December 1, 2024 6:22 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says it is halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into Gaza because of the threat of armed gangs who have looted recent convoys. The decision could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the cold, rainy winter sets in, with hundreds of thousands of people living in squalid tent camps and reliant on international food aid. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the main aid provider in Gaza, said Sunday that the route leading to the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel is too dangeous on the Gaza side. Armed men looted nearly 100 trucks traveling on the route in mid-November, and he said gangs stole a smaller shipment on Saturday.
December 1, 2024 6:20 am
BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian military has rushed in reinforcements to push back insurgents from advancing farther into the northern Hama countryside after they seized Aleppo in a surprise offensive. The insurgents look over most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. There was no independent confirmation of their claim. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travels to Syrian capital Damascus later Sunday. He told reporters that Tehran will back the Syrian government and army. The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria’s President Bashar Assad and comes at a time when his allies — Iran and its groups and Russia — are preoccupied with their own conflicts.
December 1, 2024 6:14 am
ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — One person was injured after two cars crashed in Rostraver Township. Westmoreland County dispatchers say emergency crews were called to the 1500 block of Rostraver Road at 4:48 p.m. on Saturday. A Facebook post made by the Rostraver Central Fire Department showed two cars had crashed. Both sustained heavy damage to their front. Investigators said one person was taken to a hospital. Firefighters said they had to stop leaking fluids from spreading at the scene of the crash.
December 1, 2024 4:04 am
Police were called to the 600 block of Fayette Street at about 11:00 PM Thursday night. According to 9-1-1 dispatchers, eight gunshots were heard. Police were told that the gunshots seemed to come from a vehicle described as an old police cruiser. According to police, witnesses that were interviewed did not see anything. The incident remains under investigation.
December 1, 2024 4:01 am
ALLENPORT, Pa. —(WPXI)- Two piles of clothes and three Star Wars collectible plates are all John Huff said he has left. “That’s everything I have left on this planet,” he said. “The first three that my mother ever bought me. I had about 30, and they’re really scorched but at least they survived.” Flames tore through his house along Route 88 in Allenport in Washington County the night before Thanksgiving. “I can’t think of a worse time,” Huff said. “My car was totaled because it was in the alley next to it. It melted. The tires exploded.” The fire then spread to his sister and brother-in-law’s home next door badly damaging the roof and attic. “My sister’s cat was saved,” said Huff. “Somebody gave us a cat carrier. My father’s urns were saved by the firemen up there.” Huff is grateful no one was hurt. He was at his sister’s house moments beforehand when a stranger driving by told them to get out. “Twenty minutes later, some stranger that just stopped was beating on her door saying the house was on fire,” Huff said. “To whoever this person was and the person that gave the boots, thank you so much. Standing outside in the rain that night was very cold. Thank you.” The Stockdale Fire Chief said the fire started in the kitchen. He believes it was accidental. Huff’s home is a total loss and needs to be torn down. His sister and brother-in-law’s house was left with a gaping hole and water damage so the couple can’t live there until it’s fixed. But neither home had insurance. The family set up a GoFundMe to help them rebuild. “I work as a waiter with a tip job,” said Huff. For now, the three of them are staying with their mother and stepdad in a two-bedroom house in White Hall. “It’s actually a bedroom and office and there’s now five adults living here,” Huff said. “We’ve just been sleeping on air mattresses. One is in the dining room. One is in the other bedroom, and I sleep on the couch.” It may be a bit crammed and a tragic start to the holiday season, but Huff is thankful. “My mother is the best person in the world,” he said. “She’s always looked out and tried to help.” The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
November 30, 2024 4:22 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year.
November 30, 2024 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is creating a National Energy Council that he says will establish U.S. “energy dominance” around the world. It will be key in Trump’s pledge to sell more oil to allies and his intent to move away from President Joe Biden’s focus on climate change. But the president-elect’s energy wishes are likely to run into real-world limits. For one, U.S. oil production under Biden is already at record levels. And Trump’s bid to boost oil supplies and lower U.S. prices is complicated by his threat to impose 25% import tariffs on Canada and Mexico, two of the largest sources of U.S. oil imports.
November 30, 2024 4:16 am
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Trump’s picks for commerce secretary, interior secretary and national security adviser, and the three men’s wives. From the Canadian side, the dinner guests included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday.
November 30, 2024 4:11 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine as he met Russia’s visiting defense chief. A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday as international concerns about the two countries’ expanding cooperation deepened after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia. During a Friday meeting, Kim and Belousov reached “a satisfactory consensus” on issues on how to further boost strategic partnership and defend each country’s sovereignty and security interests, state media said.
November 30, 2024 4:05 am
The City of Washington is kicking off the holiday season with their “Home for the Holidays in Downtown Washington” holiday celebration. The event began Friday with the Light Up LeMoyne event and continues today. Small Business Saturday will be highlighted from 10 am to 1 pm. Visitors will be able to participate in a breakfast crawl while visiting the many local shops. The Holiday Market will take place from 2pm to 7pm at the Main Street Pavilion. And from 1pm -4 pm there is the Historic House Hop. Visitors will be able to ride a trolley shuttle and explore many of the historic homes in Washington. The Day ends with the Christmas Parade at 7PM.
