Israel strikes 2 homes, killing more than 90 Palestinians. Biden says he didn’t request a cease-fire

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

Israel strikes 2 homes, killing more than 90 Palestinians. Biden says he didn’t request a cease-fire By Najib Jobain and Samy Magdy | Associated PressRAFAH, Gaza Strip — More than 90 Palestinians, including dozens from an extended family, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on two homes in Gaza, rescuers and hospital officials said Saturday, a day after the U.N. chief warned that nowhere is safe in the territory and that Israel’s offensive creates “massive obstacles” to distribution of humanitarian aid.U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, calling it a long and private conversation a day after the Biden administration again shielded Israel in the diplomatic arena. On Friday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a watered-down resolution that calls for immediately speeding up aid deliveries to desperate civilians in Gaza, but not for a cease-fire.“I did not ask for a cease-fire,” Biden said of the call. Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister “made clear that Israel would continue the war until achieving all its goals.”Also Saturday...

Pro-Palestine protestor climbs on Christmas tree in Union Square; SFPD asks public to avoid area

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

Pro-Palestine protestor climbs on Christmas tree in Union Square; SFPD asks public to avoid area SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A pro-Palestine protester was seen climbing a Christmas tree in San Francisco's Union Square on Saturday afternoon, video from the Citizen App shows. A Palestine flag was seen attached to the centerpiece Christmas tree in the city's downtown area.The protestor climbing on the tree was seen holding a "Free Palestine" sign. Video from the scene can be viewed in the media player above. San Francisco Police Department officers were at the scene in response, the department told KRON4. SFPD said, "people began to commit crimes ranging from assault to felony vandalism causing property damage." Two Antioch minors killed in fatal hit-and-run   The public was asked to avoid the area due to police activity, according to a tweet sent at 4:09 p.m. by the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.Several suspects were arrested. "The group appears to have cleared from Union Square," SFPD said. Police say anyone with information is asked to contact SFPD at 415-575-...

CDC tracking new COVID variant’s growth

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

CDC tracking new COVID variant’s growth (KRON) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking the growth of the JN.1 COVID-19 variant.JN.1 split from its parent, BA.2.86.  Flu and COVID infections are rising and could get worse over the holidays, CDC says BA.2.86 is similar to JN.1, however; JN.1 has an additional mutation (L455S) in the spike protein.According to the CDC, JN.1 is the most widely spread variant in the United States. JN.1 is expected to account for 39-50 percent of all SARS-CoV-2 variants, which is an increase from the projected prevalence two weeks ago of 15-29 percent.According to the CDC, the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines produce antibodies that protect against JN.1. The CDC says there has been a trend of increased COVID-19 cases in the fall and winter seasons. COVID-19 activity is elevated and increasing in the U.S., as measured by emergency department visits, test positivity, wastewater levels, and hospitalizations. The CDC provides recommendations to fight the JN...

David Jones scores 28 as No. 23 Memphis escapes with a 77-75 victory over Vanderbilt

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

David Jones scores 28 as No. 23 Memphis escapes with a 77-75 victory over Vanderbilt MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — David Jones scored 28 points, including 21 in the second half, as No. 23 Memphis held on to escape with a 77-75 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday.Jahvon Quinerly added 13 points for Memphis (10-2).Ezra Manjon led Vanderbilt with 22 points, while Tasos Kamateros, Jason Rivera-Torres and Tyrin Lawrence scored 12 points each as Vanderbilt (4-8) dropped its fourth straight.The Memphis lead was a scant 75-73 when Lawrence converted a pair of Vanderbilt free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining. From there it became a free-throw shooting contest as Jones and Jaqualon Roberts both split a pair of free throws. Then Quinerly made one of two free throws and Memphis held a 77-74 advantage with 9 seconds left. Kamateros made one free throw, cutting the Memphis lead to 77-75.Vanderbilt had a chance on the final play inbounding the ball with 3.5 seconds left. Manjon had a look at a 3-pointer, but the attempt bounced off the front of the rim, and Memphis survived for its fift...

Bills activate RB Leonard Fournette vs. Chargers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

Bills activate RB Leonard Fournette vs. Chargers INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Buffalo Bills running back Leonard Fournette was elevated from the practice squad and activated for Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.Fournette was active for the first time this season. The 28-year-old veteran was set to back up James Cook and Latavius Murray with Ty Johnson inactive due to a shoulder injury.Buffalo safety Micah Hyde (neck) and defensive end A.J. Epensesa (rib) were inactive. Offensive linemen Germain Ifedi and Alec Anderson were healthy scratches.Los Angeles wide receiver Keenan Allen missed his second straight game and defensive back Deane Leonard his fourth consecutive, both due to heel injuries.The Chargers’ other inactive players were quarterback Max Duggan, safety JT Woods and tight end Donald Parham Jr.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

Villanova takes down DePaul 84-48

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

Villanova takes down DePaul 84-48 CHICAGO (AP) — Hakim Hart scored 20 points as Villanova beat DePaul 84-48 on Saturday night.Hart was 7-of-10 shooting (4 for 4 from 3-point range) for the Wildcats (9-4, 2-0 Big East Conference). Eric Dixon scored 12 points while going 5 of 10 from the field. TJ Bamba was 4-of-8 shooting (2 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points.Da’Sean Nelson led the Blue Demons (2-9, 0-1) in scoring, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds. Jaden Henley added 11 points and two steals for DePaul. Chico Carter Jr. also had 11 points and four assists.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Armed Forces Bowl Winners

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

Armed Forces Bowl Winners Dec. 23, 2023 — Air Force 31, No. 24 James Madison 21Dec. 22, 2022 — Air Force 30, Baylor 15Dec. 22, 2021 — Army 24, Missouri 22Dec. 31, 2020 — Mississippi St. 28, No. 22 Tulsa 26Jan. 4, 2020 — Tulane 30, Southern Miss 13Dec. 22, 2018 — Army 70, Houston 14Dec. 23, 2017 — Army 42, San Diego State 35Dec. 23, 2016 — Louisiana Tech 48, Navy 45Dec. 29, 2015 — California 55, Air Force 36Jan. 2, 2015 — Houston 35, Pittsburgh 34Dec. 30, 2013 — Navy 24, Middle Tennessee 6Dec. 29, 2012 — Rice 33, Air Force 14Dec. 30, 2011 — BYU 24, Tulsa 21Dec. 30, 2010 — Army 16, SMU 14Dec. 31, 2009 — Air Force 47, Houston 20Dec. 31, 2008 — Houston 34, Air Force 28Dec. 31, 2007 — California 42, Air Force 36Dec. 23, 2006 — Utah 25, Tulsa 13Dec. 23, 2005 — Kansas 42, Houston 13Dec. 23, 2004 — Cincinnati 32, Marshall 14Dec. 23, 2003 — Boise State 34, TCU 31Note: Fort Worth Bowl (2003-05).Source

Griffin scores career-high 19, hits 5 of Alabama’s 19 3s in 111-67 win over E. Kentucky

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

Griffin scores career-high 19, hits 5 of Alabama’s 19 3s in 111-67 win over E. Kentucky TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Rylen Griffin scored a career-high 19 points and hit five of Alabama’s 19 3-pointers, Grant Nelson made 7 of 9 from the field and also scored 19 points Saturday to help the Crimson Tide beat Eastern Kentucky 111-67 in a battle between two of the nation’s top offenses. Alabama (6-5), which went into the game ranked No. 5 nationally is scoring (90.5 per game) and No. 11 in made 3s per game (10.5), scored its most points since a 115-82 win over Georgia on Feb. 13, 2021 and hit 19 3s for the second time this season. The Crimson Tide, who have topped the 100-point plateau four times, scored at least 98 points for the sixth time this season.Mark Sears hit a 3-pointer 16 seconds into the game and Alabama never trailed. Michael Moreno tied it with a 3 about a minute later but Mohamed Wague answered with a layup before Nelson followed with another layup and a 3-pointer to make it 10-3. Sam Walters hit from behind the arc with 14:27 left in the half to push...

New York Mets hit with record luxury tax of nearly $101 million for season of fourth-place finish

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

New York Mets hit with record luxury tax of nearly $101 million for season of fourth-place finish NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets must pay a record luxury tax of nearly $101 million after a fourth-place finish in their division, among an unprecedented eight teams that owe the penalty for the 2023 season.Owner Steve Cohen’s Mets finished with a tax payroll of $374.7 million, according to figures finalized by Major League Baseball on Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press. That topped the previous high of $291.1 million by the 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers.The Mets’ tax bill came to $100,781,932 after they finished fourth in the NL East at 75-87 in the most expensive flop in baseball history. That more than doubled the prior high of $43.6 million by the 2015 Dodgers.The Mets saved about $18 million for this year with their summer selloff that saw them trade Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Robertson and Mark Canha. Their projected tax payroll on June 30 was $384 million, according to MLB, and that additional $9.3 million in payroll would have resulted in a tax...

Joseph Parker stuns Deontay Wilder in unanimous decision in Saudi Arabia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:39:19 GMT

Joseph Parker stuns Deontay Wilder in unanimous decision in Saudi Arabia RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Joseph Parker stunned Deontay Wilder in a unanimous decision on Saturday in the first bout of a heavyweight doubleheader at the Kingdom Arena.The 31-year-old Parker, a big underdog according to FanDuel Sportsbook, looked like the better fighter throughout, while the 38-year-old Wilder looked his age in this matchup of former heavyweight champions. Parker (34-3-0) dominated from the start, landing powerful punches with his right hand while keeping Wilder on his heels with a smart and methodical approach.“Dangerous fight, tough fight, we trained very hard for this,” Parker said. “We had great momentum coming into this fight. The strategy was to stay calm, stay relaxed, stay focused … every minute of every round. This is a great finish to the year.”There was only one round in which Wilder got the better of Parker.“My timing was off a little bit,” Wilder said. “He did a great job of avoiding a lot of my punches. I did feel like I had the upper hand, but...