Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER

A triptych of criminal charges paints a searing, sometimes disparate portrait of the man accused of ambushing and killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson as the executive arrived at a Manhattan hotel for his company’s annual investor conference. Filed separately in state courts in New York and Pennsylvania, and a federal court in Manhattan, and totaling 20 counts, the charges brand Luigi Mangione as both a terrorist and a stalker, accuse him of carrying a ghost gun and a fake ID, and enable prosecutors to seek life in state prison and the federal death penalty. On Monday, in the last of three court appearances in…

Read More

In 2024, Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.Africa) delivered life-changing healthcare and training across sub-Saharan Africa, marking significant milestones in its mission to provide free surgical care and build capacity in local healthcare systems. Through its two hospital ships, the Global Mercy™ and the Africa Mercy®, the organization impacted thousands of lives by combining direct medical services with education, training, and advocacy programs by partnering with governments for lasting impact. In total, Mercy Ships performed more than 2,280 surgeries and over 3,690 surgical procedures. Dental teams provided care to more than 2,040 patients, with over 9,090 dental procedures completed during more than 3,600…

Read More

The Baltimore Ravens are already in the playoffs, but they still have a chance to win the AFC North and secure at least one home playoff game if they can win their remaining two games and get some help along the way.The first step in that process will be defeating the Houston Texans on Christmas Day. They are going to be facing some big potential injury concerns going into that game on the offensive side of the ball that could make an already difficult task even tougher.  The Ravens have already ruled out wide receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Justice…

Read More

At least six other people killed and many wounded in an Israeli raid on a house in Jabalia al-Nazla in northern Gaza.At least two members of Gaza’s Civil Defence have been killed in the latest Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave, rescue and emergency services say. A drone strike targeting the Civil Defence headquarters in Gaza City on Tuesday killed firefighter Nabil Bahloul and his son. Another Civil Defence worker, Najib Sakr, was killed as the Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City was bombed by Israeli forces. “We received an emergency stress message … calling for help to extinguish a fire…

Read More

In the tri-state, some will get a White Christmas and some will fall just short. Christmas Eve’s morning snow totaled near an inch in many places near the coast with higher totals – between 2 and 3 inches – for northwest New Jersey into the Catskills and Hudson Valley. But with afternoon temperatures above freezing in most areas, a lot of that snow melted and hopes for a White Christmas near the coast were dashed. Here’s a look at the current snow depth shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. By the National Weather Service’s definition, a White Christmas is one…

Read More

By U.S. Embassy Trinidad & Tobago PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – In a demonstration of the robust law enforcement partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, a man wanted in New York for drug-related murder charges, attempted robbery, and weapons possession was extradited to the United States on Sunday, December 22. The individual, Anthony Regis-Ash, will face a possible sentence of life in prison. He was charged in the State of New York in September 2022. A warrant of arrest was issued for Regis-Ash in New York in October 2022 for two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted robbery,…

Read More

The State of Libya has officially acceded to African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Establishment Agreement (www.Afreximbank.com), becoming the 53rd nation to become a member / participating state and marking an important step towards full continental coverage and advancement of the continental integration agenda through trade and investments. The accession document, signed by His Excellency Dr. Khaled Al-Mabrouk Abdullah, sets the stage for the Libyan government and Afreximbank to cooperate on key development projects in Libya, with a focus on trade facilitation, infrastructure development and financial support to the North African nation. Some of the projects identified for cooperation include the financing…

Read More

Aaron Rodgers has played through a number of injuries this season, and the New York Jets star plans to do so again in Week 17. Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich told reporters on Tuesday that Rodgers has been battling a knee injury. Ulbrich said he is unsure if Rodgers will be able to play in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Rodgers delivered a much different message a short while later.During his Tuesday press conference, Rodgers was asked for an update on his status with the knee injury. He described the injury as “a little MCL” and said he has…

Read More

With no Christmas tree or decorations adorning the Church of the Nativity, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, holiday cheer was absent in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem on Tuesday. In central Bethlehem, the Terra Sancta Scout Troop, donning red scarves, marched down the main shopping street where vendors were selling nougat and shawarma. The sweet sound of children singing Christmas carols filled the air, a sharp contrast to sombre messages on the banners they held: “We want life, not death”, and “Stop the Gaza genocide now!” For the second year in a row, Christmas festivities in…

Read More

Snow fell across the tri-state on Tuesday morning bringing a very Christmas feel to the area. The Hudson Valley was the jackpot location with more than two inches of snow on the ground in parts of the region. Here’s a look at how much snow fell across the region, according to various reports from the National Weather Service. New York City snow totals Midwood: 1.1 in. Central Park: 1.0 in. Elmhurst: 1.0 in. Fordham: 1.0 in. JFK Airport: 0.5 in. LaGuardia: 0.4 in. Hudson Valley snow totals Port Jervis: 2.5 in. Glen Spey: 2.0 in. Wayne: 2.0 in. Monroe: 1.6…

Read More