Daily briefing

A relative of a victim offers flowers to commemorate the 20th anniversary of a 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami at Tsunami Memorial Park at Ban Nam Khem, Takuapa district of Phang Nga province, southern Thailand, on Thursday. The Associated Press
Nation
Arizona
Police: Shooting wounds 2 at airport
Police are investigating a shooting at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix that left two people wounded by gunfire and another person stabbed.
Phoenix police say the shooting Wednesday evening was related to a family dispute that erupted at a restaurant outside security checkpoints. A woman and two adult males were shot, leaving the female with injuries police described as life-threatening.
New York
Menendez seeks sentencing delay
NEW YORK — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is asking a federal judge to delay his end-of-January sentencing on bribery charges, saying his family would suffer a “tremendous emotional toll” if the New Jersey Democrat was sentenced during his wife’s trial.
His lawyers told Judge Sidney H. Stein in a letter that Nadine Menendez would face a jury that might find it impossible not to hear about her husband’s sentencing if it occurred eight days into her trial.
New Jersey
Sinkhole prompts lane closures on I-80
WHARTON — A sinkhole that opened up along Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey has forced authorities to close the eastbound lanes of the heavily traveled highway.
The sinkhole was discovered Thursday morning near Wharton. Crews are evaluating how to repair the sinkhole and how long it will take.
World
Golan Heights
Israel plans to increase occupation
EIN ZIVAN — Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted after nearly 25 years in power. Within hours, Israeli tanks rolled past a razor wire-reinforced fence into the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights’ demilitarized buffer zone in Syria, created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Israel said it was a temporary move to secure its border.
Days later, the Israeli government approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s $11 million plan of financial incentives to double the population of Israeli settlers in the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in a move widely considered illegal by the international community.
Ukraine
NKorean troops suffering heavy losses
KYIV — Ukraine’s military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia’s Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks.
The intelligence agency said that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units.
Mozambique
6,000 inmates escape from prison
MAPUTO — Mozambique’s police chief says at least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in the capital of Maputo on Christmas Day after a rebellion, as widespread post-election riots and violence are roiling the country.
The police chief Bernardino Rafael said that 33 prisoners died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces.