December 24, 2019 4:21 am
BEIRUT (AP) – Syrian government forces are pressing ahead with a new military assault on the country’s last rebel stronghold. The offensive has triggered a mass exodus of civilians fleeing to safer areas near the Turkish border in recent weeks. Under the cover of airstrikes and heavy shelling Monday,áSyrian troops pushed deeper into the northwestern province of Idlib. The stronghold is dominated by al-Qaida-linked militants. It’s also home to 3 million civilians and the U.N. has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe as residents flee the fighting. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called late Monday for an immediate halt to the hostilities.
December 24, 2019 4:20 am
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The Afghan defense ministry says at least seven soldiers were killed when their checkpoint came under attack by the “enemy” in northern Balkh province. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. The ministry says six other members of the security forces – three soldiers and three intelligence agents – were wounded in the Tuesday morning attack in the district of Dawlat Abad. The Taliban now control about half of Afghanistan and continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials.
December 24, 2019 4:19 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – A new satellite image of a factory where North Korea makes military equipment used to launch long-range missiles shows the construction of a new structure. The release of several new images from Planet Labs comes amid concern that North Korea could launch a rocket or missile as it seeks concessions in stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States. North Korea has warned that what “Christmas gift” it gives the U.S. depends on what action Washington takes. One new satellite image shows the March 16 Factory near Pyongyang where North Korea manufactures trucks used as mobile launchers for its long-range missiles.
December 24, 2019 4:15 am
POTTERY ADDITION, Ohio — (WPXI) – A hunter who fell 30 feet down an abandoned Ohio mine shaft was fortunate he had his cell phone with him and could call for help immediately, rescuers said. Frank Dawson, of Washington, Pennsylvania, was hunting in woods Saturday in eastern Ohio when he fell into the grass-covered shaft, ending up waist-deep in cold water, the Herald-Star in Steubenville reported. Dawson was able to give rescuers good directions and they found him easily about 300 yards from his vehicle, said Rob Herrington, leader of the Jefferson County Urban Search and Rescue. Rescuers used a harness and pulley system to pull out Dawson’s loaded gun and then Dawson, who was not injured. The rescue took about 25 minutes. Herrington planned to alert property owners about filling that well and another one found nearby.
December 24, 2019 4:12 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Police said a huge fight broke out at The Flats on Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side early Tuesday morning. officer allegedly witnessed patrons attacking security guards, and they say at one point, a man was seen attacking a female security guard. According to the criminal complaint, the officer tased that man. The fight grew even bigger. Police said at least two women hit a security guard in the face. One of the women is accused of attacking a police officer who tried to break it up. Police said the women forcefully pulled her arms away several times. They said she refused to walk down the steps when the officer ordered her to. The officer is talking about 24-year-old Raechelle Price. Police said when they walked her out of the bar in handcuffs, Madalyn Como, 22, intervened. An officer tried to move her out of the way, but said she refused and hit the officer in the leg. Price is charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Como is charged with aggravated assault, obstructing the administration of law enforcement, and disorderly conduct. Police are investigating and more there could be more charges filed.
December 23, 2019 5:50 pm
(AP)-Democrat Amy Klobuchar says she will become the first major 2020 candidate to have visited all 99 Iowa counties after stops scheduled for Friday in the leadoff caucus state. The Minnesota senator argues she is the best candidate to take on President Donald Trump in 2020 because she has a history of winning across her home state, including in Republican areas, by going to places where Democrats don’t typically campaign.áKlobuchar wrapped up a four-day bus tour Monday that made stops in 27 counties. She will return Friday to complete the statewide tour with stops in three northwest Iowa counties
December 23, 2019 5:47 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House Judiciary Committee is holding open the possibility of recommending additional articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. It says that will depend on the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn. A judge last month directed McGahn to comply with a subpoena and testify. A federal appeals court argument is scheduled to hear arguments next week on whether McGahn can be forced to testify. The Democratic-led Judiciary Committee says in a court filing Monday that it may recommend additional articles of impeachment depending on any testimony that McGahn provides.
December 23, 2019 7:55 am
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Flash flooding and heavy rains have delayed dozens of flights and disrupted some services at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. The airport tweeted early Monday that it was closed due to flash flooding and severe rains. It tweeted at about 6:30 a.m. that flight operations were resuming. The airport had issued an advisory late Sunday that said more than 150 of its flights were experiencing weather delays and 11 flights had been canceled. WPTV-TV reports areas around the airport had been hit with about 6 inches of rain since midnight.
December 23, 2019 7:18 am
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced five people to death for the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last year by a team of Saudi agents. Saudi Arabia’s state TV reported that three others were sentenced to prison. All can appeal the verdicts. The kingdom’s crown prince drew international condemnation for the killing because several Saudi agents involved had worked directly for him. The kingdom has carried out the trials of the accused in near total secrecy.
December 23, 2019 4:21 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is projecting confidence that it will prevail in a constitutional spat with Democrats over the nature of the Senate’s impeachment trial, which threatens to deprive President Donald Trump of the swift acquittal he seeks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has delayed sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate until Republicans provide details on witnesses and testimony in hopes of shaping the upcoming trial. Democratic and Republican leaders in the chamber remain at an impasse over the question of whether witnesses will be called. The chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, Marc Short, said Sunday that he believes Pelosi will eventually give in.
