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Special forces swiftly evacuate US embassy staff from Sudan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. special operations forces carried out a precarious evacuation of the American embassy in warring Sudan on Sunday, sweeping in and out of the capital, Khartoum, with helicopters on the ground for less than an hour. No shots were fired and no major casualties were reported.With the last U.S. employee of the embassy out, Washington shuttered the U.S. mission in Khartoum indefinitely. Left behind were thousands of private American citizens remaining in the east African country. U.S. officials said it would be too dangerous to carry out a broader evacuation mission. Battles between two rival Sudanese commanders entered their ninth day Sunday, forcing continued closing of the main international airport and leaving roads out of the country in control of armed men. Fighting has killed more than 400 people.In a statement thanking the troops, President Joe Biden said he was receiving regular reports from his team on efforts to assist remaining Americans in Sudan “to the...

MacKinnon, Avalanche spoil Kraken’s home playoff debut, 6-4

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar weren’t interested in being side characters to a historic night for the Seattle Kraken. The trio took center stage and reclaimed home-ice advantage for the defending Stanley Cup champions. MacKinnon and Rantanen scored in a 1:28 span early in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche spoiled Seattle’s first home playoff game with a 6-4 victory Saturday night in Game 3 of the first-round series. Tied at 3 after a wild first 40 minutes, the defending Stanley Cup champions relied on their best players to take a 2-1 lead in the series. “I think scoring in the playoffs on the road is awesome. It’s a cool feeling, no matter how you get them. They feel great,” MacKinnon said. “A lot of guys scored some big goals tonight.”MacKinnon scored his first two goals of the playoffs, Makar added his first of this postseason after winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of last year’s championship run, and Rantanen scored for t...

LeBron’s Lakers beat Grizzlies 111-101, take 2-1 series lead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James and the Lakers came out in front of this franchise’s first sellout playoff crowd in a decade and immediately produced one of the greatest first quarters in team history. Los Angeles leaped to a 35-9 lead amidst one raucous ovation after another from fans eager for a return to playoff success.Not even Ja Morant could carry the Memphis Grizzlies all the way back to prevent the Lakers from seizing Game 3.Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds, James finished with 25 points after Dillon Brooks was ejected for striking him in the groin, and Los Angeles survived Morant’s 24-point fourth quarter to beat the Grizzlies 111-101 Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.Rui Hachimura scored 16 points in another strong effort off the bench for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who came out impressively in this long-awaited return to a true playoff atmosphere for a franchise with 17 titles. Los Angeles tied an NBA record by taking...

Gervonta Davis knocks out Ryan Garcia with body shot in 7th

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gervonta Davis’ left uppercut to Ryan Garcia didn’t seem to do much damage initially.Garcia remained on his feet before backing up a few steps. Then he went to his right knee, and suddenly a highly anticipated boxing match was over, the lightweight bout ending at 1:44 of the seventh round Saturday night.“I didn’t think that body shot would end it, but I saw his facial expression and that’s what made me take it to him,” Davis said. “It was a good shot, for sure. I thought he was going to get up, but I like to play mind games, so when he was looking at me, I was looking at him trying to tell him, ‘Get up!’ He just shook his head, ‘No.’”Davis improved to 29-0, with all but two of his victories by knockout. It was the first defeat for Garcia, who won 19 of his first 23 fights by KO.Davis also sent Garcia to the mat with a roundhouse left in the second round, and spent most of the rest of the fight working the body. The strategy worked for Davis, a 28-year-ol...

A deeply divided Israel limps toward its 75th birthday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Orit Pinhasov strongly opposes the Israeli government’s proposed judicial overhaul, but you won’t find her anywhere near the mass protests against the plan. She says her marriage depends on it.Pinhasov’s husband sits on the opposite side of Israel’s political divide, and joining the protests will only deepen what she says already are palpable tensions in her household.“I don’t go to the demonstrations not because I don’t believe in them,” she said. “I don’t go in order to protect my home. I feel like I’m fighting for my home.”As Israel turns 75 on Wednesday, it has much to celebrate. But instead of feting its accomplishments as a regional military and economic powerhouse, the nation that arose on the ashes of the Holocaust faces perhaps its gravest existential threat yet — not from foreign enemies but from divisions within.For over three months, tens of thousands of people have rallied in the streets against what they see as an assault by an ultranationalist, religi...

German government, unions reach pay deal for public workers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German government officials and labor unions have reached a pay deal for more than 2.5 million public-sector workers, ending a lengthy dispute and heading off the possibility of disruptive all-out strikes.The ver.di union had pressed for hefty raises as Germany, like many other countries, grapples with high inflation. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said as the deal was announced early Sunday that “we accommodated the unions as far as we could responsibly do in a difficult budget situation.”The deal entails one-time payments totaling 3,000 euros ($3,300) per employee, with the first 1,240 euros coming in June and monthly payments of 220 euros following until February. In March, regular monthly pay for all will be increased by 200 euros, followed by a salary increase of 5.5%. The deal runs through to the end of 2024.Ver.di originally sought a one-year deal with a raise of 10.5%. The deal was reached on the basis of a proposal by arbitrators who were called in after talks...

Fire breaks out at Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island attraction

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — An area of the Disneyland resort in California has caught fire, according to a news report.The fire broke out Saturday night during the “Fantasmic” show in the Tom Sawyer Island section of the resort in Anaheim, KABC-TV reported.The Anaheim Fire Department told the station there have not been any injuries reported. The extent of the fire damage was not immediately known, KABC reported.Tom Sawyer Island has been part of Disneyland since 1956, allowing fans to enter the world of one of the main characters of Mark Twain’s book, KABC reported.The Associated Press

Police investigate fatal crash on Troy-Schenectady Road

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

NISKAYUNA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Police are currently investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Troy-Schenectady Road in Niskayuna on Saturday afternoon. The crash took place around 3:30 p.m. near Algonquin Road. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Multiple first responder units and police departments responded. According to the police, the driver of one of the vehicles succumbed to their injuries at the scene.The occupants of the second vehicle were transported to the Albany Medical Center for treatment. The Niskayuna Police Department and the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate. Any witnesses are asked to contact Detective Paul Daly at (518)386-4582.

Massive fire breaks out at Disneyland park

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

A massive fire broke out at Disneyland Saturday night as packed crowds were enjoying the theme park.The fire ignited on Tom Sawyer Island during the Fantasmic! nighttime water and fireworks held on the Rivers of America.Citizen video captured by parkgoers shows massive flames fully engulfing Maleficent's dragon prop on stage. The flames first ignited from the dragon's face before spreading to the rest of its body. Heavy plumes of dark smoke were been billowing from the stage and were visible throughout the park.Video showed cast members evacuating packed crowds out of the waterfront viewing area and nearby attractions as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.A massive fire broke out during a nighttime show at Disneyland Park on April 22, 2023. (Citizen) A massive fire broke out during a nighttime show at Disneyland Park on April 22, 2023. (Brenda Coutiño)A massive fire broke out during a nighttime show at Disneyla...

Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies play in game 4 of series

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:24:59 GMT

Colorado Rockies (6-16, fifth in the NL West) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (10-12, fourth in the NL East)Philadelphia; Sunday, 12:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Jose Urena (0-3, 9.82 ERA, 2.32 WHIP, nine strikeouts); Phillies: Zack Wheeler (1-1, 4.79 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 23 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -291, Rockies +239; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies take a 2-1 advantage into the next game of the series against the Colorado Rockies.Philadelphia has a 5-4 record at home and a 10-12 record overall. Phillies hitters have a collective .335 on-base percentage, the eighth-best percentage in MLB play.Colorado has a 3-9 record on the road and a 6-16 record overall. The Rockies have the 10th-ranked team batting average in the NL at .245.Sunday’s game is the fourth time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Alec Bohm has three doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI for the Phillies. Nicholas Castellanos is 13-for-40 with two doubles...