to make his Suns debut because lower back tightness has kept him out of their first two games. Phoenix acquired the veteran guard from Washington last June in a multiplayer trade involving Chris Paul and several draft pick exchanges.“Brad is ramping up his work and continues to be symptomatic as a response to the work, so he’s not ready,” Vogel said.The injuries left Kevin Durant as the only healthy member of the Suns’ new Big Three as they faced LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the Lakers’ home opener. Vogel declined to say who would replace Booker in t...

Lions and Raiders are both looking to bounce back from bad losses on Monday night

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The NFC North-leading Detroit Lions and the Las Vegas Raiders will have something in common on Monday night.Both teams are trying to bounce back from lopsided losses.Detroit’s four-game winning streak ended in Baltimore with a 32-point loss. Las Vegas had won two straight games before losing at Chicago by 18 points.The Lions (5-2) were tied for the league’s best record before a humbling loss to the Ravens, but Jared Goff insisted the setback wasn’t a dramatic statement about the state of the team.“It’s a roller coaster outside of our building at times — for every team in the league — it’s no different for us,” Goff said. “But in here, it’s pretty ‘Steady Eddie’ and ready to respond this week.”The Raiders (3-4) may get a boost from the return of Jimmy Garoppolo, who was sidelined last week and for the second half of the prior game with a back injury.“As long we don’t have anything that goes the other way, we’re very hopeful,” coach Josh McDaniels said.NO OF...

Biden meets with new Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House to discuss aid for Israel and Ukraine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden met with new House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries at the White House on Thursday to discuss his request for nearly $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other national security needs.Johnson, a staunch conservative allied with Donald Trump, has shown little interest in providing additional money from Congress to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Biden met briefly with Johnson and also with Jeffries before the House leaders joined a classified briefing with other congressional lawmakers on the assistance package, according to a White House official.“It was a productive meeting,” Johnson told reporters back at the Capitol. “I enjoyed my visit with the president.”The new Republican leader who swept into office nearly a month after the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker had a busy first full day in office, having inherited many of the same political problems that tormented past GOP leaders and challenged the...

Maine police have left a home they surrounded in hunt for mass shooting suspect

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Most of the law enforcement officers and a helicopter that surrounded a home connected to a relative of the suspect in the Maine shootings have left after executing a search warrant and calling for anyone inside to surrender.Heavily armed police surrounded a home Thursday as they searched for a U.S. Army reservist who authorities say killed 18 people and wounded 13 in a mass shooting at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine.“You need to come outside now with nothing in your hands. Your hands in the air,” police shouted through a megaphone outside the home owned by suspect Robert Card’s relative near the town of Bowdoin.Maine State Police said afterward that the announcements were standard. ‘Worst night of our lives’: Survivors recount escaping shooting at Maine bowling alley Heavily armed police surrounded a home Thursday as they searched for a U.S. Army reservist who authorities say killed 18 people and wounded 13 in a mass shooting at a bowling alle...

US strikes Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for attacks on US troops

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:16:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military launched airstrikes early Friday on two locations in eastern Syria linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Pentagon said, in retaliation for a slew of drone and missile attacks against U.S. bases and personnel in the region that began early last week. The U.S. strikes reflect the Biden administration's determination to maintain a delicate balance. The U.S. wants to hit Iranian-backed groups suspected of targeting the U.S. as strongly as possible to deter future aggression, possibly fueled by Israel's war against Hamas, while also working to avoid inflaming the region and provoking a wider conflict. ‘No warning, just booms in the air’: Colorado-raised woman caught in attack on Israel Information about the specific targets and other details were not yet provided.According to the Pentagon, there have been at least 12 attacks on U.S. bases and personnel in Iraq and four in Syria since Oct. 17. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said 21 U.S. pers...