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Air raids over eastern Syria near Iraqi border kill 6 Iran-backed militants

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Three overnight airstrikes on eastern Syria Saturday near a strategic border crossing with Iraq killed six Iran-backed militants, two members of Iraqi militia groups told The Associated Press.The strikes on the border region of Boukamal came hours after an umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militants — known as the Islamic Resistance — claimed an attack on a U.S. military base in the city of Irbil in northern Iraq. The group has conducted over a hundred attacks on U.S. positions in Iraq and eastern Syria since the onset of the Hamas-Israel war on Oct. 7. Four of the killed were from Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group while the other two militants were Syrian, the militants said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not cleared to talk to the press. Another two were injured, they added. Meanwhile, an activist collective that covers news in the area, Deir Ezzor 24, said the airstrikes hit two militant posts and a weapons warehouse that it says w...

Horoscopes Dec. 30, 2023: Tyrese Gibson, settle in for the long haul

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Eliza Dushku, 43; Tyrese Gibson, 45; Laila Ali, 46; Meredith Vieira, 70.Happy Birthday: Keep an open mind and heart. How you handle information, relationships and money will determine what type of impact you will have on your future. Look for opportunities that will give you the life you desire. It’s up to you to bring about positive change and create opportunities. Use your imagination, settle in for the long haul and pay attention to details. Something good will transpire. Your numbers are 8, 13, 22, 26, 33, 39, 43.ARIES (March 21-April 19): An open mind, observation and a mentor offering insight into something you want to pursue will cleanse any doubt about what you strive for. Networking, communicating, traveling and seeking clarity will not disappoint. Love is in the stars. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t give up or give in to emotional blackmail. Sign up only for what makes sense and offers benefits that set the stage for better...

Word Game: Dec. 30, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — HOURGLASS (HOURGLASS: OW-er-glass: An instrument for measuring time.)Average mark 39 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 53 or more words in HOURGLASS? The list will be published Monday.YESTERDAY’S WORD — RIGHTFUL rift right ruth gift gilt girl girt girth glut griff grift grit guilt gulf hilt hurl hurt thug trig turf fight filth firth flight flirt flit fright frit frug fruit furl lift lightTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at...

Bridge: Dec. 30, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

Mistakes are inevitable, and resolving to avoid them is pointless. My new year’s resolution is hold the typos in my column to a minimum in 2420.There are many types of bridge errors. Some are forgivable errors in judgment. Some are lapses in concentration. But some errors are demonstrably wrong.Today’s North scraped up a raise to three clubs at his second turn, and South had an easy 3NT bid. West led a heart, and South took the king and saw that he had to bring in dummy’s spades. He cashed the ace and led the three.SEVEN TRICKSWhen West followed low twice, South huddled … and played the ten from dummy. East won and returned a heart, and South could win only seven tricks.South’s play in spades was a clear error, at least as per the percentages. If the missing spades are divided 3-3, South has a complete guess. If West started with J-x-x-x, South can never play the spades for one loser. But if East has J-x, South gains by playing dummy’s queen on th...

Ask Amy: I think I might have to cancel my birthday party because of our neighbors

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

Dear Amy: Every year, with the help of my husband and six children, I throw myself a birthday party at a local roller rink. It’s all I want: to party and rollerblade with my family and friends like I’m still young.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: She insulted my kids, and our relationship exploded Advice | Ask Amy: Her indiscretion ended our friendship. What do I say when people ask? Advice | Ask Amy: My teen’s diary is pretty uneventful. Should I stop reading it? Advice | Ask Amy: 14 picks for end-of-year charitable giving Advice | Ask Amy: Who knew toy kitchens would prompt so many stories? We rent out the entire venue and invite many families. We serve a handful of refreshments and play fun music. It’s a blast and I usually look forward to it every year, except this year.I’m dreading it because one family (neighbors of ours) are just terrible guests. They bring extra peo...

Harriette Cole: I hurt my leg and have to stay home, and I can’t stand it

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m someone who’s always on the go. When things are busy, I hop from event to event. I usually have the energy to attend multiple events in a night or a weekend. That’s how I roll.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: College got weird, and I’m not sure I want to go back Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I get my wife’s friend to stop with the divorce talk? Advice | Harriette Cole: I feel like I ruin the vibe at parties Advice | Harriette Cole: My husband comes home late, and I think I know why Advice | Harriette Cole: A guide to making the most of the season, Christian or not My problem is, I can’t do any of that right now. I injured my leg and had to have surgery. The recovery time is long: at least six weeks. I can’t stand it.Sitting still and resting is excruciatingly difficult to do. I stare at the clock, take naps, call friends — and ...

New Maryland, Virginia laws going into effect on Jan. 1, 2024

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

There are a few new laws around the D.C. area that will go into effect on New Year’s Day.There are no new laws in the District itself that will affect residents directly, but there are quite a few in neighboring states.Laws that will go into effect on the first day of 2024 in Maryland and Virginia are outlined below.VirginiaThe most important new laws going into effect for Virginians on Jan. 1 focus on health care, specifically making health care information and some treatments more accessible for residents.Insurance covering hearing aids for minorsHealth insurance plans offered in the Commonwealth in the new year will provide coverage for hearing-impaired people under 18.If an otolaryngologist recommends hearing aids for a child, the new law states non-Medicare insurance will have to cover up to $1,500 for each hearing aid and related costs every two years.State joins interstate counseling organizationVirginia joined the Counseling Compact in 2023, which connects licensed cou...

‘You don’t want to be cliché’: Speechwriter on the makings of a great New Year’s toast

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Neal Augenstein speaks to professional speech writer Eddie Rice about what makes a great toast. $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': audio_filename, 'permalink': window.location.href }); } }); }); Clink, clink, clink — may we have your attention, please?While feasting and imbibing with fami...

Una breve historia del tradicional descenso de la bola en la víspera de Año Nuevo en Times Square

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

(CNN) — En el último día de cada año, se ha convertido en un ritual para grandes multitudes reunirse en el caos brillantemente iluminado de Times Square de Nueva York para dar la bienvenida a nuevos comienzos. A las 11:59 p.m., una bola deslumbrante desciende por un poste, mientras que los asistentes, y millones de personas sintonizando desde casa, cuentan hacia atrás desde 60.Al filo de la medianoche, la multitud estalla en una cacofonía de sonido, a menudo atrayendo a su ser querido por un beso ceremonial.Pero, ¿cómo comenzó esta celebración de Nochevieja y por qué conmemoramos la ocasión viendo una pelota descender por un poste?Inspiración náuticaLa bola de Times Square cayó por primera vez en 1904, y nació gracias a Jacob Starr, un inmigrante ucraniano y obrero metalúrgico, y al antiguo editor del New York Times Adolph Ochs. Este último había conseguido atraer a multitudes al rascacielos del periódico en Times Square con pirotecnia y fuegos artificiales para celebrar el añ...

Dominic Thiem survives qualifying and a brush with venomous snake at Brisbane International

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:24 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem had a brush with one of Australia’s most venomous snakes during a qualifying match at the Brisbane International on Saturday.The former world No.3 was a set down to 20-year-old Australian James McCabe in a first round qualifying match when fans courtside spotted the snake.Security personnel quickly arrived, but the umpire had to stop play as the snake slithered on to the court to the shock of the players and fans.“I really love animals, especially exotic ones,” Thiem said. “But they said it was a really poisonous snake and it was close to the ballkids, so it was a really dangerous situation.“It’s something that has never happened to me and is something I’ll definitely never forget.”The snake — identified as a 50 centimeter eastern brown snake and one of Australia’s most deadly reptiles —was soon safely removed allowing play to resume.But Thiem was not yet out of danger as he had to save three match points befor...