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On Christmas Eve, Bethlehem resembles a ghost town. Celebrations are halted due to Israel-Hamas war.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — The normally bustling biblical birthplace of Jesus resembled a ghost town on Sunday, as Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem were called off due to the Israel-Hamas war.The festive lights and Christmas tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing, as were the throngs of foreign tourists who gather each year to mark the holiday. Dozens of Palestinian security forces patrolled the empty square. The gift shops were slow to open on Christmas Eve, although a few did once the rain had stopped pouring down. There were few visitors, however. “This year, without the Christmas tree and without lights, there’s just darkness,” said Brother John Vinh, a Franciscan monk from Vietnam who has lived in Jerusalem for six years. He said he always comes to Bethlehem to mark Christmas, but this year was especially sobering, as he gazed at a nativity scene in Manger Square with a baby Jesus wrapped in a white shroud, reminiscent of the hundreds of children killed ...

Baby boom of 59 pups helps endangered Vancouver Island marmot toward recovery

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

A tenacious Vancouver Island marmot’s long-distance quest for love may help explain how the endangered animals are bouncing back from near extinction. Adam Taylor, executive director of the Marmot Recovery Foundation in Nanaimo, B.C., said Camas the marmot wandered for 35 kilometres over mountains and down valleys looking for a mate. “There are not many marmots. It’s a pretty small community. So, finding a partner can be a challenge. He’s really kind of gone the whole nine yards to track somebody down,” said Taylor. Camas was released by their program last year, but they lost track of him over the winter. When he reappeared last spring he wandered from marmot colony to colony. “We actually got a phone call from a farmer in a little town called Barrington to say, ‘I’ve got a marmot in my backyard,’” Taylor said, confirming it was Camas.“He is a survivor, he has undertaken this incredible journey, you know 35 kilometres up and down liter...

Man killed and a woman injured in a 'targeted' afternoon shooting at a Florida shopping mall

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — A man died in a shooting at a shopping mall in central Florida two days before Christmas in which the victim was “targeted” for the attack, police said. Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken told reporters Saturday evening that the man was killed after he was shot multiple times in a common area at Paddock Mall in Ocala, located about 79 miles (127 kilometers) northwest of Orlando. A woman also was shot in the leg. She was treated at a local hospital and expected to recover, Balken said.The suspect fled the scene and left behind the firearm, Balken said.Police arrived at the mall around 3:40 p.m. after a call of multiple shots being fired at the mall. “Officers immediately made entry into the mall (and) ultimately discovered that this was not what we would consider an active shooter,” Balken told reporters.The attack was likely a “targeted act of violence” against the man, Balken said. Several other mall patrons suffered injuries during the shooting, with one person havi...

US warship shoots down drones as Red Sea crisis deepens

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

An American destroyer intercepted four drones fired by Houthi militants into the busy shipping lanes of the Red Sea, as the escalating crisis saw two commercial tankers hit in one chaotic day.In a statement issued Sunday, U.S. Central Command said its navy had “shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that were inbound to the USS Laboon” the day before. The American destroyer had been patrolling the area as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the Washington-led mission to prevent violence spilling over into the strategic waterway.On Saturday, the Pentagon announced that a Japanese-owned, Liberian-flagged chemical tanker, the Chem Pluto, had been struck by a drone in the Indian Ocean, stating that the attack was launched from Iran. According to data from analytics platform Kpler, seen by POLITICO, the Chem Pluto had been carrying almost 43,000 of highly-flammable benzene en route to the port of Mangaluru at the tim...

4 takeaways from a Chicago Bulls’ 109-95 loss — losing the offensive boards and a high-scoring game from Cleveland’s Max Strus

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

After weeks of an upward trajectory, the Chicago Bulls stumbled on a low-energy night as they dropped a 109-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.The Cavaliers were missing the majority of their starters due to injury, but the size of their secondary rotation was enough to disrupt the Bulls and snap a three-game win streak. Despite the loss, the Bulls still sit 10th overall in the Eastern Conference — a small but important step up in the standings.Here are four takeaways from the game:1. Offense is out of sync as 3-point shooting dipsAfter weeks of playing a high-tempo, high-assist style, the Bulls got stuck in a stymied offense against the Cavaliers. The ball moved more slowly as players like Coby White struggled to find their shot from behind the arc.The Bulls went 8-for-35 (22.9%) from 3-point range. White went 0-for-8 in his first game without a 3-pointer since Nov. 17.“I hate to say it, but it’s just one of those games,” DeMar DeRozan said. R...

Four Patriots to watch Christmas Eve vs. Broncos

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

The Patriots’ schedule this season didn’t work out very well for players with young kids.With a game against the Broncos at prime time on Christmas Eve, the Patriots will be arriving home from Denver on Christmas morning.Some Patriots fans are not so secretly wishing their team will lose out to ensure a better draft pick, but a win will make players feel like the trip out during the holiday season was worth it.Here are four players to watch on the night before Christmas:Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots rule out offensive starter vs. Broncos, make additional roster moves New England Patriots | Friday Bill Belichick comes out for possibly last time in Patriots tenure New England Patriots | Bill Belichick details challenges Sean Payton presents with Broncos for Patriots New England Patriots | Bill Belichick confirms kicking balls were underinflated in Patriots-Chiefs game, NFL declines to comment ...

Iran’s navy adds sophisticated cruise missiles to its armory

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s navy on Sunday added domestically produced sophisticated cruise missiles to its arsenal, state TV reported.The TV said both Talaeieh and Nasir cruise missiles have arrived at a naval base near the Indian Ocean in the southern Iranian port of Konarak, some 1,400 kilometers (850 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.Navy chief Adm. Shahram Irani said the Talaeieh has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and called it “fully smart.” Irani said the cruise missile is capable of changing targets during travel.He said the Nasi has a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles) and can be installed on warships.Last month, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack from a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean, as Israel wages war on Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From time to time Iran announces the test firing, production and commissioning of new military equipment that cannot be independently verified....

NORAD Santa tracker

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

https://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Horoscopes Dec. 24, 2023: Ryan Seacrest, enjoy the ride

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ryan Seacrest, 49; Stephenie Meyer, 50; Ricky Martin, 52; Diedrich Bader, 57.Happy Birthday: A chance to make a positive change is within reach. Consider the improvements you want to undergo and do your research. Being ready to give the go-ahead when an opportunity arises will make your journey enjoyable. Refuse to let outsiders or your emotions stand in your way. A dedicated attitude and clear vision will lead to your desired success. Live life your way and enjoy the ride. Your numbers are 7, 14, 21, 26, 34, 37, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Tolerance and kindness will be necessary. Digging up the past won’t help improve things or shine a positive light on you. Do a little soul-searching before you point a finger at others. Choose peace and love over discord to spare yourself regret. 4 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): A change is overdue, and getting back to your roots will help you move forward. Not everyone will like your decisions, but it’...

Word Game: Dec. 24, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:02 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — OCCASIONAL (OCCASIONAL: uh-KAY-zhun-ul: Occurring or appearing at irregular or infrequent intervals.)Average mark 38 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 54 or more words in OCCASIONAL?TODAY’S WORD — OCCASIONAL occasion oilcan olio cacao calico canal canola casino ciao cisco clan coal coca coco cocoa coil coin cola colic colon conic conical cool acai alas alias also anal asocial sail salon saloon scan scion silo slain snail social soil solo sonic soon icon nail nasal laconic laic lain lanai lion loan loco loin loonTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible...