THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel insisted at the United Nations’ highest court Friday that its war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. Israel described the allegations leveled by South Africa...
Former Fresno State Coach Kalen DeBoer Will Succeed Nick Saban at Alabama: AP Source
Alabama wasted little time in finding Nick Saban’s successor, hiring Kalen DeBoer away from national runner-up Washington. DeBoer, who coached at Fresno State in 2020 and 2021, signed a deal with Alabama on Friday to replace Saban, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to...
St. Paul Makes History With All-Female City Council, a Rarity Among Large US Cities
ST. PAUL, Minn. — When St. Paul City Council President Mitra Jalali looked out at her fellow council members at their initial meeting this week, she saw all the members' seats were occupied by women — a first for Minnesota's capital city. Experts who track women in politics said St....
Donald Trump Defies Judge, Gives Courtroom Speech on Tense Final Day of New York Civil Fraud Trial
NEW YORK — Barred from giving a formal closing argument, Donald Trump wrested an opportunity to speak in court at the conclusion of his New York civil fraud trial Thursday, unleashing a barrage of attacks in a six-minute diatribe before being cut off by the judge. In an extraordinary move...
Second Avalanche Hits California Slopes Near Where a Skier Was Killed One Day Earlier
RENO, Nev. — An avalanche was reported Thursday at a California resort near Lake Tahoe, one day after a major avalanche roared down an adjoining mountain, trapping several people and killing a 66-year-old man. The Second Avalanche The second avalanche occurred around 12:30 p.m. Thursday near the Wolverine Bowl section...
Speaker Johnson Faces Conservative Pushback Over Spending Deal
WASHINGTON — As Speaker Mike Johnson gathered House Republicans behind closed doors Wednesday to sell the spending deal he reached with Democrats, one thing quickly became clear: many GOP lawmakers weren't buying it. Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio left early, saying he'd had enough. “I’m not going to sit there...
Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Tax Charges After Plea Deal Collapses
LOS ANGELES — President Joe Biden's son pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal tax charges filed after the collapse of a plea deal that could have spared him the spectacle of a criminal trial during the 2024 campaign. Hunter Biden has been accused of nine felony and misdemeanor tax offenses. The...
US, British Militaries Launch Massive Retaliatory Strike Against Iranian-Backed Houthis in Yemen
WASHINGTON — The U.S. and British militaries were bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, several U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense...
NYC Issues Vacate Orders to Stabilize Historic Jewish Sites Following Discovery of 60-Foot Tunnel
NEW YORK — New York building officials have issued emergency work orders to stabilize a historic synagogue and its neighboring structures after an illicit underground tunnel was discovered at the sanctuary earlier this week. An investigation by the city's Department of Buildings uncovered a tunnel that was 60-foot-long (18.3 meter),...
From Housing to Energy to Food, US Inflation Picks Up, Though Some Costs Rise Only Mildly
WASHINGTON — Higher energy and housing prices boosted overall U.S. inflation in December, a sign that the Federal Reserve's drive to slow inflation to its 2% target will likely remain a bumpy one. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that overall prices rose 0.3% from November and 3.4% from...