Under the shadow of war in Gaza, Jesus’ traditional birthplace is gearing up for a subdued Christmas

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

Under the shadow of war in Gaza, Jesus’ traditional birthplace is gearing up for a subdued Christmas BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is gearing up for a subdued Christmas, without the festive lights and customary Christmas tree towering over Manger Square, after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forego celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war.The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town’s tourism-dependent economy. But joyous revelry is untenable at a time of immense suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, said Mayor Hana Haniyeh.“The economy is crashing,” Haniyeh told The Associated Press on Friday. “But if we compare it with what’s happening to our people and Gaza, it’s nothing.”More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded during Israel’s blistering air and ground offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers, according to health officials there, while some 85% of the territory’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. The war was tri...

EPL game abandoned after Luton captain Lockyer suffers cardiac arrest. Club says he’s ‘responsive’

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

EPL game abandoned after Luton captain Lockyer suffers cardiac arrest. Club says he’s ‘responsive’ BOURNEMOUTH, England (AP) — Luton captain Tom Lockyer was responsive in the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field during the English Premier League match at Bournemouth on Saturday.The 29-year-old Lockyer received about seven minutes of treatment on the field as fans at Vitality Stadium looked on with concern. The game was abandoned soon after he was carried away on a stretcher.The score was 1-1 at the time and referee Simon Hooper made the decision to abandon the game, with the clock having stopped in the 65th minute.“Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher,” Luton said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides.“Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoin...

Tyler Glasnow traded to Dodgers from Rays after agreeing to $136.5 million, 5-year contract

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

Tyler Glasnow traded to Dodgers from Rays after agreeing to $136.5 million, 5-year contract ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their second major move this offseason on Saturday, acquiring Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays in a four-player trade after the pitcher agreed to a $136.5 million, five-year contract.Los Angeles also received outfielder Manuel Margot and sent the Rays young right-hander Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca.A week after signing free agent Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million, 10-year contract to bolster an already potent lineup, the Dodgers addressed a need for pitching help with the addition of an often-injured, hard-throwing right-hander with a track record of being a dominant performer when healthy.A 30-year-old right-hander, Glasnow had one season remaining at $25 million and would have been eligible for free agency after next season. The teams reached a tentative agreement on the trade Thursday and were given a 72-hour window by Major League Baseball running through Sunday for the Dodgers to negotiate with G...

PGA Tour Champions PNC Championships Par Scores

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

PGA Tour Champions PNC Championships Par Scores SaturdayAt Ritz-Carlton Golf ClubOrlando, Fla.Yardage: 7,106; Par: 72Purse: $1.85 millionFirst RoundTeam Kucher29-28—57-15Team Langer30-30—60-12Team Singh30-30—60-12Team Goosen28-32—60-12Team Duval32-38—60-12Team Daly30-31—61-11Team Cink32-30—62-10Team O’Meara31-31—62-10Team Annika32-30—62-10Team Lehman30-32—62-10Team Leonard30-34—64-8Team Korda32-32—64-8Team Stricker33-31—64-8Team Woods32-32—64-8Team Thomas33-31—64-8Team Furyk33-33—66-6Team Harrington32-35—67-5Team Faldo35-33—68-4Team Price34-34—68-4Team Trevino33-36—69-3Source

Man City squanders two-goal lead to draw with Crystal Palace in latest setback to title defense

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

Man City squanders two-goal lead to draw with Crystal Palace in latest setback to title defense MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City dropped more points in its flimsy title defense in the English Premier League when a stoppage-time penalty from Michael Olise earned Crystal Palace a 2-2 draw on Saturday.City was 2-0 ahead through goals by Jack Grealish in the 24th minute and Rico Lewis in the 54th, only to draw at home for a third straight time in the league.Palace reduced the deficit in the 76th when Jean-Philippe Mateta slid home a finish from close range and Olise converted from the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Mateta was tripped by Phil Foden.It is the fifth time in six league games that Pep Guardiola’s men have dropped points, having also drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham and lost to Aston Villa before last Sunday’s 2-1 win at Luton.City is in fourth place and three points behind first-placed Liverpool, whose game in hand is against Manchester United on Sunday. City heads to Saudi Arabia on Sunday for the Club World Cup.Palace arriv...

Second-place Nice loses at Le Havre in French league

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

Second-place Nice loses at Le Havre in French league PARIS (AP) — Nice’s defense fell apart in a 3-1 loss at Le Havre in the French league on Saturday.Second-placed Nice had conceded only six goals in the previous 15 matches. After its second loss of the season, Nice remained four points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain. PSG goes to fourth-placed Lille on Sunday.Striker Emmanuel Sabbi scored two first-half goals to put promoted Le Havre in control.Sabbi netted after five minutes and was then set up by strike partner Mohamed Bayo in the 35th following a counterattack.Bayo made it 3-0 from the penalty spot early in the second half after Melvin Bard fouled Hungary defender Loïc Négo. After each side had a player sent off near the end, midfielder Tom Louchet scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.Later Saturday, Lens faced Reims at home with fifth place on offer.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/SoccerSource

El Vaticano condena al cardenal Becciu y otras 8 personas por un escándalo financiero

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

El Vaticano condena al cardenal Becciu y otras 8 personas por un escándalo financiero CIUDAD DEL VATICANO – El Tribunal de la Ciudad del Vaticano condenó hoy al cardenal Angelo Becciu a 5 años y medio de cárcel por un escándalo financiero cuando era el poderoso sustituto de la Secretaría de Estado, junto a otros ocho imputados hallados culpables de un enorme agujero en las cuentas de la Santa Sede. Becciu, italiano de 75 años, primer cardenal procesado en un juicio penal en el Vaticano, era condenado por peculado o malversación a 5 años y seis meses de prisión, al pago de una multa de 8,000 euros y a la inhabilitación “perpetua” para ejercer cualquier cargo público. El papa Francisco revela dónde quiere ser enterrado Aseguran que hay nuevas pistas en el mayor misterio que rodea al Vaticano Un cuantioso agujero contable El veredicto llegaba tras dos años y medio de juicio enrevesado y 85 audiencias y en medio de una notoria expectación mediática, sobre todo por el antiguo peso de Becciu, que entre ...

Police arrest 2 out of 3 suspects in Commerce City armed robbery

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

Police arrest 2 out of 3 suspects in Commerce City armed robbery DENVER (KDVR) -- Police in Commerce City apprehended two out of three suspects in an armed robbery that occurred at a business Saturday morning.The incident happened just before 11 a.m. in the 7200 block of Monaco.The suspects were described as "masked and armed." According to the Commerce City Police Department, officers infiltrated the area and quickly chased down and arrested two of the suspects.No one was injured in the robbery.Anyone with information or anyone present during the robbery was asked to contact Detective Garcia at 303-227-7147.

UK’s Sunak likens Italy’s Meloni to Margaret Thatcher

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

UK’s Sunak likens Italy’s Meloni to Margaret Thatcher ROME — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak likened Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Margaret Thatcher as he called on European leaders to channel the old Conservative British leader’s “radicalism” and challenge decades-old rules around refugees.“Thatcher understood that ideas are only important if they can be implemented,” Sunak said in a speech at the governing Brothers of Italy party’s right-wing Atreju festival in Rome. “She never backed down even when the fight was hard, and today we have to apply Thatcher’s radicalism to illegal immigration.”Both leaders have put migration front and center since they took office in November 2022. Last month, Meloni brokered a deal to process asylum applications in neighboring Albania; and earlier this week the U.K. won parliamentary acceptance for its contentious plan to deport certain migrants to Rwanda.“If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow,” Sunak said in a short speech on Saturday. “It will...

Boston College wide receiver Lewis Bond attracting plenty of attention

Published Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:38 GMT

Boston College wide receiver Lewis Bond attracting plenty of attention Boston College wide receiver Lewis Bond began training camp for the 2023 season looking to get noticed.While portal transfer Thomas Castellanos was supplanting incumbent Emmett Morehead for the starting quarterback’s position, Bond followed suit by enhancing his standing in the wide receiver’s room.In his first two seasons at the Heights, the 5-11, 188-pound redshirt sophomore from Chicago, Ill., appeared in eight games with six receptions for 57 yards.Bond worked his way to the top of Castellanos’ targets list and will make his 13th start when the Eagles (6-6) engage the Mustangs of SMU (11-2) in the second annual Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28 at Fenway Park.“It started with practice and making sure you are running the right routes every time in seven-on-seven with the team,” said Bond. “When you are down there practicing in the red zone you have to be reliable so in the game, he (Castellanos) trusts you.“Then you just have to take advantage of your opportunities in the game.”BC wi...