Biden hails Xi talks as most productive they’ve had yet

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Biden hails Xi talks as most productive they’ve had yet By Kevin Liptak and MJ Lee | CNNPresident Joe Biden hailed his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Wednesday as the two agreed to take steps to curb fentanyl production and restore military communication during their summit.The results, which were expected ahead of the talks, amount to progress in improving the still-tense US-China relationship. During a news conference following the summit, Biden said the negotiations with Xi were “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.”“We haven’t always agreed,” Biden said, but his talks with Xi are always “straightforward.”Biden had aimed to use the meeting to put the US-China relationship on steadier footing after months of tension between the two superpowers. Ahead of the talks, US officials were careful to manage expectations, saying they did not expect a long list of outcomes or even a joint leaders’ statement, as is customary after such summits. The primary objective for the talks appeared to be the restoratio...

Lafayette kidnapping suspect arrested after escape from mental health program

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Lafayette kidnapping suspect arrested after escape from mental health program (KRON) -- A kidnapping suspect was arrested on Tuesday several weeks after he escaped a mental health diversion program, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said. Kenneth David McIsaac was assigned to the program 13 months after he allegedly held a Lafayette family hostage at gunpoint. McIsaac was sent to the program on Sept. 5 despite "a vigorous opposition" from the Contra Costa County DA's office, according to a press release from the office. He was in custody for more than a year before that. He escaped on Oct. 24. Man found in suitcase on Lake Merritt identified "The court determined that a mental health diversion program would provide more effective treatment for McIsaac's condition and released him from custody," the DA's office wrote in a press release. McIsaac had a no-bail warrant for his arrest after his escape. The Lafayette Police Department was notified on Tuesday that McIsaac had possibly been sighted in Oakland's Montclair neighborhood, the departme...

Gayle Jr. scores 20, Ohio State uses big second-half run to defeat Merrimack 76-52

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Gayle Jr. scores 20, Ohio State uses big second-half run to defeat Merrimack 76-52 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 20 points, Zed Key added a double-double off the bench and Ohio State used a big second-half run to break away from Merrimack in a 76-52 victory for the Buckeyes on Wednesday night.A 3-pointer from Bryan Etumnu and a pair of free throws by Samba Diallo had Merrimack within six points with about 9 1/2 minutes to go. Ohio State responded with a 16-0 run in which Jamison Battle hit two 3-pointers and scored eight points, giving the Buckeyes a 65-43 lead with 5 1/2 minutes remaining.The Buckeyes extended the run to 24-3 and led 73-46 with 2:13 to go.Gayle finished 8-for-12 from the field and made 3 of 4 3-pointers, to go with five rebounds and three assists. Key had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Battle scored 13 points.The Buckeyes (2-1) shot 44.1% overall, including 8 of 14 3-pointers.Devon Savage made 6 of 9 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Warriors (2-2) and Eutmnu finished with 11 points.Gayle hit two 3-pointers to open the game a...

Sonia Citron scores 23, Hannah Hidalgo has 21, No. 16 Notre Dame women overwhelm Northwestern 110-52

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Sonia Citron scores 23, Hannah Hidalgo has 21, No. 16 Notre Dame women overwhelm Northwestern 110-52 SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Sonia Citron scored 23 points, Hannah Hidalgo added 21 and No. 16 Notre Dame won its 29th-straight home opener, coasting to a 110-52 win over Northwestern on Wednesday night.Maddy Westbeld had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Fighting Irish (2-1) and Anna DeWolfe and Kylee Watson scored 10 each.Hailey Weaver and Melannie Daley had 11 points each for the Wildcats (2-1).After Northwestern scored the first eight points of the game, the Fighting Irish reeled off the next 15, nine by Hidalgo on two 3-pointers and a three-point play. Citron hit a jumper and a buzzer-beating 3 to make the score 25-16 after one quarter.Citron then had the last 11 points of a 13-0 run to end the half, including another buzzer beater, for a 56-26 lead at the break.Citron had 19 points and Hidalgo 15 in the first half.Hidalgo continued the impressive start to her freshman season, going 9 of 12 from the field with 2 3s, and six rebounds, six steals and five assists. She has 21 steals an...

Biden, Xi met for hours and agreed to ‘pick up the phone’ for any urgent concerns. ‘That’s progress’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Biden, Xi met for hours and agreed to ‘pick up the phone’ for any urgent concerns. ‘That’s progress’ WOODSIDE, Calif. (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping emerged Wednesday from their first face-to-face meeting in a year vowing to stabilize their fraught relationship and showcasing modest agreements to combat illegal fentanyl and re-establish military communications. But there were still deep differences on economic competition and global security threats. The most assuring takeaway from the meeting for Biden was that if either man had a concern, “we should pick up the phone and call one another and we’ll take the call. That’s important progress,” he said in a news conference following the talks. The two leaders spent four hours together at a bucolic Northern California estate – in meetings, a working lunch and a garden stroll – intent on showing the world that while they are global economic competitors they’re not locked in a winner-take-all faceoff.“Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed,” Xi told Biden.The U.S. president t...

Aziaha James scores 20, Mimi Collins adds 18 and No. 14 N.C. State women beat Elon 90-35

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Aziaha James scores 20, Mimi Collins adds 18 and No. 14 N.C. State women beat Elon 90-35 RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Aziaha James scored 20 points, Mimi Collins had a perfect night shooting and 18 points and No. 14 North Carolina State coasted to a 90-35 win over Elon on Wednesday night.Showing no hangover from Sunday’s 92-81 win over No. 2 UConn that vaulted N.C. State into the Top 25, Collins had 14 points, including 10 in a 15-0 run, as the Wolfpack bolted to a 28-12 lead after one quarter. N.C. State was 11 of 14 from the field in the first 10 minutes and then turned on the defense in the second quarter, holding the Phoenix to 1-of-15 shooting for a 44-14 lead at the half.James matched Collins with 14 first-half points, when the Wolfpack shot 59% and had a 31-7 rebounding advantage. Hayes had 10 points.Hayes finished with 15 points for N.C. State (3-0). Collings was 8-of-8 shooting with a 3-pointer and a free throw. The Wolfpack shot 52% with seven 3s on 22 attempts and went 17 for 17 from the foul line.Saniya Rivers, the NCAA and ACC player of the week after posting...

Post, Aligbe have double-doubles in Boston College’s 68-61 win over Richmond

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Post, Aligbe have double-doubles in Boston College’s 68-61 win over Richmond BOSTON (AP) — Quinten Post had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Prince Aligbe added 15 points and 10 boards, and Boston College rallied in the second half to beat Richmond 68-61 on Wednesday night.Claudell Harris Jr., a Charleston Southern transfer, added 10 points for the Eagles (3-0), who shot just 37% and gave up 16 points off 11 turnovers but hit 17 of 19 from the line and had 17 offensive boards for an 18-3 points-in-the-paint advantage.Post, who also had five assists, was part of a matchup of 7-footers. Neal Quinn, Richmond’s lone returning starter on a roster with eight newcomers, had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Jordan King, a grad transfer from East Tennessee State, scored all 10 of his points in the first half for the Spiders (2-1), who led 34-30 at halftime.Trailing by four at halftime, BC quickly tied it before Aligbe scored the Eagles’ next seven points, including a 3-pointer for their first lead since the opening couple minutes. Harris’ steal a...

Police making arrests after protest turns violent outside Democratic National Committee HQ

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Police making arrests after protest turns violent outside Democratic National Committee HQ WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in the nation’s capital were responding Wednesday night to a violent protest outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. U.S. Capitol Police said about 150 people were “illegally and violently protesting” near the DNC headquarters building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington.Video posted on social media showed protesters shoving police officers and trying to grab hold of metal barricades as the officers moved in to make arrests. Many of the protesters were wearing black shirts that read “Cease Fire Now.” The Metropolitan Police Department said its officers were also responding to the disturbance. Police said some members of Congress had been evacuated from the area, but provided no additional details. Officials sent an alert to congressional staffers telling them no one would be permitted to enter or exit any House office buildings. Rep. Brad Sherman, a California Democrat, said he was evacuated from the building by police...

Live updates | Israeli tanks and soldiers search Gaza’s Shifa Hospital compound

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

Live updates | Israeli tanks and soldiers search Gaza’s Shifa Hospital compound A Palestinian child wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is treated in a hospital in Khan Younis, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. ( AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)(AP/Fatima Shbair) A Palestinian child wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is treated in a hospital in Khan Younis, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. ( AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)(AP/Fatima Shbair) Two and a half weeks after sending tanks and ground troops into northern Gaza, Israeli forces searched a hospital Wednesday where they claim Hamas militants operate. Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza, said Israeli tanks were inside the medical compound and that soldiers had entered buildings, including the emergency and surgery departme...

NWSL expansion Utah Royals trade for former BYU star Mikayla Cluff

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:30 GMT

NWSL expansion Utah Royals trade for former BYU star Mikayla Cluff HERRIMAN, Utah (AP) — The Utah Royals have traded for midfielder Mikayla Cluff, making the former BYU standout the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team’s first rostered player. The Royals acquired Cluff and the No. 26 pick in the 2024 NWSL draft from the Orlando Pride in exchange for $90,000 in allocation money and expansion protection. Cluff, a native of Kaysville, Utah, was the No. 14 pick in the 2021 NWSL draft. In two seasons with Orlando, she has four goals and an assist in 51 appearances. “While I’ve enjoyed my time in Orlando over the last two seasons, I’m extremely excited to return to play in my hometown and bring back this Club for the state and for the fans,” Cluff said in a statement Wednesday. Cluff helped lead BYU to the 2021 national championship game and was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year three times. The Royals begin play in 2024, along with Bay FC, an expansion team in the San Francisco Bay Area, that will bring the women’...