AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS Gerald Ford and its strike group escorts have been ordered to the eastern Mediterranean (US Navy/Wikipedia).

An American aircraft carrier group is on its way to the Eastern Mediterranean as a show of support to Israel in its struggle with Hamas attackers.

According to the Associated Press, the carrier group is led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most advanced carrier. With its escorts of cruisers and destroyers, the carrier group is staffed with5,000 sailors and many warplanes.

The New York York Times is reporting that over 1,100 people are  dead in the clash between the militant Palestinian group and Israeli forces. Officials are saying that 700 Israelis and perhaps as many 413 Palestinians hav perished in the conflict.

An estimated 100 people have died in Israel in an attack at a music festival and others were taken, perhaps as hostages.

Earthquakes rocked Afghanistan

MEDICAL vehicles in Herat (Wikipedia).

Over 2000 people have died as a result of two major earthquakes in the western region of Afghanistan.

United Press International is reporting that the Taliban government states there have been 2,053 fatalities and 1,240 injured. Other estimates put the toll lower.

A team of World Health Organization ambulances is in the city of Herat, and outdoor medical tents are being set up to treat the injured. Other nations have offered to send assistance in terms of medical equipment, vehicles and doctors and nurses.

In the small villages, many of the buildings are made of unreinforced masonry, which are not considered earthquake-safe.

Rams can’t ground the Eagles

Even with Cooper Kupp back and healthy, the Los Angeles Rams (2-3) weren’t quite a match for the Philadelphia Eagles (5-0) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, losing 23-14.

In Kupp’s return, he caught eight passes for 118 yards, and quarterback Matthew Stafford  overall hit on 21 of 37 passes for 222 yards and two scores.

The first half was closely contested with the Eagles managing to score just before halftime to take a 17-14 lead.

That was all the scoring the Ram could muster and Jalen Hurts’ running kept the Rams’ defense off-balance for the rest of the game.

Next Sunday the Rams will seek to even their record at 3-3 when they host the Arizona Cardinals/

Trojans fall a slot after close win

The USC Trojan football team dropped one spot in the AP Top 25 released on Sunday. The cardinal-and-gold won a 43-41 triple overtime game over Arizona and its ranking went from ninth to 10th.

UCLA, due to its upset win over Washington State, bounced back into the top 25, coming in at number 18, while the Cougars are 19th.

The top five is Georgia (first), Michigan (second), Ohio State (third), Florida State (fourth) and Oklahoma (fifth).

Sixth through 10th are Penn State, Washington, Oregon, Texas and USC.

Weather: We’re in the Seventies

The cooling trend for our West Orange County area continues on Monday with partly cloudy skies with a daytime high of 79 and with an overnight low of 63. Tuesday will see the daytime high to drop to 76 with a low of 61. Wednesday will be similar at 76 (57). The trend will start to reverse itself Thursday with a high of 80 (59).