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Israeli-Palestinian fighting intensifies as Egypt’s efforts falter

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

By Fares Akram and Ilan Ben Zion | Associated PressGAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Wednesday, while Israel pressed ahead with a series of airstrikes that have killed 23 Palestinians, including three senior militants and at least 10 civilians.A state-run Egyptian TV station announced that Egypt, a frequent mediator between the sides, had brokered a cease-fire. But the truce efforts appeared to falter as fighting intensified late Wednesday, with neither side showing any sign of backing down.Early Thursday, the Israeli military said it was carrying out airstrikes against Islamic Jihad militant group targets in Gaza. According to Palestinian media reports, the strikes targeted the last floor of a building at a residential complex in southern Gaza Strip, killing at least two people, including an Islamic Jihad commander. The Israeli military did not elaborate and there was no comment from the militant group on the ...

FBI won’t provide Comer with ‘alleged criminal scheme’ document

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

By Sara Murray and Evan Perez | CNNThe FBI declined Wednesday to provide House Oversight Chairman James Comer with an internal law enforcement document that some Republicans claim will show Joe Biden was involved in an illegal scheme involving a foreign national.“You have asked for what you say is a ‘precise description’ of an ‘alleged criminal scheme’ contained in is a single FD-1023 report. You express concern that the FBI has inappropriately ‘failed to disclose’ such a report ‘to the American people,'” Christopher Dunham, acting assistant director for the FBI’s office of congressional affairs, said in the letter to Comer, a copy of which was obtained by CNN.“It is critical to the integrity of the entire criminal justice process and to the fulfillment of our law enforcement duties that FBI avoid revealing information — including unverified or incomplete information — that could harm investigations, prejudice prosecu...

Sharks’ Karlsson joins select company as he becomes finalist for player’s award

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson on Wednesday was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league’s Most Outstanding Player as determined by the NHL Players’ Association.Karlsson, who was also named a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman earlier this month, is just the third player in Sharks history to be named a finalist for the award, joining Joe Thornton and Brent Burns.Thornton was a finalist in 2005-06, the year he won the Hart and Art Ross trophies, and Burns was a finalist in 2016-17 when he won the Norris. No Sharks player has ever won the award, named after the longtime Detroit Red Wings great who helped to establish the NHLPA.Other finalists for the award are Edmonton’s Connor McDavid — the favorite to win the Hart Trophy this year as the league’s top player, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association — and Boston’s David Pastrnak.Karlsson, in his fifth full season with the Sharks, had 25 goals and ...

E-scooter batteries blamed for recent SF fires

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – The San Francisco Fire Department has seen an increase in fires caused by Lithium-ion batteries. These batteries that are used to power E-bikes and E-scooters are catching fire during charging. It happened Tuesday at an apartment complex on Locksley Avenue. Man in custody after slashing BART rider with ‘cleaver-style knife’: police KRON4 reached out to SFFD on March 5 when the battery of an e-scooter caught fire at an apartment building on Polk Street. Two months later, it’s still happening.“We are seeing a rise in responses for battery-related fires throughout San Francisco,” said SFFD Captain Jonathan Baxter, Baxter says it’s a growing problem nationwide. The batteries used to power e-scooters and e-bikes overheat during charging and catch fire.Oftentimes the batteries catch fire at night while residents are asleep. That’s what happened early Tuesday morning at a high-rise on Locksley Ave.“I hear fire alarms go off and start smelling like a plast...

SF bar named one of 50 best in North America, new ranking says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Francisco bar was named one of the 50 best in North America by a ranking released last week. The list named Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco the 28th-best bar on the continent.Pacific Cocktail Haven is the only Bay Area bar to crack the list. Founded in 2016, the bar is located at 550 Sutter St. in Union Square. Yelp: San Mateo bakery ranked second best for Asian-owned bakeries in US The cocktails are "inspired by Asian-Pacific ingredients," according to the business' website. Pacific Cocktail Haven was named "Best American Cocktail Bar" in 2020 by the Spirited Awards®.Last year, the same ranking by "North America's 50 Best Bars" had two Bay Area establishments on its list: Friends and Family in Oakland at No. 33 and ABV in SF at No. 39. Three other California bars made the 2023 list. In Los Angeles, Thunderbolt ranked No. 10 and Death & Co. at No. 30. Youngblood in San Diego ranked No. 49.Double Chicken Please in New York City topped the list at numbe...

Turkey’s closely watched elections may stretch Erdogan’s rule or set country on new course

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — In the year in which the Turkish republic marks its centenary, the country is being closely watched to see if a united opposition can succeed in unseating an increasingly authoritarian leader in the NATO-member country. Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections, taking place on Sunday, could stretch President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule into a third decade — or they could set the country on a new course.Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the secular, center-left Republican People’s Party, or CHP, is the main challenger trying to dislodge Erdogan after 20 years in office. The 74-year-old is the joint candidate of a six-party alliance that has vowed to dismantle an executive presidential system that Erdogan installed and return the country to a parliamentary democracy with checks and balances. As well as the opposition alliance, Kilicdaroglu has clinched the support of the country’s pro-Kurdish party, which garners around 10% of the votes. And polls have g...

Why Ryan Reynolds, Snoop Dogg, other celebrities want to buy the Ottawa Senators

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — While some hockey fans may be surprised by multiple celebrities facing off for a minority ownership stake in the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, experts who study the business of sport say the prospect stands to lift the team’s profile to new heights. It is also seen as a safe way for stars to park their money.Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds and rapper Snoop Dogg have both confirmed their interest, while Toronto recording artist The Weeknd has reportedly also thrown his hat into the ring.For film or music stars interested in owning a professional sports team, the opportunity simply doesn’t come around often, said Michael Naraine, associate professor of sport management at Brock University.“When you think about professional sport, it is a cartel-like system. There are only 32 teams, only 32 seats,” he told The Canadian Press. “Teams like the Ottawa Senators, even though they’ve never won the Stanley Cup and they are not doing so hot momentum-wise on the ice, they’re ...

Takeaways from town hall: Trump says sexual assault case was ‘fake,’ calls Jan. 6 ‘a beautiful day’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s primetime appearance in a live CNN town hall Wednesday had the former president and 2024 presidential candidate doubling down on his false claims as he faced tough questions in an interview for the first time in years after largely sticking to friendly conservative media outlets. Wednesday’s town hall marked Trump’s first appearance on CNN since 2016. He had branded the network “fake news” and never granted any of its journalists an interview while president. Trump’s campaign said he was appearing on the network to step outside of a GOP comfort zone as he already starts to turn his focus to a potential 2024 general election rematch with Democrat Joe Biden.Trump’s appearance on CNN comes at a time of jarring dualities for the former president: The Republican is facing a crescendo of legal problems yet seems in a stronger position than ever to become his party’s presidential nominee, and he’s attempting to reach mainstream media viewers despite having de...

India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party challenged in only southern state where it holds power

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — People in the southern Indian state of Karnataka voted Wednesday in an election where pre-poll surveys showed the opposition Congress party favored over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Hindu nationalist party.The votes for 224 state legislature seats will be counted May 13 and the outcome is likely to be an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of national elections expected by May next year.Bengaluru, the state capital, is India’s information technology hub and the area is a sought-after workplace for young professionals. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party is battling to retain the only southern state where it has ever won power. BJP strongholds are in northern, central and western India, while opposition parties rule the other southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The BJP is battling to limit its losses due to anti-incumbency, inflation, allegations of corruption and poor infrastructure development in the state.A. Narayana, a politi...

‘Affront to democracy’: Concern about appointing Mississippi judges where most are elected

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:17 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Three residents of Mississippi’s capital city testified Wednesday that their rights as citizens are undermined by a new state law that would create a court inside Jackson with judges who are appointed because the state constitution requires most judges to be elected.“It is an affront to democracy,” Ann Saunders said.She and the other two residents — Sabreen Sharrief and Dorothy Triplett — are the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Mississippi Center for Justice, the ACLU of Mississippi and the MacArthur Justice Center.The lawsuit is one of two that challenge laws Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed April 21. The laws will expand state policing in the capital city of Jackson, establish a court with an appointed judge and authorize four appointed judges to work alongside the four elected circuit court judges in Hinds County, which is home to Jackson.Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas conducted a hearing Wednesday to co...