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5 things to know as Israel declares war, bombards Gaza Strip after unprecedented Hamas attack

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Fighting continued in southern Israel early Monday after the government declared war and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas. Special forces soldiers were brought in to try to retake four Israeli sites held by Hamas following its unprecedented weekend incursion, which officials said involved as many as 1,000 fighters. The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. The rampage included an assault on a crowded music festival where authorities had removed about 260 bodies by Sunday.Israel struck back with airstrikes including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices. At least 700 people were reported killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza. Thousands were wounded and some 123,000 displaced people in Gaza were in shelters, the U.N. said.Here are some key takeaways from the ...

Workers at Mack Trucks reject tentative contract deal and will go on strike early Monday

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks have voted down a tentative five-year contract agreement reached with the company and plan to strike at 7 a.m. Monday, the United Auto Workers union says.Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday.The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1. The deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract. Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks’ head of labor relations that employees working early Monday will exit the factories after performing tasks needed to prevent damage to company equipment.The workers are in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.The Associated Press

Americans among those killed in attacks against Israel: reports

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

(AP) — Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks against Israel and an additional seven were missing and unaccounted for, according to a U.S. official. The numbers were in flux and could change as a fuller accounting is compiled, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Most, if not all, of those reported dead or missing are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, the official said. Hamas surprise attack stuns Israel, leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation Earlier on Sunday, Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, said American citizens are also among those who were taken captive. But he gave no details about them or those possibly killed.“Unfortunately I can’t. We have a lot of dual citizens in Israel. I suspect there are several, but we’re still trying to sort through all of all this information after this horrific surprise attack...

Austin FC overhauls scouting, player personnel departments after missing MLS playoffs

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A day after they were eliminated from the Major League Soccer playoffs, Austin FC announced changes within its scouting and player personnel departments.Manuel Junco, who has been the club's chief scout since 2020, has left and Sean Rubio, the senior vice president of player personnel, has accepted a job with another MLS club. Rubio also filled in as sporting director after Claudio Reyna resigned. Austin FC eliminated from playoff contention after 4-2 loss to LAFC at home Austin FC also added five new full-time scouts who are "stationed throughout Europe and South America." Coming off a disappointing season where Austin FC failed to make the postseason after making the Western Conference finals last season, Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell reaffirmed his faith in head coach Josh Wolff."Identifying global and national talent is an essential ingredient to achieving long-term success within MLS as it is anywhere else and it is important for Austin FC to view player s...

After 2 debates, does Burgum have a path to the presidency?

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

FARGO — After four months of campaigning, millions of dollars on advertising and two debate appearances, Doug Burgum’s presidential campaign presses on with little sign of breaking through.The North Dakota governor continues to lag behind virtually all of the other candidates in national polls, with an average of less than 1% support. His peak was 3% in one late September poll, but he hasn’t repeated that success in the following weeks.Candidates at the rear of the pack will often say it’s the voters who choose the presidential nominee, not polls. But single-percent support levels are not typically predictors of electoral success, and in a typical election, it’s often around this time the field starts becoming significantly less crowded.So with another four months until the official kickoff for the GOP presidential primaries, what’s next for the North Dakota governor’s presidential campaign?If you ask Burgum, it’s steaming ahead to the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire pri...

Broncos rookie WR Marvin Mims Jr., a playmaker early in season, laments two fumbles in loss to Jets

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

Marvin Mims Jr. had a rookie moment in Week 4 against Chicago, but he hit his first real adversity as a professional Sunday against the Jets.The Broncos’ dynamic rookie wide receiver played a key part in two of Denver’s three turnovers in a 31-21 loss to New York, fumbling a first-quarter punt return and mishandling a third-quarter flip from running back Samaje Perine on a trick play.After the Denver defense started the afternoon with a stop, Mims should have called fair catch on a high punt from Thomas Morstead. Instead, he got hit almost immediately and the ball popped out. The Jets only got a field goal out of the ensuing chance, but even still it set an ominous tone.“I mean, I thought I had a little bit of room and just misjudged it, basically,” Mims told The Denver Post. “Just the speed of the game and all that stuff. As soon as I got my hands on it he hit me and it just fell out.”Then later he tried to take a pitch on an end-around from Peri...

Tenants return to the street after clash with police in Boyle Heights

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

Just a week after police and protesters clashed in Boyle Heights during a rally against a proposed 9% rent increase in rent-controlled apartments in Los Angeles that injured at least one police officer, demonstrators were back on the streets again this Sunday. So far, one arrest has been made in connection with the Oct. 1 march in which the Los Angeles Police Department said several members of the group were engaging in criminal activities prompting officers to intervene.  “As Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck officers attempted to initiate the arrest for the criminal activity, several members of the crowd engaged in a violent altercation with officers attempting to free the individual under arrest,” LAPD said in news release last week.  However, Uniôn de Vecinos, the Eastside Local of the Los Angeles Tenant Union, disputes the department’s report of the incident.  LAPD Hollenbeck Division officers at the scene of a planned tenants rights demonstration where pr...

Jalen Hurts and a tough defense carry the Eagles to a 23-14 victory over the Rams

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

Philadelphia went 74 yards in 30 seconds and lined up at the Rams 1 for one final snap before halftime. Just about everybody in SoFi Stadium knew that last play would be the “tush push,” the “Brotherly Shove," or whatever Jalen Hurts' secret name is for the Eagles' signature short-yardage surge.Los Angeles knew it was coming, but still couldn't keep Hurts from scoring a touchdown that put Philly ahead for good.That's what it's like facing the powerhouse Eagles these days: They don't always execute perfectly, but they just keep moving forward.Hurts passed for 303 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 72 yards and another score, and Philadelphia outlasted the Rams 23-14 on Sunday to remain unbeaten.Dallas Goedert had eight catches for 117 yards and an early TD for the Eagles, who are off to consecutive 5-0 starts for the first time in franchise history despite never pulling away in this meeting of the last two NFC champions. Philadelphia has won 22 of its last 23 regular...

Desperate people dig out dead and injured from Afghanistan earthquakes that killed at least 2,000

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Men dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels in western Afghanistan Sunday in desperate attempts to pull victims from the wreckage left by powerful earthquakes that killed at least 2,000 people. Entire villages were flattened, bodies were trapped under collapsed houses and locals waited for help without even shovels to dig people out.Living and dead, victims were trapped under rubble, their faces grey with dust. A government spokesman said Sunday that hundreds were still trapped, more than 1,000 hurt and more than 1,300 homes destroyed. “Most people were shocked ... some couldn’t even talk. But there were others who couldn’t stop crying and shouting,” photographer Omid Haqjoo, who visited four villages Sunday, told The Associated Press by phone from Afghanistan’s fourth largest city, Herat.Saturday’s magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit a densely populated area near Herat. It was followed by strong aftershocks. A Taliban government spokesman on Sunday provided t...

Watch: Kittle scores on trick play for 2nd TD vs. Cowboys

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:35:07 GMT

The 49ers went into their trick bag for the second touchdown of Sunday night’s big showdown with the Cowboys, and the score involved two of their multi-talented stars showing off their ball skills.After a nice punt return by Ray-Ray McCloud, the 49ers had a short field to go, leading 7-0 early in the second quarter.On the first play of the drive from the Dallas 38-yard line, Brock Purdy handed the ball off to Christian McCaffrey, who ran right and pitched it to Deebo Samuel. Then Samuel quickly pitched it to a right-rolling Purdy to complete the flea-flicker.It's tricky @gkittle46 scores his 2nd TD of the night! #DALvsSF on NBC NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/tAUa8Ny2Jo— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 9, 2023Purdy, with plenty of protection from the offensive linemen who had rolled right along with him, hit tight end George Kittle down the right sideline at the 20-yard line, and Kittle did the rest.Kittle sold a block before breaking downfield ...