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Moroccan villagers mourn after earthquake brings destruction to their rural mountain home

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

MOULAY BRAHIM, Morocco (AP) — The ground shook with a force few had ever felt, thundering through the remote Moroccan village in the dark of night. When the earthquake was over late Friday, the town carved into the Atlas Mountains lay in devastation — possibly dozens dead, scores of homes crumpled and walls reduced to rubble. Soon crews were listening for desperate sounds of life within the ruins of Moulay Brahim.A village of fewer than 3,000 people, Moulay Brahim attracts tourists and outdoor enthusiasts with its stunning vistas and proximity to Marrakech. Streets brimmed with small hotels and cafes overlooking gorges and green valleys.But after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,000 across Morocco, the scene in the village is bleak.People in the poor rural community about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of the quake epicenter live in homes made of clay brick and cinder block, many of which are no longer standing or safe to inhabit. Fallen walls exposed the inn...

G20 leaders pay their respects at a Gandhi memorial on the final day of the summit in India

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — G20 leaders paid their respects at a memorial site dedicated to Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday — a day after the forum added a new member and reached agreements on a range of issues but softened their language on Russia’s war in Ukraine. India, this year’s Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations host, ended the first day of the summit with diplomatic wins. As the first session began, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the group was adding the African Union as a member — part of the Indian leader’s drive to uplift the Global South. A few hours later, India announced that it was able to get the disparate group to sign off on a final statement, but only after softening language on the contentious issue of Russia’s war in Ukraine.With these major agenda items taken care of, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Anthony Albanese and Japan’s Fumio Kishida, among others, shook hands Sunday and posed for photos with Modi at...

Special election in western Pennsylvania to determine if Democrats or GOP take control of the House

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Photos PAGP501-504 Majority control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will again come down to a special election later this month, when Republican voters attempt to flip power back to their caucus while facing a strongly Democratic lean in a Pittsburgh district.The race pits a former Democratic congressional staffer against the daughter of two local officials who were politically active.Democrat Lindsay Powell, 32, and Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith, 65, will face off for the Allegheny County state House seat on Sept. 19, one week before the chamber is scheduled to return to floor session in Harrisburg.They are vying to replace a progressive Democrat, former state Rep. Sara Innamorato, who resigned in July to seek the county executive job. Her departure left the House at a 101-101 tie. The district is a Democratic stronghold Democratic strategists predict their party will be able to retain. A previous special election in which the Republican ca...

Russia is turning to old ally North Korea to resupply its arsenal for the war in Ukraine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

After a year and a half of fighting in Ukraine, Russia needs to replenish its supplies of ammunition for what could be a long war of attrition. Along with ramping up its domestic arms production, Moscow is turning to an old ally with a vast arsenal — North Korea.Estimates say the reclusive and isolated Asian country has tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets that could give a huge boost to the Russian army.United States officials expect North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit Russia in the coming days to seal a possible deal on munitions transfer with President Vladimir Putin. That would be a remarkable reversal from the 1950-53 Korean War, when the Soviet Union provided the communist North with weapons and ammunition.“We know that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited recently for artillery shells predominantly, and most likely that will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong Un,” said Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.Shoigu beca...

Instant Analysis: Texas picks up historic victory in the Steve Sarkisian era

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns stormed into SEC country and took a giant swing at mighty Alabama on their home turf — and they landed a knockout blow.The No. 11 Longhorns topped the No. 3 Crimson Tide 34-24 behind five quarterback sacks by their defense and 349 passing yards from Quinn Ewers. The win snapped Alabama's 21-game home winning streak, and for the third time since 2007 when Nick Saban took over at Alabama, a former assistant beat the legendary coach. That former assistant is, of course, Steve Sarkisian.Jonathan Thomas and Billy Gates talked about the big win and you can listen to their conversation in the video above. Some students were so pumped about the win that they went and jumped in the Littlefield Fountain on campus with the looming presence of the UT Tower, glowing in burnt orange.

Concert review: Old Dominion bring nothing but cheery vibes to Xcel Energy Center

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

After opening up for three of Kenny Chesney’s local stadium shows, Nashville country band Old Dominion finally headlined their own local arena concert Saturday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center, the same place they opened for Miranda Lambert back in 2017.With all that practice playing to large crowds, along with their previous top-of-the-bill gigs at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand and Mystic Lake Casino, it was no surprise the fivesome turned in a bright, cheery, crowd-pleasing show that had fans singing and swaying along throughout.These guys don’t get arrested, captured on tape using racial epithets or release seemingly pro-lynching music videos. They don’t sing about trucks, either. Mostly, Old Dominion tackles romance, relationships (failed and otherwise) and good, old fashioned love. And they do so in a way that’s rare in country music.Take the second song of the night, “No Hard Feelings,” a post-breakup song with a vaguely tropical sound...

Rockies’ growing pains continue with ugly 9-1 loss to Giants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

Growing pains.On a scale of 1-10, the reeling Rockies are hovering at about a nine right now.They got spanked, 9-1, by the Giants Saturday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Yes, those Giants, who entered the weekend series suffering from a six-game losing streak and a nasty case of anemic offense.The Rockies, playing a lot of young position players and using a passel of rookie relievers, were the perfect prescription for the Giants’ woes.The Giants won for the second straight night while the Rockies fell for the 15th time in their last 18 games. Colorado (51-90) has yet to win a series against a National League West opponent this season and owns a 9-31 record against its division rivals. The Rockies’ .225 winning percentage against the NL West is the worst in franchise history.“There is a lot of education going on this month for a lot of our guys,” manager Bud Black told AT&T SportsNet.San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb, once again, thoroughly dominated...

Unruly crowds set fires at Hollywood skateboarding event

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

A skateboarding event turned violent and unruly as crowds began setting fires in Hollywood on Saturday night.The skateboarding competition started around 4:30 p.m. on the 1600 block of Cherokee Avenue and became violent around 7:22 p.m. when the crowd began acting up, police said.The crowds began lighting trash cans and a car on fire while igniting fireworks, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Images from the scene show graffiti covering an L.A. Fire Department vehicle, a burned and fully charred vehicle sitting in the parking lot, and general vandalism where the event took place.Officers in riot gear created a skirmish line to force everyone out of the area and towards Holywood Boulevard.A large police and fire crew presence responded to the scene to disperse the unruly crowd. Some officers were reportedly hit with rocks and bottles being thrown from the crowds. Thieves escape with $40,000 worth of items from SoCal bike shop It’s unclear what caused the event to...

No. 4 Florida State scores most points in Norvell era, routs Southern Miss 66-13

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Trey Benson had three touchdown runs and No. 4 Florida State routed Southern Miss 66-13 in its home opener Saturday night for the most points under coach Mike Norvell.Jordan Travis threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns, and backup Tate Rodemaker added a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter. Travis’ first touchdown, a 10-yard pass to Darion Williamson, gave him 50 career TD passes.The Seminoles (2-0) have scored 35 or more points in eight straight games, the longest active streak in the nation. On Saturday, they did it in the third quarter — and before Southern Miss (1-1) found the end zone.Caziah Holmes added a 40-yard touchdown run as the Seminoles ran for 306 yards. Florida State was able to move the ball at will even without starting offensive linemen Maurice Smith and Robert Scott.Rodrigues Clark had 67 yards on 12 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown in the third quarter for Southern Miss.Billy Wiles completed just 11 of 34 passes for 154 ya...

O’Connor and Brewer each account for two TDs; Stetson beats NAIA Webber International 38-28

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:18 GMT

DELAND, Fla. (AP) — Matt O’Connor completed 11 of 17 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, Devon Brewer accounted for two TDs and Stetson beat Webber International 38-28 Saturday night. Brewer caught a 2-yard TD pass from O’Connor in the first quarter and finished with 18 carries for 62 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown that made it 28-0 early in the second quarter. Nazeviah Burris caught a 41-yard touchdown pass on the game’s sixth play from scrimmage to give Stetson (2-0) the lead for good. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior finished with seven receptions for 136 yards. Antonio Dawson returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. After the Hatters went three-and-out, Terry Weems Jr., who scored on a 4-yard run in the first half, caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Trent Grotjan and added a 6-yard TD for Webber International, a member of the NAIA, to cap the scoring with 1:51 to play. Weems finished with 19 carries for 1...