Home

Zelenskyy to meet Biden at the White House  

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Biden and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will meet at the White House on Tuesday as the U.S. administration steps up the pressure on Congress to provide billions more in aid to Kyiv in its war with Russia.The visit is intended “to underscore the United States’ unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal invasion,” the White House said in a statement Sunday. “As Russia ramps up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, the leaders will discuss Ukraine’s urgent needs and the vital importance of the United States’ continued support at this critical moment.”Zelenskyy’s office confirmed that he had accepted Biden’s invitation. He also has been asked to speak to a meeting of all senators.Biden has asked Congress for a $110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine ($61.4 billion) and Israel, along with other national se...

Deal on border at center of war aid talks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is taking a more active role in Senate negotiations over changes to the immigration system that Republicans are demanding in exchange for providing money to Ukraine in its fight against Russia and Israel for the war with Hamas.The Democratic president has said he is willing to make “significant compromises on the border” as Republicans block the wartime aid in Congress. The White House is expected to get more involved in talks this week as the impasse over changes to border policy has deepened and the funds remaining for Ukraine have dwindled.“It’s time to cut a deal that both sides can agree to,” Biden’s budget director, Shalanda Young, said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”Republicans say the record numbers of migrants crossing the southern border pose a security threat because authorities cannot adequately screen all the migrants and that those who enter the United States are straining the coun...

A 50-year-old Greek woman was mauled to death by neighbor’s 3 dogs. The dogs’ owner arrested

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Three shepherd dogs escaped from their yard and fatally mauled a 50-year-old Greek woman in her garden Sunday, police said.The attack took place at around 2 p.m. in the village of Neochorouda, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest.The dogs had escaped through a hole in their owners’ fence about 80 meters (260 feet) away and ran to the woman’s garden, where she was working, police said.A man, who police said is deaf-mute, was assisting the woman with the gardening but was far from her at the moment of attack and could not hear her screams. Neighbors ran to assist the woman and pried the dogs away from her, but she was severely mauled and bleeding profusely. First responders who came to the scene shortly after with an ambulance confirmed her death, police said.The 37-year-old dog owner was arrested and will face a prosecutor Monday morning. The dogs are being held in a kennel...

Students and lawmakers gather at Philadelphia temple to denounce antisemitism

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Students, lawmakers and religious leaders joined forces Sunday at a temple in Philadelphia to strongly denounce antisemitism on college campuses and in their communities.The gathering at Congregation Rodeph Shalom came one day after University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned amid criticism over her testimony at a congressional hearing. Magill was unable to say under repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy.“I have seen Pennsylvanians take actions big and small, and both matter, to combat antisemitism,” Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said at the event. “I’ve seen it here in Philadelphia where students raised their voices, where students made sure they were heard in the halls of power at their university, and leadership was held accountable.”Similar sentiments were voiced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., a fellow Democrat, and student speakers from Harvard and Penn. Harvard President Claud...

Man charged with attempted murder in springtime Mississauga shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

A 25-year-old man is facing an attempted murder charge after a Durham man was injured in a shooting this past spring in Mississauga.Peel police say the suspect was involved in a drive-by-style shooting in the area of Matheson Boulevard East and Satellite Drive in the early morning hours of May 29, 2023.A 27-year-old man from Durham suffered injuries that were considered non-life threatening after he was struck in the leg.On Dec. 9, police charged Jathusan Akilan from York Region with attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent to wound, maim or disfigure and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

No. 3 NC State vs. Liberty women’s game interrupted by leaky roof from heavy rain

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A wet court caused by a leaky roof resulted in an interruption of No. 3 North Carolina State’s women’s basketball game with Liberty on Sunday.The game was stopped prior to the start of the fourth quarter with unbeaten N.C. State holding a 60-47 lead at Reynolds Coliseum, its on-campus venue.Heavy rains fell prior to and during the game.The wet floor was near midcourt in front of the scorer’s table. A large trash container was collecting some water, while towels were placed on the floor.Both teams were allowed to warm-up at the respective baskets during the break.The game resumed after about a 20-minute pause.This is N.C. State’s final home game until Jan. 4 vs. Florida State.___Get alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.___AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballBob Sutton, The Associated Press

Illinois man who confessed to 2004 sexual assault and murder of 3-year-old girl dies in prison

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A man who confessed to the 2004 sexual assault and murder of a 3-year-old Illinois girl has died in a state prison, according to state records. Scott Eby, 52, an inmate at the Menard Correctional Center, died Thursday, according to an online inmate notification system.The death of Riley Fox, whose body was found in a creek near her home, generated national headlines at the time because her father was wrongly accused in case initially. Kevin Fox spent eight months in jail before being cleared by DNA evidence. He died earlier this year in a car crash in Arkansas. Details on the circumstances of Eby’s death were not released. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed the death to media outlets but did not offer further details. An Illinois Department of Corrections spokesperson didn’t return email and phone messages left Sunday.In 2010, Eby, then a convicted sex offender, confessed to kidnapping Riley Fox from her Wilmington home, sexually ass...

Work to secure Quebec dike continues one week after evacuation over breach fears

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

MONT-LAURIER, Que. — Officials say work is ongoing to stabilize a Quebec dike that was showing signs of failing, forcing hundreds from their homes one week ago.The situation remains stable and the provincially-owned Morier dike shows no further deterioration since signs of erosion were noticed more than a week ago.Martin Ferland, an engineer with the province’s Environment Department, says efforts are continuing as planned to inspect and stabilize the dike located on the edge of the Kiamika reservoir, roughly 125 kilometres northeast of Ottawa in Quebec’s Laurentians region.Due to the risk of the dike burst, an emergency preventive evacuation order has been in effect for the communities of Chute-Saint-Philippe and Lac-des-Écorces.Authorities have said that due to the instability, displaced residents are under an evacuation order until Dec. 17 and Ferland says while work may continue once they do return, that won’t happen until the infrastructure is deemed safe.The ...

Bronny James makes college debut for USC nearly 5 months after cardiac arrest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bronny James made his college debut for Southern California on Sunday, coming off the bench nearly five months after he suffered cardiac arrest.James entered the game about seven minutes into the first half, with some in the crowd at Galen Center standing and cheering. He missed his first shot, a 3-point attempt. Moments before, he tipped the ball away from a Long Beach State player, but the visitors got it back. The possession ended in a shot-clock violation for the Beach.LeBron James arrived seconds before the national anthem and tapped his son’s rear as he passed by on his way to his courtside seat.James joined his teammates for on-court warmups 90 minutes before tipoff. Wearing a white USC shirt and red sweatpants, he took a variety of jumpers under the watchful lenses of a baseline full of photographers.Students lined up around one side of Galen Center and down an adjacent street waiting to get inside. James was on a minutes restriction in his debut. He...

Justin Fields leads Bears to 28-13 win over NFC North-leading Lions

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:05:22 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Fields threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and the Chicago Bears played their most impressive game of the season, beating the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions 28-13 on Sunday.Receiver DJ Moore had his first career rushing touchdown and caught a scoring pass to help Chicago (5-8) win for the third time in four games.The Bears scored 15 points in a span of about seven minutes to break open a game that was tied at 13-all late in the third quarter. They got the payback they were seeking after giving up 17 points over the final 2:59 in a 31-26 loss at Detroit three weeks earlier. Bears Report: Get the latest news and updates Detroit's Jared Goff threw two interceptions, lost a fumbled snap and was sacked four times. The Lions (9-4), who looked like a Super Bowl threat not long ago, have lost two of three.Fields completed 19 of 33 passes for 223 yards. He also ran for 58 yards, giving him 2,021 in his career and joining Bobby Douglass (2,470) as the...