no way out the roulette cast Cleveland is back on top of these rankings after beating Boston last week — a game that was not a playoff preview (for either team), but it is a sign of how things are coming together this season for the Cavaliers. Another sign of that? The way the Cavaliers are finding a spot for 27-year-old Ty Jerome off the bench, he is averaging 11.8 points a game and shooting an insane 50% on 3-pointers (3.1 attempts a game). Kenny Atkinson has found a way to get the most out of Jerome, and that has been the case for about every player on the Cavaliers roster this season. In the past two seasons (in a tribute to the Celtics' depth), there wasn't much of a difference when Jayson Tatum was on or off the court. This season the Celtics +213 in Tatum's 764 minutes on the court and +3 when he is off the court. That is a steep drop-off, which might help Tatum's MVP case, but it is not something that Joe Mazzula wants to see. Boston getting healthy should change that. The Celtics went 3-1 in NBA Cup play with a +23 point differential, but that wasn't enough to catch Orlando for the Wild Card (the Magic were +45). Any lingering doubts from casuals about the Rockets' legitimacy should have been answered this past week with a win against the Thunder and advancing to the knockout round of the NBA Cup. What's fueling the Rockets' rise? Defense. And athleticism. The Rockets have the third-best defense in the NBA this season, and getting stops allows their young athletes to get out and run — Houston is fifth in the league in percentage of possessions that started in transition (via Cleaning the Glass). Ime Udoka will get a z of credit for that and is in the mix for NBA Coach of the Year. However, in the short term, he's going to be writing a check to the league after and then saying postgame, "I told him 'Get some f****** glasses. Open your eyes." LeBron James on the Thunder's NBA-best defense: "They've got great hands, very aggressive at the point of attack. They've got some guys that can guard the ball. They do a good job of getting their hands on loose rocks out there and 50/50 balls. [They're a] good team, a really good team." They are also a very physical team now — a season ago a big team like LeBron's Lakers could push them around. That doesn't work anymore, partially due to Isaiah Hartenstein being in the paint, but this team now has a much more mature and tougher mentality. One that will serve them well in the playoffs. While Luka Doncic is as heliocentric a player as there is in the league, the Mavericks are much deeper than that — they won 5-of-6 with Doncic out injured. That's the sign of a team with the maturity and depth to return to the Finals. As for a short-term title goal, there is the NBA Cup. It took a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback against a good Grizzlies team, but the Mavericks are on to the knockout round of the NBA Cup, where they will have to travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder. I loved how Steve Jones of The Dunker's Spot described the Knicks as this season's Indiana Pacers — New York has the No. 1 offense in the league but is 22nd in defense. It's like Bizzaro Thibodeau is coaching this team. It's good for New York that Mikal Bridges has finally found his offensive grove and showed it by dropping 31 on the Pelicans, including seven 3-pointers. That comes just in time because OG Anunoby's hot start seems to have cooled off. Winnable games ahead this week against Charlotte, Detroit and Toronto. Is Steve Kerr tightening his rotation a little? He only played 10 players against the Nuggets on Tuesday (although that was without an injured Draymond Green). He needs to, the team is dominating when Stephen Curry are on the court together, but beyond that the team's depth has let it down of late. Whether Golden State has enough shot creation outside of Curry to chase another NBA title is up for debate, but they have enough to win the NBA Cup. The Warriors advanced to the quarterfinals/knockout round and now travel to Houston to face a young and athletic Rockets squad. The NBA Cup was made for teams like Orlando — a young team on the rise who could use the boost of confidence and experience in a playoff-lite atmosphere. Among the promising signs for the Magic of late — outside the continued strong play from Franz Wagner as a scorer — is the return of Wendell Carter Jr. from injury, as well as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope starting to find his groove with his shot after a cold start. Nobody expected this team to thrive this way with Paolo Banchero out, and getting more from Carter and KCP can keep that run going. Memphis needs Ja Morant on the court, and he needs to think about his career and long-term health, but the idea of him dunking less — to reduce the risk of injuries — is still disappointing for we mere mortal fans. The Grizzlies are a respectable 6-4 without Morant this season. If there is one surprise player out of this draft, it's Jaylen Wells, the other guy the Grizzlies drafted — No. 39 out of Washington State — who has become a starter with this team and has knocked down 44 3-pointers this season, second among rookies (Dalton Knecht). Ivica Zubac has quietly put himself in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. The Clippers are fifth in the West standings — hanging with the likes of Memphis, Dallas and Phoenix — thanks to the No. 5 defense in the NBA this season (and they are doing it without Kawhi Leonard). Zubac is the anchor of that, not with raw counting stats — one block a game — but by being in good positions and playing an intelligent, physical game. The advanced defensive stats (such as they are) capture what Zubac is doing. The DPOY award probably ends up in the hands of that alien in San Antonio this season, but Zubac has to be discussed at least. At the quarter mark of the season, the first round of (way too early) NBA award conversations have started, and as much as voters may be hesitant to reward Nikola Jokic again, he is demanding it — 30.1 points, 13 rebounds and 10.4 assists a game this season while shooting 52.2% from 3. He is carrying a team where management keeps chipping away at the pieces around him, but during the regular season he can cover that up by just being better and better every year. Getting Aaron Gordon back healthy this past week will help with the depth and defensive concerns that Michael Malone has expressed. Kevin Durant is out again — this time for at least a week with a sprained ankle — and we've all seen the stat: Phoenix is 11-2 in games Durant plays and 1-6 in games he has missed. This injury comes at a softer spot in the schedule, which could mean more Devin Booker will be enough to get this team through. What people are sleeping on with Durant's MVP-level season is his defense: Opponents are shooting 38.4% on shots he defended, and the team's defense is 3.9 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court. The Suns will need a little more defense from Jusuf Nurkic and others with KD out. Milwaukee has won seven in a row (against a soft schedule, but still) and Giannis Antetokounmpo playing like an MVP is at the heart of that. In his last five games, Antetokounmpo has been averaging 36 points a night on 66% shooting, with 9.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. That play has vaulted Milwaukee into the NBA Cup quarterfinals, where it is the top seed and will host Orlando next Tuesday in an elimination game. The 1st 40-PT triple-double of Giannis' career 42 PTS | 12 REB | 11 AST | 62.5 FG% | W get their 6th win in a row! — NBA (@NBA) The Heat have found something by putting the ball in Jimmy Butler's hands more and moving Terry Rozier to a bench role (although both are on the court to close games). It worked well, at least until Butler was out Monday night against Boston (a Heat loss). If the Heat continue to hang around the middle of the pack heading towards the trade deadline, the rumors of a Butler trade — Houston? — will only grow louder. The Timberwolves remain one of the hardest teams to get the pulse on in the league — are they the team that lost four straight in recent weeks, or the one that bounced back and beat both Los Angeles teams? — but they are in the midst of a stretch of games against other West teams with playoff designs, a series of games that feels like it will define their season. What we've seen so far are losses to the Rockets (in OT) and Kings, then beating the Lakers and Clippers. The Timberwolves now have 6-of-8 on the road, and by the end of that around Christmas we should have a better sense of this team. Maybe. Or maybe inconsistent is just who they are. Don't assume any lead is safe against the Spurs — they came from 17 down to beat the Sacramento Kings on the road Sunday, the team's third win coming back from 15 points or more down (hat tip to Paul Garcia, host of The Spot Up Podcast). San Antonio has a +16.2 net rating in the third quarter, that after having a negative net rating for the first half. In the fourth quarter they have a +1.3 net rating. San Antonio is home for its next four games, including facing Sacramento again. The Lakers need an elite offense to cover up for its 24th-ranked defense (that is dreadful in transition), and with a top-heavy roster, that means it needs LeBron James in particular to drive things, both scoring and as the primary playmaker. Which is an issue with LeBron in a slump: In his last five games, LeBron is averaging 16.6 points a game on 39.6% shooting overall and he has missed his last 19 3-point attempts. LeBron James has shot under 45% in each of his last six games, something he has not done since his rookie season. With that, the Lakers have a 102.4 offensive rating over their previous six games, which is 28th in the league over that time. The Lakers are 2-5 in their last seven games. The NBA Cup has given us something that promises to be a must-watch — Trae Young in Madison Square Garden with something on the line. Young revels in being public enemy No. 1 in that spotlight. While we could see a scoring outburst from Young in that game, his playmaking has been on display of late: Young has recorded double-digit assists in 7-of-8, and that has had some impact as the Hawks have won four in a row (including both ends of a home-and-home against Cleveland, the Hawks account for two of the Cavaliers three losses). This says everything you need to know about the Kings' search for answers right now: Jae Crowder went from unsigned journeyman to starting two games for the Kings last week. Sacramento can make a legitimate argument it has just been unlucky: The Kings have the fifth best clutch net rating in the NBA (+15.1 when games are within five points in the final five minutes) but are 5-8 in those games. The Kings have an overall net rating of +1.1, suggesting they should be 12-10, or at least 11-11, but instead they have dropped 6-of-8 and have slid down the West rankings. Maybe Tuesday's win over a quality Rockets team starts to right the ship. Andrew Nembhard returned from injury, which is a good sign because when the Pacers are healthy they roll out a strong starting five: Tyrese Haliburton, Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Ben Mathurin and Myles Turner have a +14.2 net rating when they are on the court together, the problem is that has happened for just 76 minutes all season. Indiana needs to start winning on the road, it is 2-10 away from Gainbridge Field House, including 0-2 on the current road trip, and the Pacers have 7-of-9 coming up away from home. Chicago wanted this season to play out and see how Josh Giddey fit before offering him a contract extension. Well... it's a mixed bag. Giddey is averaging good counting stats — 12.1 points, 6.9 assists, 6.3 rebounds a game — but is shooting just 33.8% on 3-pointers and is a minus defender. On a team where Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are tearing it up, and with Coby White seeing a reduced playmaking role, how much does Chicago want the ball in Giddey's hands long-term? While it would have been fun to see Detroit advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup, the fact it got to 3-0 and was playing Milwaukee Tuesday for the right to advance is another sign of a step forward for this team this season (the Pistons didn't get their third win total last season until Dec. 30). It's good to have Cade Cunningham back from injury, the Pistons have gone 1-3 in games he's missed and their offense is 5.9 points per 100 possessions worse when he is off the court. Cam Thomas being out for 3-4 weeks with a strained hamstring will put pressure on others to create scoring opportunities, but it also will open up shots for guys such as Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dennis Schroder, among others. It also is an opportunity for guys trying to get noticed (for their next contract), such as Ziaire Williams. The Nets have gone 1-3 in games Thomas has missed. The most entertaining of the struggling teams in the league, the Raptors are 4-3 since Scottie Barnes returned from injury. That includes Scottie Barnes going off for a career-high 35 points, plus adding nine assists and six rebounds in a win over the Pacers. Keep playing like this and the Raptors could leapfrog a couple of teams and move into the play-in mix in the East (they are currently two games back of the No. 10 seed). Here's all that matters in a discussion of Philly turning its season around: Joel Embiid remains out with no official timeline for his return. Paul George has been back for a couple of games but is sitting out a back-to-back Wednesday, which means he will have played in half of the 76ers game so far this season (10 of 20). The best thing to come out of Philly this week is how confused Kyle Lowry looks watching Jared McCain recording on TikTok. Jared McCain posting a Tik Tok with Kyle Lowry after the Sixers won against the Charlotte Hornets — Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) LaMelo Ball being out a couple of weeks with a calf strain hurts the Hornets on the court, and hurts their watchability for the rest of us. The Hornets have now dropped six straight, but only one by double-digits, if you're looking for the silver lining. Also, it's good to see Nick Richards back from a 16-game absence, Charlotte needs him along the front line. I thought the Deni Avdija pickup this offseason was a smart one for Portland, but he apparently left his shot behind before getting on the plane West. Avdija shot 37.4% from 3 last season and 56% inside the arc, but his season that has fallen off to 34.5% from 3, and it's worse on two-pointers where he is shooting 41.7%. Light schedule this week with a game against the Jazz then at the Lakers. Coach Will Hardy calling a timeout just as Collin Sexton was driving toward the basket for a potential game-winning shot was hard to watch. To be fair, Anthony Davis heard the whistle and stopped sliding over to contest the shot, it would not have been an easy one for Sexton, but Utah didn't get off a better shot after the timeout (and the Lakers set their defense). Walker Kessler showed off his potential as an old-school big in that game and had some Lakers' fans fantasizing about trading for him to go next to Davis (Los Angeles isn't going to meet Danny Ainge's asking price). Zion Williamson is out for at least another two weeks, the team announced, but the better word to use with him is "indefinitely." While CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray have retuned from injury it hasn't changed anything, the Pelicans have dropped nine in a row and the questions now are exactly what does pulling the rip cord on this season look like and who gets traded at the deadline? Washington finished November 0-14 — the second month this calendar year they have gone winless. There are veterans on this roster who can help snap this losing streak, but due to injuries Jonas Valančiūnas, Malcolm Brogdon and Kyle Kuzma have played a total of 16 minutes together this season. The schedule doesn't get any easier for Washington with Dallas, Denver and Memphis its next three games.

Charlamagne tha God, Whoopi Goldberg clash over Biden’s Hunter pardon on ‘The View’: ‘Why can’t you say when Democrats are wrong?’Scanlan: Time for legislators to protect womenOp-Ed: People don’t want to work? Guess again, morons.

Buffalo Sabres (10-9-1, in the Atlantic Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (6-11-5, in the Pacific Division) San Jose, California; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sabres -166, Sharks +140; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The San Jose Sharks host the Buffalo Sabres after Alexander Wennberg's two-goal game against the St. Louis Blues in the Sharks' 3-2 shootout loss. San Jose has a 6-11-5 record overall and a 4-4-1 record on its home ice. The Sharks have a -21 scoring differential, with 54 total goals scored and 75 given up. Buffalo is 10-9-1 overall and 4-4-1 on the road. The Sabres serve 10.7 penalty minutes per game to rank third in the league. The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Toffoli has nine goals and six assists for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini has over the last 10 games. Rasmus Dahlin has five goals and 12 assists for the Sabres. Zachary Benson has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 3-4-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.5 assists, 2.7 penalties and six penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Sabres: 6-4-0, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.5 assists, five penalties and 10.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. INJURIES: Sharks: None listed. Sabres: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — It was just a 10-yard completion, easy to overlook in the wake of a record-setting rushing day and easy to dismiss as one of just 11 pass attempts throughout the Indianapolis Colts’ 38-30 victory Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. But Anthony Richardson’s third-and-8 pass to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. just after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter was pivotal to holding off the visitors’ late rally. If the Colts were forced to punt in that situation, a defense that had allowed touchdowns on three consecutive drives — of 70, 55 and 71 yards — would be back on the field with tremendous pressure to prevent the game going to overtime. Richardson was cold and out of rhythm. He’d been sacked on his most recent pass attempt — on third-and-9 with 6:51 remaining — and he hadn’t gotten a pass off since throwing an incompletion intended for wide receiver Josh Downs at the 11:20 mark. With the dual-threat quarterback and running back Jonathan Taylor combining for 270 of Indianapolis’ single-game franchise-record 335 rushing yards, Richardson had not completed a pass since the 8:33 mark of the third quarter, and he was just 1-for-2 in the second half. Still, he was calm and composed on the crucial third down — hitting Pittman on a simple out pattern to move the chains and keep the clock moving. When the Colts finally did punt the ball back to Tennessee, there were only three seconds remaining for the Titans to work with, It was a forgettable play in the grand scheme of the game, but it was also the most recent evidence of the 22-year-old quarterback’s ability to raise his level of play in the clutch. He’s 3-2 as a starter since taking the role back from veteran Joe Flacco, and the other two victories featured game-winning touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. “I think that’s a special trait — obviously as a young player — that he doesn’t flinch in those times, to lead those comebacks,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “Obviously, the (New York) Jets, the New England (Patriots) game, I mean, those are big-time drives to go win games. “You want that out of young players, especially (when) you see the veteran guys do it around the league all the time, but to do it as a young player speaks volumes of the person that he is.” Despite Richardson’s up-and-down season, Indianapolis has maintained steadfast belief in his potential. Even when he was benched for Flacco, the organization repeatedly stated it was not giving up on the quarterback as its future leader. There’s still plenty of work to be done. Richardon has completed just 47.7% of his passes, and he’s thrown 12 interceptions in 11 starts. His rushing ability again was evident Sunday, and he’s set franchise single-season records for a quarterback with 499 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. And he has proven his big-play ability with a league-leading 14.4 yards per completion. The Colts still believe improved consistency will come with increased reps, and they hold out hope the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft can still become the long-term answer at the game’s most important position. For now, Richardson’s late-game heroics offer the most compelling argument in his favor. “I think it’s just me just playing all the way until the clock hits zero,” Richardson said of his mindset. “I never think about fourth quarter moments or anything like that. I just try to play until the game’s over. And it just happens sometimes that most of it happens in the fourth quarter. So I just try to play through the whistle and just play through the whole game.” After rushing for 218 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans – both the second-highest single-game totals of his career – Taylor has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. It was a major bounce-back performance after Taylor’s unforced fumble just short of the goal line cost the Colts dearly in a pivotal loss against the Denver Broncos a week prior. “It’s always exciting to see that dude just do what he does,” Richardson said. “It’s fascinating, honestly, just to see him hit a gap and just take it to the house. It’s just amazing, especially thinking about what happened in the Denver game. It honestly like wiped my mind. I wasn’t even thinking about it until people were talking about him coming back and having the game he did. “It’s like ‘OK, that’s the type of player he is, the type of person he is.’ He always wants to do better for the team and for himself. And just to see him do that and get what he did on Sunday is just a blessing.” The Colts officially signed right guard Mark Glowinski to the 53-man roster Tuesday after he’d been called up for game day in each of the past three weeks. Guard Antonio Mafi was re-signed to the practice squad after being released from the 53-man roster Monday.The Sixers will take wins in any form, including the 'weird-good' gamesRepresentative Image Elon Musk is taking steps to establish a first-of-its-kind town for its rocket company SpaceX and its employees in in Texas, US. Employees of SpaceX have formally filed a petition to incorporate a new municipality called Starbase in coastal South Texas, where the company’s rocket launch facilities are located. The proposed city’s first mayor would be a SpaceX security manager. Over the years, Musk has shifted his operations from California to Texas, developing facilities across several counties. Musk has been envisioning the Starbase town for years, but recently progress accelerated as SpaceX employees started moving into nearby homes and temporary housing near the launch site. According to a report by the New York Times, residents working for SpaceX filed an official petition with Cameron County to hold an election on incorporation this month. The document (seen by NYT) reveals initial plans for the city. If this city comes into existence, Musk will create history by doing something that no other company or business leader has ever done. What happens when Starbase comes into existence The Starbase plan remained stalled for years, partly due to Texas laws requiring a minimum number of residents and majority voter support to establish a new municipality. However, SpaceX employees have started settling into refurbished homes and temporary housing near the company's rocket launch site, the report claims. This month, these residents took a step toward creating a new city by filing a petition with Cameron County to hold an election, revealing initial details about Elon Musk's vision for the proposed municipality. If approved, the election would allow voters to select three city officials, including Gunnar Milburn, SpaceX's security manager, as the proposed first mayor. The petition outlines a community of roughly 500 residents, including 219 primary residents and over 100 children, located near Boca Chica Beach at the end of State Highway 4. Covering about 1.5 square miles, the proposed town is small by Texas standards. Most residents are renters and work for SpaceX. However, the petition does not mention why Musk and SpaceX employees are pursuing the creation of Starbase or what benefits they aim to achieve. The proposed town could establish its own police or fire departments or enact its ordinances. Apart from this, Musk may also be looking into the possibility of housing employees in a development outside the town of Bastrop, near Austin. The area is home to a growing campus for Musk companies, including a manufacturing plant for SpaceX; the headquarters of the Boring Company, which is creating tunnelling technology; and, soon, offices for the social media platform X (earlier Twitter).

"We the People" competitions require student competitors to write and present speeches that address key issues of government, the Constitution and world politics. After their four-minute presentations, students face six minutes of questions from a panel of expert judges. Students are required to answer extemporaneously without referring to notes or materials. The “We the People” Constitution Program is sponsored by the Justice Resource Center (JRC) in partnership with the Law, Youth, and Citizenship Committee of the New York State Bar Association. “I am proud of the performance of Johnstown students in New York City this year and the hard work they did preparing for the competition,” said Sean Russo, a social studies teacher and "We the People" coach. “In their reflections after the event, the students told me that they now have a much better understanding of government. They also feel their public speaking skills and overall confidence has improved through this experience.” In addition to the overall team placing fifth statewide, students Nicholas Valachovic and Austin Harrington won the Unit 2 award at the competition, Russo said. James Madison High School in Brooklyn won top place in this year's "We the People" competition. In 2020, Johnstown High School's team of seniors Calyer Fagan, Brianne Hansen and Kiersten Pelosi was awarded top honors in of the disciplines.

GOP congressman urges Republicans to back Mike Johnson ahead of House speaker voteJordan projected for 3% economic growth in 2025 amid reforms

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Met Éireann has issued multiple weather warnings for New Year’s Eve, with Ireland set for a wet and windy start to the new year. The national forecaster issued both a rain and wind warning ahead of New Year’s Eve , with strong gale force winds, and heavy rain in store for Donegal, Galway, and Mayo. The first warning, a Status Yellow - Wind warning for Donegal , Galway , and Mayo , will come into effect at midnight on Tuesday until 11am on Tuesday morning. These counties can expect strong to gale force and gusty southwest winds during this period. READ MORE: 15 Budget money changes coming in January - social welfare increases, tax cuts and more READ MORE: Dublin Bus 'actively investigating' footage appearing to show child being struck by man in hi-vis vest Some possible impacts include: fallen branches/trees, debris, loose objects displaced, difficult travelling conditions, wave overtopping due to onshore winds and high seas, particularly during high tide times. The national forecaster also issued a Status Yellow - Rain alert for Donegal, warning of spells of rain, heavy at times from 11am on Monday until 11am on Tuesday. Possible impacts include: localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility. Meanwhile, the UK Met Office has issued a Yellow - Wind Warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry. The weather forecaster warned that strong westerly winds may lead to some travel disruption on New Year's Eve. Overall Met Éireann said it would be rather windy for much of New Year’s Eve. Widespread rain at first, becoming confined mainly to Munster and south Leinster through the morning with hazy sunny spells and isolated showers developing over the northern half of the country. Cloud along with outbreaks of rain will then build from the southwest through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 8C to 12C in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds, stronger near western and northwestern coasts, before easing during the evening. On New Year's Eve night it will turn wet and windy overnight as rain continues to extend northeastwards, heavy in places, particularly in the north and west with spot flooding possible. Lowest temperatures of 0C to 3C over the northern half of the country, 5C to 9C further south. Fresh to strong and gusty cyclonic variable winds will develop by morning as an area of low pressure approaches from the west. Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

At least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank around the city of Tulkarem on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, including three people it said were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a second somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza , although only two thirds are believed to still be alive. Here’s the latest: NUR SHAMS REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank on Tuesday. The ministry reported three of the dead were killed by airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. An Associated Press photojournalist captured images of Israeli forces detonating an explosive device planted by Palestinian militants during a raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Israel has carried out several large-scale raids in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. While airstrikes were once rare in the West Bank, they have grown more common since the outbreak of war as Israeli forces clamp down, saying they aim to prevent attacks on their citizens. Israeli fire has killed at least 800 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, Palestinian health officials say. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. SAYDNAYA, Syria — A large crowd of Syrians gathered near a historic monastery in Saydnaya on Christmas Eve to witness the lighting of a towering tree adorned with glowing green lights. Tuesday's celebration offered a rare moment of joy in a city scarred by over a decade of war and an infamous prison , where tens of thousands were held. Families and friends stood beneath the illuminated tree — some wearing Santa hats, others watching from rooftops — while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky “This year is different, there’s happiness, victory and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ,” said Houssam Saadeh, one attendee. Another, Joseph Khabbaz, expressed hope for unity across all sects and religions in Syria, dismissing recent Christmas tree vandalism as “isolated incidents.” Earlier in the afternoon, pilgrims visited the historic Our Lady of Saydnaya Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries, believed to be built in the sixth century. In Homs, a similarly grand Christmas tree was illuminated as security officers patrolled the area to ensure a safe and peaceful gathering, according to Syria’s state media. UNITED NATIONS -- Recent attacks on hospitals in North Gaza, where Israel is carrying out an offensive, are having a devastating impact on Palestinian civilians still in the area, the U.N. humanitarian office says. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed deep concern at reports that the Israeli military entered the Indonesian Hospital on Tuesday, forcing its evacuation. The humanitarian office, known as OCHA, also expressed deep concern at attacks reported in recent days in and around the two other hospitals in North Gaza that are minimally functioning – Al Awda and Kamal Adwan. OCHA said the Israeli siege on Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and parts of Jaballiya in North Gaza continued for a 79th day on Tuesday, and while the U.N. and its partners have made 52 attempts to coordinate humanitarian access to besieged areas in December 48 were rejected by Israel. While four missions were approved, OCHA said the U.N. and its partners faced impediments as a result of Israeli military operations and “none of the U.N.-coordinated attempts to access the area have been fully facilitated.” Throughout the Gaza Strip, OCHA said that Israeli authorities facilitated just 40% of requests for humanitarian movements requiring their approval in December. WASHINGTON — A leading global food crisis monitor says deaths from starvation will likely pass famine levels in north Gaza as soon as next month. The U.S.-created Famine Early Warning System Network says that’s because of a near-total Israeli blockade of food and other aid in that part of Gaza. The finding, however, appears to have exposed a rift within the Biden administration over the extent of starvation in northern Gaza. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, disputes part of the data used in reaching the conclusion and calls the intensified famine warning “irresponsible.” Northern Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its 14-month war with Hamas militants. UNITED NATIONS — Israel’s foreign minister has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn recent missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and to condemn the group's Iranian allies for allegedly providing the group with weapons. Gideon Saar said in a letter Tuesday to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States, which holds the council presidency this month, that the Houthis are violating international law and council resolutions. “This Iranian-backed terrorist group continues to endanger Israel’s and other nations’ security, as well as the freedom of maritime navigation, in flagrant violation of international law,” Saar said. “All of this malign activity is done as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region.” The U.S. Mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to an email asking when the council meeting will be held. The Houthis have said they launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea – and on Israel -- with the aim of ending Israel’s devastating air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli war in Gaza followed Hamas’ deadly October 2023 attacks in southern Israel. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli military investigation has concluded that the presence of troops inadvertently contributed to the deaths of six hostages killed by their Hamas captors in Gaza. The hostages' bodies were discovered in a tunnel in late August, an event that shook Israel and sparked some of the largest anti-war protests since the war began. The investigation found that the six hostages were killed by multiple gunshots from their captors after surviving for nearly 330 days. The Israeli military’s “ground activities in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence on the terrorists’ decision to murder the six hostages,” the report found. According to the investigation, the Israeli military began operating in the area where the hostages were being held in southern Gaza about two weeks before their discovery, under the assumption that the chances of hostages in the area was medium to low. On August 27, hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi was found alone in a tunnel , causing the Israeli military to halt operations for 24 hours to determine if there could be other hostages in the area. The military discovered the opening leading to the tunnel where the bodies of the six hostages were located on August 30. A pathological report estimated the six hostages were killed on August 29. The six hostages killed were Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin , whose American-Israeli parents became some of the most recognized spokespeople pleading for the hostages’ release, including addressing the Democratic National Convention days before their son’s killing. “The investigation published tonight proves once again that the return of all hostages will only be possible through a deal,” the Hostages Families Forum said in response to the investigation. “Every passing moment puts the hostages’ lives in immediate danger.” JERUSALEM — The Israeli negotiating team working on a ceasefire returned from Qatar to Israel on Tuesday, the prime minister’s office said, after what it called “a significant week” of talks. After months of deadlock, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt resumed their mediation efforts in recent weeks and reported greater willingness by the warring sides to reach a deal. According to Egyptian and Hamas officials, the proposed agreement would take place in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of captive Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel says Hamas is holding 100 hostages, over one-third of whom are believed to be dead. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “some progress” in efforts to reach a deal, but added he did not know how long it would take. CAIRO — Israeli soldiers took control of a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday. Some of the patients had to walk to another hospital while others were driven by paramedics, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Wahidi. He did not specify how many patients had evacuated. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. The army later said its soldiers had left the hospital. The military said it had assisted with evacuating the patients and had not ordered the hospital closed. However, al-Wahidi said only one doctor and maintenance person were left behind. The Indonesian Hospital is one of three hospitals left largely inaccessible in the northernmost part of Gaza because Israel has imposed a tight siege there since launching an offensive in early October. The Israeli army said Tuesday’s operation at the Indonesian Hospital came after militants carried out attacks from the hospital for the past month, including launching anti-tank missiles and planting explosive devices in the surrounding area. The Health Ministry accused Israel of “besieging and directly targeting” the three hospitals in northern Gaza. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said Israeli drones detonated explosives near the hospital and that 20 people were wounded, including five medical staff. The Israeli military declined to comment on the operation around the hospital. DAMASCUS — Scores of Syrian Christians protested in the capital Damascus on Tuesday, demanding greater protections for their religious minority after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of Hama a day earlier. Many of the insurgents who now rule Syria are jihadis, although Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and spent years depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. It remains unclear who set the Christmas tree on fire Monday, which was condemned by a representative of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham who visited the town and addressed the community. “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations," the HTS representative said in a video widely shared on social media. "The Christmas tree will be fully restored by this evening.” On Tuesday, protesters marched through the streets of Bab Touma in Damascus, shouting slogans against foreign fighters and carrying large wooden crosses. “We demand that Syria be for all Syrians. We want a voice in the future of our country,” said Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church as he addressed the crowd in a church courtyard, assuring them of Christians’ rights in Syria. Since HTS led a swift offensive that overthrew President Bashar Assad earlier this month, Syria’s minority communities have been on edge, uncertain of how they will be treated under the emerging rebel-led government. “We are here to demand a democratic and free government for one people and one nation,” another protester said. “We stand united — Muslims and Christians. No to sectarianism.” DOHA — Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that ceasefire negotiations to end the war in Gaza were ongoing in Doha in cooperation with Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediators. “We will not leave any door unopened in pursuit of reaching an agreement,” said Majid al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday. Al Ansari added that rumors the ceasefire would be reached before Christmas are “speculation.” The ceasefire negotiations come at a time when winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. Families of the approximately 100 hostages who have been held for 445 days in Gaza are also worried their loved ones will not survive another winter. In a press conference, al-Ansari also called on the international community to lift sanctions on Syria as quickly as possible on Tuesday. “The reason was the crimes of the previous regime, and that regime, with all of its authority, is no longer in place, therefor the causes for these sanctions no longer exist today,” he said. DAMASCUS, Syria — American journalist Austin Tice is believed to be still alive, according to the head of an international aid group. Nizar Zakka, who runs the Hostage Aid Worldwide organization, said there has never been any proof that Tice, who has been missing since 2012, is dead. Zakka told reporters in Damascus on Tuesday that Tice was alive in January and being held by the authorities of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad. He added that U.S. President Joe Biden said in August that Tice was alive. Zakka said he believes Tice was transferred between security agencies over the past 12 years, including in an area where Iranian-backed fighters were operating. Asked if it was possible Tice had been taken out of the country, Zakka said Assad most likely kept him in Syria as a potential bargaining chip. Biden said Dec. 8 that his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, although he also acknowledged that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. TEL AVIV, Israel — Hannah Katzir, an Israeli woman who was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, and freed in a brief ceasefire last year, has died. She was 78. The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing the families of people taken captive, confirmed the death Tuesday but did not disclose the cause. Her daughter, Carmit Palty Katzir, said in a statement that her mother’s “heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since Oct. 7.” Katzir’s husband, Rami, was killed during the attack by militants who raided their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her son Elad was also kidnapped and his body was recovered in April by the Israeli military, who said he had been killed in captivity. She spent 49 days in captivity and was freed in late November 2023. Shortly after Katzir was freed, her daughter told Israeli media that she had been hospitalized with heart issues attributed to “difficult conditions and starvation” while she was held captive. TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's military said the projectile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, but it set off air raid sirens overnight in the country's populous central area, sending residents looking for cover. Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom said a 60-year-old woman was seriously wounded after being hurt on her way to a protected space. There was no immediate comment from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. It was the third time in a week that fire from Yemen set off sirens in Israel. On Saturday, a missile slammed into a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16, after Israel’s air defense system failed to intercept it. Earlier last week, Israeli jets struck Yemen’s rebel-held capital and a port city, killing nine. Israel said the strikes were in response to previous Houthi attacks.