By The Associated Press Auckland has become the first major city to ring in 2024, with thousands cheering a fireworks display sprouting from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, and a downtown light show. This year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are overshadowed by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which have cast a pall
Continue ReadingISLAMABAD (AP) — Security forces in Afghanistan killed a number of Tajik and Pakistani nationals and arrested scores others involved in attacks against religious clerics, the public, and mosques, a senior Taliban official said Sunday. Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Taliban’s appointed defense minister, during a press conference in the capital, Kabul, said dozens of Tajiks and
Continue ReadingBy BINSAR BAKKARA Associated Press MEDAN, Indonesia (AP) — Nearly 150 Rohingya refugees, mostly hungry and weak women and children, have reached a beach in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province after weeks at sea, officials said Sunday. The group of 53 men, 39 women and 55 children arrived on Karang Gadih beach in Langkat district late
Continue ReadingBy Zoe Sottile and Kendall Trammell, CNN (CNN) — When the ball drops in New York City’s Times Square to ring in the start of 2024, it’ll actually be late -– in dozens of countries around the world already welcoming the new year. Christmas Island in Kiribati, an island country in the central Pacific Ocean,
Continue ReadingBy AJ Willingham, CNN (CNN) — Hope springs eternal, and for many of us, 2024 is a new dawn. We may have limited time before the bloom of the new year fades and we’re left to confront our untended bad habits and the horrors of the world, so let’s make the most of this fleeting
Continue ReadingBEIRUT (AP) — The U.S. military said Sunday it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired toward a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Hours later, four boats tried to attack the same ship, but U.S. forces opened fire, killing several of the armed crews, the U.S. Central Command said. No
Continue ReadingIstanbul (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed opposition parties for “exploiting” a dispute between two Turkish football clubs and Saudi officials. The Turkish Super Cup final to be played in Saudi Arabia on Friday was postponed indefinitely after Istanbul rivals, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, refused to take to the pitch and returned home.
Continue ReadingBy Chandelis Duster, CNN (CNN) — Adrienne Keeler remembers struggling to stay awake in church on New Year’s Eve as a child while her family praised God for carrying them through another year. Back then, Keeler said she couldn’t wait to get to the part of the church service where everyone said, “Happy New Year!” “I just
Continue ReadingBEIRUT (AP) — The U.S. military says it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired toward a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Hours later, four boats tried to attack the same ship, but U.S. forces opened fire, killing several of the armed crews, the U.S. Central Command said. No one
Continue ReadingTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China has slammed Taiwan presidential front-runner William Lai as a “destroyer of peace” following a televised debate on Saturday in which he defended Taiwan’s right to rule itself as a democracy. Chen Binhua, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said Lai’s discourse at the debate was “full of confrontational thinking.” He
Continue ReadingSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean capital, Seoul, received the biggest single-day snowfall recorded in December for more than 40 years on Saturday but there have been no reports of any weather-related deaths or injuries. The country’s weather agency said Sunday that 12.2 centimeters (4.8 inches) of snow fell on Seoul the previous
Continue ReadingBy ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a fresh drone assault on Ukraine on Saturday night, after promising that strikes on the Russian border city of Belgorod earlier in the day “would not go unpunished”. The Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday that it had shot down 21 of 49 drones launched
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Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu. In the city of Desert Hot Springs, Healing Rhythms is hosting a family fun-filled evening of singing, dancing, and cultural traditions, in honor of Kwanzaa. The event is free and open to the public.
Continue ReadingBy Sophie Tanno and Xiaofei Xu, CNN (CNN) — France and Germany have ramped up security ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations following warnings that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas had raised the risk of terror attacks. Police in the German city of Cologne are bolstering their forces following a report that Islamist
Continue ReadingBy The Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Dominic Brewton had 17 points in CSU Fullerton’s 63-61 overtime victory against Hawaii on Saturday night. Brewton was 7-of-15 shooting and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Titans (8-6, 1-1 Big West Conference). Vincent Lee finished 5 of 9 from the floor to add 10
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California Highway Patrol Indio confirms one person was killed after an off road razor-quad crash. The incident was reported after 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon off of El Serape Trail. CHP Investigators say one person died and another was taken to the hospital with a minor injury. Stay with us for updates on this story.
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By Nouran Salahieh, CNN (CNN) — The Powerball jackpot swelled to an estimated $810 million after the final drawing of 2023 yielded no grand prize winners Saturday night. The big prize will be up for grabs Monday night, and if won, the lucky player will have the option to ring in the new year with
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Celebrate CV is back for its second year in a row at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park. The event is free to the public and features live music, food trucks, giveaways, games, and more. The second annual ‘Celebrate CV’ is taking place, Saturday, Dec. 30 from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Located at the corner
Continue ReadingBy Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — Several states saw a polarizing legislative session last year as lawmakers tackled high-profile measures, some of which take effect this year. While many Democratic- and Republican-led states passed measures to ease the effects of inflation as the economy remains a top concern for voters ahead of the 2024 election,
Continue ReadingBy HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to launch three additional military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials and introduce attack drones in 2024, as he called for “overwhelming” war readiness to cope with U.S.-led confrontational moves, state media reported Sunday. Kim’s comments, made during
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